The origin, writings, and departures from beliefs of Seventh-Day Adventism.

NOTE: It is important for the reader to read the article called "Word Definitions" to understand better why the Seven Day Adventist Church is considered as an "aberrant faith"

Introduction
Many evangelicals question whether the Seventh-Day Adventists should be called a cult or a denomination. The church holds a number of the cardinal Christian doctrines. However, there are errors which classify it as a sect with aberrant beliefs.

Founding of Seventh-Day Adventism
The Seventh-Day Adventist church was founded on the belief in the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was to return in 1843 or 1844. The. proponent of this prophecy was William Miller (1782-1849), a Baptist minister. He had no formal theological training, but he was a keen student of the Bible.

But at the close of the day, Christ was not to be seen. Miller revised his figures and came up with the date of 22 October 1844. But again the day passed and Christ did not return, so Miller closed his Bible and politely stepped out of the ministry. He ignored the futility of setting dates for the Lord's coming. Mark 13:32 says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." If Jesus Himself knew not the date, who is mortal man that he should set it?

The leadership of the movement was taken by Mrs. Ellen White, a prophetess who claimed to have divine revelations from time to time. It occurred to her that there was an actual sanctuary in heaven similar to that of Moses in the wilderness. She assumed that when Christ ascended to heaven, He entered the Holy Place. But according to her, in 1844 Jesus went into the Holy of Holies to intercede for the sins of all who accept His sacrifice at Calvary. There He conducts an investigative judgment. They say that when Jesus finishes that work, He will return to earth.

In 1860 the sect took the name Seventh-Day Adventists. In 1903 the headquarters was set up in Washington, D.C. Today there are over three million Seventh-Day Adventists around the world. They have an extensive missionary program to which their members give sacrificially. They have many educational and medical institutions in the United States and oversees, and they are noted for their vegetarian diet and their abstinence from liquor, tea, and coffee. p

Sacred Scriptures of Seventh-Day Adventists
The Seventh-Day Adventists declare the Holy Bible to be the authoritative Word of God; however, like so many other sects, they have writings to interpret the Bible, which they revere just as highly. The Great Controversy by Mrs. Ellen White is the main work, which they consider just as inspired as the Bible. p

Doctrinal Departures of the Seventh-Day Adventists
We can sum up the main doctrinal errors of the Seventh-Day Adventists under four categories: the Atonement, the Sabbath Day, the nature of Christ, and eschatology. p

The Atonement. Seventh-Day Adventists deny the completed atonement of Christ at Calvary. Mrs. White said, "The blood of Christ pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record." This not only contradicts itself but also the Scriptures on the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 19:30, Hebrews 1:3, 9:11, 12).
The Seventh-Day Adventists also believe that the scapegoat in the tabernacle sacrifices was a type of Satan on whom sins will be placed at the end of time. If this were true, then Satan would be another savior, the substitute for the sinner. p

The Sabbath Day. After Mrs. White materialized the sanctuary in heaven, she claimed to receive a vision in which she saw the tables of the Law. The fourth Commandment, which refers to the Sabbath Day, had a circle of light around it! From such a vision has come a dogma that is the pillar of Seventh-Day Adventism. Now Sabbath observance is added to the works a righteous man performs to merit salvation.

What is the truth of the Bible concerning the Sabbath Day?
The Adventists' practice of observing the Sabbath Day is a return to legalism from which Christ has freed us. The book of Galatians clearly refutes that bondage.

· Observance of the Sabbath Day was a covenant between Jehovah and Israel only (2 Corinthians 3:9-11; Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:5-8; Romans 6:14).

· The Sabbath cannot be kept in some lands, because, according to the Law, it was to last from sunset to sunset. In some places, however, the sun sets once in six months! In addition, no fires were to be made, no cooking was to be done, no long journeys were to be taken. Breaking this law meant the death penalty! What do we conclude? Based on the Scriptures we have studied, we conclude that the laws concerning the keeping of the Sabbath were for the Jews under the Old Testament economy. p

The Nature of Christ. Seventh-Day Adventists state that in His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature, in order to be tempted like we are. But what is the truth? A fallen Christ, or Satan, cannot be our Savior. Moses had to select a lamb that was perfect, without spot or blemish. How can imperfection bring forth perfection? (Hebrews 4:15, 9:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:19). p

Seventh-Day Adventist Eschatology. Seventh-Day Adventists teach that between death and the resurrection the dead sleep. This teaching is called soul sleep. The truth of the Word is that when believers die, they go immediately into the presence of the Lord (Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
The Seventh-Day Adventists also believe in the annihilation of the wicked. That is, the wicked will be blotted out of existence. They insist that eternal torment is contrary to reason and the Bible. But what does reason say? If sinners simply die and are not accountable for their response to God, they have no fear of punishment, nor do they have any motivation to live godly lives.

What does the Bible say?
It indicates the following death man faces judgment (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-15). Moreover, Jesus' teaching clearly indicates that the wicked will exist in a state of conscious eternal torment (Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Jude 7). Seventh-Day Adventists make no distinction between the rapture of the church and the revelation of Christ. They also teach that in the Millennium, the people of God are in heaven and Satan dwells on earth (Revelation 20).

In summary, as opposed to an unfinished atonement, let us emphasize our present salvation, in which the record that was against us has been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). One cannot be saved by keeping the Sabbath. In our view there will be less emphasis on the Sabbath and more on the Lord of the Sabbath. Finally, all believers must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour. We must therefore occupy, that is, carry out our task of proclaiming the good news, until He comes.

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This article was based on the course "What People Believe" ICI/Global University, Lesson on aberrant beliefs.