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    Chapter 11—The Adventist Reply

    How did Himes and the majority group reply to the age-to-come doctrine? They contended that there was no prophecy that must yet be fulfilled in a future age before the end of probation, and that the promises made to Israel were being misinterpreted. Against the new “Judaism” the writers in the Advent Herald repeat the same Scriptural arguments as had been employed in the Miller period, and the same as those used later by the early Seventh-day Adventist pioneers. Some of these, when used today, have been regarded as new by those who do not know what the early Adventists—and the early Seventh-day Adventists—said on this subject.GI 9.5

    The principal points made by various writers may be itemized thus: 1For summaries of the principal points here itemized, see [Himes], Editorial, Advent Herald, n.s. 5:44, March 9, 1850 (also ibid., 13:97, May 1, 1847); “Address” adopted at the 1850 Boston conference, ibid., n.s. 5:150, June 8, 1850. For Seventh-day Adventist discussions of the subject covering these same points, see J. H. Waggoner, The Kingdom of God (1859; based on articles appearing in the Review and Herald in 1856); Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, 292-298, 703-714, 720; Christ’s Object Lessons, 284-296; Evangelism, 695 (see further Ellen G. White references in the two works cited next); for recent treatment of the subject, The Role of Israel in Old Testament Prophecy,”The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 4:25-38; “Israel, Prophecies Concerning,” Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, pp. 683-686.GI 9.6

    1. The kingdom promises to ancient Israel were conditional.

    Many of them are made to them [the Jews] conditionally, and the conditions not having been complied with, the promises are not now good to them ....GI 9.7

    Here [in Jeremiah 18:7-10] we have the unvarying conditions on which are given all national promises. 2[Himes], Editorial, Advent Herald, n.s. 5:44, 60, March 9 and 23, 1850. On this and on the next item (2) see also O. R. Fassett, in Advent Herald, n.s. 5:108, May 4, 1850, and n.s. 9:30, Jan. 24, 1852; opponent cited in Advent Harbinger, n.s. 1:388, May 25, 1850; “Address” adopted at Boston conference, Advent Herald, n.s. 5:150, June 8, 1850. This had long been Adventist doctrine; see reprint from Signs of the Times, 1842, in The Review and Herald, May 9, 1854, p. 5; Litch, Prophetic Expositions, vol. 1, p. 57; [Bliss?], in Advent Shield, 1:430-432, April, 1845; [Himes], Editorials, in Advent Herald, 13:97, May 1, 1847; n.s. 2:180-181, Jan 6, 1849.GI 9.8

    2. These promises were forfeited through failure to meet the terms.

    When he [Christ] came, ... and his nation rejected him, their probation ended.... The national probation for the enjoyment of the inheritance and kingdom [of God] was at an end. 3Litch, Lecture 2 on Matthew 24, Advent Herald, n.s. 6:292, 293, Oct. 12, 1850 (cf. his next installment, p. 300, Oct. 19). See also note 69. [Matthew 21:43 quoted.]GI 10.1

    3. These prophecies picture what might have been if the conditions had been met.

    Had they [the Jews as a nation] been faithful to their covenant obligations to their God, it would seem that they would have been blessed finally in a manner similar to the blessings promised in the new earth ....GI 10.2

    [After the Babylonian captivity] thorough repentance, and continuance in obedience, would have again secured to them the promise of ... the ultimate state promised to, and forfeited by their fathers. 4[Himes], Editorial, Advent Herald, n.s. 2:180, Jan. 6, 1849.GI 10.3

    Had the nation ... accepted Christ, it would not have fallen, but would, as a nation, have had the advantages above all other nations .... If with their fall and diminished numbers the Gentiles have been made rich, how much more would the Gentiles have been enriched if the full number (fullness ...) of the Jews had believed. 5Ibid., n.s. 5:45, March 9, 1850. See also [Bliss?], in Advent Shield, 1:432, April, 1845; Litch, Lecture 2 on Matthew 24, Advent Herald, n.s. 6:293, Oct. 12, 1850.GI 10.4

    4. Some of these prophecies were fulfilled to the Jews in the past.

    The prophecies which are supposed to hold out to the Jew and to Jerusalem a future hope [include] the prophecies which referred to the restoration of the Jews from the captivity in Babylon. 6“Address” adopted at Boston conference, in Advent Herald, n.s. 5:150, June 8, 1850. See also William Miller, “Review of Smith and Cambell” in his Views (1842), p. 179; also his “On the Return of the Jews,” ibid., p. 229; William Sheldon, in Advent Harbinger, 18:43, Jan. 27, 1849; [Himes], Editorial, Advent Herald, n.s. 5:44, 60, March 9 and 23, 1850.GI 10.5

    5. Some will be fulfilled to “true Israel” in the final reward of the saved.

    Then [at the resurrection of the just] will be verified the ancient promise, “Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, ... and bring you into the land of Israel....” The patriarchs and their true seed will inherit the promised territory when they shall live in the resurrection state. 7R. Hutchinson, “The Kingdom of God,” part 1, Advent Herald, n.s. 6:254, Sept. 7, 1850 (cf. his part 2, ibid., p. 286, Oct. 5). See also William Miller, “On the Return of the Jews,” in his Views (1842), p. 229; Henry Dana Ward, “The Hope of Israel” (1842), reprinted in Advent Herald, n.s. 5:130, May 25, 1850; Litch, Prophetic Expositions (1842), vol. 1, p. 58; [Himes], Editorials, Advent Herald, n.s. 2:181, Jan. 6, 1849; ibid., n.s. 5:44, March 9, 1850; “Address” of Boston conference, ibid., n.s. 5:150, June 8, 1850.GI 10.6

    6. The Old Testament prophecies must be understood in harmony with the inspired interpretation in the New Testament.

    [Some promises] are explained by the inspired commentators in the New Testament, to be good to all who are of the faith of our father Abraham, to all who are graffed into the good olive-tree. 8[Himes], Editorial, Advent Herald, n.s. 5:44, March 9, 1850.GI 10.7

    If we had no inspired [New Testament] expositions of the promises which relate to the inheritance of “Abraham and his seed,” there would be some excuse for applying the promises to Abraham and his seed according to the flesh .... But we should need a new revelation before we should dare to apply those promises to Jews, as such, ... for Paul has applied them otherwise. 9L. D. Mansfield, “The Future Age,” Advent Herald, n.s. 6:398, Jan. 11, 1851 (cf. preceding installment, p. 390, Jan. 4, 1851). See also Miller, “Lecture on the Two Sticks,” in his Views (1842), pp. 96, 97. Himes (unsigned editorial, Advent Herald, 13:97, May 1, 1847) and O. R. Fassett (ibid., n.s. 5:108, May 4, 1850) complained of the error of not using the New Testament interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies.GI 10.8

    For all of these arguments against the “Judaizing” interpretation the writers cited various scriptures. It is true that not all of them stayed within the proper limits of Scriptural evidence. Some of them—like, unfortunately, certain of their Seventh-day Adventist successors in later years—went out on a limb and said that since the prophecies did not promise the literal Jews a future restoration as a theocracy, there would never be a Jewish nation in Palestine at all. But some of them, more than a century ago, pointed out the valid distinction between a return as a national, political entity and a return as the theocracy foretold in the divine prophecies.GI 10.9

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