Why Are We a Separate People? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 15, 1906

Why Are We a Separate People?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. N. HASKELL

BETWEEN the years 1833 and 1844 Adventists held the position that the Lord would come on the tenth day of the seventh month of the last-mentioned year, which would be some time in October. Their reckoning was based on the twenty-three hundred days, or years, of Dan. 8: 14. They reasoned: (1) The sanctuary is the earth or the land of Palestine; (2) the cleansing of the sanctuary is the burning of the earth or the cleansing of Palestine at the coming of Christ. Hence the conclusion drawn was that our great High Priest would come to the earth on the tenth day of the seventh month in the autumn of 1844.

After the passing of the time, they soon learned that of the one hundred and forty-seven times the word “sanctuary” occurs in the Bible, it never in a single instance refers to this earth. But during the Mosaic economy it referred, first, to the tabernacle built by Moses, then to the temple built by Solomon, and finally to the temple built after the captivity by Zerubbabel, and rebuilt by Herod. But when Christ expired on the cross, and said it was finished, the veil of the temple was rent in twain, and God no longer had a sanctuary on earth.

The apostle Paul speaks of the heavenly sanctuary, and of Christ its minister, as follows: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” The eighth and ninth chapters of Hebrews are full of this thought, and that the earthly sanctuary and its service is typical of the one in heaven where Christ officiates as our high priest.

The argument for the ending of the days can be briefly stated. It was demonstrated that the only starting-point for the twenty-three hundred days was the decree issued by Artaxerxes, recorded in the seventh chapter of Ezra. It is the only decree that has all the specifications mentioned in the ninth chapter of Daniel where the Lord speaks of the beginning of the seventy weeks, which began with “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.” This embraced all the features that were in the decree of Cyrus given in Ezra 1, and of the decree of Darius the Persian as given in the sixth chapter.

On this point the divine record states: “They builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.” Ezra 6: 14. So this last decree, the only one that bears all the specifications, is said by the Lord to be the decree. This also embraces the two preceding decrees. It is found in the seventh chapter of Ezra. The date in the margin is given as 457 B. C. This date was established by more than twenty eclipses. The preaching of the advent message based on these dates from 1838 to 1844, moved the world. The bitterest opposers to the Adventists at that time acknowledged the correctness of the dates, but denied the events which they said would take place.

To destroy a date established by eclipses would undermine every chronological fact in history. It is well known that in ancient history events are associated with an eclipse; the date of a certain battle or some great event is made certain by such association. Thus a date is given whose correctness can be established by astronomy to the very day. In this way many a disputed point has been established. It is God's infallible clock, always pointing out the true time.

Having established the date of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem in 457 B. C., it was very easy to subtract 457 from the 2300 years, leaving the number of years A. D. to be 1843. Then it was shown that the decree went forth six months later, i. e., six months in 457 B. C. This carried the termination of the period six months later, to the autumn of 1844. It was at this point of time that thousands upon thousands looked for Christ to come in the clouds of heaven. It was not in this country alone, but in Europe, Asia, and Africa; and among those most ignorant of God and the Bible, there was a general expectation that in some way the Desire of all ages would appear on this earth.

This movement laid the foundation of a separate people. To go back would be to deny the prophecy that had led us out. To go forward was the only course to pursue. Then upon further investigation it was found that the belief that the sanctuary was the earth was without any foundation whatever; and that God had a sanctuary still in the heavens where Christ is a minister. This opened up the Scriptures in an entirely new light.

Then the Adventists saw that “the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament,” which contained the ten commandments. To change the Sabbath it would be necessary to change it on the original copy of the law in heaven, which could not be done; therefore they began to look for Bible evidences for the change from the seventh day to the first. They found that in the observance of the Sabbath they had been as much mistaken as in the sanctuary question. From this time on there has been heralded to the world, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12. For the truthfulness of our position we appeal directly to the Word of God, and the past experience to which thousands bear witness.

Loma Linda, Cal.