Introduction to Advent Bible Study

One of the comments I often hear about Seventh-day Adventists is that they know their Bibles. But how well do we know the Bible? I was told the following story by a very close and dear friend who saved my life. You see, he is the one that taught me how to study the Bible. 

I felt a deep need to study the Bible. I went from pastor to pastor asking if they could show me how to study the Bible? Sadly none of them could show me how to study. The only thing any of them could do is share a set of printed Bible studies. This was not enough to satisfy the fire I had inside of me. I searched book after book on Bible study. None of them offered any type of help. The desire of my life was not being fulfilled.

Eventually my friend began to notice a pattern emerging from the writings of Ellen White. I have also discovered these patterns. One of the details that sets Ellen White’s writing apart is her use of metaphors. She uses a lot of them and there is a reason for that. Like many others I believe God wanted to guarantee this information would not be forgotten. Ellen White preserved these metaphors within her books for generations to come. God knew that as distractions increased, the Bible would be laid aside. Ellen White’s books do not take the place of the Bible nor add to the Bible but help to teach us how to gain a deeper understanding of it’s parables and prophesies.

Ellen White explained many of these metaphors such as, “The parable of the unfruitful tree represented God’s dealings with the Jewish nation.” (CG 27) and “The foul leaven of idolatry, thus brought into the church, continued its baleful work.” (GC 43)

Unfruitful tree = Jewish nation

leaven = idolatry

The more you read Ellen White the more you will notice these patterns emerge. At times she will include the Bible text where these metaphors are found.

It was Christ that had brought Israel as a goodly vine out of Egypt. Psalm 80:8. His own hand had cast out the heathen before it. (GC 19)

They had been seeking the knowledge of God more than all hid treasures, counting it “better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” Proverbs 3:14. And the Lord revealed to them the great things of the kingdom. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.” Psalm 25:14. (GC 312)

Vine = Israel

Hidden treasure, gold , silver = Knowledge of God

How can these metaphors be used? These metaphors can be used to explain verses in the Bible that may be difficult to understand. Following is an example of a word study.

KJV Ezekiel 17:24

24. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.

What is God talking about here? Is there a reason God is referring to trees? What do these trees represent? To find the answer you need to look up other verses in the Bible that use the word tree.

KJV Isaiah 61:3

3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

KJV Psalms 37:35

35. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

KJV Psalms 52:8

8. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

The Bible tells us a tree is used as a metaphor for people. Now that we have learned that a tree can represent a person we can rewrite the text to see if it agrees with the context and teachings of the Bible.

And all the people (trees) of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high people (tree), have exalted the low people (tree), have dried up the green people (tree), and have made the dry people (tree) to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.

There are other examples and detailed steps on how to use this method of study on the Seven Steps to Doing Your Own Bible Studies link.

This is the same type of Bible study uses and taught by William Miller. More information can be found under the link William Miller.

In her writings Ellen White quotes William Miller’s Rules of Interpretation.

Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:– {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 23}

“1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible.” {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 24}

The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth. {RH, November 25, 1884 par. 25}

The early Adventists used word studies to prove doctrine and establish fundamental beliefs. Other evidence is covered in other sections of this site including examples from books written by early Adventists. Word studies are indeed the lost jewels in William Miller’s dream.

This site is dedicated to collecting and providing evidence of the use of word studies by early Adventist. More importantly this site has been established to teach you how to use this method of study to enhance your relationship with God.

KJV John 21:25

25. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

KJV 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

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