Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: 13SCM
Program Code: 13SCM000014
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00:31 Welcome to 3ABN's Spring Camp Meeting
00:34 coming to you from the 3ABN Worship Center 00:38 in Thompsonville, Illinois. 00:39 We didn't know if we were live or not for a minute there 00:42 so I'm just kind of standing like this... 00:45 Are you guys having a good time at Camp Meeting? 00:48 Oh, the messages have been really wonderful 00:51 and today it's going to be my privilege to bring you 00:53 the second half of the message on the Joy of Investigative 00:59 Judgment. But before I do we have with us today 01:02 a special quartet from Medford, Oregon. 01:06 And they started singing together at the Valley View 01:08 Church. Now they actually go to two different churches. 01:11 But they're all from Medford and they're going to sing 01:14 for us Wonderful Grace. 01:20 Wonderful grace of Jesus, 01:24 greater than all my sin. 01:28 How shall my tongue describe it? 01:32 Where shall its praise begin? 01:36 Taking away my burden, 01:40 setting my spirit free; 01:43 For the wonderful grace of Jesus 01:47 reaches me. 01:51 Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, 01:55 Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; 01:59 Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, 02:03 All sufficient grace for even me. 02:09 Broader than the scope of my transgressions, 02:13 Greater far than all my sin and shame, 02:16 O magnify the precious name of Jesus, 02:21 Praise His name! 02:24 Wonderful grace of Jesus, 02:28 reaching to all the lost. 02:32 By it I have been pardoned, 02:36 Saved to the uttermost. 02:40 Chains have been torn asunder, 02:44 giving me liberty; 02:48 For the wonderful grace of Jesus 02:51 reaches me. 02:55 Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, 02:59 Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; 03:03 Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, 03:07 All sufficient grace for even me. 03:13 Broader than the scope of my transgressions, 03:17 Greater far than all my sin and shame, 03:20 O magnify the precious name of Jesus, 03:24 Praise His name! 03:28 Wonderful grace of Jesus, 03:32 reaching the most defiled. 03:36 By its transforming power 03:40 Making him God's dear child. 03:44 Purchasing peace and heaven 03:48 for all eternity, 03:51 And the wonderful grace of Jesus 03:55 reaches me. 03:59 Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, 04:03 Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; 04:07 Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, 04:11 All sufficient grace for even me. 04:17 Broader than the scope of my transgressions, 04:21 Greater far than all my sin and shame, 04:26 O magnify the precious name of Jesus, 04:32 Praise His... 04:35 praise His holy 04:40 name! 04:49 Don't you just love a men's quartet? 04:52 Well, I think that what we need to do... 04:58 I know what we need to do is let's pray, all right? 05:01 Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus 05:04 and Lord we thank you so much for the gift of Your Word. 05:09 And Lord, we need the gift of your Spirit to understand 05:12 Your Word, so we pray right now 05:14 that You will anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. 05:18 Send Your Spirit to be our teacher. 05:20 And Father, I pray in the name of Jesus 05:23 that we will understand the wonderful grace 05:28 that is in the message of the Investigative Judgment. 05:33 Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name, Amen. 05:38 As I told you yesterday I've only taught on this once 05:41 before, so in some ways it's a bit intimidating to me. 05:46 And for our radio audience I should introduce myself. 05:49 I'm Shelley Quinn, and it is... 05:53 I'm here today to speak on this because I really felt God 05:56 asked me to do this. 05:58 So what I want to do is just review very quickly 06:01 what we went over yesterday. 06:03 We started when we identified the pattern of investigative 06:08 judgment that God began in Genesis. 06:11 And it goes throughout the Bible. 06:13 So we see the idea of investigative judgment 06:16 is nothing unusual to God. 06:19 In Revelation 14:17 06:22 we see that the first angel comes. 06:24 And what does that angel say? "The hour of His 06:28 judgment has arrived. " 06:31 And we know that this investigative judgment - 06:34 we looked at it yesterday - has to begin 06:37 before Christ's second advent... before He comes again. 06:43 Because in Revelation 22 and verse 11 the angel stands up 06:47 at Christ's descent and he says "He who is filthy 06:50 still... or unjust still... let him be unjust. 06:52 He who is filthy still let him be filthy. 06:55 He who is righteous let him be righteous still 06:58 and he who is holy let him be holy still. " 07:01 So then Jesus says: 07:04 "Behold, I am coming quickly 07:08 and My reward is with me. " 07:11 What the angel announced was the end of probation. 07:13 And now Christ says: "As soon as this is over, here I come... 07:18 ready or not. " 07:19 We looked at the five final phases of God's judgment. 07:26 It begins with the pre-advent - 07:30 meaning it happens before Christ returns - 07:32 the investigative judgment that we looked at 07:36 that Daniel 7 prophesies 07:39 when the Ancient of Days comes, He's seated at the court, 07:42 the books are opened in front of thousands upon thousands 07:46 of heavenly beings. And then one like the Son of Man 07:49 comes before Him. So we see the Father is the Judge. 07:54 And yesterday we proved from scripture 07:57 that this heavenly sanctuary - 08:00 or the true sanctuary - is in heaven. 08:04 The second phase of judgment is at Christ's return 08:10 when He executes the judgment that was made 08:14 during that time of investigation 08:17 and He separates the goats from the sheep, 08:19 He separates the wheat from the tares. 08:22 But the decision... the fate of all... has been sealed 08:27 during the time of the investigative judgment. 08:31 Then the next judgment takes place after the first 08:36 resurrection when the righteous dead are raised. 08:41 Those who are alive and remain, they all go up into the air 08:44 together to meet Jesus. 08:46 And they go to heaven and for a thousand years 08:48 there is a deliberative judgment 08:51 where the books are opened for us. 08:54 And it's not that we... When the Bible says we judge 08:57 fallen angels or that we judge the world 09:00 it's not that we are trying to say "Oh they were right 09:03 or wrong. " What we're looking at during this time period 09:06 is we are vindicating God's judgment. 09:11 God is deliberative. There's discussion going on 09:14 so that we understand why some didn't make it 09:17 and why others did that we weren't expecting. 09:20 After this deliberative judgment 09:23 comes... the New Jerusalem comes down. 09:26 Then there is the second resurrection of the wicked 09:30 and we see that what happens is... they still are rebellious. 09:34 They fight against the city 09:37 and there is the Great White Throne Judgment 09:42 which is only for the wicked dead. 09:45 Then we have... The final phase of judgment 09:50 is when fire comes down from heaven: 09:54 the executive judgment... the execution of the judgment. 09:58 And everything on earth that is a sin or a sinner is destroyed 10:04 and God creates a new heaven and a new earth. 10:09 Daniel 7:9-14 prophesies 10:13 the investigative judgment, and we know 10:16 that Daniel also talks about this little horn power 10:20 that is going to tramp on the daily services 10:23 of Christ's heavenly daily priestly ministry. 10:28 From history we know this little horn power... 10:32 There was a time of persecution that began in 538 AD 10:36 when it became not just a religious power 10:39 but a political power. 10:41 And this religio-political power 10:45 that began in 538 AD reigned with persecution 10:50 during the Dark Ages till 1798 AD. 10:53 But we know from scripture 10:55 that the investigative judgment is going to take place 10:59 after this. This is all a review. 11:03 Now, the most important thing 11:09 that we learned yesterday 11:11 is the grace of the investigative judgment 11:15 because the Bible says 11:19 God will rule in favor of the saints. 11:23 So what we're going to do today having that foundation... 11:27 We concluded yesterday speaking of Daniel 8:14, 11:33 and I want you to open your Bibles, please. 11:35 In Daniel 8:14 we see this little horn power 11:40 that is trampling down the daily services - 11:43 taking the place of Jesus, if you will - 11:49 and Daniel asks this question: 11:54 "How long, O Lord, is this going to go on? " 11:58 In Daniel 8:14 the answer comes. 12:04 "For 2300 days, then the sanctuary will be cleansed. " 12:10 Yesterday we also looked at 12:14 this being the antitypical Day of Atonement. 12:17 The Day of Atonement in the earthly sanctuary services 12:23 with the high priest happened once a year. 12:26 And it was a solemn day that ended in joy for the penitent 12:31 because all the record of their sins was expunged 12:35 and the temple was cleansed. 12:39 But now we are down to trying to figure out 12:45 when does this 2300 days begin. 12:49 This is one of the most important time prophecies 12:52 in the Bible. And we want to know when it begins 12:55 so that we can know... We know that... How long does it last? 13:00 After the 2300 days - excuse me - 13:04 Well, we know if that ends... when it ends 13:07 then we know when the investigative judgment begins 13:10 which lasts how long? 13:13 Right up till the end of probation when God - 13:18 Jesus - stands up and says: "Behold, I'm coming quickly. 13:21 My reward is with Me. " 13:24 So if we can identify in scrip- ture when the 2300 days begin 13:29 and end then we can identify the beginning of the time 13:34 of the cleansing of the sanctuary. 13:36 So what we're going to do is a quick review 13:39 of Bible prophecy. We're going to begin in Daniel 9. 13:43 You know, prophecy is nothing more than history 13:47 written in advance. 13:50 And it tells us what's going to happen before it happens. 13:54 Now what we will apply today is the prophetic principle 13:58 of one day of prophetic time equaling a literal year. 14:04 And I want you to know: Adventist aren't the only ones 14:06 who use this day-for-a-year principle. 14:08 We base that on Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6. 14:13 But the greatest Jewish scholar who ever lived, 14:17 Raschid - he lived from AD 1040 to 1105- 14:20 he translated Daniel 8:14- those 2300 days - 14:26 as 2300 years. 14:28 And so does... Are you all familiar with 14:31 Matthew Henry, the great Protestant scholar. 14:34 He has a commentary that expounds... 14:37 On most pastors' desks you will find the Matthew Henry 14:41 Bible Commentary. 14:43 So Daniel 8:14. 14:45 He said: "For 2300 days 14:49 then the sanctuary will be cleansed. " 14:52 How many years is this? 14:55 2300 years. 14:58 And this activity begins in the time of the ram 15:02 which is Medo-Persia. 15:03 It goes down through Greece then Rome, the little horn power, 15:08 and right up to the point where the investigative judgment 15:12 begins... this cleansing of the temple. 15:14 It's obvious if it's going to cover all this time period 15:17 it's obvious that it can't be literal days 15:20 because 2300 days would be less than seven years. 15:23 But it is a day-for-a-year principle. 15:26 Now let's look at Daniel chapter 9 and verse 24. 15:35 Daniel 9 and verse 24. 15:37 "Seventy weeks are determined. " 15:41 And in the Greek that word determined is tatchuk. 15:44 Cut off... cut off. 15:47 From what? See, in Daniel and in prophecy 15:51 we see this idea of recapitulation 15:54 where it is repeat and enlarge. 15:56 So we have the vision in Daniel 7 of the Ancient of Days 16:00 being seated and the books being opened. 16:03 Then Daniel 8 tells us how long the war goes on. 16:07 And now we're about to come to the time of when will this 16:11 investigative judgment begin. 16:14 So Daniel 9 is repeating and enlarging. 16:17 And he says: "Seventy weeks are determined for your people. " 16:22 They are cut off 16:24 from this 2300 period... of... days. 16:29 They are "determined for your people, " talking to the Jews, 16:33 "for your holy city... " Jerusalem... 16:35 "to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, 16:38 to make reconciliation for iniquity, 16:41 to bring in everlasting righteousness, 16:43 to seal up the vision in prophecy, 16:46 and to anoint the Most Holy. " 16:50 This 70 weeks... How many years would that be? 16:54 How many days are in a week? 16:56 There's seven days in a week times 70 weeks... 17:00 that's 490 years. This is a probationary period 17:06 for the Jews, during which time what do you think is happening? 17:11 If God is watching for them to finish transgression, 17:18 to do all of these things, what's happening during these 17:21 490 years? 17:23 God's investigating their records. 17:27 He's investigating their deeds if you will. 17:30 So He's trying to see if they will line up... 17:34 if their works will be proof of their profession. 17:38 But it's cut off from this 2300-day period. 17:41 This is an allotted time - a period of grace - 17:46 for the Jews. And He's wanting the Jewish nation 17:50 to line up with His purpose for calling them as a people. 17:55 Now look at verse 25... Daniel 9:25. 17:59 This is an amazing prophecy because it foretells the coming 18:03 and the time of the Messiah. 18:06 He says: "Know therefore and understand 18:09 that from the going forth of the command to restore 18:12 and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince 18:16 there shall be seven weeks 18:20 and sixty-two weeks... " 18:23 Let me explain something here. 18:26 This seven-week period is that first one that he was talking 18:30 about. And then when he says: "and sixty-two... " essentially 18:35 he's saying: "there will be 7 weeks + 62 weeks. " 18:39 So 69 weeks which would be 483 literal years. 18:44 And he said: "The streets shall be built again 18:47 and the wall... even in troublous times. " 18:50 So here he's foretelling 18:54 the very time when Christ will appear and be anointed 19:00 in His ministry. 19:02 There were several decrees that were issued 19:07 to rebuild... two of them for parts of Jerusalem... 19:12 but only one of them qualifies to fulfill what's here 19:16 in Daniel 9:25. 19:18 Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the temple. 19:22 Darius basically reinstated the same decree that Cyrus 19:28 had issued. But Artaxerxes I 19:32 is the one who decreed to both rebuild all of Jerusalem 19:38 and restore it, providing self-governance for Jerusalem 19:43 and the political autonomy... 19:46 religious autonomy and political autonomy. 19:49 So only the decree that is given by Artaxerxes 19:53 can meet the qualifications. So now we've got a beginning date. 19:58 This decree has been determined - 20:02 it's recorded and if you want to put a little note there... 20:06 If you're marking your Bible, right there in Daniel chapter 9 20:11 write down Ezra 7:12-26 20:16 because that is the decree and it was dated 20:20 at 457 BC. 20:23 So the 2300 days begins in 457 BC 20:29 because the 70 weeks begins... 20:33 and that 70 weeks is just lopped off from the front. 20:37 It's cut off for the Jews. 20:39 And guess what? As prophesied 20:43 for the very first seven-week prophetic period 20:47 when he said seven weeks, the rebuilding of Jerusalem 20:53 happened in exactly 7 prophetic weeks or 49 literal years. 20:59 It was completed in 408 BC. 21:03 And then Daniel 9 also prophesied that the Messiah 21:08 would come after the 69th week 21:10 which is 483 years from the issuance of the decree. 21:14 And as prophesied... You take 457; 21:18 you add 483 years; 21:21 you come to AD 27. 21:24 And what happened in AD 27? 21:28 Jesus was baptized. 21:30 He was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit. 21:35 Now Daniel 9:26 says this: 21:40 "After the sixty-two weeks... " 21:43 This is... What's going to be after the 62nd week? 21:48 I'm going to trick you here. 21:50 Remember you've got to have the seven weeks first 21:52 plus the sixty-two weeks. 21:55 So after the sixty-two weeks... those two total 69. 21:59 What comes after those 62 weeks? 22:01 The 70th week. 22:03 See, this prophecy is all time sequential. 22:08 It's talking about different portions but it's all 22:12 in a straight line. It is sequential weeks. 22:16 So when he says: "after the sixty-two weeks" 22:19 he's referring to the 70th week 22:22 because we've got to remember that previous seven weeks 22:24 rebuilding Jerusalem. 22:26 He says this then: 22:28 "Messiah shall be cut off. " 22:32 This is a different verb than when he said the 70 weeks 22:37 would be cut off. 22:40 This... When it says 70 weeks will be cut off 22:43 it's means literally it's just like OK we're apportioning this. 22:47 But here when he says "Messiah shall be cut off" 22:51 the Hebrew verb is KRT 22:56 and it is directly linked to the Levitical sacrificial system. 23:02 So it says: "Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself. 23:07 And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy 23:11 the city and the sanctuary. 23:12 The end of it shall be with a flood until the end of the war 23:16 desolations are determined. " 23:19 Messiah shall be cut off in the middle of the week we see here 23:24 in just a minute. Let me see, I've got that out of order 23:27 but it goes on in a minute to tell us that 23:29 just as the prophecy foretells. 23:35 How was Jesus cut off? 23:39 He was crucified 3-1/2 years into His ministry. 23:44 In AD 31 23:47 He was cut off at the cruel cross of Calvary 23:51 and sacrifice and offering came to an end. 23:57 His perfect sacrifice once for all 24:00 ended all of the Mosaic law of rituals and ceremonies. 24:06 Christ was the fulfillment of all of these. 24:10 They were the types... the shadows. 24:14 He is the antitype. 24:16 He is the body that cast the shadow. 24:20 So what an incredible time prophecy 24:24 Daniel 9:24-26 is. 24:28 But Messiah - although He was cut off 24:32 in the middle of that ministry, 24:37 earthly ministry - His heavenly ministry just began. 24:42 At His ascension, Christ went and inaugurated 24:46 the new covenant with His blood. 24:48 He began His priestly ministry 24:50 by anointing a Most Holy Place: the heavenly sanctuary. 24:56 Let me just read to you real quickly. 24:58 Hebrew 9:18-22 says: 25:00 "Therefore not even the first covenant 25:03 was dedicated without blood. 25:05 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people 25:08 according to the law he took the blood of calves and goats 25:11 with water, scarlet, wool, and hyssop 25:14 and sprinkled both the book... the book of the law, 25:18 the book of the covenant itself... " 25:20 He sprinkled the book... "and all of the people saying 25:23 'this is the blood of the covenant which God has 25:25 commanded you. ' Then likewise he sprinkled with 25:28 blood the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 25:32 And according to the law, almost all things are purified 25:35 with blood and without the shedding of blood 25:39 there is no remission. " 25:41 So Jesus went to the heavenly sanctuary 25:44 and inaugurated that new covenant. 25:49 Now look at verse 27... Daniel 9:27. 25:53 Again, this is a repeat and enlarge. 25:56 He says: "Then He shall confirm a covenant with many 25:59 for one week. " We're still talking about the 70th week 26:03 in which Jesus was cut off in the middle. 26:05 How did Jesus confirm? And he goes on to explain that. 26:09 He says: "In the middle of the week He shall bring an end 26:11 to sacrifice and offering. " 26:13 That's the scripture I was looking for. 26:16 How did Jesus? After He was cut off in the middle of this week 26:22 how did He confirm the covenant 26:27 for the remainder of that 70th week? 26:30 For those 3-1/2 years what happened? 26:34 Well, at His direction His disciples went only 26:39 to the Jews for those first 3-1/2 years after His ministry. 26:45 They fulfilled the remaining 3-1/2 years. 26:50 Listen to what Hebrews 2:3 says. 26:53 They confirmed the covenant. Hebrews 2:3 says: 26:57 "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation 27:00 which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord 27:04 and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. " 27:08 It wasn't until Stephen was stoned 27:12 3-1/2 years later when Christ called Paul 27:17 to take the gospel to the Gentiles. 27:21 So everything in this time prophecy, 27:24 everything about these seventy weeks, 27:28 this special time of probation for the Jewish nation 27:32 to finish their transgressions, 27:34 everything was fulfilled. 27:36 And guess what happened at the end of the seventy weeks? 27:40 An investigative judgment. God saw the Jews, 27:45 weighed them in His balance, 27:49 and found that they were wanting. 27:52 So from Paul's day forward 27:54 to be part of God's chosen people 27:58 means that... doesn't mean any more 28:00 that you have to be a literal descendant of Abraham 28:06 because God now changed 28:10 who make up that group. 28:13 So we see that the 70 weeks - those 490 years 28:18 that were cut off from the beginning of the 2300 days - 28:23 they ended in AD 34. 28:27 So if we can determine how many years we have left 28:30 we can figure out the date for the end of the 2300-day 28:34 time prophecy. And when we know the end 28:38 of the date of the 2300-day time prophecy 28:41 we know when investigative judgment begins. 28:45 So let's look at it. 28:47 If the end of Israel's probation took us to AD 34, 28:55 if you take 490 from... 29:00 from 2300... minus 490... 29:04 If you can't do the math real quick I'll just tell you. 29:06 It's 1810 years left. 29:08 So 1810 years remained 29:12 from the time that Stephen was stoned 29:16 that the Jews were no longer considered God's chosen people 29:21 and that the Gentiles... It was only those who 29:24 were looking to Christ. 29:27 So AD 34... you add 1810 years, 29:31 where are we? 29:33 1810 plus... 29:38 to AD 34... that brings us to what? Say it out loud. 29:43 1844! I'm sorry I don't have some graphics for you. 29:47 But you know, when we sit down and talk about this with people 29:50 you need to make little notes in your Bible 29:52 'cause you're not always going to have a graph or a chart. 29:55 And this is an incredibly-important teaching. 29:59 It's an incredibly-important teaching. 30:02 So it brings us right to the time 30:05 of 1844. 30:09 All of this is found in Daniel 9:24-27. 30:13 Israel's time of probation 30:16 was determined as those seventy prophetic weeks: 30:19 490 years. 30:21 The prophecy is explained as a sequence of uninterrupted 30:25 weeks. That is so important. 30:29 You know what I was taught 30:31 in my early Christian experience? 30:34 That the 70th week was lopped off and taken down here 30:40 to the end of time somehow. 30:42 That's where you get all the left behind theories. 30:45 If you want to be able to minister 30:48 to people who believe that, 30:51 you need to learn how to explain this. 30:55 You don't have to have a chart. You can just make little notes. 30:59 Really effective just to set out and have a piece of paper 31:03 and just show them. I mean, do a little addition/subtraction 31:05 so they can understand it. 31:07 So that time prophecy was divided into the first 7 weeks, 31:13 62 weeks, and the final week: 490 years. 31:17 So based on knowing 31:21 that the 70 weeks began in 457. 31:25 They were cut off from the 2300 years. 31:29 It makes sense to then know that the 2300 years 31:34 began in 457. 31:37 It takes us right up to 1844. 31:41 That's the beginning of the investigative judgment. 31:44 The cleansing of the sanctuary began in 1844. 31:49 It is another probationary period for God's people. 31:54 This time for His new covenant people. 31:59 And once again God is challenging us. 32:02 Just as He said to them: "I'm giving you these 70 weeks, 32:05 these 490 years to lead a holy life" 32:08 God is once more challenging us 32:10 saying: "During this investigative judgment 32:14 it's the same thing. " 32:15 God's challenging His people to lead a holy life 32:19 and to do works that prove the profession of faith. 32:24 When does our probation end? 32:28 It ends when Jesus stands up 32:31 when the angel says: 32:33 "Let him who is filthy be filthy still. 32:38 Let him who is unjust be unjust still. 32:40 Let him who is righteous be righteous still 32:42 and he who is holy be holy still. " 32:44 In other words: "Time's up! 32:46 Ally ally in free. " 32:49 If only... if only. 32:52 So Jesus then stands up and says "Behold I am coming quickly 32:57 and My reward is in... 33:01 is... I'm going to give My reward to everyone 33:03 according to their work. " 33:04 That's when the probationary period closes on earth. 33:10 But I want to read you something. 33:13 Luke 12:19-20 33:16 says something a little different. 33:18 This is a foolish person 33:22 who says: "I'll say to myself 33:24 'Ah, I have plenty of good things laid up for many years. 33:28 I can take life easy: eat, drink, and be merry. ' 33:31 But God said to him: 'You fool. 33:35 This very night your life will be demanded from you. 33:39 Then who will get what you've prepared for yourself? ' " 33:43 See, probation may continue till the end of time 33:50 for God's chosen people but individuals... 33:54 their probation is closed when they breathe that last breath. 34:00 As long as you've got a breath in you you've got a chance. 34:04 And I know someone whose father recently accepted Christ 34:10 maybe 5 minutes before he died. 34:13 And you think: "What a joy 34:17 that is for the family to have that blessed hope. " 34:21 But what a wasted life. 34:24 How sad that he had to live in the sin and degradation 34:30 that he lived in right up to the end time. 34:33 And if we understand the joy of investigative judgment 34:40 which we're getting to 34:42 we will be able to go out and explain to people 34:45 not with that lash of fear and saying, you know, 34:50 a fear-driven thing that "this is the time of 34:53 probationary judgment. You've got to be holy. " 34:58 No! That doesn't win anybody over. 35:00 What wins people over is when you go out and say 35:04 "This is the time of the end. It has been prophesied; 35:07 time is coming to an end. " 35:10 Did you know that time did not exist before the world began? 35:16 The Bible says that in several places. 35:18 And finally physicists... About 15 years ago 35:24 physicists finally determined 35:28 that time didn't exist before our world was created. 35:33 So time's running out; it's the time of God's grace. 35:38 It's a time of mercy during this investigative judgment. 35:42 God is reviewing individual cases, 35:45 and what He is looking for is to see whether or not 35:50 they have accepted His attempt to save them. 35:55 Have they accepted justification by grace? 35:59 Have they accepted sanctification by grace? 36:04 A new heart from the Lord? 36:07 The books are open, and it's not just judging the saints. 36:12 Do you remember what we talked about yesterday? 36:17 I think we talked about it. 36:19 In the times of the Hebrews the judge 36:24 was also the defense attorney. 36:27 Did you know that? 36:30 So we see God seated as judge, 36:34 the Ancient of Days, then we have 36:38 the Son of Man coming... 36:41 the Son of Man who stands as our advocate, 36:44 our intercessor. 36:46 He's coming before God. God is anxious to defend you, 36:52 but He's looking at your works to see 36:56 if your profession of faith lines up... 37:00 if your works line up with your profession of faith. 37:03 See, the good news: the joy of the investigative judgment 37:08 is God's on your side! 37:10 This judgment is predominantly vindicatory. 37:16 That's a big word, isn't it? 37:18 Vindicatory... it vindicates God's saints. 37:24 Satan, the accuser, has been accusing all along. 37:27 "They don't deserve salvation. 37:29 They don't deserve it; they've broken Your law. " 37:32 And God is saying: "Ah, they've accepted My Son. 37:38 For I so loved the world that I gave My only begotten Son 37:41 and I demonstrated My love for you in this: 37:44 that while you were yet sinners I sent Him to die for you. 37:47 How much more do you think I'll do for you now? " 37:50 Oh, we've got to give up this idea 37:53 of "Oh, the investigative judgment. " 37:57 It is all about vindicating God's saints 38:01 and vindicating God's reputation. 38:04 God is very anxious to vindicate His reputation, 38:08 to vindicate His character. 38:11 You know, Satan is the one who began all of the lies about God: 38:16 that He was 38:22 an angry, judgmental God 38:28 who expected too much out of people. 38:31 And all of these lies have... Well I certainly inherited them. 38:35 Oh, I feared God the Father. 38:38 How I feared the Father. I loved Jesus growing up, 38:42 but all you had to mention was God the Father 38:45 and it struck a note of fear in my heart. 38:48 Because I thought the Ancient of Days was sitting on 38:51 His holy throne watching me just ready to zap me the second 38:56 He saw me do something wrong. 38:58 I was taught that if I wasn't perfect 39:01 God wouldn't love me. 39:03 And you know what that does? 39:07 That will send you hightailing. 39:10 I tried so hard to be a good girl. 39:14 Ooh... I tried to work out my salvation with fear and 39:18 trembling. But rules without relationship 39:22 results in rebellion. And I finally got to the point 39:25 that I said: "I can't do it, God. You expect too much 39:28 out of me. Adios. " 39:31 And I turned my back on God for two years. 39:34 It was like the fool who said: "Let me eat, drink, 39:39 and be merry. " I mean, why not? 39:42 "I've been such a good girl all through high school 39:45 and through college and everything and it was like 39:47 "I can't please You, Lord. " 39:49 What a lie! And I bought in to this deceitful lie. 39:55 But what God is doing is He is vindicating His judgment 40:01 before all of the angels and the heavenly intelligences. 40:04 He's vindicating His character. 40:08 This is an investigative judgment about grace! 40:13 All about grace. 40:15 Now yes, our works... 40:19 Jesus says: "I'm going to give to everyone a reward 40:22 according to their works. " So everybody always says 40:26 "Right there... see? We're judged by works. " 40:31 Let me tell you something: 40:33 Yes we are... 40:35 because works prove what you do. 40:39 Works are your duty. 40:41 And you can say Jesus is your Savior, 40:44 you can go out and do ministry even, 40:49 and the day may come when the Lord says 40:52 "Depart from Me; I never knew you 40:54 you who practice lawlessness. " 40:58 See, salvation is only by grace, 41:04 not grace + works. Please hear me. 41:08 It is only by grace. 41:11 But if you understand the gifts of God's grace 41:15 you'll understand the effects of God's grace. 41:18 The three greatest gifts of grace are Jesus Christ our Lord 41:23 and Savior; the Holy Spirit; 41:26 and the Word of God. 41:29 And when the Spirit is working in you... 41:32 Yes, Paul says: "Work out your own salvation 41:36 with fear and trembling. " 41:37 but in the very next verse - Hebrews 2:13- he says: 41:41 "Not in your own strength for it is God who works in you 41:46 to will and to do His good pleasure. " 41:48 Our job is simply to surrender... 41:51 to pick up our cross every day and die to self. 41:54 And we can't even do that by ourself. 41:56 We've got to have the Holy Spirit. 41:58 But the good news is that 42:04 if we will receive Christ as our Savior, our Redeemer, 42:08 our Deliverer, 42:09 if we will accept His sub- stitutionary death at the cross 42:14 for us, if we will accept His ministry as our High Priest 42:19 in the Most Holy Place, 42:20 we're saved. 42:23 Do you have assurance of salvation today? 42:26 Let me ask you that. 42:28 I hope you do. 42:30 I John 5:10-13 says 42:33 that anyone who does not accept the testimony of God 42:38 is regarding Him as a liar. 42:41 And then He says: "This is the testimony: 42:45 he who has the Son has life; 42:48 he who does not have the Son does not have life. " 42:53 If you are abiding in Christ, 42:56 you have assurance of salvation. 42:58 It is not once saved always saved. 43:01 And I've got to go quickly because I've got to get 43:04 a balance in here. Usually at least when I talk with people 43:09 usually when they think of the investigative judgment 43:13 they are only concentrating on the penal part... 43:18 the punishment. 43:21 Right now we are concentrating on the grace which far outweighs 43:25 that, but I have to get that penal part in here 43:29 because otherwise I'm not teaching a whole truth. 43:34 But the joy of investigative judgment is that we have 43:38 a benevolent judge, the righteous Father, 43:41 who serves as our defense attorney. 43:46 This is a message of exceeding promise 43:50 of God's mercy, His grace, and His hope. 43:53 It's deliverance of sin. 43:57 Our only hope to stand in the investigative judgment 44:01 is to stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 44:06 There is nothing you can do to make yourself righteous. 44:10 I don't care if you pray four hours a day, 44:13 if you study the Bible six hours a day, 44:18 you cannot make yourself righteous by your works. 44:21 It is only the robe of righteousness that Jesus Christ 44:26 gives us that will make us righteous. 44:29 It's the only solid ground that we have to stand on. 44:34 And the good news is: salvation is by grace. 44:39 But now let's take a moment to talk about the penal aspect. 44:43 Because if we were looking at the Day of Atonement... 44:48 What happened for God's people during the Day of Atonement? 44:51 How did it end? 44:53 Do you think it ended on a joyous note 44:56 when the sanctuary was cleansed? 44:58 When their sins were expunged? 45:01 Ah, it was a day of great celebration 45:05 if you were one of the penitent. 45:07 But how did it end for those who did not humble themselves 45:13 before the Lord who remained rebellious? 45:16 It ended in condemnation and death. 45:19 And likewise, this is what happens in heaven. 45:24 Not all whose names are written in the Book of Life 45:29 will remain faithful. 45:31 See, you get your name written in the Book of Life 45:34 when you accept justification by grace... 45:38 what Christ did for you on the cross. 45:42 But we also have to accept sanctification by grace 45:46 while God does a work in us to sanctify us, 45:50 to separate us from sin. 45:54 And there's ample evidence in scripture that salvation by 45:58 grace can be forfeited. 46:01 People who were once saved can choose to walk away. 46:04 And some names, those of the unfaithful, will be blotted out 46:09 of the Book of Life during the investigative judgment. 46:14 Exodus 32 is the first reference 46:19 we have to this type of activity in heaven. 46:22 Exodus 32:32. 46:28 Moses has just done one of the most amazing things. 46:32 Moses was a type of Christ, 46:34 and Moses has just told the Lord 46:37 "Ah, forgive these people please. 46:40 And if not, I pray Thee blot my name out 46:43 of Your book. " Not theirs... blot mine. 46:46 You know what? I love you guys but I don't know if I love you 46:49 enough yet to ask God to blot my name out 46:52 instead of your names out. 46:55 That's love! 46:56 Moses was saying: "I will suffer eternal death 47:02 for the sake of these people. " 47:06 Do you see how he's a type of Christ in all ways? 47:10 He was a deliverer, and Jesus came and He was willing 47:15 to suffer the second death for us. 47:19 And, you know, God says to Moses in verse 32... 47:23 Let's read... It's actually Moses speaking. He says: 47:28 "Yet now if You will, forgive their sins. 47:31 But if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book 47:35 which You have written. " 47:36 What was the Lord's response? 47:38 The Lord said to Moses: "Whoever has sinned against Me 47:42 I will blot him out of My book. " 47:47 In the Old Testament this is established. 47:50 In the New Testament we have Jesus Himself. 47:53 Turn to Revelation 3:5. 47:56 Revelation 3 and verse 5. 47:58 Because there's not just joy in the investigative judgment... 48:02 there is a sober, sorrowful note 48:06 in the investigative judgment. 48:08 Revelation 3 and verse 5: 48:17 "He who overcomes... " This is Jesus speaking. 48:23 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments 48:29 and I will not blot out his name 48:34 from the Book of Life. " 48:38 What does that infer? 48:41 That if you don't overcome, what's going to happen? 48:45 You will get your name blotted out. 48:50 But Jesus says: "Don't worry; if you overcome 48:54 you'll be clothed in white garments. I'll not 48:57 blot your name out from the Book of Life. 48:59 But I will confess his name before My Father 49:03 and before His angels. " 49:04 See, the sober news of the investigative judgment is this: 49:08 the fate of all will be sealed 49:13 during the investigative judgment. 49:17 The Book of Life will be opened. 49:20 The Book of Remembrance... all the books will be opened. 49:24 And remember... Let me pause; don't let me 49:27 forget where I'm coming back. 49:28 During the Day of Atonement who was judged? 49:34 Only God's people. 49:36 ONLY God's people. 49:38 Non-Israelites were not judged during the Day of Atonement. 49:41 The day of investigative judgment that began in 1844 49:47 when the hour of His judgment began 49:50 it is only God's people who are being investigated. 49:54 Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life. 50:00 But just because you have accepted Christ as your Savior 50:04 does not mean 50:08 that you are going to have eternal life. 50:11 You've got to accept Him as Lord. 50:14 And you know, don't be fearful about this because 50:18 it is all by grace... salvation. 50:22 God wants to do this work in us. 50:25 All we've got to do is say: "OK, Lord. Here I am. " 50:31 What was the scripture that? Do you remember from last night 50:34 anybody? What scripture was it that 50:39 Pastor Dwight Nelson quoted and said that Ellen White said 50:43 to plead before the Lord? 50:44 Ya'll remember that? Last night? Any A students in here? 50:50 What was it? John 6:37. 50:54 Let's read that. 50:56 John 6:37. 51:04 John 6:37. 51:08 'Cause see, as soon as we start talking about punishment 51:11 in the penal phase, guess what? 51:13 Everybody's face changes out here. 51:15 I can read somebody's mind. 51:18 Not really... but I read my own mind. 51:21 And that is that "When you're talking about grace I'll smile; 51:25 when you start talking about punishment it's like... 51:27 ooh, am I in grace or not? " 51:29 You know, isn't it amazing how funny we are. 51:32 John 6:37. 51:35 Let me find it here. 51:39 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, 51:43 and the one who comes to Me 51:46 I will by no means cast out. " 51:50 Hallelujah! You can plead that promise. 51:55 But you know what? You can choose to walk away from God. 51:58 And there is condemnation and eternal death 52:03 for those who choose a life of rebellion and sin. 52:07 You know what? I was reading Matthew 26 52:14 about the ten virgins. 52:16 In scripture, how is the church referred to? 52:21 As a virgin. 52:23 We've got ten virgins in this story: 52:27 five are foolish; five are wise. 52:30 OK. Does this mean they're all in the church? 52:34 That DOES MEAN they're all in the church. 52:38 The five wise have this flask 52:43 of extra oil. What does oil symbolize? 52:46 Holy Spirit. 52:49 Well how did these other five foolish get into the church? 52:53 They all experienced a taste of God's grace. 52:57 The five... all 10 of them experienced justification 53:03 by faith... by grace through faith. 53:10 But the five foolish refused the work of the Holy Spirit 53:16 that they might have sanctification. 53:20 "For this is the will of God" Paul told the Thessalonians: 53:24 "your sanctification. " 53:27 Sanctification by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. 53:31 Sanctification meaning that you're separated from sin. 53:35 And see, when we talk about the wedding guest... 53:40 Remember when Jesus was telling the parable 53:42 about the wedding guest? 53:45 And he got in and the king comes 53:48 and he's looking around and he sees one 53:50 who is not clothed right. 53:54 And the king is saying: "Hmm, I know that I provide... 53:57 I provide clothing. I provide all of my guests 54:01 with wedding clothing. Why doesn't this one have it on? " 54:05 And he goes to him and he says... 54:08 Listen to what he said. He said: 54:10 "Friend, how did you get in here dressed like that? " 54:14 He calls him friend. 54:17 And you know what? If the man had said 54:21 "Lord - or king - I didn't know it was available" 54:26 the good king would have come and said: "Here. " 54:29 But no... the man knew. 54:31 I know he knew because he was speechless. 54:34 He knew he was doing wrong. 54:36 And there's going to be people who think that they can get 54:38 to heaven but they're not going to make it. 54:43 Peter writes this. He says: 54:45 "Therefore beloved, since you know this beforehand 54:49 beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, 54:53 being led away with the error of the wicked. 54:57 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of 55:00 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. " 55:04 One way or the other, all... 55:06 fate is going to be sealed there 55:11 in the investigative judgment. 55:13 And then the angel stands up and says 55:16 "He who is unjust let him be unjust still. 55:21 If he didn't take this time of probation, 55:24 if he was like the old ancient Israelites, 55:27 through their 490 years of probation 55:29 they didn't put an end to transgression... 55:32 they wouldn't accept what God's plan was for their life, 55:36 OK, time's up. " 55:39 "Ready or not... here I come. " 55:43 But those who are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus 55:46 Christ, those who are looking to Jesus, 55:50 know that He will in no wise cast you out. 55:56 You've got to let go of His hand. 56:01 God began the 2300-day prophecy by cutting off 70 weeks 56:05 for His old covenant people. 490 probationary years. 56:09 At the conclusion of this time prophecy in 1844 56:12 He introduced a probationary period for His new covenant 56:16 people. We seem to think it's been a long time 56:18 but so far it's only been 170 years... not quite. 56:23 See, II Peter says this 56:26 chapter 3 verses 8-9. 56:28 "Beloved, do not forget this one thing: that with the Lord 56:32 one day is as a thousand years 56:34 and a thousand years as one day. 56:36 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise 56:39 as some count slackness but is longsuffering 56:42 toward us... not willing that any should perish 56:46 but that all should come to repentance. " 56:48 We can't become complacent 56:51 'cause we're not promised a certain time. 56:54 The last events will be rapid. 56:57 But we can have joy in our heart knowing 56:59 that at that time "Michael will stand up" 57:02 the great Prince who watches over the sons of His people, 57:05 and He is going to wake people from the dust of the earth. 57:10 The investigative judgment is complete. 57:14 He's going to raise up His children 57:18 in that first resurrection 57:20 and take them to heaven by grace. 57:24 It is all by grace. 57:25 There is joy in the investigative judgment. |
Revised 2014-12-17