Seventh Day Adventism

[cenallen]

Adventist.org
Official website of the Seventh Day Adventist Church

Fundamental Beliefs

Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word.


18. The Gift of Prophecy:
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)

Adventist.org: The Official Site of the Seventh-day Adventist world church


emphasis added.

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

At best they are a church with a lot of strange teachings and a unhealthy reverence for ellen g white.

At worst they are a cult.

 

[cenallen]

Letting the "Power of the Ancient Texts Come Through"

"The Clear Word lets the power of ancient texts come through today. As the meaning of Scripture becomes more transparent, you see more of God's grace. His love shines through even in difficult Old Testament passages."1

Although Adventism lagged behind Mormonism, the Watchtower, and Christian Science in the publication of their version of the Bible, they have made up for lost time by outperforming these other organizations with numerous printings and changes. Since its first printing in 1994, The Clear Word Bible has been reworked into no less than seven unique versions of the Scriptures.

The seven versions are: The Clear Word Bible, ©1994,2 The Clear Word, ©1994,3 The Clear Word, ©2003,4 The Clear Word, ©2004 (Pocket edition),5 The Easy English Clear Word, ©2005,6 The Clear Word for Kids, ©2005,7 and Savior (The Clear Word version of the gospels, combined into one narrative), © 2008.8 The Clear Word Bible, original edition, has never been recalled or rejected by the Seventh-day Adventist organization. Although some changes have occurred to the text, the church has not publicly called for the original to be removed from circulation. Because the changes to the text in many cases are not directly doctrinal, recalling the early editions would not change the status of this work.

After receiving criticism for the title, the publisher removed the word "Bible" from the original The Clear Word Bible, and the words "An Expanded Paraphrase" were added to subsequent printings. These subsequent versions are not just reprintings with modifications to the title. They are different versions containing numerous changes to content throughout the books. Most modern publishers will be honest with their readers, indicating changes to content or revision of materials when books are reprinted. The Review and Herald Publishing Association, however, provides no statement to this effect, leaving the reader to believe that he/she has the same document in hand with only modifications to the title. In the publishing world, this lack of disclosure is tantamount to lying.

What is truly shocking, however, are not the changes, but the problematic passages that have remained. Although the back cover of The Clear Word indicates that the author/paraphraser is allowing "the power of the ancient texts [to] come through", he does not indicate that the texts are coming through a very strong Adventist theological lens, replete with quotes and paraphrases from the writings of Ellen G. White.

Clear Word Exposed

 

[cenallen]

Welcome to the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®.

Methods of Bible Study

Bible Study:
Presuppositions, Principles, and Methods

4. Methods of Bible Study

Two basic, related themes run throughout Scripture: (1) The person and work of Jesus Christ; and (2) the great controversy perspective involving the authority of God's Word, the fall of man, the first and second advents of Christ, the exoneration of God and His law, and the restoration of the divine plan for the universe. These themes are to be drawn from the totality of Scripture and not imposed on it.

l. Seventh-day Adventists believe that God inspired Ellen G. White. Therefore, her expositions on any given Bible passage offer an inspired guide to the meaning of texts without exhausting their meaning or preempting the task of exegesis (for example, see Evangelism, 256; The Great Controversy, 193, 595; Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 665, 682, 707-708; Counsels to Writers and Editors, 33-35).

Biblical Research Institute - Methods of Bible Study

emphases added

 

[Elizabeth619]

At best they are a church with a lot of strange teachings and a unhealthy reverence for ellen g white.

At worst they are a cult.

There are alot of people on the website that have strange teachings, but I would not refer to them as a cult.

I have close friends who are Adventist, and while I do not agree with their teachings they are a very respectable group of people. It is one thing to disagree with their beliefs, but to demean them in general is wrong.

 

[shawntc]

(Except instead of it being Catholic, Mormon or Jehovah's Witnesses, now it's the Adventists' turn.)

 

[cenallen]

"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." (Great Controversy, p.640).

The Great Controversy: Chapter 40 God's People Delivered -- by Ellen G. White



Ephesians 1 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who did bless us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 according as He did choose us in him before the foundation of the world, for our being holy and unblemished before Him, in love, 5 having foreordained us to the adoption of sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He did make us accepted in the beloved, 7 in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of the trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 in which He did abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself, 10 in regard to the dispensation of the fulness of the times, to bring into one the whole in the Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth -- in him; 11 in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being foreordained according to the purpose of Him who the all things is working according to the counsel of His will, 12 for our being to the praise of His glory, even those who did first hope in the Christ, 13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth -- the good news of your salvation -- in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.


σφραγίζω

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

There are alot of people on the website that have strange teachings, but I would not refer to them as a cult.

I have close friends who are Adventist, and while I do not agree with their teachings they are a very respectable group of people. It is one thing to disagree with their beliefs, but to demean them in general is wrong.

Its the ellen g white thing that bothers me the most.

Do they believe that sunday worship is the mark of the beast? Correct me if I'm wrong on that but if I'm right, I think that's very demeaning to people who worship on sunday.

 

[cenallen]

(Except instead of it being Catholic, Mormon or Jehovah's Witnesses, now it's the Adventists' turn.)

i intend to post a thread on mormonism as well. do you mind, terribly?

apparently it has an interest in "america's comeback"

Meet Mitt's Choice For VP | Mitt Romney for President

 

[cenallen]

There are alot of people on the website that have strange teachings, but I would not refer to them as a cult.

I have close friends who are Adventist, and while I do not agree with their teachings they are a very respectable group of people. It is one thing to disagree with their beliefs, but to demean them in general is wrong.

i have close friends who are former adventists. they too are very respectable people. they have something to say.

keeping in mind offense may be taken, i will endeavor to refer to the religion as "it" rather than referring to the people, "they". this may not always be possible.

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

Dont get me wrong, I have nothing but love for the people of the Seven Day Adventist Church, but the more I learn about what they believe, the more it leaves me scratching my head.

 

[Elizabeth619]

Its the ellen g white thing that bothers me the most.

Do they believe that sunday worship is the mark of the beast? Correct me if I'm wrong on that but if I'm right, I think that's very demeaning to people who worship on sunday.

ok i guess i was mistaken... i am guessing that is the fundamentalist group. the average 7th day adventists dont seem to think that way... at least the ones i know do not.

 

[cenallen]

"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." (Great Controversy, p.640).

The Great Controversy: Chapter 40 God's People Delivered -- by Ellen G. White


Exodus 31 13 And thou, speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, Only, My sabbaths ye do keep, for it is a sign between Me and you, to your generations, to know that I, Jehovah, am sanctifying you;

אוֹת
sign


The Mark of The Beast - SDA Global
The world has always been divided into two classes of people: those who keep God's law, and those who break it. One group obey God, another group obey Satan. The devil is the prince of the world of law-breakers, and wants to destroy them who keep the law. These obedient ones will trust in God for strength to gain the final victory. The battle over the mark of the beast will decide the final outcome. World history is rushing toward this great climax.

Another clue helps us to identify the mark of the beast. Aside from the context of the commandments of God, the first angel calls on everyone to "worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." Every sensible person can see that this refers to the Sabbath, which is the official seal on the Ten Commandments. Ezek. 20:12 says, "Moreover I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them." "Sign," "seal" and "mark" are synonyms. The "seal of the living God"(the Sabbath) of Rev. 7:2,3 is placed on the foreheads of His servants, while the mark of the beast (Sunday) is placed on people's foreheads or right hands.

The Mark of the Beast

[emphases added]



FALSE: ""Sign," "seal" and "mark" are synonyms."

 

[DesertJoe]

Colossians 2

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,a not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,b God made youc alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.d

16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Please take heed in particular to verse 16, but this whole passage applies. God bless you

 

[Abiding]

I apparently have been blessed to have never met a SDA person that
had doctrinal issues i felt had eternal consequences.

The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things.
In those i felt a union.

 

[cenallen]

from ellen-white. com
[Ellen White/Adventism Apologetics]

Ellen White Did Make Mistakes

Some critics like to point to Ellen White's statement "There is one straight chain of truth without one heretical sentence in that which I have written." (Letter 329A, 1905) and misinterpret that as her claim of infallibility in even the smallest details. We would simply ask if the "40 Rooms" mistake qualifies as "heretical" (never mind the fact that nearly all of the "mistakes" on the critics' lists aren't even mistakes, when examined).

The fact that Ellen White did not always receive revelation from the Lord on details like historical dates, number of rooms in buildings, and other such things should not lead believers to adopt a pick- and-choose method of study.

Regarding her counsels, testimonies, principles, and theology she was quite clear:

"This work is of God, or it is not, God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work . . .bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God or of the devil." —Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 230.

Ellen White Did Make Mistakes Some supporters of Ellen White have unwisely declared that it was impossible for her to make a mistake.  Then when a mistake is found they are forced to rationalize away the evidence and make themselves and Ellen White l

 

[chesser]

i wouldnt go so far to say they are a cult, but they are close, i mean going to church on satturday isnt a bad thing, but their reverane for ellen g white is what people who would call them a cult would point to.

 

[WolfInOxHide]

IMO, just another "earth" that has some parts right and some parts wrong. No better or worse than most of the others.

 

[RedTent]

All the cults use scripture to prove their point. Satan knew scripture well. We go to scripture to understand and have a close relationship with God. When cults and even Satan use this very scripture we use, how are we to know what is wrong?

I think there are clues to watch for. One is how much importance they give to man’s words. For the Mormons it is the book of Mormon. For the Seventh Day people it is Ellen White. I am not saying to watch how much a denomination studies other writings besides scripture, but how much importance they give it.

Another clue is to watch for is love. When a cult focuses on scripture that tells of punishments and such as “the mark of the beast”, or of hate for other people and beliefs, we need to beware. We need to learn, but our focus needs to be on God who is love.

I think another warning signal to us is a focus on one part of scripture over another part. When Christ lived on our earth, there was a change in how our eternal God used time to teach us, and something profound in the spiritual world. That has been used to separate OT and NT, but I think we have to beware of denominations that focus on either of these to the exclusion of the teachings of the other.

 

[Laodicea]

I am SDA although I was not born a SDA. I think the person starting this thread is trying to escape his own doctrinal errors by trying to point out others. SDA doctrine is not based on Ellen White it is based on the Bible. While Ellen White is a prophet doctrine is not based on what she says. Since I have been on CC I have never quoted EGW because doctrine is based on the Bible.