text for reviewing the records

[Adventist Dissident]

In SDA theology, the saints go to heaven for 1000 years and will be reviewing the records of the people who lived on the earth to see if God was fair in his dealings with man. Could some one show me a text for this? I am unaware of one. Thank -you

 

[JojotheBeloved]

The two texts combined that this belief comes from are Revelation 20 and 1 Corinthians 6:2.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

In addition to those texts, most will cite Ellen White's commentary-style devotional books to bridge any gaps. I'm personally not sure if that is a great way to study the texts or not, but just explaining how those get connected traditionally.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

You either believe that she was given additional light pertaining to the Biblical narrative or you don't. Her unpacking of what these two scriptures mean does not take away the power of what they say on their own.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

You either believe that she was given additional light pertaining to the Biblical narrative or you don't. Her unpacking of what these two scriptures mean does not take away the power of what they say on their own.

To clarify, I never intended to say she wasn't inspired or that her writings aren't helpful. I respect her as a leader and her writings are often helpful for many. I never said that her commentary on the texts takes away from what the texts say on their own. I was just mentioning that the two strongest texts for the theological belief system are more often connected by using her commentary than not. As far as I understand, this is especially true for the idea that people judge God's fairness. The idea is in harmony with my understanding of God's character, as portrayed throughout scripture, but it isn't directly stated in the texts themselves.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

I apologize for sounding harsh...

I agree with you concerning God's character... that's what I cherish so much what God has given through the SOP. That's why I get a little zealous at times and come across defensively.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

I apologize for sounding harsh...

I agree with you concerning God's character... that's what I cherish so much what God has given through the SOP. That's why I get a little zealous at times and come across defensively.

No worries. I just didn't want to be misunderstood. I'm glad we can come together rather than start a fight. I greatly respect your ability to do that btw. I've seen it in other posts of yours as well and am appreciative. I also value God's character in every way He has chosen to reveal Himself throughout human history, and likewise would be quick to defend it.

I greatly respect EGW. I didn't always, but I've read more about her life in the last few years and had opportunity to read her autobiography as well, and that changed my views on her character a lot too. However, since her writings have been misused by so many and often idolized (in my opinion from what I have experienced) I make every effort to distinguish between what she says and what the Bible says, because although they may be in harmony I think it is dangerous to elevate her or anyone to the same level as the Biblical text. From what I understand of her character, it was never her intent that her views be used instead of the Bible or carry the same theological weight as the Bible. Her writings are mostly devotional in nature (as far as I've read, and I admit I haven't read everything she ever wrote), although they do have very useful and helpful information at times as well.

But we digress from the original question.... lol

 

[The Fundamentalist]

In SDA theology, the saints go to heaven for 1000 years and will be reviewing the records of the people who lived on the earth to see if God was fair in his dealings with man. Could some one show me a text for this? I am unaware of one. Thank -you

Consider:

Daniel 7:22 KJV - Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
​

Notice the portions:

[AD 538 - AD 1798] Until ...

[AD 1798 - AD 1844, Then I.J. of professing believers until 2nd Advent] ... the Ancient of days came ...

[Millennium, 1,000 years] ... and judgment was given to the saints of the most High ...

[end of the 1,000 years, after all wicked destroyed, New Heaven, New Earth] ... and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
​

That is again paralleled in vs 26-28, wherein in vs 28 is the End of the [matter], the Great Controversy, and all dominions, earthly and Heavenly serve God.

Revelation 20:4 KJV - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
​

Further texts:

1 Corinthians 6:2 KJV - Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:3 KJV - Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Ezekiel 28:17 KJV - Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. [we are "Kings" and "Priests"]
​

Further:

Psalm 122:5 KJV - For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
​

A typological:

Numbers 35:24 KJV - Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
​

God Himself is being Judged:

Psalm 51:4 KJV - Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

Romans 3:4 KJV - God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
​

The books are opened before the Angels now, then later for the saints.

 

[Ubuntu]

You either believe that she was given additional light pertaining to the Biblical narrative or you don't. Her unpacking of what these two scriptures mean does not take away the power of what they say on their own.

Okay, this is a little off-topic, but here goes...

We shouldn't rely on Sister White in order to give reasons for our faith, because this isn't why the Gift of Prophecy were given. If there's some doctrine that you cannot support from the Bible alone, well, let me just say that in such cases it's time to go back and study the Bible on our knees. Sister White cannot help us in such instances.

However, in this case I think that the biblical evidence is plain and abundant, there's no need at all to invoke Sister White...

"The Lord desires you to study your Bibles. He has not given any additional light to take the place of his Word. This light is to bring confused minds to his Word, which, if eaten and digested, is as the lifeblood of the soul. Then good works will be seen as light shining in darkness." —Letter 130, 1901

“In public labor do not make prominent, and quote that which Sister White has written, as authority to sustain your positions. To do this will not increase faith in the testimonies. Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word of God. A “Thus saith the Lord” is the strongest testimony you can possibly present to the people. Let none be educated to look to Sister White, but to the mighty God, who gives instruction to Sister White.” —Letter 11, 1894.

“The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.... Isaiah declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”” — The Great Controversy, Introduction, p. vii.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Ummm, you were the only one to give SOP quotes in this thread...

We were all saying the same thing, that the scripture speak for itself.

Happy Sabbath...

 

[Ubuntu]

Ummm, you were the only one to give SOP quotes in this thread...

We were all saying the same thing, that the scripture speak for itself.

Happy Sabbath...

Well, I tend to think of it like this: Let scripture interpret scripture, and let Sister White be the interpreter of Sister White's writings... I'm not saying this applies to you, but I have friends who insist that Ellen White is an inspired authority on all the issues she commented on, on the same level as the Bible.

Happy Sabbath to you too, m8!

 

[Adventist Dissident]

You either believe that she was given additional light pertaining to the Biblical narrative or you don't. Her unpacking of what these two scriptures mean does not take away the power of what they say on their own.

So what I hear you saying is that you cannot find it in the text, but assume she was a prophet. The text does not actually say it????

 

[JojotheBeloved]

In SDA theology, the saints go to heaven for 1000 years and will be reviewing the records of the people who lived on the earth to see if God was fair in his dealings with man. Could some one show me a text for this? I am unaware of one. Thank -you

...
So what I hear you saying is that you cannot find it in the text, but assume she was a prophet. The text does not actually say it????

No. That's not what we're saying. There are texts which lend themselves to that idea in the Bible and the Bible alone. The strongest two passages are Revelation 20 and 1 Corinthians 6.

Rev. 20:4 - "Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
Rev. 20:6 - "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."
1 Cor. 6:2 - " Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?"
1 Cor. 6:3 - "Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!"

What I, personally (I can't speak for others at this point, only myself), am cautioning is that although the evidence is in fact found in the Bible for such an idea, the Bible does not thoroughly explain it. The passages touch on it, and then move on. So, SDA members have trusted each other - especially their leaders, including Ellen White as she was a very strong leader during her life and continues to have influence now - to explain the theory using combinations of Biblical texts throughout Old and New Testament.

That is how the belief that the saints will judge the character of God for 1,000 years came together and for the most part how it is still explained. You asked for the sources, the Bible is the first and most important source, but SDA members do tend to also use Ellen White as a source to explain what the Bible could be saying.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

So what I hear you saying is that you cannot find it in the text, but assume she was a prophet. The text does not actually say it????

If you read my post you will get the same answer that Jojo gave... we are of one accord on this.

We are able to give scriptural reference for our unique beliefs, now could you give us some for the sanctity of Sunday as a replacement for the Biblical Sabbath?

 

[JojotheBeloved]

... never mind. Go on.