“Before Christ’s work for redemption of men is completed, there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service, which began when … our high priest entered the most Holy to perform the last division of His solemn work to cleanse the sanctuary … so the actual cleansing of the heavenly (sanctuary) is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins that are there recorded. But, before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who… are entitled to the benefits of His Atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation – a work of judgment… instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2,300 days in 1844 (as “prophet” William Miller had widely proclaimed), Christ entered in to the most holy place of the heavenly, to perform the closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming.”
We do not find a reference in the Bible for such an event as investigative judgment or to sin being in heaven. If these things are not found in the Bible, what was the source of these ideas? It is interesting to note a Seventh Day Adventist physician, Dr. William Russel, wrote in 1869, “Mrs. White’s visions are the result of a diseased organization or condition of the brain or nervous system.” Additionally, regarding the standard work purportedly written by Mrs. White, The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan, one of Mrs. White’s counselors and intimates, D.M. Canwright, wrote:
“She often copies her subject matter without credit or sign of quotation from other authors. Indeed her last book, The Great Controversy, which they applaud so highly as her greatest work, is largely … a compilation of Andrews’ History of the Sabbath; History of the Waldenses, by Wylie; Life of Miller, by White; Thoughts On Revelation, by Smith; and other books.”
There is strong evidence most of Mrs. White’s writings were plagiarized from others. Despite this evidence, modern Adventists still refer to her as “the Spirit of Prophecy”!
Some Doctrines of Concern
What Adventists are most known for is their observance of the Sabbath. But it is many of their other teachings that are of greater concern. The following are some examples:
- Seventh Day Adventism denies the Biblical Doctrine of the complete atoning sacrifice of Christ as the only means of man’s salvation:
“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. 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.” (The Great Controversy )
Adventists are unable to answer the question, “How are sins pardoned, yet kept on the books?”
- Seventh Day Adventism denies the finality of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross despite His statement, “It is finished.” [See previous quote on investigative judgment.]
- Adventism declares Satan is the “Joint Sin Bearer” with Christ and the vicarious substitute of the sinner!
“While the sin offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as the mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed.” (The Great Controversy)
The belief Satan is substitute for the finished work on Calvary by Christ is clear heresy. Mrs. White alleged she found this teaching in Leviticus 23 and the Book of Daniel. Neither Leviticus 23 nor Daniel teach this heresy.
- Adventism believes Christ inherited a sinful, fallen nature.
“In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature …The idea that Christ … did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen world … Christ inherited just what every child of Adam inherits — a sinful nature.” (Bible Readings For The Home Circle, pg. 115, 1915 edition)
If Christ inherited a sinful, fallen nature, Christ Himself would need a savior.
- Adventism teaches the soul “sleeps” at death and there is no “eternal damnation” of those who reject Christ.
“Upon the fundamental error of “natural immortality” rests the doctrine of consciousness in death, a doctrine like eternal torment, opposed to the teaching of the Scriptures … The theory of “eternal punishment” is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abominations of Babylon.”
This teaching ignores Paul’s statements “absent from the body … present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), or “To be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). We also cannot find any explanation of the term “natural immortality.”
- Adventism demands the Sabbath be followed. They claim the Council of Laodicia in 364 A.D. changed the Sabbath to Sunday, which cannot be shown historically. Additionally, they claim Christians are still under the Law of Moses and are bound to keep the “least of its precepts” – therefore keep the Sabbath.
Although the Sabbath is to be remembered and kept holy (Exodus 20:8), it was established as a lasting convenant with Israel.
Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe My Sabbaths. This will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.’ The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for generations to come as a lasting convenant. It will be a sign between Me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He abstained from work and rested. (Exodus 31:13, 16-17)
It is clear from the Scripture above the Sabbath was the sign of an everlasting covenant with Israel alone. Therefore it is not required by Christians to keep the Sabbath.
1. Did Satan deceive Adam?
| Ellen White | Holy Bible |
| “Satan, who is the father of lies, deceived Adam in a similar way, telling him that he need not obey God, that he would not die if he transgressed the law.” Evangelism, p. 598 | “And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” 1 Timothy 2:14 |
2. Can we be certain of our salvation?
| Ellen White | Holy Bible |
| “Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 155 | “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well.” (1 John 5:1) NOTE: The reason the apostle John wrote his letter was to assure the believers they had obtained eternal life. |
3. Does God love wicked children?
| Ellen White | Holy Bible |
| “The Lord loves those little children who try to do right, and he has promised that they shall be in his kingdom. But wicked children God does not love.” Appeal to Youth, p. 61 | “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous… Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:44,45,48) |
| “God loves honest-hearted, truthful children, but cannot love those who are dishonest.” Ibid., p. 41 | “But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27) |
4. Is it a sin to be sick?
| Ellen White | Holy Bible |
| “It is a sin to be sick; for all sickness is the result of transgression.” Health Reformer, Aug. 1, 1866 | “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited Me against him to ruin him without reason.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.” (Job 2:3,7) “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10) |