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Rest is in ChristDURING the night, . . . I seemed to be in meeting, presenting the necessity and

importance of our receiving the Spirit. This was the burden of my labor—the openingof our hearts to the Holy Spirit. On one occasion Christ told His disciples, “I have yetmany things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” Their limitedcomprehension put a restraint on Him, He could not open to them the truths Helonged to unfold; for while their hearts were closed to them, His unfolding of thesetruths would be labor lost. They must receive the Spirit before they could fullyunderstand Christ’s lessons. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,” Christ said,

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“whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring allthings to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

In my dream a sentinel stood at the door of an important building, and asked everyone who came for entrance, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost?” A measuring-linewas in his hand, and only very, very few were admitted into the building. “Your size asa human being is nothing,” he said. “But if you have reached the full stature of a manin Christ Jesus, according to the knowledge you have had, you will receive anappointment to sit with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb; and through theeternal ages, you will never cease to learn of the blessings granted in the banquetprepared for you.

“You may be tall and well-proportioned in self, but you cannot enter here. Nonecan enter who are grown-up children, carrying with them the disposition, the habits,and the characteristics which pertain to children, If you have nurtured suspicions,criticism, temper, self-dignity, you cannot be admitted; for you would spoil the feast.All who go in through this door have on the wedding garment, woven in the loom ofheaven. Those who educate themselves to pick flaws in the characters of others, reveala deformity that makes families unhappy, that turns souls from the truth to choosefables. Your leaven of distrust, your want of confidence, your power of accusing,closes against you the door of admittance. Within this door nothing can enter thatcould possibly mar the happiness of the dwellers by marring their perfect trust in oneanother. You cannot join the happy family in the heavenly courts; for I have wiped alltears from their eyes. You can never see the King in His beauty if you are not yourself arepresentative of His character.

“When you give up your own will, your own wisdom, and learn of Christ, you willfind admittance into the kingdom of God. He requires entire, unreserved surrender.Give up your life for Him to order, mold, and fashion. Take upon your neck Hisyoke. Submit to be led and taught by Him. Learn that unless you become as a littlechild, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Abiding in Christ is choosing only the disposition of Christ, so that His interestsare identified with yours. Abide in Him, to be and to do only what He wills. These arethe conditions of discipleship, and unless they are complied with, you can never findrest. Rest is in Christ; it cannot be as something apart from Him.

“The moment His yoke is adjusted to your neck, that moment it is found easy; thenthe heaviest spiritual labor can be performed, the heaviest burdens borne, because theLord gives the strength and the power, and He gives gladness in doing the work. Markthe points: ‘Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart’ (Matthew 11:29). Who is itthat speaks thus?—The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. He desires that yourconception of spiritual things shall be purified from the dross of selfishness, thedefilement of a crooked, coarse, unsympathetic nature. You must have an inward,higher experience. You must obtain a growth in grace by abiding in Christ. Whenyou are converted, you will not be a hindrance, but will strengthen your brethren.”

As these words were spoken, I saw that some turned sadly away and mingled withthe scoffers. Others, with tears, all broken in heart, made confession to those whomthey had bruised and wounded. They did not think of maintaining their own dignity,but asked at every step, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). The answer was,“Repent, and be converted, that your sins may go beforehand to judgment, and beblotted out.” Words were spoken which rebuked spiritual pride. This God will nottolerate. It is inconsistent with His Word and with our profession of faith. Seek theLord, all ye who are ministers of His. Seek Him while He may be found, call uponHim while I-Ic is near. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man histhoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and toour God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7). —The Review and Herald,April 11, 1899.

The time has come when we must expect the Lord to do great things for us. Ourefforts must not flag or weaken. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of theLord. Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God’s people is finished, weshall receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven will be in ourmidst. The present is a fitting-up time for heaven when we must walk in fullobedience to all the commands of God. —Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1,pp. 109-111.

THE SABBATH WATCHMAN, (ISSN 0098-9517) published free of charge bimonthly with a special issue in December, by Religious Liberty Publishing Assn., 1151Xenia St., Denver, Colorado 80220, U.S.A. Copyright © 1982, Seventh-day Adventist Church. Reform Movement, American Union. Second-Class Postage paid atDenver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RLPA, 1151 Xenta St., Denver, CO 80220. Vol.57, No.5. Offset in U.S.A.

TheSabbathWatchmanBeacon of hope, faith, truth in a confused world.

We believe:The Bible to be infallible, absolute truth.The devil to be literal, the untiring instigator of

evil.

Jesus Christ to be the world’s only Saviour, whotaught love revealed by obedience.

His coming to be imminent, visible, triumphant,judging His enemies and rewarding Hischildren of faith.

The Sabbath Watchman also contains articlestranslated from Der Sabbafwachfer und Heroldder Reformation, the official organ of theGeneral Conference.

Editorial CommitteeHelmut H. Kramer Betty KramerLarry D. Watts E.H. McSherryDorothy M. Dernarest

Writing StaffAndrew Barash Anneli MartinHenry Dering Timo MartinVerica V. Dering Esther H. McSherryJerry Eaton Steinar E. MyhreW. Egerter Franziska PedersenS. Gutknecht M.P. RingelbergLambert Hazelhoff S. SchmidtEvelyn Holmstroem Michael SwensonRuth Jennings Vicki SwensonNovak Koledin Chris TeskeOscar Kramer Barbara Watts

The Sabbath Watchman is published by Religious Liberty Publishing Assn., a subsidiary ofthe International Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists, Reform Movement, AmericanUnion. World War I saw responsible men of theSeventh-day Adventist Church publicly declaring it to be the duty of all Adventist men todefend their respective countries with weaponsin hand, even on the Sabbath. Hundreds ofstaunch believers protested this stand, but theirprotest was not heeded, and they were, disfellowshipped against their wishes. All attemptsto reunite on the old platform of truth havefailed. This was the birth of the ReformMovement, which today is represented in allmajor countries.

General Conference OfficeMissionshaus “Salem”

Friedrich Ebert Strasse 17D-6950 Mosbach/Baden, West Germany

Subscriptions and CorrespondenceFor 1982, there will be no subscription fee forThe Sabbath Watchman, except a $4.00 postage and handling charge to those outside theAmerican Union. All contributions, names andaddresses and correspondence regarding TheSabbath Watchman should be sent to: Religious Liberty Publishing Assn., 1151 XeniaStreet, Denver, CO 80220. Please notify uspromptly of any address change. Thank you.

ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES: Australia—i 21 Toongabbie Road, Toongabbie, N.S.W. 2146 • canada—p.o.Box 401, Hamilton. Ontario L8N 3H8 • England—B GardenHouse Lane. Tingley. Waketieid, Yorkshire WF3 1NWPhilippines—Box 31, Legaxpi City • South Africa—P.O. Box76. Broederstroom 0240 • Othw ottices around the world

The Sugar of the Earth?There are some severely mistaken notions of

Christianity afloat, which have led the character ofreligion to become distorted to a large segment of

people. One of these is the “gentleness,”“consideration,” “niceness” and “goodness”

syndrome of professed Christians. When we take thename of Jesus, we are expected to be almost

“superhuman,” utterly unearthly beings, who neverraise their voice nor would lift a finger in threat to

someone else. Many non-Christians, as well aspseudo-Christians, have cultivated the idea that

God’s people should be the sugar of the earth, theingredient which should make human life palatableto everyone. But this is not what our Lord has said.

He stated: “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salthave lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? itis thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13.Salt is a strong, intensely concentrated mineralcrystal. It is not a thoughtless metaphor which

Jesus here employed. By comparing His disciples tosalt, He portrays strong, individualist and dedicatedpeople, who have a mission in this world. They are

no mindless followers, no mass-material, butpersons with character and a sense of worth in their

calling.Salt is a preserving agent; it resists decay. It is apurifying and purging means, which serves for

health. But it also bites and stings, not to theunbroken, wholesome “skin,” but particularly to

those who are wounded and lacerated l)y themerciless blows of sin.

Persons who have departed from God are not thewinsome, beautiful people, the free, happy

individuals, who at times appear worthy of envyby the burdened, groaning, laboring Christian, whoseeks to work out his own salvation. Not all is well

behind the facade of prosperity and well-being.There are wounds, at times open wounds, which

smart, particularly when reminded of and broughtinto close proximity to the salt of the earth.The gospel of Jesus Christ is not always the

soothing ointment, the all-healing and comfortablemessage of peace and safety. Instead it is disruptive,

extremely cutting and demanding, probing andsearching to the unregenerate mind. Likewise the

Christian who aims to live in harmony with theprecepts of the gospel becomes instrumental in

becoming an irritant to the unbeliever. He is the saltof the earth.

Christ our Lord was not a weak, accommodatingindividual who adapted 1-limseif to the condition ofthe sinners He met. He was always in command of

the situation; no one was able to escape His

penetrating glance and strong influence. Yet, Hewas not oppressive or domineering, as we meet thisobnoxious trait in some self-depreciating andunbalanced personalities, but true, respectful,circumspect of the feelings of others, reading theinnermost thoughts of their hearts. When He spoke,He fearlessly touched upon the sore, raw spots,which had been carefully camouflaged and tuckedaway in the recesses of the mind and heart. Histouch, although shocking and painful, soon provedlife-preserving and healing.

God’s last people in a very special sense are to bethe salt of the earth. Now in the days when thedoom of this world and all its hapless inhabitants isscheduled to come, its purging quality is mostnecessary and valuable, when the general trend istoward the sugar-vanity of mutual admiration,ecumenical facade-Christendom and overalltogetherness. The force and might of Christ’smessage is lost to a great extent in the confusion of acatchall, blanket-brand of do-goodism and socialacceptability.

Certainly, the true and born-again Christiancannot and should not retain his perhaps nativecrustiness, awkwardness and roughshodmannerisms, no matter how sincere these may be.He should not excuse his blunt forwardness andimpolite remarks with the words of his Master. TheChristian, above all people, is to display great tact,deep love, understanding and sympathy for theerring soul, but at the same time he will not revealthe sugar-coating, glossing-over mentality of Mr.World-Wise.

If issues emerge which require a firm andunflinching stand for right, the true representativeof Christ will put his face like a flint in imitation ofhis Master and countenance the matter. He will notlook at the faces of his opponents, but only beholdhis Lord. It is there where he obtains his strengthand courage. It is only thus that he becomes trulythe salt of the earth.

If the salting quality is lost among God’sprofessed people, it will be cast out among all otherworthless rubble, for there is no longer any savinggrace in their spiritual makeup. In a spiritualcompetition race with other churches forrecognition and acceptance, the saltiness of thechurch of God is hound to suffer. The salt of truth isto remain pure and unadulterated, unpolluted withhuman machination or political considerations. Letus accept the immense challenge of being the salt ofthe earth, or the force of His truth.

Scpwin bti—0iolxr 19823

HEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likenedunto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and

went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them werewise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish tooktheir lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise tookoil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.”

Christ is the bridegroom of the parable.2 The goingforth to meet the bridegroom must therefore represent amovement on the part of the Lord’s people to meet Christat His coming, for the subject of the discourse of Matthewtwenty-four and twenty-five is the coming of the Lord.The word of the Lord is the lamp.3 All the virgins tooktheir lamps. The foolishness of a part of the virginsconsisted in their taking simply the theory of the truth,without that earnest consecration to the Lord whichwould develop the graces of the Spirit in the heart of thebeliever. This work is represented in the parable by ‘oilin their vessels.” The tarrying of the bridegroom mustrepresent some disappointment on the part of thosegoing forth expecting to meet their Lord.

The time when the parable applies

The word “then,” with which the parable opens, givesus a clue to the time of its application. It follows closeupon what had been stated in the previous chapter, notafter the Lord’s second coming, but after the parable ofthe fig tree had been proclaimed, announcing thatChrist’s coming is “at the doors,” and that the generationhas come which will not pass until Christ Himself

appears in the clouds of heaven. It also applies at a timewhen some of the servants who have been giving themessage say in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth Hiscoming; and begin to smite their fellow-servants, and toeat and drink with the drunken.”

Smiting their fellow-servantsThese have been “fellow-servants,” harmoniously

proclaiming the same message; but now a part of themturn from that which they have taught, and “smite” theirfellow-servants who are giving the “meat in dueseason”— declaring the needful preparation to meet thesoon-coming Lord. They “smite” in the same mannerthat it was proposed to smite Jeremiah. The people said,“Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let usnot give heed to any of his ‘ords.”4So did these servantsbegin to teach in a manner to hinder the work of the“faithful” servants. This same class are thus addressed,“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt notwatch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt notknow what hour I will come upon thee.”5

The parable of the virgins applies at a time when‘‘fellow-servants’’ are turning from the’ message ol thenear coming of the Lord, and ‘‘begin to smite.’’ l’hey alsobegin to do something else—to ‘eat and drink with thedrunken.’’ They join in feasting with those who wish togratify their appetites. Solomon said of such. ‘‘Be’ ijotamong winebibbers; among riotous eaters 01 flesh; for thedrunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. ‘‘

From THE GREA T SECOND AD VENT MO VEMENT By J.N. LOUGHBORO UGH

No. 5 of a Series

4 filE SABBAlI I VA1CtIMAN

The first disappointmentThe inquiry will now arise, “What was there in the

advent experience that answers to these statements?”There were movements which accord fully with theprophecy. Those giving the message down to April, 1844,labored among the churches, and the ministers of thevarious churches united with their efforts. Thus theywere “fellow-servants.”

Those giving the message taught that the twenty-threehundred days of Daniel 8:14 would terminate with theJewish year 1843, .which would be in our year 1844. Theyproclaimed the hour of God’s judgment to come at theclose of that period. Every denomination in the land atthat time held that the judgment day would beintroduced by the second corning of our Lord. Thus itwill readily be seen that the Adventists supposed the Lordwould come at the close of that prophetic period. Theysaid, “This period may terminate with the month, March21, 1844, the last of the natural Jewish year 1843.” So theylooked to the last of March or the first of April, 1844, as atime when the Saviour might come.

Evil servants developedWhen the last of March came, and passed by, and the

Lord did not come, those who had previously laboredwith the Lord’s messengers, but had not from the heartfully consecrated their lives to the message, turned againstit, began to oppose the work, and to do all in their powerto hedge up the way of those who still continued teachingthe doctrine of the Lord’s near coming and the judgmenthour message. “In their hearts” they said, “My Lorddelayeth His coming.” With their lips they now taughtthat all the world must be converted before the Lordwould come; that the Jews must all return to Palestine,and establish their temple service in Jerusalem, beforeMessiah would come. Some even taught that Christ’scoming was a “spiritual coming,” that it took place atconversion, and also at the death of His people.

Giving “meat in due season”While these thus turned against their fellow-servants,

those who still held fast the faith were calling thebelievers together in halls and groves, giving them the‘‘meat iii due season”—showing them that the signs ofthe times and fulfilled prophecy declared, the same asbefore their disppointrnent, that Christ’s coming was“near, even at the doors.’

Church feastingWhile they were doing this there began what was

before unknown in Protestant churches—the calling ofthe people together in the church for feasting and‘‘making of sport.’’ All who would come were invited topai’tiike with them of their dainties.

The first we ever heard of anything of this kind inAmerica was in the month of May, 1841, just after thedisappointment. It was on this wise: While WilliamMiller, in a hall ill Rochester, N.Y., was instructing afl(lexhot ting several lltin(lred Adventists, telling them, ‘‘Weare in the larrvilig time of Matthew twenty—live; hold fast

your faith; we shall soon have more light on this matter,”there was appointed in the basement of one of the largestmeeting houses in Rochester, “a festival.” A crowd ofpeople came together, both church members and unbelievers, and while the president of a theological collegemade fun for the crowd by ridiculing William Miller,they sold to them oysters, ice cream, sweetmeats, and fortwenty-five cents a small pamphlet which this man hadprepared. The book was called “An Expose’ ofMillerism.”

In less than a fortnight from that time another denotnination in the same city appointed “a festival” in a publichail, charging twenty-five cents admission, and invitingall who would to come and partake with them of theiroysters, ice cream, cake, and sweets. Then and therebegan this modern feasting in churches, which hasdeveloped into “crazy socials,” “grab bags,” “fishponds,” “kissing bees,” and so on. This feature offeasting in churches has grown to that extent that now amodern church building is not up to the standard unlessit has its kitchen, pantry, and dining-room. This state ofthings is that which began in the “tarrying tirne,”just asdesignated in the parable.

Wm. Miller himself speaks of the incident thatoccurred in Rochester in the following words: “One ofthe D.D. ‘s in Rochester, Mr. , of the church,wrote a pamphlet against Millerism, called his lords andladies into the house of the Lord, made a great feast ofoysters and other ‘picnics,’ Belshazzar-Jike, drank theircoffee and tea, ate their costly delicacies, and sold their icecream and sweetmeats, and his pamphlet against thesecond advent of the dear Saviour.

“The night before I left, another of the reverendgentlemen hart a picnic feast at a public house, or hail,and sold as above, his tickets, ice cream, and sweetmeats.I was happy to hear that some of the churches of thedifferent sects did not approve of such Babylonian feasts;and I rio hope, in my soul, that not all of thesesectariaichurches will be found ‘eating and drinking with thedrunken’ when Christ shall come. I am astonished thatthese reverend gentlemen do not. see themselves in theglass ol God’s word; and I would recommend them toread Luke 14:12-14; Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 13:25-28; 2Peter 2:13; Jude 10-21. These are the last times surely.”

If Eldem Miller had obtained a view of what thechurches have since entered into, in their donationparties, with ‘‘ring guess-cakes, ten-cent kissing bees,donkey shows, crazy socials. holy lotteries,” and otherchance game arrangements, etc., 1w would have recoiledwith holy horror.

The tarrying time1he Adventists lourid consolation in the scriptural fact

that when the announcement was made of the nearcoming of the Lord there would be connected with it a‘‘tarrying time.” This they saw in our Saviours words inMatthew 255, 6, and ill Htbakkuk 2:1-3.

As to their attitude in the spring o 1844, we quote fromthe Midnight Cry of May 9, 1844:

‘‘Having passed the point of the apparent terminationof the prophetic periods, we are placed in a position

St11nl t)(i —( )( toixi t 923

which God foresaw His children would be placed in atthe end of the vision; and for which He made provision,by the prophet Habakkuk, when he says, ‘I will standupon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and willwatch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shallanswer when I am reproved,’ or as it reads in the margin,‘argued with.’ ‘And the Lord answered me, and said,Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that hemay run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for anappointed time, but at the end [of the prophetic periods]it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry [beyond theirapparent termination], wait for it; because it will surelycome, [in the fulness of the prophetic times, beyondwhichi it will not tarry.’7

“That this admonition has reference to the presenttime, is evident from Paul’s quotation of it in Hebrews10:36-39: ‘For ye have need of patience, that after ye havedone the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Foryet a little while, and He that shall come will come, andwill not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyman draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.’

“We believe that we are occupying that period spokenof by the Saviour, when the bridegroom tarries (Matthew25:5)—to which the kingdom of heaven should belikened—when ‘that evil servant [there having been anapparent failure in the time] shall say in his heart, MyLord delayeth His coming, and shall begin to smite hisfellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,’and the Lord should ‘come in a day when he looketh notfor Him.’

“We believe that we are now occupying that period oftime spoken of by Peter, when their ‘judgment now of along time lingereth not, and their damnation slumberethnot;’ where they were to ‘privily bring in damnableheresies.’8These, Peter says, were to be, even as there werefalse prophets when the Scriptures were indited. Astherefore they of the house of Israel said, ‘The days areprolonged, and every vision faileth,’9so must there havebeen a time when there would be an apparent passing ofthe time, that the scoffers of 2 Peter 3:4 might inquire,‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ and flatterthemselves that ‘all things continue as they were from thebeginning of the creation.’

“We believe it was in view of such a tarrying of thevision that the apostle James said, ‘Be patient, therefore,brethren, unto the coming of the Lord;’ ‘be ye alsopatient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lorddraweth nigh.’ And, ‘Behold, the Judge standeth beforethe door.’

“And we believe in anticipation of the passing by ofthe expected time that our Saviour admonished us, in thetwelfth chapter of Luke, ‘Let your loins be girded about,and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto menthat wait for their Lord, when He will return from thewedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they mayopen unto Him immediately.”° To wait implies apassing of the time, for till that time we do not wazt.Therefore our Lord adds, ‘Blessed are those servantswhom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.’

“We shall continue, God willing, to proclaim, ‘Behold,the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him;’ and,‘The hour of His judgment is come.’ And we trust weshall not fail to continue to cry aloud to the world andchurch, to arouse themselves from their songs of ‘peace,’and to listen to God’s overtures of mercy. We intend tocontinue waiting and watching for the coming of theLord, believing that it is just upon us.”

A vindication of their work

A good idea as to how the Adventists viewed their workprevious to March 21, 1844, and just after that date, can beobtained by reading the following quotation, taken froman article under the caption, “Vindication,” in theAdvent Herald of Nov. 13, 1844, published by J.V.Himes, S. Bliss, and A. Hale:

“We were not hasty in embracing our opinions. Webelieve that we were honest and sincere inquirers aftertruth. We obeyed our Saviour’s command to search theScriptures. We relied not upon our own wisdom; but welooked to God for guidance and direction, and endeavoredto lay ourselves upon His altar, trusting that 1-le woulddirect our footsteps aright. We examined all the arguments which were advanced against us with a sinceredesire to know the truth and be kept from error; but wemust confess that the varied and multiform positions ofour opponents only confirmed us in our views. We sawthat whether we were right or wrong, our opponentscould not be right; and they had no agreement amongthemselves. The arguments of each were so weak andpuerile that they were under the necessity of continuallyundoing what they had themselves done; and by theiropposite and contradictory views they demonstrated thathowever they might regard our opinions, they had noconfidence in the opinions of each other. And, morever,there was not a cardinal point in our whole position inwhich we were not sustained by one or more of those wholabored to disprove the immediate coming of the Lord.While we had the literal rendering of the Scriptures tosustain us, our opponents endeavored in vain to provethat the Scriptures are not to be understood literally,although every prophecy which has been fulfilled hasbeen so in its most literally minute particulars.

The disappointment explained“But the time—the year 1843, the Jewish year—passed,

and we were disappointed in not beholding the King inHis beauty. And all who opposed us honestly supposedthat every distinctive characteristic of our belief had beendemonstrated to be false; and that we should, as honestmen, abandon our whole position. And therefore it waswith surprise that they saw us still clinging to our hope,and still expecting our King.

“We, however, in our disappointment, saw no reasonfor discouragement. We saw that the Scriptures indicatedthat there must be a tarrying time, and that while thevision tarried we must wait for it. We saw also that withthe end of the year the period could not be fullyterminated, even upon the suppositiOn that our chronology was correct; and that they could only be fulfilledsome time in the present year; and yet we frankly and

6 THE SABBATH WATCHMAN

fully admitted to the world that we were mistaken in thedefinite point to which we had looked with so muchconfidence; but while we were thus mistaken, we can seethe hand of God in that matter. We can see that He hasmade use of that proclamation as an alarm to the world,and a test to the church. It placed His people in anattitude of expectation. It called out those who werewilling to suffer for His name’s sake. It demonstrated towhom the cry of the Lord’s coming was tidings of greatjoy, and to whom it was an unwelcome sound in theirears. It has shown the universe who would welcome theLord’s return, and who would reject Him at His second,as the Jews did at His first advent. And we regard it as astep in the accomplishment of God’s purpose, in this ‘dayof His preparation,’ that He might lead forth a peoplewho should only seek the will of the Lord, that theymight be prepared for His coming.”

HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENTAFTER MARCH, 1844

A brief history of the advent movement after March 21,1844, is set forth in the following, taken from the Signs ofthe Times of Oct. 31, 1844:

“After the passing away of 1843—the Jewish Year—thegreat body of the Adventists settled down in the belief thatwe could henceforth reckon on particular times with nodegree of positiveness. They believed that we were whereour chronology points, at the end of all the propheticperiods, at the termination of which the advent isexpected; and that while we should have to wait only thelittle while that our chronology might vary from God’stime, yet they believed that we could have no more clue tothe definite time. They had all taken their lamps andgone forth to meet the Bridegroom; but the Bridegroomhad tarried beyond the time (1843) in which Fle wasexpected. During this tarrying of the vision, it seemed tobe the determination of all to wait for it, believing itcould not be delayed, and that it might be momentarilyexpected. It was, however, soon very evident thatmultitudes were forming plans for the future, which theywould not form if they believed the Lord would come thisyear; and that they had fallen asleep with regard to arealizing sense of the Lord’s immediate appearing. Inother words, they thought He might come any day, orthat it might be delayed some little while, during whichthey might enjoy a refreshing repose. Well, this was asour Saviour said it would be, ‘While the Bridegroomtarried, they all slumbered and slept.’

Attention called to the autumn of 1844“As early as May, 1843, Brother Miller had called our

attention to the seventh month of the Jewish sacred year,as the time of the observance of those types which pointto the second advent; and the last autumn we looked tothat point of time with much interest. After it had passedaway. Brother S.S. Snow fully embraced the opinion that,according to the types, the advent of the Lord, when itdoes Occur, must occur on the tenth day of the seventhmonth; but he was not positive as to the year. Heafterward saw that the prophetic periods do not actuallyexpire until the present year, 1844: he then planted

himself on the ground that about the 22nd of October—the tenth day of the seventh month of this present year—we should witness the advent of the Lord of glory. Thjshe preached in New York, Philadelphia, and other placesduring the past spring and summer; and while manyembraced his views, yet no particular manifestation of itseffects was seen until about July.

Crops left in the fields“In the early part of the season some of our brethren in

the north of New Hampshire had been so impressed withthe belief that the Lord would come before anotherwinter, that they did not cultivate their fields. About themiddle of July—which was the evening of the midnightof the Jewish day-year—(evening-morning, reckoningfrom the new moon of April, the commencement of thisJewish year), others who had sown and planted theirfields were so impressed with a sense of the Lord’simmediate appearing, that they could not, consistentlywith their faith, harvest their crops. Some, on going intotheir fields to cut their grass, found themselves entirelyunable to proceed, and, conforming to their sense of duty,left their crops standing in the field, to show their faith bytheir works, and thus to condemn the world. This rapidlyextended through the north of New England.

The judgment to precede the advent“During the same time our brethren in Maine had

embraced the view that the judgment must precede theadvent; that it synchronized with the harvest, and was notonly at the end of the world, but occupied a periodimmediately preceding the end. In accordance with thisview, they thought that we were in the judgment, that thedividing line was being drawn, and that the servants ofGod were being sealed in their foreheads, the accomplishment of which would be the signal for the four angelsholding the four winds of the earth (Revelation 7:1), toloose their hold.

A midnight awakening“About the middle of July the blessing of God in

reclaiming backsliders began to attend the proclamationof the time, and those who embraced either of the viewsreferred to, manifested a marked change in their deportment, and a sudden waking out of sleep, as was predicted.‘At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, theBridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then allthose virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.’ From Julythese movements were in different parts of New England,and distinct from one another; but they were all attendedby the blessing of God in reclaiming many whose lampshad well-nigh gone out, and in the sanctification of Hissaints. At the Exeter camp-meeting, all these influencesmet, mingled into one great movement, and rapidlyspread through all the advent bands in the land.”

Man hew 25:1-5. ReveIadon 3:3. 9Ezekiel I 2:22.2,1k 2:18-20. 6Proverbs 23:20, 21. °Luke 12:35, 36.Psa1ni 119:105. 71-Iabakkuk 2: 1-3.J cHin ía h 18:18. 82 Peter 2:1, 3.

Sepktiiher—October 1982 7

“FOR YET ALITTL.E WHWE...

By A. RINGELBERG

“For yet a little while, and He that shall come willcome, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37.

“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming ofChrist is near at hand. The days in which we live aresolemn and important. The Spirit of God is graduallybut surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues andjudgments are already falling upon the despisers of thegrace of God. The calamities by land and sea, theunsettled state of society, the alarms of war, areportentous. They forecast approaching events of thegreatest magnitude.” —Ellen G. White, TestimonyTreasures, vol. 3, p. 280.

HUS wrote the Spirit of Prophecy in the year 1909,and how is it today? What is the matter? Did the

Spirit of God err when He had these words written down?For it was not only in the year 1909, but since 1844 thatthe Advent believers had faith in the soon return of Jesus.And ever since then warnings have followed, and againand again the stirring calls have come, “The time isshort!”

“Unless we understand the importance of the momentsthat are swiftly passing into eternity, and make ready tostand in the great day of God, we shall be unfaithfulstewards. The watchman is to know the time of night.Everything is now clothed with a solemnity that all whobelieve the truth for this time should realize. They shouldact in reference to the day of God. The judgments of Godare about to fall upon the world, and we need to bepreparing for that great day.

“Our time is precious. We have but few, very few daysof probation in which to make ready for the future,immortal life. We have no time to spend in haphazardmovements. We should fear to skim the surface of theword of God.” —Ellen G. White, Testimony Treasures,vol. 3, p. 14.

Paul wrote, “But this I say, brethren, the time isshort 1 Corinthians 7:29. And it says in theRevelation of John, “. . . for the time is at hand”(Revelation 1:3), and in Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I comequickly.”

“In consideration of the shortness of time we as apeople should watch and pray, and in no case allowourselves to be diverted from the solemn work ofpreparation for the great event before us. Because the timeis apparently extended, many have become careless and

‘We pxC

3S9 tl.

,

indifferent in regard to their words and actions. They donot realize their danger and do not see and understand themercy of God in lengthening their probation, that they

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may have time to form characters for the future, immortallife. Every moment is of the highest value. Time is ‘ri

granted them, not to be employed in studying their own -

ease and becoming dwellers on the earth, but to be usedin the work of overcoming every defect in their owncharacters and in helping others, by example andpersonal effort, to see the beauty of holiness. God has apeople upon the earth who in faith and holy hope aretracing down the roll of fast-fulfilling prophecy and areseeking to purify their souls by obeying the truth, thatthey may not be found without the wedding garmentwhen Christ shall appear.” —Testimony Treasures, vol.1, pp. 503, 504.

It is not God’s will that Christ’s coming shall bedelayed so long. Also, God did not want the people ofIsrael to wander for forty years in the wilderness. Hepromised to bring them into the promised land rightaway, where they were to be a happy, healthy people.

But why couldn’t God redeem His promise right away?“So we see that they could not enter in because ofunbelief.” Hebrews 3:19.

In all these experiences there is a great lesson for ustoday. For more than ever before the words are valid, “Foryet a little while Even more distinctly than werealize, the signs of the times are speaking today.

Not only Christians, but people in the world, such asastronomers and scientists, say that an unprecedentedcrisis is looming up before this world. They know that aworld shaken so much by explosions, massive energy,atomic weapons, and other destructive chemicals cannotlong continue as such.

There is a threat of an economic collapse in the wholeworld. The increasing rebellions and uprisings amongthe nations, the air pollution, the poisoning of the riversand oceans—all of this has reached its climax in our time.

8 THE SABBAIFI WATCHMAN

Added to this are the constantly increasing technologicaladvances, the computers, by means of which man is cutoff more and more from thinking and acting. Murder andsuicides in all parts of the world result from problems forwhich men find no solutions. Should not these thingscause the one who believes in God’s word and themessage of the last day to consider, more earnestly thanever, the words, “For yet a little while. .

And yet conditions in the spiritual realm speak to usmore than all the aforementioned events and signs. Hereespecially confusion prevails as never before. Theworkings of Satan have reached their climax today in thethinking and ambitions of men. The religious movements and sects are almost beyond computation. Manytheologians are preaching, “God is dead.” Others havethe opinion that, since God is love, all people will besaved. Then there are those who believe that God hassurrendered His control over this world. But mostChristians seem to believe that God adapts Himself to thetime. Therefore they say, when one shows them the wordof God and the expressed will of God found there, “Welive in a different time today.” Then there are religiousteachings which assert that God is not absolutely God,but a being who Himself is striving after divinity. All thisshows how Satan has captivated the human spirit.

In all this, that which is outstanding is the realizationthat people everywhere are leaning toward Easternreligious thinking and living.

One can really see that the following words of Paul arebeing fulfilled: “. . . Let us lay aside every weight, and thesin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run withpatience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1.Another translation of this text says, “. .. the sin which soeasily surrounds us.” And this is the danger. The spirit ofthe time, human knowledge and achievement, and themodern, new spiritual currents surround the Christianlike the very atmosphere which he breathes. Muchknowledge is available today, and it is believed that mancan do anything. And things which do not seem clearright away man tries to find out, for he wants to knoweverything. This is also a danger for God’s people today.For in all these things we are in danger of occupyingourselves with matters which do not concern salvationand losing sight of the main goal in life—our preparation to meet Jesus.

The time in which we live is so dangerous that if we, asGod’s remnant people, are not watchful and on guard,we will also he contaminated by the spirit of the world.

The world and the church are both standing on thethreshold of great events, of which even unbelievers arebecoming more and more aware. Therefore we must beawake and keep the words, “For yet a little whileconstantly before our eyes. Within a short time the Lordwill finish His work. It is a sure thing that all the angelsobserve with great interest the events in this world whichpertain to the great crisis and the long controversybetween light and darkness on this earth. Very soon agreat, decisive event will take place.

And let us ask ourselves the question, Why has it takenso long, and why do we still wait today?

“It was not the will of God that the coming of Christshould be thus delayed. God did not design that Hispeople, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilder-

ness. He promised to lead them directly to the land ofCanaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happypeople. But those to whom it was first preached, went notin ‘because of unbelief.’ Their hearts were filled withmurmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He could notfulfill His covenant with them.

“The same sins have delayed the entrance of modernIsrael into the heavenly Canaan.” —Ellen G. White,Evangelzsm, p. 696.

The outpouring of the Spirit of God will not comeuntil we have an enlightened people. The lack of a livingexperience is still holding us back from bringing themessage of warning to the world. When the character ofChrist is perfectly established in us, then Jesus will comevery soon. If such a living connection would exist now,then we would enter the heavenly Canaan soon. All ofthese thoughts furnish the answer for the “why?”

Christ is waiting with a longing heart to see Himselfrevealed through His church. When the character ofChrist has been fully restored in His people, then He willcome to claim them as His property. It is the privilege ofevery Christian not only to expect the return of ourSaviour but also to hasten His coming.

If all those who profess His name would also bear fruitto His honor, how soon the whole world would come tothe knowledge of the gospel. The great, final harvestwould quickly ripen, and Christ would come to garner inthe precious grain.

May the hour come soon that the longing of the churchand of our Redeemer will find their fulfillment. Amen!

DO YOUR BEST

Do your best and be not troubled,Should some others better do;If your work should fail to please youDon’t give up, but strive anew.Do your best, for slighted laborNe’er can satisfaction bring;Do it quickly, time is passing.You must seize it on the wing.Many duties lie before you,Trials oft your strength will test;But you need not fret or worry,If you only do your best.Do your best; get not disheartened;Though the task is hard and long,God is ever near to help you;He can make the weakest strong.Tell Him of the work accomplished,Ask His help to do the rest;He can smooth the path before you,If you only do your best.

Septein 1)0 -October 1982 9

By TIMO MARTIN

THE 12th chapter of Revelation is the beginning ofa new series of prophecy which continues to the end

of the book of Revelation. These prophecies set forth theconflict between Christ and Satan which began in heavenand is continuing on earth. This conflict involves thechurch of God, represented by a pure woman, and thepowers of evil, including Satan himself as the great reddragon and his angels, as well as the fallen churches andeven the civil powers.

Looking into the sky, John saw a wonder—a womanclothed with the sun, which represents the light and gloryof the gospel era. Jesus said to His followers, “Ye are thelight of the world.” In Revelation 19:8, the clothing ofGod’s people is shown to be fine linen, which is therighteousness of saints. The Laodicean church is lackingthis clothing and therefore is shown to be naked. Theclothing is the most visible part of a person. We may notbe able to see the heart, but the garments cannot behidden. These garments of righteousness represent rightdoing and obedience to the law of God, and that is visibleto all. Paul exhorts the church to “put on the Lord JesusChrist.” Christ will not only be in our hearts but put onas a garment to show the world the character and deeds ofChrist. Therefore this glorious woman shining the lightof the sun represents a church that keeps the commandments of God in the power of Christ.

The moon under her feet represents the service of typeswhich were the shadow of things to come. The 12 starssymbolize the 12 apostles as representatives of the church,which are shining the light of heaven in the night ofmoral darkness.

As John beholds the beautiful woman about to givebirth to the world’s Redeemer, he sees another wonder—agreat red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, andseven crowns upon his heads, standing before thewoman, ready to devour her child as soon as it was born.Verse 9 identifies this power as “that old serpent, calledthe Devil and Satan.” An identical beast is described inRevelation 13 and 17 and Daniel 7, showing Satanworking through pagan Rome to overthrow the Child ofpromise. King Herod was the instrument used to kill thebabies of Bethlehem, but he could not destroy the “ManChild,” who was soon to rule the nations with a rod ofiron.

The King of Glory stooped low to take humanity uponHimself. He knew well what was before Him. The path

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from the manger to Calvary was revealed to Him, yet Hesaid, “Lo, I come: Psalm 40:7. For 33 years Hesojourned in the world, enduring scorn, insult andmockery, and finally He was nailed to the cross. Aftergaining victory over Satan and sin, Christ, the DivineConqueror, returned to heaven in the form of humanity.The same Jesus who had walked, talked and traveledwith His disciples had now gone to share His Father’sthrone.

The woman persecutedNow having been defeated by Christ, Satan angrily

launched a great persecution against the church, and theprophet sees the woman fleeing into the wilderness,where she had a place prepared of God. Behind the loftybulwarks of the mountains, the faithful believers foundrefuge in seclusion and obscurity. The length of thepersecution by papal Rome is mentioned in the Bible notonly once but seven times. The starting point for the timein which the church of Christ was to suffer oppressionfrom Rome was the year A.D. 538, when the CatholicChurch received its power over the people as the last ofthe opposing nations had been conquered.

Verse 6 gives a time period of “a thousand two hundredand threescore days,” or 1260 years, in prophetic time,using the day-for-a-year yardstick found in Ezekiel 4:6.This brings us to the year 1798 when the French general,Berthier, with his army, entered Rome and took the Popeprisoner, inflicting a deadly wound upon the CatholicChurch.

War in heavenIn verse 7 John takes us back to the beginning of the

great controversy between Christ and Satan. Lucifer hadbeen the covering cherub, the highest of all createdbeings. But, because of his excellent beauty and wisdom,his heart was lifted up. He wanted to be like God. Hethought himself intelligent enough to decide for himself.He reasoned, Why should he or his angels, who were sogood and intelligent, be subject to God and His laws?Why should they be servants when they could be masters?Therefore he offered freedom from the law of God andservitude to God. A third part of the holy angels weredeceived by his philosophy. Finally his dissatisfaction led

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THE GREAT CONFLICTOF THE CHURCH OF GOD

WITH THE POWRS OF EVIL I

10 TIlE SABBATH WA1CI I MAN

him and his angels to open war. But, thank God, they“prevailed not.” Satan and his angels were cast out ofheaven into this earth, where they decided to continuetheir war against God and man. After deceiving theangels, how easy it was for him to deceive man, especiallytoday when people naturally rebel against the laws ofGod.

Therefore in verse 9 John brings out the fact that Satan“deceiveth the whole world.” The first human pair fell soeasily into his deception! To Adam and Eve it actuallyseemed a benefit and an advantage to disobey God. Thetree of knowledge of good and evil looked good to them.Today we have not only one forbidden tree but thousandsof them on every side which are catering to man’sperverted taste and to his inherited and cultivatedtendencies to evil.

And one of Satan’s most successful deceptions has beenthe change of the observance of the Sabbath fromSaturday, the seventh day, to Sunday, the first day of theweek, for which there is no Scriptural authority. And thewhole world is deceived into thinking that the first day ofthe week is the true Sabbath or that it does not matterwhich day they keep.

The church victoriousIn verse 10 John heard a loud voice saying, “Now is

come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of ourGod, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of ourbrethren is cast down, which accused them before ourGod day and night.” When Jesus cried upon the cross, “Itis finished,” all heaven triumphed, Satan was defeated,and Christ had gained the victory.

The accusing power of Satan was broken. No morecould he charge that self-denial and the keeping of God’scommandments were impossible and therefore not essential for the human family. A moment earlier heaven hadwitnessed, with grief and amazement, Christ’s sufferingsupon the cross, as the blood flowed from His hands andfeet and His flesh was torn by the nails. They heardChrist’s prayer in the midst of His terrible suffering—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”Luke 23:34.

Christ’s followers were able to gain this same victoryover Satan which Christ gained upon the cross. Verse 11states, “And they overcame him by the blood of theLamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they lovednot their lives unto the death.”

By shedding His blood and dying upon the cross,Christ overcame and made it possible for the fallenhuman race to overcome the evil one. The blood of Christwill cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is mightypower in His blood that will give us victory over sin.They overcame also “by the word of their testimony.”The testimony of the people of God is compared to thekeys of heaven. The gospel of the kingdom, which thechurch is preaching, opens the door of mercy to therepentant sinner and gives him power to remain faithful,even unto death. In the following centuries, millions ofmartyrs overcame Satan by giving their lives rather thandisobey God. Death to them was a victory.

When Satan realized that he was defeated, that his dayswere numbered and that eventually he would have to die,he was filled with wrath and concentrated all his efforts

toward persecuting the woman, the church of Christ. ButGod did not forget His church. With eagle’s wings shecould fly to safety, where she was provided for by angelsfor 1260 years of persecution which was cast upon her as aflood of water. Over 50 million Christians perished inthis flood, yet the whole church was not entirelyswallowed up.

Verse 16 tells us that “the earth helped the woman, andthe earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the floodwhich the dragon cast out of his mouth.” At times it hasseemed that Satan is gaining the victory when the faithfulsentinels have fallen and the flock is scattered in thestorms of persecution. Yet after the storm a little faithfulremnant has always been left, who have again united andcarried the banner of truth forward.

War against the remnantThose who love God and keep His commandments are

the special target of Satan’s attacks. He leaves those whohave bowed their knees to him in his snares and gathershis forces against the little faithful remnant.

Verse 17 shows the last desperate battle of the satanicagencies against the church of God. “And the dragon waswroth with the woman, and went to make war with theremnant of her seed, which keep the commandments ofGod, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” As theearth helped the woman, the persecution stopped, andthe church could enjoy freedom and peace for a while.

Yet Satan has not changed. What he could not do byphysical persecution, he accomplished by deception. Heled people to formal religion, offering heaven withoutself-denial and victory without battle. The seed of thepersecuted woman became lukewarm and careless. Yetamong the seed of the woman, there was a faithfulremnant who kept the commandments of God, and Satanmade war against them. In the time of test in 1914, duringWorld War I, there was a faithful remnant of 2 percentamong the Seventh-day Adventists, who refused to breakthe fourth and sixth commandments. These faithfulchampions of faith were cast out of the church by theleaders and were subjected to indescribable suffering bythe government. Their property was confiscated, and theywere given long prison sentences. Others were sentencedto death or perished in concentration camps. Yet thesemen and women remained faithful to the end, and laterbecame the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist ReformMovement.

The war against the remnant of the woman’s seed didnot stop here. In World War II, a terrible persecution wascast as a flood against them again. But the faithfulremnant did not yield their faith. They stood unmoved.Twice the church has been severely tested; twice she hasproven faithful. When the next test comes upon us in thetime of the Sunday laws and the time of trouble foretoldin the Bible, then have your confidence in Christ, whocares for His people.

My friend, take your stand with the church that keepsthe commandments of God and has the testimony ofJesus, which, according to Revelation 19:10, is the Spiritof Prophecy. By these two characteristics, you will findthe true church of God, which, although severely testedand persecuted, yet in the end will triumph and bevictorious over Satan and his host.

Ill 1)CI— O( [0 Ixr I 98211

PART OF A SERIES

COMMUNICATION is an art that has been, to agreat extent, lost in our present technological world.

This loss has had a great effect upon family life. Manymarriages break down because communication hasbroken down. In this article we would like to examinethis most important aspect of family living and how itcan be improved in our individual families.

What is communication? To many today this term issynonymous with technological advances such as thetelephone, radio, television, etc; but such an understanding can distort the true meaning of communication.When we communicate, we are giving a message fromourselves to another. There is, of course, much moreinvolved than that. True communication is a two-waystreet. We must do more than give a message to others; wemust also receive a message from them. There must beinteraction between two people. The real purpose, then,.is to understand one another. Unless this is our motive,we are not really communicating.

The greatest confusion can come when communication breaks down. When the tower of Babel was beingbuilt, we see what happened when people no longerunderstood each other. They continued mouthing thewords, but others could not understand what was said.Their great plans were destroyed through lack of communication. Many great families have been ruined in asimilar manner. How many problems have been broughtinto the church by a lack of proper communicationbetween its members or leaders!

The Lord gave man two ears and only one mouth.This should be an object lesson to us as to theimportance of being good listeners as well as goodspeakers. The message found in James 1:19 is soimportant. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let everyman be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Communication involves much more than just thewords we speak. It involves the tone of voice, facialexpressions and other body language. For this reason theonly complete communication is face to face. All othertypes are incomplete. One researcher has suggested thatonly 7% of communication is the content of the wordsspoken, while the tone of voice amounts to 38%, and the

nonverbals (body language) amount to 55%. If this is atrue calculation, then we must ask ourselves, Am I reallycommunicating with my spouse, brothers and sisters, orco-workers?

Let is examine the importance of total communication in the family. The family relationship is the closestand most important of all our relationships, outside ofour relationship to the Lord. When the Lord institutedthe family relationship, He stated that husband and wifewere to become one flesh. This was not to be just in thephysical sense, but emotionally as well. This high goalcan be reached only when there is total communication.Such a union takes time and effort to achieve. Intimacy isthe work of blending two lives into one. This meanssometimes also having to discuss matters which maycause controversy and coming to a mutual understanding. There must be communication on the highestlevel. Not many people are able to communicate theirfeelings. Let us examine ourselves to see on which levelwe may be communicating with those closest to us. Rateyourself between level five and level one. Level onecarries with it the deepest intimacy. Level five is the mostshallow.

“LEVEL FIVE: cliche conversation.“This type of communication is safe and shallow.

Nothing personal is ventured. It consists of phrases suchas ‘How are you?’ ‘How’s the weather?’ and ‘I like thedog.’

“LEVEL FOUR: reporting the facts about others.“At this level we tell others what someone has said or

done, but we offer no personal opinions about these facts.“LEVEL THREE: my ideas and judgments.“Real communication begins here. The person is

willing to risk sharing some of his own ideas andjudgments. He is still somewhat cautious, and, if what hesays is not accepted, he will retreat.

“LEVEL TWO: my feelings (emotions).“The person communicating at this level shares his

feelings about facts, ideas, and judgments. His innerfeelings are revealed.

“LEVEL ONE: peak communication.“Complete emotional and truthful communication is

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Social Communion and Family Relationships

ami4

By HELMUT H. KRAMER

12 THE SABBATH WATCHMAN

the deepest type of communication. It knows no holdingback; it is total honesty. Deep relationships—marriageand family relationships—need this type of communication.”1

How often we may find ourselves communicating on aplane no higher than level four. When a person speakson this level, he often serves as a talebearer, bringingmuch trouble to those around him. This lack of totalcommunication is often caused by a lack of confidence.To protect ourselves, we retreat into a shell and do notallow anyone to come too near us, for fear we may behurt. The result is that we have deep inner hurts due toloneliness. As all intimacy is avoided, we find ourselvesalone. In many marriages there is no real emotionalintimacy. In this way the plan of God is hindered in thathusband and wife do not really become one. It canhappen that the newly married couple may have thisintimacy, but later in their life they slowly drift apart.Each one loses himself in his own little world of job orchildren or his own personal difficulties. We would liketo examine some of the things which break down truecommunication.

“He who answers before listening—that is his follyand his shame.” Proverbs 18:13, NIV.

Here is depicted one of the deterrents to goodcommunication, whether within marriage or in dailyliving. One of the great problems of our present age isthat people just don’t listen. I am sure that we have eitherfailed to listen to someone else, or we have on occasionnot been listened to. When someone is saying somethingwe may disagree with, we begin to formulate our answerwithout considering that there may be merit in what isbeing said. This characteristic is one of the most harmfulto intimacy. Once such a habit is formed, it is difficult tobreak. If you do not believe this, I encourage you to try itout in your next experience when your spouse, yourchildren, or your boss confronts you with something youdisagree with. Try then to fully listen without giving areply in trying to justify what you have done or what youthink. This does not mean you give them the silenttreatment. That could be worse than a hasty reply.Rather, accept the statement and reply by restating whatwas said and that you want to think about it. Such anaction by both parties will open the door to truecommunication and a solution to the problem.

It is human nature to try to justify oneself. Both Adamand Eve acted in this way when they were confronted byGod. In Matthew 25 we have pictured before us the finaljudgment when the Lord will separate the sheep from thegoats. When God calls the unrighteous to account fortheir actions, or their lack of proper action, theyimmediately try to justify themselves. As true Christians,we must overcome this bad habit. Jesus was our greatexample in this. When accused, he did not answer at all.This does not mean that in every case we should remaintotally quiet. Silence can sometimes express much morebelligerence than words. We have a very worthwhileadmonishment in Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turnethaway wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Since nonverbals are so important, we must see to itthat they match our words. When we say somethingloving, let there be love in our voices as well. It is verydifficult, if not impossible, to truly communicate in any

“Give some of your leisure hours to yourchildren; associate with them in their workand in their sports, and win their confidence.Cultivate their friendship.

“Let parents devote the evenings to theirfamilies. Lay off care and perplexity with thelabors of the day.” —Ellen G. White, TheAdventist Home, p. 192.

other way than face to face. The husband who tries tocommunicate while his head is behind the newspaper iscommunicating, and the message is very clear—he is notinterested in what is being said. Other things interest himmore. In reality, the communications media have beengreatly responsible, strange as this may seem, for thebreakdown in family communications. Let us taketelevision as an example. Before its advent, on longwinter evenings the family would gather around the firein the living room or in the kitchen and talk with oneanother. Today the evenings are spent before the “box,”and people have become strangers in their own homes.Communication must be an ongoing project in thefamily. We cannot expect that true communication canbe turned off or on at will. It must be a life habit.

How to encourage communicationSince proper communication is so important to family

life, as well as to church life, and also in our day-to-dayliving, we must find ways to improve its quality. In ourdealings with one another, we must work toward thehigher forms of communication. This can only takeplace in a climate of trust and understanding. We willnot communicate intimately with someone we cannottrust because he may use this information against us inthe future. We must learn to not be judgmental in ourattitudes to one another. Nothing will stop communication quicker than the judging of motives.

When communicating with someone, give him or herundivided attention. Look him in the eye and respond ina positive way to what has been said. It is good to replywith a summary of what was heard. This will be a helpin avoiding misunderstandings. For example, “I understand you to be saying that—.” Try to avoid allgeneralizations. We should never judge the other person’sthoughts or motives. Many years ago I was in contactwith a person who was always placing a secondarymeaning on everything that had been said. It isimpossible to feel fully free in communicating with sucha person.

To facilitate keeping the lines of communicationopen, we must he able to understand how others feel.This may be hard when we think those feelings to befaulty. This is the reason that Jesus can be such a closefriend to us. “For we have not an High Priest whichcannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; butwas in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”Hebrews 4:15.

Good communication comes by good loving. This istrue in the church as well as in the family. As God’s

Svpiernlx’r-October 1982 13

commandment-keeping people, we are to have love asour greatest test of fellowship. It is to be revealed in everyaction of life. As self-forgetful love becomes the governing force in our lives, it will be natural that we will havea desire to come closer to one another. To achieve thiscloseness, we must practice proper communication, Taketime for one another.

This will not be easy to achieve in our busy lifestyles.Satan will try to keep us from this. He would rather haveus draw apart. The necessary effort will be worth all weexpend, since in this way we will reach the goal that theLord intends for His children. We must take positivesteps to reach this goal. Let us begin today to setourselves goals for improving communication in ourfamilies as well as the church.

1. Set apart time for the family. For example, oneevening per week, according to our schedules. Spend thistime without distractions. Possibly this time could bespent in reading a good book together or in harmlessgames. Become good friends to one another.

2. Have family counsel sessions where each is asked toinput what he would like to see happen to build up thefamily. Set apart some time when just you and yourspouse can fully communicate with each other.

3. Avoid those things which hinder family communication such as TV, newspapers, and the like. Rather giveall the time possible to building your relationships.

By improving our family communications, we canmake great strides toward bettering our relationships. Wewill also receive the great joy of loving and being loved.We can obtain that oneness as desired for us by ourloving Father.

‘H. Norman Wright with Clifford and Joyce Penner, In Touch with EachOther, p. 8.

By 0. KRAMER

PREDES“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of His Son Romans8:29.

“In whom also we have obtained an znherztance, beingpredestinated Ephesians 1:11.

THESE Bible texts express the thought of predestination. At first sight they seem to indicate that we,

individually, have no choice in the matter, but that ourfate is fixed beforehand by a divine decree to either besaved, or to be eternally lost. Therefore it seems that, nomatter what we do or do not do, it does not make anydifference.

The advocates of this thought are numerous. In thefifth century, Augustine (354 to 430 A.D.) spoke in favorof it. But it was left to Calvin in the sixteenth century tomake this teaching predomimant. Yet its presentation atat that time raised a storm of protest from theconservative theologians who regarded it as a newteaching.

Does the teaching of predestination bring a trulybeneficial effect to its adherents, or does it pose a hiddendanger to their standing before God?

Let us first consider the apparent benefit. It acknowledges the omnipotence of God, who knows everything,not only of the past but also of the future. It also leaveseverything to His judgment and decision, which isunchangeable. Also it gives a certain sense of security tothose who think they are saved.

But looking at the other aspect of it, it leaves outentirely the strict integrity, justice, and loving attributesof our heavenly Father. It makes Him a stern judgewithout compassion. Then all His loving appeals meanabsolutely nothing. Even the most quoted text in John3:16 loses all its meaning—”that whosoever believeth inHim should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Yousee, eternal life is hinged on a condition—belief inChrist. Without this faith man must die an eternal death.This is plain gospel truth.

Does man have anything to do with his salvation?This is the all-embracing question. Or is he like an actorplaced on the stage to represent a certain saint or villain?Or can he choose for himself the part he will play in life’sdrama? Is he a free moral agent who can choose forhimself, or must he, like a robot, a mere machine, dowhat the divine decree has levied upon him? The latterseems preposterous!

LIFE’S MIRROR

There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,There are souls that are pure and true;

Then give to the world the best you have,And the best will come back to you.

Give love, and love to your life will flow,A strength in your utmost need;

Have faith, and a score of hearts will showTheir faith in your word and deed.

Give truth, and your gilt will be paid in kind,And honor will honor meet;

And a smile that is sweet will surely findA smile that is just as sweet.

For life is the mirror of king and slave;‘Tis just what we are and do;

Then give to the world the best you have,And the best will come back to you.

—Mary Ainge DeVere

14 I,i1 F SABBAIl I WAFCI-IMAN

Conditional salvation

TINATIONThe beauty of it allis that we were created in the image

of God. Is God Himself, perhaps, under the control ofthe laws of the universe which He Himself created?Certainly not. He could change everything if it werenecessary to do so. It is simply because God is a freemoral agent to do as He sees fit. And aren’t we created inHis image? We have a will of our own to choosewhichever way we want to go. If this were not so, then—and this is precisely true—God would have created sin tobe a part of our life. If He predestined the Christians to besaved, and the persistent sinners to suffer the fires of hellwith indescribable agony—then God would be a cruel,arbitrary despot who delights to torture the greater partof His created beings. What an insult to our Maker ofwhom the Bible says, “God is love”!

Furthermore, it would be a farce if He thus asked forobedience to His divine will. If we were predestined to belost, we could not obey even if we wanted to. Then, rightin the beginning, that tree of the knowledge of good andevil in Paradise, which man was to stay away from, wasplanted on purpose by God so that our first parentswould fall into sin with all its misery. Then, also, Cain’smurder would have been predestined to occur, and so on.We must loudly protest against such an attrocious idea.

Gross inconsistenciesThere is an object lesson in Holy Writ about a created

being who showed a definite individualism and personalchoice of his own. Have you ever read about that lofty,venerated prince among celestial angels, called “Lucifer”?We find a description of him in Ezekiel 28:12-19 underthe guise of the king of Tyrus. Mind you, it says of him,“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thouwast created Verse 15. One may conclude, then, thathe would have been predestined to always remain whathe was—”full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” Verse12. But what does the record tell us? It indicates thatapparently from nowhere (we know not how) thoughtsof a superiority complex crept into his mind. Read all theverses, and you will be shocked to learn that this gloriousangel fell to the lowest depths of depravity, that turnedhim into the Satan of whom we speak disdainfully today.Or was he perhaps predestined to fall? In that case GodHimself would have to carry the blame for it.

This Lucifer-Satan is called by Christ the “father oflies.” John 8:44. But if he had to fall through predestination, then God was actually the author of his lies becauseHe made him fall and lie. Then God Himself would bethe father of lies. Can you see the gross inconsistences infollowing such a line of thought?

No, to be truly predestined as God intended, a man hasto follow a path of willing obedience. His predestinationis positively conditional; it is not irrespective of.his lifeconduct. There are “If’s” on which everything hinges.

Let us look at some of these prerequisites: “Let thewicked forsake his ways . . . and let him return unto theLord, and He will have mercy upon him Isaiah55:7. In other words, on this condition alone the Lordwill be gracious. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, andthou shalt be saved Acts 16:31. Or if you do notbelieve, you will not be saved. So it is hinged on one’sfaith. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shallfind; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew7:7. So, if we do not ask, we shall not receive; if we do notseek, we shall not find; if we do not knock, the door willnot open. It’s as simple as that! Who says, then, that ourwillpower and personal decision have nothing to do withour salvation? or eternal loss? “Strive to enter in at thestrait gate Luke 13:24. This means to put forthearnest efforts to reach heaven. “If thou wilt enter intolife, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17. The veryfirst word says “If,” so again it places eternal life on apreliminary condition. But we also read of the reversecondition, “If any man love the world, the love of theFather is not in him” (1 John 2:15), which means hewould be lost forever.

Other Bible quotations prove beyond the shadow of adoubt that predestination has a different connotationthan is generally understood, just as the word “forever,”used frequently in the Bible, does not always signify“without end.”

The true significanceWhat, then, is the true meaning of the text, “For whom

He did foreknow, He also did predestinate ? Let uscombine this with Romans 11:2, which says, “God hathnot cast away His people which He foreknew.” It seemsrather to indicate that God knew beforehand that hewould have a faithful people in spite of apostasy andbacksliding, for He speaks here of the 7,000 faithful menin the days of Elijah. These words are a solid promisethat those who would meet all the requirements of faithin Christ, His Holy law, and divine will, would bepredestined to receive their eternal reward for sure. In thissetting it does not mention the wicked at all, although webelieve that they, with all the wanton transgressors, arebound for eternal destruction, which may also be calledtheir predestination.

To sum it all up, predestination is not absolute, butconditional, since it appeals to the individual willingness to follow Christ and His precious truth. Man is hisown moral agency. Even though Satan has divertedminds to rebel against God’s will, the Holy Spirit stillinvites you and me, saying, “Today if ye will hear Hisvoice, Harden not your hearts,...” Hebrews 3:7, 8. “Andthe Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him thatheareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. Andwhosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”Revelation 22:17. It depends on you, and you alone, torespond to His loving invitation. Make your decisiontoday!

Sepwin her-October 1982 15

You Pack Your Own Chute

AKE up, boys! It’s a new day!” Mrs. Jacobs

\ — called to her two sleeping sons. Soon Bobby\ and Chuck were out of bed, dressed and ready for

breakfast. While they were eating, Mr. Jacobsannounced, “There will be a parachuting exhibitiontoday at the air base. Would you boys like to go?”

“We sure would!” the boys said.“Well, let’s hurry. because it’ll be starting in a few

hours.”Soon the family was n the way to the air base.

They arrived before the parachuting started, but theywere just in time for a tour of some of the planes.“You go ahead,” Bobby told his family. “I’d like totalk to some of the parachuters.” He had noticed oneman folding a parachute, so he approached the man.“Hi! I’m Bobby. Are you a parachuter?”

“Hi, Bobby,” the man answered. “I’m Ron, and,yes, I am a parachuter.”

“Well, what are you doing with that parachute?Don’t you have someone to fold it for you?” Bobbyasked.

“It’s very important that I pack my own chute,Bobby.”

“Why?”“Well, because I have to know how it works or why

it may not be working. Each parachuter must knowall about his chute before he ever jumps. The chute

must become his best friend, and if it isn’t I unctioning properly, he can only blame himself. Therefore,I’m the only one who packs my chute.” Ron toldBobby many things about parachuting, and, beforehe knew it, it was time to join his family to watch theexhibition. Bobby thanked Ron and left.

After the exhibition, the Jacobs family went home.Bobby kept thinking about his conversation withRon. “Hey, Chuck,” he said, “did you know thateach parachutei has to pack his own chute before hecan jump from the plane?”

“No, I didn’t know that,” Chuck answered.“Yes, and if the chute isn’t packed properly, the

jump could be fatal. So the packing is actually moreimportant than the jump.” After that, Bobby just satthinking about the other things he had discussedwith Ron.

“You know,” Chuck said, “that’s very interesting.We can compare that with our Christian lives. Wecould say that our actions are our parachutes and thejump refers to the daily trials of our lives. If we’veproperly ‘packed our chutes,’ or have walked according to the Lord’s will, then when the ‘jump’ or thetrials come, we are prepared to face them. But no onecan pack our chutes for us; it’s up to us to live goodChristian lives.”

“And you know,” added Bobby, “the parachutershave pilots who take them to a safe 5Ot for jumping.Jesus is our pilot, and He won’t allow us to gothrough any trials that we can’t handle. And whenwe land we’re even more ready for the next jump!”

Children, let’s begin packing our chutes this verymoment, so that when the time comes we’re ready tojump!

16 Ii 1F SABB1111‘1V1C1 1I\IAN

r+ NEWSNCIrES

BAPTISMIN CANADA

On Sunday, July 11, the members ofthe Hamilton, Burlington and Torontoarea churches gathered in Bloor StreetChapel to witness the baptism of twosouls. The congregation all joined insinging, after which Brother Evald Pedersen prayed. We then listened to theinspiring words from Mark 1:14, 15:‘Now after that John was put in prison,Jesus came into Galilee, preaching thegospel of the kingdom of God, Andsaying, The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,and believe the gospel.’ Brother Cholichreminded us that although we may havebeen born into a family of believers, wemust first experience repentance for allour past sins, have a desire to forsakeour old habits and ways and want tobegin anew on a better path, before wecan be baptized. After the examination ofthe baptismal candidates, Brother TimoMartin prayed.

At the poolside, Brother Cholich readMatthew 3:13-15. Although baptism follows repentance, this was not so withJesus. He did not need to repent,because He was without sin, yet He wasbaptized to leave an example for allthose who would come after Him. Jesussaid, ‘All power is given unto Me inheaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,and teach all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them toobserve all things whatsoever I havecommanded you: and, lo, I am with youalway, even unto the end of the world.”Matthew 28:1 8-20.

Hymns of praise were sung while thetwo souls made a covenant with the Lordin the watery deep. They were thenaccepted into Christian fellowship.

May the Lord keep these souls in Hiscare and lead us all to salvation is ourprayer.

—FRANZISKA S. PEDERSENFor the Canadian Field

EASTERN FIELDCONFERENCE

On my last visit to Florida, threemembers from the Seventh-day Adventist Church were accepted in this ReformMovement into the Tampa/Bradentonchurch. [See Idel Suarez’s report.] In theMiami church two dear souls werebaptized on June 27 of this year. Twomembers were accepted from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and twomembers were accepted by transferletter from Central America. By this lastharvest of souls, our membership in theEastern U.S. Field Conference has beenincreased by eleven members. We arevery thankful to the Lord that He isworking by His Holy Spirit in this area,and we expect to have more peopleprepared for baptism in the near future.

In Miami we have a new place forworship now. The United MethodistChurch permitted our members to assemble on Sabbaths in the room that servesthem for their Sunday School class. Wehope that we will have this privilege for along time.

for the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”The Bible tells us that the Lord shallgather His people, “.. . Not by might, norby power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lordof Hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. And the Spiritof Prophecy tells us: “But God will not beleft without witnesses. The one-hourlaborers will be brought in at the eleventhhour, and will consecrate their ability andall their entrusted means to advance thework. These will receive the reward fortheir faithfulness, because they are trueto principle, and shun not their duty todeclare the whole counsel of God.”—The Review and Herald, June 15,1897.

May the Lord bless these three souls,that they might fulfill this prophecy of theeleventh hour, and that they might befaithful to the Lord all the days of theirlives. Likewise, may we all elevate thestandard of the present truth and thecross of Jesus, that the world may be ledto exclaim that Christ is “KING OFKINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16.

“Now unto Him that is able to keepyou from falling, and to present youfaultless before the presence of Hisglory with exceeding joy, To the onlywise God and Saviour, be glory andmajesty, dominion and power, both nowand ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25.

—IDEL SUAREZ, JR.

—ELDER B. CHOLICH

TAMPA-BRADENTON,

FLORIDA‘To the twelve tribes which are scat

tered abroad, greeting.”“And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed

are they which are called unto themarriage supper of the LambRevelation 19:9.

On Sabbath, June 12, 1982, threepeople took their stand with the Reformation. Olinde Abon, Cesar Aguilera, andLuis Rodriguez were extended the handof fellowship by Elder B. Cholich. Therewas great joy in everyone’s heart as wewitnessed the Lord calling His children

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

I asked for bread: Cod gave a stone instead.Yet while I pillowed there my weary head,The angels made a ladder of my dreams,Which upward to celestial mountains led.And when I awoke beneath the morning’s beams,Around my resting place Iresh manna lay.And praising God I went upon my way,lor I was Ie(I.

God answers prayer; sometimes, when hearts are weak,He gives the very gifts believers seek.But often faith must learn a deeper rest,And trust God’s silence when He does not speak;For He whose name is love will send the best.Stars may burn out or mountain walls endureBut God is true, His promises are sureFor those who seek.

—Author Unknown

St1 )1 (fl ber—O 0 l)(r 1982 17

F. ‘.hPIr\.hF rr1vi)i

Being able to come to Denver fromSacramento to attend this seminar hasbeen a true blessing. The Lord hasgranted me 21 years of life, and with thetime yet allotted me, I would like to sharewith others my knowledge of His loveand mercy. This seminar has given me abetter understanding of His will for meand His love for humanity. May He belifted up through the efforts put forth as aresult of this seminar.

—KIM BAILEYSacramento, California

guided and will continually direct myphysical, as well as spiritual life, into theGreat Puzzle, the Plan of Salvation.

Numerous academic goals await myfuture. I hope that the Lord will guide mein my studies and help me draw closer toHim. Now the picture is almost complete.Until then, I’ll keep searching for theother missing pieces.

—MAAINA CONIGLIOBradenton, Florida

if

separate it from God. It is the little thingsof life that develop the spirit and determine the character. Those who neglectthe little things will not be prepared toendure severe tests when they arebrought to bear upon them.

Canvassing is one of the little thingsthat the Lord is calling us to do. I praythat with this deep knowledge of theBible we will go forward as strong youngpeople, putting the right value on thetruths the Lord has given us in thisseminar. We can begin by doing the littlethings that lie directly in our pathway.

—IAN GAANTKingston, Jamaica

I came, I saw, He conqueredl Thesewords aptly describe my experienceduring this seminar. Attending this seminar has truly made the trip from Canadaworthwhile. I’ve gained much knowledgeand strengthened my faith so as toprepare for the time to come. Foremoston my mind in coming to this seminarwas to be prepared for the atheisticphilosophies present in the universitythat I’ll be attending. It is my hope andprayer that the knowledge and experiences gained from this seminar will beused to the honor and glory of God.

—BELA INCZELondon, Ontario, Canada

When I heard of a six-week seminar inDenver, I was very enthused. I wantedthe chance to study and learn moreabout the Bible. I no longer fear to domissionary work, thanks to the manypatient teachers here at the seminar.The studies that we have done havecreated in me the desire to study andsearch the Bible even more. With theunderstanding and knowledge that Ihave gained, I hope my faith will increaseand that I may prove to be a blessing inthe sight of the Lord.

—ELIANA CONIGLIOBradenton, Florida

My life is a puzzle. Many pieces of mylife fall into place until the picture is quitecomplete. This Seminar has been awonderful part of that puzzle. It has

It was indeed a great privilege to bepresent at the “living Christianity” Seminar. The six weeks of he seminar were asolemn period of studes. It is veryinteresting to see how simple Bible truthis, how every word from God is life to us.

Of the many things we did, one Ienjoyed was canvassing, which I hadbeen doing since I came in contact withthe truth. I am very much convinced thatthis is the major way for us to reachperishing souls. We must go out and lookfor them behind closed doors and tellthem of the blessed hope.

One important thing I have learned isthat the voice of duty is the voice ofGod—an inborn, heaven-sent guide.Whether it be pleasing or unpleasing, weare to do the duty that lies directly in ourpathway. We must stop telling the Lordwhat we would like to do for Him and askHim what He would have us do.

It is the little foxes that spoil the vines,the little neglects, the little departuresfrom principle that blind the soul and

My name is Jon Jennings, I’m 20years of age, and I live in California. Icame to the seminar to receive ablessing and to learn more about Christand how to serve Him better. Throughthe new knowledge I have gathered, Ihope to be of better service to God andthe truth by spreading it to others.

--JON JENNINGSSacramento, California

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”Matthew 28:19.

God has called all of us to bemissionaries. During the course of thisseminar, I have learned many practicalmethods of doing missionary work aswell as gaining a more solid scriptural

.

Pictured above are the students and instructors at the LivingChristianity” Seminar held June 21-July 27, 1982.

SEMINAR ECHOES

18 THE SABBAIH VA1C11Pv1AN

NEwSNO’TES

background for my Christian experience.The major emphasis of this seminar hasbeen Christ our Righteousness. Understanding this message has changed mywhole outlook on life. This fall I plan tobegin studies at a university, but I wantto go not only as a student but as amissionary, bringing the gospel to thosewho have not heard it. Through Christ, allthings are possible. May He comequickly and take us to be with Him.

—HERB KRAMERParker, Coloradq

ifMy name is Helen Marttinen, and I’m

19 years old. came to the seminar toenjoy the fellowship of others of like faithand to learn how to serve others better. Iplan to use the new information I havegathered here at the seminar to the gloryof God by sharing it with others.

—HELEN MARTTINENToronto, Ontario, Canada

My name is Wendy Marttinen, and I’m18. I live in Toronto, Canada. My fatherdoes not work for the church organ ization, but he has done a marvelous workfor the church. He is very knowledgeableand gives a lot of Bible studies. This hasgiven me the incentive to learn more.

In recent months I have made a greatchange in my life. I realized, with the helpof the Lord, that my life was going in thewrong direction. Right now I wish to drawcloser to the Lord, and the knowledgethat I obtain here I plan to carry homewith me to my friends at church andschool and share with them the wonderful words of the gospel.

—WENDY MARTTINENToronto, Ontario, Canada

ifHello! My name is Danna Lynn

Saunders. I was born on December 9,1961, in a small city called Salem, NewJersey. I was raised there and in nearbyareas. At the age of 16, on October 16,1 978, I arrived at my new home inRiverside, California, where I receivedthe message. At first I wanted to reject it,but, praise the Lord, the Holy Spiritworked on my heart, and soon mySaviour entered in.

I was baptized in Los Angeles, California, on June 27, 1980, at the age of 18.

Here at the seminar I have learned agreat deal. Pray for me, that I will sharewhat I’ve learned with others for God’sglory.

—DANNA SAUNDERSRiverside, California

Just after I arrived in America, I wassurprised when Elder Helmut H. Kramerinvited me for the seminar which wasscheduled to begin on the very nextMonday. Although I had never anticipated coming for a seminar, I was happyto be here at this time. “And we knowthat all things work together for good tothem that love God, to them who are thecalled according to His purpose.”Romans 8:28.

A number of very important subjectswere presented at the seminar, such asRevelation, the sanctuary, church history, the three angels’ messages, theloud cry of the other angel, the divinecredentials of the prophesied S.D.A.reformation, the righteousness of Christand other subjects along the same line. Icould see that Jesus is the center ofevery principle of our faith. The messageof Christ Our Righteousness is thecenter of our message! His righteousness alone is our salvation! My faith inthe plain truth of reformation was strengthened and enhanced. These great treasures of truth are hidden to modern manbecause he doesn’t want to open hisheart to the word of God.

I realized more the great challengewhich we have before us today in takingthese life-saving truths to the perishingworld before it is too late. By thepractical lessons we learned in thecanvassing work, I see the greaterimportance of this line of His work. Itgives opportunities for us to seek andbring those lost ones to the savingknowledge of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

It was a very wonderful time offellowship for all of us—students frommany different parts of the work. Also ithas been a great source of inspirationand blessing to all of us. This seminarproved a great success in its purpose.

I feel the time spent at this seminarwas profitable to increase efficiency andenhance maturity which is vital for thegrowth of our spiritual experience andfor the furtherance of the cause of God. Iwould take this opportunity also to thank

the American Union for this importantseminar during this summer vacation.

—K.A. DON SHELTONSri Lanka

ifBeing at the seminar this year has

made me realize how great a messagethe Lord has for this world and how fewworkers there are. It opens my eyes tothe fact that everyone of us is God’schosen vessel of His truth, and we mustgo forward in the movement for thedowntrodden law of God and help toopen the eyes of others in the world andalso examine ourselves on the messageof Christ Our Righteousness. So it is mywish and prayer that the Lord will giveme wisdom and that through His grace,when I return to Canada, He will guideme to show others the love He hasbestowed upon us. May this be theLord’s will and not mine.

—JOHN SIMSToronto, Ontario, Canada

The greatest need in the world todayis the need of men who are equippedwith truth both theoretically and practically. Although falling short of His glory,God has, in His providence, called me tobe one of these men. Recognizing andanswering this sacred calling, I haveseen the need to become more familiarwith the teachings and operations of thechurch through which I am to function.With this in mind, along with the goal oflearning more about Christ and Hisrighteousness, I have attended theseminar.

During the seminar I have learnedmany things, all beneficial to my positionin present truth. I have reaffirmed mycovenant with the Lord and am determined to fulfill His will.

Realizing the failings of men in thepast teaches me that I should not relyupon myself or other men but go forwardin faith by His Spirit, wearing His righteousness. Although men have and willfail, nevertheless God’s word stands fastforever, and only those who fortify theirlives with it today shall stand in the lastgreat conflict. I have decided to use thematerial gathered to enhance my spiritual growth and to advance the work ofsharing present truth in the island ofJamaica where I reside.

—JOSEPH HUGH SMIKLEKingston, Jamaica

ScpLenlbcr-OcLober 1982 19

IftITHS ISSUEREST IS IN CHRIST page 2

A solemn vision of the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit. The time has come for us toexpect great things of the Lord.

THE TARRYING TIME page 4No. 5 of a series by J.N. Loughborough. Those who expected the Lord’s return in 1844 exercisedliving faith as they sought to do only the Lord’s will and be prepared for His coming.

“FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE.. .“ page 8It is not God’s will that Christ’s coming should be so long delayed. The fast-fulfilling propheciestell us it is time to purify our souls by obeying the truth.

THE GREAT CONFLICT OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. .. page 10How does the church of God today, seeking to keep His commandments and the faith of Jesus,fit into the prophetic picture?

FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS page 12Proper communication is vitally important to the life of the family, as well as that of the church. Itcan only take place in a climate of trust and understanding. What can we do to contribute to theupbuilding of our personal families as well as the family of God in this area?

PREDESTINATION page 14Once saved, always saved—the if’s, why’s and wherefore’s of whatthis doctrine leads to.

REGULAR FEATURES

EDITORIAL page 3The Sugar of the Earth?

CHILDREN’S CORNER page 16You Pack Your Own Chute.

NEWSNOTES page 17Baptism in Canada. Eastern Field Conference. Tampa-Bradenton,Florida. Seminar Echoes.

Coming Next...Report of Canadian/Eastern Field ConferenceMore from The Great Second Advent Movement

20 THE SABBATH WATCHMAN