The following dialogue is a transcript from a video clip by the John Ankerberg Show in 1985. This a controversial dialogue between the late cult expert, Dr. Walter Martin, and William Johnsson, a former Adventist Review editor. This portion clearly illustrates the real dilemma that exists with the Adventist doctrine of the 1844 investigative judgment. They teach that Christ's sacrifice on the cross provided only the forgiveness of sins, not the blotting-out or cleansing of sins. The blotting-out of sins will only take place after 1,183 years on October 22, 1844!
Here is the video clip:
Here is the transcript:
Martin: But your sins are still with you, according to Mrs. White. She said it; I didn’t. She said in 1844, “Our great high priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of his ministrations in behalf of man, to perform the work of Investigative Judgment.” So your sins have been forgiven you, says Mrs. White. But since 1844 they are remaining there and they have not been blotted out, and they’re not going to be blotted out until the conclusion of the Investigative Judgment, which means…
Ankerberg: Let me follow that up, Walter. The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, on that very topic, pointed back to The Great Controversy, where she said, “All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged out of those things which were written in the book. Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record but will stand witness against the sinner in the day of God. Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny.”
And also, she said that the only way that we have to overcome, not only do we have to be forgiven but we have to show God that we have overcome that which he has forgiven. So if I do not live perfect, if I have not overcome any of my sins, and she says even my thoughts of my mind, and my influence after I die, my name can be blotted out of the Book of Life.
Martin: But you haven’t quoted the complete passage in The Great Controversy, which is only fair. “All who have truly repented of sin and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven,…”
Ankerberg: “Have had”—past tense.
Martin: “…and they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ. Their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God. Their sins will be blotted out.”
Ankerberg: “Will be”—future.
Martin: Which means that right now your sins haven’t been blotted out, when the Bible says that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, keeps on cleansing us from all sin—1 John. Very clear. So, if your sins are still not blotted out, how do you explain 1 John 2?
Ankerberg: Romans 8:1—“There is no condemnation,” no judgment…
Martin: “…to those who are in Christ Jesus.” I mean, what are we going to do about Mrs. White?
Johnsson: “For those who are in Christ Jesus.” That is the critical point. Remember the parable that Jesus himself taught.
Martin: But are you in Christ?
Johnsson: I’m in Christ, yes.
Martin: Are your sins blotted out?
Johnsson: Jesus has taken care of my sins.
Martin: Are they blotted out? Come on!
Johnsson: My sins are forgiven.
Martin: Are they blotted out?
Johnsson: Let me finish my parable.
Martin: The defense rests.
— The End —
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