Alpha and Omega of Apostasy....

Alpha and Omega....



This makes for some very interesting reading.....


"...If we desire to climb the last part of the road to heaven, we must learn our lesson from history. This is not only true for the part of history recorded in the Bible (see 1 Corinthians 10:11) and the Great Controversy (see the Preface of that book), but it is especially for the history of Adventism. It was in this context that Ellen White talked about the Alpha and Omega of apostasy. She wrote, "We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature." Selected Messages, vol.1, 197.

As we will see, in the following statement, the most startling nature of the omega apostasy consists in the extent of the crisis. While the alpha of apostasy stands for the beginning and was to be limited to a certain local area, the omega of apostasy would develop to a most startling degree until the end. "One thing it is certain is soon to be realized,—the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout." The New York Indicator, February 7, 1906.

If we want to know what course is to be followed in the days of the omega apostasy we have to heed the counsels and instructions given by Ellen White during the alpha crisis. We have to learn from history in order not to repeat the mistakes made in the past. "It is presented to me that in our experience we have been and are meeting this very condition of things." Battle Creek Letters, 124.

In the alpha crisis we find a description of the future (or already existing) condition and experience of the Adventist people. Ellen White tells us: "Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God's people on every side." Testimonies to Ministers, 116. "We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us." Testimonies to Ministers, 31.

How Did the Alpha Develop?
In the center of the alpha-crisis was one man, John Harvey Kellogg, an Adventist physician. Under his leadership, Battle Creek Sanitarium received worldwide fame at the turn of the century. But in the late 1890s, his zeal and energy were more and more mixed with a new idea—that God, not being personal, was in every living thing; in every flower, in every tree, in every morsel of bread. What Kellogg believed to be "new light" forced the prophet of God, even before 1881, to give him a warning message. "Those theories are wrong. I have met them before." Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 278, 279.

Since he was married to a Seventh Day Baptist, Kellogg came in contact with a Seventh Day Baptist minister named Lewis. This man held pantheistic views as well. In Kellogg's mind the pantheistic ideas were brought to maturity, so that, in 1897, he talked about this topic publicly for the first time. Others like Waggoner and Kress came to the same conviction and joined him in preaching this at the General Conference, of 1899, in South Lancaster, Massachusetts.

One month before that conference, Ellen White had written and sent warning letters from Australia, which arrived just at the right time. But sadly enough, these warnings were not heeded. Pantheistic ideas continued to be spread over the land. They were taught, in Battle Creek, in both the College and Sanitarium

Ellen White had to send warning after warning. On February 18, 1902 the Battle Creek Sanitarium burned to the ground. To finance the new sanitarium, Kellogg was asked to write a book, the royalties of which were to be taken for the new sanitarium building. The book Kellogg wrote was entitled "The Living Temple." The finished manuscript was full of his erroneous ideas that had their origin in spiritualistic, pantheistic philosophy. Many discussions followed. Ellen White wrote about this book.

"In the book 'Living Temple' there is presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given." Selected Messages, vol. 1, 200.

Despite the reproofs from God's prophet, Kellogg was determined to print his book in the way he wrote it. So he gave a printing order to the Review and Herald Publishing Company, which they accepted. But God Himself interfered. After the printing patterns were finished and the book was ready to be printed, the publishing house, on December 31, 1902, caught fire and burned to the ground. This did not happen unexpectedly, but was mentioned by the prophet of the Lord more than one year before. (See Testimonies, vol. 8, 91.) The sword of fire had fallen and all knew that God had spoken.

In spite of all this, Kellogg was not prepared to change his mind, and stubbornly went to another publishing house to get his book printed. He then took efforts to ensure that his book was widely circulated among Adventists and non-Adventists. So the pantheistic tares grew and became a danger for the whole work. Ellen White summed up the situation with these words: "Battle Creek has been the seat of rebellion among a people to whom the Lord has given great light and special opportunities." Paulson Collection, 71.
What is the Omega?

In the context of the alpha crisis, Ellen White describes a vision about the soon coming omega apostasy among Adventists. "The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure." Selected Messages, vol. 1, 204, 205.
A reformation inspired by the devil was to take place, and it would consist "in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith."
What are the pillars of our Adventist faith? They are as follows:
The nature of Christ
The sanctuary service
The spirit of prophecy
The Three Angels' Messages (exposing the papacy, Babylon, ecumenism, explaining the Sabbath-Sunday-question, exalting the law of God, etc.)
The state of the dead and the exposure of spiritualism
....Excerpts from Alpha and Omega, by Herman Kesten

And when you compare that article to one by Vance Ferrell that outline the apostasy, you see clearly what the Alpha was:


"To understand the Alpha is to be forewarned against it. A clear insight into the issues there developed can also help us better grasp many of the essential issues that would be later developed in the Omega. - Vance Ferrell"

" By November of that year (1902), Daniells wrote the following summary note to a member of the General Conference Committee:

"...During the past summer, four medical institutions have been erected, or launched, at a cost of at least $30,000. This does not include the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which in all probability will add $300,000 to its indebtedness. Thus in one short year, almost half a million dollars of sanitarium and food factory debts have been created."-A-G. Daniells, letter dated November 6, 1902, to N.W. Allee.

Kellogg was deeply angry at being frustrated in his plan to have the Church pay his debts for him. He began discussing around Battle Creek of the need to get Daniells out of office and put someone more cooperative into the presidency of the General Conference, someone like A.T. Jones. But if Jones had gotten in, he would have been the ruin of us all. For, against the repeated advice of Ellen White, Elder Jones had become a close associate of Dr. Kellogg. Whatever Kellogg thought, suggested or theorized, Jones backed it. The two had become something of an inseparable match. All this was to John Kellogg's liking, for with Jones' Minneapolis Conference background, he had, throughout the 1890s, acquired a strong influence all over North America. Even today, there are those who consider that whatever A.T. Jones did or wrote must be somewhat infallible. We deeply appreciate his excellent messages at the 1888 Conference and immediately thereafter-but we cannot accept the fact that he was more than an erring human.


Soon another General Conference Session would be nearing, and keenly disappointed with Daniell's stonewall personality, Kellogg sat down and wrote a seventy-page letter to Ellen White. From his many years superintending the Battle Creek Sanitarium and greeting the wealthy of America and Canada and the titled and royalty of Europe, Kellogg was a past master at winning friends and converting enemies to his views. Kellogg's letter was not mailed until early or mid-February of 1903. We know that it was read to Ellen White on March 16. About a week later, on the 23rd, she arrived in Oakland, California for the opening of the General Conference Session. The next morning she met Daniells.
"Grasping his hand in a warm greeting and looking him in the eye, she said, 'Do you know we are facing a great crisis at this meeting?'
"'Yes, Sister White,' he replied.
"She gripped his hand tighter and with a snap in her eyes said, 'Don't you waver a particle in this crisis.'
"To this Daniells replied, 'Sister White, those are the most precious words I ever heard. I know who you are and what you mean.' "-A-L. White, in "The Early Elmshaven Years," quoting from "How the Denomination was Saved from Pantheism," pp. 16, 17.

Her next words to Daniells were highly significant:
" 'Let me tell you,' she said, 'Satan has his representatives right here at this place now, and the Lord has bidden me, Have no interview with Dr. Kellogg, no counsel whatever with that man.' "-Ibid.

But at this point, we need to turn back the clock to the preceding December. You will recall that we earlier mentioned that when Dr. Kellogg was offered the suggestion of writing a simple book on physiology and health-care that could be sold by colporteurs, he jumped at the opportunity and wrote "The Living Temple," with its Hinduistic sentiments. Working rapidly, Kellogg dictated the contents of the book to a secretary who then typed it out. Soon the book had been typeset at the nearby Review and Herald office, and galley proofs of "The Living Temple" were handed to W.W. Prescott to look at. He was shocked and took them to Elder W.A. Spicer. Now, it just so happened that Elder Spicer had been for many, years a missionary in India−and when he read Kellogg's book, he was astounded. Here was Hindu pantheism right in front of him, and slated to be printed soon and sent out to the four winds for reading and selling by Seventh-day Adventists across North America!

"Some sit in judgment on the Scriptures, declaring that this or that passage is not inspired, because it does not strike their minds favorably. They cannot harmonize it with their ideas of philosophy and science, 'falsely so called' (1 Timothy 6:20). Others for different reasons question portions of the Word of God. Thus many walk blindly where the enemy prepares the way. Now, it is not the province of any man to pronounce sentence upon the Scriptures, to judge or condemn any portion of God's Word. When one presumes to do this, Satan will create an atmosphere ford him to breathe which will dwarf spiritual growth. When a9 man feels so very wise that he dares to dissect God's Word, his wisdom is, with God, counted foolishness. When he knows more, he will feel that he has everything to learn. And his very first lesson is to become teachable."
-1 Selected Messages, page 42.

But when questions came to Kellogg or his associates about the matter, they replied that it was "advanced light" for the Church, and that should settle the matter. The book was no problem to Kellogg's associates for he had been grinding these ideas into their minds for several years.

Waiting for Kellogg's return to town from a business trip, Spicer then made an appointment to visit with him at his large home. Spicer later wrote up the afternoon discussion:
" 'Where is God?' I was asked. I would naturally say, He is in heaven; there the Bible pictures the throne of God, all the heavenly beings at His command as messengers between heaven and earth. But I was told that God was in the grass and plants and in the trees . .
"'Where is heaven?" I was asked. I had my idea of the center of the universe, with heaven and throne of God in the midst, but disclaimed any attempt to fix [locate] the center of the universe astronomically. But I was urged to understand that heaven is where God is, and God is everywhere-in the grass, in the trees, in all creation. There was no place in this scheme of things for angels going between heaven and earth, for heaven was here and everywhere. The cleansing of the sanctuary that we taught about was not something in a faraway heaven."-W.A. Spicer, in "How the Spirit of Prophecy Met a Crisis," p. 18.

It should be remembered that the apostasy of Kellogg and Ballenger in the 1903-1905 crisis was termed the "alpha" of apostasy by Ellen White. She warned that the "omega" would follow later and be even worse. Keep in mind that the "alpha" involved-both by Kellogg and by Ballenger−a repudition of our basic Sanctuary Message: a two-apartment actual building in heaven, with Jesus as our High priest in that Sanctuary from A.D. 31 on down to 1844 in the first apartment, and from 1844 onward to the close of probation in the second, as he carries out the final atonement in connection with an examination of the records of all who have professed faith in Him down through the ages (the Investigative Judgment) [see "Great Controversy, chapters 23-24, 28 for the clearest, most accurate portrayal of this extremely important doctrine).

A careful study of both aspects of this twin apostasy of 1903-1905 will disclose that both denied these basic truths. The "new theology" in our day denies it also, and many of our young pastors no longer believe in a two-apartment sanctuary in heaven or in several other of the above stated points of tithe ministry of Christ within it.

But what about Elder A.T. Jones? Earlier, holding the position of co-editor of the "Signs of the Times" at Pacific Press in Oakland, California, Jones in 1897 became a member of the General Conference Committee and editor of the "Review and Herald." John Kellogg worked hard to cultivate his close friendship, which he succeeded in doing. In 1901, Jones accepted the position of president of the California Conference, which at that time was second only to Michigan in size.

In the summer of 1903, he visited Ellen White at Elmshaven and told her that Dr. Kellogg had requested that he return to Battle Creek and teach Bible in the Adventist college there...
Ellen White urged Elder Jones not to go to Battle Creek. "Do not go there!" she told him. A.T. Jones had quite a bit of self-confidence in his abilities to handle any situation he might meet, and he replied that she need not fear, he would be careful and all would be well. But she continued to urge him not to go to Battle Creek. Soon she had a vision in which she learned that if he went to Battle Creek, he would become cap-tivated by Kellogg's smooth words, flattering statements, and erroneous sentiments −and would be overcome.

She then wrote to Jones and told him of the vision and his danger.
"In vision I had seen him [A. T. Jones] under the influence of Dr. Kellogg. Fine threads were being woven around him, till he was being bound hand and foot, and his mind and his senses were becoming captivated."-Letter 116, 1906.
But it did no good. He went anyway. At first, he planned to remain in Battle Creek only one year, but he was so cordially received by the doctor, and so fully caught up in his work of building a great Babylon at Battle Creek, that Jones continued on, year after year. In February 1905, she succeeded in getting him out of Battle Creek, and to General Conference headquarters in Washington D.C. for a very short time. But soon he was back in Battle Creek.

At the 1905 General Conference Session (the crucial session that dealt with the Ballenger crisis), Ellen White spoke with A.T. Jones, for she had been warned in vision again only two days before. But of the conversation, she later wrote: "I pointed out his danger. But he was self-confident." (Letter 116, 1906). He told her that there was no danger, that Dr. Kellogg's views in "Living Temple" were in full agreement with the Spirit of Prophecy, and that both he and Kellogg accepted the Spirit of Prophecy.
Jones had been with Kellogg so long, he sounded like him. When anyone asked Dr. Kellogg about the controversy, he would express fullest confidence, belief, and harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy writings, thus disarming the inquirer, and then he would proceed to undermine her teachings through cleverly devised comments, arguments, and objections.

Regarding that conversation with A.T. Jones, she later wrote:
'I warned Elder Jones,' wrote Ellen White, 'but he felt that he was not in the least danger. But the fine threads have been woven about him, and he is now a man deluded and deceived. Though claiming to believe the testimonies, he does not believe them.' "-Letter 116, 1906.

We have all received many blessings from the writings of Alonzo T. Jones, but we should be aware of the fact that he later chose to remain with Kellogg. Neither you, nor I, nor any other person in this world is safe-except as we cling to the inspired writings and make them our own day by day. Only the little children will inherit the kingdom of God. Only those humble enough to put the Word of God before their own position, prejudices, and objectives will make it safely all the way to the end.

Although Dr. Kellogg had closed down the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, he continued to publish its journal, "The Medical Missionary." With most of the other Adventist periodicals virtually closed to him by this time, he found the "Medical Missionary" a way to keep sending his bitter, acrimonious messages to Seventh-day Adventists.
In addition, Kellogg worked earnestly to obtain legal control of the Battle Creek Tabernacle. He would visit with the trustees of that large church, and flatter, cajole, and urge them to see things his way. Attacks on General Conference leadership were interspersed with his regular ones about Ellen White: she didn't know what she was doing, her writings were not trustworthy for they were full of errors. She let other people write letters and then she would sign them. And on and on it would go. When asked for proof, John could always pause as though the font of wisdom in the presence of ignor-ance, and then say "I know, and they [the leaders] know, and she [Ellen White] knows too." Everything was a grand conspiracy against [him]. And Ellen White was at the heart of it. Thus he would reason with everyone that he could...."excerpts from THE ‘ALPHA OF APOSTASY' by Vance Ferrell.

Richard, what was the alpha and what is the omega?

Both are the same just on a larger scale, the Omega Apostasy is again the rejection of the testimony of Christ as given through the Spirit of Prophecy, but this time they shade it as a deeply held issue which needs rethinking such as a righteosness by faith issue and spread it throughout the church and its leadership. Many SDA professors, teachers, and ministers have come to cleanse their views and beliefs from anything that may have a basis from the Spirit of Prophecy under the guise of 'sola scriptura', others say that we cannot trust what was written as others may have done it (same line Kellogg used). But it doesnt matter which way the crisis comes, it will be directed at shaking the church to the core of its foundation, the testimony of Christ which has guided the Adventist movement and the pillars of faith derived from SOP which it follows.

Here is something one of the brothers passed on in another forum..."In 1896, the following testimony was sent to the church: "The people to whom God has entrusted eternal interests, the depositories of truth pregnant with eternal results, the keepers of light that is to lighten the whole world, have lost their bearings." Testimonies to Ministers, p.397.

And then five years later:

"We may have to remain in this world because of insubordination many more years as did the children of Israel; but for Christ's sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action." Evangelism, p.696.

We are 107 years after this last statement! The coming of Christ has long been delayed!

Richard, you made this statement about brother Kellogg: "But in the late 1890s, his zeal and energy were more and more mixed with a new idea—that God, not being personal, was in every living thing; in every flower, in every tree, in every morsel of bread."

Mrs. White wrote, "I was called upon to rebuke those who who were presenting the doctrine of an impersonal God pervading all nature, and similar errors." Testimonies to Ministers, Vol.8, p.293.

"The theory that God is an essence pervading all nature is one of Satan's most subtle devices. It misrepresents God and is a dishonor to His greatness and majesty." Ibid, p.291.

Followed to its logical conclusion, this theory "sweeps away the whole Christian economy." Ibid, 291.

It sweeps away the whole Christian economy because to teach that God is an impersonal essence is to teach that nature is God! This theory does away with the necessity for the atonement and it makes man its own Saviour. You see, if God is an impersonal essence pervading all nature, then there is no such thing as a personal God and therefore there is no sanctuary in Heaven and there is no Jesus Christ either. This explains why Mrs. White said that this theory was undermining the pillars of our faith.

But mark these words with care: "Nature is not God, nor was it ever God... But those who have a true knowledge of God will not become so infatuated with the laws of matter or the operations of nature as to overlook or refuse to acknowledge the continual working of God in nature." E.G. White, Selected Messages, Vol.1, p.293.

We need to discern the subtle difference between pantheistic theories and the truth. Mrs. White was called upon by God to rebuke those who presented the doctrine of an impersonal God pervading all nature as opposed to the Bible doctrine of a personal God who, by His Spirit, is moving in all things according to His will. In Ministry of Healing, p.416, we read these words: "Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active Agency of a Being who moves in all things according to His will."

The power working in nature is not, as some believe and teach, an impersonal essence. In the book Education, p.14, Mrs. White writes these most interesting and enlightening words: "Whatever line of investigation we pursue, with a sincere desire to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite. The effect of such communion on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate."

This is the basic difference between pantheistic theories and the truth.

The truth: "The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. The Lord's throne is in Heaven (Ps.11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of and a personal interest in all the works of His hand." Education, p.132.

This is the truth. This is the true knowledge of God which is unto salvation. "Acquaint now yourself with Him," is God's message to mankind! See Education, p.14.

Thus, "The deepest students of science are constrained to recognize in nature the working of infinite power." Ecucation, p.134....."

"....The Lord by His Spirit is at work in the seed. It is by His Spirit that the Lord causes the seed to grow and to develop and bear fruit. "The Lord puts His own Spirit into the seed, causing it to spring into life. Under His care the germ breaks through the case enclosing it and springs up to develop and bear fruit." Testimonies, Vol.8, p.326.

All who desire to know the truth, those who are willing to see and understand, will be taught of God. They will be enabled to see, with the eyes of the understanding, the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. They will be enabled to see the invisible, for "The same power that upholds nature is working also in man." Education, p.99.

We have seen how the "alpha" of apostasy, the theory that God is a mere impersonal essence pervading all nature, was a very subtle theory which was to undermine the pillars of our faith for it would have done away with the whole Christian economy.
But what is the "omega" of apostasy? The omega of apostasy was to be much more subtle since Mrs. White warned that it would be "of a most startling nature." Selected Messages, Vol.1, p.197...."

I think Ellen White clearly laid out the evidence of what the Alpha of Apsotasy was, and what the Omega of Apostasy would be, we just need to study what is there for us....

Richard, thank you for sharing. The alpha of apostasy, pantheistic views of God, do not in the least appeal to me. I prefer to believe God is a personal being who loves me dearly. The Bible leaves no doubt in my mind that God is indeed such a being.

However, Ellen did, at times, write in such a way that a perverter of the truth could twist her words to make it seem like she held to pantheistic views. For example:


Assigning human traits to the things of nature is merely poetic license. She certainly wasn't advocating pantheistic views. Too bad people get wigged out so easily. Regarding the omega, Ellen wrote:


She makes it sound like the omega of heresy is related to the pantheistic views in Living Temple. Is this right?

Or to the law! That is, assigning human traits to the law is merely poetic license (Hope you don't mind my inserting this here; I know it's off topic).

Returning to the topic, I have an idea as to what the Omega may be. I think it might be the teaching of Universalism.

Here is what one of the brothers put in a forum that outlines what is happening today very clear..

"The Omega of apostasy is an attack on the pillars of our faith. The pillars of our faith is the Sanctuary Message of Dan.8:14 this is the very foundation of our church. If you remove this foundational truth then the SDA Church and the writings of Ellen White are not true or relevant, neither is the Sabbath or the Law of God. This all has been happening since the late 1970's and 1980's when professor of Theology at Andrews Desmond Ford came out publicly with his views-false theories on the Dan. 8:14 that he had been teaching to his students for years. His coming out publicly with his false theories lead to a great apostasy in our church, thousands even left the ministry and until this day his false theories are taught as bible truth by many SDA theologian - pastors in our churches."

I've never been to a church where Ford's ideas on Dan. 8:14 was taught, or anywhere, for that matter. I was at the seminary, and never heard his ideas taught.

At Southern College it was the center of controversy for a time while I was there, but I couldnt wrap my head around it as it no one really knew or I think even comprehended where it would lead to. I felt it was just a minor theological issue that would fade away. Soon after that we started to hear this subtle shift to downplay the use of the writtings of Ellen White, then the charges of plagarism, and the criticism of her work, which has mushroomed with the information on the internet...

Here is few of Desmond Ford's links if you need to check on his view on the issues...

http://www.ellenwhiteexposed.com/DFordSS.htm

http://www.goodnewsforadventists.com/home/skyview.php?keyid=262

Richard, what years were you at Southern?

Something else that's interesting are there are many who have ideas very similar to Ford's, but rather than downplay the use of the writings of Ellen White, or criticize her work, they find Ford's ideas in Ellen White's writings.

Ford taught that justification is a legal acquittal that happened 2000 years ago when Christ stepped into the place of humanity and suffered their punishment for sin. This is the evangelical view of the atonement, but Adventist literature has never taught it.

Justification is something that happens in the mind when a person is converted (set right) to Jesus. 2000 years ago Christ did everything necessary for our justification, but what He did only benefits those who believe. Justification is being set right with God in our mind.

Jesus didn’t come to change God’s mind about us, which is what the evangelical justification teaches, but He came to change our mind about God.

scott

I also personally believe the Omega of apostasy is in some way related to the attack to the sanctuary doctrine.

"In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?" {RH, May 25, 1905 par. 28}

"It is your privilege to know what is truth, because for more than half a century we have been guided step by step by the counsels of the Spirit of God. At this time many efforts will be made to unsettle our faith in the sanctuary question, but we must not waver. Not a pin is to be moved from the foundations of our faith. Truth is still truth. Those who become uncertain will drift into erroneous theories and will finally find themselves infidel in regard to the past evidence we have had of what is truth. The old waymarks must be preserved, that we lose not our bearings." --Letter 395, 1906, p. 4. (To S. M. Cobb, Dec. 25, 1906.)

Graduated in 82', the dean was happy to see me go...

Thank you, Rosangela, for the quotes. If pantheism is true, then there is no need for a literal sanctuary in heaven.

Ford made righteousness by faith justification alone, excluding sanctification from the Gospel, which is held by many in the church still, laity and theologians/pastors.

The British SDA church newsletter, The Messenger, had a piece maybe 12 years ago on its current issues page about righteousness by faith, written by a senior, British pastor: clarifying the topic, he wrote that justification is a legal status - no mention was made of the "experience of justification" (see 1976 Palmdale consensus statement in the Review & Herald), the rebirth, thus implicitly presenting Fordian teaching. His idea is in Adventist print in various places...perhaps even by Goldstein sometimes (I'll try to source the quote).

Conversion is being set right? Conversion is a legal status??? No, pardon - tho' legal - is the experience of removal of guilt, and conversion is a heart change! Being "set right" must happen before we come to faith else there would be no grace at all (Rom 5:2)!

Legal standing was established at Calvary, for Christ is our justification - our legal standing, and "what he did" benefits the whole world by grace, for faith once we believe. Our legal standing is a move by God; conversion is our choice: grace is sovereign in saving the world, so us being set right with God was Jesus' move by his reconciliatory, substitutionary death.

Sanctification is indeed the required life of those justified by faith, unlike evangelical & Fordian theology.

Being "set right" is something which happens as a result of responding to the revelation of God:



Waggoner taught that justified meant being made righteous, not as a legal status, but as a change of heart. I can back this up if you wish, but I assume you're familiar with this.



Sanctification is the fruit of the one whose heart has been transformed. Saying it's a "required life" sounds like it's not a natural result of being justified. All who are justified are sanctified, providing they don't return to a life of sin.

I was being too concise last night - it was late: being set right with God is both an accomplishment of grace in Christ (God reconciling the world to himself in Christ) and our status as believers: it is not the definition of conversion, though, since conversion is an experience not a legal matter alone.

"Required life" is true in its context, as is "fruit": the cause and effect expression of "fruit" and the strict inclusion of sanctification in the Gospel experience of salvation expressed as "required" are both aspects of truth. That perfect obedience is included in our salvation from sin is the dispute, and I'm emphasising its inclusion.

I think I would agree with what you wrote, except I would just say, "obedience is included in our salvation." (without the "perfect" in front of it). I don't really disagree with the word "perfect," but it has baggage to it and people often misunderstand it.

Also in the first paragraph, I suspect that the words you wrote would mean something different to you than to me, but I agree with them.

Have not been around for some time and was reading this topic.

I would have do my old research, but I have always felt that it was the nature of Christ that would be the Omega issue.

I know this topic is someplace else on the forum and do not know if it has been posted on of late, but for me when we look at the Alpha we see it was directed at the nature of God and the Omega would be directed at the nature of Christ.

It comes down to the very true of perfection and can we be like Jesus in our own lifetime before the coming.

Al and I were there about the same time, things were really in a turmoil then. Do you remember seeing the paper posted on Lorenzo Grant's door the day that Ford had his credentials taken away, that said, "A Sad Day In Adventist History"?

That's just one point we used to be clear on which we no longer are clear about...the human nature of Christ has gone quiet in scholarly publications (after 50 years!), and now it's the trinity which is being addressed by scholars...!