The ON-GOING INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT?
THE FOCUS OF OUR STUDY: REV 4 and 5
Prayer Thought:
The Lord will bless all who will seek humbly and meekly to understand that which is revealed in the Revelation. This book contains so much that is large with immortality and full of glory that all who read and search it earnestly receive the blessing to those “that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation—that the connection between God and His people is close and decided. {FLB 345.3}
When we understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. {FLB 345.4}
The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to be closely studied. It is of great importance to those who shall act a part in the work of God for these last days. There are some who are deceived. They do not realize what is coming on the earth. Those who have permitted their minds to become beclouded in regard to what constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive according to their works. {9T 267.1}
DOOR IN HEAVEN
Revelation 4:1-2
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
This door was not opened until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the holy place of the sanctuary in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut the door of the holy place, and opened the door into the most holy, and passed within the second veil, where He now stands by the ark, and where the faith of Israel now reaches. {EW 42.1}
THE DOOR
ANOTHER PROOF THAT IT WAS IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY
Revelation 4:5….there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. {1SM 125.1)
So, the context of Rev. 4 and 5 is about the INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT IN 1844
WHAT DOES THIS NOISE MEAN?
Revelation 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices.
That is sound of investigation
What is the voice of God?
Job 40:9
— Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Job 37:5
— God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
Psalm 77:18
—The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
VOICES represent the voice of ANGELS AND 24 elders
Revelation 5:2 - ANGELS
Revelation 4:11 - four and twenty elders
Court
Judge
Jury
Attorney
Accuser
Accuse
Witnesses
Evidences
GOD THE FATHER - The Judge
Revelation 4:3
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
The Lamb - Attorney or Mediator
Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Revelation 5:6 LAMB HAS SEVEN HORNS, SEVEN EYES AND SEVEN SPIRITS
VERSE 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
7 means completeness AA 585.3
7 horns - complete power
7 eyes - complete vision
7 spirits - complete guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT
24 Elders - worship God
Revelation 4:10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
24 Elders - Jury
Revelation 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Jury---noun [ C, + sing/pl verb ] UK /ˈdʒʊə.ri/ US /ˈdʒʊr.i/
a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide if a person is guilty or not guilty, or if a claim has been proved:
24 elders are the resurrected saints during the resurrection of JESUS
MATT 27:52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Those risen ones differed in stature and form, some being more noble in appearance than others. I was informed that the inhabitants of earth had been degenerating, losing their strength and comeliness. Satan has the power of disease and death, and with every age the effects of the curse have been more visible, and the power of Satan more plainly seen. Those who lived in the days of Noah and Abraham resembled the angels in form, comeliness, and strength. But every succeeding generation have been growing weaker and more subject to disease, and their life has been of shorter duration. Satan has been learning how to annoy and enfeeble the race. {EW 184.2}
When He arose a victor over death and the grave, while the earth was reeling and the glory of heaven shone around the sacred spot, many of the righteous dead, obedient to His call, came forth as witnesses that He had risen. Those favored, risen saints came forth glorified. They were chosen and holy ones of every age, from creation down even to the days of Christ. Thus while the Jewish leaders were seeking to conceal the fact of Christ's resurrection, God chose to bring up a company from their graves to testify that Jesus had risen, and to declare His glory. {EW 184.1}
Accuser - Satan
Revelation 12:10
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.
Angels - Witnesses
Revelation 5:11
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.
Pen of Inspiration
Opposite each name in the books of Heaven is entered, with terrible exactness, every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling.
Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel. {GC88 481.3}
Book - Evidences - The Book of Life
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Who are these four beasts?
Revelation 4:6-8 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
The FOUR BEASTS PRAISE AND WORSHIP GOD
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The FOUR BEASTS GIVE GLORY AND HONOR TO GOD
Revelation 4:9
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
The FOUR BEASTS and 24 ELDERS ARE BOTH REDEEMED BY GOD
Revelation 5:8-9 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
24 ELDER AND THE FOUR BEASTS ARE PEOPLE
The four beasts - The Accused
SYMBOLS OF ALL THE SAVED ONES OR SAINTS FROM BEGINNING OF TIME UNTIL THE END OF EARTH’S HISTORY
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection, the Judgment of the wicked dead takes place. The righteous reign as kings and priests unto God; and in union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. {4SP 475.2}
Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
SEA means ETERNITY and crystal means PURITY
Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
FULL OF EYES means they have enough light or truth (Mat. 6:22)
before and behind - past, present and future
Daniel 7:17
BEAST represents kingdom(nations and peoples) and period of time
example (Daniel 7:4)
beast (LION) - represents kingdom of Babylon , it includes the nations that he conquered
605 BC- 538 BC
PERIOD OF TIME and SAVED ONES
Lion (Beginning) ----- Calf (Sacrificial System -Moses' Time)
Calf (from Moses) ----- Face like a Man (Christ)
Face like a Man (from Christ) ----- Eagle (Translation)
First beast was like lion
Second beast like a calf
Third beast had a face as a man
JUDGMENT of the Dead
Fourth beast was like a flying EAGLE
JUDGMENT of the LIVING
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:
SIX WINGS mean sixth period of the SEAL
Court in heaven
Judge - God the Father
Jury - the 24 Elders
Lawyer - Jesus
Accuser - Satan
Accused - The Four beasts
Witnesses - Angels
Evidences - Books
SOLEMN REMINDERS
Not all the names that stand registered in the church books will at last appear in the Lamb’s book of life. There are tares among the wheat. There are betrayers, accusers, traitors, in the camp. These will wound, misrepresent, and falsely accuse you. They are false brethren, meddlesome and indiscrete, stumbling-blocks to others. They are doing a work for Satan far more successfully than if they were not connected with the church. Some who have not spiritual discernment will fail to distinguish between the false and the true, and will highly esteem those who have no connection with God. { RH January 8, 1884, par. 15 }