What are your thoughts regarding the teaching of the seven church ages and how it all fits with the 1844 teaching?
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1844
- Thread starter k4c
- Start date
Maybe I need to clarify.
I attended a friend's Bible study the other night in which the Bible study leader was teaching about Pentecost. He stated that Pentecost began the church age in which man could now be indwelled with the Holy Spirit. It's during the church age that eternal security (OSAS) came about because of the indwelling of God's Spirit in man.
How does this fit with the IJ teaching of 1844, or is the church age teaching even true?
I used the seven churches or seven church ages found in Revelation just to see if it relates.
Revelation 1:11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,'' and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.''
I attended a friend's Bible study the other night in which the Bible study leader was teaching about Pentecost. He stated that Pentecost began the church age in which man could now be indwelled with the Holy Spirit. It's during the church age that eternal security (OSAS) came about because of the indwelling of God's Spirit in man.
How does this fit with the IJ teaching of 1844, or is the church age teaching even true?
I used the seven churches or seven church ages found in Revelation just to see if it relates.
Revelation 1:11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,'' and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.''
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O
OntheDL
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I'm guessing your friend is not a SDA.
When you look at the message to the churches, to every church there is a message of rebuke and a call to repentance, except to the church of Philadelphia which are the 144000.
The OSAS and the Pentecostal church age theology is flawed.
The holy spirit is always available to believers of every age. David had the holy spirit and lost it when he committed his sins. Was he OSAS had he never repented and asked God to restore spirit to him?
King Saul had the spirit of God in him until he acted against God's will. Is he saved?
At Pentecost, the early rain fell as a result of Jesus' anointing as our high priest and the dedication of the heavenly sanctuary. This rain fell for the sowing of the seeds. The latter rain will fall for the reaping.
There is no such thing as OSAS because of the indwelling spirit. Any individual can grieve away the indwelling spirit. The spirit of God does not force itself unto anyone unlike the spirit of Satan. And the church is not entitled to the grace of God if she does not remain faithful.
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They are not SDA.
They believe the difference between the OT and NT is that the Spirit came upon them in the OT but at Petecost the Spirit indwelt them.
I don't believe in OSAS but at one point years ago I did.
How would you identify the time beween Pentecost and 1844 and why Pentecost if the Spirit indwelt people prior to Pentecost?
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OntheDL
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From the Old Testament types and shadows, 50 days after resurrection and 10 days after ascension, the day of Pentecost signals:
1. the end of Jesus' earthly ministry
2. the dedication of the heavenly sanctuary
3. the inauguration of Jesus as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary
4. the beginning of Jesus' heavenly ministry in the Holy Place
The period between the Pentecost and 1844 represented Jesus' Mediatorial Atonement phase of the plan of salvation. This is when Jesus interceded on the behalf of the professed believers in the Holy Place for sanctification, in preparation of the Judicial Atonement phase of plan of salvation in the Most Holy Place which began at 1844.
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OntheDL
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Here is an in-depth study of the sanctuary. Please take your time. Our beliefs came by the exhaustive study of the bible and earnest prayers (by the pioneers). I can not explain the most important and complex part of our belief in a few sentences. The basics and the foundation need to be laid down, examined before the conclusion can be made.
http://www.christianforums.com/t3039271/
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Did nobody else notice this bombshell??
The letter to the church of Philadelphia:
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 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: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 3:7-13
DL, explain yourself!
Jon
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Does the Sanctuary teach conditional security?
In other words, does the Sancturay give evidence against eternal security (OSAS) and how does it do it?
In other words, does the Sancturay give evidence against eternal security (OSAS) and how does it do it?
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OntheDL
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Did nobody else notice this bombshell??
The letter to the church of Philadelphia:
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 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: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 3:7-13
DL, explain yourself!
Jon
I think you already know.
I love the message to the Philadelphian church for they are the last generation of believers alive.
I'll just highlight the passages that pertain to the 144000. They are easily recognizable for those who have studied on the 144000.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 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;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
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OntheDL
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When you look at the sanctuary, it's divided into two parts:
On the east side, the Altar of Sacrifice is the center. This represents the cross. The laver which represents baptism is also on the east side. The cross and the laver together represent justification.
On the west side, there are the holy apartments. First in the holy place, there are the table of shewbread (the Word), the altar of incense (prayers) and the candlesticks (witnessing). This represents sanctification.
In the most holy place which is the center of the west side there is the ark of Covenant which represents judgment. This represents glorification.
The salvation according to the plan demonstrated in the sanctuary begins at the cross (altar of sacrifice) and ends at ark of covenant (judgment). It is a process, a journey.
However when you look at OSAS, the saving takes place at the cross, in the begining. The sanctification and glorification are unconditional and irrelevant.
With the sanctuary, the saving takes place at the most holy place. It depends on the condition of justification and sanctification. This makes sound biblical sense.
Also look at the different offerings in Leviticus 4 & 5, the sanctuary service makes no provision for willful sinning. Paul made this comment:
Hebrew 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
This exposes OSAS's theory that one's action is irrelevant before and after. How can God save anyone who doesn't want to be saved?
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When you look at the sanctuary, it's divided into two parts:
On the east side, the Altar of Sacrifice is the center. This represents the cross. The laver which represents baptism is also on the east side. The cross and the laver together represent justification.
On the west side, there are the holy apartments. First in the holy place, there are the table of shewbread (the Word), the altar of incense (prayers) and the candlesticks (witnessing). This represents sanctification.
In the most holy place which is the center of the west side there is the ark of Covenant which represents judgment. This represents glorification.
The salvation according to the plan demonstrated in the sanctuary begins at the cross (altar of sacrifice) and ends at ark of covenant (judgment). It is a process, a journey.
However when you look at OSAS, the saving takes place at the cross, in the begining. The sanctification and glorification are unconditional and irrelevant.
With the sanctuary, the saving takes place at the most holy place. It depends on the condition of justification and sanctification. This makes sound biblical sense.
Also look at the different offerings in Leviticus 4 & 5, the sanctuary service makes no provision for willful sinning. Paul made this comment:
Hebrew 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
This exposes OSAS's theory that one's action is irrelevant before and after. How can God save anyone who doesn't want to be saved?
Excellent...
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I think you already know.
I do indeed lol. And I'm sure you know my counter arguments!
I recognise the Spirit of prophecy has adopted the language of these verses to describe the experience of the 144,000 in the last days. But we can see from the texts themselves that they cannot be specifically written for that end time group specifically.
Firstly, the crucial verse:
"10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
The Philadelphian believers, composed of the Reformers and especially the the true Millerites who believed Jesus' soon coming, were indeed kept from the hour of temptation, which is to come and try "them that dwell on the earth". This is the WHOLE earth, righteous, and wicked. It is the Laodicean church that is not kept from this hour of temptation.
What does Daniel, the counterpart to Revelation, say about the 144,000?
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Daniel 12:1
And especially,
"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:10
When are the end time believers purified, and made white, and tried? After the close of probation! Who are those "found written in the book" that shall be delivered? The 144000! they are cleansed of sins, and their faith is severely tried. SOP describes in Early Writings that this is when the saints are tried at their uttermost, when they have no Intercessor in the courts above. But they are purified, and their faith does not fail.
So we see straight away that the Philadelphian church cannot be 144000 because they are tried in the end times. They go through the hour of temptation, just like Christ did in Gethsemane.
Expand on your thoughts a little.
Jon
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OntheDL
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Hi Jon,
What makes the Philadelphian church the reformers and the Millerites? I see no evidence in scriptures or in SOP.
If the reformers and the Millerites had obtained the perfect character of Jesus (names of the Father written in their forehead), Jesus would have come back and surely in 1888. But the reformers failed because they were disingenuous on the fact that they boasted sola scriptura and yet they refused to honour the 7th day sabbath over the spurious papal sabbath. And yet the message to Philadelphia has no rebuke, no calls of repentance. (They have nothing to repent of. All of their sins have been repented prior to the trying time.)
Philadelphia, oh the city of brotherly love!
vs 8...I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:...
SOP comments on this open door as the door of communication between God and His people. Why is this passage found only in the Philadelphian message but not the others? And did God need to put this passage here? Because specifically during the Time of Jacob's trouble, though without an intercessor, the communication between God and the 144000 will remain open.
And consequently, continue in vs 8, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
the open door is the only thing the 144000 can latch onto to keep 'my word' (the law).
vs 10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world...I understand this to be universal. The only universal trial would be after the decree of the NSL and before the close of probation. And the sealing of God's people character (purified) is BEFORE the close of probation.
Here's the SOP comment on the hour of temptation...
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience." Does this apply to the men who persecute those who conscientiously keep the commandments of God, who refuse to bow down to an idol sabbath and worship an institution of the papacy? Who is keeping the word of God's patience? This is a question of intense interest,--a question which none of us can afford to ignore; because God has said of those who do keep the word of his patience, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." {RH, June 19, 1900 par. 14}
According to EGW, the hour of temptation in Rev 3:10 will be the universal test of which sabbath is honour, and for the Millerites, this is yet future. This pretty much excludes the reformers and the Millerites from the Philadelphian church.
In the statements in EW, SOP links the Philadelphians to the 144000. In EW, p30. Paragraph 2 quotes the Philadelphian message (Rev 3:7-13). This is followed immediately in paragraph 3 quoting of the 144000 in Rev 14:4,5.
The following identifying characteristics belonging to the 144000 exclusively are found in the Philadelpian message.
vs 9 behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Only the 144000 will have the false Christians worship before their feet, to know that I have loved thee, because the 144000 have endured the time of Jacob's trouble when there is no intercessor to shield them from the fiery darts of Satan.
vs 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:
This is the definitive proof!
Only the 144000 will serve Him day and night in the temple and shall go no more out. They, the 144000 who reflect Christ's image perfectly will replace Lucifer's position before the fall, to become the ultimate covering cherub. No other generation of believers will have this privilege, not even the angels: ONLY the 144000.
and I will write upon him the name of my God...
None of the other churches, only the Philadelphians have the Father's name written on them. This further confirms that Philadelphians are those who will reproduce Christ's character fully and perfectly. Compare it to the 144000:
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
There can be no doubt in my mind that the Philadelphians are the 144000. Isn't it beautiful and profound that they of the city of brotherly love, will go through the Laodiceans and be a witness unto them?
And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Hope this makes sense,
PS, we can and should open a new thread on the philadelphians and the 144000 (the great multitude).
What makes the Philadelphian church the reformers and the Millerites? I see no evidence in scriptures or in SOP.
If the reformers and the Millerites had obtained the perfect character of Jesus (names of the Father written in their forehead), Jesus would have come back and surely in 1888. But the reformers failed because they were disingenuous on the fact that they boasted sola scriptura and yet they refused to honour the 7th day sabbath over the spurious papal sabbath. And yet the message to Philadelphia has no rebuke, no calls of repentance. (They have nothing to repent of. All of their sins have been repented prior to the trying time.)
Philadelphia, oh the city of brotherly love!
vs 8...I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:...
SOP comments on this open door as the door of communication between God and His people. Why is this passage found only in the Philadelphian message but not the others? And did God need to put this passage here? Because specifically during the Time of Jacob's trouble, though without an intercessor, the communication between God and the 144000 will remain open.
And consequently, continue in vs 8, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
the open door is the only thing the 144000 can latch onto to keep 'my word' (the law).
vs 10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world...I understand this to be universal. The only universal trial would be after the decree of the NSL and before the close of probation. And the sealing of God's people character (purified) is BEFORE the close of probation.
Here's the SOP comment on the hour of temptation...
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience." Does this apply to the men who persecute those who conscientiously keep the commandments of God, who refuse to bow down to an idol sabbath and worship an institution of the papacy? Who is keeping the word of God's patience? This is a question of intense interest,--a question which none of us can afford to ignore; because God has said of those who do keep the word of his patience, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." {RH, June 19, 1900 par. 14}
According to EGW, the hour of temptation in Rev 3:10 will be the universal test of which sabbath is honour, and for the Millerites, this is yet future. This pretty much excludes the reformers and the Millerites from the Philadelphian church.
In the statements in EW, SOP links the Philadelphians to the 144000. In EW, p30. Paragraph 2 quotes the Philadelphian message (Rev 3:7-13). This is followed immediately in paragraph 3 quoting of the 144000 in Rev 14:4,5.
The following identifying characteristics belonging to the 144000 exclusively are found in the Philadelpian message.
vs 9 behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Only the 144000 will have the false Christians worship before their feet, to know that I have loved thee, because the 144000 have endured the time of Jacob's trouble when there is no intercessor to shield them from the fiery darts of Satan.
vs 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:
This is the definitive proof!
Only the 144000 will serve Him day and night in the temple and shall go no more out. They, the 144000 who reflect Christ's image perfectly will replace Lucifer's position before the fall, to become the ultimate covering cherub. No other generation of believers will have this privilege, not even the angels: ONLY the 144000.
and I will write upon him the name of my God...
None of the other churches, only the Philadelphians have the Father's name written on them. This further confirms that Philadelphians are those who will reproduce Christ's character fully and perfectly. Compare it to the 144000:
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
There can be no doubt in my mind that the Philadelphians are the 144000. Isn't it beautiful and profound that they of the city of brotherly love, will go through the Laodiceans and be a witness unto them?
And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Hope this makes sense,
PS, we can and should open a new thread on the philadelphians and the 144000 (the great multitude).
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Sorry for taking so long to reply!
Is perfection of character symbolised by the name of the Father written in the forehead? Notice, each of the seven messages conclude with: "To him that overcometh...." - this does not mean that it applies only to that specific church. It is a general benediction. Just like the message to Sardis, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment...I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." This applies to all believers. So does the benediction in the church to Philadelphia.
Also, just because the church of Philadelphia has no call to repentance, I don't think this is enough to conclude they are the 144,000. Notice again in the message to Sardis,
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." Revelation 3:4
This sounds more like perfection of character.
SOP says:
"I saw that Jesus had shut the door of the holy place, and no man can open it; and that He had opened the door into the most holy, and no man can shut it (Rev. 3:7,8); and that since Jesus has opened the door into the most holy place, which contains the ark, the commandments have been shining out to God's people, and they are being tested on the Sabbath question....The enemies of the present truth have been trying to open the door of the holy place, that Jesus has shut, and to close the door of the most holy place, which He opened in 1844, where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by the finger of Jehovah." {EW 42}
"The view of "The Open and Shut Door", on pages 42-45, was given in 1849. The application of Revelation 3:7, 8, to the heavenly sanctuary and Christ's ministry was entirely new to me. I had never heard the idea advanced by anyone. Now as the subject of the sanctuary is being clearly understood, the application is seen in its force and beauty." {EW 86.1}
I've got two volumes of Exhaustive Ellen G. White Commentary on Daniel and Revelation where each verse has all the commentary ever written. It is really awesome, you should get your hands on it if you can. I can tell you that SOP clearly applies the message to the Philadelphians, especially in relation to the open/shut door, to the Great Disappointment era.
Here's a good one:
"In the service of the earthly sanctuary, which, as we have seen, is a figure of the service in the heavenly, when the high priest on the Day of Atonement entered the most holy place, the ministration in the first apartment ceased. God commanded: "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he comes out." Leviticus 16:17. So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform the closing work of the atonement, He ceased His ministration in the first apartment. But when the ministration in the first apartment ended, the ministration in the second apartment began. When in the typical service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement, he went in before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel who truly repented of their sins. So Christ had only completed one part of His work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. This subject was not understood by Adventists in 1844. After the passing of the time when the Saviour was expected, they still believed His coming to be near; they held that they had reached an important crisis and that the work of Christ as man's intercessor before God had ceased. It appeared to them to be taught in the Bible that man's probation would close a short time before the actual coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. This seemed evident from those scriptures which point to a time when men will seek, knock, and cry at the door of mercy, and it will not be opened. And it was a question with them whether the date to which they had looked for the coming of Christ might not rather mark the beginning of this period which was immediately to precede His coming. Having given the warning of the judgment near, they felt that their work for the world was done, and they lost their burden of soul for the salvation of sinners, while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been withdrawn from the rejecters of His mercy. All this confirmed them in the belief that probation had ended, or, as they then expressed it, "the door of mercy was shut." But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis. But while it was true that that door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found access to God, was closed, another door was opened, and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only to give place to another. There was still an "open door" to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner's behalf. 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. 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." {GC 428-431}
I agree with this. The church of Philadelphia WAS kept from the hour of temptation - they will not go through the NSL test!
SOP also says,
"You think that those who worship before the saints' feet (Rev 3:9) will at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God showed me that this class were professed Adventists, who had fallen away, and "crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." And in the "hour of temptation", which is yet to come, to show out everyone's true character, they will know that they are forever lost, and overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saints' feet." {WLF 12}
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." In this scripture is brought to view the hour of temptation that is to try them that dwell upon the earth. We are now living in this trying hour. There is no escape for any from this conflict. If in your life there are defective traits of character that you are not striving to overcome, you may be assured that the enemy will endeavor to take advantage of them; for he is watching vigilantly, seeking to spoil the faith of every one. In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith and humility." {RH July 9, 1908}
It seems as though this "hour of temptation" has a specific application to NSL, which I agree with, but also a more general application to all believers who are kept from the temptation by their faith in God. EGW clearly said she was liiving in the trying hour, and "there is no escape for any from this conflict". This would fit with the general pattern of the messages to the churches: both a specific application and a more general application for all believers in all times.
So those professed Adventists who bow at the feet of the saints, I believe can apply both to those professed Adventists who rejected the light on the Sanctuary in 1844, who had the door shut to them, and also to those professed Adventists in the close of probabtion, who will accept NSL.
Part 2 to follow
Jon
Is perfection of character symbolised by the name of the Father written in the forehead? Notice, each of the seven messages conclude with: "To him that overcometh...." - this does not mean that it applies only to that specific church. It is a general benediction. Just like the message to Sardis, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment...I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." This applies to all believers. So does the benediction in the church to Philadelphia.
Also, just because the church of Philadelphia has no call to repentance, I don't think this is enough to conclude they are the 144,000. Notice again in the message to Sardis,
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." Revelation 3:4
This sounds more like perfection of character.
SOP says:
"I saw that Jesus had shut the door of the holy place, and no man can open it; and that He had opened the door into the most holy, and no man can shut it (Rev. 3:7,8); and that since Jesus has opened the door into the most holy place, which contains the ark, the commandments have been shining out to God's people, and they are being tested on the Sabbath question....The enemies of the present truth have been trying to open the door of the holy place, that Jesus has shut, and to close the door of the most holy place, which He opened in 1844, where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by the finger of Jehovah." {EW 42}
"The view of "The Open and Shut Door", on pages 42-45, was given in 1849. The application of Revelation 3:7, 8, to the heavenly sanctuary and Christ's ministry was entirely new to me. I had never heard the idea advanced by anyone. Now as the subject of the sanctuary is being clearly understood, the application is seen in its force and beauty." {EW 86.1}
I've got two volumes of Exhaustive Ellen G. White Commentary on Daniel and Revelation where each verse has all the commentary ever written. It is really awesome, you should get your hands on it if you can. I can tell you that SOP clearly applies the message to the Philadelphians, especially in relation to the open/shut door, to the Great Disappointment era.
Here's a good one:
"In the service of the earthly sanctuary, which, as we have seen, is a figure of the service in the heavenly, when the high priest on the Day of Atonement entered the most holy place, the ministration in the first apartment ceased. God commanded: "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he comes out." Leviticus 16:17. So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform the closing work of the atonement, He ceased His ministration in the first apartment. But when the ministration in the first apartment ended, the ministration in the second apartment began. When in the typical service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement, he went in before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel who truly repented of their sins. So Christ had only completed one part of His work as our intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work, and He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners. This subject was not understood by Adventists in 1844. After the passing of the time when the Saviour was expected, they still believed His coming to be near; they held that they had reached an important crisis and that the work of Christ as man's intercessor before God had ceased. It appeared to them to be taught in the Bible that man's probation would close a short time before the actual coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. This seemed evident from those scriptures which point to a time when men will seek, knock, and cry at the door of mercy, and it will not be opened. And it was a question with them whether the date to which they had looked for the coming of Christ might not rather mark the beginning of this period which was immediately to precede His coming. Having given the warning of the judgment near, they felt that their work for the world was done, and they lost their burden of soul for the salvation of sinners, while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been withdrawn from the rejecters of His mercy. All this confirmed them in the belief that probation had ended, or, as they then expressed it, "the door of mercy was shut." But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis. But while it was true that that door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found access to God, was closed, another door was opened, and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only to give place to another. There was still an "open door" to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner's behalf. 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. 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." {GC 428-431}
I agree with this. The church of Philadelphia WAS kept from the hour of temptation - they will not go through the NSL test!
SOP also says,
"You think that those who worship before the saints' feet (Rev 3:9) will at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God showed me that this class were professed Adventists, who had fallen away, and "crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." And in the "hour of temptation", which is yet to come, to show out everyone's true character, they will know that they are forever lost, and overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saints' feet." {WLF 12}
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." In this scripture is brought to view the hour of temptation that is to try them that dwell upon the earth. We are now living in this trying hour. There is no escape for any from this conflict. If in your life there are defective traits of character that you are not striving to overcome, you may be assured that the enemy will endeavor to take advantage of them; for he is watching vigilantly, seeking to spoil the faith of every one. In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith and humility." {RH July 9, 1908}
It seems as though this "hour of temptation" has a specific application to NSL, which I agree with, but also a more general application to all believers who are kept from the temptation by their faith in God. EGW clearly said she was liiving in the trying hour, and "there is no escape for any from this conflict". This would fit with the general pattern of the messages to the churches: both a specific application and a more general application for all believers in all times.
So those professed Adventists who bow at the feet of the saints, I believe can apply both to those professed Adventists who rejected the light on the Sanctuary in 1844, who had the door shut to them, and also to those professed Adventists in the close of probabtion, who will accept NSL.
Part 2 to follow
Jon
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I'm not sure the 50 passages of Scripture were necessarily linked together. More likely, those 50 passages were directly appropriate to the young Ellen White and her contemporaries at that time, for the Advent church was soon to form.
SOP comments:
"You think, that those who worship before the saint's feet, (Rev. 3:9), will at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shew me that this class were professed Adventists, who had fallen away, and "crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." And in the "hour of temptation," which is yet to come, to show out every one's true character, they will know that they are forever lost; and overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saint's feet." WLF 12
It seems as though this passage can only apply to the end time, in the hour of temptation. I'll have to chew on this one. But remember, SOP stated that the hour of temptation had began in her day. There is a general and specific application for all of these messages to the churches.
Compare:
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:" Revelation 3:12
"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." Revelation 7:14-15
Who serves God day and night in His temple? They who come out of the great tribulation, which is the 144,000.
To whom is the promise given to be made a pillar in the temple? Him that overcometh! This is any believer: for who is the man that overcometh the world but the one who believes on the Son of God? The promise to be made a pillar in the temple, and go no more out, is symbolic. Compare the use of "pillar" to this verse:
"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." Galatians 2:9
The promise is that to him that overcometh, I will make a pillar in the temple - i.e. a permanent fixture in the church of God. They will go no more out - they will never fall away (cf 1 John 2:19).
"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads." Revelation 22:3-4
ALL believers in New Jerusalem have the Father's name (character) written in their foreheads. This is as necessary as the robe of Christ's righteousness, which ALL believers will wear. Not only the 144,000 have the Father's name written in their foreheads.
Again, this can simply be concluded by the fact that it comes under the general benediction, "Him that overcometh....I will write upon him the name of my God".
SOP says,
"The only hope of any man lies through Jesus Christ...The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ's righteousness, and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God's commandments." SD 370
I think that's a great idea. Go ahead!
Jon
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The Bible flatly contradicts OSAS -in Matt 18 "Forgiveness revoked"
in Gal 5:4 "Severed from Christ and fallen from Grace" and in John 15 "branches IN ME that are removed and cast into the fire" and of course in Rom 11 "you stand only by your faith... FEAR for if he did not spare them neither will he spare you... he is able to graft them in AGAIN if they do not continue in unbelief".
Where the Sanctuary doctrine comes closest to debunking OSAS is in the application of Ezek 18 to the investigative judgment.
in Christ,
Bob
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