Dear Brother ___________,
Thank you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate. My own understanding is that the "grand review" you ask about corresponds to the pre-advent judgment, sometimes called the "investigative judgment," which Seventh-day Adventists believe is going on now. We understand it to have begun with those who have died but who have at some time professed acceptance of God's provision of salvation. When Mrs. White wrote, she referred to the time when the judgment would turn to the living as yet in the future; this may be why some of the statements are in future tense.
As I read on through the statements you had pulled together here, it seemed to me that some of them refer not so much to the "grand review," or investigative portion of the final judgment, but to the sentencing and executive portions which follow.
I hope this will be helpful to you. Thank you for writing, and God bless!
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William Fagal, Director
Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1400 USA
Phone: 616 471-3209
FAX: 616 471-6166
Website: www.WhiteEstate.org or www.egwestate.andrews.edu
E-mail: egw@aubranch.egwestate.andrews.edu
Dear Friends:
What is the origin of Ellen White's frequent reference to a future "grand review"?
YI.1911-11-21.011
Soon there is to be a grand review, in which every soul who is seeking to perfect a Christian character must bear the test of God's searching questions
This "grand review" will evidently be for the dead as well as the living. 1T.131.001 "Am I prepared to die? prepared to appear before God in judgment, and pass the grand review?" This "grand review" takes place before Christ's second coming. 2T.458.001 Nothing but purity, sacred purity, will stand the grand review, abide the day of God, and be received into a pure and holy heaven. The "grand review" is evidently a judgment process by Christ. 4T.116.001 You have made little effort to become a loyal and intelligent Christian. How, then, will you be prepared to pass the grand review, where all your deeds and words, and the inmost thoughts of your heart, will be laid open before the great Judge and the assembled saints and angels? While it takees place at the close of probationary time, the "grand review" judgment must be considered part of "the events" of Christ's second coming. RH.1898-09-20.002 Christ would have all understand the events of his second appearing. The judgment scene will take place in the presence of all the worlds; for in this judgment the government of God will be vindicated, and his law will stand forth as "holy, and just, and good." Then every case will be decided, and sentence will be passed upon all. While this decision judgment is part of "the events" of Christ's second coming," it must take place at the close of probationary time, rather than when Christ takes us to heaven. 2T 191 When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. RH.1849-08-01.014 Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the Most Holy Place, until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction. Ellen White frequently states that the actual blotting out of sins takes place AFTER the investigation process and in relation to the Latter Rain. Can this be the time for this future "judgment" by Christ and the "grand review"? GC.421.003 ....the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record Notice that "sentence" is pronounced by Christ in this "great day of judgment". ST.1895-03-07.008 In the great day of judgment every soul that has lived on the earth will receive sentence in accordance as to whether his deeds have been good or evil in the light of the law of God. This "judgment" is also called the "grand review" and involves a separation between those who do or do not serve God. RH.1893-07-04.005 ....only the work accomplished by much prayer, which is sanctified by the merit of Christ, will stand the test of the judgment. When the grand review shall take place, then shall ye return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. This destiny decision and separation takes place "immediately" after the gospel has gone to all the world. COL.123.002 When the work of the gospel is completed, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed. This judgment and separatioon takes place in the "time of harvest" when Christ will "decide" and "judge every man". COL.074.004 The tares are permitted to grow among the wheat, to have all the advantage of sun and shower; but in the time of harvest ye shall "return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." Mal. 3:18. Christ Himself will decide who are worthy to dwell with the family of heaven. He will judge every man according to his words and his works. This clearly takes place as probationary time comes to a close, rather than when Christ takes us to heaven. COL.071.003 The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time. Your comments will be appreciated.
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