The Advent Hope for Human Hopelessness

388 Pages·2001·1.47 MB·English

by  Samuele Bacchiocchi

6
iblical
erspectives
THE ADVENT HOPE
for
HUMAN HOPELESSNESS
A THEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE MEANING
OF THE SECOND ADVENT FOR TODAY
Samuele Bacchiocchi
FOREWORD
by
Dr. Richard Lesher
President, Andrews University
iblical
erspectives
4990 Appian Way
Berrien Springs
Michigan 49103, USA
BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR
THE CHRISTIAN AND ROCK MUSIC is a timely symposium that defines
the biblical principles to make good musical choices.
THE SABBATH UNDER CROSSFIRE refutes the common arguments used to
negate the continuity and validity of the Sabbath.
IMMORTALITY OR RESURRECTION? unmasks with compelling Biblical reason-
ing the oldest and the greatest deception of all time, that human beings possess
immortal souls that live on forever.
THE MARRIAGE COVENANT is designed to strengthen your Christian home
through a recovery of those biblical principles established by God to ensure
happy, lasting, marital relationships.
THE ADVENT HOPE FOR HUMAN HOPELESSNESS offers a scholarly, and
comprehensive analysis of the biblical teachings regarding the certainty and
imminence of Christ’s Return.
FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY presents the results of a painstaking research
done at a Vatican University in Rome on how the change came about from
Saturday to Sunday in early Christianity.
THE SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT summarizes Bacchiocchi’s exten-
sive research on the history and theology of the Lord’s Day and answers the
most frequently asked questions on this subject.
WINE IN THE BIBLE shows convincingly that the Bible condemns the use of
alcoholic beverages, irrespective of the quantity used.
CHRISTIAN DRESS AND ADORNMENT examines the Biblical teachings
regarding dress, cosmetics, and jewelry. An important book designed to help
Christians dress modestly, decently, and reverently.
DIVINE REST FOR HUMAN RESTLESSNESS offers a rich and stirring theo-
logical interpretation of the relevance of Sabbathkeeping for our tension-filled
and restless society. Translated in 15 languages.
HAL LINDSEY’S PROPHETIC JIGSAW PUZZLE refutes with compelling
logic the senselessness of the predictions made by writers like Hal Lindsey. It
received the 1987 Associated Church Press Award.
WOMEN IN THE CHURCH shows why Scripture supports the participation of
women in various church ministries but precludes their ordination to the
representative role of elder or pastor.
THE TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE RESURRECTION examines
the time element of the Crucifixion/Resurrection as well as the meaning of
Christ’s death.
GOD’S FESTIVALS IN SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY. Vol. 1: The Spring
Festivals; Vol. 2: The Fall Festivals examine the historicaldevelopment
and theological meaning of the ancient Feasts of Israel.
Each of the above books costs $20.00, mailing expenses included. To
order them, call [phone] or mail your prepaid order to:
BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES
4990 Appian Way. Berrien Springs, MI 49103, USA
Web Page: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com
Cover design
by
Joe Maniscalco
©
Copyright 2001
by
Samuele Bacchiocchi
To purchase a copy of this book
call [phone] or
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to
BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES
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Michigan 49103
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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
FOREWORD ............................................................................................ 8
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT ....................................................... 9
PREFACE ................................................................................................. 11
1. THE NATURE OF BIBLICAL HOPE ............................................. 15
A Look at Human Hope ................................................................ 15
A Look at Biblical Hope .............................................................. 21
Conclusion .................................................................................... 25
Notes to Chapter 1 .......................................................................... 26
2. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE ADVENT HOPE .................. 27
The Hope of a Coming Redeemer ................................................ 27
The Hope of the Final Advent of the Lord ................................... 35
Conclusion .................................................................................... 40
Notes to Chapter 2 ......................................................................... 42
3. THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE ADVENT HOPE ................. 43
The Assurance of Fulfillment ...................................................... 44
A Present Fulfillment and a Future Consummation ...................... 45
The Unity Between the First and Second Advents ........................ 48
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 54
Notes to Chaqpter 3 ....................................................................... 55
4. THE CERTAINTY OF THE ADVENT HOPE .................................. 53
The Teachings of Jesus .................................................................. 53
The Testimony of Peter .................................................................. 61
The Testimony of Paul .................................................................. 63
The Testimony of Hebrews and James ........................................... 66
The Testimony of John .................................................................. 68
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 70
Notes to Chapter 4 ............................................................................... 72
5. THE DELIMITATION OF THE ADVENT HOPE ........................... 73
Did Christ Delimit the Time of His Return? .................................. 74
Mark 9:1 ................................................................................... 75
Mark 13:30................................................................................ 76
Matthew 10:23 ......................................................................... 78
Table of Contents 5
Did Paul Delimit the Time of the Parousia? .................................. 81
“We Passages” ......................................................................... 81
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 83
Notes to Chapter 5 .......................................................................... 84
6. THE IMMINENCE & DISTANCE OF THE ADVENT HOPE ....... 85
Imminence/Distance of the Advent ............................................... 86
Imminence/Distance in the Old Testament .............................. 86
Imminence/Distance in the New Testament ............................. 87
Possible Solutions ......................................................................... 89
A Crisis of Faith ....................................................................... 89
The Existential Time of the Advent Hope ............................... 90
The Unity of the Advent Hope ................................................ 92
Moral Urgency of the Advent Hope ......................................... 93
The Prophetic Perspective of the Advent Hope ....................... 94
Conclusion .................................................................................... 96
Notes to Chapter 6 .........................................................................,. 97
7. THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF THE ADVENT SIGNS ....... 98
The Nature of the Advent Signs ..................................................... 99
The Generic Nature of the Advent Signs ................................. 99
Different Perceptions of the Advent Signs ............................... 100
Intensification of the Advent Signs .......................................... 101
The Function of the Advent Signs ................................................. 102
Advent Signs Nourish Hope and Faith .................................... 102
Advent Signs Point to Consummation of Redemption ............. 102
Advent Signs Call for Constant Readiness ............................... 103
Advent Signs Reveal the Ongoing Cosmic Controversy .......... 105
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 107
Notes to Chapter 7 ........................................................................... 108
8. THE SIGN OF DIVINE GRACE AND THE ADVENT HOPE ........ 109
Contemporizing the Advent Signs .................................................. 109
Worldwide Evangelization ............................................................. 111
A Most Important Sign ............................................................. 111
The Meaning of the Great Commission .................................... 112
Christian Expansion Over 20 Centuries .................................... 114
Global Christianity Today ........................................................ 115
The Unfinished Mission ........................................................... 117
Seventh-Day Adventist Evangelization .................................... 118
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 120
Notes to Chapter 8 ........................................................................... 120
Table of Contents 6
9. SIGNS OF OPPOSITION TO GOD AND THE ADVENT HOPE.... 122
Messianic Pretenders ...................................................................... 122
The Antichrist ................................................................................. 126
The Apostasy .................................................................................. 132
The Evildoer ................................................................................... 136
Increased Wickedness .................................................................... 142
Age of Appetite .............................................................................. 145
Age of Sex ...................................................................................... 148
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 154
Notes to Chapter 9 ........................................................................... 155
10. SIGNS OF DIVINE JUDGMENT AND THE ADVENT HOPE ..... 159
The Significance of Calamities ...................................................... 160
Wars and Rumors of Wars ............................................................. 162
Natural Disasters ............................................................................ 168
Man-Made Disasters ....................................................................... 172
Famines .......................................................................................... 177
Pestilences ...................................................................................... 181
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 185
Notes to Chapter 10 ......................................................................... 186
11. MISTAKEN SIGNS OF THE ADVENT HOPE ............................... 191
A Popular Scenario of End-time Events ......................................... 193
Mistaken Principles of Prophetic Interpretation ............................. 198
The Literal Interpretation of Prophecy ..................................... 198
Distinction Between Israel and the Church .............................. 202
Three Mistaken Advent Signs ........................................................ 208
The Restoration of the Jews to Palestine .................................. 208
The Rapture .............................................................................. 219
The Rebuilding of the Tribulation Temple ............................... 228
Conclusion ...................................................................................... 233
Notes to Chapter 11 ......................................................................... 234
12. THE NEGLECT OF THE ADVENT HOPE .................................... 239
Humanistic and Materialistic Influences ....................................... 239
The Origin of Humanistic Influences ...................................... 239
The Influence of Humanism .................................................... 240
Theological Influences .................................................................. 244
The Controversy over the Millennium .................................... 245
The Debate over the Rapture ................................................... 245
Arbitrary Interpretation of Prophecies .................................... 247
Individual Immortality ............................................................ 250
The Church and its Worship ................................................... 253
Misconceptions of the New World .......................................... 255
Table of Contents 7
Conclusion .................................................................................... 256
Notes to Chapter 12 ........................................................................ 258
13. THE JUDGMENT AND THE ADVENT HOPE ........................... 259
The Necessity of the Final Judgment ............................................ 260
The Scope of the Final Judgment .................................................. 262
The Standard of the Final Judgment .............................................. 265
The Nature of the Advent Judgment ............................................. 273
Misconceptions of the Advent Judgment ...................................... 275
The Seventh-day Adventist View of the Final Judgment ............... 277
Notes to Chapter 13 ......................................................................... 278
14. THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT & THE ADVENT HOPE 280
The Pre-Advent Phase of the Final Judgment ............................... 281
Pre-Advent Judgment in the Teachings of Jesus ..................... 282
Pre-Advent Judgment in Paul’s Writings ................................ 286
Pre-Advent Judgment in the Book of Revelation .................... 288
Pre-Advent Judgment in the Book of Daniel .......................... 292
Pre-Advent Judgment in the Day of Atonement’s Typology .. 296
The Post-Advent Phase of the Final Judgment .............................. 301
The Outcome of the Final Judgment ............................................. 305
The Theological Significance of the Final Judgment ................... 313
Conclusion .................................................................................... 321
Notes to Chapter 14 ........................................................................ 322
15. THE CONSUMMATION OF THE ADVENT HOPE .................. 324
The Manner of Christ’s Coming ................................................... 325
The Purpose of Christ’s Coming ................................................... 330
The Outcome of Christ’s Coming .................................................. 346
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 357
Notes to Chapter 357 ...................................................................... 358
16. LIVING THE ADVENT HOPE ...................................................... 360
Living the Advent Hope ................................................................ 360
Two Dangers to Avoid ............................................................ 360
Living a Balanced Life .......................................................... 366
Nourishing the Advent Hope ........................................................ 373
Worship ................................................................................... 373
The Sabbath ............................................................................. 375
Conclusion ..................................................................................... 381
Notes to Chapter 16 ........................................................................ 383
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................... 384
FOREWORD
by
Dr. W. Richard Lesher
President, Andrews University
In an easy, popular style infected by his contagious enthusiasm, Dr.
Samuele Bacchiocchi presents a wide-ranging study of the Second Ad-
vent. His study is based on the Scriptures, but he seeks to meet the needs
of people today, and not just spin theological webs. The material is
arranged in logical sequence with frequent section headings to facilitate
the reading and comprehension.
The theme of hope is especially fitting for our uncertain and troubled
times. Dr. Bacchiocchi stresses not so much the hopelessness of the human
situation but has chosen rather to be positive, presenting the Hope that arises out
of the Parousia and even out of the final judgment. These events are often viewed
with alarm and foreboding, and it is refreshing to read them in hopeful terms.
If the topics examined were solely restricted to the Second Advent, the
reader could be left with many unanswered questions. By including many
closely related themes, Dr. Bacchiocchi has greatly reduced the possibility of
reader’s misunderstanding. One such theme is dealt with in Chapter 10, “The
Signs of Divine Judgment.” Many Christians have felt that the “signs” relate
primarily to events now past and have lost their significance to the believers
in the last quarter of the twentieth century. But Dr. Bacchiocchi provides clear
examples indicating that the signs given by Jesus are relevant to today’s world.
The subject of the investigative judgment is also addressed in a fresh
approach which leaves the pillars in place.
The Hope of the Second Advent that Dr. Bacchiocchi presents is quite
at variance with the views of dispensationalism. He recognizes this difference
and gives his reasons for rejecting such views in Chapter 11.
In the chapters you are about to read is the message that can revive an
Advent Hope grown dim, or bring to new heights of expectation a hope held
high in Jesus and frequent communion with His word. May God Bless you
with His Spirit as you take this journey of hope through The Advent Hope for
Human Hopelessness.
-8-
A SPECIAL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Private patrons of Biblical research are few and far between. “Blessed”
is the scholar who finds a generous soul willing to support financially his or
her research endeavors. Such blessing came to me in the most unexpected way.
The telephone rang one evening in my motel room in Norwalk,
California, while I was preparing myself for the weekend presentations I was
to deliver at the local Seventh-day Adventist Church. At the other end of the
line was a most gracious lady whom I had never met before, Dr. Helen Lucille
Popoway, a retired medical doctor. After explaining the effort she had made
to reach me by phone, she told me how she learned about me by reading my
books and the reports about my seminar on the Recorder, the Pacific Union
SDA church paper. She went on explaining how impressed she felt to call me
to find out if she could contribute to a project of mine.
The offer came as a providential answer to my wish to complete the
research and writing of this book on the Blessed Hope of our soon-Coming
Savior. When I explained this project to Dr. Popoway and my desire to have
this study translated and published in Italian to benefit believers in my
homeland, she enthusiastically offered to contribute to this project, in
memory of her father, Pastor Max Popow, who lived, labored and died with
a faith in the Second Advent of Christ.
Words are inadequate to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Popoway for
her generous gift which is making possible the Italian translation and
publication of this book. Her desire to help worthy causes is not only
praiseworthy but also of great inspiration to me.
The life story of this lady is truly remarkable. She was born in 1922 in
Manchuria, China, of Russian parents. Her father, Pastor Max Popow, a
Russian-born Seventh-day Adventist minister, worked for 19 years among
the white Russian people who had settled in China just prior the 1917 Russian
Revolution. He directed the SDA mission work among the Russian people
in China until 1939 when he came to the USA, bringing his family with him.
-9-
A Special Acknowledgment 10
Under Pastor Popow’s leadership, the SDA work among Russian
people in China grew considerably. Two large church sanctuaries were built
and many smaller church groups of Russian Adventists were organized.
A Russian primary and high school were established, as well as a
ministerial training school and a Publishing house which printed litera-
ture in the Russian language.
Dr. Popoway attended a Russian Y.M.C.A. High School in China,
where she graduated in 1938, at the age of 16, with summa cum laude,
receiving a gold medal. When her family moved to the USA in 1939, she
enrolled at Pacific Union College for premedical studies. In the summer of
1943 she entered what is known today as Loma Linda University where she
graduated in the summer of 1946, when she was not quite 24 years of age.
Following graduation, she completed two years of rotating internship
(her choice), and later two years of anesthesiology residency at White
Memorial Medical Center. Subsequently, she worked for fourteen years in
the field of anesthesiology and for eleven years as a Medi-Cal consultant on
both the county and state level in California.
She retired in 1979 and is now residing in Orangevale, California, with
her husband, Joseph Holiak, who has served for many years as the first elder
of the Russian SDA church in San Francisco. They both enjoy country living,
cultivating their fruit trees and vegetable garden.
Over the years Dr. Popoway has contributed to several worthy causes.
Her generous gift to the realization of this book, The Advent Hope for Human
Hopelessness, is a tangible expression of her desire to honor the memory of
her father, Pastor Max Popow, who rests in the Lord, “awaiting our blessed
hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”
(Titus 2:13).