Except for quotations from King James’ Version, scripture quoted is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: The Zondervan Corporation, 1985).
If the Day of Atonement was a day of judgment which prefigured an “investigative” judgment of the saints prior to the Second Advent and if this investigation necessitated an examination of the “heavenly books” we would do well to
- find the Scriptural evidence for the nature of the records in those books and
- discover if the Old Testament Day of Atonement was a day of investigative judgment.
● Secrecy about records naturally heightens curiosity. We become “curiouser and curiouser” as was Alice in Wonderland.
In the background is the thought that there is an angel who records everything that we do or say. This has been strikingly expressed in a non-Biblical work, The Rubaiyat of Omar Kayyam (1048-1131) translated from the Persian into English by Edward FitzGerald in the late 1880s.
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
Ellen White, another extra-biblical source, wrote:
Every man’s work passes in review before God, and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. 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 (The Great Controversy, 482).
Books mentioned in the Bible that are pertinent to this topic are:
● The Book of Life, or the Book of the Living (See the many references below)
● A Book of Remembrance (See Malachi 3:16, KJV — Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.)
● The books of record (See Revelation 20:12a and 12c and Daniel 7:10)
Of course, all of this must be figurative for the Psalmist implores, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle [wine-skin]: are they not in thy book? (Psalm 96:5)”
In Scripture there are books that are employed in a court session.
Daniel 7:9-10 — As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. [10] A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
This is a judgment scene which has had a profound influence upon all who have read about it.
● We are overawed, by the spectacle.
● We are reminded of the consequences of our sins.
● We fear its reality, and
● We want to know what is written in those books. Aren’t you curious?.
However there is good news here when we realize who is being judged!
Firstly, notice that this judgment, pictured here, is necessitated by an attacker and favors the attacked! This is borne out as we follow Daniel’s gaze in the next verses
● “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
● I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever–yes, for ever and ever.’
● As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. … The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
That is good news!
However there is a scene about a future judgment the thought of which makes us nervous. The following verses are listed here because of the conclusions that have often been reached in their connection.
All are judged
● Revelation 20:12-13 — And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
● Acts 10:42 — He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
● Romans 14:10 — You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
● 2 Corinthians 5:10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We are judged by the law
● James 2:12 — Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, …
Cf. Exodus 20:1-17 — the Ten Commandments
● God will never place His seal on the person who is an idolater (II), a thief (VIII) etc., etc.
Everything is brought into judgment
● Ecclesiastes 11:9 — Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment
● Ecclesiastes 12:14 — For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
● Romans 14:10 — You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
● 2 Corinthians 5:10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
● Idle words (Matt 12:36,37), things of darkness (1 Cor 4:5), “works” (Rev 20) are all brought into judgment.
God knows everything
● Hebrews 4:13 — Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
What then should we do (because God knows everything anyway)?
● Hebrews 7:25 — Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
● Hebrews 9:24 — For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
● 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
● 1 John 2:1-2 — My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
While these Scriptures are important for us, today, notice that they were written in the present tense in the 1st Century A.D. and 1 John 2:1 certainly implies a court scene. How could this be so in those days?
Let’s go back to Christ’s ascension. Where did He go? What was he to do?
In Hebrews 9:3-5 we find this summary description of the earthly tabernacle: “Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense [not strictly true] and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. … Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.” Then in verse 24 the author tells us, “Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”
In terms of the earthly tabernacle Christ had gone into the Most Holy Place. There was nothing in the earthly tabernacle that was the equivalent of the throne of grace save the mercy seat upon which were the images of cherubim. And this was in the qodesh qodeshim (Hebrew), the Most Holy Place (English), the Sanctum Sanctorum (Vulgate), the Holy of Holies (LXX), Exodus 26:33, 34.
- Hebrews 4:14-16 — Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- After [the Son] had provided purification for sins [on the cross], he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
In terms of a palace Christ had gone into the throne room. Once again, this was written in the present tense in the 1st Century A.D.
Forgiveness is assured to those who come to Him.
● Isaiah 44:22 — I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
● Micah 7:19 — You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
● Psalm 103:12 — as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
This was true then in the era B.C. (O.T.) as well as in the Christian era (N.T.)
In Seventh-day Adventist theology the eschatological “cleansing of the sanctuary” has necessitated an “investigative judgment.”
The Biblical sources of information about the O.T. Day of Atonement are found in only two chapters:
● Leviticus 16 with its comprehensive and detailed instructions, and in
● Leviticus 23:23-32. Here it is mentioned briefly and here is the command to “cut off” that person who does not humble himself (afflict his soul, KJV). Participation was compulsory. However there is no reference to an examination of records of any kind.
The term “cut off” is a translation of the Hebrew word karath. Gesenius explains, “By this phrase is meant the punishment of death in general without any definition of the manner (never the punishment of exile . . .).” It is important to remember that the O.T. ritual provided atonement for Israel “whatever their sins have been (Lev. 16:16)” and for “all their sins (Lev. 16:21)”.
So, far from being an “investigative judgment”, the Day of Atonement was an act of grace not to be despised.
Now, let us look at the record of the righteous, the Book of Life, or the Book of the Living to discover what is in this book. These are the references to the Book of Life throughout the Bible.
● The first reference , or inference, is found in Exodus 32:32-33— “But now, please forgive their sin— but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”
● Psalm 69:28 — May they be blotted out of the book of life [NKJV: “the book of the living”]1 and not be listed with the righteous.
● Luke 10:20 — However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
● Philippians 4:3 — Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
● Hebrews 12:23 — to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
● Revelation 3:5 — He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
● Revelation 13:8 — All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
● Revelation 17:8 — The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
● Revelation 21:27 — Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
The Book of Life, a.k.a. the Book of the Living, only has names in it.
How is this possible?
● 1 John 1:5-10— We are purified by His blood
● Romans 5:9—- We are justified by His blood
NB “Justify “ and “justification” are forensic terms! The righteous have been declared righteous. The righteousness of Christ has been credited to them. Yes, sins have been blotted out. Such people hate sin as God does. God’s judgment on sin that was meted out on Christ on the cross indicates His hatred of sin. The righteous are those who hate sin and flee from it — to Jesus!
Even so, nevertheless and notwithstanding, the Scriptures also tell us of books of record which are used in the judgment.
Revelation 20:12-15 — And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another [additional] book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. … If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
In these verses is depicted a separation of people based on two records: the Book of Life and other books.
1 There are people who are judged by what is recorded in “the books.” These people are said to be the dead, those who have not had a part in the first resurrection. These are the ones who are raised when at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:5). Their names are not in the Book of Life. These are the books of “record,” but they are opened at the end of the millennium! If anyone has to face life’s record it is the person whose name is not in the Book of Life.
2 However there are people who are not judged by what is recorded in the books but whose names are in the Book of Life. They live and reign with Christ throughout the Millennium and enjoy the glorious life and future that is depicted in Revelation 21 and 22.
Our curiosity has been rewarded. We now can see that the Book of Life only records the names of God’s people. In the other books is a record of the life record of the unrighteous. These are the books that are opened at the end of the Millennium. By these the rejectors of God’s grace are judged and consequently lose eternal life. As with the devil, no place is found for them in eternity (Revelation 12:8;21:8). That spells the end for the unrighteous but for the followers of Jesus the beginning.
Even so there will be people who have never understood the offer of salvation. And these will not necessarily have lived in the days just prior to the return of Jesus, the period of the greatest spiritual crisis the world has ever known (Daniel 12:1). Jesus has not left us ignorant of the fate of many of the Gentiles. Among His seven parables about the world and His people before He returns is this:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations [εθνος (ethnos) = the Gentiles] will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. … ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ … ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:31-46).”
It has been well said, “God knows the heart.” “By their fruits shall ye know them (Matthew 7:20).” And, “The Lord knows those who are his … (2 Timothy 2:19)”
Cover With His Life
Franklin Edson Belden, 1899 (1858-1945)
Look upon Jesus, sinless is He;
Father, impute His life unto me.
My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,
Cover with His life, whiter than snow.
Refrain
Cover with His life, whiter than snow;
Fullness of His life then shall I know;
My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,
Cover with His life, whiter than snow.
Deep are the wounds transgression has made;
Red are the stains, my soul is afraid.
O to be covered, Jesus, with Thee,
Safe from the law that now judgeth me!
Longing the joy of pardon to know;
Jesus holds out a robe white as snow;
“Lord, I accept it! leaving my own,
Gladly I wear Thy pure life alone.”
Reconciled by His death for my sin,
Justified by His life pure and clean,
Sanctified by obeying His word,
Glorified when returneth my Lord.
This hymn, its truth, rooted and grounded in Scripture, composed by the nephew of Ellen G. White, has been sung by Seventh-day Adventists for more than 100 years as is evidenced by its inclusion in the following hymnals published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Christ in Song (Takoma Park, Washington, DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1908), 80
Church Hymnal (Review & Herald, Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., 1941), 593
Gospel Melodies (Takoma Park, Washington, DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1944), 6
New Advent Hymnal (Watford, Herts: Stanborough Press, 1952), 716
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985), 412
The following Scriptures are alluded to in this hymn. See Scriptural allusions in hymns in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, Page 791.
a. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22).
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18).”
b. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law (Romans 2:12).
c. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear (Revelation 19:8).
But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless (Matthew 22:11-12).
But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet (Luke 15:22) “
d. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life (Romans 5:10)!
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30).
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17).
r. Ephesians 3:19 (NIV) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
According to the Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal this Seventh-day Adventist hymn “is a simple, clear presentation of the doctrines of reconciliation, justification, sanctification, and glorification, summarized concisely in the last stanza.” E.E. White, in his earlier Singing With Understanding, (the companion to the Church Hymnal) added, “and is an enlargement of ‘though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).’”
- Hooper, Wayne and White, Edward E., Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988)
- White, Edward E., Singing With Understanding (Warburton, VC: Signs Publishing Company, 1968)
© 2016, Angus McPhee
A Look at the books of Daniel and The Revelation 