Clifford Goldstein, well-known to readers of Ministry, and I discussed his just-released new book, Graffiti in the Holy of Holies (see page 10).
James Cress: A provocative title!
Clifford Goldstein: Yeah, it is. Too bad it wasn't mine. I submitted the manuscript with no title because I had none. Randy Maxwell of Pacific Press advertising came up with the title a stroke of genius on his part.
Cress: What does it mean?
Goldstein: It's just a graphic way of saying that the biblical doctrine of the sanctuary is under attack again. Others have assailed the concept in previous years; this time a former minister has started a "ministry" aimed at Adventists. Graffiti responds to these attacks which decry as "cultic" the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 which culminated in 1844 with the initiation of the pre-Advent judgment essentially, a no-holds-barred assault on the sanctuary and our understanding of the prophetic ministry of Ellen White.
Cress: You wrote on this topic before?
Goldstein: Well, yes and no. Years ago I wrote a book, 1 844 Made Simple, a defense by a rather frenetic and relatively new believer. Since then, i have learned much more that has only increased my belief. These recent attacks provided a golden opportunity to respond and to share many of the things that I have learned as my thinking expanded and matured.
Cress: What things are in your new book which you have learned?
Goldstein: Well, I've included a whole section on the gospel and judgment. The Old Testament idea of judgment involved two factors: the vindication of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked both elements. So it is not surprising that, in a depiction of the pre-Advent judgment, where the saints are vindicated, there would be an emphasis on the destruction of the anti-christ power as well.
Cress: The attacks specifically focus on Ellen White as well. Your response?
Goldstein: This is the heart of the issue. Such attacks on so-called "cultic doctrines" could be summarized: Ellen White endorsed the 2,300-day prophecy; the 2,300-day prophecy is wrong; Ellen White, therefore, could not be a true prophet. My response, simply, refutes claims that the prophecy is wrong. Then, attacks based on this premise fail. However, because these attacks (nothing really new, by the way) spew out accusations against Ellen White, I felt I had to address them. I came away strengthened in my appreciation for her and her ministry.
Cress: You said something about dealing with the gospel and the judgment.
Goldstein: I think that some of the attackers are victim of what I call "folk Adventism" popular misconceptions about what we believe. Misconceptions which are at odds with the gospel.
Cress: Such as...?
Goldstein: The idea that if you're not absolutely sinless when your name comes up in judgment, then your name is blotted out of the book of life and you will be forever lost even though you remain unaware and keep trying to overcome, but it's too late. This perverts the judgment because judgment is good news. Judgment is the full and final application of the gospel in our lives, the climax of the gospel, the acquittal that we have from Jesus now by faith becoming final and irrevocable.
Cress: Once-saved-always-saved?
Goldstein: In a sense, Yes! After my name comes up in the judgment, and Jesus as my Substitute, my Surety, my Sacrifice, my Mediator, and My Friend stands in my place, pleading His perfect righteousness in my stead, I am once and forever saved. Up until the pre-Advent judgment, we can fa|l away, for salvation is always conditional. After "judgment is given in favor of the saints," salvation is irrevocable. Talk about good news!
Cress: So you're saying that the judgment and the gospel are in harmony.
Goldstein: Of course! What is the gospel? It's good news. Good news about what? Good news that Jesus died for our sins and through faith in Him we are covered by His righteousness. Otherwise we face eternal death. We all know John 3:16. We either get eternal life or we perish. The good news is that through Jesus we don't have to perish, we don't have to face eternal punishment, eternal damnation. Now, what is eternal damnation, or eternal punishment other than . . . what?
Cress: Judgment?
Goldstein: Precisely. So, regardless of whatever you believe about the timing of the judgment, or the nature of the judgment, the whole idea of the gospel, the good news, is that we are spared condemnation in judgment. There must be a judgment; otherwise what's the good news about? So the whole idea of the gospel contains with in it the idea of judgment. There is no gospel without a judgment.
Cress: These thoughts all in Graffiti!
Goldstein: Some will have to wait for the next book.
