Question: Who are you people?
Answer: We are Seventh-Day Adventists who feel that it is essential for us to know our History, and by understanding our History, we will not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Question: Is this website affiliated with any specific group?
Answer: We are not affiliated with any group, whether it be Jeff Pippenger, Godhead, Shepherds Rod, and so on.
Question: Then why are you doing this?
Answer: As stated above, if we forget our Past History, we will repeat the mistakes of the past. The 2520 and many other things our Pioneers understood are no longer comprehended or spoken of. We desire to share with others some of the beautiful light that was revealed to our Pioneers. This, we personally have found encouraging and enlightening to our hearts and minds, and pray that you will find it so as well.
Question: Is the 2520 a true prophecy?
Answer: From our Pioneers' perspective it was, without question.
Question: Is it a future prophecy?
Answer: No, it is not; instead, it was the first significant prophecy that was understood by William Miller. This prophecy, in turn, granted him a deeper understanding of the 2300 Day prophecy and helped him confirm the validity of it.
Question: Then why all of this discussion about it?
Answer: Whenever something that has been buried and not understood for a while comes back into the light, it is accompanied by discussion and misunderstandings. .
Question: Yes, but that still does not answer the question. Why is all this fuss going on about "The 2520"?
Answer: The root cause of all of this can be traced back to two very simple points – forgetting our History and Methodology.
Question: OK, what do you mean by “Methodology”?
Answer: How do you interpret Scripture? In other words, what method of interpretation do you use to come to understand the word of God? That is the root of the misunderstanding, not only for "The 2520", but many of the other conflicts that are presently going on within the Church. In fact, in all of Christendom, that is the root of the problem.
Question: So, I suppose you have an answer for this as well – What kind of method of interpretation are we supposed to be using and what approach does our Church use; and while you're at it, how come we do not know about it?
Answer: Interesting questions, ones that we have contemplated off and on for a while. We discovered that our Church uses what is called the Historical-Grammatical Method, commonly called the Historicist method. Whereas our Pioneers used what was, and is, called Miller's Rules of Biblical interpretation. You will find a link to those rules here:: Miller’s Rules. These Rules were endorsed by virtually all of our Pioneers and one of our key Pioneers, Ellen G. White. When you review our History, they were talked about and used extensively throughout the beginning of this movement and for many years afterward. It was in the late 1800s that these rules were being laid aside, and a new set of "rules" started taking their place. It is interesting to note that as these new rules began to ascend in importance that the controversies within the Church became more intense. Not saying that there were no controversies before, yet, there was greater Unity in the understanding of our message than what we have today. Today we have every wind of Doctrine blowing through the Church. Why? Because every wind of Doctrine has its own set of rules that establishes what they consider to be the truth or new light. Why do we not know about it? – That is a good question. I can only hypothecate this answer – The reason why our Church has decided not to teach the Historical-Grammatical Method to the Laity is that there would end up being an even greater conflict. What I believe they understood, is the method they use by its process would bring more challenges than what they wanted to deal with.
Question: Ok, so what is the major difference between Miiler's Rules and the Historicist method.
Answer: Clearly, the Historicist method tends to use a more figurative approach, where Miller's Rules is literal with exceptions. These exceptions are practical, for example, when a beast is used to delineate a kingdom. This is where the figurative language employed by the Bible requires a "literal" understanding. To make it even simpler, take the Bible just as it reads, a statement used quite frequently by EGW.
Question: So Ellen White endorsed these rules – prove it!
Answer: Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology”, Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation: { RH November 25, 1884, par. 23 }
“1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible;
2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study;
3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering;
4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error;
5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible.” { RH November 25, 1884, par. 24 }
“The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth.” { RH November 25, 1884, par. 25 }
Question: OK, you proved your point; that still does not fully answer the question as to why these rules are so important.
Answer: Most people, when they read the Bible, take it just as it reads. This, in turn, leaves them with many questions that seemingly have no answers for them. Now, do not get me wrong here; we should take the Bible just as it reads, but when we come to those difficult verses in Scripture, we need to seek the answers within Scripture itself, and that process requires some primary way of doing this. That is itself scriptural and in this way we have made the Bible, its own expositor. In other words, the Word of God proves itself.
Question: That still leaves the question of why we have all of these different winds of Doctrine, as you said, that is blowing through the Church.
Answer: Since most people do not have time to get a "degree in theology," they take the Bible as it reads. This is where the scholars and the winds of Doctrine collide with one another. Scholars themselves do not agree on many things within the Bible. Then you have the layperson who is more direct/literal in their understanding of the Bible and study it out using the methods that they have employed, not fully understanding the process that they are using, but, they see, based on their methodology, the truth is easily understood. The scholars, from their end, see it differently because they use a different set of rules as well. So, what happens is, you have the many winds of Doctrine blowing throughout the Church.
Question: OK, I think I understand the issue. What can we do about it?
Answer: Simply put, if we embrace the same methodology that gave us our foundational truths, we will end up on the same page as those who have gone before us. By using those rules given to us by Father Miller, we will end up coming to the same conclusion more consistently than when we do not use those rules.
Question: Alright, you have given me a link to these rules – how do I apply them?
Answer: The rules are pretty much self-explanatory. Though what we have done to assist you in this process is, we have put together a study for you to review so that you can apply these rules yourself. If you have questions, feel free to ask and we will do our best to answer them. Please remember, the most important rule of all is prayer and asking for our Lord to teach you through the working of the Holy Spirit, that He will be your Teacher and Guide. This is also scriptural.
Question: If you do not mind, one last question.
Answer: Are you sure? -- Just kidding, of course.
Question: If Miller's Rules would bring unity to the church, or at least some kind of unity, more so than we have today, why are they not using these rules?
Answer: You do have some interesting questions. Again, I can only hypothecate an answer. As organizations become more institutionalized, they become fearful of things they do not fully grasp or understand, though they would deny this. That I believe is part of the issue. The other part control. They are even more fearful of the Laity interpreting scripture for themselves. Where they actually have a basis by which they can debate with a reasonable understanding of what the learned men are supposed to be the best at. This would undermine their authority and create enormous fear in their hearts. Why is this bothersome to them? In essence, you would no longer need the BRI, since the Laity now has the tools by which they can understand Scripture. Tools that have always been available to them. These are my meager thoughts on the topic..