A Response to the Video:
Seventh-day Adventism, the Spirit Behind the Church

by Bob Pickle

Answers to Questions Raised by:
Mark Martin, Sydney Cleveland
Dale Ratzlaff, The White Lie
. . . and Others

Discern Fact from Fiction

Bible Versions and Footnotes

#79 & #80: "A blatant example of this type of alteration can be seen in Daniel chapter 8 verse 14 which in the King James Version simply reads, 'Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed.' However in the Adventist Clear Word Version: 'After two thousand, three hundred prophetic days (or two thousand, three hundred years), God will step in, proclaim the truth about Himself, and restore the ministry of the Sanctuary in heaven to its rightful place. This is when the judgment will begin, of which the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary was a type.' Daniel 8:14 The Clear Word Version."—Narrator.

#79: Look at all those "alterations" in Daniel 8:14! When one stops to examine Dr. Blanco's "alterations," it is hard to see what the problem really is.

First of all, Dr. Blanco says that the 2300 days are years. This used to be a popular interpretation among those of many faiths (see points 5-7 and 11 under #64). If most today think these views sound totally new, that is no fault of Dr. Blanco.

Second, the idea that the cleansing of the sanctuary is connected to the judgment is a very natural conclusion when one parallels Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 (see #65).

Third, the idea that the sanctuary is "restored" comes from the fact that the Hebrew word used for "cleanse" in Daniel 8:14 can be translated that way. There are essentially three different connotations this Hebrew word can have, and this is one of them.

Fourth, the idea about God proclaiming the truth about Himself is derived from Romans 3:4. In some sort of way, according to this text, God is on trial. During the judgment His character is being vindicated, and Satan's lies are being exposed. No, He isn't a vengeful tyrant. No, He isn't overindulgent. He has been loving, merciful, and just with every sinner.

Matthew 18:15 says, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone." Why? For one reason, if there is a misunderstanding, then it can be explained before the party feeling injured begins [p. 61] publicly making false statements. It would have been wise if the narrator had followed Jesus's instruction on this one, thus saving himself some embarrassment.

#80: It's the Adventist Clear Word Version. The makers of the video took it upon themselves to change the title of Dr. Blanco's paraphrase from The Clear Word to The Clear Word Version.

As the preface's first sentence said, "This is not a new translation but an interpretive paraphrase of the Scriptures." If it isn't a "new translation," it can't be a "version," for Webster's defines "version" as being "a translation from another language; esp: a translation of the Bible or a part of it."

To be sure, by calling Dr. Blanco's paraphrase The Clear Word Version, a better case against Seventh-day Adventists can be made, but such a title has no basis in fact.

Like this book? Save your printer and your ink! Buy the entire 160-page book for just $9.95 + S/H. Automatic discounts start at 5 copies. Quantity: