Perspectives on 1844: Putting the Pieces Together
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$5.00 november | december 2006 adventist today volume 14 issue 6 Perspectives on 1844: Putting the Pieces Together LOOKING BACK AT GLACIER VIEW: : 08 1844, A PERSONAL JOURNEY: : 18 Foundation Board Elwin Dunn—Board Chair Editorial | John McLarty Ervin Taylor—Board Vice-Chair Eugene Platt—Treasurer John McLarty Greg Billock Keith Colburn Diana Fisher Problems Edmund Jones Chuck Mitchell Madelyn Nelson Jim Nelson Randy Roberts Nate Schilt with 1844 In some ways Eldon Stratton James Stirling » John Vogt 1844 functions like the James Walters he date, 1844, is included in Kit Watts Article 23 of the Adventist creed. appendix in the human body. Raymond F. Cottrell (See box.) Religious communities We can’t deny it’s there, Endowment Board James Walters—Board Chair add to but almost never subtract but we don’t know what it’s Douglass Ewing James Nelson from creedal statements. Nate Schilt good for. Ervin Taylor TAdventist scholars who question the adequacy or Advisory Council accuracy of the biblical interpretation supporting Now, it is important to note that the ministerial SENIOR LIFETIME ADVISORS* secretary and both pastors are devout conservatives. Beth and Elwin Dunn this judgment chronology risk being expelled as Kathi and Richard Guth They believe the church’s teaching about 1844. But Marilynn and Ervin Taylor heretics. So 1844 will likely remain the teaching of their professional judgment was that people who Priscilla and James Walters show up at church showing a keen interest in 1844 the church. must be carefully watched, lest they cause conflict LIFETIME ADVISORS** This permanence of 1844 in Adventist doctrine Betty and Al Koppel and division in the congregation. would not be problematic except for two other facts Joan Ogden Eighteen-forty-four poses a curious problem. If of Adventist life. First, Adventist pastors do not + you question it, you will be expelled as a heretic. [SUSTAINING ADVISORS ] preach it. When I query Adventist pastors, they say If you give it much attention you will be shunned ++ they agree with the traditional teaching regarding UNDERWRITING ADVISORS as a troublesome zealot. It is a doctrine that is best Kelli and Robert Black Daniel 8:14. But these same preachers report they believed and ignored. Mariellyn and Edwin Hill never preach on the topic. Thaine Price The Bible clearly teaches an end-time judgment, Because they are Adventists, they believe what the William Sandborn anchored in a profound moral realism. We do Tracy and R. Craig Reynolds Adventist Church teaches about this obscure Bible the world a disservice to obscure this behind the passage. Because they are pastors they do not preach GENERAL ADVISORS# arcane chronological speculations of 1844. Visions Jeanne and Gary Bogle on 1844, because it is not helpful in providing of judgment in the Bible picture God acting to Patricia and Ronald Cople spiritual care for real people in the real world. In Kathryn and James Dexter counter oppression, to recognize inchoate faith, to some ways 1844 functions like the appendix in the Richard and Sheridan Hannon rebuke hypocritical religiosity, to bring about global Patti Hare human body. We can’t deny it’s there, but we don’t harmony and peace. The process of judgment is one Dolores and Dean Kinsey know what it’s good for. Carmen and Yung Lau chapter in the story of God’s love. The dates are not A second fact of Adventist experience vis-à-vis Donna and Leroy Lowry essential to the story. Chuck Mitchell 1844: people who are keenly interested in 1844 tend Adele and James Nelson to cause trouble in congregations. In August of this Elaine and T. Clint Nelson David Person year four people showed up at my church together. “There is a sanctuary in heaven... In it Gary and Ruthe-Marina Raines They joined the “Quarterly Sabbath School Class” Judith Rausch (the topic for that quarter was “1844”). The visitors Christ ministers on our behalf... He was E. Arthur Roberston inaugurated as our great High Priest and began Gordon and Lovina Short were keen participants in class and impressed people Maryan and James Stirling with their knowledge of various cryptic prophecies. His intercessory ministry at the time of His Eldon Stratton ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic Anne and Ralph Wiseman Some members of the class talked with me about these visitors and the fact that they never stayed for period of 2300 days, He entered the second and *Senior Lifetime Advisors: $25,000 + worship. I called a couple of pastors from a nearby last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work **Lifetime Advisors: $10,000+ town that the visitors had mentioned as their of investigative judgment which is part of the +Sustaining Advisors: $5,000+ ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the ++Underwriting Advisors: $2,500+ home. The pastors did not know the people, but during last two years immediately cautioned me to watch carefully lest cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on #General Advisors: $500+/year plan they cause a lot of trouble. I called the ministerial the Day of Atonement....” secretary to see if he knew about our visitors. He Article 23, Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh- did not, but he also cautioned me about the risk of day Adventists divisiveness they posed. adventist today | vol. 14 issue 6 10 Vol. 14, Contents issue 6 Editorial 18 staff Publisher Elwin Dunn 05 | Letters | AT Readers Co-Founding Editor Features Raymond Cottrell, 1911- 2003 08 | A Reluctant Participant Looks Back at Glacier View Co-Founding Editor/Publisher | Normn H. Young Jim Walters 10 | The Doctrine of the Sanctuary as an Adventist Philosophy of Director of Development Edwin A. Schwisow History | Joe Greig Editor 14 | Raymond F. Cottrell’s Discussion of the Adventist “Sanctuary John McLarty Doctrine” A Summary and Commentary | James H. Stirling Executive Editor 16 | Daniel 8 and 9: The Way I See Them Now Ervin Taylor | Kenneth E. H. Richards Associate Executive Editor Lee F. Greer 08 0 | The Adventist Birthday Party | Alden Thompson Senior Associate Editor 4 | Development Column | Edwin A. Schwisow James H. Stirling Managing Editor Diana Fisher Adventist Today reports on contemporary issues of importance to Adventist church members. Following basic principles of ethics and canons of journalism, this publication strives for fairness, candor and good taste. Unsolicited submissions are encouraged. Payment is competitive. Send an e-mail to [email protected] for writer’s guidelines. 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Copyright © 2006 by Adventist Today Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering open dialogue in the Adventist community. vol. 14 issue 6 | adventist today CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON THE GENESIS CREATION AND FLOOD ACCOUNTS BY A GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED ADVENTIST SCIENTISTS AND THEOLOGIANS A volume dedicated to the memory of Peter Edgar Hare (1933-2006) Includes Just in time for the papers Fourth Quarter presented Adult Sabbath at the School Lessons Faith and on Genesis Sciences Order now for the pre-publication price of Conferences: $12.95 2002-2004 (Regular price $19.95) Available in October 2006 4 adventist today | vol. 14 issue 6 Readers respond Letters letters policy Disband the Church? Academics and WE want to If 1844 is not sound, then we might as well disband Conservatives hear Just in time for the our church. The 1844 teaching is either solid or The articles published to date by Adventist Today spoiled. It impacts SDA theology completely. It either from YOU Fourth Quarter on the “sanctuary doctrine” have bifurcated along supports the Great Controversy theme of Scripture two predictable lines. The first, usually authored or it doesn’t. It will either prove EGW a true or false Adult Sabbath by the academics who recognize the recalcitrant Adventist Today spokesperson for God. It either fuels our evangelism or illogicality of the doctrine, try to maintain its life- welcomes letters School Lessons we might as well go home and become whatever other support systems by rendering it as a metaphor or denomination there is out there. It either informs our to the editor. symbol. “What the doctrine really means is . .,” or, on Genesis eschatology or it tears it down. So, if those who don’t Short, timely “What the Founders were really saying was.…” believe that 1844 is even supported in Scripture, they letters that relate The ellipses are followed by non-controversial Order now for the need to be honest and get out of Adventism. There is bromides that simply demonstrate that this doctrine, to articles no middle ground on this. pre-publication price of to the extent it can even be considered coherent, is appearing in the Pastor Kevin James Ogden, Utah $12.95 at best superfluous. journal have the The other group of writers, typified by the rigid (Regular price $19.95) best chance at Time to Leave conservative Clifford Goldstein, defends what they being published. describe as the “literal truth” of this foundation of In response to Pastor Kevin James’s loving, We reserve the the church. What “literal truth” could mean with Christ-like statement, “If you don’t believe in the right to edit for Investigative Judgment, then leave,” our church was respect to this most non-literal set of biblical texts is, length and clarity.