GEO. B. THOMPSON by GEO. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 20, 1906

GEO. B. THOMPSON

By GEO. B. THOMPSON

Millennial Dawn—No. 1

GEO. B. THOMPSON

In response to some questions concerning the teaching of what is known as the Millennial Dawn, these few articles have been prepared. The headquarters of this work is at Allegheny, Pa., their chief publications consisting of a “Millennial Dawn Series” of five volumes, and a semimonthly magazine, of which Rev. Charles T. Russell, their leading writer and preacher, is editor. With commendable zeal the adherents of this faith are scattering their literature everywhere, and many conscientious Christian people are numbered among its avowed believers.

It is not our purpose to enter into a critical study of all the errors of Millennial Dawn. Our work is to preach the gospel, to study the truth. And in order to arrive at a correct understanding of the truth, it is never necessary to study error. The study of falsehood in itself will never lead us to the light of truth; as well might we expect to ascend into heaven by going down into the bottomless pit. It is not necessary to eat a little of all the different kinds of poison in the world in order that we may be sure they are poison. A man training to detect counterfeit money studies the genuine bills so that he knows the true; then he is able to detect every counterfeit bill which comes before him.

What we need to know is the truth; to fully understand the great principles upon which the everlasting gospel is founded. The Bible is God’s great detector. A thorough knowledge of this will enable us to detect every fable that presents itself. Life is too short to follow error into its numerous ramifications, and grope blindly in its vast labyrinths. The world is filled with counterfeits. The old and the new commingle. Their name is legion, and they are multiplying on every hand. But we do not need to understand any of them in order to be saved. Mere ignorance is bliss. We are saved through a knowledge of the truth. Many, forgetting this, have nibbled at the shining bait of error, until they have become hopelessly caught on some hook of the devil, and have made shipwreck of faith.

But in order to answer honest inquirers, however, who are deceived by error, it is necessary sometimes to expose enough of the foundation upon which some pretentious and seductive system of error is built, to show that the structure is erected upon sand rather than upon the eternal rock of Scripture. But in doing this, it should be with an honest and sincere purpose to exalt only the truth, and if possible save souls who have become bewildered in the entanglements of a false theology. If we find a man living in some hut of error, it is not the wisest plan to attack the only home he possesses, and ruthlessly tear down the fragile structure over him, scattering the debris hither and yon. The better way is to erect by the side of this hut a stately and beautiful mansion of truth, and then in the most loving and persuasive manner possible, invite the occupant of the hut to move in, rent free. This illustrates a principle which should govern us in all our work.

So we have no intention of entering into an exhaustive research of the teaching of Millennial Dawn. It is but one of the errors of the great catalogue of fables of the last days, and we simply wish to call attention to a few statements from their publications concerning the idea of “a future probation,” or “second chance,” that it may be clearly seen, when tested by the Bible, how utterly unscriptural and dangerous such a doctrine is.

The central idea of the Millennial Dawn doctrine is that of a second probation during what is termed the “millennial age,” when many of the hindrances to the attainment of righteousness are to be removed. As the resurrected host of the wicked, including the heathen, come forth from the tomb, they will find, we are told, “a new power in control,” which they will “strive in vain to resist.” In all kindness we must say that no more subtle or dangerous error than this has ever been introduced into the world.

The following statement concerning their belief in the Saviour is worthy of notice in beginning:—

“To our understanding, the Scriptures show that in order to ransom man, the Son surrendered forever the spirit nature and life which he had, and became a man pure and simple, though a perfect man.”—Millennial Hopes and Prospects, page 4.

The Unitarian believes that Christ was nothing more than a good man. The above statement seems to convey about the same idea.

I quote again from a work written by the leading exponent of this doctrine:—

“Neither was Jesus a combination of the two natures, human and spiritual. . . . When Jesus was in the flesh, he was a perfect human being; previous to that time he was a perfect spiritual being; and since his resurrection he is a perfect spiritual being of the highest order.”

“Thus we see that in Jesus there was no mixture of natures, but that twice he experienced a change of nature; first, from spiritual to human; afterward, from human to the highest order of spiritual nature, the divine: and in each case the one was given up for the other.”—Plan of the Ages, Vol. I, pages 179, 180.

We do not see how language could more clearly express the idea that Jesus, when on earth, was merely a human being, with no spiritual or divine nature. This is the redeemer of this system of teaching, but it is not the Christ of the Bible. Were the above true, we should have only a human sacrifice, which can save no one.

Perish the thought that Christ was a man only! It is true that he was a man, a perfect man. Again and again he is called the “Son of man.” “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5. But the Millennial Dawn idea of our Redeemer is dishonoring to him. It takes away from us a divine Saviour, and gives us only a man. While Jesus was a man, he was God, too. He was as much the Son of God when on earth as when commanding the angels around the throne through the eternal ages. “And when he again bringeth in the first-born into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Heb. 1:6. Angels have never been bidden to worship one who was only “a man pure and simple.” When on earth, Jesus had power to cause the stormy seas to become calm. He bade devils depart from troubled souls, and they hastened to obey. He changed the water into wine, and multiplied the few loaves and fishes to feed the hungry thousands. He spoke, and the dead, mouldering in the tomb, came back to life, and mingled with their loved ones. He had power when on earth to forgive the sins of the transgressors of the divine law, and none can “forgive sins, but God alone.” Luke 5:21. He was the Son of the eternal God clothed in flesh. His majesty and divinity were veiled in humanity.

But while our Redeemer, as God, had within him divine power, the very power which created the starry heavens and holds them in place, he never used this power to exalt or deliver himself. He used this divine power to bless others, but as a man he used no power in struggling against the temptations of sin that we can not use. To do this was the temptation which Satan kept constantly before him. Satan was ever seeking to induce him to use his power for himself. In the wilderness he said, Make these stones bread and feed yourself. From the pinnacle of the temple he said, Cast yourself headlong, and let divine power be used to save you from destruction. But he overcame the tempter, and used no power in his own behalf that man can not use in his warfare with Satan. He who could of his own self summon legions of angels to his deliverance, said, “The Son can do nothing of himself.” John 5:19. We can not, perhaps, understand how this is, for it is “the mystery of godliness.” It is beyond the comprehension of mortals, but it is the truth nevertheless.

“He [Christ] voluntarily assumed human nature. It was his own act, and by his own consent. He clothed his divinity with humanity. He was all the while as God, but he did not appear as God. . . . He was God while upon earth, but he divested himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form and fashion of a man. . . . He laid aside his glory and his majesty. He was God, but the glories of the form of God he for a while relinquished. . . . As a member of the human family, he was mortal; but as a God, he was the fountain of life to the world. He could, in his divine person, ever have withstood the advances of death, and refused to come under its dominion; but he voluntarily laid down his life, that in so doing he might give life and bring immortality to light.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, Sept. 4, 1900.