THE 1844 INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT DOCTRINE: COMMENTS AND COMMENTARIES—PART 4

“The Gospel, 1844, and Judgment” is the topic of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Third Quarter Adult Bible Study Guide, published by the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The study guide states that one purpose of this series of lessons is to “establish the biblical basis for the 1844 judgment [doctrine].” This doctrine teaches that a pre-Advent judgment—the investigative judgment—was begun by God in 1844.

The Adventist Today web site, www.atoday.org is hosting a series of varied and contrasting commentaries and discussions designed to illuminate the nature of the arguments supporting and opposing the only unique doctrinal position taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Some Adventist scholars and pastors understand and teach that this doctrine constitutes the central core of Adventism. Other Adventist scholars and pastors believe that this doctrine, as traditionally taught, has no unambiguous biblical support. And still others view this doctrine as fundamentally flawed

Next week (Part 5), along with many letters from readers, continuing comments by Desmond Ford and Raymond Cottrell and reactions and comments from Robert Wieland and William H. Grotheer will be posted along with a commentary by Tim Jennings.

Excerpts from Week 4 Comments and Commentaries
Title: Daniel 7

The Doctrine of the Sanctuary as SDA Philosophy of History Joe Greig

Introduction

The Doctrine of the Sanctuary and the identity of the Remnant emerged from a Millerite interpretation of biblical prophetic texts that were thought to identify the earth as the sanctuary which would be cleansed by fire in the fall of 1844 at the second coming of Christ. The failure of this interpretation resulted in the Great Disappointment and the subsequent reinterpretation of the

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Comments on Lesson Four Desmond Ford

The suggestions made for lesson three apply also to this lesson to a large degree. The Quarterly has not incorporated the NT evidence that the first advent as well as the second is presented in the prophecy of Daniel 7.

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The Sanctuary Doctrine – Asset or Liability? Part 4 Raymond F. Cottrell

Like an airplane unexpectedly entering a region of clear air turbulence, in 1945 Dr. Desmond Ford began to encounter exegetical problems in the traditional Adventist interpretation of Daniel 8:14, the sanctuary, and the investigative judgment. He set out to put all of the disparate pieces together in a coherent pattern that would resolve the problems, that would be faithful to reliable principles of exegesis, and that left him a dedicated Seventh-day Adventist with complete confidence in the integrity of the church as an authentic witness to the everlasting gospel.

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Daniel 7 in the Context of 1844 Dorothee Cole

One of the most important Adventist contributions of Ellen White is the concept of the universal controversy between Christ and Satan over the character of God. Placing every biblical story and prophecy in the setting of this war over the trustworthiness of God’s character adds a tremendous depth of meaning. In this context, the central purpose of prophecy is not so much to foretell exact future events and dates, but rather to ensure the reader that God will bring about a resolution of this conflict and that the universal debate

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A Letter to Clifford Goldstein Angus McPhee

Adventist Today Comment: This letter was sent to Clifford Goldstein on June 27, 2006 by Adventist Australian Pastor Angus McPhee. No answer has been received as of this date. Adventist Today is pleased to post this letter and urges Mr. Goldstein to respond to Pastor McPhee.

Dear Clifford:

I am submitting the following to you as the editor of the Adult Sabbath School lessons. You are justified in thinking that this has been prompted by the lesson theme for the third quarter of this year. What follows are some points which represent some of my thinking on the matter of Daniel 8:14 and our church’s “official” understanding of the meaning of the statement recorded in the verse. I am convinced that we should give more weight and credence to Gabriel’s explanation than we have.

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Comments from Readers

Adventist Today Comment: We have received a number of comments, both supporting and disagreeing with earlier postings. Adventist Today will attempt to post at various times throughout the quarter as many of these comments as possible, subject to editing for length and appropriate language. The date of receipt of a reader comment and the posting may be from one to five weeks apart.

I Will Need All the Help I Can Get

Dear Editor: 

I really look forward to the perspectives, evaluation, and commentaries on the SS lessons.  I teach Sabbath School and I will need all the help I can get. I am one of those who are dissatisfied with the SDA interpretation of this doctrine, even though I was educated in Adventist schools.

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Two Cents from Quasi Member

Dear Editor:

I am a quasi member of the Sunnyvale, SDA church in California, and simply want to add my two cents worth to the topic at hand if possible.

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Appalled

Dear Editor:

How dare you contradict the pioneers of this faith, this movement, and its prophet?? Your problem is you do not wish to believe, you only seek contention.

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Thank You for Courage

Dear Editor:

Thank you for having the courage to get before us these various commentaries.

It is sad that the proponents of the sanctuary doctrine have only ambiguous contortions of text and EGW to fortify their theory. If one sets aside preconceived ideas, and adheres to “sola scriptura,” they will find this to be a strange gospel.

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Receipt and Web Site Posting Schedule

The dates for the receipt of comments and commentaries and posting target dates on the Adventist Today web site for the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study for July–September 2006, “The Gospel, 1844, and Judgment”

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