III. Sevenfold Scope of Conference Studies

Individuals who had given much study to special subjects presented their findings. There were the aforementioned divergent viewpoints on minor matters, but out of this joint study fundamental unity developed on the main doctrinal positions and basic expositions of prophecy. And by the close of the series they came to stand shoulder to shoulder on the vital points. In addition to the primary Christian truths shared in common with other Christians-concerning Christ, sin, salvation, atonement, regeneration, justification, sanctification, et cetera—the seven principal doctrinal positions upon which they reached an accord were:PFF4 1030.2

1. The imminent, personal, premillennial, second advent.PFF4 1030.3

2. The major prophetic outlines and time prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation-including the cleansing of the sanctuary in 1844.PFF4 1030.4

3. The conditional immortality of man.PFF4 1031.1

4. The seventh-day Sabbath.PFF4 1031.2

5. The heavenly sanctuary and the twofold ministry of Christ.PFF4 1031.3

6. The Spirit of prophecy. ^{19The first three points, brought over almost intact fromthe seventh-month phase of Millerism, were here restudied and reaffirmed. The next three, considered “new truths,” had been developed independently, in widely separated sections. Now they were studied through together and adopted. The last point was gradually developed.}PFF4 1031.4

7. The specifications and involvements of the third angel’s message, which included (a) the Beast—already identified by Protestantism generally as the Papacy; (b) his image, and the two-horned beast; (c) the mark of the Beast; (d) the seven last plagues-past, present, or future; and (e) the intent of “tormented for ever and ever.”PFF4 1031.5

These seven “principal points,” with their component parts, became the new area of special Bible study, and the results constituted the “landmarks”—the essentials, pillars, or fundamentals, forming the “firm platform” upon which they stood thereafter. Writing later, in retrospect, Ellen White outlined the “old landmarks” thus:PFF4 1031.6

“The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’ messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The non-immortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks.” ^{20E. G. White. Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30, 31 [from Ms. 13, 1889].(Brackets in the original.)}PFF4 1031.7