In our Sabbath School lessons this quarter we are studying end-time prophecies. We began the quarter with a look at the principles of prophetic interpretation. The first lesson was good and covered some important material. But what troubles me about it is what it did not say. It did not touch on some important principles of prophetic interpretation that are falling into disrepute among us.
Historically Adventism has placed emphasis on a concept called present truth. Have you all noticed that we don’t hear as much about present truth today as we used to? However, present truth was what historically defined us.
The Sabbath is an example of present truth. It is both a doctrine and an obligation and privilege.
Describing the experience of the Millerites, Ellen White tells us that prior to the disappointment of 1844, those who rejected the present truth of the first angel’s message were barred from accepting the second. Similarly, those who accepted the first, but not the second were barred from understanding the third. And she makes some startling statements that have become a source of embarrassment to many of our theologians about the dire results of rejecting the third angel’s message. She says the doors of the heavenly sanctuary were shut against the rejecters of present truth and more than this, they fell under the influence of Satan. In other word, the rejection of present truth closes the doors of the mind to a true prophetic understanding and places us under the banner of another leader.
Because present truth is not only defined by doctrine, but also delineates new privileges and duties, in order to advance in prophetic understanding present truth not only has to be understood, it has to be worked into the life and experience of the individual by faith. Present truth not only has to be understood, it has to be lived. If it is not lived, our prophetic understanding will become confused.
Clifford Goldstein, editor of this quarter’s lessons is a careful bible student and he likely knows all this. I don’t think he overlook it but maybe he thought it was not important enough to mention.
But consider what happened in the church during the alpha/pantheism crises of the 1900’s. There is no general agreement among SDA theologians today for the cause of such a gross error gaining widespread acceptance in the church, but in my view, Weiland and Short’s explanation is the most plausible. The acceptance of the heresy was caused by the rejection of present truth.
So friends, here we are, 100 years later with more signs than ever that as a church we are not living up to the light we have in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. And yet we think we are doctrinally rich and increased in understanding. In fact, we are ripe for the grossest deceptions. Will God allow Himself to be inquired of by a church that has made human plans and human standards its wisdom? Never. He will shake us, and attempt to wake us up. How much prophecy can a sleeping woman understand? Although the virgins knew of the soon return of Christ, how many of them put their prophetic understanding into practice. None. Fortunately, someone outside of their number shouted out the warning - behold the bridgroom cometh! There was no mistaking the message - even by those who were out of oil. How sad though that none of the virgins were ready for the bridegroom.
Jesus asked, “When the son of man cometh, will he find faith on the earth?”
