IS CHRIST
GOD?
In many
places in the Bible Christ is called God. The Psalmist says: "The mighty God, even
the [10]
Lord [Jehovah], hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the
sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God
hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall
devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall
call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.
Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by
sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge
Himself." Ps. 50:1-6
That this
passage has reference to Christ may be known (1) by the fact already learned,
that all judgment is committed to the Son; and (2) by the fact that it is at
the second coming of Christ that He sends His angels to gather together His
elect from the four winds. Matt.
24:31. "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence." No;
for when the Lord Himself descends from heaven, it will be "with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." 1 Thess. 4:16.
This shout will be the voice of the Son of God, which will be heard by all that
are in their graves, and which will cause them to come forth. John 5:28, 29.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at
this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that
have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
With the
living righteous they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, ever more
to be with Him; and this will constitute "our gathering together unto
Him." 2 Thess. 2:1. Compare Ps. 50:5; Matt. 24:31, and 1 Thess. 4:16. [11
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech
you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
together unto him
Psa 50:5 Gather my saints
together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Mat 24:31 And he shall
send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
"A fire shall devour before
Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him;" for when
the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, it will be
"in flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:8. So we know that Ps. 50:1-6 is a
vivid description of the second coming of Christ for the salvation of His
people. When He comes it will be as "the mighty God." Compare
Habakkuk 3.
Hab 3:1 A prayer of
Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
Hab 3:2 O LORD, I have
heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the
years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
Hab 3:3 God came from
Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of his praise.
Hab 3:4 And his brightness
was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding
of his power.
Hab 3:5 Before him went
the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Hab 3:6 He stood, and
measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the
everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are
everlasting.
Hab 3:7 I saw the tents of
Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Hab 3:8 Was the LORD
displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy
wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots
of salvation?
Hab 3:9 Thy bow was made
quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou
didst cleave the earth with rivers.
Hab 3:10 The mountains saw
thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep
uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
Hab 3:11 The sun and moon
stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at
the shining of thy glittering spear.
Hab 3:12 Thou didst march
through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
Hab 3:13 Thou wentest
forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed;
thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the
foundation unto the neck. Selah.
Hab 3:14 Thou didst strike
through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind
to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
Hab 3:15 Thou didst walk
through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
Hab 3:16 When I heard, my
belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my
bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when
he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Hab 3:17 Although the fig
tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the
olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut
off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Hab 3:18 Yet I will
rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Hab 3:19 The LORD God is
my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to
walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
This is
one of His rightful titles. Long before Christ's first advent, the prophet
Isaiah spoke these words of comfort to Israel: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is
given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace." Isa. 9:6.
These are
not simply the words of Isaiah; they are the words of the Spirit of God. God
has, in direct address to the Son, called Him by the same title. In Ps. 45:6 we
read these words: "Thy
throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right
scepter." The casual reader might take this to be simply the
Psalmist's ascription of praise to God; but when we turn to the New Testament,
we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker, and
that He is addressing the Son, calling Him God. See Heb. 1:1-8.
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last
days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by
whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much
better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of
the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Heb 1:6 And again, when he
bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels
of God worship him.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels
he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of
fire.
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son
he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness
is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Christ And
His Righteousness.
E.J.
Waggoner
*******
"The
'Times of the Gentiles' "
This is
the title of the last article in a series of five appearing in the Review on the "Role of
Israel in Bible Prophecy." (1) The authority to be attached to
these articles must be understood in the light of the fact that they had
"grown out of research being done at the request of the Biblical Research
Institute, Washington D. C., directed by Gordon M. Hyde." (2)
This Institute was established by an action of the General Conference of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. This final article is given added authority since
it was written by an Associate Editor of the Review.
The first
point that Elder Don F. Neufeld seeks to make is that nowhere in the writings
of the Spirit of Prophecy does Sister White discuss "the times of the
Gentiles". From this assertion he draws the conclusion that "it is
hard to escape the suggestion that her silence means that, at least for us
today, this sign is of lesser importance than the others she specifically
relates to our day."(3)
Let us
consider this argument briefly. In the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
Series, one volume -7A -brings together the combined Review Ellen G. White comments on
the various texts of Scripture which appear in the seven volumes. Take, for
example, the comments appearing under Isaiah 60:2 which is a quotation from her
article in the Review & Herald,
August 6, 1895. Nowhere in this article does she put in direct quotes
-"darkness covereth the earth and gross darkness the people" -which
is found in Isaiah 60:2. In fact, the whole article is setting forth the
methods of Christ as a teacher when He came to reveal truth. And interestingly,
she even quotes from the prophet Isaiah (chapter 53) and puts these references
in direct quotes. But the Ellen G. White Estate in bringing these references
together recognized that this quotation from the Review & Herald in 1895 did shed some light on the
reference in Isaiah 60. In other words, a comment in the Ellen G. White
writings can cast light upon a reference without directly quoting that specific
verse.
Now the
Associate Editor well knows that there is an Ellen G. White statement that does
relate to Luke 21:24. He knew this was there when he wrote the article. He was
(and still is) on the mailing list for the thought paper, "Watchman, What of the Night?",
when this topic of the Times of the Gentiles was discussed, and the Spirit of
Prophecy reference was used. Here is the reference: In the twenty-first
chapter of Luke Christ foretold what was to come upon Jerusalem, and with it He
connected the scenes which were to take place in the history of this world just
prior to the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory.(4)
Note
carefully what the servant of the Lord is saying, and what she is not saying.
She did not state -In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21-but only -"In the
twenty-first chapter of Luke. .." And what only is different in Luke 21from the other
p 2
parallel
passages? -the prophecy concerning "the times of the Gentiles"!
Further, what event was to "come upon Jerusalem" stated by Jesus in
Luke 21that could be connected with the scenes to take place in the history of
the world "just prior to the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of
heaven" save the fact that Jerusalem would be freed from Gentile control?
Consider
also the context of this reference from the pen of Ellen G.
White. (5) After writing the above statement -she quoted Luke
21:34-36 in which is the warning that we should beware lest the day of Christ's
return take us unaware. Now keep in mind that she attaches this warning to the
fact of what was to come upon Jerusalem, and she comments on the warning in
these words: This is a warning to those who claim to be Christians. Those
who have had light upon the important, testing truths for this time, and yet
are not making ready for the coming of the Son of man, are not taking heed.
..There is no period of time when spiritual slothfulness is excusable.
Only by
being clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness can we escape the
judgments that are coming upon the earth. Let all remember that these words
were among the last that Jesus gave to His disciples. ..In these sacred, solemn
warnings the danger signal is lifted. It is this instruction that church
members and the people of the world need; for it is present truth.(5)
Do not
miss the point that this solemn warning quoted from our Lord is connected in
the thoughts given to Sister White by the Spirit of God to what was to come
upon Jerusalem in the last remnant of time. It was the sign to arouse us from
our spiritual slothfulness and lethargy -a part of the instruction needed by
the church and the world -verily a part of "present truth." Yet the
Associate Editor would have us believe that it carries "lesser
importance" than the other words of Jesus! How tragic and eternally
dangerous is this attempt to lull the people of God into a fatal security.
In the
article the Associate Editor admits that "the first part of Luke 21:24
clear-ly refers to the slaughter of the Jews at the time of the fall of
Jerusalem to Titus in A. D. 70.(6) Yet in a few paragraphs, he is writing
-"There is remarkably parallel language to Luke 21:24 In Revelation 11:2.
Since both are prophetic passages the two ought to be compared." And from
this comparison the conclusion is suggested that Revelation 11:2 and Luke 21:24
to refer to the same period of time, in other words to the 1260 years of papal
persecution with 1798 being the date when the times of the Gentiles was
fulfilled. But in so concluding, the basic rules of Scriptural Interpretation
are violated. There can be no question but that Revelation 11:2 is written in
prophetic symbolism, while the first part of Luke 21:24 had a literal
fulfillment as admitted by the Associate Editor himself. On what grounds can it
be justified to change interpretations in the middle of the verse from literal
to symbolic representation?
In the
preface to the 1897 edition of Thoughts
on the Prophecies of Daniel, Uriah Smith wrote concerning the Protestant
interpretation of prophecy as contrasted to the spiritualizing system invented
by Origen -"Every declaration is to be taken in its most obvious and
literal sense, except where the context and the well-known laws of language
show that the terms are figurative, and not literal; and what is figurative
must be explained by other portions of the Bible which are literal."(7)
p 3
In 1974 a
series of Bible Conferences were conducted in various parts of the United
States with the emphasis on biblical hermeneutics -or, in other words, the
interpretation of the Scriptures. Prior to this conference a group of research
articles were brought together by Dr. Gordon M. Hyde of the Biblical Research
Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.(8) Keep in mind
it is this same committee that has sponsored this special study on "The
Role of Israel in Bible Prophecy." One of the authors in this edited book
was none other than Elder Don F. Neufeld who wrote one "Biblical
Interpretation in the Advent Movement." In this article he quotes the very
reference from Uriah Smith to which we have referred in the above paragraph.(9)
And then he sets forth in this article what he terms "General
Hermeneutical Principles." Number six reads: The Bible must be
interpreted according to the plain, obvious, and literal import unless a figure
is employed.(10)
He was not
alone in emphasizing this principle. Another writer in the Symposium
states: The basic principle of biblical interpretation is to take words
always in their literal sense unless there is unmistakable contextual
indication to the contrary. (11)
But what
has now happened to the research procedures of the Biblical Research Committee
of the General Conference? In order to avoid a conclusion unacceptable to the
hierarchy of the Church are they willing to deny historic Seventh-day Adventist
principles of Biblical interpretation? And then to palm off on the laity of the
Church through the Review such
interpretations of prophecy only compounds the tragedy! Let us face the facts
of the Words of Jesus Himself. As the Associate Editor admitted, the first part
of Luke 21:24 "clearly refers to the slaughter of the Jews at the time of
the fall of Jerusalem to Titus in A. D. 70"(6) - so also the
"Jerusalem" in the last part of Luke 21:24 is that very same literal
city, that is, unless you wish to abandon the historical principles of Biblical
interpretation that have been the heritage of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
up until this present article in the Review.
One of the
final objections which Elder Nuefeld raises to the fulfillment of Luke 21:24 in
1967 is that a "political or international event" is a precarious
basis upon which to establish the fulfillment of prophecy. Here are his exact
words: It is always precarious to present some political or international
event of recent occurrence as a fulfillment of prophecy. The reason is that a
political or international scene can change quickly. As a result an event that
when it occurred seemed bright with promise as a significant fulfillment of
prophecy, may turn out to be a minor, ephemeral incident when viewed in the
later perspective of history.(12)
Let us in
our minds eye envision the community of Christians still living in Jerusalem in
66 A. D. Cestius had surrounded the city. What was to be the response of these
followers of Jesus to this political event? Imagine one of the leaders of that
church getting up and advising the Christians to hold on, since the scene might
change quickly, and Cestius could possibly withdraw from the siege. You see
Jesus had not said how long this compassing of Jerusalem with armies was to be;
He had only given an event as a sign! And what if the Christians, when Cestius
did quickly
p 4
withdraw,
had concluded that such a short -lived event could not possibly be the
fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus? The event that fulfilled the first part
of the prophecy of Jesus concerning Jerusalem lasted but a few months, but now
we have an event which fulfills this the last part of the same prophecy
remaining before our eyes for nearly a decade, and we still in stubborn
rebellion seek to mitigate its force and refuse to ascertain its meaning and
significance to us as a church. Can we not see Jesus weeping over us and
saying: 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that makest of none effect the
writings of the prophetess, and throwest "black balls" at them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together as a
hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your
house is left unto you desolate.(13)
(1) Don F.
Neufeld, "The 'Times of the Gentiles"', Review, November 25, 1976, pp. 7-10
(2)
"This Week", Review,
October 28, 1976, p. 3
(3)
Neufeld, op. cit., p. 7
(4) Ellen
G. White, Counsels to Writers and
Editors, pp. 23-24
(5) Ibid., p. 24
(6)
Neufeld, op. cit., p. 8
(7) Uriah
Smith, Thoughts on the Prophecies
of Daniel, p. 6
(8) A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics,
Gordon M. Hyde, Editor, pp. 273
(9) Don F.
Neufeld, "Biblical Interpretation in the Advent Movement", A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics,
p. 114
(10) Ibid., p. 119 (Emphasis his.)
(11)
Gerhard F. Hasel, "Principles of Biblical Interpretation", A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics, p.
176
(12)
Neufeld, Review, op. cit.,
p. 10
(13)
Paraphrase of Matthew 23:37-38 based on Selected
Messages, bk., i, p. 48, and Testimonies
for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 349, 353.
(The
discussion concerning the series of articles on the Role of Israel in Bible
Prophecy will be concluded in the March thought paper.)
"What
Are the Characteristics of a 'Real' Seventh-day Adventist?"
This
question was asked and answered by an Associate Editor of the Review in the first issue for
1977. He suggested in answer to this question six "norms by which to
identify a genuine Seventh-day Adventist.'. The editor also invited
"concerned readers to express their thinking on this subject." We are
expressing our thinking on Norm #5 which Raymond F. Cottrell stated in these
words: Another essential characteristic of a genuine Seventh-day Adventist
is loyalty, in spirit and in conduct, to the church and its leaders, as it and
they speak and act for Christ. The church is a team, and every member of the
team will play with the team and its leaders, not against them. The
church and its
p 5
earthly
leaders are human; sometimes they make mistakes. This they themselves would be
first to acknowledge. But as a member of the team the genuine Seventh-day
Adventist will, even under such circumstances, continue to work in a
positive way with the team and cooperate with its leaders. (Review, January 6, 1977, p. 13, col.
2)
One's
first reaction after reading this paragraph would be to say that the Associate
Editor had been watching the football games that dominate the American scene
this time of the year, and had been caught up in the "sports"
syndrome that has taken possession of the world. But this idea that the church
is a team and you either play ball with the team or else you are marked as not
being a genuine Seventh-day Adventist is too real to be passed by so lightly.
One night
from the past (circa, 1960) will never be forgotten by this writer. Following
an evening service at the Camp Meeting on the campus of Indiana Academy all the
workers were asked to meet on the rostrum. The Conference President, T. E.
Unruh, stated that he was tired of the controversy on the campground over the
book, Questions on Doctrine,
and that the workers could either line up and play ball with the team or they
could get off. He then announced that all workers were to go to the old chapel
in the administration building immediately after being dismissed. That night
two other workers and I withstood R. Allan Anderson to the face till one
o'clock the next morning over certain heresies to be found in the book. This
was the beginning of my being "benched" which in turn has led to the
work which I am doing as Manager of Research and Publications for the Adventist
Laymen's Foundation.
While
still working in Indiana, I began research on the Holy Flesh Movement which
engulfed that conference at the turn of the Century. One of the confessions of
a conference worker involved in that Movement is vital in the light of what the
associate editor termed a "norm" for a genuine Seventh-day Adventist.
Elder F. M. Roberts confessed to the delegates assembled at the 1901 General
Conference Session that "while [he] did not belong to the Conference
Committee, [he] stood with the committee, and believed what they were teaching
was the truth." (1901General
Conference Bulletin, p. 358) This man Roberts was no novice. In the same
confession he testified -"I am a firm believer in the Testimonies. I have
studied them for years." Yet he got involved in a deadly heresy of which
Sister White declared that there was "not a thread of truth in the whole
fabric." (Document File #190, E. G. White Estate, G. A. Roberts) Why did
Elder F. M. Roberts make this mistake -because in the judgment of the Associate
Editor of the Review, he
was following one of the "norms" of what makes a genuine Seventh-day
Adventist. In other words, Roberts was playing ball on the team right or wrong!
This
spirit of blind loyalty was a problem which the servant of the Lord had to meet
as she dealt with problems which arose in the Church at the turn of the
Century. She called it a "false experience." Here are her
words: This message is spoken to our churches in every place. In the false
experience that has been coming in, a decided influence is at work to exalt
human agencies, and to lead some to depend on human judgment, and to follow the
control of human minds. This influence is diverting the mind from God. God
forbid that any such experience should deepen and grow in our ranks as
Seventh-day Adventists. Our petitions are to reach higher than erring man - to
God. (Testimonies to Ministers,
p. 484)
p 6
Here at
the beginning of 1977, we are being told by one of the editors of the Review that this false experience
is to be a "norm" by which a genuine Seventh-day Adventist is to be
recognized. Even non-Adventist writers recognize this spirit which is
permeating the masses, and call it by its right name. One such writer has
analyzed the call for "loya1ty"thus: As totalitarianism
increases -in a school, or a country, or a church -the use of the word,
loyalty, increases. A strange and frightening word. The mob's word. The gang's
word. A word people shout in unison -while honor and responsibility and
integrity are words an individual can speak and act out.
How does
one measure the quality of man's relationship with a large entity such as a
church or school or government? It is an interesting fact, and one many of us
have observed all our lives, that people demand loyalty of us only when they
are doing something to us (or somebody else) of which we don't approve and
cannot wholeheartedly participate in, and which weakens our love and
admiration. Let's admit it: loyalty is a verbal switch-blade used by little and
big bosses to force us quickly to accept a questionable situation which our
intelligence and conscience should reject. (Lillian Smith, The Journey, pp. 223,224.)
May I
suggest to the readers of this thought paper that they take another careful
look at Chapter VI, "Lessons and Sidelights" in the manuscript, The Holy Flesh Movement, and
then think carefully what it means to be a truly genuine Seventh-day Adventist,
and not be mislead by the "false experience" which the Associate
Editor is offering to the laity of the church.
Note - If
you do not have a copy of the manuscript -The Holy Flesh Movement -1899-1901,
you may (Irrelevant mailing information omitted) You can find it here-- https://alfiowa.com/store/ (2019)
Feb.
1977 -
"Watchman, What of the Night? " Thought Paper. Adventist Laymen's Foundation. (Excerpt)
No comments:
Post a Comment