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I.
Not in a Vacuum – we’ve got roots! a.
Radical Reformation & Anabaptist,
 non-creedal, Believer’s Church, no-institution, permeating spirit.
 Persecuted by both: RCC & Protestants b.
Restorationism  Christian Connexion.
 James White, Joseph Bates
 Antitrinitarian c.
Methodism


Free-will Wesleyan; Arminian, Camp-meetings introduced in 1800
E.G.Harmon/White;
 Sanctification & perfection is a process d.
Deism
 William Miller (1782-1849) Deist until conversion in 1816….
 Logical & intellectual understanding of doctrine, e.
Puritanism


Legalistic, works of obedience
Closed community, uniform & no differences accepted
 Sabbath keeping. f.
Radical democracy


Autonomy of common reason
“Common sense” philosophy (Scottish rationalism)
 Lay leadership, common equality g.
Baconianism/scientism
 Methodological examination of facts and events.
 Proof-texting method of dialogue and debate. h.
Miller’s preachers-helpers numbered to 2000. From 174 known ministers half were Methodist, a fourth were Baptists, the rest were Congregationalists, Connexion Restorationists, Presbytherians,
Episcopalians, Lutherans, Dutch Reformed, Quakers. i.
Millerism is based on:




Use of the Bible
 1818 conclusion regarding the 2 nd Coming. Not preaching until 1832.
Eschatology

One doctrine movement: - visual, literal, premillennial Return

Judgment is the Advent. No Investigation.
1 st & 2 nd angels Message

1 st – sending out Bibles & missionaries since 1798

2 nd – judgment at the 2 nd Coming & harvest of Rev.14:14-20
 Babylon is Fallen (RCC by all Protestants)

Charles Fitch ( born 1805 died Oct.14, 1844 ) revised the message in 1841 to mean “Protestants rejecting the Return.”
7 th month movement

S.S.Snow, August 1844, Exeter, New Hampshire.

3 rd Angel’s Message (Rev.14:9-12) ignored, not given due emphasis, as all three progressively lead to the End Harvest, the Real Second Coming
 May 1841 “Signs of the Times” claim that the Revelation 10 message had been fulfilled and little book had been opened, again ignoring verses 8-10 about bitterness and disappointment, and also continuation about prophesying again to all the earth…

II.
W HAT IS A DVENTIST IN A DVENTISM ?
1.
Open Door


Joshua V. Himes; unity at Albany, NY, April 1845.
Nothing had happened, the date was wrong;
2. Shut Door a) Spiritualizers – charismatics.

Time & Event are correct spiritually b) Sabbatharians – last to emerge, from spiritualizers “Time is right, the event is wrong.
2.
3.
4 pillar doctrines
1.
Central doctrine of Millerism

real personal visible premillennial Return
2.
Nature of the Sanctuary (heavenly) and Christ’s ministry
.
Hiram Edson’s vision a.
ORL Crosier Day-Star Extra “Law of Moses” b.
Enoch Jacobs – Day of Atonement – Breastplate of Judgment c.
E. Everts “Investigative Judgment”
3.
Sabbath & The Law

In context of the 3 rd
Angel’s Message – Seal of God

Free Will Baptist T.M.Prebble

Sunday as the Mark of the Beast

introduced by Joseph Bates – 1 st
Adventist Theologian
4.
Conditional immortality

Methodist George Storrs on human nature (life – gift, not inherent)

Cristian Connexion – annihilationism & conditionalism
1856 – prophetic gift of EGW recognized d) Negative trends: i.
Legalism of doing & keeping rules ii.
Abrasive offensive methods of evangelism (“crowd fights” debate) – separation from Christian camp iii.
Plateau and preservation of insights instead of continual growth iv.
Dependency on EGW writings
III.
W
HAT IS
C
HRISTIAN IN
A
DVENTISM
?
1.
Issue on the Law in Galatians & nature of Salvation

10 horns & its interpretation  Uriah Smith against A.T.Jones
2.
Sunday Law enforced 1888 – H.W.Blair
3.
Minneapolis Conference 1888.
A) Issue of Authority


Human

Expert opinion
 Authoritative position

Tradition

Majority vote on Creed
Bible & only; EGW
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B) Righteousness by Faith
 U. Smith & G.Buttler – main official position
 “self-effort” focused and lost sight of Jesus
 J.Bates “keeping Sabbath Holy saves the soul”

Salvation through obedience

Romans 3:25 remission of sins that are PAST

Present

duty to perform, justification by works

After 45-pages letter G.I.Buttler had a nervous breakdown. Was not reelected and did leave ministry for 13 years.
End result of Legalism is



BURNOUT & BREAKDOWN .
Commenting on Revelation 14:12 James White in 1850 set the tone:




 people who are patiently waiting keep the commandments faith of Jesus (body of beliefs such as: Lord’s Supper, footwashing, baptism, service)
God’s Laws + Jesus’ Laws  More commandments to keep == standard in the Early Adventism. Hence “faith OF Jesus” = “more things to do”
J.Cottrell  “Faith of Jesus is to obey in order to belong”
A.T.Jones & E.J.Waggoner – Faith

Paul. Luther, Wesley – step closer to the heart of 3 rd
AM
 Old light in the new context
 Our righteousness is “filthy rags”

Lord is Our righteousness
E.G.White on the issue, supporting Jones & Waggoner
 “Let the law take care of itself. We have been at work on the law until we get as dry as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Let us trust in the merits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” 1SAT p.137
 “We need to preach the gospel…” {RH, January 14, 1909 par. 14}
 “Justification by Faith is the 3 rd
Angel’s Message in verity” (Review and
Herald, April 1, 1890). {Ev 190.3}
 “loud cry had began in 1888” (Review and Herald, Dec. 6, 1892)

AT Jones

confuses “latter rain” with “loud cry”

Latter Rain = Person of Holy Spirit

Loud Cry = Message of the Holy Spirit

To Jones these are inseparable; hence, Loud Cry signifies the outpouring of the Latter Rain.

Wieland & Short

accuse SDA of quenching the Spirit & not letting the
Latter Rain to be poured out. Giving origin to the “1888 movement”
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C) Trinity, Divine Nature of Christ, Holy Spirit
 All pioneers: White, Bates, Andrews, Smith – non-Trinitarian


Jones, Waggoner argued for a point in time of origin, and HS as derivative
 Later deviated. J – Pentecostal; W – Panteism (Kellog)
EGW – full divinity “original, unborrowed, underived” (DA 530).
D) Human Nature of Christ
 Jones, Waggoner, Prescott

Same nature;
 post fall with sinful tendencies & propensities
 indwelling of HS will manifest “demonstration to the Universe”
 EGW

Infirmities, not possessing like passions (propensities)
 Baker’s letter (1896) discovered in 1950s

Henry Mellvill

definition of propensities & infirmities

Unique Nature

neither Pre- nor Post- fall.
4. Post-1888 development.
 Jones errors

EGW Testimonies override the Bible & are commentaries

EGW verbal inspiration

EGW inerrancy

Historical & literary content not important.
 Expectation of “latter rain” & “loud cry” in 1893
5. Time of change: 1900 – 1920
1.
Holy Flesh movement
2.
Pantheism
3.
Ballenger’s rejection of sanctuary & ministry of Atoning
4.
Pentecostal ecclesiology of non-organization.
5.
Daily in Dan.8:13

S.N.Haskel – W.W.Prescott

EGW issue of authority – 2 nd
battle

no consent from EGW
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IV.
W HAT IS F UNDAMENTALIST IN A DVENTISM ?
Reaction on developing modernism: secularism & liberalism.
Mob mentality of reaction


Rigid on inspiration o Verbalism

Holmes

very words are inspired – 1926 textbook for Colleges

EGW thought inspiration o Books

Verbal inspiration of Testimonies Holmes & Washburn

Prescott &
Daniels o Revived Righteousness by Faith

AGD as Ministerial Association head

EGW comp. “Christ Our
Righteousness”

L.Froom 1928 Coming of the Comforter

1 st
book on HS as Person o M.L.Andreasen: “Last Generation” theology

Sanctuary Service 1937

Dual Atonement & Sanctuary

Standing without Mediator (GC)

Character of Christ perfectly reproduced (COL)

Incarnation in same flesh with all sinful tendencies
 “Experiment” must be repeated

Works, behavioral change is a step-by-step process of sanctification & perfection

In the last generation God is vindicated and satan is defeated.
Move to “clean up” the “Christian face” o 1931 Yearbook

statement of beliefs o 1942 Editing US “Daniel/Revelation” from anti-Trinity o 1949 “Bible Readings for the Home” remove “sinful nature” in association with
Christ (Rebok) o FD Nichol “Midnight Cry” 
Millerism as mainstream Christianity.
V.
ROOTS OF
C
URRENT
T
ENSIONS
(C
RISIS IN
A
DVENTISM
)
Establishing Seminary 1930
BRI 1943-1952
SDA Bible Commentary 1953-1957
Historic Adventism






D.G.Barnhouse – Eternity magazine – 1956
Walter Martin – Zonderwan – SDA not a cult

clearing up misconceptions

Incomplete Atonement

Salvation = grace + works

Jesus was created

Partook sinful human nature
Leroy Froom & Anderson

QOD 1957
Heppenstall

LaRondelle, Venden, Dederen, D.Ford
Desmond Ford  Glacier View, CO August 1980
1979 N.C.Wilson

moratorium on public discussions

Our Firm Foundation of Hope International under Russel Standish ( Ausi )
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1888 Message

R.Wieland & D.Grey “1888 Re-examined” o A.V. Olson “Through Crisis to Victory” o L.Froom “Movement of Destiny” demand for confession


Wieland & Grey “Confession…due the Church” (1972)
Jack Sequeira “Beyond Belief”
EGW role



1970 discussion in Spectrum on borrowing (plagiarism)
1976 Ronald Numbers “Prophetess of Health”
1982 Walter Rea “White Lie” o Fred Veltman on DA & borrowing. o George Rice “Luke, a plagiarist?” 1983 o H.Douglass “Messenger of the Lord”
Nature of Inspiration



Thought over verbal inspiration
1986 GC methods, presuppositions and principles of Bible Study.
Alden Thompson “Inspiration, Hard questions”
Current Discussions:

Role & meaning of Remnant.

Creation & Flood.

Historicism interpretation of Revelation.

Culture, gender, political correctness issues.

Organizational structure.
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