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Seventh Day Adventism 1. Seventh Day Adventists - Are they Christian? 2. Errors of Seventh Day Adventism 3. The Bible & Ellen G. White 4. Facts Seventh Day Adventists Won`t Tell You at Their Seminars |
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SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS - ARE THEY CHRISTIAN?
Ellen G. White founded this religion, though she was a follower of one William Miller of New York, who propounded much of what Mrs. White later adopted for her religion. It is interesting to note that a 7th Day Adventist Physician, Dr. William Russel, wrote in 1869 that 'Mrs White's visions are the result of a diseased organization or condition of the brain or nervous system." While we should feel pity for Mrs. White, we must point out that her teachings were, and are, BLASPHEMY AND DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE VERY WORD OF GOD SAYS!
The standard work of Mrs. White is THE GREAT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN CHRIST AND SATAN which has been published many times. This is, perhaps THE most authoritative expose of Adventist teachings. One of Mrs. White's counselors and intimates, D.M. Canwright, wrote about Mrs White, "She often copies her subject matter without credit or sign of quotation from other authors. Indeed her last book, THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, which they laud so highly as her greatest work, is largely (mainly in the historic parts) a compilation of Andrews' HISTORY OF THE SABBATH; HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES, by Wylie; LIFE OF MILLER, by White; THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, by Smith, and other books." Additional denouncements were made, both by Adventists and other critics concerning plagerism by Mrs. White, yet the preface to the current published version still reads: "We believe she has been empowered by Divine illumination to speak of some past events, which have been brought to her knowledge with greater minuteness than is set forth in any existing records, and to read the future with more than human foresight."
Although there are MANY heresies within the Adventist church, we will deal with six of the areas that the Adventists feel are mandatory teachings:
(1) Seventh Day Adventism denies the Biblical Doctrine of the COMPLETE atoneing Sacrifice of Christ as THE ONLY means of man's salvation. This is the most serious of the heresies of the Adventist. We quote Mrs. White: "The ministration of the priest throughout the years in the first apartment of the sanctuary (which sanctuary Mrs. White places in heaven and not on earth.) ... Represents the work of ministration upon which Christ entered at His ascension ... For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record." -THE GREAT CONTROVERSY- We have yet to obtain an answer from the Adventist to the question, How are sins pardoned YET kept on the books?
(2) Seventh Day Adventism denies the FINALITY of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. They THUS claim Jesus to be a LIAR in His statement, "IT IS FINISHED!" Again, we quote Mrs. White: "As in typical service, there was work for atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ's work for redemption of men IS COMPLETED, there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2,300 days ended.
(NOTE: Mrs White taught that this was the year 1844!) At that time, as foretold by Daniel the Prophet, our high priest entered the most Holy to perform the LAST DIVISION of His solemn work to CLEANSE THE SANCTUARY ... in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ,
and TRANSFERRED, IN FACT, TO THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY ... so the actual cleansing of the heavenly (sanctuary) is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins that are there recorded. But, BEFORE this can be accomplished, there MUST BE AN EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His Atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a WORK OF INVESTIGATION - a work of judgement. Those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that, INSTEAD OF COMING TO THE EARTH at the termination of the 2,300 days in 1844 (as "prophet" William Miller had widely proclaimed), Christ entered in to the most holy place of the heavenly, to PERFORM the CLOSING WORK OF ATONEMENT preparatory to his coming."
-THE GREAT CONTROVERSY-
We feel it helpful to outline some history. William Miller prophesied that Christ would come (This is where the name 'ADVENTIST' - One who looks to the ADVENT) in 1844. We need not ask if this happened - it was a false prophesy! Look at what the Bible has to say about False Prophets. Mrs. White then stepped in with her "higher revelation" that Christ only went into the "heavenly sanctuary" and, as shown above, to "COMPLETE" the work that he started here on earth! This is what the Adventists refer to as "investigative judgement" -preparation for His Second coming.
We do not find a reference, in the BIBLE, for such an act of Christ nor do we find reference to a sanctuary in heaven. We cannot find reference to sin being in heaven as claimed above in Mrs. White's book! It would seem, from the writings, that THE SANCTUARY, in some manner actually becomes the sin bearer or mediator for believers!
(3) Adventism has declared SATAN to be JOINT SIN BEARER, and the vicarious substitute of the sinner! ONCE AGAIN, we quote Mrs. White: "It was seen also that while the sin-offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as the mediator, the SCAPEGOAT typified SATAN, the author of sin, upon WHOM THE SINS OF THE TRULY PENITENT WILL FINALLY BE PLACED. When the high priest by virtue of the blood of the sin-offering removed the sins from the sanctuary, he placed them upon the scapegoat. When Christ, BY VIRTUE OF HIS OWN BLOOD, REMOVES THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE FROM THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY AT THE CLOSE OF HIS MINISTRATION, HE WILL PLACE THEM ON SATAN, who in the execution of judgement must bear final penalty. The scapegoat was sent into a land not inhabited, never to come again into the congregation of Israel. So will SATAN be forever banished from the presence of God and His people and HE WILL BE BLOTTED FROM EXISTENCE IN THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF SIN AND THE SINNER."
-THE GREAT CONTROVERSY-
Here, we have total elimination of the most loving doctrine of the Bible - JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. And the belief that SATAN is substitute for the FINISHED WORK on Calvary by CHRIST, is more than heresy - it is final condemnation to the Lake of Fire as shown in Revelation.
Mrs. White alleged that she found this teaching in Leviticus 23 and the Book of Daniel. We have asked Adventists to show us this teaching ANYWHERE in the BIBLE - to date they have not. (3/15/82). Let us look at WHAT THE BIBLE DOES, IN FACT, SAY TO REFUTE THIS LIE BY MRS. WHITE.
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22) "The blood maketh atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11) "Redeemed by the precious blood of CHRIST" (I Peter 1:19) "Who His own self bare OUR SINS in HIS OWN BODY on the tree" (I Peter 2:24) "Made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20) "Made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13) "He that believeth on HIM is not condemned" (John 3:18) "There is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24) "The blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS (God's) SON cleanseth us from ALL SIN" (I John 1:7)
(4) Adventism believes Christ inherited a sinful, fallen nature. In the Adventist publication BIBLE READINGS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE, page 115 in the 1915 edition, we read: "In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature. If not, then He was not 'made like unto His brethren," was not 'in all points tempted like as we are," did not overcome as we have to overcome, and is not, therefore, the complete and perfect Saviour man needs and must have to be saved." This can be restated - Believe in what we say OR YOU HAVE NO SAVIOUR! Continuing: "The idea that Christ was born of an immaculate or sinless mother (Note - This is adopted ONLY by the ROMAN church - not evangelical believers!), inherited no tendencies to sin, and for this reason did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen world, and from the very place where help is needed. On His human side, Christ inherited just what every child OF ADAM inherits - a sinful nature. On the divine side, from His very conception He was begotten and born of the Spirit. And all this was done to place mankind on vantage- ground, and to demonstrate that IN THE SAME WAY everyone who is 'born of the Spirit' may gain victories over sin in his own sinful flesh. Thus each one is to overcome as CHRIST OVERCAME. (as in Revelation 3:21). Without this birth there can be no victory over temptation, and no salvation from sin, John 3:3-7"
We need to investigate the above teaching VERY CAREFULLY. In the BIBLE, we are told that we are partakers of God's Holiness (Hebrew 12:10); God and Christ ARE ONE as in John 10:30. Above, we are told that Christ partook "OUR SINFUL, FALLEN NATURE." The BIBLE tells us JESUS was "Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners". Adventists would like us to believe that one could be "holy and undefiled" yet have a "sinful, fallen nature!" If CHRIST INHERITED a sinful, fallen nature, then HE WAS SUCH FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE! This MAKES IT NECESSARY THAT CHRIST, HIMSELF, WOULD NEED A SAVIOR!
(5) The Final Heresy is the dogma of "SOUL SLEEP" based on the teaching, found in many of the Adventist pamphlets, etc: "upon the fundamental error of 'natural immortality' rest the doctrine of consciousness in death, a doctrine like eternal torment, opposed to the teaching of the Scriptures, to the dictates of reason and to our feelings of humanity. The theory of 'eternal punishment' is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abominations of Babylon...They received it from Rome, as they received the false Sabbath."
This teaching ignores Paul's statement "Absent from the Body, PRESENT WITH THE LORD" or "To be WITH CHRIST, which is FAR better." We, also, cannot find ANY explanation of the term "NATURAL IMMORTALITY" - especially when we see epitaphs in the newspaper EVERY day! God is not the God of confusion and, we feel these teachings are illogical, and contrary to the expressed Word of God.
(6) Adventists DEMAND believers to come back under the LAW and away from GRACE, in their demand that the SABBATH is to be followed WITHOUT QUESTION. Mrs White wrote of a vision, thusly: "I was taken into Heaven and shown the sanctuary and its appointments. Jesus raised the cover of the ark, and I beheld the tablets of stone on which the ten commandments were written. I was amazed as I saw the Fourth Commandment in the very center of the ten precepts, with a soft halo of light encircling it."
The Adventists claim that the Council of Laodicia in 364 A.D. changed the Sabbath to Sunday. Additionally, they claim that Christians are still under the Law of Moses and are bound to keep the "least of its precepts" - therefore keep the Sabbath. Let us review these issues in full:
The Sabbath was given as a "sign" and perpetual covenant between Jehovah and Israel, as shown in Exodus 31:12-18. The Ten Commandments, of which the law of the Sabbath is the fourth, were written by the finger of God on tablets of stone. These commandments are called the "ministrations of death" and the "ministration of condemnation," "written and engraven in stone" (Corinthians 3:7,9), which ministration, the HOLY SPIRIT tells us, is "done away" and
"abolished" (verses 11,13), and in its place we have the "ministrations of the Spirit" and "the ministration of righteousness" (verses 8,9). Thus we read "Let no man therefore judge you .. of a Sabbath day" (Colossians 2:16 - also Romans 14:5,6).
WE also read that the "handwriting of ordinances" was "blotted out" and "nailed" to Christ's cross (as of old, bills were nailed to the doorpost when paid), for Christ has FULFILLED the law on our behalf, met it EVERY claim.
Look also to Romans 6:14) where we are placed in a POSITION of FREEDOM from the Law, "Ye are not under the law, but under GRACE" (See also Romans 7:4,6 and Galatians 5:18). The ENTIRE book of Galatians is directed at this main issue. The rebuke is given by Paul to those who sought to bring the Gentile converts under the yoke of the law as given in ACTS 15. We feel it is still applicable to the Adventists: "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (Verse 10)
If the SABBATH was to be a MANDATORY precept to be followed OR LOSS OF SALVATION occurred, then WHY does the BIBLE not make this evident, especially in the discourse of the Council of Jerusalem in ACTS 15. Why did the APOSTLES, instead refer to those who were teaching this heresy as "those who troubled you with words and subverting your souls?" If this precept were mandatory, why is there not ONE single verse demanding compliance in the NEW TESTAMENT?
The sad part is that EVEN the ADVENTISTS do not follow the SABBATH laws as mandated in the OLD TESTAMENT. Look at Leviticus 23:32, where the Sabbath was to be kept from SUNSET to SUNSET, or Jeremiah 17:21, where it states that NO BURDEN could be carried within 24 hours, or Exodus 35:3, where no fire could be kindled and Exodus 16:23, where NO COOKING could be done. What THIS means is that EVERY ADVENTIST IS CONDEMNED BY THEIR OWN STANDARD.
We pray for the release from this bondage by Adventists. We ask that you check out this teaching, if you are Adventist or have Adventist friends or relatives. Show them the Love of God that provided Christ to pay for their sins. A Christ (Messiah) that by the BIBLE had to be PURE and without BLEMISH! Jesus Christ, the ONLY son of God, was AND IS that - "The Lamb of God that taketh away the sins OF THE WORLD" as John the Baptist recognized, even then. Jesus loved you enough to die in YOUR place. Jesus LOVES you, now to provide for TOTAL release from the yoke you now live under. Come to JESUS
Computers For Christ
Errors of Seventh-day Adventism
by Keith Piper
edited by Rolaant L. McKenzie
Many SDAs are trying to gain acceptance as part of the orthodox Bible based Christian community. However, the following points show them not to hold the "faith once delivered to the saints". Jude 3.
These false doctrines of Seventh-day Adventism warn people to not join up with SDAs, or to leave SDA if they are already involved.
1. THE SABBATH
SDAs insist that we must keep the Sabbath as a day of worship. This is wrong because:
a) The New Testament never commands Christians to worship or meet on the Saturday Sabbath. Instead, Christians are recorded as meeting on the first day of the week, Sunday, in the following Bible passages:
1. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 -- to put money in the collection.
2. Acts 20:7 -- Paul preached to Christians at Troas whose habit was to meet to break bread on the first day of the week.
3. John 20:19, 26 -- Jesus, after His resurrection met with the disciples on the first day of the week.
4. Romans 14:5-6 -- Paul, when discussing which day to meet, did not say that you must meet on the Saturday Sabbath, (as SDAs say), but he said "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
5. Colossians 2:16-17 -- "Let no man judge you in ... holy days or Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come."
SDAs judge Christians wrong who keep Sunday as a holyday. Paul says that SDAs are wrong to judge Christians for not keeping Saturday as a holy day.
b) SDAs claim that the Roman Catholic church after Constantine in 320 AD changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. This is completely false, because we have at least ten quotes from major church writers from 90 -- 300 AD who all say that the practice of Christians everywhere was to meet on Sunday, not the Jewish Saturday Sabbath. SDAs have no early quotes to show that early Christians met on Saturday.
2. SOUL SLEEP
SDAs deny that believers on death go to heaven. They say that believers go to soul sleep in the grave until Christ's return. JW's, Christadelphians and other false groups believe this error.
The main verses disproving the soul sleep error are:
1. Philippians 1:23 -- "I am in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better."
2. 2 Corinthians 5:8 -- "To be absent from the body (death), and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD." (in heaven)
3. Hebrews 12:1 -- "We are surrounded by so great a cloud of WITNESSES". (The departed believers discussed in Hebrews 11)
4. Hebrews 12:23-24 -- "The heavenly Jerusalem ... the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven and to the SPIRITS of just men made perfect".
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 -- "Them also which sleep in Jesus will God BRING WITH HIM". This means that when Christ returns to resurrect believers bodies at the second coming, He brings our spirits and souls with Him from heaven
6. Revelation 6:9-10 -- "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God ... they cried with a loud voice saying..."
7. Isaiah 14:9-10 -- "Hell from beneath ... stirs up the dead for thee. All they shall speak and say to thee."
8. Ezekiel 32:21 -- "The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell ..."
9. Ezekiel 32:30-31 -- "The Zidonians which are gone down with the slain ... Pharaoh shall see them and shall be comforted, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword."
10. Luke 16:19-31 -- the rich man and Lazarus who had died spoke to each other.
These 9 scriptures show soul sleep of SDAs to be false.
3. CHRIST
Mrs. White said: "Christ took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature. Christ took our nature and it's deteriorating condition." (Q.D. p.654-656).
According to White and SDAs, Christ acquired a sinful nature. This is false. Christ had a sinless human nature. Christ took our sin punishment, not our sin nature.
4. LOSS OF SALVATION
"Now while our Great High Priest is making atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ." (The Great Controversy, E.G.White, 1911, p. 623).
SDAs teach that though saved by grace, we are kept saved by keeping the Law. This is partial atonement. Therefore, to stay saved according to SDAs, we must continue to keep the Sabbath, the 10 Commandments and pay the tithe.
5. INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT
Investigative judgement means no assurance of salvation. According to SDAs, beginning on October 22, 1844, Christ entered upon the "judgement phase" of His ministry, whereby He blots out sin. The SDA "Investigative Judgement" doctrine rests on Ellen White's claimed revelation that Christ entered the Holy of Holies not at His ascension, but in 1844 (The Great Controversy, p.362-373).
Hebrews 9:12 contradicts White's theory: "by His own blood he entered (past tense) in once (not in 1844) into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.' Hebrews 9:12, 25.
"... now once in the end of the world hath (past) he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (v.26).
SDAs teach that Christ transferred the record of believers sins to the heavenly sanctuary, which will be finally cleansed at the conclusion of the Investigative Judgement, their day of atonement.
Mrs. White says in "Patriarchs and Prophets", p. 357, this heresy: "The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin. It would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement."
Hence SDAs sins are not cancelled or forgiven yet. What a worry. No wonder they have no assurance of salvation until the imaginary Investigative Judgement is finished.
Q: If Christ can create the universe in 6 days, why does he take from 1844 until now to investigate the books? Is Christ a slow reader?
These verses show the Investigative Judgement to be false:
"The Lord knoweth them that are His." (2 Timothy 2:19)
"I know my sheep." (John 10:14)
"cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
"he had by himself purged our sins." (Hebrews 1:3)
"yet now hath he reconciled ..." (Colossians 1:21)
"having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13)
Christ's judgements are AFTER he returns, not BEFORE He returns: "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory ... then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations." (Matthew 25:31-32)
Hebrews 4:13 exposes the SDA limitation on Christ's omniscience: "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
Since Jesus knows all cases already, why must He investigate?
6. SATAN AS THE SCAPEGOAT FOR OUR SINS
White says in TGC page 422: "When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon satan, who, in the execution of the judgement, must bear the final penalty."
Satan, according to SDA's, becomes the scapegoat of Leviticus 16. This lack of clear distinction between the forgiveness of sins at salvation, and the blotting out of sins at some time in the future, makes it impossible for anyone to know, even at death, whether he is saved or not.
SDAs are not allowed to experience assurance of salvation, because there would be no pressure for them to keep the Old Testament law and Sabbath as interpreted by Ellen White.
Having the sins of all men laid on satan, assigns to satan an indispensable role in the blotting out of sins. This nullifies the all-sufficiency of the finished work of Christ.
7. ANOTHER GOSPEL
The Investigative Judgement and Scapegoat theories are "another Gospel" that Paul warns us about in Galatians 1:8-9. Paul places a curse on those preaching a false gospel such as SDAs.
8. THE MARK OF THE BEAST
SDAs believe that Sunday keeping will be the mark of the Beast of Revelation 13:16-18.
White says in TGC, page 449: "But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshipping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome--'the mark of the beast.' And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive 'the mark of the beast.'"
This is not rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). This shows SDAs careless, deceitful handling of Scripture.
9. SDA'S ARE VERY CONFUSED ON PROPHECY SUBJECTS
SDAs think that God has finished with Israel. Romans 11:2 and 25 contradict this idea. To SDAs, much of Revelation had been fulfilled by 500 AD. They don't understand Daniel's 70 week prophecy. (Daniel 9:24-27)
Conclusion: Leave the SDA movement today.
The Bible and Ellen G. White
1) WAS THE PLAN OF SALVATION MADE BEFORE THE FALL, OR AFTER?
BIBLE: Before
Who hath saved us, and called us ... according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus *before the world began.* (2 Timothy 1:9)
EGW: After
The Kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of Man ... (GC 347)
2) WAS ADAM DECEIVED?
BIBLE: No
Adam was not deceived ... (1 Timothy 2:14)
EGW: Yes
... Adam also was deceived. (GC 352, 1885 ed.)
3) HOW MANY OF EACH KIND OF CLEAN BEAST WENT INTO THE ARK?
BIBLE: 14
Then the Lord said to Noah, "...Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate." (Genesis 7:1-2 RSV)
EGW: 7
[The unclean beasts came] two and two, male and female, and clean beasts by sevens. (3 SG 67)
4) WERE 14 OF EACH KIND OF BIRD TAKEN INTO THE ARK?
BIBLE: Yes
"... and seven pairs of the birds of the air also." (Genesis 7:3 RSV)
[No distinction between clean and unclean; seven pairs of each kind.]
EGW: No
[Birds of every description] came flying to the ark, two and two, male and female, and the clean birds by sevens. (3 SG 67)
5) WERE SOME KINDS OF ANIMALS NOT TAKEN INTO THE ARK?
BIBLE: No
And God said to Noah, "Of every living thing *of all flesh* you shall bring two of every sort into the ark." (Genesis 6:13, 19 RSV)
EGW: Yes
Every species of animals which God had created was preserved in the ark. The *confused species...were destroyed*. (3 SG 15)
6) DID EVERYTHING OUTSIDE THE ARK DIE?
BIBLE: Yes
And God said unto Noah, "... Every thing that is in the earth shall die." (Genesis 6:17)
EGW: No
God by His miraculous power *preserved a few of the different kinds of trees and shrubs.* (1 SG 77)
7) WAS NOAH ALLOWED TO EAT EVERY KIND OF MEAT?
BIBLE: Yes
And God said to them [Noah's family], "... Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you..." (Genesis 9:1, 3)
EGW: No
Now that every green thing had been destroyed, He allowed them [Noah's family], to eat *the flesh of the clean beasts ...* PP 107
8) WAS BABEL BUILT AFTER THE FLOOD?
BIBLE: Yes
These are the families of the sons of Noah ... *after the flood* ... And they said, Go to, let us build a city and a tower. (Genesis 10:32, 11:4)
EGW: No
This system was corrupted before the flood by those who separated themselves from the faithful followers of God, and engaged in the building of the tower of Babel. (3 SG 301)
9) DID PHARAOH'S MAGICIANS TURN RODS INTO SERPENTS?
BIBLE: Yes
Aaron cast down his rod... and it became a serpent ... The magicians of Egypt, did the same. Every man cast down his rod, and they became serpents. (Exodus 7:10-12 RSV)
EGW: No
The magicians ... did not really cause their rods to become serpents, but ... made them appear like serpents ... (3 SG 205-206)
10) DOES GOD APPROVE OF DRINKING?
BIBLE: Yes
And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth ... (Deuteronomy 14:26)
EGW: No
The Lord has given special directions in His word in reference to the use of wine and strong drink. He has forbidden their use, and enforced His prohibitions with strong warnings and threatenings. (Te 42)
[No such Bible passage exists.]
11) DOES OUR OBEDIENCE AND FAITH RECONCILE US TO GOD?
BIBLE: No
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:21-22)
EGW: Yes
"Man, who has defaced the image of God in his soul by a corrupt life, cannot, by mere human effort, effect a radical change in himself. He must accept the provisions of the gospel; he must be reconciled to God through obedience to His law and faith in Jesus Christ" (Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 294)
12) WAS THE MAN JESUS CHRIST ALSO TRULY GOD?
EGW: No
"The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty" (Letter 32, 1899, quoted in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1129).
BIBLE: Yes
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:7-8)
"Therefore God exalted Him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)
13) WILL OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS EARN ME GOD'S FAVOR?
BIBLE: No
All our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' (Galatians 3:11)
EGW: Yes
To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain (earn) His favor. (Testimonies, vol.4, p.28)
14) DID SAMSON DISOBEY GOD WHEN HE MARRIED A PHILISTINE?
BIBLE: No
"Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me. She's the right one for me.' (His parents did not know this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines.) ..." (Judges 14:3-4).
EGW: Yes
"A young woman dwelling in the Philistine town of Timnath engaged Samson's affections, and he determined to make her his wife ... The parents at last yielded to his wishes, and the marriage took place ... The time when he must execute his divine mission -- the time above all others when he should have been true to God -- Samson connected himself with the enemies of Israel. ... He was placing himself in a position where he could not fulfill the purpose to be accomplished by his life ... The wife, to obtain whom Samson had
transgressed the command of God, proved treacherous to her husband" (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 562, 563).
15) WERE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WRITTEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLES?
BIBLE: Yes
And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain with the two tables in his hands, tables that were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. (Exodus 32:15 RSV)
EGW: No
In the ark was... the tables of stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened them, and I saw the ten commandments. (EW 32)
16) DID THE ISRAELITES DIE OF GLUTTONY?
BIBLE: No
While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed ... the Lord smote the people with a very great plague ... (Numbers 11:33)
EGW: Yes
God granted their desire, giving them flesh, and leaving them to eat till their gluttony produced a plague. (CDF 148)
17) DID JESUS DIE TO GIVE US A SECOND PROBATION?
BIBLE: No
"I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
"How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3)
"Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).
NOTE: The Bible clearly teaches that there is no second chance for salvation. Everyone living before Christ was saved exactly the same way as everyone living after Christ -- during their lifetime everyone accepts either God's gift of salvation through Christ or is excluded from eternal life. Jesus death on the cross was not an afterthought, not a second probation and not a second chance.
EGW: Yes
"Death entered the world because of transgression. But Christ gave His life that man should have another trial. He did not die on the cross to abolish the law of God, but to secure for man a second probation" (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 134).
18) WAS THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN COMPLETED AT THE CR0SS?
BIBLE: Yes
"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30)
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood." (Romans 3:21-25)
"Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:9-11)
"Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:11 NIV)
EGW: No
"Instead of ... Daniel 8:14 referring to the purifying of the earth, it was now plain that it pointed to the closing work of our High Priest in heaven, the finishing of the atonement, and the preparing of the people to abide the day of His coming." (Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 58)
"Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly (sanctuary), at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation." (Early Writings, p. 253)
NOTE: The Bible totally rejects EGW's idea of the 2300 days and an investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary beginning in 1844. Notice how the Bible texts quoted above were all written less than thirty years after Jesus' resurrection, and all clearly state that Christians living then were already fully justified, redeemed, sanctified and reconciled to God through Christ's death on the cross. As cult-watchers, Martin and Barnhouse stated: "The (SDA sanctuary doctrine) is the most colossal, psychological, face-saving phenomenon in religious history! We personally do not believe that there is even a suspicion of a verse in Scripture to sustain such a peculiar position. And we further believe that any effort to establish it is stale, flat, and unprofitable."
19) DID SATAN TEMPT JESUS AT THE END, OR AT THE START, OF THE 40 DAYS?
BIBLE: End
And when He had fasted forty days and nights ... the tempter came to Him... (Matthew 4:2-3)
EGW: Start
As soon as Christ began His fast, Satan appeared. (Christ Our Saviour, p. 45)
20) ARE WE RECONCILED TO GOD BY OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW?
BIBLE: No
God hath reconciled us unto Himself by Jesus Christ ... (2 Corinthians 5:18)
We were reconciled to God by the death of His son ... (Romans 5:10)
EGW: Yes
He [man] must be reconciled to God through obedience to His law. (4T 294)
21) DID PAUL RECEIVE THE GOSPEL INDEPENDENTLY OF THE APOSTLES?
BIBLE: Yes
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of Me ... I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it ... I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me ... (Galatians 1:11-12, 16-17)
EGW: No
Paul must receive instruction in the Christian faith ... Christ sends him to the very disciples whom he had been so bitterly persecuting, to learn of them ... (3T 430)
22) DOES CHRIST'S BLOOD CANCEL SIN?
BIBLE: Yes
... He took away our sins through the blood of His Son. (Ephesians 1:6 LB)
Jesus suffered and died outside the city, where His blood washed our sins away. (Hebrews 13:12 LB)
EGW: No
The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel sin. ( PP 357)
23) CAN WE ATTAIN A SINLESS STATE?
BIBLE: No
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves ... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar. (1 John 1:8-10)
... there is no man which sinneth not. (2 Chronicles 8:36)
EGW: Yes
In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning. (ST 3-3-1898)
24) WERE OUR SINS BLOTTED OUT AT CALVARY?
BIBLE: Yes
For God was in Christ, restoring the world to Himself, no longer counting men's sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. (2 Corinthians 6:19 LB)
EGW: No
In 1844 began the work of blotting out sins. (Christ in His Sanctuary, p. 122)
25) IS CHRIST'S HEALING GIVEN FREELY TO ALL?
BIBLE: Yes
When the even was come, they brought Him many ... and [He] healed all ... (Matthew 8:16 RSV)
... multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. (Matthew 12:15 RSV)
EGW: No
Prayer for the sick: We should first find out if the sick one has been withholding tithes or has made trouble in the church. (UT quoted in HL 237)
26) IS IT A SIN FOR MARRIED COUPLES TO HAVE SEX?
BIBLE: No
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled ... (Hebrews 13:4)
EGW: Yes
Because you are married you think you commit no sin. (2T 473)
27) IS IT PROPER TO STAND FOR PRAYER?
BIBLE: Yes
And when ye stand praying ... (Mark 11:25)
EGW: No
Where have our brethren obtained the idea that they should stand upon their feet when praying to God? ... As I beheld him standing ... my soul was stirred within me to give him an open rebuke. Calling him by name, I said, "Get down upon your knees. This is the proper position always." (MS 84b)
[Elder D.E. Robinson, a secretary to Ellen White from 1902-1915, reported: "I have been present repeatedly at camp meetings and General Conference sessions in which Sister White has offered prayer with the congregation standing, and she herself standing." Letter, March 4, 1934]
28) IS THE SABBATH "THE SEAL OF GOD"?
BIBLE: No
You were marked in Him [the Holy Spirit] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
EGW: Yes
The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation. (Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 117)
The enemies of God's law, from the ministers down to the least among them, have a new conception of truth and duty. Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. (GC 640)
29) CAN MINISTERS EAT MEAT?
BIBLE: Yes
And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And [Jesus] said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover [lamb] with you ... (Luke 22:14-15)
EGW: No
Let not any of our ministers set an evil example in the eating of flesh meat. (CDF 399)
30) DID GOD PROVIDE FLESH AS FOOD FOR MAN?
B IBLE: Yes
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying ... These are the beasts which ye shall eat ... (Leviticus 11:1-2)
... thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee ... (Deuteronomy 12:15)
EGW: No
God did not provide for the flesh of dead animals to compose the diet of man. (CDF 410)
31) DOES A MEAT DIET MAKE A PERSON LESS SPIRITUAL?
BIBLE: No
Commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, [Jesus] took the seven loaves and the fish, and ... gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. (Matthew 15:35-37)
... [Jesus] said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them. (Luke 24:41-43)
EGW: Yes
The more largely flesh composes the diet of teachers and pupils, the less susceptible will be the mind to comprehend spiritual things. (CDF 395)
32) ARE EGGS GOOD TO EAT?
BIBLE: Yes
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?...Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father .... (Luke 11:11-13)
EGW: No
Eggs should not be placed upon your table. They are an injury to your children. (2T 400)
33) IS CHEESE GOOD TO EAT?
BIBLE: Yes
Now Jesse said to his son David, "... Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. (1 Samuel 17:17-18 NIV)
They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. (2 Samuel 17:28-29)
EGW: No
Cheese is wholly unfit for food. (CDF 368)
34) IS BUTTER GOOD TO EAT?
BIBLE: Yes
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat ... (Isaiah 7:14-15)
EGW: No
... spices, butter, cheese...do their work of deranging the stomach ... and enfeebling the intellect. (3T 136)
35) IS IT A SIN TO TAKE THE LIVES OF ANIMALS TO EAT THEIR FLESH?
BIBLE: No
He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." [Jesus ordered the disciples to kill these fish] ... And when they had done this they enclosed a great shoal of fish...and filled both the boats. (Luke 5:4-7 RSV)
EGW: Yes
What man with a human heart...could look into their eyes ... and willingly devour their flesh? (MH 316)
... the selfishness of taking the lives of animals... (UT, Aug 30, 1896)
36) ARE WE NOT TO TASTE OR TOUCH CERTAIN FOODS?
BIBLE: No
Since you died with Christ and this has set you free from following the world's ideas of how to be saved -- by doing good and obeying various rules -- why do you keep right on following them anyway, still bound by such rules as not eating, tasting, or even touching certain foods? Such rules are mere human teachings, for food was made to be eaten and used up. These rules may seem good, for rules of this kind require strong devotion and are humiliating and hard on the body, but they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires.* They only make him proud. (Colossians 2:20-21 LB)
EGW: Yes
The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals. (CDF 380)
[* Dozens of EGW statements assert that abstaining from meat (particularly ham) has an enormous effect in purifying one's thoughts and desires.]
37) CAN MEAT EATERS ENJOY THE COMPANY OF ANGELS?
BIBLE: Yes
... [Jesus] said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them... And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:41-43, 50-51)
EGW: No
How can those who are seeking to become pure and holy that they may have the companionship of heavenly angels ... take the life of God's creatures that they may consume the flesh? (CDF 380)
38) WILL GOD COMMAND US TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT IN THE LATTER DAYS?
BIBLE: No
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith ... commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. (1 Timothy 4:1-4)
EGW: Yes
Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away. (CDF 380)
39) WILL WE KNOW WHEN JESUS WILL COME?
BIBLE: No
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only ... Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matthew 24:36, 42)
EGW: Yes
As God has shown me in holy vision...we heard the voice of God ... which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. (WLF 14)
40) CAN WE SAY WE ARE SAVED RIGHT NOW BY CHRIST'S GRACE?
BIBLE: Yes
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
EGW: No
Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved ... Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say, I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves. (COL 155)
Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won`t Tell You at Their Seminars
�SDA�s won�t always tell you that it is the SDA church that is sponsoring the seminars.
�SDA�s consider themselves to be the only true, remnant church. All others will be condemned in time.
�SDA�s will make your salvation dependent on observing the Saturday Sabbath, worshiping with them.
�If you receive Christ as your Savior through SDA�s, only your past sins are forgiven by grace up to that point.
�As an SDA you now enter a period of �investigative judgment� where every deed you do or don�t do is recorded for judgment day.
�As an SDA you will be judged even for �idle moments� where you could have been more obedient.
�As an SDA you will be encouraged to become a vegetarian.
�SDA�s will gloss over the scripture that says �...he who is weak in faith eats vegetables only...� (Romans 14:2).
�SDA�s will expect you to revere their founding prophetess, Ellen G. White, viewing her as having the �spirit of prophecy� referred to in the Bible book of Revelation.
�In spite of revering Ellen G. White, SDA�s won�t ordain women.
�SDA�s won�t tell you that EGW is a proven false prophetess. Her embarrassing early writings have been altered to cover this up.
�SDA�s won�t tell you that they once denied the Trinity. Left over from that time period is the heresy that Jesus Christ is Michael.
�SDA�s have attempted to incorporate this false doctrine of Jesus being Michael by manipulation of scriptures, so EGW can be correct in their eyes when she says Michael is an OT name for Jesus. Shades of Jehovah�s Witnesses!
�SDA�s won�t tell you that an early Adventist (Nelson H. Barbour) co-published with the founder of the Jehovah�s Witnesses. Both proved to be false prophets. False date-setting caused them to part company.
�SDA�s won�t tell you that early Adventists expected the literal second coming of Christ in 1843 and 1844 only to be disappointed.
�SDA�s won�t tell you that their 1844 �investigative judgment� teaching was born out of an attempt to cover over this false prophecy. Instead of repenting over this false date, the claim was made that Christ really came, but INVISIBLY in heaven.
�Their founder, Ellen G. White, prior to the failed prophecy, taught that the door to salvation was shut. This had to be reinterpreted and altered after the failure of 1844.
�A former SDA pastor, Walter Rea, examining the prolific writings of EGW, found that she had plagiarized most of what she had written, including drawings of her �visions� from other authors.
�The SDA Church has yet to reply to his challenge to prove that even 20% of her writings are original.
�The explanation of the SDA Church for her plagiarism, that there were no copyright laws back then does not excuse her �borrowing�.
�The SDA Church made this statement in their �Ministry� magazine of Oct. 1981 and has never retracted it.
�We believe the revelation and inspiration of both the Bible and Ellen White�s writings to be of equal quality. The superintendence of the Holy Spirit was just as careful and thorough in one case as in the other�.
�One former SDA Pastor reported that he was given a choice between the Bible or the writings of EGW. When he chose the Bible, he was excommunicated from the SDA church.
�Ellen G. White�s main emphasis was on diet. She taught �...if we subsist largely upon the flesh of dead animals, we shall partake of their nature�. (Counsels on Diet & Foods. p. 390 in some editions).
�SDA�s will gloss over the fact that the Apostle Paul had a different view stating, �Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience� sake�. (1 Cor. 10:25)
�Most of Ellen G. White�s concerns over diet were in an effort to control what she considered to be an excessive sex drive in the male.
�She devoted endless pages to discussing �secret vice� (masturbation) and blamed the practice for a wide range of diseases.
�Dr. Kellogg and his brother were influenced by EGW to create their famous cold cereal, not considered to be stimulating.
�Ellen G. White consulted a phrenologist to have the bumps on her head read. This was just another one of her strange �health� views.
�The SDA�s continue to cling to views similar to the Jehovah�s Witnesses, such as �soul sleep� and denying the reality of Hell. Jesus, however, taught more about hellfire than He taught about heaven.
�SDA's won't tell you that their new "Clear Word Bible" is really the teachings of Ellen G. White inserted right into the Bible text, so her heresies appear to be the word of God to the unwary.
�SDA's won't tell you that you will be required to lead a life of incredible legalism, attempting to keep the Old Law Covenant with all its restrictions.
�SDA's won't tell you that they need to rely heavily on the Old Testament since the New Testament teaches the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus Christ. We are now under grace, not the Law.
�SDA's teach that Christ did not completely atone for our sins on the cross of Calvary, in spite of the fact that He cried out "It is finished!". ( John 19:30 ).
�SDA's teach that we will have to stand in the presence of the living God for judgment without a mediator. (The Great Controversy).
�SDA's gloss over 1 John 21, which states "...And if any man sin, we have an advocate (mediator) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
�To try to make their false prophecies on the 2300 days in Daniel work, SDA's misinterpret the Hebrew words "ereb boqer", for "days" into "years". However. these words literally mean "evenings-mornings". Obviously 2300 actual solar days of 24 hours each, not years as SDA's claim. This spoils 1844 and the �investigative judgment� theories.
IN CONCLUSION
SDA's often make every effort to appear "evangelical", joining in with inter-ministry groups and trying to "blend in" with the Christian community.
However, make no mistake about it, they believe they are exclusively correct because they recognize and follow Ellen G. White. Among themselves, they mock the Christian's beliefs, calling our concept of salvation, "cheap grace". They privately consider themselves to be spiritually superior to the rest of us.
All these facts can be documented.
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