Strange Views by WM. JOHNSTON

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 11, 1865

Strange Views.

By WM. JOHNSTON

BRO. WHITE : In my short tour in Juniata county, Pa., I found a number of brethren who believe in the Sabbath of the Lord, and who spend the day in each other's houses, in exhortation, prayer and praise. I had the pleasure of spending two Sabbaths with them, and would have had many pleasant meetings, more than I had, but for the impassable state of the roads, which were piled full of snow, fence high, and which confined us in doors, more than half the time.

I found that these brethren, held the following particulars (or notions), which I wrote out and submitted to their inspection, and which they acknowledged to be a part of their religious faith; namely,

1. That Adam and Eve were created mortal beings, and that their posterity do not possess immortal souls.

2. That when they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, they died a spiritual death, that very day.

3. If they had not eaten the forbidden fruit they would have died a natural death, in due time, because they were not immortal; but if they had eaten of the tree of life, as they were commanded, they would have lived forever; and that they had a right to the tree of life, not only by the command of God, but by virtue of the innocency of the Lamb of God, which was in them. Rev. xiii, 8.

4. That by transgression, Adam and Eve lost their innocency, or communion with God, which these brethren, call a spiritual death, which death, they say, is entailed on all our race, until Christ is formed in our hearts, the hope of glory. Col. i, 26, 27. This is what they call, "the first resurrection." Col. iii, 1; Rev. xx, 6. Also Rom. vi, 4.

5. They say and teach, that at the second advent of Christ, he will restore the earth to its primitive purity, and at that time, the dead, both small and great, will appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; and that he will separate the just from the unjust, and will say to the just, "Come ye blessed of my Father," &c. Matt. xxv, 31, 32. Also 2 Tim. iv, 1; but that the wicked on his left hand, will be in the judgment, and must give an account for the deeds done in the body. Matt. xii, 86; John v, 27-29.

6. They also hold, that now the judgment being set, and Christ upon his great white throne; Rev. xx, 11; Matt. xix, 28; this is the time the apostles of the Lamb will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel; Rev. xx, 4, and that all his saints, will live with him a thousand years, and reign over all those nations, who were not partakers of the "first resurrection (or, in other words, who have not followed him in the regeneration) until they (the nations) are brought to a complete restoration, or into that state in which Adam was before his fall. 1 Cor. xv, 22. During this period, they believe, that Satan will be bound, and not permitted to tempt the nations, until at, or near the end of this thousand years of judgment, when he will be let loose for a "little season," and go forth to deceive the nations on the four quarters of the earth; Rev. xx, 7, 8, and that all who will be deceived by him, or not continue faithful during this probationary period, will be cast into the fiery lake, which is the second death.

7. They believe, that all those nations, and individuals, who will withstand the temptations of Satan, for this short season, will then come to the first resurrection. Rev. xx, 5, which is come union with God; and Christ having now brought all nations into subjection to his will, or rule, will deliver up the kingdom to God even the Father, to whom, even Christ himself will become subject, that God, may be all in all. 1 Cor. xv, 27, 28.

This, these brethren, call "the restitution of all things."

Many of the above items, being entirely new to me, and at the same time, appearing incompatible with views held forth in your paper, I have taken the liberty to submit them for your criticism if you see proper, having permission to do so.

WM. JOHNSTON.

REMARKS. We do not publish the above for the purpose of replying to the views set forth, but simply to say that they are not views which are endorsed by the body of S. D. Adventists. The third angel's message under which the Sabbath truth is now being promulgated has no affiliation with any views which border on the doctrine of what is called the Age to come. Such are some of the views set forth above. And let it be marked by one and all that the Sabbath truth will make no progress in connection with such views. The Sabbath is now being proclaimed to the world under the fulfillment of prophecy, and it will make progress in no other way than in the order of that prophecy. What is the Sabbath doing in the hands of the Jews? Nothing. What in the hands of Seventh-day Baptists even? Nothing. And what in the hands of the Age to come believers, what few there are that have taken hold of the Sabbath? Nothing. And it never will; for God's Spirit does not accompany error; and it is this Spirit alone, not the popularity of the doctrine, which is to give success to this work in the earth.

ED.