Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT

1. The American judicial system provides:
   1. An investigation of the case in question;
   2. To establish the innocence or the guilt of the accused in accordance with the law of the land.
   3. To render a final verdict of guilt or innocence.
2. That is one reason why certain cases are prolonged a long time, consuming much time and means:

1. There are record books in heaven:
   1. There is the book of record - Compare Rev. 20:11, 12 with Dan. 7:9, 10; Ps. 87:1-6; 139:1-16
   2. There is the book of remembrance written for God's children - Mal. 3:16, 17
   3. And there is the book of life - Rev. 20:11-14; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 21:27; 22:19
2. The angels open the books during the investigative judgment: Dan. 7:9-11
   1. They evidently take a daily record of my life and your life - Eccl. 5:6; Gen. 18:17-33; 19:1-33
   2. They, at times, execute the judgment of God upon the wicked - Acts 12:20-24; Isa. 37:36
3. The investigative judgment begins:
   1. With the righteous dead - Compare 1 Pet. 4:17, 18 with Rev. 11:19
   2. Continues with the righteous living - 1 Pet. 4:17, 18; Rev. 11:19
   3. It will end with the examination of the record of the wicked during the Millennium - Compare Dan. 7:22 with 1 Cor. 6:1-4; Rev. 20:1-9

1. God has set this part of the judgment and announces the very hour when it would begin:
   1. A day was appointed - Acts 17:31
   2. The hour of the judgment is given - Rev. 14:6, 7
2. God's standard by which all will be judged:
   1. The law of the Ten Commandments - Eccl. 12:12-14; Jas. 2:8- 11
   2. According to the gospel of Christ - Rom. 2:16
3. The investigative judgment of the righteous dead proceeds during the proclamation of the everlasting gospel:
   1. The Three Angels' message is proclaimed during the sixth seal spoken of in Rev. 10:7
   2. It is during this time that the gospel or restoration, including the weekly Sabbath, is proclaimed in all the world - Rev. 14:6-12; Isa. 56:1-7; 58:12-14; Acts 3:21
   3. We have now lived over one hundred years.
   4. We have no way of knowing when the investigative work will begin with the righteous living.
4. This is certain that we are living in the closing days of the work of the gospel. Soon, very soon, our Lord will leave the heavenly sanctuary and the hour of probation will have ended: Rev. 22:1-14
5. Jesus will come and bring with him the findings of the investigative judgment - our final reward: Rev. 22:12
6. How will it affect you and me?
7. When we compare Dan. 8:13, 14 with Rev. 10:5, and chapter 14:6, 7, we must conclude that the investigative phase of the judgment began in 1844 or at the end of the 2300 days.