Reasons Why Adventism Is So Dangerous to One’s Spiritual Health

 

When people talk about spiritual danger, usually they imagine dark rituals or strange cults. But sometimes the threat is not loud or scary. Sometimes it hides inside teachings that appear biblical, healthy, and well-disciplined. For many former members across the world, Adventism (formally called the Seventh-day Adventist Church) has become one such concern.

In this blog, we explore why some believers feel that Adventism can be spiritually harmful, especially for those who enter without fully understanding its deeper doctrines. This is not an attack on Adventist individuals; many are sincere, kind, and devoted. Instead, this article highlights systemic teachings that many Christians consider misleading or psychologically burdensome.

Heavy Emphasis on Law-Keeping Over Grace

In Adventism, there is a very strong emphasis on keeping the Saturday Sabbath, and for many members, it goes far beyond simply resting or worshipping God on that day. The teaching often becomes a kind of spiritual test, something that is believed will separate “true believers” from “false believers” in the final days before Christ’s return. Because of this, many sincere Christians end up feeling a heavy pressure on their shoulders, as if their salvation hinges on perfect Sabbath behavior and other lifestyle rules. Instead of worship becoming something joyful and natural, it slowly turns into a system of fear-based obedience where people worry, “Am I doing enough? Am I keeping the rules properly? Will God reject me if I fail?” Over time, believers may start measuring their spiritual worth by how well they perform certain commandments rather than focusing on the grace that Jesus already provided. 

This leads to a quiet but persistent guilt, almost like a spiritual burden that never goes away, because no matter how hard they try, they feel they are never good enough. In mainstream Christian theology, salvation is a free gift “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8–9), not something earned by strict rule-following. But when law-keeping becomes the center of one’s faith life, the spiritual journey can feel like an endless checklist instead of a relationship with God. For many believers, especially, who may already be used to performance pressure from school, work, or family expectations, this kind of religious pressure can become emotionally exhausting and spiritually discouraging.

The Investigative Judgment Doctrine Creates Anxiety

Another major concern that many Christians have with Adventism is the doctrine called the Investigative Judgment, which teaches that Jesus began a heavenly judgment of believers in the year 1844. According to this belief, every person who has ever claimed faith in Christ will eventually have their life record examined in heaven, and no one knows when their name will be reviewed. For many Adventists who take this seriously, it feels like their entire salvation is hanging in the balance, as if God is observing their performance moment by moment and deciding whether they are faithful enough to be saved. This creates a very real emotional strain because you start worrying, “Am I ready? Am I living holy enough? What if my name comes up today and I’m not prepared?” 

Instead of resting in Christ’s finished work, some believers feel pressured to live almost perfectly, being extra careful with habits, thoughts, and behaviors not out of love for God, but out of fear that one mistake might ruin their chances in the heavenly review. Over time, this can make a person feel like they are constantly being watched, graded, or evaluated, which is spiritually exhausting and psychologically unsettling. So rather than experiencing peace, assurance, and gratitude, the things many Christians believe the gospel is supposed to bring, the Investigative Judgment often produces spiritual insecurity, anxiety, and a never-ending fear of not measuring up. For many believers, who may already experience cultural pressure to meet high expectations, this doctrine can feel like yet another system where they must prove themselves over and over again.

Ellen G. White’s Writings Treated Almost Like Scripture

Although Adventists officially claim that Ellen G. White is not on the same level as the Bible, her writings in reality hold a very powerful influence inside the church. Many members treat her books as a kind of spiritual manual that directs almost every aspect of life, what to eat, how to dress, how to raise children, how to prepare for the end times, and even what medical treatments are acceptable or discouraged. Because her writings are quoted so often in sermons, study groups, and official publications, ordinary members naturally feel that they must follow her counsel if they want to be considered faithful. This creates a situation where her words shape people’s beliefs almost as strongly as Scripture itself. 

The concern becomes even more serious when certain statements she made appear to contradict mainstream biblical interpretation, especially regarding salvation, prophecy, and lifestyle standards. Over time, many believers begin to read the Bible through Ellen White’s interpretations, instead of evaluating her messages through the Bible. Her visions and writings become the lens, and the Bible becomes the background. When this happens, a human author, no matter how sincere or respected, ends up having near-scriptural authority in the everyday practice of faith. This can subtly distort a person’s spiritual development because they may depend more on extra-biblical writings than on a direct relationship with Christ. For many Christians, especially in Asian cultures where respect for authority is strong, this kind of dependence can grow silently, making it difficult to question, think independently, or interpret Scripture without fear of being labeled rebellious.

Fear-Based End-Time Teachings

A common theme in many Adventist sermons and teachings is the strong focus on end-time scenarios, especially the idea that a worldwide Sunday law will one day be enforced by governments, leading to persecution of Sabbath-keepers. Along with this, members often hear warnings about political powers joining with religious authorities to push false worship, the Mark of the Beast being connected specifically to Sunday observance, and various global conspiracies working behind the scenes to deceive humanity. While these topics are presented as urgent spiritual truths, they can also become emotionally heavy for ordinary believers who are simply trying to live their daily lives. 

Instead of feeling anchored in Christ’s peace, many begin developing a kind of survivalist mindset, always preparing for persecution or scanning the news for signs of prophetic danger. Over time, this can shift one’s faith from a relationship with God into a constant sense of fear, suspicion, and hyper-vigilance. In many countries where economic pressures, family expectations, and social responsibilities are already stressful, this added spiritual anxiety can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being. The heart ends up living in tension, always anticipating crisis rather than enjoying the security of God’s love. For some, the gospel becomes less about hope and more about preparing for disaster, which is far from the peaceful, grace-centered life Jesus intended.

A Culture of Spiritual Superiority

Another issue that often appears in Adventist culture is the belief held by many members that their denomination is the “remnant church,” the one group that possesses the most complete and accurate truth in the world today. While this teaching may give some a sense of purpose or identity, it can also create an unhealthy mindset where Adventists begin to see themselves as spiritually superior to other Christians. Over time, this attitude may subtly shape how members interact with people outside their faith. Some may become judgmental, thinking that non-Adventist believers are “less faithful” or “not fully enlightened,” which naturally creates emotional distance from friends or family who belong to other churches. It also becomes difficult to appreciate the beauty of diverse Christian traditions, because everything is filtered through the idea that only Adventists have the whole truth. 

For individuals inside the church, this belief can even produce feelings of shame or failure, especially when they struggle to meet the strict expectations and lifestyle standards associated with being part of the so-called remnant. Instead of feeling encouraged, they may feel pressured to perform perfectly, as if they represent God’s final chosen group. In many cultures, where social harmony and humility are highly valued, this kind of spiritual pride can quietly damage relationships, create unnecessary walls, and hinder a genuine, grace-filled faith. It may not always appear aggressive or intentional, but pride, especially religious pride, is subtle and can slowly weaken both personal spirituality and meaningful connections with others.

Strict Lifestyle Rules That Can Lead to Burnout

Adventism also places a strong emphasis on healthy living, which in itself is a positive thing, but in many communities this emphasis becomes quite strict and heavily rule-based. Members are encouraged, sometimes even pressured, to adopt vegetarian or vegan diets, avoid caffeine, stay away from certain foods considered “unclean,” follow specific modesty standards, and limit forms of entertainment such as movies, sports, or social activities that are seen as worldly. In some more conservative groups, there is even strong discouragement toward certain medical treatments, with members urged to rely primarily on natural remedies or faith-based healing. 

While each of these practices may have good intentions behind them, the problem arises when they are enforced in a way that feels legalistic, where people start to believe that their spirituality is measured by how well they follow these lifestyle rules. This can create a heavy emotional burden, as members feel guilty whenever they slip up or fail to meet the expected standards. It can also lead to judgment within the community, where people quietly compare one another’s habits or make assumptions about someone’s faithfulness based on what they eat, wear, or watch. Over time, this environment can become tiring and discouraging, turning healthy living from an act of appreciation for God into a stressful obligation. For many who already grew up with cultural expectations of discipline, modesty, and respectability, the added religious pressure can create emotional fatigue, making faith feel more like a performance than a relationship with God.

Difficulty Leaving Without Psychological Pressure

For many former Adventists, the experience of leaving the church is not simply a matter of changing denominations; it often comes with deep emotional and spiritual consequences that can take years to process. Countless ex-members share that once they step away, they begin to feel condemned or spiritually “lost,” as if they have abandoned the only true path and are now outside of God’s protection. Some are even warned that judgment or end-time disasters will fall more heavily on them because they “knew the truth but walked away.” This kind of messaging can be frightening, especially for those who grew up hearing it from childhood. On top of that, many report facing social rejection from friends, mentors, or even close family members who may distance themselves or view them as spiritually dangerous. 

Over time, these painful experiences can develop into religious trauma, where the person struggles with anxiety, guilt, nightmares, or difficulty trusting any spiritual community again. Instead of feeling free to explore their faith or seek God in a new way, they often carry emotional wounds that make spiritual growth difficult. A healthy spiritual community should encourage people to grow, ask questions, and follow God with sincerity, not make them afraid to think independently or to leave if they feel led in a different direction. Faith should bring freedom and healing, not fear and emotional bondage.

Final Thoughts

Adventism, to be fair, is not entirely negative. The movement has contributed many meaningful things to society, such as strong community service programs, a deep commitment to education, and an impressive promotion of healthy living that has benefited countless families across Asia and beyond. Many Adventists themselves are genuinely sincere, compassionate, and dedicated to helping others. However, alongside these positive qualities, the church also carries unique doctrines, a heavy reliance on prophetic authority, and a pattern of fear-centered end-time teachings that can create spiritual pressure and emotional imbalance if individuals are not careful. When members absorb these teachings without discernment, what starts as a desire to follow God wholeheartedly may slowly turn into anxiety, guilt, and a constant feeling of not being “good enough.” Over time, the mental and spiritual strain can become very real, especially for those who already face cultural and personal pressures in their everyday lives.

So if you or someone you know is currently struggling with Adventist beliefs, feeling confused, overwhelmed, or spiritually drained, please remember this simple but powerful truth: faith is meant to bring freedom, not bondage. Genuine spirituality should lift your heart, draw you closer to God, and help you grow in peace, not trap you in fear or never-ending self-judgment. It is absolutely okay to ask questions, seek clarity, and explore your faith journey at your own pace. A healthy relationship with God is rooted in love and grace, not pressure and fear.

Escaping the SDA Mentality Syndrome: Moving from Freedom to True Renewal

Leaving Seventh-day Adventism is not just a doctrinal decision—it’s a spiritual detox. Many former Adventists find themselves free from false doctrines but still chained to an old way of thinking that lingers like background noise. This is what I call the SDA Mentality Syndrome—a mindset that can quietly control you long after you’ve walked away from the SDA church.

It’s like Israel leaving Egypt. They escaped Pharaoh, but Egypt’s mindset followed them into the wilderness. The same thing happens with Adventists—freedom is one thing, but renewing the mind (Romans 12:2) is another.

So what are these lingering mindsets? And how do you overcome them?

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1. Legalistic Reflexes: Still Measuring Yourself by “Enough”

Even after rejecting the Sabbath laws, some former Adventists still struggle with subconscious legalism. They worry: Am I reading the Bible enough? Praying enough? Attending church enough?

This is a hangover from the SDA works-based system. Instead of resting in Christ’s finished work, the old voice whispers: “You’re never good enough.”

Bible Cure:

• “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• Remember: you don’t maintain salvation by performance. Christ did it all.

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2. Fear of the Future: The Shadow of “Last Day Events”

SDA eschatology conditions members to live in constant fear of Sunday laws, persecution, or failing the Investigative Judgment. Even after leaving, some still have nightmares about being “lost” in the end.

This paranoia is the exact opposite of biblical hope. Fear keeps people looking over their shoulders instead of fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Bible Cure:

• “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

• “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

Christ’s return isn’t a threat—it’s our blessed hope (Titus 2:13).

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3. Suspicion of the Church: Carrying Distrust Forward

Adventists are trained to believe almost every church outside SDA is “fallen Babylon.” Many ex-SDAs carry this distrust with them and resist committing to any church.

Yes, spiritual abuse inside Adventism makes people wary, but isolation only deepens old wounds. Christ calls us into His body, not solo Christianity.

Bible Cure:

• “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

• The true Church is not an institution with a prophetess—it’s the redeemed people of God across time and nations.

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4. Identity Crisis: From “Remnant People” to Ordinary Christian

SDA members are taught they are the remnant, the special elite who alone have “the truth.” Leaving strips away that false identity, but some still subconsciously crave being “special” or “different.”

The danger? You might look for another elitist group or cling to pride in “knowing the truth” as a former Adventist.

Bible Cure:

• “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…” (1 Peter 2:9)

• Your identity is not in leaving Adventism. It’s in belonging to Christ.

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5. Performance-Based Assurance: The “Investigative Judgment Hangover”

Even after rejecting Ellen White, some former SDAs struggle to believe they are truly forgiven right now. They keep checking their spiritual pulse, worried God is still “watching the record books.”

Bible Cure:

• “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

• “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

Assurance is not based on your record but on Christ’s righteousness credited to you (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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How to Overcome the SDA Mentality Syndrome

1. Renew Your Mind with Scripture (Romans 12:2). Don’t just deconstruct SDA errors—build a biblical worldview.

2. Replace Fear with Worship. Every time the old “fear of judgment” rises, confess truth and worship Christ as your Advocate (1 John 2:1).

3. Plant Yourself in a Healthy Church. Healing happens in community, not in isolation.

4. Keep the Gospel Central. Learn to rest daily in Christ’s finished work, not your spiritual performance.

5. Embrace Joyful Assurance. Live in the freedom of God’s promises, not the prison of old SDA reflexes.

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Final Word

Leaving SDA is like leaving Egypt; it’s freedom, but also a journey of unlearning and healing. The danger isn’t just SDA theology, but the SDA mentality that keeps you living like a slave when Christ has already called you His child.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

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Former Adventists Philippines

“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

For more inquiries, contact us:

Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com

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When Ted Wilson Talks Like an Evangelical… But Still Preaches Adventism!

A Closer Look at the ex-GC President’s Appeal

You’ve probably seen it, a short reel of former SDA General Conference President Ted N. C. Wilson speaking with what sounds like heartfelt evangelical tone. He talks about looking to Jesus, preaching the gospel, and standing on God’s Word. Sounds good, right?

But here’s the problem: it’s not what it seems.

Evangelical Words, Adventist Framework

In the video, Wilson sounds just like your average non-denominational preacher. He appeals to “faith in Christ alone,” “the authority of Scripture,” and the urgency of sharing the gospel.

But the gospel he’s talking about isn’t the biblical gospel of grace alone. It’s the Adventist gospel a gospel that still hinges on investigative judgment, Sabbath as seal of salvation, and obedience to the law as part of the final test.

“Scripture alone,” he says.

But what he means is: Scripture interpreted through Ellen White.

 

The Real Evangelical Gospel vs. Adventism

Let’s not be confused. The true biblical gospel is Jesus + nothing. Not Jesus + Ellen White. Not Jesus + Investigative Judgment. Not Jesus + Sabbath as the seal.

Wilson’s appeal is warm and sincere sounding, but it’s a polished version of the same old framework: loyalty to the denomination, upholding Ellen White, and subtle guilt if you question the system.

He’s not wrong in saying we need revival. But real revival doesn’t happen when you wrap the same problematic teachings in prettier packaging. It happens when people repent of false gospels and come to the finished work of Christ.

Why It Matters

If you’re a former Adventist or someone questioning what you were taught growing up, this is important. These soft-spoken appeals are designed to keep you emotionally connected to a system that still holds to teachings that distort the gospel.

And if you're an evangelical Christian unfamiliar with SDA theology don’t be fooled. Wilson’s language may sound familiar, but it doesn't mean the doctrine behind it is sound.

Discernment Over Emotion

Let’s be discerning.

• Wilson says, “Jesus is coming soon,” but the SDA system teaches that the final judgment of believers has been going on since 1844.

• He says, “read the Bible,” but adds that the Spirit of Prophecy (Ellen White) is the “lesser light” that guides you to the Bible.

• He says, “stand for the truth,” but never honestly addresses the false prophecies, plagiarism, and double standards that haunt Adventist history.

Let’s Talk

What did you think when you watched that video?

Did it make you feel hopeful, or did something feel… off?

Let’s talk in the comments.

We’re not here to attack people—we’re here to test teachings, expose false gospels, and point people to the real Jesus—who finished the work on the cross, who doesn’t need Ellen White to explain what He meant, and who offers full assurance today—not after a 180-year heavenly investigation.

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Former Adventists Philippines

“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

For more inquiries, contact us:

Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com

Website: formeradventistph.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph

"Don't use Adventism as a springboard to become a "pope" of your established religion!"

Seventh-day Adventist Objection:

"Don't use Adventism as a springboard to become a 'pope' of your established religion!"

Answer:

That's a pretty sharp thing to say: "Don't use Adventism as a springboard to become a 'pope' of your established religion!" It's a comment that really hits home, pointing to that worry we all have—that someone might use their faith to gain power instead of genuinely helping people. It makes you think about all those times in history when good intentions went sideways because of personal ambition.

Paul's Story Rings a Bell

It reminds me of the Apostle Paul. Imagine someone telling him, "Don't use your revelation from Christ to become the 'pope' of our old Jewish ways or some new group!" But what was Paul really doing? He was just sharing what he truly believed was God's truth. He wasn't trying to be a big shot; he was driven by a deep desire to spread the good news.

Paul often had to explain himself in his letters. He wasn't in it for fame or fortune. He was always about Christ, about how the message of the gospel could change lives, and about serving the early Christian communities. People accused him of trying to lord it over them, but his whole life and everything he taught showed he was about humble service, willing to suffer for what he believed, and always pointing to Christ, never to himself.

What Real Faith Leadership Looks Like

That old story with Paul still feels relevant today. The worry about someone using their faith as a "springboard" is totally fair. It's a good reminder that if you've got influence in faith, you need to use it with integrity and selfless care.

But then, what's the alternative? Should we just keep quiet about our beliefs or avoid leading anything just because we're afraid of being misunderstood? I don't think so. The real answer is in why we do what we do.

True leadership in faith, whether it's Adventism or any other belief, is all about serving others. It means

• Sharing what we truly believe is God's truth, not just our own opinions.

• Caring about others' well-being and spiritual growth, not about getting famous or controlling people.

• Living out the principles of our faith, showing by our actions what we believe.

• Directing attention to God (or the core of our faith), not to ourselves.

A Chance to Look Inside

That "don't be a pope" comment, even though it's blunt, can actually be a good thing. It makes us look at our own hearts and constantly check if our faith journey is truly about God and helping others, or if it's slowly turning into something about us.

My hope, and what I think anyone deeply involved in their faith should aim for, is to have that same servant's heart Paul had. It's about being part of the community, sharing what you've learned, offering guidance, and championing your faith's message—all with a heart focused on service, not on grabbing power. It's about building people up, not tearing them down; about pointing to something bigger than ourselves, not trying to be that bigger thing.

In the end, it's not about being a "pope" of any religion. It's about being a faithful servant of God, trying to live out our beliefs with humility and a genuine desire to be a blessing to others. That's what I'm aiming for, and it's a journey we're all on together.

For more inquiries, contact us:

Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com

Website: formeradventistph.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph

Phone: 09695143944

COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE DECEPTIVE NATURE OF ADVENTISM!

My memories are still warm from our annual Former Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship conference which took place only a few weeks ago. I thank God for these life-changing experiences that I get to take part in every year. I can truly say that this conference is a major highlight of the year for me. The very day we had concluded was the day I started dreaming about being together with my dear friends and ministry partners for next year’s FAF.

And yet, for me that exuberance was a little different prior to our conference this year. Every year, it seems, as I prepare to fly to California, I get questions from others about the wisdom of attending FAF, given all the busyness of my life. And as I stop to think about it, I can understand the logic to some degree. This spring semester has been extremely busy for me as I am teaching a whole suite of new courses, with so little time to prepare lecture material and quizzes, handouts, slides, etc. Along with my duties at Southern seminary, I need to give consideration to my family, whom I leave for a few days to attend the conference. 

Why spend all this time and energy attacking Adventism? Why not do something more productive with your time?”

Furthermore, I have been out of Adventism for some years now, and people (both evangelicals and Adventists) are often curious about why I keep returning yearly to the conference. “Do you really want to be known mainly for your opposition to Adventism? Why spend all this time and energy attacking Adventism? Why not do something more productive with your time?” If I’m honest, I’ve asked myself that question at times. And each year, after each conference, I know the answer, and I never regret having attended. 

Of course, there are a number of obvious answers that I am reminded of after each conference. I still miss California and the wonderful sunshine. Every year, I love the Christian fellowship I get to experience, being together with brothers and sisters in Christ that I only get to see once a year. Being around believers is always invigorating, but when you combine that with our shared experiences coming out of Adventism, it becomes very special. I also feel a wonderful joy in being able to serve and teach others from the Word of God. The times of worship in music that we experience together yearly are truly heavenly. 

This list of reasons for attending could be extended. But this year I left the conference with one reason ringing especially clearly in my mind. I realized after this year’s conference that each year I gain a greater clarity about what Seventh-day Adventism truly is. This is quite astonishing when you think about it. To state the obvious, each year puts more distance between me and my former life in Adventism. You would assume that it is those within Adventism who ought to know the most about their religion. And yet it remains true that I now know more about the true reality of my former worldview that I ever had known while still an Adventist. In fact, anyone who spends enough time contrasting biblical Christianity with Seventh-day Adventism will discover many shocking things that have simply been overlooked for decades since the well-known counter-cult apologist Walter Martin gave the organization a clean bill of health in the 1950s. 

This is no heresy hunt, but rather an earnest quest to understand the worldview of Seventh-day Adventism and how it fundamentally differs from that of biblical Christianity. Our Lord placed a high value on the truth (John 8:32), and we ought to seek that truth, and having comprehended the truth, we ought to speak it in love to others. 

Staring Adventism in the face

In that vein, one word has stuck with me after this year’s conference. 

Deception. 

Although I had previously heard Adventism described as a deceptive movement, and I would have affirmed this notion, I realize now that I had never truly stopped to think more deeply about the concept. Yes, I had often told the story of Adventist scholars deceiving Walter Martin into thinking Adventism was basically sound. Yes, I had understood how Ellen White engaged in a massive amount of plagiarism while passing off her writings as visions from the Lord. Yes, I understood how cults use special meanings for words that cause doctrinal statements to be viewed in a misleading way. 

This deception was so strong that I described it at the close of this year’s conference as a “reality distortion field” that one has to actively fight against.

But prior to this year’s conference, I confess I had never stared Adventism in the face and realized that the whole thing was designed to be a devilishly clever counterfeit, masquerading as Christianity and actually deceiving millions of Adventists and evangelicals. This deception was so strong that I described it at the close of this year’s conference as a “reality distortion field” that one has to actively fight against. I don’t know how else to describe it when so many well-meaning Adventists and Christians point to Adventism and ask what the big deal is when Adventists sing the exact same songs as evangelicals, only on a different day? 

The nature of deception

Religious deception is a confusing, disorienting thing. My gut instinct has never been to believe that some person or organization is deliberately being deceptive with me. On an interpersonal level, it’s hard to be that cynical about the one who’s interacting with you. As a person living in the modern world, it’s very hard to respond to someone who claims to love Jesus by dismissing their entire worldview as unbiblical. Moreover, my instincts go against those who dwell on any kind of vast conspiracy theories. For all these reasons, and more, it is understandable that one might be hesitant to describe Seventh-day Adventism as a movement that is deceptive to the core. 

For me, it took yet another deep look at the underpinnings of Adventism as I was preparing my talks. It required me to confront the full reality of what the founders of Adventism did, as they launched a movement designed to mislead other people into thinking that their religion was fully aligned with historic Christian orthodoxy. More than that, it required an acknowledgment that these founders knew full well that what they were doing was fundamentally deceptive. James White knew what he was doing when he took language about God lacking “body, parts, and passions” which had been used in multiple historic Christian confessions (including the 39 Articles, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the London Baptist Confession of Faith). He twisted that language deliberately and arrogantly to describe God in the exact opposite way: “[God] is material, intelligence with body, parts, and passions, possessing immortal flesh and immortal bones.” Ellen White knew what she was doing when she presented a warped understanding of Christ and a gospel that was hopelessly contradictory, mixing Bible-sounding language with flatly heretical ideas.

The outcome of deception

Of course, not everyone who is in a deceptive religious movement is a deliberate deceiver. Many are being deceived by others. Many are deceiving themselves. But regardless of each individual case, Seventh-day Adventism continues to be that which it has been from its very founding: a deeply deceptive religious movement. The many compromises made by Adventist leaders over the century and a half since the movement was founded have contributed in their own way to perpetuating this deception. Beyond that, the compromises that many evangelicals made and continue to make in downplaying the true nature of Adventism, have also contributed in perpetuating this deception. (This is partly due to the fact that they have been misled by Adventists, but also partly because they have failed to truly study the movement.) 

Adventist deception leads to evangelical compromises in dealing with Adventism, which, in turn, produces more deception.

The sad reality that dawned on me after this year’s conference is that the evangelical stamp of approval, more than many things, has contributed to lulling far too many Adventists into thinking that their own religion is perfectly acceptable. Adventist deception leads to evangelical compromises in dealing with Adventism, which, in turn, produces more deception. It’s a vicious cycle. 

What is at stake?

No form of deception is ever a good thing. But when the deception involves a false Jesus and a false gospel, the consequences are deadly. Though it is increasingly unpopular to say so, I believe with all my heart that Scripture warns us about different “gospels” that cannot save, indeed so-called “gospels” that are accursed.

I have been asked by others (and I sometimes ask myself) whether I am simply “seeing things.” Is Adventism really all that bad? After all, it is one thing to say that Adventism, and Adventists, are mistaken, or hold to incorrect theology. It is quite another thing to say that Adventism is a fundamentally deceptive movement with a false gospel that is constructed to look like the real gospel, and a false Jesus that is designed to look like the real Jesus. 

…the core of Adventism has remained the same throughout that entire time, up to the present day.

The reality is that while Adventism may have morphed in its appearance in the decades since the Great Disappointment, the early visions of Ellen G. White, the 1888 message, the 1919 conference after White’s passing, the Questions on Doctrine era, the Desmond Ford controversies, and so forth—the core of Adventism has remained the same throughout that entire time, up to the present day. With eyes to see, one can “see” this when honestly and thoroughly examining the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. One can understand this by looking at the resurgence of Ellen G. White’s writings with the current millennial generation (as witnessed by the beautifully typeset editions of her Conflict of the Ages series published by “Types & Symbols”). One can grasp the true nature of Adventism by examining the statements of its leadership (from the progressive NAD up to GC president Ted Wilson). If, on the other hand, sound doctrine is passé to you, if any form of unity at any cost is paramount, or if you simply don’t care to look carefully enough—you, too, will be deceived by Seventh-day Adventism. 

May this never be true of us. May we as believers “love the truth” because we love perishing people and because we care about the glory of God (2 Thess 2:10). 

Source:https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2024/03/14/coming-to-grips-with-the-deceptive-nature-of-adventism/

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. †

HOW TO MINISTER TO TRANSITIONING SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS?

 

INTRODUCTION: 

In the following pages, I have emphasized certain words which have been put in italics. These are my emphases.

I. Understand the mindset of Adventism: 

    We must seek first to understand before we can expect to be understood. Adventists believe they have “the truth” and ALL other churches are in error. The following quotation is taken from the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, Jan. Feb. Mar., 2009 on the topic of “The Prophetic Gift”. It gives the mindset of Adventism that is often left out of their public relations, yet it reveals the core of Adventist self-understanding which must be understood to effectively minister to them.

“From our study this far, we understand that in Revelation 12:17 “the rest of her offspring” (NKJV) refers to God’s visible remnant church that can be recognized by two specific characteristics: (1) they “keep the commandments of God” as God has given them on Mount Sinai, including the Sabbath commandment, and (2) they “have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” which is the Spirit of prophecy, or the prophetic gift.

“The Sabbath-keeping Adventist movement, from even before its organization in 1863, always has claimed these identifying signs for itself. As Adventists, we proclaim the Ten Commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath; and we believe that as a church we have the testimony of Jesus; that is, that God manifested Himself in the life and work of Ellen G. White.

“Thus, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not just one church among many. It is a church prophetically foreseen. God has called this church into existence for a very specific purpose—to proclaim the three angels’ messages to a dying world.” p. 50.

    By the term, “the three angles’ messages, Adventists mean (1) the investigative judgment starting on October 22, 1844, (2) the seventh-day Sabbath as the seal of God, and (3) Sunday as the mark of the beast. Because Adventists believe they are the one and only true, remnant church and have the “truth”, for Transitioning Adventists (TAs) to leave Adventism means that they must face many fears. They wonder how someone can leave the “truth” without going into “error”.

A. Fear of leaving the Sabbath: “Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters, ‘Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting.’ I asked who this company was. The angel said, ‘These are they who have once kept the Sabbath and have given it up.’” Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 37

B. Fear of receiving the mark of the beast: “The sign, or seal, of God, is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation…The mark of the beast is the opposite of this—the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God.” Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 118.

C. Fear of rejecting Ellen White: “It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.” Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 211

“In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the Testimonies of His Spirit… [writings of Ellen White] The Lord has seen fit to give me a view of the need and errors of His people.” Testimonies of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 66; see also Vol. 4, p. 147-148. (Compare Heb. 1:1-3, Note that Ellen White takes out Christ as God’s final word and inserts her writings as God’s means for communicating His will today.)

D. Fear of leaving the Adventist church: “…We believe that being Seventh-day Adventists has a direct bearing on our salvation; that while a believer can be saved as a Catholic, I would risk my whole spiritual life and salvation were I to leave what I am now and join any other community.” President Jan Paulson, “The Theological Landscape” No. 4, “The Idea of Remnant” printed in the Adventist Review, (Review and Herald, 2002). [Jan Paulson is the current (2009) president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists—the highest office in Adventism.]

E. Fear of leaving the early historical teachings of Adventism: “When the power of God testifies as to what is truth [what God has shown Ellen White] that truth is to stand forever as truth. No after suppositions contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained.” Ellen G. White, Loma Linda Manuscript, No. 150.

F. Fear of being deceived by studying with former Adventists, especially former Adventist pastors: It is our understanding that many Adventist leaders are now telling their members not to study with those who leave Adventism. They reason if a person leaves “the truth” they must be going into error and be deceived by Satan. So why should a person study with someone whom they believe to be deceived by Satan? They convey the idea that if an Adventist studies with a former Adventist they, too, are likely to be deceived by the devil. One leader said, “We may have to close our eyes and ears to those who disagree with us.” On our recent ministry trip (2009) we found that the Adventist churches were notified of our meetings, told to hold conflicting meetings in Adventist churches, and warned their members not to attend our presentations. CDs were mailed out to many churches full of untruths about us and our ministry implying that we left Adventism because we wanted to live in sin and did not believe in obedience to God. We find that Adventist leaders do not want to study with former Adventist pastors. I have tried repeatedly to make an appointment with the Arizona Adventist Conference president all to no avail.

G. Fear of leaving friends and family in a close-knit community. Many who leave Adventism are cut off from family and friends. Often former Adventists (Formers) are forbidden to even talk about religion with their SDA family members. We have experienced this ourselves and as we meet with Formers around the country we hear this over and over again.

H. Fear of compromising SDA standards. Some—not all—TAs may have hidden fears of attending churches that use coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages, and eat meat. Some TAs would be totally scandalized if the church they attended served pork at a potluck or real wine in the communion service

I. Fear of the coming judgment and the time of trouble. “In that fearful time, the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. The power attending the last warning has enraged them, and their anger is kindled against all who have received the message. The people of God are then plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble…It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than reality, but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal.” Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 432f. See also The Great Controversy, p. 425, 614.

    I have personally counseled with a number of Formers or TAs who have had to have professional therapy to rid themselves of the fear of the Adventist time of trouble. When a person reads the description of this event in Ellen White’s The Great Controversy, they will have frightening imaginations of this terrible ordeal. Then when they read: “The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal” and the mental fears start to snowball and they can grow into a fearful, psychotic syndrome.

II. Understand the role of conscience. I highly recommend you read two articles on this topic in the Jan/Feb & Mar/Apr 2002 Proclamation! www.lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamation20_02.html and study 1 Corinthians 8 and 10:23–33.

A. Conscience = voice of God + education.

B. Conscience may be misinformed.

C. We should never go against our conscience.

D. We sin when we cause a weaker brother to go against his conscience.

E. Our job is not to change behavior but to re-educate the conscience by the Word of God. Don’t urge transitioning Adventists to break the Sabbath, eat unclean foods, or do anything they feel is wrong until they are convinced by the Word of God that they are free to do so.

F. It takes time to do this.

III. Involve the Adventist in group discovery Bible studies as soon as possible.

A. Most Adventists feel they are superior in Bible knowledge. Do not confront this attitude. Rather, let them experience good, discovery group Bible studies with other Christians.

B. Adventists have two sources of “truth”—the Bible and the writings of Ellen White.

1. Many Adventists have read more of Ellen White’s writings than the Bible and in time these two often blend into one.

2. Transitioning Adventists will sooner or later come out with an “Ellen Whitism”—quoting Ellen White when they think they are quoting Scripture.

3. It is best if the TA discovers this rather than being confronted by others.

4. Be patient, but direct TAs to the Bible as the only source of truth.

C. Teach correct principles of hermeneutics. Following are some important highlights, pastors should add to these:

1. Adventism was founded on the proof-text method of Bible interpretation. Show how this is not a safe way to study. (See Cultic Doctrine p. 56-79 for a number of illustrations of proof-texting running wild.)

2. Teach contextual Bible study.

3. Teach inductive Bible study—study to discover not to prove.

4. Let the New Testament interpret the Old Testament.

5. Understand the difference between the old and new covenants and know the signs of each covenant. Sabbath in Christ will be an excellent reference for this.

6. Doctrine should come primarily from the Gospels interpreted by the Epistles.

7. Doctrine should seldom, if ever, come from the apocalyptic passages of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation.

a) Where the Bible is clear we can and should be certain.

b) Where the Bible is unclear we must be tentative.

8. Doctrine should never be based on an isolated text.

9. Description is not prescription.

IV. Follow the right subject order

A. Start with the gospel. Some have been effective in starting at other places such as showing the errors of Ellen White, having the TAs read Galatians through in one sitting every day for 30 days, or having them read Cultic Doctrine—if they are willing to do that. But we generally feel it is best to start with the simple gospel. Do not, however, start with the topic of the Sabbath. For many Adventists, the Sabbath is the most cherished and important doctrine. It is at the very core of their theological paradigm. For many TAs it is unthinkable that Adventists could be wrong on the importance of Seventh-day Sabbath observance.

1. The gospel is often misunderstood in Adventism and the writings of Ellen White are confusing and self-contradictory on the gospel. There are six “gospels” being promoted in Adventism. (See Cultic Doctrine, p. 316-322 for an explanation of each of the following.)

    a. The gospel of example.

    b. The gospel of the feast keepers.

    c. The Great Controversy gospel (See also Cultic Doctrine, p. 235).

    d. The 1888 gospel.

    e. The gospel of progressive pluralism.

   f. The Pauline gospel of justification by faith alone—without renouncing Adventist errors which, in turn, undermines the gospel.

2. The gospel is the most important of all subjects.

3. Adventists are hungry for the true gospel.

4. The gospel itself will undermine the errors of Adventism.

5. The Holy Spirit works when the gospel is proclaimed.

6. Once a person is truly born again, the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth.

7. How to determine if Adventists understand the gospel:

    a. Ask them to give you their testimony. Remind them that God has no grandchildren. Adventists often speak of “conversion” usually meaning conversion to the “truths of Adventism”. They seldom speak of      the new birth or being born again by the Spirit.

    b. What must one do to be saved?

    c. What must one do to remain saved?

  d. What must one do to be ready for Christ to come? If they are “good Adventists” they will have additions to the gospel in order to be ready for Christ to come.

    e. Ask the TA “Will you be lost if you leave the Sabbath, leave the SDA church, or eat unclean meat?”

    f. If in doubt, stay with the gospel.

8. Good gospel passages are:

    a. Luke 15.

    1) God searches for and accepts sinners who just wander away.

    2) God searches for and accepts sinners who get lost because of the carelessness of others.

    3) God accepts sinners who rebel against the Father’s love the minute they turn toward home.

    b. John 3, 4, 8

    1) Even theologians need to be born again. Drive home the truth of the necessity of the new birth. We         must be born again by the Spirit of God.

    2) Like the woman at Jacob’s well, God can save those who have a sinful lifestyle and an incomplete  understanding of theology if they accept Christ as their Savior. Once she received “the living water”— she left her water pot at the well—she became a successful evangelist in pointing others to Christ as the     Savior of the world.

    3) The gospel is good news for those who have been caught in the act.

    c. Luke 23:39–43. The gospel is good news for a dying sinner.

    d. Romans 3–6. Many excellent gospel passages here!

    e. Gospel articles in Proclamation! (Search by topic)

    f. Every book written by Dale Ratzlaff has a chapter or section dealing with the simple gospel.

B. Settle the issue of authority once and for all. The Bible must be the only source of truth, not Ellen White or SDA church doctrine.

1. The witness of Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:15, 16; Lk. 24:25–27; Jn. 10:35; 1 Jn. 5:13; Jn. 20:31; Rom. 10:17.

2. Point out the confusion in the writings of Ellen White on this topic:

a. “And while the Scriptures are God’s Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application moves one pillar from the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake.” Ellen White, Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven. Library, 1094, p. 157. Review the quote found under “E” on Page 2 of this outline.

The above quotes show that the early experience and teachings of Adventism are the plumb line for Adventist Bible interpretation.

b. “But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority—not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 595

    The above quote states that doctrine must come from the Bible alone. Adventists reconcile these two conflicting statements by ensuring that the Bible is to be interpreted in harmony with the Adventist experience and the teachings of Ellen White.

“…The historic sanctuary message, based upon Scripture and supported by the writings of EllenWhite, 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. (See www.adventistreview.org/2002-154/story3.html)

3. Point out the confusion in SDA church doctrine. (See Cultic Doctrine, p. 274, 275). In the 1970s it became well known among informed Adventists that the 1844 Sanctuary doctrine could not be supported by the Bible. Rather than admit error, the church changed their doctrinal statements regarding “The Holy Scriptures” and “The Gift of Prophecy”.

Following are the subtle but major changes that were made:

a. The pre-1980 statement said that the Scriptures are “all sufficient” and are the “only” unerring rule of faith and practice.

b. The post-1980 (current, 2009) statement on “The Holy Scriptures” leaves out “all sufficient” and “only”.

c. The pre-1980 statement on “The Gift of Prophecy” states that Ellen White manifested the gift of prophecy, but does not say that her writings are a “source of truth.”

d. The post-1980 (current, 2009) statement for “The Gift of Prophecy” states that the writings of Ellen G. White “...are a continuing and authoritative source of truth...”

e. Now the Adventist church is left with the impossible task of trying to explain how the hundreds of foolish, erroneous, and contradictory statements made by Ellen White could possibly be a “source of truth”.

4. Confirm that the Bible is the only source of truth for your study.

5. Agree that Ellen White cannot be used for doctrinal authority.

6. As long as transitioning Adventists continue to read Ellen White or The Clear Word “Bible” they will not be able to clearly understand Scripture. This will be very hard for a “good Adventist” to accept. To help them understand this:

    a. Illustrate with Mormons. A Mormon is unlikely to leave Mormonism if he/she reads Joseph Smith          every day.

    b. Illustrate with Jehovah’s Witnesses. A  J.W. is unlikely to leave if they read the Watchtower every      day.

7. You may find Adventists who say the SDA church does not put Ellen White on the same level with Scripture. There are many statements in some of their books and periodicals that confirm that her writings are not used for doctrine or placed on the same level as Scripture.

    However, please refer to Cultic Doctrine, Appendix 4 for quotes from a number of SDA leaders which prove that many SDAs put Ellen White on the same level with the apostle Paul.

C. Show that the SDA’s 1844 Sanctuary Doctrine is without biblical support and that it undermines the gospel. Cultic Doctrine is the best book to deal with this subject.

1. Cultic Doctrine evaluates the SDA’s 1844 investigative judgment of sanctuary theology in five different ways.

2. Cultic Doctrine shows that the SDA church was built on massive error and deception.

3. Cultic Doctrine exposes many of the errors and heretical statements made by Ellen White.

4. Cultic Doctrine lists the 15 characteristics of a cult and shows how the SDA church meets most of them.

D. Study the Sabbath. This will be thoroughly discussed in the presentation entitled, “What about the Fourth Commandment?” I strongly recommend that you get Sabbath in Christ as it will answer every question a transitioning Adventist will ask. It has helped many thousands make a successful transition and remains our best seller. However, Adventists should read Truth Led Me Out or My Cup Overflows before reading Sabbath in Christ.

1. The topic of the Sabbath MUST be thoroughly understood:

    a. If you are going to have a ministry for transitioning Adventists.

    b. If you are going to keep your members from being caught in the enticing net of Adventist                        evangelism.

2. We have found that many, if not most, evangelicals, including evangelical pastors, are not well prepared to adequately answer all the questions an Adventist will ask on the topic of the Sabbath.

V. What the Evangelical pastor can expect in ministry to transitioning Adventists:

A. TAs will have a plethora of questions.

B. You may find that TAs have a different understanding of evangelical terms. Ask probing questions for clarification.

C. TAs may study the Bible with you and then without telling you, they may go back and study with an SDA pastor or friend and become confused. You may have to study the same topic several times. Be patient with them. It is not easy to change one’s whole paradigm of truth.

D. Once TAs have made the transition to your church, they may prove to be your most dynamic church members on fire for the gospel. We hear this time and again from evangelical pastors.

VI. Conclusion and summary:

A. Transitioning Adventists will have to face a number of other embedded errors. Once TAs understand the gospel, and attend a gospel-believing, Bible-teaching church, these will be discovered and dealt with in God’s own time.

B. Do not force the details of last-day events on TAs. Every view of eschatology is built on at least several assumptions. Our responsibility is to stay close to Christ, His word, and His church. God will be with us no matter which view turns out to be right.

C. Use the resources of Life Assurance Ministries:

1. Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., publishes Proclamation! a 24-page, full-color journal mailed bi-monthly free to about 30,000 homes.

    a. We do appreciate and depend on donations so we can continue this ministry.

    b. All back issues may be downloaded from: www.lifeassuranceministries.org.

    c. Has news of Former Adventist Weekends and ministry trips.

2. LAM Publications, LLC website is: www.lifeassuranceministries.com and:

    a. Publishes and sells books and CDs specifically designed to help transitioning Adventists.

    b. Has a number of important articles that may be downloaded for free.

    c. Has news of ministry appointments and presentations.

3. Direct transitioning Adventists to the Former Adventist Forum at:     www.formeradventist.com

    a. Transitioning Adventists have a real need to “talk through” the issues of leaving the SDA church.

    b. They can join the forum under a pseudonym if they wish.

c. Many Adventists, including Adventist pastors, “lurk” on this site reading the postings and responses before they start their transition.

4. On these websites you will find a number of links to other former Adventist sites. There is a wealth of material on the internet dealing with the errors of Adventism.

D. Understand the need for this ministry.

1. Approximately 300,000 Adventist members leave the SDA church every year.

2. Adventists are “programmed” by Ellen White and church doctrine to become agnostics when they leave Adventism. Review the fears listed at the beginning of this outline.

3. If SDAs visit a church that worships on Sunday, they do so with many fears. A Saturday night service often proves to be helpful to TAs.

4. If the pastor and members do not know how to answer their questions, and meet their unique set of needs, they may just give up on Christianity.

Note: We have been contacted by many who grew up in historic Adventist homes and became so discouraged because they felt they could never be good enough to get to heaven. Therefore, they gave up on Christianity, as they understood it. They concluded that if they were not going to heaven anyway, and there was no hell, then they might as well enjoy the pleasures of this world to the fullest as that would be all they could expect. In one way or another, however, God got their attention again. Some tell of how they just happened to see a Proclamation! or one of our books and started reading. Some heard the gospel for the first time in some other venue. After discovering the simple gospel, God’s grace drew them back into fellowship with Himself.

5. At Adventist prophecy lectures (they use many different names and seldom advertise that they are sponsored by Adventists) SDAs often baptize many evangelicals, even pastors.

E. Last but most important, pray for transitioning Adventists that they will fully understand and accept the simple gospel and be delivered from the false guilt and fears of Adventism.

BAKIT FAKE CHURCH ANG SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH?

ADVENTISM IS UNBELIEF!

    The apostle Paul wrote the following words in 2 Corinthians, perhaps his most gut-wrenching letter of all his epistles:

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

    Have you ever wondered why non-Christians are called unbelievers in the New Testament? It’s not as though there were atheists hanging around in ancient Rome—modern atheism is by and large a product of the Enlightenment and perhaps even more so since Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was formulated. It is very plainly possible to be a highly religious individual, and still fall under the category of “unbeliever” in the New Testament. The simple reason for this is that believing in the Lord Jesus Christ counts for everything, without which every other form of belief is both pointless and inimical to the gospel of God.

    It’s instructive to hear how the apostle Paul initially described the Athenians in his address on Mars Hill: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious” (Acts 17:22). Unfortunately, this religiosity did not do most of them any good, for Luke reports that the reaction of the majority to Paul’s gospel was negative: “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this’” (Acts 17:32). The verdict of the New Testament is the same whether religious individuals respond with mockery or indifference: to reject the gospel is to be classed as an unbeliever.

OTHER FORMS OF UNBELIEF

    As paradoxical as it is to view non-Christian religions as “unbelief,” it is even more difficult to give the same diagnosis in cases where a religious movement presents itself as offering a version of Christianity, yet one that in the final analysis is not true Christianity. Throughout history (and already in New Testament times), there have been various movements which vigorously proclaim that they are Christian, yet turn out to be anything but. The difficulty lies when one asks particular belief-related questions:

“Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Do you believe in the Bible?”

“Do you believe in the gospel?”

    No false religious movement would ever answer such questions in the negative, precisely because it is in the very nature of these organizations to portray themselves as truly believing movements, and especially as believing in the claims of Christianity. Thus it is that there have been people and groups since the very beginnings of Christianity who have emphatically proclaimed their belief in these things even as they were deceiving others (or themselves) about their underlying unbelief.

Deception, whether deliberate or self-inflicted, makes the evaluation of religious claims extremely difficult.

    Deception, whether deliberate or self-inflicted, makes the evaluation of religious claims extremely difficult.

.    When Paul wrote his second epistle to the Thessalonians, he was confronting, in part, a false and destructive claim being made by certain other professing believers, namely that the day of the Lord had already come. When Paul corrected this misunderstanding, he explained that a certain “man of lawlessness” will first come before the end of this age. Perhaps surprisingly, lawlessness will not express itself in blatant, explicit disobedience to God. Rather, as Paul describes: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception” (2 Thess 9–10). These deceptions are for individuals that Paul describes as “perishing.” “They refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10).

    We should therefore not expect the distinction between biblical belief and unbelief to be as clear as one might expect. We should not assume that “loving the truth” is a straightforward conclusion when examining the claims of deceptive religious movements. This is especially the case with Seventh-day Adventism, today largely accepted as a conservative denomination within Protestant Christianity.

THE UNBELIEF OF ADVENTISM

    A prime example of Adventist unbelief is the propagation of their “Three Angels’ Messages,” deceptively clothed in the guise of Scripture. This is not an accessory to the gospel, though it is advertised as such. It is not an end-times contextualization of the gospel, despite Adventist claims: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the Three Angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6–12.”

    The true reality of how the Adventist “Three Angels’ Messages” functions can easily be seen when examining the summary statements of SDA General Conference president Ted Wilson in a recent article for Adventist World:

Message #1: “Since October 22, 1844, we have been living in the period of time known as the pre-Advent judgment—the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. The results of this investigative judgment will determine who will be taken to heaven when Jesus returns.”

Message #2: “Although the fall of Babylon began in the summer of 1844, it is a gradual process and will not be complete until (1) the churches reject the three messages of Revelation 14 and accept the strong delusions and lying wonders presented by Satan; (2) these apostate churches unite fully with the world, accepting and believing what the world accepts and believes.”

Message #3: “The mark of the beast, observance of a false day of worship, is an institution that clearly sets forth the authority of the beast. One church boldly boasts that it has changed the seventh-day Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Other churches indicate they worship on Sunday as a memorial of Christ’s resurrection. Neither assertion is biblical.”

    Adventism has flatly rejected the righteousness that God offers in his Son, a righteousness that is alien to us, and substituted a manufactured, human-generated righteousness…

    One sees immediately here that the “good news” of Seventh-day Adventism is diametrically opposed to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Adventism has flatly rejected the righteousness that God offers in his Son, a righteousness that is alien to us, and substituted a manufactured, human-generated righteousness that supposedly will stand firm until the end on the truth of the Sabbath, aided by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    If we were to repeat the same questions asked earlier to President Ted Wilson (“Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in the gospel?”), there is no doubt in my mind that he would firmly assent to all of them. Yet he heads a movement whose claims are of such a nature that they reveal an underlying unbelief no different than that of the atheist or the Muslim, or the Hindu. They are all alike because, like the Jews Paul described in Romans 10, they are “ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

    At the end of the day, whether they realize it or not, people reject the gospel of Jesus Christ because they do not believe what God has said in his Word, namely that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that none is righteous, and that one can only be justified by the grace of God which comes to us as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. They simply cannot believe that man is as wicked as the Bible portrays, or that God is as holy and just as he describes Himself, or that our only means of justification before our Creator is the vicarious death of the God-man on a lonely hill outside Jerusalem.

A PRAYER FOR DISCERNMENT

    John famously concludes his gospel by noting that “these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). When it comes to Adventism, our duty as Christians is to unmask the underlying unbelief of this movement in order to point Adventists to the Son of God, so that they too may have life in his name and believe. May God give us the grace and the wisdom to “discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect,” (Romans 12:2) and cut through the deception of false religious movements and their claims in order to bring people to the Lord Jesus Christ. †

Kaspars Ozolins was born in Latvia to an Adventist family. They moved to Los Angeles where Kaspars attended Adventist elementary and high schools in Glendale, California, and his father was an Adventist pastor. He met Ieva, his wife, while studying in Latvia before pursuing a doctorate at UCLA in historical linguistics. After Kaspars completed an M. Div. at The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California, he served as a research associate at Tyndale House in Old Testament and the Ancient Near East. He is now on the faculty at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as Assistant Professor of Old Testament Interpretation.