Is the Investigative Judgement biblical, or did Ellen White just make that up?

So, this blog is in no way meant to be a comprehensive, exhaustive study on the Investigative Judgment. There are plenty of other materials from smarter, more well-versed scholars. BUT since you're still reading this, I'm guessing you're interested enough to know more about it.
Thanks for pickin' a winner. ;)

First of all. . . 
Many people don't know what the Investigative Judgement is. Some think it's some weird, cult-y jargon exclusive to Seventh-day Adventist and assume that it originated with Ellen White because, hey, why not.
To some circles, the terms "Pre-advent Judgement" and "Investigative Judgment" can be interchangeable. We'll stick with the latter to avoid confusion.
We know that God will judge the world at the end of time, but what does that even mean?

What is the Investigative Judgment?
I would define the term to mean a judgment by God after he performs an open investigation. God is characterized as being fair and just.(Psalms 25:8) For this to be true, He must not be arbitrary, because that would not be fair. The sentence also must follow some sort of due process, or else He would not be just.

Is this thing even biblical?

There are many Investigative Judgments throughout the Bible. 

"Seriously, I didn't make this up!" -Ellen White

• Beginning in Genesis 3, after the fall God asked Adam and Eve "what happened" (the investigation) before He pronounced judgment.
• Genesis 11, God saw (investigated) that man was wicked and he passed judgment. At the tower of Babel, God “came down to see” (investigate) and then he judged.
• In Leviticus 10 there is also an investigative judgment. Nadam and Abihu took strange fire “before the Lord”. A better translation of that would be “before God’s face.” This signifies that God saw (investigated) their apostasy and then pronounced judgment.

Are there any examples of Jesus mentioning something like this?
Jesus tells parables that involve an Investigative Judgment!

• Matthew 22 tells of a wedding feast where the king comes in to see (Investigate) which of the guests are wearing the appropriate wedding garments.
• The parable of the talents in Matt. 25 shows that the Master checked the work (investigated) before he judged and gave the rewards.

One last example!

The most compelling biblical example comes from the sin of Achan in Joshua 7. 
Achan takes what he’s not supposed to after a war. (No one was to pillage the losing people)
He returns to the camp with it and hides it under his family tent. God tells Joshua that someone had sinned and gives him a process and method of investigation. God tells Joshua to begin this process the next day.
The next day comes, lots are cast and Achan is found to be the one who sinned but the investigation is STILL not over.
The tribunal goes to Achan’s house where the illicit spools are discovered under his tent and THEN judgment is executed.

God allowed the judgment to be delayed because He still was giving time for Achan to repent!


What does this mean for us, today?!

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7

Ellen White did not come up with the concept of the investigative judgment, God did.
This process highlights His justice, fairness and ultimately His love.
He has given us evidence of His righteous process all throughout scripture.

The good news is also that we have time TODAY to admit our sins, turn to Him and be forgiven! So that when His investigation is concluded, we could receive the reward of eternal life in His presence that He has promised!

Jesus puts it this way:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

-John 3: 16-21

For more information about the Investigative Judgment, Click HERE!

Peace and blessings,
EF