Happy Sabbath, all.
Brother Harry, I think the place to begin is with the daily, but because Sister Liane and others are interested in continuing with the day of atonement, let us continue. It is easy to build upon a false foundation and if we have not agreed upon the duties up to the day of atonement, it will be easy to misunderstand the acts performed on the day of atonement.
The beautiful fact about the message we have been given as a people is that it is taught from Genesis to Revelation. There have been many who have attempted to remove the pins from the platform of our faith, but this will not be done. While we may examine our beliefs, we know that what we are teaching is truth and are comforted when we read of what others believed. It is also comforting to know that what we see happening today has been prophesied.
There is a caution as we move forward. "The time has come when we must firmly refuse to be drawn away from the platform of eternal truth, which since 1844 has stood the test." Letter 277, 1904. "The Word of the Lord has guided our steps since the passing of the time in 1844. We have searched the Scriptures; we have built solidly; and we have not had to tear up our foundations and put in new timbers." Letter 24, 1907. "The great waymarks of truth, showing us our bearing in prophetic history, are to be carefully guarded, lest they be torn down and replaced with theories that would bring confusion rather than genuine light." Ms 31, 1896. "Listen not a moment to the interpretations that would loosen one pin, remove one pillar, from the platform of truth. Human interpretations, the reception of fables, will spoil your faith, confuse your understanding, and make of none effect your faith in Jesus Christ. Study diligently the third chapter of Revelation. In it is pointed out the danger of losing your hold upon the things that you have heard and learned from the Source of all light." Letter 230, 1906.
Finally, "When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals. Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth. This truth will stand the test of time and trial." Ms 62, 1905. "The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today. Letter 50, 1906.
While God is happy to give new light, we can sense a real danger when any come attempting to contradict what we have taught as a people regarding the foundation of our faith. This is why I ask the questions of Brother Harry. We are not talking incidentals, we are at the very foundation of our faith. The questions I have asked Brother Harry, and their answers regarding what we believe as a people, are supported by the Bible from the beginning to the end.
Like the seventh-day Sabbath, and the pre-existance of Jesus, we know them to be truth. We are not fearful to give an answer for our faith, but we are not ready to allow for the teaching of contrary doctrine. So, while we continue our study, we do so with no intent to prove what we believe is wrong.
We do not believe what we believe because someone else believes it, but because we have tasted and we can confirm from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy that it is so. Let us prayerfully continue that the light might shine more brightly.