Daniel Webster, the great American statesman, was once asked, "What is the greatest question that has ever crossed your mind?" After a moment of thought he answered, "My personal accountability to God." So we have the sublime awareness that part of the `Everlasting Gospel,' which is to circle the world before Jesus comes again, is the message that "the Hour of His Judgment is Come!" Rev. 14:6-8.

There is a time of Judgment

1. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." 2.Cor. 5:10.
   
2. Personal accountability in judgment before God is a very solemn matter, Rom. 14:12.
   
3. God takes into account all our good and evil deeds, Eccl. 11:9.
   
4. Social and religious conditions reveal the lack of awareness and preparation for the judgment, 2.Tim. 3:1-5.
   
5. Certainly God would warn us ahead of time, Amos 3:7; Acts 17:30,31; 24:25.

There is an urgent warning message of the judgment in the time of the end.

1. The first angel's message warns of the pre-advent judgment, Rev. 14:7; The message is that "The Hour ... IS Come".
   
2. The dramatic context is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, portrayed in "harvest symbolism." Rev. 14:14-20.
   
3. Jesus said that there would be a judgment in the future, Mt. 12:36.
   
4. The apostle Paul warned of a future judgment, Acts 24:25,26; 17:31.
   
5. the investigative Judgment must precede Jesus' coming since He brings His rewards when He comes, Rev. 22:11,12; Mt. 16:27.

Where is the Judgment being conducted?

A) In Rev. 14:7 the event is given but no mention is made of where the judgment is held.
B) The Bible has two major prophetic books - the book of Revelation in the NT - and the book of Daniel in the OT.
These are companion books of prophecy and are meant to be studied together.
C) Daniel saw in vision the Judgment in heaven, before the Second Coming of Christ, Dan. 7:9-10.
D) The cleansing of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment are the same, and the Bible foretells the time when this event will take place, Dan. 8:14, for just as the typical Day of Atonement during Jewish time had a fixed date, the 10th day of the 7th month (our Oct.22), so had the atypical Day of Atonement a fixed day on the calendar, the 22. Oct. 1844.
E) The cleansing of the sanctuary:

1. The Bible tells of two sanctuaries, one in heaven and one on earth. The earthly sanctuary built by Moses was actually a copy or model of the original sanctuary in heaven, Ex. 25:8,9,40; Hebr. 8:5; 9:24.
   
2. In the sanctuary there were primarily two services:
   a. The `daily' service in which the substitutionary sin sacrifices were offered and Priestly mediation was performed.
   b. The `yearly' service, called the `Day of Atonement', in which the sanctuary was symbolically cleansed of sin, Lev. 16:1,16,21,30. This `yearly service' took place each year on a fixed date; on the same date each year like our birth days.
   
3. In ancient Israel the `Day of Atonement' was regarded by the Jews as a most solemn day of Judgment.
   
4. The services of the earthly sanctuary were shadows or symbols of what actually takes place in heaven, Hebr. 7:25; 9:11,12,24.
   
5. The earthly sanctuary had two apartments - the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The priest went into the Most Holy Place only once toward the end of the Jewish year for the cleansing of the sanctuary, Hebr. 9:1-7; Lev.16.
   
6. The cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14 actually refers to the start of the judgment in the heavenly sanctuary, Hebr. 9:22-28.
   
7. Furthermore, we know it must be the heavenly sanctuary because the earthly sanctuary was: (a) left desolate of the Holy Spirit and (b) left utterly consumed and destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Titus and the Roman armies. (c) the vision is for the end of time, Mt. 23:38; 24:2; Dan. 8:17,19.

When did the Judgment begin?

A) Daniel 8:14 tells us that after 2300 days the sanctuary would be cleansed - the pre-advent (before Christ's Second Coming), also known as the investigative judgment - would commence in heaven.

1. The vision was for the time of the end and 2300 literal days does not reach the end - Dan. 8:14,17,19.
   
2. Knowledge of the prophecies of Daniel would increase greatly in the time of the end, around the time when the judgment would begin, Dan. 12:4.
   
3. We must apply the key Biblical principle in Bible prophecy, which is: ONE PROPHETIC DAY = A LITERAL YEAR - Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.
   
4. We do not discover when the time period started in Daniel 8 since Daniel fainted, Dan. 8:27.

B) Daniel chapter 9 records the angel Gabriel's explanations to this prophecy & adds more details.

1. Gabriel comes to Daniel & informs him that he has come to give him an understanding of the vision of Daniel 8 - see Daniel 9:21,22.
   
2. A time period of 70 weeks (7 x 70 weeks = 490 years) is cut off from the longer time prophecy of 2300 years. This shorter segment is a special probationary time period allotted to the Jewish Nation to fulfill God's purpose for them as a fruit-bearing nation, Dan. 9:24.
   
3. The decree to rebuild Jerusalem is the starting point for this amazing prophecy. This decree was given in 457 B.C. Ptolemy, Isaac Newton and modern historians attest to the accuracy of this day, Dan. 9:25; Ezra 7:7,11.[30]
   
4. From 457 B.C., Dan. 9:25 tells us that 69 weeks (483 years) would bring us to "Messiah the prince".
   (a) The word "Messiah" means the anointed one. In what year was the Messiah anointed?
   (b) In the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar (12-37 A.D.) which was 27 A.D., Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:1), at his baptism and then began his public ministry.[50] This was exactly 483 years after the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and began to preach the fulfillment of this 483 year prophecy, Lk. 3:1, 21-22; Acts 10:38; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:14-16.
   
5. Daniel 9:27 tells us that the Messiah would confirm the covenant for one week (7 years). As the true messenger of the covenant, Jesus fulfilled the covenant messianic prophecies, Isa. 42:6,7; Mal. 3:1.
   
6. In the midst of the week He would cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, Dan. 9:27. Exactly 31/2 years after His baptism in 27 A.D. Jesus was crucified in the spring of 31 A.D. on the Passover, and by His death did away with the Old Testament ceremonial system of sacrifices, Eph. 2:14-16; 1.Cor. 5:8.
   
7. When Jesus died on the cruel cross the veil of the temple was rent in half by God, signifying the termination of the earthly sanctuary and directing our attention to the heavenly, Mt. 27:51.
   
8. For 31/2 years beyond the cross the disciples preached among the Jews despite their continual opposition, but in 34 A.D. at the close of the 490 years Stephen was stoned (the first Christian martyr) and because terrible persecution followed, God sent the Christians out to preach to the gentile world. Though the Jews were not wholly neglected, many were converted, Dan. 9:24; Acts 7:51-60; 8:1-5; 13:46.

C) The first 490 years of the total 2300 year prophecy accurately foretold the appearance, baptism and death of the Messiah. This fulfillment serves us as confirmation evidence - assurance that the start of the judgment was a true date.

1. 2300 - 490 = 1810 years that needed to pass before the start of the judgment.
   
2. 34 A.D. + 1810 = 1844.
   
3. Ever since 1844 we have been in judgment time. Since this date the judgment has been going on in heaven. As Rev. 14:7 says, "the hour of God's judgment IS come," Judgment is here even still today! We no longer live in common time. Soon the judgment will close and Jesus will come.

A Summons No Man Can Avoid

A) What is going on in heaven now? Ever since 1844 when Jesus entered the final phase of His High Priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, we have been living in the judgment hour of earth's history. The key question is: "What have you done with Jesus?" The cleansing of the sanctuary was symbolically defiled by the accumulating record of sin. The earthly sanctuary was symbolically defiled by the accumulating record of sin in the blood of the sacrifices. The record of sin was typically transferred from the sinner to the substitute sacrifice; the blood was carried by the officiating priest into the Holy Place and sprinkled in various places, thus polluting the temple, Jer. 17:1. Jesus performs this work in the Most Holy Place, Dan. 7:9-10; Jer. 17:12.
B) The blotting out process. The heavenly sanctuary has been symbolically contaminated by the sins of people. By their own free choice each person either accepts or rejects this freely offered salvation until, on the last day of the High Priestly ministry of Christ he "once" washes the sins off clean and removes them from the book of record so that now they are purged. Thus either the names or the sins of individuals examined must be blotted out, Rev. 3:5; Dan. 7:9,10; Ex. 32:31-33.
C) Judgment begins with God's people.

1. Peter warned the church, 1.Pet. 4:17.
   
2. Reviews those written in the book of life, Rev. 20:12.

D) Who is written in the book of life?

1. Believers in Christ, Phil. 4:3; Lk. 10:20; Ex. 32:32,33.
   
2. Those who cherish Jesus in their heart, Mal. 3:16.

E) Who remains in the book of life?

1. Those who overcome, Rev. 3:5.
   
2. Those who triumph over evil, Rev. 21:27.

F) How comprehensive is the judgment?

1. Every open work and secret thing is examined, Ecc. 12:13,14.
   
2. Every idle word, Mt. 12:36.
   
3. Light given and opportunities for knowing the truth are examined, Ps. 87:4-6.
   
4. All good deeds are examined, Mal. 3:16.
   
5. Every tear shed, Ps. 56:8.
   
6. Every ray of light from God's Word either accepted, rejected or neglected, Hebr. 2:1-3; John 12:48.

G) What is the standard in the judgment?

1. The law of liberty, James 2:10-12.
   
2. The law of God, Eccl. 12:13,14.
   
3. The ten commandments are spotlighted in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly temple before Jesus comes, Rev. 11:18-19.
   
4. Read the description of the saved, Rev. 14:12.

H) Who can give us confidence in the judgment?

1. Jesus Christ will be our Advocate if we are 100% committed to Him, Mt. 10:32,33.
   
2. Jesus will be our intercessor, Hebr. 7:25.
   
3. Trust in your Advocate, Jude 24.

Conclusion

1. Knowing the time . . . it is now high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed, Rom. 13:11-4.
   
2. We need to search our hearts, Bibles, and search for Jesus like never before.
   
3. The only way we can pass the judgment is to have a personal relationship with Jesus, who will be our advocate if we give our lives to Him daily, Lk. 12:8; Rev. 3:5; 1.John 2:1,2.

[30] Dr. Hales wrote, "To the authenticity of these copies of Ptolemy's canon, the strongest testimony is given by their exact agreement throughout, with above twenty dates and computations of eclipses on Ptolemy's Almagast." Dr. William Hales, Chronology, Vol. I, p. 166.
Ptolemy: "The last important Greek astronomer was Claudius Ptolemy (or Ptolemeus) who flourished about 140 A.D. He compiled a series of 13 volumes on astronomy known as the Almagest. "Most of the `Almagest' does not deal with Ptolemy's own work, but is a compilation of the astronomical achievements of the past, principally of Hipparchus. In fact, it is our main source of information about Greek astronomy. The `Almagest' does, however, contain accounts of some contributions by Ptolemy himself.
One of Ptolemy's accomplishments was the measurement of the distance to the moon by a technique essentially identical to the one used today. . . . Ptolemy's most important original contribution was a geometrical representation of the solar system that predicted the motions of the planets with considerable accuracy. Hipparchus, having determined by observation that earlier theories of the motions of the planets did not fit their actual behavior, and not having enough data on hand to solve the problem himself, instead massed observational material for posterity to use. Ptolemy supplemented the material with a few observations of his own and with it produced a cosmological hypothesis that endured until the time of Copernicus." See George Abell, `Exploration of the Universe,' 1964, p. 23, 24.
According to the `Almagast Canon' of the Greek historian, geographer & astronomer Ptolemy, Artaxerxes became king in the 248th year of the Canon, that is in between Dec. 17th, 465 - Dec. 17th, 464 BC. From Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1 & Ezra 7:7-9 we learn that Artaxerxes became king between the 5th and 9th month of the Jewish year, that is in the Fall of 464 BC. In 457 B.C. Artaxerxes legislated to send the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem.

[50] It seems all of today's history books date Tiberius Caesar, the adopted stepson of Augustus Caesar, from 14 to 37 A.D., so, how can 27 A.D. be the 15th year of Tiberius? The reason is a coreign of Tiberius with Augustus beginning in 12 A.D. as he reigned for 25 years including his coreign. Augustus (Octavian) Caesar reigned for 44 years (31 B.C. to 14 A.D.); he was an old man, which explains that he knew in order to have a smooth transition, his successor son must be trained for a period of time - a coregency was the method used for that from ages past. Actually Octavianus-Augustus had three stepsons whom he used to subdue the Celtic tribes in the Alpine mountains, Augustus, Tiberius and Drusus, Tiberius was slated to succeed him. [Fernis/Haverkamp, `Grundzüge der Geschichte,' 1962, p. 71-72; try also Heinrich Graetz (1817-1891), `Volkstümliche Geschichte der Juden,' `Geschichte der Juden'; Consult Conradi, L.R., `Weissagung und Weltgeschichte,' p. 242.]
This coreign is hard to find; that is the reason why most books gloss over this discrepancy since they seem to have been unable to account for it. This writer had that same problem for years, until I finally researched again and found the answer by studying the length of time that the stepfather of Tiberius reigned (44 years) and realizing that the responsible old man the emperor was (he probably realized that his time left was short), he would definitely have a coregency for his successor son to prepare him for the time when it was his turn to reign. The failure of some weekend historians to consider these facts does not help the matter. It appears to be also the reason why some opt for the year 29. A.D. as the year when Jesus was baptized and began his ministry, thus he was crucified in 33 A.D. according to that reckoning. What is the effect? The consequence is that these time Prophecies of Daniel are off. Well, that search went on for a while until I consulted another book on prophecy and there I found more source information why the coregency is true. It says, "Tiberius followed Augustus, who died in A.D. 14. But before the latter's death, Tiberius was associated with him on the throne. Some modern historians date this appointment of Tiberius as Caesar from A.D. 13; but the "History of Rome," by Dion Cassius, a Roman senator, born in the second century, shows, under events of A.D. 12, that Augustus recognized Tiberius as holding imperial dignity at that time. (Book 56, ch. 26.). Again, Dr. Philip Schaff says, `There are coins from Antioch in Syria of the date A.U. 765 (A.D. 12), with the head of Tiberius and the inscription, Kaisar, Sebastos (Agustus). [Philip Schaff, `History of the Christian Church,' Vol. I, p. 120, footnote.]'
These coins from Syria bear certain witness that the first year of Tiberius should be counted from A.D. 12. Therefore `the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar' would be A.D. 27, just 483 years from the going forth of the commandment to restore Jerusalem. The prophecy of the sixty-nine weeks was fulfilled - the Messiah had come." [See W.A. Spicer, `Our Day in the Light of Prophecy,' Pacific Press, 1917, p. 230, 231.]
May the reader understand now the reason why that is the case and take heart and understand that the prophecies of Daniel are reliable and true.