My letter to 7th Day Adventist Pastor

by Carmel 3 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    April 4, 2004

    Pastor Steve

    Dear Pastor Steve,

    I want to thank you for coming to Astoria and presenting your seminar on biblical prophecy. I was only able to attend three of the evening sessions so my comments will only be based on those that I was able to participate in.

    First let me make known that I agree with you that the bible is the word of God, that its authors were indeed divinely inspired and that it is well that we daily peruse its pages. I was taken by your introductory remarks and hope I can accurately recount them. First you stated that the assumption for the class was that the bible was as stated above and that you supported that assumption by indicating it is the only one of the worlds ?holy? books that contains prophecies. What an intriguing way to begin the evening, if only it were true! You see pastor; I have two wonderful daughters-in-law, one from Sikh background and one from Muslim heritage. Both of them have shared with me many of the prophecies of their respective religions. For instance, the Holy Quran has literally dozens of prophecies about the ?return of Christ? and the ?end times? and ?day of judgment?. In addition the Hadith, companion scripture to the Quran, nearly half its renderings have to do with the return of the 12 th Imam, the Qiem, and the advent of the Lord Christ. I also checked further and found in the Hindu literature, there are similar prognostications. In Buddhist text the ?return of the fifth Buddha? is mentioned when world situations become so corrupt. He assures humanity the He will come and bring the spiritual teachings needed for that day. I was wondering what the members of your audience were thinking, those that appeared to be of East Indian origin. Did they not know their own scriptures?

    You were well to point out the need to not interject human interpretation into understanding the bible, even to the extent of making sure your ?teacher is tested?. In keeping with Proverbs 18:17 this admonition was well advised. Surely, I thought, there would then be an opportunity for us to ask questions, but alas, the ?seminar? was not structured for audience participation, except for singing and the occasional ?yeah brother?. You also cautioned your ?students? not to depend upon one or two verses to understand the scriptures, but to look at all those that pertained to a subject. This would provide clear understanding. I could do nothing but concur. I became concerned that you were yourself giving your meaning or understanding to scripture and assuring us it was ?thee truth?. I couldn?t help but think of the Prophet Daniel in his anxiety to understand the visions God was sharing with him and how perplexed he was not being able to understand. Finally the Lord instructed him to ?shut up the books, Oh Daniel, for they are sealed until the time of the end?. Surely you must in your thirty years of study of the bible know of this. Likewise you must surely know that try as they might, humans would not be allowed to ?unseal the books? until ?the one like-unto the Son of Man? would unseal them. Now, I understand this glorious being, if not Christ, one very much like him, would be the only one capable of bringing meaning to the body of scripture oft referred to a ?Apoctalyliptic?.

    So, my dear friend, as I sat and listened to your presentation of the Return of Christ coming on a cloud with millions upon millions of angels, how it was that you could be so assured of the literalness of this event when there were other scriptures that clearly indicate that ?flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God? and that ?all scripture must be discerned spiritually?. Was not the mistake of the Pharisees taking the Old Testament scriptures literally? How is it that you have the capacity to ?discern the meaning? when you claim that Christ has not yet returned? Are you the ?one like unto the Son of Man? or are you claiming this event has already occurred and the rest of us missed it?

    Surely my friend, it behooves us to consider all scripture that bears on the subject since Jesus, himself, made over two hundred references to His ?return? or to one that would ?glorify Him? all should be considered.

    I hope that my random comments have not been received negatively. It is my intention only to point out what I heard and saw as flaws in what was otherwise a well-composed and orchestrated production. It must be agreed upon, however, that building an argument on fallacious concepts or designing the event to exclude participation by seekers, is much like building your house upon sand, which you concede is not advocated by scripture.

    May you be blessed in your endeavors.

    Yours truly,

    Tod Jones

  • barry
    barry

    Gday Carmel,

    Im an SDA and I wouldnt bother to go to such a meeting. This meeting is designed to get new converts and as you say there is no question time. Better not to have people asking questions it may confuse new people.

    Ive never heard 'yeah brother' I think that would have been 'Amen brother'

    If you want to ask questions go to the sabbath school its a bit like the WT study but there will be a lot of free thinkers there. I argue with them about issues I feel are important but everyone there can have a say hell they even dissagree with there own churches doctrine at times.

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    hi Barry. I have several friends that are SDA and was "encouraged" to attend. I did so out of courtesy and I must say, a bit of curiosity. I've become so accustomed to meetings where everyone is considered equal and all participate in discussing matters that is was somewhat of a shock to see it orchastrated so that the audience could not be anything but passive recipients. Many attended the first night as it was a tad bit controversial. The local middle school was used and the letters to the editor were quite strident about using the shool for evangelizing. I personally agreed that the school should be available to all persuasions but it did bring out a good crowd. Each night though the attendance dwindled until it was pretty much the SDA members and one or two guests.

    I was interested in knowing how they understood scripture, and frankly found that the first night.

    cheers,

    carm

  • Robby
    Robby

    I was not there so i can not comment on the topics. But i think what was ment by the bible being the only book with Prophecies is that the bible is the only book that has fortold world events and the purpose of the messiah clearly. Isaiah fortold the death of Christ 300 years before it happened:

    1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

    He was wounded for our transgression, and by his stripes we are healed.

    4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

    God layed upon this man the sins of us all

    6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

    He was accused falsely before the council but he did not retaliate or respond to aquit himself.

    7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

    He was taken from his chains and from the courts: crucified (cut off from the land of the living) for our sins.

    8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

    He died with theives, but was burried in a rich mans tomb.

    9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

    It was Gods pleasure to make him a sin offering, he will see those who put their trust in him (his seed (remember he has no generation to declare, so it is speaking of a different kind of seed)) and he would prolong his days (bring him to life again), and the pleasure of the LORD shall be fulfilled in his hand.

    10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

    The new testament states that to as many as believe in Jesus God he has given them the right to be called children of God (believe in his forgiveness, and accept his indwelling Holy Spirit). The word also says that the seed of God indwells the believer: the Holy Spirit. We are made children of God by having the seed of Jesus the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, making us his children (seed).

    John 1:11 - 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

    1 Peter 1:23 - Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

    1 John 3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

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