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Sermon One
Daniel’s Daily: The "Daily" History
We believe that the 1843 chart that was Present Truth in the
Millerite time period is now Present Truth again for us at the end of the world
although in a different aspect. Every part of this chart has light for us that
we need to understand if we are to correctly discern the prophecies for today.
Prophecy shows us that not only will the 144,000 have complete victory over sin,
they will have the experience that prophecy calls each man and woman to, and
they will also have a full understanding of the prophetic message so they will
have a grasp of the different truths that are represented on this chart.
We are going to look at the Daily as shown on the 1843 chart.
First the history of the ‘Daily’, and this statement in Early
Writings:
"September 23, the Lord showed me that He had stretched out
His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people, and that efforts
must be redoubled in this gathering time. In the scattering, Israel was smitten
and torn, but now in the gathering time God will heal and bind up His people.
In the scattering, efforts made to spread the truth had but
little effect, accomplished but little or nothing; but in the gathering, when
God has set His hand to gather His people, efforts to spread the truth will have
their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in the work. I saw that
it was wrong for any to refer to the scattering for examples to govern us now in
the gathering; for if God should do no more for us now than He did then, Israel
would never be gathered.
I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of
the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He
wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so
that none could see it, until His hand was removed.
"Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’ (Daniel 8:12) that the
word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text,
and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment
hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the
correct view of the ‘daily’; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have
been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a
test since 1844, and it will never again be a test." Early Writings,
74–75.
Most of us in Adventism are not familiar with the subject of
the Daily and what it represents in Daniel 8, 11, and 12. Few realize that what
we teach about the Daily in Adventism today is directly opposite to what the
pioneer view of it was. When we begin to look at this we see that there was a
controversy over the Daily that came in to Adventism in the early 1900s, and
during the fourteen years that Ellen White was alive she did comment on the
Daily. It was not until 1931 that A. G. Daniells came out with a statement where
he said that he believed that Sister White endorsed his view of the Daily. We
reject his conclusion and we will show the logic of this.
The Modern Historians
Those modern historians that suggest that A. G. Daniells’
understanding of the daily was correct and the pioneer position was incorrect
seem not to be very careful to notice what the above passage in Early Writings
is saying.
"Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’ (Daniel 8:12) that the
word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text,
and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment
hour cry."
William Miller, Josiah Litch, Sylvester Bliss, Joseph Bates,
J. N. Andrews, Hiram Edson, James White, Uriah Smith, Steven Haskell, J. G.
Matson, F. C. Gilbert and J. N. Loughborough all believed the "daily" symbolized
paganism—and they presented this truth in their writings.
This includes some of the best known names of those who gave
the judgment hour cry and Sister White said that those who gave the judgment
hour cry were correct on the subject of the Daily.
The modern historians wrest that statement and say that all
she was saying in that statement is there will be no more time-prophecies. I
would submit to you that if you took this statement to an English teacher they
would say that you cannot draw that conclusion from this statement.
Nearly all were united on the correct view of the daily and
the correct view was given to those who gave the judgment hour cry. They were
given the correct view.
We have deeper studies on the Daily available but in this
study we are going to make more of an overview of this subject.
The view that was coming into Adventism in the early 1900s
was a view that was largely taught, before William Miller was raised up, was an
old view taught by mainline Protestantism that it represented Christ’s work in
the heavenly sanctuary. But William Miller came to understand the Daily as
representing Paganism in the book of Daniel and until 1901, which was the
standard teaching in Adventism.
In 1901, the old protestant view was reintroduced into
Adventism by Lewis Conradi from Germany, so in Adventism this old protestant
view that the Daily represented Christ’s ministry in the sanctuary, became known
as the ‘new view’. The view that the Daily represented Paganism is one of the
things that William Miller discovered.
Now we have a statement from A. G. Daniells suggesting that
he had an interview with Ellen White during the 1910 time period where she
endorsed his view of the Daily—the old protestant view, called the ‘new view’ in
Adventism, which he had gotten from Conradi who had gotten it from apostate
Protestantism—and not Miller’s view.
Here is A. G. Daniells’ statement as found in Arthur White’s
biographical books volume 6.
"At one point a little later in the discussions, Elder
Daniells, accompanied by W. C. White and C. C. Crisler, eager to get from Ellen
White herself just what the meaning was of her Early Writings statement,
went to her and laid the matter before her. Daniells took with him Early
Writings and the 1843 chart. He sat down close to Ellen White and plied her with
questions. His report of this interview was confirmed by W. C. White:"
W. C. White, Ellen White’s son confirms that Daniells had an
interview with Ellen White on the Daily in the 1910 time period but in the
records of the Ellen White estate there is no record that he ever interviewed
Ellen White on the Daily—keep that in mind because we will have more to say
about the Ellen White Estate record-keeping.
Continuing, here is what Daniells said:
" ‘I first read to Sister White the statement given above in
Early Writings. Then I placed before her our prophetic chart used by our
ministers in expounding the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. I called her
attention to the picture of the sanctuary and also to the 2300-year period as
they appeared on the chart.
‘I then asked if she could recall what was shown her
regarding this subject.
‘As I recall her answer, she began by telling how some of the
leaders who had been in the 1844 movement endeavored to find new dates for the
termination of the 2300-year period. This endeavor was to fix new dates for the
coming of the Lord. This was causing confusion among those who had been in the
Advent Movement.
‘In this confusion the Lord revealed to her, she said, that
the view that had been held and presented regarding the dates was correct, and
that there must never be another time set, nor another time message."
Now we just read her statement and here he is suggesting that
all she was saying in that statement is that there is no more timesetting. He is
disregarding the fact that she says that hose who gave the judgment hour message
had the correct view on the Daily. He just walks right past that. He continues
on:
" ‘I then asked her to tell what had been revealed to her
about the rest of the ‘daily’—the Prince, the host, the taking away of the
‘daily,’ and the casting down of the sanctuary.’ "
Note that in early writings pg 74 she does not say anything
about "the Prince, the host, the taking away of the ‘daily,’ and the casting
down of the sanctuary." But this does not take away the fact that she said that
those who gave the judgment hour message had the correct view on the Daily!
Doesn’t matter if she had any light on the rest of those things, what she was
told about the Daily is that William Miller had it right. Continuing on with
Daniells’ statement:
" ‘She replied that these features were not placed before her
in vision as the time part was. She would not be led out to make an explanation
of those points of the prophecy.
‘The interview made a deep impression upon my mind. Without
hesitation she talked freely, clearly, and at length about the 2300-year period,
but regarding the other part of the prophecy she was silent.
‘The only conclusion I could draw from her free explanation
of the time and her silence as to the taking away of the ‘daily’ and the casting
down of the sanctuary was that the vision given her was regarding the time, and
that she received no explanation as to the other parts of the prophecy.’
Daniells statement, September 25, 1931." Ellen G. White, volume 6, The
Elmshaven Years, 1905—1915, page 256, 257.
Now I don’t doubt that she may have had no explanations to
the other parts of the prophecy but she DID say that the men who gave the
judgment hour cry were CORRECT on the Daily.
Now this interview that W. C. White says he remembers A. G.
Daniells having with Ellen White supposedly took place in 1910 even though there
is no record of it in the White Estate. But during the time when the argument
was going on, F. C. Gilbert, a convert to Adventism from Judaism, (He was a
Hebrew scholar, it was his first language. He knew the Hebrew and he was
defending the Pioneer position that the Daily represented Paganism from the
Hebrew language against A. G. Daniels and Prescott. He was there in that Battle)
he says that he had an interview on the subject of the Daily with Ellen White in
1910, and on his death bed that same year, he recorded what the interview was
about, what he remembered about that interview. And if you go back to the White
Estate and you look at the log book of the people that interviewed Ellen White,
sure enough on the very date that he said he interviewed Ellen White on the
Daily, it says "F. C. Gilbert was here and interviewed Ellen White on the
Daily."
So the very year it happened you have one person saying, "I
interviewed Ellen White on the Daily," and the record is there. Twenty-one years
after 1910 and sixteen years after Ellen White was laid to rest, so there is no
way she could confirm or deny the report, A. G. Daniels says he had an interview
that has no reference in the White Estate log-book and these two interviews are
totally opposite.
Why is it important to look at F. C. Gilbert’s statements?
You don’t hear this because the subject of the Daily isn’t discussed much except
as it is taught the incorrect way in Adventism, but when the manuscript releases
volumes came out in the 1970s, 1980s, there was in it a manuscript from 1910,
that very year, where Sister White is talking about Daniells’ view of the Daily
and if you look at her statement from that very year, you’ll see that she is
saying the identical things that F. C. Gilbert said.
If you took that into a court of law to an non-Adventist and
just looked at the validity of the witnesses and compared how supportable were
the witnesses, there is no way that a jury would come down on A. G. Daniells’
side, they would have to come down on F. C. Gilbert’s side.
Here are some of the things that F. C. Gilbert says in his
deathbed statement:
A Scheme of the Devil
F. C. Gilbert reported on June 9, 1910, that on June 8, 1910,
Ellen White stated to him; that what Daniells and Prescott were teaching [the
daily] was "a scheme of the devil."
"Daniells and Prescott . . . would not give the the older
brethren in the cause any chance to say anything. . . . Daniells was here to see
me, and I would not see him. . . . I would not have anything to say to
him about anything. About the ‘daily’ that they are trying to work up, there
is nothing to it. . . . When I was in Washington there seemed to be
something that just encased their minds, and I could not seem to touch them. We
are to have nothing to do with this subject of the ‘daily’ . . . I knew they
would work against my message, and then the people would not think there was
anything to my message. I have written to him and told him that he was showing
himself not fit to be president of the General Conference . . . not the
man to keep the Presidency.
"If this message of the ‘daily’ were a testing message the
Lord would have shown me. These people do not see the end from the beginning
in this thing. . . . I utterly refuse to see any of them who are engaged
in this work.
"The light that was given me of God is that Brother
Daniells has stood in the Presidency long enough . . . and I was told not
to have any more conversation with him about any of these things."
Now when Sister White is saying "I was told…" Who is telling
her? God, an angel is saying do not do this. Now this article is not Sister
White writing, it is F. C. Gilbert as he remembered his interview.
Continuing:
"I would not see Daniells about the matter, and I would
not have one word with him. They pled with me to give him an interview, but
I would not give him any at all. . . . I was told to warn our people not to have
anything to do with this thing they are teaching. . . . I was forbidden of the
Lord to listen to it. I have expressed myself as not having a particle of
confidence in it. . . . This whole thing they are doing is a scheme of the
devil." F. C. Gilbert’s deathbed report of an interview given him by Ellen
White on June 8, 1910.
Now we have read what Sister White says in Early Writings
about the Daily; she says those people that gave the judgment hour cry were
correct on the Daily and they believed the Daily is Paganism. That was the
standard understanding until 1901, when Lewis Conradi, one of the most famous
apostates in the history of Adventism, introduced this false view of the Daily
and it was taken up by Daniells and Prescott and they began to agitate the
subject. He was a man that pretty much single-handedly destroyed the confidence
of the brethren in Europe in the Spirit of Prophecy to this very day.
Sister White had many things to say about the controversy
that then raged about whether the Pioneer position was correct or this new view
was correct. She was dealing with the shaking it was causing within the church,
not so much with any of the theological analysis of the Daily, but she wrote
things about whether we should be presenting the Daily or arguing about the
Daily.
Sixteen years after her death, Daniells says that he had an
interview where Sister White basically endorses his position, yet one of the men
that was opposing Daniells HAD an interview with Sister White that is confirmed
and he says the opposite thing as Daniells and then in the 1970s or 1980s when
manuscript releases came out, Sister White makes her statements about the Daily
and you will see that what F. C. Gilbert was stating is what Sister White is
stating. She is agreeing with F. C. Gilbert’s testimony of the interview.
Errors and Dangers of Prescott and Daniells; The Cities to Be
Worked
A.G. Daniells was elected president of the General Conference
in 1901. This suggests that this document was written in 1910, a time
when Mrs. White was very concerned about Daniells’ neglect of the cities and his
involvement in the controversy over the ‘Daily.’ Editors, Manuscript Releases.
Volume 20, 17-22.
[Note: 1910 was the year that Daniells claimed to have had an
interview with Sister White and the year F. C. Gilbert DID have an interview
with her.]
"At this stage of our experience we are not to have our minds
drawn away from the special light given [us] to consider at the important
gathering of our conference. And there was Brother Daniells, whose
mind the enemy was working; [note: in the culture of Christianity, what does
it mean when the enemy is working someone’s mind? Satan is influencing their
mind!] and your mind and Elder Prescott’s mind were being worked by the
angels that were expelled from heaven. Satan’s work was to divert your minds
that jots and tittles should be brought in which the Lord did not inspire you to
bring in. They were not essential. But this meant much to the cause of truth.
And the ideas of your minds, if you could be drawn away to jots or tittles, is
a work of Satan’s devising. To correct little things in the books
written, you suppose would be doing a great work. But I am charged, Silence is
eloquence."
[We have statements from Ellen White that Uriah Smith’s book
Daniel and Revelation is God’s helping hand. He has the subject of the Daily
correctly understood and these men wanted to go back into the book and change
the view to match with theirs. So part of what she is saying here is that they
do not need to go in and change those books because they are correct on the
Daily.]
"I am to say, Stop your picking flaws. If this purpose of
the devil could only be carried out, then [it] appears to you [that] your
work would be considered as most wonderful in conception. It was the enemy’s
plan to get all the supposed objectionable features where all classes of minds
did not agree. And what then? The very work that pleases the devil would come to
pass. There would be a representation given to the outsiders not of our faith
just what would suit them, that would develop traits of character which would
cause great confusion and occupy the golden moments which should be used
zealously to bring the great message before the people. The presentations upon
any subject we have worked upon could not all harmonize, and the results would
be to confuse the minds of believers and unbelievers. This is the very thing
that Satan had planned that should take place–anything that could be magnified
as a disagreement.
"Read Ezekiel, chapter 28. Now, here is a grand work, where
strange spirits can figure. But the Lord has a work to [be] done to save
perishing souls; and the places which Satan, disguised, could fill in, bringing
confusion into our ranks, he will do to perfection, and all those little
differences will become enlarged, prominent.
"And I was shown from the first that the Lord had
given neither Elders Daniells nor Prescott the burden of this work. Should
Satan’s wiles be brought in, should this ‘Daily’ be such a
great matter as to be brought in to confuse minds and hinder the advancement of
the work at this important period of time? It should not, whatever may be.
This subject should not be introduced, for the spirit that would be
brought in would be forbidding, and Lucifer is watching every movement. Satanic
agencies would commence his work and there would be confusion brought into our
ranks. You have no call to hunt up the difference of opinion that is not a
testing question; but your silence is eloquence. I have the matter all plainly
before me. If the devil could involve any one of our own people on these
subjects, as he has proposed to do, Satan’s cause would triumph. Now the work
without delay is to be taken up and not a [difference] of opinion expressed."
Note: right here in these paragraphs she is saying that
Daniells’ mind was being worked by angels that were expelled from heaven and his
ideas of the Daily were Satan’s wiles and they should not be introduced at this
time. Yet sixteen years after Ellen White died, Daniells said that very year he
had an interview with Sister White and all he concludes is that she endorsed his
position on the Daily. Yet the very year she was writing this, F. C Gilbert says
he had an interview with Sister White which is recorded in the White Estate and
he agrees with what Sister White is saying about Daniels’ and Prescott’s’ new
view of the Daily. She told him it was from the devil.
Continuing:
"Satan would inspire those men who have gone out from us to
unite with evil angels and retard our work on unimportant questions, and what
rejoicing [there] would be in the camp of the enemy. Press together, press
together. Let every difference be buried. Our work now is to devote all our
physical and brain-nerve power to put these differences out of the way, and all
harmonize. If Satan could with his great unsanctified wisdom be permitted to get
the least hold, [he would rejoice].
"Now, when I saw how you were working, my mind took in the
whole situation and the results if you should go forward and give the
parties that have left us the least chance to bring confusion into our ranks.
Your lack of wisdom would be just what Satan would have it. Your loud
proclamation [of his view of the Daily] was not under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. I was instructed to say to you that your picking flaws in the
writings of men that have been led of God is not inspired of God. And if this is
the wisdom that Elder Daniells would give to the people, by no means give him an
official position, for he cannot reason from cause to effect. [In F. C.
Gilberts statement the same thing is noted and that Daniells should not be the
president any longer. That is just what she is saying here.] Your silence on
this subject is your wisdom. Now, everything like picking flaws in the
publications of men who are not alive is not the work God has given any of you
to do. For if these men—Elders Daniells and Prescott—had followed the directions
given in working the cities, there would have been many, very many, convinced of
the truth and converted, able men that [now] are in positions where they never
will be reached."
Note: in modern Adventism, one of the arguments on even
discussing the Daily is that so often when Sister White was even discussing the
subject of the Daily she said, "Silence is eloquence". If you check the
statements where she is saying this it is from this situation where these men
were bringing in a false view of the Daily from the devil and she is telling
them, "your wisdom is to keep your mouth shut about this subject." That was the
specific counsel she was giving to Daniells and Prescott wasn’t the general
counsel to all of Adventism, because at THAT time most of the church held the
correct view and Daniells and Prescott were agitating error. She was advising
the subject be dropped so that the minority position of Daniells and Prescott
would simply disappear leaving the church united on the correct view.
Therefore now when the modern theologians are saying "you
should not be discussing the Daily", she was not giving that type of counsel,
she was trying to control a controversy being brought into the church at that
time and the situation no longer applies to us today.
Continuing:
"All the world is to be regarded as one great family. And
when you have such a fountain of knowledge to draw from, why have you left the
world to perish for years with the testimonies given by our Lord Jesus Christ?
True religion teaches us to regard every man and woman as a person to whom we
can do good.
"This has been in print many years: ‘A Balanced Mind,’
testimony to Elder Andrews. The mind may be cultivated to become a power to know
when to speak and what burdens to take up and to bear, for Christ is your
teacher. And I feared greatly for you [when I saw you] exalting your wisdom and
pursuing a course to bring in differences of opinion. The Lord calls for wise
men who can hold their peace when it [is] wisdom for them to do so. If you would
be a whole man, you need sanctification through Jesus Christ. Now there is a
work just started, and let wisdom be seen in every minister, in every president
of [a] conference. But here was a work for you to take hold of years ago where
you were needed to lift your voice for this very work. Christ gave all His
people special directions what they shall do and the things they shall not do.
And there is a little time left us to work out the righteousness of the Lord.
"You can understand the way of the Lord. I saw your purpose
of carrying things after your own devising after you were placed as president.
You had thought you would do wonderful things, which would be a work God had not
placed in your hands to do. Now, your work is not to oppress but to release
every necessity possible if the Lord has accepted you to serve. But you have
very early given evidence that wisdom and sanctified judgment have not been
manifested by you. You blazed out matters that would not be received unless the
Lord should give light.
"I have been instructed that such hasty movements should not
have [been] made [such] as selecting you as president of the conference even
another year. But the Lord forbids any more such hasty transactions until
the matter is brought before the Lord in prayer; and as you have had the message
come to you that the work of the Lord resting upon the president is a most
solemn responsibility, you had no moral right to blaze out as you did upon
the subject of the ‘Daily’ and suppose your influence would decide the
question. There was Elder Haskell, [on the right side of the Daily] who has
carried the heavy responsibilities, and there is Elder Irwin and several men I
might mention who have the heavy responsibilities.
"Where was your respect for the men of age? What
authority could you exercise without taking all the responsible men to weigh the
matter? But let us now investigate the matter. We must now reconsider whether it
is the Lord’s judgment, in the face of the work that has been neglected, of
showing your zeal to carry the work even another year. If you should carry the
work another year with the help that shall unite with you, there should be a
change take place in you and Elder Prescott. And humble your own hearts before
God. The Lord will have to see in you a showing of a different experience, for
if ever men needed to be reconverted at this present [time], it [is] Elder
Daniells and Elder Prescott."
What time was this? In 1910, the same time that Daniells said
he was interviewing Sister White and she was endorsing his position of the Daily
which she says in this passage came from the devil.
"Seven men should be chosen that are men of wisdom and
through the working of the grace of God [give] evidence [of] a reconversion. For
any men who are so blinded that they cannot reason from cause to effect, that
they would ignore the men who have borne the responsibilities of the work and
these presidents of conferences, [that] men [who] carry the work for over two
years should be disregarded and such an impulsive consequence take place that
men would neglect the very work kept before them for years—work the cities–and
no, or but very little, attention [be] given to the old men for counsel, but
proclaim the things they choose to give the people, bears its own testimony of
the unsafety of the men to be entrusted with such a grand and wonderful work.
"Christ is not dead. He will never suffer His work to be
carried on in this strange way. Let the books alone. If any change is essential,
God will have the harmony in that change consistent, but when a message has been
entrusted to men with the large responsibilities involved, [God] demands
faithfulness that will work by love and purify the soul. Elders Daniells and
Prescott both need reconversion. A strange work has come in, and it is not
in harmony with the work Christ came to our world to do; and all who are truly
converted will work the works of Christ.
"We are every one [to] work out the work which shall glorify
the Father. We have come to the crisis—either to conform to the character of
Jesus Christ right in this preparatory time or not attempt [it]. Elder Daniells,
[you are not] to feel at liberty to let your voice be heard on high as you have
done under similar circumstances. And understand, the president of a conference
is not a ruler. He works in connection with the wise men who occupy the position
as presidents whom God has accepted. He has not liberty to meddle with the
writings in printed books from the pens that God has accepted. They are no
longer to bear sway unless they show less of the ruling, dominating power. The
crisis has come, for God will be dishonored.
"How does the Lord look upon the unworked cities? Christ is
in heaven. Now its acknowledgment is to be, ‘There is no kingly rule.’ And now
is the crisis of this world. Now I am the Power to save or to destroy. Now is
the time when the destiny of all is in My hands. I have given My life to save
the world. And ‘I, if I be lifted up,’ the saving grace I shall impart will
prove that all who will be fashioned after the divine similitude and will be one
with Me shall work as I work with My power of redeeming grace.’ Whoever will,
[let him] take hold with his brethren to do the work given them to do when in
responsible places under the counsel the Lord gives, and seek most earnestly to
work in complete harmony with Him who so loved the world He gave His life a full
sacrifice for the saving of the world.
"I speak to our ministers, that as they enter upon the work
in our cities let there be a calm sacredness attending the ministry of the Word.
We cannot make the proper impression upon the minds of the people if we . . .
[Lower third of this page left blank.]
"I copy from my Diary. The truth as it is in Jesus–talk it,
pray it, believe every word in its simplicity. What would you gain if mistakes
are brought before the men who have departed from the faith and given heed to
seducing spirits, men who were not long ago with us in the faith? Will you stand
on the devil’s side? Give your attention to the unworked fields. A world-wide
work is before us. I was given representations of John Kellogg. A very
attractive personage was representing the ideas of the specious arguments that
he was presenting, sentiments different from the genuine Bible truth. And those
who are hungering and thirsting after something new were advancing ideas [so
specious] that Elder Prescott was in great danger. Elder Daniells was in great
danger [of] becoming wrapped in a delusion that if these sentiments could be
spoken everywhere it would be as a new world.
"Yes, it would, but while their minds were thus absorbed I
was shown that Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were weaving into their
experience sentiments of a spiritual[istic] appearance and drawing our
people to beautiful sentiments that would deceive, if possible, the very elect."
Note: She is here indicating that there is something about
the false view of the Daily that would deceive the very elect. This is not a
minor error, this is part of 2 Thessalonians 2 that those people who do not
receive a love of the truth are going to receive strong delusion. She is
inferring that right here.
Continuing:
"I have to trace with my pen [the fact] that these brethren
would see defects in their delusive ideas that would place the truth in an
uncertainty; and [yet] they [would] stand out as [if they had] great spiritual
discernment. Now I am to tell them [that] when I was shown this matter, when
Elder Daniells was lifting up his voice like a trumpet in advocating his ideas
of the ‘Daily,’ the after results were presented. Our people were becoming
confused. I saw the result, and then there were given me cautions
that if Elder Daniells without respect to the outcome should thus be impressed
and let himself believe he was under the inspiration of God, skepticism would be
sown among our ranks everywhere, and we should be where Satan would carry his
messages. Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds, and strange
crops of evil would take the place of truth. Manuscript 67, 1910, 1–8."
Manuscript Releases, volume 20, 17–22.
1 Cor. 14:32, 33 "And the spirits of the prophets are subject
to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints."
She was shown that their ideas of the Daily would bring about
confusion and who is the author of confusion? It is not the Lord.
"Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds,
and strange crops of evil would take the place of truth." This is certainly
where we are at in Adventism today. In the last quarter of 2004 the Sabbath
School lessons dealt with the Daily in the book of Daniel and they taught it
just as Daniells and Prescott presented it.
Time and Place
"Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored;
nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered." Selected
Messages, book 1, 57.
For example, there are passages that Sister White points out
that it is a sin to own a bicycle. Is it sin to own a bicycle today? Perhaps for
some, but in third world countries there are many people carrying out their
mission work on bicycles. But when she made these statements it was a fashion
fad and it would take a couple month’s wages to buy a bicycle and people were
doing it just to make a fashion statement. "Time and place must be considered."
Present Truth
"In every age there is a new development of truth, a message
of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential;
new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is
only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new. When
Christ desired to open to His disciples the truth of His resurrection, He began
‘at Moses and all the prophets’ and ‘expounded unto them in all the scriptures
the things concerning Himself.’ Luke 24:27. But it is the light which shines in
the fresh unfolding of truth that glorifies the old. He who rejects or
neglects the new does not really possess the old. For him it loses its vital
power and becomes but a lifeless form." Christ’s Object Lessons, 127.
There is certainly going to be a message of Present Truth for
us here at the end of time. Whatever message it is, will be in harmony with the
foundational message of the pioneers, and only by understanding the old truths,
will we comprehend the new properly. If new light comes to God’s people, some
will not recognize or receive it.
Some say we are not to expect new light, but Sister White
says we are to be searching for new light as a miner digs for treasure. Prophecy
says that it continues to unfold at the end of the world.
"He who rejects or neglects the new does not really possess
the old." You cannot recognize new light unless you understand the foundations.
How can you tell light from darkness if you do not have any understanding of the
true foundations of Adventism? One of the big parts of the early pioneer’s
message was the 1843 chart which Sister White said was endorsed by God and
should not be altered.
In Adventism today a good percentage do not even know that
there was a chart or what it meant. This is a divine foundation of Adventism,
endorsed by God, found in the 1843 chart and we need to understand it.
The Eleventh Chapter of Daniel
"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The
world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in
the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has
nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken
place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a
power is spoken of that ‘shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation
against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have
intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. Daniel 11:30–36 quoted.
"Scenes similar to those described in these words will take
place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds
who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the
prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken
of." Manuscript Releases, number 13, 394.
Here Sister White is taking about a future fulfillment of
verses in Daniel 11, she says much of it will be repeated and then she
specifically says verses 30-36 will be repeated. Verse 31 includes the Daily:
Dan. 11:31 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the
sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate." She had something to say about the
controversy about the Daily that came in during her life time, but at that time
the final verses of Daniel 11 had not begun to unfold. They began to unfold in
1989.
She did say that when these final verses are fulfilled the
history of verses 30-36 is a pattern for that future fulfillment. The fact that
the Daily is a part of these verses means that suddenly it has a Present Truth
component that it did not have in 1901 to 1915. When it comes to the
Testimonies, time and circumstances are to be considered. In every age there is
a new development of Present Truth and the subject of the Daily means more for
us here at the end of the world as the last six verses of Daniel 11 are
beginning to unfold than it did back then it did back then when Daniells and
Prescott were preaching that the Daily represented the work of Christ in the
heavenly sanctuary.
In conservative Adventism today some staunchly uphold the
pioneer position on the Daily while some do not like to separate themselves from
the standard position that is taught today by the modern theologians. One of the
arguments is this, "Brother you shouldn’t be talking about the Daily. Sister
White says we’re not supposed to talk about the Daily." This is a common
argument. We will look at some of those passages in their context:
Under Present Circumstances
"This is not a time to make prominent unimportant
points of difference. If some who have not had a strong living connection with
the Master, reveal to the world their weakness of Christian experience, the
enemies of the truth who are watching us closely will make the most of it, and
our work will be hindered. Let all cultivate meekness, and learn lessons from
Him who is meek and lowly in heart.
"The subject of ‘the daily’ should not call forth such
movements as have been made. As a result of the way this subject has been
handled by men on both sides of the question, controversy has arisen and
confusion has resulted. . . . While the present condition of difference of
opinion regarding this subject exists, let it not be made prominent. Let all
contention cease. At such a time silence is eloquence." Notebook
Leaflets, number 2, 161.
When she made this statement it was such a minority that was
pushing the false view of the Daily against the majority of the Adventist
church. But today the majority doesn’t have a position one way or the other on
the Daily. We are walking along in our Laodecian condition and we hardly
understand anything about prophecy.
There is a small group that think they understand something
about it and by far the majority in that group have the position that Sister
White said came from the devil. One of the arguments that prevent people from
clarifying this problem is that people say we are not supposed to discuss the
Daily. But that was under those conditions back then and the situation is
entirely different today. In fact the way she states this shows there would come
a time that the subject would need to be addressed, or she would have said that
we were never to discuss it.
"I have words to speak to my brethren east and west, north
and south. I request that my writings shall not be used as the leading argument
to settle questions over which there is now so much controversy. I entreat of
Elders H, I, J, and others of our leading brethren, that they make no reference
to my writings to sustain their views of ‘the daily.’
"It has been presented to me that this is not a subject of
vital importance. I am instructed that our brethren are making a mistake in
magnifying the importance of the difference in the views that are held. I cannot
consent that any of my writings shall be taken as settling this matter. The true
meaning of ‘the daily’ is not to be made a test question.
"I now ask that my ministering brethren shall not make use of
my writings in their arguments regarding this question [‘the daily’]; for I have
had no instruction on the point under discussion, and I see no need for the
controversy. Regarding this matter under present conditions, silence is
eloquence. . . .
"I would bring to your attention the last prayer of Christ,
as recorded in John 17. There are many subjects upon which we can speak—sacred,
testing truths, beautiful in their simplicity. On these you may dwell with
intense earnestness. But let not ‘the daily,’ or any other subject that will
arouse controversy among brethren, be brought in at this time; for this
will delay and hinder the work that the Lord would have the minds of our
brethren centered upon just now. Let us not agitate questions that will reveal a
marked difference of opinion, but rather let us bring from the Word the sacred
truths regarding the binding claims of the law of God." Selected Messages,
book 1, 164, 167.
"It will prove to be a great mistake if you agitate at
this time the question regarding the ‘daily,’ which has been occupying much
of your attention of late. I have been shown that the result of your making this
question a prominent issue would be that the minds of a large number will be
directed to an unnecessary controversy, and that questioning and confusion will
be developed in our ranks. Cannot you see that if this question is agitated now
minds would be unfavorably impressed, and many who should be seeking most
earnestly for the saving grace of Christ would be drawn into controversy? There
are some who would make capital of this matter to turn souls away from the
truth. My brother, let us be slow to raise questions that will be a source of
temptation to our people." Manuscript Releases, volume 12, 224.
"I have had cautions given me in regard to the necessity of
our keeping a united front. This is a matter of importance to us at this time.
As individuals we need to act with the greatest caution.
"I wrote to ____, telling him that he must be exceedingly
careful not to introduce subjects in the Review that would seem to point
out flaws in our past experience. I told him that this matter on which he
believes a mistake has been made is not a vital question, and that, should it
be given prominence now, our enemies would take advantage of it, and make a
mountain out of a molehill.
"To you also I say that this subject [THE IDENTITY OF THE
‘DAILY’ OF DANIEL 8.] should not be agitated at this time. No, my
brother, I feel that at this crisis in our experience that chart which you have
had republished should not be circulated. You have made a mistake in this
matter. Satan is determinedly at work to bring about issues that will create
confusion. There are those who would be delighted to see our ministers at an
issue on this question, and they would make much of it.
"I have been instructed that regarding what might be said on
either side of this question, silence at this time is eloquence. Satan is
watching for an opportunity to create division among our leading ministers. It
was a mistake to publish the chart until you could all get together and come to
an agreement concerning the matter. You have not acted wisely in bringing to the
front a subject that must create discussion and the bringing out of various
opinions, for every item will be strained and made to mean something that will
only mean injury to the cause. We have all we can do to handle the false
statements of those who have given evidence of their willingness to bear false
witness." Manuscript Releases, volume 9, 106.
Daniells said when he interviewed Sister White that she had
nothing to say about the rest of the Daily:
Prince, the host, the taking away and the casting down of the sanctuary
"‘I then asked her to tell what had been revealed to her
about the rest of the "daily"—the Prince, the host, the taking away of the
"daily," and the casting down of the sanctuary.
"‘She replied that these features were not placed before her
in vision as the time part was. She would not be led out to make an explanation
of those points of the prophecy.
"‘The interview made a deep impression upon my mind. Without
hesitation she talked freely, clearly, and at length about the 2300-year period,
but regarding the other part of the prophecy she was silent.
"‘The only conclusion I could draw from her free explanation
of the time and her silence as to the taking away of the "daily" and the casting
down of the sanctuary was that the vision given her was regarding the time, and
that she received no explanation as to the other parts of the prophecy.’
Daniells statement, September 25, 1931." Ellen G. White, volume 6, The
Elmshaven Years, 1905—1915, page 256, 257.
But she did say that those men that gave the judgment hour
cry had the correct view on the Daily.
Darkness and Confusion have Followed
"Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’ (Daniel 8:12)
that the word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to
the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the
judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united
on the correct view of the ‘daily’; but in the confusion since 1844, other views
have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed." Early Writings,
74–75.
The men that put the 1843 chart together were the men who
gave the judgment hour cry and they placed their view on record in this chart.
Also their writings contain page after page on the subject clearly outlining
their position on the Daily. Under 508 on the chart they said that Paganism had
been removed and replaced with Catholicism. That was their teaching on the
Daily.
The Daily is a subject that has been controversial in
Adventism for over a hundred years. It is clearly recorded that here at the end
of the world the Daily has a different significance than it did at the beginning
of Adventism. It is now a component of Present Truth and as men and women called
to finish the work at the end of the world we need to understand every piece of
light available on these subjects.
CONTINUE
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