Who Are Seventh-day Adventists and What do They Believe?

This past week has thrust the name of Seventh-day Adventists (SDA’s) into the national spotlight due to remarks from Donald Trump about the religious faith of Dr. Ben Carson, both leading contenders vying for the Republican presidential nomination. This set off a firestorm of activity with almost every major media outlet sending out stories asking questions about who are Seventh-day Adventists and what do they believe including the New York Times, CNN, and Washington Post, to name a few.

In response the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has set up a new website which provides a brief summary of our beliefs and history that are tailored for the media. It is interesting to analyze how the church on one hand offers convenient sound bite size snippets that highlight (boast) the church’s celebrities and its accomplishments in the areas of medicine, education, charity, healthy living in particular. It is notable that the summary of our beliefs only focused on what we believe in common with other Christians and makes no mention of our peculiar beliefs about the state of the dead, the investigative judgment, the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, etc.. To its credit this new website does highlight the ministry of Ellen White most likely due to the fact that she has been recently recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as on of the 100 most influential Americans in history, hardly something we need to ignore or be ashamed.

In contrast, the popular media, who know little about SDA’s, tends to focus on what makes us unique or peculiar in our religious beliefs since the church has in times past, and even up to present day, is considered to be a “cult” by other christian groups. Besides the investigative judgment and continued attacks that we believe in salvation by works, the whole subject of Bible prophecy in the books of Daniel and Revelation is largely side stepped due perhaps to its seemingly complex symbolism and the uncomfortable position the church gets into when it attempts to deal with our historical teaching of the two beasts in Revelation chapter 13, for example. Calling out the papacy as the man of sin and seat of the antichrist would likely create an even greater firestorm of controversy by the leftist media obsessed with political correctness and control of free speech, especially after the recent high profile visit of Pope Francis to the United States. But we will take this up for discussion later.

Our purpose in this post is not to criticize the church’s efforts to flatter itself before the world, but rather to highlight those peculiar doctrines that we believe that that world has little or no knowledge about and bring them to the forefront for closer examination. Initially we are going to specifically highlight the investigative judgment and the cleansing of the sanctuary found in Daniel 8:14 since this one particular doctrine is unique to adventism and has been the subject of intense scrutiny and vigorous attack by other christians ever since our understanding of Christ’s ministry as high priest in the heavenly sanctuary first coalesced following the great disappointment of October 22, 1844. We will be publishing portions from a tract entitled “The Judgment and the Harvest” first published by V. T. Houteff in 1934 which provides the most succinct and thorough presentation of the subject in a style that is readily comprehendible for both the simple and the scholar alike. This will take the format of several posts on this blog over the next few weeks. For those who wish to dive in and read the whole presentation sooner, please click this link to download a digital scan of the original tract as a PDF. Please free to share your thoughts and questions.

Confused Because Essential

Though it is the crowning work of our salvation and of the setting up of the kingdom of Christ upon earth, yet the “investigative judgment” is one of the least understood and most mystified and confused Bible subjects of the age. Were it not essential to our salvation, the enemy would not have expended every possible effort to envelop it in darkness. Imperative, then, is the unremitting need to search the Scriptures “as for hidden treasure,” and to beseech God for the guidance of His Spirit in order rightly to understand this all-important subject. In vain though, any search for truth unless the motive be to learn and to do the will of God. Hence, “if any man,” says Jesus, “will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.” John 7:17.

Since the subject of the judgment is taught in types and in parables, and since the Lord explains that His teaching parabolically is so that only His disciples may know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:11), obviously, therefore,

None But His Followers Can Understand The Whole Truth.

“The kingdom of heaven,” He says, “is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt. 13:44-46.

In these parables, Christ clearly sets forth present truth as the indispensable condition to the establishing of His kingdom, and supreme effort as the indispensable condition to entering into it. Thus “none,” declares the Spirit of Prophecy, “but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable Word?” — The Great Controversy, pp. 593, 594.

Let us come out of the stupor of presuming on God’s grace, yet regarding Him responsible for any consequent issue of our life. He has perfectly done His part in fully charting the narrow path to the kingdom; now let us do our honest best to follow therein to the end of the way, for the joy that awaits us there! But never shall we do so save in returning to the old landmarks by forsaking the Devil, who has turned God’s people from “the Way, the Truth, and the life” (John 14:6), into “a way which seemeth right unto a man,” but the end of which “are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

THE JUDGMENT AND THE HARVEST IN TESTIMONY, PARABLE, CEREMONY AND NUMBER

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In the Light of the Testimonies of the Prophets

Since by some the position is stoutly maintained that this all-important truth cannot be established by the Scriptures alone, let the reader therefore give attention to what the Bible says:

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:9, 10.

In this scripture are set forth four pertinent facts: (1) the thrones were not present prior to the opening of the scene envisioned; (2) the Ancient of days came and did sit when the thrones were set up; (3) then the books were opened; (4) all of which (thrones, Ancient of days, and books) reveal a judgment scene. And since the books are obviously the focal point in the scene, the question naturally arises,

What Is The Reason For Books?

Fundamental to a correct concept of the judgment, is a correct understanding of the nature of it and of the reason for the books. As to the latter John the Revelator says:

“And I saw the dead, small and great stand be fore God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books.” Rev 20:12.

Unquestionably, therefore, the books contain both the names and the records of all who are to be judged. And naturally these names and record were entered while each person was living “Thine eyes,” says the Psalmist, “did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps. 139:16. “The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” Ps. 87:6.

Thus does Inspiration reveal that each one’s deeds are chronicled with terrible exactness in the books of heaven, and that in the reason for the books inheres the

Reason For The Judgment.

That not every name that has been entered in the Lamb’s books will be retained there, is born out with sad conclusiveness by the following scriptures:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.” Ex. 32:33. “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Rev. 22:19.

Accordingly, the books contain the names of a mixed multitude, — both those who stood firmly in the faith and continued patiently to the end, and those who did not. Said Christ: “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13. But those who do not endure shall be lost.

“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” Mark 4:16,17.

“O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake Thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.” Jer. 17:13.

So, there must come a day of reckoning, a day when the names of those who are found unworthy of eternal life will be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life — a proceeding for which the only correct term can be, “investigative judgment.”

And now that the “time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God…,” “thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3), for “if it [the judgment] first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Pet. 4:17.

Since, therefore, in the fullness of time, the judgment will begin in the house of God, the church, each one is confronted with the imperative need to know

How Names Are Retained In The Book.

At the moment we accept Christ as our personal Saviour through the Word of Truth, — at that supreme moment God forgives us our sins, and the hands bloodstained by Calvary inscribe our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Then simultaneously the pen of angels begins in the heavenly ledger the life or death chronicle of our Christian experience separate from our past. Even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matt. 10:30. Therefore “suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error.” Eccles. 5:6. For in the investigative judgment the books are opened and the deeds done in the flesh are brought to light for a final reckoning before the Ancient of days. All who have stood fast to the end will then forever have their sins blotted from the books and their names retained therein; while all who are not overcomers will then forever have their sins retained in the books and their names blotted therefrom.

Always man’s greatest test, and one which has ever involved almost an instantaneous decision, has been in the unrolling of the scroll — in the eclipse of a past message by a new one, — present truth. On every such occasion each one has had to decide: Shall I heed the new and unpopular truth and walk in its light, joining with those who are despised by nearly every religious leader in the land? or shall I allow myself to be deterred by the decision and counsel of the ministry in my church?

When the judgment begins and the books open and the cases of each generation pass in succession in review before the judicial tribunal, some generations suffer an almost wholesale blotting out of names instead of sins. When the generation of Christ’s first advent is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, a whole nation will be found wanting and their names will be wiped from the book. And so in varying degree it has been at the introduction of every message in every age. “Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the necessities of God’s people at that time. Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those who were blessed with its light were tempted and tried.” — The Great Controversy, p. 609.

Accordingly, “when a message comes in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation of its claims.” — Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65. Lay aside all prejudices, self-opinions, and ideas of men who bear not the mark of Inspiration, and who say in effect by their actions: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (truth or prophets). Rev. 3:17.

The Bible can be rightly explained only by the Spirit Who dictated it. He “will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” that ye may “be established in the present truth.” And “whosoever…blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost [speaketh evil against the message] it shall not be forgiven” him: for it is the only means whereby we may be saved (John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:12; Luke 12:10).

Consequently, the greatest danger of the people has not been their listening to error but rather their rejecting present truth. “If a message comes,” saith the Lord, “that you do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give,…then produce your strong reasons; for your position will not be shaken by coming in contact with error.” — Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, pp. 65, 66. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12.

Clearly, therefore, any attitude which disposes one not to make a candid investigation of any message that purports to be additional truth, must inevitably bring ruin upon oneself. While on the other hand he who accepts the truth but fails faithfully to live and to proclaim it, thereby brings upon himself ruin also — that against which Ezekiel warns: “When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock [a message] before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezek. 3:20, 21. But the wicked shall “be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Ps. 69:28.” — Tract No. 3, pp. 3-11

Tagged as: Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Ellen White, investigative judgment, Seventh-day Adventists