February 15, 2007 - 4:27pm - Desmond Ford There are some splendid gospel comments on p.168 of the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Lesson Guide (ASSLG) under the heading “The Assurance of Salvation.â€? (Page156 under the heading "No Condemnation" is similarly excellent). But the lesson as a whole continues to make the same mistakes that characterize its content from the very first lesson. It assumes that what is true of Judgment Day at Christ's coming applies to a mysterious judgment beginning over one and a half centuries before. It also repeatedly says that such an 1844 event is foretold in Rev. 14:7, although the context is clearly about a judgment upon evil powersâ€â€?Babylon. Apocalyptic judgment is always a vindication of the saints by punishment of their oppressors. Compare Rev 18:10 and context with 14:7 and context. Then reread Dan. 7:11,25-26. The lesson continues to use "cleanse" for Dan. 8:14, although that word is not present in the Hebrew text. It would be more scripturally correct if the Lesson title had been justified by such scriptures as Jn 12:31; 3:18-21; 3:36. These texts DO speak of a judgment going on today, a judgment that began with the Cross of Christ. Whenever the gospel is proclaimed men are judged by their response to it. We should take seriously Christ's words: "NOW is the judgment of this world…" Jn 12:31, and the present tenses relative to judgment in Jn 3: 18,19,36. Whoever NOW believes is judged righteousâ€â€'that is, justified. See Rom 5:1. Whoever NOW rejects the gospel abides under the judgmental wrath of Godâ€â€?a wrath which is not like our emotional fits, but which is a sacred holy reaction against cherished evil. As regards the lesson's use of Psalm 73 it should be noted that there is nothing here about 1844 or an IJ. Rather, the sanctuary by its continual blood shedding testified that evil always brings death, in the Psalmists' day and our own. John 14:12 is either a misprint or irrelevant. Acts 1:11 points to the future revelation of Christ at his coming, and Rev. 22:12 to the final executive judgment, for it speaks of the distribution of rewards, not of decision making. On p. 167 of The Adults Teachers SSL Guide is a splendid though incomplete statement (ending with "But before this" and we are not told just what is before this.) Here it is (omitting the incomplete sentence: The ultimate focus of biblical history is the Second Coming of Christ. The One who brought the good news of grace will stand at the last day as the judge of a rebellious order. The climactic moment in the history between good and evil will witness the unleashing of divine wrath to cleanse the universe of hostility toward righteousness. This cleansing is described in terms of fire that will melt the elements and purify the earth ( 2 Pet. 3:10-13). Please observe that these words of the Adult Guide do tell the truth about Judgment Day. It is linked with the Second Coming. And the truth about "cleansing" is also here. It has to do with the cleansing of the universe from every sign of evil. There is nothing here about 1844. The old saying remains true: "Even a clock that has stopped tells the truth twice a day."