THE FINAL ATONEMENT
His work as high priest completes the divine plan of redemption
by making the final atonement for sin.
Manuscript. 69, 1912, page 13.
e are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined, as
we near the final struggle,” Ellen White warned. “We have a sleepless adversary, and
he is constantly at work upon human minds that have not had a personal experience
in the teachings of the people of God for the past fifty years.” (Selected Messages,
Book 1, page 102, emphasis supplied).
Satan knows that if we forget “the way the Lord has led us,” and especially if we should forget
“His teaching in our past history,” (Life Sketches, page 196), then it would be easy to introduce
heresy into the greatest movement of truth the world has ever known. What did Ellen White
mean by “His teaching in our past history?” Before we can proceed with our research and find
the correct answer to this question, we must first understand the correct method to follow in our
study of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Bible answer to the proper method of study is that “precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10). Does
it not follow that we should use the very same method to interpret passages in the Spirit of
Prophecy? Yes, indeed.
“The Spirit of the Lord will be in the instruction, and doubts existing in many minds will be swept
away,” Ellen White counseled. “The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the
messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture.” (Letter, 73, 1905, also, Selected Messages,
book. 1, pages 41, 42, emphasis supplied).
Notice that we are instructed to study the Spirit of Prophecy “as scripture is explained by
scripture,” and further, “The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the
messages given.” That is very plain, is it not? However, there is one more important aspect that
must be remembered in the study of the Spirit of Prophecy – “time and place must be
W
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considered.”
“Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored, nothing is cast aside,” Ellen White wrote, “but time
and place must be considered.” (ibid., Letter, 73, 1905, emphasis supplied).
This inspired counsel on how to study the Testimonies is simple. (1) Dot not cast aside any part
of the Testimonies. (2) Compare all that is written on a subject. (3) “Time and place” must also
be considered. This is sound and logical advice, is it not?
The Past Fifty Years (1844-1900)
Ellen White warned many times that some in the Church would bring in “new strange doctrines,”
and, “something odd and sensational to present to the people.” (Letter, 73, 1905). The safeguard,
of course, is to remember “the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”
(ibid., Life Sketches, page 196). Not only that, but Ellen White was very specific about what she
meant by the phrase, “His teaching in our past history.” Many times she stated, writing at the
turn of the century (again keeping in mind “time and place”) that, “the value of the evidences of
truth that we have received during the past half century, is above estimate.” (Review and Herald,
April 19, 1906, emphasis supplied).
“Study the Bible truths that for fifty years have been calling us out from the world,” Ellen White
counseled. (ibid., Review and Herald, April 19, 1906, emphasis supplied).
In other words, noting time and place, 1906, when this testimony was penned, the truth that
pioneer Adventists taught from 1844 to the turn of the century, was, and still is, “the three
angel’s messages.” The pioneer Seventh-day Adventist message given this people in the past
century is the true end-time “Gospel” to a perishing world. God does not change. His message
does not change. Any message that is not in harmony with this “most precious message” is what
Ellen White called “strange fire,” what we know today as “new theology.”
Strange Fire
“For all in responsible positions I have a message spoken by the mouth of the Lord,” Ellen White
wrote. (Testimonies to Ministers, page 357, emphasis supplied). And what was this message from
God to the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
“He [those in responsible positions] will represent the sacredness of the work, he will magnify the
truth, and will ever present before men and angels the holy perfume of the character of Christ
[the law of God],” Ellen White related the message from God. “This is the sacred fire of God’s
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own kindling. Anything aside from this is strange fire, abhorrent to God, and the more offensive
as one’s position in the work involves larger responsibilities.” (ibid., Testimonies to Ministers, page
357, emphasis supplied).
There are 115 references to the phrase “strange fire” in the writings of Ellen White. We have
learned that false doctrine is “strange fire” presented to the Seventh-day Adventist Church by
“those in responsible positions.” We will now learn what is the “sacred fire of God.”
The Sacred Fire Of God
When the power of God testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth. . .. The truth for
this time, God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. . . . And
while the Scriptures are God’s Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application
moves one pillar of the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake. He who makes
such an application knows not the wonderful demonstration of the Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past
messages that have come to the people of God.
Ellen G. White, A Call to the Watchmen, pages 14, 15. (emphasis supplied).
Notice that, “He [God] Himself has taught us what is truth,” and, “When the power of God
testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth.” Could anything be more plain?
An application or interpretation of Scripture that “moves one pillar of the foundation that God has sustained these
fifty years, is a great mistake.” In this statement Ellen White emphasized that it was “the Holy Spirit
that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the people of God.”
The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and
wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time. . .. Not a word is
changed or denied. That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our
great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. . ..
Ellen G. White, The Upward Look, page 352. (emphasis supplied).
“Not a word is changed or denied,” of the Advent truth for “the past fifty years,” and this truth
that was laid down after the great disappointment in 1844 “is the solid foundation of truth.” The
emphasis again, and again is stated to be the truth that was held by Seventh-day Adventists for
“the past fifty years.” (See also, Gospel Workers, 1915 page 307).
“The pillars of truth were revealed, and we accepted the foundation principles that have made us what
we are -- Seventh-day Adventists,” Ellen White stated, “keeping the commandments of God and
having the faith of Jesus.” (Upward Look, page 352, emphasis supplied).
Notice that, “The pillars of truth were revealed,” and pioneer Adventists “accepted the
foundation principles” of truth. They were truly the remnant who were “keeping the
commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus.” Notice Ellen White said “having” the
faith of Jesus. They possessed the faith of Jesus. Pioneer Adventists were people of obedience to
all of God’s commandments. Their lives were in harmony with the law of God because they
possessed faith like Jesus. Thus the apostle Paul said, “I can do all things.” How? “Through
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Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). This is righteousness by faith. Obedience
by faith.
Again, about the pillars of our faith, Ellen White stated, “And while the Scriptures are God’s
Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application moves one pillar of
the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake.” (A Call to the Watchmen,
pages 14, 15, emphasis supplied).
Old Landmarks and Pillars Of Adventism
What are the “pillars” and “old landmarks” of truth? According to the Spirit of Prophecy, there
are really only three pillars of Adventism. Notice carefully the description of these three pillars,
also known as the old landmarks.
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.” [1] 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. [2] The light
of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed it’s strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of
God’s law. [3] The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can
come under the head of the old landmarks. . ..”
Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, pages 30, 31. (emphasis supplied).
(1) The Sanctuary, the Foundation Pillar of Adventism
The first “pillar” or “landmark” that Satan would attack is the foundation pillar of the Advent
movement. This landmark is the first angel’s message, the message that the remnant people were
commissioned to give to a perishing world. This sanctuary truth is the one doctrine held only by
Seventh-day Adventists. For Satan to attack the second pillar, the Sabbath truth, or the third
pillar, the state of man in death, would be too obvious for alert Seventh-day Adventists. Satan
must be more clever than to attack the obvious. If Satan attacked the sanctuary truth outright,
by stating “there is no sanctuary in heaven,” the Advent people would detect the deception
immediately. Too many testimonies had been written against that kind of an assault upon this
foundation pillar of Adventism.
A Most Subtle Deception
History reveals that Satan would shrewdly concentrate his assault on the most important “phase”
of the sanctuary truth. Satan would cleverly attack, and try to negate, the “final atonement” and
the “blotting out of sins” work of Jesus Christ, our heavenly High Priest. Satan would introduce
into the Seventh-day Adventist Church the false concept held by the fallen churches of Babylon,
that the atonement was final, completed and finished on the cross. This false concept would lead the
people to feel secure in their sins. This most subtle deception would at the same time do away
with the truth of the 1844 message – that the final atonement is being completed in heaven by our
High Priest, Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God.
To complete his masterful deception, Satan, after establishing the erroneous “complete and final
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atonement on the cross” concept, would then introduce into the Seventh-day Adventist Church
a false concept of the human nature Christ assumed while in the flesh. This second false concept
would give the people a false “assurance” and lead them to believe that Christ is their substitute
only. This deception would lead the people to accept the false doctrine of “free grace” held by all
so-called “contemporary Christians.” This would be Satan’s most cunning and subtle deception, for it
would lead the people to be lost in their sins! This overwhelming deception the Spirit of Prophecy
describes as “the Omega of apostasy.”
“The Omega would follow in a little while,” Ellen White warned. “I tremble for our people.”
(Sermons and Talks “The Foundation of Our Faith,” page 341, emphasis supplied).
Jesus warned that in the last days Satan’s battle strategy against the remnant people of God
would be so deceptive that “if it were possible, it should deceive the very elect.” (Matthew
24:24b). Thus Paul stated, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”
(2 Corinthians 11:14, 15a, emphasis supplied).
“One will arise and still another with new light which contradicts the light that God has given
under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit,” Ellen White cautioned. “We are not to receive the
words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faith.” (A Call to the
Watchmen, page 14, emphasis supplied).
How can we know what is truth? How can we identify heresy in these last days? How can we
avoid being deceived by our cunning adversary?
“When the power of God testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth,” Ellen
White replies. “No after suppositions, contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained.”
(ibid., A Call to the Watchmen, page 24, emphasis supplied).
A Safeguard and A Bulwark Against Heresy
A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the establishment of this truth. God has
graciously spared their lives to repeat and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which
they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard bearers who have
fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings. I am instructed that thus voices are to be
heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time.
ibid., Ellen G. White, A Call to the Watchmen (pages 14, 15). (emphasis supplied).
Notice the words, “I am instructed.” The instruction came directly from heaven. The
instruction from heaven was that “voices are to be heard.” Who’s voices are to be heard? “The
standard bearers [pioneer Adventists] who have fallen in death, are to speak through the
reprinting of their writings.” Not only that, but, “They are to bear their testimony as to what
constitutes the truth for this time.”
So that is the key, the doctrinal rock we should hold on to – the truth in our past history! “We
have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His
teaching in our past history.” (ibid., Life Sketches, page 196). This statement was published in
1915. We must go back to the beginning of the Advent movement, the first “fifty years” of our
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past history to discover what was the truth that was endorsed by “the wonderful demonstration of
the Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the people of
God.” (ibid., A Call to the Watchmen, page 15). Then we must compare any new teaching, any
“new theology,” to the teachings of pioneer Seventh-day Adventists from 1844 to the turn of the
century.
The True Doctrine of the Final Atonement
As Taught From 1844 To 1931 (87 years)
“The doctrine of the Sanctuary was enunciated soon after the Great Disappointment of October
22, 1844,” Leroy Froom wrote. “The earliest declaration of this doctrine was the published
statement written out by O. R. L. Crosier – but representing the joint studies of Hiram Edson,
Crosier, and Dr. F. B. Hawn – which studies took place in Port Gibson and neighboring
Canandaigua, New York, in the week or months following the crisis in October.” (Leroy Edwin
Froom, Movement of Destiny, pages 111, 112).
“Published first in 1845 in the local Adventist paper, The Day-Dawn, in Canandaigua,” Froom
continued, “it appeared in fuller form in The Day-Star Extra of February 7, 1846, printed in
Cincinnati, Ohio.” (ibid., Movement of Destiny, page 112).
Froom went on to state that, “Concerning the published results of these studies, Ellen Harmon
White wrote this statement in a letter to Eli Curtis, dated April 21, 1847, and published the same
year in one of our earliest pieces of denominational literature, A Word to the Little Flock.” (ibid.,
Movement of Destiny, page 111). Froom then quoted the statement of Ellen White. However,
because he did not agree with the “final atonement” aspect of Crosier’s article, Froom omitted an
important part of the Ellen White endorsement of the article by adding ellipses at the end of the
first sentence as follows:
The Lord shew me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the Sanctuary. . .; and that it was His will, that Brother C, should write out the view which he
gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846.
(ibid., Leroy Edwin Froom, Movement of Destiny, page 111).
What was left out by the ellipses in Froom’s quotation? Here is the statement as written without
the ellipses:
The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the sanctuary, et cetera, and that it was His [God’s] will that Brother C. should write out the
view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to
recommend that Extra to every saint.
Ellen G. White, A Word to the Little Flock, page 12. (emphasis supplied).
Froom purposely left out the “et cetera,” that Ellen White had written. Why? Because the “et
cetera,” implied that Crosier had published the complete truth on all aspects of the Sanctuary
truth, especially the “final atonement” phase of the Sanctuary truth. Notice Ellen White stated
that, “The Lord showed me in vision,” and that “Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the sanctuary, et cetera,” and that it was God’s will “that Brother C. should write out
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the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra.” Unquestionably a solid endorsement from the
Lord through the Spirit of Prophecy of O. R. L. Crosier’s Day-Star, Extra, article. If Leroy Froom,
contemporary historian of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, could not agree with all the
aspects of truth in Crosier’s article, then he also could not agree with the Spirit of Prophecy
which endorsed the article. It will be shown below that most contemporary Adventist historians,
writers and scholars are also out of harmony with pioneer Seventh-day Adventists and the Spirit
of Prophecy on the teaching of the “Final Atonement” phase of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly
sanctuary.
The Final Atonement
What had Crosier written that Froom and contemporary Adventist leadership could not agree
with? It was Crosiers’ “final atonement” emphasis – that the atonement was not finished and
completed on the cross, but that as our High Priest, Christ is now making the “final atonement”
in the heavenly Sanctuary.
While doing research for this manuscript, the author placed a call to the James White Memorial
Library at Andrews University to purchase a photo-copy of Crosier’s original article as it appeared
in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. The photo-copy of the article arrived, minus the
“atonement” portion of the article! Another letter was mailed, with the required funds, requesting
that the full article be sent, including the “atonement” portion of Crosier’s Day-Star, Extra article.
As of this writing (more then ten years), and no further correspondence has been received.
What is the corporate Seventh-day Adventist Church trying to hide? Thanks to the faithful
work of Adventist laymen the complete article was published on the Adventist Pioneer Library
CD-ROM disk. (Adventist Pioneer Library, P. O. Box 1844, Loma Linda, CA 92354-0380, USA).
Here, then, is the complete “atonement” portion of Crosier’s article in full. This is the true
position on the “final atonement” phase of the heavenly Sanctuary as it was endorsed by the
Spirit of Prophecy:
“But again, they say the atonement is made and finished on Calvary, when the Lamb of God
expired,” Crosier began. “So men have taught us, and so the churches and world believes; but it
is none the more true or sacred on that account, if unsupported by Divine authority.” (Owen R.
L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“Perhaps few or none who hold that opinion have ever tested the foundation on which it rests,”
Crosier suggested. He then explained the “Final Atonement” phase of Christ ministry in the
heavenly sanctuary in following six areas:
1. If the atonement was made on Calvary, by whom was it made? The making of the atonement is the work
of a Priest; but who officiated on Calvary? Roman soldiers and wicked Jews.
2. The slaying of the victim was not making the atonement; the sinner slew the victim. (Lev. 4:1-4, 13-15),
after that the priest took the blood and made the atonement. (Lev. 4:5-12, 16-21).
3. Christ was the appointed High Priest to make the atonement, and He certainly could not have acted in
that capacity till after His resurrection, and we have no record of His doing anything on earth after His
resurrection, which could be called the atonement.
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4. The atonement was made in the Sanctuary, but Calvary was not such a place.
5. He could not, according to Hebrews 8:4, make the atonement while on earth, “If He were on earth, He
should not be a Priest.” The Levitical was the earthly priesthood, the Divine, the heavenly.
6. Therefore, He did not begin the work of making the atonement, whatever the nature of that work may
be, til after His ascension, when by His own blood He entered His heavenly Sanctuary for us.
Owen R. L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“Let us examine a few texts that appear to speak of the atonement as past,” Crosier continued.
“Rom. 5:11; `By whom we have now received the atonement, (margin, reconciliation).’ This
passage clearly shows a present possession of the atonement at the time the apostle wrote; but it
by no means proves that the entire atonement was then in the past.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star,
Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
When the Savior was about to be taken up from His apostles, He “commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,” which came on the day of Pentecost when
they were all “baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Christ had entered His Father’s house, the Sanctuary, as
High Priest, and began His intercession for His people by “praying the Father” for “another Comforter,”
John 14:15, “and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:33, He shed it down
upon His waiting apostles. Then, in compliance with their commission, Peter, at the third of the day began
to preach, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
Acts 2:38. This word remission, signifies forgiveness, pardon or more literally sending of sins. Now, put by
the side of this text, another on this point from his discourse at the ninth hour of the same day. Acts 3:18,
“Repent ye therefore; and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord.” Here He exhorts to repentance and conversion (turning away from
sin); for what purpose? “That your sins may be (future) blotted out.” Every one can see that the blotting
out of sins does not take place at repentance and conversion; but follows and must of necessity be preceded
by them. Repentance, conversion, and baptism had become imperative duties in the present tense; and
when performed, those doing them “washed away” (Acts 22:16) remitted or sent away from them their sins.
(Acts 2:28). And of course are forgiven and have “received the atonement;” but they had not received it
entirely at that time, because their sins were not yet blotted out. How far then had they advanced in the
reconciling process? Just so far as the individual under the law had when he had confessed his sin, brought
his victim to the door of the tabernacle, laid his hand upon it and slain it, and the priest had with it’s blood
entered the Holy and sprinkled it before the veil and upon the alter and thus made an atonement for him
and he was forgiven. Only that was the type and this the reality. That prepared for the cleansing of the
great day of atonement, this for the blotting out of sins “when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus.” Hence, “by whom we have now received the atonement” in
the same as “by whom we have received the forgiveness of sin.” At this point the man is “made free from
sin.” The Lamb on Calvary’s cross is our victim slain; “Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant” “in the
heavens” is our intercessing High Priest, making atonement with His own blood by and with which He
entered there. The essence of the process is the same as in the “shadow.” 1st. Convinced of sin; 2nd.
Repentance and confession; 3d. Present the Divine sacrifice bleeding. This done in faith and sincerity, we
can do no more, no more is required.
Owen R. L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“In the heavenly Sanctuary our High Priest with His own blood makes the atonement and we are
forgiven,” Crosier concluded. He then quoted 1 Peter 2:24; “`Who His own self bare our sins in
His own body on the tree.’ (see also Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4-12).” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star, Extra,
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2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
“His body is the `one sacrifice’ for repenting mortals, to which their sins are imparted and through
whose blood in the hands of the living active Priest they are conveyed to the heavenly Sanctuary,”
Crosier explained. “That was offered `once for all’ `on the tree;’ and all who would avail
themselves of its merits must through faith, there receive it as theirs, bleeding at the hands of
sinful mortals like themselves.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
“After thus obtaining the atonement of forgiveness we must `maintain good works,’ not the
`deeds of the law;’ but `being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness,’” Crosier concluded.
“This work we will understand to be peculiar to the Gospel Dispensation.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-
Star, Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
This article makes it clear that pioneer Adventists did not believe in a “completed and final
atonement on the cross.” Indeed, the “Fundamental Principles of Beliefs” written by James
White and published in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1874-1914) stated almost the very
words of Crosier on the final atonement. Note carefully the statement by James White:
That there is one Lord Jesus Christ. . .that He. . .died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended
on high to be our only Mediator in the sanctuary in heaven, where, with His own blood, He makes the
atonement for our sins; which atonement, so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the
sacrifice, is the very last portion of His work as priest, according to the example of the Levitical priesthood, which
foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in heaven.
James White, 1874 Fundamental Principles, op. sit. The Living Witness, “Significant Articles From the
Signs of the Times,” 1874-1959, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1959, page 2. (emphasis supplied).
Did Ellen White agree with this “Fundamental Principles” statement on the final atonement?
Did she also agree with Crosier’s article in the Day-Star, Extra? Indeed she did! She stated that,
“I feel fully authorized by the Lord, to recommend that Extra, to every saint.” (ibid., letter to Eli
Curtis, 4/21/1847). In one of Ellen White’s earliest visions she was shown the concept of the
sanctuary truth symbolized by the first angel’s message:
Sub-Title–End of the 2300 Days: I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. . .. Before the
throne I saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before
the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed
before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and
appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the
praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son
it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from
under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off
from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company
all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pages 54, 55. (emphasis supplied).
Four very important facts must be acknowledged in this passage if we are to understand the times
in which we live:
(1) At the end of the 2,300 days, Ellen White saw the Father and the Son sitting on the throne in
the holy place or first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.
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(2) Before the throne were all the people of the world divided into three groups – (1) God’s true
Advent people, (2) the professed church, (3) the world.
(3) Although there were three groups before the throne, only two were divided. “I saw two
companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested.” The Church and the world
“stood uninterested and careless.”
(4) God’s true Advent people are a very small portion of professed Christians and the world’s
teeming billions.
Ellen White stated that only a “few would receive this great light” and that only a few would join
with “the little praying company.” God’s true people are always a small company. (See Luke
12:32; Matt. 7:14). Indeed, did not Jesus say, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37). What was the most important fact about the
days of Noah?
“When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,”
the apostle Peter replies, “wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:20b,
emphasis supplied).
Christ and the Father Enter the Most Holy In 1844
Evangelical Christians and contemporary Adventists state that Christ entered the most holy
place at His ascension. This teaching is heresy, and is not the teaching of pioneer Adventists.
Note carefully the following statement from the Spirit of Prophecy:
“End of the 2,300 Days”
“I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son,” Ellen White began. “I gazed on Jesus’
countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud
of glorious light covered Him. . ..” (Early Writings, page 54, emphasis supplied).
I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and
sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with
Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were
left in perfect darkness. . .. Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came
to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I
beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. . .. Those who rose up with Jesus would send
up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe
upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.
ibid., Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 55. (emphasis supplied).
There are five important facts that must be acknowledged in this vision given Ellen White. Note
carefully the time-frame of the vision.
(1) The time of the vision was at the ““End of the 2300 Days” The end of the 2300 days was
October 22, 1844.
(2) In vision Ellen White saw God the Father arise from His throne in the holy place, or first
apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and move into the holy of holies, “within the veil,” and sit
down. (See Daniel 7:9, 10). God the Father moved “through the Veil” into the most holy place
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of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
(3) Jesus also arose from His throne in the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary in 1844 and “stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father
sat.” (See Daniel 7:13). There Ellen White saw Jesus our great High Priest, “standing before the
Father.”
(4) Those who by faith entered the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary with the Father
and the Son received “light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.”
(5) Ellen White did not see even “one ray of light” pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after
He had arisen and entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Further, she stated
that the people who did not enter the holy of holies by faith “were left in perfect darkness.” Mark
this point well. The fallen churches of Babylon have not one ray of light and are in total darkness! “To
the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20, emphasis supplied). Do the Sunday-keeping churches believe in the
Law and the Sabbath? No, there is no light in them. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing
the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9).
I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had
left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the
throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence;
in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them
deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.
ibid., Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 56. (emphasis supplied).
Again, pioneer Adventist doctrine points out that the Sunday-keeping churches became Babylon
because they refused to follow by faith the Father and Son into the most holy place of the heavenly
sanctuary in 1844! They refused the first angel’s message! There are two other important facts
that must be acknowledged in this early vision given to Ellen White.
(1) Satan appeared to be by the throne in the first apartment, or holy place, “trying to carry on
the work of God.”
(2) Satan breathes upon the fallen churches of Babylon “an unholy influence,” and in this unholy
influence there is “light and much power.” We see this unholy influence and false power in the
erroneous faith healing and counterfeit joy and peace of the contemporary Evangelical and
Pentecostal churches. We also see this “unholy influence” and false “joy and peace” in the
“Celebration” movement within the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church. Only a delay
of the Lord’s coming will reveal the acceptance of “tongue-speaking” and “divine healing” in
public services of the Church.
Dr. Walter Martin, noted Evangelical writer on the cults, stated on the John Ankerberg
television show that Ellen White was a false prophet “because she approved the false position of
Crosier on the final atonement.” Martin’s opinion should not concern Adventists, because he
belongs to that group who are in darkness.
The Two Locations Of God’s Throne
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Was God the Father’s throne in the holy place, the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, at
the ascension of Christ, and the years prior to 1844? Did pioneer Adventists believe in “moving
throne?” Was Ellen White correct about the location of God’s throne prior to 1844 when she
saw in vision the Father and the Son move from the holy place, the first apartment, through the
Veil, into the holiest, or second apartment in 1844? The answer to these three questions is an
absolute, indisputable, definite yes!
Daniel saw the 1,200 reign of the “little horn,” the Papacy would extend from A.D. 538 to A.D.
1798. He saw God the Father seated in the most holy place, the second apartment of the
heavenly sanctuary, sometime following the reign of the little horn – shortly after 1798.
Daniel and John Confirm Ellen White
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down,” Daniel saw in vision, “and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like
the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7:9).
Daniel said that “I beheld till,” or past the time of the little horn, the Papacy. It was after the
little horn when Daniel saw “the Ancient of days did sit.” Notice also that the “wheels” of God
the Father’s throne appeared “as burning fire.” Then, like Ellen White, Daniel saw Jesus, the
Son, move into the most holy, the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of
heaven, and came to the Ancient of days [the Father],” Daniel wrote, “and they brought him
[Jesus] near before him [the Father].” (Daniel 7:13, emphasis supplied).
Why did the Father and the Son move into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in
1844? The angel told Daniel that, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14). What is the cleansing of the sanctuary?
“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him [the Father],” Daniel replies, “thousand
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:10, emphasis supplied).
“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should
be judged,” the apostle John wrote, “and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy
them which destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18, emphasis supplied).
In the first ten chapters of Revelation the apostle John places God the Father’s throne in the holy
place, the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. Then John was allowed for the first time to
look into the most holy place. There he saw the golden ark containing the ten commandments.
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven,” John wrote, “and there was seen in his temple
the ark of his testament.” (Revelation 11:19a).
Contemporary Adventism Opposes Daniel, John, and Ellen White
On the Location Of God’s Throne Before 1844
Elmer Ellsworth Andross
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There was contention between pioneer Adventists and Evangelical Christians over the location
of God’s throne. (1) Pioneer Adventists believed and taught the concept of moving thrones.
They taught that the Father’s throne was in the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary until 1844, at which time the Father moved into the most holy, or second apartment of
the heavenly sanctuary and was seated. (Daniel 7:9, 10). This concept was Biblical and was
confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy. (See above). (2) Evangelical, Sunday-keeping Christians do
not believe in a heavenly sanctuary. They teach that all of heaven is a most holy place and the
exact location of God’s throne is unknown. (3) Contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theology
seeks to compromise the two positions. Modern Adventism teaches that the Father’s throne is
confined to the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. More liberal
Adventists teach the Desmond Ford thesis that there is no heavenly sanctuary, and that all of
heaven is a most holy place.
Historically the two opposing concepts between pioneer Adventists and Evangelical Christians
had to be compromised if ecumenical ties were to be established between the Seventh-day
Adventist Church and other Christian churches. But how could these two opposing concepts be
compromised?
Compromise First Published In 1912
E. E. Andross was the first Seventh-day Adventist to publish the compromising concept that
God’s throne has always been located in the most holy place, and “at His ascension” Christ
entered the most holy place to appear before the Father to be confirmed. Then Christ returned
to the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the “first phase” of His
heavenly ministry. The Father remained in the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary where His throne has always been. Christ then, in 1844, reentered the most holy to
perform the judgmental, or “second phase” of His heavenly ministry. (See, E. E. Andross, A More
Excellent Ministry, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, 1912). This
erroneous concept is the current position of contemporary Adventism. This concept is not
Biblical. (See, Daniel 7:9, 10). The concept that Christ entered the most holy and then returned
to the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary was never taught by pioneer Adventists, nor was it
ever confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Where in the world did E. E. Andross get the idea for
such an erroneous concept?
Andross Influenced By Ballenger
E. E. Andross was associated in England with A. F. Ballenger, an Adventist minister who taught
erroneous concepts on the sanctuary doctrine. Ellen White opposed all the erroneous concepts
presented by Ballenger. (See, Ellen G. White, “The Integrity of the Sanctuary Truth,” Manuscript
Release, No. 760, page 4).
“Elder A. F. Ballenger. . .for a time was a minister in Great Britain,” Arthur White wrote.
“Associated with him in the work in Britain were such men as Elder E. W. Farnsworth and E. E.
Andross.” (EGW: The Early Elmshaven Years, Vol. 5, 1900-1905, pages 405, 406, emphasis
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supplied).
“In early 1905, A. F. Ballenger was over in Great Britain while I was there, and he had not been
very thoroughly instructed in some points of the faith,” Andross recalled. “He had been
preaching around over the country on certain practical points of the faith, and had had
considerable success in that line, but he had not been thoroughly grounded in the doctrinal
points of the faith.” (E. E. Andross, Bible Study No. II, July 13, 1911, pages. 13, 14, emphasis
supplied).
Notice the date of Andross’ report of Ballenger’s apostasy, 1911. One year later Andross
published his book, A More Excellent Ministry, 1912, on the sanctuary service as he saw it.
Andross admits in his report that he worked closely with Ballenger:
One night while laboring with me in London, it came his turn to preach on the subject of the sanctuary.
He [Ballenger] did so, but he was very much discouraged over his effort on the subject of the sanctuary that
night. And then he said, “If the Lord will help me, I will never preach again until I know what I am
preaching.” “I am not going to get it from our books. If our brethren could obtain it from the original
sources, why can’t I? I will go to the books or commentaries and all these various sources from which Elder
Uriah Smith obtained light on the subject of the sanctuary, and I will get it from the same sources that he
did. I will not know it because Elder Uriah Smith knew it, but I will know it because God is teaching it to
me directly.”
ibid., E. E. Andross, Bible Study No. II, July 13, 1911, pages. 13, 14. (emphasis supplied).
“The result was, he [Ballenger] developed a theory with reference to the sanctuary that is very
subtle,” Andross concluded, “and resulted in his being disconnected from the work entirely since
1905 at the General Conference.” (ibid., Bible Study No. II, p. 14, emphasis supplied).
“In his 1911 talks at the Oakland camp meeting Elder Andross carefully traces through various
texts that were employed by Ballenger in support of his views,” Arthur White wrote. “Then he
traces through the interpretation of these texts as held by Seventh-day Adventists, a position
strongly supported by the repeated testimony of Ellen White as having been given to her in
confirmation of truth in the early days of studying doctrinal points.” (EGW: The Early Elmshaven
Years, Vol. 5, 1900-1905, page 408, emphasis supplied).
Again notice the date, 1911, one year prior to the publication of Andross’ book A More Excellent
Ministry. Contrary to the last statement by Arthur White, the Spirit of Prophecy did not
“confirm” the concept published by Andross in his 1912 book. Ellen White did not confirm the
erroneous concept that Christ entered the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary, at the time of His ascension to appear before the Father to be confirmed, and then
returned to the holy, or first apartment, to perform the first phase of His heavenly ministry.
Although this erroneous concept cannot be found in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy, it is
promoted as the pioneer Adventist concept by contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theology.
Roy Adams Praises Ballenger’s Erroneous Concept
“Ballenger’s stress on. . .Christ’s entry into the most holy place at His ascension may be retained,”
Roy Adams stated, “and shown to be compatible with the notion of an antipical day of
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atonement commencing in 1844.” (Roy Adams, The Sanctuary Doctrine, “Andrews University
Doctrinal Dissertation Series,” page 255, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Roy Adams, current assistant editor of the Adventist Review, states that Ballenger’s
erroneous concept of Christ’s entry into the most holy place at His ascension “may be retained.”
Moreover, Roy Adams believes that Ballenger’s erroneous concept can be “shown to be
compatible with the notion of an antipical day of atonement commencing in 1844.” This is
liberal “new theology” Adventism in its most subtle and deceptive form. This is the “Omega” of
apostasy that Ellen White saw and that caused her to “tremble for our people.”
“The Omega would follow in a little while,” Ellen White warned. “I tremble for our people.”
(Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, page 341, emphasis supplied).
Roy Adams Opposes Pioneer Adventist Concept Of Moveable Thrones
“Yet there is an inner conviction on the part of many [new theology] Bible students that the
correspondence between the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries could not be in terms of a one-one
relationship,” Adams concluded. “[Uriah] Smith caught this point. . .. Ballenger recognized it
and hurled it against Smith’s notion of a mobile heavenly throne.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine,
emphasis supplied).
The Work Of Jesus In the Most Holy Of the Heavenly Sanctuary
On October 22, 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days (years), Jesus came before the Father to serve
as our High Priest. Daniel saw this great event in vision.
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of
heaven,” Daniel wrote, “and came to the Ancient of days [the Father], and they brought him
near before him.” (Daniel 7:13).
It was at that time that Jesus was given His kingdom. This event was the marriage of the Lamb.
Pioneer Adventist saw the fulfillment of this prophecy in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew
25:1-13) and the “midnight cry” given in the summer of 1844. “And at midnight there was a cry
made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Matthew 25:6).
“And there was given him [Jesus] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations,
and languages, should serve him,” Daniel wrote, “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14).
At this time “the judgement was set, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:10). “And the
nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them
that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
(Revelation 11:18, emphasis supplied).
Pioneer Adventists saw that the work of Jesus our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary
consisted, not only of judgement, but in the blotting out of sins. In the blotting out of sins Jesus
is making the final atonement.
Pioneer Adventist Writers On the Final Atonement
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What about other pioneer Adventists? Was O. R. L. Crosier the only one who believed the final
atonement is finished in heaven by our High Priest? No, indeed. Notice carefully a few
statements from the most acknowledged pioneer Adventists.
“The Final Atonement” and “The Blotting Out Of Sins”
1. Pioneer Adventist James N. Andrews
“By many, the idea of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary will be treated with scorn,
`because’ say they, `there is nothing in Heaven to be cleansed,’” Andrews began. “Such overlook
the fact that the holy of holies, where God manifested his glory, and which no one but the High
Priest could enter, was, according to the law, to be cleansed, because the sins of the people were
borne into it by the blood of sin-offering. Lev. 16.” (James N. Andrews, The Sanctuary and
Twenty-Three Hundred Days, Steam Press of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association,
Battle Creek, Mich. 1872, page 90, emphasis supplied).
“And they overlook the fact that Paul plainly testifies that the heavenly sanctuary must be cleansed for
the same reason. Heb. 9:23, 24. See also Col. 1:20,” Andrews continued. “It was unclean in this
sense only: the sins of men had been borne into it through the blood of sin offering, and they must
be removed.” Then Andrews added, “This fact can be grasped by every mind.” (ibid., page 91,
emphasis supplied).
“The work of cleansing the sanctuary changes the ministration from the holy place to the holiest
of all. Lev. 16; Heb. 9:6, 7; Rev. 11:19,” Andrews continued. “As the ministration in the holy
place of the temple in heaven began immediately after the end of the typical system, at the close
of the sixty-nine and a half weeks (Dan. 9:27), so the ministration in the holiest of all, in the
heavenly sanctuary, begins with the termination of the 2300 days.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis
supplied).
“Then our High Priest enters the holiest to cleanse the sanctuary,” Andrews concluded. “The
termination of this great period marks the commencement of the ministration of the Lord Jesus
in the holiest of all.” (ibid., page 91).
“This work, as presented in the type, we have already seen was for a two-fold purpose, viz.: [1] the
forgiveness of iniquity, [2] and the cleansing of the sanctuary,” Andrews stated. “And this great work
our Lord accomplishes with His own blood; whether by the actual presentation of it, or by virtue
of its merits, we need not stop to inquire.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis supplied).
“No one can fail to perceive that this event, the cleansing of the sanctuary, is one of infinite
importance,” Andrews wrote. “This accomplishes the great work of the Messiah in the
tabernacle in heaven, and renders it complete.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Andrews concedes that the work of final atonement and cleansing of our High Priest
in the heavenly sanctuary “renders it complete.” This is done in heaven, not at the cross.
“The work of cleansing the sanctuary is succeeded by the act of placing the sins, thus removed
upon the head of the scape-goat, to be borne away forever from the sanctuary,” Andrews
concludes. “The work of our High Priest for the sins of the world will then be completed, and He be
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ready to appear `without sin unto salvation.’” (ibid., page 92, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Andrews states that, “The work of our High Priest for the sins of the world will then
be completed.” Is this statement in harmony with Crosier? Yes, indeed. “In the heavenly
Sanctuary our High Priest with His own blood makes the atonement and we are forgiven,”
Crosier stated. (Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846).
Is this statement by Andrews in harmony with Ellen White? Yes, indeed. “His [Christ’s] work as
high priest completes the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.”
(Manuscript 69, 1912, page 13, emphasis supplied).
Contemporary SDA Opposing Position
Are these statements by Andrews, Crosier, and Ellen White in harmony with contemporary
Seventh-day Adventist doctrine? No, they are not. “When, therefore, one hears an Adventist
say, or reads in Adventist literature–even in the writings of Ellen G. White–that Christ is making
atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making
application of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross.” (Questions on
Doctrine, page 354, (1957), emphasis supplied).
Satan’s conspiracy against the Advent truth is so subtle, so deceptive, that without constant
study by the Christian, detection is almost impossible. Did not Jesus warn that “if it were
possible it should deceive the very elect?” Notice very, very, carefully the two opposing
statements below, the truth as stated by Ellen White, followed by the error as stated by the
contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church:
Ellen White’s Statement
When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, [1] He
first entered the holy place, where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men.
With intercession and pleading He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His
people, purified by the incense of His own merits. [2] He next entered the Most Holy Place [in 1844], to
make an atonement for the sins of the people, and cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes
the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.--Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13. (“The Sin and
Death of Moses,” copied Sept. 10, 1912.)
Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, Volume 11, page 54. (emphasis supplied).
Erroneous Contemporary Adventist Church Statement
This becomes all the more meaningful when we realize that Jesus our surety entered the “holy places” and
appeared in the presence of God for us. But it was not with the hope of obtaining something for us at that
time, or at some future time. No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross. And now, as our High
Priest He ministers the virtues of His atoning sacrifice.
Questions on Doctrine, page 381. (emphasis theirs).
Notice that Ellen White states that Jesus “entered the holy place, where. . .He made an offering
for the sins of men.” The contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church says, No. They admit
that Jesus did enter the `holy places’ and appeared in the presence of God for us. “But it was not
with the hope of obtaining something for us at that time, or at some future time.”
Ellen White says, “He next entered the Most Holy Place, to make an atonement for the sins of the
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people, and cleanse the sanctuary.” And, “His work as high priest completes the divine plan of
redemption by making the final atonement for sin.” (Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13). The contemporary
Seventh-day Adventist Church says, “No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross.” (QD, p.
381).
“The sins of those who have obtained pardon through the great sin-offering, are, at the close of our
Lord’s work in the holy places, blotted out (Acts 3:19),” J. N. Andrews concluded, “and being then
transferred to the scape-goat, are borne away from the sanctuary and host forever, and rest upon
the head of their author, the devil.” (ibid., The Sanctuary and Twenty-Three Hundred Days, page
92, emphasis supplied).
James N. Andrews then endorsed the writings of O. R. L. Crosier: “The following valuable
remarks on this important point are from the pen of O. R. L. Crozier, written in 1846.” (The
Sanctuary and Twenty-Three Hundred Days, p. 91). Andrews then quoted a passage from the
Day-Star, Extra, written by Crosier.
2. Pioneer Adventist Joseph Bates
“First, then to be perfect in time it must begin on the 10th day of the 7th month, and no where
else,” Bates stated. “Then please look back to the 10th of the 7th month, 1844, where all the
virgins were out looking for the Bridegroom, or as in the type, waiting for Jesus our great High
Priest, to finish the atonement for the sanctuary and ourselves, and bless us by his glorious appearing.”
(Joseph Bates, Eighth Way Mark, “Bridegroom Come,” page 101, emphasis supplied).
“Then we say at the commencement of this second type, the symbol of our trial, was where the
Bridegroom came, and commenced the cleansing of the sanctuary,” Bates concluded. “When
God speaks and shakes earth and heaven, Joel says Jerusalem will be holy, the sanctuary will be
complete, the atonement finished; for God will then be the hope of his people.” (ibid., page 102,
emphasis supplied).
3. Pioneer Adventist Stephen N. Haskell
In Acts 3:19 we read: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Then your sins are blotted out when the
times of refreshing come. We are to-day in the time of the blotting out of our sins. We are now looking for the
times of refreshing, and the outpouring of the Spirit. The Lord teaches knowledge to those who are
weaned, and those who study the Word have the refreshing. The refreshing is the outpouring of the Spirit
of God in the time of the blotting out of sins, and that is where we are now.
Stephen N. Haskell, “Preparation For Reception Of the Holy Spirit,” 1909 General Conference Daily
Bulletin, May 20, 1909, page 106. (emphasis supplied). [Address given at 9:15 A. M. Thursday, May 20, and
Friday, May 21, 1909.]
4. Pioneer Adventist Alonzo Trevor Jones
“We are also in the time of the utter blotting out of all sins that have ever been against us,” A. T.
Jones wrote. “And the blotting out of sins is exactly this thing of the cleansing of the sanctuary; it is the
finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our character; it is
the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, to abide alone
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everlastingly.” (A. T. Jones, “The Times of Refreshing,” The Consecrated Way To Christian
Perfection, page 124, emphasis supplied).
“Therefore now as never before we are to repent and be converted that our sins may be blotted
out,” Jones concluded, “that an utter end shall be made of them forever in our lives and everlasting
righteousness brought in.” (ibid., p. 124, emphasis supplied).
5. Pioneer Adventist J. N. Loughborough
“Still later Elder [J. H.] Waggoner wrote a third pamphlet of about the same size, entitled, The
Atonement in the Light of Reason and Revelation,” Loughborough wrote. “About the year 1884 this
was revised and enlarged to a volume of some 400 pages. It is a clear and concise treatise upon the
subject indicated by its title.” (J. N. Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, page 334,
emphasis supplied). [note:-J. H, Waggoner was the father of E. J. Waggoner.]
6. Pioneer Adventist E. J. Waggoner
“The blotting out of sin is the erasing of it from the nature, the being of man. . .,” E. J. Waggoner
wrote. “The erasing of sin is the blotting of it from our natures, so that we shall know it no more.” (E. J.
Waggoner, Review and Herald, September 30, 1902, emphasis supplied).
“`The worshipers once purged’–actually purged by the blood of Christ–have `no more
conscience of sin,’ because the way of sin is gone from them. . .,” Waggoner wrote. “This is the
work of Christ in the true sanctuary which the Lord pitched, and not man,–the sanctuary not made
with hands, but brought into existence by the thought of God.” (ibid., Review and Herald,
September 30, 1902, emphasis supplied).
7. Pioneer Adventist Joseph Harvey Waggoner
And yet another question has been raised, on which some minds have been perplexed. If the blotting out of
sins is done in the closing work of the priest, when the sanctuary is cleansed, that is to say, in the Judgment,
then the sins of all the saints must stand on record till that time. Now it has been shown (Chapter Three)
that justification by faith and salvation are not identical; the former is a fact of experience at the present
time, while the latter is contingent on “patient continuance in well-doing” on the part of the justified one.
As was remarked, “justification by faith is not a final procedure; it does not take the place of the Judgment,
nor render the Judgment unnecessary. It looks to something beyond itself to be accomplished in the future.”
Joseph Harvey Waggoner, “The Judgement,” The Atonement, page 226. (emphasis supplied).
8. Pioneer Adventist James White
How natural, then, the conclusion, that as the Jewish priests ministered daily in connection with the holy
place of the sanctuary, and on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the close of their yearly round of
service, the high priest entered the most holy place to make atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary,
so Christ ministered in connection with the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary from the time of his
ascension to the ending of the 2300 days of Dan.8, in 1844, when, on the tenth day of the seventh month of
that year, he entered the most holy place of the heavenly tabernacle to make a special atonement for the
blotting out of the sins of his people, or, which is the same thing, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The typical
sanctuary was cleansed from the sins of the people with the offering of blood. The nature of the cleansing
of the heavenly sanctuary may be learned from the type. By virtue of his own blood, Christ entered the
most holy to make a special atonement for the cleansing of the heavenly tabernacle.
James White, “The Sanctuary,” Bible Adventism, pages 185, 186. (emphasis supplied).
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The doctrine of a “final atonement in heaven” is stated by James White in several places. Three
other references are, Life Incidents, pages 192, 193; Life Sketches, page 111: Our Faith and Hope,
pages 175, 176.
Pioneer Adventists taught the “final atonement” completed in heaven in perfect harmony with
the Day-Star, Extra as written by O. R. L. Crosier. Many other examples could be presented.
This position was one of the “foundation” truths that was endorsed by the Spirit of God at the
beginning of the Advent movement.
“A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was plainly
marked out before me,” Ellen White wrote, “and I gave my brethren and sisters the instruction
that the Lord had given me.” (Ellen G. White, “Establishing the Foundation of Our Faith,”
Manuscript 135, 1903, page 3, emphasis supplied).
Ellen White On the Final Atonement
The Spirit of Prophecy teaches that the “atonement” was not completed on the cross, as the
fallen churches of Babylon, and the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church now teach.
Although there are many more examples, the following are seven clear statements by Ellen
White that the “atonement” was not completed and finished on the cross, but is finalized in the
heavenly Sanctuary.
Early Statement - 1852
As Jesus died on Calvary, He cried, “It is finished,” and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the
top to the bottom. This was to show that the services of the earthly sanctuary were forever finished, and
that God would no more meet with the priests in their earthly temple, to accept their sacrifices. The blood
of Jesus was then shed, which was to be offered by Himself in the heavenly sanctuary. As the priest entered
the most holy once a year to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly, at
the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by
His mediation, and thus to cleanse the sanctuary.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 253, 1852. (emphasis supplied).
Later Statement, 1912
When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, He first
entered the holy place, where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men. With
intercession and pleading He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His people,
purified by the incense of His own merits. He next entered the Most Holy Place [in 1844], to make an
atonement for the sins of the people, and cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes the divine
plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.--Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13. (“The Sin and Death of
Moses,” copied Sept. 10, 1912.)
Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, Volume 11, page 54. (emphasis supplied).
Notice the dates of these two statements, 1852 and 1912. After sixty years the Spirit of Prophecy
was yet consistent with the original message of the “final atonement” completed in heaven.
“As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven,”
Ellen White wrote, “no more to be remembered or come into mind, so in the type they were
borne away into the wilderness, forever separated from the congregation.” (Patriarchs and
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Prophets, page 358, emphasis supplied).
As he [Christ] repeated these words he pointed to the heavenly Sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace
this message are directed to the Most Holy place where Jesus stands before the ark, making his final
intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers, and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of
God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. Jesus makes an
atonement for those who died, not receiving the light upon God’s commandments, who sinned ignorantly.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 254; See also, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, pages 162, 163. (emphasis
supplied).
“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the
law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement,”
Ellen White stated, “so in the type the blood of the sin offering removed the sin from the
penitent, but it rested in the sanctuary until the Day of Atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
“In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and
whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in
the service of the Day of atonement,” Ellen White stated. “So in the great day of final atonement
and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. .
..” (The Great Controversy, page 480; See also, The Faith I Live By, page 210, emphasis supplied).
“In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of
the Day of Atonement--the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary,” Ellen White stated, “which was
accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had
been polluted.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 357, 358, emphasis supplied).
This teaching of the final atonement in heaven, the blotting out of sins, was the true message of
the First Angel, the “Present Truth” as taught and believed by pioneer Seventh-day Adventists
and endorsed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Are these statements by Ellen White in harmony with
the Day-Star, Extra article written by O. R. L. Crosier? Indeed they are!
Erroneous Contemporary Adventist Teaching On the Final Atonement
Satan knew that to ensure victory in his battle plan against the Seventh-day Adventist truth, he
must influence the leaders and teachers of the Church to falsify historical documents and to even
lie about doctrinal positions once held by the pioneers of the Advent movement. Again we ask,
how can we know what is the real truth when historical teachings have been falsified by modern
teachers, ministry and Church leaders?
“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us,
and His teaching in our past history,” Ellen White replies (LS, p. 196). “The value of the
evidences of truth that we have received during the past half century, is above estimate.” (R&H,
4/19/06).
In 1957 the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church published their position on the
“final atonement” in Ministry magazine, official organ to the ministry of the Church. In this
editorial, Roy Allen Anderson, then editor of Ministry magazine and Ministerial Secretary of the
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General Conference, stated that “the sacrificial act of the cross (was) a perfect, complete, and
final atonement.” (Ministry, February, 1957, emphasis supplied).
Is this statement in harmony with the article written by Crosier, endorsed by the Spirit of God,
and taught by pioneer Adventists for over 100 years? No, it is not. “Jesus entered the Most Holy
of the heavenly, at the end of the 2300 days of Dan, viii, in 1844, to make a final atonement,” Ellen
White replies. (ibid., Spiritual Gifts, Vol. I, pages 161, 162, emphasis supplied). In opposition to
pioneer teaching the ministry of the contemporary Church says, “No, the sacrificial act of the
cross was a perfect, complete, and final atonement.”
In the “official” book, “Seventh-day Adentists Answer, Questions on Doctrine, also published in
1957, can be found the following statement on the final atonement: “Adventists do not hold any
theory of a duel atonement.” (QOD, p. 390, emphasis theirs). This book was endorsed by the
highest authority of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Is this statement by the highest authority of the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church in
harmony with the position held by Crosier, Ellen White and the pioneer Adventists? No, indeed.
“But again, they say the atonement is made and finished on Calvary, when the Lamb of God
expired. . .so the churches and world believes; but it is none the more true or sacred on that account.”
Crosier replies. (Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846, emphasis supplied).
“When, therefore, one hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature -- even in the
writings of Ellen G. White – that Christ is making atonement now,” contemporary Church
leadership concludes, “it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making
application of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross.” (ibid., Questions on
Doctrine, page 354, emphasis theirs).
This was the official position of the Church in 1957. Is this position still held today by the
Seventh-day Adventist Church? Yes, indeed. Note carefully the following statement from the
official Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual.
Current Heretical Statements
In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death and resurrection, God provided the
only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal
life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect
atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s law and the graciousness of His character, for it both
condemns our sins and provides for our forgiveness. . .. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph
over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and
death.
Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 1986, page 25. (emphasis supplied).
Is the “official” statement in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual in harmony with the
original statement written by Crosier? No, it is not. Is it in harmony with the writings of Ellen
White? No, a thousand times no! “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant
sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the
sanctuary until the final atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
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“There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man,”
contemporary SDA Church leadership states. “In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making
available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.” (Seventhday
Adventist Believe. . . 27 Fundamental Doctrines, 1988, page 312, emphasis supplied).
These statements, beyond question, confirm the erroneous idea that the atonement was finished
and completed on the cross. The contemporary Church leadership say “the benefits of His
atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.”
“No, brethren, that is not the truth,” Ellen White would reply if she were alive today. “This
teaching is one of the errors of Babylon.”
How do we know Ellen White would speak thus? Because her writings speak thus. Note the
following statement:
“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the
law, was not to cancel the sin,” Ellen White wrote, “it would stand on record in the sanctuary until
the final atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
This “new theology” first began to be taught in 1957, after more than 100 years of the existence
of the Advent truth as taught by Ellen White and pioneer Adventists! (See, Questions on
Doctrine, pages 354, 355). Where is the proof of this statement? In the year 1952 the truth of
the final atonement finalized in the heavenly sanctuary was still being taught by the editor in
chief of the Review and Herald.
Of those who charge us with teaching strange doctrines because we believe that Christ’s work of atonement
for sin was begun rather than completed on Calvary, we ask these questions: If complete and final
atonement was made on the cross for all sins, then will not all be saved? for Paul says that He “died for all.”
Are we to understand you as being Universalists? “No,” you say, “not all men will be saved.” Well, then,
are we to understand that you hold that Christ made complete atonement on the cross for only a limited
few, and that His sacrifice was not world embracing, but only partial? That would be predestination in its
worst form.
Francis D. Nichol, Answers to Objections, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952 edition,
page 408. (emphasis supplied).
Ballenger’s Heresy Now Accepted By the Contemporary SDA Church
Satan has been very clever in his last-day deceptions. However, he made a serious blunder in
1905 when he directed his first assault on the “final atonement” phase of the sanctuary truth.
His great mistake was the timing – the messenger of the Lord was still alive!
“There was in their midst one through whom the Spirit of God was able to point out what was
truth and what was error.” E. E. Andross wrote. (Bible Study, No. II, page 14).
What erroneous concepts did A. F. Ballenger teach on the sanctuary truth? We must know,
because Satan has introduced the same erroneous concepts again into the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, and because we have been admonished that we should not “forget how the Lord has led
us, and His teaching, in our past history.” (Life Sketches, page 196).
Elder E. W. Farnsworth, who was also working in England with Ballenger and Andross at the
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time, reported on Ballenger’s erroneous teachings in a letter addressed “to the General
Conference president, who in turn conveyed the information to W. C. White on March 16,
1905.” (Arthur L. White, Early Elmshaven Years, Vol. 5, page 407):
There was another feature of the meeting which was really sad to me. Brother Ballenger has got into a
condition of mind which would seem to me to unfit him entirely to preach the message. He has been
studying the subject of the sanctuary a good deal lately, and he comes to the conclusion that the atonement
was made when Christ was crucified and that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy
Place and that His ministry has been carried on there ever since.
E. W. Farnsworth to Arthur G. Daniells, in Arthur G. Daniells to W. C. White, March 16, 1905.
(emphasis supplied).
Notice the three heretical concepts of Ballenger’s teaching. (1) “The atonement was made when
Christ was crucified, (2) and that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy
Place, (3) and that His ministry has been carried on there ever since.” Astounding! This is
exactly the teaching of the “new” theology currently devastating the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. This erroneous concept is entirely at odds with the historic teaching of pioneer
Adventists. Moreover, this teaching is in opposition to the Spirit of Prophecy.
“He [Ballenger] sees clearly that his view cannot be made to harmonize with the testimonies,”
Farnsworth wrote in his letter, “at least he admits freely that he is totally unable to do so.” (ibid.,
Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
Farnsworth stated further that, in his own mind, Ballenger felt that “there is an irreconcilable
difference” between his theories and Ellen White. (ibid., Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
“This, of course, involves the authenticity of the Testimonies and practically upsets them,”
Farnsworth concluded. (ibid., Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
“Farnsworth reported that a number of Adventist ministers in Great Britain were taking up these
new views on the sanctuary, and confusion was coming in,” Arthur White observed. (EEY, vol. 5,
p. 408). Arthur White stated further that, “Early in the 1905 session Ballenger laid before the
leading brethren what he felt was new light, but they were unable to accept his reasoning and
pointed out the errors in his application of Scripture.” (ibid., EEY, vol. 5, p. 408).
Ellen White’s Reply To Ballenger’s Teaching
What did Ellen White think of this “new theology” presented by A. F. Ballenger? What did she
think of the erroneous concept that “the atonement was made when Christ was crucified and
that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy Place and that His ministry has
been carried on there ever since.” Did she have any light from heaven on the subject? What
would she say if this erroneous concept was taught today?
“It will be one of the great evils that will come to our people to have the Scriptures taken out of their
true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts the light and the
Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half century,” Ellen White replied to Ballenger.
“I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance
among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul.” (MS., S 59, 1905,
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emphasis supplied). (For further EGW statements on the teachings of A. F. Ballenger see, Christ
In His Sanctuary, pages 3-18).
“There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated
with him are presenting,” Ellen White cautioned. “I am instructed to say to Elder Ballenger, Your
theories, which have multitudes of fine threads, and need so many explanations, are not truth,
and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., MS. S 59, 1905, emphasis supplied).
The attack of Satan on the sanctuary truth at that time came to not because the Messenger of
the Lord was alive and confronted the false doctrine. However, today Ellen White is no longer
with the Church. As Israel of old, we only have the writings of the prophet. Has the Seventhday
Adventist Church fallen for the old erroneous concepts of Ballenger? Although Ellen White
had warned that these dangerous concepts “are not to be brought to the flock of God,” that is
exactly what has been promoted by the “new” theology.
Contemporary Scholars Endorses Ballenger’s Theories
In 1981 Roy Adams, currently assistant editor of the Adventist Review, wrote his Doctoral
Dissertation at Andrews University. Adams wrote on the sanctuary doctrinal positions held by
Uriah Smith, M. L. Andreason, and A. F. Ballenger. Notice carefully the following conclusion by
Roy Adams on the position held by A. F. Ballenger:
Ballenger’s treatment of Hebrews 6:19, 20 is so strong, exegetically, that it has to be regarded as a
significant movement towards a closer affinity to the biblical testimony in regard to the meaning of the
phrase “within the veil.” His argumentation, based as it was on solid scriptural indications, far surpassed the
value of [Uriah] Smith’s on the same point. And inasmuch as the two positions were diametrically opposed to
each other, Ballenger’s is to be preferred.
Roy Adams, The Sanctuary Doctrine, “Three Approaches in the Seventh-day Adventist Church,”
Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series, Andrews University Press, 1981, page 245.
(emphasis supplied).
Notice that Roy Adams, speaking for contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theologians, states
that Ballenger’s treatment of Scripture “is so strong,” and “that it has to be regarded as a
significant movement towards a closer affinity to the biblical testimony.” On this point Adams
concluded that Ballenger’s argumentations are “based as it was on solid scriptural indications.”
Amazing! This man is currently the assistant editor of the Adventist Review, and will probably be
the next Chief Editor.
“None of the figures [Smith, Andreason, Ballenger] appreciated the full implications of Hebrews
6:19,20,” Roy Adams concluded, “but it was Ballenger who came closest to recognizing it.” (ibid., The
Sanctuary Doctrine, page 246, emphasis supplied).
“Now again our Brother Ballenger is presenting theories that cannot be substantiated by the Word of
God,” Ellen White replies to Roy Adams’ statement. “It will be one of the great evils that will
come to our people to have the Scriptures taken out of their true place and so interpreted as to
substantiate error that contradicts the light and the Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past
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half century.” (Manuscript Release, S 59, 1905, page 409, emphasis supplied).
“Ballenger’s stress on the atonement at the cross and on Christ’s entry into the most holy place at
His ascension,” Adams stated, “maybe retained and shown to be compatible with the notion of
an antipical day of atonement commencing in 1844. . ..” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 255,
emphasis supplied).
In a biography of M. L. Andreason is a publishers note which erroneously states, “While
denominational literature has adopted the phrase `the benefits of His atonement,’ every effort is
put forth to make clear to the world that Seventh-day Adventists believe that an important part of
the atonement is taking place in the heavenly sanctuary.” (Virginia Steinweg, Without Fear or
Favor, 1979, Review and Herald Publishing Company, page 183, emphasis supplied). This
statement is just not true.
Seventh-day Adventist Church literature does not make “every effort. . .to make clear to the
world that Seventh-day Adventists believe that an important part of the atonement is taking
place in the heavenly sanctuary.” The heresy has been advanced in the new 27 Statement of
Fundamental Beliefs.
Uriah Smith Again the Scapegoat
Once more we have come full circle. Notice how Roy Adams, in his effort to present Ballenger’s
theories as truth, downgrades Uriah Smith: “His [Ballenger’s] argumentation, based as it was on
solid scriptural indications, far surpassed the value of Smith’s on the same point.”
Roy Adams admits that Ballenger and Smith were at opposite ends of theology on the sanctuary
doctrine, “And inasmuch as the two positions were diametrically opposed to each other.” The
truth is that Ballenger was “diametrically opposed” to all pioneer Adventists. Indeed, E. E.
Andross, who had worked with Ballenger in England, stated that, “He [Ballenger] sees clearly
that his view cannot be made to harmonize with the testimonies, at least he admits freely that he
is totally unable to do so.” Even Ballenger himself had stated that “there is an irreconcilable
difference” between his theories and Ellen White. (ibid., E. E. Andross, Bible Study, No. II, July 13, 1911,
pages 13).
Then Roy Adams, completely disregarding Spirit of Prophecy counsel, states that “Ballenger’s
[position] is to be preferred,” to that of Uriah Smith. Adams could have chosen any other pioneer
Adventist instead of Uriah Smith as an example of pioneer Adventist teaching on the sanctuary,
because Uriah Smith’s writings on the subject are in perfect harmony with O. R. L. Crosier,
James White, J. N. Andrews and others.
Notice that not one statement by Uriah Smith was quoted in our presentation of pioneer
Adventist teachings on the sanctuary. Many of Smith’s statements could have been used to
verify his unanimity with other pioneer Adventists. This was not necessary. Any serious
research of Adventist history can plainly establish that Smith’s writings on the sanctuary are in
perfect unanimity with those of his peers. Indeed, Roy Adams in his conclusion admits that there
is little difference between Uriah Smith, M. L. Andreason, J. N. Andrews, and other pioneer
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Adventists. He champions the fact that there was a “radical departure in the area of the
sanctuary” from pioneer writers such as Smith, Andrews, White, and Andreason.
“Ballenger’s radical departure in the area of the sanctuary was of immense significance to the purpose
of this study,” Adams admits. (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 256).
“But while it would be impossible to synthesize the sanctuary theology of these three figures
[Uriah Smith, A. F. Ballenger, M. L. Andreason] into a unified whole, it is feasible to build a
contemporary Adventist theology of the sanctuary, using their insights, however diverse they are in
some points,” Adams reasons. “Such an eclectic approach would need to discard or modify some
features while retaining others with profit.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 255).
This is the real problem with contemporary Adventist scholarship. They wish to teach truth
mixed with error. Why? Because Adventist leadership aspires to join the great Ecumenical
movement sweeping the world. They wish to be considered “Christian brethren” by the fallen
churches of Babylon!
Roy Adams’ Erroneous Conclusion
“Clearly, this does not mean that Adventism may not learn a great deal from the issues Ballenger
raised and championed,” Adams concluded. “His many positive contributions to the theology of the
sanctuary have already been noted.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 256).
“There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated
with him [Roy Adams] are presenting,” Ellen White cautioned. “I am instructed to say to Elder
Ballenger [and Roy Adams], Your theories, which have multitudes of fine threads, and need so
many explanations, are not truth, and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., Manuscript S
59, 1905, emphasis supplied).
Moveable Thrones
“Yet there is an inner conviction on the part of many [new theology] Bible students that the
correspondence between the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries could not be in terms of a one-one
relationship,” Adams concluded. Smith caught this point. . .. Ballenger recognized it and hurled it
against Smith’s notion of a mobile heavenly throne.”
Pioneer Adventist Opposition To Adams’ Statement
The Ancient of Days, (God,) sets between the Cherubims, in the Most Holy Place. This is where he is
sought unto when the National Atonement is made. Where then is His Throne during the daily ministration?
Ans. - In the type. See Exo. 29:42-44, and 30:6,36. In the anti-type, Jesus says he sets on his Father’s
Throne, Rev. 3:21. John in vision sees the throne in the Holy Place where the seven lamps of fire are. See
Rev. 4:1,2 and 5; 5:1,7. God was thereon.
Joseph Bates, Anti-Type or Substance, page 132. (emphasis supplied).
Many other pioneer statements on the “moveable throne” of God could be presented. However,
only one by Ellen White will suffice.
END OF THE 2300 DAYS: I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus’
countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. . ..
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I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and
sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne. . .. Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire,
surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest,
where the Father [now] sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. . ..
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 55. (emphasis supplied).
“Within the Veil”
In his statement, Roy Adams concluded that, “Ballenger’s treatment of Hebrews 6:19,20 is so
strong, exegetically, that it has to be regarded as a significant movement towards a closer affinity
to the biblical testimony in regard to the meaning of the phrase `within the veil.’” (ibid., The
Sanctuary Doctrine page 245). As seen before, Ballenger believed that, at His ascension, and not
in 1844, Christ entered directly into the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary to perform the
second phase of his priestly ministry. Pioneer Adventists believed and taught that Christ did not
go into the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary until October 22, 1844, at the end of the
2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. Contrary to pioneer Adventists, contemporary Seventh-day
Adventists teach that all of heaven is a sanctuary, and that “there is no veil at all in heaven – and all
of heaven is a most holy place!” (Garry F. Williams, in a sermon at a major Seventh-day Adventist
Church). If you ask a contemporary Seventh-day Adventist minister or theologian he will tell
you there is no veil in heaven, no two compartments in the heavenly sanctuary. Some may deny
it, but they do believe this to be true. They really do not believe in a literal heavenly Sanctuary,
but that “all of heaven is a sanctuary and a most holy place.” (ibid., Gary F. Williams). Indeed,
contemporary Adventist literature (and the official 27 Statement of Fundamental Beliefs), since
the Evangelical Conferences of 1955-56, state that Christ is now ministering “the benefits of His
atonement which He made on the cross.”
“I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance
among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul,” Ellen White warned.
“Your theories. . .are not truth, and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., Manuscript S
59, 1905, emphasis supplied). (MS. S 59).
It will be one of the great evils that will come to our people, Ellen White predicted, “to have the
Scriptures taken out of their true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts
the light and the Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half century.” (ibid., MS. S 59,
emphasis supplied).
“Let us all cling to the established truth of the sanctuary,” Ellen White concluded. (ibid., MS. S
59, 1905). In 1905 this “truth of the sanctuary” would be the “established truth” presented by
Crosier, James White, and other pioneer Adventists.
The contemporary Church is now teaching the false doctrines on the sanctuary that were first by
introduced A. F. Ballenger. (See history above, Chapter #3, “Early Ecumenical Concessions”).
On the first angel’s message, the sanctuary truth, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is
now in apostasy. How the Lord will choose to deal with the Church and this apostasy
is a frightening possibility. Is it any wonder that Ellen White, commenting
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on this “Omega of Apostasy” stated that, “I tremble for our people.”(ibid., Sermons and Talks, page
341, emphasis supplied).
Saturday, March 30, 2019
The Great Conspiracy #9
THE FINAL ATONEMENT
His work as high priest completes the divine plan of redemption
by making the final atonement for sin.
Manuscript. 69, 1912, page 13.
e are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined, as
we near the final struggle,” Ellen White warned. “We have a sleepless adversary, and
he is constantly at work upon human minds that have not had a personal experience
in the teachings of the people of God for the past fifty years.” (Selected Messages,
Book 1, page 102, emphasis supplied).
Satan knows that if we forget “the way the Lord has led us,” and especially if we should forget
“His teaching in our past history,” (Life Sketches, page 196), then it would be easy to introduce
heresy into the greatest movement of truth the world has ever known. What did Ellen White
mean by “His teaching in our past history?” Before we can proceed with our research and find
the correct answer to this question, we must first understand the correct method to follow in our
study of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Bible answer to the proper method of study is that “precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10). Does
it not follow that we should use the very same method to interpret passages in the Spirit of
Prophecy? Yes, indeed.
“The Spirit of the Lord will be in the instruction, and doubts existing in many minds will be swept
away,” Ellen White counseled. “The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the
messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture.” (Letter, 73, 1905, also, Selected Messages,
book. 1, pages 41, 42, emphasis supplied).
Notice that we are instructed to study the Spirit of Prophecy “as scripture is explained by
scripture,” and further, “The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the
messages given.” That is very plain, is it not? However, there is one more important aspect that
must be remembered in the study of the Spirit of Prophecy – “time and place must be
W
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considered.”
“Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored, nothing is cast aside,” Ellen White wrote, “but time
and place must be considered.” (ibid., Letter, 73, 1905, emphasis supplied).
This inspired counsel on how to study the Testimonies is simple. (1) Dot not cast aside any part
of the Testimonies. (2) Compare all that is written on a subject. (3) “Time and place” must also
be considered. This is sound and logical advice, is it not?
The Past Fifty Years (1844-1900)
Ellen White warned many times that some in the Church would bring in “new strange doctrines,”
and, “something odd and sensational to present to the people.” (Letter, 73, 1905). The safeguard,
of course, is to remember “the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”
(ibid., Life Sketches, page 196). Not only that, but Ellen White was very specific about what she
meant by the phrase, “His teaching in our past history.” Many times she stated, writing at the
turn of the century (again keeping in mind “time and place”) that, “the value of the evidences of
truth that we have received during the past half century, is above estimate.” (Review and Herald,
April 19, 1906, emphasis supplied).
“Study the Bible truths that for fifty years have been calling us out from the world,” Ellen White
counseled. (ibid., Review and Herald, April 19, 1906, emphasis supplied).
In other words, noting time and place, 1906, when this testimony was penned, the truth that
pioneer Adventists taught from 1844 to the turn of the century, was, and still is, “the three
angel’s messages.” The pioneer Seventh-day Adventist message given this people in the past
century is the true end-time “Gospel” to a perishing world. God does not change. His message
does not change. Any message that is not in harmony with this “most precious message” is what
Ellen White called “strange fire,” what we know today as “new theology.”
Strange Fire
“For all in responsible positions I have a message spoken by the mouth of the Lord,” Ellen White
wrote. (Testimonies to Ministers, page 357, emphasis supplied). And what was this message from
God to the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
“He [those in responsible positions] will represent the sacredness of the work, he will magnify the
truth, and will ever present before men and angels the holy perfume of the character of Christ
[the law of God],” Ellen White related the message from God. “This is the sacred fire of God’s
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own kindling. Anything aside from this is strange fire, abhorrent to God, and the more offensive
as one’s position in the work involves larger responsibilities.” (ibid., Testimonies to Ministers, page
357, emphasis supplied).
There are 115 references to the phrase “strange fire” in the writings of Ellen White. We have
learned that false doctrine is “strange fire” presented to the Seventh-day Adventist Church by
“those in responsible positions.” We will now learn what is the “sacred fire of God.”
The Sacred Fire Of God
When the power of God testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth. . .. The truth for
this time, God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. . . . And
while the Scriptures are God’s Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application
moves one pillar of the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake. He who makes
such an application knows not the wonderful demonstration of the Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past
messages that have come to the people of God.
Ellen G. White, A Call to the Watchmen, pages 14, 15. (emphasis supplied).
Notice that, “He [God] Himself has taught us what is truth,” and, “When the power of God
testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth.” Could anything be more plain?
An application or interpretation of Scripture that “moves one pillar of the foundation that God has sustained these
fifty years, is a great mistake.” In this statement Ellen White emphasized that it was “the Holy Spirit
that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the people of God.”
The past fifty years have not dimmed one jot or principle of our faith as we received the great and
wonderful evidences that were made certain to us in 1844, after the passing of the time. . .. Not a word is
changed or denied. That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our
great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. . ..
Ellen G. White, The Upward Look, page 352. (emphasis supplied).
“Not a word is changed or denied,” of the Advent truth for “the past fifty years,” and this truth
that was laid down after the great disappointment in 1844 “is the solid foundation of truth.” The
emphasis again, and again is stated to be the truth that was held by Seventh-day Adventists for
“the past fifty years.” (See also, Gospel Workers, 1915 page 307).
“The pillars of truth were revealed, and we accepted the foundation principles that have made us what
we are -- Seventh-day Adventists,” Ellen White stated, “keeping the commandments of God and
having the faith of Jesus.” (Upward Look, page 352, emphasis supplied).
Notice that, “The pillars of truth were revealed,” and pioneer Adventists “accepted the
foundation principles” of truth. They were truly the remnant who were “keeping the
commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus.” Notice Ellen White said “having” the
faith of Jesus. They possessed the faith of Jesus. Pioneer Adventists were people of obedience to
all of God’s commandments. Their lives were in harmony with the law of God because they
possessed faith like Jesus. Thus the apostle Paul said, “I can do all things.” How? “Through
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Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). This is righteousness by faith. Obedience
by faith.
Again, about the pillars of our faith, Ellen White stated, “And while the Scriptures are God’s
Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application moves one pillar of
the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake.” (A Call to the Watchmen,
pages 14, 15, emphasis supplied).
Old Landmarks and Pillars Of Adventism
What are the “pillars” and “old landmarks” of truth? According to the Spirit of Prophecy, there
are really only three pillars of Adventism. Notice carefully the description of these three pillars,
also known as the old landmarks.
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.” [1] 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. [2] The light
of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed it’s strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of
God’s law. [3] The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can
come under the head of the old landmarks. . ..”
Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, pages 30, 31. (emphasis supplied).
(1) The Sanctuary, the Foundation Pillar of Adventism
The first “pillar” or “landmark” that Satan would attack is the foundation pillar of the Advent
movement. This landmark is the first angel’s message, the message that the remnant people were
commissioned to give to a perishing world. This sanctuary truth is the one doctrine held only by
Seventh-day Adventists. For Satan to attack the second pillar, the Sabbath truth, or the third
pillar, the state of man in death, would be too obvious for alert Seventh-day Adventists. Satan
must be more clever than to attack the obvious. If Satan attacked the sanctuary truth outright,
by stating “there is no sanctuary in heaven,” the Advent people would detect the deception
immediately. Too many testimonies had been written against that kind of an assault upon this
foundation pillar of Adventism.
A Most Subtle Deception
History reveals that Satan would shrewdly concentrate his assault on the most important “phase”
of the sanctuary truth. Satan would cleverly attack, and try to negate, the “final atonement” and
the “blotting out of sins” work of Jesus Christ, our heavenly High Priest. Satan would introduce
into the Seventh-day Adventist Church the false concept held by the fallen churches of Babylon,
that the atonement was final, completed and finished on the cross. This false concept would lead the
people to feel secure in their sins. This most subtle deception would at the same time do away
with the truth of the 1844 message – that the final atonement is being completed in heaven by our
High Priest, Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God.
To complete his masterful deception, Satan, after establishing the erroneous “complete and final
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atonement on the cross” concept, would then introduce into the Seventh-day Adventist Church
a false concept of the human nature Christ assumed while in the flesh. This second false concept
would give the people a false “assurance” and lead them to believe that Christ is their substitute
only. This deception would lead the people to accept the false doctrine of “free grace” held by all
so-called “contemporary Christians.” This would be Satan’s most cunning and subtle deception, for it
would lead the people to be lost in their sins! This overwhelming deception the Spirit of Prophecy
describes as “the Omega of apostasy.”
“The Omega would follow in a little while,” Ellen White warned. “I tremble for our people.”
(Sermons and Talks “The Foundation of Our Faith,” page 341, emphasis supplied).
Jesus warned that in the last days Satan’s battle strategy against the remnant people of God
would be so deceptive that “if it were possible, it should deceive the very elect.” (Matthew
24:24b). Thus Paul stated, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”
(2 Corinthians 11:14, 15a, emphasis supplied).
“One will arise and still another with new light which contradicts the light that God has given
under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit,” Ellen White cautioned. “We are not to receive the
words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faith.” (A Call to the
Watchmen, page 14, emphasis supplied).
How can we know what is truth? How can we identify heresy in these last days? How can we
avoid being deceived by our cunning adversary?
“When the power of God testifies to what is truth, the truth is to stand forever as the truth,” Ellen
White replies. “No after suppositions, contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained.”
(ibid., A Call to the Watchmen, page 24, emphasis supplied).
A Safeguard and A Bulwark Against Heresy
A few are still alive who passed through the experience gained in the establishment of this truth. God has
graciously spared their lives to repeat and repeat till the close of their lives, the experience through which
they passed even as did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard bearers who have
fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings. I am instructed that thus voices are to be
heard. They are to bear their testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time.
ibid., Ellen G. White, A Call to the Watchmen (pages 14, 15). (emphasis supplied).
Notice the words, “I am instructed.” The instruction came directly from heaven. The
instruction from heaven was that “voices are to be heard.” Who’s voices are to be heard? “The
standard bearers [pioneer Adventists] who have fallen in death, are to speak through the
reprinting of their writings.” Not only that, but, “They are to bear their testimony as to what
constitutes the truth for this time.”
So that is the key, the doctrinal rock we should hold on to – the truth in our past history! “We
have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His
teaching in our past history.” (ibid., Life Sketches, page 196). This statement was published in
1915. We must go back to the beginning of the Advent movement, the first “fifty years” of our
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past history to discover what was the truth that was endorsed by “the wonderful demonstration of
the Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the people of
God.” (ibid., A Call to the Watchmen, page 15). Then we must compare any new teaching, any
“new theology,” to the teachings of pioneer Seventh-day Adventists from 1844 to the turn of the
century.
The True Doctrine of the Final Atonement
As Taught From 1844 To 1931 (87 years)
“The doctrine of the Sanctuary was enunciated soon after the Great Disappointment of October
22, 1844,” Leroy Froom wrote. “The earliest declaration of this doctrine was the published
statement written out by O. R. L. Crosier – but representing the joint studies of Hiram Edson,
Crosier, and Dr. F. B. Hawn – which studies took place in Port Gibson and neighboring
Canandaigua, New York, in the week or months following the crisis in October.” (Leroy Edwin
Froom, Movement of Destiny, pages 111, 112).
“Published first in 1845 in the local Adventist paper, The Day-Dawn, in Canandaigua,” Froom
continued, “it appeared in fuller form in The Day-Star Extra of February 7, 1846, printed in
Cincinnati, Ohio.” (ibid., Movement of Destiny, page 112).
Froom went on to state that, “Concerning the published results of these studies, Ellen Harmon
White wrote this statement in a letter to Eli Curtis, dated April 21, 1847, and published the same
year in one of our earliest pieces of denominational literature, A Word to the Little Flock.” (ibid.,
Movement of Destiny, page 111). Froom then quoted the statement of Ellen White. However,
because he did not agree with the “final atonement” aspect of Crosier’s article, Froom omitted an
important part of the Ellen White endorsement of the article by adding ellipses at the end of the
first sentence as follows:
The Lord shew me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the Sanctuary. . .; and that it was His will, that Brother C, should write out the view which he
gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846.
(ibid., Leroy Edwin Froom, Movement of Destiny, page 111).
What was left out by the ellipses in Froom’s quotation? Here is the statement as written without
the ellipses:
The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the sanctuary, et cetera, and that it was His [God’s] will that Brother C. should write out the
view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to
recommend that Extra to every saint.
Ellen G. White, A Word to the Little Flock, page 12. (emphasis supplied).
Froom purposely left out the “et cetera,” that Ellen White had written. Why? Because the “et
cetera,” implied that Crosier had published the complete truth on all aspects of the Sanctuary
truth, especially the “final atonement” phase of the Sanctuary truth. Notice Ellen White stated
that, “The Lord showed me in vision,” and that “Brother Crosier had the true light, on the
cleansing of the sanctuary, et cetera,” and that it was God’s will “that Brother C. should write out
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the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra.” Unquestionably a solid endorsement from the
Lord through the Spirit of Prophecy of O. R. L. Crosier’s Day-Star, Extra, article. If Leroy Froom,
contemporary historian of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, could not agree with all the
aspects of truth in Crosier’s article, then he also could not agree with the Spirit of Prophecy
which endorsed the article. It will be shown below that most contemporary Adventist historians,
writers and scholars are also out of harmony with pioneer Seventh-day Adventists and the Spirit
of Prophecy on the teaching of the “Final Atonement” phase of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly
sanctuary.
The Final Atonement
What had Crosier written that Froom and contemporary Adventist leadership could not agree
with? It was Crosiers’ “final atonement” emphasis – that the atonement was not finished and
completed on the cross, but that as our High Priest, Christ is now making the “final atonement”
in the heavenly Sanctuary.
While doing research for this manuscript, the author placed a call to the James White Memorial
Library at Andrews University to purchase a photo-copy of Crosier’s original article as it appeared
in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. The photo-copy of the article arrived, minus the
“atonement” portion of the article! Another letter was mailed, with the required funds, requesting
that the full article be sent, including the “atonement” portion of Crosier’s Day-Star, Extra article.
As of this writing (more then ten years), and no further correspondence has been received.
What is the corporate Seventh-day Adventist Church trying to hide? Thanks to the faithful
work of Adventist laymen the complete article was published on the Adventist Pioneer Library
CD-ROM disk. (Adventist Pioneer Library, P. O. Box 1844, Loma Linda, CA 92354-0380, USA).
Here, then, is the complete “atonement” portion of Crosier’s article in full. This is the true
position on the “final atonement” phase of the heavenly Sanctuary as it was endorsed by the
Spirit of Prophecy:
“But again, they say the atonement is made and finished on Calvary, when the Lamb of God
expired,” Crosier began. “So men have taught us, and so the churches and world believes; but it
is none the more true or sacred on that account, if unsupported by Divine authority.” (Owen R.
L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“Perhaps few or none who hold that opinion have ever tested the foundation on which it rests,”
Crosier suggested. He then explained the “Final Atonement” phase of Christ ministry in the
heavenly sanctuary in following six areas:
1. If the atonement was made on Calvary, by whom was it made? The making of the atonement is the work
of a Priest; but who officiated on Calvary? Roman soldiers and wicked Jews.
2. The slaying of the victim was not making the atonement; the sinner slew the victim. (Lev. 4:1-4, 13-15),
after that the priest took the blood and made the atonement. (Lev. 4:5-12, 16-21).
3. Christ was the appointed High Priest to make the atonement, and He certainly could not have acted in
that capacity till after His resurrection, and we have no record of His doing anything on earth after His
resurrection, which could be called the atonement.
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4. The atonement was made in the Sanctuary, but Calvary was not such a place.
5. He could not, according to Hebrews 8:4, make the atonement while on earth, “If He were on earth, He
should not be a Priest.” The Levitical was the earthly priesthood, the Divine, the heavenly.
6. Therefore, He did not begin the work of making the atonement, whatever the nature of that work may
be, til after His ascension, when by His own blood He entered His heavenly Sanctuary for us.
Owen R. L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“Let us examine a few texts that appear to speak of the atonement as past,” Crosier continued.
“Rom. 5:11; `By whom we have now received the atonement, (margin, reconciliation).’ This
passage clearly shows a present possession of the atonement at the time the apostle wrote; but it
by no means proves that the entire atonement was then in the past.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star,
Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
When the Savior was about to be taken up from His apostles, He “commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,” which came on the day of Pentecost when
they were all “baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Christ had entered His Father’s house, the Sanctuary, as
High Priest, and began His intercession for His people by “praying the Father” for “another Comforter,”
John 14:15, “and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:33, He shed it down
upon His waiting apostles. Then, in compliance with their commission, Peter, at the third of the day began
to preach, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
Acts 2:38. This word remission, signifies forgiveness, pardon or more literally sending of sins. Now, put by
the side of this text, another on this point from his discourse at the ninth hour of the same day. Acts 3:18,
“Repent ye therefore; and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord.” Here He exhorts to repentance and conversion (turning away from
sin); for what purpose? “That your sins may be (future) blotted out.” Every one can see that the blotting
out of sins does not take place at repentance and conversion; but follows and must of necessity be preceded
by them. Repentance, conversion, and baptism had become imperative duties in the present tense; and
when performed, those doing them “washed away” (Acts 22:16) remitted or sent away from them their sins.
(Acts 2:28). And of course are forgiven and have “received the atonement;” but they had not received it
entirely at that time, because their sins were not yet blotted out. How far then had they advanced in the
reconciling process? Just so far as the individual under the law had when he had confessed his sin, brought
his victim to the door of the tabernacle, laid his hand upon it and slain it, and the priest had with it’s blood
entered the Holy and sprinkled it before the veil and upon the alter and thus made an atonement for him
and he was forgiven. Only that was the type and this the reality. That prepared for the cleansing of the
great day of atonement, this for the blotting out of sins “when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus.” Hence, “by whom we have now received the atonement” in
the same as “by whom we have received the forgiveness of sin.” At this point the man is “made free from
sin.” The Lamb on Calvary’s cross is our victim slain; “Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant” “in the
heavens” is our intercessing High Priest, making atonement with His own blood by and with which He
entered there. The essence of the process is the same as in the “shadow.” 1st. Convinced of sin; 2nd.
Repentance and confession; 3d. Present the Divine sacrifice bleeding. This done in faith and sincerity, we
can do no more, no more is required.
Owen R. L. Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. (emphasis supplied).
“In the heavenly Sanctuary our High Priest with His own blood makes the atonement and we are
forgiven,” Crosier concluded. He then quoted 1 Peter 2:24; “`Who His own self bare our sins in
His own body on the tree.’ (see also Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4-12).” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star, Extra,
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2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
“His body is the `one sacrifice’ for repenting mortals, to which their sins are imparted and through
whose blood in the hands of the living active Priest they are conveyed to the heavenly Sanctuary,”
Crosier explained. “That was offered `once for all’ `on the tree;’ and all who would avail
themselves of its merits must through faith, there receive it as theirs, bleeding at the hands of
sinful mortals like themselves.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-Star, Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
“After thus obtaining the atonement of forgiveness we must `maintain good works,’ not the
`deeds of the law;’ but `being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness,’” Crosier concluded.
“This work we will understand to be peculiar to the Gospel Dispensation.” (ibid., Crosier, Day-
Star, Extra, 2/7/1846, emphasis supplied).
This article makes it clear that pioneer Adventists did not believe in a “completed and final
atonement on the cross.” Indeed, the “Fundamental Principles of Beliefs” written by James
White and published in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1874-1914) stated almost the very
words of Crosier on the final atonement. Note carefully the statement by James White:
That there is one Lord Jesus Christ. . .that He. . .died our sacrifice, was raised for our justification, ascended
on high to be our only Mediator in the sanctuary in heaven, where, with His own blood, He makes the
atonement for our sins; which atonement, so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the
sacrifice, is the very last portion of His work as priest, according to the example of the Levitical priesthood, which
foreshadowed and prefigured the ministry of our Lord in heaven.
James White, 1874 Fundamental Principles, op. sit. The Living Witness, “Significant Articles From the
Signs of the Times,” 1874-1959, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1959, page 2. (emphasis supplied).
Did Ellen White agree with this “Fundamental Principles” statement on the final atonement?
Did she also agree with Crosier’s article in the Day-Star, Extra? Indeed she did! She stated that,
“I feel fully authorized by the Lord, to recommend that Extra, to every saint.” (ibid., letter to Eli
Curtis, 4/21/1847). In one of Ellen White’s earliest visions she was shown the concept of the
sanctuary truth symbolized by the first angel’s message:
Sub-Title–End of the 2300 Days: I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. . .. Before the
throne I saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before
the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed
before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and
appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the
praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son
it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from
under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off
from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company
all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pages 54, 55. (emphasis supplied).
Four very important facts must be acknowledged in this passage if we are to understand the times
in which we live:
(1) At the end of the 2,300 days, Ellen White saw the Father and the Son sitting on the throne in
the holy place or first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.
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(2) Before the throne were all the people of the world divided into three groups – (1) God’s true
Advent people, (2) the professed church, (3) the world.
(3) Although there were three groups before the throne, only two were divided. “I saw two
companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested.” The Church and the world
“stood uninterested and careless.”
(4) God’s true Advent people are a very small portion of professed Christians and the world’s
teeming billions.
Ellen White stated that only a “few would receive this great light” and that only a few would join
with “the little praying company.” God’s true people are always a small company. (See Luke
12:32; Matt. 7:14). Indeed, did not Jesus say, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37). What was the most important fact about the
days of Noah?
“When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,”
the apostle Peter replies, “wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:20b,
emphasis supplied).
Christ and the Father Enter the Most Holy In 1844
Evangelical Christians and contemporary Adventists state that Christ entered the most holy
place at His ascension. This teaching is heresy, and is not the teaching of pioneer Adventists.
Note carefully the following statement from the Spirit of Prophecy:
“End of the 2,300 Days”
“I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son,” Ellen White began. “I gazed on Jesus’
countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud
of glorious light covered Him. . ..” (Early Writings, page 54, emphasis supplied).
I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and
sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with
Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were
left in perfect darkness. . .. Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came
to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I
beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. . .. Those who rose up with Jesus would send
up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe
upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.
ibid., Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 55. (emphasis supplied).
There are five important facts that must be acknowledged in this vision given Ellen White. Note
carefully the time-frame of the vision.
(1) The time of the vision was at the ““End of the 2300 Days” The end of the 2300 days was
October 22, 1844.
(2) In vision Ellen White saw God the Father arise from His throne in the holy place, or first
apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and move into the holy of holies, “within the veil,” and sit
down. (See Daniel 7:9, 10). God the Father moved “through the Veil” into the most holy place
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of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844.
(3) Jesus also arose from His throne in the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary in 1844 and “stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father
sat.” (See Daniel 7:13). There Ellen White saw Jesus our great High Priest, “standing before the
Father.”
(4) Those who by faith entered the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary with the Father
and the Son received “light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.”
(5) Ellen White did not see even “one ray of light” pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after
He had arisen and entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Further, she stated
that the people who did not enter the holy of holies by faith “were left in perfect darkness.” Mark
this point well. The fallen churches of Babylon have not one ray of light and are in total darkness! “To
the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20, emphasis supplied). Do the Sunday-keeping churches believe in the
Law and the Sabbath? No, there is no light in them. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing
the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9).
I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had
left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the
throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence;
in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them
deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.
ibid., Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 56. (emphasis supplied).
Again, pioneer Adventist doctrine points out that the Sunday-keeping churches became Babylon
because they refused to follow by faith the Father and Son into the most holy place of the heavenly
sanctuary in 1844! They refused the first angel’s message! There are two other important facts
that must be acknowledged in this early vision given to Ellen White.
(1) Satan appeared to be by the throne in the first apartment, or holy place, “trying to carry on
the work of God.”
(2) Satan breathes upon the fallen churches of Babylon “an unholy influence,” and in this unholy
influence there is “light and much power.” We see this unholy influence and false power in the
erroneous faith healing and counterfeit joy and peace of the contemporary Evangelical and
Pentecostal churches. We also see this “unholy influence” and false “joy and peace” in the
“Celebration” movement within the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church. Only a delay
of the Lord’s coming will reveal the acceptance of “tongue-speaking” and “divine healing” in
public services of the Church.
Dr. Walter Martin, noted Evangelical writer on the cults, stated on the John Ankerberg
television show that Ellen White was a false prophet “because she approved the false position of
Crosier on the final atonement.” Martin’s opinion should not concern Adventists, because he
belongs to that group who are in darkness.
The Two Locations Of God’s Throne
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Was God the Father’s throne in the holy place, the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, at
the ascension of Christ, and the years prior to 1844? Did pioneer Adventists believe in “moving
throne?” Was Ellen White correct about the location of God’s throne prior to 1844 when she
saw in vision the Father and the Son move from the holy place, the first apartment, through the
Veil, into the holiest, or second apartment in 1844? The answer to these three questions is an
absolute, indisputable, definite yes!
Daniel saw the 1,200 reign of the “little horn,” the Papacy would extend from A.D. 538 to A.D.
1798. He saw God the Father seated in the most holy place, the second apartment of the
heavenly sanctuary, sometime following the reign of the little horn – shortly after 1798.
Daniel and John Confirm Ellen White
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down,” Daniel saw in vision, “and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like
the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7:9).
Daniel said that “I beheld till,” or past the time of the little horn, the Papacy. It was after the
little horn when Daniel saw “the Ancient of days did sit.” Notice also that the “wheels” of God
the Father’s throne appeared “as burning fire.” Then, like Ellen White, Daniel saw Jesus, the
Son, move into the most holy, the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of
heaven, and came to the Ancient of days [the Father],” Daniel wrote, “and they brought him
[Jesus] near before him [the Father].” (Daniel 7:13, emphasis supplied).
Why did the Father and the Son move into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in
1844? The angel told Daniel that, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:14). What is the cleansing of the sanctuary?
“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him [the Father],” Daniel replies, “thousand
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:10, emphasis supplied).
“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should
be judged,” the apostle John wrote, “and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy
them which destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18, emphasis supplied).
In the first ten chapters of Revelation the apostle John places God the Father’s throne in the holy
place, the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. Then John was allowed for the first time to
look into the most holy place. There he saw the golden ark containing the ten commandments.
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven,” John wrote, “and there was seen in his temple
the ark of his testament.” (Revelation 11:19a).
Contemporary Adventism Opposes Daniel, John, and Ellen White
On the Location Of God’s Throne Before 1844
Elmer Ellsworth Andross
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There was contention between pioneer Adventists and Evangelical Christians over the location
of God’s throne. (1) Pioneer Adventists believed and taught the concept of moving thrones.
They taught that the Father’s throne was in the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary until 1844, at which time the Father moved into the most holy, or second apartment of
the heavenly sanctuary and was seated. (Daniel 7:9, 10). This concept was Biblical and was
confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy. (See above). (2) Evangelical, Sunday-keeping Christians do
not believe in a heavenly sanctuary. They teach that all of heaven is a most holy place and the
exact location of God’s throne is unknown. (3) Contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theology
seeks to compromise the two positions. Modern Adventism teaches that the Father’s throne is
confined to the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. More liberal
Adventists teach the Desmond Ford thesis that there is no heavenly sanctuary, and that all of
heaven is a most holy place.
Historically the two opposing concepts between pioneer Adventists and Evangelical Christians
had to be compromised if ecumenical ties were to be established between the Seventh-day
Adventist Church and other Christian churches. But how could these two opposing concepts be
compromised?
Compromise First Published In 1912
E. E. Andross was the first Seventh-day Adventist to publish the compromising concept that
God’s throne has always been located in the most holy place, and “at His ascension” Christ
entered the most holy place to appear before the Father to be confirmed. Then Christ returned
to the holy place, or first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the “first phase” of His
heavenly ministry. The Father remained in the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary where His throne has always been. Christ then, in 1844, reentered the most holy to
perform the judgmental, or “second phase” of His heavenly ministry. (See, E. E. Andross, A More
Excellent Ministry, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, 1912). This
erroneous concept is the current position of contemporary Adventism. This concept is not
Biblical. (See, Daniel 7:9, 10). The concept that Christ entered the most holy and then returned
to the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary was never taught by pioneer Adventists, nor was it
ever confirmed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Where in the world did E. E. Andross get the idea for
such an erroneous concept?
Andross Influenced By Ballenger
E. E. Andross was associated in England with A. F. Ballenger, an Adventist minister who taught
erroneous concepts on the sanctuary doctrine. Ellen White opposed all the erroneous concepts
presented by Ballenger. (See, Ellen G. White, “The Integrity of the Sanctuary Truth,” Manuscript
Release, No. 760, page 4).
“Elder A. F. Ballenger. . .for a time was a minister in Great Britain,” Arthur White wrote.
“Associated with him in the work in Britain were such men as Elder E. W. Farnsworth and E. E.
Andross.” (EGW: The Early Elmshaven Years, Vol. 5, 1900-1905, pages 405, 406, emphasis
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supplied).
“In early 1905, A. F. Ballenger was over in Great Britain while I was there, and he had not been
very thoroughly instructed in some points of the faith,” Andross recalled. “He had been
preaching around over the country on certain practical points of the faith, and had had
considerable success in that line, but he had not been thoroughly grounded in the doctrinal
points of the faith.” (E. E. Andross, Bible Study No. II, July 13, 1911, pages. 13, 14, emphasis
supplied).
Notice the date of Andross’ report of Ballenger’s apostasy, 1911. One year later Andross
published his book, A More Excellent Ministry, 1912, on the sanctuary service as he saw it.
Andross admits in his report that he worked closely with Ballenger:
One night while laboring with me in London, it came his turn to preach on the subject of the sanctuary.
He [Ballenger] did so, but he was very much discouraged over his effort on the subject of the sanctuary that
night. And then he said, “If the Lord will help me, I will never preach again until I know what I am
preaching.” “I am not going to get it from our books. If our brethren could obtain it from the original
sources, why can’t I? I will go to the books or commentaries and all these various sources from which Elder
Uriah Smith obtained light on the subject of the sanctuary, and I will get it from the same sources that he
did. I will not know it because Elder Uriah Smith knew it, but I will know it because God is teaching it to
me directly.”
ibid., E. E. Andross, Bible Study No. II, July 13, 1911, pages. 13, 14. (emphasis supplied).
“The result was, he [Ballenger] developed a theory with reference to the sanctuary that is very
subtle,” Andross concluded, “and resulted in his being disconnected from the work entirely since
1905 at the General Conference.” (ibid., Bible Study No. II, p. 14, emphasis supplied).
“In his 1911 talks at the Oakland camp meeting Elder Andross carefully traces through various
texts that were employed by Ballenger in support of his views,” Arthur White wrote. “Then he
traces through the interpretation of these texts as held by Seventh-day Adventists, a position
strongly supported by the repeated testimony of Ellen White as having been given to her in
confirmation of truth in the early days of studying doctrinal points.” (EGW: The Early Elmshaven
Years, Vol. 5, 1900-1905, page 408, emphasis supplied).
Again notice the date, 1911, one year prior to the publication of Andross’ book A More Excellent
Ministry. Contrary to the last statement by Arthur White, the Spirit of Prophecy did not
“confirm” the concept published by Andross in his 1912 book. Ellen White did not confirm the
erroneous concept that Christ entered the most holy, or second apartment of the heavenly
sanctuary, at the time of His ascension to appear before the Father to be confirmed, and then
returned to the holy, or first apartment, to perform the first phase of His heavenly ministry.
Although this erroneous concept cannot be found in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy, it is
promoted as the pioneer Adventist concept by contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theology.
Roy Adams Praises Ballenger’s Erroneous Concept
“Ballenger’s stress on. . .Christ’s entry into the most holy place at His ascension may be retained,”
Roy Adams stated, “and shown to be compatible with the notion of an antipical day of
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atonement commencing in 1844.” (Roy Adams, The Sanctuary Doctrine, “Andrews University
Doctrinal Dissertation Series,” page 255, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Roy Adams, current assistant editor of the Adventist Review, states that Ballenger’s
erroneous concept of Christ’s entry into the most holy place at His ascension “may be retained.”
Moreover, Roy Adams believes that Ballenger’s erroneous concept can be “shown to be
compatible with the notion of an antipical day of atonement commencing in 1844.” This is
liberal “new theology” Adventism in its most subtle and deceptive form. This is the “Omega” of
apostasy that Ellen White saw and that caused her to “tremble for our people.”
“The Omega would follow in a little while,” Ellen White warned. “I tremble for our people.”
(Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, page 341, emphasis supplied).
Roy Adams Opposes Pioneer Adventist Concept Of Moveable Thrones
“Yet there is an inner conviction on the part of many [new theology] Bible students that the
correspondence between the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries could not be in terms of a one-one
relationship,” Adams concluded. “[Uriah] Smith caught this point. . .. Ballenger recognized it
and hurled it against Smith’s notion of a mobile heavenly throne.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine,
emphasis supplied).
The Work Of Jesus In the Most Holy Of the Heavenly Sanctuary
On October 22, 1844, at the end of the 2,300 days (years), Jesus came before the Father to serve
as our High Priest. Daniel saw this great event in vision.
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of
heaven,” Daniel wrote, “and came to the Ancient of days [the Father], and they brought him
near before him.” (Daniel 7:13).
It was at that time that Jesus was given His kingdom. This event was the marriage of the Lamb.
Pioneer Adventist saw the fulfillment of this prophecy in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew
25:1-13) and the “midnight cry” given in the summer of 1844. “And at midnight there was a cry
made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Matthew 25:6).
“And there was given him [Jesus] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations,
and languages, should serve him,” Daniel wrote, “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14).
At this time “the judgement was set, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:10). “And the
nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them
that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
(Revelation 11:18, emphasis supplied).
Pioneer Adventists saw that the work of Jesus our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary
consisted, not only of judgement, but in the blotting out of sins. In the blotting out of sins Jesus
is making the final atonement.
Pioneer Adventist Writers On the Final Atonement
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What about other pioneer Adventists? Was O. R. L. Crosier the only one who believed the final
atonement is finished in heaven by our High Priest? No, indeed. Notice carefully a few
statements from the most acknowledged pioneer Adventists.
“The Final Atonement” and “The Blotting Out Of Sins”
1. Pioneer Adventist James N. Andrews
“By many, the idea of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary will be treated with scorn,
`because’ say they, `there is nothing in Heaven to be cleansed,’” Andrews began. “Such overlook
the fact that the holy of holies, where God manifested his glory, and which no one but the High
Priest could enter, was, according to the law, to be cleansed, because the sins of the people were
borne into it by the blood of sin-offering. Lev. 16.” (James N. Andrews, The Sanctuary and
Twenty-Three Hundred Days, Steam Press of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association,
Battle Creek, Mich. 1872, page 90, emphasis supplied).
“And they overlook the fact that Paul plainly testifies that the heavenly sanctuary must be cleansed for
the same reason. Heb. 9:23, 24. See also Col. 1:20,” Andrews continued. “It was unclean in this
sense only: the sins of men had been borne into it through the blood of sin offering, and they must
be removed.” Then Andrews added, “This fact can be grasped by every mind.” (ibid., page 91,
emphasis supplied).
“The work of cleansing the sanctuary changes the ministration from the holy place to the holiest
of all. Lev. 16; Heb. 9:6, 7; Rev. 11:19,” Andrews continued. “As the ministration in the holy
place of the temple in heaven began immediately after the end of the typical system, at the close
of the sixty-nine and a half weeks (Dan. 9:27), so the ministration in the holiest of all, in the
heavenly sanctuary, begins with the termination of the 2300 days.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis
supplied).
“Then our High Priest enters the holiest to cleanse the sanctuary,” Andrews concluded. “The
termination of this great period marks the commencement of the ministration of the Lord Jesus
in the holiest of all.” (ibid., page 91).
“This work, as presented in the type, we have already seen was for a two-fold purpose, viz.: [1] the
forgiveness of iniquity, [2] and the cleansing of the sanctuary,” Andrews stated. “And this great work
our Lord accomplishes with His own blood; whether by the actual presentation of it, or by virtue
of its merits, we need not stop to inquire.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis supplied).
“No one can fail to perceive that this event, the cleansing of the sanctuary, is one of infinite
importance,” Andrews wrote. “This accomplishes the great work of the Messiah in the
tabernacle in heaven, and renders it complete.” (ibid., page 91, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Andrews concedes that the work of final atonement and cleansing of our High Priest
in the heavenly sanctuary “renders it complete.” This is done in heaven, not at the cross.
“The work of cleansing the sanctuary is succeeded by the act of placing the sins, thus removed
upon the head of the scape-goat, to be borne away forever from the sanctuary,” Andrews
concludes. “The work of our High Priest for the sins of the world will then be completed, and He be
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ready to appear `without sin unto salvation.’” (ibid., page 92, emphasis supplied).
Notice that Andrews states that, “The work of our High Priest for the sins of the world will then
be completed.” Is this statement in harmony with Crosier? Yes, indeed. “In the heavenly
Sanctuary our High Priest with His own blood makes the atonement and we are forgiven,”
Crosier stated. (Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846).
Is this statement by Andrews in harmony with Ellen White? Yes, indeed. “His [Christ’s] work as
high priest completes the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.”
(Manuscript 69, 1912, page 13, emphasis supplied).
Contemporary SDA Opposing Position
Are these statements by Andrews, Crosier, and Ellen White in harmony with contemporary
Seventh-day Adventist doctrine? No, they are not. “When, therefore, one hears an Adventist
say, or reads in Adventist literature–even in the writings of Ellen G. White–that Christ is making
atonement now, it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making
application of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross.” (Questions on
Doctrine, page 354, (1957), emphasis supplied).
Satan’s conspiracy against the Advent truth is so subtle, so deceptive, that without constant
study by the Christian, detection is almost impossible. Did not Jesus warn that “if it were
possible it should deceive the very elect?” Notice very, very, carefully the two opposing
statements below, the truth as stated by Ellen White, followed by the error as stated by the
contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church:
Ellen White’s Statement
When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, [1] He
first entered the holy place, where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men.
With intercession and pleading He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His
people, purified by the incense of His own merits. [2] He next entered the Most Holy Place [in 1844], to
make an atonement for the sins of the people, and cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes
the divine plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.--Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13. (“The Sin and
Death of Moses,” copied Sept. 10, 1912.)
Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, Volume 11, page 54. (emphasis supplied).
Erroneous Contemporary Adventist Church Statement
This becomes all the more meaningful when we realize that Jesus our surety entered the “holy places” and
appeared in the presence of God for us. But it was not with the hope of obtaining something for us at that
time, or at some future time. No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross. And now, as our High
Priest He ministers the virtues of His atoning sacrifice.
Questions on Doctrine, page 381. (emphasis theirs).
Notice that Ellen White states that Jesus “entered the holy place, where. . .He made an offering
for the sins of men.” The contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church says, No. They admit
that Jesus did enter the `holy places’ and appeared in the presence of God for us. “But it was not
with the hope of obtaining something for us at that time, or at some future time.”
Ellen White says, “He next entered the Most Holy Place, to make an atonement for the sins of the
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people, and cleanse the sanctuary.” And, “His work as high priest completes the divine plan of
redemption by making the final atonement for sin.” (Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13). The contemporary
Seventh-day Adventist Church says, “No! He had already obtained it for us on the cross.” (QD, p.
381).
“The sins of those who have obtained pardon through the great sin-offering, are, at the close of our
Lord’s work in the holy places, blotted out (Acts 3:19),” J. N. Andrews concluded, “and being then
transferred to the scape-goat, are borne away from the sanctuary and host forever, and rest upon
the head of their author, the devil.” (ibid., The Sanctuary and Twenty-Three Hundred Days, page
92, emphasis supplied).
James N. Andrews then endorsed the writings of O. R. L. Crosier: “The following valuable
remarks on this important point are from the pen of O. R. L. Crozier, written in 1846.” (The
Sanctuary and Twenty-Three Hundred Days, p. 91). Andrews then quoted a passage from the
Day-Star, Extra, written by Crosier.
2. Pioneer Adventist Joseph Bates
“First, then to be perfect in time it must begin on the 10th day of the 7th month, and no where
else,” Bates stated. “Then please look back to the 10th of the 7th month, 1844, where all the
virgins were out looking for the Bridegroom, or as in the type, waiting for Jesus our great High
Priest, to finish the atonement for the sanctuary and ourselves, and bless us by his glorious appearing.”
(Joseph Bates, Eighth Way Mark, “Bridegroom Come,” page 101, emphasis supplied).
“Then we say at the commencement of this second type, the symbol of our trial, was where the
Bridegroom came, and commenced the cleansing of the sanctuary,” Bates concluded. “When
God speaks and shakes earth and heaven, Joel says Jerusalem will be holy, the sanctuary will be
complete, the atonement finished; for God will then be the hope of his people.” (ibid., page 102,
emphasis supplied).
3. Pioneer Adventist Stephen N. Haskell
In Acts 3:19 we read: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Then your sins are blotted out when the
times of refreshing come. We are to-day in the time of the blotting out of our sins. We are now looking for the
times of refreshing, and the outpouring of the Spirit. The Lord teaches knowledge to those who are
weaned, and those who study the Word have the refreshing. The refreshing is the outpouring of the Spirit
of God in the time of the blotting out of sins, and that is where we are now.
Stephen N. Haskell, “Preparation For Reception Of the Holy Spirit,” 1909 General Conference Daily
Bulletin, May 20, 1909, page 106. (emphasis supplied). [Address given at 9:15 A. M. Thursday, May 20, and
Friday, May 21, 1909.]
4. Pioneer Adventist Alonzo Trevor Jones
“We are also in the time of the utter blotting out of all sins that have ever been against us,” A. T.
Jones wrote. “And the blotting out of sins is exactly this thing of the cleansing of the sanctuary; it is the
finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our character; it is
the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, to abide alone
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everlastingly.” (A. T. Jones, “The Times of Refreshing,” The Consecrated Way To Christian
Perfection, page 124, emphasis supplied).
“Therefore now as never before we are to repent and be converted that our sins may be blotted
out,” Jones concluded, “that an utter end shall be made of them forever in our lives and everlasting
righteousness brought in.” (ibid., p. 124, emphasis supplied).
5. Pioneer Adventist J. N. Loughborough
“Still later Elder [J. H.] Waggoner wrote a third pamphlet of about the same size, entitled, The
Atonement in the Light of Reason and Revelation,” Loughborough wrote. “About the year 1884 this
was revised and enlarged to a volume of some 400 pages. It is a clear and concise treatise upon the
subject indicated by its title.” (J. N. Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, page 334,
emphasis supplied). [note:-J. H, Waggoner was the father of E. J. Waggoner.]
6. Pioneer Adventist E. J. Waggoner
“The blotting out of sin is the erasing of it from the nature, the being of man. . .,” E. J. Waggoner
wrote. “The erasing of sin is the blotting of it from our natures, so that we shall know it no more.” (E. J.
Waggoner, Review and Herald, September 30, 1902, emphasis supplied).
“`The worshipers once purged’–actually purged by the blood of Christ–have `no more
conscience of sin,’ because the way of sin is gone from them. . .,” Waggoner wrote. “This is the
work of Christ in the true sanctuary which the Lord pitched, and not man,–the sanctuary not made
with hands, but brought into existence by the thought of God.” (ibid., Review and Herald,
September 30, 1902, emphasis supplied).
7. Pioneer Adventist Joseph Harvey Waggoner
And yet another question has been raised, on which some minds have been perplexed. If the blotting out of
sins is done in the closing work of the priest, when the sanctuary is cleansed, that is to say, in the Judgment,
then the sins of all the saints must stand on record till that time. Now it has been shown (Chapter Three)
that justification by faith and salvation are not identical; the former is a fact of experience at the present
time, while the latter is contingent on “patient continuance in well-doing” on the part of the justified one.
As was remarked, “justification by faith is not a final procedure; it does not take the place of the Judgment,
nor render the Judgment unnecessary. It looks to something beyond itself to be accomplished in the future.”
Joseph Harvey Waggoner, “The Judgement,” The Atonement, page 226. (emphasis supplied).
8. Pioneer Adventist James White
How natural, then, the conclusion, that as the Jewish priests ministered daily in connection with the holy
place of the sanctuary, and on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the close of their yearly round of
service, the high priest entered the most holy place to make atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary,
so Christ ministered in connection with the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary from the time of his
ascension to the ending of the 2300 days of Dan.8, in 1844, when, on the tenth day of the seventh month of
that year, he entered the most holy place of the heavenly tabernacle to make a special atonement for the
blotting out of the sins of his people, or, which is the same thing, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The typical
sanctuary was cleansed from the sins of the people with the offering of blood. The nature of the cleansing
of the heavenly sanctuary may be learned from the type. By virtue of his own blood, Christ entered the
most holy to make a special atonement for the cleansing of the heavenly tabernacle.
James White, “The Sanctuary,” Bible Adventism, pages 185, 186. (emphasis supplied).
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The doctrine of a “final atonement in heaven” is stated by James White in several places. Three
other references are, Life Incidents, pages 192, 193; Life Sketches, page 111: Our Faith and Hope,
pages 175, 176.
Pioneer Adventists taught the “final atonement” completed in heaven in perfect harmony with
the Day-Star, Extra as written by O. R. L. Crosier. Many other examples could be presented.
This position was one of the “foundation” truths that was endorsed by the Spirit of God at the
beginning of the Advent movement.
“A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was plainly
marked out before me,” Ellen White wrote, “and I gave my brethren and sisters the instruction
that the Lord had given me.” (Ellen G. White, “Establishing the Foundation of Our Faith,”
Manuscript 135, 1903, page 3, emphasis supplied).
Ellen White On the Final Atonement
The Spirit of Prophecy teaches that the “atonement” was not completed on the cross, as the
fallen churches of Babylon, and the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church now teach.
Although there are many more examples, the following are seven clear statements by Ellen
White that the “atonement” was not completed and finished on the cross, but is finalized in the
heavenly Sanctuary.
Early Statement - 1852
As Jesus died on Calvary, He cried, “It is finished,” and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the
top to the bottom. This was to show that the services of the earthly sanctuary were forever finished, and
that God would no more meet with the priests in their earthly temple, to accept their sacrifices. The blood
of Jesus was then shed, which was to be offered by Himself in the heavenly sanctuary. As the priest entered
the most holy once a year to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly, at
the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by
His mediation, and thus to cleanse the sanctuary.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 253, 1852. (emphasis supplied).
Later Statement, 1912
When Christ, the Mediator, burst the bands of the tomb, and ascended on high to minister for man, He first
entered the holy place, where, by virtue of His own sacrifice, He made an offering for the sins of men. With
intercession and pleading He presented before God the prayers and repentance and faith of His people,
purified by the incense of His own merits. He next entered the Most Holy Place [in 1844], to make an
atonement for the sins of the people, and cleanse the sanctuary. His work as high priest completes the divine
plan of redemption by making the final atonement for sin.--Ms. 69, 1912, p. 13. (“The Sin and Death of
Moses,” copied Sept. 10, 1912.)
Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, Volume 11, page 54. (emphasis supplied).
Notice the dates of these two statements, 1852 and 1912. After sixty years the Spirit of Prophecy
was yet consistent with the original message of the “final atonement” completed in heaven.
“As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven,”
Ellen White wrote, “no more to be remembered or come into mind, so in the type they were
borne away into the wilderness, forever separated from the congregation.” (Patriarchs and
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Prophets, page 358, emphasis supplied).
As he [Christ] repeated these words he pointed to the heavenly Sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace
this message are directed to the Most Holy place where Jesus stands before the ark, making his final
intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers, and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of
God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. Jesus makes an
atonement for those who died, not receiving the light upon God’s commandments, who sinned ignorantly.
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 254; See also, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, pages 162, 163. (emphasis
supplied).
“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the
law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement,”
Ellen White stated, “so in the type the blood of the sin offering removed the sin from the
penitent, but it rested in the sanctuary until the Day of Atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
“In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and
whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in
the service of the Day of atonement,” Ellen White stated. “So in the great day of final atonement
and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. .
..” (The Great Controversy, page 480; See also, The Faith I Live By, page 210, emphasis supplied).
“In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of
the Day of Atonement--the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary,” Ellen White stated, “which was
accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had
been polluted.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 357, 358, emphasis supplied).
This teaching of the final atonement in heaven, the blotting out of sins, was the true message of
the First Angel, the “Present Truth” as taught and believed by pioneer Seventh-day Adventists
and endorsed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Are these statements by Ellen White in harmony with
the Day-Star, Extra article written by O. R. L. Crosier? Indeed they are!
Erroneous Contemporary Adventist Teaching On the Final Atonement
Satan knew that to ensure victory in his battle plan against the Seventh-day Adventist truth, he
must influence the leaders and teachers of the Church to falsify historical documents and to even
lie about doctrinal positions once held by the pioneers of the Advent movement. Again we ask,
how can we know what is the real truth when historical teachings have been falsified by modern
teachers, ministry and Church leaders?
“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us,
and His teaching in our past history,” Ellen White replies (LS, p. 196). “The value of the
evidences of truth that we have received during the past half century, is above estimate.” (R&H,
4/19/06).
In 1957 the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church published their position on the
“final atonement” in Ministry magazine, official organ to the ministry of the Church. In this
editorial, Roy Allen Anderson, then editor of Ministry magazine and Ministerial Secretary of the
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General Conference, stated that “the sacrificial act of the cross (was) a perfect, complete, and
final atonement.” (Ministry, February, 1957, emphasis supplied).
Is this statement in harmony with the article written by Crosier, endorsed by the Spirit of God,
and taught by pioneer Adventists for over 100 years? No, it is not. “Jesus entered the Most Holy
of the heavenly, at the end of the 2300 days of Dan, viii, in 1844, to make a final atonement,” Ellen
White replies. (ibid., Spiritual Gifts, Vol. I, pages 161, 162, emphasis supplied). In opposition to
pioneer teaching the ministry of the contemporary Church says, “No, the sacrificial act of the
cross was a perfect, complete, and final atonement.”
In the “official” book, “Seventh-day Adentists Answer, Questions on Doctrine, also published in
1957, can be found the following statement on the final atonement: “Adventists do not hold any
theory of a duel atonement.” (QOD, p. 390, emphasis theirs). This book was endorsed by the
highest authority of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Is this statement by the highest authority of the contemporary Seventh-day Adventist Church in
harmony with the position held by Crosier, Ellen White and the pioneer Adventists? No, indeed.
“But again, they say the atonement is made and finished on Calvary, when the Lamb of God
expired. . .so the churches and world believes; but it is none the more true or sacred on that account.”
Crosier replies. (Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846, emphasis supplied).
“When, therefore, one hears an Adventist say, or reads in Adventist literature -- even in the
writings of Ellen G. White – that Christ is making atonement now,” contemporary Church
leadership concludes, “it should be understood that we mean simply that Christ is now making
application of the benefits of the sacrificial atonement He made on the cross.” (ibid., Questions on
Doctrine, page 354, emphasis theirs).
This was the official position of the Church in 1957. Is this position still held today by the
Seventh-day Adventist Church? Yes, indeed. Note carefully the following statement from the
official Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual.
Current Heretical Statements
In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death and resurrection, God provided the
only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal
life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect
atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s law and the graciousness of His character, for it both
condemns our sins and provides for our forgiveness. . .. The resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph
over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and
death.
Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 1986, page 25. (emphasis supplied).
Is the “official” statement in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual in harmony with the
original statement written by Crosier? No, it is not. Is it in harmony with the writings of Ellen
White? No, a thousand times no! “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant
sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the
sanctuary until the final atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
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“There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man,”
contemporary SDA Church leadership states. “In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making
available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.” (Seventhday
Adventist Believe. . . 27 Fundamental Doctrines, 1988, page 312, emphasis supplied).
These statements, beyond question, confirm the erroneous idea that the atonement was finished
and completed on the cross. The contemporary Church leadership say “the benefits of His
atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.”
“No, brethren, that is not the truth,” Ellen White would reply if she were alive today. “This
teaching is one of the errors of Babylon.”
How do we know Ellen White would speak thus? Because her writings speak thus. Note the
following statement:
“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the
law, was not to cancel the sin,” Ellen White wrote, “it would stand on record in the sanctuary until
the final atonement.” (ibid., Patriarchs and Prophets, page 357, emphasis supplied).
This “new theology” first began to be taught in 1957, after more than 100 years of the existence
of the Advent truth as taught by Ellen White and pioneer Adventists! (See, Questions on
Doctrine, pages 354, 355). Where is the proof of this statement? In the year 1952 the truth of
the final atonement finalized in the heavenly sanctuary was still being taught by the editor in
chief of the Review and Herald.
Of those who charge us with teaching strange doctrines because we believe that Christ’s work of atonement
for sin was begun rather than completed on Calvary, we ask these questions: If complete and final
atonement was made on the cross for all sins, then will not all be saved? for Paul says that He “died for all.”
Are we to understand you as being Universalists? “No,” you say, “not all men will be saved.” Well, then,
are we to understand that you hold that Christ made complete atonement on the cross for only a limited
few, and that His sacrifice was not world embracing, but only partial? That would be predestination in its
worst form.
Francis D. Nichol, Answers to Objections, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952 edition,
page 408. (emphasis supplied).
Ballenger’s Heresy Now Accepted By the Contemporary SDA Church
Satan has been very clever in his last-day deceptions. However, he made a serious blunder in
1905 when he directed his first assault on the “final atonement” phase of the sanctuary truth.
His great mistake was the timing – the messenger of the Lord was still alive!
“There was in their midst one through whom the Spirit of God was able to point out what was
truth and what was error.” E. E. Andross wrote. (Bible Study, No. II, page 14).
What erroneous concepts did A. F. Ballenger teach on the sanctuary truth? We must know,
because Satan has introduced the same erroneous concepts again into the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, and because we have been admonished that we should not “forget how the Lord has led
us, and His teaching, in our past history.” (Life Sketches, page 196).
Elder E. W. Farnsworth, who was also working in England with Ballenger and Andross at the
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time, reported on Ballenger’s erroneous teachings in a letter addressed “to the General
Conference president, who in turn conveyed the information to W. C. White on March 16,
1905.” (Arthur L. White, Early Elmshaven Years, Vol. 5, page 407):
There was another feature of the meeting which was really sad to me. Brother Ballenger has got into a
condition of mind which would seem to me to unfit him entirely to preach the message. He has been
studying the subject of the sanctuary a good deal lately, and he comes to the conclusion that the atonement
was made when Christ was crucified and that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy
Place and that His ministry has been carried on there ever since.
E. W. Farnsworth to Arthur G. Daniells, in Arthur G. Daniells to W. C. White, March 16, 1905.
(emphasis supplied).
Notice the three heretical concepts of Ballenger’s teaching. (1) “The atonement was made when
Christ was crucified, (2) and that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy
Place, (3) and that His ministry has been carried on there ever since.” Astounding! This is
exactly the teaching of the “new” theology currently devastating the Seventh-day Adventist
Church. This erroneous concept is entirely at odds with the historic teaching of pioneer
Adventists. Moreover, this teaching is in opposition to the Spirit of Prophecy.
“He [Ballenger] sees clearly that his view cannot be made to harmonize with the testimonies,”
Farnsworth wrote in his letter, “at least he admits freely that he is totally unable to do so.” (ibid.,
Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
Farnsworth stated further that, in his own mind, Ballenger felt that “there is an irreconcilable
difference” between his theories and Ellen White. (ibid., Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
“This, of course, involves the authenticity of the Testimonies and practically upsets them,”
Farnsworth concluded. (ibid., Letter to AGD and WCW, 3/16/05).
“Farnsworth reported that a number of Adventist ministers in Great Britain were taking up these
new views on the sanctuary, and confusion was coming in,” Arthur White observed. (EEY, vol. 5,
p. 408). Arthur White stated further that, “Early in the 1905 session Ballenger laid before the
leading brethren what he felt was new light, but they were unable to accept his reasoning and
pointed out the errors in his application of Scripture.” (ibid., EEY, vol. 5, p. 408).
Ellen White’s Reply To Ballenger’s Teaching
What did Ellen White think of this “new theology” presented by A. F. Ballenger? What did she
think of the erroneous concept that “the atonement was made when Christ was crucified and
that when He ascended He went immediately into the Most Holy Place and that His ministry has
been carried on there ever since.” Did she have any light from heaven on the subject? What
would she say if this erroneous concept was taught today?
“It will be one of the great evils that will come to our people to have the Scriptures taken out of their
true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts the light and the
Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half century,” Ellen White replied to Ballenger.
“I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance
among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul.” (MS., S 59, 1905,
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emphasis supplied). (For further EGW statements on the teachings of A. F. Ballenger see, Christ
In His Sanctuary, pages 3-18).
“There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated
with him are presenting,” Ellen White cautioned. “I am instructed to say to Elder Ballenger, Your
theories, which have multitudes of fine threads, and need so many explanations, are not truth,
and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., MS. S 59, 1905, emphasis supplied).
The attack of Satan on the sanctuary truth at that time came to not because the Messenger of
the Lord was alive and confronted the false doctrine. However, today Ellen White is no longer
with the Church. As Israel of old, we only have the writings of the prophet. Has the Seventhday
Adventist Church fallen for the old erroneous concepts of Ballenger? Although Ellen White
had warned that these dangerous concepts “are not to be brought to the flock of God,” that is
exactly what has been promoted by the “new” theology.
Contemporary Scholars Endorses Ballenger’s Theories
In 1981 Roy Adams, currently assistant editor of the Adventist Review, wrote his Doctoral
Dissertation at Andrews University. Adams wrote on the sanctuary doctrinal positions held by
Uriah Smith, M. L. Andreason, and A. F. Ballenger. Notice carefully the following conclusion by
Roy Adams on the position held by A. F. Ballenger:
Ballenger’s treatment of Hebrews 6:19, 20 is so strong, exegetically, that it has to be regarded as a
significant movement towards a closer affinity to the biblical testimony in regard to the meaning of the
phrase “within the veil.” His argumentation, based as it was on solid scriptural indications, far surpassed the
value of [Uriah] Smith’s on the same point. And inasmuch as the two positions were diametrically opposed to
each other, Ballenger’s is to be preferred.
Roy Adams, The Sanctuary Doctrine, “Three Approaches in the Seventh-day Adventist Church,”
Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series, Andrews University Press, 1981, page 245.
(emphasis supplied).
Notice that Roy Adams, speaking for contemporary Seventh-day Adventist theologians, states
that Ballenger’s treatment of Scripture “is so strong,” and “that it has to be regarded as a
significant movement towards a closer affinity to the biblical testimony.” On this point Adams
concluded that Ballenger’s argumentations are “based as it was on solid scriptural indications.”
Amazing! This man is currently the assistant editor of the Adventist Review, and will probably be
the next Chief Editor.
“None of the figures [Smith, Andreason, Ballenger] appreciated the full implications of Hebrews
6:19,20,” Roy Adams concluded, “but it was Ballenger who came closest to recognizing it.” (ibid., The
Sanctuary Doctrine, page 246, emphasis supplied).
“Now again our Brother Ballenger is presenting theories that cannot be substantiated by the Word of
God,” Ellen White replies to Roy Adams’ statement. “It will be one of the great evils that will
come to our people to have the Scriptures taken out of their true place and so interpreted as to
substantiate error that contradicts the light and the Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past
Chapter 11 The Fin
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half century.” (Manuscript Release, S 59, 1905, page 409, emphasis supplied).
“Ballenger’s stress on the atonement at the cross and on Christ’s entry into the most holy place at
His ascension,” Adams stated, “maybe retained and shown to be compatible with the notion of
an antipical day of atonement commencing in 1844. . ..” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 255,
emphasis supplied).
In a biography of M. L. Andreason is a publishers note which erroneously states, “While
denominational literature has adopted the phrase `the benefits of His atonement,’ every effort is
put forth to make clear to the world that Seventh-day Adventists believe that an important part of
the atonement is taking place in the heavenly sanctuary.” (Virginia Steinweg, Without Fear or
Favor, 1979, Review and Herald Publishing Company, page 183, emphasis supplied). This
statement is just not true.
Seventh-day Adventist Church literature does not make “every effort. . .to make clear to the
world that Seventh-day Adventists believe that an important part of the atonement is taking
place in the heavenly sanctuary.” The heresy has been advanced in the new 27 Statement of
Fundamental Beliefs.
Uriah Smith Again the Scapegoat
Once more we have come full circle. Notice how Roy Adams, in his effort to present Ballenger’s
theories as truth, downgrades Uriah Smith: “His [Ballenger’s] argumentation, based as it was on
solid scriptural indications, far surpassed the value of Smith’s on the same point.”
Roy Adams admits that Ballenger and Smith were at opposite ends of theology on the sanctuary
doctrine, “And inasmuch as the two positions were diametrically opposed to each other.” The
truth is that Ballenger was “diametrically opposed” to all pioneer Adventists. Indeed, E. E.
Andross, who had worked with Ballenger in England, stated that, “He [Ballenger] sees clearly
that his view cannot be made to harmonize with the testimonies, at least he admits freely that he
is totally unable to do so.” Even Ballenger himself had stated that “there is an irreconcilable
difference” between his theories and Ellen White. (ibid., E. E. Andross, Bible Study, No. II, July 13, 1911,
pages 13).
Then Roy Adams, completely disregarding Spirit of Prophecy counsel, states that “Ballenger’s
[position] is to be preferred,” to that of Uriah Smith. Adams could have chosen any other pioneer
Adventist instead of Uriah Smith as an example of pioneer Adventist teaching on the sanctuary,
because Uriah Smith’s writings on the subject are in perfect harmony with O. R. L. Crosier,
James White, J. N. Andrews and others.
Notice that not one statement by Uriah Smith was quoted in our presentation of pioneer
Adventist teachings on the sanctuary. Many of Smith’s statements could have been used to
verify his unanimity with other pioneer Adventists. This was not necessary. Any serious
research of Adventist history can plainly establish that Smith’s writings on the sanctuary are in
perfect unanimity with those of his peers. Indeed, Roy Adams in his conclusion admits that there
is little difference between Uriah Smith, M. L. Andreason, J. N. Andrews, and other pioneer
Chapter 11 The Fin
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Adventists. He champions the fact that there was a “radical departure in the area of the
sanctuary” from pioneer writers such as Smith, Andrews, White, and Andreason.
“Ballenger’s radical departure in the area of the sanctuary was of immense significance to the purpose
of this study,” Adams admits. (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 256).
“But while it would be impossible to synthesize the sanctuary theology of these three figures
[Uriah Smith, A. F. Ballenger, M. L. Andreason] into a unified whole, it is feasible to build a
contemporary Adventist theology of the sanctuary, using their insights, however diverse they are in
some points,” Adams reasons. “Such an eclectic approach would need to discard or modify some
features while retaining others with profit.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 255).
This is the real problem with contemporary Adventist scholarship. They wish to teach truth
mixed with error. Why? Because Adventist leadership aspires to join the great Ecumenical
movement sweeping the world. They wish to be considered “Christian brethren” by the fallen
churches of Babylon!
Roy Adams’ Erroneous Conclusion
“Clearly, this does not mean that Adventism may not learn a great deal from the issues Ballenger
raised and championed,” Adams concluded. “His many positive contributions to the theology of the
sanctuary have already been noted.” (ibid., The Sanctuary Doctrine, page 256).
“There is not truth in the explanations of Scripture that Elder Ballenger and those associated
with him [Roy Adams] are presenting,” Ellen White cautioned. “I am instructed to say to Elder
Ballenger [and Roy Adams], Your theories, which have multitudes of fine threads, and need so
many explanations, are not truth, and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., Manuscript S
59, 1905, emphasis supplied).
Moveable Thrones
“Yet there is an inner conviction on the part of many [new theology] Bible students that the
correspondence between the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries could not be in terms of a one-one
relationship,” Adams concluded. Smith caught this point. . .. Ballenger recognized it and hurled it
against Smith’s notion of a mobile heavenly throne.”
Pioneer Adventist Opposition To Adams’ Statement
The Ancient of Days, (God,) sets between the Cherubims, in the Most Holy Place. This is where he is
sought unto when the National Atonement is made. Where then is His Throne during the daily ministration?
Ans. - In the type. See Exo. 29:42-44, and 30:6,36. In the anti-type, Jesus says he sets on his Father’s
Throne, Rev. 3:21. John in vision sees the throne in the Holy Place where the seven lamps of fire are. See
Rev. 4:1,2 and 5; 5:1,7. God was thereon.
Joseph Bates, Anti-Type or Substance, page 132. (emphasis supplied).
Many other pioneer statements on the “moveable throne” of God could be presented. However,
only one by Ellen White will suffice.
END OF THE 2300 DAYS: I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus’
countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious
light covered Him. . ..
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I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and
sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne. . .. Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire,
surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest,
where the Father [now] sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. . ..
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, page 55. (emphasis supplied).
“Within the Veil”
In his statement, Roy Adams concluded that, “Ballenger’s treatment of Hebrews 6:19,20 is so
strong, exegetically, that it has to be regarded as a significant movement towards a closer affinity
to the biblical testimony in regard to the meaning of the phrase `within the veil.’” (ibid., The
Sanctuary Doctrine page 245). As seen before, Ballenger believed that, at His ascension, and not
in 1844, Christ entered directly into the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary to perform the
second phase of his priestly ministry. Pioneer Adventists believed and taught that Christ did not
go into the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary until October 22, 1844, at the end of the
2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. Contrary to pioneer Adventists, contemporary Seventh-day
Adventists teach that all of heaven is a sanctuary, and that “there is no veil at all in heaven – and all
of heaven is a most holy place!” (Garry F. Williams, in a sermon at a major Seventh-day Adventist
Church). If you ask a contemporary Seventh-day Adventist minister or theologian he will tell
you there is no veil in heaven, no two compartments in the heavenly sanctuary. Some may deny
it, but they do believe this to be true. They really do not believe in a literal heavenly Sanctuary,
but that “all of heaven is a sanctuary and a most holy place.” (ibid., Gary F. Williams). Indeed,
contemporary Adventist literature (and the official 27 Statement of Fundamental Beliefs), since
the Evangelical Conferences of 1955-56, state that Christ is now ministering “the benefits of His
atonement which He made on the cross.”
“I declare in the name of the Lord that the most dangerous heresies are seeking to find entrance
among us as a people, and Elder Ballenger is making spoil of his own soul,” Ellen White warned.
“Your theories. . .are not truth, and are not to be brought to the flock of God.” (ibid., Manuscript S
59, 1905, emphasis supplied). (MS. S 59).
It will be one of the great evils that will come to our people, Ellen White predicted, “to have the
Scriptures taken out of their true place and so interpreted as to substantiate error that contradicts
the light and the Testimonies that God has been giving us for the past half century.” (ibid., MS. S 59,
emphasis supplied).
“Let us all cling to the established truth of the sanctuary,” Ellen White concluded. (ibid., MS. S
59, 1905). In 1905 this “truth of the sanctuary” would be the “established truth” presented by
Crosier, James White, and other pioneer Adventists.
The contemporary Church is now teaching the false doctrines on the sanctuary that were first by
introduced A. F. Ballenger. (See history above, Chapter #3, “Early Ecumenical Concessions”).
On the first angel’s message, the sanctuary truth, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is
now in apostasy. How the Lord will choose to deal with the Church and this apostasy
is a frightening possibility. Is it any wonder that Ellen White, commenting
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on this “Omega of Apostasy” stated that, “I tremble for our people.”(ibid., Sermons and Talks, page
341, emphasis supplied).
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