Special Issue The next year the Adventist Review put out a special issue, taking each article of faith in turn and elaborating on it. Fresh 27 In this issue we again devote the entire magazine to the 27. This time, however, we have changed the focus from theological to practical. Through artwork, poems, and com- BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON ments, a variety of Adventists convey what the fundamental beliefs mean to them. This issue of the Adventist Review is unlike any other in About 200 people contributed to this issue—the largest the 150 years of our history. number by far of any issue in our history. You will see their We Seventh-day Adventists think the teachings of the amazing range—from researchers such as Tim Poirier of the Bible are important. We believe the Bible is God’s word to Ellen G. White Estate to academy students and even young all humanity, telling us—if we will children. Frankly, I am delighted that so many wanted to only listen—who we are, where we get involved—it shows that our beliefs can be living reality, come from, and where God would not dry dogma. like to take us. I thank everyone who helped. And especially Andy Above all else, the Bible tells Nash, who took the initiative, and Roy Adams, who us what God is like—wonder- advised him. ful, all-powerful, in charge, What should you do with this issue? Read it, enjoy it, and revealed in Jesus treasure it. Give it (or extra copies) to your neighbors and Christ, who was full of grace friends—it’s so inviting they’re sure to find much of interest. and truth. The last word for creativity goes to Herman Roberts, of Because the Bible Berrien Springs, Michigan, who found a link with NET ’98. HATS OFF: Payment for published teaches that the Sabbath, Read that backwards and you get 89 Ten = 8+9+10 = 27! contributions? A Review cap. the seventh day, is God’s Dwight Nelson, are you there? command and gift, we Adventists set aside our work and play and worship on that day. Because the Bible William G. Johnsson is editor and executive publisher of the rings with the assurance that Jesus, who died for our sins Adventist Review. and rose again, will come back to this earth, we proclaim the Second Coming and live in hope. So we Adventists from the beginning have been a people of the Book. Doctrines can’t save us, but we take them very seriously because they encap- sulate God’s will—they pull together teachings that run through the Bible. We also believe that truth is progres- sive, that God wants to reveal more of His will and to help us understand it more clearly. That’s why the preamble to our 27 fundamental beliefs (see opposite page) keeps the door of knowledge open. Those 27 were voted by the church in general session in 1980, when represen- tatives from around the world met to DAZZLING DOZEN: Among those submitting items to this issue were Roy Brown’s sixth, consider and prayerfully discuss them. seventh, and eighth graders at Mount Vernon SDA Elementary School in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Copyright © 1999. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 176, No. 17, Apr. 29, 1999. Scriptures credited to ICB are quoted from the International Children’s Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1983, 1986, 1988 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. Cover Photo: © Tony Stone Images / Photos in this issue are from © PhotoDisc 2 (522) ADVENTIST REVIEW Preamble Seventh-day Adventists THE 27 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH accept the Bible as their only 5 The Holy Scriptures (No. 1) creed and hold certain funda- 6 The Trinity (No. 2) mental beliefs to be the teaching 7 The Father (No. 3) 8 The Son (No. 4) of the Holy Scriptures. These 9 The Holy Spirit (No. 5) beliefs, as set forth here, consti- 10 Creation (No. 6) tute the church’s understanding 12 The Nature of Man (No. 7) and expression of the teaching of 14 The Great Controversy (No. 8) 16 The Life, Death, and Resurrection Scripture. Revision of these of Christ (No. 9) 18 The Experience of Salvation (No. 10) statements may be expected at a 20 The Church (No. 11) General Conference session 21 The Remnant and Its Mission (No. 12) when the church is led by the 22 Unity in the Body of Christ (No. 13) Holy Spirit to a fuller under- 24 Baptism (No. 14) 25 The Lord’s Supper (No. 15) standing of Bible truth or finds 26 Spiritual Gifts and Ministries (No. 16) better language in which to 27 The Gift of Prophecy (No. 17) express the teachings of God’s 28 The Law of God (No. 18) Holy Word. 30 The Sabbath (No. 19) 33 Stewardship (No. 20) 34 Christian Behavior (No. 21) 36 Marriage and the Family (No. 22) YE N Ellen G. White: 38 Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly ERNON V “Whenever the people of God are growing Sanctuary (No. 23) in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a 40 The Second Coming of Christ (No. 24) clearer understanding of His Word. They will discern new light and beauty in its 43 Death and Resurrection (No. 25) LLUSTRATION BY I sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages, and thus it will continue to the 45 The Millennium and the End of Sin (No. 26) end.”—Counsels to Writers and Editors, pp. 38, 39. 46 The New Earth (No. 27) ADVENTIST REVIEW (523) 3 1. The Holy Scriptures The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doc- trines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history. (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.) “Every man without the magnifying glass off the Word of God will become a open Bible. I could see law unto himself.” Grandpa’s crooked cur- —Pastor C. D. Brooks sive handwriting in the margin; the funny-look- AROLINA “[The Bible] becomes central C ing Chinese characters . when it ceases to be a would be marked in red. ORTH book and becomes a voice.” , N The Bible was old, with —Jean-Claude Verrecchia, a worn black leather Mulhouse, France, in the RESTON cover and wrinkled thin January-March 1996 , C pages. Well read, well ROWN Collegiate Quarterly, p. 11 B used, well loved, it was a part of him. Through 50 ESSICA “You’ve got to know the J years of missionary work Word if you want to sow the in China, Grandpa had Word.” carried this Bible, —Pastor Ken Brummel, West Lenexa, Kansas preached from it, hit it, brandished it, cried over it. More than just a book, God’s Word had become a faithful friend. “Either the Bible keeps us from sin or sin keeps us from I don’t know where Grandpa’s Bible is today, but his old sil- the Bible.” ver magnifying glass lies on my L ENHARTSVILLE R UTH , P C OLLINS —Pastor Raymond Khachatourian, Rialto, California closet shelf. I doubt I will ever ENNSYLVANIA, read with it, but I plan on keep- Grandpa’s Bible ing it forever because it reminds me of my great-grandfather— I can remember seeing my great-grandpa Longway bent his vision, his indomitable spir- over his beloved Chinese Bible as he had morning devo- it, his love of the Bible. And tions by the light of an old kerosene lamp. He would grip a it reminds me that no matter small silver magnifying glass in one big, callused hand as he how old I get, God’s Word followed the script carefully with the index finger of his free will always be new. hand. As he did, I would stand in the hallway and peek —Stephen Nyirady, ADRA/Cambodia through the partly open door into his room, not completely understanding, but somehow sensing the sacredness of that “Study of the Scriptures peels away the layers of self- scene—God and Grandpa walking together at dawn. deception we build up, each layer built on the premise that Later in the day I would tiptoe into the room and sit in we are self-reliant and in need of nothing.” the shiny wooden chair at Grandpa’s desk and slide his —Faith-Ann McGarrell, Chicago, Illinois ADVENTIST REVIEW (525) 5 2 The trinity There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co- eternal Persons.