< CHRISTIAN' ANSWERS

 

 

				preached by William Miller.2 Many shepherds of the flock, who professed to love Jesus, said that they had no opposition to the preaching of Christ's coming,' but' they' objected' to' the' definite' time.3 Ministers who would not accept this saving message [note that in context, this "saving message" refers to the acceptance of' a' "definite' time"] themselves' hindered' those who would have received it.' The blood of souls is upon them. Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from heaven and to persecute William Miller and those who united with him in the work.4 October 22, 1844, is a pivotal date in Adventism. It is known as "the great disappointment" because Christ' did not' return'' as' predicted.' However,' rather' than' admit error, Adventists' reinterpreted' the' failed' prophecy' of Miller5 and taught that instead of coming to earth on that date as they had predicted, Christ entered for the first time into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.6 They understood this to mean that the door to the first apartment, where Adventists' said forgiveness was offered,' was now shut. Thus Adventists taught that the "door of mercy" was shut for all' the churches which rejected this new "truth "and for the whole "wicked world whom God had rejected". I saw that the nominal churches [those who had rejected the 1844 sanctuary message], as the Jews crucified Jesus, had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the move made in heaven, or of the way into the Most Holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left,' and Satan, pleased with the deception of' the professed followers of Christ, fastens them in his snare, and assumes religious' character,' and' leads' the' minds' of' these' professed Christians to himself, and works with his power, his signs and lying wonders.7 As the years went by, however, in order to get their own children who were born after 1844 into the "shut door" of salvation, they had to re-interpret their re-interpretation of their revised prophecy of the failed prophecy. In order to pry open the "shut door of mercy" they revised their definition of "door"8 and the timing of when it was shut without ever renouncing their early errors.9 To keep the' early' errors' upon which Adventism was founded "out of sight" they used several types of deception. For example,' they have suppressed one of Ellen White's visions because it clearly teaches a shut door of salvation after 1844.10 Her first vision is printed in the book,' Early Writings. What many Adventists do not know is that part of this vision has been deleted even though the preface says, No change has' been' made in' any idea' or' sentiment' of' the original work, and the verbal changes have been made under the au		thor's own eye, and with her full approval.11There were some Adventists12 who still had her original vision as' published in' A Word to' the' Little' Flock which included the "shut door" statements. These people accused the church leaders of suppression. Adventist' leader Elder G.I. Butler said such charges were "lying insinuations".13Here is a portion of Ellen White's first vision as printed in' A Word' to' the' Little' Flock. I' have' bolded the' words which were left' out' of this' vision as published in' Early Writings.Others rashly denied the light behind them, [their Millerite experience] and said that it was not God that had led them out so far.' The light behind them went out leaving their feet' in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below.' It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters,' which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. When honest Adventist leaders learned of some of these errors and left the church, they were usually castigated and given over to Satan.14W.W. Prescott, an early, respected leader in Adventism, in his later years wrote: It seems to me that we are betraying our trust and' deceiving the ministers' and the people.' It' appears' to me that' there' is much more anxiety to prevent a possible shock than to correct error.15 Prescott also wrote the following in a letter addressed to Ellen White's son, Willie White. It seems to me that a large responsibly rests upon those of us who know that there are' serious errors in our authorized books [books written' by Ellen' G.' White]' and yet' make no special' effort' to' correct' them.' The' people' and' our' average ministers trust us to furnish them with reliable statements, and they use our books as sufficient authority in their sermons, but we let them go on year after year asserting things which we know to be untrue. I cannot feel this is right...the way your mother's writings have been handled and the false impression concerning them which is still fostered among the people have brought great perplexity and trial to me.' It seems to me that what' amounts' to' deception...has' been' practiced' in' making some of' her books and no serious effort' has been made to disabuse the minds of the people of what was known to be their wrong view concerning her writings. But it is no use to go into these matters, I have talked with you for years about them, but it brings no change.16' Elder' J.' N.' Loughborough,' in' his' book,' The' Great Second' Adventist' Movement, endeavoring' to' support' the ministry of Ellen White, quoted Elder Joseph Bates' early endorsement of her writings. I believe the work [of Mrs. White] is of God, and is given to' comfort' and' strengthen'
		of truth" over the witness of Scripture, something no Christian, at least no Protestant Christian, would ever do! Today,' Adventist' leadership' realizes' that' the' church needs the writings of Ellen White more than ever. About 300,000' Adventists' are' leaving' the' SDA church' every year.23 In what appears to be a desperate attempt to stop the exodus, the denomination has launched "Connecting With Jesus". The largest global book distribution project in the history of' the' Seventh-day' Adventist' Church...Sponsored' by' the General' Conference' and' the' world' divisions' in' cooperation with the Ellen G. White Estate, the project entitled "Connecting With Jesus" will' provide ten Ellen White books with study guides' to' two' million' Adventist' families' around' the' world during a five year period. The books and study guides will be published in many languages at subsidized prices that all can afford....In' the' beginning' of' the' Advent' movement,' God worked through Ellen White to help shape the mission and message of' the church. Making these heaven-sent messages available to new church members, as well as to others who do not now have access to them, will help assure the on-going unity of the church, both theologically and organizationally.24 While the Adventist church claims to be a Bible based church, the leaders know very well that Bible study without Ellen' White' interpretation' will' lead' members' out' of' the church.' Her' writings' serve' as' a' prism' through' which Adventists interpret Scripture. This is why it is imperative for questioning Adventists to determine once and for all the veracity' of' the' writings' of' Ellen' White.' Unless' they' lay aside her writings, they will be unable to see the unity and truth of Scripture.25''' Founded on Error and Deception '' The' founders' of' Adventism' were' followers' of' William Miller' who,' by' the' dubious' method' of' proof-texting, predicted that Christ was going to return in 1843. When He did not, the Millerites revised the date to October 22, 1844. Miller had some 15 "proofs" to back up his dates and a large' chart' which' pictured' the' beasts' of' Daniel' and Revelation along with his calculations. Of Miller's chart, Ellen White wrote: I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them.1She also made some very bold statements about Christian pastors who did not accept Miller's date-setting message. I' saw that' God was in' the proclamation of' the time in 1843. It was His design to arouse the people and bring them to a testing point, where they should decide for or against' the truth. Thousands were led to embrace' the truth

 

 

		ceptance of Ellen White as "the spirit of prophecy. "Adventists fail to observe that in the writings of John, the Greek word,' entole, and translated "commandment" in Revelation 12:17, is never used for the old covenant, Ten Commandment,' law.' Rather' John' always' refers' to' old covenant law by the Greek word, nomos, translated, "law."4 Thus, their claim that the Sabbath commandment is in view here is without warrant. Adventists' use of Rev. 19:10 puts EGW in the place of Christ.' Our' Lord' Jesus' Christ,' however,' and' not' Ellen White, is the spirit and theme of all prophecy. Note how the following Bible translations have captured this thought. Those who bear testimony to Jesus are inspired like the prophets (The New English Bible). For' the truth revealed' by Jesus is' the inspiration of all prophecy (Weymouth). For' the' testimony' of' Jesus' is' what' inspires' prophecy (Goodspeed). It' is' the' truth' concerning' Jesus' which' inspires' all prophecy (Knox). The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is to tell about Jesus (Living Bible). For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. (New Living Translation). Jesus is the theme and spirit of all prophecy. This text has nothing to do with Ellen White. Jesus said, You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me (John5:39).It is very clear that Adventists misuse both Revelation12:17' and' 19:10' in' their' claim' to' be' the' true,' remnant church of Bible prophecy. Sabbath Observance, The Seal of God Revelation depicts a sharp demarcation between those who serve' God and those' who serve' the' "beast".1 Adventists have traditionally held that the seventh-day Sabbath is the seal of God. Ellen White on numerous occasions confirmed this belief in her writings. She wrote that Sabbath observance would be the "line of distinction" in the "final test "that will separate God's end-time people who "receive the seal of God" and are saved, from those who "receive the mark of the beast"2 and are cast into the lake of fire. The' traditional' Adventist' support' for' the seventh-day Sabbath as the seal of God comes from the common understanding of what a seal is. It is a mark which shows authenticity by (1) giving the name of the one in authority,(2) the title of the one in authority, and (3) the dominion of the one in authority. Seventh-day Adventists show that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment has all of this information.'''''''''''' '' This' may' be' good' human' reasoning,' but' the' New Testament never speaks of the Sabbath as the seal of God. Because the Sabbath commandment was placed in the very center of the Ten Commandments, it served as the dy		nastic sign of the Sinaitic Covenant.3 On several occasions within the' old' covenant' we' find' the' Sabbath' called' a' sign.' In context it is always the sign between God and the sons of Israel.4 Never is the Sabbath called a seal or a sign within the New Testament. Rather,' the Holy Spirit' is said to be the seal which the Christian receives when he believes. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us in God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge (2 Cor. 1:21, 22). In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation' having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:13,14).And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30).According to Scripture it is the Holy Spirit and not the seventh-day Sabbath that is the seal of God. According to the New Testament the seventh-day Sabbath is not the sign which' is' to' be' remembered.' Rather,' Christians' are' to celebrate' the' Lord's' Supper' (the' new covenant' sign)5 in remembrance of Christ.''''''''''' ' Some Adventist' evangelists' now admit' that' the' Holy Spirit is the seal but maintain that the Sabbath is the "sign of' the' seal",' thus' seeking' to' maintain' their' traditional teachings' and make' it' sound as' if' they' agree' with' New Testament understanding. There is no major problem with Christians worshiping on Saturday.' However,' when SDAs make their' Sabbath-keeping' a' sign' that' they' are' right' and' everyone' else' is wrong, then that teaching becomes divisive. This is especially' so' when' such' great' importance' is' placed' on' a divergent' teaching.' There' is' no' command' to' keep' the Sabbath in the New Testament. Every Sabbath meeting in the book of Acts is in a Jewish setting. It is clear that the Epistles never place positive emphasis on Sabbath keeping. Never do they explain how Gentile believers are to keep the Sabbath,' and' Sabbath-breaking' is' never' included' in' any New Testament lists of sins.6 This certainly seems strange if the Sabbath, as Adventists claim, is to be' the testing truth for all Christians in the last days.7 The Apostle Paul teaches that the Sabbath is to be included with the other ritual holy days of the old covenant and serves only as a shadow of Christ.8 By' requiring Sabbath' observance,' Adventists' are' following the Galatian heresy'the legalistic observances of old covenant law.9''''''''''''''' '' One of the big problems for those who require Sabbath observance is to determine how the Sabbath is to be kept. Does one keep it by old covenant guidelines as Ellen White recommended?10 If' so,' no' Adventist' keeps' it'
						correctly.11 Does' one' keep' it' by' the' additional' guidelines' of' Ellen White? If so they will find a huge list of legalistic rules.12 Or,' is' a' Sabbath-keeper' to' follow' the' 20' page' list' of Sabbath' rules' promoted by' Adventist' "Sabbath' scholar", Samuele Bacchiocchi?13 As is true of any required legalistic observance, one never knows when his observance is "good enough". What' usually' happens' is' that' each' subculture' of Adventism will create its own accepted norm of Sabbath observance.' Then' this' norm' is' used' as' the' standard' by which to' judge others.' Some will' not go' out to' eat' at' a restaurant on Sabbath. Others will. Some say it is permissible if you pay for your meal ticket on Friday. Some say that it is wrong to pay for a meal on Sabbath using cash but it is acceptable to do so when using a credit card. Some hold that it is wrong to pay for a meal on Sabbath in a secular restaurant but it is in keeping with Sabbath law to do so in an Adventist institution.14 Some say it is fine to go swim-ming on Sabbath. Others say no. Some say it is permissible to wade in water on the Sabbath, but never over your knees. Most say it is acceptable Sabbath-keeping to go for a hike as long as it is not too strenuous. Ellen White said that parents who let their children play on' the' Sabbath' are' seen' by' God' as' Sabbath-breakers. Notice how she frames the importance of this counsel as "above every thing". Parents,' above' every' thing,' take' care' of' your' children upon the Sabbath. Do not suffer them to violate God's holyday by playing in the house or out of doors. You may just as well break the Sabbath yourselves as to let your children do it, and when you suffer your children to wander about, and suffer them' to' play' upon' the' Sabbath,' God' looks' upon' you' as Sabbath-breakers. Your children, that are under your control, should be made to mind you. Your word should be their law. Will not parents wake up to their duty before it shall be too late, and take hold of the work in earnest, redeem the time, and make unsparing efforts to save their children??15 Sunday Observance, The Mark of the Beast The flip side of Adventist's teaching that the Sabbath is the seal of God is their teaching that Sunday observance is, or will become, the mark of the beast. Remembering that the writings of Ellen G. White are "a continuing and authoritative source of truth," consider the following statement: The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's' memorial' of creation...The mark of the beast is the opposite' the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge' the' supremacy of' the' papal authority' from those' who acknowledge the authority of God.1 On

 

 

 

 

 

 

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