Seventh Day Adventist

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Are Seventh Day Adventists a Cult


  • Total voters
    28

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#1
So I often times have to endure the talking points of my grandmother's Seventh Day Adventist beliefs. Mostly about not keeping the Sabbath or soul sleep. They give me books that their prophet wrote and I always wonder why people in these types of religions put such weight on the words of a modern self proclaimed prophet? We saw this with both Islam and Mormonism.

Below is the letter that my grandfather in law gave me with the Great Controversy book.

Dear ___________,

I believe I gave you this book in paperback form. By now you may have read the entire book. If not, I highly recommend it as it gives a definite account of where we are going and what to expect at the end of time. This book I am giving you today is a wonderful illustrated copy with many paintings that help to make the book come alive. Please find time to read and enjoy it.

Did you know there will soon be a Sunday law in the USA requiring worship on Sunday? When this law is passed there will then be two classes of people....those who worship on Sunday and receive the mark of the beast and those who worship on the seventh day Sabbath and have the seal of god. There will be no fence sitting on this issue. The bible is clear on this and The Great Controversy book covers this in detail. When the law is passed, probation closes and those who continue to worship on Sunday are doomed...they will not be part of the first resurrection but will be part of the second. Confused about that? This book explains it all and is 100 percent biblically accurate. This book will bring your bible to life for you. Please take time to read it.

When you have read it you will understand why I keep the Sabbath and would rather be put to death than renounce the Sabbath.

Respectfully, your grandfather in law, ______.


They are loving people and we have great conversations when we remain Biblical as my grandmother knows the Bible lack the back of her hand which is why I am always surprised at how she lets the words of a prophet twist some of the areas like Sabbath worship being of extreme importance that it happens on Saturday.

Do any of you share similar thoughts?

Would you go as far to call Seventh Day Adventist a cult as in would their misguided teachings lead anyone to hell? Or misguided but not so much so to lose salvation?
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
#2
I don't believe SDA is a cult. They believe Jesus came and died for our sins and know that we are saved by grace through His blood. The Bible is the most important book written/spoke by men directed by the Holy Spirit and it is God's love letter to us.

2 Peter 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The rest on the seventh day was created by God as the last day of creation where He rested from His work of creation to enjoy it with Adam and Eve and He gave it to mankind as a weekly reminder to come and worship Him and rest with and in Him.

Genesis 2:
The Seventh Day
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.…


God repeated and reminded the Jews who had been slaves for over 400 years in Egypt by giving them the 10 commandments that He wrote with His own finger in stone asking them to Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy and referenced creation in the 4th commandment which would show that a Sabbath rest day had been given to all mankind at creation and not only the Jews.

Exodus 20:
8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.



God is the only one who knows who will be saved and who will be lost, but throughout the Bible He asks us to keep His commandments and to be holy as He is holy. We know as lost sinners the only way we can do this is by clinging to Jesus and accepting His sacrifice He made for us on the cross.

John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Revelation 14:12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,003
4,315
113
#3
I have had some SDA who said scripture doesn't say Jesus is God. Yet the SDA official stands is

" Adventists embrace the belief that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, and is also fully God Himself and part of the Godhead. "

So, there are those as with all who are unlearned about what they say they are affiliated with.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#5
This is very odd-

This is the unbiblical concept that in 1844 Jesus entered “the second and last phase” of His atoning ministry — the work of investigative judgment. Instead of returning to earth on October 22, 1844, as William Miller predicted, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies in Heaven and began a review of the works of all believers who have ever lived to determine how faithful they were to the commandments of God. “Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner.”21

According to Ellen White, a person must believe this doctrine to be saved:

“All need a knowledge of the position [in the Holy of Holies] and work [investigative judgment] of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs for them to fill.”22​
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,232
3,575
113
#6
Yes, it's a cult. It's leader is the false prophetess Ellen G. White. Though she's passed on, her writings are still heavily influential.

The problem with SDA is it mixes some truth with a lot of error. You have to use discernment and watch out for any book by White. The tiles are seductive and maybe for awhile you think, right on, this is solid teaching. Then it goes south quickly. False teaching is false teaching, no matter if it's mixed with some truth.

They have a history of date setting.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#7
I have had some SDA who said scripture doesn't say Jesus is God. Yet the SDA official stands is

" Adventists embrace the belief that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, and is also fully God Himself and part of the Godhead. "

So, there are those as with all who are unlearned about what they say they are affiliated with.
Yes but much of their prophet has been unbiblical.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#8
I don't believe SDA is a cult. They believe Jesus came and died for our sins and know that we are saved by grace through His blood. The Bible is the most important book written/spoke by men directed by the Holy Spirit and it is God's love letter to us.

2 Peter 1:21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The rest on the seventh day was created by God as the last day of creation where He rested from His work of creation to enjoy it with Adam and Eve and He gave it to mankind as a weekly reminder to come and worship Him and rest with and in Him.

Genesis 2:
The Seventh Day
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. 3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.…


God repeated and reminded the Jews who had been slaves for over 400 years in Egypt by giving them the 10 commandments that He wrote with His own finger in stone asking them to Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy and referenced creation in the 4th commandment which would show that a Sabbath rest day had been given to all mankind at creation and not only the Jews.

Exodus 20:
8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.



God is the only one who knows who will be saved and who will be lost, but throughout the Bible He asks us to keep His commandments and to be holy as He is holy. We know as lost sinners the only way we can do this is by clinging to Jesus and accepting His sacrifice He made for us on the cross.

John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Revelation 14:12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
“Ellen White believed so strongly in the necessity of Sabbath-keeping that she asserted that only Sabbath-keepers would be able to resist taking the Mark of the Beast in the end times.”

Is this legalistic?

Keeping the commands falls into the scriptures that say there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and if you love me, you will abide in me.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#9
Yes, it's a cult. It's leader is the false prophetess Ellen G. White. Though she's passed on, her writings are still heavily influential.

The problem with SDA is it mixes some truth with a lot of error. You have to use discernment and watch out for any book by White. The tiles are seductive and maybe for awhile you think, right on, this is solid teaching. Then it goes south quickly. False teaching is false teaching, no matter if it's mixed with some truth.

They have a history of date setting.
I agree from my observations. Especially setting dates that do not come to pass is considered a false prophet.
 

RolloTamasi

Active member
Nov 10, 2021
241
82
28
#11
I look at Mormans, Mohamedans, Jehovah's Witnesses, and I see no one saved.
I look at 7th Day Adventists and I see some born again Christians.
One can look at "ANY" denomination and find false teachings.
SDA can be born again, just as Southern Baptists can be heavens.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#13
I look at Mormans, Mohamedans, Jehovah's Witnesses, and I see no one saved.
I look at 7th Day Adventists and I see some born again Christians.
One can look at "ANY" denomination and find false teachings.
SDA can be born again, just as Southern Baptists can be heavens.
Where do you draw the line between no one saved versus some? All sects, denominations or churches disagree on doctrine. So which doctrines must these churches twist to be in the no salvation area?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,844
4,496
113
#14
So I often times have to endure the talking points of my grandmother's Seventh Day Adventist beliefs. Mostly about not keeping the Sabbath or soul sleep. They give me books that their prophet wrote and I always wonder why people in these types of religions put such weight on the words of a modern self proclaimed prophet? We saw this with both Islam and Mormonism.

Below is the letter that my grandfather in law gave me with the Great Controversy book.

Dear ___________,

I believe I gave you this book in paperback form. By now you may have read the entire book. If not, I highly recommend it as it gives a definite account of where we are going and what to expect at the end of time. This book I am giving you today is a wonderful illustrated copy with many paintings that help to make the book come alive. Please find time to read and enjoy it.

Did you know there will soon be a Sunday law in the USA requiring worship on Sunday? When this law is passed there will then be two classes of people....those who worship on Sunday and receive the mark of the beast and those who worship on the seventh day Sabbath and have the seal of god. There will be no fence sitting on this issue. The bible is clear on this and The Great Controversy book covers this in detail. When the law is passed, probation closes and those who continue to worship on Sunday are doomed...they will not be part of the first resurrection but will be part of the second. Confused about that? This book explains it all and is 100 percent biblically accurate. This book will bring your bible to life for you. Please take time to read it.

When you have read it you will understand why I keep the Sabbath and would rather be put to death than renounce the Sabbath.

Respectfully, your grandfather in law, ______.


They are loving people and we have great conversations when we remain Biblical as my grandmother knows the Bible lack the back of her hand which is why I am always surprised at how she lets the words of a prophet twist some of the areas like Sabbath worship being of extreme importance that it happens on Saturday.

Do any of you share similar thoughts?

Would you go as far to call Seventh Day Adventist a cult as in would their misguided teachings lead anyone to hell? Or misguided but not so much so to lose salvation?
I believe I should of compared definitions of Cult.

Cult is a group that claims to belong to a specific religion but misrepresents any core teaching that would prevent a believer from being saved according to that religion.

By comparing definitions does the SDA teach doctrines that would prevent a believer from being saved?

Cult definition is - a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous.

According to this definition the SDA are not considered extreme or dangerous physically so the term cult under this definition may not apply.

But who determines which definition is true?
 

RolloTamasi

Active member
Nov 10, 2021
241
82
28
#15
Where do you draw the line between no one saved versus some? All sects, denominations or churches disagree on doctrine. So which doctrines must these churches twist to be in the no salvation area?[/QUOTE

Jesus is Lord of all.
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#16
“Ellen White believed so strongly in the necessity of Sabbath-keeping that she asserted that only Sabbath-keepers would be able to resist taking the Mark of the Beast in the end times.”

Is this legalistic?

Keeping the commands falls into the scriptures that say there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and if you love me, you will abide in me.

we had a thread about that some time ago and Whites assertions concerning the Sabbath are that if you do not keep it, you are not saved...therefore cannot resist the mark

I don't think there is any question that is not biblical

further, the NT directs people away from the law, as a shadow of the reality of Christ, and that salvation is only in His name

so, direct contradiction with scripture is problematical for sure

that being said, I am sure there are saved people among the SDA's...I doubt they all know everything White wrote

they can be overpowering though
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,821
1,189
113
Australia
#17
There is good and bad in all major religions, and off shoots from all religions.

If you are looking for reasons to believe that SDA's are wrong you will find it, Google has dirt on every belief for every religion out there.

Why don't you ASK a SDA the question you are wanting to know?

I know they believe in the bible and righteousness by faith.
i also know that EG White said that if the bible is not able to prove something then her writtings should not take the bibles place.

Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Prov 16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Let the bible judge if a doctrine is right or wrong.

They have 28 fundamental beliefs.
Use the bible to prove what is wrong.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,813
29,192
113
#18
The commandment for Sabbath keeping is not in the New Testament.

Jesus is our Sabbath rest.
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
#19
So I often times have to endure the talking points of my grandmother's Seventh Day Adventist beliefs. Mostly about not keeping the Sabbath or soul sleep. They give me books that their prophet wrote and I always wonder why people in these types of religions put such weight on the words of a modern self proclaimed prophet? We saw this with both Islam and Mormonism.

Below is the letter that my grandfather in law gave me with the Great Controversy book.

Dear ___________,

I believe I gave you this book in paperback form. By now you may have read the entire book. If not, I highly recommend it as it gives a definite account of where we are going and what to expect at the end of time. This book I am giving you today is a wonderful illustrated copy with many paintings that help to make the book come alive. Please find time to read and enjoy it.

Did you know there will soon be a Sunday law in the USA requiring worship on Sunday? When this law is passed there will then be two classes of people....those who worship on Sunday and receive the mark of the beast and those who worship on the seventh day Sabbath and have the seal of god. There will be no fence sitting on this issue. The bible is clear on this and The Great Controversy book covers this in detail. When the law is passed, probation closes and those who continue to worship on Sunday are doomed...they will not be part of the first resurrection but will be part of the second. Confused about that? This book explains it all and is 100 percent biblically accurate. This book will bring your bible to life for you. Please take time to read it.

When you have read it you will understand why I keep the Sabbath and would rather be put to death than renounce the Sabbath.

Respectfully, your grandfather in law, ______.


They are loving people and we have great conversations when we remain Biblical as my grandmother knows the Bible lack the back of her hand which is why I am always surprised at how she lets the words of a prophet twist some of the areas like Sabbath worship being of extreme importance that it happens on Saturday.

Do any of you share similar thoughts?

Would you go as far to call Seventh Day Adventist a cult as in would their misguided teachings lead anyone to hell? Or misguided but not so much so to lose salvation?

We could no more call 7th Day Adventist a cult than we would Baptists or Presbyterians (and the variety of those in between)--All denominations have been created by a man and have some false doctrine mixed in with truth. The way Christians determine if a denomination is orthodox is by a certain set of Criteria--e.g. God is one, the Trinity, Christ's substitutionary death, Believe and Repent on the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper and Water Baptism--and that the Canon of Scripture is God's inspired word without error and it is CLOSED. Nothing must be added to it. However denominations have and still do that...unfortunately.

The Adventists are right that the 7th day is the Sabbath and cannot be changed. Constantine made it Sunday and it stuck. If you read the Book of Acts the Christians-- both Jews and Greeks went to hear Paul speak in the synagogue on the Sabbath. I have just begun to study Adventist and other Sabbath Keepers and it's so confusing! Many tack on all sorts of things like Feast of Weeks and Foot washing. My study began when I was questioning why we don't keep the Sabbath--that is a day of rest, a day which God 'sanctified'- and perhaps as a day for assembling, though the Christians in the first century met together everyday!

The problem lies in their legalism about keeping the Sabbath--how we actually supposed to 'Honor the Sabbath and keep it Holy'? Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath--so it is a day of rest, but it is also a day to remember God's work of Creation. Of course if we do pick a day to more formally assemble then why not follow the custom of the first century Christians. Note that it is one of the 10 Commandments written in stone by the hand of God which makes it a commandment to be kept until the Final Sabbath rest at Christ's coming.


The other problem I and others have with Adventist is Ellen White. Many of her prophecies proved false; I don't understand why the denominations didn't denounce her teachings. That is problematic. However, no one denounces Calvin or Darby for their heretical teaching---we consider those denominations who teach their doctrine to be mainstream.

At this point all churches have some false teaching and run like a business which is antithetical to the true gospel. At this point I am done with the institutional church and am praying for like minded believers who would like to get back to the simplicity of the gospel as it was in the first Century. My belief is rest on the Sabbath, remember God's work of Creation, without becoming legalistic and find a way to worship every day!
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,821
1,189
113
Australia
#20
The commandment for Sabbath keeping is not in the New Testament.

Jesus is our Sabbath rest.
True Jesus is our rest but prove from the bible that we no longer need to on the sabbath as God has asked us to.

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

You can say this is just talking about finding rest in Jesus but there is too many references to the sabbath day and the rest that God had at creation to ignore.