Observation:
EW page 13-16. In this book and these specific pages sister White gives and account of a vision she had. But the part of the vision that is interesting is that part of the vision she says she came to earth with the saints in this part we find her describing little ones with wings and describing the temple in which the 144,000 alone enter. I thought before that this was in heaven but when reading again she is describing the event when the saints came down to earth. How can we reconcile or understand this occasion in relation to what she says later that there is no marriage on the new earth and also no children. Are we to understand it in the light of the unrolling at the scroll at the time?
Also when she describes the temple what temple is she referring to because John saw no temple in the new earth. Or is this a different temple, a place of worship?
Analysis:
Let's affirm Sis. White's testimony:
Conjectures Regarding the Future Life
There are men today who express their belief that there will be marriages and births in the new earth; but those who believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a part of the "sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19). The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood.
173
They should forever settle the question of marriages and births in the new earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family. {1SM 172.3}
I would say to those who hold views contrary to this plain declaration of Christ, Upon such matters silence is eloquence. It is presumption to indulge in suppositions and theories regarding matters that God has not made known to us in His Word. We need not enter into speculation regarding our future state. {1SM 173.1}
To my ministering brethren I would say, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). Do not bring to the foundation wood, and hay, and stubble --your own surmisings and speculations, which can benefit no one. {1SM 173.2}
Christ withheld no truths essential to our salvation. Those things that are revealed are for us and our children, but we are not to allow our imagination to frame doctrines concerning things not revealed. {1SM 173.3}
The Lord has made every provision for our happiness in the future life, but He has made no revelations regarding these plans, and we are not to speculate concerning them. Neither are we to measure the conditions of the future life by the conditions of this life.—1SM:172.3-173.4
Being that this testimony is coming from the "golden bowl" how do we understand and where do we place the details of EW:18.2?
It is of course best to read the passage in its context starting from pp. 13.3-19.1.
Thank you for reminding me about this. This is one of those details I don't know how to explain yet. Because of the very facts we know like in the earth made new there is no temple. I have to go over it again and see if a new answer comes from it.
So far what I can see is that this "path" the advent people are traveling on is not literal because no one can walk to heaven "far above the dark world." In other words, this vision probably needs to be interpreted.
This is Inspiration's rule.
…The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.…—GC:598.3
I believe the same principle applies here.
The fact that an angel is with Sis. White while this is happening is no different than when an angel was with John or even Daniel giving interpretations about what the prophets are seeing in their vision.
"They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry."
Therefore what she sees when not literal must represent something else. So we need to adjust accordingly.
When Jesus gives the 144,000 the day and hour of His return are they in heaven or on earth?
It seems to me based on the bottom of EW:14.1 that at the time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is time when the 144,000 will learn when Jesus returns. That means this happens when Jesus is at the threshold of the house in the wilderness when the angel is commanded to cast coals of fire from between the chariot over the city.
Where can EW:15.1 logically take place, on earth before the second coming or in Heaven?
Did you see the details in EW:15.2? Is God coming to reap anything at the second coming? [First clue]
Then EW:16.1 takes you into another situation. This is where knowing the following detail in my blog post is helpful.
Without the Spirit of Truth aiding us we would not understand correctly.
EW:16.1 is definitely about the Second Coming because meeting the Lord in the air and changing happens once.
EW:16.2 is definitely heaven during the 1,000 years.
In EW:17.3 New Jerusalem descends. Now know what I know and that Sis. White is in vision and she can be shown anything without it being necessarily in chronological order I must say that the details in EW:18.2 do not follow chronologically. There is no temple on the earth made new according to the Bible.
No rule exists that everything God reveals must happen chronologically. The book of Revelation should have been a lesson to the reverent student of the Bible.
We know all too well that lesson just by
analyzing the AFB. With the experience I have today, I'm confident that this is not chronologically revealed. It is a vision and it is a test for those looking for reasons to doubt. This is a nice shiny hook for doubters to hang their doubts about whether God will contradict the words that came out of His mouth when He said in the life to come there are no marriages nor given in marriage.
She was in vision from the beginning and at the bottom of EW:19.1, we see that she was not alone in the vision given her. The angel gave interpretation for those things that needed to be interpreted.
I really thought this puzzle would never be solved. Let's look at it again together:
[1.] As we were traveling along [[ traveling when? and to where? ]], we met a company who also were gazing at [2.] the glories of the place [[ When and where?? ]]. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted
19
them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments. [3.] Mount Zion was just before us [[ Which, When, where? ]], and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly, to the top of the mountains and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place: the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs—these made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, "Only the 144,000 enter this place," and we shouted, "Alleluia."—EW:18.2
Based on the descriptive facts and what happens this occasion can only occur in heaven. There is no temple on earth. The ending of the paragraph on page 18.2 answers all of our inquiries made at the beginning of the paragraph. Early we did read In EW:17.3 apparently, the New Jerusalem had descended already so we wouldn't expect to receive any information out of order. But we know all too well that this is not the case. Many things are revealed out of order and only the diligent student will dig beyond the apparent contradiction and hold true to his faith.
I am sure God does not plan to lie because he cannot.
Mal 4:2, 3—But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall [[ during the millennium ]] .
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked [[ after the millennium and the 100 years ]] ; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
There are no little ones descending after 1,000 years and there is no temple in the earth made new.
This thought is repeated three times in three different gospels.
Mt 22:30—For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Mr 12:25—For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
Lu 20:35—But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Was that a mistake coming out of Jesus' mouth?
Re 21:9, 10, 21-23—¶ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Those who love to hold to TWO contradictory positions at the same time and attribute this to God are workmen who needeth to be ashamed, wrongly dividing the word of truth. Praise the Lord we can put this one to rest.
However, there will be young ones among the wicked in the 2nd life.
Isa. 65:17-19, speak of the new earth. Isa. 65:20, is here quoted from the Hebrew translation by Isaac Lesser. "There shall no more thence an infant of few days, nor an old man that shall not have the full length of his days; for as a lad shall one die a hundred years old; and as a sinner shall be accursed he who (dieth) at a hundred years old." It seems this translation makes the meaning of the verse just a little plainer than the King James'. The scripture speaks of the time at the end of the 1000 years (millennium) after the resurrection of the wicked. At that time there will not be any births to infants. "There shall no more thence an infant of days." The lesson therefore is not so difficult for one to comprehend. All the wicked are called forth in the second resurrection, whether old or young (at the time of death). All come up at the same time. This hour becomes the birth of all the wicked in the second life. There is to be no natural, or unnatural death, for all must live to the time of the second death, which is by "fire come down from God out of heaven and devoured
Vol. 1 Shepherd's Rod book 164
them." Read Rev. 20:7-10. "And as a sinner shall be accursed he who (dieth) at an hundred years old." This scripture predicts the span of life of the wicked after they are resurrected as being 100 years. "For as a lad shall one die a hundred years old; and as a sinner shall be accursed he who (dieth) at a hundred years old." During this 100 year period, the wicked make preparation for their attack on the holy city. Read Rev. 20:8, 9.—1SR:164.2
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Isa. 65:17-20. {9Tr:37.3}
The reader will observe that when the Lord creates the new heavens and the new
9 Tract 37
earth, then from the time that the wicked arise from their graves to the time that they are destroyed forever by the second death,—the "little season,"—"there shall be no more thence [among them] an infant of days [no more births], nor an old man that hath not filled his days [no more deaths before man's days are fulfilled]: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Both the old and the young (that is, those who remain in their graves during the millennium) will afterward come forth together, each to live "an hundred years"—"the little season" in which Satan will again deceive them. There will be neither death nor birth, but all the wicked will then be forever accursed by
The Second Death.—9Tr:37.3, 4
Isa. 65:20—"There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." {1TG44:9.2}
Concerning the wicked in the earth made new, who come up in the second resurrection, the resurrection of the unjust (Rev. 20:5), there shall be neither birth nor death among them for one hundred years. Thus the only children that shall be among them will be those who are raised from the dead. Consequently both those who are old and those who are young will have lived a hundred years from the resurrection of the unjust to the second death. Thus the child and the sinner, becoming a hundred years old in the earth made new, shall both succumb in the end of the century. Then the righteous shall inhabit the whole earth.—1TG44:9.2, 3
Comments
Post a Comment