In addition, we want to give attention to what this book has to say about dates and transitions: Although it is true that in antitypical fulfillment of the wilderness tabernacle, Jesus first dedicated the entire heavenly Sanctuary to its work prior to beginning His heavenly priesthood (for more information on this, see Leviticus 8-9; 2 Chronicles 5:7-6:3; 7:1-3,9; Acts of the Apostles, page 38:3-39:1; and Studies 111-112 in our 158-page tractbook, The Biblical Sanctuary), yet the wording in this new doctrinal book on page 319/2:3-320/1:0 is such as to indicate that Jesus began His sanctuary ministry in the second apartment in 31 AD.

For your information, the modern Protestant view of this pre-advent judgment is keyed to their futurist interpretations of Bible prophecy, which they inherited from Jesuit infiltrators into their ranks. This view maintains that all of the Bible prophecies that apply to the papacy (including the little horn of Daniel 7:8 and 8:9; the man of sin of 2 Thessalonians 2:3; the antichrist of 1 John 2:18 and 4:3; the beast of Revelation 13:1-8; the scarlet woman of Revelation 18:3-4; and Babylon the Great of Revelation 18:5) do not apply to our sweet mother Rome, but rather to a sinister figure—a man of Satan—that shall mysteriously appear just before the Second Advent. This individual will be the long-anticipated antichrist! And when he appears. Christ will perform a work of "pre-advent judgment" upon him, and by so doing will deliver those loyal to God.

(In harmony with this, you will note that this new doctrinal book refers to the excesses of the papacy in earlier times, but has little or nothing to say about the possibility that it has errors today, —or that it today is part of that system called the beast and Babylon by the Revelator.)

We know from the book of Daniel (7:26) that the Investigative

Judgment will take away the dominion of the papal little horn from the lives of God’s people, and physically eradicate it at His Second Coming. In contrast, the new theology advocates among us prefer to think that the work of the pre-advent judgment is only to eliminate a mysterious little horn antichrist immediately prior to the Second Advent. They do not believe that the special work of the Investigative Judgment, that historic Adventists recognize and teach. will be done. With secret fear, they reject the very possibility of an Investigative Judgment that will examine the characters of professed Christians and the hidden secrets of their lives.

Obedience is the issue and the new theology, with its Original Sin concept, cannot accept the possibility that obedience is necessary or even possible.

With this background, let us see what this new doctrinal book has to say about the Investigative Judgment. Will it present historic Adventism or will it combine it with new theology appeasement?

The section on 317-319, describing the earthly service, is encouraging as it discusses the blotting out of the record of sin (which is the second half of the Investigative Judgment service), but no mention is made of the first half:

the investigation of the lives of the people which that service represents. (Read Great Controversy, chapters 23, 24, and 28, where you will frequently find the work of these two phases compared and contrasted.)

Although this book calls the Investigative Judgment by the new theology term, "pre-advent judgment," we are thankful that it begins the event in 1844, although there is no clear mention of when it will end. The new theology believes that the pre-advent judgment ends at about the time of the Second Coming of Christ; indeed, they are frightened at the thought of a close of probation in the near future for Adventists as well as for the world. The world for them is such an enjoyable place, they want to stick with it all the way to the Advent.)

"In 1844 Christ came to the Ancient of Days and began the final phase of His high-priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. This ministry was the antitype of the Day of Atonement cleansing of the sanctuary that Daniel 7 depicts as the pre-Advent investigative judgment." (3 24/2:2)

"Daniel’s visions point to a pre-Advent judgment in which God will secure a verdict of condemnation upon the little horn, and thus upon Satan himself." (325/1:3)

"While the judgment brings condemnation upon the apostate little horn power, it is ‘made in favor of the saints of the Most High." (325/1:4-325/2:0)

We can thankful for this statement: "Those who profess to be followers of God but who are living in disobedience and are not covered by Christ’s righteousness will be blotted from the book of life." (326/2:0)

Before concluding this section on the Investigative Judgment and the Sanctuary Message, let us consider one more unusual paragraph. Had you heard of the new idea that the Day of Atonement is antitypical fulfilled in (1) the Investigative Judgment (which precedes the Second Advent), (2) the Sentencing Judgment (which occurs during the Millennium), and (3) the Executive Judgment (which occurs at its close)? Here is the statement:

"The events on the Day of Atonement illustrate the three phases of God’s final judgment. They are (1) the ‘premillennial judgment’ (or ‘the investigative judgment’) which is also called the ‘preAdvent judgment’; (2) the ‘millennial judgment’; and (3) the ‘executive judgment’ which takes place at the end of the millennium." (317/2:2)

That is an incorrect statement. Yom Kipper, the typical day of atonement, applies only to the antitypical Investigative Judgment. It does not foreshadow the millennial judgment of the wicked in heaven, nor does it prefigure the final destruction of the wicked. The Investigative Judgment only relates to an examination of the lives of those who have professed faith in Christ and the true God at some point in their experience. After it is completed, those who have proved unfaithful are "cut off" (at the Second Coming of Christ), and the scapegoat (Satan) is not slain but consigned to a wilderness (at the beginning of the millennium). The sentencing judgment of the wicked occurs after that, and the final destruction of Satan and the wicked still later.

One can see how someone might fancifully project such a symbolic application as is done in the above quoted paragraph. But fanciful ideas have no place in a doctrinal book published by our church. Please brethren, let us stay with historic Adventism. To do otherwise only confuses our people. We would do better to focus our attention on getting our lives ready, our personal standards raised, and our obedience to God’s law purified before the Investigative Judgment comes to our names. Let us not cloud this grand truth by ignoring the basic part of its crucial work, and then saying that it applies to several future events that it does not apply to.

Chapter 11 of this book deals with The Church and bears that name. Three paragraphs are of special interest.

The first one (145/2:0) indicates that when decisions must be made that affect many local churches, the decisions are to be made by their representatives in attendance at larger council meeting. That is a solid, Biblical position that we heartily endorse for our church on all levels to follow. Those that make the decisions affecting the believers should be men and women duly elected by the believers to represent themselves.

If all church officers were directly elected by church members, and the decisions of those officers periodically reviewed by delegations of the members,—a host of problems would be eliminated. But, at the present time, in nearly all of our union conferences. and in all of our divisions and the General Conference as well, the officers are elected by church officers and subordinate workers, not by the members. Under such an arrangement, it is too easy for one man or a few men to determine the outcome of many decisions that are made.

The second passage (145/2:1) says that God guides the leaders of the church. But that statement must be qualified to mean that He guides them when they are living in obedience to His requirements, and willing to be guided by Him. It is an unfortunate but true fact that down through the centuries the great majority of church leaders have not been willing to let God guide them in their work. There is no doubt that His preferred plan is to guide the church through leaders that are humble and submissive to His will, as was Moses. But in most instances in Bible times—and since then,—our heavenly Father has generally had to give special messages, and initiate new things through willing, obedient laymen. Again, I say, that is not His preferred plan, but throughout most of history that is the way He has had to do it. In what respect is our time different than those that have gone before it?

The deeper question is this: By what means shall we recognize whether or not our leaders are the kind of men that we dare follow— to the same degree as men in the days of Moses could follow his lead? The answer is simple: We can only follow men as far as they follow God. First, the only men in whom we dare place our trust are those that are fully obedient to the Word of God. What are needed today are church leaders that will fall on their faces before a Bible-Spirit of Prophecy command, as Moses fell on his face before the Living Word in the cloud and pillar in His time. But men of that quality are still only human and subject to error. Second, the only men we dare respect as church leaders are those who do not pretend to be infallible. The church does not need men that only add to our church problems by attempting to cover up their mistakes instead of admitting and learning from them. And men are not needed that make all their decisions on reference only to how it will help them in their climb up the ladder of church office. What is needed are men that are willing to say "I don’t know," "I made a mistake," "What do you think we should do?" "Let’s call a meeting and ask the church members for their advice," "What does the Word of God say; whatever it says we must do it."

As one faithful church officer in Great Controversy is quoted as saying: "Follow me no farther than I have followed God." (Great Controversy, 292) That is a good statement for us all to remember. and practice.

The third quotation from this chapter on the Church is one worth commending highly to our people everywhere: "The primary duty of the elected officers [in all of our local churches] is to see that the Biblical instructions for worship, doctrine, discipline, and gospel proclamation are followed." (146/2:1) Amen, and Amen! Write that sentence down and read it to others who think that there is some other way that the local churches are to be run! Only the Inspired Word of God is to guide in all our worship, doctrine, discipline, and evangelization.

The next sentence adds this:

"Since the church is the body of Christ, they are to seek its counsel regarding their decisions and actions." (146/2:1) This is an important statement also. We are all frail and erring and make many mistakes. We should frequently gather with other believers in the Advent Message and counsel together with them. As stated in the preceding sentences of this book, the basis of these counseling sessions will be the Word of God. It is to have priority in all our discussions and to the authority of its statements we are to submit. There is never danger when our counseling together is based on a common humble, teachable submission to the Word of God. But great danger always lurks near when our counseling is based on

the erroneous idea that certain men are greater than others. In reality, he that is greatest among you will be the best grounded in the Word and your most self-sacrificing helper. But even he is subject to unexpected error. Only in God and His Word can we find our safety. Jeremiah 17:5-14.

It is marvelous what a levelizer and equalizer the Word of God makes of men submitted to it. And it is astounding how quickly men begin to think they are infallible authorities and their word alone is to rule—when they set aside that Word. Soon they are transformed from shepherds to lords over the heritage of God. 

 In the chapter on The Remnant and Its Mission. we find a definition of the "remnant" on page 162/1:0: "They are made up of those ‘who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

We can be thankful for the statement of this Biblical definition, for it identifies faithful Advent believers as the special people with a special faith and message in these last days. The new theology distinctly rejects the idea that any special group are the "remnant;" they see all Protestantism as the remnant at this time. This new doctrinal book thus has the correct view on the remnant.

 CHURCH STANDARDS (Chapter 27)

In chapter 21, Christian Behavior, we come to the section dealing with Standards. Beginning on page 281, we find discussions of the relative merits of healthful living practices (such as fresh air and sunlight), the avoidance of caffeine (281), tobacco, alcohol, hard drugs, rest (282), recreation, movies, television (283), reading, music, gambling, card playing, dancing, violent sports, nutritious food, vegetarianism (284) and unclean meats (285), condiments and spices, clothing (286), adornment, jewelry, and cosmetics (287).

and that it is "to function continuously throughout the history of the Christian church." If you will recall some of the news reports and analyses we gave in past years on the new theology. it was noted that they place heavy emphasis on being progressive, getting away from the nineteenth century and discovering greater new light today for the Adventist church. One of their spokesmen, a Bible instructor currently teaching at Pacific Union College, declared that Ellen White died in 1915 so we have no more prophet in the church and we need new prophets today. The context of his speech indicated that, by "new prophets," he meant the new theologians in our colleges who have been university-trained. Thus we find that, contrary to what we might expect, these men are very much in favor of a spirit of prophecy in the church today—but they want it to be their statements that are revered, rather than those that come from former times.

On page 217-229 we find the main section on the Spirit of Prophecy. We value the good we find in this chapter, but it does not cover the extent of our beliefs nor that of reality in regard to the Inspired Word. The Word of God is given for doctrine, correction, comfort, and guidance. But certain misconceptions exist in regard to the Spirit of Prophecy.

One is the idea that the Seventh-day Adventist Church got its doctrines only from the thanking of uninspired men.

"The founders of the church developed fundamental beliefs through study of the Bible; they did not receive these doctrines through the visions of Ellen White. Her major role during the development of their doctrines was to guide in the understanding of the Bible and to confirm conclusions reached through Bible study." (227/1:2)

The above conclusion is based on 7 Selected Messages, Book One, pages 206:4-207:2. But if you will carefully read that passage, you will learn that Ellen White’s mind was kept from grasping doctrinal points during this formative period so that as the brethren repeatedly ran into dead-end walls in their study of Scripture, It would be obvious to them that the answers which came from the Spirit of Prophecy were God-Inspired and direct from Heaven, rather than the opinions of a woman. This passage clearly shows that our early beliefs were formulated by careful Bible study along with what you might call Spirit of Prophecy study. Yes, the insights are all in the Bible (see our large, in-depth The Biblical Sanctuary, in which we prove from the Bible alone our detailed historic beliefs in regard to the Sanctuary Message). We DID receive doctrines through the visions, and we can be thankful that we did, and unashamed of the fact. We are able to prove these points from the Bible, but we had the direct help of Heaven through the Spirit of Prophecy in first learning of them, Our historic doctrines are not something received from frail, erring men, but from the God of heaven.

The underlying problem here is an unwillingness on the part of certain of our church leaders to admit that the Spirit of Prophecy has any worth in regard to the determination of church doctrine or church standards. They flatter themselves that they themselves, in counsel with our university-trained Ph.D.s are capable of determining our beliefs. Having decided what they are to be, these doctrinal statements are published in "unofficial" doctrinal books, or presented for ratification to delegates in attendance at ten-day General Conference Sessions when there is little time to carefully consider the material presented, the sheets were not given to the delegates prior to the Session, and the delegates themselves are composed of 92-94% church officers or salaried workers who will thus tend to approve whatever their employers present to them.

We are doing this whole thing backwards. The only hope of better things is to place the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy as the leading determinants—the primary authority—in our church in regard to standards, doctrines, church policy, church conduct and penalties, and church projects.

Only God’s Inspired Word should decide the beliefs that, acceptance and adherence to, shall determine our salvation or damnation. Ellen White says that that which a man believes and then acts upon will decide whether he will be saved or lost. It is a great mistake to quote erring Protestant theologians far more than we quote the Spirit of Prophecy in this new doctrinal book, and to formulate our teachings on the notion that the testimonies are, at best, about equal to that of erring mortals in deciding the beliefs that shall save us or damn us to hell.

Another misconception frequently taught to our people is the idea that Ellen White herself told us not to use her writings for doctrinal purposes. It is true that there are certain passages in which she apparently said this, but if you will closely examine them you will find that in each instance she was referring to the giving of Bible studies and holding of evangelistic efforts for non-Adventists. When bringing others into the church, we should use the Bible only; once inside, we should study in-depth into the Spirit of Prophecy. Rejecting the testimonies is to reject the Spirit of God, we are told. To set them aside as unnecessary for our study is not a safe policy for a person or a church. The skeletal basics of our belief are to be found in the Bible; but a wealth of minute details are clarified in the Spirit of Prophecy. We are not to question why, but are to accept, learn, and obey. But in answer to that "why," our kind Father knew that we, living at the end of time, would have to confront so many errors, heresies, and dangers—both religious and secular,—that we would need all the Inspired help we could get to weather the storms in these last days. For your own study, begin with 1 Selected Messages, pages 15-76, and read it through carefully.

In concluding this section on the Spirit of Prophecy, we should note an interesting statement on page 225 of this new doctrinal book that must have been penned by one who apparently has read little in the Spirit of Prophecy: "Ellen White’s writings contain a relatively small number of predictions." (225/1:1) There are literally thousands of predictions in her writings. You will find them all through the nine volumes of the Testimonies, in the health, educational, and eschatological books, and elsewhere. The last 268 pages of Great Controversy is little more than an interconnected collection of large numbers of predictions. Many people seem bold enough to reject the Spirit of Prophecy, but few seem brave enough to try their hand at predicting the future. But Ellen White did it, and with outstanding success.

What is Babylon? This question is dealt with on page 165/2:14. Here we find that in earlier ages some people identified it with pagan Rome, and later papal Rome; while according to this new doctrinal book it refers instead to "all apostate religious organizations and their leadership, though it refers especially to the great apostate religious alliance between the beast and his image that will bring about the final crisis described in Revelation 13:15-17." (165/2:3)

Then there is the Beast and his Image; what is that? "It [the beast] is the church-state union that dominated the world for many centuries." "The image of the beast represents that form of apostate religion that will be developed when churches, having lost the true spirit of the Reformation, shall unite with the state to enforce their teachings on others. In uniting church and state they will have become a perfect image to the beast." (167/1)

And what is the little horn of Daniel 7? Read page 240/2:1-3. It is some kind of power that Satan uses.

No mention is made here by name of the papacy, which is the beast, and apostate Protestantism, which when obtaining government aid and sanctions in its drive to enforce Sunday observance will form an image (not become an image).

See Great Controversy, chapter 25 for our historic Adventist definitions.

But it is of interest, in view of some present controversies within our own church, that this passage does say that an "apostate religion" is that which gets the state to enforce its teachings. That is a point worth remembering as we face into the troubled future.

In summary of all that we find in this book and in its accompanying first lesson quarterly, we would say that, in regard to the papacy, the teachings of these two Adventist doctrinal publications are these:

(1) In earlier centuries of history,

the Roman Catholic power fell into apostasy and led others into it also. (2) In modern history no mention is made of any negative or evil influence on the part of Rome. (3) Catholicism is never mentioned as far as Bible prophecy is concerned and apparently is not to be found in the predictions of Daniel. Christ, Paul, or John writing in 1st John or in Revelation —in regard to the little horn, the falling away, the man of sin, the antichrist, the beast, the scarlet woman, or Babylon the Great.

We are not only entering upon an era of peace with the Evangelicals and Protestants, but we are also extending the hand across the gulf to peace with the Vatican.

Surely the coming of Christ must be near!

Genuine Christianity teaches that, although we can do nothing without the help of Christ, yet by His enabling grace all things can be done that our heavenly Father asks of us. In contrast, the new theology teaches that obedience to the law of God is something that "just comes naturally" to the born-again Christian. While genuine Christianity portrays the sincere Christian as having to rely on Jesus to give him strength to bend the oars as he rows in the direction of more perfect obedience; the new theology pictures him as leaning back in the boat with the oars loose in their sockets, as the boat drifts along with a current of imputed (and sometimes imparted) obedience.

How do the authors of this new doctrinal book view the matter:

We are told that obedience has nothing to do with salvation. "Salvation is a gift that comes by grace through faith, not by works of the law." (241/2:2) Obedience is represented as only an effect of our automatic salvation; it never has any effect on our receiving it, and doing it is "trying to earn our salvation. "People cannot earn salvation by their good works. Obedience is the fruitage of salvation in Christ. Through His amazing grace, especially displayed at the cross, God has liberated His people from the penalty and curse of sin." (244/2:4) Since obedience has no effect on salvation, those that render it only do so as a kindness to Christ.

"Believers who understand that Christ values the law and who understand the blessings of obedience will be strongly motivated to live Christlike lives." The "fulfill" in Matthew 5:17 refers not to "fill up (Greek) a perfect example of obedience for us to follow" as in historic Adventism, and not to "destroy it by His life and death" as the outright Protestants, but "fulfilled it as a requirement for our salvation by obeying it Himself," so it would not be a requirement we would have to meet. "Christ Himself fulfilled the law, not by destroying it but through a life of obedience"

But at the heart of the new theology concept of the law is the Helmut Ott and Morris Venden concept that trying to obey the law as a moral requirement only brings the condemnation of God and eventual damnation in hellfire to the one attempting such a thing. "Christians do not keep the law to obtain salvation—those who try to do so will only find a deeper enslavement to sin." (244/1:3)

As with a number of other areas, a study into the new theology approach to law and obedience is somewhat confusing. But there is a remedy: read the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy instead, and you will find peace of heart, clarity of doctrine, certainty of salvation in a life lived in accordance with Revelation 12:17 and 14:12.

After having briefly reviewed our new doctrinal book, Seventh-day Adventists Believe, and with the knowledge that it will be used as the Senior Sabbath School lesson help for the third and fourth quarter, 1988 which will be gin in only a few weeks, let us for a few moments consider the first of these two quarterlies.

But, first, let us consider its authors.

Leo Van Dolson become the new Senior Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly editor at the very time that the Gulley Quarterly was released in 1983. Generally believed to have been saddled with something he did not want, Van Dolson gamely tried to defend it, but the quarterlies since then have usually been good ones. Now, according to page 4 (unnumbered page) of the quarterly, Van Dobson will be retiring, and a new editor, Erwin R. Game, will be taking his place. Because Robert Sanger of the Ministerial Association has had a keen interest in this new doctrinal book project, he, along with the outgoing editor and the incoming editor, are all listed as the authors of this first of the two quarterlies on our doctrinal beliefs.

Who is Robert Sanger? Those of you who read the back part of our 48-page tractbook, The Teachings of Morris Venden, will find a discussion of Sanger’s book, Marked, in which he, one of the leaders of our General Conference Ministerial Association, explains that the mark of the beast will be given to legalists who try to keep the laws of God in their own strength.

Who is Erwin Game? He was the Bible teacher at Pacific Union College that, almost singlehandedly, fought the new theology there after Ford converted most of the faculty to his way of thinking (they still have Ford as a member in good standing of their college church). At the time, we were told that Erwin had the wrong view of the nature of Christ, but we decided not to make an issue of it since he was trying so hard to defend the rest of historic Adventism at that campus. (For a record of one year at the height of the battle, when nearly a thousand Adventists on the West Coast tried vainly to expel the new theology from that institution, read our PUC Papers—Part 1-8, now in our 164-page tractbook, Our Schools Need Your Help. ) But after being relieved of his duties on the PVC faculty, Erwin then surprised us all by writing an article for Ministry magazine—that in clear-cut terms said that Christ went into the second apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary in 31 AD! We were astounded that he would do this— and that Sanger’s General Conference Ministerial Association would print it in their magazine, Ministry. (See The Game Article, now in our 130-page tract book, Progress of the New Theology.)

Elder Game is a very kindly individual, and was much liked by the students at PUT. In view of the whole situation at PVC and afterward, we decided that if Game was off this much in theology,— just imagine what it is like at Pacific

Union College. They had to get rid of Game because, although on two points he was in agreement with them, on so many others they themselves are way out in Evangelical-land: everything is done at the cross, salvation is assured, laws and standards are no longer a matter of concern. Sin till the Second Coming, and heaven after that; get the most out of both worlds.

Elder Game will be the one to decide what goes into our Senior Sabbath School quarterlies for the next several years until he decides to retire.

And now we turn our attention to this new quarterly that you will be opening In Sabbath School class just a few short weeks from now.

Entitled, God Revealed His Love, this Senior Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly for the Third Quarter of 1988 briefly surveys the first half (pages 4-179) of the new doctrinal book.

As you initially glance through this new quarterly it will suddenly dawn on you that the large new 392-page new doctrinal book, Seventh-day Adventists Believe, is nowhere mentioned in its pages! That book has been in preparation for years, and although these two next quarterlies were especially prepared at the same time to be used with it—and will indeed be used with it as their lesson helps book,—there is no mention of the book anywhere in this quarterly! It would appear that, as the time drew near for the quarterlies to be printed, some very definite problems or hurdles of some kind stood in the way of the final revisions and printing of that doctrinal book—so that it was not certain that it could be ready in time to be used with the quarterlies, or at least this first one. What those obstacles were, we can only guess, but they must have been serious for it is indeed strange that this quarterly carries no mention of its lesson helps book—when both were prepared in tandem over a period of several years.

Here are the chapter pages in this quarterly with their corresponding doctrinal book pages:

Lesson 1: God Tells Us about His Love —page I Chapter 1: The Word of God—page 5.

Lesson 2: God tells Us about the Godhead—page 13 / Chapter 2: The trinity—page 16.

Lesson 3: God Tells Us what He Is Like—page 20/ Chapter 3: God the Father—page 28.

Lesson 4: God Tells Us about His Son—page 27 I Chapter 4: God the Son—page 36.

Lesson 5: God Tells Us about His Spirit—page 34/ Chapter 5: God the Holy Spirit—page 58.

Lesson 6: God Tells Us How He Created — page 41/Creation —page 67.

Lesson 7: God Tells Us About Ourselves —page 48/The Nature of Man—page 78.

Lesson 8: God Gives Us a World View—page 55 / The Great Controversy —page 97.

Lesson 9: God Tells Us Why Christ Died—page 62/The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ—page 106.

Lesson 10: God Tells Us How to be Saved —page 69 / The Experience of Salvation —page 120.

Lesson 11: God Tells Us About His Church—page 76 / The Church— page 133.

Lesson 12: God Introduces the Three Angels’ Messages—page 83 / The Remnant and Its Mission—page 152.

Lesson 13: God Urges Us to Unite— page 90 / Unity In the Body of Christ—page 170.

In the following lesson guides page and paragraph numbers, we count each full paragraph, but we do not count subheads or Bible verse blanks. For example, on page 8, "paragraph zero" (8:0) would be top seven lines which are not a complete paragraph. "II. Evidences that the Bible is Inspired" is a subhead and does not count as a paragraph. The five lines of Bible verse

blanks near the bottom of the page do not count either. Thus, the last paragraph on the page is fifth paragraph (8:5).

 Good background material on the doctrinal statements of our church down through the decades will be found, along with other helpful material, in our 52-page tractbook, The Doctrines of the Church.

LESSONS 1-3— THE BIBLE, THE GODHEAD, GOD THE FATHER: We found no problems, either in lessons 1-3 of the quarterly, nor in chapters 1-3 of the book. But, of course, we may be incorrect in this conclusion.

Frankly, this should give you an extra three additional weeks of peace to study through this entire doctrinal book and its quarterly comments before problems develop.

LESSON 4—JESUS CHRIST: The related book chapter touches on both the Nature of Christ and the Atonement on the Cross. We found problems in the book, but not in the lesson study.

Lesson Helps: Read chapter 23 in Great Controversy as a study help for this week’s lesson. Also read The Nature of Christ: Chapter 4 elsewhere in this set of tracts. For in-depth study, read in our 84-page tractbook, The Nature of Christ.

LESSON 5— THE HOLY SPIRIT:

We found no problems in this lesson nor in the accompanying book chapter. For many Bible and Spirit of Prophecy quotations on the Holy Spirit, read The Godhead in our 52-page tractbook, Doctrines of the Church.

LESSON 6—CREATION WEEK:

In this lesson and its corresponding chapter is to be found no statement as to when our world was created, much less the fact that it was only created about 6,000 years ago.

But aside from that point, this lesson presents the following solid position in relation to Creation Week and the fact that this world and everything in it was created within those six days: "In spite of attempts to harmonize the Creation record in Genesis with belief in long ages during which creation came about progressively, only the acceptance of Genesis 1 as an

outline of what actually took place during six 24-hour days can harmonize with the full Biblical account." (42 bottom-43 top)

Lesson Helps: An inspired commentary on this lesson will be found in Patriarchs and Prophets, chapter 2. Also read the section.

Creation Week: Chapter 6 elsewhere in this tract set. Our recently-published tract, Age of the Earth [PG-2011 contains every major Spirit of Prophecy statement about the 6.000 years since Creation.

LESSON 7— THE NATURE OF MAN: This lesson and the chapter that matches it both deal with the Nature of Man.

Since the new theology maintains that Christ took the unfallen nature of Adam, we read with interest a two-paragraph definition of what the unfallen nature of Adam of nature was like: ". . nothing that was predisposed to sin., no tendency to evil. free from any taint ..""As long as they remained in perfect union with their Creator no sin, sickness, or death could mar their happiness." (49:2) ". . no degeneration of any kind, and never had a desire to disobey God." (49:5)

Acceptable statements on the Nature of Man will be found on page 50:7; 51:3-4; and 53:7-8. A good denial of Original Sin is given on 51:3: "This does not mean that anyone is born guilty. It simply means that human beings inherit a spiritually fallen nature."

On the matter of obedience, 52:1 says that "Jesus Christ is able to deliver from the bondage of sin and create transformed natures," but in reality He enables us by His grace to obey His law; the transformation does not come by a creative act on His part—apart from our efforts. In making this comment, we are not misreading the quotation, for this concept that Christ gives us the victory apart from our own repelling and opposing it is common both to this lesson quarterly and to its companion book. Running to Jesus—without resisting sin—as the only way to overcome sin, is the teaching presented here. An example of that theme will be found on the bottom of this page (52:0), and also in the last sentence of 54:1.

Study Helps: Chapters 30 and 32 of Great Controversy would be a helpful way to study more deeply into these important subjects. Also read The Nature of Man: Chapter 7 and The Man of Romans Seven:

Chapter 7 elsewhere in this set of tracts. For in-depth study, read The root Original Sin, and The Man of Romans Seven (both dealing with Original Sin) In our 84-page tractbook, The Nature of Christ.

LESSON 8—THE GREAT CONTROVERSY STORY: We found no problems in this lesson or in its related chapter. This I~ probably one of the nicest lessons In this quarterly. Note that on 58:1 and 59:4 sin is defined as the transgression of the law, instead of merely as "separation from God" as the new theology prefers.

Lesson Helps: Read Great Controversy, chapter 29 as an excellent commentary on this week’s lesson.

LESSON 9— THE LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST:

This lesson and its accompanying chapter both deal with the atonement made at Calvary. We study the atonement both in this lesson and chapter, and again next quarter in the lesson and chapter dealing with chapter 23 on the Sanctuary Message. But our tract commentary on the atonement in both chapters will be found clustered under chapter 23.

In this lesson, we are told about the importance of this perfect atonement (62:2), a real atonement that was provided at the cross (64:3), that it was sufficient to atone for all sin (64:6; 68:1). Page 66:1-2 brings in the factor of the heavenly application of the complete atonement at Calvary. Page 65:6 complements this point. Page 64:6 has the unusual thought that the atonement was full and acceptable "because it was (equivalent or identical to) the suffering of God."

Question Two on page 68 is quite interesting. If a person has "feelings of guilt," he should surely know what he feels guilty about, and will then go to Jesus and plead for and receive forgiveness. He will not merely recall to mind that Jesus took care of it all on the cross, and at some past time in life forgave him all his sins. This brings to view a terrible linking of new theology with Catholicism: Both teach the remission of future sins in advance, without having confessed, forsaken, and put them away!

Page 63:6 is a fine statement:

"Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers in Christ may overcome as He overcame."

Lesson Helps: You have already completed a reading of chapter 23 in the book Great Controversy; now review it and read chapters 24 and 28, in order to have a far clearer understanding of the atonement. Again read all three chapters when you come to the lesson next quarter dealing with chapter 23 of the book.

LESSON 10—HOW TO BE SAVED: All the basics of how to be saved are supposed to be in this tenth doctrinal statement. This lesson and its related chapter involve justification, sanctification, and perfection of character.

Here is "Good News Unlimited": "The good news is that Christ has paid our debt without any work or action on our part. He only asks that we reach out by faith and accept it." (70:1)

We fully acknowledge that Christ did it all, does it all, and will do it all. But he does not do it ALL apart from us and then merely hand it over; He does much of it in and through us as we actively cooperate with Him. And so shall it continue through all eternity to come. Yes, He receives all the praise and honor and glory and credit, but in His plan He designs that—in and through His enabling grace—we are to work, wrestle, struggle, and agonize also. Not all the anguish is to be His. He knows that in this way we will value more that which He imparts. Yes, we are to surrender, but we are also to work with Him in resisting sin and doing good works. Salvation is more than coming for initial conversion and reaching out and taking a free gift.

"Recognizing that He alone could pay the price for our salvation, our part is to accept redemption by reaching out the hand of faith." (70:4) "Our part is in placing our will on the side of God, in being willing to be made willing, in allowing the Holy Spirit to woo us back to God. Even in offering His inestimable gift God honors our freedom of choice. Surrendering to Christ is a work of faith. No work of ours saves us." (70:6)

The new theology always pits "God’s work" in opposition with "man’s work," with no room for "God’s work in cooperation with man’s work."

Section 4 and 5 (pages 73-74) are nice sections. Interestingly enough, Romans 7 is not mentioned in this lesson.

Paragraph 1 on page 74 speaks of the multitudes out in the world that try to save themselves by their own works. "However good in themselves, works do not make us righteous, nor do they earn merit in the sight of God. Righteousness and salvation are Christ’s free gifts. Works of faith are the result and evidence of our relation with Him." The pattern here is (1) Accept the free gift of full, complete, and eternal salvation. (2) Outflowing from that will automatically come good works. (3) There is no factor of resisting temptation, putting away old habits, etc. in all of this; just accepting the gift and living the nice life.

Lesson Helps: In preparation for this week’s lesson, read chapters 7, 8, and 9 in the book, Steps to Christ. You will also want to read the following sections, given elsewhere in this present tract set:

Justification and Sanctification. Justification, Sanctification, Perfection of Character. from us, and also in and through us. And so it shall continue through all eternity to come.

LESSON 11—CHURCH STRUCTURE AND RELATIONSHIP: We

find no problems in this lesson, while in its accompanying chapter, there are several interesting quotations which we have discussed elsewhere.

Lesson Helps: Read at random in Testimonies to Ministers for this week’s study help. You will also want to read the section, Church Structure, elsewhere in this tract set.

LESSON 12—LAST DAY EVENTS: Areas of interest in this lesson study are the remnant, sanctuary transition in 1844, second angel’s message, and nature of the loud cry. Three areas of interest in the chapter that matches this lesson are the remnant, the second angel’s message, and the fact that Rome no longer figures in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.

On page 85 we have a landmark statement in support of the oft-disputed truth of a two-apartment Sanctuary in heaven, as well as of a ministry within the first apartment prior to 1844; a statement that goes beyond the companion chapter in the book:

"Under divine guidance, they concluded that, in 1844, the High Priest went from one ministry to another in heaven rather than from heaven to earth. Thus 1844 was the time when Christ moved His ministry from the first apartment into the second apartment to begin the investigative judgment. "(85:1) We can be thankful for that sentence.

Both this lesson and the book present an interesting concept in the paragraphs assigned to the second angel’s message. Both here (86:8-87:0) and there, we are presented with definitions of Babylon that entirely omit the Roman Catholic apostasy. This omission is in entire violation of clear Great Controversy statements in chapter 25 and 35 of that book.

Page 88:4 is a nice statement (compare Christ’s Object Lessons, page 69:1-2).

An interesting parallel is drawn in 88:7-8 between Christ "the true remnant" at Calvary, and He with the final remnant down at the end of time.

Few Adventist truths are as distinctive as our view of the Loud Cry, a period of time concurrent with the Judgment to the Living (the closing phase of the Investigative Judgment) when the faithful give the final message to all the world as though with a "loud cry" —that effectively reaches everyone on earth. It is a message given by a people that are fully living that message. Page 89:2 declares that it is primarily a message lived.

A good passage to end this lesson with: "Seventh-day Adventists believe that the remnant church faithful observes all of God’s commandments. By faith in Jesus Christ, they seek to conform to all the counsels of the Holy Spirit. They take seriously the commission to proclaim the last-day gospel to the world." (89:5).

Lesson Helps: You would do well to include, as part of your preparation for this week’s study, chapter 14 in Prophets and Kings, and chapters 35-36 in Great Controversy. You will also want to read Babylon, Beast, Image, and Little Horn: Chapter 12, 18 elsewhere in this tract set.

LESSON 13— THE NATURE OF UNITY: We found no decided problems in this lesson nor in its corresponding chapter.

Interesting paragraphs in this lesson include 90:4-5; 92:1; 93:3; 94:4; 95:1; 95:2; 95:5; and 95:7.

Lesson Helps: For an inspired commentary on this lesson, read Great Controversy, chapter 37.

THAT CONCLUDES the lessons and chapters in this first of these two quarterlies. Two of the remaining 14 chapters will be combined into one lesson in the second quarterly (probably 14-15, 20-21, or 26-27). Here is a brief overview of the concluding chapters, so you will know where to look when you receive the second quarterly and begin using it.

CHAPTER 74- 76—BAPTISM, LORD’S SUPPER, SPIRITUAL GIFTS: We found no problems with these chapters.

CHAPTER 17: THE GIFT PROPHECY: This chapter is about the Spirit of Prophecy.

Elsewhere in this tract set read:

The Spirit of Prophecy: Chapter 72, 77.

CHAPTER 18—THE LAW OF GOD: This chapter deals with the Law of God.

Elsewhere in this tract set read:

The Law of God: Chapter 18.

CHAPTER 79-20—THE SABBATH, STEWARDSHIP: We found no problems in this chapter.

CHAPTER 27— CHURCH STANDARDS: Personal standards are dealt with here.

Elsewhere in this tract set read:

Personal Standards: Chapter 27.

CHAPTER 22—MARRIAGE AND HOME: We found no problems here.

CHAPTER 23—THE SANCTUARY, ATONEMENT, AND INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT: This chapter relates closely to chapters 9 and 10.

Elsewhere in this tract set read:

The Atonement, The Two Apartments, The Investigative Judgment.

CHAPTER 24-27— THE SECOND ADVENT, DEATH AND RESURRECTION, MILLENNIUM AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED,  : We found no problems in these chapters.

It was Roy Allen Anderson, head of the General Conference Ministerial Association, that was at the heart of the Evangelical Conferences back in the 1950’s. He heartily put everything into it, and, with Reuben A. Figuhr’s full backing, pulled all the details of meetings, research, writing, and publishing together. Questions on Doctrine was the result, and we have had to live with its impact for 31 years. More recently, J. Robert Spangler, head of the same General Conference department, with the full back of our current General Conference president, has done the same thing. Elder Spangler has given general coordination and oversight to the entire project and made its success. The result is Seventh-day Adventists Believe, and that book will probably be with us to hinder and plague us until the Final Crisis of the Sunday Law begins.

The striking parallels of error to be found in both of those books is uncanny. It almost seems planned. The present writer believes that it was planned. Elsewhere in this study we will include quotations from Walter Martin’s February 22, 1983 speech in Napa, California, in which he revealed communications he was at that time engaged in with our General Conference leaders. The time had come for the Seventh-day Adventist Church to again put into print their open support of the teachings found in Questions on Doctrine. He was recommending to our leaders that this could most easily be done by reprinting that book, which less than five years earlier had gone out of print.

After we published this information of this new dialogue that was occurring between Martin and our General Conference leaders, we received letters from individuals who wrote to our leaders and inquired about this. Letters that they received in reply they sent on to us, and these uniformly stated that the General Conference had no plans to reprint Questions on Doctrine. And that was it.

But now, in view of this new book and its mirror image to that earlier book, it is the definite opinion of this writer that Seventh-day Adventists Believe was produced to meet Walter Martin’s demand that they put again into print the teachings found in Questions on Doctrine. His urgent request to the brethren came within a few months before work began on this new book, which has occupied the attention of the Ministerial Association and a number of our workers for several years now. The biggest doctrinal crisis of the 1950’s has been duplicated in the 1980s. It came just in time for our celebration of the 1888 Conference at Minneapolis. A hundred years ago, the question was whether we would let Christ enable us to keep the law or whether we would try to do it without His aid. Today the question is whether we need the law at all, since Christ perfectly fulfilled its demands at the cross and now imputes its righteousness to all but those Christians that seek to obey it.

Yes, It may be the opinion of this writer, but it is an opinion based on solid fact. Look about you and you will see everywhere evidence that Adventism now wants to be accepted, approved, and similar to the other churches.

Walter Martin’s veiled threats, on the other hand, were a real danger signal to the brethren. He Is the most Influential single Protestant writer on the cults in North America today. When he speaks, Protestants everywhere listen. Thirty-two years ago, in 1956, he gave us his vote of approval, and in the decades since then he has maintained it. Very likely during those years, he sent signals to the General Conference not to let Questions on Doctrine go out of print—or else. But finally in the late 1970’s, as a result of so much opposition, it was allowed to drop from the publication lists.

And then came Waiter Martin’s latest demands, which became so demanding that he openly revealed them at Napa. Martin combines the research capability of the ferret for finding out what is going on, with the ferocity of a tiger when he goes after an opponent. Have you ever heard one of his taped lectures on the Mormons or the Jehovah’s Witnesses? He alternates between hard-hitting facts, incisive thrusts. and astounding stories of deliverance from slavery. Which of our leaders wants to be on the receiving end of that onslaught? Especially since we are now entering the ecumenical era of joint Sunday services, Easter Sunrise sermons, inter-church Christmas celebrations.

But let us now turn our attention from the past to the present and the future. It is clear that we have a major problem on our hands. A big one. We were like little boys trying to poke our fingers in the dike, while the brethren back at the General Conference were excavating the dam with heavy equipment.

Without the help of God, the waters could go over our heads on this one. Every year more and more are being converted to the new theology; every year its leaders climb higher and higher in the ranks of administration, teaching, and editorship. So many want the simple kind of religion one finds in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and instead they are being handed the devious subtitles of new theology. "Oh, Lord, it is time for Thee to work, for they are making void Thy Law]" 

HOW SHOULD WE CONFRONT THIS NEW QUARREL IN OUR SABBATH SCHOOL CLASSES? That is the immediate question. All across our land, and elsewhere in the world field, the talk show begins in only a few weeks.