11 October 2001 Guest Editorial:
A Test

John Kannenberg

Preparation for eternity can seem to be a daunting task. It should not be so. If we have our Comforter, Redeemer and Lord walking hand in hand with us, emboldened we shall overcome. He will chasten, correct, and teach us His ways if only we will turn ourselves over to Him completely. In doing so, we will be readied to give the loud cry. We shall call many out of the worldly churches and out of paganism. But it won't be easy. We must prepare and pray as never before. A terrific battle for the people of this world is underway right now. Soon this battle will reach its climax. Are you ready to put on the armor of God and do battle for Him? He has already done nothing less for you.

The Test

In light of all this, it is clear that we have much preparation to do. How prepared are we? Let's find out.

What follows is a test. You will not be graded. There is no pass or fail (in the usual sense of the word). Read the following two paragraphs carefully. Answer each question to the best of your ability. Comments will follow.

Why did God choose Egypt instead of Canaan as the place to develop His missionary nation? Recite from memory Romans 8:28 and tell how in Jacob's life this promise was fulfilled. To what tribe was the promise of the coming Saviour given? What does 'Shiloh' mean? After Joseph's death, how did Satan try again to destroy God's nation? How did God defeat this plan? What is there in this circumstance which shows that God will use children in carrying out His plan? What is His plan for boys and girls today? How is He preparing them for this work? Recite from memory Hebrews 11:24-26 and tell what was the result of Moses' choice. Why did God allow oppression to come to Israel? Why did He deliver them? How did God through the plagues try to save not only Israel but Pharaoh and the Egyptians? Why was Pharaoh finally 'cut off from the earth'? Of what are the plagues of Egypt a type? How did God protect His people from the last plague? How did He protect the believing Egyptians? Of what was the Passover a type? Why did all these things happen to Israel and why are they written? By what threefold miracle did God try to teach Israel the sacredness of the Sabbath? When Israel was organized into a nation, what law formed the basis of their government? Describe the first church school.

Describe the first apartment of the sanctuary; the second apartment. What lesson may we draw from the beauty of the tabernacle within? Recite from memory Psalm 45:13. Why are our bodies called God's temple? What does the immense value of the sanctuary teach us about GodÕs plan? Tell what each part of the earthly sanctuary corresponds to in the heavenly sanctuary. Name the daily services. Describe the special sin offering and tell what it meant. Of what was the daily burnt offering a pledge? What did God require which showed that we should offer ourselves in His service early in life? How can we now give Him an offering 'without blemish'? How did the Sabbath service differ from the daily service? What did the incense represent? Why were the fire on the altar and the light of the candlestick kept burning always? Recite from memory Romans 12:1 and tell what relation it has to the offerings. What record books are kept in heaven? What is the purpose of each? Why did the earthly sanctuary need cleansing? On what day was this service? What was it called? Why? Describe the service. Whom did the scapegoat represent? Whose sins will Satan bear? What did the purifying of the court represent? What did the entire yearly round of services represent? Which class of people mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:24 will be saved?¹

Comment

That's it. Test over. So, how did you do? I must admit that I didn't do very well myself. I don't think I got an "F" but I'm sure didn't get an "A." And for this I am most ashamed. You see, I am an Adventist. A Seventh-day Adventist. I am one of the millions of the so-called "people of the Book." You don't hear that term much nowadays. Ever wonder why? Maybe it's because we aren't people of the Book anymore. Maybe it's because we've stopped reading the Bible and instead are reading books about the Bible. Now we've even left those behind and are reading about the people who write books about the Bible.

But does it matter what we read? Isn't it enough for us to just get the gist of what the Bible is all about? We feel that we know and are content with all our beliefs. We've even put a cap or limit on our beliefs. Apparently some feel that the truths of God reach no higher than the number 27. The thinking is, "Yes we've learned the official 27 so now we can stop." However, it will take all eternity to know all the truths in the Bible.² Now, we don't know the half of it. If we've stopped searching, then we are calling God a liar. We are saying that there is a limit on His gospel and a limit to His love. We don't know that half of the joy and love that God has already given us to receive if only we will search it out and take hold of it.

Loudly we profess our faith and doctrines to all that will hear them; this is good. But how does this all fit into the three angels' message? When the time comes when we are to be called before kings, rulers and the courts of the world, will we have enough knowledge of the gospel to be able to witness for our faith? Will we be able to rise to our feet with conviction and vigor to defend the character of God? Or will we be shamefully washed away as a house upon sand? This is the time when God's Word will be preached with greater power and conviction than in all of earth's history! God will be using us to speak His words which we have read and committed to memory (by the power of the Holy Spirit) so that we might spread the message of His soon return. No doubt multitudes will be saved hearing the gospel in this way. It won't be enough to merely proclaim "I believe in Jesus Christ!" Dear friend, in just a short time, everyone on this planet will profess their belief in Jesus. But which Jesus? Satan's impersonation, or the True one?³

How will we be able to tell others which gospel is true and which is false unless we ourselves first know it? We need to know the fullness of this gospel from front to back. Everything that happened to the children of God from Adam to John the Revelator is for our benefit. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."⁴That's us folks. The end of the world is upon us. We will not have the spiritual strength to face the future if we don't have the spiritual sense to now, today, do what the prophet just said and study the life and times of those who went before us. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."⁵

By the way, the two paragraphs of Bible questions were taken from a 1922 Seventh-day Adventist bible-class textbook. Not a textbook for seminary students or religion majors. But rather it is a Bible class textbook for--eighth graders! Let's open the Book and get busy.

1. Peck, Sarah. God's Great Plan. Pacific Press Publishing House, 1922, pp. 124, 142.
2. Southern Watchman, April 23, 1907.
3. Matthew 24:24.
4. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 284.
5. Ibid.