It has been said that in the last days every wind of doctrine will be blowing. This prophetic statement has literally come to pass, for each day's mail brings additional literature concerning "new light." But how is one to discern what is new light and what is erroneous doctrine? We must not become narrow conservatists and reject everything, for if we do we are bound to reject truth along with error. Proverbs 4:18 states that "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." This thought indicates that our light is relative now and not absolute. We have been further instructed to judge all things by the "law and . . . the testimony" in order to determine their authenticity. It is sometimes difficult for the average person to rightly judge various facets of doctrine.,
Many of us are not the Bible students that we should be and are not able to judge the differing theological points that arise. With this thought in mind, I have found four guideposts upon which, if one is correctly informed, he will not be easily diverted to any offshoot movement. History has shown that all heresies that have had to do with the Advent Movement have been in error on one or all of four points. These fundamental lines of doctrine are as follows:
1. Criticism. We must have implicit faith in our leaders who have been duly elected, and who seek the unity and advancement of the Advent Movement throughout the world. We have been told many times to submit any new, or seemingly new, point of doctrine to men of experience for evaluation. The General Conference Committee is such a safeguarding body. One of their duties is to evaluate new ideas that might arise.
4. The sanctuary. The fourth subject with which we must be familiar is perhaps the most difficult of all, for it is the subject of the sanctuary. The typical Jewish sanctuary service was, in God's plan, to be an elaborate visual aid to the Jews in order to teach them daily the purpose of the atonement (Ps. 77:13). This service, carried on for fifteen hundred years, was to point them daily to the antitypical service in the heavenly sanctuary and to the true priesthood of Christ. If the Jews had correctly interpreted the types and symbols of the sanctuary in relation to the Messianic prophecies they would have accepted Christ. Instead, they put Him to death as an impostor.
In order to correctly understand the New Testament, especially the writings of Paul and of John in the book of Revelation, a thorough knowledge of the sanctuary service must first be obtained. The book of Leviticus, especially chapters four and sixteen, and The Desire of Ages are basic to the comprehension of the sanctuary. The subject of the sanctuary is the central pillar and foundation of the Advent Movement (see The Great Controversy, p. 409). A correct conception of this subject will keep the diligent student a staunch and true Christian Adventist to the end.
If we believe and thoroughly understand the four points here presented, it is unlikely that we will be led astray or digress to offshoot movements. We will be able to discern right from wrong and know of a surety where the path of truth lies. Our light is found in the three angels' messages, which shine more and more unto the perfect day. On that glorious day we will be restored to Edenic perfection and be able to see God and to talk with Him.
Let us not allow anyone to rob us of this divine heritage.
