In our last article on the Seventh-day Adventists, we discussed the "Sanctuary Doctrine". Basically this doctrine of the atonement states "

(1) Christ who lived "in blameless obedience to His own eternal law of righteousness offered up a complete perfect, and all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of men " (A.S. Maxwell, Your Friend the Adventist, p. 19). This was not the atonement, however; for, say the Adventists, "we disssent from the view that the atonement was made upon the cross" (Fundamental Principles, p.2)

(2) in 1844 "attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest entered the Holy of Holies... to there make atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to his benefits" (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 308)

(3) "Before He (Christ) takes His Throne as King, He will make the great atonement.. and their sins will be blotted out "The completion of the atonement comes when Christ, emerging from the Holy of Holies, lays the sins of those who have not been found to be true believers upon Azel (or Satan), who carries away the sins of the world into the wilderness."

For further information on this unorthodox doctrine see, `The Teachings of Seventh-Day Adventism' by John H. Gerstner, pp. 18,19, where the above information was obtained.

Perhaps the adherents of S.D.A. doctrine should give serious consideration to the application of Paul's warning in Galation 3:1-5:

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?.. Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to obtain your goal by human effort?..

 Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard?"

With Paul's admonition in mind, let us look at some other S.D.A. teachings.

Other Distinct Doctrines of Seventh-day Adventism

Sabbath keeping

Sabbath keeping is taken to mean Saturday, rather than a day of rest. It is believed that in the last days the mark of the beast will be Sunday worship. Because the Adventists tend to reject the differences between the Old and New Testament, they believe that the day of worship must not be changed; that dietary laws are still in effect; Jerusalem is still the proper center of worship; the payment of the tithe is required, and circumcision and the Passover are still observed. (Paul Scheurfen, Die Sekten der Gegenwart, p.20).

The Remnant Church.

Since S.D.A. believe that professing Christendom was to become the harlot of Babylon, and Sunday worship the mark of the beast, it could have been anticipated that there would be a tendency to separate from the rest of Christianity. In keeping with this, the S.D.A. require for baptism a confession that the Seventh-day Adventist church is the "remnant church". Even today Adventists speak of non-members as "outsiders", "brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law of the church." Occasionally even as the "unsaved."

 Soul Sleep

The belief that at death, the soul of the Christian passes into a state of unconsciousness unto the return of Christ. This is one of several beliefs they have in common with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Annihilation

The doctrine that unbelievers will not be eternally punished, but will be destroyed. This too is Jehovah's Witness Doctrine.

Shut-door teaching.

Ellen White, known to the S.D.A. Church as "the Spirit of Prophecy" announced after one of her visions that God had shut the door of salvation after 1844. This announcement was later changed since it certainly made the doorway to heaven quite impossible to later S.D.A.'s.

Millennium

Christ will come with literal clouds of glory. The righteous and the crucifiers of Christ will be resurrected, and all will view Him as the ruler of the universe. The wicked will then be destroyed by Jesus's glory. The righteous will travel through space on a sea of glass to heaven, which is beyond the astral "hole" in the belt of Orion. Since this trip will take seven days, they will stop on an inhabited planet to observe the Sabbath. The righteous will rule peacefully in heaven for 1000 years where they will examine the investigative books to satisfy themselves about the guilt of the wicked dead. Satan, meantime will roam the desolate earth (the bottomless Pit) surveying the results of his work. At the end of the millennium, the saints will return with the new Jerusalem to the earth, the wicked dead will be resurrected and Satan will organize them for one last attempt to defeat Christ. Everyone will be frozen in place and a great panorama will be viewed by every eye. The conflict between Christ and Satan will be shown up until Calvary. Then each wicked individual will view his guilt. All, including Satan, will be forced to their knees and acknowledge Jesus as the rightful Son of God. Fire will then come out of the sky consuming the wicked and Satan's angels. Satan will be the last consumed since he will burn for the sins of the righteous.

Seventh-day Adventists hold many doctrines in common with the historic Christian faith, such as the Trinity, but they also hold many beliefs contrary to Biblical Christianity. Whether or not you consider the S.D.A. church a cult, please pray that they will come to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ and will not follow in the footsteps of the "foolish Galatians."

For further reading on the Seventh-day Adventists, we suggest Seventh-day Adventists - False Prophets? A Former Insider Speaks Out by Wallace D. Slattery, P & R Publishing, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-0817; The Teaching of Seventh-day Adventism by John H. Gerstner, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI; Seventh-day Adventism by Anthony A. Hokema, Will B. Eerman Publishing Comany, Grand Rapids, MI.

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