The Lord instructed His servant to meet the crisis. “About the time that Living Temple was published, there passed before me in the night season, representations indicating that some danger was approaching, and that I must prepare for it by writing out the things God had revealed to me regarding the foundation principles of our faith.”2

The representation given was of a ship sailing across the ocean. An urgent call from the lookout told that an iceberg had been sighted, and the captain ordered, “Meet it!” It was at this time that Sister White wrote out the history of the early days of the work, more clearly than she had ever written it before. She emphasized the foundation truths that distinguish the believers in the third angel’s message.

“As a people, we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has not lessened their value.”3

“We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. . . . Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?”4

Many people have been confused on just what is meant by this statement. What are the truths that the Lord had been giving “for the last fifty years?”

The formative years of Seventh-day Adventism are fascinating history. After the Great Disappointment in October, 1844, about half of the Advent believers gave up their faith altogether. The rest remained and began setting new dates for the coming of Christ. They claimed that they were mistaken in concluding that October 22, 1844, was the termination of the prophecy of the 2300 days.

Only a handful of Adventists did not deny God’s hand in the time proclamation. Instead of reapplying the 2300-day prophecy, they began searching to understand why they had been disappointed. Out of this process of searching, with the guidance of the Spirit of God, emerged the little company who would later take the name, “Seventh-day Adventists.”

Sister White wrote about the time spent together: “We searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power.”5

What many do not realize is Ellen White’s role in this process. She records that when at times “they came to the point in their study where they said, ‘We can do nothing more,’ the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively.”6

How could the brethren be sure that young Ellen was not just giving her own opinion on the things they were studying? She continues: “During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God. The brethren knew that when not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from heaven the revelations given.”7

Sister White’s mind continued to be “locked” from 1844 to 1846,8 until all main points of faith had been established. This unique process of study (by the brethren) and revelation (through the prophetess) was never afterward repeated. It was important to start off the little company in the right direction, with a “line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God.”9

What was the result of this special time of searching? “Truth was made to shine forth, beautiful in its simplicity, dignified with a power and invested with an assurance unknown before the disappointment. We could then proclaim the message in unity.”10

And proclaim it they did. All along the way, they were guided by those truths - doctrines “which we have held sacred since the third angel’s message was first given.”11

It is important to note here that the foundation of our movement was essentially laid at that time, “by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation.”12 Since that time, no part of the foundation has been proven false. Further, no other foundational points were added. This is what Sister White wrote about in 1904: “Upon this foundation we have been building for the past fifty years.”13 “I desire everyone to know that I stand on the same platform of truth that we have maintained for more than half a century.”14

We cannot argue new things into the foundation. Everything that we hold as truth today only builds on what was established way back in those first years. This platform of truth makes us who we are.

“That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. [The] pillars of truth were revealed, and we accepted the foundation principles that have made us what we are - Seventh-day Adventists, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus.”15

If this platform of truth is so important to us, we need to understand just what teachings it includes. You may recall reading of it as described in the book Early Writings. “I was shown three steps - the first, second, and third angels’ messages. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.’ I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step, until He had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform.”16

In 1888, some who opposed the presentation of Christ’s righteousness said that this message did away with “old landmarks.” The servant of the Lord clarifed: “In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. . . . The minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the ‘old landmarks’ when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks.”17

What were the old landmarks? “The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’ messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks.”18

These were the fundamental points that came established by study and which were confirmed through the Spirit of Prophecy in the early days, as we have seen. In fact, the statement is so clear that we can easily make a list - “nothing more” than:

• The temple of God in heaven.

• The ark of God containing the law.

• The cleansing of the sanctuary.

• The three angels’ messages.

• The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

• The Sabbath.

• The nonimmortality of the soul.

When something has been proven as truth, what are we to do with it? “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

What shall we do with the old landmarks? “No line of truth that has made the Seventh-day Adventist people what they are is to be weakened. We have the old landmarks of truth, experience, and duty, and we are to stand firmly in defense of our principles, in full view of the world.”19

Today the landmarks are still being challenged. Do you know what they are? Are you sure of your faith? May God help us to know and clearly teach the present truth, the gospel message that the world needs to hear.