DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES,
By The Mutual General Conference of Adventists, at Albany, New York, April 29th, 1845.
In view of the many conflicting opinions, unscriptural views, leading to unseemly practices, and the sad divisions which have been thereby caused by some professing to be Adventists, we deem it incumbent on us to declare to the world our belief, that the Scriptures teach, among others, the following
IMPORTANT TRUTHS.
First. That the heavens and earth which are now, by the word of God, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. That the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. That the Lord will create new heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness— that is, the righteous —will forever dwell. 2nd Peter 3:7, 10, 13. And that the kingdom and the dominion under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Daniel 7:27.
Second. That there are but two advents, or appearings, of the Saviour to this earth. Hebrews 9:28. That both are personal and visible. Acts 1:9, 11. That the first took place in the days of Herod, Matthew 2:1, when he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, Matthew 1:18, born of the Virgin Mary, Matthew 1:25, went about doing good, Matthew 11:5, suffered on the cross, the just for the unjust, 1st Peter 3:18, died, Luke 23:46, was buried, Luke 23:53, arose again the third day, the first fruits of them that slept, 1st Corinthians 15:4. and ascended into the heavens, Luke 24:51, which must receive him until the times of the restitution of all things, spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets. Acts 3:21. That the second coming, or appearing, will take place when he shall descend from heaven at the sounding of the last trump, to give his people rest, 1st Thessalonians 4:15, 17; 1st Corinthians 15:52, being revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel. 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-8. And that he will judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom. 2nd Timothy 4:1.
Third. That the second coming, or appearing, is indicated to be now emphatically nigh, even at the doors, Matthew 24:33, by the chronology of the prophetic periods, Daniel 7:25; 8:14; 9:24; 12:7, 11, 12; Revelation 9:10, 15; 11:2-3;12:6, 14 ;13:5, the fulfillment of prophecy, Daniel Second, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th; Revelation 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 17th, and the signs of the times. Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25, 26. And that this truth should be preached both to saints and sinners, that the first may rejoice, knowing their redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:18, and the last be warned to flee from the wrath to come, 2nd Corinthians 5:11, before the master of the house shall rise up and shut to the door. Luke 13:24-25.
Fourth. That the condition of salvation is repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15. And that those who have repentance and faith, will live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13.
Fifth. That there will be a resurrection of the bodies of all the dead, John 5:28-29, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24:15. That those who are Christ’s will be raised at his coming. 1st Corinthians 15:23. That the rest of the dead will not live again until after a thousand years. Revelation 20:5. And that the saints shall not all sleep, but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. 1st Corinthians 15:51,59.
Sixth. That the only millennium taught in the word of God is the thousand years which are to intervene between the first resurrection and that of the rest of the dead, as inculcated in the 20th of Revelation, verses 2-7. And that the various portions of Scripture which refer to the millennial state are to have their fulfillment after the resurrection of all the saints who sleep in Jesus. Isaiah 11th; 35:1-2,5-10; 65:17-26.
Seventh. That the promise that Abraham should be the heir of the world was not to him, or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13. That they are not all Israel which are of Israel. Romans 9:6. That there is no difference under the Gospel dispensation between Jew and Gentile. Romans 10:12. That the middle wall of partition that was between them is broken down, no more to be rebuilt. Ephesians 2:14-15. That God will render to every man according to his deeds. Romans 2:6. That if we are Christ’s, then are we Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29. And that the only restoration of Israel, yet future, is the restoration of the saints to the earth, created anew, when God shall open the graves of those descendants of Abraham who died in faith, without receiving the promise, with the believing Gentiles, who have been grafted in with them into the same olive-tree — and shall cause them to come up out of their graves, and bring them, with the living who are changed, into the land of Israel. Ezekiel 37:12; Hebrews 11:12-13 ; Romans 11:17; John 5:28-29.
Eighth. That there is no promise of this world’s conversion. Matthew 24:14. That the horn of Papacy will war with the saints, and prevail against them, until the Ancient of Days shall come, and judgment be given to the saints of the Most High, and the time come that the saints possess the kingdom. Daniel 7:21-22. That the children of the kingdom, and the children of the wicked one, will continue together until the end of the world, when all things that offend shall be gathered out of the kingdom, and the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13;37-43. That the Man of Sin will only be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming. 2nd Thessalonians 2:8. And that the nations of those which are saved, and redeemed to God by the blood of Christ, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, will be made kings and priests unto God, to reign forever on the earth. Revelation 5:5, 10; 21:24.
Ninth. That it is the duty of the ministers of the Word to continue in the work of preaching the Gospel to every creature, even unto the end, Matthew 28:19-20,— calling upon them to repent, in view of the fact that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Revelation 14:7,— that their sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19-20.
And tenth. That the departed saints do not enter their inheritance, or receive their crowns, at death. Daniel 12:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Romans 8:22-23. That they without us cannot be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40. That their inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, is reserved in heaven, ready to be revealed in the last time. 1st Peter 1:4-5. That there are laid in for them and us crowns of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give at the day of Christ, to all that love his appearing. 2nd Timothy 4:8. That they will only be satisfied when they awaken in Christ’s likeness. Psalms 17:15. And that when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, the King will say to those on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34. Then they will be equal to the angels, being the children of God and of the resurrection. Luke 20:36.
The above statement of doctrine defines and embodies what has been received by the great body of believers in the Advent of Christ at hand, from the commencement of their history by the labors of Mr. Miller to the present time.
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