Some quotes with considerations re “new light”; when it happens, and how to handle it

Statement of belief: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

Updated 5927± 02 11 2023 [2007-04-29]

Some Quotes with Considerations

Re “new light”;

When it Happens, and How to Handle It

Abstract:

The title above is addressed below, first by a real live experience of the Seventh-day Adventist pioneers, and then by some of the lessons learned and recorded by said pioneers. The relevant references are given at the end of each paragraph:

But first, here’s a link to an email I received that may be of some relevance, especially re what’s the more important type of problem solving to focus upon:

BUT WHAT IS THE MAIN EMPHASES IN THIS TIME OF TROUBLE?

Is it asteroids and nuclear bombs?

I don't think so.

The Doctrinal Point--Time to Begin the Sabbath

On Friday evening, the day the conference in Battle Creek opened, those assembled commenced the Sabbath at six o'clock, although the sun had been set for an hour. The next day they closed the Sabbath at sunset. During that Sabbath a change in practice based on Bible study had been made. It was an interesting and instructive experience in doctrinal development. {1BIO 322.1}

As noted in earlier chapters, Joseph Bates was considered the father of the Sabbath truth. As captain of his own vessels, he had sailed far and wide and was acquainted with the matter of time-keeping in different parts of the world. It was his conclusion that time as kept at the equator, with sunset uniformly at 6:00 P.M., was the proper guide to Sabbathkeeping, regardless of season of the year or location. The Scriptures called for evening marking the beginning of the new day, and the words "from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath" (Lev. 23:32) were cited in support of this point. The April 21, 1851, issue of the Review carried a three-column article by Joseph Bates in support of the six o'clock time. {1BIO 322.2}

In the State of Maine in 1847-1848, some took the position that the Sabbath commenced at sunrise, quoting as support, Matthew 28:1: "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week" (see RH, Feb. 25, 1868). A vision given to Ellen White checked this error in principle, for the angel repeated the words of the scripture "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." {1BIO 322.3}

There were a few who observed the Sabbath from sundown to sundown (JW to "My Dear Brother," July 2, 1848; see also RH, Feb. 25, 1868), but the majority stood with Bates, as did James and Ellen White. The charismatic experience in Connecticut in late June, 1848, recounted in chapter 13, seemed to confirm the six o'clock time. Still the matter was not settled conclusively, and in June, 1854, James White requested D. P. Hall in Wisconsin to give study to the matter and come up with an answer (RH, Dec. 4, 1855). {1BIO 322.4}

When this request failed to yield fruit, he turned to John Andrews with the earnest request that he take his Bible and bring evidence to settle the question. Andrews prepared a paper on the matter. As he passed through Battle Creek with his parents in November on his way to Iowa, he left this in the hands of James White. The reading of this paper became the Sabbath morning Bible study at the conference in Battle Creek. From nine texts in the Old Testament and two from the New, Andrews demonstrated that "even" and "evening" of the Sabbath were identical with sunset (ibid.). {1BIO 323.1}

“…nine texts in the Old Testament and two from the New…”

Which texts are these eleven texts? Has anyone found a specific listing of these texts or even Andrews’ paper itself?

I have attempted to discover these texts, or at least texts that touch upon this issue of how “even” is defined. The two (2) NT texts below were found by searching Englishman’s Concordance for Strong’s #1416, while the twenty-three (23) OT texts were found by searching for Strong’s #6153:

Old Testament texts “…nine texts in the Old Testament …” Notice in particular the 11 OT texts below in bold red and blue font [i.e. ## 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12-16, & 20:]

1. “5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Gen 1:5 (KJV)

2. “18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.” Exod 12:18 (KJV)

3. “5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:” Exod 16:5-6 (KJV)

4. “20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.” Exod 27:20-21 (KJV)

5. “8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.” Exod 30:8 (KJV)

6. “5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.” Lev 23:5 (KJV)

7. “32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.” Lev 23:32 (KJV)

8. “2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.” Lev 24:2-4 (KJV)

9. “3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.” Num 9:3 (KJV)

10. “5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.” Num 9:5 (KJV)

11. “11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Num 9:11 (KJV)

12. “15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.” Num 9:15 (KJV)

13. "6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt." Deut 16:6 (KJV)

14. "11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again." Deut 23:11 (KJV)

15. "29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day." Josh 8:29 (KJV)

16. “26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.” Josh 10:26-27 (KJV)

17. "1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh." Judg 20:1 (KJV)

18. "17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley." Ruth 2:17 (KJV)

19. "2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon." 2 Sam 11:2 (KJV)

20. "34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died." 2 Chr 18:34 (KJV)

21. "23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening." Ps 104:23 (KJV)

22. "7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight." Ezek 12:7 (KJV)

23. “7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.” Zech 14:7-8 (KJV)

New Testament texts “...and two from the New…:”

1. “21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.” Mark 1:21 (KJV)

2. “31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.” Luke 4:31 (KJV)

As the paper was read that Sabbath morning, it could be seen that while the six o'clock time advocated by Bates was in principle not incorrect--for it called for beginning the Sabbath in the evening--in detail there was an error. Now with the position of sunset time so amply supported by Scripture evidence, all the congregation, which included the church's leaders, readily accepted the light and were prepared to shift their practice. All, that is, but two--Joseph Bates and Ellen White. {1BIO 323.2}

Bates's position had been generally accepted and defended. He was the venerable apostle of the Sabbath truth. He was unready to accept what had been presented by the youthful John Andrews, and he would stand in defense of his position. The vision given to Ellen White in 1848, correcting the sunrise time and confirming "evening time," had nothing to say about the six o'clock time being in error. {1BIO 323.3}

Ellen White reasoned that the six o'clock time had been a matter of practice for nearly a decade. The Sabbath so kept had been a great blessing to her, and the angel had said nothing about its being in error. Must a change be made now? Thus matters stood through the rest of the Sabbath and through Sunday as the members met in conference, but this was a rather touchy point of division that was bound to widen as time went on. Then the God of heaven stepped in. {1BIO 323.4}

Of what took place, Ellen White wrote:

November 20, 1855, [which was a Tuesday; editors note] while in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly and powerfully upon me, and I was taken off in vision.--1T, p. 113. {1BIO 324.1}

Her attention was called to many points, among them the time to commence the Sabbath. She discussed the matter with the angel. This conversation is very enlightening: {1BIO 324.2}

I saw that it is even so: "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Said the angel: "Take the Word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find what even is and when it is." {1BIO 324.3}

I asked the angel if the frown of God had been upon His people for commencing the Sabbath as they had. I was directed back to the first rise of the Sabbath, and followed the people of God up to this time, but did not see that the Lord was displeased, or frowned upon them. {1BIO 324.4}

I inquired why it had been thus, that at this late day we must change the time of commencing the Sabbath. Said the angel: "Ye shall understand, but not yet, not yet." Said the angel: "If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject." {1BIO 324.5}

I saw that it was in the minds of some that the Lord had shown that the Sabbath commenced at six o'clock, when I had only seen that it commenced at "even," and it was inferred that even was at six. {1BIO 324.6}

I saw that the servants of God must draw together, press together.--Ibid., p. 116. {1BIO 324.7}

And they did. The vision set Ellen White and Joseph Bates straight, and they accepted the vision wholeheartedly. The matter of the time to commence the Sabbath was forever settled--settled on the basis of Bible study, confirmed by vision. It was indeed a significant experience in God's leadings, one that Uriah Smith was later to comment on: {1BIO 324.8}

Lest any should say that Sister White, having changed her sentiments, had a vision accordingly, we will state that which was shown her in vision concerning the commencement of the Sabbath was contrary to her own sentiment at the time the vision was given.--RH, Aug. 30, 1864. {1BIO 324.9}

The Impressive Lesson Taught by this Experience

Some years later, James White, using the experience as a demonstration of the relation of the visions to Bible study, wrote: {1BIO 325.1}

The question naturally arises, If the visions are given to correct the erring, why did she [Mrs. White not] sooner see the error of the six o'clock time? For one, I have ever been thankful that God corrected the error in His own good time, and did not suffer an unhappy division to exist among us upon the point.

But, dear reader, the work of the Lord upon this point is in perfect harmony with His manifestations to us on others, and in harmony with the correct position upon spiritual gifts. {1BIO 325.2}

It does not appear to be the desire of the Lord to teach His people by the gifts of the Spirit on the Bible questions until His servants have diligently searched His Word. When this was done upon the subject of time to commence the Sabbath, and most were established, and some were in danger of being out of harmony with the body on this subject, then, yes, then was the very time for God to magnify His goodness in the manifestation of the gift of His Spirit in the accomplishment of its proper work. {1BIO 325.3}

The sacred Scriptures are given us as the rule of faith and duty, and we are commanded to search them. If we fail to understand and fully obey the truths in consequence of not searching the Scriptures as we should, or a want of consecration and spiritual discernment, and God in mercy in His own time corrects us by some manifestation of the gifts of His Holy Spirit, instead of murmuring that He did not do it before, let us humbly acknowledge His mercy, and praise Him for His infinite goodness in condescending to correct us at all. {1BIO 325.4}

Then he admonished, reiterating his consistent position on the gift of prophecy in the remnant church: {1BIO 325.5}

Let the gifts have their proper place in the church. God has never set them in the very front, and commanded us to look to them to lead us in the path of truth, and the way to heaven. His Word He has magnified. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are man's lamp to light up his path to the kingdom. Follow that. But if you err from Bible truth, and are in danger of being lost, it may be that God will in the time of His choice correct you, and bring you back to the Bible, and save you.--Ibid., Feb. 25, 1868. {1BIO 325.6}

The Neglect of the Spirit of Prophecy

But there was another matter of large importance to which the conference addressed itself, and that was a seeming decline of the influence of the Spirit of Prophecy in their midst. Ellen White was to speak of it in reporting the vision given at the close of the conference: "I saw that the Spirit of the Lord has been dying away from the church."--1T, p. 113… {1BIO 326.1}

Link to a follow up study pertaining unto the writings of Ellen White, and her word by word quotations out of the KJV re the day the tomb of Yeshua was opened. How do the principles learned out of the above quotes apply to the writings of Ellen White?

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