Many Davidians grimace at the thought that God’s festivals are relevant and applicable to believers in these days. This view is clearly summarized by a recent document published by the Bashan Association of Davidians, in which they hold that to keep the festivals would be tantamount to crucifying Christ afresh. In their own words I now quote:
There are many vital truths which we can never compromise on, but there are also many non-essential points on which we may with fidelity to the message permit a difference of opinion. Regarding truths in the first category, such as keeping the typical feasts today (clearly a part of the ceremonial law), for example, we are specifically told that “this law, of course, we today must not observe, except in antitype, for it foreshadowed things to come, particularly Christ’s first advent” (2TG 37: 14). Brother Houteff goes on to explain that by observing the ceremonial law (of which the feasts are an integral part), we would by our actions be demonstrating “unbelief in Christ” and His atonement on the cross, whether or not it was our intention to do so. Compromising on such a point would be tantamount to crucifying our Saviour afresh, something no true follower of Christ would ever agree to knowingly do.[1]
The view here presented is the generally accepted view of a majority of Davidians, their “pasture” notwithstanding. So it should not be seen as a singling out of the Bashan group in this discovery. Whether or not the author of the paragraph above is aware of it, the “first category” of “non-essential points” he has actually, and correctly, called “truths,” yet he still condemns them as being “tantamount to crucifying the Saviour afresh.” The question I am challenged with is simply this: “which relevant truth, can cause a Christian to, by his obedience to it, crucify the Son of God afresh?” I am personally encouraged by Christ’s teaching which declares that, “now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (Joh 4:23). My friends, let us all become “truth”-worshippers, by His grace.
In Matthew chapter 20, the Spirit of “truth” teaches us that each team of servants/labourers that was called to work in the Master’s vineyard was called by Him alone, and not by the previous group, or by some election process of sorts. It was simply a call from the Householder for labourers, all of whom heard His Voice—the Voice of truth. Let’s see how the Bible treats this important subject:
“1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” (Matt. 20: 1-7).
“There are only five calls in the parable; First, those who were called early — Israel out of Egypt Second, those who went to labor in the vineyard at the third hour — the early Christian church Third, the sixth hour call — William Miller and his co-workers; Fourth, the ninth hour call — the Third angel in his first cry after 1844; Fifth, the 11th hour call — the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message.”[2]
- Early Morning—Israel Leaves Egypt—Passover and Law given at Sinai on Pentecost
- “Therefore, it was Israel that went to labor in the vineyard after they departed from Egypt. “According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” (Haggai 2:5.)… Therefore, the householder’s early hour call for laborers in His vineyard, applies to the call of Israel out of Egypt. Why is it called “early in the morning?” At that time Moses was writing the Bible, which is the light of the world. Therefore, very “early,” for the Scriptures had just begun to be written.”[3]
- 3rd Hour Labourers —Apostles and early Christians—Passover and at Pentecost
- “Therefore, the call of the Apostles, and the Gentiles, is represented by the “third hour call.”[4]
- 6th Hour Labourers—1st Day Adventists, or Millerites—Day of Atonement
- “Just such a message was presented to the world after A.D. 1798 and prior to A.D. 1844 in the preaching by William Miller of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14. Therefore, the message by Miller was represented by the company hired at the “sixth hour.”[5]
- 9th Hour Labourers—7th Day Adventists—Day of Atonement
- “Therefore, the ninth hour call must come after Miller’s work came to an end. It was the Sanctuary truth, and the investigative judgment preached since 1844, bound in the first, second and third angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-11.[6]
- “Note that these words closely associate “the sixth and ninth hour” calls, while the other calls are separated. The significance is that these two messages represented by the “sixth and ninth hour,” are to be closely joined to each other. Therefore, the ninth hour call must come after Miller’s work came to an end. It was the Sanctuary truth, and the investigative judgment preached since 1844, bound in the first, second and third angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-11. Therefore, the Three Angel’s Messages constituted that call in 1844.”[7]
- 11th Hour Labourers—Davidian 7th -Day Adventists—Passover
- “As the “Passover” and the slaughter of the “first-born (first fruits) who had not the blood on the “door posts,” released God’s ancient people from the bondage of Egypt, so shall the antitypical Passover (Ezek. 9:4; Isa. 66:16) free the first fruits, the 144,000, His first-born now, from the bondage of sin and sinners today.”[8]
- “When will this come to pass? — The type unquestionably reveals the time through the fact that only the first-born were then in danger. Accordingly, the antitypical Passover will take place in the time of the firstfruit harvest — the sealing of the 144,000, the firstfruits, the first to go to antitypical Jerusalem, the first to stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb, the first-born by the Spirit.– The Shepherd’s Rod Tract 1, p. 55, 56
- What is the message? The eleventh hour message is none other than Revelation 18 — the loud cry of the Third Angel. Quoting “Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 59: “This same message [The Third Angel’s] is to be proclaimed the second time.”[9]
- “The message swells to a Loud Cry by virtue of an “addition” which gives it “power and force.”–Early Writings, p. 277. The only conclusion admissible, therefore, is that since the church has never accepted an additional message, and since there has never come one (other than that in The Shepherd’s Rod publications) that would give “power and force” to the old message, the Loud Cry could not have begun at any time previous to this.”[10]
- “How do I know that the great day of the Lord is almost here? — I know it because the announcement of it is here already, and because the message of the marking that is foretold in Ezekiel’s chapter nine, the work of the Judgment, is already making its way throughout the Adventist world. I know it also because the material for the glory that follows immediately thereafter (the material that is to lighten the earth with the glory of the angel, the Loud Cry — Rev. 18:1) is all ready and waiting.”[11]
The truth of God’s appointed times (feast days) is inescapably clear from a correct analysis of the Bible and The Shepherd’s Rod message. Let not your personal prejudices, or even a group’s ingrained teachings against these statutes deny you from being fitted to meet your king.
One of the prophetic names given the SDA Church during her Laodicean period is “Judah.”
“Your obeying “all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments” of the moral law of Moses, you see, is your evidence that you have been born again, that you have been endowed with power from above, that you are enabled to choose the good and to refuse the evil, that you are the children of God. Keeping the commandments and the statutes in the Lord, then is the light and shield of your life. It is the outward sign that by the life of Christ you have overcome the Enemy of your soul and body. This system of worship, therefore, is truly the Righteousness by faith that brings the righteousness of Christ in the people of God. Let us now with ears wide open hear the crier’s bell:
“Isa. 52:1, 7 — “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean…. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
“Nah. 1:15 — “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that PUBLISHETH peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the WICKED shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly CUT OFF.”
“Here the prophetic Word of God plainly declares by both Isaiah and Nahum the prophets that when we see these good tidings published by him whose feet are seen upon the mountains (and this is now taking place for the first time since the prophets wrote), it is to be a sign that the wicked, the violators of the laws of Moses, are soon to be cut off from among God’s people. And now, since you are privileged to hear all these things, “happy are ye,” says the Lord, “if ye do them.” Job 13:17. Timely Greetings, (Vol. 2, No. 37: 24,25)
Author: Garrick Augustus, Sabbath, August 27, 2016 (At Bashan Hill)
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List of References
[1] V.T. Bingham, Divided Davidia © 2015, p. 6; italics added.
[2] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 236
[3] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 226
[4] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 227
[5] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 228
[6] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 229
[7] V.T. Houteff, 1932, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 229
[8] V.T. Houteff, 1941, Mount Sion At the Eleventh Hour, (Tract #8), p. 74.
[9] V.T. Houteff, The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, 230, 231
[10] V.T. Houteff, 1944, The Answerer, Book 1, p. 82
[11] V.T. Houteff, 1946, Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 5, p. 12.
The Adventist's Understanding of Prophecy 
Much food for thought.
Like the Isreal of old- so we are called to meet with God at his appointed times. There really is nothing wrong in doing so. We already do so on the weekly sabbath, which is included in the list of feasts in Leviticus.
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Amen! These things happened to them for “ensamples” (types)…
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With a holy sadness Jesus comforted and cheered the angels and informed them that hereafter those whom He should redeem would be with Him, and that by His death He should ransom many and destroy him who had the power of death. And His Father would give Him the kingdom and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, and He would possess it forever and ever. Satan and sinners would be destroyed, nevermore to disturb heaven or the purified new earth. Jesus bade the heavenly host be reconciled to the plan that His Father had accepted and rejoice that through His death fallen man could again be exalted to obtain favor with God and enjoy heaven. – {SR 44.1}—
Our job on this sinful earth is a restoration project to bring what was taken from God’s government back to the fold. We had lost the ability to find favor with God. However Christ, our High Priest has chosen to be our mediator. God’s law which is bound in heaven must be restored to this earth. There are appointed times he gave the priests (earthly) of old to meet to atone for the people(type) for ensamples. Israel was required to be present during those times or they risked being cut off from among God’s people a judgement given to earthly priests to do for those not present. Our High Priest is now doing the work, what do we think our High Priest will do if we are not present? Has God changed?
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Amen! We ought to be “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” (Heb. 10: 25). It is rather interesting to note that the early church acknowledged these “solemn assemblies,” yet a people whose message calls for a prophetic “solemn assembly”today would so thoroughly ignore their antitypical rehearsals and significance, as though they were “nailed to the cross.”
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Dear Reader:
The below letter is an e-mail sent to me from the Davidian teacher who was conducting the Bible Study in the Bashan Chapel on Sabbath, August, 27, 2016. She feels that “there is a misstatement made which should be corrected if accurate information is to be disseminated” by me, and has requested that I post this to my readership. In this regard, and in full compliance with her request, e-mail below is the Teacher’s response to my account of the above Article.–Garrick Augustus
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Date: Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 6:14 PM
Hello Bro. Garrick
Greetings to you in Jesus’ name.
In reading the below email in which reference was made to the study presented on Matthew 20, there is a misstatement made which should be corrected if accurate information is to be disseminated by you.
In the email you make the statement “The answer I provided was apparently not liked, but I stated, “because they did not understand God’s calendar.” I knew that any mention of “calendar” in such a setting translated to “feast days,” and so it was.” The question asked to which you gave the above-stated answer was, “Why the disappointment at the end of the 2300 days when everyone was expecting the Lord to return?” Your answer “because they did not understand God’s calendar” is not the answer the Lord gave.
But before I address that, I would like to address your statement “The answer I provided was apparently not liked.” It would never occur to me that you accept or reject truth based on what you do or do not “like.” Consequently, it came as a surprise to me that you would send out an email to however many people telling them that I accept and reject truth based on what I do or do not “like.” Since you did not ask me why your answer was not accepted, you presumed to know what I was thinking at the time. And based on that presumption, you have spread abroad an untrue statement. Should you be an honorable man, one who is not interested in being the bearer of false witness, it is my hope that you will send to those very same people this reply.
Now, in answer to the question, “Why the disappointment?”, the Lord gave His answer in this Early Writings, p. 235:3, statement: “I saw the people of God joyful in expectation, looking for their Lord. But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover this mistake, and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see it. God designed that His people should meet with a disappointment. The time passed, and those who had looked with joyful expectation for their Saviour were sad and disheartened, while those who had not loved the appearing of Jesus, but embraced the message through fear, were pleased that He did not come at the time of expectation. Their profession had not affected the heart and purified the life. The passing of the time was well calculated to reveal such hearts.” [Emphasis added.]
Had your answer been in harmony with God’s answer, yes, it would have been accepted. But since the Lord did not take this most opportune time to bring out “light” and “truth” concerning a “calendar” that they should have understood, and since He Himself said He covered the mistake for the purpose of proving the hearts of the people, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20. If the Lord places His hand over something, no amount of studying and praying is going to reveal what is under His hand. “Canst thou by searching find out God?” Job 11:7. It is certainly your prerogative to “search” and “research” to your heart’s content. But my faith and understanding must be based on a “thus saith the Lord” (which in this case is the Early Writings statement, “Inspiration”) as opposed to the searching and researching of a human mind, as you have repeatedly stated that you do not have “Inspiration.”
As for your presuming that your statement referencing “God’s calendar” “in such a setting translated to “feast days,” and so it was,” again, is inaccurate. And, again, since you did not ask me if that’s where my mind went, you would not know. As my mind was on the study being presented and not on the thought of “feast days,” even with your mention of “God’s calendar,” the truth is my mind did not revert to any thoughts of “feast days.” That was not relevant to the study being given so it is a truth that, no, “and so it was” not.
Again, it is my prayer, Brother Garrick, that you will prove yourself to be an honorable man and send this reply to all to whom you sent your presumption of what I was thinking. Better that they should hear from “the horse’s mouth,” as it were.
God bless and have a truly blessed Sabbath!
Sis. Danita
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Sister Danita:
Greetings to you in Jesus’ name. As stated on Friday evening, I would provide you a fuller response after Sabbath, I have decided to make good on my word with the available time I have today.
Firstly though, let me first apologize and ask your forgiveness for the feelings of hurt you’ve exhibited in your email. It was not my aim or intention to be the pureryor of a false report, to slight or the presentation you gave, in any way. But after reading your email, there was a voice in it which rang with a note of acrimony to which I now give you my personal feedback.
You will observa that I have attended the Sabbath afternoon meetings when my time allows me to, and have been quite respectful, even when I hear what I consider blatant statements that are not consistent with the entire credenda and theology of The Shepherd’s Rod, yet I have ever held my thoughts and have never had a dispute with any. Few and scattered are my conversations with the residents at Bashan, on matters of theology, because I am aware of the doctrinal foundations of many seasoned Bashanites and am not interested in a diatribe. So here is my feedback, so as to garner Christian courtesy and mutual respect, going forward.
“The gift of speech is a valuable talent. Never despise or demit this gift. Thank God for entrusting it to you. It is a precious gift, to be sanctified, elevated, and ennobled. As a sacred trust, the voice should be used to honor God. It should never utter harsh, impure words or words of faultfinding. The gospel of Christ is to be proclaimed by the voice. {VSS 14.2}
“With the talent of speech we are to communicate the truth as we have opportunity. It should ever be used in God’s service; but this talent is grievously abused. Words are spoken which do great harm. Christ declared, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” [Matthew 12:36, 37].–Ms 21, 1899. {E.G. White, Compilation, The Voice in Speech and Song, p. 14.3}
In my communications with you or any other, I have and will strive to be in compliance with the above quote. I once said to a brother here at Bashan, my experience shows that one of the most vexatious moments for the average Davidian, is to sit and hear another Davidian brother or sister from another Association teaching his or her understanding of the Rod. My observation was interrupted with a cacophony of almost uncontrollable laughter, for the truthfulness of my statement. And we passed the moment in pleasant conversations, even while we respectfully held different views on the relevance of God’s calendar for Christians today. So, rest assured that I am not trying to stoke an argument with you or anyone for that matter. The title of my short article and email clearly state my intent: to document that “The Eleventh Hour Chart Proves God’s Festivals are Relevant Today!”
Now let’s examine the voice in your statement:
As the recipient of this letter, I sense that your first two sentences above were designed to be contentious, for their intent demonstrates the invention of positions against me which are false. Please reread it and you will perhaps agree with me that they are a hyperbolic stretch of what I wrote and believe. Politicians use this parsing method quite freely, but we ought not to, as “truth’s disciples,” engage in this practice. Actually, throughout the entire paragraph there are many potentially acrimonious statements, which can make for long and unprofitable debates with the volleying of emails, of which I am not interested, nor one in which I am willing to participate. Look again at your accusations, such as: “you have spread abroad an untrue statement,” “interested in being the bearer of false witness,” and “telling them that I accept and reject truth based on what I do or do not ‘like,’” and determine if they are accurate and of a good report.
Each of those soundbites could take a paragraph to dispel, but I believe the Holy Spirit’s calling these into focus is sufficient. Your allegations have actually prompted me to search my emailed background story on how I received the knowledge in the article, in the minutest of detail, and I was ever so relieved to know that I did not as much as accidentally call your name, for in truth, it was not my purpose to even identify the speaker, even by gender, let alone by name. Also, that you should suggest that I “presumed to know what [you were] thinking at the time,” has left you in the judge’s chair, for that’s not what I thought of you. I was reporting on the feedback I was feeling from the audience after I spoke, the grumbles and stares, etc., which you perhaps were not aware of, as your “mind was on the study being presented and not on the thought of ‘feast days,’…”
So to unburden you of any concern that I was singling you out as having not liked my answer, far from it, as you will recall, we both spoke after the meeting and I expressed my appreciation for the study, and even on the following day, I gave you a reference from The Leviticus to consider, in light of what was generally agreed upon during the discussion phase. So to repeat, from my perspective, you were not in my focus when I wrote those words, and I was not prying into your thoughts to report on what you were or were not thinking. I do apologize to you, however, and to all others who may sense that I was being judgmental in my report, for any hurt you may have suffered, as a result of my condensed version of a summary report. And it is my hope that when read from this perspective, you will honestly realize that I was “not interested in being the bearer of false witness.”
You will further note, from the title of my article, that it was not my aim to report, in any measure or detail, all that went on during the Bible study, except for the very short window of time, when the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, and gave me the light on the truth that God’s Calendar is stamped all over the Eleventh-hour Chart! This is what I have invited a Christ-like discussion to, upon my blog, and welcome your feedback there. Some Davidians (perhaps you may fall in this category too, only you would know this for sure), might have difficulty with this statement, meaning they may not “like” it, based on their established and entrenched views against God’s calendar, but it is still the truth, and in time whey will learn to “like” it, simply for the fact that they love Jesus and are willing to obey His Word, even when those Words rub against the grain of our long held, and highly cherished beliefs.
With regard to your parsing my use of the word “like,” in a way I completely did not even suggest, let me appeal to the Christian’s text book for my answer:
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.” (Zech. 8:19).
“Like” being a diminutive of “love,” I used the less intensive of the two words, and as it turns out, we know that God is expecting that we will “love the truth.” Again, please forgive me for not using the word “love” instead of “like,” and I hope that this clarification will keep us in harmony—seeing eye to eye—that we should “love the truth and peace.”
Examining your Position Vs. Mine
This is the part of the conversation I am really excited about discussing on the blog, if you are willing to engage in the conversation there, for it at least touches on the subject matter on which I wrote—God’s Calendar. Here you state in bold relief, the following position:
There is a huge smile on my face right now, and I want you to know this as you read my assessment below, in the hopes that you will clearly see that it was only a correct understanding of God’s calendar which led to the discovery of the error (mistake) which was covered up from the knowledge of the Millerites (early Adventists).
I am sure you are confident that “God’s answer” to the question is found in Early Writings, and perhaps you may be just as confident that the error, for such it was, is still “under His hand.” But after 172 years (or 173 inclusive), is it your present belief that the mistake is still “under his hand?” Do you believe He has lifted his hand and finally revealed the real error of our pioneers? Your paragraph above, would appear to demonstrate that you believe His hand is still covering the “mistake,” for you suggest that “the Lord did not take this most opportune time to bring out ‘light’ and ‘truth’ concerning a ‘calendar’ that they should have understood.” Think about this statement very closely, and you will see that the very opposite had been the case, and that YHWH was indeed bringing out light on in that “most opportune time,” on the truth of His Calendar. But this “light” was not “liked” by many in the audience, and perhaps was not seen by you, as well, and so was not considered as “light” but darkness, instead. Now with that preamble, let’s consider some additional statements on this subject from the same author of Early Writings:
“In the summer of 1844, Adventists discovered the mistake in their former reckoning of the prophetic periods, and settled upon the correct position. The 2300 days of Daniel 8:14, which all believed to extend to the second coming of Christ, had been thought to end in the spring of 1844; but it was now seen that this period extended to the autumn of the same year, [SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 1.] and the minds of Adventists were fixed upon this point as the time for the Lord’s appearing. The proclamation of this time message was another step in the fulfillment of the parable of the marriage, whose application to the experience of Adventists had already been clearly seen.” {4SP 248.2}
“A few began to search the Scriptures after the disappointment in 1844, and the result was light in regard to what constituted the sanctuary. This searching revealed the fact that the prophecy referred not to this earth as the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the days, but to the heavenly sanctuary; and this truth
explained our disappointment in 1844. Investigation of the Scriptures
also revealed the light upon the Sabbath.” {4MR 403.2}
We should do well to understand what was “discovered” by the pioneers “in the summer of 1844,” to demonstrate that they had “discovered the mistake in their former reckoning.” Sister White has unabashedly declared the truth that it was a “search” of “the Scriptures” which eventually unlocked the mystery of the error that was covered up for so long. You see, there is value in “searching the Scriptures” for they declare our Messiah. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Joh 5:39). So there is an explicit truism, you see, that when we “search the Scriptures,” we will discover Jesus Christ, and thus become one of “Truth’s disciples.” And what did Inspiration say was discovered in that “search?” Let’s see: “This searching revealed the fact that the prophecy referred not to this earth as the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the days, but to the heavenly sanctuary; and this truth explained our disappointment in 1844.”
I know that you are fully aware that the sanctuary is only cleansed on the “Day of Atonement,” (DOA), and maybe you will now appreciate the truth, that this cleansing of the sanctuary was, by Divine design, consistently recurrent every year, to fall on a specific day on God’s annual feasts Calendar! In 1844, the DOA fell on October 22nd. By way of self-assessment, see if you or any other non-feast-keeping Davidian can, without appealing to the Internet, declare with certainty, the date for the DOA this year, 2016. I would truly welcome to the blog, your method of reckoning in which you certify your answer.
I will not now dwell on the fact that Ellen White had not heard a voice telling her, a Sunday keeper, which day was the Sabbath, but she was so directed, based on a “searching” of the Scriptures. In her own words again: “Investigation of the Scriptures also revealed the light upon the Sabbath.” Investigating the Bible, you see, is still heaven’s method of revealing new light.
In the appendix notes of 4SP p. 248, referenced above, is this beautiful paragraph from the Trustees of the EG White Estate, which is of historical validity, as it confirms what had already been stated by her in a number of places: “THEN THE QUESTION ARISES, IF WM. MILLER’S CALCULATION OF TIME WAS CORRECT, WHENCE HIS DISAPPOINTMENT? THIS WAS DUE TO HIS MISTAKE AS TO THE EVENT . THE PROPHECY SAYS, “UNTO TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED DAYS; THEN SHALL THE SANCTUARY BE CLEANSED.” MR. MILLER AND HIS ASSOCIATES FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT OF THE SANCTUARY AND ITS CLEANSING. HERE WAS THE SECRET OF THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT.” {4SP 495.4-496}.
Anyone who has “failed to understand the subject of the sanctuary and its cleansing” has summarily failed to understand God’s Calendar as produced in Leviticus Chapter 23. It was this study which led Samul Snow, during the Summer of 1844 to zero-in on the date of October 22nd, in what would then be known as “the seventh month movement.” What they were still grappling with, however, was the nature of the event to transpire—a date with destiny—when the sanctuary in heaven must be cleansed through the process of the Investigative Judgment. All who rejecters of God’s calendar today, will, from year to year, commemorate October 22nd as the DOA, but those who find relevance in it will not keep an out of season “festival,” and call it a “holy convocation.” To learn what the Holy Convocations are, one needs only to study Leviticus 23, the entire chapter. Here is a big hint: there are Seven of them, see if you can find them. You may see my presentation on the antitypical Day of Atonement—the judgment for the living in the SDA Church, by clicking on this link: https://sdaprophecies.wordpress.com/2016/09/12/the-hour-of-his-judgment-is-come/
Attesting to the truthfulness of the seventh month movement, Ellen White would, in 1846, later say: “The Lord has shown me in vision, that Jesus rose up, and shut the door, and entered the Holy of Holies, at the 7th month 1844; but Michael’s standing up (Daniel 12:1) to deliver his people, is in the future.” E.G. White, A Word To The Little Flock, p. 12.4.
“Miller and his associates at first believed that the 2300 days would terminate in the spring of 1844, whereas the prophecy points to the autumn of that year. [SEE DIAGRAM, NEXT PAGE; ALSO APPENDIX, NOTE 3.] The misapprehension of this point brought disappointment and perplexity to those who had fixed upon the earlier date as the time of the Lord’s coming. But this did not in the least affect the strength of the argument showing that the 2300 days terminated in the year 1844, and that the great event represented by the cleansing of the sanctuary must then take place.” {GC88 328.3-329}
“SNOW, SAMUEL S. (1806–1870). A Congregationalist, then a skeptic, later a Millerite minister; initiator of the ‘seventh-month movement.’ Beginning with an article written Feb. 16, 1843, he emphasized the tenth day of the Jewish seventh month, Tishri, the Jewish Day of Atonement, as the true ending date of the prophetic 2300 years. Later he set forth the specific day as Oct. 22, 1844, our calendar equivalent of the tenth day of the seventh month in that year according to the old Karaite Jewish calendar.”—The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. (1996). Review and Herald Publishing Association.
Even our theological nemeses are correct on their historical understandings of our great disappointment. Realizing that they don’t have a proverbial dog in this fight, let’s hear what the Roman Catholics have had to say about our Adventist historical heritage:
“The Seventh-day Adventist church traces its roots to American preacher William Miller (1782–1849), a Baptist who predicted the Second Coming…When Christ failed to appear, Miller reluctantly endorsed the position of a group of his followers known as the ‘seventh-month movement,’ who claimed Christ would return on October 22, 1844 (in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar).”– http://www.catholic.com/tracts/seventh-day-adventism
I was rather baffled by the following statement of yours, “you have repeatedly stated that you do not have ‘Inspiration.’” Could you kindly produce this statement for all the readers to see? I have searched and quadruple searched my document, and could not find it, so please assist me in this matter, if you can. What I have discovered to the contrary though is the following:
[The story behind this presentation is helpful: Last Sabbath I sat in Bashan’s chapel participating in a presentation of Matt. 20 by one of their staff members. The speaker asked “why was there a great disappointment in 1844?” The answer I provided was apparently not liked, but I stated, “because they did not understand God’s calendar.” I knew that any mention of “calendar” in such a setting translated to “feast days,” and so it was. But, as if a voice spoke to me, I started jotting down notes in a rather rapid pace, even as my eyes roved over the picture (chart) on the screen. It was then, for the very first time, that I had seen what you are about to read in this short summary (follow link). My attention was drawn to the undeniable fact that ALL of the five calls, and even the ones in the night part of the Chart, had all occurred on one of God’s Holy Days! At this point I shall say no more, but invite you to read the summary, leave your comments and keep the conversation going on my Blog.] – Garrick’s email Dated: Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 11:17 PM
In the above paragraph from the email which prompted your response, I am clear that I have averred Inspiration as my authority for disclosing the truth of YHWH’S calendar, and I would encourage the reader to look above and pay peculiar notice to the statements in bold text, as they stand in sharp distinction to the allegation that I did not claim “Inspiration.” But since you said I “repeatedly stated” that I did not have “Inspiration” on my side, I am simply asking for you to produce just one of those many instances.
You cited Job in an effort to pour cold water on my being a student of the Bible, in the following manner: “‘Canst thou by searching find out God?’ Job 11:7. It is certainly your prerogative to “search” and “research” to your heart’s content. But my faith and understanding must be based on a “thus saith the Lord” (which in this case is the Early Writings statement, “Inspiration”) as opposed to the searching and researching of a human mind…”
My response is already lengthy, yet measured, and I don’t want to be side-stepping your charges, however, so I will seize upon this opportunity, in the interest of all other readers, to shed some illumination on the Job passage, for the manner in which you used it, discourages the deep study of God’s Word, which I can only imagine you did not intend to convey. The correct context for the partial verse you cited, will immediately unveil its true intent and meaning, especially if read through to verse 10.
“It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or the works of the Infinite One. To the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind, that holy Being must ever remain clothed in mystery. ‘Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?’ Job 11: 7, 8.
“The apostle Paul exclaims, ‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!’ Romans 11:33. But though ‘clouds and darkness are round about Him,’ ‘righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne.’ Psalm 97:2, R.V. We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love.”—E.G. White, Steps to Christ, pp. 105-106.1
So we cannot put YHWH in a test tube or attempt to experiment on Him in a laboratory, to determine how he functions, what makes Him tick, so to speak, how much energy does he possess, how vast is his brain, how many lumens emanate from his eyes, etc., & etc. Hence, the “searching” here has to do with investigating into knowledge his existential nature. In this regard, no amount of searching, praying or prying, can find out this mystery, for “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29). But to know His will, we are encouraged to “search” and “investigate” God’s Word—the Bible, and great shall be our reward.
“14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Tim. 2: 14-16).
In closing, I wish to clearly state that it is not my purpose to be contentious about this matter, and I pray that I have exuded such a spirit and tone in this response. My true intention is to summon the investigative minds of all God’s “little ones,” to engage in this beneficial study of His Holy Times. While we may disagree about our common Adventist history and legacy, we ought not to be disagreeable, and most of all, we must maintain our Christ-likeness even when we are proven right or wrong in a public way. The truth of God is not about us, for we are all coming out of darkness into His marvelous light.
I remain your brother in the faith for a closer walk with Jesus Christ, for a deeper study of His Word, for a clearer appreciation of His divinely appointed times today, as enunciated in his eternal Calendar, and for the fostering of Christian love among “Truth’s disciples,”
Garrick Augustus
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