The Analogy
Now let us review a real life scenario so that we can find the concepts of judgment more relatable.
Suppose a person is accused of armed robbery, a crime against the laws of the land, and gets arrested. After his arrest and confinement, or jailing, a time is set whereby the person is supposed to appear in court.
When the appointed time reaches, the court convenes, or sits, to ‘look into’ the crime that was committed. To ‘look into’ here means to hear what the accused person has to say for himself, i.e. does he accept the charges against him or refute them? Also to hear the testimony of witnesses concerning the robbery incident and to review any evidence that is presented to the court either in defense or against the accused.
After a thorough review of all these, the time comes for the court to give a verdict on the armed robbery incident. And the accused is then either pronounced guilty or innocent.
If the man is found innocent, this is the end of the judgment process for him. He is vindicated and he is free to go wherever he wants. However, if the accused man is found guilty, another time is set for him to appear again before the court for the sentencing part of the judgment process.
In the sentencing convening, or sitting, of the court an appropriate punishment is then determined, i.e. 20 years in prison or 10 years.
Later, the determined sentence is executed upon him by locking him up in prison for the determined period.
Thus, the due process of the judgment work is said to be complete. This is mostly how the judgment process takes place with slight variations here and there.
It should be quite evident by this point that judgment is a process. That it is also composed of three main phases. That is: the trial, the sentencing and the execution of the sentence.
The Three Phases of Judgment
The trial is that part of the judgment process where an inquiry is made into the charges, evidences are reviewed, witness accounts are heard and the guilty or innocent verdict is rendered. This is what is usually known as the investigative judgment.
The sentencing part of the judgment is a different part of the judgment process and only those found guilty in the investigative part of the judgment have part in it. Thus it can be said it is dependent on the results of the investigative judgment.
Finally, the carrying out of the sentence is often called the executive part of the judgment or ‘executive judgment’. This is the phase where the punishment determined is executed upon the guilty.
Making the Case
The three step judgment process is also brought out in the Scriptures. Let us look at one example.
God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil…
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” {Genesis 2:16-17}
However, Satan managed to get them both to transgress God’s command.
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” {Genesis 3:6}
In doing this they both transgressed against God. This transgression of Adam and Eve can easily be likened to the crime the armed robber had committed. Both parties had acted against the laws instituted in their lands.
Typically what follows after a crime, and the arrest of the criminal is the trial, to either ascertain guilt or innocence.
After Adam and Eve had eaten of fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they went into hiding, just like most criminals do.
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” {Genesis 3:8}
But God pursued them and found them. Upon finding them, the scene quickly transitions into Him making inquiry of them, regarding the transgression of His command.
I hope the reader can see that we are already in their trial part of judgment at this point.
“And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” {Genesis 3:11}
Is this not akin to asking, “Are you guilty of the crime that you seemingly have committed?”
This question is usually the opening statement of every court session that sits to try a man for a crime. In God making the inquiry of whether they had eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil we know we are already at the trial court of Adam and Eve.
We know they both plead guilty. They do not deny having eaten of the fruit. But let us not jump ahead of ourselves and let them speak…
Adam was the first to be arraigned before God to answer for himself and his answer was…
“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” {Genesis 3:12}
He categorically cast blame on the woman for his transgression.
Suppose in the case of the armed robbery, that the suspect had made a claim that he had been led into the criminal venture by some ally, and really had no desire to take part in it. In order to ascertain the truthfulness of his statement the ally would have, of necessity, to be called up to testify before the court.
And this is exactly what we find in God’s court with Adam and Eve. Eve, after being blamed by Adam, is accordingly called up to give her testimony.
“And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?” {Genesis 3:13}
“And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” {Genesis 3:13}
Eve in turns go ahead, and like her husband, shifts the blame. Only now onto the serpent. Interestingly, the serpent is not called upon to give his testimony in this court. (Hmm?) But we will not go there now.
With the admission of guilt in any court case, and after hearing the suspect testimony, what follows is a verdict and then a sentence.
In the case of Adam and Eve the verdict was declared in their admission of having eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were found guilty. The sentence was then stated out to them in the following manner.
To Eve…
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” {Genesis 3:16}
To Adam…
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” {Genesis 3:17-19}
Concerning both …
“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” {Genesis 3:22-24}
This sentence that was pronounced upon our first parents in that very first judgment experience we are all still serving till this day. None eats of the fruit of the tree of life and lives forever. All die. All eat only through toil. Life is riddled with sorrows. And child birth is painful.
This snippet of the judgment process shows all the phases of judgment in a quick fashion; the examination of the suspects, the sentencing and the execution of the sentence.
The First Phase of Judgment
From our analogy, we know that after a crime is committed and the suspect arrested, a court date is set when the court shall convene to look into the crime. Paul says that God has “…appointed a day in which He shall judge the world.” {Acts 17:31}
Now observe the presentation of the arrival of that appointed time…
“I beheld till thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days did sit (or took His seat), 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 as burning fire. 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.” {Daniel 7:9-10}
This is a presentation of a judgement scene that God presides over. We see thrones set down. Not one, but many. Then the Ancient of Days comes and takes his seat. After the description of His throne and the thousands who minister before Him, we have the clear testimony that “the judgment was set.” In other words, the court was convened.
Furthermore we are told of books being there. These are the records of evidence that will be used in determining all the cases that will come under the review of the court. Here is another similar judgment account that informs us what the books are for…
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:… and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.“ {Revelation 20:12-13}
In the picture painted by Daniel the prophet, these books, which contain the record of men’s works, are not only present in the judgment, but we have a presentation of them being opened. The opening of these books plainly show the beginning of the work of judgment through the review of the deeds of men written in those books.
I repeat, when God’s court of judgment sits to do the work of judgment, the very first work that we are shown as taking place is the review of the books. Which, in essence, is the review of the works of men written therein.
From Daniel’s perspective all this was shown to him as taking place far into the distant future.
But this vision of a judgment taking place was not only given to Daniel. In the book of Revelation, when John was shown future things that must shortly come to pass, he was likewise given this testimony…
“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, 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.” {Revelation 14:6-7}
Do you see it dear reader?
Daniel was shown that sometime in the distant future the judgment would begin and the review of the books would begin. God, again, when showing John future events, shows him that a messenger would be sent to announce to humanity the arrival of the hour of God’s judgment. These two accounts speak of the same judgment. Daniel is shown the judgment convening in heaven, in the very presence of the Ancient of Days, to begin the review of the books; whereas John is shown a messenger being sent to earth to announce to every nation, kindred, tongue and people the arrival of the time of judgment.
Again, notice, that this announcement of the beginning of the judgment that is given by the messenger is called the everlasting gospel. Do not let anyone tell you that the message of judgment is not the gospel. It is the gospel in verity to the righteous. And you know why? Because the time of their reward is drawing nigh. It is joyful news.
Both John and Daniel witnessed that at some point in time, future from their days, the appointed day for the court of judgment to sit would come, and immediately following, the books would be opened.
The opening of these books signify the beginning of an inquiry into the works of men written therein. The inquiry or diligent examination and review of the acts of anyone in a judgment setting for the purpose of ascertaining guilt or innocence is what usually happens in the first part of any court judgment process. Also known as the ‘trial’, or the ‘investigative judgment.’
Here is the doctrine of the investigative judgment in the Bible.
But let’s further confirm this. For clarity’s sake, let us right here define the term investigative judgment.
“The term “investigative judgment” comes from two words ‘investigative’ and ‘judgment’. To investigate means ‘To search into’ or ‘to inquire and examine into with care and accuracy’. Judgment means ‘the process of examining facts and arguments, to ascertain propriety and justice’.
These two words, as can be seen, have the same aspect of inquiring and examining into facts and arguments. The purpose of these inquiries into a matter is shown in the word judgment. It is for the purpose of ascertaining propriety and justice or what is proper and just regarding a case.
Armed with the definition in mind, let us turn to Scripture and we will see it is taught in more than just one portion of the Bible.
Scriptural Gleanings
“If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition...” {Deut 19:16-18}
Here is a principle of investigating a matter that comes to judgment. The principle of an investigation in judgment or the investigative judgment.
Here is another…
“Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” {Psalms 26:1-2}
The word “try” in the Hebrew has the following meaning from the BLB app
to examine, try, prove
- (Qal)
- to examine, scrutinise
- to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God)
- (Niphal) to be tried, proved
- (Pual) to make a trial
This is a more direct association based on Hebrew parallelism. The work of judging is being associated with examining, proving and trying of the reins and heart. The process of judgment that involves examining, proving and trying to ascertain what is proper regarding a matter is the first part of the judgment process, the investigative judgment.
Reading the verse above keenly, it can be seen that David invites the LORD to judge him. He goes ahead to say examine me, prove me, try me or in other words, investigate. He makes this invitation to God to judge him because he knows that the investigation of his heart it will be reveal that he has walked in his integrity and has trusted in the LORD.
In the mind of David, judgment was associated with an examining, a trying and a proving; an investigation. What is termed by some as the investigative judgment.
Here is yet another…
“…O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.” {Jeremiah 11:20}
This time it is Jeremiah. But the theme is the same. Judgment is being associated with trying – examining, scrutinising, testing and the proving – of the heart of man. Which is in essence the investigative judgment.
In the verse above, Jeremiah after making reference to the judgment attribute of God makes the plea, “let me see thy vengeance on them”. Why does he do this? What is the flow of thought here? I answer, because he understands that the judgment process always has an outcome. To those found innocent in the trial of their reins and heart a blessing whereas to those found guilty in the trial, a punishment is determined then rendered to them. I find the punishment is here denoted under the term “vengeance”. Hence the plea that he makes.
Nonetheless, Jeremiah directly associates the judgment attribute of God to trying the reins and the heart. An investigation. Or as put together and termed by others the investigative judgment attribute of God.
Now, let us go ahead to still show the investigative judgment from a slightly different angle. The last verse we read in Jeremiah brings out a judgment, an investigative judgment, then a vengeance, or might also be termed a reward. (See Luke 23:40-41 on the use of the word ‘reward’ as pertaining to judgment process.) This is the thought pattern we now want to focus on. That the judgment process always has a reward. To the righteous would it would be acquittal or a blessing but to the wicked punishment or vengeance.
With this pattern in mind let us consider our next verse…
“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.” {2 Corinthians 5:10}
Notice the pattern; first, a judgment, then secondly, receiving a reward, whether good or bad.
With this same pattern in mind again observe…
“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.” {Jeremiah 17:10}
The word “search” in Hebrew has the following meaning in BLB app
to search, search for, search out, examine, investigate
- (Qal)
- to search (for)
- to search through, explore
- to examine thoroughly
- (Niphal)
- to be searched out, be found out, be ascertained, be examined
- (Piel) to search out, seek out
Do you see it dear reader?
In 2nd Cor 5:10 the pattern is first judgment then secondly reward. In Jeremiah 17:10, God’s purpose of searching, investigating, examining thoroughly and trying the reins is to reward or give every man according to his ways. The purpose of both works (‘judgment’ or ‘searching and trying’) is the rewarding of the man.
Is not the work of searching, examining, investigating and trying for the purpose of giving someone his dues by nature a judgment work? And more specifically the investigative judgment phase of it?
Dear reader, do not the human courts of law bear the same testimony? Is there not an examining (or cross-examination), a scrutinizing of facts and witnesses, a proving of claims made in defense or against the accused? An investigation that is attached to the work of judgment?
At this point I could rest my case on the provided evidence. But for the sake of doing our due diligence let us add a few more. Consider David again…
“The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity [that is] in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” {Psalms 7:8-9}
In the passage above, after David invites God to judge him he makes a proclamation, “Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just”. How does he move from the thought of judgment to this? I would suggest again that he understands that the work of judgment has an outcome or reward. For the wicked, their wickedness comes to an end when they receive their just reward from the judgment process (that is death. See Romans 1:32) but for the just their reward is their establishment (restoration of the endless life. See Romans 2:7). And the reason that he gives why it comes to these two outcomes for the two classes is, “for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”
Yet again observe this fractal of the entire judgment process from the words of John in the Revelation…
“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” {Revelation 2:21-23}
Do you see it dear reader?
Let’s break it down together. After being given space to repent and refusing to repent the reward of her works is given her in suffering tribulation and the death of her children. Because this reward is given to her God says that the churches will know that it is He that searcheth the reins and hearts and will (future) give unto everyone of them according to their works.
Notice that we said that ‘the reward’ of her works was given her in the death of her children and the tribulation she suffered. In short what that means, is that her case came up before God for judgment. God investigated her (searched her reins and heart) and found her guilty. And passed a sentence that as punishment for her evil works her children would die and she would suffer tribulation.
When this sentence was to be executed and visibly seen by everyone, God desired to teach all the churches, through His dealing with that woman, that it is He which searches the reins and the heart, and gives to every one according to their works. Do you see it now?
The work of judgment for Jehovah always involves a searching and a trying or an investigation into the person’s heart followed by a corresponding reward.
Jehovah is a God of judgment. He will come into judgment with His people. When He does He will investigate them by trying their reins and their hearts and proving them. Then He will give them according as their works shall be. (2nd Cor 5:10, 1st Peter 4:17-18, Romans 1:28 – 2:16 )
Addendum
“God leads his people on step by step. He brings them up to different points which are calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested, and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to the straight work of God, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, or be spued out of the mouth of the Lord. (See Rev 3:15-19) Said the angel, “God will bring his work closer and closer to test them, and prove every one of his people.” Some are willing to receive one point, but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols, and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If they will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride and evil passions, the angels of God have their charge, “They are joined to their idols, let them alone,” (Hos 4:17) and they pass on to their work, leaving them with their evil traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will be fitted by the latter rain for translation.” 2SG 225.1
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thought: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” {Psalms 139:23,24}
This is the heart of the work of the investigative judgment. Did we genuinely and fully accept Christ? Or was there something that prevented us from fully accepting Him and we just paid Him lip service? (See Isa 29:13) Did we at all points obey Jesus Christ, in whom is our Salvation? The record of every life on these points is already in the books in the courts above or is being written therein. How shall you fare in this process?
There is a people that will undergo this searching judgment of God and come out justified and will not Psalms 139:1-4 be their song and experience?
“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways. For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but,] lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” {Psalms 139:1-4}