The Concept of the “Investigative Judgment,” as Revealed to Hiram Edson

Before even commencing research into Hiram Edson, it is easy to deduce the level of his involvement in the early affairs of the Adventist faith, as James and Ellen White named one of their sons after him. It was Hiram Edson who received the famous “cornfield vision” that serves to dispel the confusion (for those who accepted the existence of prophetic gifts) that followed in the wake of the “Great Disappointment” in October of 1844. The important vision God granted to Hiram Edson deserves to be partially restated: I saw distinctly and clearly, that instead of our High Priest coming out of the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary to come to this earth [at the expected hour], He for the first time entered on that day the second apartment of that sanctuary, and that He had a work to perform in the Most Holy before coming to this earth. A published report of this vision came to the attention of James and Ellen White through reading a periodical called Day-Dawn. They paid a visit to the prosperous Methodist farmer, converting him to a belief in keeping the seventh day as the true Sabbath. Hiram Edson shall always be remembered in Adventists circles as the originator of the concept of the “investigative judgement,” which is descriptive of Christ’s present activity in the heavenly sanctuary. This is a judgement of those who profess belief in Christ. Hypocrisy is exposed, and grievances get redressed in the course of this continuing assessment. It is not an impossibility to achieve a high standard of conformance with the commandments of God. Perfection may be impossible, but this inability to attain perfection should not deter Christians from striving to come as close to perfection as is possible. Successful application to this pursuit of excellence is known to other denominations as the “process of sanctification.”