INTRODUCTION

Anyone who has ever attended a Seventh-day Adventist prophecy series or read Ellen G. White’s book, The Great Controversy will surely tell you that John the Revelator’s description of the beast from the earth (Revelation 13:11-17) is symbolic of the United States of America. Yet far fewer know that the Adventist and traditional interpretation held today is the child of J.N. Andrews and not Ellen G. White. The question then to be asked, “Does history still fully support Andrews’ interpretation after 170+ years?” Using the historicist method along with the principle of allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, I not only probe and answer this question in my book, Unveiling The False Prophet, but bring forward in this article, seven declarations for thought which Seventh-day Adventists should not lose sight of when assessing my question from the perspective of history.

These declarations are meant to be informative and make the point that both prophecy and history are unfolding with time. Therefore, when it comes to our traditional ‘Adventist’ beliefs regarding the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, they too should be tested over time.

SEVEN DECLARATIONS FOR THOUGHT

(1) As a Church we are not defined but influenced by our prophetic beliefs

When it comes to the Church’s 28 Fundamental Beliefs which define us as a Christian denomination; there is no mention of the beasts from Daniel or Revelation, even though great emphasis is placed upon them in our evangelism outreach.

Regarding the Church’s doctrines, none of them were founded upon Ellen White’s visions, but the Bible and the Bible only! Therefore, what defines us as a Christian organization today, doesn’t have to live or die on the sword of certainty when it comes to our understanding and traditional viewpoints on prophecy.

(2) J.N. Andrews influenced Adventist thinking

J.N. Andrews in 1851 brought forward in the Church’s newspaper—the Review and Herald, seven identifiers which he felt pointed to the United States of America as the prophetic beast from the earth or false prophet warned of in the book of Revelation. His interpretative ideas and conclusions on the beast from the earth were undoubtedly and inadvertently influenced by both prior Protestant interpretations and then current social-political issues within the United States. Mainly, the continued rejection by the Protestant Churches as to Jesus’ soon coming (the Millerite’s urgent message); the abhorrent existence of Slavery; and the political infringements upon American civil and religious liberties (i.e., the enactment of Sunday laws and the subject civil penalties for breaking them).

When it comes to the deceptive and supernatural wonders of the beast (false prophet), Andrews saw the perfect fulfillment of these wonders in the rise and development of modern Spiritualism. Unveiling The False Prophet not only points out, but examines another spiritual movement today which claims to be the true and higher order of Spiritualism.

(3) Ellen White borrowed from Andrews’ Writings

In evaluating Ellen White’s writings in reference to the U.S.A. in Bible prophecy, it cannot be overlooked that a fair portion of her statements on the subject have their origins in J.N. Andrews writings (1851-1855). White’s books, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4 (1884), and The Great Controversy (1888-1911) borrowed both language and interpretative ideas from J.N. Andrews. The inspired writings of Ellen White are a seer’s eye into the deeper things of God. Yet her writings as an authoritative source don’t have the same authority as the Bible. Therefore, shouldn’t be used as the measuring stick when it comes to the Bible’s own interpretation of prophecy.

(4) The Bible is the gold standard when testing what we believe

Both Ellen White and J.N. Andrews held to the Adventist belief that the Bible is its own expositor of truth. Furthermore, when it comes to the spirit of prophecy’s (SOP) relationship to the Bible, the spiritual gift doesn’t supersede or replace the authority of the Bible. Like the Bereans of the Bible and early Sabbatarian Adventists who prayerfully studied their Bibles without bias, we too can follow in their footsteps when it comes to seeking the truths of the Bible. Therefore, let us be wise in not putting the cart (SOP) before the horse (Bible) when it comes to studying and interpreting the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.

(5) History doesn’t lie, and affirms what the Bible declares

When we fail to listen to history or have selective hearing as to what we want to hear, then our understanding of Bible prophecy can become misguided and muddled with a mixture of truth and error. Therefore, if prophecy is the lock, then history is the key that unlocks our understanding of prophecy.

Unveiling The False Prophet, not only looks at J.N. Andrews’ interpretation of the beast from the earth, but under the lens of history, looks at another candidate that is perhaps better poised to fill the role of Revelation’s false prophet who is to deceive the world in bringing fire down from heaven in the last days.

(6) Knowledge Matters

When asked to give an answer to what we believe, can we openly defend our Adventist beliefs from a strong position tie-barred to the Bible? Or when it comes to our interpretations of Bible prophecy, can we from a historicist point of view show how history not only supports prophecy, but lends to its future fulfillment? If not, then we may find ourselves like the Protestants during the time of the William Miller’s message having to defend what we believe in the face of new insights or factual/historical information contrary to what we have sometimes long held as ‘traditional’ truth.

(7) Questioning our Adventist beliefs is not heresy

The purpose of these declarations is twofold. First is to ask the question, “Do we have the right interpretation when it comes to the beast (kingdom) rising from the earth? Second is to foster further discussion on the long-held and traditional Adventist belief that is not only heavily influenced by J.N. Andrews writings but has an enduring presence in Ellen White’s writings.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18), it is my hope that we as Seventh-day Adventists can come together and have an open and honest conversation about the beast from the earth in relation to where we now stand in history. Furthermore, let us remember that truth and tradition don’t always walk hand in hand with each other. And when it comes to prophetic truth, it is often unfolding with time and is to be fully understood in the time in which it is to have its perfect and complete fulfillment. Which for the beast from the earth (false prophet) is still yet future!

“There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scriptures are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.”

Ellen White, “Christ Our Hope.” Review and Herald, (December 20, 1892): 785