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Then Shall the Sanctuary Be Cleansed - Donald K. Short

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pattern shown to Moses resolved <strong>the</strong> prophetic<br />

crisis of 1844. It was not a "vision" of a man in a<br />

cornfield, but <strong>the</strong> realization that <strong>the</strong> ultimate<br />

problem of <strong>the</strong> universe was a sin problem which<br />

could only be solved by God's method. This<br />

understanding gave Adventism birth.<br />

This heavenly insight has done little more than<br />

give us an identity which generates scorn in <strong>the</strong><br />

Evangelical world. Increasingly it is called in<br />

question by us, <strong>the</strong> spiritual heirs of Abraham, and<br />

many Adventists would be pleased if <strong>the</strong>ir identity<br />

could be swallowed up and <strong>the</strong>ir uniqueness melt<br />

into <strong>the</strong> crowd. The proclamation of <strong>the</strong><br />

Apocalypse has grown stale after some four or five<br />

generations. We are not sure if <strong>the</strong>re is any good<br />

reason for us to enter into a spiritual conflict with<br />

<strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world. Our prophetic destiny is<br />

growing dim. We are ready to join with ancient<br />

Israel in her prophetic frustration and cry, "<strong>the</strong> days<br />

are prolonged, and every vision faileth." Our<br />

problem is not so much that we are blind but ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />

that we think we can see. "Jesus said unto <strong>the</strong>m, If<br />

ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye<br />

14

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