Understanding World Religions

[Gail]

Like the "neutering of Adventism" that George Knight talks about in his book, the Apocalyptic Vision?

Thankfully there are a few books that have come out recently that talk about the Investigative Judgment and how it fits the Gospel AND how it is relevant today. I'm excited about those and I'm finding that our pastors are interested.

[John317]

That's true. There have been some good ones on the IJ published fairly recently, and Marvin's Moore's is one of those. I'm reading it now. I haven't gotten to the part where he discusses the atonement yet. Most Christians teach that the Atonement was finished at the cross, but the Bible teaches that Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary is a work of atonement. Ours is an unpopular teaching with most of the other denomincations partly because our view of the heavenly sanctuary shows that there's no such thing as "once saved always saved." Many people who reject the IJ do it because they mistakenly feel that it robs them of their security of salvation.

But I do think we need to work harder at finding better ways to communicate this wonderful truth to the people of the world who know nothing either of the Bible or of our distinctive doctrines.

[Gail]

I have come across non-SDA material that talks about the sanctuary in heaven, which was a surprise to me. I know that it is out there, but "few and far between".

I have Moore's book on the IJ and will get into it probably after I finish with the Great Controversy. I am almost 1/2 way through that now. I'm happy for the thumbs up on Moore's book, though- thanks!

[John317]

Interesting, Gail, that you should say that, because I have a number of study Bibles written by various denominations and at least one of them talks about the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. It doesn't do it in the context, of course, of 1844 and of an Investigative Judgment, but it does mention the fact that the Bible teaches there is a cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven.

As I've read these study Bibles, I've concluded that I could just about teach all of our doctrines from the notes in those Bibles.

[Gail]

As I've read these study Bibles, I've concluded that I could just about teach all of our doctrines from the notes in those Bibles.

And interesting that you should say that, too, John317, because David Allen, the pastor that lectures about Bible versions, says the same thing (in answer to those who are KJV only advocates).

Anyways, we are diverting from the topic at hand, so...

[skyblue888]

That reminds me of the fact that at the time of the birth of Jesus the ones who were foremost in calling attention to the event were non-Jews, wise men from the East! Wasn't this recorded and written for our admonition?

sky