Ngues Early Sda Ry

MARCH IteviiADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD + GENERAL CHURCH PAPER OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS SO/d44nd E.cstatic Experiences— NGUES EARLY SDA Ecstatic experiences were RY self-induced in periods of not uncommon among sin- excitement. In a series of cere Christians in the 1830's By ARTHUR L. WHITE articles we will explore and the 1840's. Some who these experiences in their later became our spiritual historical setting and trace forefathers were involved in Ellen White's relationship to them. These experiences them. As Ellen White recounts may be noted as: (1) Physical her early experience in the prostration; (2) shouting Advent Awakening before the the praises of God; visions were given to her, she (3) speaking in unknown reports a number of occasions when tongues; (4) divine healing. she was left prostrate by the over- As we look back from our position today there whelming presence of the Spirit of God. One appears to be convincing evidence that some of such experience is believed to have taken place these experiences were genuine. There is also in 1843: evidence that some were counterfeit or were "I bowed trembling during the prayers that were offered. After a few had prayed, I lifted up my Arthur L. White is secretary of the Ellen G. White voice in prayer before I was aware of it. I Estate. praised God from Continued on page 4 Editor's Viewpoint Sanctification Now One of the most glorious truths of Christianity is that disposition (e.g., from surliness to sweetness), in physical death is not the end for God's people. There will be a habits (e.g., from drinking and smoking to abstinence), resurrection. "The Lord himself shall descend from in goals (e.g., from wanting to be served to wanting to heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and serve others), in attitude toward God's commandments with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise" (e.g., from denying their authority to seeking divine (1 Thess. 4:16). power for obedience). The certainty of the resurrection is based on the fact "The desire for an easy religion that requires no striv- that Jesus broke the power of the tomb. Exclaimed the ing, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the apostle Paul: "Now is Christ risen from the dead, and world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a become the firstfruits of them that slept. In Christ popular doctrine. The testimony of the word of God is shall all be made alive. Every man in his own order: against this ensnaring doctrine of faith without works."— Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at Ibid., p. 472. his coming" (1 Cor. 15:20-23). "In the light of God's word we are justified in declar- Christians recognize that the idea of the resurrection ing that sanctification cannot be genuine which does not is a mystery "too deep for the human mind to explain or work . utter renunciation of the sinful pursuits and even to fully comprehend" (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 699), gratifications of the world."—Ibid., p. 475. but they believe it nevertheless. They confidently expect Sanctification must take place now, for "the traits of that at Christ's coming cemeteries all over the world will character you cherish in life will not be changed by death be torn up and the redeemed will come forth—babies, or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave children, boys, girls, men, and women. No wonder the with the same disposition you manifested in your home apostle Paul, contemplating the drama of the resurrec- and in society. Jesus does not change the character at tion, fairly shouted, "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 His coming. The work of transformation must be done grave, where is thy victory?" (verse 55). now."—The Adventist Home, p. 16. "There is no change of Unfortunately, some Christians expect the resurrection character when Christ comes."—The SDA Bible Com- and Christ's second advent to accomplish more than mentary, Ellen G. White Comments, on Rev. 22:14, p. 990. God's Word promises. They believe that the prediction, "When the voice of God awakes the dead, he [the un- "We shall all be changed" (verse 51), involves not merely converted church member] will come from the grave with the body but the character. They seem unconcerned the same appetites and passions, the same likes and dis- about evil habits and unconquered sins in their lives, likes, that he cherished when living. God works no mir- because, as they say, "The Lord will change us when He acle to recreate a man who would not be re-created when comes." he was granted every opportunity and provided with Is their hope based on reality? What change will take every facility."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 270. place at the coming of Christ and the resurrection? In 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 53 we read: "The trumpet "To Him That Overcometh" shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, What does the True Witness expect of the church of and we shall be changed. This corruptible must put Laodicea? "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortal- me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set ity." "The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, down with my Father in his throne" (Rev. 3:21). Ellen once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and White put it like this: "Christ lived a life of perfect obe- immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the dience to God's law, and in this He set an example for grave."— The Great Controversy, p. 645. every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His in- Will Character Be Changed? struction."—The Ministry of Healing, p. 480. "The Lord But will the character be changed? Will love of the Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could world be replaced by love for Christ and heaven? Will do, but what a man could do, through faith in God's power selfishness be replaced by unselfishness? Will jealousy be to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a replaced by love? Will dishonesty be replaced by hon- partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every esty? Will habits of self-indulgence be replaced by habits temptation wherewith he is beset."—The SDA Bible Com- of self-control? mentary, Ellen G. White Comments, on Heb. 4:15, p. 929. In his Epistle to Titus, the apostle Paul helps answer Let no one, then, expect the Second Advent or the res- these questions. He says: "The grace of God that bring- urrection to effect a miraculous change that will enable eth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, him to obey God's laws and live the sanctified life. The denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live time to prepare is now. Now is the time for us to sur- soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" render our will fully to Christ. Now is the time for us to (Titus 2:11, 12). invite Christ to sit upon the throne of our heart. Now is The meaning is clear—God's people are to be saints not the time to obtain Christ's imputed and imparted right- merely in the future world but "in this present world"; eousness. Now is the time for our humanity to be linked they are to live "soberly, righteously, and godly" not with divinity. Now is the time for us to let the early rain merely in heaven but on earth. "The sanctification set do its work so that the latter rain can ripen our charac- forth in the Scriptures embraces the entire being—spirit, ters and prepare us to stand before God without a Media- soul, and body."—Ibid., p. 473. Obviously this calls for tor (see Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 506, 507; Early Writ- changes in all aspects of life. It involves a change in ings. p. 71). K. H. W. 2 R&H, MARCH 15, 1973 cess in the search is measured by out- and perhaps elsewhere, as immodest? ward signs, such as miraculous healings Unlike the one attired in a miniskirt, and the speaking in tongues. Probably the wearer of the pantsuit can reach Review the more spectacular feature is this lat- and bend and stretch without exposing ter manifestation, or glossolalia. legs or undergarments. She also can keep IMP One basic issue is this: Does God give her legs warm, save money on hosiery, the gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as and sit, and climb stairs without embar- prophecy, tongues, healing) to people who rassment. Pantsuits have sleeves and reject His law? Are manifestations of decent necklines. seeming supernatural magnitude an in- The pantsuit is modest, practical, fem- Advent Review & Sabbath Herald inine; it has its place for certain func- 123d Year of Continuous Publication dication of God's favor? How can we tell the difference between charismatic tions performed by nurses, housewives, women gardeners, beauticians, and stock Editor: manifestations that are genuine and KENNETH H. WOOD those that are spurious? clerks. Associate Editors: This week we begin two features that LORRAINE JUBERG DON F. NEUERD, HERBERT E. DOUGLASS, THOMAS A. DAVIS, RAY D. VINE focus on these current phenomena that Takoma Park, Maryland promise to grow in complexity and im- Secretary to the Editor: CORINNE WILKINSON portance as the end of time draws near.

Load more