Do Adventists Count Anymore?
I have stacks of unread magazines growing in a corner not far from my desk–saved for some time when I have the chance to look them over. Of course, I am sure that most AT readers don't have that problem–they are more organized than I am.
But one Newsmax has been bugging me. The cover
story is "The Jesus Question: Will He Ever Return?" I have been reading such
articles on this question in all the major news magazines for years. This one
even had a picture of the Doomsday clock set at 11:55! That clock has been reset many times!
The editors know that the topic is not dull or passé. Surveys tell us that 80% of Americans call themselves Christians and 79% of them believe that Jesus will return. That means Americans, at least, overwhelmingly reject the secular progressive view that all that is a myth or fairy tale.
The Pew Research Center indicates that a one in five (in the USA) believe that Jesus will come in their generation. Of course, some atheists say "No way! There can't be a Second Coming when there has been no First Coming."
In 1994, a U.S. News and World Report poll showed that 6 out of 10 Americans believed that the world will end eventually. Sounds like as American as apple pie and pink slips! Today religious leaders, reflecting rising church attendance, say that current world conditions are forcing people to think more carefully at New Testament signs of the world's end. Think nuclear war in the Middle East or North Korea, unemployment over 10.2%, (not counting those who have given up finding a job), horrendous government debt, possible Arab oil embargo, etc.
Sounds like a field day for those who make their millions in peddling Secret Rapture-Pre-tribulation hype. Or authors like Edgar C. Whisenant who published a small book entitled 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. That is, between Sept. 11-15! When Jesus did not cooperate, he recalculated that he was off one year! And so another book, followed by other books until 1994. After that he apparently did not sell many more books! He made many millions on these books!!
What really got my attention was a page on "Views from the Pews." Eleven Christian churches (including Mormons) were cited with their beliefs regarding what they taught regarding Christ's Second Coming–not a peep from Seventh-day Adventists. Adventists, one of the fastest growing denominations in the world, branded as outspoken proclaimers of our Lord's Return–not even a typo!
The eleven churches mingled such concepts as (1) "secret rapture" followed by great tribulation involving Israel's plight; (2) no "rapture" but the timing of the Coming not known; (3) no "rapture" but signs will indicate His return. But only the "rapture" cohort really expects an imminent return, leaving the tribulation for the unsaved to worry about.
What should Adventists make of this? Are we insignificant without a message? Hardly!
In Never Been This Late Before, I made a case for modern events foretold in the Bible now being fulfilled that were not even on the horizon 25 years ago! Yes, we talked about some of them, in a general way, something like Sabbath afternoon guessing games, but none of us then could point to events even remotely like what we see on the television today.
I traced (with ample footnotes) the rise of world esteem for the papacy, the exponential rise of natural calamities, the colossal world collapse of international economies, how major nations are becoming of "one mind" (notice the Lisbon accord this week), not only politically but also economically. And the astonishing tsunami of the "emerging church" phenomenon (New Spirituality, spiritual formation, Eastern mysticism, contemplative prayer-all bundled together) that is sweeping through Protestantism in the last ten years and even many Adventist churches.
I found space to examine the remarkable attention that people everywhere are giving to psychic phenomena as only one part of Evil's attempt to get the attention of young and old. In doing so I scrutinized the satanic methods, practiced since Eden, such as pretence, scapegoating, confusion and coercion. All approaching their zenith everywhere we look.
But my overriding theme was to emphasize that we are not spectators in the bleachers but players on the field. Our first responsibility is to be alert to reality and not to dismiss these issues as either unimportant or ridiculous. They will only become more visible, more front and center. No one will escape, no matter how often one turns off the TVs or radios or cancel newspapers and weekly news magazines.
Our second responsibility is to tell the truth about when Jesus will return! Like Peter said, "We did not follow cunningly devised fables." We know why Jesus has delayed His coming. We have not done the job that Peter urged us to do-we have not "hastened" the Lord's return (2 Peter 3:12).
Jesus is not waiting for more war, more evil to pile up until He gets disgusted and loses His patience! He is waiting for the genuine gospel to be preached everywhere and then He shall return. That's only fair, don't you think? But that means that the Adventist gospel must be cleansed from the limited gospels that are being proclaimed around us. Many faithful people are preaching these limited gospels who have never heard the complete gospel of grace that pardons and of grace that empowers all those who are serious about saying Yes to God. In my opinion, many of these preachers and authors will be "eleventh-hour workers"!
Only then will He have people whom He can seal with His approval, people on whom He can entrust His Latter Rain power. And He will continue to hold back the Plagues until He has a people who will not embarrass Him, those who have His name but not His character. That's the biblical forecast of the days ahead. Could we be "the last generation"?
- Herbert Douglass's blog
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 | Herbert Douglass | Herbert Edgar Douglass, Th.D., is president-emeritus of Weimar Institute. Dr. Douglass has held positions of Head, Religion Dept and College President at Atlantic Union College, Associate Editor, Adventist Review, and Vice President, Pacific Press Publishing Association. In 2008, he was given the Living Legend recognition at Atlantic Union College. Dr. Douglass is the author of 24 books and received his Doctoral degree at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. |
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Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
It was a "short" two millennia ago that Jesus and the NT writers predicted that "this generation will not pass until all these things come to pass."
The cry of "wolf" has become so common among Christians, and especially Adventists, that it has little or no meaning other than its frequent use, like Shalom. All of us who have passed three score and ten will be gone within a few short years, and for us, our next breath will view the Second Coming. Should we hasten death, then? What difference does it make if Jesus comes tomorrow or a million years from now? Why the concern for something over which we have not the slightest control.? Often, the preachers tell us that certain events (whatever is currently newsworthy and exciting) is a certain sign. If we are about "our Father's business" that should be our first and only concern, not watching for possible signs. Seeking signs of an imminent return is time stolen from helping our neighbor in the daily grind of life. There is more than enough to do by feeding the hungry, aiding those who are widowed and "cast-off" children. Self-absorbtion is the evil of some Adventists.
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Elaine, you asked: "What difference does it make if Jesus comes tomorrow or a million years from now?" Do you think it makes a difference to Him? Don't you think He is eager to unite Himself to His people and put an end, once and for all, to all the suffering in this world/universe?
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Speculating on why Jesus hasn't returned is futile. We humans do not know God's mind, only that we are ready to see the suffering end. If that was his main concern, he would have come before the end of the first century, as surely, Christians were surely persecuted then, weren't they?
God's time is not human time, and if we are "ready" it really makes no difference in the universal grand scheme whether it's tomorrow or a zillion years away.
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Sorry to be gone so long, too many away from home commitments. Always enjoy seeing many sides to an issue. After all, the return of Jesus is not something we today cooked up--it is probably the over-riding theme of the NT. Jesus and the apostles predicted a day when men will scoff at the notion even as Noah's contemporaries jeered him with all their philosophic and scientific theories supporting their ridicule.
In the Christiain metanarrative, the biblical scheme of the Great Controversy will play out--and there will be a final show-down. That show-down is the business of Seventh-day Adventists to make clear. We don't make up our message, it is given to us. All we can do is share it as clearly and as winsomely as we can, empowered by the Holy Spirit who alone gives us the energy and joy in fulfilling our mission and message.
One thing for sure: the most actionable word for the "last days," we are told, is the word "deception." That has been always Satan's key strategy. Deception made the June 6 landing in Normandy possible--it fooled Hitler's panzer divisions thay remained at Pas de Calais.
Decption will keep many Adventists looking at what too many think our last-day signs. Deception is something that keeps eyes looking elsewhere as to where the "enemy" of the church is. And Deception all the while is like a creeping tsunami that overtakes the deceived because they did not have their eyes wide open to what is happening in their own church.
Remember the Alpha! That would be a good clarion call. It nearly split our denomination in the early 1900s but those on both sides never saw the real issues. Then we are told to Remember the Omega!. The one who said this also said that she trembled for those who would be again deceived by the same issues--but even more insidious than the near-split in the early 1900s. After all, what should we expect, when facing the Great Deceiver, the Father of all Lies. Let's remember whose side we are on--not next year, but today. Cheers, Herb
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Kind of makes one wonder when someone talks about deception yet they say:
--
Jesus and the apostles predicted a day when men will scoff at the notion even as Noah's contemporaries jeered him with all their philosophic and scientific theories supporting their ridicule.
--
Strangely enough nowhere in the entire Bible do we find that Noah's contemporaries jeered him with all their philosophic and scientific theories or jeered him at all.
I suppose it is based upon the same source that is said to have revealed the "alpha" that Herb referred to as the clarion call. But then when one is dealing with truth it might be best when talking about truth and deception not to present deceptions as truth.
It kind of leads to the scary thought that maybe some or much of what we think we know we really don't know. In Ellen White's words we have much to unlearn. The problem seems to be that most in the Adventist church and probably in general Christianity have a real problem unlearning so that they can learn.
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Doctorf, You could figure out what the gospel is in less than a year. Here's how:
Download the "Online Bible." Type the word "gospel" into the search window.Then access the Strong's numbers. Find the number for gospel. Type that in the search window. That will give you every verse in the NT where the Greek term for gospel appears.
http://www.onlinebible.net/
Look for verses that actually explain what the gospel is, not verses which just mention it.
For the OT, since the word "gospel" is not used, you will need to use another term to search. Try "good news", "good tidings" "tidings", or any other English expressions which turned up in the NT when you searched the term for gospel. Sometimes the same Greek word is translated by different English words.
Once you have gathered all the verses which actually explain the "gospel," see how they complement one another. Then you will know what the gospel is.
www.cleansanctuary.blogspot.com
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
I would like to point out an overlooked context to your use of 2 Peter 3:12. When 1000 years are like a day, God is not slack (2 Pet 3:8,9). The Greek word for slack, braduno, means no tarrying, no delay. Based on a TIME Magazine factoid, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn lined up with the sun and moon--the first time in 6,000 years." So there is no tarrying or delay now, and the events we are seeing are bringing the end.
We should recall that there was a solar system alignment in the Bible--Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and stars made obeisance to him. And after seven good years, his brothers came and bowed like the stars in his dream during a time of trouble.
Since the solar system alignment in 2000, we had seven years without famine, but in 2008, trouble with the economy began last fall. This fits perfectly with God's plan to attack money (our god, James 5:1-3) as He did in Egypt when He attacked their gods (Nile, cattle, frogs).
Richard Ruhling
www.TheBridegroomComes.com
Re: Do Adventists Count Anymore?
Hmmmm......interesting topic.....
This is just a thought-a possibility-so don't take this too serious what I'm about to say---
But----
The theory of Generations by Strauss and Howe could shed some light. There are 4 cycles that repeat themselves in a larger cycle of history. Without boring you with too many details-suffice to say that maybe they serve a purpose. Leading up to the final crises. Could this be the one?
The 4 parts are 1) a springlike HIGH 2) a long hot summer of a SPIRITUAL AWAKENING 3) a cooling off in the autumn or fall -an UNRAVELING and 4) a cold winter CRISES. There are 4 parts to the Crises era. Spark, Regenerance, Climax and Resolution.
EXAMPLE: Great Depression and WW2 crises era- Spark/stock market crash- Regeanerance/new deal as response to depression- Crises/WW2- Resolution/U.S. would become leader of Free World and we went to a mixed economy. (i.e. socialism and capitlism)
This crises era had its spark on 9-11. We are living through the regeanerance now. War on terror in backdrop, Homeland Security dept.created in response (like the new deal in response to the depression) Anthrax scare, Sars scare, swine flu scare, the great reccession, energy crises (gas prices and rolling blackouts for those of you in Cali) etc. The climax is always a war to the finish(a clear winner and loser-where the fate of something big hangs in the balance-like the civil War or WW 2). -but when it starts the world begins with nuclear, chemical and biological capabilities by many nations-plus the fear of cyber warfare. The last crises era had major natural disasters-Great Dustbowl. This time we've had katrina and the Tsunami that hit the Pacific. Then there is the oil spikit likely to be shut off, considering with who we will be dealing with. You have the 2012 scare. People will be on edge.
As for the climax-you can see the potential threat on the horizon. China, N.Korea, Iran and its allies, terrorist groups, Hugo Chavez and his Latin American coalition he is putting together, as well as the wild card Russia. Will they flip on us? They have been testing us. And are getting cozy with China and Iran. Some might also point to the lowering of our guard-going back to a post 9-11 mentality. In the last year or so-some could make the case they hear the echoes of 1938 and Neville Chamberlain on the political stage. Anyway-A TIME OF TROUBLE AS NO MAN HAS SEEN...at least a real possibility this time. Because how do you defeat Islam that will die for their cause, backed by China, others and maybe Russia? there is talk of the fall of the U.S. dollar. Economic, military and cyber chaos. Not to mention mother nature. The seas and waves roaring, earthquakes, etc. You could see how the mark of the beast could be implemented in a complete global meltdown during famine, epidemics and again, total chaos raging across the planet.
Just a thought.....sleep tight....