EPILOGUE:
To all my readers,
Keep reading and commenting. All comments are welcomed and appreciated, even
negative ones. If this concept is as close to the truth as we think, then it
can defended itself against all comers. In fact, it will be refreshing to find
that we actually have credible rationale for our beliefs. Also, I have become a
SDA only because their system of beliefs, whether or not many can justify them,
are closer to the truth than the others I've studied. Some of the key
understandings in this belief system that I now agree with are these:
- The 7th day Sabbath is a sign for all time between God and His people. (Ex 31:13,17)
- Men (is the Papal power) have thought to change God’s laws and times (Dan 7:25)
- The Bible is to be taken literally except where symbolism is clearly indicated
- Humans have free will and must make their own decisions between good and evil. The Bible is laced with texts indicating that God is expecting us to make these decisions and He is sometimes surprised at what we choose.
o The idea that we are predestined before our birth coupled with the notion of Hell means that God is creating some people only to burn in Hell forever, with absolutely no choice in the matter
- There is no place of permanent punishing (hell fire), but rather the second death is eternal punishment. The concept of Hell fire does not fit the God Who Christ revealed, ie Who has such love that He would die for even those Who hate Him.
o I suggest that the hell Christ referred to is what the Earth will look like during the millennium that follows His second coming
- The dead humans are not floating around somewhere. They will never again have a role to play in this world of ours (Ecc 9:5,6). They stay dead (ie sleeping) until either Christ raise the righteous dead at His second coming (1Thes 4:16,17), or until after the millennium (Rev 20:5)
In my understanding, God is looking for "Relationship" not
"Religion". Religion is the doctrine of men and is usually biased.
Hence, so many wars are fought over religion. If I were to
isolate one key truth that all this work has revealed to me, it would be
this: We need to cultivate our
relationship with our Creator by talking to God all the time – when we are good
or bad, happy or sad. If we don’t
want to do this now, how could we enjoy doing it in heaven? This is the key to everlasting life.
As I see the Great Controversy, it's over following the true God versus the many alternatives that just don't work in the long run. In the human Sin Drama, doctrines of men are playing out their scenarios in efforts to prove that they can replace trust in only the true God. Some offer ET, technology, the brotherhood of Man, spirit guides, inner self, and so on, and each must have its chance to run the full test without God intervening against Man's choices.
The way to know the true God is to objectively study the observable universe. The facts, when interpreted correctly will prove that there is a singular Intelligence behind it all, with a plan for mankind included. To understand that plan, however, the Creator must reveal His intentions. Science will not discover them. This is where the Bible is essential. Yet, again, it is likely to be misinterpreted because we only see our world through a narrow and dim window. God's plan spans all our time. However, there is indeed one truth and when you find it, it will stand up to all logical tests. This is what we are doing. We are seeking God logically with all our minds and He guarantees that in this way we will find Him. What we do then is up to us.
Mike
August 24, 2001, Updated 27 December 2001