Exposing Adventism - Wise should understand Apocrypha
Quote:
"I then saw the Word of God, pure and unadulterated, and that we must answer for the way we received the truth proclaimed from that Word. I saw that it had been a manner to break the flinty heart in pieces, and a fire to consume the dross and tin, that the heart might be pure and holy. I saw that the Apocrypha was the hidden book, and that the wise of these last days should understand it. I saw that the Bible was the standard Book, that will judge us at the last day. (16 Manuscript Release Page 34)
"The Association will probably issue an edition of the Apocrypha with references soon, which, well bound, can be sold for about seventy-five cents a copy." (James White, Review and Herald, February 2, 1869, page 48)
"Concerning the Apocrypha, we regard portions of it as containing much light and instruction. If we were asked to specify, we should mention 2 Esdras, Wisdom of Solomon, and 1 Maccabees. Concerning the Wisdom of Solomon, Sears' History of the Bible thus speaks: "Although the fathers of the church, and particularly Jerome, uniformly considered this book apocryphal, yet they recommended the perusal of it, in consideration of the excellence of its style. The third Council of Carthage, held in the year 397, pronounced it to be a canonical book under the name of "The Fourth Book of Solomon," and the famous Council of Trent confirmed this decision.' Concerning the first book of Maccabees, it also states, 'The first book of Maccabees is a very valuable historical monument, written with great accuracy and fidelity, on which even more reliance may be placed than on the writings of Josephus.' The question of the inspiration of these books - the reason that might be adduced in favor of such an opinion, and the objections that might lie against it, we have never made a subject of particular study, and are not therefore prepared to discuss." (Review and Herald dated August 5, 1858, page 96)
"The 2nd book of Esdras, contains very important truths for those that keep God's law and commandments; they will probably benefit no others, 12:37,38. I have refrained from quoting here while writing the Sealing Message, not because I did not believe; but because so much prejudice still exists, on account of its not being canonical scripture. There is abundant testimony in the Old and New Testament to satisfy all that honest minds require respecting the sealing message, being the present truth. I wish however, to quote a few passages to show the sealing, the law, and commandments, time of trouble, a&c. see 9:10, 11, 30-33, 36,37. All this may be objected to as under Moses' dispensation. Let 2:38-47, settle it. Carefully note 1st, the sealing; 2nd, the law; and 3rd, final redemption. Compare it with Rev. 14:1. Still further evidence, 13:31-38. Compare 38th verse with Rev. 17:14, and 19"15, 16. Also the commandments in 15:24, 25, 16:74-76. "Time of trouble, 15:5,6, 11-27,57,58,62, 16:5,8, 14-24, 31, 37, 40, 67-78. Read the comforting promise for the time of trouble, 2:27. All this is now right before us; let us therefore carefully examine this prophecy. And let us carefully seek to know 'what manner or person we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness,' seeing that we have now entered upon the last work or message, that God has marked out for his church before their final deliverance from this time of trouble, such as never was." (Joseph Bates, A Seal of the Living God - A Hundred Forty-Four Thousand, pp. 66 and 67)
"The 2nd book of Esdras, contains very important truths for those that keep God's law and commandments; they will probably benefit no others, 12:37,38. I have refrained from quoting here while writing the Sealing Message, not because I did not believe; but because so much prejudice still exists, on account of its not being canonical scripture. There is abundant testimony in the Old and New Testament to satisfy all that honest minds require respecting the sealing message, being the present truth. I wish however, to quote a few passages to show the sealing, the law, and commandments, time of trouble, a&c. see 9:10, 11, 30-33, 36,37. All this may be objected to as under Moses' dispensation. Let 2:38-47, settle it. Carefully note 1st, the sealing; 2nd, the law; and 3rd, final redemption. Compare it with Rev. 14:1. Still further evidence, 13:31-38. Compare 38th verse with Rev. 17:14, and 19"15, 16. Also the commandments in 15:24, 25, 16:74-76.
"Time of trouble, 15:5,6, 11-27,57,58,62, 16:5,8, 14-24, 31, 37, 40, 67-78. Read the comforting promise for the time of trouble, 2:27. All this is now right before us; let us therefore carefully examine this prophecy. And let us carefully seek to know 'what manner or person we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness,' seeing that we have now entered upon the last work or message, that God has marked out for his church before their final deliverance from this time of trouble, such as never was." (Joseph Bates, A Seal of the Living God - A Hundred Forty-Four Thousand, pp. 66 and 67)