In Revelation we saw the martyrs in the fifth seal crying out, "How long until judgment?" Again we see that they are vindicated, as white robes are given them, yet they must sleep in death a little longer until the number of the ones who will be martyred in the final great trouble will be completed. The sixth seal shows those who are not judged righteous as they rush for mountains and rocks to fall upon them. The cry "Who will be able to stand?" goes forth. (Rev. 6) Chapter 7 tells us those who are sealed, which is part of the sanctuary, investigative judgment work, will be able to stand. There is a special seal for the 144,000 who must stand through the final crises, as well as the seal of approval and white robes for the multitude of redeemed for all ages.

Now let's see what Peter says about the investigative judgment. Here are three key verses, later, after we have walked with Peter through the first phases of the sanctuary, we will look at more evidence that indeed Peter knows there will be an investigative judgment.

One of the biggest falsehoods in modern theology is the concept that a one time justification means a person is unconditionally saved, and as long as he continues to believe this, he remains saved no matter how many pet sins he is still clinging to. It teaches that there is no investigative judgment, no accountability for him who has named the name of Christ. This theology has the idea that actively resisting sinful habits should be discouraged. This is a dangerous, deceptive, teaching, which Christ, Himself warned against in Matthew 7.21-23
Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(practice lawlessness)
Here are people who think they are justified but refuse to submit themselves to the law of God.

The modern concept that a person who has once claimed justification, is always justified, with no more possibility of condemnation, is seen to be a deadly and deceptive belief. When one understands the sanctuary doctrine, which is the center of Christ's salvation for mankind a person finds the true path of salvation FROM sins.

HOPE OF SALVATION, NOT AUTOMATIC SALVATION

Peter's epistle follows the sanctuary path from the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God-- without which the work of the ministry of Christ in the sanctuary for us could not take place, the sprinkling of the blood, the work of sanctification and both the investigative cleansing and judgment, and the executive cleansing and judgment which results in a new heaven and new earth.

By following the sanctuary path, Peter puts the true meaning on justification and sanctification and judgment.

Often people will say, why would Peter worry about the investigative judgment if it doesn't convene until 1844? The answer is simple enough? The condition of a person's spiritual life must be developed during the person's life time. A person living in 46 A.D. can't wait until after 1844 A.D. to make things right with God — they must do it in their lifetime. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment". (Hebrews 9:2) Thus, following the true understanding, Peter leads his readers through the entire sanctuary.

Salvation for Peter, is a living HOPE!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy brought us into a living HOPE, through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

"Rest your HOPE fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ." 1 Peter 1:13 For He was foreordained before the foundation of the world...so that your faith and hope are in God!" 1 Peter 1:21 We can have this HOPE because: He who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Christ's death is foundational to the atonement process!
"And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe He is precious: but to those who are DISOBEDIENT, Christ is a stumbling block...they stumble, being disobedient." Peter 2:6-8

While Christ is precious to true believers, it is evident that people can actually come to Christ and stumble and lose out on salvation! How can this be possible? Do you notice that belief is used as an antonym of disobedience? Yes, believe in Christ and you will be saved, but disobedience is a direct sign that a person is NOT BELIEVING.

Peter refers to Isaiah's prophecy concerning the precious cornerstone several times in his writings. It is quite revealing when one goes and reads the full prophecy.

Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not be ashamed. Also I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled.... For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it. For the Lord will rise up as at Mt. Perazim, ..That He may do His work, His awesome work, and bring to pass his act, his unusual act. Therefore, do not be mockers, lest your bonds be made strong. For I have heard from the Lord God, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth." Isaiah 28:16-22

We will refer back to this prophecy later as Peter's epistle references from it in several places. But notice now — the people made a covenant with death, (a false theological covenant which promises escape from death) this covenant will be annulled. The bed is too short — (they are looking for rest but find only a fitful rest) and the covering too narrow (their sins are not covered) Judgment is definitely part of Isaiah's prophecy! For, Isaiah says, "This is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord." Is.30:9

Peter draws from Isaiah's prophecy in his epistle.

"Therefore to you who believe He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, the chief cornerstone has become a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense, they stumble, being disobedient to the word." 1 Peter 2:8

Rest your hope fully upon grace.....conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in FEAR. 1 Peter 1:13,17
The promises of God are sure, the provisions are sure. We can rest upon the chief cornerstone, in the assurance that God has and will do His part. Don't doubt God! He is faithful! Peter tells us in his sermon:
There is no salvation in any other name under heaven given among men by which we must be save. Acts 4:12

So Peter points us to Christ, the Lamb who bore our sins in His own body. He points us to the altar of sacrifice and the perfect Lamb who alone can take away our sins. Yet, it is not just Christ who dies, our sinful natures must be placed on that altar with Christ. If we do not surrender those sins we will stumble and be confounded, for the chief cornerstone will become a stone of stumbling for us.

He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we HAVING DIED to sin, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. 1Peter 2:23

CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN FEAR

In the earthly sanctuary the blood of the sacrifice was taken within the holy place and sprinkled before veil between the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. Signifying the removal of the sin from the person and sending it into the sanctuary where intercession is made and the sin is covered by the blood.

Peter leads us through this step in the heavenly sanctuary setting, where we have a better priest and better blood.

"Elected in sanctification of the spirit, for obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. . . conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,.. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish. 1 Peter 1:1,17-19

This is a love based fear. A fear of misconducting ourselves in a way that will bring pain and separation from the One Who has done so much for us! Our motivation is described in (1 Peter 1:8,9)Jesus Christ, Whom having not seen, you LOVE, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with inexpressible joy in the hope of receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

What does this love based fear motivate us to do?

Therefore we gird up the loins of our minds, we are sober, ...as obedient children, not conforming to the former lusts, but as he who called us is holy, we are also to be holy in ALL OUR conduct. 1 Peter 1:13-16
We lay aside ALL malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and ALL evil speaking. 1 Peter 2:1

We abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. ...By our good works, which others observe, we glorify God. 1Peter 2:11,12
We love the brotherhood. We fear God. We are law abiding citizens. 1 Peter 2:17
We turn away from evil and do good. 1 Peter 3:11
We cease from sin, that we no longer should live the rest of our time for the flesh, but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1,2
We have love for one another...ministering to one another...1 Peter 4:8,11

We do all things that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever. 1 Peter 4:11

It is the love of God that constrains us and causes us to conduct ourselves in fear. Yet it is still our decision. We must be willing to lay all our sins upon the altar, our carnal nature must die with Christ ,"who bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, HAVING DIED TO SINS, might live for righteousness." 1 Peter 2:24

Peter points out that this giving up of sin is a battle which we must fight with diligence. It involves repentance (the turning away from sin), humbling ourselves before God, walking before Him in fear and steadfastness and sobriety.
"Repent therefore and be converted, so your sins may be blotted out" Acts 3:19
"Repent and let every one of you be baptized in name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...Acts 2:38 "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober." 1 Peter 1:13 "Arm yourself with the same mind as Christ,...cease from sin 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. RESIST HIM, be steadfast in your faith. For through these trials and temptations, may the God of all who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." 1 Peter 5:6-10

Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. Just because we feel saved one day, does not mean we can sit back and relax thinking the battle is over! Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to cry earnestly to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, sins, both inherited and circumstantial, to overcome, and there is no stopping place, there is no point to which we can come and say I have arrived, the battle is over.

The rest Christ promises is in our hope and faith in Christ, not in sitting back in complacency in our sins.

WALKING THROUGH THE HOLY PLACE WITH CHRIST

The journey through the sanctuary can never be taken alone. It is totally dependant on Christ. For it is Christ Who redeemed us with His own precious blood and opened the way into the sanctuary of salvation. It is Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope... and we are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation." 1 Peter 1:4,5
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
It is only in Christ that we have forgiveness of sins, we are all naturally slaves to sin with no power of our own to be free. He has redeemed us. It is the realization of how great a price God paid for our redemption--"the precious blood of Christ" (1:19) that brings to our dull senses the high and terrible price of sin and builds within our own minds a horror of sin that leads us ever closer to Christ with a longing to rid ourselves of the bonds sin has upon us.

The word "rid" or "laying aside" in 1 Peter 2:1 means to "strip off" as in stripping off one's garments. We must strip off the filthy garments of sin and self righteousness, before we put on Christ's robe of righteousness. Notice in Zechariah 3, where Joshua receives the robes of righteousness; Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Heavenly Being. Then He spoke "Take away the filthy garments from him.. and to him He said, "See I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." Then the Heavenly Being admonished Joshua, "Walk in My ways, keep My commands."

Peter Shows us the Laver

After giving ourselves in complete consecration to Christ at the altar, we next go to the laver for cleansing. Peter understood the importance of being washed by Christ, for in the upper room, when Jesus washed the disciples feet, Peter had first resisted: Peter said unto him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I don't wash you, you have no part with me. (John 13.8)

Now Peter tells us in his epistle:
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, ...and powers are subject to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

People are not saved by being washed in water, but by having their consciences purified by divine power. There could be no forgiveness of sin without the high priestly mediatorial ministry of Jesus Christ in heaven.

Baptism also symbolizes the dying to the old way of life and rising to newness of life with Christ. "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. For by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24 At the atlar, the old nature dies as it beholds Christ, and surrenders, stripping away the filthy garments of sin. Baptism symbolizes the washing and awakening, like a resurrection, to new life in Christ.

It is only by walking with Christ, and partaking of the provisions He has made available to us that we are sanctified — that is separated from our sins. 1 Peter 1:22 tells us we are PURIFIED by obeying the truth through the Holy Spirit. This develops in us SINCERE love, for there is, in the carnal heart a deceptive, counterfeit love which has often been mistaken for and taken the place of SINCERE love.

Once purified (forgiven, cleansed) we walk the sanctified life with Christ in the sanctuary. Notice Peter says "We become living stones, part of building up a spiritual building, a HOLY PRIEST HOOD, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God." 1 Peter 2:5

The priests underwent a cleansing ceremony before being allowed into the sanctuary. In the same way, we are cleansed by Christ's blood and the removal of sins at the altar, we are baptized, and clothed with Christ's righteousness. Then we walk in the sanctuary with Christ, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

Peter shows us the table of showbread.

The Word of God which lives and abides forever. (1:23) This word is necessary in the born again experience.
The word of God--the truth--is the channel through which the Lord manifests His Spirit and power. Obedience to the word produces fruit of the required quality --"sincere love" This love is heaven-born and leads to high motives and unselfish actions.

When truth found in God's Word becomes an abiding principle in the life, we are "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever." This new birth is the result of finding and receiving Christ in the word for He is the Word of God. When by the Holy Spirit divine truths are impressed upon the heart, new conceptions are awakened, and thoughts and motives are aroused to co-operate with God.

Peter shows us the altar of incense.

He tells us to;
"call on the Father" (1:17) to make Him the "shepherd and Overseer of our souls" (2:25) to be serious and watchful in prayer (4:7) to humble ourselves before Him, while casting all our cares upon Him (5:6,7)

Our prayers, mingled with the incense of the perfection of Christ, will ascend as fragrance to the Father, and answers will come. We can only approach God through the blood of Christ which cleanses us, and the incense of His merits, which makes our offerings acceptable.

Peter leads us to the burning candlesticks

The candlesticks represent the people of God, filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit and burning with the light of Christ, bringing glory to God.

Peter often refers to the oil of the Holy Spirit which empowers. Yet notice, that the Holy Spirit must first aid in the work of cleansing us, before we become lampstands in God's sanctuary, shining for His glory.
"He called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...having your conduct honorable..that by your good works , which people observe, they glorify God. 1 Peter 2:10-12
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through THE SPIRIT (you produce the evidence of a born again life). 1 Peter 1:22

At Penticost Peter attributed the great power with which they went forth to preach to the Holy Spirit. For Christ had arisen and had been exalted in the heavenly sanctuary, and one of His first tasks as our High Priest was to light the candlesticks on earth.

For Christ being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit, poured out this Spirit which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33
Repent and let every one of you be baptized for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit preached unto them....and they realized that he had been with Jesus. Acts 4:8,13. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

The sufficiency of the apostles was not in themselves, nor will it ever be in ourselves, it is in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, whose gracious influences fills the soul, bringing every thought into subjection and obedience to Christ. When the oil of the Holy Spirit cleans and fills our lamps, then the light of Christ can shine and our ministry becomes fruitful.

Thus we have seen the sanctuary journey which, if followed, prepares us to stand in the investigative judgment.

Peter's rendition of the judgement phases of the sanctuary is continued on

Peter and the Investigative Judgment Page Two