The question keeps arising: Didn't the Millerites teach that the "daily" was paganism, and didn't the Seventh-day Adventist Pioneers continue with that thought, so is the daily paganism or is it Christ's Intercessory Ministry in the heavenly sanctuary?
The most popular quote used from Ellen White's writings comes from Early Writings p. 74
Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Daniel 8:12) that the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the "daily"; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test. {EW 74.2}
Yes the quote from Early Writings comes up frequently when dealing with this subject of the "Daily"
however,
EGW in this quote was not defending the daily as refering to paganism, but to the unity that existed prior to 1844 on the 2300 day/year time line pointing to 1844. In the years just after 1844 the darkness and confusion among post-Millerites resulted from re-interpreting the time lines and establishing new dates for Christ's second coming.
Let's look at that quote closer:
The paragraph just prior:
"I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed."
So here she is talking about the time calculations.
Then she exactly upon what they agreed concerning the "daily".
"Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Daniel 8:12) that the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry."
So the "correct view" of Daniel 8:12 was that "sacrifice" was a supplied word and didn't belong with the "daily".
Now let's ask -- did paganism have sacrifices? When rank paganism was outlawed weren't their sacrifices outlawed? But let's get back to analyzing the quote itself.
Look at EGW's statement again -- Is she saying paganism was the correct definition of the daily? Or is she saying they had the correct view that the word "sacrifice" which does not belong in the text?
Continue reading on the same page:
" Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test. The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, but it must not be hung ontime. I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising from preachingtime; but the third angel's message is stronger thantime can be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation and needs nottime to strengthen it; "
The context is obviously TIME! The confusion came from making new time predictions as to Christ's second coming. Re-interpreting the 2300 years etc.
So we see she is saying:
1. God's hand was in the charts outlining the timelines even though there were mistakes. (That were later corrected) 2. That the millerites had it correct when they said the word "sacrifice" was added in the text mentioning the daily. 3. And that time will never again be a test.
CONCLUSION which is supported by situations taking place at the time the quote was written --
EGW is referring to people setting new times for Christ's return using the 2300 days and inserting the word sacrifice to come up with a new starting or finishing point for the 2300 days.
Notice as well that the context of the quote then speaks of Jerusalem -- that some people were thinking Jerusalem was to be "rebuilt" etc.
It appears that people were re-interpreting Daniel 8:12 in the manner we often see today. That Jerusalem and the "third" temple were to be rebuilt and this prophecy is pointing to a time when the sacrifices in the newly restored Jerusalem will be interrupted etc. etc. Indeed, a little research shows" the age-to-come controversy" raged in the Advent Harbinger (a Millerite paper) and the Advent Herald in 1850 and on, and furnished the background of Mrs. White's message which is seen in Early Writings.
The Sabbath Keeping Adventists could not and would agree with "age-to come" Millerites that(after 1844) began to promote the doctrine of an earthly millennium, namely, the teaching that the Old Testament prophecies of Israel's restoration and world leadership were to be fulfilled by a future gathering of literal Jews into Christ's millennial kingdom
EGW is telling them that the 2300 days are exactly what the Milleritesbefore 1844 believed them to be -- from 457 BC to 1844 AD. That the word sacrifice was supplied and that prophecies were not about restoring Jewish temples etc. etc. (A very timely message for today as most of Christianity has rejected the Miller's true version of the second coming and accepted the "age to come" falsehood". )
In 1846 Crosier and Edson wrote out the meaning of 1844 as it pretains to Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. The study was highly endorced by Ellen White, and laid the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the sanctuary doctrine.
" I believe the Sanctuary, to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, is the New Jerusalem Temple, of which Christ is a minister. The Lord shew me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the cleansing of the Sanctuary, &c; and that it was his will, that Brother C. should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord, to recommend that Extra, to every saint. {WLF 12.8}
They looked at the type in the earthly sanctuary, and applied it to Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary. Christ's once and for all sacrifice having been completed at the cross -- thus no more sacrifice, He began the work of the "daily" in heaven -- doing the work in the HOLY PLACE of the heavenly sanctuary, then in 1844 Christ began the work in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.
The Millerites did not understand any of that prior to 1844, they thought the "sanctuary" was this earth that was to be cleansed by fire of all its paganism and popery and sin.
It was William Miller who came up with the "daily is paganism" idea. What led him to this conclusion.
Firstly we need to remember that Miller did NOT see the sanctuary message in Daniel 8:14. How did he understand Daniel 8:14?
After explaining that the cleansing could not be a cleansing in heaven or a cleansing of Christ since they were not polluted. Nor could the cleansing be of the earthly Jewish sanctuary as that was left desolate. He then continues:
"Then there are but two things more, which may be called a sanctuary, which may, or ever will require cleansing; and those are the EARTH and the CHURCH: when these are cleansed, then, and not till then, will the entire sanctuary of God be cleansed, and justified, (as it reads in the margin.) The next question which arises is, How will the earth be cleansed? I answer, by fire. 2Peter iii.7 {1842 WiM, LJHCS 8}
"The next question, - When will the saints be cleansed, or justified? I answer, When our Lord shall come. The whole church will then be cleansed from all uncleanness, and presented without spot or wrinkle, and will then be clothed with fine linen, clean and white.{1842 WiM, LJHCS 13}
So for William Miller the "cleansing of the sanctuary" meant the second coming of Christ when the earth would be cleansed by fire and the redeemed would be changed into immortal pure beings. He totally missed the heavenly sanctuary message in Daniel, and though he correctly figured out the time of the 2300 days, his misunderstanding of the sanctuary message in Daniel 8 lead to the great disappointment.
After the disappointment Crosier along with Hiram Edson and others realized the mistake was in missing the sanctuary message in Daniel 8.
Their study was based on studying the type and seeking the fulfilment in Christ. The first step was recognizing that the sanctuary to be cleansed was the heavenly sanctuary and involved Christ's two fold ministry.
Crosier wrote:
"The Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of 2300 days is also the Sanctuary of the new covenant, for the vision of the treading down and cleansing, is after the crucifixion. We see that the Sanctuary of the new covenant is not on earth, but in heaven. The true tabernacle which forms a part of the new covenant Sanctuary, was made and pitched by the Lord, in contradistinction to that of the first covenant which was made and pitched by man, in obedience to the command of God; Exodus 25:8. {1850 ORLC, SANC 2.5}
"But as we have been so long and industriously taught to look to the earth for the Sanctuary, it may be proper to inquire, by what scriptural authority have we been thus taught? i can find none,. [Ibid}
"The Sanctuary cast down is his against whom Roman magnified hiself, which was the Prince of the host, Jesus Christ, and Paul teaches that his Sanctuary is in heaven.
"The Sanctuary cast down is His against whom Rome magnified himself, which was the Prince of the host, Jesus Christ; and Paul teaches that His Sanctuary is in heaven. Again, Daniel 11:30,31, "For the ships of Chittim shall come against him; therefore, shall he be grieved and return, and have indignation (the staff to chastise) against the holy covenant (Christianity), so shall he do; he shall even return and have intelligence with them (priests and bishops) that forsake the holy covenant. {1850 ORLC, SANC 3.4}
"And arms (civil and religious) shall stand on his part, and they (Rome and those that forsake the holy covenant) shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength." {1850 ORLC, SANC 3.5}
What was this that Rome and the apostles of Christianity should joint pollute? This combination was formed against the "holy covenant", and it was the Sanctuary of that covenant they polluted; which they could do as well as to pollute the name of God; Jeremiah 34:16; Ezekiel 20; Malachi 1:7. This was the same as profaning or blaspheming His name. In this sense this "politico-religious" beast polluted the Sanctuary, (Revelation 13:6), and cast it down from its place in heaven, (Psalm 102:19; Jeremiah 17:12; Hebrews 8:1,2) when they called Rome the holy city, (Revelation 21:2) and installed the Pope there with the titles, "Lord God the Pope", "Holy Father", "Head of the Church", etc., and there, in the counterfeit, "temple of God", he professes to do what Jesus actually does in His Sanctuary; 2Thessalonians 2:1-8. The Sanctuary has been trodden under foot (Daniel 8:13), the same as the Son of God has. (Hebrews 10:29.) {1850 ORLC, SANC 3.6}
The New understanding of the daily and what really took place in 1844 brought LIGHT not confusion.
The sanctuary doctrine unfolded before their eyes as they diligently studied scripture.
It was Crosier and Edson in 1845 that realized the daily was typified by the daily services in the earthly temple, and that the daily was different from the yearly service on the day of atonement. Did this bring darkness and confusion? No, EGW wrote that God had shown her that Crosier's message on the sanctuary was the answer to their disappointment. It was the truth about the sanctuary.
However, the "paganism" theme did not die, Uriah Smith basically followed Josiah Litch's earlier outline of Daniel, and included it in his book, and when this concept was challenged in the 1890's this quote from Early Writing was used as a weapon in the hands of the "daily is paganism" promoters: Haskell, Smith and others. EGW told them NOT TO USE the quote, God had not revealed to her the answer to the dilemma.
"I have words to speak to my brethren east and west, north and south. I request that my writings shall not be used as the leading argument to settle questions over which there is now so much controversy. I entreat of Elders Haskell, Loughborough, Smith, and others of our leading brethren, that they make no reference to my writings to sustain their views of "the daily." {1SM 164.1} ...I cannot consent that any of my writings shall be taken as settling this matter. The true meaning of "the daily" is not to be made a test question. {1SM 164.2} I now ask that my ministering brethren shall not make use of my writings in their arguments regarding this question ["the daily"]; for I have had no instruction on the point under discussion, (July 31,1910
Yet, how many today still us Early Writings quote (Which you quoted from RH Nov. 1850) in support for this very argument, wholly disregarding the plain counsel.
Also history does not support the "paganism" view.
508 AD is the beginning of the 1290 days of Daniel 12:13. That's when "the daily" is taken away. For 1290 years this situation was to continue, until the situation would change and the sanctuary message begins to be restored. Another 44 years would elapse to the end of the 1335 years when the sanctuary would be cleansed.
In 508 Clovis and his battle was not against paganism but against CHRISTIAN NATIONS that did not believe the same as the Papal Catholism. The Visigoths were "Christian". 508 marked the beginning of the triumph of Papal Catholism over the so called Arian Christians. Thus 508 marked the beginning of the triumph of the Papal control on religious matters (since an army of Franks stood on her side), and removed freedom to seek truth according to one's own search of God in scripture. This was completed in 538 when the last so called Arian nation of that time had its power destroyed and the papacy's Roman throne secured.
In 312 Constantine declared Christianity as a fully accepted Religion of the State. The first anti-Pagan laws by the Christian state started with Constantine's son Constantius II-- he ordered the closing of all pagan temples, forbade Pagan sacrifices under pain of death.
Paganism was fully outlawed by 391 AD by Emperor Theodosius in his " "Theodosian decrees,"
So the transition of the eastern and western Roman Empire from paganism to "Chrisitianity" took place between 312 - 391.
Indeed, paganism had to give way for Christianity to take over, but that didn't mean a FALSE Christianity was to take its place. How wonderful it would have been if true Christianity had flourished!
Something else had to be taken away for false Christianity to take control of the nations-- And that was the extinction of knowledge that people could and should study scripture for themselves and come to God through Jesus Christ as their intercessor. Forgiveness and salvation is offered to everyone who comes to Christ for forgiveness and salvation, it is not dependant on some human priesthood that can use their assumed power to control the populations by offering or with-holding forgiveness of sins and salvation.
