Events during the investigative judgment
In her visions, Ellen White was shown that the following events will take place during the period prior to the close of probation: In heaven, the investigative judgment will deal with those whose names are found in the book of life. On earth, a short time prior to the close of probation, religious and political leaders will form an image to the beast, and they will issue a universal Sunday law that will culminate in a death decree for God’s true followers and the reception of the mark of the beast by those who oppose Him. This period is designated the early time of trouble. During this time, God’s church will give the loud cry and will experience the latter rain, the shaking, the sealing, and a revival and reformation within the church such as has not been seen since the time of the early church, the original Pentecost.GP 89.5
Many of these events may happen simultaneously. Ellen White didn’t provide a chronological sequence for their occurrence. However, when the decree of Revelation 22:11 is issued, all these events will be finished and the great time of trouble will begin. While Mrs. White didn’t specify what length of time these events will occupy, she did say that “the final movements will be rapid ones” (9T 11).GP 90.1
1. Revival and reformation in the church. Revival and reformation in the remnant church prepares it for the final events and the giving of the loud cry. There will be a revival of primitive godliness such “as has not been witnessed since apostolic times” (GC 464). Characteristics of this revival and reformation will include miracles of healing and genuine conversions (9T 126).GP 90.2
2. The sealing . In order to prepare His children for the time of trouble, God wants to seal them in their foreheads. This “is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved” (4BC 1161) when the time of trouble comes.GP 90.3
3. The latter rain. The “latter rain” is promised in Joel 2:23, 28, 29. Just as the apostolic church received the early rain at Pentecost, so the remnant church will receive the latter rain, which will enable it to finish the work (see GC 611). This promise is not only for the future; it is for us today as well. However, we have to be ready to receive it. To be ready, we must put away all sin and seek the Lord in humility (see TM 507).GP 90.4
4. The loud cry . The message of the fall of Babylon (see Revelation 14:8) is repeated by the angel pictured in Revelation 18:1-4. This angel joins in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry (see EW 277).GP 90.5
5. The shaking . This term refers to the shaking of God’s people. It will be caused by the straight testimony of the True Witness to Laodicea (see EW 270) and by the introduction of false theories (see TM 112). Many Adventists will leave the church because they are not fully converted (see 4T 89).GP 90.6
6. The early time of trouble . The world and the church will experience a time of trouble before the close of probation. Political, financial, and social problems will increase (see Luke 21:25). Ellen White refers to this time in Early Writings (page 33). She says, “At the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and pro claimed the Sabbath more fully.” Later on in the book she explains that the “commencement of the time of trouble” doesn’t refer to the time when the plagues begin to be poured out but to a short period while Christ is still in the sanctuary just before the plagues begin. “At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel” (EW 85, 86).GP 90.7
7. The image of the beast . The image of the beast will be formed when the Protestant churches in America unite with the state to use its power to enforce their decrees and sustain the institutions of the church. “Then will Protestant America have formed an image to the Papacy [the beast], and there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin” (ST, March 22, 1910).GP 91.1
8. Sunday laws. Revelation 13 predicts that in the future, there will be national and even international Sunday laws, and these laws will include religious observances. Revelation 13:3 also prophesies that “all the world . . . followed the beast.” According to Ellen White, this means that “as America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example” (6T 18, emphasis added).GP 91.2
9. Death decree . Seventh-day Adventist interpreters disagree regarding the timing of the death decree. Revelation 13:15 indicates that at some point during the final conflict a religious law will be passed that will carry the death penalty. Revelation 20:4 supports this by implication. It indicates that there will be martyrs in the final crisis who have not worshiped the beast or his image. “If there are to be martyrs over the mark of the beast issue obviously the enforcing of the mark of the beast must be done prior to these martyrdoms being carried out.” Since there will be no martyrs after the close of probation (see GC 634), the martyrs referred to in Revelation 20:4 must suffer their martyrdom before the close of probation. Consequently, we can conclude that the death decree must be issued before the close of probation.GP 91.3
A number of statements in Ellen G. White’s writings support this interpretation: “When this time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon His people. This small remnant, unable to defend itself in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death” (5T 213, emphasis added). This clearly indicates that when the time of trouble comes, probation is closed and the death decree “has been passed.” In another place, Ellen White pictures Satan as saying, ” ‘When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side’ ” (TM 473). Since there will be no changing of sides after the close of probation, the test involving a death threat must come before the close of probation. GP 91.4
10. The mark of the beast . From the beginning, Seventh-day Adventists have connected Revelation’s mark of the beast with state-enforced Sunday observance as a token of submission to Rome (see GC 449). However, “No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come” (Ev 234).GP 92.1
11. The close of probation . Human probation will close when Christ ends His ministry in heaven. The work of investigation and judgment will be finished, and the door of mercy will be shut (see GC 428). When Christ proclaims, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: . . . and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11, KJV), then “The seal of the living God is upon His people” (5T 212).GP 92.2