THE 1844 INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT DOCTRINE: COMMENTS AND COMMENTARIES—PART 12
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 12 Comments and Commentaries
Title: Pre-Advent Judgement

Comments on Lesson Twelve: The Pre-Adventist Judgment          Desmond Ford

The title of this lesson is “The Pre-Advent Judgment” but we will look in vain in any or all of the texts provided to suggest any such thing.

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The Sanctuary Doctrine—Asset or Liability? Part 12          Raymond F. Cottrell

12. The Daniel and Revelation Committee

Eventually realizing that Glacier View had not settled the sanctuary issue, the General Conference appointed the Daniel and Revelation Committee (DRC) and assigned it the task of compiling what was intended to be definitive proof of the traditional interpretation of Daniel 8:14, the sanctuary, and the investigative judgment. The committee functioned during the 1980s under the auspices of the General Conference Biblical Research Institute (BRI) and published its report in seven volumes under the title Daniel and Revelation Committee Series (DRCS).

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Reply to Ford on “1844: Embattled Yet Enduring”          Kevin D. Paulson

I thank Dr. Ford, who is my friend as I am his, for sharing his thoughts on my article. Sadly, his reply gives neither I nor other devout Adventists the slightest reason for re-thinking our support for this fundamental teaching of our faith.

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Response to Paulson          Desmond Ford

I love the challenge Kevin Paulson gives in his last sentence: "See for yourselves who, in fact, has distorted the Biblical evidence." Here, at least, we are in complete harmony.

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False Dichotomy          Barry Kimbrough

A challenge has been issued: Prove the 1844 Investigative Judgment from the New
Testament alone.

It sounds reasonable. Doesn’t the New Testament (NT) contain all essentials of Christian doctrine? Certainly, if the teaching is so important, it must be clearly stated somewhere in those 27 books. It appears to be a fair demand. But is it? Here are a few thoughtful reflections

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Comments from Readers

Comments About Dr. Gerhard Hasel

Dear Editor:

I have read some of the articles of Dr. Raymond Cottrell, and I have to say that the last time I read such a virulent comments was in an original Catholic book from 1650, in which a priest wrote against Protestants.

I am referring about some comments about Dr.Gerhard Hasel, which was a true servant of the Lord. His writings meant a great treasure to the church. I think that Dr. Cottrell did not have in mind Dr. Hasel relatives, when he spoke of him as "Torquemada".

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Quotation of Interest From Brisbane, Australia: Part II

Self-Preservation

“The primary goal of all institutions and subcultures is self-preservation. Preserving the faith is central to God’s plan for human history: preserving particular religious institutions is not. Do not expect those who run the institutions to be sensitive to the difference. God needs no particular person, church, denomination, creed or organization to accomplish his purpose. He will make use of those, in all their diversity, who are ready to be used, but will leave to themselves those who labor for their own ends.

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Further Comments From Australia

Dear Editor:

In the land of Oz we are blest again by AT's weekly excursion into the Sabbath School lesson. Four of many comments that seem appropriate are as follows.

First, this week AT has done a great service to us by making available Dr. Cottrell's illuminating analyses of Adventism's struggles since the Figuhr era. The church needs the Cottrell story in its wider context. I hope that will be available in the forthcoming biography.

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

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