Course: World
Religions, Cults and Heresies
Section Two: Cults
and Heresies
Lesson Seven
Title: Seventh Day Adventists
Text: 2 Peter 1:19-21 'We have also a more sure word
of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that
shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts: Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'
Theme: Beware of following teachers who claim
revelatory knowledge in regard to end time prophecy.
Introduction:
Seventh Day Adventism arose through William
Miller's (1782-1849) teaching that the second coming of Christ would take place
in 1844 and Ellen G White's claim of prophetic ministry.
The teaching of 'keeping the sabbath' was endorsed
through the prophetic ministry of Ellen G White but did not originate with
her. She was following the teaching of
the Seventh Day Baptists.
The major characteristic of Seventh Day Adventism
is the private interpretation of scripture by Ellen G White.
Beware any cult with its own interpretation of
scripture.
The Bible does not need interpreting. It does need to be understood and this is
done through knowledge of the scriptures as a whole, 2 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Introductory
illustration:
Leaders of cults and heresies will claim that supernatural
manifestations have taken place as a confirmation of their message.
Many years ago some friends of ours were drawn into
false teaching. They followed the
teachings of a woman who claimed that supernatural manifestations such as the
stigmata (the wounds of Christ appearing in the body) appeared in her
body. These claims of 'supernatural
characteristics' were designed to make
her followers believe that her interpretation of scripture could not be wrong
because she walked so closely with the Lord.
In a similar fashion, it was claimed that Ellen G
White held at an arm's length an 18 pound Bible for 45 minutes while in a
trance. Although there is no evidence
to substantiate this claim, many Adventists hold the story to be true.
The conclusion drawn is that if the Spirit of God
moved so mightily through Ellen G White then her teaching must be inspired of
God. We must not follow those who claim
to be supernaturally empowered by the Spirit.
We are to be followers of Christ through His word.
Main Points:
1.
The origins of Seventh Day Adventism.
a) Began
with the error of setting dates for the Lord's return. Adventism developed out of the great
religious revivals in the
Answer: The
Lord warned His disciples against setting dates. Jesus told his disciples to watch and be
ready for His return. Matthew 24:42 'Watch therefore: for you know not what
hour your Lord does come.' Matthew
25:13 'Watch therefore, for ye know
neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.'
William Miller, farmer and veteran of the 1812 war,
understood the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14 to be 2,300 years from 457 BC when
Artaxerxes 1 decreed the rebuilding of
Daniel
8:13-14
'Then I
heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which
spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the
transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be
trodden under foot? And he said unto me,
Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed.'
Originally Miller believed the coming of Christ
would be between March 1843 and March 1844, but when this did not happen then
he changed the date to
b)
Interpreting scripture privately.
Following the Great Disappointment, Adventism divided into two
movements; The Open Door and The Shut door.
The Open door continued to fix dates for the Second
Coming. The Shut door held that
probation for sinners had ended. Ellen
Harmon maintained that God had shown her in a vision that probation for sinners
had ended on October 22 and Christ would soon return. When Christ did not return then Hiram Edson
maintained that Christ's heavenly mission moved from the
Answer: This
teaching is a denial of the Finished work of
c) The
development of legalistic rules. Around
1850 the doctrine of 'keeping the Sabbath' came into the Church.
Joseph Bates of the 'Seventh Day Baptists' was able
to convince the movement of the need to 'keep the Jewish Sabbath'.
The doctrine was introduced after Ellen Harmon
White claimed to have received a vision confirming the doctrine.
Ellen G White - dietary laws obligatory.
Answer: see book of Galatians. Error in the Church will always lead back to
the Old Testament.
2.
The Scriptures of Seventh Day Adventism
Adventists hold that the Bible is the inspired word
of God and that Ellen G White is a 'Messenger from God'.
Ellen G White writings are not held to be
scripture, but she is held to be 'the Spirit of prophecy' and an 'infallible
commentator' on the Bible.
Adventists accept that all her writings are in
agreement with the Bible.
This is how they reason:
All Ellen G White's writings are in agreement with
the Bible.
Adventists follow the teachings of Ellen G
White.
Adventists follow the teaching of the Bible.
The problem is that the conclusion is wrong because
the first proposition is wrong. Ellen G
White's teaching is not in agreement with scripture.
Answer: Ellen
G White interpreted scripture privately - for instance the doctrine of 'the
Shut Door'. The Bible cannot be
privately interpreted.
2 Peter
1:19-21
'We have also a more sure
word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that
shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts: Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'
History of Ellen G White
Born in
Badly brain damaged when hit in the left forehead
by a stone thrown by a schoolchild. She
was unable to continue her schooling after this incident.
1st vision - followed the Great Disappointment
January 1845, confirming the Shut Door teaching. This began her ministry as a
'Messenger from God'.
She and her husband, James, then worked to
establish the
Received answers to questions through her many
visions concerning issues raised within the small group of followers. Later her visions were replaced by
Seventh Day Adventism was incorporated in 1861. The
HQ was at
The White's led the movement together until James
White died in 1881. Then Ellen G White
continued as elder stateswoman and counsellor.
She died in 1915 age 87.
Early in 1900's the Headquarters moved to
Following the death of E.G.White the SDA built
schools, missions, medical works, and evangelised the SDA message around the
world.
Adventism has the largest Protestant school system.
Universities Loma Linda in
3.
The teachings of Seventh Day Adventism
(1) The Primary doctrine of Adventism - keep the
Sabbath.
SDA maintains that the Sabbath is commanded in the Moral Law (Ten
Commandments). The Ten Commandments are
held to be binding for all time. The Mark of the Beast of Revelation 13:16-18
is held to be Sunday observance in place of the Sabbath. Apostasy is blamed for changing
the seventh day for a first day.
Answer: The
Sabbath speaks of the rest of Christ - See Hebrews 4:1-11. Entering into His rest means becoming
partakers of Christ by faith.
(2) The
Dietary Laws and vegetarianism
SDA claims that Leviticus 11 apply to all.
Pork, scaleless fish, shellfish, birds other than
fowl, reptiles, most mammals, are forbidden foods.
Emphasises vegetarianism.
No alcohol, smoking etc. Coffee and tea drinking is not encouraged.
Answer: All
food is good to be received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:1-5
(3) Atonement
Adventism teaches this is an ongoing event.
They reject the belief that Atonement was completed
on the cross.
E.G.White taught that Christ entered the
Answer: Hebrews
(4)
Redemption
Adventism is divided into two groups regarding
salvation.
The left wing believes 'salvation is through
acceptance of Christ alone'. Considers
'keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws' to be evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.
The right wing holds that sin committed before
conversion is forgiven at conversion but then the person can become sinless
through close relationship with Jesus.
It teaches that Christ was born with a tendency to sin and shows that a
person can become sinless like Christ.
E.G.White took a position between 'Justification by
faith' and 'perfectionist' and is held by both sides to have advocated their
position.
Answer:
Romans 5:1 'having been Justified by faith, we have peace with God'
(5) Teaching
of a remnant
Seventh Day Adventists hold that only they fulfil
the conditions of the remnant.
Revelation
Answer: New
Testament Christianity is the body of Christ ;1 Corinthians 12.
(6) Prophecy
E.G.White contradicted herself.
In 1884 she stated that the interpretation of the
vision regarding the Shut Door was wrong.
Answer: Deuteronomy 18:22 'When a prophet
speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that
is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it
presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him.'
E G White's interpretation of the 'Shut Door'
vision cannot be separated from the message of the prophecy - her admission is
evidence that she was 'prophecying presumptuosly' and she should therefore be
disregarded as a prophet.
Summary:
1.
The origins of Adventism are associated with
William Miller erroneously setting a date for the Lord's return, and Ellen G
White's claim to a prophetic gift and messages received through angelic
visitations. No man knows the day nor
hour of the Lord's return and we must
beware of false prophets.
2.
The writings of Ellen G White are held by
adventists to be scriptural, but upon examination her teachings are seen to
contradict scripture.
3.
The teachings of Adventism go against the
teaching of New Testament Christianity.
It retains obligation to keep the Old Testament Laws, and denies
the 'finished work of Christ'.