WEEKLY NEWS AND INSPIRATION FOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS NOVEMBER 1994

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La Luz del Mundo Hispatiscs in North America

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Apocalypse ees interpret sacrifice by observing the Chile's population. Sometimes I feel For many years during my active standard of living maintained by our that you place those types of pho- ministry I had opportunity to write arti- leaders. Leaders cannot successfully tographs to make North American cles for the Review, and now I find call our members to greater sacrifice church members feel pity for those myself doing more reading than writ- and commitment than they exemplify. poor people in the "mission field." ing. In my recent reading I have been Alva Randall The photograph on page 12 would very favorably impressed, especially Columbia, Maryland have given a totally different picture with the editorial "Apocalypse Now!" of what Chile is all about. (September). Stereotypes Spanish-speaking people are In reading religious journals such as I have appreciated very much the sterotypically portrayed as wearing Christianity Today and listening to reports by Roy Adams about his recent sombreros on their heads and ponchos . Protestant religious programming, I trip to the South American Division on their backs, or as unshaved Indians note that other churches and even secu- (Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25). pulling stubborn burros or carrying lar organizations have concern about I have a concern, though. The cover ducks and chickens. Give us a break! the significance of events that surround Sergio Torres us. We are slow in preaching the mes- Youth Director sage that we have for the world; they Coming in the Florida Conference are ahead of us. Adventist Review I also notice that other churches are Dear Miriam focusing their study on the book of Nov. 10 Special issue on Miriam Wood's column is about the Revelation. They are writing and speak- ADRA's work in best thing in your magazine! Most of ing about the antichrist, the mark of the disaster response. the articles written by women I usually beast, etc. Certain other churches are Nov. 17 "Cars for Christ," by pass over, but hers are different. getting ahead of us in bringing the mes- Tom Gammon. How There's a lot of good common sense sage of Revelation to the world. one Adventist in her answers, and I hope you'll keep In light of this I am especially happy academy provides her at it if she ever wants to retire. to know that the Review is preaching the work for students and Thomas F. Arnold doctrine that we have known and pro- turns in a nice profit. Orlando, Florida claimed for so many years. R. R. Bietz Nov. 24 — "The View From 90," Vancouver, Washington by R. E. Finney. We agree! But after 12 years and Always thankful, nearly 150 columns, Miriam Wood will R. R. Bietz served in a variety of even at fourscore and be putting down her pen. Look for her administrative posts.—Editors. 10. final Dear Miriam in December. Dec. 1 — "Blacks and the The insert "The Sanctuary and Its Millerite Movement," Helping Cuba Cleansing" (September) is an impressive, by Walter Pearson. I was surprised to read in "Cuba scholarly, and understandable article on A neglected chapter Today" (Sept. 15) that Cuban Adventists this important doctrine. It beautifully from 1844. are studying Ezra and Nehemiah in links the topic with the love of God in a — "Life's Puzzles," by Sabbath school for the third consecutive most appropriate ending to an excellent Tom Shepherd. quarter. Spanish-speaking Adventists in article. Another Anchor- the United States could assist our Cuban How about future inserts of the same Points article, this members by forwarding their own used caliber on other doctrines, such as the time on the great quarterlies to Cuba at the end of each state of the dead, the Second Coming, controversy. quarter. Church membership in Cuba is and the Sabbath? Richard Andrus Only in the Adventist Review! 12,672, and the number of adult quarter- Tacoma, Washington lies needed would obviously be even fewer. Undoubtedly the Cuban presses Leading by Example of your August 18 issue once again are not regularly printing material for "Leaders for These Times" (Sept. 22) promotes stereotypes about Spanish- younger age groups either. What better made some valid observations regard- speaking people in general, in this way to instill in our children an interest ing Adventist leadership. Perhaps more case, Chile. It is interesting that in missions than by encouraging them to emphasis could have been given to the Adams' report makes no mention of share their lessons with the children of importance of leading by example. Lay rural evangelism, but of urban evange- Cuba? Isabelle R. McAndrews members and denominational employ- lism. Santiago has nearly half of Fremont, California

2 (1162) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 ADVENTIST EW NOVEMBER 1994

DEPARTMENTS ARTICLES

2 Letters ANCHORPOINTS

6 Newsbreak 10 Stewardship—Sensitive but Vital Seems like everybody has their hand out. "Give more," they 18 From the Heart say. Surely there's more to stewardship than that! 27 World Report by G. Edward Reid mum% 29 Children's Corner COVER STORY 31 Reflections 14 Living the Dream 10 How much is enough? Aren't you glad you belong to a "technicolor" church? by Stephen Chavez EDITORIALS 4 In an Age of LIFESTYLE Gullibility 16 Breakthrough 5 A Perspective on We all want an encounter with God. But we can't always have North America's it our way. by Margo Pitrone Year-End Meetings SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH AMERICA 20 Let's Evangelize Every Body! NEXT WEEK Think your church is warm and friendly? Try going to ser- 20 Everyone's vices in a wheelchair. by Rosa Taylor Banks "When I Was Sick" A welcome!

visit to a sick one is SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH AMERICA almost always wel- On the cover: In their final come. Learn the 22 What's the Big Idea? meeting delegates to the Hispanic Ministerial and secrets that make Churches throughout North America are involved in a cre- Evangelism Council were reminded that they—and all visiting the sick ative, new experiment. Before you make any decisions, be of Christ's followers—are the light of the world—la luz del especially enjoyable. sure you know what it's all about. by Jack Calkins mundo.

Cover photo by Stephen Chavez

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ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1163) 3 EDITORIAL

In an Age of Gullibility

hey were the kind of headlines that of any Adventist who's been around for would wake them up. Twould grab the attention of the a while is the striking resemblance "Paul Harvey in his radiobroadcast, most apathetic: "Animal Psychic between what our Oregon tourist yesterday," he said, "told of a very. Probes Mind of Nicole's Dog and allegedly captured in her snapshot and a bright light—brighter than the sun— Discovers . . . O.J. Is Innocent!" "Four- painting by the well-known Adventist appearing at midday over the legged Bride Marries Houston artist Harry Anderson. One finds it Caribbean. . . . The light lasted for Plumber!" "Mom Gives Birth to 15 striking that Jesus chose to appear in about 80 minutes. Astronomers said it Babies—At One Time!" "First Photo the same outfit given Him by Anderson, was a burning asteroid that burned out of a Human Soul!" "Satan's Skull wearing the same hairstyle, and even before striking the earth. Also, we have Found in New Mexico!"' "Discovery adopting the identical pose—His fin- been notified that a string of comets Stuns Experts. World About to End, gers tapping the massive structure just will strike Jupiter on four successive Say Scientists. Bible Last-Days as Anderson painted it more than three days, beginning July 18-21, 1994. They Prophecy Confirmed: The Moon Is decades ago. will be coming in at the speed of Turning Into Blood."' The shocking fact here is that there is 135,000 miles per hour. The explosions Sound like the table of contents from a big market out there for such manifest will be horrific. Could the earth be an April Fool's digest? Indeed! But the poppycock. And the creative jokers somehow impacted by this upheaval as pranksters who generate such headlines who produce such piffle are laughing the powers of heaven are shaken? . . . for the Weekly World News, complete up a storm all the way to the bank. Somehow, Brother Adams, our people with authentic-looking photos to back Regrettably, Adventists are not must be shaken out of their lethargy. them up, are into serious business— immune to this kind of infantile pish- Will you at the Review sound the alarm, with revenue running into the millions posh. Just look at some of the abom- or will we let them sleep on until it is each year. If you think that living in the inable tabloids among us. Glossy too late?" age of science and technology has com- magazines and books filled with bizarre I think we do disservice to the mes- pletely insulated us from gullibility, interpretations of Bible prophecy and sage of the Advent when we interpret then think again! last-day events circulate widely within every Mickey Mouse event as a sign of our ranks. With the end of our millen- its nearness. We would be wise to This One Took the Cake nium just around the corner, watch for an remember that no amount of excitement My interest in the shenanigans of the increase in lightweight material centered on our part can force that event. God is Weekly World News began a few on jubilee speculations and Mrs. White's sovereign, and the coming of Jesus will months ago when a colleague here at use of the round number 6,000 to occur according to His own timetable, the General Conference office showed describe the reign of sin on the earth. I'm not ours. me the front page of its August 23, embarrassed to see more and more of this But just here, a warning is in order— 1994, issue, picturing a huge image of material advertised in Adventist circles for all who, misunderstanding the need Christ standing outside the United and distributed at Adventist outlets. for caution, swing in the direction of Nations building in New York. The I wish I had the power to stifle the pen- indolence and apathy. It comes from the headline read: "500-Foot Jesus Appears chant for such excitement, based on lips of Jesus Himself: "So you also at U.N. Greatest Bible Prophecy Comes empty speculation and sheer hysteria. must be ready, because the Son of Man True . . . Christ Returns!" According to will come at an hour when you do not the tabloid, tourist Cloris McVeil of A Yen for the Sensational expect him" (Matt. 24:44, NW). Oregon saw nothing when she snapped Last April a reader wrote to take the photo. But when she reviewed the issue with my position that the days ' Weekly World News, Aug. 23, 1994, pp. 3, 38, 40, developed pictures, there it was—"the preceding the Advent, in addition to 41. There are, of course, other tabloids in the same genre. But I chose this one as an example. figure of Christ, standing 35 stories tall their turbulence, will be characterized Ibid., (about Aug. 30 or Sept. 6, 1994). and appearing to knock, as if seeking by normalcy! I was putting our people Ibid., p. 46. ' See Adventist Review, Apr. 21, 1994 entrance" to the U.N.3 to sleep, he inferred, and offered a sug- The first thing to catch the attention gestion of the kind of material that ROY ADAMS

4 (1164) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 GUEST EDITORIAL A Perspective on North America's Year-End Meetings

omeone asked me recently, "What do and privilege of every church member. tion study the plan and devise ways to all you folks talk about during those One exciting prospect has gained the ensure that everything done is driven by an year-end meetings?" The individual was now-familiar name NET '95. During evangelistic bias. I personally ask for your referring to the annual meeting of confer- February and March of 1995 more than support in this endeavor. It will happen only ence, union, and institutional leaders, pas- 800 evangelistic series will be conducted in as all of us catch a vision and help make it a tors, and laypersons who comprise the Adventist churches, and hundreds more in reality. North American Division's executive com- private homes, simultaneously across mittee. North America via the miracle of satellite Other Issues Too Maybe you have also wondered what technology. Other matters also received attention. your church leaders discuss when they get This is no let-the-media-do-it-for-us Such matters as: how to increase Sabbath together for business. strategy, either. It means we must gather up morning attendance, gender-inclusive ordi- This year two major items topped our friends, neighbors, work associates, and nation, how to make the church better known agenda: how to be the kind of spiritual family, and invite them home with us or to in the community and media, and how to leaders God can use, and evangelism. our churches to hear one of our most effec- make best use of the Thirteenth Sabbath We discussed and voted numerous other tive communicators, Mark Finley. Because Offering, which will be dedicated to North items, but from my perspective, these are this initiative combines personal touch with America the last quarter of 1995. (We the most pivotal for the life of our church the powerful preaching of the Word, we decided it should be divided between pilot in North America. believe NET '95 has the potential, under projects to revitalize our community health We began Monday evening with an the Spirit's anointing, to become the most outreach and provide funding for prison min- appeal to church administrators at every productive single evangelistic event in our istries.) level to set the tone as godly leaders. I see division in this century. Spirituality and mission are indeed our that as our first order of business. And I anchor points. But to help our church move am not alone in sensing this. I believe all A Strategic Plan in an orderly manner, we must also handle church leaders there sensed this too, for No doubt the most important action routine business items—such as policies on unless godly leadership is a reality, all taken during the three-day session was in moving pastors and teachers, termination other business is of little value! response to a call for proclamation, nurture, settlement policies, and model constitu- We were challenged to be authentic and and service to be the central emphasis in tions for conferences and unions. vulnerable with God in our personal spiri- the life of the church. The delegates voted Yet each day's discussion kept coming tual journey. The evening devotional to request every church organization to back to the basics. With the morning became a time of sober heart searching, of develop their own strategy for the accom- devotional messages providing an intro- repentance, of renewed commitments. It plishment of these objectives. It is an spective look at the church—past, present, created the thoughtful, reflective time we urgent call to refocus the energies, the and future—the delegates took seriously all need on occasion when we ask God to resources, and the attention of all leaders their responsibility for leading the church break us out of the distracting routines of and all members, including you, on our during these dramatic end-times. busyness and shut us in with His presence. central mission—to prepare a people to We ended the session as we began it, on The evening set the tone for everything meet the Lord. our knees. Praying for wisdom; praying for else that would happen during the week. This call is not for one kind of evange- vision; praying for each other and for you. The first item of official business for the lism only, but for pursuing the mission of We hope you will join us in pleading with session was evangelism, the first work of the church in its broadest sense; using the God that He will shape us into the kind of the church—the reason for our existence— gifts of all the remnant people. persons He can use fully, and that He will and it must be the focus of our best Spirit- Not willing that this comprehensive make us contagious agents of His love. led energies. strategy become just another shelf docu- And not just of church leaders, but of all ment, the assembled leaders voted unani- church members. Evangelism is not the mously to request that the executive ALFRED C. MCCLURE sole domain of paid professionals. It is, committee of every conference and the President of the Seventh-day Adventist and must always remain, the responsibility management board of every church institu- Church in North America

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1165) 5 NEWSBREAK

J NAD YEAR-END MEETING REPORT J President Appeals for Spiritual Leadership

peaking to more than 200 administrators, pastors, and lay mem- non director. -This is a document that will help us do what the Lord has Sbers, North American Division president Alfred C. McClure told us to do. It gives us numerous suggestions for outreach." called upon every leader to seek a deeper commitment to spiritual Oregon Conference president Alf Birch said, "I appreciate this leadership. document. It helps us get into the strategic planning mode of think- Elder McClure's keynote message at the NAD executive commit- ing. What we see today is the product of serious thinking done over tee's year-end meetings, October 10-12, revealed his heartfelt desire the past several years. We're at a point of really getting serious about for the church. "My dream is that our era be remembered as the time [evangelistic] implementation." when God raised up a generation of godly leaders. Gender-inclusive Ordination. At the October 3-10 General "Our first responsibility is not to lead our Conference Executive Committee's Annual conferences and institutions to unprece- RTH Council, the council voted to refer to the dented heights of greatness," declared General Conference session a request that McClure. "Our first responsibility is to would open the way for gender-inclusive allow ourselves to be led daily into the MERICAN ordination in North America, if it so chooses. cleansing presence of God. It's only then The action states, "Voted, to refer to the that we can be trusted with success." IVISION 1995 General Conference session the North McClure asserted that "sloppy commit- American Division request that the General ment constrains us from being bold for Conference adopt in session provisions on God. Cutting spiritual corners makes us ordination as outlined below: cowards. It makes us content with anemic "The General Conference vests in each increments over last year's numbers rather division the right to authorize the ordination than brashly storming the cities of our of individuals within its territory in harmony nation for God." with established policies. In addition, where McClure encouraged church leaders right circumstances do not render it inadvisable, a then to lay aside administrative cares and NAD president Alfred C. McClure gives the keynote division may authorize the ordination of reflect on their relationship to Jesus. His address. qualified individuals without regard to gen- penetrating message set a strong spiritual tone felt throughout the der. In divisions in which the division executive committee takes spe- business discussions. cific actions approving the ordination of women to the gospel Strategic Evangelistic Plan. Members enthusiastically endorsed a ministry, women may be ordained to serve in this division." strategic action plan for evangelizing North America. The 20-page In introducing the item to a special meeting of the division com- report grew out of a mission statement voted in 1993 that targets mittee held before the Annual Council to discuss this item, seven essential characteristics needed to foster a vibrant spiritual President Alfred C. McClure said, "The proposal stems from our community in North America. living in a society that places emphasis on equality, fairness, and These areas include spiritual life, local church, church growth, nondiscrimination. It stems from a conviction by many that our leadership, denominational structure, information and communica- church needs to recognize the call of the Lord to ministry without tion, and Christian education. One major objective of the plan is to regard to gender." establish an Adventist presence through public and personal evange- The proposal sparked more than two hours of discussion, and most lism in every population segment of 50,000 in North America by the attendees voiced support of the concept. Lynn Mallery, president of year 2000. the Southeastern California Conference, in which 10 percent of the The proposed plan this year detailed action plans that call for pastors are female, said, "We have some real problems. We are losing cooperation among Adventist hospitals, churches, and schools to the younger generation, and this is one of the major issues we are los- organize a variety of witnessing activities, like prayer circles, training ing them over." classes, and public evangelistic meetings. Eradio Alonso, associate ministerial secretary for the NM), TOS Upon the adoption of the report, McClure urged the attendees to wanted to know what the feelings were among church members. PHO initiate the outreach activities in their territories. "Do we know that the majority of North American Adventists favor "I'm excited about this report," said Owen Troy, NAD communica- this?" he asked. Ohio Conference president Edward Motschiedler said, "If there

CARLOS MEDLEY By Carlos Medley, Adventist Review news editor. is going to be [church] unity, the new majority in the world church

6 (1166) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 will have to respect the rights of send their children to our this new minority, the North schools, and tithe and support the American Division. I don't ask church." that other divisions agree with GC Session Offering. Monte our stand on the ordination of Thomas Mostert (foreground) discusses stopping the educational subsidy Sahlin, administrative assistant women. I would just like them to for children of hourly employees. NAD officers (in background) listen. to the NAD president for min- respect our rights as a minority to have some kind of freedom on istries, gave a report on the plans for the General Conference ses- this issue." sion offering called Hands Across the World. After discussion, the NAD voted that the request be passed on to The offering received at General Conference sessions usually has the GC Annual Council—where it was also voted. The request now been designated for a specific mission project. The upcoming offer- goes to the 1995 General Conference session. ing will not be an exception. Tuition Assistance. Another issue that generated considerable dis- The goal is to raise $10 million to help start 2,000 new congrega- cussion was a proposal to discontinue educational tuition subsidies tions worldwide by the year 2000. Of the $10 million, $7 million is for children of hourly denominational workers, effective January 1, expected to be raised in North America. Up to $3.5 million will be 1995. The measure, defeated by a significant margin, did allow for used to establish churches in North America. the discontinuance to start with new personnel hired. Unlike previous session offerings, the 1995 GC session offering The proposal was predicated upon the belief that hourly office will be collected on four separate Sabbaths: December 31, 1994; workers already are paid at or above community wages, and that April 29 and July 8, 1995; and April 27, 1996. some union conferences have already discontinued these benefits. Most committee members who spoke out were against the pro- posal. Michigan Conference president Jay Gallimore said, "I think the NAD Actions in Brief motion will impact not only the employees, but also our schools. In other business, the North American Division's executive com- There is something to be said to make it possible for our employees' mittee: children to be in our schools." ■ Heard a statistical report about the division delivered by Don New York Conference president Skip Bell, who favored the Yost, director of the GC Department of Archives and Statistics. action, said, "I believe this is a valuable benefit. However, we are liv- NAD membership reached 813,125 as of June 30, 1994, up 1.7 ing in a time of shrinking resources, and we have to manage the percent from the same period last year. Tithe for 1993 totaled resources available for these benefits." $454,792,764, an increase of 1.7 percent from the previous year. He asked how the church could continue to provide this benefit Tithe per capita decreased by .3 percent, from $583.93 in 1992 to when "we have laypeople who work and live at the same standards, $581.98, in 1993. ■ Voted a division operating and appropriations budget of $51.9 million for 1995, up 3.38 percent from 1994. Evangelist Joe Crews Dies ■ Approved about a 2.5 percent pay raise for denominational employees, effective July 1, 1995. During the North American Division year-end meetings, ■ Elected Clarence Hodges, president of Christian Record attendees learned of the death of Adventist evangelist Joseph Services, as an NAD vice president and director of Public Affairs and Archie Crews, 69, in Takoma Park, Maryland, on October 10. Religious Liberty. Hodges replaces Robert Dale, who is retiring after He suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage 40 years of service. after a heart angioplasty. ■ Adapted a new retirement plan for Canadian Adventist employ- Crews worked as an Adventist minister ees. Donald R. Pierson, an associate treasurer of the North American for 47 years and is best known as the Division and administrator of the division's employee retirement founder of the Amazing Facts radio and plan, said the new plan was developed because of differing regula- television ministry, which was started in tions in Canada and the United States. 1965. Today Amazing Facts airs on 120 ■ Voted a new policy for the initiation of litigation by a church or stations around the world, and more than church institution. Under the new policy, conferences or institutions 13,000 students are enrolled in its Bible correspondence must seek counsel and approval of the union when litigation con- course, says Debra Hicks, managing editor of the ministry's cerning a church or church institution is indicated. The union must in magazine Inside Report. turn secure approval from the North American Division before join- When the funeral date was announced, NAD committee ing the litigation. members worked through the business items quickly and can- ■ Adapted modified policies for organizing new conferences, celed the last half day of meetings so members could attend on unions, and missions. The policies more clearly spell out that a October 13. request for organizational status may come from a group of local churches, a local conference, a union, or a division.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1167) 7 At the recommitment service on ascension rock, GC president Robert S. Folkenberg (center) prayed for a rededicated church and appealed to each Adventist to share the vision of our pioneers. FJ William Miller's Farm Hosts October 22 Crowd ❑ 150th Anniversary Draws 2,200 to Adventism's Birthplace

"Oh, 1 wouldn't have missed it for anything!" event. Christ was not to come to earth at the end of Daniel 8:14's "I loved all the singing of those great Second Advent hymns! " 2300-year prophecy, but He had begun the judgment—the final vin- "Tears of joy came to my eyes many times during the meetings!" dication of His saints—in the heavenly sanctuary. And when Christ "How I loved to hear all the speakers preach with such cer- finished that, He would come to earth. tainty our church's historic beliefs concerning Christ's heavenly That new understanding of Christ's new ministry in the heav- ministry !" enly sanctuary became the spark for a fledgling movement that "I sincerely hope we soon become the Seventh-day Adventist Church. don't have to wait General Conference president Robert S. Folkenberg expressed another 150 years till well the sentiment of the capacity crowd of 2,000 worshipers packed Christ comes!" inside a giant tent erected for the weekend when he declared, "We "I'd sure like to take are not here to celebrate a Great Disappointment, but we are here to some of this weekend's confirm a Great Appointment Christ's second coming! " spirit and enthusiasm Indeed this theme highlighted the commemorations that began back to my local Thursday evening and continued through Sabbath, October 22. The church." weekend was filled with singing of Millerite hymns led by Adventist historians Jim Nix and Mervyn Maxwell. hese comments only The event attracted young and old Adventists from around the Tbegin to capture the world. Even direct descendants of William Miller came. At the Set in a big tent, the commemoration fea- thrill of more than Sabbath worship service, North American Division president tured preaching, singing, Bible seminars, Communion services, tours, and fellowship. 2,200 Seventh-day Alfred C. McClure introduced a descendant of William Miller that Adventists who gath- is a Seventh-day Adventist—Harvard Miller Benway, a great- ered at the William Miller farm in upstate New York on great-grandson now of Gainesville, Florida. October 22 to commemorate 150 years of God's leading after On Sabbath afternoon, Adventist Review editor William G. the Great Disappointment. Johnson hosted a 1'h-hour live broadcast via satellite through It was Miller's diligent Bible study that had led as many as Adventist Communication Network. The broadcast featured histor- 100,000 people to believe that the prophecies foretold Christ's sec- ical vignettes of Miller's life and the weekend's concluding meet- ond coming in 1844. But when clocks struck midnight on October ing with Elder Folkenberg preaching with conviction about the

TOS 22 and Christ hadn't come, bewildering Great Appointment to come—the second

PHO The William Miller house and farm provided a lovely set- disappointment invaded their lives. ting for the commemoration. Visitors examined authentic coming of Jesus. "Why didn't Christ come?" they asked. artifacts in the home and volu nteers gave guided tours. Weekend commemorations were planned by Adventist Heritage Ministry, a

RON WIDMER In their sorrow they prayed for new understanding—and it came. They were volunteer ministry of the North American right about the date, but wrong about the Division.

MEDLEY AND MY By Myron Widmer, an associate editor A full report of this weekend will be ARLOS C of the Adventist Review. published in December.

8 (1168) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 1,4DENNFT9A, OMEN It's time for a magazine that understands what makes Seventh- day Adventist women special. Yes, you are special. Your lifestyle makes you that way. So does your faith. 4$' Women of Spirit understands that you have a higher standard for your work, your family life, and your spiritual life. With warmth and Christian wisdom, our authors will give you the encouragement you need to be all that God created you to be. II Women of Spirit will provide a place for Adventist women to exchange ideas, share concerns, and discuss solutions to problems. It will reach across the distances that separate you from other Adventist women and create a joyful sense of community. Call the number below and receive the premier issue without risking a dime. *I Give it a try, RISK-FREE Call your Adventist Book Center for a trial issue: 1-800-765-6955 Or write: Women of Spirit, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

We will send you the very first issue of Women of Spirit as soon as it comes off the press (spring 1995). After reading the magazine, you may write "cancel" on your invoice and return it without payment, or you may soess continue your subscription toi542 't 0 (three more quarterly v42055 9/0 issues) at the charter subscriber's price of only ITSRCS9 wsop tobt$ US$14.95 (regular price, $16.95). In either case, VlbreNTSSAG4 clle the premier issue is yours 1.° SO Sv2‘ to keep. Stewardship Sensitive but Vital It's What We Do After We Say We Believe.

BY G. EDWARD REID

y do we make don't appreciate suggestions (see Rev. 3:14-22). The cars in stewardship so diffi- from others about how these the parking lot of many a sub- cult? We neglect it, should be managed. urban church demonstrate Waabuse it, run from Christians, on the other hand, clearly that we are "rich, and it—even deny its importance. are vitally concerned about increased with goods." But It is one of the areas in which stewardship. They recognize God says you don't recognize we rate the poorest as that God is both their Creator your real needs. You need to Christians. Why is this so? In and Lord, their protector and have your gold refined in the what follows, I explore these provider. Individually, they ask fire and buy white garments to and other relevant issues. the question from the depths of cover yourselves. For those who are not their souls: "What shall I render It appears to me that the Christian, what they do with to the Lord for all His benefits church has failed to come to their time, talents, and trea- toward me" (Ps. 116:12, terms with the general afflu- sures is their own business—at NKJV). And God answers: ence that has emerged in some least, so they think. And they "Therefore, whether you eat or areas—the U.S., for exam- drink, or whatever you do, do ple—over the past 40 years. all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. Church members enjoying this 10:31, NKJV). prosperity have been attracted Today we are facing a finan- to the trappings of lifestyles cial crisis in the Adventist that bid for their increasing Church. Given the opportuni- incomes, and sometimes ties before us and our place in options are chosen that are not earth's history, we ought to be necessarily influenced by going forward, not cutting Christian values. back. So what can be done if As consumerism has gained there is not enough money? influence on society, the church has largely ignored the implica- Prosperity Religion tions for stewardship. For in the In the face of this kind of wake of that development, we problem the usual tendency is were giving from our wealth, to try to find someone or instead of giving from our something to blame. We shift poverty. It is true that congrega- responsibility for the crisis to tions did benefit in some ways others. from the general improvement But could it be that in many in lifestyle. But as members places our wealth is killing us moved to the suburbs, they spiritually? found they wanted more com- Evidently this is the condi- fort. So they included more tion that God predicted in the elaborate sanctuaries—with book of Revelation regarding padded pews and air-condition- the very last church, Laodicea ing—in their capital campaigns.

10 (1170) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 Meanwhile, as church lead- crisis can be illustrated this the support of the gospel min- ers we have maintained a pre- way. A pastor was making a istry. Local church programs 1950s mind-set in our follow-up visit to a couple who are to be supported by our stewardship education. We had attended his congregation offerings. If we really believe have made meeting the budget the previous Sabbath. Would in supporting our local pro- the goal of our stewardship they like more information on gram, then our offerings will emphasis, assuming that the how to become members of his reflect our belief. majority of church members church? "Oh, no," they replied How much better it would were still poor. The result: brightly. "We plan to attend be for us to establish habits of underchallenged church mem- your church for special occa- faithful tithing and also to sys- bers. Ellen White noted the sions and fellowship, but we tematically support beginnings of this problem like the music program at the with our offerings the back in 1875 and put it this church across town, and we local church, the con- Stem ardship way: "There has been a neglect send the kids to a third church ference, and the world- in the churches of keeping up because of its dynamic youth wide mission of the We are God's stewards, the plan of systematic benevo- activities." church. It occurs to me entrusted by Him with time lence, and the result has been that one of the greatest and opportunities, abilities an impoverished treasury and a Consumers or Stewards? hindrances to cheerful and possessions, and the backslidden church" (Testi- This scenario is all too giving and faithful blessings of the earth and its monies, vol. 3, p. 409). familiar to many church pas- stewardship occurs resources. We are responsi- In the United States, tors these days. Particularly when we begin to ques- ble to Him for their proper Christians were more than 200 those who pastor churches in tion God's program and use. We acknowledge God's percent richer (after taxes and urban areas or where there is a attempt to replace it ownership by faithful service inflation) in 1991 than in 1933 cluster of churches around one with one of our own. to Him and our fellowmen, in the midst of the Depression. of our large institutions. I have Cheerful offerings are a and by returning tithes and And it would have been reason- been led to conclude that many response of love, not a giving offerings for the able to assume that they would church members have changed demand or an expecta- proclamation of His gospel be giving a larger portion of their self-concept from being tion. "He who sows and the support and growth their incomes to their churches stewards to being consumers. sparingly will also reap of His church. Stewardship is in 1991 than in 1933, wouldn't Instead of taking what God has sparingly, and he who a privilege given to us by God it? In fact, however, just the entrusted to us and utilizing it sows bountifully will for nurture in love and the opposite is true for Protestant for the upbuilding of His king- also reap bountifully. victory over selfishness and Christians across the board. In dom, we begin to ask, "What So let each one give as covetousness. The steward 1933 the average Protestant has the church done for me he purposes in his rejoices in the blessings that member donated 3.3 percent of lately?" heart, not grudgingly or come to others as a result of income to the church. In 1991 There's another misguided of necessity; for God his faithfulness. (Gen. 1:26- the figure was 2.5 percent. This approach that I have seen. In loves a cheerful giver" 28; 2:15; 1 Chron. 29:14; general trend is also true for the this case church members, local (2 Cor. 9:6, 7, NKJV). Haggai 1:3-11; Mal. 3:8-12; Adventist Church as well. church leaders, and pastors A third faulty re- 1 Cor. 9:9-14; Matt. 23:23; In many of our churches and begin to question why all the sponse to financial dif- Rom. 15:26, 27.) Funda- conferences survival has tithe is sent out of the local ficulties in the church mental Beliefs, No. 20. become the main agenda item church. One pastor recently is to cut back the pro- at budget time. We have come stated, "We send nearly a mil- gram or mission of the to the point that we feel we lion dollars a year in tithe to the church to correspond to the have achieved success if we conference, and we get very lit- income rather than educate the are able to prepare a balanced tle in return from them. We membership regarding the budget. This attitude suggests have almost no money to oper- privileges and responsibilities that many church members and ate our local program. If we of stewardship. Thus we sink even leaders no longer view could keep some of our tithe, even further in despair, operat- stewardship as a means of then we could do more locally." ing with a fear factor instead of returning a portion of their This sounds reasonable at the faith factor. growing incomes to God out of first blush. But what is wrong grateful hearts. Rather, they with this type of reasoning? God's Plan—a Response see it merely as paying the First of all, the tithe is the of Love church's bills. Lord's. "It is holy unto the The fundamental issue in One of the negative re- Lord" (Lev. 27:30). It is to be Christian giving is not that of sponses to the current financial used for a special purpose— making a connection between

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1171) 11 the believer's checkbook and the for what we have received, ble to separate stewardship congregation's expenses. Rather, we find ourselves on solid from the totality of life. Life it is to emphasize the relation- biblical footing. In addition, itself is part of our steward- ship between a believer's finan- we discover a new freedom ship. cial resources and the matter of from asking the perennial The theological perspective faith in God. question "How much should I indicates that people should When we speak of giving give?" The question becomes give to the church in response as an expression of gratitude rather "Am I living up to my to what God has already done potential as a faithful stew- for them. And church leader- ard?" Such an assessment ship should help people to requires great honesty. It also understand this concept. Paul requires us to set aside past wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15: Attitudes and Answers habits and thinking patterns "This is a faithful saying and that may have limited our worthy of all acceptance, that BY G. EDWARD REID vision or restricted our enthu- Christ Jesus came into the siasm. world to save sinners" 1. I think there's way too much emphasis on When people are not taught (NKJV). This is the very heart money from the pulpit. why they should give, many of Christianity, the supreme A: The fact that more than 30 percent of Jesus' give for the wrong reasons, claim of its faith. It is the vital teachings deal with money and possessions shows reluctantly, or not at all. What pulse of Christian belief that the priority He placed on giving. Just as giving is a one gives in terms of time, God has visited us in Christ— tangible evidence of God's love for us, so it is one of talent, and money to support because God cares for us. In the ways we demonstrate our love for God. Calls for the church is directly related Christ, God desires that the offerings are a response to the opening providences to the depth of one's faith in lost be found, that the wrong of God. God and one's understanding be set right, that those who sit 2. My giving is really nobody's business but my of the mission of the church. in darkness see the great light own. Local church leaders cannot of their salvation. Nobody else A: Through the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14) make the assumption that could do for us what God in and the parable of the misguided merchant (Luke everyone has a mature under- Christ did for us. 12:16), Jesus clearly tells His followers, then and now, standing of mission and stew- We who take the vows of that we are accountable for our possessions and ardship. Rather, there needs church membership and profess indeed our lives as well. to be an intentional and con- Jesus Christ as our Lord and 3. I'll give what I can when I can. tinuous effort to educate in Saviour need to develop a stew- A: Giving is a way of regularly renewing our loyalty these areas. ardship philosophy that compels as disciples. Such loyalty isn't spur-of-the-moment, us to give in response to what but an ongoing commitment. Broader Than Money God has done for us. One task 4. It's not the amount I give that concerns God. A surprising number of of the church is to enable church Rather, it's my attitude. church members equate stew- members to experience the A: In one sense, yes (see 2 Cor. 8:9-15). But as ardship solely with giving of grace of God in their lives so good stewards we should ask ourselves, Does my money to support the church's that they in turn might freely giving demonstrate a commensurate trust in God's budget. Because of this, new respond through their gifts so provision? ideas and broader concepts that others might also know and 5. I'd rather just give a lump sum once a year about stewardship are needed. experience that grace. than try to keep track of a monthly or weekly Teaching the theological basis Accordingly, stewardship amount. for stewardship begins with the education should not be some- A: Could we manage our households without the doctrine of God, God's good thing we do once a year when blessing of regular resources? The household of faith earth, and what God has done the budget is presented to the is maintained best by the same ability to plan. for us through Jesus Christ. church. Rather, it should be a 6. We're going through a really tough time right Stewardship must be cen- year-round effort centered on now. We'll catch up on our giving when things get tered in the conviction that what God has done for us and better. everything we have—time, on the mission of the church. A: Adventist churches abound with testimonies of talents, money, health, air, Churches and conferences that members who have been extremely generous even water, property, relationships, follow this plan have no prob- though they were very poor (see 2 Cor. 8:2). It is in the gospel—is given to us by lem balancing the budget, pro- times like this that we need more than ever God's God. We simply hold these viding pastoral leadership, and promised wisdom and blessing (see Prov. 3:5-10). gifts in trust. Since all things leading an aggressive program come from God, it is impossi- of evangelism.

12 (1172) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 The Correct Motivation (2 Cor. 8:3-5, NKJV). When reason enough for excitement. The emphasis of stewardship people have first given them- Surely we are living at the should be on the giver, not the selves to the Lord, then they time of the last great advance gift—on people, not on money. will give of their resources of the gospel. Soon the whole The emphasis should be on freely and willingly. world will be enlightened with bringing men and women to Successful stewardship rec- the glory of God and the good total surrender to Christ. Paul ognizes and follows the com- news of the gospel. Of this day used the example of the mand of Jesus in Acts 1:8: the psalmist declared: "Thy Macedonians in appealing to "You shall be witnesses to Me people shall be willing in the the church at Corinth for a gen- in Jerusalem, and in all Judea day of thy power" (Ps. 110:3). erous offering. He said: "For I and Samaria, and to the end of bear witness that according to the earth" (NKJV). Accord- their ability, yes, and beyond ingly, we have responsibilities their ability, they were freely to our local church, our confer- willing, imploring us with ence territory, and to the world- much urgency that we would wide mission of the church. G. Edward receive the gift and the fellow- Finally, we must have faith Reid is direc- ship of the ministering to the that God will supply what is tor of steward- saints. And this they did, not as needed to accomplish the ship for the we had hoped, but first gave work. Taking God at His word North themselves to the Lord, and and knowing that God will American then to us by the will of God" supply our every need provide Division.

VOICES OF ADVENTIST FAITH With each AnchorPoint we will run a cross section of Adventist voices responding to the topic presented or one related to it.

Question: What about stewardship attracts you most?

Ruth Komarinski, 35+ David L. Taylor, 61 Viola Hughes, 32 Charles Ferguson, 43 Alf Birch, 59 Marriage/Family Therapist Minister/Educator Administrative Secretary Pastor Church Administrator Bothell, Washington S. Lancaster, Massachusetts Silver Spring, Maryland Veradale, Washington Clackamas, Oregon The concept of stew- Stewardship is a A knowledge of bibli- God owns 10 percent Stewardship is about ardship relates to living cooperative, relational cal stewardship provides of my money. So who people's management of life joyfully, responsi- experience. I'm attracted guidance in the manage- owns the remaining 90 resources. In dealing bly. Principles of stew- by the beauty of this ment of my resources and percent? He owns a sev- with our lost planet, ardship govern how I intentional trust by God. talents. I truly believe that enth of my time. Who Jesus demonstrated that prioritize my resources He entrusts me with an individual who man- owns the rest? Satan? I? heaven's values in regard of time, energy, and time, with talents, with ages the resources and No! When Jesus pur- to resource management finances to achieve the the gospel, and with talents that God has chased me, He bought begin with my restoration values most important in resources. I am over- entrusted becomes a part- all of me. I am not my as a saved person. I'm my life. Stewardship whelmed by the unlim- ner with God in every own. All that I am and overwhelmed when I con- implies living a focused, ited freedom God gives aspect of life. That's what have belong to Him. I template the amazing intentional life—rather me in managing His attracts me most about simply manage it for stewardship of grace God than reacting randomly resources. stewardship. Ultimately, Him. What attracts me lavishes on me in Jesus. and capriciously to the that partnership contin- about being His stew- Gladly now, "all to Him I whims of the moment. ues through enternity. ard? Calling Him Lord! freely give ..."

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1173) 13 COVER STORY the Netherlands. "We have a great group of workers," he said. "We're united in taking the gospel to as many as we can, as quickly as we can." Historically Hispanics have been able to capitalize on the factors that make it easy for newly immigrated people to join the church. The fact that new immi- Living the grants are largely unsettled emotionally because of new homes, jobs, friends, etc., makes them more open to new ideas and understandings of Bible teach- ings. Dream As with other ethnic groups, Hispanic Adventist churches provide cultural and social activities as well as spiritual ones. Hispanics in the North American Division shatter Attend a Hispanic worship service and stereotypes and pace evangelistic outreach. plan on staying for a while. Sabbath school and worship services are often followed by fellowship dinners and social gatherings that last most of the afternoon. Adventist Youth meetings, BY STEPHEN CHAVEZ sundown vespers, and evening games and other recreation often extend well into the evening. Finally, Hispanic Adventists seem EENE, TEXAS—The cafe- to make them more effective leaders in unusually sympathetic to ministries teria here at Southwestern the Adventist churches in their commu- serving the poor and disadvantaged— Adventist College has been nities. Tonight's evening of food, fel- the memories of when they were newly Ktransformed into a banquet lowship, and inspiration dramatically immigrated being still quite fresh in hall. More than 550 Adventist denomi- demonstrates why Hispanic Adventists their minds. All of these factors and oth- national leaders and their families are possibly the fastest-growing ethnic ers add up to a church that is vibrant and from throughout the North American group in North America. intensely interested in sharing its mes- Division are waiting for the last offi- The ratio of Hispanics who live in the sage with its community. cial meeting of the 1994 Hispanic U.S. is approximately one in 10 (26.2 Ministerial/Evangelistic Council. million out of a total population of 261 The Challenges Just before dinner is served, a semi- million). In addition to the progress that formal procession of delegates repre- Hispanic Adventists in North Hispanic Adventists have had among senting different nations of origin enters America number more than 77,100, new immigrants to the United States and the room, carrying their respective flags making them the second-largest ethnic Canada, Hispanic leaders are also aware to the accompaniment of national minority (behind Adventists of African- of the fact that second- and third-gener- anthems. Applause greets the numerous American descent). In 1993 alone, more ation Hispanics are being assimilated flagbearers as they make their appear- than 7,000 baptisms (out of some into the North American culture. The ances. 34,000 for North America) took place younger generations, as they become The only thing overshadowing the among Hispanics. Indeed, baptisms more acculturated in North America, are excitement demonstrated for the flags is among Hispanics counted for almost 50 becoming increasingly difficult to keep the palpable enthusiasm expressed at percent of the baptisms among all ethnic involved and engaged in the life of con- being a Seventh-day Adventist and minorities in the North American gregations that are distinctly Hispanic. being commissioned to spread the good Division. A significant portion of this council is news about God's love and Jesus' soon At this Ministerial/Evangelism dedicated to reviewing the results of the coming. Council, Manuel Vasquez, vice presi- Avance survey of Hispanic youth and dent and director of multilingual min- young adults. (It expands on the The Opportunities istries for the North American Division, Valuegenesis study of Adventist chil- For three and a half days Hispanic announced a goal of 8,000 baptisms for dren and youth.) pastors, evangelists, scholars, adminis- 1995, and at least half of that amount to The survey results clearly demonstrate trators, and their families have attended be reported by the time of the 1995 that first-generation Hispanics are more presentations and workshops designed General Conference session in Utrecht, likely to completely embrace the teach-

14 (1174) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994

ings of the Adventist Church. The second, This is the first time that the "shared future of the Adventist Church in North third, and fourth generations are more vision" process, used among leadership America. likely to ask penetrating questions about groups and local churches in the North "In a good stew," he says, "you can the relevance of Adventism before they American Division, had been utilized taste the subtle sweetness of the carrots, embrace Adventist doctrines. Even then, among a specifically Hispanic leader- the zing of the onions, the crunch of the their acceptance of some teachings may ship group. This process gives local celery, and the flavor of the vegemeat— be less than wholehearted. (These find- congregations increased latitude in plan- each individual ingredient maintains its ings correspond to the conclusions uncov- ning specific programs that will be tai- unique identity. But it is one great stew. ered during the Valuegenesis study.) lored to their particular community and "We Hispanics are proud of our 'fla- Edwin Hernandez, professor of behav- its needs. vor.' But we're very much North ioral sciences at Andrews University, The significance of this trend can American. So rather than warring offered us several prescriptions aimed at hardly be overstated. Because although against the North American culture, we nurturing Hispanic youth. They include all Hispanics are united by a common are proud to be members of it. Yet we're emphasizing the primary mission of the language, the differences in culture are also proud of our roots. So in the church Adventist Church as preparing people to sometimes quite apparent between those we maintain our identity to help flavor meet Jesus, promoting a stronger per- who come from Mexico, Central and the whole." sonal devotional life, devising ministries South America, the Caribbean, Spain, etc. Presently, because of language and the that appeal directly to high percentage of Hispanic youth, encouraging pas- immigrants joining the tors who are bilingual Adventist Church, the and bicultural, teaching Hispanic churches probably the Adventist advantages will be known primarily as of a healthy lifestyle, a soul-winning power- supporting Adventist house. education, emphasizing But as Hispanics con- family ministries, train- tinue to adopt the North ing pastors and laity, and American lifestyle, His- developing loving, caring panic churches will use church environments that more of the evangelistic offer a pronounced em- tools that will combine phasis on grace. Bible truths with practical With the exception of instruction about good the issues having to do health, better parenting Manuel Vasquez, vice president and director of multilingual ministries for the North with culture and lan- American Division, challenges pastors, evangelists, and administrators during his skills, and high moral stan- guage, Hernandez' rec- keynote message to the Hispanic Ministerial/Evangelistic Council in Keene, Texas. dards. ommendations should The effect of these strate- strike a responsive chord in churches of These differences are highlighted par- gies will undoubtedly strengthen the every ethnic group in the North ticularly among those who have been in Hispanic churches throughout the North American Division. North America longer. For many, American Division. Even non-Hispanic Spanish is no longer their primary lan- churches will likely be seasoned by the Sharing the Vision guage. Nevertheless, they don't feel unique "flavor" of the Hispanics who Prior to this Ministerial/Evangelism completely comfortable in Anglo worship there. And Christ's dream of a Council, Hispanic coordinators from churches. So Hispanic churches are people from every "nation, tribe, lan- throughout the conferences and unions relying more and more on bilingual pas- guage, and people"—united by love for of the North American Division met to tors who can bridge the gap between the Him—will be fulfilled in all of His plan strategies to balance outreach and culture of their ancestors and the one brothers and sisters. ', nurture in their local fields. Participants they live in. were asked to devise creative ways to Hispanics also find themselves mov- accomplish the essentials of strong con- ing closer to churches that are less gregations that reach out to their com- Hispanic and more cosmopolitan—that munities and the world to win people to is, they reflect the social makeup of Christ; worship God in joyful fellow- their own communities, whether that Stephen Chavez is an ship; encourage spiritual growth and community is Hispanic, Anglo, African- assistant editor of the faith maturity; strengthen families, chil- American, Asian, etc. Jose Rojas, direc- Adventist Review. dren, and youth; cultivate a warm and tor of youth ministries for North thinking climate; and provide effective, America, uses the image of a stew to Christ-centered leadership. describe the vision that he sees for the

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1175) 15 REAKT When God called me into the darkness

BY MARGO PITRONE

s Christians many of us believe in meditation and solitude as a way to draw closer to God, but fewer of us put our theory into practice. As a minister I often preached about the necessity of creating quiet time with God. Yet that quiet time was difficult to find for myself. I was so busy doing God's work—helping other people find Jesus Christ and writing and studying about issues of spirituality—that I thought I did not really need any quiet time myself. As pastoral ministry made increasing demands on my time and energy. I felt unable to say no to any need that arose in the church. And whenever I struggled with my own personal pain, I found myself Linable to trust in God the way I desired. I began to wonder if the quiet time with God I had been preaching about was the only way I would he able to restore my own failing spirituality. I decided to find out. One day each month I would go into the mountains for a retreat with God.

The Downpour On the morning of the first day I had scheduled for retreat. I awoke to the sound I sensed an internal voice telling me to go why I am here. hut I hchc 'Von are some- of rain. Rain is rare in southern California, on up the mountain. how calling me to go on. It I am being tool- and I was glad to see the downpour. But to The park is the origin of the famed ish, forgi e me. If You are directing me. have it rain when I had planned to spend the day alone with God frustrated me. I stared out the patio window for an hour. Finally I The first day I scheduled a retreat with God, decided to go to the mountains anyway— even if 1 had to sit in the car. With a lunch and my Bible 1 took off down the freeway to the mountains, an hour away. While driving I prayed that the rain Pacific Crest Trail. The solitude and show me what I am up here for." would stop so I could enjoy the moun- majesty are breathtaking. But 1 had I drove deeper into the park, climbing tains and sense God's presence in the never come alone, nor had I gone so far higher with every mile. The rain became so beauty of the countryside. But an hour into the park. In spite of that, I kept heavy that I pulled into an area that looked later it hadn't. The road into the park is hearing the voice calling me farther and like a turnout for a scenic overlook. It was narrow and winding, the area is desolate. farther away from human habitation. too dark to read. so I just sat. I could not see and the rain would obscure the spectacu- The clouds were low, the rain was driv- more than a few feet beyond the car. I had lar views. I debated turning around. As I ing across the hood of my car, the road was no reason to be there. yet I felt God had breathed another prayer about what to do. narrow. and I said, "God, I am not sure somehow directed me to this desolate place. I lay on the car seat and said, "God, I love You, and believe You brought me here today. I want to trust that You have my best interest at heart. But if I am hon- est \‘ till myself, I realize I have tried to do Your will by doing 'righteous things,' leading others to You. and by being committed to finishing the work. -I am angry that You have brought me to this place and seem to be telling me that You don't want these things -what I thought was my all. Instead, You seem to want me to look into my soul and then let You heal me.-

God, Are You Here? Too exhausted to drive home. I stared out the window. Had I heard God's voice speaking to me in the storm? I whispered, "Please. God, reveal Yourself to me in whatever manner You know I will be best able to understand You. Help me to give You my soul, not just my service." The rain slowly lessened, the clouds began to lift, the mist sw irled higher and higher. Suddenly the clouds broke, and lying before me was the most spectacu- lar view I have ever seen. The Fear dark and chaotic. I tOund it hard to separate From the crest of the mountains. I saw After several minutes of staring into the the outward storm from the internal one. It cliffs falling away to the desert floor. The darkness. I began to feel lost. frightened seemed t was being drawn into a dark, mountains were jade men, the desert rose. by the storm around me. Though I do not swirling vortex. I began to scream. Scream the Saltan Sea shimmered turquoise blue in frighten easily, and enjoy being alone. I for sadness at the pain I felt from people the distance, and over it all was a rainbow. became aware that I was terrified, yet I around me. Scream with anger that my care For several minutes I sat transfixed by what sensed God's presence in the car with me. for Mon did not take care of my own spiri- lay before me. The sun began to set. throw- If God had led me here, why didn't He tual needs. I screamed because God seemed ing muted pastels over the whole scene. take my terror away? I continued to sit— so close and yet so far away. I screamed .For me it was a confirmation that frozen, frightened, yet expectant. because my desire to serve God was not God was here. I had a new appreciation Continuing to wait. I realized I had never enough to till my empty and chaotic soul. for the value of honest communication allowed God to be with me in times of ter- After the screaming came the sobs. with God. I felt God had led me. ror or pain. Maybe this was a challenge Years of uncried tears never shed because from my Creator to trust God's leading I was afraid it might show a lack of faith. Margo Pirrone cur- into this storm—and beyond. into the I sat and sobbed—for my God, for my rently vt• rites front internal turmoil of my own spirituality. church members, .for my family, for Oceanside. Califiwnia. Thunder shook the car. The darkness myself. The pounding rain seemed a suit- closed in. I began to panic. I felt over- able accompaniment to the tears. Finally whelmed. Looking into my soul. it seemed even the tears were exhausted. FROM THE HEART The Hope Bums Bright

prior to the Crucifixion, James and ment of worldwide proportions. our faith? Is it just to live the moral and r John, ambitious and hopeful, asked Those nineteenth-century followers of ethical teachings of Jesus and then die Jesus, "Grant unto us that we may sit, Christ, of course, were the Millerite and rest in the ground forever like those one on thy right hand, and the other on Adventists, who, despite the bitterness who didn't care a bit about Christ or thy left hand, in thy glory" (Mark of the Disappointment, had a calling morality or what is right and wrong? 10:37). Their words symbolize the disci- from God to proclaim a worldwide Does Christianity just consist in loving ples' misunderstanding of the nature and gospel message that is to be the precur- our neighbors as ourselves? Is it only vis- purpose of Christ's mission. As it turned sor for the greatest event in all history: iting the widows and orphans and those out, Jesus did have someone on His the second coming of Jesus. in jail? Is it just obeying and loving God right hand and on His left—the two This year marks the 150th anniver- for the sake of obeying and loving God? thieves who were crucified with Him in sary of the Great Disappointment. As a However important these things are to His "glory," not exactly what James and church we are not commemorating the our religion, however central morality John were expecting. Disappointment any more than the dis- and obedience and goodness and righ- Despite Christ's repeated warnings ciples, years after the cross, celebrated teousness and holiness might be to our about His impending death, every strike Christianity, however good these things of the Roman soldiers' hammers on the might be in and of themselves, there's nails that pierced our Saviour's hands We need to come still more to Christianity. was another blow to His disciples' We talk about redemption. We love earthly political plans, which died with to sing "Redeemed! how I love to pro- Jesus. day by day to the foot claim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Of course, with His resurrection their Lamb . . ." But what does that mean? hopes were resurrected as well. The However much Christ has done for me, very event that had been so bitter in of the cross. however much Christ has fulfilled my their misunderstanding became in their life, however much good the Lord has new understanding the event upon wrought in me and for me, if I thought which they placed all their hope, their that this was it, if this were all my reli- happiness, and their very lives. What gion would do for me, what hope would had begun as a bitter disappointment their disappointment when Jesus was I have in the end? In the short run, my turned into the greatest religious move- first crucified. Instead, Seventh-day religion might have made my life—and ment in history. Adventists are commemorating the birth the lives of countless others—better, but of a movement, a worldwide spiritual in the end I die and they all die too. So, Hopes in 1844 awakening called of the Lord to herald ultimately, what does it mean? More than 1,800 years later another the present truth message of the immi- The Second Coming, the apocalypse, group of Christ's followers also had nent return of Jesus. the end of the world, are really what hopes and plans for the future. From Christianity ultimately leads to. What their study of Scripture, they knew Sense of Urgency good was Christ's first coming, what something momentous was going to Yet for many of us the struggle is to good was His atoning death on the happen on a specific date in the year keep the sense of urgency of our pio- cross, what good was His perfect life 1844. As with the Crucifixion, an event neers. How, after more than a century and example if ultimately we are not led did happen, but not the one they had and a half, can we still keep the hope to the Second Coming? We must never expected. Like the disciples, they were burning bright about the second coming forget that the whole purpose of His first wrong in their expectations, and yet the of Jesus? coming was to prepare the way for His Lord was able to turn their bitterness I believe the key is by keeping alive second, and we ourselves can be pre- into sweetness, because once they came the meaning and understanding of His pared for His second coming only by to a true understanding of what took first coming. appropriating for ourselves what He did place, they too started a religious move- Indeed, what is the ultimate purpose of for us at His first.

18 (1178) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 We need to come day by day to the such an hour as ye think not the Son of accomplished for us at Calvary. foot of the cross, lean upon what Christ man cometh" (Matt. 24:44). In this sense, Christ's coming is wrought for us, repent of our unworthi- Bible writers sensed the urgency and always near—when we are alive, and ness, and claim for ourselves the righ- nearness of the Second Coming. They when we sleep in death. Of course, teousness of Christ, knowing that believed that they themselves were liv- some Christians believe that the timing ultimately this righteousness will lead not ing in the last days. Jesus Himself, at the of the second coming of Christ doesn't only to a better life here but to the hope end of the book of Revelation, said, matter because we will see Him imme- and promise of the Second Corning. "Surely I come quickly" (Rev. 22:20). diately at death. That's not what Christ says. The dead do sleep in the ground More Than Morality What Does "Quickly" Mean? until He comes. It's just that for them Many non-Christian religions teach But what did Jesus mean by those there is no sense of time. morality. They may help people over- words, penned nearly 2,000 years ago? come destructive habits. They may The passing of so many centuries hus, Seventh-day Adventists should encourage people to live moral lives. Tnever allow the spark, the hope, the Yet none of these religions has a cruci- promise, of His second coming to sput- fied and risen Saviour. None has a Imagine, then, what ter and die. The Second Coming was the Redeemer with the perfect righteousness hope that burned within the hearts and of Christ, a Redeemer who offers that minds of our pioneers a century and a righteousness to us as a gift to those time must be for half ago. It should be the hope that who don't deserve it. burns within our hearts and minds As Seventh-day Adventists we need today. to focus on eschatology and the end of God, who has existed the world. But we need to view the Robert S. Folkenberg is president of the future through the lens of the past, General Conference of Seventh-day through the cross of Christ. If we focus from eternity! Adventists. on the cross and what that means, inevitably we must see the Second Coming, because that's what the cross leads to. By keeping our focus on His doesn't seem to fit the word "quickly." first coming, we will reinforce the First, we are finite beings, and our imminent hope and promise of His sec- conceptions of time are limited. For ADVENTIST ond. creatures who live "threescore and ten Of course, this still doesn't answer years," we don't perceive time the same the question How imminent is immi- way that God does. For a child, a year Subscribe to the weekly Adventist nent? After all, we Adventists have seems like forever, but for an adult a Review. been proclaiming the second coming of year slips by in a blink. Why? Time Jesus since before the South seceded itself hasn't changed. It moves at the 0 6 months, 20 issues,US$18.97. from the North and the American Civil same rate. Only our perception of it has ❑ 1 year, 40 issues, US$36.97.* War started. The decades, one after changed. ❑ 2 years, 80 issues, US$67.94. 0 1 year, 52 issues, overseas, another, have tended to wear out modi- Imagine, then, what time must be for US$59.17. fiers like "soon" or "imminent" or God, who has existed from eternity! "nearness" when used in reference to "Beloved, be not ignorant of this one 0 Payment enclosed the Second Advent. Though Adventists thing, that one day is with the Lord as a 0 Visa/MasterCard Exp. still talk as if the Second Coming will thousand years, and a thousand years as Card No. happen soon, many of us seem to act as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). if it's far in the future and not an urgent Second, our understanding of the Name

concern. state of the dead really helps us to know Address In some of the parables in which what the Bible writers, even Jesus Jesus talked about His return, He hinted Himself, could have had in mind when City at delay. However much Jesus wants us talking about the nearness of the Second State/Zip to live in anticipation of His coming, Advent. Christ's coming is never more 'For one-year subscriptions in conferences not receiv- He apparently also wants us to realize than a moment beyond our death. ing the NAD monthly issues, add US$12.00; overseas, that there might be a delay (see Matt. We die. We sleep in death. And the add US$22.20. 25:6, 19). next thing we will know and hear is the Yet Jesus Himself warned about the voice of our angel calling us from the Mail to your ABC or Adventist Review, Subscriber "My lord delayeth his coming" mind- dust into our immortal bodies when Services, Box 1119, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Or call 1-800-456-3991. set. He said: "Be ye also ready: for in Jesus comes, thanks only to what Christ 302-01-0

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1179) 19

The Monthly Focus on North America November 1994 Let's Evangelize Every Body! Enabling the disabled in North America

BY ROSA TAYLOR BANKS

he sign on the front of your church its moral obligation and responsibility On average, church leaders recog- Tsays "Welcome." But what do peo- to present the gospel to the world in nize that they are responsible for ple with disabilities experience when inclusive and respectful environments. demonstrating acceptance of all mem- they try to attend services? Consequently, many members see the bers as equals in work and worship Many churches built more than a cou- removal of obstacles that restrict access environments, and that unless leader- ple decades ago are rife with obstacles for the disabled as a high priority for ship is clearly demonstrated, efforts to that most people don't even see: stairs, the church in North America. change will not improve. Realizing hallways, narrow doorways that are prac- The North American Division Office this, division administration has tically nonnegotiable for people using of Human Relations acts as a con- endorsed strategies that encourage wheelchairs or crutches. Restrooms sciousness arouser to sensitize the divi- churches in the North American located on another floor or in a distant sion to people-related issues and Division to step up their efforts to location may be unreachable by the dis- challenges that affect the social struc- abolish barriers to equal access for dis- abled or the elderly. tures of the church. Enabling the dis- abled members. More recently, leader- In the United States the second phase abled to have access to the gospel is a ship has assigned an administrator to of the Americans With Disabilities Act present challenge that the church faces. the Building, Blueprints, and (ADA) went into effect on July 26 of Just what are our congregations Borrowing of Funds Committee to this year. Similar requirements exist in doing to abolish the physical barriers assure that new projects meet basic Canada. faced by disabled people who want to accessibility standards and established Now that governments have taken attend their worship services? To deter- an 11-member commission to promote steps to abolish barriers to equal oppor- mine the extent to which North the incorporation of people with dis- tunity for disabled individuals in areas American Division churches were abilities in all aspects of church life as of employment, public services and already in compliance with the spirit of far as possible. transportation, public accommodations, the ADA, the Office of Human and telecommunication services, con- Relations included appropriate ques- ne of the members of the committee cerned members around the North tions in its census study of 1990. Here ois Joan Bova, of Orlando, Florida, American Division are asking what is what was learned. herself a disabled individual. Employed churches are expected to do to enable Approximately 40 percent of the by the Center for Independent Living, the disabled in their communities and pastors and/or church clerks that Inc., as programs and personnel admin- congregations. responded to questions about people istrator, Joan has more than a "work- with disabilities in their congregations related interest" in this exciting new Let's Speak Out Against Exclusion. indicated that their churches had ministry for the disabled. She has put Religious institutions such as already installed ramps, cut openings together a seven-member disabilities churches are not addressed in United in curbs, and placed grab bars in ministries team, which conducts States' regulations. However, an restroom stalls. They also reported that Awareness Sabbaths in churches exemption from the provisions of the their churches provide interpreters, throughout the Florida Conference. ADA does not relieve the church from braille signs, and transportation to and Through the Sabbath school pro- from the church facility. Efforts since gram, worship service, and afternoon Rosa Taylor Banks is the associate sec- 1992 have resulted in a variety of addi- seminar, practical information on how retary for the North American Division tional modifications and services in to interact and minister to people with and director of the Office of Human churches around the North American disabilities is shared with local church Relations. Division. members. These Awareness Sabbaths

20 (1180) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 SPOTLIGHT ON \ NORTH AMERICA

are not primarily held for members with insensitive behavior that will disappear Sabbath each November. Materials and disabilities, but rather as a means of as members grow in disability aware- other information on how to conduct educating nondisabled members about ness. these seminars (including the job basic disability issues. The key to positive communication is description for disabilities ministries "As we interact with people in our putting the person first, rather than the director in the local church as well as society," Joan explains, "it becomes disability. Instead of saying "Johnny is how to access the Florida Disabilities apparent that nondisabled persons often afflicted with arthritis" or "Johnny is an Awareness Team) may be obtained from experience discomfort and uncertainty arthritic person," simply say "Johnny is the North American Division Office of when interacting with persons who have a person with arthritis" or "Johnny has Human Relations. disabilities. Questions dealing with what to say, what to do, and how to Let's Model Disability Awareness. act are often utmost in people's The concept of disability aware- minds and deserve answers. When ness has caught on so well in the answers are effectively given, the Florida Conference, largely through results are increased awareness and the efforts of Joan Bova, that the the removal of attitudinal barriers." North American Division Office of According to Bova, the greatest Human Relations has adopted it as a barriers disabled people face are not model conference in this regard. physical, but attitudinal. "To under- The recent action of the Florida stand attitudinal barriers," Joan con- Conference Executive Committee tinues, "we need to examine the encouraging all churches to select a most common misconceptions that disabilities ministries director is a are prevalent in today's society and positive step that will speed up dispel the myths about each one." compliance progress conference- Here are some common miscon- wide. ceptions about people with disabili- The Port Charlotte, Florida, ties: church, the division's "model ■ People with disabilities are not church" for disability awareness, in good health. was first to appoint a disabilities ■ People with disabilities are ministries director, Mike Harrell, fragile, not intelligent. who incidentally has a visual ■ People with disabilities lead impairment. But Harrell is not very sad lives, and able people deterred by one small obstacle in should feel sorry for them. his personal life. Fueled with vigor- ■ Disabled people are beggars. Joan Bova leads a disabilities ministries team for the Florida ous energy and a determination to ■ Society must take care of peo- Conference, making presentations at Sabbath school and afternoon seminars about including people with disabilities get things done, in the short time ple with disabilities. in as many church activities as possible. that his church has focused on dis- ■ Disabled people are being pun- ability awareness, he has led it ished for sins committed in the past. arthritis." Thus Johnny is simply a per- through the accomplishment of most of ■ People with disabilities are brave son with a disability, just as you or I its accessibility goals. "The only issue (superheroes). may be a person with a cold, not a cold that remains," comments Mike, "is Negative terms commonly used when person. accessibility to the platform. This will referring to people with disabilities are Disability awareness seminars and require a lift, which will be provided equally damaging to a church's efforts Sabbaths are two means of providing soon." to create good human relationships. basic education for North American Churches in the Florida Conference Insensitive language such as handi- Division members. These activities can are not the only ones that are addressing capped, afflicted, wheelchair-bound, be held at any time within the local the important issue of inclusion of peo- deaf and dumb, sightless, unfortunate, church or church gathering and among ple with disabilities. Encouraged by victim, and cripple must be replaced by any ethnic or age group. Further, they strong administrative leadership, numer- more sensitive and positive terminol- can be tailored to meet the needs of any ous other churches around the division ogy. Speaking about disabled people as kind of audience. Many churches spon- are eliminating barriers that confront they and them is another common and sor these programs on Human Relations disabled people.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1181) 21 SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH AMERICA

Just How Many People Are We Talking the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We and talents of all people. About? are talking about a global challenge To remove the barriers that still exist According to the Bureau of the right at our very doorsteps! we must work together, recognizing that Census, an estimated 49 million nonin- prejudice and fear may not be elimi- stitutionalized Americans (about one in What Shall We Do With These People? nated or even altered overnight. At five) have a disability.* Other literature Include them; let's evangelize every times the processes to achieve our goal on the subject estimates that anywhere body! People with disabilities are a peo- may seem overwhelming, complicated, from 12 to 18 percent of the member- ple group within our very reach who and comprehensive. But we must work ship of an organization might consist of need the gospel too. This is a challenge together still, committing ourselves to people with disabilities. For North to be sure, but not an insurmountable the task and holding ourselves account- America, which has a membership of one. To establish a clear and compre- able, if inclusion is to one day soon some 800,000, we are looking at as hensive program of inclusion of the dis- become the in thing in the North many as 144,000 disabled members abled will require that leaders and American Division. throughout the division field! This does members alike share and participate in a not include the hundreds of people with vision for both our churches and our disabilities within our communities to communities. And from this vision must whom we must provide accessibility come an effective plan for change that *Bureau of the Census Statistical Brief (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics both to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to values, includes, and utilizes the gifts Administration, Bureau of the Census, 1994). What's the Big Idea? Will satellite communication make a better church?

e need another layer of armchair birth to the Adventist Communication And there is a third reality that makes Wexperts like we need a hole in the Network. First, the North American certain this service remains strictly vol- head ..." Division has recommitted itself to the untary. It's called an "off' switch. "If this is just another means of simple truth that the local church is the Whether you push it up or down, in or bypassing me and going direct to my most important unit—the action unit— out, it always goes on or off. (For any members to get money, I'm warning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. If further questions regarding this, refer to you now, I'll turn it off!" it hasn't happened in the local church, your owner's manual.) "Conservative older members won't then it hasn't happened yet. The institu- approve of this new technosatellite tions of the church exist to serve and Yes, but stuff!" equip the local church for ministry. I know, I know. Even the best of Heard any of these lately? Mention And just as the first-century church intentions doesn't mean we can't mess Adventist Communication Network used the technology of its day (the it up anyway. Yes, we could mess it up. (ACN), and you're likely to get some Roman system of roads and mail routes) But we can also do something wonder- curious reactions. The ones above were to spread the gospel, so we are striving ful! Something meaningful. Something from pastors—not consensus views, but to use today's technology in fulfilling inspired! honest responses to change. our mission. This is the second reality. "That which is needed now for the It's not hard to understand. Nobody Satellite technology, along with com- upbuilding of our churches is the nice wants to be manipulated or intimidated puter science, has made it possible to work of wise laborers to discern and by "the brethren" (whoever they are). communicate simultaneously to almost develop talent in the church—talent So if ACN isn't some grandiose ploy by all North American Division local that can be educated for the Master's paper-pushing bureaucrats to pull the churches through downlinked facilities use. There should be a well-organized proverbial purse strings of the pious, (places with a satellite dish and plan for the employment of workers to then what is it? receiver). This makes it possible to pro- go into all our churches, large and vide each local church with the very best small, to instruct the members how to Can It Be That Simple? denominational resources for church labor for the upbuilding of the church, The marriage of two realities gave growth and personal spiritual growth. and also for unbelievers. It is training,

22 (1182) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994

SPOTLIGHT ON Vltr NORTH AMERICA

education, that is needed. Those who you' ll-love-it-and-if-you-don' t-too-bad ■ Continual evaluation by the user— labor in visiting the churches should resources? you! There will always be room for give the brethren and sisters instruction The honest answer is—we hope not. improvement. As we do more, we'll in practical methods of doing mission- Those of us at ACN are dedicated to a learn more. Please be patient with us as ary work." few select principles concerning pro- we share this growth experience. "The greatest help that can be given gramming. Let me share a few of these: our people is to teach them to work for ■ All programming is developed Get the Facts God, and to depend on Him, not on the within two dynamics: divine guidance There are many church boards or ministers" (Christian Service, p. 58). and local church needs. It's that simple. committees bouncing back and forth To this vision of training, add out- If it doesn't itch, don't scratch it. over this issue. Regardless of your final reach programs, news of the church's Divine guidance is determined decision, get the facts. If your pastor work around the world, live events like through the prayerful study of Scripture hasn't received sufficient information General Conference sessions and ASI and Spirit of Prophecy principles. for your church to make a decision, call conventions, and special programs of Local church needs are identified this number: 1-800-ACN-1119. This is timely significance. On top of that, think through professional survey techniques, the "one call does it all" number. After what could be provided for some of our focus groups throughout the North you call, you will be able to connect smaller, more-out-of-the-way schools. American Division, teleconferences with someone about virtually any aspect with representatives of local churches of ACN. First Steps across the NAD, and direct feedback The few, but profound, opportunities OK, back to reality. All this dreaming from local leaders. we have to apply technology to our mis- is great, but we have to start somewhere. There has never been, in the history sion (through ACN, SDA's On-line First things first. You can't download of our church, a greater effort to listen Forum on CompuServe, faxes, E-mail, (receive) a satellite signal with good to, clarify and understand, and develop teleconferencing, etc.) will have signifi- intentions. You need the proper equip- resources specifically targeted to meet- cant impact on the ministry and nature ment. And we don't want to upload ing the needs of local churches. Top- of the local church in the very near (send) the signal if it isn't worth the down doesn't hack it anymore when it future. time and money. comes to resource development prefer- There is only One who is of such infi- Two things are happening at the same ences. If you can't prove that it meets a nite perfection that change is unneces- time you're reading this. More local prioritized local church need, it won't sary. The rest of us have to keep on churches are purchasing the ACN equip- get funded. keeping up. ment package, and more programming ■ Diversity! Networks are being con- May the Creator of communication, is being prepared. structed to plan and produce events to the Initiator of outreach, and the Trainer The equipment is state-of-the-art and meet different ethnic, gender, and age- of trainers equip you with all the wis- cost-effective. The receiver being manu- group needs. dom and information necessary to make factured to our specific requirements ■ Training. Nobody wants to look responsible and inspired choice con- will be capable of automatically pro- stupid. Training will be provided for cerning your use of all the ACN gramming itself (to find the right chan- local site hosts and organizational resources coming down the pike. nel) and recording a tape. And as you teams. Knowing what to do and how to ACN isn't some magical answer. It can imagine, a massive hardware setup troubleshoot should alleviate a lot of won't unclog that drain in the church like this never goes as smoothly as worry for local church pastors and coor- basement or immediately convert the everyone would like. But, with patience, dinators. backsliders, but it is an opportunity of we are getting closer to our goal of hav- ■ Minimal expense! Once equipment unprecedented proportions to equip our ing nearly every church within one expenses are out of the way, you have it local churches for ministry. Share the hour's drive of a downlink (satellite made. The programming is free. There vision! dish) facility. Every church need not may be workshop materials needed have the equipment, nor foot the entire (handouts, notebooks, etc.), but the plan Jack Calkins is mar- bill. Costs can be shared among area is to provide reproducible masters for keting director for the churches. the local church to print (and charge for) Adventist Communi- Now, what about the programming? as needed. With practical planning, all cation Network of the Are we going to have more of the old local expenses can be paid for by a par- North American Divi- top-down, take-it-or-leave-it, one-size- ticipants' registration fee. If you want to sion. fits-all, your-administrator-thinks- give material away, that's your choice.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1183) 23 s Fat than Beef Hot see Back for Nutrition Information

When We Improved The Nutrition, We Kept The Same Great Taste. The next time you stock up on your favorite tional chart. And we've reintroduced one of your vegetarian foods, you might not recog- favorite brand names, Loma Linda, nize them right away. That's replacing the La Loma° brand name. because we've made some Rest assured, though, we kept changes to our Worthington the same great taste. So now and Loma Linda® brands. you can eat well in more First, we've reformu- ways than one. lated our foods to make Look for the updated them even healthier. packaging from Worthing- Many now have less fat, ton and Loma Linda. You less sodium and no MSG. 7 might not recognize us at A We've also freshened up "P first, but once you take a bite our look with you'll know for sure. This is the 4; a new package 4- same great tasting food you love, design that includes only now it'sot Worthington an easier-to-read nutri- even better for you. moot

Over 50 Years of Dedication to Vegetarian Foods 01994 For recipes, send a postcard to: Worthington Recipes, 900 Proprietors Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Loma Linda University Medical Center: I.\ LIND \ "Educational center of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist health-care system" I \IVERSIT) THE November 1994

ACV. CFNTER LOMA LINDA REPORT

Members of the medical team from LLUMC pose while on a Sabbath afternoon hike up the mountain behind Sopas Adventist Hospital in Papua New Guinea. They include (from left): Manly Hyde, MD; John Vowels, MD; Dave Christiansen, MD, Kathleen Clem, MD, leader of the medical team; Pastor Terry Clem, coordinator for the trip; Steve Green, MD, and his wife, Beth Green; Medley, an employee at Sopas Adventist Hospital and guide for the hike; and Jim Keaney, MD. LLU Medical Center Team Visits Papua New Guinea For three young resident physicians and organized by Kathleen Clem, MD, contacted ADRA (Adventist Develop- in the emergency medicine program at assistant professor of medicine in the ment and Relief Agency) and asked Loma Linda University Medical Loma Linda University School of where her team could help out the most. Center, it was their first taste of tropical Medicine, and her husband, Terry This year, the officials at ADRA sug- medicine. It was also their first taste of Clem, pastor of Murrieta Springs gested Sopas Adventist Hospital, an 85- the worldwide mission outreach of the Church, near Temecula, California. bed hospital located in the remote high- Seventh-day Adventist Church. While LLU has active programs for lands of the Enga Province in Papua New But that was the main idea behind student outreach—both in local commu- Guinea. The hospital treats, on average, the trip to Papua New Guinea, planned nities and overseas—very little if noth- about 1,000 inpatients and nearly 18,000 ing of the kind has existed for resident outpatients each year, and is staffed with Information for this section supplied by physicians...until now. two physicians and more than 30 nurses. the Loma Linda University Medical Last year, Dr. Clem took her first John Watts, MD, serves as medical direc- Center office of public affairs. medical team to Tanzania, Africa. She Please turn to next page "FULFILLING THE VISION" "FULFILLING THE VISION" tor and CEO for the hospital. Paco Munoz, MD, is anesthesiologist. The medical team from LLUMC, made up of the three residents, two emergency department faculty, a car- diac surgeon, a nurse, a pastor, and a photographer, left for Papua New Guinea on August 1. There were Jim Keaney, MD, a third-year emergency medicine resident who had graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles; Dave Christiansen, MD, a second-year emer- gency medicine resident who came to LLUMC from Loyola University in Chicago; and John Vowels, MD, a first- year emergency medicine resident who Beth Green, Dr. Keaney, and Dr. Clem (left to right) care for an infant who was had already completed a year of residen- delivered just minutes before by cesarean section. After a few suspenseful cy at the University of Southern moments, the newborn began to cry—much to the relief of the medical team. California. In addition to Pastor and Dr. Clem, weeks at Sopas Adventist Hospital, next six hours keeping her alive. During the group also included Steve Green, treating a variety of diseases and per- that time, they gave her huge doses of MD, director of the LLUMC emer- forming a number of surgeries they will antibiotics they had brought from gency medicine residency program and probably never encounter again. LLUMC and ventilated her by hand. assistant professor of emergency medi- One night, a group of "locals" Several times she went into seizures and cine, LLUSM; his wife, Beth Green, a brought in a man involved in a fight who even stopped breathing. staff nurse on unit 7100 at LLUMC; had been stabbed clean through his side The child finally began to improve. and Manly Hyde, MD, a cardiac sur- with a machete. Because the man had Several hours later, she was wheeled to geon at Kaiser Permanente in Los lost a great deal of blood, the team had the ward. Much to the joy of the med- Angeles and an alumnus of LLU's to act quickly and wheeled the man ical team, she fully recovered. School of Medicine. directly into the operating theatre. They These experiences are barely repre- Joining the group for the third week spent the better part of the night explor- sentative of the time spent in Papua in Papua New Guinea were Tamara ing, cleaning, and sewing up the wound. New Guinea by the team. The breath- Thomas, MD, an emergency medicine Another man walked more than 20 taking scenery, the warmth of the peo- physician at LLUMC and director of kilometers through rugged terrain to ple, the tremendous need—all tend to EMS (Emergency Medical Services); reach the hospital with a sizeable piece be life-changing for those who experi- and Joe Scoggins, MD, a fourth-year of his scalp and skull open to the air. ence this land. orthopaedic resident at LLUMC. Apparently, he had received a glancing For Dr. Clem, it isn't a matter of The two physicians at Sopas blow from someone's machete. whether she will organize another trip— Adventist Hospital were extremely The medical team also saw several rather it is only the details of when and helpful and willing to teach the team cases where individuals were shot with where they will go. from Loma Linda about the realities of arrows. Both pieces of each arrow tropical medicine. Dr. Watts, the med- became prized possessions for the ical director, allowed them to virtually patients who had them removed. run the hospital, giving him and Dr. One case made a particular impact on Munoz some much-needed and long- the members of the team who were overdue vacation time. While Dr. Hyde involved. A tiny little girl was brought and the three residents performed the into the outpatient clinic by her mother. majority of surgeries, Drs. Clem and The child had developed a fever and Green specialized in anesthesiology. had stopped eating. Dr. Keaney prelimi- Beth Green became a full-fledged narily diagnosed the little girl as having "sister," the term used for nurses in severe pneumonia and meningitis. Papua New Guinea. In particular, she She was immediately rushed into the learned the art of midwifery, delivering operating theatre, which could serve as A "local" from Enga Province in a number of babies herself. an intensive care unit if needed, where Papua New Guinea poses with his Dr. Clem's medical team spent three Dr. Keaney and "Sister" Beth spent the full traditional headdress. WORLDREPORT

A Special Opportunity Annual Sacrifice Offering helps spread the gospel message. rom language schools in Korea to new ries. Through exhaustive research we lion is born every year. If there were no Fchurches in New Guinea, from bicy- determined that the church had no pres- deaths, a population the size of the cling evangelists in India to lay teachers ence in 2,300 population groups around United States would be created every in China, Adventists are proclaiming the the world, each with at least 1 million seven years. All of these people need to gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the people. hear the gospel of Christ. world. Today the distinctive message of • Since 1990, work is now in While providing increasing resources Adventism is being shared in 209 coun- progress to establish a congregation in for new unentered areas, the church also tries around the globe. 771 of these previously unentered faces the task of maintaining existing A major reason for this success is our groups. work in areas where our message has deep desire to fulfill Christ's great com- ■ More than 5,300 new congrega- gone over the past 150 years. mission to preach the gospel to all tions in new areas have been established Despite these enormous challenges, nations (Mark 13:10). This desire is so since 1990. the Global Mission program will march strong that hundreds of dedicated mis- Statistics like these are possible only ahead with bold plans, including the sionaries and volunteers are willing to through courageous volunteers who establishment of 1,300 new congrega- leave comfortable surroundings and take have a burden to share their faith. tions in 1995. Two hundred of these will the gospel to the front lines—in the Volunteers, like John and Flora be in unentered locations that have at mountains of northern India, the Hinchey, who left their homeland of least a population of 1 million. Philippine hinterlands, and the Australian Canada to establish a new congregation By the year A.D. 2000 we hope to outback. in the unentered town of Cork, Ireland, have 7,000 new congregations, includ- Another reason for the widespread are rekindling the vision of Global ing an Adventist congregation in every outreach is the thousands of faithful lay Mission in our church. population group of 1 million or more. members who give a sacrificial offering Angel Manuel Rodriguez and his You can play an important role in our each year to support the church's mission wife also caught the vision. They moved Global Mission thrust by praying for an thrust. The Annual Sacrifice Offering, to Villalba, Puerto Rico, where there outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the collected this year at the end of the Week was not one single Adventist. Within a church. Ask God to open the way for the of Prayer on November 12, provides year, 15 people joined the new congre- gospel to be proclaimed in these unentered God's people with a special opportunity gation in Villalba, and 30 more territories. God still answers prayers. to contribute to the Adventist Church's Adventists have relocated in the area. You can also share this vision by pro- worldwide mission program. It's dedication like this that has moting Global Mission in your local Originating in 1922 with an appeal for helped the church to establish one new church and getting involved in local out- members to sacrifice one week's income, congregation every six hours, and bap- reach programs. If your church doesn't this offering has helped to advance the tize one person every 51 seconds. have an active outreach thrust, organize church's reach into thousands of new Volunteers like the Hinchey and one and encourage others to take part. areas over the past 70 years. Rodriguez families have helped push the As the Annual Sacrifice Offering church's worldwide membership past approaches on November 12, each Unprecedented Opportunities the 8 million mark. Adventist is encouraged to set aside one Today the Adventist Church faces day's wages to support the church's unprecedented opportunities. The New Challenges worldwide mission thrust. Prayerfully potential for new outreach is enormous. Despite our amazing growth, serious consider what God would have you do. Consider the following: challenges remain. It won't be easy to I really believe that we are living at • In 1990 our Global Mission pro- infiltrate the remaining unentered popu- the end of time. Millions are seeking gram was launched with a mandate to lation groups, which include Muslims, something better—Jesus Christ. Please establish new work in unentered territo- Hindus, Buddhists, and secular people. help the church find anew the vision and In addition to this, the world's popu- possibilities in this offering. Through By Robert S. Folkenberg, General lation continues to grow rapidly. In the power of a Spirit-led movement, Conference president. India alone, a new population of 36 mil- let's wrap the world in His love.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1187) 27 WORLDREPORT BULLETINBOARD

■ MARYLAND one son, Milton; one sister, Lucille Kettle; and two Deaths grandchildren. CONIBEAR, Howard Theodore-b. July 31, 1906, Adventist Journal ALTMAN, Donald Warren-b. Oct. 14, 1921, Cranberry, Pa.; d. Apr. 17, 1994, Calimesa, Calif. He Sunnyside, Wash.; d. June 3, 1994, Long Beach, Wash. was a well-known sand artist who sculptured life-sized He taught for 35 years in Washington, British Columbia, biblical scenes. In addition to exhibits, he ministered Wins National Missouri, and Oklahoma conferences. He is survived by through his art in church services, evangelistic meetings, his wife, Margaret; three sons, Dennis, Curtis, and and camp meetings. He is survived by his wife, Irma: Marvin; three daughters, Janis Crandell, Teresa Lang, one daughter, Mary Lou Dimond; two sons, Robert and Award Anita Cress; two sisters, Verle Braaten and Mildred Donald; and seven grandchildren. Mills; four brothers, Ardell, Sam, Mark, and Leslie; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. FRANCIS, Robert Elmer-b. Sept. 29, 1916, in Pennsylvania; d. Aug. 3, 1994. He pastored in the The Educational Press Association BROWN, Robert D., Sr.-b. Sept. 23, 1915, Potomac Conference, taught at Union, Philadelphia, and I handed out its 1994 Distinguished Jerseyville, Ill.; d. June 2, 1994, Prairie Village, Kans. He Shenandoah Valley academies. From 1960 to 1978 he worked for the Adventist Health Systems at Shawnee taught at Southern College. His wife, Beatrice, passed Achievement Award to The Journal of Mission Medical Center for 20 years. He is survived by away in 1993. He remarried in 1994 and is survived by Adventist Education for an article that his wife, Phyllis; one son, Robert, Jr.; two daughters, his wife, June (Gorman); one stepdaughter, Tanya Sandra Eubanks and Judith Brown-Rudersdorfer; one sis- Gorman; and one stepgrandson. appeared in the December 1993/January ter, Dorothy Goodman; four grandchildren; and two 1994 issue. great-grandchildren. GELVIS, Dolores (Lola)-b. Sept. 14, 1921. Colombia, South America; d. June 19, 1994, Mountain The article, "Nurturing Faith in the CHALMERS, Moses A., Jr.-b. July 29, 1928, Hilo, View, Calif. She worked as a principal and teacher for 35 Christian School," by George Akers, Hawaii; d. May 25, 1994, Milford, Nebr. He was a well- years in Colombia. She is survived by her husband. known musician and teacher of music. He is survived by Severo; two daughters, Leonor Garycochea and Ilva highlighted the journal's "Integration of his wife, Carleen; one son, Moses III; one daughter, Luna; three brothers; and three sisters. Marcia; two brothers, Mac and Elden; and one sister, Evelyn Krucky. GROOM, Carl E.-b. Dec. 30, 1920, Elmira, N.Y.: d. June 21, 1994, Tucson, Ariz. He pastored churches in CHAPPELL, Derwood L.-b. Nov. 12, 1918, northern New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Dallas, Tex.; d. June 16, 1994, Takoma Park, Md. He Canada. He taught and was principal at the Tucson Junior served for more than 40 years as minister and church Academy. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Hills-Groom: administrator in several Southern states, the Potomac one son, David; one daughter, Sharon Nordstrom; one Conference, the West Africa Union Mission, and the brother, Howard; five sisters, including Dorothy Middle East Division. He is survived by his wife, Jean; Burrington and Evelyn Brown; and five grandchildren. Volunteer for Adventure!

Maranatha Volunteers International is a supporting ministry of the Seventh- day Adventist Church that creates opportunities for volunteers to help build churches, schools, and other needed church facilities around the world. Skilled construction professionals are always needed, but so are people who can make good meals or carry block. If you would like to participate or get a group together to help on a project, contact Maranatha Volunteers International, 1600 Sacramento Inn Way, Suite 116, Sacramento, CA 95815; phone 916-920-1900; fax 916-920-3299. The following is a partial listing of upcoming projects.

Beverly Rumble and George Akers receive the MEXICO: November 10-26, 1994: construction of three churches-Central Distinguished Achievement Award from the Montemorelos, Colonia Anita, and Monterrey Sur. Educational Press Association at an awards cere- mony in Chicago. January 3-21, 1995: construction of three churches just over the U.S. border in the Mexicali, Baja California, area. Faith and Learning" issue. Akers is pro- February 1-18, 1995: school construction, Villahermosa, Tabasco (near fessor emeritus in the Department of Mayan ruins at Palenque). Teaching and Learning in the School of Group opportunities (20-35 people): February 22-March 11, 1995: school Education at Andrews University in building projects at Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche. Berrien Springs, Michigan. March 14-26, 1995: 14 church projects to choose from at Los Mochis, More than 1,500 entries were submit- Sinaloa. ted in the 1994 contest. This is the sec- ond time in four years that the journal, INDIA: January 1995: staff housing project for seminary in Roorkee. published five times a year, has received the Distinguished Achievement Award. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Group opportunities: 12 church building pro- Beverly Rumble is editor of The Journal jects. The needs are tremendous throughout this country. of Adventist Education.

28 (1188) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 S ' S

4'

A Letter From Grandma BY VALETA NASVALL Dear Children: on the corner of Hallelujah Avenue and in this world, but would play delight- Since I wrote you last we have begun Glory Street, with a porch on three sides fully together. to feel fall in the air here in the Sierra filled with flowers and hummingbirds. Just think of how God's light, which foothills. How we would enjoy sitting on the is much brighter than the sun, will shine I must tell you about Rascal, our lit- porch and watching all the many kinds on the iridescent colors of these tiny tle hummingbird. While working at the of hummers coming to drink from the feathered creatures. What a breathtaking kitchen sink, sitting in my wheelchair, I sweet colorful flowers. They sight that will be! saw Rascal swinging on the fuchsia would not quarrel and When I read in the Bible that "eye hath bush. He then flew 8 or 10 inches from scrap as they now do not seen, nor ear heard [of], ... the things the window and looked in at me, hover- which God hath prepared" for His chil- ing there for several moments. dren (1 Cor. 2:9), I can't help thinking of Suddenly he darted away. What a thrill how kind and thoughtful our heavenly to see him so close! Father is to create so many lovely With the weather changing and win- things for our pleasure—from ter coming, I thought maybe he had mighty, majestic mountains to the come to say thanks for the summer food tiniest hummer. we had provided. Soon he will begin But do you know what I want to see his migration south for the winter. Did most of all when I get to heaven? The you know tiny hummingbirds migrate lovely face of Jesus—and yours! all the way from Alaska to Mexico and I'll write you again in two weeks. farther south for the winter? We did not see him for a while and Love, thought he had gone. Grandpa said he Grandma was sure he saw Rascal flying south carrying a polka-dot knapsack on a stick over his left wing! But you know 1995 GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION Grandpa! Always kidding! He knows how fond I am of this little feathered AIR TICKETS, HOTEL ROOMS, TOURS 14 CARS creature. AIR TICKETS: Call ICM's air reservations desk at 800-327-8338, M-F 9am-5pm Eastern, to get the best air Suddenly one morning, as I entered fares to Holland. Inventory on peak travel dates are limited so don't delay. the kitchen, there he was at the feeder HOTELS: Rooms for individuals and groups available at all price levels. Reserve now for best selection. TOURS: Include an excellent guided tour inyour trip! Experience the Bible Lands Tour, or retrace the steps again. Even though the weather has not of the Reformation in the Great Controversy "Tour, or visit the capitals of Europe. Vegetarian meals, guides, been good, with high winds and fre- 4-15 days, from tourist to first class price levels. OFFICIAL BROCHURE: Get your copy of the Official 1995 GC Session Visitor's Brochure today for the latest quent rains, Rascal keeps busy guarding information about hotels, air fares, exciting tour options, discounted rental cars, charter buses, and much his territory. With increasing difficulty, more. To retrieve the brochure by fax 24 hours per day from ICM's fax-on-demand service, use your fax machine to call 305-662-1118, then follow the instructions from the voice menu, and request document #200. I might add. Another hummer chal- The brochure will be immediately transmitted to your fax while you are still connected. Or, call 305-662-6647 lenges him every day. I hear them call to have the brochure mailed to you. Call today. "Chee, chee, chee" and see them chase R A /, each other, darting around and around International in the rain. So far Rascal has main- Conference tained his position of authority—his C.) energy seems boundless. Management When Jesus comes and we all go 7152 SW 47th Street Miami, FL 33155 USA Voice. 305-662-6647 Fax: 305-666-7134 0 home with Him to heaven, I hope Information Access & Fax-on-Demand: 305-662-1118 OTRECIII •9S Grandpa and I can live in a large house

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1189) 29

t he South 4.4 American Division is

making plans to evangelize 27

unentered cities in Bolivia and

Peru (territories of the Inca Union).

This will be accomplished through rs in various means, including Bible course distribution and health /homas Medina took his family to Culebra, a small work. You can help make Global island off Puerto Rico with Mission a reality in unentered no Adventists. After months 1111\110), cities of these two countries. c o f selling religious books and studying the Bible with interested persons, Thomas and Global Mission won a #1301 victory. On May 28, 1994, Inca Union the first two Adventists on this formerly unentered island were baptized.

Received as of September 7, 1994 % 0 20 40 60 YOUTH EVANGELISM IN Goal: S50,000 EURO-ASIA #110: Still needed: S33.438 Hold 50 evangelistic series

BERLIN, GERMANY #411: Goal: $35,000 Fund evangelistic work among Still needed: S22,246 1 0 0 % Koreans and Muslims of your gift ISTANBUL #812: Establish an goes directly English language school to the project

INCA UNION #1301: Goal: 533,750 of your choice. Conduct lay evangelism in 27 Still needed: S33,750 unentered cities of Bolivia and Peru Monies exceeding the goal will Jo, NEW GUINEA #1415: automatically be assigned Goal: S8.796 to another similar project. Conduct border evangelism, Bible Still needed: S8,796 courses and health evangelism

II n C Please make your tax-deductible check payable to: Global Mission General Conference of SDA • 12501 Old Columbia Pike • r.Silver Spring MD 20904-6600 51-800-648-5824 R EFL EC T IONS

What Does God Want?

illie Jordan of the Fred Jordan Mission tative approval of others? If so, then the pur- Win the heart of Los Angeles believes her suit of it is uncommonly risky! Emotionally calling is not only to teach and preach Jesus' we can dangle over a cliff's edge all our lives! love to the forsaken people of the street but "to Yet strangely, considering the attention we be His love." give it, the word success isn't in the Bible as I'm warmed when I read of Thanksgiving often as faithfulness. tables filling streets blocked off by her volun- teers; of skid row Christmas with new toys, Letting Go sack dinners, and blankets; of Back-to-School When we're faithful, Jesus says, the burden is Day providing new clothes, school supplies, light. I like that. But if that's really what I want, vaccinations, and physical checkups. There isn't any I sense there's a trade-off. To avoid the stress of But as much as I enjoy these heartening "making it," I have to release the right to my accounts, I appreciate even more something successes. (Not legitimate satisfaction, but the Willie Jordan said. "well done" heady sense of status. Say it softly: the pride.) "I know when I stand before the Lord, I Does that sound hard? Perhaps it is. But I won't receive medals for feeding millions or get the feeling they're packaged together, the any of the other work of the mission," she recorded for a stress and the pride. observed. "You and I will be judged by the The prestigious ruler of Luke 18 decided to same thing: Was I faithful to what God called keep his sorrow so he could keep his success. me to do? Not necessarily successful, but faith- "good and Paul, on the other hand, decided to let go, ful? Daily, we need to walk in the excitement counting as "loss" the distinction he had and thrill of that calling."* gained. He traded it for peace. successful" What Paul understood, I must understand. New Direction There isn't any "well done" recorded for a Her words return to nudge me still. Is this "good and successful" servant. There isn't a what God wants of us? servant. kingdom gate wide enough to accommodate Not necessarily successful, but faithful. A me and my accomplishments. Only me. longtime victim of something we euphemize as Willie Jordan had it about right. "You and stress, I'm struck by the possible pertinence of I will be judged by the same thing: Was I these words to my life. Can it be that many of faithful?" my anxieties would be plucked up by the I'm beginning to see faithful as a liberating roots—gone—if I were to turn my attention word. It can free me from anxiety about suc- from success to faithfulness? ceeding, protect me against loss of self-worth At 94 Bernard Baruch was asked who he con- when I fail, and place me above the tyranny of sidered was the greatest person of the age. Baruch what people think. thought it was the parent who gets the children Faithful is a kingdom word. Releasing all off to school. The person who keeps the streets the trophies I have coveted or cherished, will I clean. The Unknown Soldier. Millions of people. enter in? I think he was right. In the biblical story of the talents, no one was commended more highly * Robin Jones Gunn, "To Touch the Least of These," Virtue, 1992, p. 26. than another for having done what he could with what he had. The only person reprimanded was Ann Burke is a poet and free- the one who shrank back, concerned over what lance writer living in Yucaipa, might happen if he didn't succeed. California. So what is this prize we call success? Peel back the wrappings and hold it up to the sun. For many of us, is it nothing more than the ten- BY ANN BURKE

ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 1994 (1191) 31 .17)ITH

The birth of our Savior. The Gospel. The Christmas Story. Every hour of the day, millions of people can learn the profound meaning of those moments in a manger. Millions whose only chance to hear about Jesus is by radio—Adventist World Radio. Thousands of those people now have their own Christmas stories to tell. Stories about their own new births in the Everlasting Gospel, as proclaimed all around the world, by AWR. Now you can read some of their inspiring "Christmas stories," and share those stories with others during this season of hope and faith. Get your free copy of the AWR Story Book. It's packed with 18 of the best, heart-warming stories about how God visits real people through the ministry of AWR. Write or call today. We'll send you a gift copy of this great little book. If your request comes with a donation for AWR, we'll send two copies, one for you and one you can give as a Christmas gift.

Call 1-800-337-4AWR, or write: AWR, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 AWR 8- Adventist World Radio Broadcasting the Good News about the New Birth since 1971. SUPPLEMENT TO THE ADVENTIST REVIEW REVELATION 12-14 The SAINTS' VICTolky in the End time

BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON The central prophecy of Revelation 12-14 provides the key to the entire book. Seventh-day Adventists have been greatly influenced by these chapters from the days of the pioneers, because here we find encapsulated our distinctive message and mission. The article that follows is an abridgement of the author's "The Saints' End-Time Victory Over the Forces of Evil," in volume 7 of the reports of the Daniel and Revelation Committee, Symposium on Revelation—Book II. This book, like others in the series, can be obtained from the Adventist Book Centers or the Biblical Research Institute, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600. An earlier insert on prophecy, "The Sanctuary and Its Cleansing," by Angel M. Rodriguez, gave an exposition of Daniel 8-9. It appeared in the September North American Division edition of the Adventist Review. Both these supplements, like all the papers produced for the Daniel and Revelation Committee, seek to establish truth on the basis of Scripture alone. The var- ious authors have high regard for the writings of Ellen White, but, like our pioneers, have worked first from the Bible itself.

II. Significance of the Passage America and its eventual repudiation of religious lib- erty, the universal Sunday decree, and the Vicarius Filli rom the earliest days of our movement Dei of the papal tiara.2 Ellen White gave her support to Seventh-day Adventists have considered the major lines of the pioneers' interpretation.' Revelation 12-14 a highly significant pas- In this paper we do not purpose to embark upon a sage. Quite recently it has attracted con- defense of Smith's exegesis, even as we are not primarily siderable attention among many other concerned with critiquing it. Our chief aim is to study Christians also. Revelation in its own right, so far as possible allowing "FThe books of Daniel and Revelation shaped the text to point the way to its own interpretation. Adventist self-understanding. Daniel 7-9 and Revelation Along with the secular apocalyptic many evangel- 12-14, with Revelation 14:6-12 in particular, gave our ical Christians show a new interest in eschatology. In pioneers a sense of prophetic identity and message. We particular, the theory of a secret rapture has gained call men and women back to the worship of the living widespread acceptance. While details vary, many in- God and away from that of the beast. Just as the beast terpretations of Revelation by adherents to the rapture from the earth in chapter 13 seeks to promote the beast attribute almost the entire book (4:2-19:21) to a from the sea and its worship, so the three angels of chap- seven-year period of antichrist that follows the "rap- ter 14 warn against this false confederacy and challenge ture" (itself supposedly indicated by Revelation 4:1— the world to give allegiance to the Creator of the heaven "Come up hither." With heightened expectations of and earth. Thus, in vital aspects Revelation 13 and 14 an imminent "rapture," the portrayal of antichrist in are counterparts, each inexplicable without considera- Revelation 12-14 assumes new prominence. tion of the other. Though to a lesser extent, chapter 12 Occasionally stories of a national conspiracy centering has been important to us also. We have looked to verse in the mystic number 666 (for example, involving the 17, coupled with Revelation 19:10, as a key text in our Internal Revenue Service of the United States) gain cre- self-understanding. dence.4 The classical work among us for the understanding Our study of Revelation 12-14, therefore, pro- of Revelation 12-14 is Uriah Smith's Thoughts on ceeds against the background of significant Adventist Daniel and the Revelation.' Here we find those inter- history and contemporary speculation. pretations so influential among the pioneers of the This paper does not take up issues of interpreta- young Seventh-day Adventist Church, cradled in North tion—the unity of Revelation, the nature of apocalyp- America: the Papacy, the rise of the United States of tic predictions, and the relation to the Old Testament.

Published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in cooperation with the Adventist Review, November 1994. Copyright © General Conference of SDA 1994. For a discussion of these issues, see "The Saints' End- riod from the perspective of the dragon. Instead of three Time Victory Over the Forces of Evil," pages 6-11. and one-half times, we read of 42 months of persecu- tion and blasphemy (as in 11:2—the period of this par- ticular reign of evil). The dragon, defeated in his efforts H. Consideration of Context against the Holy Child, unleashes his wrath against the We will notice both the immediate and the larger followers of the Child. He works through two particu- setting of chapters 12-14, as well as the thematic ele- lar agencies—the sea monster and the land monster. ments of the passage. B. Larger Setting A. Immediate Setting We also must see the passage in terms of the over- The passage is bounded by Revelation 11:19 and all development of the book. Scholars diverge widely 15:4. This section of Revelation comes in the midst of in their understanding of the pattern of Revelation. In the four septets—the seven churches, the seven seals, general, we find three views: (1) no pattern can be and the seven trumpets preceding it, and the seven found;6 (2) sequential, so that the visions show a pro- bowls following it. gression in time, each building on the previous one, While we find no mention of the number 7 in the from the time of John to the Second Coming;' and section, we may in fact see it in terms of seven scenes. (3) recapitulation, each vision going over the same The author's repeated "I saw" (or equivalent) marks off ground as the other.' the scenes (12:1-3; 13:1, 11; 14:1, 6, 14; 15:1). As we In my judgment, the most insightful solution so have already suggested, the section centers in con flict— far to this problem comes from Kenneth A. Strand of the forces of evil oppose the people of God but eventu- Andrews University. Alert to the literary patterns of ally the latter emerge victorious. We may title the the book, he sees Revelation as a chiasm and divides section "The Saints Victorious Over the Confederacy of Revelation into "historical" and "eschatological," Evil," and break down its constituent parts as follows: 15:1 being the turning point. Under the historical sec- 1. 12:1-17—The dragon's warfare against tion, the visions are to be interpreted essentially by the Christ and the woman. continuous-historical principle. From 15:1 to the close 2. 13:1-10—The sea beast's attacks on the saints. of the book, however, they focus on the events of the 3. 13:11-18—The land beast's confederacy with end. In this eschatological section the future is de- the sea beast against the saints. scribed in terms that frequently echo the historical 4. 14:1-5--The saints, God's loyal followers. portion of Revelation.' 5. 14:6-13—God's last warning to the world. 6. 14:14-20—The Second Coming, harvest of the world. III. literary Structure 7. 15:1-4—The saints triumphant.' Our considerations already in this paper indicate Two features of this context call for particular that chapters 13 and 14 bear a distinctive relationship comment. First, the entire vision of the conflict of the to each other. The literary structure underscores this forces of evil and the saints is set against the backdrop relationship: of the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary Chapter 13 closes with the account of those who (11:19). While each vision of Revelation has a heav- worship the beast in forehead or in hand, signifying ei- enly setting, the description of 11:19 marks an ad- ther voluntary or involuntary worship of the anti-God vance: in this vision people will choose either power. The description of this group is followed im- antichrist or Christ, so the "ark of the covenant" from mediately by a description of the people loyal to the outset reminds the reader of the worship of the God—the 144,000 who followed the Lamb wherever true God and His holy law. He goes. The contrast is radical and dramatic, the lit- Second, chapter 13 may be understood as the am- erary device is powerful. plification of 12:13-16. In both cases the dragon is per- Chapter 13 sets out the means used to propagate secuting the church, for 1260 days. Revelation the worship of the beast (verses 11-18). In chapter 14 12:13-16 presents this period from the perspective of God also communicates His invitation and warnings the people of God—how they are helped, their loyalty to the world: The three angels of verses 6-12 portray to God, and the period of their witness. As in Daniel the divine media blitz. 7:25, this period is "time, times, half a time." Thus, Revelation 13:11-18 and 14:1-12 show a Revelation 13 turns the coin, portraying the same pe- corresponding literary structure. The pattern is a chi-

3 astic (inverted parallelism) one. Strand has pointed out Result: The woman protected; dragon now the overall chiasms of Revelation: It seems clear that attacks her descendants" these structures extend to details. Apart from the interpretation of the symbols, the We may sketch the chiasms of Revelation 13:11- chief issue concerns the relationship of verses 7-12 to 14:12 as follows: the rest of the chapter. The first six verses present an ongoing narrative that breaks off abruptly with the be- ginning of verse 7 and continues in verse 13. What then are the role and temporal relationship of verses 7- A. B. B'. 13:11-15 13:16-18 14:1-5 14:6-12 12 to this narrative? We can better address these ques- Land beast's The followers The followers God's propaganda of the of the media tions after we have interpreted the main characters of about the sea beast Lamb blitz the chapter. sea beast 2. Symbols Commentators of Revelation 12 frequently point Our structure indicates that chapters 13 and 14 are out apparent similarities between the narrative of the counterparts, with chapter 12 providing the introduc- dragon, the woman and the child, and pagan myths. tion, backdrop, and summary of their content. For instance: Chapter 12 makes it plain that, while the people of That partial parallels can be found in the ancient God in their struggle against the confederacy of evil folklore of many nations cannot be denied. In Greek occupy center stage for most of the time, the leaders in mythology the pregnant goddess Leto, pursued by the the conflict are Christ and Satan. dragon Python, is brought safely to the island of As we have seen already, the chapter breaks in Ortygia (Delos, in a variant form of the myth) where Revelation 12-14 correspond to the main divisions of she gives birth to Apollo, who then returns and kills the passage. We therefore find it convenient to sepa- the dragon. In Egyptian mythology, the red dragon rate the exegesis by chapters. Set-Typhon pursues Isis and is later killed by Horus, her son. Babylonian myth tells of the overthrow of IV. Exegesis Tiamat, the seven-headed water monster, by Marduk, the young god of light.12 A. Revelation 12 While John was probably aware of such imagery 1. Outline in the thought world of his day, it seems much more Chapter 12 falls into three distinct sections: likely that the symbols of Revelation 12, like those a. The leaders in the struggle between good and elsewhere in the book, are shaped by the Old evil (verses 1-6) Testament rather than by pagan mythology. Setting: Heaven (sky?)10 a. Dragon Main characters: Radiant woman, dragon, The dragon, the chief villain of Revelation 12, is the woman's child identified for us in this chapter. The description of Chief action: Dragon waits to devour the verse 9 designates it as the ancient serpent, the devil, newborn child Satan, and the deceiver of the whole world. This four- Result: Child caught up to heaven, woman fold account is significant for the interpretation of flees into wilderness chapter 12 and the entire passage, chapters 12-14. b. Conflict in heaven (verses 7-12) The ancient "serpent" takes us back to the account Setting: Heaven of the temptation and Fall in Genesis 3—an allusion Main characters: Michael and His angels, the which, I will suggest later, is significant for understand- devil and his angels ing this chapter. "Devil" (diabolos) means slanderer, Action: Cosmic warfare and in the next verse the dragon is described as the ac- Result: Satan and angels defeated, cast out cuser of the brothers, who accuses them day and night into the earth before God. "Satan" originally meant "adversary" and c. The dragon pursues the woman (verses 13-17) Satan is the adversary, the prosecutor who accuses Setting: Earth God's people in the heavenly court. Finally, "the de- Main characters: The woman, the dragon, ceiver" prepares us for Revelation 13, where Satan will the woman's descendants work through his cohorts, the sea beast and the land Action: Ongoing persecution by the dragon beast, to subvert the entire world to his worship.

4 Revelation 12:3 describes the dragon as having the efforts of Satan to destroy Christ and His mission seven heads and 10 horns with crowns on its heads. throughout the entire period of His ministry. The allusion is to Daniel 7:7. Revelation 17:9 and 10 d. Time periods indicates that the heads represent kingdoms through The time periods mentioned in the chapter are which Satan has worked to oppress God's people nowhere defined. The information given, however, is throughout the ages. Revelation 13:1 marks an inter- helpful in several ways: esting development: here the sea beast, which also has (1) The parallel descriptions in verses 6 and 14 seven heads and 10 horns, has crowns on its horns make clear that "1260 days" is equivalent to "time, rather than on its heads. The sea beast, however, re- times, and half a time." ceives from the dragon its power, seat, and authority. (2) These time references not only link the prophecy of chapters 12-14 with Revelation 11:2, 3 b. Woman and 13:5, but lock in this dramatic central vision of The radiant woman stands in peril of the dragon. Revelation with the book of Daniel (Dan. 7:25; 12:7). Although she is not specifically identified in Revelation (3) The year-day relationship cannot be estab- 12, the account makes the meaning clear. Encircled lished from this chapter; however, the description in- with the radiance of sun, moon, and stars, bearer of the dicates that literal time is not intended. The 1260 Holy Child, she is the object of the dragon's wrath. The days/three and a half times era represents a specific pe- dragon seeks to attack her at the time of the birth and riod when God providentially cared for His faithful subsequently pursues her relentlessly; but she is helped ones in the face of Satan's persecutions. That period miraculously. The woman represents God's faithful of does not extend to the Second Coming. The vision all ages, although the thrust of Revelation 12 is the pe- makes clear that after the 1260 days/three and a half riod subsequent to the coming of Jesus Christ. times the dragon will concentrate its efforts on the Zion as the mother of the people of God is a com- woman's descendants. mon biblical theme (see Isa. 54:1; Gal. 4:26). We often find the church likened to a pure woman or a bride.13 e. Deliverance In Revelation the radiant woman of chapter 12 stands The deliverance (nourishment) of the woman is in- in stark contrast with the whore of chapter 17 decked terwoven with Exodus typology. Satan's pursuit is out in gold, scarlet, and precious stones. similar to Pharaoh's chasing after the children of Israel The order of the symbols in Revelation 12 is sig- as they fled from Egypt (Ex. 14:8). The two wings of nificant for understanding the entire passage chapters the great eagle remind us of Exodus 19:4 and 12-14. We immediately meet the woman and the Deuteronomy 32:10, 11. God rained down bread dragon that opposes her; the vision does not start with from heaven and nourished His people in the desert the heavenly conflict between the forces of good and (see Ex. 16:4ff.; cf. Hosea 2:14). evil. The theme that runs throughout chapter 12, sur- Although some commentators have endeavored to facing even in the central section verses 7-12, is the pinpoint specific places on earth, such as North dragon's relentless pursuit of God's people, and their America, as the fulfillment of these verses, it seems faithfulness to God despite all its efforts. more likely that the intent is this: God assures the suf- fering Christians that no matter how fierce the trials c. Child they may be called upon to bear, He is watching over The woman's Child likewise leaves us in no His church and will sustain them. doubt. A male, He will rule all nations with an iron rod (cf. Ps. 2:9; Rev. 19:11-15). Further, He was f. Offspring caught up to God and to His throne. The description The expression denoting the rest of her descen- points conclusively to the incarnation of the Son of dants (verse 17) focuses the intent of chapter 12—and God. The graphic account focuses on the dragon's ef- indeed of Revelation 12-14. Panoramic in sweep, the forts to devour the child at the moment of birth, re- full passage embraces the history of God's people from minding us of Herod's slaughter of the infants at the coming of Christ to the end of all things, but con- Bethlehem. centrates on the trials they will face in the end-time. It seems likely, however, that more than this grim 3. War in Heaven incident is intended. Just as the account passes over What is the relation of verses 7-12 to the rest of the ministry of Jesus and His crucifixion, collapsing the chapter? Two distinct possibilities of interpreta- the entire Christ-event into this one incident, so tion confront us. Herod's effort to destroy the Christ child encapsulates a. We may understand these verses as an inter-

5 ruption of the narrative. Verses 7-12, placed in a dif- The following table gives insight into the strong ferent time setting, describe the casting out of Satan dualism that undergirds this section of Revelation. and his angels from heaven long before the events de- scribed in verses 1-6.14 Forces of Good Forces of Evil Under this interpretation, verses 7-12 would func- tion as a "flashback" that helps to explain the ongo- Michael (12:7) Dragon (12:7; 13:2) ing story of chapter 12. These verses would show that Lamb (12:11; 14:1) Beast (13:1) Angels of Michael (12:7) Angels of the dragon (12:7) the conflict on earth has wider ramifications; it is the Mt. Zion (14:1) Seashore (13:1) sequel to, and continuation of, war in heaven. Voice of many waters (14:2) Sea (13:1) b. However, we may understand verses 7-12 in a 3% times of witness (12:6, 14) 42 months of success (13:5) different light, finding in them the heavenly counter- 144,000 (14:1) "Earth-dwellers" (13:12-16) part to Christ's victory on the cross. Several reasons Father's name (14:1) Name of beast (13:17) argue persuasively for such an interpretation: Throne of God (12:5; 14:3) Throne of beast (13:2) (1) Verses 1-6 and 13-17 clearly run in continu- Foreheads (14:1) Foreheads (13:16) Worship of God (14:6, 7) Worship of beast (13:8) ous narrative. Praise to God (14:3) Praise to beast (13:4) (2) Verses 6 and 14 correspond to each other. Glory to God (14:6, 7) Blasphemy (13:1, 5, 6) These verses act like bookends around verses 7-12, Death to enemies (14:17-20) Death to enemies (13:15) which explain the nature of the conflict between the Loyalty to God (14:12) Allegiance to beast (13:14-17) woman and the dragon described in verse 6 and in Without guile (14:5) Deception (13:14, 15) verses 13-17. Call to exalt God (14:6-12) Call to exalt beast (13:12-17) (3) Verse 13 links the casting out of the dragon Universal invitation (14:6) Universal compulsion (13:12) Mass allegiance (14:16) into the earth with its persecuting of the woman who Faithful remnant (12:17) had borne the Child. That is, the dragon's failure to destroy the Christ child seems to be equated with its Thus, in Revelation 13 the lines are drawn sharply. defeat in the heavenly warfare of verses 7-9. Two leaders, two forces, two religions are portrayed. (4) Verse 10 tells us that with the casting out of The world is divided into two camps—and only two. Satan, salvation, power, God's kingdom, and the au- b. Conflict thority of Christ have come. The element of conflict is prominent. We read of Verses 7-12 seem to echo two other scriptures in war in heaven itself, then war on earth. Although the particular. As Jesus told of His coming death and its dragon is unsuccessful in his schemes to devour the Holy results, He said, "Now is the judgment of this world, Child, he pursues his evil efforts by attacking the fol- now shall the ruler of this world be cast out" (John lowers of the Child. He seeks to compel, to deceive, to 12:31). The second passage is Genesis 3:15: "I will put threaten, and to annihilate, working now through the enmity between you and the woman, and between two monsters set forth in Revelation 13. He aims at a your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and world system in which he himself will be the object of you shall bruise his heel." worship. Any and all who get in the way of the fulfill- Revelation 12:7-12 describes the bruising of Satan's ment of his schemes are to be singled out and eliminated. head, as he suffers irreversible defeat from Christ's vic- In this conflict God is not quiescent. As deceptions tory on the cross; just as verses 1-6 allude to his bruising and threats of boycott and execution multiply, He of Christ's heel. Other verses of the New Testament works through His people, who stand fast by "the refer to Christ's victory over the hosts of evil angels commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" through His death (Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22; Jude 6).15 (14:12). They too seek to win the world—but for the B. Revelation 13 Lamb instead of the dragon. They fearlessly unmask deceptions of the draconic forces, declare the 1. Symbols bankruptcy of the system of pseudo-religion which the Leaving aside speculations about allusions to the dragon through his agents seeks to bring about, and mythical Leviathan and Behemoth, we shall probe the sound a warning of unqualified doom on those who, religious patterns or structures that the symbols portray. by will or by expediency, become part of the universal a. Dualism draconic movement. Revelation 13 is a striking chapter. Seen in its im- mediate context the vivid imagery suggests dualism, c. Parody conflict, and parody. The element of parody is heightened in Revelation 6 13. We see an unholy trinity emerging: the dragon, the century would have found contemporary significance sea monster, and the land monster. The parallels are in the symbols of Revelation 13. A small, illicit sect, striking, particularly between the sea beast and the they would have seen satanic forces and designs be- Lamb. Both receive a stroke ("deadly wound"—but hind the might of imperial Rome, raised against them the monster receives it in the head); both experience a by Nero and Domitian and to fall ever more heavily in "resurrection"; both have a "sanctuary" (the heavenly the succeeding 200 years. We notice a strong move- as opposed to the earth itself); both have followers; ment from Romans 13 to Revelation 13. In the former both elicit worship. Perhaps, even the cryptic number the state is ordained of God, but in the latter it has be- of the sea beast, 666, is designated to heighten the par- come an agent of Satan. ody. The number 6 (in contrast with the number 7 and Perhaps they saw also elements of the imperial completeness) may represent imperfection, deception, cult (worship of the emperor) behind the land beast and blasphemy tripled, raised to a heightened degree. whose efforts were directed toward the exaltation of The third member of the satanic trilogy apes the the sea beast. The combination of religion and state work of the Holy Spirit. This two-horn monster arises portrayed by Revelation 13 would have evoked echoes out of the earth, which had helped the woman (12:16), of their current experiences. and has the appearance of a lamb. But he serves the Having made these observations, however, we sea beast, performing miracles (note that the fire from must raise this question: No matter what applications heaven of these deceptions has its counterpart in the Christians of the first century or later may have seen fire of the two faithful witnesses of Revelation 11:5), in Revelation 13, are these the fulfillment of the and thereby deceiving the earth-dwellers. prophecy itself? We turn, then, to the historicist inter- Thus, Revelation 13 sets out the dragon's messiah pretation of the passage. and his representative. The satanic trinity, their activ- 3. Historic Fulfillment ities, their claims, their worship, their following—all Revelation 13 is built around four leading sub- caricature God, His being, His character, His church, jects—the sea beast, the land beast, the "mark," and His worship.16 the cryptic number 666. We shall take up each in turn. At this first level, then—the level of general sym- bolism—Revelation 13 is a graphic description of the a. Sea Beast (verses 1-10) great controversy between good and evil. Ellen White We note the characteristics of the sea beast as occasionally uses such general symbolism. For exam- brought out in the passage: ple, "Antichrist, meaning all who exalt themselves (1) It arises from the sea. The dragon is pictured against the will and work of God, will at the ap- as awaiting the appearance of the beast from the sea in pointed time feel the wrath of Him who gave Himself order that it (the dragon) may advance its evil plans. that they might not perish but have eternal life.'' The dragon stands at the meeting of land and sea. One Revelation shows the conflict between good and of its agents will come from the sea and the other from evil is universal and reaches even into heaven itself. It the land. By this means the worldwide scope of the teaches that force, deception, and supernatural phe- draconic activity is indicated. nomena are brought to bear on all those who seek to (2) The beast that arises from the sea is termed a worship the true God. It indicates that there can be no therion (13:11). This term is used for wild animals, for neutrality in this controversy, that we give our alle- rapacious beasts, for animal-like beings of a supernat- giance to either Christ or Satan. And it also points to ural kind." In view of the use of this word and the ac- the outcome of the conflict: Although the followers of tivities of the beast, we are justified in calling it the Christ suffer hardship and persecution on earth be- "sea monster." cause of their faith, final victory will be theirs. (3) The sea monster has ten horns and seven 2. The Meaning for John's Day heads. In this respect it is like the dragon himself Christians in every time and place may take the (12:3) and the beast of Revelation 17 (verse 11). symbolic patterns we have suggested above and find (4) The sea monster has diadems on its horns; the significance for their times. Because the great contro- dragon has them on its heads. In Revelation 17 a beast versy is agelong and universal, the principles of of similar appearance is uncrowned (verse 3). Revelation 13 find repeated applications in the history (5) The sea monster has a blasphemous name on of God's people. Scripture always functions thus to in- its heads. The beast of Revelation 17 is full of blas- struct, admonish, and comfort the people of God. phemous names (17:3). No doubt Christians living at the end of the first (6) The sea monster has characteristics of a leop-

7 ard, a bear, and a lion. Thus, it is a composite of the preceding the Return, be aided by the land monster. beasts of Daniel 7, in both types and number (the beasts We previously have given reasons in support of a of Daniel 7 together form seven heads and ten horns). historicist interpretation of the vision. Inasmuch as the (7) From the waiting dragon, the sea monster re- majority of commentators still adopt a preterist view, ceives its power, throne, and authority (13:1-2). however, it is necessary to point out that no satisfac- (8) One of its heads received a deadly stroke tory fulfillment in the first century A.D. can be ad- (plege).19 This wound was not merely on one head; the vanced. Attempts to identify the "deadly stroke" with monster itself was stricken unto death (verse 14). In the reigns of Caligula or Nero fall short of the specifi- order to catch the force of the parody we must realize cation of the prophecy. The Roman Empire simply that the expression used for the blow, hos esphagmen, was not mortally hurt by the rule or death of either of is identical with the description of the slain Lamb of these or any other emperor. In a nutshell, historians Revelation (13:8; 5:6). In 13:14 this stroke is said to search in vain for a first-century event big enough to be "by the sword." fit the vision. Some scholars of Revelation are now ad- (9) The severe blow was healed. The recovery of mitting the untenability of the preterist position.22 the monster from its mortal stroke is like a resurrec- If we rule out the preterist view, we are left with tion from the dead (13:14). three options for understanding the vision: John's (10) The recovery of the sea monster causes won- view of the future was wrong, his predictions will yet der (verse 3). find fulfillment (futurism), or we must find develop- (11) Earth dwellers worship the dragon because of ments in history on a scale large enough to match the the sea monster (verse 4). specifications of the vision. Accepting Revelation as (12) They worship also the monster itself because inspired, we reject the first option; we previously of its seeming invincibility: "Who is able to fight with showed the weakness of the futurist view; we therefore it?" (verse 4). look to a historicist position. (13) The beast exercises authority for 42 months An objection often raised against historicism is (verse 5). We are not to consider that this 42-month that it is too subjective—every interpreter finds fulfill- period begins after the healing of the fatal wound. ment in the newspaper headlines." We grant the prob- Rather verses 5-10 of the chapter are in parallel lem of subjectivity and admit that this school of thought with verses 1-4. The first four verses intro- interpretation has suffered at times from misuse. But duce the sea monster and give an overall description; we suggest that we are on safer ground when we adopt the following six verses repeat the account by elabo- a broad view, a wide perspective in scanning history to rating and explaining. understand the prophecy. (14) The sea monster speaks "great things" (close In my view, Daniel 7-8 provide the key to parallels with Daniel 7:8, 11, 20, 25). Revelation 13. The correspondences are impressive in (15) The sea monster blasphemes God: it blas- activities and time period: Revelation is echoing phemes His name, His sanctuary, and those who dwell Daniel and elaborating upon it. We are given a clue in heaven." "Those who dwell in heaven" stands in too obvious to miss in the composite character of the contrast with "those who dwell on earth" in verses 8, sea monster: Revelation 13 presupposes the vision of 12, 14. Daniel 7. As the latter chapter points to the line of (16) The sea monster fights against the saints and kingdoms and focuses on the blasphemous "little overcomes them for 42 months (verses 5, 7). horn" power, so Revelation 13 begins with a terse de- (17) It has universal authority (verses 7, 8). scription that locks the vision in with Daniel's (18) The edothe (it was allowed) of verses 5, 7 prophecy and elaborates the very same power. shows that, while the sea monster seeks to win the al- Seventh-day Adventists have pointed to the rise legiance of the world and to rule over all, any power and work of the papacy as a fulfillment of these two that it has comes about only by God's permissive de- visions. Our pioneer interpreters of Daniel and cree. It has no inherent right to rule or worship.21 Revelation showed clearly its religious-political na- Interpretation. This description of the sea monster ture, its usurpation of the priesthood of Christ in the and his activities is remarkably full. We are to look for heavenly sanctuary, its persecution of "heretics," its a religiopolitical power to arise between John's time and period of supremacy during the Middle Ages, its de- the Second Coming—one that will continue for "42 cline with the coming of the Age of Reason, and its months," demand and command widespread allegiance, resurgence in modern times.24 go into decline, recover, and in the events immediately To interpret the sea monster of Revelation 13 as

8 the papacy seems somewhat out of keeping with the actual kings and kingdoms in history as oppressors of spirit of the times. In an age when Christianity in gen- the saints and the fulfillment of the vision. On the eral faces the onslaughts of secularism and when among other hand, the numerology of seven and ten suggests Christians ecumenism has become popular, the interpre- rather that the totality of political agencies is in view, tation smacks of narrowness and bigotry. In response since Satan always employs political powers to pro- we suggest that three factors must be kept in mind: mote his purposes.29 First, we differentiate between individual believers The detail concerning the diadems is probably sig- and the papacy. The latter is a system of doctrine and nificant. They are on the dragon's heads, but on the worship which the prophecy addresses. We do not raise sea beast's horns. Again Daniel 7 gives us the clue: The questions as to the sincerity and piety of individual change or new development may be due to the lapse of Roman Catholics. Second, if the interpretation seems time. Satan's depredations through the sea monster harsh we should remember that the Protestant come long after his efforts to kill the holy Child. The Reformers were persuaded of its validity.25 Finally, we description of the sea beast in the Greek text lists the need a long view of history, one that is able to hold to- horns before the heads (a unique detail when com- gether the sweep of developments from John's day to pared with the other descriptions of these similar- ours, one that is not unduly distorted by our own times. looking figures, Rev. 12:3; 17:3) and thus also draws Before leaving the exposition of Revelation 13:1- attention to this change in emphasis. 10 we should briefly notice a major objection to our b. Land Monster (verses 11-17) interpretation. At times adherents to the preterist view The second beast of Revelation 13 is of interest have argued that the Revelation 17 beast provides the because of its relation to the sea monster. The de- identity of the sea beast in Revelation 13. They suggest scription of its activities focuses to just one point: It that the seven heads and ten horns show that the same functions to exalt the sea monster. It is, in fact, the power is referred to. It is argued that the description— alter ego of the first beast. In pursuing this goal its the seven heads are . . . seven kings, five of whom have hallmark is deception. It is called the "false prophet" fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come—clearly in Revelation 16:13, and the false prophet who does locates the beast in John's own century. miracles in Revelation 19:20. This solution is not as watertight as it first ap- These features of the second beast will become ob- pears, however. First, we should beware of collapsing vious as we list its characteristics from Revelation the visions of Revelation 13 and 17. The fact that the 13:11-17: sea beast is crowned while the beast of chapter 17 is (1) It also is termed therion (wild animal). Despite not should alert us to differentiation. Second, neither docile appearances to the contrary, the second beast in the "mountains"26 (verse 9) nor the "kings" (verse 10) fact is rapacious in nature. We may term it the land identify Rome, as some scholars now recognize.27 monster to bring out this hostile character (verse 11). Commentators cannot agree as to the identity of the 5 (2) It arises out of the earth (verse 11). At times + 1 + 1, nor can the Roman emperors be made to fit Seventh-day Adventist commentators have contrasted the subsequent descriptions in 17:11-17. Third, under earth with sea (verse 1), suggesting that whereas the lat- Strand's analysis of Revelation, the vision of chapter ter signifies densely populated areas, the former refers to 17 comes within the "eschatological" section. That is, uninhabited regions. This interpretation may be correct. the sea monster of chapter 13 exhibits characteristics "Earth" (ge), however, has several distinct usages that will be seen again in the forces of evil that coa- in Revelation." It seems likely that we are to under- lesce immediately before the Second Coming.28 stand "earth" in 13:11 from the description of the What then of the seven heads and ten horns of the dragon's attacks on the woman in chapter 12. Here we dragon and the sea monster? The dragon, alone of the read that "the earth came to the help of the woman" unholy trilogy of Revelation 13, is identified—it is (verse 16). The fact that the beast of Revelation 13:11 Satan (12:9). The sea beast is Satan's agent; this is why arises out of the land, then, would be in keeping with the "earth dwellers" actually worship Satan as they its deceptive character. The vision is saying, in the re- worship the sea monster. gion of apparent safety the dragon will work decep- With both entities, the seven heads and ten horns tively to continue its warfare against the woman. echo the beasts of Daniel 7, suggesting by this sym- It therefore seems reasonable to infer that "earth" bolism the political powers through which Satan in verse 11 is the complement of "sea" in verse 1, both works to further his ends. It may be the case that we together signifying the universal sphere of the draconic should endeavor to locate seven actual nations and ten depredations. Such a view is supported by 12:12- 9 "Woe to you, 0 earth and sea, for the devil has come United States of America a fulfillment of the land down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his beast. They pointed to features such as the two horns, time is short!" representing a republican form of government and re- (3) The land monster has two horns like a lamb ligious liberty. They also saw in nineteenth-century de- (verse 11). Presumably the horns are in keeping with velopments, such as Sunday laws, evidence that the the deceptive nature of the land monster—instead of dragonlike character of certain religious elements of draconic horns, it apes the Lamb. the United States was being unmasked. (4) Nevertheless its true nature reveals itself. The Let us frankly acknowledge that the full under- kai (and) is adversative: "[But] it spoke as a dragon" standing of the fulfillment of this prophecy of the land (verse 11). Like the sea beast, the second beast is an monster still awaits us. The first monster's activities as agent of the devil in its attacks on the church. set out in Revelation 13 have already been fulfilled, (5) Authority: The land beast exercises all the and history witnesses to the papacy as the power des- authority of the first beast and in its presence (verse ignated. Significant features of the second monster's 12). deceptions are not yet clear, however—especially the (6) It compels the "earth dwellers" to worship miracles that cause many to be led astray, and the the sea beast, that has been healed from the mortal "image" to the sea monster. Further, the vision indi- stroke (verse 12). cates a stage of action which embraces the whole (7) It does "great miracles" (as in 19:20), caus- world. A Sunday law applicable only to the United ing fire to come down from heaven (verse 13). The na- States clearly is inadequate. How the entire mass of ture of this "fire" is unclear; presumably it is the humanity will be drawn into the vortex of deception is satanic counterpart to the signs performed by the two not apparent at present. witnesses (11:5). By these remarks we do not suggest that the inter- (8) The miracles of the land monster deceive the pretation of our spiritual forefathers was wrong. The "earth dwellers" (verse 14). United States occupies a unique place in world affairs, (9) It causes an "image" to be made to the sea one far greater than nineteenth-century observers monster and gives it breath in order that it might could have anticipated. In this respect the Adventist pi- "speak" (verses 14, 15). oneers had foresight well ahead of their contempo- (10) It enforces worship of the image of the sea raries. We merely suggest that the full disclosure of the monster, on pain of death (verse 15). meaning of the land monster still awaits us and that the (11) Thus, it brings about a parody of the uni- final deceptive activities of the great controversy, while versal church, by causing people of all stations in life heavily involving the United States, will be worldwide. to adopt its pseudoworship (verse 16). c. Mark of the Beast (12) It enforces a "mark" which is termed the The Greek charagma signifies an imprinted mark, "name" of the sea beast and the "number of his a graven mark or line, character, inscription.31 name," by boycotting those who refuse to accept it In the description of Revelation 13:16, 17 the mark (verses 16-18). identifies the followers of the sea monster. It is enforced (13) Like the sea monster before it, the activities by the land monster who seeks thereby to separate and of the land beast do not stem from inherent right or eliminate all who refuse to receive the mark. The boy- authority. They come about only because God has cott described in verse 18 is not for the purpose of caus- permitted them edothe, "allowed," (verses 14, 15, ing hardship to the saints. Rather, it is to expose them RSV). But that permission implies its eventual with- publicly, so that they may be killed (verse 15). drawal. Later in Revelation the land beast, also de- Christians suffering under the persecutions of the scribed as the deceptive false prophet of the end-time, imperial cult would have seen in the certificates of will meet an inglorious fate (chap. 19:20). conformity an application of the "mark" of Interpretation. Can we identify this second mon- Revelation 13. The setting of the "mark," however— ster of Revelation 13? The vision indicates that we are just prior to the Second Advent—shows that its full to look for a major power that will, by deceptive meaning is yet future. means, further the cause of the papacy. Further, this What is this "mark"? It centers in the name of the power will appear toward the close of human history, sea monster. This is shown by the following: We may after the period of the "42 months" of papal might. It translate the phraseology in verse 17 as "the mark the is to be a power that is avowedly religious in function. name of the monster or the number of its name"; the Our Adventist pioneers saw in the rise of the monster has a blasphemous name (13:1); the saints are

10 victorious over the monster, its image, and "the num- C. Revelation 14 ber of its name" (15:2); and the saints have the names of the Father and of the Lamb written in their fore- 1. Outline Like chapter 12, chapter 14 falls into three dis- heads (14:1). The "mark," then, centers in loyalty. It is the tinct sections. We may see more readily the construc- tion and thematic flow of the chapter from the counterpart of the "seal of God" of chapter 7. In the following diagram. final events of Planet Earth, as the entire human race is divided into just two camps, one group will give al- legiance to the sea monster and the other, despite all Earth's Final Generation opposition, will remain loyal to God. The "mark" and the "seal" respectively identify all people. A. The People Loyal to God (14:1-5) In that final crisis the commandments of God will 1. Their leader—the Lamb emerge as a standard of loyalty (12:17; 14:6-12). The 2. Their place—Mount Zion Sabbath in particular will be the litmus test; one's rela- 3. Their number-144,000 tionship to it will disclose his basic relationship to God 4. Their character—undefiled and His law. Thus, while the nonobservance of the 5. Their devotion—follow the Lamb Sabbath- or Sunday-observance is not the "mark" per se just now, both are integral to its end-time enforce- B. God's Media Blitz (14:6-12) ment. The Sabbath, anciently the "sign" of the people 1. First angel—judgment announced of God (Ex. 31:13; Eze. 20:20), will again come to the 2. Second angel—judgment delineated fore to show the world those who put God first. 3. Third angel—judgment described (Parenthetical Aside-14:13) d. Cryptic Number 666 C. Earth's Final Harvest (14:14-20) No verse of Revelation has attracted more atten- 1. Harvest of the righteous tion than this. Yet only here does it occur in the book 2. Harvest of the wicked and only one other allusion is made to it (15:2). Further, despite the many attempts to decipher it, no consensus has been reached. 2. Leading Ideas In my view, the following observations are pertinent: In this section we will isolate the key terms and (1) arithmos gar anthropou estin (literally, "for a themes of Revelation 14, attempting to explain them number of a man it is") may mean either "it is a human and their role in the development of the passage. number," or "it is the number of a man." The former is a. The Lamb to be preferred, since the vision is identifying the sea This term, the chief designation for Christ in monster, who is clearly a religiopolitical power and Revelation, occurs 28 times in the book. It is a mar- more than an individual. Attempts to see Nero(n) as the velous choice. When we stand back, as it were, and be- fulfillment of the prophecy have erred at this point." hold the panorama of the book, with the forces of evil (2) Computations that require a change of lan- parading as a series of monsters, we catch our breath guage, doing the arithmetic in Hebrew or Latin, also at the Lord's answer to these evil, rapacious crea- seem to go beyond the text. tures—a Lamb! Furthermore, a slain Lamb? (3) Attempts to argue from the triangular" are As Revelation 14 opens, the contrast with chapter even more unlikely. 13 is brilliantly effective. Instead of the land and sea Any explanation of the cryptic number will have we find Mount Zion; instead of force, deception, and to be tentative. Many Seventh-day expositors have religious persecution we see the Lamb. thought that the alleged inscription vicarius filii dei on We should notice that the Greek term here for the papal tiara is the name indicated by the prophecy; "lamb," as throughout Revelation, is arnion. The term however, more than 80 years ago W. W. Prescott for the sacrificial lamb in John's Gospel, however, is showed how flimsy is the historical evidence for this amnos (John 1:29, 36). The Lamb of Revelation de- interpretation.34 In my view the text suggests that 666 rives His authority from His sacrificial death (see chap. is the code for the name of the sea monster, which is 5:6-13), but "Lamb" by no means denotes weakness. blasphemy. It points to a parody of perfection: imper- Arnion points to martial characteristics: The Lamb is fection upon imperfection, despite the beast's mon- leader of the hosts of heaven and the people loyal to strous claims. God on earth. The very title "Lamb" encapsulates the

11 paradoxical nature of the good: apparently helpless but Babylon, and warn against the worship of the beast. in reality enormously strong, struggling with deception d. Three Angels' Messages and oppression, and victorious at last. Revelation 14 is much more concerned with the first three angels than with the second three. We should b. The 144,000 note especially three aspects of the first three—the time As the beast has its number, a cryptic number sig- of their messages, their scope, and their content: nifying parody and imperfection, so God has the num- (1) Time. That the messages of Revelation 14:6- ber of His people. That number points to complete- 12 are to be located in the period immediately preced- ness. On the basis of the parallel occurrence (Rev. 7:4- ing the return of Jesus and not throughout the 17) it seems unlikely that a literal interpretation is in- Christian Era is shown by two lines of evidence in the tended."' passage. First, the messages call men and women to The 144,000 are characterized by: worship God instead of the beast and its image. (1) A Christlike character. They bear the name of Revelation 13, however, has shown that the image of the Lamb and the name of the Father in their fore- the beast comes into being only after the "42-month" heads—no "hand" mark for them. (1260 years) period of the beast's supremacy. Second, (2) Undefiled. In a world that has prostituted true the three messages are followed by the Second worship, they are pure in heart. "Virgins" (or, Coming—which coming is described in terms of judg- "chaste") signifies fidelity to God (cf. Rev. 2:14, 20), ment on those who have chosen allegiance to the beast not celibacy. rather than to God. (3) Guileless. The beast and its image (chap. 13) (2) Scope. Proclamation from midheaven, show- are characterized by deception, force, and mystery; ing the force of the impact; worldwide in reach, but the 144,000 by openness, clarity, and honesty. crosses continents and barriers of ethnicity, language, (4) Experience. The song of the 144,000 stems and culture. from the conflict through which they have passed. (3) Content. In a later part of the exposition, They have "conquered the beast and its image and the where we specify the characteristics of God's people as number of its name" (15:2). Their loyalty has been revealed in Revelation 14, we will elaborate aspects of tested and refined in the crisis of the end-time. the content of the messages of Revelation 14:6-12. (5) Devotion to the Lamb. They have put the Here we merely list items of that content: Lamb first on earth, choosing to be identified with Him in face of opposition, argument, hardship, and An eternal gospel denial; now they follow the Lamb wherever He goes. False religious systems repudiated c. Angels Judgment-hour message Six angels are mentioned in this chapter, the first Warnings against beast, image, mark three proclaiming God's invitations and warnings to A call to put God first the world just before the Second Coming, the last Commandments of God three reaping the harvest of earth. Presumably these Creation two sets of three correspond—divine judgments fol- Faith of Jesus low divine messages.36 Unquestionably, the angel figures of the chapter (4) Judgment. In Revelation, God's judgments are are symbolic. The last two angels are portrayed in a put squarely in the future. Far from being something scene from the grape harvest—except that in the last already done at the cross, the time of divine judgment verse of the chapter the "juice" flowing from the wine- is the time when God intervenes to wrap up the great press of God's wrath is blood! When Christ returns He controversy. The people of God, in Revelation often Himself is the reaper and angels assist Him (cf. Matt. shown as a suffering, persecuted minority, long for 13:24-30, 36-43). God's judgment. God's judging will be the time of Likewise with the first three angels of Revelation their vindication as the oppressing forces will be put to 14. They portray three divine messages that are to en- rout (Rev. 6:9-11). circle the globe (we should remember that the Greek Revelation 14:7 announces that the time of God's aggelos is not restricted to angel figures: its basic mean- judgment has come. The context of Revelation 12-14, ing is "messenger" or "envoy"). These messages in as well as the other occurrences of the judgment theme turn call the last-time generation back to the worship in the book,37 indicate that the fulfillment of this mes- of the living God, declare the bankruptcy of spiritual sage must be in the period just before the Second

12 Coming. It will be after the 42 months of the sea mon- all systems and schemes, avowedly religious or other- ster's oppressive rule (Rev. 13:1-10) and yet before the wise, that run counter to allegiance to Christ. return of Jesus (Rev. 14:14). Seventh-day Adventists believe that they are pro- Thus, the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of the claiming the three angels' messages predicted in preadvent judgment, usually called the investigative Revelation 14. The first and second angels' messages judgment, finds confirmation in Revelation 14. seemed especially significant to the Advent believers in Although the time element is not as specific as Daniel the 1843-1844 period. They felt the force of the time 8:14, it dovetails with that prophecy. element that located their day in the prophetic time (5) Worship. This is a leading motif of Revelation scheme. They observed the repudiation of the preach- 14. The 144,000, who follow the Lamb wherever He ing of the Second Coming by the popular churches. goes, are single-minded in their adoration. Likewise Clearly, the three angels of Revelation 14 have the messages of the three angels are linked by the com- even greater significance to Adventists today. In a mon thread of worship. The first angel issues a call to manner that the Millerites could not have imagined, worship God the Creator in the setting of the judg- the call to worship the Creator-God is going to every ment hour; the second declares and exposes the system nation, kindred, tongue and people. The rise and of false worship; the third issues a dire warning spread of evolutionary theory has invested the first against the worship of the beast and its image. angel's message with relevancy beyond the conception Indeed, the theme of worship runs throughout of the first believers. "Babylon" today embraces far Revelation. The action taking place in the various vi- more than apostate Christian churches. It includes sions is frequently interrupted by songs of praise, them, but has a world dimension commensurate with prayers, and adoration. The book in its overall em- the world thrust of the first angel. phasis leads the reader to exalt the true and living These messages, we believe, will swell louder and God, to put Him first in the life no matter how severe still louder. In particular, the voice of the third angel the opposition may be. It is not surprising, therefore, is yet to reach its full intensity. Only in the scenes of that in the account of the end-time crisis between the the last great confrontation between the followers of forces of good and the forces of evil (Rev. 13-14), the Christ and the followers of Satan will the warning motif of worship should find a prominent place. against receiving the mark of the beast find its com- (6) Babylon. In the Old Testament, two cities play plete fulfillment. a leading role—Jerusalem and Babylon. They stand for 3. God's People Identified more than political and national entities. They repre- Given the various themes of Revelation 14, it is sent the religion of Yahweh and the false, counter reli- easy to become caught up in discussion of details of gious system. the passage and to fail to give due weight to the chief In Revelation, where all the books of the Old concern. In light of the overall vision of Revelation 12- Testament flow together, Jerusalem and Babylon 14, it seems clear that the main significance of again appear. Jerusalem now is the new city, the abode Revelation 14 is its delineation of the people of God: of the redeemed, where the gates are never shut, and those loyal to Him despite the deception and opposi- the Lord God is the light. Babylon, by contrast, is the tion associated with the end-time crisis. world-system that is doomed to come to naught at the This is the point of the irenic, beautiful opening Second Coming. scene (14:1-5); it is also the point of the final scene of Babylon represents all human attempts to provide the vision that begins at 11:19, as those who have the way of salvation, all those plans and programs overcome the beast and its image stand on the sea of that, because they are built alone on human reason glass (Rev. 15:2-4). and devices, attempt to frustrate the divine plan for In the previous section we noted characteristics of the world. As anciently Babylon, "the beauty of the the 144,000. Going beyond these points, in light of the Chaldees excellency" (Isa. 13:19) fell in a spectacular total description of Revelation 14, we may identify 10 demise, so spiritual Babylon, despite its apparent marks of the people of God: strength and confidence, will crumble in ruins when Jesus returns to earth.38 a. They have the everlasting gospel. Thus, the message of the second angel of Only in Revelation 14:6 is the gospel termed Revelation 14 is the complement of the first. Men and "eternal." The message of the first angel is everlasting, women in all nations, as they are directed to return to in contrast to the teachings of Babylon and the con- the worship of the Creator, must be led to repudiate cepts associated with the beast and its image.

13 God's people of the last days have good news to by without His providing watchmen for the times. give to the world. Our message centers in the person The theme of judgment is out of step with the and work of Jesus Christ, He who is our righteousness. thinking of modern people, but it is thoroughly bibli- The Greek reads, "an eternal gospel." While there cal. Adventists must constantly inform and remind the is only one true gospel, one way of salvation under the world that "the hour of God's judgment has come." provisions of the everlasting covenant, that gospel is Even now we are in the time of God's final work just shaped in its presentation by circumstances and times. before the Second Coming that will ring down the cur- In the end-time the proclamation of the good news is tain on Planet Earth. For the unbeliever, the word of given in the context of the arrival of the judgment hour. God's judgment is a thing of terror; but for the be- b. They have a worldwide proclamation. liever, the knowledge that we are in the time of the Throughout the twentieth century God has been judgment signals hope and the prospect of our ever- performing a modern miracle: He is gathering together lasting home. Revelation 14:6, 7 is good news to us— a society from the nations, a fellowship without equal it shows God acting as moral arbiter of the universe. among the various denominations and organizations f. They call for separation from all false systems of of the world. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is worship. small, but it is unique. Among the entities listed by the God is a "jealous" God, that is, He shares His United Nations, we have work in about 190 countries, worship with no other. Only He is entitled to worship. and for the most part those where we have no work do Ours is a pluralistic society, and the religions of not involve large numbers of people. The sense of mankind proliferate. But if God is one, if Christ is the worldwide mission and worldwide fellowship is part only name given on earth whereby we must be saved, of the genius of Adventism. It never must be lost. if His cross stands unique as the dividing point of c. They call upon people to put God first. human history, the people of God must not shrink The challenge of Revelation 14 is the challenge of from the scandal of particularity. With love and toler- the first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other ance toward all, we nonetheless affirm the singularity gods before me" (Ex. 20:3). God's people have His of God's system of worship. From its inception name written in their foreheads and their message to Christianity has been a divider of people. Its call to ac- earth's last generation begins, "Fear God." Thus, the knowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord inevitably im- issue with which the history of Planet Earth closes is plies separation from other systems. the issue with which the great controversy began: Will g. They call for loyalty to God. the created being let God be God? Out of the final race They appeal to the world to worship God, not the of human beings on earth will be those whose loyalty beast power, and warn against receiving its mark. In to God is unquestioning, who put Him above every the events that characterize the close of human his- human system and every human inducement. tory, God's people emerge as men and women of d. They worship God as the Creator. courage and fortitude. They are alert and informed by Revelation affirms that the true God is worshiped the Scriptures, so as not to be deceived by the miracu- as the Creator. This is a theme of the first praise cho- lous phenomena associated with the false system of rus of the book (Rev. 4:11) and it appears from time worship; they are resolute in their convictions, not to time. In Revelation 13-14, where God and His wor- swayed by persuasion or coercion; above all they are ship are opposed by counterfeit systems, the true God loyal to their God, prepared to suffer loss, physical is known by His creatorship. When men and women hardship, and even death itself to maintain their rela- are destroying the earth He made, His true people are tionship with Him. mindful of the Creation and call the world to ac- h. They keep the commandments of God. knowledge Him as its author. Devotion to Christ is shown, not so much by pro- e. They announce the time of God's judgment. fession and cries of "Lord, Lord," as by actions. In the This is the time for which God's people have final crisis, the fourth commandment assumes a sig- longed and prayed, to which the book of Revelation nificant place. The call of the first angel draws atten- has been moving (see, for example, Rev. 6:10). Before tion to the Creator. Keeping the Sabbath is evidence of God's acts of judgment in the past, as at the Flood, the one's acceptance of this call. From a certain point of plagues upon Egypt, and the destruction of Jerusalem, view one day may appear to be as good as another as He sent messages of warning. Nor does the period of a day of worship; but when God has designated the the final judgment at the close of human history pass period of holy time, obedience must be explicit.

14 i. They keep the faith of Jesus. Sabbath in particular, show our loyalty to God. This expression does not mean that the people of 2. In the note of authority that marks the passage. God have faith in Jesus (although they do), because Three angel messengers fly in midheaven, and they the faith of Jesus is something they keep. "The faith" give God's invitation and warning to men and women. probably refers to the Christian tradition, the body of Now, religious authority itself is a tricky matter; in the teachings that center in Jesus. Jude 3 may provide a name of God various misdeeds have been, and are, parallel: "the faith which was once for all delivered to committed. Various people claim to be God's mouth- the saints." When God's loyal followers keep the faith piece or to have been instructed by a divine voice to of Jesus they remain true to basic Christianity—they convey messages or to do evil or crazy things. Yet, if "keep the faith." The NEB, in a free translation, has we are to take seriously the Bible and Revelation in captured the essential idea: "remaining loyal to Jesus." particular, we cannot avoid the matter of authority. j. They await patiently the return of their Lord. The Adventist preacher, standing in the pulpit, is In Revelation 14:12, "patience" (hupomone) is fulfilling the prediction of Revelation 14. It is a stagger- better translated as "endurance." Although the coming ing claim. That claim can lead to pride, presumption, of Jesus seems to be delayed, although doubts and fears high-handedness, and lovelessness. We need a special assail, His people never lose hope. They endure to the measure of humility and grace to live with it. But live end. They know that He who promised is faithful and with it we must. Our preaching cannot be of smooth one day He will return. Buffeted by false ideas, as- things. It must come with the conviction and winsome saulted by religious confederacy, threatened by the civil appeal of the angel messengers of Revelation 14. powers, they keep on waiting with steadfast loyalty. 3. In the timeliness of the message. The passage speaks directly to our day, alerting us to the signifi- cance of our times in God's eternal plan. It calls us to V. Significance for Proclamation wake up, to open our eyes, and to see ourselves in light All Seventh-day Adventists should read of eternity, to be ready to meet our returning Lord. Revelation 12-14 often. We should read the passage 4. In the solemn warning in which the messages of until we understand it thoroughly, and return to it Revelation 14 are couched. Most Christians bypass the again and again for orientation in the heritage of the book of Revelation. Some theologians have used pioneers. We must catch the force of the distinctive derogatory language to describe it, suggesting that in doctrines, the distinctive way of life, and the distinc- some aspects its influence is "evil." Doubtless chapters tive worldview and sense of mission that the passage 12-14, among other portions of the book, contain ideas sets forth. that would sound strange from many modern pulpits. And having absorbed the passage, our proclama- These chapters, which center in loyalty to the Lamb and tion should take on characteristics and qualities that adoration of Him, also set forth in terrible terms the ter- link up with the past. We do not suggest that rible wrath of the Lamb. The three angels are urgent in Adventists today can rest content with repeating the their summons, for time is short and the fate of the words of past preachers, for proclamation must al- beast-worshipers is too horrible to contemplate. ways come fresh and directed to the needs and situa- Adventist preachers must not fail to give the warn- tion of the ever changing "now." Nor do we suggest ing message. We are watchmen on the walls of Zion that Revelation 14 should form the basis for every, or and we dare not be delinquent in our responsibilities. most, sermons, for the chapter itself presupposes the There is a heaven to win and a hell to shun, and the body of Christian beliefs, something that preachers end-time sets forth the options with dramatic clarity. dare not take for granted in their audiences. Let us be careful, however, to sound the note of How, then, will Revelation 12-14 be significant warning in the context of the "everlasting gospel." for proclamation today? Apart from the content of the Jesus, the Man of matchless charms, is to be the cen- passage itself—something not to be overlooked—we ter of every sermon. He is the Lamb, and His cross must catch the dynamic of the proclamation, namely: must ever be uplifted before the people. No sermon, 1. In the note of certainty that characterizes the no matter what the audience or the occasion, should passage. Certainty that we live in the days just prior to fail to point the way to hope and healing in Him. To the Second Coming. Certainty that God is calling out give warning without directing to Christ is merely to a people loyal to Him from every nation and tribe. shout, "The house is on fire!" to people trapped in a Certainty that true worship is not to be compromised. burning building. Certainty that the Ten Commandments, and the Certainty, authority, warning—these characteris-

15 tics will link our proclamation with that of the pioneers. to preach with power so that the three angels will speak Like them, we must be grounded in the Scriptures, daily in mighty voices to the whole world. nurtured by the living Word. That Word will enable us Endiviotes ' Rev. ed. (Nashville, 1944). Smith's first exegesis of Reve- 24 The "42 months" is usually reckoned to be the 1260-year pe- lation, Thoughts, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Revelation, riod A.D. 538-1798. Some Adventists understand the healing of the appeared in 1865. deadly stroke to be Mussolini's concordat with the papacy. Others 2 Ibid., pp. 558-627. suggest that the "wound" is the separation of church from state, 3 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, with the "healing" being a reuniting—a process still incomplete. Calif., 1911), 54, 439-50, 579-80, 604. 25 Mounce, p. 40, notices that the followers of Joachim of Flora 4 See, for example, Kenneth H. Wood's editorial, "The IRS (twelfth century) identified the pope as the beast. This antipapal in- Rumor, et. al.," Adventist Review, Mar. 12, 1981, pp. 3, 14. terpretation was adopted by the Protestant Reformers. Likewise, films such as the "Omen" series have attached 666 to a 26 The appeal to Rome as the city of the seven "hills" is far- satanic, end-time figure. fetched. $ We have adapted this outline from John Wick Bowman, The 27 Or, that the entire political process has become subject to his Drama of the Book of Revelation (Philadelphia, 1955), p. 75. schemes. 6 See Rev. 1:10; 4:1; 6:1; 7:1, 2; 11:19; 15:1, 5. 28 Strand, pp. 49, 54-55. 'E.g., Paul S. Minear, I Saw a New Earth: An Introduction to 29 Or, that the entire political process has become subject to the Visions of the Apocalypse (Washington, D.C., 1968). Minear, his schemes. however, sees symbolic patterns in the book; he does not find any 30 Minear (p. 263) notes that earth "forms the common de- unfolding of history in Revelation. nominator for all the antichristic forces—beasts, kings, potentates, 8 E.g., Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, and E. B. Elliot. millionaires, merchants, and dwellers." On page 264 he gives four 9 Interpreting the Book of Revelation (Washington, Ohio, denotations of ge (earth), the final one being the realm in which 1976). God inflicts His punishments. 10 "Sky" would distinguish the setting from the "heaven" of 31 R. H. Charles (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the verses 7-12; sun, moon, and stars further suggest the translation Revelation of St. John [Edinburgh, 1963], pp. 362, 363) observes "sky." that charagma was a technical designation of the imperial cult (from " The sentence which is to be translated "And it [the dragon] Deissmann). He sees the putting of the mark on the right hand and stood on the seashore [reading estathe (he stood) rather than the vari- the brow as a travesty of the tephillim. "But ultimately the marks ant estathen (I stood)]," is not included in the outline since it more on the brows of the faithful . . . and of the worshipers of the beast naturally links with the action of chapter 13. had the same origin. Both were intended to show that the wearers 12 Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, of the marks are under supernatural protection—the former under 1977), p. 235. the protection of God, the latter of Satan" (p. 363; italics his). 13 S. of Sol. 6:10; Isa. 26:17; 54:5; 66:7-9; Jer. 2:2; 3:14; 6:2-4; 32 Applying 666 to Nero calls for spelling his name as Nero (n); Micah 4:10; 2 Cor. 11:2. the textual variant of 616 is to be explained on this basis. 14 As described in The Great Controversy. Milton in "Paradise 33 Six hundred sixty-six is the triangular of a triangular: The tri- Lost" presents a similar picture. angular of 8 is 36 and the triangular of 36 is 666. Other computa- 15 Ellen White also applies Revelation 12:7-12 to Christ's vic- tions suggested include lateinos and he latine basileia each of which tory on the cross: "The casting down of Satan as an accuser of the expressions totals 666 in Greek. brethren in Heaven was accomplished by the great work of Christ 34 See Gilbert M. Valentine, The Shaping of Adventism: The in giving up His life" (Spirit of Prophecy [Washington, D.C., 1969, Case of W. W. Prescott (Andrews University Press, 1992), pp. 273- facsimile reproduction of 1878 edition], vol. 3, p. 194). 75. 16 See J.P.M. Sweet's commentary, Revelation (Philadelphia, 35 Note the specifications of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes 1979), for development of this parody. of Israel (verses 4-5) and the description of verse 9. See Beatrice 17 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washington, D.C., 1980), Neall, "Good News About the 144,000," Adventist Review, Apr. 2, book 3, p. 402. 1987. IS R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation 36 Some commentators have suggested a correspondence be- (Columbus, Ohio, 1943), also mentions the source of the beast tween the latter three angels of Revelation 14 with the three "woes" (from beneath) as pointing to its brutish nature. of Revelation 8:13. Such an interpretation, however, would involve 19 The same word is translated as "plague" elsewhere in a futuristic view of Revelation 9—something to be discarded on Revelation. other grounds. 20 The RSV missed the sanctuary setting of the vision, translating 37 John uses a variety of Greek words to denote the concept of verse 6 as "his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven." judgment. See Rev. 15:4 (dikaomo); 17:1; 20:4 (krima);14:7; 16:7; 21 Thereby the reader is assured that, regardless of the sea mon- 18:10; 19:2 (krisis); 6:10; 11:18; 16:5; 18:8; 19:2, 11; 10:12, 13 ster's dominance for a time, he will at length be dealt with by God. (krino). 22 E.g., Lenski, Minear. 38 See F. D. Nichol, ed., The SDA Bible Commentary (Wash- 23 Mounce, p. 42. ington, D.C., 1957); vol. 7, pp. 828-830.

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