Does the Bible describe an investigative judgment before Jesus returns?
God already knows those who are His (2 Timothy 2:19), because He is all-knowing, and because He searches the hearts of man (Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 8:27; Luke 16:15). The angels, on the other hand, cannot see the heart. They remember well the devastating effect of sin’s rebellion on the peace and perfection of Heaven’s courts. They do not want to see sin arise a second time to ravage their home with God. So they want to know whether these sinners who God chooses to welcome into Heaven are safe to be received gladly.
The determination of who is fit to enter Heaven cannot take place once the saved are already within Heaven’s gates. Repentance must happen here on Earth before Jesus comes, because when He returns, the cases of all humans will already be settled. This is why the Bible says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
The Bible also says in Revelation 7:2–3 that the seal of the living God that marks those who are saved is placed upon the righteous before Jesus returns. The investigation of those who have accepted Jesus’ righteous character is complete. The holy angels see that God’s seal identifies each person who has accepted His character as their own, and then, the events surrounding Jesus’ return take place. The first of three angels clearly states, “‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come’” (Revelation 14:7). The reaping of Earth’s harvest takes place in Revelation14:14–20, immediately following the pronouncement that the hour of God’s judgment has already come. God’s judgment begins before Jesus returns.
The determination of who may enter Heaven cannot simply be declared by God. It must be demonstrated. This demonstration is visible to the angels as God reveals it in the lives of each person. Not every life must be examined before Jesus returns, though. For example, when the gates open at an amusement park, the only people who are asked to present their ticket for entry are those who are lined up and asking to get in. The person standing miles away on a street corner is neither desiring nor expecting to enter. Similarly, only those who desire or expect eternal life are the subject of the judgment before Jesus returns. This includes not only those who have claimed the name of Christ in the Christian era, but all who have claimed to live moral lives and have responded to the call of God through His Holy Spirit. Their “ticket” is the restored robe of righteousness—the character of Christ—that they have willingly accepted from Him.
The Bible speaks of “books” where the record of each person’s character is preserved (Exodus 32:32; Mark 16:16; Philippians 4:3; James 4:17; Revelation 20:12–13, 22:11–12). The divine recordkeeping is precise, including knowledge that has been received, opportunities accepted or rejected, actions, thoughts, and motives. In other words, God sees the heart perfectly, knowing fully who has responded to His offer of grace. While salvation is by grace and accepted through faith, there must be tangible evidence of our decision of faith. Therefore, the judgment is according to our works (Revelation 22:12; Romans 2:5–6; 1 Peter 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Proverbs 24:12; Matthew 7:16–20). But only God sees those works perfectly, so He brings what is hidden into the light (Matthew 12:36–37; Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; 1 Corinthians 4:5). And it is God’s Word that is the standard to which our works are compared (Hebrews 4:12–13).
God’s judgment is a continuous process in the lives of those who are invited to choose Christ’s righteousness. “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God” (Psalm 14:2). God constantly observes and communicates with us, caring about each of our decisions because they are of eternal significance. “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14).
God’s observation investigates the hearts of man by revealing our sin to us. But the revealing of sin is for the purpose of drawing us to Jesus for salvation. “‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 1:2 and 3:10, emphasis supplied).
In Amos 1 and 2, God investigated the nations of Israel, patiently giving them time to show their decision for or against Him. And the response to God’s invitation is the record preserved in the judgment. (Genesis 15:16 is another example of God patiently allowing the Amorites to reveal what was in their heart.)
The investigative judgment is carried out by a proclamation of the gospel message so each personal decision is based on what God has revealed. He desires informed choices, because people cannot be held accountable for what they never had the opportunity to respond to. “Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, ‘Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him” (Exodus 32:26). “So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the congregation, saying, “Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram”’” (Numbers 16:23–24).In both these instances, the instruction was clear, and the hearts of all were investigated and revealed through the opportunity offered to them.
There are numerous examples of God investigating the hearts of man and pronouncing judgment from His Sanctuary, either here on Earth, or His Sanctuary in Heaven. Judgment was pronounced from the Sanctuary in the cases of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–4), Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16:42–43), Israel’s elders (Numbers 11:16–17), Aaron the high priest (Numbers 17:7–8), and the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1–7). While these are specific cases, God is described as issuing judgment in a general sense from His Sanctuary (Psalm 73:17; Malachi 3:1–5; Isaiah 18:4–6; Micah 1:2–5; Psalm 102:19–20; Psalm 76:1–2; Psalm 76:8–9, 103:6, 19). The biblical picture of God judging His people from His Sanctuary is clearly established.
What does the investigative judgment reveal to us about the character of God?
– It shows that God is on the side of the righteous while Satan stands as their accuser, pointing to their sins (Revelation 12:10; Zechariah 3:1–2). Jesus is our Advocate and blots out our sins (1 John 1:7).
– God is patient with us. Even His judgment is an act of mercy (Jonah 4:2; Exodus 34:6–7). Rather than executing judgment on sin and sinners immediately, God gives time for decisions to be made and revealed. Our human expectation is for justice to be done quickly, but God does not execute judgment based on human timeframes and expectations (Habakkuk 1:2).
– God watches over us continually. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” Psalm 34:15–16. God is personally interested in our decisions and experiences. Because of this, He brings experiences into our lives to reveal sin in our hearts and prompt us to choose Him.
When we have taken the righteous character of Christ and understand that God is for us, we will be willing to trust ourselves to His judgment. We will long for His judgment, because it draws us higher toward His perfect ideal (Lamentations 3:58–60; Psalm 26:2; Psalm 139:23–24). The more God reveals our sin, the greater will be our experience of His grace (Romans 5:20).