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Ask for the Old Paths Old Paths Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for The secret of the LORD is with them that the old paths, where is the good way, and fear him; and he will show them his walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your covenant. Psalm 25:14 souls. Jeremiah 6:16 Vol. 20, No.2 Straight and Narrow February 2011 Prayer Requests Please keep Brother Marc Fury and his wife, Sister Elisabeth, in prayer as they plan for a camp meeting this year in France. They have never held a camp meeting and sincerely entreat your prayers for this endeavor. We are sad to report that our Sister Granny Ann recently broke her wrist and is in the process of mend- ing and that Sister Arlene Bailey has fallen and continues to be in much pain. Will you please uplift both of theminprayer? We recently heard from Brother Aland Ashton in Peru. He is still challenged with health issues, but his faith in God remains strong. His wife, Karina, was hospitalized recently, and we ask that you will keep them both in prayer. Justine Sherwood of Florida has recently been diagnosed with leukemia and is hospitalized. She and her family, continued on page 14, column 2 Inthisissue: Landmarks and Pillars . p. 2 New Bible Lessons . p. 4 The Old Paths . p.8 The Bible and Human Emotions . p. 15 Bible Quiz on Job . p. 18 Report from the Solomon Islands . p. 19 Askfortheoldpaths. Youths Corner . p. 21 (Jeremiah6:16) Esselstyn on Heart Disease . p. 23 LandmarksandPillarsofOur Faith experience. David asked, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do” (Psalm 11:3)? The implied Last month we began a series entitled “Clearly Compre- answer is that the righteous will have no hope. God has also hend,” noting our need to clearly comprehend the gospel and been pleased to help us to understand what these pillars are how to present it to needy souls. We began with the founda- and their great value. Let us begin our study by noting the tionalsourceforalltruth,theBible. centralpillarofAdventism. All truth is important, and no doctrine or teaching can be considered as insignificant. The truth sets us free from sin The Sanctuary (John 8:32), and by it we are sanctified (John 17:17). Anciently Israel was not to move the landmarks of their The atonement of Jesus in the most holy place of the heav- neighbors, “Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s enly sanctuary is the basis of Seventh-day Adventism. The landmark”(Deuteronomy27:17). 1844 disappointment was due to a misunderstanding of what Some teachings serve as important foundations upon the sanctuary of Daniel 8:14 was and of the event that was to which we build our experience. Especially within begin October 22, 1844. As bitter as that disappointment Adventism we have what have been known as “the pillars of was, the understanding of the truth of the heavenly sanctuary our faith.” These are doctrines that are vital to understand and of Christ’s ministry was joyous to the believers who and which are used to build the full structure of Adventism. refused to concede that God’s hand had been in the move- As we continue this series, therefore, we wish to look at these ment. Writing of the importance of the 1844 atonement in pillars of our faith and to begin to explore why they are so heaven,EllenWhitenoted: importanttous. The scripture which above all others had been both the Our concept of landmarks is as old as Adventism. In 1847 foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was Joseph Bates published a pamphlet entitled SECOND the declaration: “Unto two thousand and three hundred ADVENT WAY MARKS AND HIGH HEAPS OR A days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14. CONNECTED VIEW, OF THE FULFILMENT OF (The Great Controversy, p. 409; all emphasis supplied un- PROPHECY, BY GOD’S PECULIAR PEOPLE, From the lessotherwisenoted) year 1840 to 1847, using Jeremiah 31:21 as his launching text. This pamphlet dealt with landmarks concerning the This famous statement tells us plainly that the sanctuary doctrineofthesecondcomingofJesus. teaching is the central pillar of our faith. That certainly Perhaps you have studied the pillars of Adventism before, makes it very important. In fact, David says, “Thy way, O but remember the words of Paul, “Finally, my brethren, God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God” rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me (Psalm 77:13)? God’s way, his character, and his righteous- indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe” (Philippians 3:1). ness are revealed in the sanctuary, even by the judgment When we travel to various places, we look for signs and whichtakesplacethere. landmarks that help us to know we are on the proper path. For The judgment of the dead began in 1844 in the heavenly many years there was a log cabin at the end of the Smyrna sanctuary. According to Revelation 14:7, we have been liv- Chapel Road. We could direct people to travel to this land- ing in the time of the judgment since 1844. The Apostle Paul mark, which made it easy for people to know that they were on spoke of a “judgment to come” (Acts 24:25, future tense), the correct road. A few years ago the old log cabin was torn but we speak of a judgment that has come (past tense). Paul down and it became harder for people to find our little road also, quoting from Psalm 9:8, noted that God had “appointed leading to the chapel. This landmark was important to us, and a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness without it, it is now harder for people to find the correct way. by that man whom he hath ordained” (Acts 17:31). God In our spiritual life we have landmarks that help us to appointed 1844 for the time of the judgment to begin, and know we are on the right path and upon which we build our JesusChristis“thatman”whowilljudge. OldPaths - 2 - February2011 The heavenly sanctuary is the setting for a great portion of The only safety now is to search for the truth as revealed the Revelation and also for the judgment scene of Daniel 7. in the word of God, as for hid treasure. The subjects of the Sabbath, the nature of man, and the testimony of Jesus are An Expanded List of Pillars the great and important truths to be understood; these will As we continue our study, we come to a famous statement in prove as an anchor to hold God’s people in these perilous Counsel to Writers and Editors about the pillars of our faith: times.(TestimoniesfortheChurch,vol.1,p.300) The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great In this statement we see the testimony of Jesus in the same events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the categoryaspillarsandreferredtoasananchor. sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided rela- Recapping the list of pillars that are mentioned by the tion to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and SpiritofProphecy,wefindthefollowinglist: second angels’messages and the third, unfurling the ban- l TheSanctuary ner on which was inscribed, “The commandments of God l and the faith of Jesus [including Righteousness by Faith].” TheNon-immortalityoftheWicked One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of l TheLawofGod,includingtheSabbath God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the l TheFaithofJesus ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of l ThePersonalitiesofGodandofJesus the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the l TheThreeAngels’Messages pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. (Coun- l TheTestimonyofJesus(TheSpiritofProphecy) selstoWritersandEditors,pp.30,31) These certainly are fundamental doctrines that carry great In this reference Ellen White mentions the sanctuary (as importance not simply to Adventism, but to all Christianity, she also does in The Great Controversy quotation above); the thoughtheyarenotallreceived. three angels’ messages; the law of God, including the Sab- The Non-immortality of the Wicked bath of the fourth commandment; the faith of Jesus; and the The non-immortality of the wicked is a fundamental teach- non-immortality of the wicked. To this list we can add at least ing that is like a sharp, two-pronged fork. It safeguards two other doctrines, the first of which is revealed in this against one of the main forms of spiritualism. The Scripture statement: states: Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not For the living know that they shall die: but the dead holding fast; they are not remembering how they have re- knownotanything.(Ecclesiastes9:5) ceived and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that His [the dead person’s] sons come to honour, and he would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanc- knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth tuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, itnotofthem.(Job14:21) are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in un- certainties and to set the people of God adrift without an Would you like some recent news that helps us to under- anchor. (YeShallReceivePower,p.235) stand the value in this truth? The Vatican announced on January 14 that Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1, This statement mentions the sanctuary, again, as a pillar of 2011.
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