Study 12: the Bible | tm91 ~ studies

The Bible

The Old and New Testament of the King James Bible with marginal notes by translators is the infallible word of God for English-speaking believers for the following reasons:

1) The Scripture testifies of itself. Consider the following quotes:

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {Proverbs 30:5}
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. {Luke 4:4}
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. {Psalms 12:6}
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. {Matthew 4:4}
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. {2 Timothy 3:16}

2) The Old and New testament of the King James Bible contains 66 books according to the pattern of the shewbread in the holy place of the sanctuary.

And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway. {Exodus 25:30}
And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD {Leviticus 24:5-6}
I am that bread of life. {John 6:48}
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {Revelation 19:13}

3) It must be in English for English speakers.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. {Revelation 14:6}
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. {Acts 2:6}
The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared: “Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God.” Mark 12:24. The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed. {Great Controversy 598.3}
- 'the language' - singular, not plural. For English speakers, retranslating words from Greek and Hebrew in contrary to what is plainly revealed in English is a distortion of God's word.
- Using other translations, languages to contradict, or confuse the plainly employed language of the bible is witchcraft. It is the same as rejection of the word of the Lord.
- For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. {1 Samuel 15:23}

4) The bible must be produced between the years 31 A.D. to October 22, 1844.

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.{Daniel 8:14}
Both the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,” and the first angel's message, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come,” pointed to Christ's ministration in the most holy place, to the investigative judgment, and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people and the destruction of the wicked. {GC 424.1}
Prior to October 22, 1844, Christ's ministration was in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary where the shewbread is located.
I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him...Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. {Early Writings 55.1}
I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children. {Early Writings 56.1}
After October 22, 1844, all those that did not follow Christ into the holy of holies received Satan's unholy influence. Thus, it unfits them to translate the word of God.

5) The Bible must be elevated to heavenly status between the year 1798 to 1844.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. {Revelation 11:11-12}
The three days and an half years where the two witnesses laid in the streets of France is between Nov 10, 1793 to the summer of 1797. After which the two witnesses (Old and New testament) are exalted to heavenly status.
The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. {Great Controversy 267.1}
The exaltation to heavenly status happens before Christ's ministry in the Most Holy place: "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." {Revelation 11:19}

CONCLUSION:

The Old and New Testament of the King James Bible with translator's marginal notes is the most widely circulated English bible during the years 1798-1844. It contains 66 books which is typified by the two stacks of shewbread in the holy place. It is the infallible word of God for English speakers.

My brethren, let the word of God stand just as it is. Let not human wisdom presume to lessen the force of one statement of the Scriptures. {Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Page 711.2}
There are many passages of Scripture which skeptical critics have declared to be uninspired, but which, in their tender adaptation to the needs of men, are God's own messages of comfort to His trusting children. {Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Page 748.1}
The truth of God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation. He is to regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him. Thus he will find the wisdom which is divine. {The Acts of the Apostles , Page 474.2}
Some have suggested that certain verses of the Bible are added due to human's attempt to corrupt the Bible. But this suggestion bears the same spirit as the serpent in the Garden of Eden insinuating doubt in the Word of God: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said". {Genesis 3:1}
Many English translations prior to the King James Version are either incomplete, or do not have 66 books or contained many errors. For example : "Wycliffe's Bible had been translated from the Latin text, which contained many errors" {The Great Controversy (1888 ed.), Page 245.1}
When modern translations contradicts the KJV of the Bible, or confuses the people, Ellen White then resorts back to the KJV Bible. Below is an example:
“‘There are many persons in the congregation who remember the words of the texts we might use as they are presented in the Authorized Version, and to read from the Revised Version would introduce perplexing questions in their minds as to why the wording of the text had been changed by the revisers and as to why it was being used by the speaker.’ “She did not advise me in a positive way not to use the A.R.V., but she intimated to me quite clearly that it would be better not to do so, as the use of the different wording brought perplexity to the older members of the congregation.”—White Estate DF 579; Ministry, April, 1947, pp. 17, 18.

UNDERSTANDING ELLEN WHITE QUOTATIONS:

1) Early Writings 220.2

I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the Word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way to life therein revealed.

"the Bible" referred to here is not the King James Version of the Bible with translator notes in the margin for the copies of it were NOT few.
"the Bible" here refers to the translations before the reformation took place. Consider the following quotes:
1. Before the Reformation there were at times but very few copies of the Bible in existence, but God had not suffered His word to be wholly destroyed. {The Great Controversy 79.1}
2. Wycliffe's Bible had been translated from the Latin text, which contained many errors. It had never been printed, and the cost of manuscript copies was so great that few but wealthy men or nobles could procure it {The Great Controversy (1888 ed.), Page 245.1}

2) Early Writings 74.2

Then I saw in relation to the “daily” (Daniel 8:12) that the word “sacrifice” was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the “daily”; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test.

"supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text" - In the King James Verson of the Bible, the word "sacrifice" is italicized, which means it was a word supplied by the translators and they want to make sure the readers know that it is not in the original text. It is not considered a word from God, but a word from the translators. In contrast, the word "daily" was not a supplied word but a word from the mouth of God.