The 2300-Year Prophecy – In God’s Courtroom (16)

Every human has a sense of a coming judgement, the Bible prophecy confirms beyond doubt that this is true. In 1844 Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary to begin an investigative the judgment, in preparation to His second Advent. In the judgment, the Father presides, and Christ is our Advocate.  The Judgment is the culmination of the Cross and the climax of the Atonement. Christ will here “engage in the last acts of his ministration in behalf of man, to perform the work of investigative Judgment, and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits”. This event as experienced those in the Millerite movement, was marked in history as The story of the Great Disappointment of 1844, how they arrived at such a date will also be shown here.

We previously learned that God determined, literally “cut-off” or allotted Daniel’s people 490years to get themselves ready for Christ first arrival, what was to be their special work together with God? Daniel 9:24

“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

What time prophecy was the foundation of the Millerite movement from which the 490years were cut-off from? Daniel 8:14

“14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

What did a day in prophecy mean again? Numbers 14:34

“34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.” (See also Ezekiel 4:6.)

What is the reliability of the prophecy, and was it be fulfilled in Daniel’s time? Daniel 8:17, 26

“17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. .. 26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.”

Who was entrusted of making the vision understandable to Daniel? Daniel 8:15-16

“15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”

Who informed Mary of her role in its initial fulfilment over 400years later? Luke 1:26-27

“26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

What was Daniel’s reaction to the information? Daniel 8:27

“27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.”

Daniel’s physical strength gave way when Gabril unfolded the terrible persecution that would befall the church. He remained sick some days for this reason. Gabriel suspended the discourse and returned later in chapter 9 to recommence it.

Which vision is referred to here of which Gabril seeks to upskill Daniel? Daniel 9:21-23

“21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.”

What information did Gabriel unfold to Daniel relating to that vision? Daniel 9:2-25

“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

Daniel is provided with a starting point and a timeline specifically allotted to his people. Gabriel makes clear that the 70 weeks and 2300 days have the same start date, therefore because the beginning is 457 BC, the end would be 1844 AD.

What event was to take place according to the prophecy? Daniel 8:14

“14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

What involved cleansing the earthly sanctuary? Leviticus 16:15-16, 19, 29-30

“15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. … 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. … 29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.”

Were the earthly sanctuary and all these services still in use in 1844? Matthew 27:50-51

“50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

The moment Jesus did, the earthly sanctuary stopped to be in use, as indicated in the rending of the veil rent from top to bottom by an unseen hand.

Where then was the sanctuary spoken of located? Hebrews 9:22-23

“22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”

The common view at the time was that the earth was the sanctuary, hence most people erroneously thought its cleansing would be at Christ’s second coming.

Indeed Christ did come, not to earth, but to the last compartment in the heavenly sanctuary; what was His final work there?  Daniel 7:9-10, 13

“9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels asburning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. … 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” (See also 1 John 2:1, and Leviticus 16:29, informing us that the ceremony that normally took place in connection with the most Holy Place is the Day of Atonement, here synonymous with Judgment.)

If the Son of man is Christ, who is the Ancient of Days, who He came to? Psalm 90:2

“2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

Who are those ministering unto, or serving the Ancient is Days? Revelation 5:11

“11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;”

How did Christ illustrate what the investigative judgment involves? Matthew 22:9-14

“9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (See also Revelation 19:8 and Isaiah 64:6 which combined teach us that wedding garment represent the God’s character which He offers to all. )

But does not God’s investigative Judgment take place at the Second Coming; or what comes first? Revelation 14:6-7, 14

“6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. … 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.”

The investigative part of the Judgment takes place in heaven and is established prior to the Second Coming, how can we know Christ will  execute it at His return? Revelation 22:11-12

“11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

What was opened?  Daniel 7:9-10, 13

“10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

What is written in the books that are opened in the Judgment?  Revelation 20:12

“12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

Where is recorded the things taking place in the assembly of those that fear God? Malachi 3:16

“16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” (See also Psalm 56:8.)

How many of our works will appear in the Judgment?Ecclesiastes 12:14

“14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Will anyone be exempt from investigation? 2 Corinthians 5:10

“10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (See also Romans 14:10)

Is this investigation completed in groups? Romans 14:12

“11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Who will be victorious in the judgment? 1 John 1:9-2:2

“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

What does Jesus do in the Most Holy Place for those that have their sins confessed and forsaken before the judgment has ended? 1 John 2:1-2

“1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

We have seen that Jesus will be our Advocate, but who is the accuser? Revelation 12:10

“9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Does God give us an example of this? Zechariah 3:1-5

“1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.”

Jesus wants to be our Defender, but He can only remove those sins that we have repented of, what happens if we hold on to our sins? Exodus 32:33

“33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”

We don’t know when our turn will come, but what do we know? 1 Timothy 5:24

“24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.“

Knowing this then, what must we ask God to helps us continually be? Acts 3:19-20

“19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:”

What will be the joy and privilege of those who are converted? Revelation 3:5

“5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (See also Luke 10:19-20, showing what we should rejoice in.)

What will indicate the end of the investigative judgment? Revelation 15:4-5, 8; 16:1

“4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: .. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. .. 1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”

Friend,

Do you understand that Christ’s present work in the heavenly sanctuary involves the investigation of your life and that this judgment will be completed before Christ comes to bring his rewards? Is it your desire for sin to be overcome in your life and blotted out of your record in heaven?

Claim never failing His promise today: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)