t `r•-• 'Awe 00- In this month's Perspective I invite you to join me in a conversation . , with Dr. Alden Thompson, Professor of Theology at Walla Walla College. I trust rpstic you will appreciate the counsel and information which Dr. Thompson shares erspec with us. 1) D. Douglas Devnich DEVNICH: In the Church there is some discussion about how we pp. 112-19, are particularly Revelation teaches "that the now, it seems clear to me should make the Advent connection between God message known in the world striking. Every time I read why Ellen White suggests today. There are some them I am amazed. You and His people is close and saying less about Rome. people who say that the might be too. decided." (TM 114) Given the struggle between Church in its current She cautions, too: "But good and evil, identifying methods is not giving the DEVNICH: What does be not ready to take a the "Beast" of Revelation "full" message. So, in some she say? controversial attitude." "Let can consume our thinking cases, material is being distributed to the public Daniel speak, let the so that we lose sight of our which attacks the Roman THOMPSON: In one Revelation speak, and tell Lord and forget how to Catholic Church. In fact, sentence she says, "We what is truth. But whatever love. there are some who sponsor may have less to say in phase of the subject is anti-Catholic road signs in presented, uplift Jesus as places in North America. As some lines, in regard to the the centre of all hope." one who has researched this Roman power and the subject, what do you think papacy." (TM p. 112) (TM 118) of this development? She suggested that the Recently as I was reading essential message of the in Ephesians, two phrases THOMPSON: When books of Daniel and of jumped out at me, ones I some who take the name of Revelation is "that the remember hearing as a Adventist think it's time to human agent is to be kept youngster when George put up billboards attacking out of sight, hid in Christ, Knowles and Don Jacobsen other Christians, then surely and the Lord God of held evangelistic meetings heaven and His law are to in my home town, be exalted." (TM p. 112) Clarkston, Washington. I ran the projectors for those meetings. I heard the DEVNICH: Please preaching. I knew the expand on that positive preachers. My memory also DEVNICH: But, now, suggestion and relate it to Dr. Thompson, how do you preaching and teaching from links those same phrases to Bruce Johnston's seminary correlate this with the the books of Daniel and writing by Ellen G. White of Revelation. field school of evangelism in the book, The Great Pocatello, Idaho: Controversy? Are there some THOMPSON: Under- "Speaking the truth in distinctions to be made standing the book of love" Ephesians 4:15 between her time and our Revelation could lead to a "The truth as it is in Jesus" times? it's time for Adventists to "great revival" among us Ephesians 4:21 ponder Ellen White's (TM 113). Not panic; I'm grateful I heard those THOMPSON: In some comments on the study of revival. Studying Daniel and words from men who didn't ways Ellen White's world Daniel and Revelation. The Revelation will result in "an just speak them but put was more frightening than quotations brought together entirely different religious them into practice, too. ours. In the late 1880s in Testimonies to Ministers, experience; the book of As I ponder the world dozens of Adventists spent 2 MESSENGER/JUNE 1993 Cover photo—"Great Blue Heron, " Canora, Saskatchewan, by Alfred Tataryn time in jail for Sunday law is a strong thrust to "bash" loving. Ellen White knew God than those who are in violations. Willie White, the the Catholic Church. the danger. She warned error upon doctrinal points, son of James and Ellen against building yet who seek to live to do White, was arrested in 1882 THOMPSON: Let me say "unnecessary barriers good to others. Do not for running Pacific Press on with emphasis: Our faith between us and other censure others; do not Sunday. Congress itself must be in Christ Jesus, not denominations, especially condemn them." (9T 243) debated National Sunday in a timetable of events. the Catholics, so that they "Our work is to study to laws. You could read Trusting Him makes us think we are their avowed weed out of all our Adventist eschatology in the ready for anything at any enemies. We should not discourses everything that daily papers. time. God is master of the create a prejudice in their savors of retaliation and Now, however, Sunday world, not Newsweek or minds unnecessarily, by defiance and making a drive laws are headed in the CBS. Like the wise virgins making a raid upon them." against churches and opposite direction and in the parable, we can sleep Adventists don't know quite nights when we are hid in what to make of it and Christ. some don't want to believe it. For decades church DEVNICH: Since you publications have given the have shown that Ellen White impression that the threat senses the danger of from Sunday legislation was attacking other Christian ever increasing. A hint to faiths in her day, share with us your view on how things the contrary was Elder C.E. stand today. Bradford's comment in the official 1990 General Conference reports: "Today THOMPSON: I'm there are fewer Sunday laws convinced that bashing the being enforced than at any Pope, Roman Catholicism or time in recent years." I even traditional hadn't seen anything quite Protestantism is not just that blunt before in an missing the point; it's official church paper. dangerous and damaging. More recently, in Liberty We should know why the Alert, an insert in the NAD "beast" of the books of Adventist Review, Roland Daniel and Revelation is Hegstad pressed the point evil. And when we see further: "Over the past 30 beastly behaviour we should years the growing address it firmly. But we secularization of society has must present the truth as it (Evangelism p. 144) individuals because this is been a greater threat to our is in Jesus. And we must The Testimonies are not Christ's way and church than have Sunday speak the truth in love. equally blunt: "We should method." (9T 244) We even laws." not go out of our way to ought to make a study of DEVNICH: If Ellen G. make hard thrusts at the our vocabulary! DEVNICH: Of course, White were alive today, Catholics. Among the the Church must always be from her writings and in Catholics there are many prepared for a reversal of view of circumstances in our DEVNICH: Thank you, today's trend in the matter world, what counsel would who are most conscientious Dr. Thompson, for this vital of diminished Sunday she have for us? Christians and who walk in information which you have legislation. But, what is all the light that shines shared. troubling is that often there THOMPSON: If we want upon them, and God will But then, what do we is an emphasis made by to be Christian, most of us work in their behalf." Those say to other Christians and some to the effect that the will have to say less about who don't live up to the what should we say about Advent Movement stands or them? How do we go about falls surrounding the the papacy. Strong light they have "are in our evangelism? Let us enforcement of Sunday laws. Adventist convictions too greater danger and in explore the answers to those Then, in that context there easily sound less than greater condemnation before questions next month. MESSENGER/JUNE 1993 3 It's a green light for the science centre... On April 26 the Board of Trustees for Canadian Union College voted to begin construction on the new science cen- Karst Family tre immediately. It will be built in four phases. The first Farewell phase will frame and winterize the building. No phase will On May 4, 1993, fellow workers begin unless the money is on hand. Approximately $600,000 and associates of the Seventh-day is needed to complete funding for the project. Adventist Church in Canada held a farewell dinner in honour of Gerry and Verna Karst. The Only 812 of 40,000 church members in Canada have dinner was held at the Kingsway Pioneer Home in Oshawa where donated. Your contribution is anticipated in order that con- fond reminiscences were shared struction can flow through to completion without any and best wishes were imparted. Gerry has been serving as Director delay. Please use self-addressed envelopes or tithe of Communications and Ministerial Secretary at the Seventh-day envelopes to enclose your donation. Remember to mark Adventist Church in Canada since "Science Centre" on your tithe envelope. 1990. He joined the team at the National Headquarters in 1988 as Director of Communications and Your donation can make the difference for our youth. PARL. Last November Gerry accepted a call from the General Bob Tetz Conference to serve as Associate Secretary of the General Conference Canadian Union College of Seventh-day Adventists. He will coordinate the missionary placements for three of the eleven divisions worldwide. Gerry is well known to many Newfoundland's Ontario, with the Bachelor of age 2) Mrs. Bussey continued her across Canada. Raised in First SDA Lawyer Laws Degree. Mr. Bussey is now teaching and studies in piano.