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Early Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist Apocalyptic Eschatology Between 1929-1955: a Comparative, Historical, and Theological Investigation Limoni Manu [email protected]

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Early Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist Apocalyptic Eschatology Between 1929-1955: a Comparative, Historical, and Theological Investigation Limoni Manu Lmanu@Live.Com CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Avondale College: ResearchOnline@Avondale Avondale College ResearchOnline@Avondale Theses Non-Avondale Theses 2006 Early Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Apocalyptic Eschatology between 1929-1955: A Comparative, Historical, and Theological Investigation Limoni Manu [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_non_Avondale Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Manu, L. (2006). Early Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Apocalyptic Eschatology between 1929-1955: A comparative, historical, and theological investigation(Doctoral dissertation). Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses Non- Avondale by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies Theological Seminary EARLY DAVIDIAN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY BETWEEN 1929-1955: A COMPARATIVE, HISTORICAL, AND THEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Limoni Manu March 2006 Copyright © 2006 by Limoni Manu All rights reserved DEDICATION This page is dedicated to the following persons, colleagues and friends who over the course of many years have made a significant contribution to my ministry. TO: My Loving Parents Pita Manu O’uiha and Ilaisane Manu Opea I’vaha who now rest in Jesus My Wife Sulueti L. Manu For being the backbone of my success in Ministry My Children Ilaisane Ruci, For being good troopers Limoni Jr, Sulueti Tupoutua Jr, in the academic pursuit and Samuel Lance Manu My Family and Friends For moral support and encouragement My Local SDA Church (Naqati) For nurturing my early Christian experience My Teachers For being models worthy of emulation My God For glory and honor that belongs to Him TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................ ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................. xi INTRODUCTION .......................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ....................... 3 Purpose of Research ............................ 8 Significance of Research ....................... 9 Definition of Terms ............................ 12 Schools of Interpretation .................... 12 Millennialism ............................. 12 Amillennialism ............................ 13 Premillennialism .......................... 14 Postmillenialism .......................... 15 Literalist Premillennialism ............... 16 Other Relevant Terms ......................... 17 Worldview ................................. 17 Apocalyptic Eschatology ................... 18 Delimitations .................................. 20 Methodology and Procedure ...................... 21 Chapter I. HOUTEFF’S HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ..................... 23 Life Sketch of Houteff ......................... 24 Houteff’s Childhood and Upbringing .......... 24 Houteff’s Adventist Roots ................... 26 Brief History of Davidianism ................... 30 Houteff’s Orthodox Orientation .............. 30 Houteff’s Generation ........................ 37 Roden’s Generation .......................... 42 Koresh’s Generation ......................... 45 Comparison Among Millennial Groups ............. 50 The Doctrine of the Second Advent ........... 50 British Premillennialism .................... 53 Continental Premillennialism ................ 57 North-American Premillennialism ............. 61 The Millerite Movement .................... 62 SDA Premillennialism ...................... 68 The Dispensationalist Movement ............ 72 Outline of Houteff’s Eschatology ............. 79 Comparison of Selected Eschatological Views .. 81 v The Millennium ............................ 81 The Advent ................................ 83 The 144,000 ............................... 85 The Davidic Kingdom ....................... 86 The Sealing and Slaughter in Ezekiel 9 .... 88 The Harvest ............................... 89 Summary ...................................... 90 II. HOUTEFF’S FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES ................ 92 Theological Foundation ....................... 92 Views of Scripture ........................ 92 Analysis ............................... 92 Previous Criticism ..................... 98 Role of Ellen G. White .................... 100 Analysis ............................... 100 Previous Criticism ..................... 104 Hermeneutical Approaches .................. 107 Analysis ............................... 107 Previous Criticism ..................... 112 Evaluation ................................ 118 Ecclesiological Foundation ................... 128 Identity and Organizational Structures .... 129 Analysis ............................... 129 Previous Criticism ..................... 135 The Mission of the Church: Revival and Reformation ................ 137 Analysis ............................... 137 Previous Criticism ..................... 139 Evaluation ................................ 140 Eschatalogical Foundation .................... 147 The 144,000 and the Sealing ............... 149 Analysis ............................... 149 Previous Criticism ..................... 152 The 144,000 as the Remnant ................ 154 Analysis ............................... 154 Previous Criticism ..................... 156 The 144,000 and the Latter Rain ........... 158 Analysis ............................... 158 Previous Criticism ..................... 160 The 144,000 and the Loud Cry .............. 163 Analysis ............................... 163 Previous Criticism ..................... 168 Evaluation ................................ 170 Summary ........................................ 182 III. HOUTEFF’S APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY ............... 186 The Apocalyptic Kingdom of David ............. 186 vi Timing of the Kingdom of David ............ 187 Analysis ............................... 187 Previous Criticism ..................... 190 Location of the Kingdom of David .......... 192 Analysis ............................... 192 Previous Criticism ..................... 195 Prophecies of the Kingdom of David ........ 196 Analysis ............................... 196 Previous Criticism ..................... 199 Throne of David ........................... 202 Analysis ............................... 202 Previous Criticism ..................... 204 Missionary Expansion of the Kingdom ....... 206 Analysis ............................... 206 Previous Criticism ..................... 209 Evaluation ................................ 210 Ezekiel 9 and Judgment of the Living ......... 219 Ezekiel 9 and Revelation 7................. 220 Analysis ............................... 220 Previous Criticism ..................... 222 Conditions for the Sealing in Ezekial 9.... 224 Analysis ............................... 224 Previous Criticism ..................... 227 The Sealing Time........................... 230 Analysis ............................... 230 Previous Criticism ..................... 234 The Slaying of Sinners in Zion ............ 236 Analysis ............................... 236 Previous Criticism ..................... 239 Evaluation ................................ 241 Wheat and the Tares .......................... 249 Meaning of the Harvest .................... 249 Analysis ............................... 249 Previous Criticism ..................... 250 Timing of the Harvest ..................... 252 Analysis ............................... 252 Previous Criticism ..................... 254 Separation and the Harvest ................ 256 Analysis ............................... 256 Previous Criticism ..................... 259 Probation and the Harvest ................. 260 Analysis ............................... 260 Previous Criticism ..................... 262 Evaluation ................................ 265 Summary ....................................... 270 IV. OVERALL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .................. 276 Overall Summary ............................... 276 vii Conclusions and Contributions Attempted in this Study .................... 283 The Historical Milieu and Millennial Influence on VTH’s Apocalyptic Formulation .............................. 284 The Foundational Principles of Houteff: Theological, Ecclesiological, and Eschatological ........................... 286 Theological Observations ............... 286 Ecclesiological Observations ........... 287 Eschatological Observations ............ 288 Analysis and Theological Critique of Houteff’s Apocalyptic Eschatology ........ 289 The Apocalyptic Kingdom of David ....... 289 Ezekiel 9 and Judgment of the Living ... 293 Wheat and Tares ........................ 296 APPENDIX .............................................. 299 1. Fundamental Beliefs of DSDAs ...................... 299 2. Warnings Against Error ............................ 308 3. Methods of Bible Study ............................ 317 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................... 329 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Concept of the Millennium Among the Main Millennial Groups ........................... 81/82 2. Concept of the Advent Among Selected Premillennial Groups ........................ 83 3. Concept of the 144,000 Among Selected Premillennialist
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