The doctrines held by Seventh-day Adventists did not come to us initially through the Spirit of prophecy in the remnant church, as some apparently have supposed, but rather by earnest individual and group Bible study. The Spirit of prophecy had a vital place in bringing light when difficulties confronted the pioneers, and the conclusions reached by earnest study were in many cases later confirmed by revelation. There is perhaps no better way to deal with this topic than to give in outline form the documented story in two outstanding illustrations of doctrinal development which indicate the way foundational truths were received.
Introduction of Sabbath Truth
1. Sabbath Accepted by Early Adventists. The Sabbath truth was first brought by Rachel Oakes Preston (Seventh Day Baptist) to the Adventists in Washington, New Hampshire. It was accepted by a few of the group there near the time of the October, 1844, disappointment. Early in 1845, the T. M. Preble tract on the Sabbath was read by Joseph Bates, who recognized the binding claims of the fourth commandment, accepted the Sabbath, and began teaching it to others.
2. Accepted by James and Ellen White.
a. First Introduction.—Ellen Harmon, with her sister and James White, was in New Bedford early in 1846. Elder Bates urged his Sabbath views upon them, but they did not accept them.
b. Importance Not Felt.—"I did not feel its importance, and thought that he erred in dwelling upon the fourth commandment more than upon the other nine."—Ellen G. White, "Life Sketches," p. 95.
c. Accepted From Scriptural Evidence.—In August, 1846, Joseph Bates published his forty-eight-page tract, "The Seventh-day Sabbath a Perpetual Sign." James and Ellen White received a copy of this about the time of their marriage. From the Scriptural evidence presented, they took their stand. "In the autumn of 1846 we began to observe the Bible Sabbath, and to teach and defend it."—"Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 75. There were at this time about fifty Sabbathkeepers throughout entire New England. (Id., p. 77.)
d. Accepted Before Vision on Sabbath.—"I believed the truth upon the Sabbath question before I had seen anything in vision in reference to the Sabbath. It was months after I had commenced keeping the Sabbath before I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel's message."—E. G. White Letter 2, 1874.
e. Vision Concerning Importance of Sabbath.—On the first Sabbath in April, 1847 some seven months after the Whites commenced keeping and teaching the Sabbath, the Lord gave a vision stressing its importance. A description of the scenes of this vision was sent by Mrs. White to Joseph Bates, at New Bedford, in a letter which shortly afterward was published by him.
(1) In this vision Mrs. White seemed to be transported to heaven and conducted through the heavenly sanctuary.
(2) In the most holy place she saw the ark that contains the law, and was amazed to note that "the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them -all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious—a halo of glory was all around it." (Letter to Joseph Bates, April 7, 1847, Published by him in broadside entitled, "A Vision," Vol. I, No. 1.) ("Early Writings," pp. 32-35.)
(3) There was also depicted the change of the Sabbath, the significance of Sabbath observance, the work before them in proclaiming the Sabbath truth, the relationship of Sabbath observance to the troublous times before the loyal people of God, climaxing in the second coming of Christ bringing final deliverance.
(4) The relationship of the Sabbath to the third angel's message was also revealed : "I was shown its importance and its place in the third angel's message."—E. G. White Letter 2, 1874.
"I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord."—"Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 77.
f. Confirmed by Revelation.—Thus were confirmed by revelation the conclusions in regard to the Sabbath, reached by direct, earnest Bible study. God unmistakably placed His seal of approval on their work. This vital truth was not initially introduced through direct revelation, but was first seen through the study of His Word.
Time to Begin Observance of Sabbath
1. Six O'Clock Time Observed.—Various times were taken by various individuals on the beginning of the Sabbath—midnight, sunset, 6 P.M., and sunrise. For ten years the Sabbathkeeping Adventists generally observed Sabbath from 6 P.M. Friday to 6 P.M. Saturday. (Review and Herald, Dec. 4, 1855, p. 78, col. 2.) Elder Bates, who had had long experience as a sea captain and astronomer, and who was the leader in presenting the Sabbath among Adventists, reached the conclusion that equatorial time should form the basis for reckoning the hours of the Sabbath, and others accepted the six-to-six theory without much special study. (Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1868, p. 168, col. 1.)
Note the attitude of James White in 1848, after stating that "there has been some division as to the time of beginning the Sabbath. Some commenced at sundown. Most, however, at 6 P.M." Brother White even went so far as to say, "God has raised up Brother Bates to give this [Sabbath] truth. I should have more faith in his opinion than any other man's." (James White Letter, July 2, 1848; Record Book I, pp. 116, 117.) (Italics mine.) It should be carefully noted that while there was a slight error in detail, the position of beginning the new day at evening was essentially correct.
2. Sunrise Time Advocated in Maine.—Some in Maine took the position from Matthew 28:1, that the Sabbath commenced and closed at sunrise : "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week." (Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1868, p. 168, col. I.)
3. Error in Principle Divinely Corrected. —There now threatened to creep in an error in principle which was checked through the Spirit of prophecy. Ellen White, in vision, heard the angel quote the words of Scripture, "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath." Lev. 23:32. This settled the point so far as the sunrise-time fallacy was concerned. The body of believers then continued with six o'clock time until this error was corrected from Scriptural evidence.
4. Time Occassionally Questioned.---Converts from among Seventh Day Baptists, and possibly others, observed sunset time, and periodically raised the question of the correctness of the six o'clock position held by the group.
5. Bible Study on Doctrinal Point.—In the summer of 1855, John Andrews was requested by James White to investigate the question. His conclusions, with supporting Scriptural evidence, were read at the general conference in Battle Creek in November, 1855, at the Sabbath morning service. Elder Andrews demonstrated from nine Old Testament and two New Testament texts that "even" and "evening" were identical with sunset. (Review and Herald, Dec. 4, 1855. p. 78, col. 2.)
6. Scriptural Testimony Accepted.—The sunset time was now accepted by nearly all present at the 1855 conference. Joseph Bates and Ellen White were exceptions, both holding to the six o'clock position.
7. Confirmed by Revelation, Settling Conflicting Views.—"At the close of the conference at Battle Creek referred to above, the ministers and others especially interested in the cause, had a special season of prayer for the prosperity of the cause, and in that meeting Mrs. White had a vision, one item of which was that sunset time was correct. ["Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 116.] This settled the matter with Brother Bates and others, and general harmony has since prevailed among us upon this point."—James White, Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1868, p. 168, col. 2.
8. Significance of Formerly Held Incorrect Views.—"And lest any should say that Sister White, having changed her sentiments, had a vision accordingly, we will state that what was shown her in vision concerning the commencement of the Sabbath, was contrary to her own sentiment at the time the vision was given."—Uriah Smith, in Review and Herald, Aug. 30, 1864, p. 209, col. 1. Thus all could see that God was speaking, and that Ellen White was not merely repeating her personal, previously held views.
Place of Visions in Church Demonstrated
In connection with the question of time to commence the Sabbath, James White wrote:
"The question naturally arises, If the visions are given to correct the erring, why did she [Mrs. White] not sooner see the error of the six o'clock time ? For one, I have ever been thankful that God corrected the error in His own good time, and did not suffer an unhappy division to exist among us upon the point. But, dear reader, the work of the Lord upon this point is in perfect harmony with His manifestations to us on others, and in harmony with the correct position upon spiritual gifts.
"It does not appear to be the desire of the Lord to teach His people by the gifts of the Spirit on the Bible questions until His servants have diligently searched His word. When this was done upon the subject of time to commence the Sabbath, and most were established, and some were in danger of being out of harmony with the body on this subject, then, yes, then was the very time for God to magnify His goodness in the manifestation of the gift of His Spirit in the accomplishment of its proper work.
"The Sacred Scriptures are given us as the rule of faith and duty, and we are commanded to search them. If we fail to understand and fully obey the truths in consequence of not searching the Scriptures as we should, or a want of consecration and spiritual discernment, and God in mercy in His own time corrects us by some manifestation of the gifts of His Holy Spirit, instead of murmuring that He did not do it before, let us humbly acknowledge His mercy and praise Him for His infinite goodness in condescending to correct us at all.
"Let the gifts have their proper place in the church. God has never set them in the very front, and commanded us to look to them to lead us in the path of truth, and the way to heaven. His word He has magnified. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are man's lamp to light up his path to the kingdom. Follow that, but if you err from Bible truth, and are in danger of being lost, it may be that God will in the time of His choice correct you, and bring you back to the Bible and save you."—Id., Feb. 25, 1868, p. 168, col. 2.
Confirmation of James White's Statement
"I saw that it is even so, 'From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.' Said the angel, 'Take the word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find what even is, and when it is.'
"I asked the angel if the frown of God had been upon His people for commencing the Sabbath as they had. I was directed back to the first rise of the Sabbath, and followed the people of God up to this time, but did not see that the Lord was displeased, or frowned upon them. I inquired why it had been thus, that at this late day we must change the time of commencing the Sabbath.
"Said the angel, 'Ye shall understand, but not yet, not yet.' Said the angel, 'If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God ; but before the light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject.' "—"Testimonies.' Vol. 1, p. 116. (November, 855.)
Development of Sanctuary Truth
Another striking illustration of the influence of the Spirit of prophecy in the development of Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, is found in the way in which the sanctuary truth came to us. This vitally important doctrine was also developed from earnest Bible study, and confirmed by revelation. Here is the story drawn from the documents of the times :
1. Light First Perceived by Hiram Edson. —The morning after the disappointment, in western New York, Hiram Edson said:
"I saw distinctly and clearly that instead of our High Priest coming out of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the 2300 days, He, for the first time, entered on that day into the second apartment of that sanctuary, and that He had a work to perform in the most holy place before coming to the earth ; that He came to the marriage, or, in other words, to the Ancient of days, to receive a kingdom, dominion, and glory ; and that we must wait for His return from the wedding.":—Review and Herald, June 23, 1921, p. 5, col. I. (Hiram Edson autograph statement, in Advent Source Collection.)
2. Joint Investigation of Scripture by Hiram Edson, Doctor Hahn, and 0. R. L. Crosier followed. The group were led to the conclusion that the two phases of ministry in the earthly sanctuary service were a type of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Therefore, events which were to come to pass, beginning October 22, 1844, were events taking place in heaven. This investigation extended over a period of months.
3. Publication of Conclusions from Bible Study.—Feeling that they had light helpful to the disappointed Adventists, Edson, Crosier, and Hahn published their conclusions in the Day-Dawn (Canandaigua, New York) in the winter of 1845-46. Arrangements were also made for printing a more comprehensive article in the Day-Star (Cincinnati, Ohio), which appeared as an "Extra," dated February 7, 1846, under the title, "The Law of Moses." This conclusively written article, which set forth the sanctuary truth from the Scriptural evidence, reached many Adventists.
4. Confirmed by Revelation
a. "About the middle of February, 1845" (E. G. White Letter, July 13, 1847, Record Book I, p. 2), Ellen Harmon, in Exeter, Maine, was given "a view of Jesus rising from His mediatorial throne and going to the holiest as Bridegroom to receive His kingdom." —Id., p. 2a. The full significance of Christ's ministry, and its transfer in 1844 to the most holy place, was not at the time comprehended by her. "Previous to this I had no light on the coming of the Bridegroom."—Ibid. did not hear a lecture or a word in any way relating to the Bridegroom's going to the holiest." —Ibid. (See "early Writings," pp. 54-56.)
b. The January 24, 1846, issue of the Day-Star contained the first vision of Ellen Harmon, bringing to the attention of the Adventist readers the fact that God was communicating to the people of earth through visions.
c. The February 7 issue of the Day-Stag Extra presented the Crosier article on the sanctuary in heaven.
d. The March 14 issue carried a second Ellen Harmon communication, dated February 15, which presented her view, relating to Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as given "one year ago this month."
"I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and did sit. . . . I saw a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire. Angels were all about the chariot as it came where Jesus was ; He stepped into it and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. Then I beheld Jesus, as He was before the Father a great high priest."—Day-Star, March 14, 1846. ("Early Writings," p. 55.)
Thus was ratified by vision this essential high point of the sanctuary truth which had been set forth on the basis of Scriptural evidence by Bible students, entirely unknown to Ellen Harmon. Official checking of mail schedules of the times indicates that her communication was penned and mailed before she could have seen the Crosier article in the Day-Star Extra of February 7, 1846. Soon there was still further specific confirmation by revelation. We quote from a letter to Eli Curtis, April 24, 1847:
"The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light on the cleansing of the sanctuary, etc., and that it was His will that Brother C.- should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to recommend that Extra to every saint."—E. G. White, "A Word to the Little Flock,' p. 12.
Thus in this indisputable manner the important sanctuary truth came to us just as did the Sabbath truth, first as the result of diligent Bible study, then attested by revelation. There could be no question in the minds of our pioneers with respect to the validity of this pivotal doctrine. It is of interest to note that the essential parts of the Crosier article were republished a number of times by the Sabbath-keeping Adventists as the best presentation available on the sanctuary question, even after Crosier had left the Sabbatarians and repudiated the sanctuary and the Sabbath truths.
