Adventist Contortions
While reading this week’s chapter from Ballenger’s book Cast Out For the Cross of Christ, I was impressed by the intellectual contortions the Adventist church has put itself through over the years. Yet for some reason they never considered the fact that the sanctuary was never given to gentiles, just as the Sinai Covenant Law was never given to any other than the delivered Israelite slaves (Deuteronomy 5:2, 3).
It is also apparently assumed that the heavenly sanctuary, of which the earthly was a shadow, had always existed and always would. Why would there need to be a mercy seat before there was sin? And Scripture says that in the New Earth, after sin is completely gone, there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).
Romans 1 and 2 point out that the gentiles, who had no law, are saved or lost based upon their recognition of God in His creation and their consciences responding to God, while those who claimed to know the law—Israel—had not only greater advantages, but also greater responsibilities before God. Placing a largely gentile Christian church in the setting of Sanctuary/Temple worship demands extreme mental contortion.
In Revelation 11 where John was told to “measure” the temple and those who were worshiping there, the gentiles were specifically excluded. This is because, as Isaiah was told and recorded in Isaiah 66, the nations must see God’s glory. Israel had seen the glory, the gentile nations had not. Sanctuary, law, sacrifices, ark and all the various ceremonies can teach us much, but it was all given to Israel. Just ask Paul if any gentile, Christian or not, comes under the law in his individual relationship to God. All the mental gymnastics we have gone through could have been avoided if we had just believed what Scripture says.
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Very good point! You stated the core of the problem: all this could have been avoided if we would just believe what Scripture says!
I agree about the Adventist contortions. It’s pretty unbelievable. It really was a move for power and influence, I believe. When insincerity drives a thing, it always has ties to illegitimate power.
Shadows Reveal Jesus
Thanks for including in last week’s Proclamation! the article on the “Shadows” by Pastor Palmer. I agree with most of his conclusions. In my case in leaving Sabbatarian observances, the most persuasive argument was acknowledging that what the Sabbath promised (as a type), Jesus fulfilled. In Matthew 11 Jesus claimed that He was the only way into the Father’s presence, and coming to Him would bring that perfect Rest. So, true Sabbath-keeping, like true circumcision (Romans 2:28, 29), is a matter of the heart.
Just as I am circumcised in heart after receiving Jesus Christ (although I have never been circumcised in the “flesh”), I also am now a true Sabbath-keeper (after leaving its outward observance) by depending solely on Christ for my Rest. All of Pastor Palmer’s arguments or conclusions were true regarding Colossians 2:16, but he surely spent a lot of money in education needlessly, and a lot of grief to get there. But thank God he got there. And hopefully it was more than an intellectual exercise. Jesus is enough.
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Helpful and Practical Podcasts
Just to say that your Galatians podcasts are amazing, and I am learning more Bible truths every time! They are so practical as well!
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- April 27–May 3, 2024 - April 25, 2024
- We Got Mail - April 25, 2024
- April 20–26, 2024 - April 18, 2024