and most importantly, making sure to faithfully pay was of sufficient importance to draw a line

the tithe. between the people of God and unbelievers"

Seventh-Day Adventism
(Ibid., p. 85).
5. Baptism. "… Christ made it clear that He required Origin: “Seventh-Day Adventism (SDA) arose
baptism of those who wished to become part of His SDAs have, thereby, made Sabbath-keeping a from the aftermath of the Adventist movement of
church, His spiritual kingdom"; "In baptism believers criterion for a personal relationship with the Lord the mid-1800s. "Seventh-day" refers to the focus
enter into the passion experience of our Lord"; "… -- even to the extent of one's salvation! Why? on sabbath, or Saturday worship. "Adventist"
[B]aptism also marks [a] person's entrance into Because, according to SDAs, we are all to be refers to the SDA belief that they are the
Christ's spiritual kingdom. … it unites the new under strict adherence to Old Testament Law, fulfillment of prophecies pertaining to the latter
believer to Christ.… Through baptism the Lord adds days remnant and the coming of Christ. The world
including the Ten Commandments, of which the
the new disciples to the body of believers -- His was predicted to end in 1844 with the Second
fourth one says, "keep the Sabbath." (This
body, the church.… Then they are members of God's Coming of Christ, by William Miller, a New
family" (SDAs Believe …, pp. 182, 184, 187). Sabbath-keeping requirement was supposedly
confirmed in a vision received by Ellen G. White, England Baptist itinerant preacher. Miller's
rather than by study of the Bible.) SDAs believe followers condemned all the churches of the day
6. The Investigative Judgment. According to SDA as apostate and "Babylon," and warned Christians
theology, beginning on October 22, 1844, Christ that "Sunday-keeping" will be the mark of the
beast in the future. to come out of them. A great many did, and the
entered upon the "judgment phase" of His ministry,
"adventist" movement was born and grew rapidly”
whereby He blots out sin: [The SDA doctrine of the
"Investigative Judgment" rests on Ellen G. White's 8. Ellen G. White, the Prophet. Many rank-and- (Melton, J. Gordon, Encyclopedia of American
claimed revelation that Christ entered the heavenly file SDA members deny that their organization Religions, Vol. 2, pp. 21–22).
Holy of Holies, not at His ascension, but in 1844, any longer decrees Ellen G. White a God-inspired
wherein He then began to investigate the records of prophet. Yet in SDA official publications, the Christ did not appear in 1844. After this "Great
human works (TGC, pp. 362-373) (cf. Heb. 9).]: SDA church continues to defend Ellen White Disappointment," one "little flock" still insisted
legends, and maintain there was no difference in the date of their original predictions had been
7. The Sabbath. "In the last days, the Sabbath test the degree of inspiration she received from that correct. They decided the event marked by 1844
will be made plain. When this time comes, anyone received by Bible writers (Review & Herald, 4 was not the Second Coming, but the entrance of
who does not keep the Sabbath will receive the mark October 1928, p. 11; "Source of Final Appeal," Christ into the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly
of the beast and will be kept from heaven" (TGC, p. Adventist Review, 3 June 1971, pp. 4–6; G. A. Sanctuary. There, they said, He began the
449); "… [T]he divine institution of the Sabbath is to Irwin, Mark of the Beast, p. 1; "The Inspiration "Investigative Judgment." (See #6 below.) This
be restored … The delivering of this message will and Authority of the Ellen G. White Writings," doctrine was received and endorsed by Ellen G.
precipitate a conflict that will involve the whole Adventist Review, 15 July 1982, p. 3; Ministry, White (Ibid., p. 680).
world. The central issue will be obedience to God's
October 1981, p. 8 (5); see also, Judged by the
law and the observance of the Sabbath. … Those “From 1844 to 1851, the group taught the "shut
Gospel, pp. 125–130). And in the SDA June
who reject it will eventually receive the mark of the door" doctrine, based on Jesus' parable of the ten
beast" (TGC, pp. 262–63). In one of her most revered
2000, General Conference, the church voted to
more aggressively affirm and support the "Spirit virgins. Anyone who had not accepted the
works, Ellen White wrote that Sabbath observance Adventist message by the time Jesus entered the
would be the "line of distinction" in the "final test" of Prophecy through the ministry of Ellen White"
(Adventist Today, [online: July 2000]). Holy of Holies was to be shut out permanently, as
that will separate God's end-time people who
were the five foolish virgins. Cut off from the
"receive the seal of God" and are saved, from those
Printed with ecclesiastical permission Bridegroom, they could not join the Adventists or
who "receive the mark of the beast" (The Great
Controversy Between Christ and Satan, p. 605). have any hope of eternal life. Ellen White not only
Describing a supposed vision direct from God, Ellen approved and taught this doctrine, but her first
Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists vision experience (she claimed over 2,000
White wrote, "I saw that the Holy Sabbath is, and
P.O. Box 5584, Bakersfield, California 93388 visions) was largely responsible for its being
will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of e-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org Phone: 661 393-3239
God and unbelievers" (Early Writings, p. 33; received by the Adventist group” (Brinsmead,
emphasis added). She also wrote of some Adventists
www.pjpiisoe.org Robert, D., Judged by the Gospel: A Review of
Donation Welcome and Appreciated Adventism, pp. 130–133).
failing to understand that "Sabbath … observance
Pamphlet 107
“By 1846, the group had adopted the Seventh-Day in 2004 totaled $1.3 billion.) SDAs claim to be source of authority in their lives -- according to
Baptists' view that the Saturday Sabbath must be working in 882 languages and over 1,000 dialects. SDA's dogma, if an SDA does not accept Mrs.
observed by Christians. A highly elevated form of They have a large investment in publishing and White as infallible, they have no salvation!
this doctrine, together with the doctrine of the education -- they operate 57 publishing houses and
Investigative Judgment, became the hallmarks of support 574 medical units and 117 nursing homes 2. Mankind. Seventh-Day Adventists do not believe
Seventh-Day Adventism. In 1850, James and Ellen and retirement centers and 34 orphanages); and that the whole man or any part of him is inherently
White began publishing a magazine, The Review & 6,707 primary and secondary schools, colleges, and "immortal" (Q.D., p. 518). SDAs believe in "soul
Herald, to disseminate Adventist and Sabbatarian universities (with total enrollment of almost 1.3 sleep" for the saved (i.e., no conscious existence
doctrines. This helped many of the remaining million students). They also broadcast over from the time of death until the resurrection), and
"Millerites" to coalesce into a distinctive body, which Adventist World Radio more than 1,000 hours per annihilation for the wicked (i.e., the body and soul
adopted the name of Seventh-Day Adventist Church week of programming in more than 40 languages are destroyed at death rather than experiencing
in 1860, and formally incorporated in 1863, with from 18 transmitters in seven international everlasting torment). How, then, can one get to
approximately 3,500 members in 125 congregations” locations, and have almost 18 million students heaven?: SDAs believe that one can have
(Encyclopedia of American Religion, Vol. 2, p. 681). enrolled in its more than 122,620 "Sabbath Schools" immortality only on the condition that he comes to
(http://www.nadadventist.org/article/view/238, SDA Christ through Ellen G. White; i.e., a works
“Ellen G. White (1827-1915) never held official title Internet web site). (The SDA church also publishes program, following salvation by grace with light of
as the head of the SDA church, but was one of its two of their own Bible "translations": The Study revelation through Ellen G. White as the infallible
founders and acknowledged spiritual leader. She Bible and The Clear Word Bible.) guide to Holy Scripture, apart from which one
rather disingenuously declined to claim the title of cannot have immortality. Then, at resurrection day,
"prophet," calling herself a "messenger" instead (P.G. SDA is organized as a representative democracy. the body will be re-created (necessary because of
Damsteegt, et al., Seventh-day Adventists Believe … Lower echelons elect representatives to higher units; soul sleep) for all those who believe in White's
A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines, determination and administration of policy and guidance and teachings (while non-SDAs will
1988, p. 224). But she claimed to have the "spirit of enforcement of doctrinal orthodoxy is imposed from remain in "soul sleep" forever; i.e., will cease to
prophecy," and that her messages were direct from the top down. President and Executive Committee exist [annihilated] and will not suffer everlasting
God for the guidance and instruction of the church. of General Conference are standing chief torment).
With her knowledge and consent, others called her a administrative offices. Lower administrative units
prophet and an inspired commentator of Scripture, are the General Conference, Divisions (over 3. Christ. Mrs. White: "Christ took upon His sinless
and even "the Spirit of Prophecy" (Maurice Barnett, continents), Union Conferences, local Conferences, nature our sinful nature ... Christ took human nature
Ellen G. White & Inspiration, pp. 5–17). Having only and congregations. and bore the infirmities and degeneracy of the race.
a third grade education, Ellen White said for years He took our nature and its deteriorating condition"
she was unable to read, bolstering the claim that her 1. Source of Authority. Ellen G. White claimed to (Q.D., pp. 654-656) (cf. Jn. 14:30). According to
beautiful prose was inspired by God. However, it has be, "a lesser light to lead men and women to the SDA, then, Christ acquired a sinful nature! Of
been discovered that she not only read, but greater light." The official SDA Questions on course, if this could have been so, there could have
plagiarized other Christian authors throughout Doctrine (Q.D.) states that, "the Holy Spirit opened been no sinless sacrifice, no hope for sinners, and no
virtually all her writings. The sad facts of this matter to her mind important events and called her to give Savior.
have been thoroughly and indisputably established in certain instructions for these last days, and
several books”. (e.g., see Walter Rea, The White Lie; inasmuch as these instructions, in our 4. Atonement. "Now, while our great High Priest is
and Judged by the Gospel, pp. 361–383). understanding, are in harmony with the Word of making the atonement for us, we should seek to
God, which Word alone is able to make us wise become perfect in Christ" (E.G. White, The Great
As of year-end 2004, the SDA church claimed more unto salvation, we as a denomination accept them as Controversy [TGC], 1911, p. 623; TGC has since
than 13,936,932 members worldwide in 57,850 inspired counsels from the Lord" (Q.D., p. 93). been retitled and published as America in Prophecy,
churches; there are more than 1,000,000 Adventists (Emphasis added.) Mrs. White claimed to have 1988). SDA teaches that, though saved by grace, we
in the U.S. and Canada (making the SDA one of the received more than 3,000 "inspired counsels from are kept by the Law (i.e., "partial atonement").
fastest growing "churches" in the world). While the Lord" (i.e., visions) between 1844 and 1868. Therefore, one must keep Old Testament dietary and
headquartered in Washington, D.C., SDA (From these "visions," she produced over 100,000 ceremonial laws, paying particular attention to keep
employment worldwide totals nearly 203,568, not handwritten manuscript pages from which were the Saturday Sabbath and the Ten Commandments,
including 15,381 ordained ministers. (Contributions published 54 books!) Therefore, SDAs have a new