5. Relationship to the Witness of the Ages
Under this heading, I would first of all mention the relationship of the advent source findings to the declarations of the Spirit of prophecy. These findings constitute an amazing historical parallel, or counterpart, to "The Great Controversy," that matchless, inspired panorama of the course of history in both the church and the nations. I freely confess that I received my initial conception of this larger research project, my inspiration and determination to carry it through, my clues and faith, my guidance and restraints, and the assurance of the correctness of the conclusions reached, from Spirit of prophecy leads.
Mark this: He who has the instruction which has been given through the Spirit of prophecy know that neither Ellen G. White nor her assonot have to waste valuable time over false clues and fruitless quests. Secondly, he is able to recognize the facts when he has found them, and so is not left in doubt as to their identity, soundness, and validity. This entire research experience has deepened my conviction regarding the divine origin of the gift of prophecy, and its key statements in this field. I know that neither Ellen G. White nor her associates ever saw certain of those materials to which she clearly alludes, some of which great library and university authorities said did not exist, but which persistent search fully recovered.
I therefore believe that this advent source research project vindicates the Spirit of prophecy expressions as verily as the archeologist's spade vindicates the historical allusions of the Bible. It was statements from the writings of the Spirit of prophecy that drove me on when I was beset with obstacles and perplexities. They held me on my course when I was in a quandary, or at a fork in the road. And the results have vindicated the trust placed in these writings. I feel bound to make the statement that I have never found one declaration in the Spirit of prophecy that led me astray or proved contrary to the facts—when all the facts were assembled, and I had gone to the bottom of the problem.
The trouble with most of our critics and some of our friends is that they give up the historical search when results are not immediately forthcoming. The full evidence is not lying about on the surface, waiting to be picked up. It is recovered only by digging deeply. Hasty, inadequate, erroneous conclusions are too often drawn and expressed upon the available results of shallow digging. But results such as I have described come not save by long toil and prayer, and a determination that will not let go until the materials mentioned are found. This often requires years. And may I drop the remark that there is much more in the history of the Sabbath and other doctrinal fields that would be found if we sought them with enough persistence.
The divine restraints imposed by the Spirit of prophecy are fundamental in reverent research, for often the omissions and silences are as remarkable and significant as are its utterances. Moreover, the Spirit of prophecy constitutes a guide on how to treat and evaluate the witnesses of the ages. Such men as Miller, Wolfe, Luther, Wycliffe, Claude of Turin, etc., serve as criteria. Enabled through these examples to see how God evaluates His chosen witness, we learn how rightly to relate ourselves to those misconceptions and errors mingled with the truths enunciated by these and hosts of unnamed witnesses.
There is sharp contrast between this inspired guidance and merely human counsels and clues. Some of our own keenest-minded men have said that these materials indicated by the Spirit of prophecy could not be found, because they had tried, and could not find them. Yet these very items were found. Such investigators had given up too quickly. They did not persist in seeking until they found what had been pointed out by the inspired Indicator.
Similarly some of the most brilliant scholars of the world told me that certain materials I sought in their libraries did not exist ; yet they were found. The trouble with worldly scholars is that they are not acquainted with history as God sees it. Without the infallible outline of Bible prophecy, they often fail to sense or grasp the great issues of church and secular history. And without that special Spirit of prophecy guidance, vouchsafed to us, they know not what and where to seek, and ofttimes do not recognize vital evidence when it is found. Frequently they neither perceive nor emphasize the things that God stresses. That is why I have not followed mere university leads, though I have sought to be thoroughly sound and scientific in treatment, and the results have amply justified the trust placed in the Spirit of prophecy leads.
I fully believe that these source materials were found at this time because the hour had come for these "gems of truth" to be gathered out of the "rubbish" of earth's error to occupy the unique place they are destined to fill amid the final scenes of the church and the world. I believe that this source collection is designed of God, first of all, to exalt the second advent movement to its rightful place and relationship to God's sevenfold church of the past, and to show to the world that we are not unwarranted innovators or upstarts.
Second, it is designed to lift the second advent movement to its rightful place as the inheritor and custodian of the prophetic truths of past centuries, and as the restorer and consummator in fullness and completion of all those partial prophetic truths of the past.
Third, to provide a supreme appeal (1) to the Jew, (2) to the Catholic, and (3) to the Protestant, as nothing else could do.
Fourth, to reach the intelligentsia—trained minds, professional people, teachers, preachers —many of whom will yet be led to accept the witness of the message through this compulsive evidence.
Fifth, to expose the fallacies of false prophetic interpretations by exposing their origin and purpose, and their fatal results and conclusions.
Sixth, to safeguard us against distortion, constriction, or fanciful interpretation on our own part.
Seventh, to enable us to change our position from defense and isolation to championship and aggression, and to present the true progression of this movement as the climax of interpretation through the centuries.
And, last, it is designed to bring to our hands the supreme appeal to a distraught world, commensurate with the final issues before mankind. For these eight reasons you can understand why I cannot look upon this as merely an interesting assemblage, or even as a remarkable collection, but as vital, indispensable equipment for the Seventh-day Adventist worker in the final crisis. It is destined to affect profoundly our fundamental conception of this movement and its relationships, and to strengthen our method of approach in presenting God's truth for today before mankind.
6. Deeper Significance of the Findings
The question has been asked, "Why have you changed the field of study and emphasis from a simple history of the advent movement of the nineteenth century, as originally purposed, to the more complex history of prophetic interpretation and eschatology which has eventuated ?" In answer, I would say—
It is not a change, but merely an enlargement, a logical and necessary expansion, which embraces and climaxes in the nineteenth-century awakening. It retains all former factors, simply extending and enhancing them, and making them more comprehensive, concrete, and living. Prophetic interpretation includes the advent hope, and centers in it, only with greatly increased interest, practicality, value, and strength. It makes it of more vital worth to us who are preeminently a people of prophecy.
Our very destiny is tied to the prophecies which terminate at the second advent. Therefore we need to know our ancestry thoroughly. Simply to trace the advent hope through the centuries as merely an objective or factual recital, without the antecedent causes and relationships—and especially the fundamental philosophy that lies back of it and controls its vicissitudes and assures ultimate triumph—is to divorce it from the throbbing heart that gives it life and motivation.
The history of the advent hope, apart from these contingent factors, is too intangible. Interest could not be sustained through nineteen centuries of survey. Development must follow development, as disclosed in prophecy, on through to the climax. We must never forget that the advent hope is a result, not a cause. It is a climax, the focal point of all prophecy. And it should ever be studied and held in that light. It is based, not upon mere declaration, but upon prophetic promise and provision, and is unfolded and established through fulfillment.
It will be found, upon analysis, that the advent hope is inseparably tied to the prophecies by a fivefold cord of events that have a definite relation to the advent: (I) the resurrection, (2) the millennium, (3) the outline prophecies, (4) the antichrist, and (5) the kingdom of God. In fact, these factors simply constitute a fivefold expansion of prophecy as it affects the advent. These five factors are (a) always present and are recognized when the advent hope is dominant; (b) always distorted, misapplied, and forgotten when the advent hope is eclipsed; and (c) they always reappear when the advent hope is revived and restored. Here, then, is something tangible, an operative law that can and must be grasped in the vast development of the ages. The history of prophetic interpretation is the record of man's understanding of these five factors. Therein we find the cause of fluctuations and vicissitudes in the history of the centuries.
Whether or not we incline to believe it, the operation of true and false interpretation of prophecy has controlled the destinies of empires. It has profoundly affected the plans of kings, statesmen, and warriors, and has shaped the conceptions and policies of nations more than we have dreamed. It has definitely controlled the policies and purposes not only of the true church, but of the false church, to a superlative degree, though it has reacted upon them in opposite ways. Consciously or unconsciously, it has molded all their major movements.
Whether or not we are aware of it, this cluster of concepts constitutes the master key that unlocks the otherwise baffling mysteries of history—the departures, recoveries, apostasies, and digressions of the churches ; the strivings, thwartings, and achievings of the nations. It has ever shaped the course of the battle of truth. The underlying controversies of the ages have all been molded by these five determining factors.
Prophecy has molded the concepts of the great characters of history, such as Alexander the Great, in his understanding of the notable horn of the he-goat; Constantine, with his coins picturing the emperor's feet upon the head of the pagan dragon; Charlemagne, who recognized in Rome the fourth world power of prophecy; James I of Britain, who wrote a commentary setting forth the beast of Revelation 13 as the Papacy. Even Columbus believed that he was a messenger of the Almighty to open the way to the Indies for the preaching of the gospel before the end of the world should come.
Such are some of the major facts and factors that lie back of the great advent source collection that now forms the foundation of the regular Theological Seminary class in the history of prophetic interpretation, which is the basis of the lecture series given in our colleges and worker meetings, and which constitutes the basis of the comprehensive history of prophetic interpretation now being prepared for release to the field. I trust that this presentation, here given by request, will aid in creating a clearer understanding of this vital project.
L. E. F.
