WHY DO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS HOLD TO AN UNINSPIRED THEOLOGICAL POSITION IN SPITE OF BIBLE AND SPIRIT OF PROPHECY EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY
Some among us hesitate to examine any position which has been held for some time and is, therefore, believed to be one of the ancient landmarks, especially if it has been held for a very, very long time. Many believe that if the pioneers understood a point in a certain way, this would be a denial of the foundation of our faith if one arrives at a different position than theirs because of our study of inspired materials.
“Our only safety is in preserving the ancient landmarks. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] CTBH 116
“...there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30
“We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and Heaven alone are infallible.” CET 203
In comparing the schedule of the feast days and the days which were called, “Sabbaths”, within the sanctuary services, one notices a real discrepancy between the inspired history of the interpretation and fulfillment of these days in 31 C.E., and the explanation of the sanctuary system, itself, as given by prominent church evangelists, pastors and teachers and written about at some length in the historical book, “The Cross and its Shadow”, by Elder S.N. Haskell.
“We cannot be excusable in accepting only the light which our fathers had one hundred years ago. If our God-fearing fathers had seen what we see, and heard what we hear, they would have accepted the light, and walked in it. If we desire to imitate their faithfulness, we must receive the truths open to us, as they received those presented to them; we must do as they would have done, had they lived in our day.” Historical Sketches, 197
In the book, The Cross and its Shadow, Elder Haskell, gives an overlay of the 52 days of the spring feasts in the sanctuary services showing how the Passover, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is the Wave sheaf ceremony, all fell on the exact days shown in the prophetic observances of the sanctuary—the Passover was to be observed on the 14th day of the first month, the first day of Unleavened Bread, on the 15th day, and the Wave sheaf was to be observed “on the morrow after the Sabbath” (Lev. 23:11), the 16th day of the same month. The reference in Lev. 23:11 would show that the 15th day was an annual Sabbath, a “shadow” or prophetic Sabbath.
From the New Testament, Elder Haskell proves that Christ's fulfillment of these spring feasts fell on the exact days as prophesied, Christ's death occurring on the Friday Passover, His resting in the tomb on the 15th, the “shadow” Sabbath and the 7th day Sabbath that year, and His resurrection occurring on the 16th, the day of the Wave Sheaf offering. In this is demonstrated that the “shadow” Sabbath was prophetic of the 7th day Sabbath in the year of fulfillment when the “shadow” and the real 7th day Sabbath occurred on the same day.
Instruction from Leviticus 23:15, 16 counts from the Wave sheaf offering, the 16th day, the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 7 more “Sabbaths” which were 7 sets of 7 day periods, equaling 49 days, to the “morrow after the 7th Sabbath” for the scheduling of the Day of Pentecost, the 50th day.
Had Elder Haskell continued his previous line of thinking he would have shown that the Day of Pentecost was destined to be fulfilled after a “Sabbath” just as the Wave sheaf ceremony was fulfilled, showing the position in the weekly cycle to be a first day of the week, a “Sunday”. In this he erred as he falsely considered the Day of Pentecost to be one of the “shadow” or prophetic Sabbaths in the sanctuary system, in spite of the plain Word of God to the contrary.
This false concept of considering the Day of Pentecost to be a “shadow” Sabbath has continued from the time of Elder Haskell and is still believed by so many today. Many may not realize but this false theory has led the Adventist theology down a very dark path of mysticism as pertains to the timing of the sanctuary services that relate to the second advent. Therefore, the words of the prophet , E.G. White, are not comprehended.
“These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time....In like manner, the types which relate to the second advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service.” The Great Controversy, 399, 400
“The Lord has been revealed to us in ever-increasing light. Our privileges are far greater than were the privileges of God's ancient people. We have not only the great light committed to Israel, but we have the increased evidence of the great salvation brought to us through Christ. That which was type and symbol to the Jews is reality to us. They had the Old Testament history; we have that and the New Testament also. We have the assurance of a Saviour who has come, a Saviour who has been crucified, who has risen,...” Christ's Object Lessons, 317
The far reaching implications of the prophetic sanctuary services and their exact and precise timing relating to the fulfillment of the “shadow” Sabbaths, bring new meaning to a statement that has been read among us many times regarding the proclaiming of the Sabbath under the power of the latter rain. What could be included in the message of “proclaiming the Sabbath more fully” that has such a negative impact on the church and nominal Adventists?
Without a change of belief, many will not recognize or accept the latter rain message.
“And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth [Hosea 6:2, 3.] and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the church, and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth.” The Word to the Little Flock, 18
The ceremonies and types which relate to the second advent have requirements that must be met just as the requirements of the first advent types were met in Christ' fulfillment in 31 C.E. one of these being that the “shadow” or prophetic Sabbaths MUST be fulfilled by falling on 7th day Sabbaths in the year of fulfillment. These “shadow” Sabbaths directly connect to the importance and glory of the Sabbath in their fulfillment.
“I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and glory. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and glory. But we shall not see it in all its glory and importance until the covenant of peace is made with us at the voice of God,...” Maranatha, 245