A STATEMENT OF BELIEF by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 43.

A STATEMENT OF BELIEF.

By Editor

A copy of the Millennial Dawn of some time ago has been sent us containing the following, which, quoted from a Seventh-day Adventist paper, the Dawn declares to be a misrepresentation. It may be from the Signs of the Times; if so, we do not now recall it:—

"If it was expedient that Christ should pass the portals of the tomb to save men from the Adamic death, then it is equally expedient that he should pass the second-death tomb, in order to save those who fail in the first opportunity, that they might have the second probation, as per Millennial Dawn theology. A second probation for all mankind, and especially the heathen, is a corner-stone in Millennial Dawn theology. We ask, Where is the scripture to show that Christ passed the second-death tomb? If not, can he, or will he, save man from the second death, through a second probation?"

The editor of the Dawn declares that its teachings are "that there will be neither redemption nor recovery from the second death, but, on the contrary, that it is the everlasting punishment predicted for all intelligent and wilful evil-doers;" that the "chance" for eternal life, which Adam lost, will be a "second chance, individually, to but one person, Adam." But the Dawn makes the life of all the people who ever lived previous to Christ's resurrection, no "chance" (to use its term) at all; for it declares that—

"This chance, secured by Christ for all through his atoning sacrifice,—this chance, which dates from our Lord's resurrection (except as in a typical manner it was previously faintly revealed to the faith of the patriarchs and prophets and in the law to Israel),—this chance, call it first or second as any may please, is the only one we find in the Scriptures, and the only one presented in Millennial Dawn."

That we have not misrepresented the Dawn will be seen also by the following paragraph:—

"Did the millions of Jews who lived and died before Christ, and who at the very most had only typical atonements for sin, year by year, which could never take away sin, nor make the worshipers perfect—did these have a chance or fair trial for eternal life under the new covenant, which had not in their day gone into effect? Surely not! See Heb. 9:9; 10:4. Did the Jews of our Lord's day who rejected him have a full chance?—No; for our Lord and the prophets and the apostles testify that 'they were blinded' and that 'through ignorance' they crucified Christ, 'as did also your rulers.'" Acts 3:17.

But all this blindness and ignorance were of choice. Jesus said, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin." See John 15:22-24. Concerning the heathen, see Rom. 1:18-32; 2:6-16. It is not the great light that saves, but how men regard the light. It is not the outward ceremony that saves, but the truth that is revealed appropriated by heartful faith. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him." 2 Chron. 16:9. Such may be called heathen or Christian, but they are God's. They evidence by following the little light that they would follow all the light; and God, not man, is the judge. He who waits for a larger hope than had Abraham or Elijah, or greater light than had Caiaphas or Judas Iscariot, will wait to be deceived.