I am a Seventh Day Adventist, Ask Me.

[Friend]

I'm thinking it would be a good time to go home and be with the Lord, even though I'm happy and healthy and have a good wife. We know that heaven will be even better than this place! Taking a cloud ride to Heaven sounds like fun.

So what does a 7th day think of what Jesus is saying here; and this is not a loaded question, I will not say anything in return unless you want me to.

Jesus has a mystery and is saying "the seven lampstands are the seven churches"

Rev 1:20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches

Jesus says He "walks among the seven golden lamp stands"

Rev 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Now Jesus is saying He "has the Seven Spirits of God". We see where they come from and where they go.

Rev 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

There is a door open in heaven and a Voice like a trumpet "Says Come Up Here"
"After These Things"

Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.

After a reception of lightning and thunder Seven Lamps of Fire appear in front of the throne; and look what it says they are. Now the lamps that were on earth are before the throne, and do you remember what Jesus said the lamps were: that's right He said they were the churches; But now they are being called the Seven Spirits of God. And it just keeps getting better.

Rev 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God

Let's do a little review: Jesus said that the seven golden lamps on earth are the churches. Then after a voice like the sound of trumpet says come up here, and after a reception of lightning and thunder coming out from the throne: now the seven lamps are in heaven, but now they are being called the Seven Spirit of God. So you can look at the previous verse to see that it's all true. But move forward is the greatest thing we could ever see. So now we know the Seven Spirits of God are the Seven Churches.

Rev 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, that were sent out into all the earth.

So there we have it. The greatest thing one could ever imagine: Right here in the Head of the Lamb is Seven Eyes that are said to be the Seven Spirits of God that were sent out into ALL THE EARTH. So We are on The Throne Just As Jesus Promised We would be. Therefore, We are Raptured off of the Earth and seated on Our throne, Immediately before all the Murder and Mayhem begins.

Below is the Promise.

Rev 3:21-22 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to Him to sit down with Me on My throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Dan 7:13“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, One like a Son of Man was coming on the clouds of heaven. And He came up to be presented before the Ancient of Days.

People ask where the Rapture is in the old Testament. It's in the Little Book/Daniel where we see many aspects of Revelations.

Rev 3:22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’” ​

 

[Duckybill]

I'm not sure I understand the question.
Yes we believe Michael is one of the names of Jesus, and Jesus is God, so does it answer your question?

(it's weird to say "Micheal is my God", for me it's similar to say "Emmanuel is my God", or *the Son of Man is my God", or "the Way is my God"... Technically true, but weird phrasing, but it's just my personal opinion)

You just confessed that Michael is your God. How "weird" is that?

 

[Duckybill]

Haha, I think we use the same Bible versions !
Yes this is fascinating to learn about how people can understand so many different things from the same text. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us to truth 🙏
Of course, if anyone is interested I can go back on "Why Michael is a name of Jesus" from a biblical point of view. This is quite a frequent question.
However, sincerely we don't frequently call Jesus by the name "Michael" or by other names than Jesus, Lord and God (I don't call him lamb of God, son of David, etc), so I guess this is just a prophetic name and a prophetic interpretation, it does not, usually, have a huge impact on our daily relation to God.

Nothing in the Bible implies in any way that Michael is Jesus. Nothing.

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

Nothing in the Bible implies in any way that Michael is Jesus. Nothing.

Amen! And "Michael the Archangel" with "ALL (of the other) angels of God" WORSHIP HIM! = JESUS CHRIST, Who is God Almighty!! Point #8 of The Case FOR The Triune GodHead! Amen?

 

[unelie]

Nothing in the Bible implies in any way that Michael is Jesus. Nothing.

Amen! And "Michael the Archangel" with "ALL (of the other) angels of God" WORSHIP HIM! = JESUS CHRIST, Who is God Almighty!! Point #8 of The Case FOR The Triune GodHead! Amen?

I agree to disagree
It is biblical as I extensively explained earlier https://christianchat.com/threads/i-am-a-seventh-day-adventist-ask-me.31363/post-4726215.

About Heb 1.6, as Paul describes in this chapter very well, Jesus is NOT an angel. I am sorry it this was not clearly explained, SDA preach and teach that Jesus is NOT an angel (in the common sense of the word), he is NOT a created being, but he is GOD Almighty, that all angels (of God) worship.
Similarly, John the Baptist was a regular human, but was called an angel by Jesus (in Greek, in Luke 7.27) in a prophetic manner ... --> see point 3 here https://christianchat.com/threads/i-am-a-seventh-day-adventist-ask-me.31363/post-4726215

I really fail to understand why so many people are asking about this detail in our prophetic teachings. Many early protestant theologians got to this conclusion... This is about prophecy and prophetic symbols, and it does not affect our belief in the divine nature of Christ.

 

[unelie]

I agree to disagree
Jesus is NOT an angel (in the common sense of the word), he is NOT a created being, but he is GOD Almighty, that all angels (of God) worship.
Similarly, John the Baptist was a regular human, but was called an angel by Jesus (in Greek, in Luke 7.27) in a prophetic manner ...

Let me explain this.

John the Baptist is NOT an angel in nature ---> still he can be called an angel by Jesus in a prophetic manner.
Similarly,
Jesus is NOT an angel in nature -----> still we understand from the Bible that he can be called Michael the Archangel.

 

[unelie]

Nothing in the Bible implies in any way that Michael is Jesus. Nothing.

I am surprised how you state your belief without argument. Plenty evidence have been presented, no arguments have been presented against it. I am under the impression that you have no counter-argument, neither biblical nor logical, except "This is not so, because I said so".

 

[unelie]

I'm thinking it would be a good time to go home and be with the Lord, even though I'm happy and healthy and have a good wife. We know that heaven will be even better than this place! Taking a cloud ride to Heaven sounds like fun.

So what does a 7th day think of what Jesus is saying here; and this is not a loaded question, I will not say anything in return unless you want me to.

Jesus has a mystery and is saying "the seven lampstands are the seven churches"

Rev 1:20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches

Jesus says He "walks among the seven golden lamp stands"

Rev 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Now Jesus is saying He "has the Seven Spirits of God". We see where they come from and where they go.

Rev 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

There is a door open in heaven and a Voice like a trumpet "Says Come Up Here"
"After These Things"

Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.

After a reception of lightning and thunder Seven Lamps of Fire appear in front of the throne; and look what it says they are. Now the lamps that were on earth are before the throne, and do you remember what Jesus said the lamps were: that's right He said they were the churches; But now they are being called the Seven Spirits of God. And it just keeps getting better.

Rev 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God

Let's do a little review: Jesus said that the seven golden lamps on earth are the churches. Then after a voice like the sound of trumpet says come up here, and after a reception of lightning and thunder coming out from the throne: now the seven lamps are in heaven, but now they are being called the Seven Spirit of God. So you can look at the previous verse to see that it's all true. But move forward is the greatest thing we could ever see. So now we know the Seven Spirits of God are the Seven Churches.

Rev 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, that were sent out into all the earth.

So there we have it. The greatest thing one could ever imagine: Right here in the Head of the Lamb is Seven Eyes that are said to be the Seven Spirits of God that were sent out into ALL THE EARTH. So We are on The Throne Just As Jesus Promised We would be. Therefore, We are Raptured off of the Earth and seated on Our throne, Immediately before all the Murder and Mayhem begins.

Below is the Promise.

Rev 3:21-22 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to Him to sit down with Me on My throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Dan 7:13“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, One like a Son of Man was coming on the clouds of heaven. And He came up to be presented before the Ancient of Days.

People ask where the Rapture is in the old Testament. It's in the Little Book/Daniel where we see many aspects of Revelations.

Rev 3:22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’” ​

Oh wow. Thank you very much for asking an actual question, this is nice

I can't explain everything you mentionned here, much amazing prophecies are quoted.

But specifically about your question, "what does a 7th day think of what Jesus is saying here", I would answer simply about the mystery :
Col 1:26-28
26- the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27- For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
28- whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The mystery is that Christ is in us, so that we may be presented in Christ. This is this mystery, the Gospel in verity, that makes up the Churches. This is why Jesus says that the 7 spirit of the 7 churches are a mystery : the mystery of the Church, us believers, partaking to the nature of God, being the 7 spirits in heaven while also the 7 lampstands on earth.

Therefore, about the rapture: I don't think it is mentionned here. As we are both in heaven and on earth, we are already sitting on the throne of God - we don't need to be "raptured" to get there.

Eph 2:4-6
4- But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us
5- (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved),
6- and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,

Therefore, SDAs generally understand that Rev 1.20 is depicting the same thing as Rev 5.6. As far as I know, we don't believe there is chronology between the two texts.

To answer to your argument, when it is said "I will show you what must take place after these things" (Rev 4.1) it is in reference to the whole vision, from Rev 4 to Rev 6. The beginning of this vision (Rev 4,5) is just the set-up, it describes how things are since the days of John. Then (Rev 6) it explains further how things will become : "what must take place after these things".

We have strong evidence of this by highligthing the parallel between the anti-Christ in Rev 13 to the little horn of Daniel 7. Since we see this is the same power (as most early protestant theologians thought, as far as I know), then we conclude that the churches actually live through all of it. They are not raptured physically, we just have to live by faith in heaven while we live physically down here.

This life in Christ while we are regular human beings, even on earth, is actually the most powerful thing I know about the Gospel 🙏

Interstingly, Jesus himself is both at the throne in heaven (Rev 4 and Ep 2.4-6) and "with [us] everyday until the end of the earth" (Mat 28.20).

 

[Subhumanoidal]

Hello everyone ! I am new here and I did not start this thread but I liked how it started and I can see there is some interest. I will try to help answer any question you have, as long as they are said respectfully.
I will NOT try to defend my faith or convince you, the Holy Spirit is there for that. I will simply testify of my belief, with the bible, since this is the only support for our faith.
Many seventhday adventists do not know what we teach. In order to inform properly my explanations I will personnally check some official texts but they will NOT be given here (since they have no authority), this is only in order to be sure that my answers are sound with the actual belief of my church. If there are controversial topics, that are not, to my knowledge, clearly decided by official teachings, I will also tell you 'this is just my view' or something like that.
So please, have fun asking questions ! I will start by the questions that were posted since May 26 as it seems they received no answer since then

(I am a preacher in my local church, I am about to become a full-time employed missionary of the SDA church, but I am not a pastor, neither a theologian, and yes I can be wrong ^^)

Thread is from 2011 and most people you're responding to aren't even members anymore.

 

[unelie]

I'm not interested in getting indoctrinated into SDA doctrine, but here's some question for you: When was the last time you got alone with God and the Bible, just the two of you, no SDA dogma coming between you? When was the last time you were hungry for the truth, not some man-made religion?

Oh I missed these questions.
1> Last time was yesterday I would say. I'm about to have my time now again This is daily bread
2> I have been hungry all my life, but I guess these last months I have been super hungry since I had to battle depression. But don't worry, Christ gave me a victory that strengthened my faith even more in the message He gives to the world through the SDA Chruch and many other churches

 

[unelie]

Thread is from 2011 and most people you're responding to aren't even members anymore.

hum...sorry that you have this impression.

 

[Subhumanoidal]

hum...sorry that you have this impression.

Not an impression. It's an easily verifiable fact. But you've been on 2 weeks and I 8 years, so I'm sure you know better.

 

[unelie]

Not an impression. It's an easily verifiable fact. But you've been on 2 weeks and I 8 years, so I'm sure you know better.

Sorry, I did not mean I know better. I was just telling you I was sorry for you, and I meant it, because I don't want to inappropriate stuff that would in anyway be problematic to you.

 

[presidente]

Hi, as I said I am a Seventh Day Adventist. The only reason this question answer post is here is because I have seen many people throw things at my Faith without really knowing what we believe.

So I will be answering any Bible questions you have if I can. Repeat BIBLE questions. Everything I believe and that my Church teaches is firmly based in Scripture and no where else.

Now I have a lot on my plate so please be patient with me. This post is not designed to argue but rather help those who wish to better understand our position. You do not have to agree with me in any way. I will however be using the bible to answer any questions. so if you need to discuss anything with me about a topic that you think I am wrong in then feel free. but use your Bible. I will not pay any heed to those who come in here and rant on their soap box without scripture to back them up.

In other words, lets be Christian about this. I have no need nor want to put others down. and will not respond to put downs and unchristian behaviour.

One other thing. I am a Seventh Day Adventist Pastor, and one thing I have learnt is that most Professed Seventh Day Adventists do not know what we actually believe. Why do I say this? Because While you may have read things about us and done some study. chances are, you don't understand half as much about our teaching as you think you do.

I do not pretend to know everything about how other faiths believe even though I used to be a pentecostal. I am not ignorant enough to think that I know them because I once was one. so please afford me the same respect.

That being said, May God bless us all as we draw closer to Him in truth and in Spirit.

Here are a couple of questions. Do you think Jesus is going to come back on the seventh day of the week? If so, why? Doesn't SDA imply that?

Also, is there any Biblical reason to think that wearing wigs is unhealthy?

 

[unelie]

Here are a couple of questions. Do you think Jesus is going to come back on the seventh day of the week? If so, why?

I don't know of any official position of the SDA Church about the day of the week in which Jesus will come. Personally, I would not think it would be on the seventh day of the week, because it looks like something to do on the first or sixth day, as a hommage to creation of the earth or of man.

Doesn't SDA imply that?

Interesting, I never heard of such interpretation of our name.
No, "Seventh-Day Adventist" does not imply that.

Seventh-Day Adventists means :

1> we are Adventists, we believe in the soon advent of our Lord. We believe the hour of Judgment has arrived since 1844 , and all nations are called to worship and fear the Creator.

Rev 14:7
7- saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

2> Among adventists, we choose to keep the Sabbath, seventh-day of the week, in order to give glory to the Creator, as we believe in the perfection of his law, and as we are preparing for his soon coming.

Also, is there any Biblical reason to think that wearing wigs is unhealthy?

Hum, I don't know wigs impact on health to be a general SDA belief.
I would personally consider wigs to be usually ok for health. However, if I had to take a decision for myself, I would consider texts about Absalom and Samson. From these texts, it looks like hair is beautiful and can be healthy (Samson), but that it is possible to reach excess somehow (Absalom). I would also consider this comment :

1Ti 2:9-10
9- In the same way also, I desire that women adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not adorned with braiding, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing,
10- but with good works, which becomes women professing godliness.

Therefore, I guess I would personally avoid wigs, for my spiritual and body well-being, but not absolutely, since there is no text directly condemning them.
Also, I would look for some other sources commenting on wigs (science, trustworthy health teachers, etc.).
Many adventists wear wigs, I don't judge or condemn them - we are free

 

[unelie]

Among adventists, we choose to keep the Sabbath, seventh-day of the week

There are a few denominations that are Adventist or that come from the Adventist original revival, and we keep that name also to uphold the memory of the revival movement in the 1840s that lead to the name "Adventist".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventism

 

[presidente]

Hum, I don't know wigs impact on health to be a general SDA belief.
I would personally consider wigs to be usually ok for health. However, if I had to take a decision for myself, I would consider texts about Absalom and Samson. From these texts, it looks like hair is beautiful and can be healthy (Samson), but that it is possible to reach excess somehow (Absalom). I would also consider this comment :

1Ti 2:9-10
9- In the same way also, I desire that women adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not adorned with braiding, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing,
10- but with good works, which becomes women professing godliness.

Therefore, I guess I would personally avoid wigs, for my spiritual and body well-being, but not absolutely, since there is no text directly condemning them.
Also, I would look for some other sources commenting on wigs (science, trustworthy health teachers, etc.).
Many adventists wear wigs, I don't judge or condemn them - we are free

The reason I ask this is because of the way some SDAs treat EG White's writings. A friend of mine put it this way- 'liberal' SDAs are more like evangelicals. The 'conservatives' treat EG White's writings as inspired, almost like the Bible. If I recall correctly EG White wrote something about it being unhealthy to wear wigs.

 

[Duckybill]

I am surprised how you state your belief without argument. Plenty evidence have been presented, no arguments have been presented against it. I am under the impression that you have no counter-argument, neither biblical nor logical, except "This is not so, because I said so".

So Michael is your God? Michael is not Jesus! You've been duped!

 

[presidente]

@unelie

I read this attributed to EG White,

"Let a Christian wife refrain, both in word and act, from exciting the animal passions of her husband.'

and this,

"The colored people should not urge that the placed on an equality with white people." Testimonies Vol. 8. p. 214.

Do you agree with these statements?

 

[unelie]

So Michael is your God?

Answered this here https://christianchat.com/threads/i-am-a-seventh-day-adventist-ask-me.31363/post-4720796