[table of contents]

Chapter One

GOD’S STATUTES

There are three primary schools of thought among those who are studying the Jewish economy and what it might mean to the remnant church of the 144,000. All three schools quote the Spirit of Prophecy to support their beliefs. Here are the three primary but opposing schools of thought.

First, those who believe that most of the Old Testament obligations were met at the cross, except the Ten Commandments, will quote statement like the following:

“In this ordinance (Lord’s Supper) Christ discharged His disciples from the cares and burdens of the ancient Jewish obligations in rites and ceremonies. These no longer possessed any virtue; for type was met in antitype in Himself... He gave this simple ordinance that it might be a special season when He Himself would always be present...” 5 BC 1139

Second, those who believe that the times of God’s holy days in the Old Testament will be meaningful in the last day events publish quotes regarding Passover, Firstfruits, and the Day of Atonement, as follows:

“In like manner the types which relate to the second advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service.” GC 399,400 (The word “types” in this quote is referring to God’s holy days.)

Third, those who are searching deeply into the subject of God’s holy days, believing that very definite and important light is yet to be shed on this subject will quote statements like the following:

“The significance of the Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended. Truths vast and profound are shadowed forth in its rites and symbols...” COL 133

We will now begin to explore exciting Ellen White comments to see what significant gems we can discover. We might uncover explosive truths that are truly vast and profound!

STATUTES THAT REMAIN

For many years, we have profited from observing the statutes regarding tithing and the elimination of unclean meats. In the following paragraphs, we have at least three more statutes to consider.

“The statutes concerning marriage, inheritance, and strict justice in dealing with one another, were peculiar and contrary to the customs and manners of other nations, and were designed of God to keep His people separate from other nations. The necessity of this to preserve the people of God from becoming like the nations who had not the love and fear of God, is the same in this corrupt age, when the transgression of God’s law prevails and idolatry exists to a fearful extent. If ancient Israel needed such security, we need it more, to keep us from being utterly confounded with the transgressors of God’s Law.” 1 RH 164 5/06/1875 (italics mine)

Ellen White considered herself one of the “we” who would benefit if the present church kept the above Mosaic statutes.

What is the security that we need according to the above statement? The statutes of Moses regarding marriage, inheritance, and strict justice in dealing with one another. These three items cover a lot of ground. Many, if not most of God’s statutes, deal in these three categories.

“In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the Ten Commandments.  They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.” 1RH 164; 1 SDA BC 1104 (italics mine)

Something that guards and explains the 10 Commandments is not the 10 Commandments. These additional religious precepts given to Moses were given to be guards and explanations of the 10 Commandments.

Notice some of the “everyday life” statutes mentioned by Ellen White in 3RH 213:

1. “Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates.”
    
2. “At this day shalt thou give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it.”
    
3. “Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor...”
    
4. “The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.”

This is the principle: What right do I have to draw interest on money that belongs to the poor? Notice what the Spirit of Prophecy says about the above four statutes:

“The Lord Jesus gave these commandments from the pillar of cloud, and Moses repeated them to the children of Israel and wrote them in a book, that they might not depart from righteousness. We are under obligation to fulfill these specifications, for in so doing we fulfill the specifications of the law of God.” 3RH 231, 12/18/1894 (italics mine)

These, then, are some of the statutes that guard and help explain the law of God. Notice that, unlike what I once believed, there are some statutes, written in a book, that are especially important to those of us who do not want to depart from righteousness. We are to fulfill them.

5. “Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God. These words had been spoken by Christ when He was enshrouded in the pillar of cloud. The same Teacher had spoken these words as had spoken the sermon on the mount. It was Christ who had said, ‘Ye shall do My statutes, and keep My judgments.’ Christ had presented the same principles on the mount of beatitudes as He had on Mount Sinai.” ST 6/11/1896

Many of the statutes are given in Deuteronomy chapter 26 and their judgments in chapters 27 and 28. Notice Mrs.  White’s comments regarding these chapters:

“This is not the voice of man; it is the voice of Christ from the enfolding pillar of cloud. Read carefully all of Deuteronomy 26, also chapters 27 and 28; for here are stated plainly the blessings of obedience.
“These directions, which the Lord gave to His people, express the principles of the law of the kingdom of God, and they are made specific, so that the minds of the people may not be left in ignorance and uncertainty. These scriptures present the never-ceasing obligation of all whom God has blessed with life and health and advantages in temporal and spiritual things.” 4RH 249 (italics mine)

According to E.G. White, what charge should we take to our heart?

“I counsel you to humble your heart and confess your wrongs. Consider the solemn charge David gave to Solomon on his dying bed: ‘I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses that you mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.’ Take this charge to your own heart (says Ellen White). Let no one flatter you in wrongdoing ...” 5T509 (italics mine)

Does Ellen White really mean that we are to keep God’s statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies? Is disobedience to these things really wrongdoing? Should we actually take the above charge to our own heart? Why? Perhaps the next quote, aimed at the final generation, answers these very questions.

“That God, who reads the heart of everyone, will bring to light hidden things of darkness where they are often least suspected, that stumbling blocks which have hindered the progress of truth may be removed, and God have a clean and holy people to declare His statutes and judgments.
“The Captain of our salvation leads His people on step by step, purifying and fitting them for translation, and leaving in the rear those who are disposed to draw off from the body, who are not willing to be led.” 1T 333

These quotations assure us that at least some of the Mosaic statutes, written in the book of the law, are still worthy of our consideration. Mrs. White, whom most of us believe had more spiritual perception than we, wrote very plainly that these statutes are soon to be presented by a clean and holy people, fitted for translation. Surely the 144,000 are implied.

Some people claim that every time the word ‘statutes’ is mentioned, it refers to the feasts of Leviticus. Not so. Everyone knows that there are many statutes besides the feasts. There is a double truth here. Not all statutes are feasts, yet all feasts are statutes.

Question: How can the 144,000, as a clean and holy people, present the statutes if they don’t even know what they are?

Another question: Which ordinances were nailed to the cross? Ellen White and Paul both say some of the ordinance laws no longer remain. But, which ones?

[table of contents] [next chapter]