Is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church a Cult?

Our Attitude

This article is NOT designed to tear down any individual. We have no problems with the members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In fact we have a great love for them and this is why we have written this article because of the love we have for them. Our problem is with an organization, its teachings and its founding "Prophetess" and the doctrine they claim leads to eternal life. Christians are commanded to present the truth and especially in the spirit of love.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

This article is not designed to get into the complexities of the law and its relationship to Christianity. It is simply designed solely on how one is justified before God and how one receives the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer (Romans Chapter 4). This article has nothing to do with sanctification, and it is not about the Christian walk after salvation. It is not about the works in the life of a believer (Ephesians 2:10). It is simply about how the "unbeliever" gets justified before God to inherit eternal life 51; period.

What is a Cult?

A pseudo Christian cult is a system of religious beliefs and rituals with a body of adherents deeply devoted to an extra biblical person, idea, or thing; it cultivates worship in a religion that, with reference to its basis for man's salvation, is considered to be unorthodox, spurious, or false, thereby insulating its members against true salvation in Christ. And inasmuch as the central doctrine of Biblical Christianity is the sacrificial death of Christ for man's sin (Eph. 2:8,9, Rom 4:5, Titus 3:5, Gal 2:16), all cultic deviations tend to downplay the finished work of Christ and emphasize the importance of earning moral acceptance before God through one's own RELIGIOUS WORKS.

The Adventists' Claims

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was founded on theological assumptions and alleged divine revelations by Ellen G. White whom the Seventh-day Adventists profess to be a prophetess of God founded around the mid 1800's. What does the modern Seventh-Day Adventist Church say about Ellen White?

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church tell us:

"The writings of Mrs. E. G. White were never designed to be an addition to the canon of Scripture. They are, never the- less, the messages of God to the remnant church and should be received as such as were the messages of the prophets of old. As Samuel was a prophet to Israel in his day, as Jeremiah was a prophet to Israel in the days of the captivity, as John the Baptist came as a special messenger of the Lord to prepare the way for Christ's appearing, so we believe that Mrs. White was a prophet to the Church of Christ today. And the same as the messages of the prophets were received in olden times, so her messages should be received at the present time" (Review and Herald, October 4, 1928).

"These inspired books, such as Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, and Patriarchs and Prophets, are indeed divine revelations of truth upon which we may place full dependence" (Prophetic Guidance in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, p. 20).

"The Messages for these days shall be written in books and shall stand immortalized" (Prophetic Guidance, p. 50);

"Consistency calls for acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy [Ellen White's] writings as a whole. We cannot justify accepting part and rejecting part" (Prophetic Guidance, p. 70);

"The Messages [Ellen White's writings] themselves are worthy of a different kind of consideration from that given to other modern writings. They are messages from God and must always be treated as such" (Treasure Chest, p. 142).

Note: Christians accept the writing of the prophets, Samuel, Jeremiah, as inspired by God and their writings as Holy Scripture. To follow what the Seventh-Day Adventist Church tells its members, then those who believe that E. G. White is inspired would have to regard her writings as Scripture (the same way) as they do the Bible prophets. But then the church tells them her writings are not "an addition to the canon of Scripture!" Does this confuse you? If you understand how it is possible, please explain it to me!

In their MINISTRY MAGAZINE OF OCTOBER 1981, (which they have never retracted) 51; "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" It's plainly obvious from these rather profound statements that the modern Seventh-Day Adventist Church consider Ellen G. White's statements, claims and writings to be of equal value and equal authority to the Bible. Some Adventists will object and quote other of her writings where she said she was a "lesser light" and the Bible being the "Greater Light." Either way it is "light" and the question is does a Christian need a "light" other than God's Word? If we do, then the Bible is imperfect as the Word of God!

Did E.G. White claim infallibility for the Testimonies herself? Yes.

"Yet, now when I send you a testimony of warning and reproof, many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of Sister White. You thereby insulted the Spirit of God." Testimonies 5, p. 64.

"In these letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision -- the precious rays of light shining from the throne." Testimonies 5 p. 67.

"If you lessen the confidence of God's people in the testimonies He has sent them, you are rebelling against God as were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram." Testimonies 5 p. 66.

"The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil. In arraying yourself against the servants of God you are doing a work either for God or for the devil." Testimonies 4 p. 230.

Further the Seventh-Day Adventists state:

"Mrs. White's pre-eminent mission was to help build the dynamics of a Biblical faith into a Christian movement. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is indebted to her as a spiritual leader and a pioneer builder and guide" (Ellen G. White and the S.D.A. Church, p. 2).

So we can rightfully measure Ellen White's claims against the Bible in the most important issue of all, "what must I do to be saved?." That is all this article is going to address. We can conclude from these claims that allegedly Ellen White was a prophetess and was also allegedly well grounded theologically to guide people on how to get to heaven.

So let's see what Ellen White says about how one gets saved to receive eternal life:

"So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in order to become a Christian: to believe in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be baptized, and to obey all the commandments of the Lord" (Seventh-Day Adventist - New Life Voice of Prophecy Guide #12)

From this statement we can conclude that what she is saying is that allegedly we are saved by:

• to believe in God
• to repent of sins
• to confess our sins
• to be baptized
• to obey all the commandments of the Lord

  Please bear in mind what she said: "So we have clearly outlined the steps that we NEED to take in order to BECOME a Christian." She has not stated that some of these things are done after salvation, she is clearly stating this is what one must do to be saved! (note that she hasn't mentioned Jesus Christ in this particular statement).

  Please note when the Adventists use the term "the commandments," they are always referring to the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue).

  Further Ellen White stated:

  "Christ says to every man in this world what He said to the rich young ruler: 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments in other words, the standards for ADMISSION into heaven is a character built according to the ten specifications, or commandments, of God's law" (Seventh-Day Adventist - Review and Herald Publishing, pp. 45,46).

  Does our obedience and faith reconcile us to God, Ellen White?

  "Man, who has defaced the image of God in his soul by a corrupt life, cannot, by mere human effort, effect a radical change in himself. He must accept the provisions of the gospel; he must be reconciled to God through obedience to his law and faith in Jesus Christ" (Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 294).

  Must I be perfect before Christ will accept me, Ellen White?

  "From what was shown me, there is a great work to be accomplished for you before you can be accepted in the sight of God" (Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 84).

  "You have a great work to do. ... It is impossible for you to be saved as you are" (Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 316).

  "As you are, you would mar all heaven. You are uncultivated, unrefined, and unsanctified. There is no place in heaven for such a character as you now possess. ... You are further today from the standard of Christian perfection ... than you were a few months after you had received the truth" (Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 465).

  "To obey the commandments of God is the ONLY WAY to earn His favor" (Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 28).

  "Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ" (E.G. White, The Great Controversy [TGC], 1911, p. 623; TGC has since been retitled and published as America in Prophecy, 1988).

  The Seventh-Day Adventist Church teaches that, though saved by grace, we are kept by the Law (i.e., "partial atonement"). Therefore, one must keep Old Testament dietary and ceremonial laws, paying particular attention to keep the Saturday Sabbath and the Ten Commandments, and most importantly, making sure to faithfully pay the tithe. Even when speaking of being saved by the righteousness of Christ, Seventh-Day Adventist writers refer to imparted righteousness, seldom to the biblical concept of imputed righteousness. Calling it "Christ's righteousness," while insisting on the believer's perfection of character as a prerequisite to salvation, is at worst a thinly veiled works salvation, or at best an attempt to mix grace and works, something the Bible says is impossible to do:

  Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

  Mrs. White's words are crystal clear, one will not be forgiven until all sins are eradicated from one's life, and one's character is perfected. Precisely the same heresy is found (besides many others) in Mormonism. It is not the salvation by grace alone through faith alone offered in the Bible.

  "It is not the work of the gospel to weaken the claims of God's holy law, but to bring men up to where they can keep it's precepts" (Prophetic Guidance Correspondence Course, Lesson 10, p. 36).

  "The master builder will stand right with you and in you, and see to it personally that your life comes up to the requirements of God's law" (Charles T. Everson, Saved By Grace, pp. 45-46). (See Hebrews 7:19)

  "Do you want to be a Christian? The steps to Christ are few and plain and easy to understand, and we will turn to God's Guidebook now for information..."

  1. Believe, that's the first step toward becoming a Christian. ...
  2. Repentance... simply being sorry for our sins and putting them away ...
  3. Confession ... real repentance and confession mean not only to stop sinning, but to do everything possible to make past wrongs right ...
  4. Baptism, and the proof for that is found in Acts 2:38-39 .
  5. Obedience through Christ in us...

  "So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in order to become a Christian: to believe in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD" (SDA Correspondence Course).

  "Jesus counseled the rich man who was seeking eternal life, `If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' It is Jesus who delivers us from sin but not in sin. WE MUST ACCEPT HIM AND THROUGH HIS POWER IN US BE SEPARATED FROM THE IMPURE, THE UNHOLY, THE DEFILING--ALL DISOBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS" (New Life Guides, #10).

  "The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are counted worthy of `the resurrection of life.' ... As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. ... all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance ... the work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. " (The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White, pp. 425, 431).

  Note: Going by this statement one would have to be sinless in their practical life to get into Heaven.

  Again and again and again, she and the Seventh- Day Adventist Church states that obedience to the law justifies. There is a clear pattern here and even a twelve- year-old child could not miss the message she is communicating with regard to the law. Yes, she does mention faith in Christ but there is a very heavy emphasis on the law, and faith is only mentioned as a token. This sounds logical: be a good person and obey the law and believe in Jesus. But is that what the Bible says about being justified before God?

  Biblical Facts

  1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

  1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

  1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

  1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

  Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

  Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

  Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

  Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

  Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

  Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

  Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

  Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

  If the reader cannot see a pattern in the verses above that we are saved by Faith Alone in Christ Alone in the strictest sense, then I can only say that the reader sadly is a darkened soul. Now, you will get some Adventists who will claim that one saved by faith alone allows God to empower them to keep the law and by keeping the law after salvation one maintains salvation. On the one hand, some Adventists do "claim" to believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith without works; but on the other hand, they redefine faith to include works and the deeds of the law. Their New Life Correspondence Course plainly states that to be saved one must believe in God, repent of sins, be baptized, and obey all the commandments of the Lord. This is what every cult does. They claim to believe in salvation by grace, but they cleverly redefine grace to include works. True saving faith is giving up every other confidence and placing one's confidence SOLELY in Jesus Christ's work. When we share the Gospel we like to tell people both what they need to do to be saved (TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE) and what they need to avoid doing (trusting in their own good works, baptism, their turning from their sins, church attendance, keeping the law, public confessions, altar calls, etc.) Being JUSTIFIED is believing Christ died for your personal sins, THEN one goes into the lifelong walk of the SANCTIFICATION process which includes recognizing the OLD MAN dead, studying the "Word", etc. Adventists are Armenian in their theology which means they claim one can lose their salvation. So let's apply a little logic to their claims:

  · Allegedly, to some Seventh Day Adventists one is saved by faith alone, BUT

  · If one sins (breaks Gods law) they lose their salvation,

  · Therefore one needs to JUSTIFY themselves AGAIN by repenting of that sin and AGAIN JUSTIFY THEMSELVES TO GOD BY OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW.

  Is this how one is saved?

  1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

  1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

  1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

  1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  Based on the many statements by Ellen White, based on a multitude of Bible verses and the comparison of the two, the Bible and God himself conclude that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is a cult and subject to divine discipline:

  Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

  Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

  Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

  Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

  The Good News of Christ is not salvation through grace which produces the works of the law. It is eternal salvation by God's grace alone through faith alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in the shed blood alone for full salvation. Those who, after initial faith in Christ, attempt to return to the Mosaic law to perfect their salvation are committing the same error as the Galatians of the first century.

  Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

  Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

  Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

  Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

  Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

  Those who persist in placing themselves under the Mosaic law, in spite of clear N.T. teaching, are outside of true salvation. Seventh-Day Adventist leaders are of this number; they are Galatian legalizers.

  Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

  Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

  Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

  Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

  Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

  Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

  Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

  Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

  Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

  "Salvation is secure upon believing and trusting the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The true gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ offers perfect security, and ONLY the true gospel can offer security."

  Lets remember the gospel:

  THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

  1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

  1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

  1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

  1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  How is one saved?

  Not by works or forms of human merit where any kind of physical action is required (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:5).

  Not by acts of righteousness (Titus 3:5).

  Not by law (Galatians 2:16, 5:4, Romans 3:21, 3:28).

  One is saved by simply believing and trusting the four verses quoted above (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

  Who will you believe God's Word (the Bible) or man (E.G. White and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church)?

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