Chapter 73—April 7, 1851

James White: The Shut Door Does Not Exclude All Conversions, But Those Who Rejected the Millerite Message Will Not Be Converted. 

Bro. White: A few weeks ago I had my attention called to the Sabbath by reading a pamphlet, title, “Seventh-day Sabbath not abolished,” a review of Bro. Marsh’s article, and was surprised to find Bro. Marsh’s position so feebly supported by Scripture. Soon after this, I saw your pamphlet, called the “Present Truth,” which I carefully read, and after a prayerful investigation of the subject, I am convinced it is truth. Yes, a great and important truth. My prayer is, Lord show all thy children this important truth. I believe the Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days is in heaven. SDD 49.1

I am not ready to endorse your view of the shut door, but if it is truth I hope I shall see it. I would like to have you answer one question through your paper. Does the shut door exclude all conversions? I have received a few numbers of your paper, and I wish you to continue to send them. Brn. Holt and Edson have been preaching through this section of country, and a number have believed the truth. SDD 49.2

Yours waiting for Jesus. Marshall M. Truesdell. SDD 49.3

Conversion, in the strictest sense, signifies a change from sin to holiness. In this sense we readily answer that it does not “exclude all conversions,” but we believe that those who heard the “everlasting gospel” message and rejected it, or refused to hear it, are excluded by it. We have no message to such. They have no ears to hear us, unless we lower the standard of truth so low that there would be no salvation in it. But there are those who may be converted. SDD 49.4

1. Erring brethren. We believe there are many in the Laodicean church, who will yet be converted as the Apostle directs in his epistle to the waiting brethren. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the Sinner From the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”—James 5:19, 20. SDD 49.5

2. Children, who were not old enough to understandingly receive or reject the truth, when our Great High Priest closed his mediation in the Holy Place at the end of the 2300 days, are subjects of conversion from sin to holiness. Their names were borne in upon the breast-plate of judgment, and they are subjects of the mediation of Jesus. God’s ways are equal. He will give every intelligent being a chance to be saved. SDD 49.6

3. When Elijah thought that he was alone, God said to him, “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed to the image of Baal.” We believe that God has reserved to himself a multitude of precious souls, some even in the churches. These he will manifest in his own time. They were living up to what light they had when Jesus closed his mediation for the world, and when they hear the voice of the Shepherd in the message of the third angel they will gladly receive the whole truth. Such will be converted to the truth, and from their errors. But we think we have no message to such now, still “he that hath an ear to hear let him hear.” Our message is to the Laodiceans, yet some of these hidden souls are being manifested.—The Review and Herald, April 7, 1851, p. 64. SDD 49.7