The Seven Pillars Of Our Faith

The Seven Pillars Of Our Faith

The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’ messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, “The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the old landmarks is all imaginary.

1. The Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment: Although the phrase “Investigative Judgment” is not found in the Bible, this perfectly describes what has been happening since October 22, 1844. At that time, Christ entered the second apartment (or Most Holy Place) of the heavenly sanctuary to initiate a work of investigative judgment, rather than returning to Earth.
2. The Law of God and the Sabbath: The Law of God is eternal. It protects freedom and inspires love. We emphasize the Sabbath because it is the Seal of God both in His Law and in the mind and heart of each child of His! We know that most people have forgotten this Commandment, even though it begins with the word Remember!
3. The Three Angels’ Messages (Revelation 14:6-12): This subject encompasses the fourth angel, as described in Revelation 18, which is a repetition of the 2nd and 3rd Angels’ messages in greater detail. These messages are among the most important ever given to mankind.
4. The State of the Dead: The first lie ever told was when Satan told Eve, “You shall not surely die”. And it is this lie that has led to the belief in a soul that is separate from the body! Man is a soul (while he is alive), but he does not have a soul!
5. The Health Message: This is both a way of life for SDAs and a very effective way for them to be a blessing to those around them.
6. The Spirit of Prophecy: The SDA church teaches that the Bible is the ultimate authority on which we should base every doctrine. We believe that Ellen G. White was inspired to write her books by the same Holy Spirit who inspired all the Bible writers. This is evidenced by the fact that her writings emphasize the reliability of the Bible and align with the teachings found within it.
7. The Faith of Jesus (Righteousness by Faith): This encompasses an experience of justification, Grace, overcoming sin, and sanctification. 

In doing research for this article, I noticed that there are many different ideas about what constitutes the most important pillars of the SDA denomination. Some people listed only five pillars, the majority listed seven pillars, and some listed nine or ten pillars. And one pastor suggested that we might consider all of the “28 Fundamental Doctrines” as “pillars”!

I think that it is high time to change our views on this subject! After conducting careful research, I have compiled a list of seven pillars that I consider to be very accurate. Why do I think we need this change? Because there is a vision that Ellen White had concerning those pillars, and we cannot afford to ignore her warning message from that vision! Actually there are two visions about this subject and I will copy and paste them below:

With Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city, with twelve foundations, and twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We all cried out, "The city, the great city, it's coming, it's coming down from God out of heaven," and it came and settled on the place where we stood.

Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars set with pearls most glorious to behold. These were to be inhabited by the saints. In each was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God.

I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, "They will never fade." Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green, and had a reflection of silver and gold, as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts—the lion, the lamb, the leopard, and the wolf, all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here; no, no; but light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out, "We will dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods." We passed through the woods, for we were on our way to Mount Zion.

As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments.

Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place; the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig-tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs—these made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, "Only the 144,000 enter this place," and we shouted, "Alleluia."

This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The wonderful things I there saw, I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold.

After we beheld the glory of the temple, we went out, and Jesus left us, and went to the city. Soon we heard His lovely voice again, saying: "Come, My people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will gird Myself, and serve you." We shouted, "Alleluia! glory!" and entered into the city.

And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit.

I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said: "Not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while, if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain." And He said, "You must go back to the earth again, and relate to others what I have revealed to you." Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world.

I know that EGW had another vision about the pillars, but can't seem to find it.

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