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Ellen G. White and Her Critics

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Preachers of an Open Door

On the same page of this issue of the Review, the editor comments on “the remarks of M.” in a first day Adventist paper, in which “M.” describes James White as “a prominent leader among those: of the Shut-Door [Note 1] and Seventh day Sabbath theory.” White replies as follows: EGWC 610.5

“Note 1. What does M. understand by the shut door theory? If he means what is ignorantly called the ‘door of mercy,’ we reply that we know of no such door. The Bible mentions no such door. The parable of the ten virgins [Matt. xxv] mentions a shut door, but that shut door was literal, in the eastern marriage. It however represents an important event with which the church is connected, that was to occur prior to our Lord’s return from the wedding. That event shuts out none of the honest children of God, neither those who have not wickedly rejected the light of truth, and the influence of the Holy Spirit. EGWC 611.1

“It is declared by some that Jesus is still on the mercy seat. And this expression is often used in preaching, praying and singing. But because we teach that Jesus now stands before the mercy seat in the most holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary, we are represented as being one of the leaders of the shut door theory. We say that Jesus is not on the mercy seat. He never was there, and never will be there. The place for the mercy seat is over the Ark of the covenant, within the second vail, in the holiest of all. Over the mercy seat is the cherubim of glory. They overshadow, or cover the mercy seat. No place for the priest on the mercy seat. EGWC 611.2

“We teach that Jesus our Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, has fulfilled the following texts: EGWC 611.3

“And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.’ Isaiah 22, 22. ‘And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth. I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ Revelation 3, 7, 8. EGWC 611.4

“This OPEN DOOR we teach, and invite those who have an ear to hear to come to it and find salvation through Jesus Christ. There is an exceeding glory in the view that Jesus has OPENED THE DOOR into the holiest of all, or has passed within the second vail, and now stands before the Ark containing the ten commandments. ‘And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.’ Revelation 11, 19. If it be said that we are of the OPEN DOOR and seventh day Sabbath theory, we shall not object; for this is our faith.”—February 17, 1852, pp. 94, 95. (Emphasis his.) EGWC 611.5

These “Sabbath and Shut Door people,” as our fathers were known, because of their advocacy of the Sabbath and of the certainty of the 1844 movement, now wish the world to know that they can be more accurately described as the Sabbath and Open Door people, because the Shut Door leads to an open door, the belief in the prophecy of the 2300 days leads to the most holy place in heaven above, the door of which Christ has opened. EGWC 611.6