THE 1844 INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT DOCTRINE: COMMENTS AND COMMENTARIES—PART 7
Ervin Taylor, Series Editor

“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

To clarify questions raised by some readers, Adventist Today wishes to state that the opinions and points of view expressed in the materials presented in ATNewsbreak are those of the individual authors and may or may not be shared by any member of the Adventist Today board or editorial staff. The purpose of ATNewsbreak is to advance one of the goals of Adventist Today which is to promote a sense of connection among people who treasure both their Adventist heritage and the continuing quest for “present truth” by fostering creative conversations about how to preserve and promote the best of Adventism.

Another source of constructive commentaries on these lessons can be found at the web site of the PROBE comments from the School of Theology at Walla Walla College edited by Dr. Alden Thompson. They can be found at www.wwc.edu/probe. Other interesting commentaries and blogs on this topic can be found at the Spectrum web site, www.spectrummagazine.org. The web site, www.ATomorrow.com also contains some interesting comments on this topic.

Excerpts from Week 7 Comments and Commentaries
Title: Seventy Weeks

Comments on Lesson Seven: Seventy Weeks            Desmond Ford

The Quarterly now directs our attention to the most brilliant gem of OT prophecy—the seventy weeks. Here is a prediction about the coming of a new Melchizedekan priest king, Messiah the prince, and his execution by those he came to save. The prophecy also speaks of the result of this momentous evil—the destruction of Israel’s Holy City, and the subsequent miseries of her people till the end of time.

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

The Sanctuary Doctrine – Asset or Liability? Part 7            Raymond F. Cottrell

7. "Rightly Explaining the Word of Truth" [53]

The almost infinitely diverse and often contradictory ideas attributed to the Bible, and thus its relevance for our time, suggest the importance of identifying principles on the basis of which we can have confidence in the validity of our conclusions with respect to the perspectives of life and
reality its divine Author and the inspired writers intended their words to convey.

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

Reflections on Daniel 8-9: Sanctuary and Advent            Lee F Greer III and Lee F Greer, Jr.

This quarterly uses a particular, traditional historicist approach to prophetic interpretation. Appeals to the year-day (and day-year) statements of Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 are cited as a basis for this approach.

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

Is It All Right to be Wrong?            Robert R. Wresch

Jonah preached, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed." Here was a specific time prophecy, whose fulfillment could be tested. Jonah's prophecy proved to be wrong. Is it all right that Jonah was wrong?

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

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.

Not Total Opposition Or Total Adherence

Dear Editor:

I quote from your current page:
"Adventist Today Comments: This is a brief overview of the arguments opposing the traditional Adventist understanding of 1844 and the doctrine of the Pre-Advent Investigative Judgment. Adventist Today would welcome a brief summary statement supporting the traditional Adventist understanding…"

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

Adventist Today Biased Against Church’s Official Understanding?

Dear Editor:

From the introductory remarks on this discussion of the 1844 Sabbath School Quarterly, it reads as if [Adventist Today] is biased against the church's official understanding of the 2300 days.

Here's the quote and then I'll explain why I see a negative bias.

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

Church’s Main Concern: Self Vindication?

Dear Editor:

I know a man who is schizophrenic.  At his bad times, he spends his days fighting giants and nights sitting in silence, fighting off the attacks in his mind.

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]

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-August-September 2006, “The Gospel, 1844, and Judgment”

[Please go to www.atoday.org for the complete text]