I posted this last April but would like to take up a discussion

today I attended a 7th day adventist church, it was v inviting and welcoming. I was not really aware of heir specific take on things but the speaker talked about the emerging church movent and why he thought it was unsound. what are people thoughts on this?


secondly this is the text from part of a q and a section from a 7th day adventists website...

24. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)

25. Second Coming of Christ:
The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour's coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ's coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)

26. Death and Resurrection:
The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 146:3, 4; John 11:11-14; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John 5:28, 29; Rev. 20:1-10.)

27. Millennium and the End of Sin:
The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)

28. New Earth:
On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11:15.)


I am a bit confused as to this idea of a sanctuary being created now which seems to be a bit like the jewish tabernacle but bigger! hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Rachel, you might check out http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8036_1.html for a review of basic adventist teachings. Also: http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbear...ults/sda/adventi.htm has a history of the movement.

I haven't had much interaction with adventists other than with a forum member here, who seemed to be on something of a crusade for public worship on Saturday instead of Sunday and for keeping the Hebrew feast days. They seem to be literalists in their interpretation of the Bible -- e.g., seven 24-hr. days for the creation of the world. Your question about "sanctuary" above seems to be related to their literalism.

It sounds like you're investigating Christian traditions. Is there any particular reason why you're looking at the adventists? Do you have a friend who's with them?

quote:

...In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry.

In October 22, 1844, the Millerites were -- based on some very literal bible calculations -- expecting Jesus to appear in glory and by means of rapture, take the true church to glory with him. It did not happen! And they were of course greatly disappointed. What were all those people going to do with their lives, now that they had to live them out on earth like everyone else?

In the wake of the Great Disappointment, on October, 23, out in a field, Hiram Edson had a vision. In that vision he saw that Jesus did in fact move in 1844, but the move was not the earthly movement they had expected -- the move was in heaven. The problem of cognative dissonance was solved. They could hold to their previous literalism in biblical interpretation, and their calendar of the end times, and also go about the task of forming a denomination of like minded believers.

I found that story so fascinating that I, with my wife, went on a tour or Adventist geography. Together, we went to that field where Edson had his vision. It remains an open field of grass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Edson

I too wondered about the Jewish traits of the 7th Day Adventists. In addition to worshiping on Sabbath, they are vegetarian, as are many Jews.