Seventh Day Adventists

[wordsower]

We have had many Seventh day Adventists on the forum. They come in with their warnings about Sunday Laws and the Mark of the Beast and the true Sabbath, then they disappear when we respond with scripture.

I was raised Seventh day Adventist. The Lord delivered me from the cult in 2001 and called me out to sow the Word. He has used my testimony on several places on the web to reach many that are in the church and many have left.

The denomination appears very mainstream. They appear to just worship on a different day but the doctrines are of demons and the result is deception and error.

I will post some of the more dangerous doctrines and if anyone has questions, I'll try to keep up with them. I work Mon-Fri and don't have a lot of time during the week so bear with me.

1. Cleansing of the Sanctuary

The church was started with a group that believe Jesus would come in 1844. The day came and went and no Jesus so they decided that they had misunderstood and instead the cleansing of the sanctuary had actually started that day and judgement had begun on man-kind, for believers and non-believers. They believe that when the heavenly sanctuary is finished being cleansed there will be a close of probation and no one else will be able to repent of sins at that time. They believe that this is the day of Atonement, that it hasn't happened yet, Jesus' sacrifice was merely the inaugeration of the day of Atonement. This goes along with the Investigative judgement which is sort of a deeds-based judgement of the world. Adventists have no security of salvation and are told to never say they are saved.

2. False Prophet

SDA's claim to have a prophet from God. Her name was Ellen White, she has been dead for a long time, not sure of the date she died, but she wrote hundreds of books and it has been proven since that she plagerized (stole) most of the material from other authors. Still the church has not denounced her. She taught that the church should be vegetarian and at least not eat the unclean meats mentioned in Leviticus 11. She taught that anyone still eating meat at the end of the time would not be translated to heaven without dying first.

She also taught that the SDA church is the remnant, that they replaced the Jews, that they are the only true church of God, that they are not to wear jewelry, drink caffeine, eat vinegar etc. etc.....

3. Sunday Law

If you haven't seen the billboards that say Saturday is the Lord's day, Sunday is the Mark of the Beast, you're lucky, they are everywhere and the SDA church puts them up. They believe the Beast is the Pope and that he will mandate everyone in the world to go to church on Sunday or be killed.

This is a very limited list of the strange doctrines of the Adventist church. They are very much a cult, the members are afraid of being deceived so they are afraid to listen to truth. It is sad. It is not mainstream and it is very dangerous.

May the Lord bless you and keep you in all truth.

[Guest yod]

Thanks for starting this thread Wordsower.

I have a lot of questions for you but I can't remember them all at the moment.

Doesn't SDA have some teaching against wearing gold or rings?

When I was first saved, I had been an atheist for many years so I decided that I would visit all the denominations to see what the differences were. I went to an SDA church only once.

I got a sermon on how to talk in a monotone voice and wear dark colors when going out to "convert" people to the SDA. It was the most unbelievably uninspired church I visited during that time.

How is it that they say the Sabbath is an everlasting ordinance but the rest of the everlasting ordinances do not apply? The inconsistancy of that position just astounds me.

It seems to be completely a religion of works...the Galatians come to mind. In their zeal to condemn Catholics they have become worse than what they accuse Catholics of being.

[Russell]

Thanks for starting this thread Wordsower.

I have a lot of questions for you but I can't remember them all at the moment.

Doesn't SDA have some teaching against wearing gold or rings?

When I was first saved, I had been an atheist for many years so I decided that I would visit all the denominations to see what the differences were. I went to an SDA church only once.

I got a sermon on how to talk in a monotone voice and wear dark colors when going out to "convert" people to the SDA. It was the most unbelievably uninspired church I visited during that time.

How is it that they say the Sabbath is an everlasting ordinance but the rest of the everlasting ordinances do not apply? The inconsistancy of that position just astounds me.

It seems to be completely a religion of works...the Galatians come to mind.  In their zeal to condemn Catholics they have become worse than what they accuse Catholics of being.

Don't be too harsh on them yod. I would rather have an SDA or JW living in the street than a thief or murderer.

There are many honest SDA's ...some coming in ...some coming out...some just content.

Blessings

[Guest yod]

was that harsh? It was merely an observation.

It was an SDA who got this old atheist to look into the claims of the Bible and that is how I was born again. I have no problem with SDA people....and I have thought for the longest time that they were basically Baptists who went on Saturday until a couple of them started showing up here with some VERY strange doctrine.

There does seem to be extremists views in the SDA and then also the polar opposite of docile saints.

David Koresh was SDA and he spiritualized the Word so much that it gave him control over his followers. There was also a guy on radio here (The SDA has their own station) that just drove me nuts with the way he could make a verse say something completely opposite of what it says.

I've always wanted an SDA to talk to who could be intellectually honest and that's why I asked Wordsower to start this thread. I have no ill will towards any SDA but I do have some hard questions.

[wordsower]

Yod,

When my mother joined the church in 1973 they prohibited jewelry. They made her take hers off before baptizing her at a Revelation Seminar she was attending.

About 10 years after that they decided that plain wedding bands could be worn. Lately lots of members are wearing jewelry and they don't say much since they are losing so many members.

As far as the Sabbath being everlasting...they say that because it is one of the 10 commandments and they believe those are eternal. They say the rest of the ordinances are done away with but they prohibit eating unclean meats, so go figure? Ellen White said eveyone should be vegetarian, even to the point of eating no dairy products, but few do that and she said if they weren't vegetarian they wouldn't go to heaven without dying first. (what scripture did that come from?)

Russell, The bible warns repeatedly of false teachers, false prophets, false doctrines, wolves in sheep's clothing for a reason. We have to be very aware of sheep stealing wolves. Of course they appear good, otherwise they would fool no one. In fact, 1 Timothy 4:1-5 says the Spirit expressely says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Now, Ellen White said you would die if you ate meat. She also said that it would be best not to marry since it would just complicate your life in the tribulation. There are also many accounts of her eating pork, and she was married so she was a hypocrite. I can give you the books and pages of these outrageous statements if you like. I just want you to be able to discern evil from good. They may be "good" people, Buddist might be good people, doesn't mean they are telling you the truth. If you have time, check out www.truthorfables.com it has a lot of information on the deception of the SDA church.

Blessings and may the Spirit of truth guide you always

[Guest yod]

But isn't the SDA split into factions?

For instance, not all SDA think Ellen White is a prophet do they? I know the ones who "do" think she is are totally whack....but then there are those who see her as less than a prophet...right?

[RGR]

I find that interesting that Ellen White plagariazed much of her work. Some years back, as a teenager, I got involved with the Herbert W. Armstrong founded Worldwide Church of God. He claimed that his "inspiration" started with a SDA church and pastor. He eventually splintered off from the church, but not before going back to the pastor with his "revelations." What's funny, though, is that I was reading on a website as to how good ole Herbert plagariazed much of his writings from SDA material and I think it may have been the aforementioned Ellen White he copied!!!! What goes around comes around! :oww:

[Russell]

they prohibit eating unclean meats, so go figure?  Ellen White said eveyone should be vegetarian, even to the point of eating no dairy products, but few do that and she said if they weren't vegetarian they wouldn't go to heaven without dying first.  (what scripture did that come from?)

Russell,  The bible warns repeatedly of false teachers, false prophets, false doctrines, wolves in sheep's clothing for a reason.  We have to be very aware of sheep stealing wolves. Of course they appear good, otherwise they would fool no one.  In fact,  1 Timothy 4:1-5 says the Spirit expressely says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Now, Ellen White said you would die if you ate meat.  She also said that it would be best not to marry since it would just complicate your life in the tribulation.  There are also many accounts of her eating pork, and she was married so she was a hypocrite.  I can give you the books and pages of these outrageous statements if you like.  I just want you to be able to discern evil from good.  They may be "good" people, Buddist might be good people, doesn't mean they are telling you the truth.  If you have time, check out www.truthorfables.com it has a lot of information on the deception of the SDA church.

Blessings and may the Spirit of truth guide you always

Please give me book references in regard to Ellen White's quotes about no salvation if you're a meat eater.

In regard to her eating pork...do you have a reference?

Strange that i went to the SDA for 10 years but not once heard of these statements.

I found that the church has become very laodicean...lukewarm. I didn't agree with all their doctrines ...but found them quite sincere and received many blessings as a result of that fellowshipping.

I left this church because of a loss of confidence in their leadership...in regard to their policies in disciplining wayward members.

I see you haven't had such good fellowshipping.

I certainly wouldn't aline them with the catholic religion though!

[wordsower]

But isn't the SDA split into factions?

For instance, not all SDA think Ellen White is a prophet do they? I know the ones who "do" think she is are totally whack....but then there are those who see her as less than a prophet...right?

Yod,

The SDA conference is the governing force in that religion. They control everything. Ellen White is their prophet and they will not denounce her at the conference level. If they do, pretty much the denomination will have serious problems, they will have to admit they were wrong and her books are a tremendous source of revenue.

Several members are waking up, and realizing that Ellen White was indeed not a prophet and some are trying to "de-throne" her. This is usually the first thing they notice before studying into the other errors. Of almost everyone that writes me they first questioned Ellen White.

Ronald,

The WWCoG actually denounced many of their beliefs at the leader level and the denomination was miraculously transformed for the better. They lost millions but they followed God and I pray for the same in the SDA church. I have heard a lot of Herbert Armstrong. Some of his teachings caused SDA's to leave.

Russell,

I will get those quotes for you right away.

I wont say that I had bad fellowship. I have many friends to this day that are SDA. My immediate family is SDA. They are good people and have good morals, unfortunately many of them are relying on that to get them to heaven. They will tell you that you are saved by grace but then they will say if you love God you will keep the Sabbath and if you don't you don't love God. Double talk. Many are truly seeking God and those are coming out. God doesn't leave His people in deception. If we seek Him we will find Him. The members that are deceived are not my problem. It's the leaders that know and wont trust God to provide for them and leave. Some have said they have their retirement there etc..., they can't just walk away. Didn't Jesus tell us to sell everything that we have and follow Him?

I always knew things in my heart even as a little girl I knew things weren't right. I didn't know God but He knew me and kept me from being deceived, praise God.

[Nero's Fiddle]

God truly is amazing... I can't believe I am reading this at this particular time.

Earlier this week, I witnessed to a friend. I knew nothing about SDA, so it didn't mean very much when she told me that she attended a church of that denomination. She said the only difference was that they worship on Saturdays.

I was confused and discouraged by her reactions throughout. She told me she wasn't sure she would go to heaven if she died that moment because she could not remember everything she had done. She also told me she had been "saved" several times.

I thought she was simply subject to a misunderstanding or personal spiritual problem in spite of her childhood in church and church school! Never for one moment did I imagine that what I was telling her was NEW to her!

Praise God! Now that I understand better the root of her deception, I can show her the truth of the Word of God more efficiently!

I am tearing up, here. I will never cease to be amazed at the power, wisdom, and faithfulness of the True and Living God.

And, by His grace, I'll spend forever praising Him for it in His glorious presence! Amen.

Your sister in Him,

NF