- Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
Peter reminds us not to forget what our Present Truth is.
Present Truth - popular opinion
An ongoing revelation from the Holy Spirit, continuously unveiling new insights and understanding of biblical truths tailored to guide the church through modern challenges.
Is it really continuous? Does the word of God change?
- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
- Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
- For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
- Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Seems like the truth is not changing, and it is old, unmovable. Why do we then have a term “present truth” indicating a time in connection to the truth?
Present Truth - a truth specially applicable for their time
Opposition is the lot of all whom God employs to present truths specially applicable to their time. There was a present truth in the days of Luther,—a truth at that time of special importance; there is a present truth for the church today. He who does all things according to the counsel of his will, has been pleased to place men under various circumstances, and to enjoin upon them duties peculiar to the times in which they live, and the conditions under which they are placed. If they would prize the light given them, broader views of truth would be opened before them. GC88 143.3
Present Truth - a test of people
Special truths have been adapted to the conditions of the generations as they have existed. The present truth, which is a test to the people of this generation, was not a test to the people of generations far back. If the light which now shines upon us in regard to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment had been given to the generations in the past, God would have held them accountable for that light. {2T 693.1}
Division of time
Can we divide time periods and recognize the Present Truth for that period?
Tangent
For more information on prophetic time periods, check 70 Weeks Prophecy and 2300 Days Prophecy
Daniel 9:25 indicates the beginning of 70 week prophecy, which Ezra 7:7-13 dates to 457 BC The 69 weeks referring to the time remaining until the coming of the Messiah.
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27 AD Jesus began His ministry.
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Then in the 70th week Jesus went from the courtyard on earth to the Holy Place in Heaven anointed as our high priest (see Hebrews 1)
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- And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Then after 2300 days (years - see Ezekiel 4:6, and Numbers 14:34), from 457 BC, the antitypical day of atonement would take place.
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Observation
Every time Jesus moves in the sanctuary, new church is formed
- But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
The knowledge shall be increased
In the context, the knowledge of the book → this is the book of Daniel
There is no new truth we are waiting for; we are already living in the end of time described in Daniel where knowledge would be increased.
We learn in Daniel 8 that this book speaks about the 2300 days and the date of the beginning of judgement starting with the dead in 1844.
Tangent
For more information on the experiences and fulfillment of the 2300 days prophecy, see the little-book.
Present Truth for the Israel era
Watch for Messiah
- Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
- But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
- Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
This truth had been fulfilled in coming of the messiah.
Messiah has come!
- He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
- The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
- Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
- And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
- Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
In Israel era, the specific truth, and the testing truth was to wait for the Messiah. This truth of Christ’ first coming has lost none its importance, it is just that it is not time relevant for us today, who are living after the Messiah
Present Truth for Early Christian Church
Preach the Gospel to the whole world
- And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Gospel was preached to the entire world
- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
- And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
- First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
- But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
- For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
- If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
For the early Christian Church, the present truth was to spread the gospel around the world, and they successfully did it. Then the great apostasy came in the church, and we got dark age era. The truth was hidden for 1260 prophetic days. Then again through the reformation the truth triumphant and right before the finishing 2300 days prophesy, again, the gospel reached the entire world.
From this time the work of foreign missions attained an unprecedented growth. GC88 287.2
The context is the 1800’s.
“‘This gospel of the kingdom’ of heaven at hand been well-nigh preached all over the world, as a witness.” Midnight Cry, Sept. 21, 1843
The context was in 1843. By 1843 the Gospel was preached nearly all over the world.
Callout
Just because the Gospel was preached, it doesn’t mean that this truth is less relevant. The end will come right after the Gospel is preached - see Matthew 24:14, and Revelation 14:14-20
Present Truth for our time (post 1844)
We are living in the antitypical day of Atonement, which started from 1844. In order to answer what is the “present truth” for this time, we have to ask what is the truth specially applicable for our time, and what is our test?
In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. 9T 19.1
Giving to the world three angels messages is the most important work for our current time.
Seventh-day Adventist church was specially appointed to proclaim the present truth - three angels messages. In their beliefs they had established the principles of the present truth.
“After the passing of the time, God entrusted to His faithful followers the precious principles of present truth. These principles were not given to those who had had no part in the giving of the first and second angels’ messages. They were given to the workers who had had a part in the cause from the beginning.” {EGW, Ms129-1905.5; 1905}
“Those who passed through these experiences are to be as firm as a rock to the principles that have made us Seventh-day Adventists. They are to be workers together with God, binding up the testimony and sealing the law among His disciples. Those who took part in the establishment of our work upon the foundation of Bible truth; those who know the waymarks that have pointed out the right path are to be regarded as workers of the highest value. They can speak from personal experience, regarding the truths entrusted to them. These men are not to permit their faith to be changed to infidelity; they are not to permit the banner of the third angel to be taken from their hands. They are to hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth.” {EGW, Ms129-1905.6; 1905}
Principles of the present truth
The principles of the present truth that has made us Seventh-day Adventists, refer to the fundamental principles of the Seventh-day Adventist church. She is warning us not to move away from them. In fact she is prophesying that in the last days we shall come back to them. For more information see The Great Apostasy in SDA.
The purpose of the message of the third angel
What is the purpose of the three angels message?
God’s purpose in giving the third angel’s message to the world is to prepare a people to stand true to Him during the investigative judgement. This is the purpose for which we establish and maintain our publishing houses, our schools, our sanitariums, hygienic restaurants, treatment rooms, and food factories. This is our purpose in carrying forward every line of work in the cause. 17LtMs, Ms 154, 1902, par. 10
After finishing in the Most Holy
When Jesus finishes in the Most Holy Place His work, then there is a short time period, but crucial in the time of Salvation.
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The Present Truth for the FINAL generation