TESTIMONY: "I FLIRTED WITH ADVENTISM!"

I was first introduced to Seventh-day Adventism several years back, when I was in high school I believe, when I overheard a television broadcast my father was watching. He explained to me that the speaker was an Adventist and commented that he was saying some pretty wild things. I sat down for a few minutes and listened. It was about a week before Easter and the speaker was extravagantly claiming that attending Easter sunrise services was a sin. I don’t remember much else the man said, but that comment stuck with me. I did not understand why he said that but then my father explained that Adventists worship and go to church on Saturdays, not Sundays. I simply nodded in acknowledgment. Following that evening, I really never gave Adventism much of thought.

When I met my wife, she was going through some emotional problems. We had talked a lot about her problems, and through talking, we found out we were both Christians. When she mentioned that she was a Seventh-day Adventist, that evening years before began to flash through my mind. I knew about the whole Saturday thing, but no details, just that I thought it was wrong. I thought perhaps we could learn something from each other.

While our relationship grew, our understanding of each other’s theology did not. Several times we came to a head about the Sabbath. I began to learn why they keep it the way they do, and I even took some time to examine their Biblical basis. We had other discussions about the Left Behind book series, of which at the time I was a strong proponent. (The rightness or wrongness of the book series is not being discussed here.) Through those discussions, I learned a bit about Adventist eschatology, which I just dismissed as false.

Then for about six months or so we hadn’t spoken much about the differences in our beliefs, other than acknowledging that we had them. During the summer of 2001, Sara introduced me to Amazing Facts, and I began to read material on their website. Also during that summer, she moved back to Florida from California. (It’s a bit complicated to explain, but we met on the Internet. We had dialogue about 10 months before we met face-to-face.) We had Bible studies on non-Adventist issues, but privately I continued to read their material. It was pretty much a scattershot of material, reading about the Sabbath, their unique end-time teachings, etc. Nothing made much of any sense, but I was intrigued.

When the Fall semester began, my study stepped up considerably. I had met an Adventist in one of my classes, and I told him about my inquiries. He invited me to the local SDA church in town and I went a few times. While there, he gave me boatloads of reading material, including a copy of Ellen White’s Desire of Ages. I began reading it that night.

I began thinking about how I could have been wrong all those years I’d been a Christian. I thought about how so many people could be wrong by worshipping on Sunday.

I remember lying in bed thinking about the implications of Sabbath keeping. I began thinking about how I could have been wrong all those years I’d been a Christian. I thought about how so many people could be wrong by worshipping on Sunday. Following September 11th I asked Sara to marry me, and we began making tentative wedding plans. I emailed my future mother-in-law telling her that I had been attending SDA church and tried giving Sabbath keeping a shot. She could not have been happier. For a period of about three to four weeks, I seriously flirted with Adventism.

Then, about a month later, I “accidentally” stumbled upon the Former Adventist Fellowship Online. I searched through the site and surfed the links. Finally, I had found what I had been looking for all along material countering Adventist beliefs. Finally, I could begin a more organized, two-sided study.

The first thing that really piqued my interest was Chaplain Dave Dephino’s testimony. His statements about Ellen White were alarming at first, especially since I was unaware of her prominent role in the church and I was in the middle of reading one of her books. I took his advice and began my study with the Miller Movement and EGW’s role in it. I spent a good two months on Dirk Anderson’s EGW site. I filled a whole notebook with notes and journaled my thoughts. The evidence was overwhelming as to EGW’s involvement in the movement, the emergence of the Adventist Church, and its early beliefs. Reading through the exposition of the investigative judgment really settled the issue for me. It was not before long that I threw away my copy of Desire of Ages.

I felt so ashamed that I had ever gotten myself so engrossed with Adventism. I tried to share what I had found with Sara and her mom, to no avail. I shared with my classmate, and he was alarmed to the point where he left the Adventist church, but strongly held onto the Sabbath. I knew that this was going to be the biggest point of difference in my relationship with Sara, and I honestly was scared as to what might develop. That fear was exacerbated when we found out that we were expecting our first child.

As we hastened our wedding plans, we discussed how we would teach our son Biblical truths as he got older. I obviously knew that she would want heavy emphasis on the Sabbath. The more I studied, the more I came to realize that the SDA Sabbath doctrine was not true, especially when you add on the investigative judgment, the mark of the beast, and the other end-time doctrines. The Internet opened up a wide array of study material for me. I was constantly learning. I desperately wanted to share with Sara the truth of her beliefs, but every time we just ended up arguing. This continued even after our wedding in May 2002, until I basically gave up. Arguing was getting us nowhere.

We read through Galatians and Romans, and for the first time, she began to see things that she had never seen before.

When we moved to our apartment in Gainesville, she began raising questions that she knew challenged her beliefs. We read through Galatians and Romans, and for the first time, she began to see things that she had never seen before. By personal conviction, she no longer could consider herself an Adventist. The truth set her free.

After about a year of study, I not only familiarized myself with how to deal with Adventism, but I began to realize the wonderful grace of God. I read Bob George’s Classic Christianity a few times over this past summer and then again with Sara. The New Testament has come alive to me more than it ever has. I find it amazing that God used Adventism to lead me to His wonderful love and grace.

Seventh-day Adventism has a very Satanic claim upon it. Only recently have I been comfortable expressing that because it has taken me a while to come to that reality. Several of its doctrines are not just deceptive, but cultic. When I read Dr. Walter Martin’s exposition of Adventism from the 1950s, I could only shake my head at his conclusion, because his worst fears did indeed come true. The current movement within Adventism is towards a reinvigoration of its founding doctrines. Those familiar with the denomination should be fearful if it reaches its full potential. Adventism’s exclusivity and rightness could very well lead to more damaging views of other Christians. Adventism is much closer to regaining its widespread cult status than it had before Dr. Martin’s exposition. The current Adventist generation will likely suffer the most because of how much the church chooses not to tell them. It is indeed a group that needs praying for.

I love the Adventist people. I somewhat feel a calling to reach out to the Adventist population, particularly the young who know nothing of its complicated history.

I am not an Adventist. I have never been an Adventist. I did come close to being one though. I praise God that He “hit me over the head” when He did. I love the Adventist people. I somewhat feel a calling to reach out to the Adventist population, particularly the young who know nothing of its complicated history. I praise God for what He has done through my wife, and for the unlearning process she is still undergoing. (We all come to think of it.) I pray for my mother-in-law that God will break through to her and see the true Sabbath rest in Christ. I praise God for the community at the Former Adventist Fellowship. It has truly been a blessing to me in my growth in Christ.

As Bob George put it so well in Classic Christianity, “If truth sets you free, it must be error that binds you.” May we continue to praise God for His grace that led us into His truth and pray for those who are still bound by the error of Adventism. †

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY ELLEN WHITE BOOKS?

The book of Acts contains an almost-forgotten story that occurred when Paul was preaching in Ephesus. When he first came to that city, he entered the synagogue and began preaching, as he did in every city he visited, keeping his commitment always to preach the gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. After three months the Jews turned against him and began “speaking evil of the Way before the congregation,” and Paul withdrew. For the next two years, Paul preached “daily in the hall of Tyrannus.” He turned to the gentile population, and the gospel took hold and spread. Acts 19:10 says that “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

The next verses describe how powerfully the Lord confirmed the gospel Paul was preaching in that city dominated by goddess worship and magic arts:

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also, many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily (Acts 19:11–20).

It is astonishing to me that our sovereign God included in His eternal, living word the story of believers burning the books that had taught them the false religion of their past. In fact, this passage reveals several interesting details.

In a city dominated by magic arts and false gods, the True God confirmed Paul’s gospel message with signs and wonders that the demon-fearing, magic-seeking pagans could not ignore. Paul did not take money for his message, and he did not manipulate them, but those who encountered Paul or things that had been in his presence were healed.

In a city dominated by magic arts and false gods, the True God confirmed Paul’s gospel message with signs and wonders that the demon-fearing, magic-seeking pagans could not ignore.

Interestingly, it was, once again, Jews who tried to outshine Paul. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest were practicing exorcisms. They knew the Old Testament law but did not know the Messiah; nevertheless, they attempted to eclipse Paul by invoking Jesus’ name to cast demons out of people with evil spirits.

The evil spirits, significantly, knew those Jewish posers were frauds. “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” they sneered at the seven sons of Sceva. Then the man they had tried to exorcize leaped on them and “overpowered them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Imagine their shame when their humiliation became known “to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks”!

This event, though, was God’s plan. Because of this incident, the citizens of Ephesus became aware that the true God whom Paul preached was more powerful than their spirits. In fact, the familiar spirits of their people knew who Jesus was, and those spirits would answer only to Him—never to an unbeliever who posed as a believer. Ephesus was stricken with fear, and even believers realized that they could no longer practice their magic arts and also worship the Lord God.

Burning Books?

Luke, the gentile author of Acts, tells us that after the demon-possessed man overcame the seven sons of Sceva who blasphemed the name of Jesus, many of the Ephesian believers began to come forward, “confessing and divulging their practices.” Somehow this sentence confirms the experience so many of us had as new believers as we were leaving Adventism. The Lord saves us in our sin, but He never leaves us there. After we know Him, He reveals to us the practices we have to give up in order to embrace Him with our whole hearts. Many Ephesian believers realized, after the shocking episode of the Sons of Sceva, that they had to admit their own practice of magic arts was sin. They had to renounce the spiritual practices they had known all their lives. The doctrines of demons could not hold a place in their hearts that now were committed to the Lord Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

The next sentences are even more explicit: “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

This detail from the lives of the earliest Ephesian believers sounds shocking and primitive to our modern ears. Significantly, though, God’s own eternal word tells us that this book burning was no impulsive revelry.

Those Ephesians burned their treasures. Books in those days were scarce and hand-copied. A book was expensive, and those believers burned their wealth. They didn’t just decide they could no longer keep books teaching the doctrines of demons and sell them—rather, they destroyed those books so no one else would ever be able to learn magic arts from them. They taught heresy, and those believers knew that they could not profit from that heresy nor risk others learning heresy from them. They burned what may have been their most expensive possessions, and they did it willingly as an act of repentance from their dead works as they embraced the true gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

What about us?

Without a doubt, access to books is one of God’s great gifts to humanity in these last six centuries. Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of moveable type in 1439 changed history and helped make both the Reformation and the Renaissance possible. In fact, in 1997 “Time-Life magazine picked Gutenberg’s invention as the most important of the second millennium,”* and in 1999 A&E Network ranked Gutenberg as the “most influential person of the second millennium”.* In the course of history, God raised Gutenberg and his printing press at exactly the right time to bring learning to the general population and to make it possible for common citizens to be able to have copies of the Bible. Because of the printing press, Luther’s 95 Theses were able to be distributed throughout Germany, sparking a Reformation which he never anticipated—but which did not surprise God!

Today images of book-burning evoke echoes of witch hunts and repressive regimes silencing the educated and denying access to books. Importantly, though, God’s word lets us know that books are not intrinsically sacred. Printing presses can produce evil content as well as good.

We frequently hear the question from people leaving Adventism, “What should I do with my Ellen White books?”

We frequently hear the question from people leaving Adventism, “What should I do with my Ellen White books?”

The answer to this question is not necessarily simple. Many Adventists have a great deal of money invested in Adventist books, including libraries of Ellen White’s works as well as books by other Adventist authors. Disposing of these books represents the loss of great amounts of money and also is, quite simply, a huge job.

On the one hand, Christian apologists often collect cultic books for the purpose of research. Since the “new religions” often change the contents of their books with successive printings, it is useful for them to have copies of older, out-of-print versions so the evidence of changed wording is clear. We often recommend that former Adventists wanting to dispose of their books contact either Paul Carden at The Centers For Apologetics Research or Jim Baber of Academy Apologia.

On the other hand, even apologists can only store a certain number of books. Many of us have had to think through the implications of getting rid of our Ellen White publications. The believers in Ephesus give us a clear example of an appropriate way to dispose of heresy.

Throwing the books away or even recycling them is one option, but even normal methods of disposal could result in people finding those books and reading them. Some people do glean in dumps and dumpsters. Giving them to second-hand bookstores or libraries is an even bigger problem; they become accessible to unsuspecting people at a much-reduced price! Even giving Ellen White's books back to Adventists or Adventist churches keeps them accessible.

Only destroying them ensures that no one else will ever be able to read them. Ellen White's books teach doctrines of demons. She was a false prophet who misinterpreted Scripture and misrepresented our Lord Jesus. The theology derived from her visions and endorsements is not the life-giving gospel of the substitutionary atonement and the finished work of the Lord Jesus. Rather, it is a syncretistic mixture of grace, good works, a defiled heavenly sanctuary, a fallible Jesus, the law, and faith.

Books that teach heresy, according to the example in the book of Acts, should be destroyed. It is an act of faith in the gospel of Jesus and an act of repentance to burn the publications that confuse the truth of the Bible. It is an act of protection and concern for one’s neighbors to protect them from access to published doctrines of demons. In fact, it’s a matter of life and death. † (Published November 3, 2017. Updated October 25, 2023)

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg

Source: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2017/11/03/what-do-we-do-with-heresy/

Bakit Pinagpipilitan ng mga Sabadista Dapat Sundin ang 10 Utos?

THE NEW CREATION (REVELATION 21-22)

Finally, we've reached a place in Revelation where everyone's agreed, right? "The new heaven and earth" - that's got to be literal, referring to eternity after the end of the world, right? Wrong. Or, to be absolutely precise, I should say: Yes and no. The truth is that the Bible tells us very little about heaven; just enough, in fact, to let us know we're going there. But the primary concern of Scripture is the present life. Of course, the blessings of the final chapters of Revelation do refer to heaven. It is not really an "either/or" kind of an issue. But what is important is that these things are true now. Heaven is a continuation and perfection of what is true of the Church in this life. We are not simply to look forward to these blessings in an eternity to come but to enjoy them and rejoice in them here and now. John was telling the early Church of present realities, of blessings that existed already and would be on the increase as the gospel extended and renewed the earth.

"Behold, I Am Making All Things New"

First, John said, he saw "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away" (Rev. 21:1). To understand this, we need to remember one of the most basic lessons of the Paradise theme: salvation is a re-creation. This is why creation language and symbolism are used in Scripture whenever God speaks of saving His people. The Flood, the Exodus, and the First Advent of Christ are all seen as God making a new world. Thus, when God spoke through Isaiah, prophesying the earthly blessings of the coming Kingdom, He said:

"For, behold, 1 create new heavens and a new earth, And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, And her people for gladness. I will also rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in My people, And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred, And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Shall be thought accursed. And they shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build, and another inhabit; They shall not plant, and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My chosen ones shall wear out the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity; For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, And their descendants with them. It will also come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain." (Isa. 65:17-25)

This cannot be speaking of heaven, or of a time after the end of the world; for in this "new heaven and earth" there is still death (at a very advanced age-"the lifetime of a tree"), people are building, planting, working, and having children. We could spend the rest of this chapter examining the implications of this passage in Isaiah, but the only point I will make here is that it is clearly a statement about this age, before the end of the world, and shows what future generations can expect as the gospel permeates the world, restores the earth to Paradise, and brings to fruition the goals of the Kingdom. Isaiah is describing the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 in what is probably their greatest earthly fulfillment. Thus, when John tells us that he saw "a new heaven and earth," we should recognize that the primary significance of that phrase is symbolic and has to do with the blessings of salvation.

John next saw "the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a Bride adorned for her Husband" (Rev. 21:2). No, it's not a space station. It is something which should be much more thrilling: it is the Church. The Bride is not just in the City; the Bride is the City (cf. Rev. 21:9-10). We are in the New Jerusalem now. Proof? The Bible categorically tells us: "You have come to Mount Zion and to the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven ... " (Heb. 12:22-23; cf. Gal. 4:26; Rev. 3:12). The New Jerusalem is a present reality; it is said to be coming down from heaven because the origin of the Church is heavenly. We have been "born from above" (John 3:3) and are now citizens of the Heavenly City (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20).

This thought is expanded in John's further statement. He heard a loud voice from the throne, saying: 

"Behold, the Tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them" (Rev. 21:3). Like Paul, John connects these two concepts: we are citizens of heaven, and we are God's dwelling place, His holy Temple (Eph. 2:19-22). One of the Edenic blessings God promised in Leviticus was, "I will make My Tabernacle among you" (Lev. 26:11); this is fulfilled in the New Testament Church (2 Cor. 6:16). The voice John heard continued:

"And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost" (Rev. 21:4-6).

Ultimately, this will be fulfilled in heaven to the utmost extent. But we must recognize that it is true already. God has wiped away our tears. The proof of this is the obvious difference between Christian and pagan funerals: we grieve, but not as those who have no hope (l Thess. 4:13). God has taken away the sting of death (l Cor. 15:55-58). And most striking is the following phrase: "The first things have passed away.... Behold, I am making all things new." Where have we read that before? It comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Is this true now? Of course! The only real difference between the subjects of 2 Corinthians 5 and Revelation 21 is that Paul is speaking of the redeemed individual, while John is speaking of the redeemed community. But both the individual and the community are restored to Paradise in salvation, and the restoration has already begun. The water of life feeds us freely now, giving life to the individual and flowing out to give life to the whole world (John 4:14; 7:37-39). "He who overcomes shall inherit these things," God says, "and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:7); the child of God is characterized by victory against the opposition (l John 5:4). The language used here ("I will be his God") is the basic covenantal promise of salvation (cf. Gen. 17:7-8; 2 Cor. 6:16-18). The highest fulfillment will take place in heaven for eternity. But, definitively and progressively, it is true now. We are living in the new heaven and the new earth; we are citizens of the New Jerusalem. The old things have passed away, and all things have become new.

City on a Hill

John is carried away in the Spirit "to a great and high mountain" (Rev. 21:10) to see the beauty of this consummate Paradise, which glows with the glory of God. The twelve gates of the City have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them, and on the twelve foundation stones are the names of the twelve Apostles (Rev. 21:12-14). Is this symbolism difficult to understand? This clearly represents the fact that the City of God contains the whole Church, the entire people of God, comprising both Old Testament and New Testament believers-which, as Paul wrote, is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20).

The absurdity of the "literalist" misinterpretation is painfully evident when they attempt to deal with the measurements John gives of the City (Rev. 21:15-17). John says that the City is a pyramid (or cube), with 12,000 "furlongs" on each side, with a wall 144 "cubits" high. The numbers are obviously symbolic, the multiples of twelve being a reference to the majesty, vastness, and perfection of the Church. But the "literalist" feels compelled to translate those numbers into modern measurements, resulting in a wall 1,500 miles long and 216 feet high. John's clear symbols are erased, and the unfortunate Bible reader is left with just a jumble of meaningless numbers. The "literalists" find themselves in the ridiculous position of deleting the literal numbers of God's Word and replacing them with meaningless symbols!

John goes on to describe the City in terms of jewelry: each of the foundation stones is adorned with precious stones, each of the gates is "a single pearl," the wall is made of jasper, and the City and the street are "pure gold, like transparent glass" (Rev. 21:18-21). From our study of the minerals connected with the Garden of Eden, we understand that this, again, is symbolic language, speaking of the restoration and fulfillment of Paradise in salvation. Eight hundred years earlier, Isaiah had described the coming salvation in terms of a City adorned with jewels:

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, Behold, I will set your stones in fair colors, And your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, And your gates of sparkling jewels, And your entire wall of precious stones." (Isa. 54:11-12)

It is interesting that the word translated fair colors is, in Hebrew, eye shadow. This sounds crazy, doesn't it? Walls are intended for protection; this wall is merely decorative. Who would build a wall out of jewels, using cosmetics for "mortar"? Someone fabulously wealthy, and supremely confident against attack. This, Isaiah says, is the future of the Church, the City of God. She will be rich and secure from enemies, as the rest of the passage explains:

And all your sons will be taught of the LORD, And the well-being of your sons will be great. In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you.... No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me, declares the LORD. (Isa. 54:13-17)

John saw that in this new City of God, there is no Temple, "for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its Temple. And the City has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Rev. 21:22-23). This is also based on Isaiah (see Isa. 60:1-3, 19-20), emphasizing that the Church is lighted by the Glory of God, indwelled by the Cloud, shining with the original Light. This is the City on the Hill (Matt. 5:14-16), the light of the world, shining before men so that they will glorify God the Father. Drawing from the same passage in Isaiah Isa. 60:4-18), John tells of the City's influence in the nations of the world:

And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. And in the Daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed, and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it, and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 21:24-27; cf. Ps. 22:27; 66:4; 86:9; Isa. 27:6; 42:4; 45:22-23; 49:5-13; Hag. 2:7-8)

This is written of a time when the nations still exist as nations; yet the nations are all converted, flowing into the City and bringing their treasures into it. As the light of the gospel shines through the Church to the world, the world is converted, the nations are discipled, and the wealth of the sinners become inherited by the just. This is a basic premise of Scripture from beginning to end. This is the pattern of history, the direction in which the world is moving. This is our future, the heritage of generations to come.

The River of Life

We look forward to the turning back of the Curse in every area of life, both in this world and the next, as the gospel flows out to all the world. We studied in an earlier chapter how the image of the Eden River is used throughout Scripture to indicate the blessings of Paradise returning to earth by the power of the Spirit through the Church (cf. Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8). John fittingly closes his picture of the New Creation with this picture, taken from Ezekiel's vision of the Church:

And he showed me a River of the Water of Life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on either side of the River was the Tree of Life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall no longer be any Curse, and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bondservants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall no longer be any Night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:1-5).

The River of Life is flowing now (John 4:14; 7:37-39), and it will continue to flow in an ever-increasing stream of blessing to the earth, healing the nations, bringing an end to lawlessness and warfare through the application of Biblical law (Mic. 4:1-3). This vision of the Church's glorious future, earthly and heavenly, mends the fabric that was torn in Genesis. In Revelation, we see Man redeemed, brought back to the Mountain, sustained by the River and the Tree of Life, regaining his lost dominion and ruling as a priest-king over the earth. This is our privilege and heritage now, definitively and progressively, in this age; and it will be ours fully in the age to come. Paradise is being restored.

Reference:

Chilton, David. Paradise Restored. Dominion Press, 1985.

WALANG KALIGTASAN SA ARAL NA 1844 INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT!

"THE ISRAEL DAMMON TRIAL": ELLEN WHITE EXPOSED SERIES 1

It was the Seventh-day Adventist historical discovery of the century. However, some Adventist leaders probably wish that it had never been made. In March of 1986, Andrews University Seminary graduate student Bruce Weaver located a newspaper account of the arrest and trial of one of Ellen White's & friends, Israel Dammon. What he unearthed would turn out to be an eye-opening shocker for Ellen White devotees. 

Bruce quickly noted that the newspaper account of the incident varied widely from Mrs. White's account. Why the differences? In order to understand, we must travel back in time to 1845. 

The Great Disappointment is only a few months in the past. Religious confusion, fanaticism, and excitement are running rampant among the Millerites. Religious services among the Adventists are almost exclusively held in private homes. Meetings typically include such phenomena as "the 'holy' salutation kiss, loud shouting and singing, physical prostrations, promiscuous (mixed) foot-washing, multiple baptisms by immersion, odd exhibitions of voluntary humility (i.e. crawling, barking), and the presentations of a few (mostly female) visionaries." [1]

On Saturday, February 16, Ellen Harmon arrives in town fresh from the meeting in Exeter, Maine, where her visions successfully convinced Sister Durben to accept the shut-door doctrine. On this brisk Saturday evening, a meeting of Adventist believers is being held at the Ayer household in Atkinson, Maine. The meeting is being led by former sea captain Israel Dammon and features the prophetesses Miss Dorinda Baker of Orrington and Miss Ellen Harmon of Portland. Elder James White is also in attendance. Perhaps one of the most vivid eyewitness descriptions of the meeting comes from William Crosby, a 37-year-old attorney who described it under oath in court two days later:

"They would at times all be talking at once, hallooing at the top of their voices... A woman on the floor lay on her back with a pillow under her head; she would occasionally arouse up and tell a vision which she said was revealed to her... By spells, it was the most noisy assembly I ever attended— there was no order or regularity, nor anything that resembled any other meeting I ever attended..." [2]

Deacon James Rowe added his sworn testimony regarding the chaotic meeting:

"I was at Ayer's a short time last Saturday evening...I have been young, and now am old, and of all the places I ever was in, I never saw such a confusion, not even in a drunken frolic." [3]

The prophetesses were a central part of the service that evening. Loton Lambert, an eyewitness to the meeting, gave the following testimony in court under oath: 

"They were singing when I arrived — after singing they sat down on the floor — Dammon said a sister had a vision to relate — a woman on the floor then related her vision. Dammon said all other

denominations were wicked — they were liars, whoremasters, murderers, etc.; he also run [sic] upon all such as were not believers with him. He ordered us off — we did not go. The woman that lay on the floor relating visions, was called by Elder Dammon and others, Imitation of Christ. Dammon called us hogs and devils and said if he was the owner of the house he would drive us off — the one that they called Imitation of Christ, told Mrs. Woodbury and others, that they must forsake all their friends or go to hell. Imitation of Christ, as they called her, would lay on the floor a while, then rise up and call upon someone and say she had a vision to relate to them, which she would relate; there was one girl that they said must be baptized that night or she must go to hell; she wept bitterly and wanted to see her mother first; they told her she must leave her mother or go to hell — one voice said, let her go to hell. She finally concluded to be baptized. Imitation of Christ told her vision to a cousin of mine, that she must be baptized that night or go to hell— she objected because she had once been baptized. Imitation of Christ was said to be a woman from Portland." [4]

The visionary "woman from Portland," the one referred to by Lambert as the Imitation of Christ, is thus identified as Ellen Harmon — the other prophetess being &om Orrington. The owner of the home, James Ayer, later confirmed in court that the visionary whom Lambert referred to as the "Imitation of Christ" was indeed Ellen Harmon:

"Saw the woman with a pillow under her head — her name is Miss Ellen Harmon, of Portland. I heard nothing said by her or others about Imitation of Christ." [5]

Like Ellen Harmon, the other aspiring young prophetess present, Dorinda Baker of Orrington, was in poor physical health. She was described in court by witness Joshua Burnham:

"I have known Miss Dorinda Baker from five years of age— her character is good — she is now twenty-three twenty-four years of age. She is a sickly girl, her father has expended $1,000 on doctoring her. I was at the meeting Saturday night — it was appointed for the lady to tell her visions." [6]

The meeting's riotous atmosphere caused such a civil disturbance in the neighborhood that authorities were finally called in to break it up. Mrs. White gives her account of what happens when the sheriff arrives to arrest Dammon:

 . ..while I was speaking, two men looked into the window. We were satisfied with their object. They entered and rushed past me to Elder Damman [sic]. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and his strength was taken away, and he fell to the floor helpless. The officer cried out, 'In the name of the State of Maine, lay hold of this man.' Two seized his arms, and two of his feet, and attempted to drag him from the room. They would move him a few inches only, and then rush out of the house. The power of God was in that room, and the servants of God with their countenances lighted up with his glory, made no resistance. The efforts to take Elder D. were often repeated with the same effect. The men could not endure the power of God, and it was a relief to them to rush out of the house. Their number increased to twelve, still Elder D. was held by the power of God for about forty minutes, and not all the strength of those men could move him from the floor where he lay helpless. At the same moment, we all felt that Elder D. must go; that God had manifested his power for his glory, and that the name of the Lord would be further glorified in suffering him to be taken &om our midst. And those men took him up as easily as  they would take up a child, and carried him out." [7]

Mrs. White's description of the event is very awe-inspiring, indicating a profound and remarkable supernatural intervention by God. However, her account differs widely from the sworn court testimony of the eyewitnesses recorded in the town's newspaper, the Piscataquis Farmer. Now, contrast Mrs. White's account with that of Joseph Moulton, the sheriff in charge of arresting Dammon. Here he describes the arrest in court under oath: 

"When I went to arrest prisoner, they shut the door against me. Finding I could not gain access to him without, I burst open the door. I went to the prisoner and took him by the hand and told him my business. A number of women jumped on to him — he clung to them, and they to him. So great was the resistance, that I with three assistants, could not get him out. I remained in the house and sent for more help; after they arrived we made a second attempt with the same result — I again sent for more help after they arrived we overpowered them and got him out door in custody. We were resisted by both men and women. Can't describe the place —it was one continued shout." [8]

Moulton's sworn court testimony contrasts sharply with Ellen White's tale. Moulton clearly indicates that Dammon was being held by human power, by the women and men who jumped to his assistance and helped him resist arrest by holding him down — not the supernatural power of God. 

Interestingly enough, not a single one of the other thirty or so witnesses at the trial contradicted Moulton's

testimony about women and men aiding Dammon in resisting arrest. Mrs. White's crucial contradiction of the story casts doubt upon the integrity of what she wrote. Bruce Weaver explains how preposterous it is to suppose that the Sheriff was brave enough or foolhardy enough, to attempt to battle supernatural forces in order to arrest Dammon.

"In fact, if twelve men worked strenuously and unsuccessfully to budge one prone and otherwise unimpeded individual, and if there had been such a powerful but invisible aura in the room that 'it was a relief to them to rush out of the house' periodically, normal men would be sufficiently spooked (or converted) by the experience to abandon their mission long before forty minutes had expired."[9]

After spending the weekend in jail, Dammon appeared for trial on Monday. Mrs. White picks up the story of Dammon at his trial:

"At the hour of trial, Elder D. was present. A lawyer offered his services. The charge brought against Elder D. was, that he was a disturber of the peace. Many witnesses were brought to sustain the charge, but they were at once broken down by the testimony of Elder D's acquaintances present, who were called to the stand. There was much curiosity to know what Elder D. and his friends believed, and he was asked to give them a synopsis of his faith. He then told them in a clear manner his belief in the Scriptures. It was also suggested that they sung [sic] curious hymns, and he was asked to sing one. There were quite a number of strong brethren present who had stood by him in the trial, and they joined with him in singing, 'When I was down in Egypt's land, I heard my Saviour was at hand'. "Elder D. was asked if he had a spiritual wife. He told them he had a lawful wife, and he could thank God that she had been a very spiritual woman ever since his acquaintance with her. The cost of the court, I think, was thrown upon him, and he was released." [10]

The Piscataquis Farmer has a somewhat different version of the trial. According to the newspaper, it was Dammon who "asked permission" to sing. During the sentencing phase of the trial, Dammon was permitted to speak in his defense:

"He [Dammon] argued that the day of grace had gone by, that the believers were reduced; but that there was [sic] too many yet, and that the end of the world would come within a week. The Court after consultation sentenced the prisoner to the House of Correction for the space of Ten Days..." [11]

Mrs. White's account of Dammon's defense failed to mention that he used the "shut door" and predictions of the imminent return of Christ as part of his defense. The court was apparently unimpressed with his defense or his bizarre beliefs. Rather than releasing him, as Sister White claimed, the court sentenced Dammon to 10 days in jail. Even the most devoted followers of Ellen White can see that her version is, at the very least, factually inaccurate, if not outright deceptive.

One of the most interesting facets of Mrs. White's fable is what she left out. She said nothing about the loud shouting and singing, the physical prostrations, the exhibitions of voluntary humility (i.e. crawling, barking). These were apparently present in many of the early Adventist meetings. Lucinda Burdick noted these fanatical activities in meetings she attended with the Whites:

"At the time of my first acquaintance with them [Ellen and James White] they were in a wild fanaticism, — used to sit on the floor instead of chairs and creep around the floor like little children. Such &eaks were considered a mark of humility." [12]

The act of crawling was practiced by the Adventists to demonstrate their humility. John Doore testified in court that he had "seen both men and women crawl across the floor on their hands and knees." George S. Woodbury said, "My wife and Dammon passed across the floor on their hands and knees." Bruce Weaver explains how this activity was practiced among early Adventists:

"A description of the creeping that took place at the home of Captain John Megquier in Poland, Maine, was provided by a correspondent of the Norway Advertiser: 'They seldom sit in any other position than on the bare floor... A woman, at the meeting he attended, got on her hands and knees and crept over the floor like a child. A man, in the same position, followed her, butting her occasionally with his head. Another man threw himself at full length upon his back on the bed, and presently three women crossed him with their bodies. " [13]

Imagine this outrageous scene which took place at the home of John Megquier — a home where Ellen Harmon received some of her first visions! A woman crawls across the floor on her hands and knees, and a man crawls behind her, occasionally hitting his head against her rear side! Then we find three women lying across a man's body! And they called this a religious service where God was communicating to them via prophetic utterances?

Fanaticism, such as "holy kissing" and "promiscuous" foot-washing was such a problem among the Millerites, that leader Joshua Himes cried out against the Millerites who "live in continual association in exciting, and social meetings," degenerating into "fleshly and selfish passions."

Not surprisingly, by 1894 Mrs. White seems to have changed her position on the unusual activities practiced among the early Adventists:

"Every part of the service of Christ will be characterized by decorum and reverence. The truth of Christ cannot be confined to a certain range, yet it will be active to create for its environment, manners and habits, and practices that will be in harmony with its Author. Everything will be done decently and in order. Wild methods and strange freaks and confusion are not authorized by the God of order." [14] [15]

One could certainly question whether the activities in the Dammon home were "authorized by the God of order." Another activity left unmentioned by Mrs. White was the loud shouting and singing. According to the court testimony of Adventist defense witness Joel Doore, "There was not one-tenth part of the noise Saturday evening, that there generally is at the meetings I attend." [16] It is apparent that in her early career, Mrs. White felt shouting to be an effective method of fighting the devil. In 1850 she wrote, "Singing, I saw, often drove away the enemy, and shouting would beat him back." [17] ' By 1900, however, Mrs. White seemed to have acquired a different view of noisy meetings, even going so far as to claim that she was the one opposing such noise:

"I bore my testimony, declaring that these fanatical movements, this din, and noise, were inspired by the spirit of Satan, who was working miracles to deceive if possible the very elect." [18]

Once again Mrs. White's own testimony reveals that it was the spirit of Satan, not God, that dwelled in these noisy, fanatical meetings.

Mrs. White's account of the arrest and trial of Dammon was published in 1860 in the book Spiritual Gifts. When this book was republished in 1877 under the title Spirit of Prophecy, the Dammon incident was strangely absent. Like many of her earlier writings, this story simply disappeared without explanation. Why would James and Ellen choose not to print such an awe-inspiring account of supernatural intervention? Perhaps it was a former Adventist minister Isaac Wellcome's publication of his book World's Crisis in 1874 that influenced the decision to allow the story to disappear. In World's Crisis, a reformed Israel Dammon relates his relationship with the Whites. He explains how he lost faith in Ellen White by the end of 1846 and discarded his belief in the shut door:

"We were formerly acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. White, and for a time had confidence in her visions, but for a good many years have had none at all. When we saw that they conflicted one with another, we renounced them altogether and betook ourselves to the word of the Lord. "It has been some twenty years or more since we were associated with Mrs. W., but we remember very perfectly that her first visions or vision was told both by herself and others (especially by Mrs. W.) in connection with the preaching of the 'shut door,' and went to substantiate the same. While under that influence, and preaching the visions, she, in vision, saw N. G. Reed and I. Dammon, in the kingdom in an immortal state, and crowned. After that, she saw them finally lost. How could both be true? I think one was just as true as the other, and that God never told her any such thing." [19]

Perhaps it was better to let the Dammon story disappear. The story made Dammon appear to be God's hero. Now God's hero had come out in print in opposition to the prophetess. This was not a flattering position for God's prophet to find herself in. It might be difficult for Ellen to explain how, through vision, she saw Dammon in heaven, then later saw him lost. Keeping the Dammon story in print may raise too many thorny questions. By the late 1800s, it had become an all-too-frequent pattern for Mrs. White's questionable earlier writings to disappear from later republications of the same works. An increasingly educated and diverse church membership was not as likely to be impressed with such an outlandish tale as the Israel Dammon story.

The fact that Mrs. White's version of the story, with its dramatic portrayal of supernatural manifestations differs so widely with the account given in court two days later by 30 witnesses calls into question some of the other supernatural tales that circulate among Adventists. For example, there are narratives of Mrs. White holding up a heavy Bible while in vision, not breathing for hours, and other unusual events. Seventh-day Adventist General Conference president A.G. Daniels, who was personally associated with Mrs. White for over forty years, remarks on those fanciful tales at the 1919 conference on the Spirit of Prophecy:

"For instance, I have heard some ministers preach, and have seen it in writing, that Sister White once carried a heavy Bible — I believe they said it weighed 40 pounds — on her out-stretched hand, and looking up toward the heavens quoted texts and turned the leaves over and pointed to the texts, with her eyes toward the heavens. I do not know whether that was ever done or not. I am not sure. I did not see it, and I do not know that I ever talked with anybody that did see it. But, brethren, I do not count that sort of thing as a very great proof. I do not think that is the best kind of evidence. If I were a stranger in an audience and heard a teacher enlarging on that, I would have my doubts. That is, I would want to know if he saw it. He would have to say, No, he never did. Then I would ask, 'Did you ever see the man that did see it? ' And he would have to answer, 'No, I never did.' Well, just how much of that is genuine, and how much has crawled into the story? I do not know. But I do not think that is the kind of proof we want to use. It has been a long time since I have brought forward this sort of thing, no breath in the body, and the eyes wide open."

By 1919 it was apparent that the leaders of the Adventist church were ready to bury the whimsical yarns of the early days in the graveyard of the past. Perhaps another reason to question the supernatural stories about Mrs. White is Dammon himself. Here was a man who witnessed firsthand her visions and other supposed miracles. One would expect that profound prophetic utterances, not breathing for hours, and other physical manifestations would convince the most hardened skeptic. Yet, Dammon turned his back on Ellen White within a matter of a few months. He was one of the first of a long line of men and women who learned something about Ellen White that caused them to doubt her divine inspiration. Perhaps he discovered what Joseph Turner discovered.

Next article... "The Turner Incident" soon...

FAFP SABBATH SCHOOL COMMENTARY LESSON 4: “SHARING GOD'S MISSION” | OCT. 27, 2023

Problems with this lesson: 

• Abraham is represented as an example of great love for his neighbors and as an intercessor for the salvation of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• The lesson says that readers must intercede for their friends, but their free will might decide against salvation no matter what one does.
• The effect of the lesson is to guilt readers into more intense mission-driven prayer and proselytizing.

Abraham seems to be the author’s choice for an archetype of being on God’s mission. This week the lesson focuses on Genesis 18 where Abraham entertains three strangers, one of whom turns out to be the Angel of the Lord, and where God tells Abraham He will destroy Sodom for its wickedness.

Sodom was the city where Abraham’s nephew Lot lived with his family. The city’s evil was widely known, but Abraham, worried about Lot, asked the Lord if He would destroy the city if it had 50 righteous people. When the Lord said no, Abraham continued asking, counting down by fives and tens, until the Lord said He would not destroy the city if it had even ten righteous people.

Abraham realized that the city was desperately wicked, and when he reached ten, he stopped asking.

The lesson compares this questioning of God’s intentions with intercessory prayer—a comparison that the text doesn’t support. In none of his questions about Sodom does Abraham ever plead with God not to destroy the city or beg Him to cause the people to repent. He doesn’t intercede for them!

Instead, what the story reveals, is Abraham questioning God’s decision. He seems unable to believe that there could be so few righteous in Sodom. Here is what Genesis 18:24–26 says:

“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?”

So Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account” (Genesis 18:24-26 LSB).

Here is what the lesson says on page 46:

"Through his love, Abraham hoped to save all the people in these cities, not only the righteous. Certainly, Abraham knew just how evil and wicked the people were who lived there. Who knows what stories he had heard regarding those people and their practices? And from what we know about them, as revealed in the next chapter, with the sordid story of Lot and the mob outside his house (see Gen. 19:1–11), these were very evil people.

Yet Abraham, knowing for himself the love of God, appealed to Him in their behalf. Abraham knew that human beings always can return to God in repentance. To Abraham, saving the inhabitants of these cities would give them a chance to repent.

In the end, Abraham based his request on what he personally knew about God’s love for human beings. He himself had a great love for sinners, and he knew that as long as there is life, there is hope for salvation."

On the contrary, in context, Abraham was struggling with God. God did not change His mind as Abraham questioned Him; in the end, Abraham came to see that God IS just, and He would not unjustly destroy the cities. There were so few righteous people in them that He would rescue one family and destroy all the others.

In the end, Abraham saw and understood. He was not interceding; the lesson’s author simply imposes a “missional” attitude onto Abraham for the sake of having the moral authority to use Scripture to convince the Adventist readers to get busy and pray and proselytize.

The actual account of the Lord and Abraham reveals the opposite of what the lesson’s author attempts to portray. God was patient with Abraham as He revealed to him that His purposes and omniscience were just. He patiently allowed Abraham to talk through the Lord’s criteria, and in the end, Abraham ceased asking and the Lord was finished speaking.

Furthermore, the lesson teaches that we are obligated to pray always for “our mission”. We must pray that people will be converted. Nevertheless, those people can choose to refuse God. It’s a double-bind situation. It is implied that the Adventist is in disobedience if he or she isn’t continually interceding, yet even God is limited by each person’s free will. As it says on page 48:

"The small number of residents of Sodom who were saved has implications for our own mission: not everyone will be saved. We would like everyone to accept Jesus and His plan of salvation, but each person has free will. Our task is to invite as many people as possible to make the choice for Jesus. While we are carrying out our mission, God assists us through the Holy Spirit, but He will never go against the will of anyone. Free will means that, in the end, no matter what we do, no matter how much we pray, salvation comes down to each individual’s choice."

And there is the hopeless reality of Adventism: we have to pray and share Adventism with those who aren’t Adventist, yet God never “goes against the will of anyone”. In the end, each person’s free will has the last word. Salvation all comes down to each individual’s free choice.

The Bible, however, says that salvation is entirely of the Lord. He uses us and asks us to make disciples, and the news of the Lord Jesus and His finished work is our witness. Yet HE takes responsibility for each person’s salvation. He is not limited by “free will”. He makes it possible for each person, born dead in sin, to hear the gospel and to believe. We do not open others’ eyes.

Each person is responsible for the decisions he makes, but salvation is of the Lord. It is a mystery we cannot explain—but salvation is not a product of free will.

Jesus said,

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44 LSB).

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out: (John 6:37 LSB).

This lesson is typical Adventism, “guilting” the reader into doing more to make converts, reinforcing the Adventist view that members are responsible to bring people into membership and reminding them that even God has to wait patiently for the humans to do their work before He can do His.

Once again, this lesson sees reality through a great controversial lens; God is limited by His creatures, and humans are responsible for whatever happens—even for “finishing the work” so Jesus can return.

The Bible, however, reveals a sovereign God and a finished atonement. We are able to trust Him and know that our lives are not dependent upon our flawed decisions; rather, we are in His hands.

Source: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2023/10/19/october-21-27-2023/

WHAT ABOUT THE LAND OF ISRAEL?

Prior to 1948, the Jews had almost no governmental authority in the land of Israel since Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. The city was destroyed, and the Jews were scattered, exactly as Jesus had prophesied:

“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)

For almost 2,000 years Jerusalem has been trampled underfoot by Gentiles. The whole land of Israel has experienced many wars and has been controlled by various people groups. It was not until 1948 that Israel became a sovereign nation under the control of Jewish leaders.

Some Christians believe that 1948 was the historical fulfillment of God’s timetable when Jerusalem no longer would be trampled underfoot and “the times of the Gentiles” had been fulfilled. Perhaps that date is upon us, but there is reason to doubt it because Jerusalem, to some extent, is still being trampled underfoot by non-Jewish people. Though Jews hold political control, other people groups—in particular, Arabs in that region—battle for control of the area. In addition, the Muslim temple known as the Dome of the Rock stands where the Jewish Temple stood 2,000 years ago. This Dome of the Rock is the third most holy site for Muslims, but it is an abomination in the sight of Jews.

There is also reason to doubt that the times of the Gentiles have been fulfilled because God is continuing to work powerfully among the Gentiles. In fact, there are more Gentiles becoming born-again Christians today than at any time in history (approximately 200,000 per day). The facts do not support the idea that God has shifted His attention from Gentiles to Jews, who for the most part remain hardened to the gospel, with only a small percentage believing Jesus is the Messiah.

When the times of the Gentiles are truly fulfilled, what will happen to the land of Israel? Those who hold to the futurist view believe that God will fulfill His promise to give the land back to the natural descendants of Abraham. They cite the promise that God made to Abraham many years ago:

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Gen. 15:18)

 

Adherents of the futurist view believe that God will cause the Jews who have been scattered around the world to migrate back to Israel (a migration called Aliyah), and then establish them as a nation that will be a light to the world. The Jews will experience God’s blessings, and they will be elevated as a nation to a position of great authority on the earth.

Adherents of the partial preterist view see a very different future for the Jews and Israel. The Jews will experience a future awakening, but the land will not be brought back under the exclusive control of the Jews. Please allow us to explain.

Futurist teachers often state or imply that Jews are presently migrating from all over the world back to Israel, and so God must be fulfilling His promise to Abraham. It is true that approximately 800,000 Jews have emigrated from Russia to Israel in recent years; however, a large percentage of them have used Israel as a transfer station to gain entrance into the USA. Jews have been migrating in from other locations, as well, but the Israeli daily, Yediot Ahronot, reported on April 4, 2007, that there is actually a net exodus of people from the country. The truth is that there are more Jews in the USA today than in Israel, and the largest population gathered in any one location is in New York City. The idea that Jews are now returning en masse to Israel is simply a myth.

To understand what God intends for the Middle East it is important to point out that God’s promise to Abraham was not only for the land that today is known as Israel. God promised all the land, “From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates” (Gen. 15:18). The Euphrates River runs through present-day Syria, Iraq, and Kuwait. The land God promised to Abraham also includes Jordan and Lebanon, along with parts of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. If God is going to give the land promised to Abraham to the modern Jews, as futurist teachers say, then the Jews will have to possess all of the land between the two great rivers.

Yet the Bible clearly tells us of the most significant future transformation that will happen in that region. Isaiah prophesied, saying:

Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. . . . On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." (Isa. 19:21-25)

This passage reveals to us how a day will come when the people of Egypt, Assyria, and Israel will worship the true God together. When these words were written, Egypt and Assyria were large empires, with Assyria encompassing most of the land promised to Abraham. Isaiah prophesied that a day would come when the people of these three lands would be traveling from one region to another for the purpose of worshipping together.

Isaiah’s prophecy sounds almost too good to be true. The people groups he mentioned have battled with each other for generations. Egypt and Assyria lie at the very foundations of the Arab world, and a large percentage of Arabs are Muslims. Isaiah said that even Arabs and Jews will be worshipping together. 

Isaiah’s prophecy also reveals God’s heart for Egypt and Assyria, for God called Egypt “My people” and Assyria “the work of My hands.” To hear God speak this way can be difficult for Christians (and Jews) who think of the Jews as God’s only chosen ones. Of course, God did choose the Jewish people, but it never was His intention to make them the only humans to receive His favor. Rather, they were chosen as a light to the nations. With the same love that God dealt with the Jews, He has always desired to deal with every people group. He loves the world. The Jews were not the only ones chosen, but they were the first fruits of the earth to reveal God’s heart to all people.

Jesus told us of a day when He will gather people from outside of the Jews to Himself.

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

 

This is the promise that we are waiting to see fulfilled— one flock consisting of many different people groups. 

Where will this happen? All over the world, but most prominently in the Promised Land. God is going to take the most tumultuous region of the world and make it His showcase where different people groups will become one flock with Jesus Christ as their Shepherd.

God is not giving the land that He promised to Abraham exclusively to the Jews. He is going to give it to all of His children. Paul made this clear when he wrote:

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. (Gal. 3:16)

Paul explained how the promises were not for Abraham and his descendants (plural). They were given by God to Abraham and his descendant (singular)—Jesus Christ. Paul further explained how all who put their faith in Jesus will inherit the blessings promised to Abraham.

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. . . . There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal. 3:7-29)

 

Paul is giving us the proper way to understand the promises of God to Abraham. To whom does the Promised Land belong? Who are “the heirs of the land between the river of Egypt and the river Euphrates? All who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

What then should we expect for the Promised Land? We know that the Jews must have a significant presence there because Isaiah prophesied that the Jews would worship God together with the neighboring countries. However, it is also true that God is giving the land to His children who have been born of the Seed—Jesus. Therefore, we should expect many people groups to settle in that region. As all of those people bow to the lordship of Jesus Christ, they will be a light to the nations, for that region shall be the most visible place in the earth where various people groups will come together under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

FAFP - COMPLETE IN JESUS CHURCH'S STATEMENT OF BELIEF ON THE END TIME EVENTS: A SUMMARY

1. The first action item is to embrace the biblical teaching of hope, anticipating success in spreading the gospel message rather than defeat and despair. 

2. Understanding biblical prophecy requires a Biblical interpretation, including both literal and symbolic language, rather than a speculative one.

3. Redemption involves the re-creation of humanity in the image of God through Jesus Christ.

4. The Bible portrays salvation and its blessings as final, progressive, and permanent.

5. Salvation seeks to restore the world, represented by the expansion of the Kingdom of God to encompass the entire earth, rather than just individuals.

6. The unrighteous will be "raptured" first, meaning they will be driven out of the earth and left with nothing, while the righteous will gradually inherit everything.

7. Jesus Christ, also referred to as the Son of Man, came to Earth to set up God's Kingdom as the Second Adam.

8. The Bible's prophecies about Christ's reign as King were fulfilled during His Ascension when He was enthroned. 

9.  The Ascension of Christ fulfilled Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man "coming in the clouds." 

10. We believe that Jesus Christ's Atonement, Resurrection, and Ascension restricted and conquered Satan and the demons.

11. The Kingdom was established during the First Advent of Christ, which included the Judgment of A.D. 70. It is currently a continuous process and will keep growing until the end of the world. 

12. Ethnic Israel has been expelled and will not be considered God's Kingdom anymore because they have abandoned their faith.

13. The Kingdom comprises all individuals (Jew and Gentile) who have been saved by Jesus Christ.

14. The Church has become the Temple of God after being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and being fully established when the old Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70.

15. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and not about the Second Coming of Christ. 

16. The Great Tribulation happened in the past during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and will not happen again in the future. Although Christians have faced persecution throughout history, the Great Tribulation is not a future event.

17. Prophecies about the Temple refer to Christ and His Church instead of a physical Temple or sacrificial system in Jerusalem in the future.

18. The Bible suggests Israel will be reinstated in the true faith, but does not indicate any future plans for Israel as a distinct nation.

19. The apocalyptic language about the collapsing universe is a metaphor for God's judgment, and it is related to the accounts of the Flood and the plagues of Egypt during the Exodus.

20. In the Bible, the term "Antichrist" referred to the widespread apostasy of the Christian Church before the Fall of Jerusalem, and could be applied to any apostate system or teacher, but not necessarily a "future Dictator."

23. The "Great Apostasy" happened in the first century, leading to the belief that there is no Biblical basis for expecting an increase in apostasy over time. Instead, we should expect the world to become more Christianized.

24. In the Bible, "The Last Days" refers to the time between Christ's Advent and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which marks the end of Israel.25. Before the Second Coming of Christ, the vast majority of Jews and Gentiles will be converted to the Christian faith.

25. Christ's dominion from heaven is gradually defeating all of His adversaries, and He will remain there until every enemy is conquered, including death, which will be eradicated upon His return.

26. Jesus Christ will return on the Last Day, which will also be the time of the Resurrection and the Last Judgment. 

27. The Second Coming and the Rapture will happen simultaneously.

28. All people will experience one Resurrection event, with the righteous receiving eternal life and the wicked facing damnation.

29. The Old Covenant came to an end in A.D. 70, which resulted in the close of the Canon of Scripture.

30. The Book of Revelation was intended for the first-century readers, and its fulfillment was expected to be imminent. It should not be interpreted through a futuristic lens. 

31. The "Beast" mentioned in Revelation 13 represented Nero specifically, as well as the Roman Empire in general.

32. The Jewish religious leadership was represented by the "False Prophet" symbol in Rev. 13:11. 

33. The term "Harlot" was used to symbolize the apostate Jerusalem that had lost its status as the City of God.

34. The "Millennium" refers to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, which He founded during His first coming.

35. The term "First Resurrection" (Rev. 20:5-6) refers to a spiritual rebirth that occurs through justification and regeneration in Christ.

36. Revelation 20's reference to "a thousand years" is most likely a symbolic representation of an extensive period, potentially spanning thousands of years. 

37. All Christians are deemed priests in the present era, and they are seated in the heavenly realm through their association with Christ.

38. Our salvation in Christ has already initiated the New Creation, which encompasses a new heaven and earth in both the present and the future.

39. The Church is the "New Jerusalem," the eternal City of God.

40. In summary, Partial Preterism suggests that some biblical prophecies were fulfilled in the past, while others remain to be fulfilled in the future. Most of them hold to "Postmillennialism" which is an eschatological view that envisions a future era of global peace and Christian influence before Christ's return. This view is sometimes called "Optimistic eschatology", which in a broader sense, encompasses views like Postmillennialism and emphasizes the belief that God's plan for the world will lead to an improved and more positive future. Former Adventist Fellowship Philippines ministry and Complete in Jesus church are more inclined to Partial Preterism which propagates an optimistic and victorious view on eschatology.

TESTIMONY: TAKING OFF ADVENTIST SUNGLASSES!

We were born into the Seventh-day Adventist subculture but during a church evangelistic series, we found ourselves examining our beliefs. When we opened our Bibles to discover truth in God’s Word we found ourselves studying our way right out of the SDA church–but first, we had to take off our Adventist sunglasses!

We opened our eyes to truth during an evangelistic series! The exact medium designed to promote the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church to local Christians and at the same time keep members in the church opened our eyes to what the SDA church actually teaches. A traditional evangelist came to Placerville for a seven-week series in March 2009. Being involved with deacons and deaconesses, music leaders, marriage ministry leaders, and hospitality team members we pitched in to help. During the course of the series, we began to question what we were hearing from the evangelist, so we opened our Bibles to see what the Bible teaches on these subjects, and then we found ourselves–as happens to many–studying our way right out of the SDA church. First, we had to take off our Adventist sunglasses and then we opened our eyes and we discovered the truth!

We were both born into the SDA subculture—Judy was a 6th generation Adventist her great-great-great grandfather and great-great grandparents helped to establish the Artichoke SDA Church in south Minnesota in 1872, one of the first Scandinavian SDA congregations. Tom was 3rd generation Adventist; his grandparents came into the church through evangelistic tent meetings in Reno, Nevada in the 1940s, and his father is a retired SDA pastor.

I (Judy) have always felt privileged to be raised in an Adventist home within the “Adventist bubble” which shielded us from the realities of the world, taught us a healthy lifestyle, encouraged higher education, and provided community, belonging, and solidarity. I felt privileged to know the “truth” and be a part of a global church family. My parents took us to Sabbath School and church every week; they also made it a priority to send my siblings and me to 14 years in the SDA educational system. All through my life I’ve heard stories about family members who believed in the second coming of Jesus. I remember my grandmother and great-grandmother talking about “the hope” the “truth” a relative “sleeping waiting for Jesus” etc. My parents faithfully had family worship and instilled in us the duty of Sabbath-keeping from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. I remember sitting in stair-step fashion on the second row of the church with my siblings and mother while my father the head elder conducted the “kings business” part of the services feeling proud of our standing in the church.

Even though I (Judy) was a sixth-generation SDA and had attended numerous evangelistic series and spent 14 years in the educational system, the evangelistic series in March 2009 showed me that I did not fully understand all of the details and theology of the 28 SDA Fundamental Beliefs. I know that I did not believe some of them; at times I picked and chose which ones made sense or felt comfortable to me. I inherited being an Adventist. I absorbed it, lived it, ate it, and breathed it. I followed the SDA beliefs to the point that I honestly did not know Jesus because I found my identity in a religion, not in a relationship!

Church standards had never made sense to me–such as the hours of the Sabbath and not participating in certain activities on Sabbath; girls not allowed to wear pants while I was growing up; you could not eat meat but “Vege-meat” filled with gluten, salt and fat was acceptable; Disney movies were OK in the school gymnasium but not in the theaters; reading any books that were not published by SDA publishing companies was discouraged; it was ingrained in me to not associate with those who did not belong to the local church or school. While at boarding academy I remember that the length of my skirt—no more than two inches off the floor when kneeling—was of more importance to the faculty than the condition of my heart; again it was all about work and what looked right, not about a relationship with Jesus. Discussions of what could or could not be done and Sabbath-keeping regulations took any joy out of the day. Many things at home, school, and church were about how it looked to others, what we did when, and who saw it.

Everything was all about what looked right rather than the true condition of your heart. Adventists excel in enforcing the behavior, the works, and the looks while glossing over the controversial core beliefs and doctrines.

Everything was all about what looked right rather than the true condition of your heart. Adventists excel in enforcing the behavior, the works, and the looks while glossing over the controversial core beliefs and doctrines. They teach members enough proof texts, often taken out of context, to explain the Sabbath, proper things to eat, and soul sleep. While the church covers up the discrepancies and other relevant details such as what the Bible unquestionably teaches Christians and what mainstream Christianity believes. While the prophet EGW’s false teachings and the truth about the history and heritage of the SDA church are overlooked. I learned to be careful not to disappoint my angel or go anywhere he wouldn’t (movie theater, bowling alley, etc.) which also fed into the looks and works mentality. Reading about Satan, the constant references to his demonic activities (mentioned 9,956 in Ellen G. White's writings compared to only 47 times in the Bible) the constant battle between good and evil mentioned repetitively in EGW writingsfed many fears and uncertainties. As a child, I (Judy) was taught that angels were recording every word, thought, and deed and that this information one day would be used to determine if I was worthy of salvation during the investigative judgment. Somehow I began to be petrified of Satan appearing like my late grandmother and trying to convince me that my SDA beliefs were wrong, and I constantly rehearsed how I would respond should that happen. I learned that Jesus died to forgive my sins; BUT I needed to continue working exceedingly hard, doing right, and daily confessing sins to keep that sin blotted out of the books of heaven. Again, it was not all wrong, but as with anything, along with sound, the false was added. These are just a few of my memories.

I (Tom) was a 3rd generation SDA. My father is a retired SDA minister, and my mother is the author of six books on prayer and the sanctuary published by Review & Herald. As a PK (preacher’s kid), I rebelled at what seemed my parent’s excessive time spent doing “church work” along with all the rules and expectations that hung over a pastor’s family. Sabbath afternoons were a time for me to get into trouble with the other kids whose parents were also busy with church activities. Left alone to do whatever we wanted to in the church basement or upstairs in bedrooms of homes we visited, many times we did things our parents would have been appalled had they known. I often got into trouble at church school–a church school principal once said to me “Tom you are too wicked to go to heaven!” The unfortunate fact was I believed him!

Born and raised in the church we were both totally educated in the SDA school system from first grade through university. We met while at Pacific Union College, and married. At the same time, Tom attended Loma Linda University, and we raised our children in the church passing along the “works and looks” mentality by raising them in a similar way to our own upbringing. Both of us had difficult experiences in our early years at school so we decided to teach our children at home. This decision led us even deeper into how things looked as Judy became the leader and editor of the Adventist Home Educator publishing a guidebook, newsletter, website, and email list. Being a leader meant our children had to behave, dress, and act a certain way–again everything had to “look just right.”

…we knew that things were not right in the SDA church, and we knew that something was missing in our lives so we began looking to fill the emptiness we were experiencing.

In the mid-1980s, we knew that things were not right in the SDA church, and we knew that something was missing in our lives so we began looking to fill the emptiness we were experiencing. We missed connecting with the Ford, Rae, and Brinsmead movement warned off by Tom’s father, an SDA minister, and blindly accepted the conference explanation of the Ellen G. White (EGW) plagiarism debate. Tom’s aunt and uncle did leave the SDA church during this time and just hearing how they were “lost forever in apostasy now that they had walked away from the truth” kept our minds closed and those Adventist sunglasses firmly positioned.

We began attending the Wheeling, Standish, and other historical SDA meetings and it threw our family into an ultra-conservative movement with even more of the “looks and works” oriented SDA lifestyle. If you just wore long denim skirts, kept your limbs and neck covered, ate a 100% vegan diet, and believed that the SDA denomination was in apostasy and that colored money, Sunday laws, and the end of time were eminent. And you obeyed the Mosaic laws, listened only to music with the “right” beat without drums or guitars, and read the KJV Spirit of Prophecy Study Bible only. And if there was plenty of fear and striving for perfection in the equation you might be able to squeeze into heaven–especially if you moved to the country, grew your own food, and shunned society and technology.

This time of ultra-conservative works and perfection lasted about two years before disillusionment surfaced; along with the reality of not being able to obey all those rules and so we returned to our familiar SDA upbringing and church. We were sadder and wiser but still wearing those Adventist sunglasses. In late 1999, when the board of the conservative Camino church that we had belonged to for 15 years voted to exclude the Gospel Bluegrass music we loved to play as a family, we moved our membership to the progressive SDA church in the next town. The Placerville SDA church welcomed us, music and all. We soaked up the teachings on grace and practical Christian living for two years until this pastor was transferred because he was “teaching too much grace!”

When people inquired which denomination we belonged to, we were always tentative and often hesitant to admit that we were Adventists. We would apologetically say “We attend the SDA church but we do not believe this and we do not practice that, and the church is progressive sometimes we have contemporary praise and worship music.” We felt like we could never invite friends to go to church because the love of God and joy of the Spirit were missing from the services, as the pomp and circumstance got in the way of true worship. Also, you never knew if there would be an isolated spiritually uplifting sermon or more often than not, a guilt-trip message of how you were not giving enough, or serving in a church position, or if a school band would be playing, etc. Most important of all the joy of the Lord was absent! Yet because of life-long habits, parents and family who attended, a need to belong, and a belief that there was nothing else better available, we continued attending, working, doing, and trying to look good.

During this time of growth, we met some incredible Christian couples who were actually joyful, Spirit-filled, and who seemed to know God in a way we had never experienced.

Our marriage had been difficult at times. In 2004, we experienced a healing miracle through the Caring for the Hearts ministries. We were so excited about the changes in our relationship that we wanted to share what we learned with others, so we took the advanced counselor training necessary to share with other struggling couples. During this time of growth, we met some incredible Christian couples who were actually joyful, Spirit-filled, and who seemed to know God in a way we had never experienced. To this day we remain particularly close friends with one couple and we began to wonder how these remarkable people could actually be lost. Meanwhile, the many mainstream Christian books we were reading had broadened our thinking about Christian teachings and beliefs. These teachings have made us receptive to opening our hearts to the truth.

My (Tom’s) journey out of the SDA church started in 2004 when God began a detailed work in me where I began to see the sinner I actually was. The Holy Spirit convicted me of wounds in my youth and through an extraordinary spiritual journey based on Psalms 139:23-24 my Adventist sunglass-shaded eyes started to open. I went through an incredible realization that I was responsible for my dysfunctional marriage and wounded children. I cried out and confessed to God and those I had wounded because of my pride and reactive behaviors from the wounds of childhood. Although during this time I clung to the SDA beliefs ingrained in me from birth, I wondered why there was so much hypocrisy and pride in our church. About a year ago my oldest son was convicted and expressing questions about the validity of the church’s prophet EGW. At the time I was uncomfortable with him questioning the SDA beliefs but the Holy Spirit used this experience to work in my heart.

I (Judy) had always longed to know Jesus in a profound way, but I always came up feeling that a key part was missing. I felt there was a wall between me and Jesus. I lacked faith and a fearful emptiness often filled my heart. An investigative judgment, SDA rules, and unreasonable demands of perfection from the prophet EGW, and the time of trouble constantly hung over my head causing me to doubt my eternal destiny. I confessed sins over and over again and never felt forgiven! I knew that I did not quite know Jesus the way I wanted, let alone have a steady relationship with Him. At times the relationship had been wonderful, but it never seemed to last. The second half of 2008 found me again feeling dead inside, with no joy, no spark, and no desire to read, at times barely able to pray. When I did pick up the Bible or SDA books no matter how hard I searched, peace was a slippery quest to me. I experienced questioning with no answers and seeking with no results. I prayed and tried as hard as possible to obtain a blessing at church and still felt nothing. I realized that I did not have a conversion story–born in the Adventist bubble you do not need one–nobody else has one and no one else even asks about it! This is the problem with the SDA system–you cannot find Jesus when you are stuck in the artificial plastic bubble of rules, works, and regulations with Adventist sunglasses clouding your perception of who Jesus actually is!

Our eye opening experience began in March 2009. Because of pressure from the conference, the outgoing pastor had scheduled an evangelistic series. He disappeared and left the new pastor to work with the evangelist. The advertisement showed the typical scary beasts and end-time events, and there was no indication of where the meetings were, but the address was the Placerville SDA church. Being used to this, having seen it several times before, this time it struck us as dishonest. We began attending and helping out as deacons and refreshment hosts, but we felt darkness in the message, an oppressive atmosphere in the church, a judgment in the sermons. Many of the things preached caused us to question what the Bible's truth actually was. We took the first step on a journey to discover for ourselves what God's Word teaches about the SDA beliefs. We finally started reading God’s word without our Adventist sunglasses.

Everything I (Judy) had grown up with and worried about as an adult, all the fears I had repressed out of hopelessness; the investigative judgment of my sins–remembered or forgotten; surviving the time of trouble without an intercessor. All the striving to be right, look right, and do right; the inadequate feelings I’d manage to push aside–these all came tumbling back–brought to the forefront by the evangelistic series. Along with this came the questions–He sounds convincing but is this correct? What does the Bible actually teach? Why do I feel such oppression during these meetings? Something is wrong about this! Where is Jesus? Where is God’s grace? The Bible says Jesus fulfilled the law, so why the investigative judgment? These questions were the beginning of an incredible journey–one I never imagined that I would ever expect–the destination was uncharted territory, I was both excited and terrified!

Our whole family was decidedly uncomfortable with the scare tactics and works-orientated message presented at these evangelistic meetings. After two weekends–not only of the continued emptiness but the added darkness of the four meetings each weekend had brought to my spirit–I (Judy) could no longer endure. I was craving to genuinely know Jesus, to know for sure the truth in my heart and soul. I felt guilty for questioning the church teachings that I had been so indoctrinated by, but I was becoming desperate for something I did not even understand. Sunday morning, March 15, 2009, seemingly out of the blue but now we know it was by divine prompting–we decided to attend Green Valley Community Church and we took another step on our journey to freedom!

First “Sunday” church experience

It was with trepidation the first time we entered a “Sunday church.” We expected to feel like outsiders, our religious upbringing told us these people were lost, in apostasy (EGW teaches that Christian churches are the “daughters of Babylon”) and that they were worshiping on a false day for which they would receive “the mark of the beast.” Our SDA background had also taught us that these people were only seeking entertainment and that they would one day persecute us for keeping “the real Sabbath.” Is it any wonder we were somewhat nervous that morning?

What we found that spring day at Green Valley Community Church (GVCC) was joyful praise and worship music that ministered to our spirits, teachings directly from God’s Word that touched our hearts and showed God’s grace and plan for our lives, refreshing openness, and sincere Christians. The lack of a “clubhouse atmosphere” and formal dress was evident as the pastor was wearing jeans. The people were warm and welcoming, friendly, joyful, and experiencing a freedom in Christ we had only dreamed of until now. Most of all we genuinely experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit during the worship service!

The lack of a “clubhouse atmosphere” and formal dress was evident as the pastor was wearing jeans.

I (Tom) will never forget the incredible worship presented through music and teaching at Green Valley. I had never worshiped like this before and was finding that I could freely express my joy and love to the creator of the universe. Absolutely incredible!! My family and I could not get enough of this and we began to attend both Saturday and Wednesday night meetings. I had never been motivated to go to midweek services previously, and I could not believe the number of believers attending on Wednesday night. One event led to another, and the Adventist sunglasses continued to fall off.

Attending GVCC was the turning point but along with this came more questions—foremost of all—how is it that the joy of the Lord and the apparent filling of the Holy Spirit were found in a community church and evidently lacking in the SDA church that considered itself to be “the true” church? Were these people actually lost simply because of a day? What would happen to us for attending a community church–let alone enjoying the worship music and the teachings, and planning to return every week? Why did the SDA church books show 800 members when less than 200 were even coming to church? Why was a group in the SDA church beginning to follow all the Mosaic laws and celebrate Jewish feast days and celebrations? The questions multiplied–but they led us into deeper Bible study!

I (Judy) began studying what the Bible actually taught regarding the 28 Fundamental SDA beliefs. I documented this journey in part two of this story. I would read for a few minutes and then literally have to get up and walk around and absorb what I had just learned, both in amazed wonder at what God’s Word truly stated, and in total dismay at having been taught and followed falsehoods all these years. When I took off the Adventist sunglasses that had obscured the true teachings of the New Testament, and read Galatians, Hebrews, Romans, and Second Corinthians through the pure light of Jesus Christ–I found freedom in God’s saving grace, a loving Savior who died for me, and the assurance of salvation! I found the truth and I am blessed beyond measure with a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything I had been looking for was there all along, but it was obscured by “Adventist truth”–Adventist sunglasses! When I read about how Jesus died for me–rather than causing extreme guilt as it had previously–I experienced a joyful thankfulness for this gift of grace! Jesus did not pay the price only for me to continue to make payments–grace is a gift that I accept in faith. I now have a conversion story! My Adventist sunglasses were not only removed–but cast aside at the foot of the cross!

As I (Tom) studied thoroughly for the first time in my life the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church, I realized there was serious error right from the start. Much to my dismay I discovered that EGW was not only a sick child but this carried into adulthood where she made many outrageous claims that were not true, along with founding a false church. I started to learn about cults and I was shocked to realize that the SDA church I belonged to fit most of the criteria. I thought the SDA church had been founded on Bible truth. I thought that EGW never came in front of the Bible truths. You could say I was a bit gullible in all this and had never intensely studied for myself. The evidence is all out there, and it does not take long to see the complete Bible truths. I am choosing not to blame anyone and accept full responsibility for my beliefs and actions all these years. I understand for the first time that it is not what I do through my strength that counts when it comes to spiritual success. I am doing everything that is necessary to obtain eternal life, which is to believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. He did it all on Calvary, I am no longer enslaved to the old law, but I can walk in total surrender to the New Covenant, free at last. My moral choices come from an empowered spirit fed by the Holy Spirit to give me the strength I need. No more striving for what I regard right, but rather give my whole heart and soul to Christ who has already done everything that is necessary for me to be saved.

Faulty Doctrines of Adventism

During our studies we found that the SDA church does teach the divinity of Christ along with a partial-grace message, the problem is that they add the SDA beliefs of works, theology, perfection, and the teachings of a false prophet named Ellen G. White (EGW)–and in doing so adhere to many faulty doctrines, the four principal ones being:

A false doctrine of 1844, the “investigative judgment” and sanctuary teachings. Where believers are judged for salvation by their ability to keep perfectly the law. This false doctrine is based on 22 assumptions that cannot be proven from the Bible, and all are contrary to the New Testament gospel of grace. This doctrine teaches that what Jesus did on the cross for us was incomplete and also denies followers the joy of assurance of salvation! We can attest that this teaching is the foundation of much fear in the life of an Adventist. This doctrine cannot be proven in scriptures and is utterly false and the SDA church is the only church to believe this doctrine.

A false prophet who forged predictions, plagiarized writings, manipulation of people; “visions” that were nothing more than the result of her frontal lobe brain injury; and questionable “angel guides” prove that nothing she wrote or copied can be trusted. Denominational leaders propagate these falsehoods, covering up the truth about doctrines that cannot be Biblically proven; the plagiarism they are fully aware of; and insisting that “the writings of Ellen White are a continuing and authoritative source of truth.” If you were to remove the teachings of this prophet and there would be no SDA church.

The four main pillars–false teachings, false prophet, false day, and false remnant church–along with numerous other supports of Adventism immediately began to fall, and we opened our eyes wider!

A false day—the Sabbath, a day given to the Israelites, so they would not forget God, was built up with works, rules, and regulations too numerous to mention by the SDA church and called “the seal of God.” SDAs teach that Sunday keepers are lost and in “Babylon.” The day has become more important than a relationship with Jesus. Six days for me, but I’ll give him the seventh. Where SDA’s error is in making the Sabbath day a prerequisite of salvation. We are free in Christ to choose to honor God on Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday but most importantly to abide in a relationship with him today and every day!

A false remnant church—the denomination teaches that the SDA church is THE only remnant church of God separates Adventists from the Christian community, gives a false sense of security and pride, teaches that SDAs are the remnant church of Revelation 12 and are “called out from the world” while Christians are lost. SDAs are taught that they have “confidential information” and mainstream Christians are left in the dark about what God expects from “His remnant” people but it is the responsibility of the SDA people to influence others into the church.

The four main pillars–false teachings, false prophet, false day, and false remnant church–along with numerous other supports of Adventism immediately began to fall, and we opened our eyes wider! One morning we boxed up 46 EGW books, 10 SDA commentaries, and 12 SDA daily devotionals, and then a few months later we had a bonfire. We also did a thorough purging of hundreds of other books containing false teachings from our library–those Adventist sunglasses–and were gone for good!

We pulled out our baptismal certificates to see exactly what we had agreed to 35 years ago. When we saw the list of 13 vows we were horrified! Seven of them–we no longer agree with–we are making plans to be baptized in Jesus Christ alone summer 2010 at the river baptism at GVCC.

Enjoyed worship

We enjoyed GVCC so much, the praise and worship music, the basic gospel teachings, the simple services that were touching our hearts–we were drinking in the knowledge and desired more, so we started attending mid-week services. We could not believe the blessing we received from the additional time of praise and worship music, teachings from the book of Acts and later Ephesians, and worshiping with other Christians mid-week. Then we realized again that something was terribly wrong! At the Placerville SDA church with “The Truth,” 15 people came to a prayer meeting. While just two miles down the road at Green Valley Community Church, over 500 people were worshiping mid-week, joyfully praising God, learning from the Word, filled with the Spirit, and rejoicing in their freedom in Christ!

Along with three Sunday services, GVCC has a Saturday night service. For a few months, we pretended we were still Adventists–taking our daughter to Sabbath School in the morning, staying for church only long enough or often enough to fulfill our deacon, greeting, secretarial duties, and then worshiping, praising and reveling in the teachings of GVCC church on Saturday night. We no longer pretend to be Adventists, and along with attending Sunday morning church services, we are continuing to seek truth, we cannot wait to wake up each morning and see what God will teach us each day!

We no longer pretend to be Adventists, and along with attending Sunday morning church services, we are continuing to seek truth, we cannot wait to wake up each morning and see what God will teach us each day!

Previously we had been so caught up in doing what looked right even if our heart was not in it or in doing good works by holding positions in the church. Now, grace allows us to have friends, to be real, to accept others, and to be honest, loving, and accepting. We both find our thoughts turning to God more often through the day rather than feeling guilty for a thought, or feeling like we were not doing something right. We learned that Jesus died on the cross and fulfilled once and for all the law and won the victory over our enemy! We now feel an overwhelming freedom and love for Jesus like we’ve never before experienced! We listen to the NLT Bible while driving together, and often find ourselves shouting for joy over verses that had previously been hidden from our understanding because of our Adventist sunglasses, but are now suddenly coming to life and being revealed to us by the Holy Spirit!

When we stepped out from the bonds of the SDA church and began truly worshiping and experiencing Jesus, our married children began openly sharing their journeys. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law had been investigating what they believed for the past six months but did not want to hurt us with their new beliefs, now we all attend GVCC together.

Our youngest son left the SDA church a few years ago. When we shared our journey with him, he laughingly said, “My foundations are shaken!” He attends GVCC with us and recently shared with us that he believes in Jesus Christ and plans to be baptized this summer. We are encouraging him to discover for himself what he believes and develop a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

In 2000, our oldest son was a Bible Worker for a year with an evangelist at three SDA churches. During this time, he taught in the teen division at Redwood Camp Meeting, baptizing young people in the river–he was on fire for Jesus! He attended Black Hills Mission College of Evangelism where three of the requirements were to: read the nine-volume Testimonies, serve at three other churches, and give an evangelistic series. He graduated with a degree in Youth Pastoral Ministries and then spent a year as a youth pastor at Rio Lindo Academy. All of these experiences opened his eyes to the inner workings of the SDA church, and he soon left in disillusionment. In 2008, he started his journey back to God and began questioning the SDA beliefs, subtly dropping us hints that his belief in EGW and basic SDA doctrines was changing, yet he was afraid to discuss this with us. It has been an awesome blessing to have him one step ahead on the journey, to share our mutual growth and study, and most of all watch him return to a relationship with Jesus.

Our 13-year-old daughter is learning right along with us, reading, and making her own decisions about her beliefs. She wanted to share her thoughts:

“Hey my name is Aarika and this is my story about being a 7th generation Seventh Day Adventist. My journey began when an evangelistic series came to our church. I came to the first meeting with great anticipation, got a folder, and started listening. By the time he was 10 minutes into it I was BORED! My friends and I sat together writing notes saying that he sure knew his “Babble on.” He did all the church services too; so before we knew it, we were not getting a blessing at all! Then one beautiful Sunday my mom suggested that we try out Green Valley Community Church (GVCC) and my dad agreed. I went along begrudgingly–bringing a bag of books, something to draw on, and even my MP3 player–thinking that it would be just like all the other church services–fancy pews, people who would stare daggers at you if you lifted up your hands, formal music with no joy, and pastors that gave you more guilt trips than sermons of God’s love and grace. GVCC was none of those! Instead, there were orange plastic chairs, people who lifted up their hands to praise God, a full worship team (including drums!), and pastors who gave you a wonderful and fulfilling message of love and grace. As you might have guessed I never even opened my bag! I’ve heard my parents discuss this, and listened to messages from Mark Martin, and I feel exhilarated about our new beliefs. I’ve joined the youth group and have seen a huge difference in the spiritual atmosphere as the people there are so accepting and joyful. I’ve found a new perspective of Jesus and look forward to growing in a New Covenant relationship with him!”

Since both of our parents go to Placerville SDA church, they soon noticed our lack of attendance. Tom’s father, knowing we were attending Green Valley Community Church confronted us and stated: “You know they are teaching error over there.” Tom replied that since he refused to attend services with us how would he know if there was an error or not. His response was: “Just look at what day they keep.” This was more evidence that SDA beliefs close Adventist minds to any other way of thinking.

We know our decision to leave the SDA denomination is causing our parents and relatives pain. We pray for respect and the right words, as we share our journey to truth with them while continuing to enjoy a special relationship with them.

We know our decision to leave the SDA denomination is causing our parents and relatives pain. We pray for respect and the right words, as we share our journey to truth with them while continuing to enjoy a special relationship with them. We are still a part of the large family of God and enjoy a strong relationship with Jesus and this will be our common bond. The SDA church teaches that friends and family members who apostatize and discard the SDA doctrines will be eternally lost, try to convince others to leave the “remnant church” and eventually persecute those who remain. We reassure you that we are following the teachings of Jesus and a genuine, uncluttered gospel truth and are closer to him than we have ever been. We are not abandoning the Adventist relatives and friends–only the SDA denomination and false doctrines.

There are many challenges ahead for me (Tom). I am beginning to feel the rejection of parents and fellow church members most are sincere, but also brainwashed into believing some false doctrines. They have invested much time and also stand to lose face if they were to admit that they have been wrong all these years. My family and I have chosen to leave the SDA church because it does not support the Bible and the Bible only truths. I am discovering more meaningful worship and am learning more about God's Bible truths from a local community church than I have ever found in the SDA church. The decision to leave was not about someone or the pastor of the church hurting me, rather it was the mixture of the teaching of Bible truth combined with error that has led me to leave the SDA church. I cannot and will not support a church that will not admit that the “pillars” of the SDA church are not supported by the Bible. This is heresy and I will no longer be a part of it! I sincerely believe that the old covenant and Ten Commandments that the SDA church is following have been done away with, as clearly expressed in the New Testament teachings. I am free at last to stop trying to figure out what to do or not to do on the Sabbath to keep it holy. I now see that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of prophecy, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I will have God’s laws written in my mind and heart to desire to serve Christ and love like He loves. I am no longer struggling to be good, but instead focus my attention on prayer and Bible study to stay in a relationship with Christ, so that He can live in me and through me to give me the power to overcome. It doesn’t work any other way. I have tried for years to be good to no avail. For the first time in my life, I have full assurance of salvation and hope of eternal life, and that is worth everything to me!

We are convinced that our choice of church membership is a reflection of our beliefs and our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we were to maintain membership in the SDA church, we would be telling others that we agree with the 28 Fundamental Beliefs and doctrines of the SDA church. Since we no longer believe the SDA beliefs, and are now supporting Green Valley Community Church with our attendance and offerings–we choose now to withdraw our membership from the Adventist denomination and from now on to be known as New Covenant Christians!

When we studied the Bible for ourselves without Adventist sunglasses and prayerfully opened our minds and hearts, we found Jesus and his gift of eternal life.

We still shake our heads in amazement that previously we did not seriously challenge the SDA beliefs, we never studied for ourselves, and we just chose to stay in our comfortable Adventist bubble without fully understanding the cost. When we studied the Bible for ourselves without Adventist sunglasses and prayerfully opened our minds and hearts, we found Jesus and his gift of eternal life. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, and did everything necessary for our salvation through his life, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. We found the assurance of Salvation without the fear of judgment. We gave up a day of rules for a constant, everyday relationship with Jesus. We found freedom, not to run away in fear or rebellion or to do whatever we please, but to thrive in a real relationship with Jesus, which includes his forgiveness and love where we are not attempting to work our way to Heaven but walking with Jesus every day. We have discovered the freedom of worshiping Jesus without the SDA rules and works that previously clouded our vision. We have chosen to be filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit and Christ’s love, and we willingly follow all of the teachings of Jesus as New Covenant Christians.

Love and prayers to each of you–with hearts thankful to Jesus and free in a relationship with Him,

Continue reading as Judy shares more details and documents our journey:

Details of the Journey:

How the Adventist Sunglasses Were Removed

JUDY SHEWMAKE

You just read our story, now I want to share the details of my journey in the summer of 2009, how we removed the Adventist sunglasses, where I found the answers to many questions and struggles, and how I arrived at this decision. I share these resources so you will see that along with prayer I have been diligent in studying and that this decision did not happen casually. The individuals I have shared my journey with feel that something terrible must have happened to me in the SDA church, that I do not appreciate the new pastor, or that I have drifted away from God. I assure you that nothing happened, and the pastor is an amiable guy. As a result of this journey, I have drawn even closer to Jesus in a way I never dreamed possible, because I took off the Adventist sunglasses that were keeping me from seeing him clearly!

Where do I start studying?

Some Christian friends reading this will probably think that Tom and I were thoroughly confused. What many people do not realize is that if you have been raised in the Adventist bubble, this is a way of life, everyone around you is living in it also and you know no other way! It is quite possible to be born in an SDA hospital; attend Sabbath School and SDA church beginning at birth; be educated in SDA schools kindergarten through university; attend SDA summer camp; marry an SDA spouse; work for a SDA educational or medical institution; have every friend and relationship be an SDA; live in an SDA community; shop at SDA grocery store; retire in an SDA retirement center; and die in an SDA nursing home. The bubble is enormous; the roots run deep; the beliefs are ingrained; guilt, doubt, confusion, and fear control behaviors; and the Adventist sunglasses are firmly in position!

The SDA church makes desperate attempts to appear to be Evangelical to mainstream Christians and many members–like I was–are unaware of some of what I am going to share here. The SDA church must deal with these unbiblical doctrines, the false prophet, and then obey God’s Word 100% before it could ever be considered part of mainstream Christianity. We totally understand now why the SDA church does not encourage its members to study anything except for the conference-produced books and publications. When you begin to read the Bible only without wearing your Adventist sunglasses, the honest truth of the gospel jumps out, and there is no turning back once you have experienced the freedom of a New Covenant relationship with Jesus Christ!

It was a monumental step for me to start investigating my beliefs. A step that I resisted and a journey that I did not want to take without much prayer and study.

It was a monumental step for me to start investigating my beliefs. A step that I resisted and a journey that I did not want to take without much prayer and study. Part of me rebelled at questioning these long-held beliefs. I had essentially avoided dealing with my questions of EGW and other doctrines of the SDA church over the years–an “ostrich with head in the sand” comes to mind–but then once I delved into this study “having the rug pulled out from under you” is exactly what happened! I had been taught that if you question the SDA beliefs that you are sliding down into a sinful lifestyle, giving up on God, and that you are lost forever in apostasy! I also had decided years ago that the SDA church was the “best of what was available” so why should I disrupt my comfortable little Adventist bubble? Things looked pretty decent in there, especially wearing my Adventist sunglasses!

My son had written out his thoughts and questions and sent me the document in October 2008. When I read it the full impact did not occur to me, but it did add additional questions to the list in my mind. He wrote about the different types of Adventists, historical, evangelical, liberal, social, etc. and he raised some intriguing questions and proof of how what God’s Word teaches and much of what EGW wrote are in complete contradiction. Reading this opened my eyes to more of the issues, and my Adventist sunglasses slipped down just a bit. I still did not know what to do with this information, why should I shake my world and look for answers when I was satisfied where I was?

After our experience in March with the SDA evangelist, I woke up to the seriousness of the issue of what the SDA doctrines actually were, and I realized that I needed to thoroughly understand what I believed. I printed out the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of Adventists to refer to during my study. I soon found out that I didn’t fully understand or agree with everything that the SDA church taught!

I asked my son for suggestions on where to begin studying; he recommended I start with former SDA pastor Mark Martin’s website: www.exadventist.com. Mark is now the pastor of Calvary Church in Phoenix, AZ where 10,000 Christian believers worship. Mark continues to reach out to former Adventists and there are many excellent articles and audio on this site. I found a very helpful article by Mark entitled, A Quick Introduction to Seventh-day Adventism: http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Intro/tabid/64/Default.aspx I was truly embarrassed to realize that though I claimed that I was a SDA, I did not fully understand yet alone believe many of these core SDA teachings.

When I visited www.exadventist.com I noticed testimony stories so being curious as to how others arrived at their decisions I began reading. I expected to read a lot of bitter, angry, and vindictive thoughts. I was very pleased to see that these stories were happy, positive, and full of the joy of the Lord. They, like me, were sorrowful to leave what had been so familiar but the joy of a real, unencumbered relationship with Jesus far outweighed any discomfort they had experienced.

One of the first stories I was drawn to was My Journey Out of Legalism by Clay Peck a former SDA minister http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Testimonies/Peck/tabid/65/Default.aspx Clay talks about how the SDA church teaches Christ + Adventist Extras = salvation. He shares his own questions and his journey to where he now teaches the grace of Jesus Christ at Grace Place in Colorado where he is the minister and the 1000 participating covenant members sign a yearly commitment to the church.

The next story I read was that of Greg and Paula Taylor. Several things in their story jumped out at me, one being that people who step away from Adventism are considered by practicing SDAs to be “fallen, lost, and entering into a sinful lifestyle” of apostasy. But this is NOT the case with the ones who leave as a result of diligent study rather they are growing closer to Jesus Christ. This was important to me because I had already realized that I wanted a deeper relationship with Jesus without the religion of the SDA church. Greg and Paula also noticed how mainstream Christians are so passionate and sold out for Christ–something Tom and I had also experienced at Green Valley. Greg talked about many other things I’ve questioned also–how sending 100% tithes out of the church disables it; the Sabbath day and Old Testament laws that are a barrier with other Christians; what makes the SDA church think they are the only remnant? Greg made a statement that really impacted me: “A day of worship is NOT the final test of loyalty to God, the test is FULL surrender to Jesus sealed with indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” I ordered Greg’s book Discovering the New Covenant, Why I am no longer a Seventh-day Adventist from SabbathInChrist.com. All the issues of Adventism are addressed in this incredible story of their journey out of the SDA church to freedom in Christ and the New Covenant.

If Jesus died for my sins, why is He in the sanctuary judging me?

The SDA church teaches that right now Jesus is performing an “investigative judgment” in heaven. They believe that this started on October 22, 1844, beginning with Adam and going through those alive now, Jesus is judging people to evaluate if they have perfectly kept the Ten Commandments (especially the fourth one), and if they have done the works necessary for salvation. That is right, judging if they are worthy to be saved, if they have confessed every sin and lived a perfect life! This was the number one concern for me all through my life; since Jesus paid it all, why is my worthiness for salvation being judged–possibly right now this very minute, but then you never know, maybe it has already happened and I am working hard at being good for nothing when I’m not going to make it after all? Hear the confusion? Never in my life had I ever felt totally assured of salvation, forgiveness, or my place in heaven with Jesus!!! Strange thoughts from a 6th generation Adventist, but I found out that I was not the only one. With the Adventist sunglasses firmly in position, you can look right past salvation given freely on the cross by Jesus Christ and His complete fulfillment of the law and jump straight to the laws and rules and additional requirements of the SDA church that keep you in the bondage of fear. My leading question was how to find Jesus, who he actually is, and experience what he has done for me.

I found that there are hundreds of places where the Bible and the writings of SDA church’s prophetess Ellen G. White (EGW) conflict, often they are entirely different!

I found that there are hundreds of places where the Bible and the writings of SDA church’s prophetess Ellen G. White (EGW) conflict, often they are entirely different! No wonder confusion reigned; no wonder many other Adventists are also confused! When you are taught one thing, and then read another in the Bible confusion is to be expected! Seventh-day Adventists teach that if there is ever a question, EGW is the final authority. Early SDA pioneers set numerous dates for the second coming of Jesus. They predicted it in 1843, and then when it did not occur in the spring of 1844 they changed it to the fall of 1844. So the church began in confusion and chaos. To cover up this error, they teach that Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary to begin the work called the “investigative judgment” on October 22, 1844. Approximately 18 dates were set for the second coming, clearly contrary to Jesus’ statement that “no man knows the day or hour” but to early SDA leaders this did not mean they could not predict the month or year!

EGW wrote: “Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844 to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation.” Early Writings page 253. Many texts such as John 5:24; John 3:18; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Romans 5:1 each refutes EGW’s statement. Hebrews 9:12 says that Jesus “…entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” So the wonderful news to me is that Jesus has been there all along, it was his blood that brought redemption and freedom for me (Ephesians 1:7) once and for all and he forgives my sins, he is not judging me, he loves me and wants a relationship with me! This is what I had been missing all along–the relationship that I couldn’t see while wearing Adventist sunglasses!

No one can prove this investigative judgment doctrine, which is unique to SDAs, in any Bible–but the SDA church found a way–they wrote their own bible The Clear Word Bible, and added about 80 words to Daniel 8 that “explain” this SDA fundamental belief. Now unsuspecting Adventists have false proof that the investigative judgment started in 1844 because their denominationally published, paraphrased bible says it did! Many other problems with The Clear Word Bible are found here: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/adventisms-the-clear-word-analyzed/

To make this dangerous doctrine more palatable SDAs have begun to refer to the investigative judgment doctrine as “the pre-advent judgment.” In the recent past SDA’s have tried to take the rough edges off this doctrine by making more false claims: that God is allowing us to see the truth, to judge for ourselves his actions, or introduce a “moral influence” theory that by dying on the cross Jesus was showing us God’s mercy. All of these false theories gloss over the fact that atonement for mankind was COMPLETE at the cross and there is nothing for us to do but “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” (Acts 16:3, John 3:16)

This article reveals the many falsehoods surrounding the SDA doctrine of investigative judgment: http://www.nonsda.org/study4.shtml

What about that chart, the great disappointments of 1843, 1844, and the Sanctuary?

It was difficult to make total sense of the SDA chart, the days/years, prophecy, rebuilding, and more, and why couldn’t they decide on a year and why they say God held his hand over part so they wouldn’t understand? I grew up with it and that’s just the way it was. SDA proof texts attempted to explain it, and church leaders taught it so why did I need to fully understand every detail?

I shared on the previous page that SDA’s predicted Jesus was going to return October 22, 1844, but when that did not happen, they covered their error, calling it the great disappointment, and–based on a “vision” in a cornfield–came up with the false teaching that Jesus was moving from one part of the sanctuary to another to begin the investigative judgment. This is a false doctrine because God’s Word tells us “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12. God’s Word repeats this teaching many times!

I have sat through at least eight different evangelistic meetings, and 14 years of Bible class at SDA schools and I still did not completely understand exactly how it all tied together.

I have sat through at least eight different evangelistic meetings, and 14 years of Bible class at SDA schools and I still did not completely understand exactly how it all tied together. Come to find out, I’m not alone and it’s because the chart is based on error, mathematical miscalculations, proof texts that don’t tie together, false “visions,” faulty theology, presumptions, and misunderstandings. Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists by Dale Ratzlaff goes into more detail: sabbathinchrist.com

The Sanctuary and Bible Truth versus Adventist Truth: http://www.nonsda.org/study5.shtml also helped clarify this for me.

But Adventists have “the truth” don’t they?

I grew up being taught that the SDA church was God’s remnant and the only church that had “the truth” and the millions of other mainstream Christians were in error. Adventists are taught this from infancy in Cradle Roll, in SDA schools kindergarten through college, and in weekly adult Sabbath School lessons. The results of this belief were reinforced one Sabbath at Placerville SDA church. We were looking at the new building project (that the church only had 1/3 of the funds to build) and an older elder in the church turned to us and said “If we build it they will come because we have the truth!” And I said to myself, “If the SDA church really has the truth why are people not here now, why is the church so empty, why don’t they have the money to complete this building?” So I wanted to know why–when SDAs read God’s Word as other Christians do–were Christians happily going to church on Sunday and experiencing a joyful relationship with Jesus that I was clearly missing out on? Here’s the false part, I thought that this relationship was void because of something I wasn’t doing right. I learned that it was because I was wearing Adventist sunglasses that kept me from seeing who Jesus really was and knowing what he had already done for me!

The best explanation of this is a book by Dale Ratzlaff entitled The Truth About Seventh-day Adventist “Truth”. This concise book explains the problems behind the basic SDA beliefs like the prophet EGW, remnant church teachings, Sabbath–the “seal of God,” the investigative judgment, the mark of the beast, soul sleep, and how the Adventist church teaches Christ plus works, plus EGW, plus fundamental beliefs, plus… Here is a quote from page one of this article:

“There are large and ever-growing numbers of Adventist scholars, pastors, administrators, and laity who know that many of the historic teachings of Adventism are unbiblical, anti-gospel, and should be rejected. Many more, however, tenaciously hold to traditional teachings of Adventism as the truth. Today the Seventh-day Adventist church faces a dilemma. To renounce its cultic past and jettison its unbiblical teachings would split the church, erode its financial support, and could damage the many good things that Seventh-day Adventists do. However, to cling to and try to defend the historical teachings which many know to be unbiblical is to continue to give reasons for informed members to exit Adventism.”

How can you give up the Sabbath?

Sabbath daykeeping was ingrained in my very being–from preparation day Friday, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. to strict obedience beginning at sunset Friday and ending at sunset on Sabbath. I mean major stress and guilt if you are not ready one-half hour before sundown Friday. Constant reminders through the Sabbath day to do this, not that, and there was no way that you could start a TV show a school program, or a game 10 minutes before sundown Saturday night! “It is not sundown yet.” is a common phrase. I often found myself saying, thinking believing, and projecting on others my beliefs saying “Not on the Sabbath.” The Sabbath day had become a day of rules and regulations. Yet it was interesting how everyone had a different set of “rules” to follow. No two people, groups, or organizations could figure out what rules were to be kept, but each one knew theirs were the right Sabbath-day keeping rules! The church even tried to develop a 20-page list of rules and regulations! In actuality, Adventists have never kept the day the way the Israelites were instructed. And yet at the same time for Adventists, this day is a cherished day of rest from work and secular things.

The SDA church also teaches that the Catholic Church changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday and that worshiping on Sunday would result in receiving the “mark of the beast” of Revelation 14:9.

I was taught that the Sabbath was instituted at creation, kept by Abraham and Isaac, emphasized again to the Israelites in the Ten Commandments, and kept by the Jews down through the ages. Jesus was a Jew so it must be right. EGW had a “vision” of a ring of light surrounding the fourth commandment. The SDA church also teaches that the Catholic Church changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday and that worshiping on Sunday would result in receiving the “mark of the beast” of Revelation 14:9. The truth is that people were worshiping on Sunday more than 200 years before there even was a Catholic religion–it began immediately after Christ’s death and was common practice by 70 A.D.

The fact that EGW and SDAs made such a big deal about Sabbath rules and observance, but Jesus didn’t say anything about keeping the Sabbath in the Bible had always made me question Sabbath observance rules! This question was answered during my study where I learned that not ONCE did Jesus give instructions for keeping the Sabbath; neither did the apostles–not once! In fact several times He was accused of breaking the Sabbath Himself! There are no rules, guidelines, or suggestions by Jesus or the apostles for how to keep the Sabbath in the New Testament!

I learned that the Sabbath was not instituted at creation. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us that God blessed, sanctified, and rested on the seventh day and this “rest” did not end like on the other days did with an evening and morning, this rest in God would have continued forever had Adam not sinned. There is not a mention in the Bible of Sabbath for the first 2500 years! But many have insisted to me that Abraham kept the Sabbath? Keeping the Sabbath day law was given to the Israelites by Moses as a sign between them and God (Deuteronomy 5:1-3, Exodus 31:12-17). The Mosaic Sabbath was a shadow of the real rest that was to come when Jesus the real Sabbath returned to earth. I’m not an Israelite and Jesus came to fulfill the law! It is blasphemy of the SDA denomination to claim that the Sabbath day is the seal of God! This teaching divides SDAs from mainstream Christians. The Sabbath was a shadow of Christ and was NEVER the seal of God or a sign in the New Covenant–that sign is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; II Corinthians 1:21-22. Another New Covenant sign is the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:28, Luke 22:19-20).

Hebrews 4:4-9 says:

“For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: They shall not enter My Rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and to those whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”

The Sabbath was fulfilled in Jesus and it is about resting in Jesus every day–in a peace that passes all understanding! Take off the Adventist sunglasses while you read Hebrews 3 and 4 for yourself.

“The weekly Sabbath, i.e., Saturday, is not the real Sabbath. It never was, and it is not now. It is a picture or a reminder of the real Sabbath. The true Sabbath is a rest; the Jewish Sabbath is a shadow, a picture of that rest. All the Old Testament shadows pointed to Christ…These Old Testament shadows were looking forward to the coming of the One who would fulfill these and thus end them. When the work of Jesus Christ was finished the shadows were no longer needed.” Ray C. Stedman; The Seventh Day, 10/10/67, The Beginnings: Commentary on Genesis.

Former SDA pastor Mark Martin’s study on The Sabbath and Sunday explained everything–Old Testament Sabbath, New Testament Sabbath, covenants, Rome did NOT change the day, history of Sabbath and much more: http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx

Dale Ratzlaff, also a former SDA pastor, wrote Sabbath in Christ which is an exhaustive study on the rest Jesus wants to give us, not just for one day, but a constant abiding in Him.

Another excellent article is God’s Seal—A Day or a Person by former SDA pastor Sam Pestes.

Since 1888 and even before, SDA denomination leaders have known there was a huge flaw in the Sabbath day teachings of the church. Colossians 2:14-16 makes it very plain that the entire law was nailed to the cross and the Sabbath day with it. Somehow the SDA church has grown through the deceit and excuses that have explained away this text. Kerry Wynne expands on this in Lying for God.

A day of rest from labor, spending time with family, a break from media, etc. are healthy practices and New Covenant Christians are free to do this any day they choose–what changes here is the requirements, the rules, and regulations of a day that SDA’s enforce–to honoring Jesus Christ and our relationship with him every day! Jesus said, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Don’t I have to be doing something here?

This was big in my Adventist upbringing, Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Story Books with stories of bad little boys and girls making Jesus and their angels sad (while those same angels are writing down everything for God to read later!); doing all the right things so everything would look right; and working my way to heaven. EGW teaches that we are to perfectly obey the Ten Commandments, to overcome sin, be ready at all times for you never know when your name is coming up in the investigative judgment.

EGW states “…it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works.” 1SM377

But God’s Word tells me “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9; “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:21; “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23

Dale Ratzlaff shares two formulas in Truth about Adventist “Truth” in the chapter Gospel Additions:

• EGW, SDAs, and other false religions teach that faith in Christ + Good Works = Salvation
• From God’s Word, Christians teach that faith in Christ = Salvation + Good Works

Am doing this right?

I wondered if there was a way to make this journey easier and found out that no there really isn’t. It is difficult to examine your beliefs because Adventists are taught that if they question or leave the SDA church they are in apostasy–worse off than if they had never known “the truth.” Yet I found it was incredibly freeing as each false teaching fell away; each SDA pillar crumbled; and as I removed my Adventist sunglasses–Jesus Christ became more and more real as I discovered a freedom from man-made, prophet-made, and church-made rules and regulations!

I found The Transitional Path by Dale Ratzlaff where he encourages seekers to continue studying as I was. He suggests that you have to decide three things for yourself–the simple Gospel of Christ and what Jesus did for you; whose Authority you’re going to follow, the Bible or a denomination; and whether was EGW a Prophet from God or not?

The greatest encouragement through this journey was regularly attending Green Valley Community Church–soaking in the praise and worship and the Bible teachings. This kept me focused on Jesus and what he was doing in our lives.

It also helped to continue reading stories about how other former Adventists studied their way out of the church and Biblical proof about New Covenant Christianity in Proclamation! Magazine. (New articles posted here.)

What about Ellen G. White, was she really a prophet, did she plagiarize her writings?

SDAs work very hard to appear evangelical in their beliefs to the Christian community–but behind this façade is the church prophetess–Ellen G. White (EGW) and her false teachings…

This was difficult for me and at the same time easy! Some writings of EGW had been spiritually comforting but other times they were very disconcerting and the source of much fear in my life because she wrote incessantly about becoming perfect, obtaining salvation by works, and to never believing that you are saved.

You may say as many have in the past–“I don’t believe EGW writings are that important, the church has changed.” But the SDA denomination maintains otherwise as the SDA General Conference President Paulson wrote in Ministry magazine in October 1981:

“We believe the revelation and inspiration of both the Bible and Ellen White’s writings to be of equal quality. The superintendence of the Holy Spirit was just as careful and thorough in one case as in the other.”

Then in May 2002 at the SDA General Conference, Paulson said:

“The historic sanctuary message based on Scripture and supported by the writings of Ellen White continues to be held to unequivocally. And the inspired authorities on which these and other doctrines are based, namely the Bible supported by the writings of Ellen White, continue to be the hermeneutical foundation on which we as a church place all matters of faith and conduct. Let no one think that there has been a change of position in regard to this.”

It has been known by SDA denominational leaders since 1907 that EGW plagiarized her writings, to say that “…the superintendence of the Holy Spirit” was involved in her plagiarism is blasphemy.

It has been known by SDA denominational leaders since 1907 that EGW plagiarized her writings, to say that “…the superintendence of the Holy Spirit” was involved in her plagiarism is blasphemy. Once I discovered the extent of EGW’s plagiarism–proof of over 90%; her conveniently timed and after-the-fact visions which were used to “prove” incorrect doctrines; and the fact that she fails the seven Biblical tests for a prophet, there was no turning back!

The SDA denomination did an eight-year investigation of The Desire of Ages called The Veltman Study which reported:

“The content of Ellen White’s commentary on the life and ministry of Christ, The Desire of Ages is for the most part derived (copied) rather than original…In practical terms, this conclusion declares that one is not able to recognize in Ellen White’s writings on the life of Christ any general category of content or catalog of ideas that is unique to her” (White Washed by Sydney Cleveland).

I learned more about how The Desire of Ages was plagiarized, outlined, and constructed by reading: http://www.truthorfables.com/Desire_of_Ages.htm

One of the most beloved books supposedly written by EGW is Steps to Christ. Many SDAs would be alarmed to learn that this book was really compiled and written by EGW’s secretary Fannie Bolton.

The Great Controversy was copied from The History of Protestantism written by J. A. Wiley in 1876: http://www.bible.ca/7-WL-exhibits-image-Wylie.htm To make the story even more bizarre James White, EGW’s husband, had copied his writings from J.A. Wiley and then EGW copied from James.

Patriarchs and Prophets contain 65 chapter headings that are identical to Bible History/Old Testament, by Alfred Edersheim (1876-80). http://www.nonsda.org/egw/kaspersen/egw_eng13.htm

In 1919, a contemporary of EGW, D.M. Canright wrote Life of Mrs. E. G. White Seventh-day Adventist Prophet Her False Claims Refuted based on his first-hand acquaintance of the Whites and as a leading member of the early SDA church. In this book, he writes:

“These quotations from her different books show that Mrs. White practiced this literary stealing right along all through her life. Ten times as much could readily be given. The Great Controversy is her most popular book with her people. Every line is accepted as original by her; all inspired by the Holy Spirit. Carefully studying it, we found that it was largely taken from Andrews’ History of the Sabbath, Wylie’s History of the Waldenses, D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation, Smith’s Sanctuary, Elder White’s Life of Wm. Miller, itself a copied book, and other works.”

Selected Messages was plagiarized from Origin and History of the Bible by C. E. Stowe: http://www.nonsda.org/egw/egw105.shtml

Themes from Paradise Lost published by John Milton in 1667 are found in many EGW books such as Story of Redemption and Patriarchs and Prophets: http://www.nonsda.org/egw/egw102.shtml

In 1837 John Harris wrote The Great Teacher: Characteristics of our Lord’s Ministry, EGW plagiarized numerous portions of this book into Steps to Christ, Testimonies, sermons, letters, and articles. Over a hundred examples of plagiarism by EGW are listed here: http://www.nonsda.org/egw/egw103.shtml

Evidence shows that EGW read health reform books written and published by Dr. James Caleb Jackson before her supposed visions on health. Her own health and that of her family were deplorable but somehow she was able to convince SDAs that the “health reform message” was given to her by God.

The evidence was just too incriminating for me to ignore. The plagiarism reflects on her integrity, the twisting of scriptures shows clearly what she wrote was not inspired, because God would not lie as she did, and her status of a prophet can be easily disproved because at least 95% of her predictions did not come true. I learned how she ignored her own “inspired teachings” in regard to health, eating habits, dress, jewelry, and much more. Those scathing letters to church members found in the Testimonies which EGW claims were “revelations from God” turned out to be gossip and were used as a way to control both the denomination and members.

Is EGW a true prophet or not? http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Prophet/tabid/55/Default.aspx God’s test of a prophet is found in Deuteronomy 18:20-22.

False prophets stick together, EGW plagiarized from Joseph Smith the founder and prophet of the Mormon Church. http://www.truthorfables.com/EGW_Plagiarizes_Joe_Smith.htm

In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 God’s Word tells us to not communicate with the dead. Here is documentation about a conversation EGW had with her dead husband James: http://www.nonsda.org/egw/egw61.shtml

Reading all of this information on EGW’s plagiarism I asked myself, “Why did she do this?” I found that physicians have analyzed the facial injury EGW endured when she was 9 years old and have diagnosed it as a frontal lobe injury resulting in temporal lobe epilepsy with hyper-graphic tendencies (compulsive, excessive writing) EGW handwrote over 100,000 pages. Along with hyper-graphic, temporal lobe epileptics are also hyper-ethical, hyper-religious, and hyper-moral: http://www.nonsda.org/egw/headinjury.shtml Another article by two Medical Doctors shows how the visions and writings of EGW reflect a temporal lobe injury: Visions or Partial-Complex Seizures? In 1966 Charles Willis M.D. stated the visions of EGW “were distinctly cataleptic seizures”.

Christians do not need a prophet since we have the teachings of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1-2 states that “God spoke long ago in the prophets but in these last days has spoken to us in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things.” Matthew 7: 15-16 tells us to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” The fruits of EGW are proof enough for me. There is no need for the confusion that EGW brings to the SDA church. Christians need only Bible truths: 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 1:6; 1 John 5:13; John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 1:1-3.

When I first learned of the deception of EGW, it was easier for me to consider her to be a devotional author, but the further I got in my investigation I saw clearly that she was a plagiarizer–yes, she was also victimized, and used to start a church but nobody forced her to copy from others writings. Our God of truth would never condone this behavior or instruct that falsehoods, trances, and fairy tales be used to start a “remnant church”. Most upsetting to me was the realization that every time EGW wrote “I was shown…” or “I saw…” or “The angel of the Lord showed me…” it was followed by plagiarized writings, which meant that the Adventist people have been lied to for many years because I was told that every single word was inspired by God. There was no longer any way I could believe that “the writings of Ellen White are a continuing and authoritative source of truth” as the SDA denomination declares. Because the SDA church fully believes in EGW and a prophet defines the church, once I identified who EGW really was and the role her writings had in my beliefs the rest was easy!

Because the SDA church fully believes in EGW and a prophet defines the church, once I identified who EGW really was and the role her writings had in my beliefs the rest was easy!

One argument SDA’s make for EGW’s plagiarism is that it was a common practice and many people did it back in the 1800’s. This is entirely untrue, it has never been ethical to copy other’s writings and James White renounced others for doing so with EGW’s writings. As Walter Rea said, in a 2005 radio interview, “If her writings are inspired, why would God use other’s words to speak to his people?”

I could say much more about EGW, prophecies that did not come true such as the outcome of the Civil War; missing pages from published books; names of those in her time who would alive at the second coming of Jesus; strange ideas on health and dress reform; multiple date settings of Christ’s return; hundreds of failed predictions; erroneous teachings on marital excess and masturbation; racist comments; ties to Freemasons, occult activities such as rappings and table tipping during her “visions,” conversations with her dead husband, and suspicious guides during visions; and connections to the Mormons; but I’ll leave that for you to discover in your own studies!

Is the SDA church a cult?

An organization is a cult if they do two things: change the true foundation of a church–which should be the Bible AND offer an alternative foundation–something other than the Bible–such as Book of Mormon, Watchtower, and in the case of the SDA church, the writings of Ellen G. White:

Biblical Discernment Ministries: https://www.facebook.com/BiblicalDiscernmentMinistries

On and off through the years it would come up on the news or in books that SDAs were a cult, and then they weren’t, and then they were–on and off until no one knew for sure. Of course it was all explained away how the church wasn’t a cult. Dale Ratzlaff in Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-Day Adventists explains the fifteen characteristics of a cult, and how the Adventist church fulfils all but four.

The Watchman Expositor, http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm states:

Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), Washington, DC: The largest Adventist church. Ellen G. White, who claimed to have “the spirit of prophecy,” was an important early leader of the movement and taught a number of distinctive SDA doctrines, including Investigative Judgment and Sabbatarianism. While the church’s official theology now appears to be generally in the tradition of evangelical Christianity, certain SDA claims and unique doctrines continue to raise questions. These doctrines include the SDA belief that Sunday worship will result in the “Mark of the Beast,” imbalanced teachings on keeping the commandments (baptism, Sabbath observance) that often implies a kind of salvation by works, the “Remnant Church” doctrine that implies that the SDA is or will be God’s only true church, and the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. Profile available: http://www.watchman.org/profile/sdapro.htm

Seventh Day Cult http://www.seventhdaycult.com/ explains it this way: SDAs–add to scripture; subtract from atonement; multiply the requirements of salvation; and divide believers.

It is interesting to note that four churches were formed as a result of the Millerite movement: Seventh-day Adventist, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, and Christian Science. SDA’s are quick to point out that the other three are cults but blindly consider the SDA denomination to be mainstream Christians.

During our study, we found many cultic doctrines of the SDA church, here are a few:

1. The SDA church teaches that atonement for sins was not complete at the cross

EGW wrote: “The intercession of Christ on man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon a cross. By His death, He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in Heaven.” GC488-489

God’s Word tells us: “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.” Hebrews 10:10

2. SDA believers have no assurance of Salvation

EGW wrote: “Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved.” COL155

God’s Word tells us: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13. Also John 5:13; John 5:24; John 6:47; Acts 15:11; Romans 10:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:21-23; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:13.

3. SDA believers are judged according to how perfectly they obeyed the Ten Commandments and their works during the investigative judgment and this determines their salvation

EGW wrote: “At the time appointed for the judgment…All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged “out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” GC486. And this is only one quote out of hundreds denying Adventists security of salvation!

God’s Word tells us: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24.

4. SDAs believe the blood of Christ does not cancel sin

EGW wrote: “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel sin…it will stand in the sanctuary until the final atonement.” PP357

God’s Word tells us: “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Eph 1:7 “…the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

5. SDAs teach that Satan bears the sins of believers and plays a part in salvation

EGW wrote: “It was seen, also, that while the sin offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed.” GC422 and “Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin.” 5T475

God’s Word tells us: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor. 5:21

6. SDAs believe the plan of salvation was decided AFTER the fall of man

EGW wrote: “The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race.” GC347

God’s Word says: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4. See also 1 Peter 1:18-20 where it reads “He was chosen before the creation of the world…”

7. SDA doctrine teaches that Jesus entered the most holy place in 1844

EGW wrote: “Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly (sanctuary) at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation.” EW253

God’s Word tells us: “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12

8. SDAs teach that Christians should be perfect, sinless, and holy

EGW wrote: “As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life. A well-balanced character is formed by single acts well performed. One defect, cultivated instead of being overcome makes the man imperfect and closes against him the gate of the Holy City…In all the redeemed hosts, not one defect will be seen.” The Faith I Live By p44

God’s Word tells us: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23; “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” Galatians 2:21

9. SDAs believe that works plus grace brings salvation

EGW wrote: “While good works will not save even one soul, it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works. 1SM377

God’s Word tells us: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:2

10. SDA doctrine teaches that Christians will stand without Christ’s intercession before God

EGW wrote: “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator.” GC425

God’s Word tells us: “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

I can just hear Adventists who read this story saying “I don’t believe those things EGW wrote!” Well, I didn’t either! But this is what the SDA prophetess wrote and each one of these doctrines are found in the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church. By being a member of the SDA church you are telling the world that you agree with these teachings. Adventist sunglasses not only color your view, they also disguise the true identity of the SDA church!

On this journey, I’ve found a surprising number of Adventists who do not agree with some or many of the doctrines of the SDA church. I’ve heard these doctrines referred to as a smorgasbord…

On this journey, I’ve found a surprising number of Adventists who do not agree with some or many of the doctrines of the SDA church. I’ve heard these doctrines referred to as a smorgasbord–OK I’ll take a big helping of the Sabbath because I like to rest, but I’ll pass on the investigative judgment I’m a good person; I want to go to heaven so I’ll take that; I can’t stand the writings of EGW she makes me feel guilty so pass on that one; marriage is good so I’ll go with that one, but I don’t want to give the church much money so I’ll take a small helping of stewardship; I don’t agree with the health message so I’ll have a big helping of chicken and give me a glass of wine with that! It doesn’t work like this–the SDA church has 28 SDA Fundamental Beliefs and they go together as a package. The SDA church began in confusion from the beginning so it’s no wonder that confusion continues with Adventists today!

What about the state of the dead?

SDAs teach the doctrine of “soul sleep.” When people die they are non-existent, sleeping in the grave until Jesus comes again–the SDA fundamental belief #26 states that “death is an unconscious state for all people.” Often Adventists quote Ecclesiastes 9:5 which it states that “the dead know not anything”–ignoring the rest of the thoughts through verse 6…” under the sun.”

Throughout my study of what the Bible teaches, I began to read texts that teach the Biblical view of death, such as: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8,19; Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation 20:12-15; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 23; Matthew 22:31-32; Matthew 9:24; 2 Timothy 1:10; Mark 12:18-27.

All of us were created with bodies, breath, and spirits. When we accept the Holy Spirit into our lives our God-given spirits awaken and this is how the Holy Spirit speaks to us, guides us through our spirits and this is the part of us that always knows and abides with God. When we die this spirit part of us returns to God. As a believer, we always have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

When we die this spirit part of us returns to God. As a believer, we always have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Mark Martin’s Bible study on The State of the Dead explains “Jesus’ promise to Martha in John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'” http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Dead/tabid/56/Default.aspx

In Death–Oblivion or Graduation? author Sam Pestes writes

“According to Ephesians 2:1-3 and Colossians 2:13, when we are born into this world, we are born dead in trespasses and sins. Our bodies were not born dead. Our minds were not born dead. What, then, was born dead? Our spirits, which had not yet been touched and enlivened or quickened, by the action of the Holy Spirit! True conversion links our spirits to the Holy Spirit who is the life-giving Spirit!”

Old Covenant, Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law, New Covenant–was anyone else confused?

It was interesting to learn that during various times in history, God has had different agreements or covenants with His people. The original Covenant was given to Abraham and all those who believed in God by faith and the sign was circumcision. Next, the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai and the Sabbath was their sign. Galatians 3:19 tells us that this ten commandment law had a beginning and ending time. Jeremiah 31:31-31 tells us that a New Covenant was coming.

The New Covenant was Jesus Christ who came, died on the cross, and completed everything necessary to secure our salvation, and when we believe in him by faith we join the New Covenant where, baptism the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the symbols of the Lord’s Supper, his body and blood, are the signs.

Romans 7: 1-6 tells us we are released from the law through the body of Christ! Everything clicked into place for me when I read Galatians beginning to end, over and over about four times. It finally sunk in–we are NOT to go back to the law (Mosaic, Sinai, Ten Commandments, Torah or any other Jewish law), we are free from these laws because of what Jesus completed on the cross for us and we are to share this good news with others! Colossians, Romans, and the books of Corinthians also clarify this–but when you’re wearing Adventist sunglasses this good news is hidden from view!

The SDA church has erroneously extracted and reserved the Ten Commandments from the Mosaic law when the two are never to be separated

The SDA church has erroneously extracted and reserved the Ten Commandments from the Mosaic law when the two are never to be separated (Deuteronomy 5:2-3; 1 Kings 8:9, 21; 2 Chronicles 6:11). John 1:17 tells us that the law was brought by Moses, but grace and truth comes only through Jesus Christ. We cannot obey the old Mosaic law and at the same time have a New Covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. If we try to, we are as Paul tells us in Romans 7:1-6, committing spiritual adultery! The books of Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians show over and over how the old covenant was null and void once the New Covenant arrived and the new is much better because it is rooted in Jesus Christ! (Hebrews 8:13). Second Corinthians 3:1-18 shows us the difference between the law and new covenant–the old kills, the new gives life; the old brings condemnation the new brings righteousness; the old fades while the new is glorious; the old fades and the new remains; and best of all the old was written on stone, the new is written on our hearts!

The big protest I hear from people is: “We need the Ten Commandments to tell everyone what to do!” The law points out sin, so those who are not Christians may need this law. Romans 7:4-6 tells us that we are dead to the law because of the death of Jesus Christ. New Covenant Christians have chosen to be filled with the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus 100%. We have to be dead to the law so we can live for God (Galatians 2:16-21). God’s law is written on our hearts (Galatians 6:2; Galatians 5:13-14, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:1-8) and when you have the Holy Spirit as your guide, you have no need for the ten commandments which were nailed to the cross along with the Torah and other old testament, Mosaic laws (Colossians 2:14).

“The seventh day Sabbath was legal, given under the Law dispensation. Christian believers under the present ‘dispensation of the grace of God’ (Eph. 3:2), since the death and resurrection of Christ, are under the New Covenant. Much of the confusion on this point would be cleared up in the minds of the people if it were remembered that our very Bible is divided into two major sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word Testament means ‘covenant.’ So one may speak correctly of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Read carefully these Scriptures, and remember that we are not living under the Law (the Mosaic, Jewish dispensation before the time of Christ), but we are under ‘grace’ the new covenant instituted by our Lord by His atoning death and bodily resurrection. Here are a few of the many Scriptures showing this. Galatians 3:24-25, 4:1-7; 4:25-30; (‘we are not children of the bondwoman’–law–‘but of the free’–grace v. 31); Gal 5:13-14; Romans 6:14,15; 7:1-4 (‘ye also are become dead to the law…that ye should be married to Him who is raised from the dead,’ v. 4); Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (the law, called ‘the ministration of death,’ is done away,’ vs. 7, 11); Acts 15:1-4, 19, 24, 28; Hebrews 8 (the new covenant replaces the old covenant); John 1:17; Ephesians 3:1-9 (the church, not revealed in the Old Testament, is a new body that replaces the law and Israel); Mark 2:21-22 (there must be a new dispensation for the new gospel). Galatians 3:19 makes it clear that the law was added until the Seed (Christ) should come. Now that Christ has come the law has been set aside.” Why We Must Reject Seventh-day Adventism by Fred J. Meldau

John 1:17 says “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” In Galatians 3:10-13 “the works of the law are under a curse…no one is justified by the law, the righteous man shall live by faith…the law is not of faith, on the contrary, he who practices them shall live by them…Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Romans 10:4

Mark Martin’s article The Gospel and the Covenants explains the covenants here: http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Covenants/tabid/54/Default.aspx

What about “the time of trouble”?

This one doctrine alone brought much fear and trembling to my heart from a very early age until the past year! The SDA church teaches that Adventists are the only ones keeping the fourth commandment and at the end of time all of the Sunday-keeping churches and non-believers will unite to persecute, imprison, and kill Adventists for keeping the Sabbath commandment. During this time of persecution, they will be without an intercessor (for Jesus will have closed the books that he has been pouring over since 1844) and they will have to live a perfect life on their own during this horrific time.

This false teaching not only brings fear and trembling to Adventists but serves to give them a sense of pride, of being perfect, of being “right,” of being so special the rest of the world is persecuting them for their peculiar beliefs.

This has been such a source of fear in my life that I can’t make total sense of it at this time, but I am looking forward to researching this subject in God’s timing. What I do know is that the great tribulation spoken of in the Bible is a persecution of ALL Christ-followers–not just the little group of SDAs!!

So what exactly did I agree to when I was baptized into the Adventist church?

This question nagged at me until I went to the file cabinet and found my Certificate of Baptism and read the 13 vows I had pledged to follow when I was baptized. I was horrified! I no longer believed more than half of them:

#4 “…recognizing him [Christ] as my Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary.”

#6 “…it is my purpose…to keep God’s law of Ten Commandments, including the fourth, which requires the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord.

#7 “…abstaining from such things as alcoholic beverages…and from unclean foods.”

#8 “…believe that the Spirit of Prophecy [the SDA church teaches that the Spirit of Prophecy is EGW] is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church.”

#10 “I believe in church organization, and it is my purpose to support the church by my tithes and offerings, and by my personal effort and influence.”

#12 “Knowing and understanding the fundamental Bible principles as taught by the SDA church, it is my purpose by the grace of God to order my life in harmony with these principles.”

#13 “I believe that the Seventh-day Adventist church constitutes God’s remnant people, and rejoice to be accepted into its membership.”

The list of 13 SDA Baptismal Vows is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventist_baptismal_vow

What people don’t realize is that these vows are for life. To have your membership removed from the SDA church records there are only three options–death–missing–and apostasy. If you choose to leave the SDA church it is assumed that you are in apostasy and living apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ. No option exists for “I studied for myself, I no longer agree with SDA doctrines and I choose to worship Jesus Christ with fellow Christians elsewhere.” Since that’s the way it is, I am choosing to apostatize from the SDA denomination, but most certainly NOT from Jesus Christ!

Tom and I have a new relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted his New Covenant, so we are making plans to be baptized…

Since I was only 12 when I was baptized, going along with the “annual dunking of the lambs” and didn’t have all this information to make an informed choice–I decided that it was time to look at what I believed as an adult in the light of God’s Word alone from a New Testament point of view. Tom and I have a new relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted his New Covenant, so we are making plans to be baptized at GVCC’s river baptism on August 29, 2010!

They just disappeared, what happened to the Adventists I used to know?

It’s sad when I recall all those who have left the SDA church, I wonder if they found Jesus and a new church family, or have they given up on a relationship with Jesus altogether because of a false religion? We were taught by the SDA church that these people were lost forever because they turned their backs on “the Sabbath truth.” I still remember how Tom and I just brushed off his aunt and uncle when they left the SDA denomination in the 1980s. The feeling that they were deluded and didn’t really know what they were giving up was very strong and I sincerely regret my behavior and unwillingness to accept their decision and dialogue with them. Recalling this experience gives me insight while speaking with others now.

I could never understand why the records at Placerville SDA church showed there were over 800 members and less than 200 people ever attended church on a given week. I have found that a few have gone on to join Christian churches, while most others have simply disappeared. Unbelievably Adventist parents prefer that their children be “visiting” out in the world for a time than to have them remove their names from the SDA church records and actively be involved in mainstream Christianity.

Unbelievably Adventist parents prefer that their children be “visiting” out in the world for a time than to have them remove their names from the SDA church records and actively be involved in mainstream Christianity.

Studies estimate that between 2000 and 2005, 1.5 million Adventists left the church, officially asking for their memberships to be removed; approximately 300,000 leave each year and this doesn’t count for the thousands who simply no longer attend; somewhere between two and five million SDAs have left the church in North America where previously there were over 2 million SDA’s there are now only 750,000; other studies show that for every baptism there are three who leave–this is not church growth, but the names are kept on the books so the numbers don’t look as bad as they really are. Currently, there are approximately one million who refer to themselves as former Adventists.

The SDA denomination admits there is a problem in Ten Who Left by Fred Cornforth by Tim Lake “The majority of those born into a Seventh-day Adventist family in North America in the post-World War II era have dropped out of the church.”

Why are so many Adventists leaving? http://www.nonsda.org/sda_losing_members.shtml

Estimates are that between 50-75% of SDA church members do not attend church regularly: http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Articles/numbers/tabid/507/Default.aspx

Why does my decision upset so many?

Some people have said to me “So now you think you can do whatever you want to–what about the Ten Commandments? We need the law!” There was envy in their voice, along with criticism and anger. What they meant was now I could worship on a different day, not be restricted by Jewish food laws or the clothing restrictions of the SDA denomination, or I could do whatever I felt was best because I was no longer tied to the law but being guided by the Holy Spirit, how convenient for me and yet still restraining for them! The very fact that I made a different choice made many feel threatened.

I do not seek to change anyone’s thinking while sharing my journey, but many people seem intent on showing me that I am wrong and they are right. It’s amusing to note that they are threatened when hearing that I have left the SDA denomination. They really don’t care to listen to what I say but are only intent on proving their own beliefs. I understand their reasoning because I was once there–I had to be right! I’m confident in my beliefs because they aren’t built on dead corn stalks but are firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and I understand what he did for me on the cross!

After we sent our exit letter requesting our names be removed from denominational records (copy at the end), we received a call from the pastor requesting a meeting. At that meeting, the pastor said that he felt responsible because this “happened on his watch.” He likened this to a divorce, he said that he wanted an amicable divorce and wanted us to know we were welcome to visit anytime. He said that he would defend us if anyone in the church questioned our spirituality and we thanked him for his thoughts and prepared to leave. He should have stopped there because the more he talked he became spiritually abusive, he started telling us that certain persons and “publications were destroying the SDA church, twisting a knife.” He closed with a prayer that was very disconcerting. This was mild compared to the stories I’ve heard from many new friends.

Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

In my new relationship with Jesus, yes there is freedom from man-made, prophet-made, church-made laws but because I love Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me, I now choose to have his new commands written on my heart and to be under the New Covenant. Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.” John 13:34-35. Since I am born again in Christ and have accepted God’s grace freely given, I am dead to sin and truly seek to follow God’s plan. The moral laws found in the New Testament (Galatians 5:13-2; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:1-25; Romans 8:1-5; John 17:20-22; Romans 7:1-13; John 1:17; Romans 7:1-13) that guide the New Covenant Christian.

Where do I go from here?

I am not angry or bitter, though occasionally at the beginning of this journey those feelings did cross my mind, mostly I felt sad and disappointed; sad for the indoctrination, sad for the time that has been wasted, sad for those still in bondage to the SDA doctrines, disappointed in the SDA leadership who fully know the issues yet continue to deceive church members by withholding truth, sad for the way our beliefs affect our decisions while raising our children, sad for what could have been different in our lives. I have two regrets; the first is that I didn’t study for myself and opened my eyes much earlier; the second is that no one shared this information with me. But I am confident that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it” Philippians 1:6 As long as I have studied out what I really believe for myself “Let each man be convinced in his own mind.” Romans 14:5 I know that guided by the Holy Spirit I will not be led astray.

I’ve taken the time to grieve the past while moving forward in my journey taking full responsibility for my past and present decisions. The SDA church was a huge part of who I became, my 14 years of education, six generations of family (seven generations with my children, eight generations with my grandsons), a network of friends, relatives, and acquaintances. We have been asked, “Was it so bad being raised an SDA?” No, it wasn’t bad at all, but it was not in accordance with God’s Word only–there were too many additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions involved!

I have found a greater joy, all fear of eternity is gone, a real relationship with Jesus is blossoming, and there is an incredible peace in my heart as I spend every day with Jesus!

So this journey has not been without struggle but in the end–following Jesus and becoming a New Covenant Christian–I have found a greater joy, all fear of eternity is gone, a real relationship with Jesus is blossoming, and there is an incredible peace in my heart as I spend every day with Jesus! The gospel is simple–“believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31

Here is what Tom and I did, we prayed fervently and studied diligently from the Bible only; we zeroed in on our relationship with Jesus first, for he has promised to lead us, “united with the Lord you will not be led astray.” Galatians 5:10; we prayed for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit; studied the old covenant, and the law and compared the new covenant in Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews; we decided to follow the Bible alone (rather than the Bible plus the added SDA doctrines); we didn’t assume anything, we tested every one of our personal beliefs with the Bible; we investigated EGW and decided once and for all that she a plagiarist rather than a prophet; we started attending a community church and got to know the people. Take off your Adventist sunglasses and listen to the gospel taught at community church, look for your passion and purpose, keep looking until you find a new church family, attend twice a week; and then the decision becomes much easier! Yes, initially it is difficult to even consider this step, but in the end, the freedom and closeness of your new relationship with Jesus Christ will strengthen you so that you can do whatever he shows you.

It is obvious that I cannot stay where I was and nothing good comes from dwelling in the past. This is the story of where I was and what led me out, but not where I chose to remain. There is no going back, once you’ve discovered the truth, and once God’s word sets you free it is impossible to go anywhere but forward with Him! Both Tom and I eagerly look forward to where God is leading us in mainstream Christianity and further marriage ministry.

Because we no longer agree with the 28 SDA Fundamental Beliefs or the 13 Baptismal Vows of the Seventh-day Adventist church–there is no other choice but to request that our membership be removed from the records of the SDA church–We have chosen from now on to be New Covenant Christians! 

Shewmake Family 

P. O. Box 836 Camino, CA 95709 

January 9, 2010,  

Pastor Ron Mellor, 

This letter is to request that our membership be removed from the records of the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist church and also removed from any and all the records of the SDA denomination. 

We are requesting this action because, after much prayer and diligent study, we find that we no longer believe or agree with the 28 Fundamental SDA Beliefs or with the 13 baptismal vows. We have discovered many doctrines such as Ellen G. White, Investigative Judgment, remnant teachings, Sabbath, Sanctuary, and others to be contrary to what God's Word teaches and we can no longer consider ourselves members of the SDA denomination. 

Church membership is a reflection of what we believe and our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we were to retain membership in the SDA church we would be telling others that we agree with all of the doctrines. We cannot do this and maintain our integrity. 

We assure you that this has nothing to do with the pastors or with any members of the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist church. We have given considerable thought and come to this decision based on our study of God's Word. Though we are leaving the SDA church, we are completely committed to Jesus Christ and have an incredible, ongoing relationship with Him. 

Please ask the Placerville Seventh-day Adventist church board to approve our request in a timely manner at the next board meeting and to verify in writing that our names have been removed from the church records. 

Sincerely, Tom, Judy, Timothy, and Aarika Shewmake

Tom & Judy Shewmake

© 2009 Tom & Judy Shewmake. Used by permission. Originally published by Life Assurance Ministries, Inc. in 2010. All rights reserved.

Source: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2023/10/19/taking-off-adventist-sunglasses/