Godsloveandlaw's Blog

Note: This post is directed primarily to SDA and DSDA members.

Not since we did the Elijah posts have I looked forward to sharing this post. Excited and at times mentally stretched, I have prayed earnestly to get this completed. Our Lord has not disappointed. As His Spirit of Truth has guided, we shall look into this most unusual and fascinating topic – The Special Resurrection.

For many years, even decades this topic has been discussed among the brethren, particularly among SDA and Davidian SDA. DSDA often found themselves at odds with SDA members over it, and even among other Davidians. One thing I want to make perfectly clear —This is not a sanctifying issue. This means that whether you believe in this special resurrection or not, even if you  have another view on how it takes place, that’s your prerogative. I respect all other views.

What we’ve tried to do is search out all the relevant quotes from Scripture, Ellen White, and Brother Houteff. We’ve looked at them closely and made comments and observations as to the clear plain words and meanings. Then at the end we’ll summarize the end view and how we see it all coming together,  bro Rob.

This subject had its origins in the following Scripture:

“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to everlasting shame and some to everlasting contempt. Those who  are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12.1-3)

Then as our prophetess came along she expounded on those words, and posted more descriptive words about it. However as we are so very well aware,  she prophesied that “somebody would come” after her in the power and spirit of Elijah(Testimonies to Ministers, p.475, 1 Selected Message, p.412 *). This somebody, as the truth scroll unrolled further, added the final words to this subject so that we could see all the bright clear light on it. He did his job, he “reconstituted all things”(Matt 17:11) and certainly the special resurrection is no exception. (* in both the aforementioned EGW references, be aware the SDA leaders have added their own additions to her comments, denying what she said is what she meant)

Let’s look at the individual Ellen White (EGW) statements. (note: the following was done in the word office format, as the study progressed. So as not to get confused my comments began as —-)

GREAT CONTROVERSY P.637 – “Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth …. awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the 3^rd angels message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who kept His law. “They also which pierced Him” (Rev. 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.”

—-  To understand this we must understand the word “all”. Based on what we will learn further, in this context it would mean that with this last group of resurrected ones, it now constitutes “all” of the special resurrected ones. The number is complete thus it is now–all. This does not preclude the raising of some in a prior special resurrection. For example, if an announcer in a stadium announced “We now have ALL the people come into the stadium for the game to begin” doesn’t mean that all of them came at one time. Some came at various times. But the full number had at that moment “come forth”.

—- This last group would obviously include the Roman soldiers who pierced him, the Pharisees who judged and mocked Him, violent men that have lived down through the ages, such as Nero and the like. Additionally it would include people like Mrs. Hastings.

Ellen White says the following “God gave me a vision last Sabbath night which I will write, I saw that she (Mrs. Hastings) was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble, and all that we could mourn for was our loss in being deprived of her company. I saw her death would result in good.” ( 2 SLM p. 263).

—-  So it appears from EGW’s GC statement that both the good and bad are raised just prior to His coming in the clouds. But it does not preclude any prior special resurrections. A clear example of this is the next EGW statements showing that she, along with others will have further work to do after being raised again “In God’s kingdom”.

TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, Vol.7, p.17 — “Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall in the kingdom of God , take up the work once more.” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p.17) (Note- from the Old and New testaments through bro. Houteff’s divine work , we learn that there will be a “pre-millennial” phase of the kingdom of God, known also as His Church kingdom or Theocractic government -not the same as a typical current government kingdom)

EARLY WRITINGS,P.33 – “And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.”

—-  From the above we can clearly see that she cannot be 1) raised just prior to our Lord’s coming in the clouds, as is Mrs. Hastings for example. She could not do any work at that time, as the number of God’s marked and sealed people are completed. 2) There will be others from those who died in the 3 angels message who will be raised up with her to join in the work (indicated by the “Your work” and “we may rest”). 3) This work shall be done in “God’s kingdom”. As such it must be the premillennial phase of the kingdom, because her only “work” was  in securing souls for our Lord and in the heavenly kingdom we shall not being doing that work she is hereto describing.

GREAT CONTROVERSY P.613- “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of they people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1.

“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received the “latter rain”, “the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,” and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received “the seal of the living God”. Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says “It is done;” and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: “He that is unjust let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy let him be filthy still:and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins.

The number of His subjects is made up; “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of kingdom under the whole heaven,” is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the site of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked has been removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent.”

—- There can be no doubt, that EGW equates this “standing up” of Michael in Daniel 12:1, to that of the end of the world. The time when no more heavenly intercession can be made. The work of the 144,000 is done, the great multitude has been gathered from the within the false religions and churches into God’s church kingdom. However, as we shall see, along with this view there is  an additional interpretation of this quote in the Shepherd’s Rod and other writings of Victor Houteff.

—- In order to reconcile these two understandings we have three different analysis we can make. 1) We can say that EGW was correct in the above understanding of Daniel 12:1 (consequently bro. Houteff was in error). 2) The reverse, we can say bro. Houteff was correct and that EGW was in error. With both of these we must assume that either “prophet” was guilty of prophesying – error. A dangerous position to take indeed!

—-  3)Then there is the third scenario. Could it be that BOTH were correct, but that EGW being the prophet before bro. Houteff, had limited light on this particular subject and wrote that which she had(mainly the knowledge of the second special resurrection). Bro. Houteff upon the guiding of the Spirit of Truth, then was able to discern the unrolling of the scroll, to see clearer light on this subject. And therefore saw the first delivering of His people, specifically the 144,000 and those with them. We’ll touch more on this in part two of our study of the special resurrections. Next we shall look at EGW’s Early Writings.

EARLY WRITINGS, Page.36 “..Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction, and that the wrath of God could not come until Jesus had finished His work in the most holy place, laid off His priestly attire, and clothed Him self with the garments of vengeance.”

—-  This statement is clearly addressed by brother Houteff in the Symbolic Code news publications as follows.

Question: “Please explain E.W. 36: “I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction,” etc.

Answer: The question which here arises is how is it possible to reconcile “The Shepherd’s Rod” with the “Spirit of Prophecy,” when the one seems to say that Jesus will leave the most holy place at Eze. 9, while the other says He will not leave until every case is decided?

Without attempting to explain the event described in E.W. 36, we shall inquire only into the matter of whether it is possible in view of the E.W. statement for Jesus to “leave” the most holy place to execute the work of Eze. 9 before the general close of human probation.

To begin with there is nothing in the word “leave” that connotes finality and permanence of condition or action. To leave once does not preclude the possibility of having left on previous occasions and then returned. Hence, on the logic of language alone, the mere fact that Sr. White “saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy until

Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 7  pg. 8

every case was decided,” does not argue that He could therefore never have left the most holy place before, and that He cannot leave it to execute Eze. 9 on the church.

However, we need not base our position entirely on logic. The Scriptures abundantly evidence the fact that Jesus is to dwell in the midst of His People at a time before every case is decided. We quote Zech. 2:10, 11 — “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people.”

Verse 11 proves that in “that day” when He comes and dwells in the midst of Zion, “many nations shall be joined to the Lord,” and every S.D.A. ought to know that there will be no nations joined to the Lord after probation is closed.

Moreover, in Isa. 66:15, which reads, “Behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire,” (Verse 16) “For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many,” we see that when He comes with fire, it is to “plead” with all flesh, which proves that it is during probationary time, for after the close of probation God will plead with no flesh.

Furthermore, Isa. 66:20 proves that it is in this time during which the Lord pleads with all flesh that “many nations” — “all your brethren” — are joined to the Lord. Hence, “in that day,” the day of slaughter (Eze. 9; Isa. 63; Isa. 66), He “will come, and…dwell in the midst of “Zion.”

Therefore, it is clear that Jesus is to come and dwell in the midst of His people here on earth before the close of probation, as He dwelt with His people in the exodus movement, as is described in Isa. 4.

Some have an altogether too narrow view of the Godhead. They think that in order for Jesus to carry on the investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary, He must confine Himself there every moment, and that even in case of necessity He cannot leave the place of the most holy apartment to do anything else until His mediatorial work is finished.

Christ’s departure from the holy place, at the consummation of the investigative judgment, is to result in His visible second advent, whereas the event of Eze. 9 and Zech. 2:9-11 is an invisible coming.

EARLY WRITINGS– Page 285 “It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything seemed turned out of it’s natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.”

—  In the above, it appears that this is a more complete description of the previously mentioned last special resurrection of Mrs. Hastings and other Sabbath keepers who died in observance of the 3 angel’s message, and were not partakers of the ones who took up “the work once more”. Thus it certainly cannot be the special resurrection of Ellen White and the other “workers” who came up before them.

TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, Volume 1, p.131-132 – “ I was shown the company present at the conference. Said the angel: “Some food for worms,…….. some subjects of the seven last plaques, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus.”

—-  This is a fascinating one because it shows the diversity of future paths they will take. The ones who will be “food for worms” appears to describe the wicked ones who stay dead, hence food for worms, until they rise to live in the short season, which is for a hundred years*. This is the final period preceding the “fire from heaven” that comes down to destroy them and purify the earth with fire. This is known as the short post-millennial season . (Rev. 20:7-9)

— In the other descriptions “plaque subjects” and “translated ones”, it appears these are some of those who rise with Ellen White. However, this will include both the good and bad, because obviously some suffer the plaques and others get translated ( backed up further from the forth coming bro. Houteff’s statements). The good are those who died “in the faith” and in good standing with the Lord, the ones who are described as being with the 144,000. Consequently the good ones, “take up the work once more”.

—-  Obviously, those she looked upon at her conference are now dead. So in order to have the events take place of which she described (and was given her by the angel), they will have to be resurrected in the first special resurrection with Ellen White. This cannot be the last special resurrection in the coming of our Lord in the clouds. When she says “some will be alive and remain upon the earth” it indicates future tense. It does not preclude that their bodies sleep for awhile, yet after being raised they will be alive and remain upon the earth. So we see in the two special and separate resurrections so far that both will have good and bad people raised up.

—- (* this comes from the early SDA belief as found in a Signs of the Times, dated April 19, 1910, also from bro. Houteff’s interpretation of the Noah flood type/anti-type)

—-  Keep in mind that in these apparent two special resurrections, it is in keeping with other double events that happen in the end times. Such as two harvests (the 144,000 and the great multitude). The two “first fruits”, one from the sleeping (Corinthians 15:20), one from the living (Rev.14:4). The two special resurrections would thus be not out of prior divine harmony.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS – p. 193 “ I saw the slave master …. has to suffer the seven last plaques, and then come up in the second resurrection, and suffer the second most awful death. Then the wrath of God will be appeased.”

—-  Here we see that the slave master, obviously one of the bad people, will be raised up in first special resurrection, most likely with Ellen White’s group because it will be before the seven last plaques start. It cannot be the second special resurrection because the plaques will have been done with (except possibly the last plaque). Also this would be the slave master’s first resurrection, therefore Ellen White makes note that after enduring the plaques, he will come up in the second resurrection in the short season with the rest of the wicked and have to suffer the second awful death.

.THE FAITH TO LIVE BY, P.183 – “The righteous dead will hear the sound of the last trump, and will come forth from their graves….the living righteous changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor.15:52). At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal, and with the risen saints are caught up to meet the Lord in the air…All precious dead, from righteous Abel to the last saint that dies, shall awake to glorious immortal life.”

—-  In the above we can see that EGW describes the consummate phase of the resurrection just prior to the Lord coming in the clouds, known as the “first resurrection” (Rev.20:6). This is not concerning any special resurrection.

SUMMARY

—-  We have now come to the end of our first study on EGW’s statements about the special resurrections. Let us summarize.

1. We see that she had far greater light given her about the second special resurrection as opposed to the first.
2. We see that she did have a somewhat dim light about the first special resurrection, indicated by the limited statements and descriptions. But the quotes – Test. For the Church, Vol. 7, p.17, EW, p.33, Test. For the Church,p. 131-132, confirm that there will indeed be a first special and separate resurrection.
3. She makes a clear distinction of two separate special resurrections. The last pre-millennial resurrection, also known as the first resurrection (Rev.20:6) comes after the two special resurrections.

Next week in Part 2 we’ll look at brother Houteff’s work on the special resurrections. It will marvelously show the unrolling of the scroll, as he combines Spirit of Prophecy and Scripture.

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