1 Seventh-day Adventism Copyright 2008 by David W. Cloud This edition February 26 2013 ISBN 978-1-58318-162-1 This book is published for free distribution in eBook format. It is available in PDF, MOBI (for Kindle, etc.), and ePUB formats from the Way of Life web site. We do not allow distribution of this book from other web sites. Published by Way of Life Literature PO Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061 866-295-4143 (toll free) - [email protected] www.wayoflife.org Canada: Bethel Baptist Church 4212 Campbell St. N., London Ont. N6P 1A6 519-652-2619 Printed in Canada by Bethel Baptist Print Ministry 2 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................4 The History .................................................................5 The Doctrine ................................................................8 Grace Plus Law ....................................................8 Sabbath Keeping. ................................................15 Soul-Sleep. .........................................................19 Annihilation of the Wicked ................................25 Ellen White A Prophetess. ..................................27 Investigative Judgment ......................................32 Misusing the Law of Moses ...............................36 Vegetarianism .....................................................40 About Way of Life’s eBooks .....................................44 Powerful Publications for These Times. ....................45 3 Introduction This report is excerpted from Avoiding the Snare of Seventh- day Adventism. This book has been called the best on the subject by the editor of The Baptist Challenge. It is researched from official publications of the Seventh-day Adventist organization and proves conclusively that the Seventh-day Adventist gospel is false. It is available in print and eBook editions from Way of Life Literature -- www.wayoflife.org _______________ The Seventh-day Adventist denomination was established in 1860 in America. “Seventh-day” refers to sabbath worship. “Adventist” refers to their belief that God raised them up to announce the coming of the Lord. They have 15 million members worldwide in 61,000 churches, and they are working in 203 countries. 4 The History Seventh-day Adventism originated with the Second Coming movement of the 1800’s. William Miller, a Baptist preacher, concluded in 1818 that Christ would return to earth in 1843. When that was proven wrong, he changed the date to October 22, 1844. His belief was based largely on an interpretation of Daniel chapters nine and twelve using the erroneous day/year equation (one prophetic day equals one historical year). Tens of thousands of people followed Miller, and many different groups sprang up within this excited religious atmosphere, all of them looking for the immediate return of Christ. After 1844, Miller quit setting dates and admitted his mistake, but some of his followers went on to form Seventh- day Adventism. James White, Joseph Bates, and others began practicing sabbath-keeping in 1844 and published their views through pamphlets. They also followed the visions of 17-year-old Ellen Harmon. She claimed that God showed her that in October 1844 Jesus entered the holy of holies in heaven to begin the “investigative judgment.” This is a foundational doctrine of the Adventist Church. Ellen taught that Jesus began investigating the records of every person to determine who would be saved and who would be lost. She also claimed to receive a vision about the “Third Angel’s Message” in Revelation 14:9-12. She said that the mark of the beast (the antichrist) would be Sunday worship, and those who worshipped on Sunday would be punished. She said that the ones who keep the commandments of God refers to those 5 who keep the sabbath in the last days. This is where the Seventh-day Adventists get their name. They claim to be the church of the last days that keeps the sabbath and that prepares the way for Christ’s return. Ellen Harmon married James White in 1846 and they became the main leaders of Seventh-day Adventism. Between 1844 and 1915 Mrs. White supposedly received 2,000 visions and dreams. Claiming that she was commanded to write her visions for preservation, she produced over 100,000 handwritten manuscript pages. While Adventist leaders claim that the Bible is their sole rule for faith and conduct, the fact is that without Ellen White there would be no Seventh-day Adventism. We see, therefore, that the advent movement was unbiblical from its beginning. It was led by a woman, which is forbidden in Scripture (1 Timothy 2:12), and it set a date for Christ’s return, which is also forbidden. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Mt. 24:36). “Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Mt. 24:42). “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Mt. 24:44). “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Mt. 25:13). “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mk. 13:32-33). “It is not for you to know the time or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7). 6 By ignoring the plain teaching of the Bible about Christ’s return, the Adventists were led into more and more error. 7 The Doctrine In the following study we analyze some of the false Seventh- day Adventist doctrines and compare them with Bible truth. Grace Plus Law Seventh-day Adventism professes to teach salvation by grace through faith, but they redefine this to add works to grace. According to Adventist doctrine, grace is the power and forgiveness God gives to enable a sinner to keep God’s law and to thereby build a holy character fit for Heaven. The individual that fails to build the right character by God’s grace will never see Heaven. Faith and works are said to be the two oars by which the believer is propelled to glory. These false teachers are aptly described by the apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians: “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage” (Gal. 2:4). It is important that we carefully document the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of salvation, since it is very subtle. Often, in their literature produced for the general public, the Seventh-day Adventists modify what they believe in an attempt to appear orthodox. The Christian should beware of the deceitfulness of the false churches. They are like the chameleon that changes colors according to varying situations. On one hand they try to appear orthodox. “We are just like you,” they protest. On the other hand they promote all sorts of heretical teachings and attempt to draw converts away from the Bible-believing churches. This should not 8 surprise us. The New Testament refers frequently to the deception of false teachers. Jesus called false teachers wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mat. 7:15). He warned that they would try to deceive many (Mat. 24:4-5). The apostle Paul called them “deceitful workers” (2 Cor. 11:13). He said they use “cunning craftiness” (Eph. 4:14). He said they “speak lies in hypocrisy” (1 Tim. 4:2). Consider carefully the following statements about salvation from Adventist publications. While professing to believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone, they redefine grace. The result is a false gospel that mixes grace and law. From a Seventh-day Adventist Tract: “Christ says to every man in this world what He said to the rich young ruler: ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,’ Matthew 19:17. In other words, THE STANDARD FOR ADMISSION INTO HEAVEN IS A CHARACTER BUILT ACCORDING TO THE TEN SPECIFICATIONS, OR COMMANDMENTS, OF GOD’S LAW. ...... THE MASTER BUILDER WILL STAND RIGHT WITH YOU AND IN YOU, AND SEE TO IT PERSONALLY THAT YOUR LIFE COMES UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD’S LAW” (Charles Everson, Saved by Grace, pp. 45-46). From a Seventh-day Adventist Correspondence course: “Do you want to be a Christian? ... The steps to Christ are few and plain and easy to understand, and we will turn to God’s Guidebook now for information. ... Believe; that’s the first step toward becoming a Christian. ... the second step is repentance ... repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and putting them away ... the next step in becoming a Christian is confession ... real repentance and confession mean not only to stop sinning, but to do everything possible to make past wrongs right ... The next step is baptism, and the proof for that is found in Acts 2:38-39 ... Fifth, obedience through Christ in us ... So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in 9 order to become a Christian: to believe in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. ... He may stumble and fall, but he gets up and presses forward again, determined to overcome by God’s enabling power. Such a fall is not counted against him when he repents and asks forgiveness and divine help to live the right life” (New Life Voice of Prophecy Guide, #12). Adventism labels this doctrine “salvation by grace,” but it is not the grace that was preached by the Lord’s apostles. 1. According to the Bible, salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE, without the works of the law. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Romans 11:6). See also John 3:16; 6:28-29; Acts 15:10-11; 16:30-31; Romans 3:19-25; 4:1-8; Galatians 3:10-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7. The Good News of Christ is not that we are saved through a grace that produces the works of the law. The Good News is that we are saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in the shed blood alone for full salvation. Those who attempt to return to the Mosaic Law to perfect their salvation are committing the same error as the Galatians in the first century. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This 10