Letters to the Churches by M.L. Andreason

August 19, 2011

Again, lets assume that QoD took a wrongful and terrible position on this issue. The church TODAY, from what I can see (#24 in particular) takes the correct position NOW.

So, "we", the brethren, the GC, somebody, possibly made a HUGE mistake in 1957. Has it been corrected? Are we beating a dead horse? What does any of this mean TODAY? Granted, we need to learn from history, in fact, that was the FIRST thing I set out to do when I became an Adventist. Church history. Who were these folks? Where did we come from? What issues and divisions arose? Some dates are stand out events. 1888, 1903, 1919, 1957, the Ford era. Every 20 years or so some "climatic" event within the church, it will come around again. We can learn from history. I would HOPE that is what this thread is about, learning from our mistakes.

But this IS where the "prejudice" that Sky suggested I have comes into play. I fear this thread has intentions other than simply learning from history. I'm not sure what the message is supposed to be, or do, or what response it is supposed to illicit from those reading it?

Some, "on the edge" may well conclude the church remains in apostasy. The leaders can't be trusted. Perhaps they will abandon the church entirely as a result? That would be some ugly "fruit". So, whats the up side of all this?

August 19, 2011

Sky, it is not a pleasent thing to be somewhat of an adversary on your thread here. I ask these questions with a sincere and humble heart seeking only to understand this more fully. I am very sorry if it reflects poorly on you personally, that is certainly not my intent.

August 19, 2011

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES

Post # 1

by M.L. Andreason, an emeritus professor at Andrews University in those years...

...The question of greatest importance was whether Adventists could be considered Christians while holding such views as the doctrine of the sanctuary, the 2,300 days, the date 1844, the investigative judgment and Christ's atoning work in the sanctuary in Heaven since 1844. Our men expressed the desire that the Adventist church be reckoned as one of the regular Protestant churches, a Christian church, not a sect.

First, notice that Andreason doesn't mention the Trinity. This is good evidence that Andreason didn't object to the clear position taken by QOD on the Trinity.

Secondly, I think it was a huge mistake for our SDA leaders at that time to be concerned with whether we were reckoned by Dr. Barnhouse and Mr. Martin to be one of the regular Protestant churches. That concern gave those two men power over us that they should never have had. The truth is what really matters-- not whether we are considered a sect or Christian. What God thinks of us is the only thing that matters-- not what people call us. And if God approves of us, it doesn't matter what other people think of us. If we had the truth, we shouldn't have made any effort to change it so that churches in Babylon would like us or approve of us. That was wrong and is still wrong-- that is, it is the wrong motive for making any substanative changes in our beliefs and teachings.

Exactly.

sky

August 19, 2011

Sky, it is not a pleasent thing to be somewhat of an adversary on your thread here. I ask these questions with a sincere and humble heart seeking only to understand this more fully. I am very sorry if it reflects poorly on you personally, that is certainly not my intent.

All right. No sweat but I strongly encourage you to take more time to closely examine Andreason's point of view in relation to what took place in secret for obvious reasons.

Andreason was not a sensasionalist or an extremist. He just happened to be providentially made aware of what was taking place and he did what a Christian should do.

Ask yourself why he was not invited to be present at those meetings?

sky

August 19, 2011

OK, lets ASSUME that much, but certainly not ALL, of what Adreason states is true.

Why assume anything? Andreason was not the type of man to assume anything. He was given access to the official minutes only to be told that he had no right to this information. He is a man we can trust but the leaders at that time were not to be trusted because they made it clear that they would compromise our pillars rather than being cagegorized any longer as an anti-christian cult.

How does that impact TODAY? Have the mistakes of 1957 been rectified? Is it time to "move on"? Are we to conclude the GC has been in apostasy since 1903 or so, that the apostasy deepened in 1957 and that it remains in apostasy TODAY?

Not "mistakes" but apostasies. The "omega" of apostasy is not a mistake, it is what it is, a denial of the pillars of our faith in order to gain the friendship of the popular churches that constitute Babylon.

Sky, it is not "prejudice" when I state that I KNOW your view on this is that the church TODAY remains in apostasy. Has been in apostasy since 1903. You've never made it clear what, if anything, any given individual or group is supposed to do about it. This 1957 issue carries forward your "work" in proclaiming the SDA church to be in apostasy. I'm not judging you on that, just clairifying your position. Those are the facts, supported by your many previous posts, good or bad, it is what it is.

So WHAT are we supposed to do or think concerning the 1957 issue? Never mind the 1903 issues for now....

These two years are connected. In 1903 the self-confident management of men resulted in putting God aside and accepting the devisings of men. 1957 was reaping what was sown in 1888 and 1903. I have made it clear many times what is to be . "When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things and in a way that will be contrary to any human planing." T.M.300.

I have posted many excerpts from the 1901 and 1903 G.C. Bulletins. Mrs. White stated that the Lord told our leaders what to do and what not to do but they rejected the light.

And she also prophesied that when the Lord shall again let His light shine upon the people they will turn from the heavenly illumination.

It may be happening today right before our eyes. She warned that the latter rain may be falling on hearts all around us but we shall not discern or receive it.

sky

August 19, 2011

I look forward to John take on this subject, until then...

There are three "courts" I consider when allegations are made.

The court of public opinion. An ultra low standard that allows for innuendo, suggestions, rumors and hear say. This court often gets it wrong.

The civil court, where circumstantial and reasonable evidence, carefully considered may come to a different conclusion than public opinion.

The criminal court. Highest standard, beyond a reasonable doubt.

Andreason easily wins his case in the public opinion arena. His is the ONLY testimony I've heard on this issue to date. He fails to make his case, for me, in a public opinion or civil court. WHY did the GC prevent him from attending? They may well have had a good and valid reason. I don't buy the argument they said they promised him a written report and then denied it. The evidence points to a misunderstanding on that issue, and many more issues, of the allegations Adreason is making.

The allegations Andreason makes wouldn't even warrant a hearing where the standard of proof is "beyond reasonable doubt". At this point, it's nothing more that hear say.

This is not saying anybody is wrong, it is saying I need more data to make a decision. Even though, I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do about any of this even when a conclusion is made one way or the other.

I often catch a lot of heat because I'm slow to accept the public opinion on a matter and folks think I'm being "wierd" by not doing so. Oh well.... :)

August 19, 2011

Club, Andreason had nothing to do with the "public arena".

In the days of Christ the men who composed the Sanhedrin were antagonistic to the ministry of Christ and yet the Sanhedrin was the "General Conference" of that day, the highest authority. Many sided with these men because they were supposed to be right, because they were the leaders, you see, and Jesus had to be wrong!

In secret meetings of the night, they tried Jesus and they had Him crucified, Him who was the way, the truth, and the life! At the end of the day the Sanhedrin and all their blind supporters were left behind and the Lord had to work in a manner that was very much out of the common order of things and contrary to any human planning. This happened at Pentecost when the disciples of Christ were filled with the Holy Spirit. These men were not chosen by the recognized leaders of that day. They were men of God's own choosing. So it will be in this last work.

The Testimonies are telling us in no uncertain terms that we are repeating the history of ancient Israel especially at the time of the first advent of Christ to our world. "The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work." 2 S.M.390.

And what does that mean?

"We want to understand the time in which we live. We do not half understand it. We do not half take it in. My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to meet him."

Immediately following these words we read,

"The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ--how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of the minds of the Jews, and today he is seeking to blind the minds of God's servants, that they many not be able to discern the precious truth." 1 S.M.406.

In the light of what happened between 1888 and 1903 and in the 1950s we should have no doubt that the enemy has indeed blinded the minds of many of God's servants that they may not be able to discern the precious truth.

sky

August 19, 2011

The "public opinion" in this case are primarily the members of the SDA church, I'm such a member.

I understand the concept of the the modern SDA church paralelling the Jewish nation with secrect meetings and apostasy, and I accept it! But not all "secret meetings" mean some evil is afoot. We are not privy, nor should we be, of every detail in regards to the meetings of the GC, the issues they face, the exact reason they took some position. We need not air our dirty laundry before the world on every occasion, there is a time to be forth coming and a time to keep quiet. A spirit of Unity, when ever, where ever possible is the goal. Unity not only among the leaders, but in harmony with the people.

I have no doubt there were sincere, repentant, God loving folks sighing and crying for the sins of the Sanhedrin. Those folks, as they should have done, were still supporting those leaders, attending church, helping where they could, bringing offerings, tithe. In all respects, solid members of the church. As pathetic as it was, it remained at that time, the single object of God's supreme regard. It's cup of iniquity not yet full.

I don't want to gloss over and sweep under the rug the idea that our modern day "Sanhedrin" is in great error. But I will in no way abandon our church, in spirit, in talk or in any other way. Not yet, maybe never. What I WILL do is draw closer to Jesus, find true repentance, accept righteouness by faith in the correct spirit, with God's help. I will defend our "church" in every way I can. I will press for unity, some will misinterpret that. As many do with the bible, the SOP and their understanding of the plan of salvation. Never the less, the preaching and teaching needs to be done, reproofs need to be given (as Andreason has done), to the body of believers. Not that everyone will understand, but for those few who will truly accept the truth in the right spirit, as I suspect, most won't.

August 19, 2011

The Lord had, through Mrs. White, years before it happened, predicted that our leaders would make concessions to the world regarding the pillars of our faith:

"In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904; The Upward Look,152.

This is talking about concessions, repudiations that would be made in secret meetings with the worldly churches in order to gain their approval.

"I am bidden to warn you that deceptive sentiments are entertained, a false modesty and caution, a disposition to withhold the profession of our faith. In the night season, matters have been presented before me that have greatly troubled my mind. I have seemed to be in meetings for counsel were these subjects were discussed, and written documents were presented, advocating concessions. Brethren, shall we permit the world to shape the message that God has given us to bear to them? Shall we for the sake of policy, betray a sacred trust?"

Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.94-95.

These things have already been fulfilled to the very letter.

Letters to the Churches by M.L. Andreason and other authors such as Herbert Douglas have made this abundantly clear.

sky

Does it matter if the members of the church are being told that we still adhere to the pillars of our faith and refer them to our 27 fb as proof when in secret meetings we tell the world that those who do belong to the "lunatic fringe" or to the "wild-eye irresponsible"?

In the eyes of the Lord, what does this amount to?

August 19, 2011

Various threatening errors have been introduced into the church for more than a 100 years. Kellogg is an early example, it was "met" disaster was averted. The consequences remain, it is still a problem for some. But in the end, truth prevailed.

Sky says,

"In the eyes of the Lord, what does this amount to?"

Let me rephrase it, what DID this amount at that time. Our understanding of the atonement remains intact. It would appear to me, that we "met it" and the crisis from QoD was defeated. Truth prevailed. Granted, consequences remain. But as it concerns THIS controversy, where does the GC stand on it today?

August 19, 2011

The "public opinion" in this case are primarily the members of the SDA church, I'm such a member.

Club

____________________

I'm sorry to say brother but when it comes to matters of faith and conscience it is never a matter of public opinion.

"In matters of conscience the soul (singular) must be left untrammeled. No one (or no committee or conference) is to control another's mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. 'Everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God.' No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, 'let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Rom.14:12,5." D.A.550.

This was the principle of the 1901 Constitution which was after God's order.

sky

____________________

I understand the concept of the the modern SDA church paralelling the Jewish nation with secrect meetings and apostasy, and I accept it! But not all "secret meetings" mean some evil is afoot. We are not privy, nor should we be, of every detail in regards to the meetings of the GC, the issues they face, the exact reason they took some position."

Club

____________________

I will dare say that you don't. You think you do but in the light of the following, it is clear that you don't.

"Whatever in our practice is not as open as day belongs to the methods of the prince of evil. His methods are practiced even among Seventh-day Adventists who claim to have advanced truth." T.M.366.

sky

____________________

We need not air our dirty laundry before the world on every occasion, there is a time to be forth coming and a time to keep quiet. A spirit of Unity, when ever, where ever possible is the goal. Unity not only among the leaders, but in harmony with the people.

Club

_______________________

But you know that that was not the case with Andreason. He addressed the leaders in private first.

The only true unity is that of being one with Christ. Only those who are one with Christ by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, can be one with one another.

sky

_____________________

I have no doubt there were sincere, repentant, God loving folks sighing and crying for the sins of the Sanhedrin. Those folks, as they should have done, were still supporting those leaders, attending church, helping where they could, bringing offerings, tithe. In all respects, solid members of the church. As pathetic as it was, it remained at that time, the single object of God's supreme regard. It's cup of iniquity not yet full.

Club

_______________________

No brother. They should have been supporting Christ from the beginning of His ministry since God had given them more than enough evidence that He was the promised Messiah. The leaders of the Sandedrin were resisting the light from Heaven and doing all in their power to prevent others from receiving that light.

"The men who composed the Sanhedrin exercised their authority in controlling men according to their will. Thus the souls whom Christ had given His life to free from the bondage of Satan were brought into bondage to him in another form." T.M.361.

sky

_______________________

I don't want to gloss over and sweep under the rug the idea that our modern day "Sanhedrin" is in great error. But I will in no way abandon our church, in spirit, in talk or in any other way.

Club

_________________________

You are confusing the issues. You are creating the impression that this thread is about leaving the church when it is not. It is about knowing the facts, knowing our history so we will be able to discern the precious truth that we may become vessels fit for the Masters' use.

sky

_________________________

What I WILL do is draw closer to Jesus, find true repentance, accept righteouness by faith in the correct spirit, with God's help. I will defend our "church" in every way I can. I will press for unity, some will misinterpret that. As many do with the bible, the SOP and their understanding of the plan of salvation. Never the less, the preaching and teaching needs to be done, reproofs need to be given (as Andreason has done), to the body of believers. Not that everyone will understand, but for those few who will truly accept the truth in the right spirit, as I suspect, most won't.

Club

_________________________

In the days of Christ the majority were lost because they were deceived into thinking that to take side with the Sanhedrin was to defend the church of God. And when the leaders had Jesus crucified, they thought that these men were doing God a service! Mrs. White said that this history is going to be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work!

sky

August 19, 2011

In the days of Christ the majority were lost because they were deceived into thinking that to take side with the Sanhedrin was to defend the church of God. And when the leaders had Jesus crucified, they thought that these men were doing God a service! Mrs. White said that this history is going to be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work!

sky

While this is true there is also an admonition and command that "in the mouths of 2 or 3 witnesses..." every claim should be examined. And we're also told by SOP that no one person will arrive at a truth apart from verifying witness from other of the brethren. MLA was the only voice of dissent in this case which neither makes him right or wrong but does naturally cast immediate doubt on his "private interpretation" of the situation.What you are "suggesting" is a colossal leadership conspiracy to apostasize the church from the gospel. That's prophetic courage if you're right and deceptive rebellion if your not. True?

August 19, 2011

"...the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904; The Upward Look,152.

Sky says,

"These things have already been fulfilled to the very letter."

WERE fulfilled, possibly, as it concerns THIS crisis, in 1957. May well have been fulfilled in the past as well, will be fulfilled in the future, again. What about TODAY???? Where does the GC stand TODAY, on THIS issue. We have all made mistakes, in the past.

'let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Rom.14:12,5." D.A.550.

I am not yet persuaded that this controversy CONTINUES within the GC or for the larger part of the body of believers. It is my opinion the issue was "met", the GC made mistakes, they learned from them, and we have since moved on. I am not decieved on this, I am not under anyones pressure one way or the other. I am considering the counsel, that is all. Public opinion can take whatever position they want, as can you. I will weigh the evidence for myself.

You claim I don't understand the paralell between the Jewish Nation rejecting Christ and the GC essentially doing the same. This is not a complex issue, the similiarties are clear. I do understand it. You claim every detail of the meetings of the GC should be clear as day. Thats true, but you present it in an unbalanced way. There is no reason the body to be privy to the details of every argument. There is a time and place for "closed doors", in the office, in the home, in the GC.

Andreason may well have done a good work here, going privately and then publicy. IS the issue NOW resolved, or not?

While WE can have a discussion and should on the crisis of 1957, I think we should show caution "airing our dirty laundry" in public. "Public" being the church, Sabbath school, the pulpit, prayer meeting, so as not to confuse and discourage those who will not understand the details.

I am amazed you can't see the balance in sthe Jewish Nation supporting the Sanhedrin, going to church, bringing their offerings AND supporting Jesus at the same time! Not ALL of them of course, but I MUST leave room for some sincere souls who loved not only the Sanhedrin (the GC), the church AND Jesus! This is not a difficult concept. Jesus Himself supported the church of His time, not until it's cup of iniquity was full was the rejection of the Nation complete. How can you say any given member from the time of the Sanhedrin were NOT supporting Jesus, while crying and sighing for the sins of the church? This totally baffles me!

The Seventh-day Adventist church, the GC in session, REMAINS the object of Gods supreme regard, today.

I HOPE I am confusing the issues here in that no one is calling on anyone to "leave the church". But the tone of this thread leaves open that possibility, and I need to "meet it". I HOPE the purpose of this thread is two fold. Learn from history and be advised that the plan of salvation is a very personal thing. Independant from the church, the GC, the Pastor or even membership within the body of believers.

Sky says,

"In the days of Christ the majority were lost because they were deceived into thinking that to take side with the Sanhedrin was to defend the church of God."

I believe the MAJORITY of Seventh-day Adventists in this modern age will also be lost as it was in the time of the Sanhedrin. I am not concerned with the "majority", with "public opinion". It is left to each of us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. While doing that, until the time is fulfilled, the GC has my full support. IN SPITE of the errors, it remains, the one body that has my supreme regard. Even IF they disfellowshiped me, I would mail in my tithe, I would not speak evil of them in any way. That is different than recognizing mistakes and providing the necessary straight counsel on them. It is not yet time to abandon them in any regard.

August 19, 2011

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

In the days of Christ the majority were lost because they were deceived into thinking that to take side with the Sanhedrin was to defend the church of God. And when the leaders had Jesus crucified, they thought that these men were doing God a service! Mrs. White said that this history is going to be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work!

sky

While this is true there is also an admonition and command that "in the mouths of 2 or 3 witnesses..." every claim should be examined. And we're also told by SOP that no one person will arrive at a truth apart from verifying witness from other of the brethren. MLA was the only voice of dissent in this case which neither makes him right or wrong but does naturally cast immediate doubt on his "private interpretation" of the situation.What you are "suggesting" is a colossal leadership conspiracy to apostasize the church from the gospel. That's prophetic courage if you're right and deceptive rebellion if your not. True?

I agree but Andreason is not alone. Yet, with all the evidence that has been presented from Letters to the Churches, and considering the bulk of the testimonies in regard to the apostasies of the last days, I believe that "prophetic courage" is of the order of the day for those who wish to be on the side of truth.

"We are living in the last days of this earth's history, and we may be surprised at nothing in the line of apostasies and denials of the truth." E.G. White, 2 S.M.147.

God help us.

sky

August 19, 2011

Doug says,

"What you are "suggesting" is a colossal leadership conspiracy to apostasize the church from the gospel."

Perhaps it was in fact a colossal leadership conspiracy and failure, in 1957. I do hope those mistakes have been recognized, forgiveness sought, the issues dealt with. The consequences remain and will almost certainly rise again...

Let us be advised of the potential for massive failure at the highest levels and consider our personal relationship with Jesus as our only anchor.

August 20, 2011

I agree but Andreason is not alone. Yet, with all the evidence that has been presented from Letters to the Churches, and considering the bulk of the testimonies in regard to the apostasies of the last days, I believe that "prophetic courage" is of the order of the day for those who wish to be on the side of truth.

sky

Who else in the mid-seventies recognized the conspiracy and sounded the warning? Who else sided with MLA? If the human nature of Christ and the understanding of the atonement were the main changes then your suggestion would be that those who hold the views of Anderson/Froom/contemporaries/ect... would be subverting the truth of those realities? Even though the human nature of Jesus Christ is still being debated? Shouldn't your focus be on the truth of those matters rather than on the "facts" on how it came about? Shouldn't the issues be decided before the blame for the errors are assigned?

August 20, 2011

[/quote=ClubV12]Perhaps it was in fact a colossal leadership conspiracy and failure, in 1957. I do hope those mistakes have been recognized, forgiveness sought, the issues dealt with. The consequences remain and will almost certainly rise again...

This assumes, of course, that there was both a failure and a conspiracy. A conspiracy would engender no future desire to seek forgiveness.Mistakes would have to be recognized and repented of in order to begin down any path towards healing.
If there was only failure but no conspiracy then Sky's main beef goes kaputski.

August 20, 2011

Club & Doug,

Have either of you read With Cloak & Dagger by H.H. Meyers? This background would help illustrate the influence of Walter Martin & Donald Barnhouse upon the GC leaders. Our people were desperate to avoid the cult tag. Martin had published The Rise of the Cults in 1955. Barnhouse was the founder & publisher of the popular Eternity magazine.

With Cloak & Dagger is published by Hartland Publications.

August 20, 2011

Check out below all the significant quotes from Ellen G. White on the atonement. I believe that a study of these quotes, together with a study of the statements in QOD and of those which will be found in the writings of mainline denominations, will show the difference between the truth and the false doctrines that are being taught today with respect to the atonement:

We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God that is going on at the present time [1882] in the heavenly sanctuary, should be our constant study. --Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 520. {7ABC 481.2}

Now Christ is in the heavenly sanctuary. And what is He doing? Making atonement for us, cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Then we must enter by faith into the sanctuary with Him, we must commence the work in the sanctuary of our souls. We are to cleanse ourselves from all defilement. We must "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Satan will come and tempt you and you will give way to his temptations. What then? Why, come and humble your hearts in confession, and by faith grasp the arm of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Believe that Christ will take your confession and hold up His hands before the Father--hands that have been bruised and wounded in our behalf-- and He will make an atonement for all who will come with confession. What if you cannot understand about this matter? He says, "He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins" (2 Peter 1:19). {1888 127.3}

When Christ ascended to heaven at the close of His earthly ministry, the gates of the city of God were thrown back upon their glittering hinges, and He entered as a conqueror, there to take up in the heavenly sanctuary His ministry in behalf of those for whom He had given His life. The divine-human Son of God is now standing before the Father, pleading our cases and making atonement for our transgressions. Thus He confesses our names before His Father and before the angels. His hands still bear the marks of the crucifixion. He exclaims, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands!" He desires that we shall finally enter the heavenly city as conquerors. {2SAT 222, 223}

Shall we forget our holy calling, brethren? Shall the mournful deterioration of piety be seen among us, that caused the rejection of the Jewish nation? Shall we who have had so great light upon Bible truth let a dry, dead formalism take the place of zeal and faith? Is our light to go out in darkness? Are we not to work zealously to counteract the arts of the enemy? We must watch and pray. We must arouse and take in the situation. We are in the day of atonement, and we are to work in harmony with Christ's work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. Let no man who desires to be found with the wedding garment on, resist our Lord in his office work. As he is, so will his followers be in this world. We must now set before the people the work which by faith we see our great High-priest accomplishing in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who do not sympathize with Jesus in his work in the heavenly courts, who do not cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, but who engage in some enterprise not in harmony with this work, are joining with the enemy of God and man in leading minds away from the truth and work for this time. {RH, January 21, 1890 par. 4}

When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, He committed to His servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14. Immediately following its proclamation, the Son of man is seen by the prophet coming in glory to reap the harvest of the earth. {SR 379.1}

We are living in the antitypical day of atonement, and our High Priest is in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, pleading his blood in behalf of his people. The mighty achievement upon Calvary, should not become an old, forgotten story to any of us. The object of these camp-meetings is to arouse the mind to a more vivid sense of the solemnity of these things. Grasp the truth as it is presented to you for your soul's sake. Cherish every new idea, every divine enlightenment, lest you let the truth slip from your heart, as water from a leaky vessel. Seek to walk in every ray of light that comes to you through the ministration of the word. As we grow in the knowledge of the truth, we shall have fellowship one with another, and the more we think of Jesus and his matchless love, the deeper will that love take possession of our heart, mind, and soul, and we will enter into the scenes of Christ's humiliation, and become partakers of the divine nature. {RH, June 26, 1888 par. 6}

When we feel destitute of the blessing of God, feel there is no spiritual life in us, and we cannot understand why we are in this condition, we should not doubt the Lord, and blame him for our darkness. It is not from God, for he has promised power and fullness of joy. We should search God's word, and see if we have not allowed envy, evil surmising, and hatred to run riot in our hearts, or if we have not done something to mar the soul temple. Christ is in the heavenly sanctuary, and he is there to make an atonement for the people. He is there to present his wounded side and pierced hands to his Father. He is there to plead for his Church that is upon the earth. He is cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. What is our work?--It is our work to be in harmony with the work of Christ. By faith we are to work with him, to be in union with him. {RH, January 28, 1890 par. 7}

The ministers of God are not to be content to remain in ignorance of the deep things of his word. Many do not make any progress in attaining knowledge; they are slothful servants, who do not realize the importance of the truth for this time. They fall easily under temptation, and are content to meet a low standard. They are not self-sacrificing, because they have not the spirit of Christ. They do not become more and more efficient in the work, because they do not become more and more intelligent in the Scriptures of truth. They do not seek to place themselves in harmony with the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, where he is making an atonement for his people. While Christ is cleansing the sanctuary, the worshipers on earth should carefully review their life, and compare their character with the standard of righteousness. As they see their defects, they should seek the aid of the Spirit of God to enable them to have moral strength to resist the temptations of Satan, and to reach the perfection of the standard. They may be victors over the very temptations which seemed too strong for humanity to bear; for the divine power will be combined with their human effort, and Satan cannot overcome them. {RH, April 8, 1890 par. 3}

All heaven has been looking on with interest, ready to do whatever God might appoint, to help fallen men and women to become what God would have them. God will work for his children, but not without their co-operation. They must have indomitable energy, and a constant desire to become all that it is possible for them to be. They should seek to cultivate their powers and develop characters that will be meet for a holy heaven. Then and then only will the servants of God be bright and shining lights in the world. Then they will bring energy into their Christian life, for they will put all their powers to the task, and respond to the efforts that have been made to uplift, refine, and purify them, that they may shine in the courts above. They will bring all their powers under the control of the Spirit of God; they will study his word, and listen for his voice, to direct, encourage, strengthen, and advance them in their religious experience. They will not be childish and be turned aside by the temptations of Satan. They will deny themselves, not appealing to their own sympathies, for they will be of a heroic spirit. They will hoard up the great and precious truths of God's word; they will feed upon them, and grow into strong, well-developed men and women in Christ, sons and daughters of God. The greatness of the truth which they contemplate will expand the mind and elevate the character. They will not be novices in the understanding of God's word, nor dwarfs in religious experience. Conflict with the enemies of truth will not shatter them nor weaken their energies; it will only serve to drive them nearer to Him who is mighty to save. They will receive the discipline that will give efficiency to all their faculties. Heaven will be brought near to them in sympathy and co-operation, and they will be indeed a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men; for they will be marked characters on account of their purity, their strength of purpose, their firmness, their usefulness in the world. {RH, April 8, 1890 par. 4}

Those who are finally victorious will have seasons of terrible perplexity and trial in their religious life; but they must not cast away their confidence, for this is a part of their discipline in the School of Christ, and it is essential in order that all dross may be purged away. The servant of God must endure with fortitude the attacks of the enemy, his grievous taunts, and must overcome the obstacles which Satan will place in his way. Satan will seek to discourage the followers of Christ, so that they may not pray or study the Scriptures, and he will throw his hateful shadow athwart the path to hide Jesus from the view, to shut away the vision of his love, and the glories of the heavenly inheritance. It is his delight to cause the children of God to go shrinkingly, tremblingly, and painfully along, under continual doubt. He seeks to make the pathway as sorrowful as possible; but if you keep looking up, not down at your difficulties, you will not faint in the way, you will soon see Jesus reaching his hand to help you, and you will only have to give him your hand in simple confidence, and let him lead you. As you become trustful, you will become hopeful. {RH, April 8, 1890 par. 5}

Continued

August 20, 2011

Ellen White's use of "Atonement"--

Continued

Again, "the temple of God was opened," and he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. Here he beheld, "the ark of His testament," represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God. {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 9}

In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," the holy of holies was opened only upon the great day of atonement, the typical day of judgment, set apart for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament," points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, at the end of the twenty-three hundred days,--in 1844,--as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith followed their great High Priest, as he entered upon his ministry in the most holy place, beheld the ark of the testament. {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 10}

The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time, and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects, and be able to give to every one that asketh them a reason for the hope that is in them. {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 11}

We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin, by humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life, should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin, and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged in by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet he will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Every one must be tested, and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 12}

Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For more than sixty years this work has been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Savior's admonition, "Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 13}

When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. At that time, Christ will declare: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 14}

The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state--men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. "So," says the Saviour, "shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men. {RH, November 9, 1905 par. 15}

As the sins of the people were anciently transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary by the blood of the sin-offering, so our sins are, in fact, transferred to the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Christ. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. This necessitates an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of his atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigative Judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem his people; for when he comes, his reward is with him to give to every man according to his works. [Revelation 22:12.] {4SP 266.1}

Thus those who followed in the advancing light of the prophetic word saw that instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, into the presence of God, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to his coming. {4SP 266.2}

But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." [Revelation 3:7, 8.] Here an open as well as a shut door is brought to view. At the termination of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844, Christ changed his ministration from the holy to the most holy place. When, in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary, the high priest on the day of atonement entered the most holy place, the door of the holy place was closed, and the door of the most holy was opened. So, when Christ passed from the holy to the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, the door, or ministration, of the former apartment was closed, and the door, or ministration, of the latter was opened. Christ had ended one part of his work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and he still presented his blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. "Behold," he declares, "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." {4SP 268.3}

Those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement, receive the benefits of his mediation in their behalf; but those who reject the light that brings to view this work of ministration, are not benefited thereby. The Jews who rejected the light given at Christ's first advent, and refused to believe in him as the Saviour of the world, could not receive pardon through him. When Jesus at his ascension entered by his own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon his disciples the blessings of his mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness, to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased. That door by which men had formerly found access to God, was no longer open. The Jews had refused to seek him in the only way whereby he could then be found, through the ministration in the sanctuary in Heaven. Therefore they found no communion with God. To them the door was shut. They had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator before God; hence they could not receive the benefits of his mediation. {4SP 269.1}

The condition of the unbelieving Jews illustrates the condition of the careless and unbelieving among professed Christians, who are willingly ignorant of the work of our merciful High Priest. In the typical service, when the high priest entered the most holy place, all Israel were required to gather about the sanctuary, and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God, that they might receive the pardon of their sins, and not be cut off from the congregation. How much more essential in this anti-typical day of atonement that we understand the work of our High Priest, and know what duties are required of us. {4SP 270.1}

In like manner I saw that Jesus regarded with the deepest compassion the disappointed ones who had waited for His coming; and He sent His angels to direct their minds that they might follow Him where He was. He showed them that this earth is not the sanctuary, but that He must enter the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to make an atonement for His people and to receive the kingdom from His Father, and that He would then return to the earth and take them to dwell with Him forever. The disappointment of the first disciples well represents the disappointment of those who expected their Lord in 1844. {EW 244.2}

Continued

August 20, 2011

ellen White's use of "atonement":

Continued

Behold the apostle preaching in the synagogue at Corinth, reasoning from the writings of Moses and the prophets, and bringing his hearers down to the advent of the promised Messiah. Listen as he makes plain the work of the Redeemer as the great high priest of mankind--the One who through the sacrifice of His own life was to make atonement for sin once for all, and was then to take up His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Paul's hearers were made to understand that the Messiah for whose advent they had been longing, had already come; that His death was the antitype of all the sacrificial offerings, and that His ministry in the sanctuary in heaven was the great object that cast its shadow backward and made clear the ministry of the Jewish priesthood. AA 246

As Jesus died on Calvary, He cried, "It is finished," and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom. This was to show that the services of the earthly sanctuary were forever finished, and that God would no more meet with the priests in their earthly temple, to accept their sacrifices. The blood of Jesus was then shed, which was to be offered by Himself in the heavenly sanctuary. As the priest entered the most holy once a year to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly, at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation, and thus to cleanse the sanctuary. {EW 253.1}

As the ministration of Jesus closed in the holy place, and He passed into the holiest, and stood before the ark containing the law of God, He sent another mighty angel with a third message to the world. A parchment was placed in the angel's hand, and as he descended to the earth in power and majesty, he proclaimed a fearful warning, with the most terrible threatening ever borne to man. This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, "They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth." The third angel closes his message thus: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. It includes all who died trusting in Christ, but who, not having received the light upon God's commandments, had sinned ignorantly in transgressing its precepts. {EW 254.1}

I was pointed back to the proclamation of the first advent of Christ. John was sent in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of Jesus. Those who rejected the testimony of John were not benefited by the teachings of Jesus. Their opposition to the message that foretold His coming placed them where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence that He was the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message of John to go still farther, to reject and crucify Christ. In doing this they placed themselves where they could not receive the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would have taught them the way into the heavenly sanctuary. The rending of the veil of the temple showed that the Jewish sacrifices and ordinances would no longer be received. The great Sacrifice had been offered and had been accepted, and the Holy Spirit which descended on the day of Pentecost carried the minds of the disciples from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly, where Jesus had entered by His own blood, to shed upon His disciples the benefits of His atonement. But the Jews were left in total darkness. They lost all the light which they might have had upon the plan of salvation, and still trusted in their useless sacrifices and offerings. The heavenly sanctuary had taken the place of the earthly, yet they had no knowledge of the change. Therefore they could not be benefited by the mediation of Christ in the holy place. {EW 259, 260}

God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel's message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the law of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. {Ev 695.2}

As the sins of the people were anciently transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary by the blood of the sin offering, so our sins are, in fact, transferred to the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Christ. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. This necessitates an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. {FLB 206.6}

Those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that, instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming. . . . {FLB 284.6}

In the typical system,—which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ,—the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the closing work of the atonement,—a removal or putting away of sin from Israel. It prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in Heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of his people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; for when he comes, every case has been decided. Says Jesus, “My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” [Revelation 22:12.] It is this work of judgment, immediately preceding the second advent, that is announced in the first angel's message of Revelation 14:7: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come.” {GC88 352.2}

It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement, who receive the benefits of his mediation in their behalf; while those who reject the light which brings to view this work of ministration, are not benefited thereby. The Jews who rejected the light given at Christ's first advent, and refused to believe on him as the Saviour of the world, could not receive pardon through him. When Jesus at his ascension entered by his own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon his disciples the blessings of his mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness, to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased. That door by which men had formerly found access to God, was no longer open. The Jews had refused to seek him in the only way whereby he could then be found, through the ministration in the sanctuary in Heaven. Therefore they found no communion with God. To them the door was shut. They had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator before God; hence they could not receive the benefits of his mediation. {GC88 430.2}

“The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [Revelation 11:19.] The ark of God's testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” this apartment was opened only upon the great day of atonement, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and the ark of his testament was seen, points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, in 1844, as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith followed their great High Priest, as he entered upon his ministry in the most holy place, beheld the ark of his testament. As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary, they had come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration, and they saw that he was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading his blood in behalf of sinners. {GC88 433.1}

Continued

August 20, 2011

Ellen White's use of "atonement":

Continued

Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day of Atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the congregation the high priest confessed over him "all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat." Leviticus 16:21. In like manner, when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God's people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness. {GC 658.1}

God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel's message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the law of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. {1SM 67.9}

In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. How precious, how important are these solemn moments! Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out. Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when Christ in the sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of His people, and the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case? {1SM 125.1}

I saw that as Jesus looked upon the disappointed ones with the deepest compassion, he sent his angels to direct their minds that they might find him, and follow him where he was; that they might understand that the earth is not the Sanctuary; that he must needs enter the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary to cleanse it; to make a special atonement for Israel, and to receive the kingdom of his Father, and then return to earth and take them to dwell with him forever. The disappointment of the disciples well represents the disappointment of those who expected their Lord in 1844. I was carried back to the time when Christ triumphantly rode into Jerusalem. The joyful disciples believed that he was then to take the kingdom, and reign a temporal prince. They followed their King with high hopes. They cut down the beautiful palm branches, and took off their outer garments, and with enthusiastic zeal spread them in the way; and some went before, and others followed crying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! The excitement disturbed the Pharisees, and they wished Jesus to rebuke his disciples. But he said unto them, If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. The prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, must be fulfilled, yet, I saw, the disciples were doomed to a bitter disappointment. In a few days they followed Jesus to Calvary, and beheld him bleeding and mangled upon the cruel cross. They witnessed his agonizing death, and laid him in the tomb. Their hearts sunk with grief. Their expectations were not realized in a single particular. Their hopes died with Jesus. But as he arose from the dead, and appeared to his sorrowing disciples, their hopes revived. They had lost their Saviour; but again they had found him. {1SG 149.2}

I was then shown the grievous disappointment of the people of God. They did not see Jesus at the expected time. They knew not why their Saviour did not come. They could see no evidence why prophetic time had not ended. Said an angel, Has God's word failed? Has God failed to fulfill his promises? No: he has fulfilled all he promised. Jesus has risen up, and has shut the door of the Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary, and has opened a door into the Most Holy place, and has entered in to cleanse the Sanctuary. Said the angel, All who wait patiently shall understand the mystery. Man has erred; but there has been no failure on the part of God. All was accomplished that God promised; but man erroneously looked to the earth, believing it to be the Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the prophetic periods. Man's expectations have failed; but God's promise not at all. Jesus sent his angels to direct the disappointed ones, to lead their minds into the Most Holy place where he had gone to cleanse the Sanctuary, and make a special atonement for Israel. Jesus told the angels that all who found him would understand the work which he was to perform. I saw that while Jesus was in the Most Holy place he would be married to the New Jerusalem, and after his work should be accomplished in the Holiest, he would descend to earth in kingly power and take the precious ones to himself who had patiently waited his return. {1SG 157.1}

At the crucifixion, as Jesus died on Calvary, he cried, It is finished, and the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom. This was to show that the services of the earthly Sanctuary were forever finished, and that God would no more meet with them in their earthly temple, to accept their sacrifices. The blood of Jesus was then shed, which was to be ministered by himself in the heavenly Sanctuary. As the priests in the earthly Sanctuary entered the Most Holy once a year to cleanse the Sanctuary, Jesus entered the Most Holy of the heavenly, at the end of the 2300 days of Dan, viii, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by his mediation, and to cleanse the Sanctuary. {1 SG 161, 162}

As the ministration of Jesus closed in the Holy place, and he passed into the Holiest, and stood before the ark containing the law of God, he sent another mighty angel to earth with the third message. He placed a parchment in the angel's hand, and as he descended to earth in majesty and power, he proclaimed a fearful warning, the most terrible threatening ever borne to man. This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, and show them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, yet they must hold fast the truth. The third angel closes his message with these words, Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. As he repeated these words he pointed to the heavenly Sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the Most Holy place where Jesus stands before the ark, making his final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers, and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. Jesus makes an atonement for those who died, not receiving the light upon God's commandments, who sinned ignorantly. {1SG 162, 163}

I was pointed back to the proclamation of the first advent of Christ. John was sent in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for Jesus' coming. Those who rejected the testimony of John were not benefited by the teachings of Jesus. Their opposition to the proclamation of his first advent placed them where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence of his being the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message of John to go still further, to reject Jesus and crucify him. In doing this, they placed themselves where they could not receive the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would have taught them the way into the heavenly Sanctuary. The rending of the vail of the temple showed that the Jewish sacrifices and ordinances would no longer be received. The great Sacrifice had been offered, and had been accepted, and the Holy Spirit which descended on the day of Pentecost carried the minds of the disciples from the earthly Sanctuary to the heavenly, where Jesus had entered by his own blood, and shed upon his disciples the benefits of his atonement. The Jews were left in complete deception and total darkness. They lost all the light they might have had upon the plan of salvation, and still trusted in their useless sacrifices and offerings. They could not be benefited by the mediation of Christ in the Holy place. The heavenly Sanctuary had taken the place of the earthly, yet they had no knowledge of the way to the heavenly. {1SG 169. 170}

We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God that is going on at the present time in the heavenly sanctuary should be our constant study. We should teach our children what the typical Day of Atonement signified and that it was a special season of great humiliation and confession of sins before God. The antitypical day of atonement is to be of the same character. Everyone who teaches the truth by precept and example will give the trumpet a certain sound. You need ever to cultivate spirituality, because it is not natural for you to be heavenly-minded. The great work is before us of leading the people away from worldly customs and practices, up higher and higher, to spirituality, piety, and earnest work for God. It is your work to proclaim the message of the third angel, to sound the last note of warning to the world. May the Lord bless you with spiritual eyesight. I write this in love, seeing your danger. Please consider these things carefully and prayerfully. 5 T 520

1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative Judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. How precious, how important are these solemn moments! Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out. Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when Christ in the Sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of his people, and the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case? {RH, March 22, 1887 par. 9}

What is our condition in this fearful and solemn time? Alas, what pride is prevailing in the church, what hypocrisy, what deception, what love of dress, frivolity, and amusement, what desire for the supremacy! All these sins have clouded the mind, so that eternal things have not been discerned. Shall we not search the Scripture, that we may know where we are in this world's history? Shall we not become intelligent in regard to the work that is being accomplished for us at this time, and the position that we as sinners should occupy while [color:#FF0000]this work of atonement is going forward? If we have any regard for our souls' salvation, we must make a decided change. We must seek the Lord with true penitence; we must with deep contrition of soul confess our sins, that they may be blotted out. {RH, March 22, 1887 par. 10}

Everything that could be done has been done to make our salvation possible. Christ has obtained an everlasting victory, in order that He might open to us the door of heaven. To obtain our salvation, He hung on Calvary's cross. For our sake He was laid in the tomb. For us He was raised from the dead; and for us, too, He declared over the rent sepulcher of Joseph. "I am the resurrection and the life." And when at the close of His earthly ministry He ascended to heaven, the portals of the city of God were opened wide, and He entered as a conqueror, there to take up, in the heavenly sanctuary, His ministry in behalf of those for whom He had given His life. The divine human Son of God is now standing in the presence of the Father, pleading our cases and presenting His sacrifice as the atonement for our transgressions. {ST, January 14, 1903 par. 5}

Completed

August 20, 2011

"...the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone." Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904; The Upward Look,152.

I don't believe that Ellen White is predicting here that the SDA church itself will officially deny the sanctuary in heaven or the atonement, but her words seem to indicate that she is talking about a significant number of SDA pastors and leaders (and of course the many lay members who follow them) who will dismiss the heavenly sanctuary and the atonement that is being made there. (This has already happened and is continuing to happen in our church, particularly since about 1978.)

So my understanding of that EGW quote is that it has reference to the atonement of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and not primarly to the atonement at the cross, although this too has been affected.

It harmonizes with other statements she made about attempts being made to reject the heavenly sanctuary and the ministry of Christ in an Investigative Judgment. See CWE 53.

Considering what she says about the Investigative Judgment, it should come as no surprise that Satan is busy trying to get SDAs to forget the Investigative Judgment or to completely reject it.

She said,

Quote:

Humble your souls before God. Jesus is in the sanctuary. We are in the great day of atonement, and if the investigative judgment has not already commenced for the living, it will soon begin, and to how many are the words of the true witness applicable: "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I shall come upon thee" [Revelation 3:1-3.] {21MR 386.2}

I have been surprised and made sad to read some of your articles in the "Medical Missionary," and especially those on the Sanctuary question. These articles show that you have been departing from the faith. You have helped in confusing the understanding of our people. The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary, is the foundation of our faith.--Letter 208, 1906, p. 2. (To G. C. Tenney, June 29, 1906.)

The Center of Christ's Atoning Work.--The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. ---The Great Controversy, pp. 488, 489. (1888) {Ev 222.1}

Quote:

These things will bear thoughtful consideration, close, critical examination. We are in the investigative judgment, and the work for the time is solemn heart-searching. The duty devolves upon every one to consider, to watch, and to pray. You are not bidden by the Lord to examine your neighbor's heart. Let your investigative powers be put to work to discover what is in your own heart, the defects in your own character, the work to be done in your own home. {SW, February 5, 1907 par. 6}

Quote:

God's purpose in giving the third angel's message to the world is to prepare a people to stand true to Him during the investigative judgment. This is the purpose for which we establish and maintain our publishing houses, our schools, our sanitariums, hygienic restaurants, treatment rooms, and food factories. This is our purpose in carrying forward every line of work in the cause. Ms 154, 1902, p. 4. ("Instruction to Men in Positions of Responsibility," October 24, 1902.) {1MR 228.2}

Here's the statement in The Upward Look,152, showing that the context has to do with things that were being attempted even in that time but that they will be more fully fulfilled before Christ returns:

Quote:

At this time--the last days of this earth's history--we are to make the book of Revelation a special study. Why? Because it depicts the scenes that we are to meet. We need to understand what we are to meet, and how we are to meet it. We must know what efforts we are to make, so that in this perilous time we shall not be taken by the enemy's devices. We know that the last great conflict will be Satan's most determined effort to accomplish his purposes. He will come, not only as a roaring lion, but as a seducer, clothing sin with beautiful garments of light that he may take human beings in his snare. {UL 152.2}
The Lord desires us to realize that it is of great importance that we stand in these last days upon the platform of eternal truth. Those who think that the church militant is the church triumphant make a great mistake. The church militant will gain great triumphs, but it will also have fierce conflicts with evil that it may be firmly established upon the platform of eternal truth. And every one of us should be determined to stand with the church upon this platform. . . . {UL 152.3}

There are those today who call the Revelation a sealed book. [it is a mystery,] but it is a mystery unfolded. We need to understand what it tells us in regard to the scenes that are to take place in the last days of this earth's history. The enemy will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. Are they not lacking in wisdom who have no desire to understand in regard to the things that are to take place on this earth? . . . {UL 152.4}

In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done by medical missionary workers. Our ministering brethren were looking on, watching what was being done, but they did not seem to understand. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon--the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone. . . . {UL 152.5}

Do you wonder that I have something to say, when I see the pillars of our faith beginning to be moved? Seductive theories are being taught in such a way that we shall not recognize them unless we have clear spiritual discernment.--Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904, "The Foundation of Our Faith," a talk given at Berrien Springs, Michigan. {UL 152.6}

August 20, 2011

Thank you John, an excellent presentation on this issue that calls for reading it several times to comprehend it all.

John317 says,

"...the false doctrines that are being taught today with respect to the atonement:"

I never had any doubt false doctrines were and would be taught concerning this subject. I also leave open the possibility that our leaders erred significantly at certain points in time (before, after and in the future of 1957).

The BIG question for me remains:

What is the official Seventh-day Adventist position today? Is it in harmony with Sister Whites extensive counsel on the matter?

While considering carefully the counsel of the brethren, the leadership of the GC and other church related counsel, in the end, each of us will have to decide where we personally stand on this. And all the issues of course. To wit, I give much weight to the counsel of Ellen White. Regardless of how many individual members or churches deny, change or give up the fundamental concepts of the IJ, the truth will remain. Dr. Ford's presentation on the IJ was considerably more profound and damaging than anything that happened in 1957! It's come around before, it will come around again.

I see Sky's presentation as a call for each of us to know where WE stand, another example (1957) of how the fundamental beliefs have and will come under attack again and again. Reaching even to the highest levels of leadership, whom I will continue to support regardless. But I will not be forced, under any circumstances to abandon the truth, by the GC, by my Pastor, by anybody. Our only hope in that regard is the power of the Holy Spirit and a truly repentant heart open to divine leading.

"Seductive theories are being taught in such a way that we shall not recognize them unless we have clear spiritual discernment."

August 20, 2011

Doug says,
"What you are "suggesting" is a colossal leadership conspiracy to apostasize the church from the gospel."

Doug & Club, I see no colossal conspiracy in these posts.

Instead it's a few key SDA men who meet secretly with evangelical thought leaders Donald Barnhouse and Walter Martin. They are hosted at the Barnhouse home, and agree to remedy & correct SDA books where the evangelicals find 'serious objections' to mainstream Christian doctrine. (ex. sanctuary, mark of beast, atonement) Walter Martin's next book is in the works and the SDA men are anxious to avoid the cult label, which is possible if they comply. (Barnhouse reports the meetings in Eternity magazine but the GC men stay silent)

It's a reminder of Hitler's rapid march on Europe. He both charmed & bellowed, and several countries (the leaders) just caved in to his demands. Sometimes without a single shot fired. No watchmen on their walls, and as a result millions perished needlessly.

A rudder is not large but well-placed, so as to change the direction of the ship.

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