The Opening Heavensor A Connected View Of The Testimony Of The Prophets And Apostles

"The Opening Heavens or a Connected View of the Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles" by Joseph Bates. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

In presenting the following subject to the consideration of whom it may concern, I would here state that the two leading motives which have actuated and guided me through this absorbing subject has been--first, the truth of God to encourage and strengthen the true-believer. Second, to correct, or "rebuke" the spiritual views, (may I not say of almost all Christendom,) in respect to the appearing and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Twenty-one years observation and experience, but more especially the last seven, in pursuit of this object, has taught me that truth is the only thing that can save the soul. But the great mass of the professed Christian world seem to pay no more regard to it than their great Predecessor, who said unto the Saviour "what is truth?" when he had just said to him that he "came into the world to bear witness unto the truth, and every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice." Jesus in his last prayer for his disciples asks the Father to sanctify them through the truth. "Thy word is truth." St. John. Again, he saith. "The Spirit is truth." The forerunner of Christ said, "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Jesus says, "I am not come to destroy the law or the prophets; but to fulfil, for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled." Matthew. Then of course man is required to believe "and live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Third, thousands who have been looking for the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus from heaven in these last days, have in their disappointment about his coming, given up the only Scriptural view, and are now teaching that he has come in spirit and this is all we shall ever see of him here. One single passage from the Saviour's last words, when about to leave the world in the flesh, ought to have rectified any such mistake: "And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world," meaning of course, his spirit. But I submit the subject. Fairhaven, May 8, 1846. Joseph Bates.

This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of Seventhday Adventist interchurch relations – a 20-million member body whose ecumenical stance has so far been underresearched. For the sake of interpreting denominational involvement and reservations in Adventism as well as beyond, the study develops a new academic approach to ecumenism based on Relational Models Theory, a comprehensive social science paradigm of interpreting human relationships. The resulting typology of ecumenical interactions and the historical case study of Adventism suggest that such a relational interpretation of ecumenical interaction sheds light on many of the unresolved issues in ecumenics – such as divergent concepts of unity, difficulties in recognition processes, and the permanence of denominationalism.

Joseph Bates was an avid student of the stars. As a well-traveled sea captain, he had gazed at them from many remote places in the world. After becoming a Christian, Bates studied astronomy in conjunction with the Bible, eventually publishing "The Opening Heavens." In this tract, Bates reasoned that the biblical references to heaven being opened (John 1:51, Rev. 19:11) and to the New Jerusalem descending were referring to events that would occur in one location in the sky, the middle star of Orion's sword. Bates quoted astronomer Christiaan Huygens, who in 1656 had described the "opening in the sky through which a brighter region was visible." For Bates, the region beyond must be the "heaven of heavens" streaming forth God's glory. Bates had read astronomer James Ferguson's descriptions of "cloudy stars" and how the "most remarkable of all the cloudy stars" is in Orion's sword, containing an opening into deeper space. He was convinced Huygens' "opening" was the gateway to heaven. Later, Bates watched Ellen White in vision traveling to other planets and beyond. At this time, Bates was not sure that the visions of Mrs. White were from God, though he was sure she was a good and faithful Christian who believed what she told. But as he listened to her describe a "gap in the sky" of great beauty, framed by four stars appearing like gates with bright glory shining through, Bates became very excited. "She is giving a more wonderful description than any astronomer ever dreamed of," he exclaimed. Hearing Ellen's glorious description of the gap, Bates was convinced that her visions were from God. Ellen's vision of the opening was decisive in bringing Bates firmly into the Advent movement.

The author praises Gratian’s zeal for instruction in the Faith, and speaks lowly of his own merits. Taught of God Himself, the Emperor stands in no need of human instruction; yet this his devoutness prepares the way to victory. The task appointed to the author is difficult: in the accomplishment whereof he will be guided not so much by reason and argument as by authority, especially that of the Nicene Council.