Chapter 44—The Shut Door—A Case Study

“Clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question.... When Christ passed from the holy to the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, the door, or ministration, of the former apartment was closed, and the door, or ministration, of the latter was opened. Christ had ended one part of His work as our Intercessor, to enter upon another portion of the work; and He still presented His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners.” ^{1The Spirit of Prophecy 4:268.}MOL 500.1

Critics have called the “shut-door” issue “the darkest page in our denominational history,” ^{2W. W. Fletcher, The Reasons For My Faith (Sydney: William Brooks & Co., Ltd., 1932), p. 199.} “the most serious error ever taught by Sister White.” ^{3Wallace D. Slattery, Are Seventh-day Adventists False Prophets? (Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1990), p. 29.} On this question they have said that the “battles that have been fought ... have not been mere exercises in academic hair-splitting.” ^{4Dennis Hokama, Adventist Currents, July 1984, p. 26.}MOL 500.2

In 1885 General Conference president George I. Butler wrote: “Perhaps there has never been anything connected with the Advent movement that our enemies have tried harder to use to our reproach than the shut-door doctrine.” ^{5The Review and Herald, March 3, 1885.} Yet, he could say: “When we understand all about the facts connected with the ‘shut-door doctrine,’ as it is called, we shall find nothing of which we need to be ashamed.” ^{6The Review and Herald, February 10, 1885.}MOL 500.3