J. H. WAGGONER by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1874

J. H. WAGGONER

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Isa. 44:22.

An objection against our views of the sanctuary and its cleansing has been raised on Isa. 44:22, which some regard as unanswerable. It reads thus:—

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

There are three methods of speaking on such subjects in the Scriptures; 1. In a temporal sense, as connected with types or local judgments. 2. Prospectively, as having done that which shall be done. 3. Absolutely, as having been fully accomplished. In either of the first two senses may this text be taken, but not in the third.

In the type, sins were blotted out every year. In this sense it might have been fulfilled, as he might have accepted their faith in that service. In like manner, he did redeem them from temporal calamities. But in the antitype we find that the sanctuary will be cleansed, and sin fully and finally be blotted out, when the 2300 days of Dan. 8:14, expire. In like manner the saints, who are yet groaning for redemption, Rom. 8:23, will find it at the coming of Jesus. Luke. 21:27, 28; Eph. 4:30.

We are no more warranted, by Isa. 44:22, to consider that sins were finally and fully blotted out seven hundred years before the Saviour died than we are to believe that the redemption of the saints was fully completed at that time. Other reasons can be given why the objection is not a valid one; but they are not necessary, because its fallacy must be apparent to all.