Endnotes to The Denial of Justice and the Man of Lawlessness
[1] Edward Heppenstall, The Sanctuary and the Atonement, pp. 684ff. [2] Louis Berkhof, The History of Christian Doctrines, pp. 185-186. [3] Raoul Dederen, The Sanctuary and the Atonement, p. 310. [4] Some argue that Christ died merely for our benefit and that his death was not vicarious. The fallacy of this myth is easy to see. "It would be nonsense to say that if one died for the benefit of all, then all died." Edward Heppenstall, The Sanctuary and the Atonement, p. 682. [5] It's not hard to guess which passages from the Spirit of prophecy were twisted to come up with this perverted doctrine. Let me cite three of them in context. "The work of God's dear Son in undertaking to link the created with the Uncreated, the finite with the Infinite, in his own divine person, is a subject that may well employ our thoughts for a lifetime. This work of Christ was to confirm the beings of other worlds in their innocency and loyalty, as well as to save the lost and perishing of this world. He opened a way for the disobedient to return to their allegiance to God, while by the same act He placed a safeguard around those who were already pure, that they might not become polluted." RH Jan 11, 1881. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him" (John 3:16-17). "While we rejoice that there are worlds which have never fallen, these worlds render praise, and honor, and glory to Jesus Christ for the plan of redemption to save the fallen sons of Adam, as well as to confirm themselves in their position and character of purity. The arm that raised the human family from the ruin which Satan had brought upon the race through his temptation, is the arm which has preserved the inhabitants of other worlds from sin. Every world throughout immensity engages the care and support of the Father and the Son; and this care is constantly exercised for fallen humanity. Christ is mediating in behalf of man, and the order of unseen worlds also is preserved by his mediatorial work. Are not these themes of sufficient magnitude and importance to engage our thoughts, and call forth our gratitude and adoration to God?" RH Jan 11, 1881. [6] Louis Berkhof, The History of Christian Doctrines, pp. 149-150. [7] A true moral influence theory would read as follows: "The aim of the incarnation and sufferings of Christ was to win the universe over to trust by the highest revelation of God's character. For us, the trust thus awakened frees from the bondage of sin, enables to fulfill the law and impels to do the will of God; trust in Christ constrains us, no longer in fear, but in the freedom of the sons of God." [8] "It is Satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men license to sin." GC 569. "What kind of a God would kill his children for touching a hot stove?" You can't get any more Laodicean than that! This fact identifies the limit of Laodicean deception. Says Ellen G. White: "There is to be a shaking among God's people; it will be the result of refusing the truth presented." 2SM 13. The shaking begins with the introduction of "false theories." TM 112. "I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people." EW 270. "Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud and spare not, who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears. I view the church in a more dangerous condition than they ever have been. Experimental religion is known but by a few. The shaking must soon take place to purify the church." 2SG 284. [9] Raoul Dederen, The Sanctuary and the Atonement, p. 300.
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