Bible Study Versus Ecstatic Experiences

Of the four recorded experiences of speaking in tongues in the early Seventh-day Adventist history referred to in last week’s article, the second touched on the development of doctrine. The whole account of the way in which the Lord led His people in a doctrinal matter is worthy of detailed study. As we proceed, we must remember that the Lord leads His truth-loving people only as fast as they can follow without undermining their confidence in what seems to be important in their experience. He will never lead His people in a way that would minimize the importance of Bible study.CEESDAH 6.2

Among the early Adventists Joseph Bates was the apostle of the Sabbath truth. In August, 1846, he published a 48-page pamphlet on the binding claims of the seventh-day Sabbath.CEESDAH 6.3

Through the careful study of the irrefutable scriptural evidence presented in this pamphlet, James and Ellen White accepted the seventh-day Sabbath, joining a group of about 50 Sabbathkeeping Adventists. They began Sabbath observance on Friday evening. Not until six or seven months after they began to keep the Sabbath was a vision given to Ellen White confirming the Sabbath truth and bringing forcibly to her attention its very great importance. (See Early Writings, 32-35.)CEESDAH 6.4

However, though the scriptural evidence clearly indicates that the Sabbath begins on Friday evening, the time of evening was not clear to our pioneers. Joseph Bates, the old sea captain, knowing the problems of timekeeping in different parts of the world, concluded that in the matter of the observance of the Sabbath “equatorial time” should be followed. He therefore advocated that the Sabbath should begin at six o’clock on Friday afternoon and close at six o’clock on Saturday afternoon. (This was in marked contrast to the normal way of figuring the beginning and ending of the day at midnight.) While there were some differences of opinion among the believers as to just when the Sabbath should begin, the six o’clock time prevailed.CEESDAH 6.5

In 1848 a few of the Sabbathkeeping Adventists in Maine, from their reading of Matthew 28:1, “in the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,” took the position that the Sabbath began and ended at sunrise. Ellen White was given a vision in which she heard the angel repeating Leviticus 23:32, “From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.” This settled the point as far as the fallacy of the sunrise time was concerned.CEESDAH 6.6

About this time at a meeting in Connecticut, while the Adventists were discussing the problem of when to begin the Sabbath, a tongues experience occurred. James White wrote:CEESDAH 6.7

“There has been some division as to the time of beginning the Sabbath. Some commenced at sundown. Most, however, at 6 P.M. A week ago Sabbath we made this a subject of prayer. The Holy Ghost came down, Brother Chamberlain was filled with the power. In this state he cried out in an unknown tongue. The interpretation followed which was this: ‘Give me the chalk, Give me the chalk.’

“Well, thought I, if there is none in the house then I shall doubt this, but in a moment a brother took down a good piece of chalk. Brother Chamberlain took it and in the power he drew a figure on the floor.

“This represents Jesus’ words, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day?’ This figure represents the day or the last half of the day. Daylight is half gone when the sun is south or halfway from each horizon, at 12 o’clock. Now go each way six hours and you will get the twelve-hour day. At any time of year the day ends at 6 P.M. Here is where the Sabbath begins at 6 P.M. Satan would get us from this time. But let us stand fast in the Sabbath as God has given it to us and Brother Bates.”—James White Letter to “My Dear Brother,” July 2, 1848, written from Berlin, Connecticut.

This experience carried weight with the believers. They continued to observe the beginning of the Sabbath at six o’clock. It was in this general setting that God provided some far-reaching guidance to His people.CEESDAH 7.1