“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Introduction: The object of this study is to see the evidence of the word of God and the testimonies of Jesus about the present truth of the especial resurrection. We will submit our thought to the Spirit of truth who will guide us into all truth. “Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented, many do not ask, is it true–in harmony with God’s word? But, by whom is it advocated? And unless it comes through the very channel that pleases them, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices,“–Testimonies to Ministers, pgs. 105-106 (bold emphasis, added).
“When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice.”–Gospel Workers, pg. 301:3 (bold emphasis added).
Remember this in heave there is no work of saving souls.
“They may enter heaven and find rest.”—
Manuscript 13, 1884 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, pp. 341-353
“Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” 7T p.17
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3.
The Bible says that after the “wise” are resurrected, they are to “turn many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3), which is proof that this resurrection does not take place in the seventh plague, because it’s too late to “turn” from sin and be saved.
Yet, some SDA still place this resurrection in the seventh plague, which they learned as former Seventh-day Adventists. And the reason they ignore this probationary word “turn” and place this resurrection during the seventh plague, is because of what Great Controversy says on page 637:2 (1944 Ed.)! Only key thoughts of three paragraphs on this page are quoted below.
“…Great hailstones, every one ‘about the weight of a talent,’ are doing their work of destruction….
“Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth…awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’…”–Great Controversy, pg. 637. (Bold emphasis added).
“Thick clouds still cover the sky; yet the sun now and then breaks through, appearing like the avenging eye of Jehovah.”–Great Controversy, pgs. 637,638.
Most readers understand that the first paragraph refers to the seven last plagues, because it mentions “hailstones,” which are to fall during the seventh plague (Rev. 16:21); and that the third paragraph continues on with the destructive work of the plagues. But not too many have noted that paragraph two appears to have been inserted, because it interrupts the sequence of thought, and implies that the special resurrection takes place in the seventh plague. If this is true, then it appears that the publishers may have tampered with the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy, by either changing the wording of certain paragraphs, or by adding or deleting a whole paragraph, in order to lead the reader to accept that which they would have them believe! The following comparison is a good example of a deliberate alteration of the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy:
AN ORIGINAL QUOTATION
“Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, in a message which is yet future, the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon.”–Great Controversy, pg. 383 (1888 edition) (bold emphasis added).
THE QUOTATION ALTERED
“Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon.”–Great Controversy, pg. 383:0 (1944 edition).
Since the words, “in a message which is yet future,” were written in the 1888 edition, but are missing in the 1944 edition, it proves that these seven words were deliberately deleted from the paragraph. Furthermore, one whole paragraph in the tract, “A Word to the Little Flock,” pg. 19, was deleted from the book–Early Writings, pg. 34. The missing paragraph in the book is seen in the tract quoted below.
COMPARE “A WORD TO THE LITTLE FLOCK” WITH “EARLY WRITINGS”
The last sentence of the tract’s top paragraph on page 19 states this: “They rose up and took counsel to rid the earth of us, thinking that then the evil would be stayed.” Note the next paragraph of the tract, which is omitted in the book:
“I saw all that ‘would not receive the mark of the Beast, and of his Image, in their foreheads or in their hands,’ could not buy or sell. I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up {in America, not in Italy where the Pope sits}; and that it was the beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope’s, and not God’s Sabbath. And all we were required to do, was to give up God’s Sabbath, and keep the Pope’s and then we should have the mark of the Beast, and of his image.”–A Word to the Little Flock, pg. 19 (bold emphasis, braces added)
Now notice that the tract and the book continue with the following paragraph: “In the time of trouble, we all fled from the cities and villages, but we were pursued by the wicked, who entered the houses of the saints with the sword….” (W.L.F. 19); this proves that the middle paragraph of the tract was deleted from the book–Early Writings, pg. 34.
These examples prove that it is not only possible, but even highly probable that paragraph two of the Great Controversy may have been inserted on page 637, which contradicts the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy; not because it concerns the special resurrection, but because it places this resurrection of the saints during the seventh plague, when it is impossible for them to “take up their work once more” and “turn many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3)!
“Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.”—Testimonies for the church vol. 7, pg. 17 (bold emphasis added).
Therefore, the Bible (Dan. 12:3) and the “testimony of Jesus” (7 Test. 17) are not only in perfect harmony with each other concerning the time of this special resurrection, but they also agree that no man can be saved after the final probation for the world has closed; wherein the state of the wicked and the righteous will always be the same for eternity: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:…and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:…” (Rev. 22:11); because “The probation of all closes when the pleading for sinners is ended and the garments of vengeance are put on.” (2 Test. 691:1), after which the plagues begin to fall. Thus, its not likely that Jesus would contradict the Bible (Dan. 12:3) and His own Testimonies (7 Test. 17), by inspiring Sis. White to place paragraph two on page 637 of the Great Controversy, and lead Seventh-day Adventist to believe that the special resurrection takes place during the seventh plague! And since probation will close long before the seventh plague begins, then it is obvious that Jesus could not be in harmony with the Bible, and still say that the saints will be raised to life again in the special resurrection, wherein they will take up “their work once more” (7 Test. 17), when He knows that they cannot “turn many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3) in the seventh plague!
These facts prove that paragraph two on page 637 of The Great Controversy makes the Spirit of Prophecy contradict the Bible concerning the time of the special resurrection. So whose word do we take? God’s Word in the Bible? or Jesus’ Word in the Spirit of Prophecy? Since Jesus said, “I and My Father are “one” (John 10:30), then they would not contradict one another! These facts leave the reader to choose one of two conclusions: (1) The paragraph in Great Controversy, pg. 637:2 belongs there, even though it is not yet understood. (2) Or this paragraph was inserted by the publishers.
“In the days of the apostles the most foolish heresies were presented as truth. History has been and will be repeated. There will always be those who, though apparently conscientious, will grasp at the shadow, preferring it to the substance. They take error in the place of truth, because error is clothed with a new garment, which they think covers something wonderful. But let the covering be removed, and nothingness appears.”–The Review and Herald, Feb. 5, 1901.
TAKE THE BIBLE ABOVE THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
Now since no one knows for sure which the right answer is, then we must follow Jesus admonition in the Spirit of Prophecy to take His Father’s Word above His own word: “God’s Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word….Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible.” (Evangelism p.256.3). The obvious reason for His admonition is because He knew beforehand that the publishers of Sis. White’s writings would alter His Word in the Spirit of Prophecy by adding, deleting, or changing statements, as already seen from the foregoing examples. Thus, the saints who cannot be deceived (Mt. 24:24), would take the Bible first, above paragraph two on page 637 of Great Controversy. To take any other position is to exalt the teachings of men who place the special resurrection after probation closes in the seventh plague, above God’s word in the Bible (Dan. 12:3), and Jesus word in the Spirit of Prophecy (7 Test. 17), which places it before probation closes!
However, since Sis. White had many visions, but did not know exactly where to place them, then it is possible that she could have written this paragraph in another publication about the special resurrection; but the fact that she also wrote that no one can be saved after probation closes, seems to indicate that paragraph two on page 637 of the Great Controversy may have been inserted. The writer does not know if this is true. But since it leads the laity to an erroneous conclusion, it appears that the publishers may have inserted it to indoctrinate the laity into accepting what the leaders believe; just as they led them to erroneously conclude that the “great multitude” (Rev. 7:9) are the righteous dead–“the triumphant saints of all ages” (S.D.A. Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, pg. 784–see 9:4). And this has led them to erroneously conclude that the special resurrection takes place in time of the seventh plague, because they misunderstand the word “soon” (E.W. 285,286), as noted below:
“It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession….There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law….And…God spoke the day and hour of Jesus coming….Soon appeared the great white cloud, upon which sat the Son of man.”–Early Writings, pgs. 285, 286 (bold emphasis added).
“SOON” DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN A FEW DAYS
It’s important to note that this one word “soon” (E.W. 286) connects the event of the special resurrection (E.W. 285) near the event of Christ’s second coming; but most S.D.A. misunderstand its meaning, which confuses them, because they have been led to believe it takes place during the seventh plague (G.C. 637:2). The word “soon” (like the word immediately) is an ambiguous word denoting an uncertain (not specific) meaning, and it was used in reference to the element of time. And time can be equated in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and even years, depending upon the circumstances and events which are connected with its use.
Here is a good illustration of this fact, which refers to the time when the tribulation of martyrdom (G.C. 266,267) would cease, and the signs in the heavens would appear. Jesus said that “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,…” (Mt. 24:29). Many Christians during that time probably thought that when martyrdom ceased in 1700 A.D. (1 T.G. 4:24, 25), then the word “immediately” must mean that the first sign (“sun be darkened”) would take place in a matter of days. But this sign took place on May 19, 1780 (G.C. 306), which was 80 years after the “tribulation” of martyrdom ceased! Thus, the word “immediately” was not used in reference to a few days (as some may have thought), but an undetermined duration of time–several years later!
So likewise, the word “soon” also refers to an undetermined duration of time, which takes place sometime between the events of the special resurrection and Christ’s second coming. And the fact that the saints will be resurrected during probationary time to “take up their work once more” (7 Test. 17), and “turn many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3), when they go “with” the 144,000 to gather the great multitude, is proof that it will be several years after the special resurrection that Jesus will come! However, because most S.D.A. believe only a 144,000 will be sealed out of the entire WORLD, after which probation closes and the plagues fall, they erroneously concluded that the word “soon” means it will only be a few days after the special resurrection takes place in the seventh plague, that Christ comes and the great multitude (Rev. 7:9), whom they believe is “the triumphant saints of all ages,” will be resurrected! Therefore, according to this false idea, if the special resurrection was not mentioned in the original book, “The Great Controversy,” then wouldn’t it seem logical to the publishers that the word “soon” in the book entitled “Early Writings,” indicates that the appropriate place to put any quotation referring to this special resurrection, would be right after paragraph one on page 637, which refers to the time of the seventh plague, when Christ would come “soon”–in a few days?
The Present Truth of the Especial Resurrection in Typology (type and antitype)
The reason we study typology or type and antitype is because the Spirit of truth said: “when type should meet anti-type.” The Signs of the Times April 22, 1880 by Mrs. E.G White.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11. (bold emphasis added).
Example:
In the sanctuary study the type is the earthly sanctuary and antitype is the heavenly sanctuary. “The substance instead of the shadow, the antitype {heavenly sanctuary} instead of the type {earthly sanctuary}.” Clear that “when type should meet anti-type.”
What is the type of the present truth of the especial resurrection? Who, then, would represent the mixed or special resurrection of Daniel 12:2?
“We have the one of Matthew 27:52,53. ‘And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.'” 1Srod p.47
Type
“When Jesus, as He hung upon the cross, cried out, “It is finished,” the rocks rent, the earth shook, and some of the graves were opened. When He arose a victor over death and the grave, while the earth was reeling and the glory of heaven shone around the sacred spot, many of the righteous dead, obedient to His call, came forth as witnesses that He had risen. Those favored, risen saints came forth glorified. They were chosen and holy ones of every age, from creation down even to the days of Christ. Thus while the Jewish leaders were seeking to conceal the fact of Christ’s resurrection, God chose to bring up a company from their graves to testify that Jesus had risen, and to declare His glory.” Early Writing p.73 by EGW. (bold emphasis added).
Antitype
“The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.” Early Writing p. 106 by EGW (bold emphasis added).
“The battle-cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness, and with firm faith in God. Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.—” Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII.” Review and Herald, January 20, 1903.
In Heaven there is no work of saving soul because “The saints will rest in the holy city, and reign as kings and priests one thousand years; then Jesus will descend with the saints upon the Mount of Olives, and the mount will part asunder, and become a mighty plain for the Paradise of God to rest upon” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White p.108.3.
“While the enemy has succeeded in confusing the written Word, God lightens the earth with His glory by these symbolic revelations; and by which He discloses the entire truth and uncovers the traps of the devil! Thus through types and symbols He makes wise the simple and confounds the prudent by showing that where there is no type there is no truth.” Shepherd’s Rod book, Vol. 2 p.10. (bold emphasis added).
“We need to be anchored in Christ, rooted and grounded in the faith. Satan works through agents.” Review and Herald, November 17, 1885.
