The Gospel and the Investigative Judgment

In his book, “Judged by the Gospel,” former Adventist theologian Robert Brinsmead opens his chapter on the investigative judgment by observing, “If we accept the New Testament gospel, which declares that Christ’s redemptive act is finished, that He already reigns at God’s right hand and that His victory over sin and death inaugurated the last days, we cannot accept the traditional Adventist doctrine of an investigative judgment beginning in 1844.  This does not mean that anyone who believes in the investigative judgment does not believe the gospel.  But their understanding of the gospel is so immature that they have not discerned its eschatological implications.” The book of Hebrews drives a nail through the heart of the investigative judgment and if this book had been studied carefully by the early Adventists in the years following 1844, much confusion and doctrinal error could have been avoided.  The good news of Jesus Christ is that all our sins–past, present and future–have been forgiven and that those who believe in Him will never be condemned, much less be subjected to the searching scrutiny of an investigative judgment (Romans 8:1, John 5:24).  What follows is a brief study of three chapters in Hebrews that stand in opposition to this unique Adventist doctrine, a doctrine that removes our security in Christ and is impossible to reconcile with the gospel.

“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11 ESV)

The book of Hebrews tells us that the Levitical priesthood established in the Jewish economy was inadequate for salvation, because perfection was not attainable through it.  “Another priest” was therefore necessary to make the attainment of perfection possible, a priest of the order of Melchizedek named Jesus Christ.

The writer of Hebrews identifies Jesus as the priest not because he was granted legal authority as in the case of the Levites, but because he had an indestructible life.

“This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 7:15 ESV)

So Jesus is the last priest of mankind, and as such, he is the mediator of a “better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22) than the one made between God and the Israelites on Sinai.  In this covenant, sins are not forgiven one day per year on the day of atonement, but are forgiven “once and for all” through the death of Jesus on the cross.  As it is written, “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:26-28 ESV)

But the writer of Hebrews doesn’t stop there.  The first two verses of chapter 8 even give the location of Jesus upon his ascension to heaven:

“Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent the Lord set up, not man.” (Hebrews 8:1-2 ESV)

Is the “right hand of the throne of Majesty” in the Holy or Most Holy Place?  Clearly it is the latter, as the Most Holy Place by definition is the very presence of God.  One cannot be “at the right hand” of God and not be in the Most Holy Place!  Furthermore, no “work” of investigative judgment remained for Jesus to accomplish, so he sat down.  Notice the past tense of these texts.  Jesus did not ascend to heaven for a work that remained to be accomplished until the stroke of midnight on October 22, 1844.  No, he approached the right hand of the throne of Majesty and sat down, his work on the cross completed.  This is the only way he could have said “It is finished!” as he gave up his spirit on Calvary (John 19:30).

After a discussion of the earthly sanctuary in Hebrews 9:1-10, we are given yet more evidence of Jesus’ finished work:

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12 ESV)

Again, we see that Jesus entered “once and for all” into the holy places.  If the two apartment ministry model is correct, the writer of Hebrews could not have made this statement when the book was written in the first century, 1800 years before 1844, since Jesus would not have entered “once for all” into the Most Holy Place at that time!  Furthermore, Jesus secured eternal redemption, and did not need to continually plead his blood for the forgiveness of sins.  It was indeed finished.  If this is not yet clear, just keep reading on to chapter 9:

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:24-26 ESV)

If we are still not convinced, the writer of Hebrews repeats himself yet again in chapter 10:

“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV)

After reviewing these texts from inspired Scripture, I humbly submit to you that Jesus’ work is indeed finished.  We serve a risen Savior whose work on Calvary is sufficient to save all who lay hold of it by faith.  His perfect sacrifice put away sin for all time and he now sits at the right hand of the Father, where he has remained since he rose to heaven (not requiring an eighteen century pause in the Holy Place), his work of redemption complete.

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ who has covered our sins—past, present and future—allowing us to boldly enter “through the curtain” into the Most Holy Place and into a new and living way by his work and not our own, giving us full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-22).

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