Have you ever wondered why there is a schism between historic and modern Adventism, why the discrepancy between the pioneer views and the current teachings of our church? Would you like to know for yourself what is the pure saving Biblical truth regardless of popular teachings?
If your answer is yes, I invite you today to join us for our study where we are going to review historic facts and find the answer to the above questions. By the end of this message you will discover the only eye opening method of interpreting the Scriptures that will have power to transform our lives and characters, enable us to finish the work of proclaiming the Three Angels Messages and prepare us for the Second Advent of Christ!
Luke 10: 25, 26 : “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? “
"The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to discern the difference between truth and error. " Ellen G. White, Lt 211, 1903, par. 2
"Nothing is more to be feared than a religion that is composed of truth mingled with error." Pacific Union Recorder, May 30, 1966
1. Mysticism, The Marked Sign of the Last Days
2 Timothy 4:3: “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.”
Ellen G. White, 4 Spiritual Gifts, p. 413
"The apostle Paul declared, looking down to the last days, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” [2 Timothy 4:3.] That time has fully come. The multitudes do not want Bible truth, because it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart; and Satan supplies the deceptions which they love. But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,—not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support. Satan is constantly endeavouring to attract attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then by controlling the minds of these leaders he can influence the multitudes according to his will.
Ellen G. White, Ms 16, 1888, par. 2
"Spiritual darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people. There are in many churches skepticism and infidelity in the interpretation of the Scriptures. Many, very many, are questioning the verity and truth of the Scriptures, and human reasoning and the imaginings of the human heart are undermining the inspiration of the Word of God, and that which should be received as granted is surrounded with a cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands out in clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom. This is one of the marked signs of the last days."
2. The Difference between Literal versus Mystical Interpretation of the Scriptures
Taking God’s word “as it reads” is Literalism; Looking for the hidden meaning in each passage is Mysticism.
Uriah Smith, Daniel and Revelation 1909, p. 4
"There are two general systems of interpretation adopted by different expositors in their efforts to explain the sacred Scriptures. The first is the mystical or spiritualizing system invented by Origen, to the shame of sound criticism and the curse of Christendom; the second is the system of literal interpretation, used by such men as Tyndale, Luther, and all the Reformers, and furnishing the basis for every advance step which has thus far been made in the reformation from error to truth as taught in the Scriptures.
According to the first system, every declaration is supposed to have a mystical or hidden sense, which it is the province of the interpreter to bring forth; by the second, every declaration is to be taken in its most obvious and literal sense, except where the context and the well-known laws of language show that the terms are figurative, and not literal; and whatever is figurative must be explained by other portions of the Bible which are literal. {DAR1909 4.2}
By the mystical method of Origen, it is vain to hope for any uniform understanding of either Daniel or the Revelation, or of any other book of the Bible; for that system (if it can be called a system) knows no law but the uncurbed imagination of its adherents; hence there are on its side as many different interpretations of Scripture as there are different fancies of different writers.
By the literal method, everything is subject to well-established and clearly-defined law; and, viewed from this standpoint, the reader will be surprised to see how simple, easy, and clear many portions of the Scriptures at once become, which, according to any other system, are dark and unsolvable. It is admitted that many figures are used in the Bible, and that much of the books under consideration, especially that of the Revelation, is clothed in symbolic language; but it is also claimed that the Scriptures introduce no figure which they do not somewhere furnish literal language to explain." {DAR1909 4.3}
3. History and Origins of Mysticism, Alexandria, Egypt
Acts 20:29-31: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
A. T. Jones, "The Two Republics, or Rome and the United States of America", pp. 205, 206, 215
"Because of this readiness of individuals to assert themselves, to get wrong views of the truth, and to speak perverse things, the churches had constantly to be checked, guided, trained, reproved, and rebuked. ... It was those who from among the disciples would arise speaking perverse things, of which an instance and a warning are given in the letter to Timothy: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” 2 Timothy 2:15-18. {TTR 205.2}
"Nor yet was it with such as these that the greatest danger lay. It was from those who would arise not only speaking perverse things, but “speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” Through error of judgment, a man might speak perverse things with no bad intention; but the ones here mentioned would speak perverse things purposely and with the intention of making disciples for themselves—to draw away disciples after them instead of to draw disciples to Christ. These would pervert the truth and would have to pervert the truth, in order to accomplish their purpose. He who always speaks the truth as it is in Jesus, will draw disciples to Jesus and not to himself. To draw to Christ will be his only wish. But when one seeks to draw disciples to himself, and puts himself in the place of Christ, then he must pervert the truth, and accommodate it to the wishes of those whom he hopes to make his own disciples. This is wickedness; this is apostasy." {TTR 206.1}
"There was another consideration which made the danger the more imminent. These words were spoken to the bishops. It was a company of bishops, to whom the apostle was speaking when he said: “Of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” From that order of men who were chosen to guide and to care for the church of Christ, from those who were set to protect the church—from this order of men there would be those who would pervert their calling, their office, and the purpose of it, to build up themselves, and gather disciples to themselves in the place of Christ. To watch this spirit, to check its influence, and to guard against its workings, was constant effort of the apostle; and for the reason as stated to the Thessalonians, that the mystery of iniquity was already working. There were at that time elements abroad which the apostle could plainly see would develop into all that the Scriptures had announced. And scarcely were the last of the apostles dead when the evil appeared in its practical workings." {TTR 206.2}
"In the latter part of the second century, there sprang up in Egypt a school of pagan philosophy called the “Eclectic.” The patrons of this school called themselves “Eclectics” because they professed to be in search of truth alone, and to be ready to adopt any tenet of any system in existence which seemed to them to be agreeable to their ideas of truth. They held Plato to be the one person above all others who had attained the nearest to truth in the greatest number of points. Hence they were also called “Platonists.” {TTR 215.2}
4. The Mystical System of Origen: Minimum Three Meanings to every Biblical Passage
A. T. Jones, "The Two Republics, or Rome and the United States of America", pp. 218-220
"Clement is supposed to have died about A. D. 220, and the fame and influence which he had acquired—and it was considerable—was far outshone by Origen, who had been taught by both Clement and Ammonius. Origen imbibed all the allegorical and mystifying processes of both Ammonius and Clement, and multiplied upon them from his own wild imagination.
He was not content with finding two meanings in the Scriptures as those before him, but took the secondary sense, the hidden meaning, and added to it four additional meanings of his own. His system then stood thus: First, All scripture contains two meanings, the literal and the hidden. Second, This hidden sense has within itself two meanings, the moral and the mystical. Third, The mystical has within it yet two other meanings, the allegorical and the anagogical.
According to this method of mysticism, therefore, in every passage of Scripture there are at least three meanings, and there may be any number from three to six." {TTR 218.4}
His explanation of it is this: First, Man is composed of three parts, a rational mind, a sensitive soul, and a visible body. The Scriptures resemble man, and therefore have a three-fold sense; (a) a literal sense which corresponds to the body; (b) a moral sense corresponding to the soul; and (c) a mystical sense which corresponds to the mind. Second, As the body is the baser part of man, so the literal is the baser sense of Scripture; and as the body often betrays good men into sin, so the literal sense of Scripture often leads into error. Therefore, those who would see more in the Scripture than common people could see, must search out this hidden meaning, and yet further must search in that hidden meaning for the moral sense. And those who would be perfect must carry their search yet farther, and beyond this moral sense which they found in the hidden meaning they must find the mystical sense, with its additional train of allegorical and anagogical senses. {TTR 219.1}
As in this system of philosophy the body of man was a clog to the soul and hindered it in its heavenly aspirations, and was therefore to be despised, and by punishment and starvation was to be separated as far as possible from the soul, it followed that the literal sense of Scripture, which corresponded to man’s body likewise, was a hinderance to the proper understanding of all the hidden meanings of the Scripture, and was to be despised and separated as far as possible from the hidden sense, and counted of the least possible worth. {TTR 219.2}
“The source of many evils lies in adhering to the carnal or external part of Scripture. Those who do so will not attain to the kingdom of God. Let us therefore seek after the spirit and substantial fruit of the word, which are hidden and mysterious.”—Origen. 19 {TTR 219.3}
And the next step was but the logical result of this; namely:— {TTR 220.1}
“The Scriptures are of little use to those who understand them as they are written.”—Origen. 20 {TTR 220.2}
5. Did Ellen G. White Support Mysticism?
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21, 138, 1906, par. 23
"The light is given to me in regard to the poor understanding of those that have been in the truth, that these sophistries, and this mysticism, and doing away with the personality of God, and with the personality of Christ, will get the hall-room of the heart all ready for these miracles that Satan will come to work right in our midst. Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. That is what we read, and therefore we want to be in a position so that we will understand how He has given them. Then what does He tell us, what assurance does He give? My messenger shall go before you. Oh, that is worth a world! My messenger shall go before you."
The Review and Herald, July 6, 1911, par. 4
"The mission of Jesus was demonstrated by convincing miracles. His doctrine astonished the people. It was not the contradictory jargon of the scribes, full of mysticism, burdened with absurd forms and meaningless exactions; but it was a system of truth that met the wants of the heart. His teaching was plain, clear, and comprehensive. The practical truths he uttered had a convincing power, and arrested the attention of the people. Multitudes lingered at his side, marveling at his wisdom. His manner corresponded with the great truths he proclaimed. There was no apology, no hesitancy, not the shadow of a doubt or uncertainty that it might be other than he declared. He spoke of the earthly and the heavenly, of the human and the divine, with positive authority; and the people “were astonished at his doctrine; for his word was with power.”
The Southern Watchman, April 4, 1905, par. 7
"Truth, present truth, is all that the word of God represents it to be. The Lord would have his people keep themselves from all superfluities, from all that tends to mysticism. Let those who are tempted to indulge in fanciful, imaginary doctrines sink the shaft deep into the quarries of heavenly truth, and secure the treasure that means life eternal to the receiver. In the word there are the most precious truths. These will be found by those who study with earnestness; for heavenly angels will direct the search."
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18, 1903, 211, par. 2
"We need not the mysticism that is in this book. Those who entertain these sophistries will soon find themselves in a position where the enemy can talk with them and lead them away from God. It is represented to me that the writer of this book is on a false track. He has lost sight of the distinguishing truths for this time. He knows not whither his steps are tending. The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to discern the difference between truth and error."
"In regard to the faith to be cherished and preserved in these last days, very little light is given in Living Temple, and this light is so uncertain that it would not help God’s people at this stage of their work."
The Review and Herald, September 6, 1906, par. 3
"When the Spirit of God clears away the mysticism, there will be found just as complete comfort and faith and hope in the messages that I have been instructed to give as were found in them in years past."
6. SDA Pioneers on Mysticism
E.J. Waggoner, "Sunday: The Origin of its Observance in the Christian Church", p. 54
"Of course, in order to get this “psychical” and “spiritual” sense out of the Bible, that is, to get out of it something that was never in it, much violence had to be done to the sacred record. Origen paved the way, not only for the reception of his vagaries, but for the utter disuse into which the Bible very soon fell, by boldly declaring that the Bible contains many falsehoods. {SOOCC 54.1}
Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy [Himes], vol. 3, July 6, 1842, p. 111.4
"Excuse this. I desire not to censure, but I do believe that every individual (*not just pastors and priests) is responsible for his understanding of the word of God. If not, why have it in the hands of the unlearned? I believe every one, possessing a Bible, with a teachable disposition, and trusting in the Lord for light, may be made wise unto salvation, and grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We surely have the approbation of the apostle, if we “search the Scriptures daily, to see if the things we bear are so.” {HST July 6, 1842, p. 111.4}
Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy [Himes], vol. 3, July 6, 1842, p. 111.3
“I do fear, my dear pastor, that those great and holy men, who cover up so much of the glorious truths of the Bible in “mysticism,” are those who will “deceive, if possible, the very elect.” And that many who are led by them, will be lulled to sleep, until it is too late to replenish their lamps, and the door will be shut. “ {HST July 6, 1842, p. 111.3} Himes
The Jubilee Standard, vol. 1, June 5, 1845, p. 101.3
"There was never before a time when there was so great a necessity that we should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints as now. ... But while we have been waiting for the revelation of the blessed Saviour there has arisen among us a class of persons who say he has already come, and is about to be revealed from heaven. But how has he come? They tell us he has come spiritually. And where is the heaven from which he is about to be revealed? They tell us it is in the persons of his people. (mystical Christ in You doctrine! ) They also teach that this is the secret place of the tabernacle of the Most High.’ Of course then, he must be now in the secret chambers. But my Lord and Master has commanded me, ‘If they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the secret chambers, BELIEVE IT NOT.’ Therefore I do not believe any such teachings. They take away my Lord and I know not where they lay him. Certain I am that I have not yet seen him. But not having seen him I love him; in whom, though now I see him not, yet believing, I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. But I expect soon to see him face to face. Yes soon mine eyes shall behold the King in his beauty. Behold! he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him. I shall see him for myself and not another." {JUBST June 5, 1845, p. 101.3}
The Jubilee Standard, April 17, 1845, p. 45.12
"Among the many errors that are afloat and sweeping the unteachable and unstable to perdition, is one which, like ‘a fiery flying serpent,’ is coiling itself around some who have been walking with us, and stinging them to death. We mean the monstrous sentiment that the coming of Jesus, our glorious King, is spiritual or mystical. This is the legitimate fruit of that false and delusive doctrine, that ‘the great city, New Jerusalem’ is but a figure of the church triumphant. Here is where the ‘damnable heresy’ originates: and consistency requires that after taking that absurd and anti-scriptural view, we stop not, till we land in blind mysticism—yea further—in blank atheism. For the same kind of reasoning which would prove the New Jerusalem a figure would likewise prove the New Earth a figure. Not only so: but heaven, angles, Christ, and God must be but mere figures also. And what is this but atheism?" {JUBST April 17, 1845, p. 45.12}
7. Only One Method of Bible Study will Guard from Mysticism: Miller's 14 Rules of Biblical Interpretation
Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, November 25, 1884,
"Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:" {RH November 25, 1884, par. 23}
1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. Matt. 5:18
2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
3. Nothing revealed in the Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 10:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Philippians 3:15; Isaiah 45:11; Matthew 21:22; John 14:13, 14; 15:7; James 1:5, 6; 1 John 5:13-15
4. To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in an error. Isaiah 28:7-29; 35:8; Proverbs 19:27; Luke 24:27, 44, 45; Romans 16:26; James 5:19; 2 Peter 1:19, 20
5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound it to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, not the Bible. Psalms 19:7-11; 119:97-105; Matthew 23:8-10; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; Ezekiel 34:18, 19; Luke 11:52; Malachi 2:7, 8
6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are oftentimes revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one. Psalms 89:19; Hosea 12:10; Habakkuk 2:2; Acts 2:17; 1 Corinthians 10:6; Hebrews 9:9, 24; Psalms 78:2; Matthew 8:13, 34; Genesis 41:1-32; Daniel 2:7, 8; Acts 10:9-16
7. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2 Corinthians 12:1
8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy to represent future things, times and events; such as mountains, meaning governments; beasts, meaning kingdoms, waters, meaning people, lamps, meaning Word of God, day, meaning year. Daniel 2:35, 44; 7:8, 17; Revelation 17:1, 15; Psalms 119:105; Ezekiel 4:6
9. Parables are used as comparison to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures, by the subject and Bible. See explanation of the ten virgins, Miller’s Lectures, No. 16. Mark 4:13
10. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations; as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time.
Indefinite—Ecclesiastes 7:14
Definite, a day for a year—Ezekiel 4:6
Day for a thousand year—2 Peter 3:8
If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not.
11. How to know when a word is used figuratively: If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally; if not, figuratively. Revelation 12:1, 2; 17:3-7
12. To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further; if not, look again.
13. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy: If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true, believing children of God may never be ashamed. Psalms 21:5; Isaiah 14:17-19; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 17:17; Acts 3:18
14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit His word. And we can have confidence that He that takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of His own word, and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in His word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek!
8. SDA Church Adopting a New System of Biblical Interpretation Developed by Were, Louis Fitzroy (1896–1967)
Encyclopedia of Seventh-Day Adventists
Source: https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=687J
Louis Were entered the organized work of the Church in 1919, working in South New Zealand until 1921. A report reached the Australasian Union Conference leaders that Were had behaved inappropriately. Consequently, on March 9, 1943, the South Australian Conference executive committee voted to dismiss Were. Were remained loyal and committed to the Church even after he left paid employment. He subsequently produced a number of independent publications.
While working as an evangelist in Adelaide, South Australia, before his dismissal, Were had shared some of his biblical views on the book of Revelation in two public meetings. He held that Armageddon was a spiritual rather than a literal conflict. This view opposed that presented in the writings of Uriah Smith.
Were developed thirteen principles of Bible interpretation. These principles demonstrated the depth of knowledge Were had attained. He was theologically ahead of his time. The principles included:
1. That the interpretation must reveal Christ and make him the center.
2. To compare Scripture with Scripture for clearer light.
3. The things of Israel now belong to the church.
4. The gospel must be found in every passage and prophecy.
5. The law of growth or development–the principle of repeat and enlarge–the repetition contains an explanation.
6. The law of the world-wide symbolized by the local.
7. The law of the significance of Bible names.
8. The law governing spiritual interpretations.
9. To observe the deep, inner meaning–not only what is on the surface.
10. The design of the Book of Revelation–all the laws of interpretation show that the gathering of the nations to “Armageddon” must commence before probation closes.
11. New Testament principles determine the interpretation of the latter portion of Daniel 11.
12. “Double” and “triple” applications of prophecy: “Rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
13. The principle of the “triple” application revealed in the Apocalypse.
Were continued to publish and lived long enough to see the Church accept many of his positions. He remained committed to the Church and continued to lead others to Christ as a local elder. Some eleven years after his dismissal, Were was offered the opportunity to return to pastoral ministry, but declined the invitation.18 The principles articulated by Were have been further developed. !!!They are taught at Adventist seminaries and Bible colleges around the world.!!! Were was an outstanding student of Scripture. His legacy of Christocentric interpretation continues to impact the next generation of students of the book of Revelation.
9. Examples of Mystical Doctrines/Teachings common among Seventh Day Adventist
- Jesus Christ is a mystical Son of the Father, not a literal begotten Son, John 3:16 doesn't mean what it says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- Holy Spirit is a mystical third being not the Spirit of Christ.
- Mystical Indwelling of Christ/ Christ in You Doctrine, can not be a literal indwelling of Christ because it does violence to the laws of nature according to Miller's rule nr 11. In the natural world the only time we find a person literally dwelling inside of an other person is during child bearing. The proponents of this doctrine reject the figurative meaning of the indwelling of Christ by the Word of Truth (see last week's explanation on the Indwelling Word as understood at the giving of the 1888 massages).
- Mystical definition of Sin, not the act of transgression of God's law, ("Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. ) but a condition of our human nature present at birth. This concept leads to other catholic rooted erroneous doctrine such as original sin and the immaculate conception.
- Doing away with the Literal Account of Creation and Genesis 1: heavens and the heavenly bodies are circuiting above us, earth is stationary, we are not floating in the vast outer space, the foundations of the world have been laid on waters (Psalm 24:2 "For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods", 2 Peter 3:5 "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water", Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."), the firmament is a literal firm object that holds the waters above from entering our realm ( Genesis 1:7 “And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.” )
- The God Doesn't Kill Doctrine: death and killing did not exist before the fall, after the fall it became a part of our natural world, there is no violence done to the laws of nature when someone dies or is being killed therefore when the Bible speaks about God killing (Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.") we need not take it as a figure and find a definition for it in an other portion of the Scripture, it is a literal statement. If you believe that it's not literal, since it doesn't fit the rule to qualify as a figure (such as dragon, lion with wings or other things that defy nature's laws) what you are doing is seeking a third meaning of that Scripture, which is mysticism. According to Miller's rules a word can not have more then 1 meaning, it's primarily literal except when it doesn't make sense literally, it must be defined by other portions of the Bible since it's figurative.
- Mystical Battle of Armageddon, idea first thought by L. Were in Adventism, not a literal battle with a physical geographic location. Only a Spiritual battle taking place between the forces of good and evil.
- Mystical Drying of the River Euphrates in Revelation 16: historically understood to be the people occupying the territories around the literal River Euphrates once controlled by the Ottoman Empire.
- Mystical Kings of the East: historically understood to be the people coming into the area from where the River Euphrates has been dried up, now it's being thought by L. Were and his adherents to be the coming of Christ and his angels.
10. Consequences of Adopting Mysticism as a Method of Interpreting the Bible
1. By obscuring the literal interpretation of such important end time prophecies we are unable to record and follow the exact fulfilment of the events described, therefore we loose track of the advancement of the prophetic timeline as understood and followed down by the pioneers. We no longer can tell how close we are to the return of Jesus Christ. We are no longer Adventists in the truest sense. We preach My Lord Delays his Coming!
2. Every truth is obscured, there is no certainty of our message.
3. There can never be harmony and agreement between Bible expositors since there is no consensus on how we interpret the Bible. There can be no unity either!
4. There will be as many interpretations as many teachers.
5. The Bible is no longer it's own interpreter for me, but the private interpreter on whom I rely to tell me what the truth is, I depend on a man not on God, if that man errs then I can be lost because of him.
6. Unless those who are preaching the 3rd Angel's Message use Miller's rules, all their preaching, as good as it may sound, does not constitute the 3rd angel's message and therefore can never finish the work!
7. The original 3 angles messages have been advanced by using the literal method of interpretation according to Miller's rules. All Adventist universities and educational institutions are using L. Were's rules or interpretation, they teach mysticism and have abandoned our original faith. Indwelling Word ministries has been labouring to restore and advance every truth we shared so far using Miller's rules exclusively.
11. Spirit of Prophecy Counsels
"Those who claim to be Adventists should, to be consistent, acknowledge the means that God in mercy has employed to bring them to the light of the advent truth, and which has made them what they are. No one will deny the fact that it was the proclamation of the time, 1843, as it was written on the chart, that aroused the advent people to look for the Lord. If that alarm had not been given, none would have been waked up to see the true light, and those who rejoice in the “blessed hope,” would now, doubtless, be covered up in the mist and darkness of the nominal church. We cannot, therefore, see the least consistency in the position of those who call themselves Adventists, and at the same time call the very means that has brought them to this scriptural faith and hope, “a mistake,” “fanaticism,” “mesmerism,” and, as some have said, “of the Devil.” {ADRE 1850, p. 1.2}
"The message of the angel following the third is now to be given to all parts of the world. It is to be the harvest message, and the whole earth will be lighted with the glory of God. The Lord has this one more call of mercy to the world, but the perversity of men diverts the work from its true bearing, and the light has to struggle amid the darkness of men who feel themselves competent to do a work which God has not appointed them to do." {Lt 86, 1900, par. 23}
"Unless those who can help in ----- are roused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about his work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that he is taking the reins in his own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that he will use to bring about and perfect his work of righteousness."{SpTA06 59.1}
Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May the Lord grant us discernment of the truth! May we learn from Him and not depend on any man! He has promised to guide us into all truth. If we ask in unwavering faith, He will reveal the truth that has the power to purify and sanctify our hearts and prepare us to stand firm during the impending crisis!
AMEN!