CHRIST THE
LAWGIVER.
"For
the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will
save us." Isaiah 33:22.
We have
now to consider Christ in another character, yet not another. It is one that
naturally results from His position as Creator, for the One who creates must
certainly have authority to guide and control. We read in John 5:22, 23 the
words of Christ, that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the
Father." As Christ is the manifestation of the Father in creation, so is
He the manifestation of the Father in giving and executing the law. A few texts
of Scripture will suffice to prove this.
In Num.
21:4-6 we have the partial record of an incident that took place while the
children of Israel were in the wilderness. Let us read it. "And they
journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of
Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And
the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us
up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is
there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent
fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of
Israel died." The people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, [40]
Why have ye brought us up into the wilderness? They found fault with
their Leader. This is why they were destroyed by serpents. Now read the words
of the apostle Paul concerning this same event:—
"Neither
let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of
serpents." 1 Cor. 10:9. What does this prove?—That the Leader against whom
they were murmuring was Christ. This is further proved by the fact that when
Moses cast in his lot with Israel, refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter, he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
of Egypt. Heb. 11:26. Read also 1 Cor. 10:4, where Paul says that the fathers
"did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ." So, then, Christ was
the Leader of Israel from Egypt.
The third
chapter of Hebrews makes clear this same fact. Here we are told to consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful in
all His house, not as a servant, but as a Son over His own house. Verses 1-6.
Then we are told that we are His house if we hold fast our confidence to the
end. Wherefore we are exhorted by the Holy Ghost to hear His voice and not to
harden our hearts, as the fathers did in the wilderness. "For
we are
made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast
unto the end; while it is said,
[41] To-day if ye will hear His
[Christ's] voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when
they had heard, did provoke; howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
But with whom was He [Christ] grieved forty years? was it not with them that
had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?" Verses 14-17. Here
again Christ is set forth as the Leader and Commander of Israel in their forty
years' sojourn in the wilderness.
The same
thing is shown in Josh. 5:13-15, where we are told that the man whom Joshua saw
by Jericho, having a sword drawn in his hand, in response to Joshua's question,
"Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?" said, "Nay; but as
Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come." Indeed, no one will be
found to dispute that Christ was the real Leader of Israel, although invisible.
Moses, the visible leader of Israel, "endured as seeing Him who is
invisible." It was Christ who commissioned Moses to go and deliver His
people. Now read Ex. 20:1-3:—
"And
God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no
other gods before Me." Who spoke these words?—The One who brought them
from Egypt. And who was the Leader of Israel from Egypt?—It was Christ. Then
who spoke the law from Mt. Sinai?—It was Christ, the brightness of the Father's
glory, and the express image of His [42] Person, who is the manifestation of God to
man. It was the Creator of all created things, and the One to whom all judgment
has been committed.
This point
may be proved in another way. When the Lord comes, it will be with a shout (1
Thess. 4:16), which will pierce the tombs and arouse the dead (John 5:28, 29).
"The Lord shall roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy
habitation; He shall mightily roar upon His habitation; He shall give a shout,
as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A
noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy
with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are
wicked to the sword, saith the Lord." Jer. 25:30, 31. Comparing this with
Rev. 19:11-21, where Christ as the Leader of the armies of heaven, the Word of
God, King of kings, and Lord of lords, goes forth to tread the wine-press of
the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, destroying all the wicked, we find
that it is Christ who roars from His habitation against all the inhabitants of
the earth, when He has His controversy with the nations. Joel adds another point,
when he says, "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice
from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake." Joel 3:16.
From these
texts, to which others might be added, we learn that, in connection with the
coming of the Lord to deliver His people, He speaks with a voice [43]
that shakes the earth and the heavens,—"the earth shall reel to and
from like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage" (Isa. 24:20),
and "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise" (2 Peter 3:10).
Now read Heb. 12:25, 26:—
The time
when the Voice speaking on earth shook the earth was when the law was spoken
from Sinai (Ex. 19:1820; Heb. 12:18-20), an event that for awfulness has never
had a parallel, and never will have until the Lord comes with all the angels of
heaven, to save His people. But note: The same voice that then shook the earth
will, in the coming time, shake not only earth, but heaven also; and we have
seen that it is the voice of Christ that will sound with such volume as to
shake heaven and earth when He has His controversy with the nations. Therefore
it is demonstrated that it was the voice of Christ that was heard from Sinai,
proclaiming the ten commandments. This is no more than would naturally be
concluded from what we have learned concerning Christ as Creator, and the Maker
of the Sabbath.
Indeed,
the fact that Christ is a part of the Godhead, possessing all the attributes of
Divinity, being the equal of the Father in all respects, as Creator [44]
and Lawgiver, is the only force there is in the atonement. It is this
alone which makes redemption a possibility. Christ died "that He might
bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18); but if He lacked one iota of being equal
to God, He could not bring us to Him. Divinity means having the attributes of
Deity. If Christ were not Divine, then we should have only a human sacrifice.
It matters not, even if it be granted that Christ was the highest created
intelligence in the universe; in that case He would be a subject, owing
allegiance to the law, without ability to do any more than His own duty. He
could have no righteousness to impart to others. There is an infinite distance
between the highest angel ever created, and God; therefore the highest angel
could not lift fallen man up, and make him partaker of the Divine nature.
Angels can minister; God only can redeem. Thanks be to God that we are saved
"through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," in whom dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,9 and who is, therefore, able to save to
the uttermost them that come unto God by Him.10
This truth
helps to a more perfect understanding of the reason why Christ is called the
Word of God. He is the One through whom the Divine will and the Divine power
are made known to men. He is, so to speak, the mouth-piece of Divinity, the
manifestation of the Godhead. He declares or makes God known to man. It pleased
the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and therefore the Fa- [45]
ther is not relegated to a secondary position, as some imagine, when
Christ is exalted as Creator and Lawgiver; for the glory of the Father shines
through the Son. Since God is known only through Christ, it is evident that the
Father cannot be honored as He ought to be honored, by those who do not exalt
Christ. As Christ Himself said, "He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not
the Father which hath sent Him." John 5:23.
Is it
asked how Christ could be the Mediator between God and man and also the
Lawgiver? We have not to explain how it can be but only to accept the Scripture
record that it is so. And the fact that it is so is that which gives strength
to the doctrine of the atonement. The sinner's surety of full and free pardon
lies in the fact that the Lawgiver Himself, the One against whom he has
rebelled and whom he has defied, is the One who gave Himself for us. How is it
possible for anyone to doubt the honesty of God's purpose, or His perfect
good-will to men, when He gave Himself for their redemption? For11 let it not
be imagined that the Father and the Son were separated in this transaction.
They were one in this, as in everything else. The counsel of peace was between
them both (Zech. 6:12, 13), and even while here on earth the only-begotten Son
was in the bosom of the Father.
What a
wonderful manifestation of love! The Innocent suffered for the guilty; the
Just, for the unjust; the Creator, for the creature; the Maker [46]
of the law, for the transgressor against the law; the King, for His12
rebellious subjects. Since God spared not His own Son, but freely delivered Him
up for us all;—since Christ voluntarily gave Himself for us;—how shall He not
with Him freely give us all things? Infinite Love could find no greater
manifestation of itself. Well may the Lord say, "What could have been done
more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it?"13
Christ And
His Righteousness.
E.J.
Waggoner
(Excerpt)
*******
THE DIVINE PROVISION -- Part 2--
In
seeking to find the answer as to what was "the divine power" which
Christ brought with Him into humanity, we need to determine what it was not.
It
was not His previous Omnipotence. He stated clearly during His ministry -
"I can of mine own self do nothing." (l) (This verse of itself is one of the key verses of
the entire Bible which gives the formula for our personal salvation as
exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. We should know and understand it
better than even John 3:16. This verse we shall analyze in depth in a coming
thought paper when we discuss the exercise of the will.) In commenting on the
experience of Jesus when He was awakened by His terrified disciples to meet a
storm of Lake Galilee, the servant of the Lord has written: - When Jesus
was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of
fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the
possession of almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth and sea
and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down and He
says, "I can of mine own self do nothing." He trusted in the Father's
might. It was in faith - faith in God's love and care - that Jesus rested, and
the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God. (2)
It
was not His previous Omniscience, that knowledge which knows the end from the
beginning. This, too, He had laid aside. He told His disciples privately on
Olivet when speaking of His second advent - "Of that day and hour knoweth
no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the
Father." (3) His earthly
method of gaining knowledge was by the same means which all earth children have
- through the Holy Scriptures. (4)
What
then was the "divine power" which He brought with Him? We are
told: The whole treasure of heaven was poured out in one gift to save
fallen man. He brought into His human nature all the life-giving energies that
human beings will need and must receive. (5)
These
"life-giving energies" were of divine origin. He brought them into
His human nature. They were the "treasure of heaven." Two of these
invaluable treasures - these "life-giving energies" - become evident
as we read: - "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (6)
p 2 --
A "Thought for Contemplation" -- As
one becomes acquainted with the history of the Redeemer, he discovers in
himself serious defects; his unlikeness to Christ is so great that he sees
the necessity for radical changes in his life. Still he studies with a desire
to become like his great Exemplar. He catches the looks, the spirit, of his
beloved Master. By beholding, by "looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith," he becomes changed into the same image.
- Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, March 15, 1887.
Paul
declared that Jesus Christ was "all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily" (7) - that
fulness which could reside in humanity, and humanity not be destroyed. He came
to bring to the sons of men that fulness which they too, must receive if they
would become conquerors as He conquered. Commenting on Col. 2:9, Sister White
wrote: In Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This is why,
although He was tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the
world, from His first entrance into it, untainted by corruption, though
surrounded by it. Are we not also to become partakers of that fullness, and is it not thus,
and thus only, that we can
overcome as He overcame? (8)
The
significance of this fact dare not be overlooked. Jesus was the fulness of the
Godhead bodily, but it was a fulness that we too, can and must possess. In
other words, "the divine energies" which He brought into His human
nature representing the whole "treasure of heaven" constitute the
fulness of the Godhead as embodied in the "form of a servant" which
Christ accepted in becoming man. And two of these "energies" of
divine power were defined by John as "grace and truth."
We
shall first consider Truth. Truth lies at the very heart of the controversy
between Christ and Satan. One of the sharpest exchanges between Jesus and the
Jewish hierarchy was concerning truth. To the Jewish leaders, Jesus said: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in
the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he
speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I told
you the truth, ye believe Me not. Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I
say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God's words:
ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
To
this, the leadership replied - "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan,
and hast a devil." (9) One
can comprehend the "heat" of this exchange when one considers the
fact that to use the expression - "thou art a Samaritan" - is
equivalent to calling a person a "(((Due to the world's temperament today
I will not copy that word here. Suffice it to say it is a very derogatory term
for an African American))))" today. Keep in mind that Jesus Himself did
not hesitate to place those who deviated from truth in the category with the
devil, and said the devil was their father, even though they were the religious
leaders of the nation. This point should not be missed by the hierarchy today.
Previous
to this verbal exchange, Jesus had stated: - "Ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
p 3
He
received the reply - "we be Abraham's
seed, and were never in bondage to any man: [a lie in itself] how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free." Then
Jesus placed truth in its clear relationship to sin. He said - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin." (10) To deviate from truth - to accept apostasy - is
not only to sin, but to continue in sin, and thus come into bondage to him who
abode not in the truth. When we remember that the righteousness of Christ is
"pure, unadulterated truth" (11) then
it should dawn upon our understanding how vital is the issue between truth and
apostasy.
Let
us consider the power of truth - the divine energy - which Christ brought from
heaven, which we must have if we are to overcome as He overcame. We read:
-Truth is sacred, divine. It is stronger and more powerful than anything else
in the formation of a character after the Iciness of Christ. In it there is
fullness of joy. When it is cherished in the heart the love of Christ is
preferred to the love of any human being. This is Christianity. This is the
love of God in the soul. Thus pure, unadulterated truth occupies the citadel of
the being. (12)
All
truth is to be received as the life of Jesus. Truth cleanses us from all
impurity, and prepares the soul for Christ's presence. Christ is formed within,
the hope of glory. (13)
The
position that it is of no consequence what men believe, is one of Satan's most
successful deceptions. He knows that the truth, received in the love of it,
sanctifies the soul of the receiver; therefore, he is constantly seeking to
substitute false theories, fables, another gospel. From the beginning, the
servants of God have contended against false teachers, not merely as vicious
men, but as inculcators of falsehoods that were fatal to the soul. Elijah,
Jeremiah, Paul, firmly and fearlessly opposed those who were turning men from
the word of God. That liberality which regards a correct religious faith
as unimportant, found no favor with these holy defenders of the truth. (14)
In
Part Three of this study on "The Divine Provision", we shall consider
the divine energy of "Grace", and the fruitage of these energies -
hatred of sin, and love of righteousness.
1. John 5:30
Joh 5:30 I can
of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just;
because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent
me.
2. Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 335-336
3. Mark 13:32
Mar 13:32 But
of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in
heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
4. White, op. cit., p. 70
5. Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, Sept. 4, 1900
(5 BC:1127)
6. John 1: 14
Joh 1:14 And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
7. Col. 2: 9
Col 2:9 For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
8. Ellen G. White, Ms. 16, 1890 (7 BC:907)
9. John 8:44-48
Joh
8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his
own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh
8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh
8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye
not believe me?
Joh
8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not,
because ye are not of God.
Joh
8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou
art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
10. John 8:32-34
Joh
8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
Joh
8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage
to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh
8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin.
11. Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 65
12. Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 140
13. Ellen G. White, Ms. 103, 1902 (7 BC:957)
14. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 520
p 4
THE HISTORIC POSITION --
Recently
- May 5th, 1977 - an editorial appeared in the Review, which stated emphatically that the present series of
Sabbath School lessons on the humanity of Jesus Christ authored by Dr. Herbert
Douglass teaches "the view set forth in all Adventist literature until
recent times." (p. 12) This confession was so amazing that I wrote to the
Editor and asked three questions:
- Where could I turn for source proof of what you have written in regard to the historic position of the church on the Incarnation?
- At what point would you begin your concept of "recent times"?
- Have any of the denominational publishing houses published any material on the Incarnation documenting the fact of what was the view held on the Incarnation in our teaching or history?
In
answer to these questions, I received an honest and forthright reply. To
Question #1 Kenneth Wood, the Editor wrote: - Enclosed is a list of
references. One list includes only non-inspired church leaders and writers. The
other includes only references from Ellen G. White. Neither list is exhaustive,
but both are adequate to show what the general teaching of the church has been.
My
letter was dated May 4, and Elder Wood's was dated May 12. It is evident that
these bibliographical lists were not compiled during those eight days. How long
they had been in existence was not stated. But the fact that these lists are in
existence shows that the hierarchy of the Church over the past twenty years
either knew or could have known that they have been teaching the laity error in
regard to the Incarnation.
The
first list noted by Elder Wood is entitled - "The Humanity of Jesus -
Witness of Church Leaders." It contains references from thirty-two church
leaders ranging from E. J. Waggoner in 1890 to Norval Pease in 1969. The
reference by Waggoner is to his book, Christ
and His Righteousness, pp. 25-29. This is most significant, for these
pages are the section from which Froom in his book, Movement of Destiny, misrepresents in
an attempt to have Waggoner teach the heresy that was being set forth in the
book. And it was this book by Froom that was approved by Pierson, Wilson, and
sixty scholars of the Church. (See Letters on p. 37, The Times of the Gentiles Fulfilled,
monograph published by the Adventist Laymen's Foundation.) In other words the
leadership of the Church knew Waggoner did not teach what Froom was seeking to
make Waggoner teach, and yet they placed their imprimatur on this book, and fed
it to the laity as something great and marvelous for them to swallow!
Another
"church leader" listed in the bibliography is - believe it or not -
Elder M. L. Andreasen. And even more unbelievable is the source material noted
for him - none other than his Letters
to the Churches, Series A, a series so anathema to the hierarchy of the
Church that these were not published by any denominationally owned publishing
house. Even to this day, you can not procure these letters through any Book and
Bible House. The only place where copies of this book can be now obtained by
the laity is through the Adventist Laymen's Foundation.
p 5
Besides
the thirty-two church leaders noted in List #1, there are two other sources
given: -I) Sabbath School Lesson Quarterlies from 1896 to 1914, and 2)Bible Readings (1914 -1949). The
dating on Bible Readings is
nothing short of remarkable, for it is saying that all printings after 1949 no
longer contain the historic teaching of the church in regard to the
Incarnation. The paperback Missionary Edition which was given wide circulation
was printed according to the altered edition and is thus a misrepresentation of
our historic faith. The fact of the change in Bible Readings was documented several years ago in the
research manuscript published by the Adventist Laymen's Foundation,
entitled, An Interpretive History
of the Doctrine of the Incarnation as Taught by the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. (pp. 64-66)
In
List #2, referred to by Elder Wood, - "The Humanity of Jesus -Witness of
Ellen G. White" - there were one hundred and two references dating from
1869 through 1915 the time of her death. In the book -Desire of Ages - one of the references - there are
thirty-six page referrals given. What a testimony in the light of the eighteen
distorted references Froom uses in his book, Movement of Destiny (p. 470), in seeking to have the
servant of the Lord agree with his heresy!
To
my second question, Wood replied - "In the middle 1950's and beyond, in
other words, approximately the past twenty years." This too, is most
revealing, for the mid 1950's was the time of the infamous Barnhouse-Martin
conferences, and the resulting publication, Questions on Doctrine. It was in this book that the historic
doctrine of the Incarnation as taught by the Church was officially altered (p.
383). But the laity of the church were fed with propaganda that this book truly
represented the teachings that had been their spiritual heritage that many
continued to sleep in the fatal security that all was well and that they could
trust their religious leaders. Those who raised their voices - including Elder
M. L. Andreasen - were severely dealt with. Actions and innuendoes not far removed
from methods employed by Rome to combat dissenters were the order of the day. I
write from experience for I was and have been the recipient of such action from
one of the men so glowingly set forth in Froom's Movement of, Destiny as he reviews that period in our
church history. (pp. 476-477)
To
really understand the pressure applied, and the ecclesiastical weight brought
about to put across this changed position on the Incarnation - as well as other
of our basic teachings - one has only to consider what Martin wrote in his book
- The Truth About Seventh-day
Adventists. In so doing it must be kept in mind that in the front of
this book was "A Statement" by Elder H. W. Lowe, who at that time was
Chairman of the General Conference Biblical Study and Research Committee. He
wrote - "This author [Martin] has earned our gratitude and respect by his
earnest endeavor to set forth correctly our doctrinal positions ..." (p.
15) On what did Martin base his book, and why? We shall let Martin speak for
himself. He wrote: - The author has labored
conscientiously to present accurately the history and theology of the
Seventh-day Adventist denomination. He has based his findings squarely upon
what the leaders of Adventism have stated to be the true position of their
church today. He has also assumed the basic honesty of the leaders whose
Christian cooperation and fellowship he has enjoyed. Since the General
Conference issued Questions on
Doctrine, and it is fully empowered to represent Adventist thought, this
volume certainly is the primary
source upon which to ground an evaluation of Adventist theology. (p. 10
emphasis his)
p 6
And
why did he so accept, Questions on
Doctrine? Note his words again: An interesting and relevant
sidelight is the fact that copies of Questions
on Doctrine were actually sent around the world to every conference
and division of the Adventist denomination, and to every major school and
editorial house for their approval, an approval which was overwhelming and
resounding. (p. 228)
To
this observation he added the footnote: Added to this, the General
Conference, meeting in Quadrennial session in Cleveland in 1958, thought the
book was sufficiently in harmony with Adventist views to preclude any necessity
of even reviewing the issue. Its approach was apparent to all, as was its
acceptance. (p. 228)
For
the past ten years, the position of the leadership of the Adventist Laymen's
Foundation has been that a major change was officially made in our historic
doctrines - the Incarnation being one of them. This the editor of the Review now confirms. Both
Barnhouse and Martin were given assurances that "Adventists have
repudiated the concept of the sinful nature of Christ, the 'mark of the beast'
for Sunday keepers, the infallibility of Ellen G. White ..." (p. 228)
These changes were pressured on the laity and ministry, and any who stood up
against these alterations in our basic faith, be he minister or layman, was
handled with the high hand of ecclesiastical authority that would even make the
present Pope cast a jealous eye upon some of these, his "separated
brethren."
To
the third question, Elder Wood responded simply - "Not to my
knowledge." There is only one source from which you can obtain a carefully
documented review of the history of the teachings on the Incarnation in our
Church, and that is through the Adventist Laymen's Foundation. At the time that
Froom's book, Movement of Destiny,
was receiving the official imprimatur of both Elders Pierson and Wilson, the
Foundation released the documented research manuscript - An Interpretive History of the Doctrine of
the Incarnation as Taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. All of
this history, and the editorial in the Review,
plus Elder Wood's answers should start telling the laity something concrete.
Because a book, manuscript, or monograph is not printed by a denominational
publishing house, it does not mean that it is an "offshoot"
publication. On the other hand it can mean that you will obtain truth long
before the ecclesiastical authorities of the church are willing to admit truth.
The words of the Lord through the ancient prophet are very apropos: - Cursed is
the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the Lord. Jer. 17:5
When
we learn to trust the Lord as we should, we will then follow the counsel given
to us by His servant, which reads: - When a view of Scripture is
presented, many do not ask, Is it true, - in harmony with God's word? but, By
whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the channel that pleases
them, they do not accept it …
The
Lord often works where we least expect Him; He surprises us by revealing is
power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men
P 7
to
whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to
receive the truth upon its own merits, because it is truth.(Testimonies to Ministers, p.
106)
TEN MINUTES PAST MIDNIGHT
Today,
as I sit typing this final section of the present thought paper, is June 7,
1977. This is the tenth anniversary of the fulfillment of the prophecy which
Jesus gave as recorded in Luke 21:24: -Jerusalem
shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled.
During
this decade, the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has failed to
come to grips with this fulfilled prophecy. They have hoped the fact that
Jerusalem is again under Jewish control would disappear as a bad dream, and
then they could say - "See, Jerusalem is again back under Gentile control,
so the prophecy is not fulfilled." However, recent elections in Israel
should cause us to know that as far as the State of Israel is concerned, they
have no intentions of relinquishing Jerusalem. Time (May 23, 1977, p. 44) reports that "Israel
considers Jerusalem nonnegotiable" in any peace discussion between
themselves and their Arab neighbors.
In
the light of this fact, we would do well to think carefully through the
significance of this prophecy of our Lord, and if the conclusions and
presentation which the Adventist Laymen's Foundation's monograph - "The Times of the Gentiles Fulfilled"
- contain are not valid, then wherein this research is not accurate, needs to
be pointed out. We recognize the element of human fallibility in any such
research, but to this date nothing has been presented in any way invalidating
the basic and salient points established.*
Time
marches on to the dawn of the eternal day, and a people remains unprepared to
meet that final day of transition because their spiritual leaders will not face
up to the significance of fulfilled prophecy. When God heralds a new
relationship with men and nations signifying that anew phase has begun in His
dealings with the sons of men, we all need to sit up and take notice. When the
Christians living in Judea and Jerusalem saw the armies of Rome surround the
city in 66 A. D., they did not sit idly by, waiting, hoping, that what they saw
was just a bad dream, and that with the retreat of Cestius, they had another
chance and could go ahead with business as usual. If they had done so, what a
different story would have been written regarding the Christians when Titus
resumed the siege four years later in 70 A. D.
* -- An editor of the Review (Nov. 25, 1976, p. 10) has
stated that a political event is too risky to use as a basis for the
fulfillment of prophecy, as the fortunes of nations alter past events. Even if
Jerusalem should fall again into Gentiles hands or become an "international
city" as envisioned in papal foreign policy, the fact that Jerusalem was
from 70 A. D. to 1967 under Gentile control, and on June 7, 1967 it passed
again under Jewish power, and has so remained these ten years cannot be
invalidated, nor ignored.
July 1977
"Watchman, What of the Night? " Thought Paper. Adventist Laymen's Foundation. (Excerpt)
