When are the cases of those who perish in Ezekiel 9 investigated?

You may be challenged by the following line of reasoning:

   Says the Spirit of Prophecy, "Close reasoners and logical thinkers are few."—3SC5,6:7.8

How can anyone be executed (judged) before their case is investigated?

And let me help your case with a supporting Bible reference:

 John 7:51—Doth our law judge any man, BEFORE it hear him, and know what he doeth? 

This is a reasonable takeaway point from this query and expectation among finite mortals.

Yet is it also reasonable for any sinful mortal in need of redemption to imagine that he can ignore God's warning, fail to put on the wedding garment, and THEN hold God accountable for injustice against this reasonable standard? 

But wait…

Did not God send a warning concerning the Ezek. 9 judgment?

Are we not living in the antitypical day of atonement?

Did not God provide a way of escape?

Didn't God tell us, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh"?

     So while it is necessary in the congregation of the dead to separate the wicked from the righteous now awaiting the resurrection morning, it is just as necessary in the congregation of the living to separate the wicked from the righteous now preparing for deliverance from the coming trouble, and awaiting the second coming of Christ—His visible coming to wake the dead saints and to take up both them and the living. {3Tr:52.1} 

     There are therefore two separations, one among the righteous dead and the other among the righteous living, the dead being appointed to resurrection and the living to translation. {3Tr:52.2} 

     Those, on the other hand, whose names shall be blotted out of the books are those who shall have failed to put on the "wedding 

3 Tract 52

garment." Matt. 22:11. At the Master's command (Matt. 22:13), they shall be cast out, never more to be among the wedding guests. {3Tr:52.3} 

     This cleansing of the Book of Life is further seen to be necessary in order to enable the angels rightly to select the saints, for when the Son of man comes with all His angels, He shall send them "with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect [the resurrected] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:31), and take them to join the living.—3Tr:52.1-53.1

     When the judgment opened in 1844, as previously explained, the investigation began with the dead, and when that part of the work is finished, then commences the judgment of the living.  While the investigation for the congregation of the dead is in progress, there can be no separation among the congregation of the living.  But when our High Priest shall begin the atonement for the living, there must be a message of present truth—sounding of the trumpet—urging every one to lay hold on the Lamb of God (Christ) by which only, can he in figure, come to the sanctuary, confess his sin and secure his life.  Unless the close of the judgment for the dead and the commencement for the living be made known to us, we would have no present truth while the judgment for the living is in session.  Neither would such judgment be legal or just.  He who fails to respond to the heavenly summons, will be left without the seal or covering of God, and therefore must be cut off from among His people, as prefigured by the services in the typical day of atonement.—2SR:164.1

When is "such judgment" illegal or unjust?

A judgment is illegal or unjust "unless the close of the judgment for the dead and the commencement for the living BE MADE KNOWN to us.…"

"…Thus it symbolically apprehends the saints collectively—all the saved from Adam to the end.  Therefore, the prophecy by Enoch commenced its fulfillment in 1844, at which time "the Lord came with the names and records of those who are sleeping in the grave, and when the investigation of the dead is FINISHED, THEN He comes with the names of the living saints.  FIRST with the 144,000, and afterward with the "great multitude of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues." (Rev. 7:9.)  Therefore, the complete fulfillment of the prophetic words, "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints," shall be realized at the close of probation.  Of this COMING of the Lord (for the dead) William Miller was the messenger, and the message of Elijah the prophet—the messenger of the covenant—is the forerunner for His coming with the living saints, both of the same event—the judgment.—2SR:241.1

Anyone who is judged (executed) in the TIME of the iJOL, AFTER the Seventh Seal is open in heaven, could not have been and will not be investigated in the PERIOD of the iJOD. For that session was closed BEFORE the Seventh Seal was opened. (See: 2SC5,6:10.2)

…This Judicial work commences first among the dead (book work ONLY, of course—Dan. 7:10), then among the living (actual bodily separation—cleansing—Ezek. 9).—1TG11:6.2

…This is the first aspect of the judgment, and being ONLY a book work (Dan. 7:10), a work that does not disturb either the dead in the graves or the living in the church, it takes place in heaven. {5An:30.3} 

5 Answerer 30

     THE SECOND ASPECT is not a book work but an actual separation of the dead on the resurrection day, and of the living on the day of purification—the righteous dead are raised, and the unrighteous left in their graves, the righteous living are sealed to live eternally, and the unrighteous left to die (Ezek. 9:2-7).—5An:30.3-31.1

3. "The Judgment of the Living on earth commences with Ezekiel 9, but in heaven (in the books) AFTER Ezekiel 9. The Judgment of

Vol. 12 Symbolic Code No. 3     19

the Living is in two phases: The first phase is a separation that takes away the wicked from among the righteous, Ezekiel 9.  The second phase is the book work WHEN the investigation takes place, and when the sins of the righteous and the names of the wicked are blotted out of the records in Heaven.  This second phase, the judicial session in heaven, is what commences AFTER Ezekiel 9."—12SC3:19.4

6. "Regarding the Judgment, although

Vol. 12 Symbolic Code No. 3     20

the message of The Shepherd's Rod does announce the Judgment of the Living a number of times, yet according to The Answerer, Book No. 2, pp. 38-42, we are still in the time of the Judgment of the Dead.  You will also notice that in the reference you mentioned (The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 2, p. 162), it says the Investigation of the living 'commences AFTER the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9.'"—12SC3:20.3

What is written in 2SR:162?

     The first part of the chart, dated 1929, to the curve, marked Ezekiel 9, is the period in which the 144,000 are sealed—the separation of the tares from the wheat—the purification of the church.  As the 144,000 are the "first fruits," the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 and the sealing of the servants of God (the 144,000), marks the COMMENCEMENT of the final harvest, or as it is also called, "The Loud Cry."  At that time the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, will be gathered in the church by the servants of God (the 144,000).  (See Isaiah 66:19, 20.) {2SR:162.2} 

     The cases of all who are sealed from 1929 to the final close of probation will be investigated before the throne in the heavenly sanctuary while living.  The investigation commences AFTER the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9.  Those who are sealed from 1929 to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 (close of probation for the church), are living saints, 144,000 in number, who shall never die—translated without tasting death.  The class which neglected their opportunity were left without the seal to perish under the ruin of Ezekiel 9; Isaiah 63; and Isaiah 66:15-17.  This example of the destruction of the sinners in the church is a type of the destruction of the sinners in the world after the close of probation.  The great multitude of Revelation 7:9, living at the time of the close of probation for the world, shall also never die, of whom the 144,000 were a type.  But all the wicked being left without the seal, shall perish.  "Hitherto is the end of the matter; Fear God [not man] and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13.)—2SR:162.2, 3

     The truth that the first two sessions take place before the earth flees away, before the world's present state of being comes to an end; also the truth that the second session closes with the saints who live in the very end of time, the time of the image of the beast, the time just before the earth flees away;—all these provide irrefutable evidence that the first two sessions, the pre-millennial ones bring the present world to an end; that the Judgment is nothing more or less than the separation of the "tares" from the "wheat," both among the dead and among the living; that it is the interviewing of all the guests with an eye single to determine who have, and who have not, "the wedding garment" on -- the very thing that decides who is to be left and who is to be taken into destruction as the earth flees away. {15Tr:19.2} 

     That the dead are judged in the first session, and the living in the second, is seen from the symbolization itself: As aforepointed out, at the first sitting no one stands on the sea of glass, and the sea itself is "as clear as crystal." But at the second sitting, the saints stand on the sea, and it is mingled with fire (symbol of life).—15Tr:19.2, 3

This is what the SRod reveals in regards to the cases of all who will be "executed" under the seventh seal and later "investigated" during the Session for the Judgment Living when it begins with the fulfillment of Ezek. 9.

Objection(s) raised:

     Only the holy ones, those whose names are left written in the Book escape the destruction that falls upon the wicked in the church.—1TG6:38.4

In connection with

Further Reasons for Both Judgments. {3Tr:50.2} 

     As the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is a work of cleansing the books by 

3 Tract 50

blotting from them the names of both the backsliders and the tares, and as at the "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation," the only ones who "shall be delivered" are those whose names are found written in the book, the cleansing of the books, therefore, obviously takes place before the resurrection, and before the time of trouble such as never was. Thus the unfaithful dead will be left in their graves at the first resurrection, and the unfaithful living will be left without deliverance from the coming trouble. But were their names allowed to remain in the books, then according to the records either the wicked dead would have to be resurrected with the righteous, and the living wicked delivered with the living righteous or else both the righteous dead and the righteous living would have to be forsaken with them—alternatives both of which, of course, are impossible; thus again making mandatory an absolute separation, as instanced in type in Joshua's time:—3Tr:50.2, 3

Thus the wicked in the church is being alleged must be "investigated" before Ezek. 9 takes place.

Before we address 1TG6:38.4 in connection with 3Tr:50.2, 3 let us address the first challenge against what is quoted in 12SC3:19.4 that it cannot be found "nowhere else in the SRod."

However, what is found written is this:

     So by testimony of prophets, by parable, by ceremonial type, and by number God has wrought the towering structure of fact that (1) the judgment is the harvest, the

3 Tract 99

separation of the tares from the wheat—the end of the world;  that (2) the judgment, the harvest, embraces TWO PHASES, two periods: the former for the dead, the latter for the living; that (3) the one takes place according to the records in the books in the heavenly sanctuary, whereas the OTHER takes place simultaneously in the church on earth  and  in the books in heaven; and that (4) the very fact that the subject is now being revealed in its fullness testifies that we are just on the verge of passing out of the former and into the latter phase and period, and that we are therefore living in the last days of earth’s history.—3Tr:99.2

     The "same event" mentioned in "The Great Controversy" we must understand to have begun in 1844 and to stretch forth up to the close of probation, which period includes the judgment of the dead and the judgment of the living. The purifying work of Malachi Three applies to the judgment of the living. Any fair Bible student knows that the words, "but who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appears? for He is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's sope: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness," cannot apply to the judgment of the dead. Nevertheless, for this work (the judgment of the living and the judgment of the dead, which takes place in the heavenly sanctuary), the Lord came in 1844. Thus the judgment of the living and the judgment of the dead being the two phases of the Investigative Judgment, it is true that the Lord came to the heavenly temple in 1844. Hence, both "The Great Controversy" and the SRod are correct.—1SC5:7.8

When does the INVESTIGATION for the living take place? According to 3Tr:99:2 and 1SC5:7.8, it happens in the 2nd phase of the investigative Judgment. Thus 12SC3:19.4 is justified.

Let's move on to the next challenged reference 12SC3:20.3. Again it is alledged that was is written there cannot be found in the SRod. But when you turn to 2SR:162 what is quoted in singular quotes in 12SC3:20.3 is written.

     The cases of all who are sealed from 1929 to the final close of probation will be investigated before the throne in the heavenly sanctuary while living.  The investigation commences AFTER the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. —2SR:162.3

Therefore 12SC3:20.3 is justified. You can find the sentence quoted:

"…The INVESTIGATION commences AFTER the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9.…"

Are the cases of the wicked who are recorded in the book of Life dealt with in the investigative Session for the Dead? Then if we are to remain consistent the same holds true for the wicked living who are recorded in the book of Life who die during the commencement of Ezek. 9.

There is no way to spin these references. Furthermore,

     "Unquestionably, therefore, the books contain both the names and the records of all who are to be judged. And naturally these names and record were entered while each person was living.…

   Thus does Inspiration reveal that each one's deeds are chronicled with terrible exactness in the books of heaven, and that in the reason for the books inheres the 

3 Tract 6

Reason for the Judgment. {3Tr:6.4} 

   That not every name that has been entered in the Lamb's books will be retained there,…"—3Tr:6.3-7.1

     "The investigative judgment" decides the cases of those who have professed faith in God, and who in consequence have had their names recorded in the books (Dan. 7:10), but some of whom have not endured to the end.  It determines which names shall be retained and which shall be blotted out.  So not until the investigation is completed, the sanctuary cleansed from unworthy members, will the books show the exact number of names that will be retained and accounted worthy of life eternal.—5Tr:108.2

"…The investigation [[ in regards to "the blotting out" book work ]] commences AFTER the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9.…"—2SR:162.3

The following EIGHT references regarding "the blotting out" among the living are akin to "the investigation" of the books after the purification on earth, to take place in heaven.

     The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is a work of cleansing the books—blotting out the names…—9Tr40:85.2  (1st Edition)

…So, only those who survive the Judgment for the Living, in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17), those whose names are not blotted out from the Book (Rev. 3:5) will comprise the church, among whom are to be 144,000 sons of Jacob (Rev. 7:3-8), and when Michael stands up then those whose names are left in the Book will be delivered from the "trouble such as never was" (Daniel 12:1).  They are "the remnant," the ones who escape alive from the Judgment for the Living in the House of God.…—1TG11:11.2

     Now to their own destruction, men argue that this is a spiritual slaughter, (What is a spiritual slaughter?—no one knows.) although it is plain to see that it is the Judgment for the Living.  The fact that for over a century the Denomination has been teaching that the Judgment for the Dead is to separate the good from the bad (the tares from the wheat) their

Vol. 1 Timely Greetings No. 45 18

foolish arguments now prove that they are not only ignorant of it, but even so blind (Rev. 3:17) that even after told and shown what it is they cannot see it!  Although they claim to know that the Judgment is to separate the wheat from the tares, the good from the bad, that it is to cleanse the sanctuary BY blotting out the names of the bad and the sins of the good, they do not admit that this strange act of God is nothing less than the Judgment for the Living in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17), the cleansing of the sanctuary (Dan. 8:14), the purification of the church ("Testimonies," Vol. 5, pg. 80), the cleansing of the temple (Mal. 3:1-3).—1TG45:18.4

     After the subjects of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel are gathered from among the heathen nations and they themselves become a nation and a kingdom "then" they are to be cleansed, and not before say the Scriptures.  From these you see that this is the work

Vol. 2 Timely Greetings No. 4 15

of the cleansing of the Sanctuary (Dan. 8:14), the purification of the church ("Testimonies," Vol. 5, pg. 80)—the cleansing of the temple (Mal. 3:1-3)—the harvest TIME blotting out the sins and defects of the penitent and doing away with the impenitent.  It is the Judgment for the Living that purifies the church.  It sets her apart from the world, and fits her for the gathering of the people (Rev. 18:4)—makes her the ark for today, a place of refuge for all who wish to escape the plagues.  Thereafter the saints remain clean.  They sin no more.  They are God's clean and faithful people forevermore.  There has never, therefore, come to God's people a more important message than this.—2TG4:15.3

…Consequently, when the earthly sanctuary is polluted it is necessary to cleanse the heavenly also. For an example, if we were to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, we would have to cast out those that pollute it, while at the same time those in heaven would have to cleanse the heavenly one by blotting out the names of the wicked in the church on earth. Thus, the proper term for such a work would be, "investigative judgment." {2SC11:8.2} 

     However, as the Bible plainly teaches that this special work takes place only once during probationary time (Heb. 9:26), it follows that those who have died will be the FIRST to pass in review before God, the great Judge (Dan. 7:9, 10), AFTER which the cases (records) of the living will be examined, and as we are told that there are two classes of people in the church—"tares" and "wheat" (Matt. 13:30)—it is evident that during the investigative judgment of the dead, the heavenly sanctuary ONLY is affected, because of the fact that "the dead know not anything" (Eccl. 9:5) and are lying unconscious in their graves, having nothing in common with the living church on earth; however, WHEN the judgment of the living shall begin, then, of course, the sanctuary on earth as well as that in heaven WILL BE cleansed, as is evidenced by Malachi's prophecy:—2SC11:8.2, 3

4. "It is true that The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 2, p. 172, reveals that we are entering into the time of the Judgment of the Living, but it does not say that we have entered into it, neither does it say that the Judgment of the Living has already begun, not that part which we as Seventh-day Adventists call Judgment, blotting out sins and sinners from the books of records,—the separation.  The very fact that we are still together, commingled the good with the bad, itself speaks the Truth."—12SC3:20.1

     That part of the Investigative Judgment of the living, by which is determined who are to have their sins blotted out and, as a result, be given eternal life, is paralleled on earth by the work of the angel with the "writer's inkhorn," who is charged to "mark" (seal) everyone who sighs and cries for all the abominations in Judah and Israel—the church. And the work of the five others who follow on to slay all who have not the "mark" (seal), is paralleled in heaven by the blotting out of the sinners' names from the Book of Life. (See Ezekiel 9; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445; Testimonies,  Vol. 5, p. 211). {2An:41.2} 

     Thus we see that this dual prophetic work of separating the names of the sinners from the names of the righteous in the sanctuary, and separating the sinners from the righteous in the church, is the same as the work decreed in the parables: separating the tares from the wheat (Matt. 13:30); the bad fish from the good (Matt. 13:48); those who have not the wedding garment from those who have it (Matt. 22:1-13);

2 Answerer 41

those who have not improved their talents from those who have (Matt. 25:20-30). {2An:41.3} 

     As all these equivalent separations take place during the Investigative Judgment, before the wedding, the coronation, the reception of the kingdom (Dan. 7:9, 10, 13, 14), it is evident that the harvest and the Judgment are counterparts, and that they take place before probation closes—when the Lord suddenly comes to His temple to "purify the sons of Levi."—Mal. 3:1-3. And as the Judgment of the dead is followed by the Judgment of the living, so the Judgment of the church is followed by the Judgment of the world. And "if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Pet. 4:17)—when the Great Judge sits upon the throne of His glory, when all the nations gather before Him, when as a shepherd He divides His sheep (Matt. 25:31-46).—2An:41.2-42.1

     Those, on the other hand, whose names shall be blotted out of the books are those who shall have failed to put on the "wedding 

3 Tract 52

garment." Matt. 22:11. At the Master's command (Matt. 22:13), they shall be cast out, never more to be among the wedding guests.—3Tr:52.3

Now that we have arrested the objection and we have firmly established and justified 12SC3:19.4 and 20.3 we are now better prepared to address 1TG6:38.4 and 3Tr:50.2, 3.

But before we do let us acknowledge the chronological order of events under discussion regarding the Investigative Judgment Before the 1st Resurrection.

1.  The investigative Judgment Session for the dead, a book work separation in heaven. Not the TIME of harvest

2.  Seventh Seal opens, Half hour silence follows, then 

3.  The investigative Judgment Session for the living continues the work that began in 1844. This is the TIME of the harvest of Matt. 13:30.

     Thus the silence of half an hour points forward to this great event for the church of God.  Its fulfillment would bring us to the time of the harvest, or as it is called, the Loud Cry of the Third Angel's Message of Revelation 18—the last message for the world.—2SR:217.1

     During the period of the six seals, while the first session of the Judgment is on, the four beasts rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Rev. 4:8.  But when the seventh seal is opened, 

15 Tract 17

there is silence in heaven (the beasts hold their peace, also the "lightnings," the "thunderings," and the "voices" cease—Rev. 4:5) "about the space of half an hour." Rev. 8:1.  The silence clearly reveals that the first session of the Judicial  proceedings comes to a close, and that the second session commences after the silence is over.—15Tr:17.5

     After a time the Judicial demonstrations—the voices "saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," the thunderings and the lightnings,—cease for the space of half an hour, very definitely indicating that the Judicial throng of the first session of the Judgment adjourns.—15Tr:64.2

Who is judged in the iJOD? Only the dead whose names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life.

Now let's look at 1TG6:38.4 a little closer. When you start to read from 38.1-39.1 there is no intimation that "those whose names are left written in the Book escape the destruction that falls upon the wicked in the church" can be misconstrued to mean that the wicked who are slain in the church (the commencement of Ezek. 9) are investigated before they are slain. First and foremost that thought is not written anywhere and it cannot be injected.

In the only TWO revealed Judicial sessions that have been fully attested whereby the penitent and impenitent Christians can be investigated, divided by a "half-hour silence" in heaven, where can you fit the investigation of those who fall under the slaughter weapons of Ezek. 9?

If you have come this far based upon an in-depth analysis of the weight of evidence "it is written," it should be fatiguing us away from error.

Finally let's look at 3Tr:50.2, 3. To get the best view of how this paragraph fits you do best to start from 49.1-54.1

"…the cleansing of the books, [[ the blotting out sins and unworthy names ]] therefore, obviously takes place BEFORE [[ 1. ]] the resurrection, and [[ 2. ]] before the time of trouble such as never was. Thus the unfaithful dead will be left in their graves at the first resurrection, and the unfaithful living will be left without deliverance from the coming trouble.…"—3Tr:50.3

Another objection:

     By the king's examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, "to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man's work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ's followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.  {COL 310.1}  

     It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed.—COL:310.1, 2

Response:

"…This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, “to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.…"—COL:310.1

Is the decision of the fate of the wicked, the impenitent Laodiceans made before "the Second Coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven"?

"It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of ALL His professed followers pass in review before God. ALL are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed."—COL:310.2

All means all. This means Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and even the Son of God Himself. All among the dead who qualify for this first phase Session and then the rest among the living in the Harvest TIME.

Objection:

C.O.L. 122 says that "the net" "gathers both good and evil into the church. When the mission of the gospel is completed, the judgment will accomplish the work of separation." It is impossible for the action of separation to precede the action of judgment. In the very nature of things, judgment must take place before separation. Thus, the separation which was determined during the investigative judgment is executed after the actual judging is over. This is in perfect harmony with T.M. 234 which says, "The time of the judgment is a most solemn period, when the Lord gathers His own from among the tares." 1SC9 8.3

Response:

Excellent!!!

So under which of the two phases of the Judgment "in the house of God" when He comes to the investigation of the wedding guest will those who have failed to put on the wedding garment be investigated?

     This transfer from the administrative throne to the mediatorial-judicial throne, being made to investigate those wedding guests who are now dead, leads to the following

Questions and Answers.—3Tr:117.1

     The first and second fruits of those that shall be translated, and the separation of the wicked in the church before probation has closed, is also foretold in the parables of Christ. Briefly, our attention is called to Matt. 22:11, 13, "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:…Then said the king to the servants, Bind hin had and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This investigation and casting out took place before probation closed, for the marriage ceremony had not yet been performed at the TIME the "king came in to see the guests."—1Tr33:23.1  (1st Edition)

There are only two phases.

     This startling revelation shows conclusively that the cleansing according to Daniel 8:14 is first of the sanctuary in heaven, and second of the sanctuary on earth.—3Tr:53.3

However, when accomplished in the sanctuary on earth the blotting out of the sins of the living penitent Laodiceans and the blotting out of the names of the impenitent Laodiceans who were slaughtered in the period of the Seventh Seal is done after Ezekiel 9 commences. Their cases are the first to be investigated when the investigative Judicial Session for the living resumes after the silence in heaven for the space of half-hour expires.

When are the names of the impenitent dead cast out and the sins among the righteous dead blotted out from the Lamb's book of life? Isn't it during the 1st phase, the first judicial Session the investigative Judgment for the Dead? Then reason and logic dictate that the same obtains among the living in the second phase. The second phase of the Judgment in the house of God deals with what happens during the investigative Judgment of the Living among the living.

     Though the sanctuary in heaven and the one on earth are in two different locations, yet the one necessarily involves the other, for both deal with the same sins and sinners. Hence, for one sanctuary to become polluted will as a consequence affect the other. For instance, if some of the members of the church on earth should backslide after once being converted (as did Achan, King Saul, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, and many others whose names were once written in the Book of Life but who though failing to continue in the faith became unworthy of life eternal), they would of course at the same time pollute both sanctuaries. The earthly they pollute by their actual deeds and influence; the heavenly, by having their unworthy names in its books; for while the earthly sanctuary harbors the people, the heavenly houses their records. {3An:5.2} 

     So while there is need of cleansing the earthly sanctuary from backsliders and hypocrites, there is need of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary from the sinners'

3 Answerer 5

names in its books. And the proper term for such a work is Investigative Judgment—the work portrayed in Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 7:9, 10) and in Christ's parables of the harvest, net, talents, wedding garment, and the goats and the sheep. {3An:5.3} 

     However, as the Bible plainly teaches that this special work takes place only once during probationary time (Heb. 9:26), it follows that the records of those who have died throughout the centuries will be the first to pass in review before God, the Great Judge (Dan. 7:9, 10). After these have been examined, then the examination of the records of the living will begin. And as we are told that there are two classes of people in the church ("wheat" and "tares"—Matt. 13:30), it is evident that the Investigative Judgment ("harvest") of the dead affects only the heavenly sanctuary. This is doubly evident when it is remembered that "the dead know not anything" (Eccles. 9:5) but are lying unconscious while waiting in their graves for the resurrection day. But WHEN the Judgment ("harvest") of the LIVING shall begin, then of necessity the sanctuary on earth will be cleansed from the hypocrites, and the sanctuary in heaven from their names in its records. Both sanctuaries are therefore affected.…—3An:5.2-6.1

     Again: "In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission," first, "to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,—from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul" (The 

8 Tract        27

Desire of Ages, p.161); and second, to cleanse the entire church from sin and sinners.  As twice (once in the closing of John the Baptist's proclamation of the kingdom, and in the opening of the gospel dispensation, at the beginning of Christ's ministry, and once at the close of His work and at the opening of the apostles'—Special  Testimonies to Ministers, No. 7, p. 54)  He cleansed the temple from the unholy practices by which the Jews had desecrated it (John 2:15 16; Matt. 21:12, 13), He thereby twice gave warning in type that also in the closing of the Christian dispensation, He will TWICE cleanse His church: once at the sealing of the first fruits the 144,000, and again at the sealing of the second fruits, the "great multitude." Rev. 7:1-9.—8Tr:27.2

     As the cleansings called for in the parables and in Malachi's prophecy have never taken place, the investigative judgment of the living is obviously, then, yet future. This investigative work is therefore OCCASIONED by the work of separation in the earthly sanctuary (church), as brought to view also in Ezekiel 9:—3Tr:43.3