Last Generation Theology
Last Generation Theology. This religious teaching asserts that God depends on the sinless perfection of the last generation of believers on earth to vindicate His character before the final restoration of all things.
The theology of the last generation is a particular end-time scenario held by some members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventists generally advocated several elements of that theology in the late nineteenth century, yet it was Milian Lauritz Andreasen (1876-1962) who placed them into the specific end-time scenario and offered a rationale that exceeded early Adventist views. Recent supporters of the last generation theology have adopted Andreasen's view, often with slight variations. They usually maintain Andreasen's end-time scenario, yet are not always fully aware of the rationale underlying that scenario.
Last generation theology builds on the concept that Satan accused God of requiring obedience to an unkeepable law, an accusation that could be refuted only by presenting at least one human being who offers perfect and sinless obedience to that law. According to Andreasen, the experiences of Job, Jesus, and other figures in history are exemplary but Satan disallowed their perfect obedience as evidence and their experiences therefore would not qualify as a refutation of his accusation. Satan accordingly asserted that Job's case was special and did not fall under the ordinary rules. Andreasen did not clarify why Jesus' obedience did not qualify to silence Satan's accusation, yet one could possibly argue that Jesus' perfect life did not prove the ability of humans to keep the law perfectly because He was not just human but also divine. Satan accordingly demanded unequivocal evidence that removes any doubt—a sinless, perfect life in which God did not interfere. Andreasen nevertheless stressed Jesus' sinless perfection as an example for every believer, and particularly to the last generation, that sinless obedience to the law is possible. Until the time of the end, the question is not fully answered as to whether God's law can be fully kept by humans. As long as God's people fail to produce sinless perfection in their lives, Christ's second coming is delayed. However, the last generation of believers will through their sinless obedience silence the accusation and defeat Satan. Their sinless perfection vindicates God and His law. Further, it puts an end to the transfer of sin to the heavenly sanctuary and, as a result, leaves Jesus no more work to do in the heavenly sanctuary. The sanctuary will be clean and Jesus' high priestly ministry is finished. In this sense, Andreasen perceived the sinless perfection of the saints as the third and last phase of the atonement, allowing Jesus to return to the earth. He reasoned that in the absence of such sinless perfection, Satan would still win and God still loose, despite what Jesus had done on the cross. Andreasen suggested that God will demonstrate the ability of the believers to keep His law perfectly by withdrawing the Holy Spirit from the earth, hiding Himself from His people, and leaving them to themselves in their fight against evil powers. That was necessary as Satan demanded an unequivocal case where God did not intervene. Recent supporters of the theology usually affirm, however, that the Holy Spirit is needed to reach and maintain a sinless and perfect character. The theology suggests that God and the destiny of the universe ultimately depend on the sinless obedience of the final generation of believers on earth.
Last generation theology as defined above presents, in some respects, a theological imbalance. The Bible is truly permeated with signs of a struggle between good and evil, which centers on God's law and His character. It also presents sanctification as a crucial aspect of the Christian life (1 Thess 4:3), yet it connects the end of the world to the proclamation of the gospel (Matt 24:14) rather than the status of the believers' sanctification. Reminiscent of God's character of unselfish love, the Ten Commandments are not merely concerned with rightdoing but they imply love to God and care for the wellbeing of other people (Exod 20:1-17; Deut 5:6-21). Perfection is equated with mercy (Matt 5:43-48; Luke 6:32-36) and expressed through creative unselfish love, forgiveness, and service (Eph 5:1-2; Col 3:14). Perfection that is concerned primarily as one's own avoidance of breaking the law and with compliance to the regulations of the law falls too short and is ultimately selfish (1 John 3:14-15, 18; 4:8, 20-21). Despite their spiritual performance, the believers are continually dependent on God and need His justifying and sanctifying grace (John 15:4; Phil 4:13; 1 Cor 15:10). As they need the Holy Spirit particularly before the end (Matt 25:1-13; cf. Ezek 36:25-27), He will be poured out on them in a special measure at that time (Joel 2:23, 28-29). Only Christ can keep them blameless until His second coming (2 Cor 9:8; Eph 3:14-21; 5:27; Phil 3:20-21; Jude 24-25).
Modern proponents of last generation theology usually maintain the necessity of the Holy Spirit's work in the experience of the saints, yet they retain the idea that their sinless, perfect obedience is the decisive step needed for the completion of the atonement and for Christ's return. Nevertheless, the Bible does not teach that God and the destiny of the universe depend on the believers' sinless perfection. The Bible certainly affirms the saints' victory and triumph over sin and Satan through communion with God and divine grace (1 Cor 15:57; 2 Cor 2:11; 1 John 2:1-2, 13-14; 5:18; Eph 6:11-18; Phil 4:13; Jas 4:7; Rev 12:11), yet their victory is not equated with the ultimate defeat over Satan, vindication of God, and completion of the atonement. Rather, Jesus' life and death are presented as the decisive action, central point, and foundation of the Christian faith (1 Cor 2:2; Gal 6:14-15). His death on the cross was the effective substitutionary sacrifice and atonement for all sins (Isa 53:3-6; John 1:29; Rom 3:24-26; 5:10; Col 2:14-15; 1 John 2:2; 4:10), and His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary "is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him" (Heb 7:25). Through His life and death, Jesus defeated the devil and his power (Rev 12:10; John 12:31-32; 16:11; Heb 2:14-17). Satan is judged already and he only awaits the execution of the divine verdict (John 16:11; Rom 16:20; Rev 12:12; 20:10). God's victory is safe and cannot be taken away from Him anymore (Rom 8:31-39). The destiny of the universe, the believers' assurance of salvation, and their spiritual walk therefore depend on what God has done and is doing.
References
Andreasen, M. L. The Sanctuary Service. Second edition. Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1947.
Evans, Paul M. "A Historical-Contextual Analysis of the Final-Generation Theology of M. L. Andreasen." Ph.D. dissertation, Andrews University, 2010.
LaRondelle, H. K. Perfection and Perfectionism: A Dogmatic-Ethical Study of Biblical Perfection and Phenomenal Perfectionism. Andrews University Monographs, Studies in Religion, vol. 3. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1971.
Moskala, Jiří and John C. Peckham, eds. God's Character and the Last Generation. Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 2018.
