Seventh-day Adventist Doctrinal Development PDF

Proverbs 2:8-22 The Lord – guards those who are fair to others – protects those who are loyal to Him – will give understanding To guard you and keep you from doing evil To save you from those whose words are bad To save you from the unfaithful wife – Will give wisdom will help you to be...

Proverbs 2:8-22 The Lord – guards those who are fair to others – protects those who are loyal to Him – will give understanding To guard you and keep you from doing evil To save you from those whose words are bad To save you from the unfaithful wife – Will give wisdom will help you to be a good person  Reflecting Christ p. 279 Let the youth be led to understand the object of their creation, to honor God and bless their fellow men; let them see the tender love which the Father in heaven has manifested toward them, and the high destiny for which the discipline of this life is to prepare them, the dignity and honor to which they are called, even to become the sons of God. 2 They would learn to hate sin and to shun it, not merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment, but from a sense of its inherent baseness, because it would be a degrading of their God-given powers, a stain upon their Godlike manhood... 3 The elements of character that make a man successful and honored among men --the irrepressible desire for some greater good, the indomitable will,.. the untiring perseverance-- are not to be crushed out...Day by day the wonderful works of God, the evidences of His wisdom and power in creating and sustaining the universe, the infinite mystery of love and wisdom in the plan of redemption, will open to the mind in new beauty. 4  In heavenly places p.171 As you become students of Scripture the Spirit of God takes the things of God and impresses them upon the soul. 5 What happened on October 22, 1844? Why didn’t Jesus come? 6  THE MILLERITE GROUPS The Millerite group spilt into 3 distinct groups 1. The Albany Conference – Wrong time but Jesus will come -An Adventist group organized under the leadership of J. V. Himes 2. The Spiritualizers – Spiritual coming of Christ 3. Future Adventist leaders – Correct time but wrong event 7  Era of Doctrinal Development 1844 - 1848 8  Key People Hiram Edson Josiah Litch James White Ellen G. White Rachel Oakes Frederick Wheeler T. M. Preble Joseph Bates George Storrs 9  Key Event Development of the first doctrines (the five pillar doctrines) of the Seventh-day Day Adventist church 10  Doctrines 1 & 2 1. The second coming of Jesus 2. The Heavenly Sanctuary 11 Redefining the Sanctuary Hiram Edson – October 23, 1844 vision on the heavenly sanctuary – Bittersweet experience in Revelation 10:10 “Prophesy again” 12 Conclusion on the event of October 22, 1844 The time was correct but the event was wrong. 13 Hiram Edson, O.R.L. Crosier and Dr. F.B. Hahn studied Daniel 8:14 further and came to conclusion that the heavenly sanctuary was to be cleansed Published the findings in the Day- Dawn in 1845 1846 Enoch Jacobs published the Day-Star Extra 14  The Content of the Publication: 1. Literal sanctuary in heaven 2. Earthly sanctuary is a visual representation of the plan of salvation after the heavenly one 3. Heavenly sanctuary has two phases 1st Phase – at Christ’s ascension and enthronement (see Rev 4, 5) 2nd Phase – started in 1844 15 4. Phases of Christ’s ministry 1st Phase – dealt with forgiveness 2nd Phase – dealt with blotting out of sins and cleansing of both the believers and the sanctuary 5. The cleansing of Daniel 8:14 was a cleansing from sin which require blood rather than fire 6. Christ would not return to earth until He completed His second phase ministry. 16 Pre-Advent Judgment Josiah Litch advocated pre-advent judgment (before the 2nd coming of Jesus) by linking: The Judgment -Daniel 7 the cleansing of sanctuary -Daniel 8:14 “the hour of His judgment is come” -Revelation 14:7 17 The cleansing of the Sanctuary of Daniel 8:14 is seen as Christ’s act of investigative judgment in the Most Holy Place began in 1844 18 Two Doctrines Established 1. Personal, soon coming, pre-millennial return of Jesus 2. Two-apartment ministry of Jesus, including the pre-Advent judgment 19  Doctrine 3 The Gift of Prophecy 20 The Gift of Prophecy Ellen Harmon Among the Millerites Gave up her faith after the disappointment Received her first vision in December 1844 Called to prophetic office for 70 years 21 Got married to James White in 1846 Both had 4 children, two of which died. 22  Ellen White’s first vision brought confirmation to the prophetic origin of the group 23  The Narrow Path Vision -1st The Millerite message was light for the whole path from behind Jesus is still leading; city is ahead Stay on path, and not deny light behind Jesus will take them all to the city Early Writings, p. 14. 24 Ellen White’s Dual emphasis in ministry Originating from her first vision are her dual emphasis to the Adventists: Never to forget the importance of October 22, 1844 Individuals must keep their eyes focused on Jesus, their Savior 25 Others with the gift of prophecy in the Millerite Movement –William Foy (early 1842) –Hazen Foss 26 Purpose of the gift of prophecy in early doctrinal development Believers studied, visions brought confirmation or clarity where they could go no further 27 The gift of prophecy is a blessing to the Adventist Church but true Adventism has always uplifted the primacy of the Scriptures The manifestation of prophetic gift in the life of Ellen G. White was seen as a guide for the church. It later became one of the fundamental beliefs of the Adventists 28 Three Doctrines Established 1. Personal, soon coming, pre-millennial return of Jesus 2. Two-apartment ministry of Jesus, including the pre-Advent judgment which began on October 22, 1844. 3. The validity of the gift of prophecy, with progressively more of the believers seeing Ellen White’s ministry as a modern manifestation of the gift 29 The Adventist with their teaching about the Sanctuary as an explanation of what happened on October 22 date began to gain understanding of the law of God and the 7th day Sabbath 30  Doctrine 4 The Sabbath Doctrine 31  Advent Believers Accept the Seventh-day Sabbath The concept 1st came to the attention of Adventists in Washington, New Hampshire, through Rachel Oakes, a Seventh-day Baptist. 32  Rachel preached to Frederick about the Sabbath Commandment Rachel Oakes, a Frederick Wheeler, a Seventh-day Baptist. Methodist church pastor 33 Frederick Wheeler and two brothers, Cyrus and William Farnsworth, accepted the Sabbath Commandment early. Other Adventists in Washington later joined them. Early in 1845, T. M. Preble wrote an article on the seventh-day Sabbath for the paper called The Hope of Israel. 34 Joseph Bates in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, heard of Sabbath keeping in Washington through Preble’s tract and traveled there in 1845 to examine it for himself. He became the apostle of the Sabbath, writing articles and tracts. 35 About the time of their marriage in August, 1846, James and Ellen White read Bates' tract The Seventh-day Sabbath a Perpetual Sign, and from the Bible verses used they decided that they too must keep the seventh day as the Sabbath. She says, “In the autumn of 1846 we began to observe the Bible Sabbath, and to teach and defend it.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 75. 36 Sabbath Keeping Problem and Solution Bates believed that the Sabbath began at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Some Adventists believe that it began at sunrise, midnight, or sunset. In 1855, James White asked J. N. Andrews to study the subject and to present his finding to the others. His conclusion from Bible study was that the Sabbath begins at sunset. Bates and Ellen White still doubted. A vision was then given to Ellen White supporting the sunset time. Unity resulted among Adventists. (1T p. 116) 37 Ellen White’s Vision on the Sabbath She seemed to be transferred from earth to heaven, and in vision she was taken through the heavenly sanctuary, where she saw the most holy place and the ark containing the law. She was amazed to see the fourth commandment shining above all the others in glory, with a sort of halo of light all around it. She was told of the change of the Sabbath, of the significance of its acceptance and observance, especially in the troublous times ahead, when it will become a sign or a mark for the people who have chosen to obey God rather than man. Early Writings, pages 32-35 38 “I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord.” Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 77. 39 Lo, here are the people of God mentioned in Revelation 12:17, having the “testimony of Jesus,” which is the “spirit of prophecy”, and keeping the commandments - all ten of them - the seventh-day Sabbath included. Here the remnant church was born, and these two significant truths identify it. 40 Bates interpreted the Sabbath doctrine within the framework of Revelation 11- 14 – The connection between the Sabbath and the Sanctuary – the law as the basis of the pre-advent judgment – The connection between the Sabbath and the 3 Angels message of Rev. 14:12 - the saints will keep God’s commandments – The connection between the Sabbath and end time prophecy on the seal of God and the mark of the beast 41 Thus the believers came up with another doctrine as a result of their conviction through Bible study: The obligation to observe the seventh-day Sabbath and the role of the Sabbath in the great end- time conflict prophesied in Revelation 11-14 42 the great truths taught by Seventh- day Adventists came first from the Bible. For example: “I believed the truth upon the Sabbath question before I had seen anything in vision in reference to the Sabbath. It was months after I had commenced keeping the Sabbath before I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel's message.”—Ellen G. White letter 2, 1874. 43 Four Doctrines Established 1. Personal, soon coming, pre-millennial return of Jesus 2. Two-apartment ministry of Jesus, including the pre- Advent judgment which began on October 22, 1844. 3. The validity of the gift of prophecy, with progressively more of the believers seeing Ellen White’s ministry as a modern manifestation of the gift 4. The obligation to observe the seventh-day Sabbath which is significant in the great end-time conflict prophesied in Revelation 11-14 44  Doctrine 5 Conditional Immortality 45  Conditional Immortality George Storrs, Methodist minister (1840) Immortality only found in Christ and it is conditional He preached “annihilationism” Annihilationism is the belief that the final fate of those who are not saved is literal and final death and destruction. 46  He convinced Charles Fitch Later convinced Joseph Bates, James White and Ellen Hamon – They were convinced on the basis that Conditional immortality Made sense Agrees with the pre- and post millenial resurrections before the final destruction by hell fire as presented in the Bible Note: if humans already have their reward there will be no need for the second coming of Jesus. 47 Five Doctrines Established 1. Personal, soon coming, pre-millennial return of Jesus 2. Two-apartment ministry of Jesus, including the pre-Advent judgment which began on October 22, 1844. 3. The validity of the gift of prophecy, with progressively more of the believers seeing Ellen White’s ministry as a modern manifestation of the gift 48 4. The obligation to observe the seventh-day Sabbath which is significant in the great end-time conflict prophesied in Revelation 11-14 5. That immortality is not an inherent human quality but something people receive only through faith in Christ 49 Each of the doctrines has a link with the final Judgment upon the human race and the final extermination of sin from the universe 50 The Basis and Phases of the Final Judgment 51  The Ten Commandments The glory-light of God’s presence shows on the ark. It contains: -10 commandment -Pot of Manna -Aaron’s rod The Ark of Covenant 52 God Hears the Prayers of His People 53  "We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.” Rom. 14:10. 54 The Three Phases of Judgment Judgment of the righteous (pre- advent) –before the 2nd coming Judgment of the wicked –completed during the Millennium The executive Judgment –punishment of the wicked after the Millennium 55  PRE-ADVENT JUDGMENT Jesus as Our High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary is in the Most Holy Place for the Investigative Judgment Three phases of the investigative Judgment Investigation Discipline Instruction 56 Investigation God examines my actions, thought, and motives Jer. 17:10; Prov. 5:21 God asks us to examine our own hearts 2 Cor. 13:5 –must be in harmony with God’s law of righteousness The intelligent Creature of the universe investigates and observes us 1 Cor.4:9 We are to gain victory each day during this period of investigation The Beings of the other unfallen world are watching to see if God’s plan of salvation really transforms me in spite of the conditions in the world 57 Discipline Cutting: – trials, persecution, and suffering (tools for discipline) Prov. 3:11; Heb.12:7-11; James 1:2-4 Healing: – All our sorrows are also borne by God. He has an antidote for every sorrow (comfort, peace, Joy) when we sorrow, we share in our father’s (God’s) suffering –Hosea 6:1; Isaiah 30:26 “All trials that are perceived as educators will produce joy” Lift Him Up, p. 249 58 Instruction God wants to teach us about Himself God wants to teach us how to understand ourselves God wants to teach us more truth about Bible doctrines and prophecy than any former generation has ever understood because of the time in which we live God wants to make us thorough and honest workers 59 Those who are to be translated must reach Christian maturity Maturity: – Being able to recognize truth from error – Understand God’s character – Must be obedient to God’s commands They will light up the whole world with God’s glory 60  Heavenly Temple Christ ministers on our behalf in it making available to us all the benefits of His sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. 61  Jesus simply want to share with us the defense system by which He overcame temptation as a human being so that after the judgment, we can be saved for eternity Revelations 3:21 Judgment of the wicked –completed during the Millennium 63 Revelation 20: 1 - 3 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. Revelation 20: 4 - 5 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. The executive Judgment –punishment of the wicked after the Millennium 66 Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 67 Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 68 Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 69