2 Distinct Advents to this World

"The death, resurrection, and the ascension, of the Son of God were events of great importance in the plan of human redemption; but with no one of these is the plan finished. 

The Redeemer was to make two distinct advents to this world. 

At the first, He lived our example, preached His own gospel,

wrought miracles to confirm His divine mission, died our sacrifice, rose from the dead for our justification, and ascended to the Father’s right hand to plead the cause of the repenting sinner. 

But He will appear in this world the second time to execute other parts of the grand scheme. The plan of redemption in its second stage provides for the resurrection of the just from the dominion of death and the grave to life immortal and eternal. 

*The moral fitness for the next life must be obtained in this. 

*The change to immortality is not a moral change. It is simply an 

exchange of the corruptible body for one that will be incorruptible. 

This second stage in the stupendous work of man’s redemption is expressed by the apostle thus: Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body. 

And the Redeemer will not complete His work of redemption in a manner to leave man invisible and immaterial. When redeemed, the just will stand in all the tangible perfection of Adam’s unfallen manhood, with the exceeding glory of bodies fashioned like unto Christ’s glorious resurrected body." 

James White

Evidences of Christ’s Messiahship and Divinity

"The evidences of Christ’s messiahship and His divinity were such as to carry conviction to all minds, excepting those 

--blinded by error 

--and hardened by sin. 

And these evidences grew more overwhelming until He left the world from Olivet to appear in the presence of God for sinners. Matthew records a series of these evidences connected with His death and resurrection, which closes the sacred history of his first advent: Matthew 27:51-54 And behold the veil of the temple was

rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 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. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God. 

And not only was Christ in the world forty days after His 

resurrection, teaching, comforting and confirming the disciples at 

certain seasons, but during this same period the resurrected worthies of past ages, who came out of their graves after Christ’s resurrection, were mingling with mortal men, and bearing testimony to His resurrection. 

And when Christ ascended, He took these resurrected ones with Him, as affirmed by Paul in these words: Ephesians 4:8 When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive." 

James White

The 4 Beasts Outline SERIES PAGE

 

The first was like a lion.....Daniel 7:4

1st Beast

Dig Deeper: The 4 Beasts Outline SERIES: 1st Beast

2nd Beast

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3rd Beast

Dig Deeper: The 4 Beasts Outline SERIES: 3rd Beast

4th Beast

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Little Horn

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Pagan Rome morphs into Papal Rome

Dig Deeper: The 4 Beasts Outline SERIES: Pagan Rome morphs into Papal Rome

God’s Great Mirror

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust except the law had said, You shall not covet. Romans 7:7.

It is evident that Paul means the moral code of ten commandments, when he speaks of the law, from the following facts: 

1. He quotes from the tenth commandment: Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet. 

2. The epistle to the Romans was written 60 AD, about twenty nine years after “the hand-writing of ordinances” was nailed to the cross. 

And even Paul’s conversion was several years after the abolition of the Jewish system of worship; therefore the law, which was an important agent in his conversion, must refer to the moral code of which Christ says, Matthew 5:18 Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law. 

What the Apostle here affirms of himself, is most certainly true in the case of every sinner. Romans 3:20 By the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Here we see that one use of the law of God, in the Christian dispensation, is to show sinners the nature and extent of their sins. Romans 7:8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 

The moral law is God’s great mirror, into which the sinner may look

and see the imperfections of his moral character. Without it, sin is dead, or undiscovered. The apostle James illustrates the use of the royal law by a looking-glass.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway for gets what manner of man he was. 

But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:23,24"

James White

Daniel 8:14 Means what it says

"Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. His words mean simply this: 

--In Heaven there is a sanctuary where Christ ministers, 

--and that sanctuary has two holies, 

--and two distinct ministrations, as truly as the earthly sanctuary had. 

If his words do not mean this, 

they have no meaning at all. 

How natural, then, the conclusion, that as the Jewish priests ministered daily in connection with the holy place of the sanctuary, and on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the close of their yearly round of service, the high priest entered the most holy place to make atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary, so Christ ministered in connection with the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary from the time of His ascension to the ending of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, when on the tenth day of the seventh month of that year He entered the most holy place of the heavenly tabernacle to make a special atonement for the blotting out of the sins of His people, or, which is the same thing, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. 

Daniel 8:14 Unto two thousand three hundred days, [said the angel to the prophet,] then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 

James White

Accusation of a "Jewish Sabbath"

"Some say if we keep the seventh day of the week, we shall keep a “Jewish Sabbath!” 

Well, we have no Savior to trust in but Jesus Christ, who was, according to the flesh, a Jew—no other apostles and prophets, but Jewish—no other than Jewish Scriptures, and indeed, Jesus said himself, that… John 4:22 ...salvation is of the Jews. 

Q: And what did the writer of the New Testament mean by the words

“Sabbath” and the Sabbath day? 

Q: What did Matthew mean in the 6th year of the Christian church? ---He certainly did not mean the first day of the week, but he meant the day before the first day of the week. Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 

He meant what all other Jewish writers ever meant, viz: Exodus 20:10 The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 

But neither Matthew nor any of the Apostles ever told us a word about the Sabbath being changed from the seventh to the first day of the week." 

James White

Where in the New Testament or via Prophet or Apostle?

"Q: Where is the plain proof from the New Testament that the

Sabbath has been abrogated or changed? 

Q: What prophet of God has declared that the moral code of the Infinite One should be abolished, or changed? 

Q: And what apostle has stated in plain terms that anything of this kind has taken place? 

But Christ, in His memorable sermon on the mount, seems to anticipate the discussion of the law question in the Christian church, and as a rebuke of wrong positions upon the subject, and as a guide to correct thoughts, says: Matthew 5:17,18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittele shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." 

James White

During Probation

"The exchange of the sinner’s vile nature to the glorious character of

the Son of God must take place during the period of probation, while Christ pleads His blood before the Father on the sinner’s account. 

If this change does not take place while Christ is our mediator, the change of the vile body will not take place at His second advent.

Now the sinner may, in obedience to the law of the Father, and by faith in the blood of the Son, attain to the moral fitness for the inheritance of the saints in light. 

Our robes of character must be made pure before Christ lays off His garments of mediation, and puts on His kingly robes. Now we may wash and be clean; but when Christ’s mediation for sinners shall cease, it will then be said, Revelation 22:10-12 ...the time is at hand.  

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; [Justification]

and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; [Justification]

and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still, [Sanctification]

and he that is holy, let him be holy still. [Sanctification]

And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

And Peter exhorts: 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing you look for such things, be diligent, that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

This washing of the soul from the stains of sin demands diligence. Paul says that: Ephesians 5:25-27 Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with 

--the washing of water 

--by the word, 

That He might present it to Himself as glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." 

James White

Peter's Testimony

Matthew 17:1-5 And after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. 

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You will, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 

While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him.

"Notice the following points: 

1. Jesus Christ appeared in His own personal glory. His countenance shone like the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. 

2. The glory of the Father was there. It was a “bright cloud” of the divine glory, out of which came the Father’s voice.

3. Moses and Elijah appeared; the one, the representative of those saints who shall be raised at Christ’s coming and clothed with glory;  

4. The use the apostles made of the scene. Peter was one of the witnesses; and his testimony shows that the design of the transfiguration was to illustrate Christ’s second, personal, glorious coming and the future kingdom of glory, and that this kingdom will be set up at the period of the second advent, and the resurrection and change of the just to immortal life. 

He says, 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty. 

For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. 

And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with Him in the holy mount." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: Conclusion

"If you seek to save your life by worshiping the image, you will speedily lose it by drinking the wine of God’s wrath. 

God has promised to deliver us out of this snare of the fowler; and that no weapon formed against us, at this crisis, shall prosper.

He has promised: 

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: Laodiceans

"In the language of Elijah, we would say, 1 Kings 18:21 How long halt you between two opinions? If the Lord be God, then follow Him [break away from your idolatry, and keep God’s Holy Sabbath];

but if Baal, then follow him [keep his Sunday]. 

Q: Do you answer, that you are not following Balaam, because you do not keep Sunday? 

--This will avail you nothing. If you continue to defile the Sabbath, you will be cut off from among His people, and surely be put to death, by the seven last plagues. 

O you Laodiceans, to you is the word of this salvation sent. No longer halt between two opinions." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: Sons of Levi Example

"Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. 

And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 

*The sons of Levi then separated themselves from the idola try of image worship. 

*So, also, under the loud voice of the third angel, it is to be declared, in the language of Moses, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let them come unto us.” 

And we know that all who are on the Lord’s side, will manifest themselves to be the sons of Levi, 

--by leaving the idolatry of Sunday-keeping. 

Such are the sons of Levi." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: 1844 Application from Sinai

"Again, when the children of Israel had left Egypt, the first

commandment urged on them was the Sabbath of the Lord our God. So, also, it was with us, after we got out of Babylon into the wilderness of the people, this side of 1844. Then it began to ring in our ears.

It was the last important truth and commandment urged from Mount Sinai, when God… Exodus 31:18 ...made an end of communing with Moses upon the Mount. 

It was then and there urged and enjoined by the most powerful motives. 12 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord that does sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord...." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: 1622-- Sunday Sacredness Called Out For What It Is

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Revelation 13:5

"IN A BOOK called An Antidote, or Treatise of Thirty Controversies (1622), by Sylvester Norris, intended as a reply to the writings of Dr. Faulk, Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Field, and others, the author speaks thus:

"The Word of God commands the seventh day to be the Sabbath of

our Lord, and to be kept holy; you [Protestants,] without any precept of scripture change it to the first day of the week, only authorized by our traditions. Divers English Puritans oppose against this point, that the observation of the first day is proved out of Scripture, where it is said the first day of the week Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10. 

Have they not spun a fair thread, in quoting these places? 

If we should produce no better for purgatory and prayers for the dead, invocation of the saints, and the like, they might have good cause indeed to laugh us to scorn; 

Q: for where is it written that these were Sabbath days in which those meetings were kept? 

Q: Or where is it ordained they should be al ways observed? 

Q: Or, which is the sum of all, where is it de creed that the observation of the first day should abrogate or abolish the sanctifying of the seventh day which God commanded everlastingly to be kept holy? 

---Not one of those is ex pressed in the written word of God."

 

In this extract the Papists justly charge the Protestants of changing the keeping of the seventh day, to the first day of the week, without any precept of scripture, “only authorized by their traditions.” So says the first beast [of Revelation 13:10-18]." 

James White

James White on 3rd Angel's Message SERIES: End Time Inverse Relationship

"Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. God will have His followers united in His worship, and brought into the “unity of the faith,” 

--by keeping the Holy Sabbath; 

--also, the second commandment, in refusing to worship the image of the beast, by not keeping Sunday. 

The opposite will have his followers united, 

--and in unity, in his image worship, by keeping Sunday. 

And he makes war with the remnant for keeping the opposite commandments: the Holy Sabbath and not worshiping an image, in keeping Sunday." James White

Human Appetite & God’s first prohibitory declaration

"THE history of the human appetite is indeed a sad one. 

*The Creator designed that the appetite should be man’s servant, not his master. 

*It was to be subordinate to the moral and intellectual faculties. 

This truth is seen in God’s first prohibitory declaration to man:  Genesis 2:16 Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

God made man upright, and endowed him with powers of mind far above those of any other creature living upon the earth.

He placed him upon probation, that he might form a character for the glory of the Creator, and for his own happiness. 

The first great moral lesson which the innocent pair of Eden were to learn, was self-control. 

God appeals to man’s nobler powers. He graciously gives him all he needs for the delights of taste, and for the support of life. 

And it was for man’s moral good, to say the least, that his eating from the tree of knowledge was prohibited. 

Of all the trees of the garden he might freely eat, save one. 

In this prohibition, the Creator places the appetite under the watchcare and guardianship of the moral and intellectual powers.

Man alone is responsible for the moral and physical wretchedness under which the race suffers. There was no necessity for Eve to yield to the tempter; and Adam is quite as inexcusable." 

James White

Is it reasonable.............?

"---Is it reasonable to suppose that God created man an immortal being, and yet never once in his holy word informed us of the fact? 

---Is it reasonable to suppose that if man naturally possessed immortality, God's word would recommend us to seek for it, as it does in Rom. 2:7?

---Is it reasonable to suppose, that if men were naturally immortal, God's word would so plainly assure us that "God only hath

immortality?" 1 Tim. 6:16. 

---Is is not far more reasonable to believe that immortality is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? Rom. 6:23.
---Is it reasonable to suppose that in all the vast multitude of passages in which Christ promised Life, Eternal Life, to his followers, he did not literally mean what he said? This he could not, if all men have immortal life by nature. In that case the wicked will live through eternity as well as the righteous."

James White

Q & A on immortality

"Q: Who is immortal? 

A: "The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God." 

l Tim. 1:17:2. 

Q: Are not all men possessed of immortality? 

A: "The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords: who only hath immortality." 

1 Tim. 6:16. 

Q: Are not all men created immortal? 

A: God "only hath immortality." 

l Tim. 6:16."

James White

God's Complaint and Command

"Q: What is our Savior's complaint concerning mankind? 

A: "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." 

John 5:40 

Q: What is the command of God to all? 

A: "Cast away from you all your transgressions, . . . for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live ye." 

Eze. 18:31, 32." 

James White

The Sabbath vs. Sunday debate in 1622

"A BOOK called An Antidote, or Treatise of Thirty Controversies (1622), by Sylvester Norris, intended as a reply to the writings of Dr. Faulk, Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Field, and others, the author speaks thus: 

"I The Word of God commands the seventh day to be the Sabbath of our Lord, and to be kept holy; you [Protestants,] without any precept of scripture change it to the first day of the week, only authorized by our traditions. 

Divers English Puritans oppose against this point, that the observation of the first day is proved out of Scripture, where it is said the first day of the week Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10. 

Q: Have they not spun a fair thread, in quoting these places? If we should produce no better for purgatory and prayers for the dead, invocation of the saints, and the like, they might have good cause indeed to laugh us to scorn; 

Q: for where is it written that these were Sabbath days in which those meetings were kept? 

Q: Or where is it ordained they should be always observed? 

Q: Or, which is the sum of all, where is it decreed that the observation of the first day should abrogate or abolish the sanctifying of the seventh day which God commanded everlastingly to be kept holy? 

Not one of those is expressed in the written word of God."

In this extract the Papists justly charge the Protestants of changing the keeping of the seventh day, to the first day of the week, without any precept of scripture, “only authorized by their traditions.” 

James White