Herbert E. Douglass
Encyclopedia
Herbert Edgar Douglass, Jr. (born 1927) is a Seventh-day Adventist
theologian. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts
as the oldest of five children (all sons) to Herbert Edgar Douglass Sr (1904–1983) and Mildred Jennie Munson (1908–1988). He earned his Doctorate
in Theology
at Pacific School of Religion
in 1964.
From 1954–1957 Douglass wrote commentaries for five books for, and served on the staff that edited, the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. From 1967–1970 he served as president of Atlantic Union College
; from 1970–1976 as associate editor of the Review and Herald magazine (now the Adventist Review); from 1979–1985 as associate Book Editor and vice-president for Editorial Development at the Pacific Press Publishing Association
; from 1985-1992 as president of Weimar Institute
, and from 1997–2001 as vice-president for Philanthopy at Adventist Heritage Ministry
. From 2003–2005 Douglass was a consultant for Amazing Facts
ministry. As of 2008, he has authored over 24 books and numerous articles. He currently resides in Lincoln, California
.
(LGT), a controversial theological position held by a segment of Seventh-day Adventists.
A key contribution by Douglass was his articulation of what came to be known as The Harvest Principle. Pointing to and , Douglass argued that God is waiting for a ripe harvest, and as soon as that harvest "is fully ripe", He will thrust in His sickle and reap the earth - the Second Coming
of Christ
will at last come to pass.
(GCT) as the conceptual key, the organizing principle that leads to an understanding of humanity’s greatest questions: How did life begin? Why good and evil, and how does one know the difference? What happens after death? Why suffering and death? The Great Controversy Theme provides the background for the development of evil – the story of Lucifer’s (Satan’s) rebellion against the government of God. The thrust of Satan’s argument is that God cannot be trusted, that His law is severe and unfair, and thus the Lawgiver is unfair, severe, and arbitrary.
For Douglass, the Great Controversy Theme ties together the plan of redemption, Bible truth, and the peril and triumph of Jesus’ entry into humanity and His death upon the cross. It holds together Christ’s death for us with the application of His power within us. It shows why God purposes to demonstrate through His end-time people the ultimate fruition of what His grace can do, and clarifies how Satan’s charges will be finally negated. At the end of time God has called a people to understand, live out, and present to the universe God’s love through our individual opportunities in the climax of the great controversy.
. It is a comprehensive treatment of how Ellen White's prophetic gift functioned in her life and ministry. The book does not contain any concepts of Douglass' Last Generation Theology. It is available to read online (see below).
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
theologian. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
as the oldest of five children (all sons) to Herbert Edgar Douglass Sr (1904–1983) and Mildred Jennie Munson (1908–1988). He earned his Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion is an ecumenical seminary located in Berkeley, California. It maintains covenantal relationships with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ, providing all necessary expectations for candidates to their ordained ministries....
in 1964.
From 1954–1957 Douglass wrote commentaries for five books for, and served on the staff that edited, the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary. From 1967–1970 he served as president of Atlantic Union College
Atlantic Union College
Atlantic Union College was a Seventh-day Adventist college in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. Its final year operating as an independent institution was the 2010-2011 school year following loss of accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
; from 1970–1976 as associate editor of the Review and Herald magazine (now the Adventist Review); from 1979–1985 as associate Book Editor and vice-president for Editorial Development at the Pacific Press Publishing Association
Pacific Press Publishing Association
The Pacific Press Publishing Association, or Pacific Press for short, is one of two major Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses in North America. It was founded in 1874 by James White in Oakland, California, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho. Its titles include theological works as well as...
; from 1985-1992 as president of Weimar Institute
Weimar Institute
Weimar Center of Health & Education, historically known as Weimar Institute, is a private educational facility in Weimar, California, which operates an unaccredited high school and college. It highlights traditional Seventh-day Adventist principles of health and education, especially as espoused by...
, and from 1997–2001 as vice-president for Philanthopy at Adventist Heritage Ministry
Adventist Heritage Ministry
Adventist Heritage Ministry began on May 8, 1981 as Adventist Historic Properties, Inc., by several Adventist laypeople to help preserve Seventh-day Adventist historic sites...
. From 2003–2005 Douglass was a consultant for Amazing Facts
Amazing Facts
Amazing Facts is an American Christian ministry. Beginning as a single radio program in 1966 it has expanded into television programming, training, health, prophecy seminars and online Bible study ministries. Its theology is largely that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.-History:Amazing Facts...
ministry. As of 2008, he has authored over 24 books and numerous articles. He currently resides in Lincoln, California
Lincoln, California
Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California, United States located in the metropolitan area of Sacramento. The population was 42,819 at the 2010 census, with a growth rate of 282.1 percent since 2000 , making it the fastest growing city in the U.S...
.
Last Generation Theology
Douglass was a key figure in the 1970s due to his advocacy of Last Generation TheologyLast Generation Theology
Last Generation Theology or "final generation" theology is a belief system of overcoming sin held by some conservative members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which claims that perfection will be achieved by some people in the last generation before the Second Coming of Jesus much like the...
(LGT), a controversial theological position held by a segment of Seventh-day Adventists.
A key contribution by Douglass was his articulation of what came to be known as The Harvest Principle. Pointing to and , Douglass argued that God is waiting for a ripe harvest, and as soon as that harvest "is fully ripe", He will thrust in His sickle and reap the earth - the Second Coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
will at last come to pass.
Great Controversy theme
Douglass promotes the Great Controversy themeGreat Controversy theme
In Seventh-day Adventist theology the Great Controversy theme refers to the cosmic battle between Jesus Christ and Satan, and also played out on earth. The concept is derived from many visions the author claimed to have received, scriptural references, and is delineated in the book The Great...
(GCT) as the conceptual key, the organizing principle that leads to an understanding of humanity’s greatest questions: How did life begin? Why good and evil, and how does one know the difference? What happens after death? Why suffering and death? The Great Controversy Theme provides the background for the development of evil – the story of Lucifer’s (Satan’s) rebellion against the government of God. The thrust of Satan’s argument is that God cannot be trusted, that His law is severe and unfair, and thus the Lawgiver is unfair, severe, and arbitrary.
For Douglass, the Great Controversy Theme ties together the plan of redemption, Bible truth, and the peril and triumph of Jesus’ entry into humanity and His death upon the cross. It holds together Christ’s death for us with the application of His power within us. It shows why God purposes to demonstrate through His end-time people the ultimate fruition of what His grace can do, and clarifies how Satan’s charges will be finally negated. At the end of time God has called a people to understand, live out, and present to the universe God’s love through our individual opportunities in the climax of the great controversy.
Messenger of the Lord
In 1998 Douglass published Messenger of the Lord: The Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White after being commissioned by the Ellen G. White EstateEllen G. White Estate
The Ellen G. White Estate, Incorporated, or simply the White Estate, is the official organization created by Ellen G. White to act as the custodian of her writings, which are of importance to the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
. It is a comprehensive treatment of how Ellen White's prophetic gift functioned in her life and ministry. The book does not contain any concepts of Douglass' Last Generation Theology. It is available to read online (see below).
Books published
- 1972 If I had one sermon to preach (editor)
- 1973 What Ellen White Has Meant to Me (editor)
- 1974 Why I Joined: Moving Stories of Changed Lives" (editor)
- 1975 Perfection: the Impossible Possibility ISBN 081270097X
- 1975 We Found This Faith (editor)
- 1976 Why Jesus Waits: How the Sanctuary Doctrine Explains the Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (revised edition in 1987)
- 1977 Jesus: the Benchmark of Humanity ISBN 081270133X (with Leo R. Van Dolson)
- 1978 Faith: saying Yes to God ISBN 0812701739
- 1979 The End: Unique Voices of Adventists about the Return of Jesus
- 1980 Parable of the Hurricane ISBN 0816303568
- 1982 How to Survive the 80s ISBN 0816304912 (with Lewis R. Walton)
- 1991 The Faith of Jesus ISBN 0945460120
- 1994 Rediscovering Joy ISBN 082800854X
- 1998 Messenger of the Lord: the Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White ISBN 0816316570
- 2000 How to Survive in the 21st Century ISBN 082801423X
- 2003 Should We Ever Say 'I am Saved'?: what it means to be assured of salvation ISBN 0816319677
- 2004 God at Risk: The Cost of Freedom in the Great Controversy Between God and Satan ISBN 9781580191722
- 2005 They Were There: Stories of Those who Witnessed Ellen White's Prophetic Gift—and believed ISBN 0816321175
- 2006 Truth Matters: An Analysis of the Purpose Driven Life Movement
- 2007 Dramatic Prophecies of Ellen White: World Events Divinely Foretold ISBN 9780816321926
- 2007 Love Makes a Way: Walking with Jesus from Eden to Eternity ISBN 9780816322312
- 2008 "The Jesus Difference"
- 2008 A Fork in the Road: Questions on Doctrine, The Historic Adventist Divide of 1957
See also
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
- Seventh-day Adventist theology
- Last Generation TheologyLast Generation TheologyLast Generation Theology or "final generation" theology is a belief system of overcoming sin held by some conservative members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which claims that perfection will be achieved by some people in the last generation before the Second Coming of Jesus much like the...
- Adventist Heritage MinistryAdventist Heritage MinistryAdventist Heritage Ministry began on May 8, 1981 as Adventist Historic Properties, Inc., by several Adventist laypeople to help preserve Seventh-day Adventist historic sites...
- Seventh-day Adventist eschatology
External links
- Official Website
- Messenger of the Lord: The Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White by Herbert E. Douglass; published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, 587 pp. This book is hosted at the Ellen G. White EstateEllen G. White EstateThe Ellen G. White Estate, Incorporated, or simply the White Estate, is the official organization created by Ellen G. White to act as the custodian of her writings, which are of importance to the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
website - A Kinder, Gentler Ellen White A review of Herbert Douglass, Messenger of the Lord (1998), By Alden ThompsonAlden ThompsonAlden Lloyd Thompson is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian theologian, author and popular speaker and seminar presenter. He is the professor of biblical studies at Walla Walla University in Washington, United States...
, SpectrumSpectrum (magazine)Spectrum is the official publication of Adventist Forums, published four times a year. It was established "to encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the...
27:1 (Winter 1999), 58–65 - LastGenerationTheology.org
- "The Christology of Herbert Douglass", chapter 5 in Reprinted with permission by Andrews UniversityAndrews UniversityAndrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
Press. Berrien SpringsBerrien Springs, MichiganBerrien Springs is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,862 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township. Berrien Springs is best known for its Seventh-day Adventist community and Andrews University...
, MIMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(February 1992)- Interview (Jan 2007) by Julius NamJulius NamJulius Juhyeok Nam is an associate professor of religion at Loma Linda University School of Religion in California, and a commissioned minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He teaches Adventist history and theology. He is active in the American Academy of Religion, Adventist Society for...
, assistant professor of religion at Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda UniversityLoma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies... - AmazingFacts.org
- Articles by Douglass as catalogued in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)
- Interview (Jan 2007) by Julius Nam