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 USA during the first half of the 19th century.   There was great expectation that the Second Coming of Jesus would soon come. William Miller setting a date for the Lord's return.

 

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 Jerusalem.  2300 years from 457 BC = 1844 AD.    Note - there was no year 0; 1 BC was followed by 1 AD.

 

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 October 22, 1844.  The failure of this event to happen became known as the Great Disappointment.

 

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 Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in heaven, and began the 'final atonement' for sinners.  The sect then began world-wide missions work.

 

Answer:  This teaching is a denial of the Finished work of Calvary.   Hebrews 10:12, shows that Christ sat down on the right hand of God.  No priest could sit down in the holy of holies, but Jesus sat down in the Father's presence because Christ's atoning work was completed.

 

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 Gorham, Maine - one of twin girls.

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 Adventist Church.

Received answers to questions through her many visions concerning issues raised within the small group of followers.  Later her visions were replaced by 3:00 AM visits from angels who told her what to write.

Seventh Day Adventism was incorporated in 1861. The HQ was at Battle Creek, Michigan.

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 Washington DC.

 

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 California and Andrews in Michigan.                   SDA has between 6,000,000 and 7,000,000 members.

 

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 Most Holy Place October 22, 1844.  Prior to this time Christ ministered in the Holy Place.

 

Answer:  Hebrews 10:12 'Finished work'.

 

(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 12:17  'And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.'

 

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'.