39. Basing a Doctrine on Types and Symbols

Ford declares, “It is not legitimate to establish a fundamental doctrine upon either types or symbols”, and “the two-apartment schema ... is no longer useful” (Ford, pages 471, 540). Does Ford have a point here?QSEW 30.2

The concept of judgment runs throughout the Bible. See, for example, Acts 17:31; 24:25; Romans 14:10; James 2:12; 1 Peter 1:17; 4:5. “Types” are not employed in these verses, nor are they employed in Daniel 7:9, 10, where the Adventist doctrine of the investigative judgment is taught. However, it is legitimate to establish a major doctrine on types and symbols. The most important teaching in the Bible is that Christ died on behalf of sinners so that we might receive eternal salvation. Christ’s substitutionary death was kept before Israel every day of their lives by the types and symbols of the sanctuary services.QSEW 30.3