Seventh Day Adventist

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Are Seventh Day Adventists a Cult


  • Total voters
    28

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,845
4,497
113
Parable? This is no parable. Jesus is speaking to the rich man in response to his question "What must I do to have eternal life?"

Matthew 19:16-22

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, [b]“Why do you call Me good? [c]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [d]from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
I will agree in accuracy not a parable as a story but a real time event. I meant teaching or the lesson of the event.

Anyways not sure what you are disagreeing with. I have already read the verses quoted.
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
This is why I believe that the Sabbath was instituted as a shadow/type, for now we find our rest in Christ. It is not specific to any day as it once was, when even to carry a pin in your pocket was considered work. How ridiculous is that? And yet that is the lengths legalists will go in attempting to force others to "keep" the Sabbath, and condemn them if they don't. Jesus Himself was accused of breaking the Sabbath. The religious leaders sought to kill Him because of it. Now we get people coming here (to this site) saying such ridiculous things as, "It is breaking a commandment to worship God on Sunday." The fact of the matter is, there is no such commandment. The fact of the matter is, worshiping God every day is recommended. The fact of the matter is, God desires those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Jesus is my Sabbath rest.


Matthew 11:28-30
:)

Dear Friend,

Since you're responding to my quote, I feel that you are grouping me with the legalists--I think maybe you haven't read the rest of my posts in which I say the Sabbath is not a burden--it is not a legal requirement, no more than "You shall have no other god's before me" and all the rest of the 10 Commandments--we believe we should keep those, why then not the Sabbath? This was Satan's doing through his agent, the Roman Catholic Church-so many things in our Protestant Denominations came from them.

Jesus said, "Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.' --so it is a good thing God has given us. Again, as I've said several times in my other post-the Sabbath is not a burden to be borne. It is a day to rest, to remember God's Creation--that it is COMPLETED, which points to Christ's finished work on the cross, and ultimately, the final Sabbath Rest when we go to be with the Lord for eternity. My belief in this in no way aligns with SDA or any other legalistic Adventist doctrine.
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
I will agree in accuracy not a parable as a story but a real time event. I meant teaching or the lesson of the event.

Anyways not sure what you are disagreeing with. I have already read the verses quoted.
Disagreeing that you said it was a parable.:rolleyes:
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
If we love Jesus then which command is told that sums up all commands?

The great conspiracy speaks on the Sabbath in a legalistic sense as all who do not as my grandfather's letter said will be those who gain the mark of the beast.
It is important to understand that it 'sums' up all the rest of the Commands--it does not 'do away' or 'replace them'.

If I give a talk and then give a summary at the end--that is simply wrapping up all I said before in a more succinct package--it doesn't in any way negate what I said.

My new found belief in honoring the Sabbath, along with all the rest of the 10 Commandments is vastly different than legalism; I am in no way supporting SDA's or any other legalistic denomination. "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,845
4,497
113
Dear Friend,

Since you're responding to my quote, I feel that you are grouping me with the legalists--I think maybe you haven't read the rest of my posts in which I say the Sabbath is not a burden--it is not a legal requirement, no more than "You shall have no other god's before me" and all the rest of the 10 Commandments--we believe we should keep those, why then not the Sabbath? This was Satan's doing through his agent, the Roman Catholic Church-so many things in our Protestant Denominations came from them.

Jesus said, "Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.' --so it is a good thing God has given us. Again, as I've said several times in my other post-the Sabbath is not a burden to be borne. It is a day to rest, to remember God's Creation--that it is COMPLETED, which points to Christ's finished work on the cross, and ultimately, the final Sabbath Rest when we go to be with the Lord for eternity. My belief in this in no way aligns with SDA or any other legalistic Adventist doctrine.
What happens if you fail to keep the Sabbath? If we are talking about a literal day.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
29,194
113
Dear Friend,

Since you're responding to my quote, I feel that you are grouping me with the legalists--I think maybe you haven't read the rest of my posts in which I say the Sabbath is not a burden--it is not a legal requirement, no more than "You shall have no other god's before me" and all the rest of the 10 Commandments--we believe we should keep those, why then not the Sabbath? This was Satan's doing through his agent, the Roman Catholic Church-so many things in our Protestant Denominations came from them.

Jesus said, "Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.' --so it is a good thing God has given us. Again, as I've said several times in my other post-the Sabbath is not a burden to be borne. It is a day to rest, to remember God's Creation--that it is COMPLETED, which points to Christ's finished work on the cross, and ultimately, the final Sabbath Rest when we go to be with the Lord for eternity. My belief in this in no way aligns with SDA or any other legalistic Adventist doctrine.
No, dearest Laura, not grouping you with legalists... simply pointing out that
keeping the Sabbath holy, honoring the Sabbath, is not about a day, but a Person.
God's day of rest was given as a foreshadowing of how we find our rest in Christ.
There is no working at keeping the law as they did in the past and which all failed.
The Sabbath commandment was given at Mount Sinai to the children of Israel after
the Exodus from the land of Egypt. It is nowhere repeated in the New Testament.
On the other hand, SDAs insist the weekly Sabbath day is still to be observed. And
as has been pointed out, some force this to becoming a matter of salvation.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,845
4,497
113
It is important to understand that it 'sums' up all the rest of the Commands--it does not 'do away' or 'replace them'.

If I give a talk and then give a summary at the end--that is simply wrapping up all I said before in a more succinct package--it doesn't in any way negate what I said.

Again, understand I am in no way supporting SDA's or any other legalistic denomination. "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."
True. They are fulfilled. The law is still God's Word, still Holy, but no longer binding or burdensome. The law was there to uncover the sins of mankind. To show how evil we truly are. So you can learn from the law but by no means bound. We are now under the law of Christ.


Galatians 3:5
New International Version

5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

We hold the Holy Spirit within that operates only within our faith not works.

Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

From faith and adhering to the Spirit we see the fruit of love.

Galatians 6:2
New International Version

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Out of love we respond to the world and fulfill the law of Christ. Such a easier burden and easier teaching.
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
What happens if you fail to keep the Sabbath? If we are talking about a literal day.
Your question shows me you haven't really read anything I wrote.

What happens if I commit adultery, what happens if I covet, what happens if I don't honor my father or my mother?

Your question makes me feel like the blind man who was asked the same question repeatedly by the Pharisees after he had given them the answer!

I have repeatedly stated my stance on the Sabbath and 'summed' it up with Christ's own words: "The Sabbath was made for MAN and not man for the Sabbath." There is NO LEGALISM in honoring the Sabbath, no more than obeying the other 9 Commandments--why does everyone think it's okay to remove just that one--if one why not all the rest?


I decide to mow the lawn Saturday because I'll be out of town all week--or I cook a week's worth of meals because I know I'll be working over time the following week--it is my HEART that God is sees--not my actions. If my intent is to honor Him by resting on the Sabbath, but sometimes work -if it is an ongoing attitude of my heart to honor ALL his commands, then I believe He is pleased with that. Yes we should of course honor Him everyday, but God set aside the Sabbath as Holy as it was the day He rested from His Creation--it is a day of rest He has given to us and a constant reminder of WHO HE IS --HIS POWER, MAJESTY and GLORY--It is finished!

" For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
29,194
113
Galatians 3:5 New International Version
5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among
you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Romans 10:17 + Galatians 3:5
:)
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,845
4,497
113
Your question shows me you haven't really read anything I wrote.

What happens if I commit adultery, what happens if I covet, what happens if I don't honor my father or my mother?

Your question makes me feel like the blind man who was asked the same question repeatedly by the Pharisees after he had given them the answer!

I have repeatedly stated my stance on the Sabbath and 'summed' it up with Christ's own words: "The Sabbath was made for MAN and not man for the Sabbath." There is NO LEGALISM in honoring the Sabbath, no more than obeying the other 9 Commandments--why does everyone think it's okay to remove just that one--if one why not all the rest?

I decide to mow the lawn Saturday because I'll be out of town all week--or I cook a week's worth of meals because I know I'll be working over time the following week--it is my HEART that God is sees--not my actions. If my intent is to honor Him by resting on the Sabbath, but sometimes work -if it is an ongoing attitude of my heart to honor ALL his commands, then I believe He is pleased with that. Yes we should of course honor Him everyday, but God set aside the Sabbath as Holy as it was the day He rested from His Creation--it is a day of rest He has given to us and a constant reminder of WHO HE IS --HIS POWER, MAJESTY and GLORY--It is finished!

" For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
It is by no offense I already know you are not speaking of legalism but simply saying we should keep the Sabbath as a healthy practice. I'm saying nothing happens if you do not hold your sabbath on Saturday.

Beyond that theologically we are saying that the Sabbath is no longer a specific day. If you are following God everyday, you are keeping today Holy which is the new Sabbath. You gain daily rest from legalism by resting in Christ.
 

Laura798

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2020
1,716
593
113
No, dearest Laura, not grouping you with legalists... simply pointing out that
keeping the Sabbath holy, honoring the Sabbath, is not about a day, but a Person.
God's day of rest was given as a foreshadowing of how we find our rest in Christ.
There is no working at keeping the law as they did in the past and which all failed.
The Sabbath commandment was given at Mount Sinai to the children of Israel after
the Exodus from the land of Egypt. It is nowhere repeated in the New Testament.
On the other hand, SDAs insist the weekly Sabbath day is still to be observed. And
as has been pointed out, some force this to becoming a matter of salvation.

I definitely agree that Christ is our rest. But the point of the Sabbath is to literally have a day of rest--for us not to work 7 days a week. It also is a day of remembrance of God and His glorious, finished work of Creation. Look what Evolution and Humanism has done--they negate the Creation and our awesome Creator--that also happens when we 'forget' the Sabbath.

Again it has nothing to do with legalism. "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."--Christ is in no way doing away with the Sabbath with these words--He is instead saying don't to become legalistic about it.

The Mosaic Law was given specifically to the Israelites--the Law is not the same as the Commandments. In fact, in 100's of other languages Saturday is called 'Sabbath'. The 10 Commandments are what Christ said we are to keep. " “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” --John 14:15

I have just come to this realization--though it was there all the time--when I simply asked myself the question, "Why do we keep 9 of the Commandments, but not honoring the Sabbath?"

I searched and could find nothing in Scripture. In fact if you look in Acts, large assemblies were on Saturday in the synagogues with both Jews and Gentiles. Why do we now meet on Sunday? It's fine to meet on Sunday if people want, but why the large assembly on Sunday? Because Constantine changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, while the rest of Christendom still honored the Sabbath as a day of rest. Of course the believers of the first century met every day--we are far from that pattern now.
 

iTheophilus

Well-known member
Oct 28, 2021
436
471
63
The following is a brief summary of the rest we enjoy in Christ.

Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

The word "rest" in this context is "sabbath," which is different from the word "rest" in previous verses. "Sabbatismos, sab-bat-os-mos', a sabbatism—the repose of Christianity, says Strong's numerical Greek dictionary. "Repose" is a feeling of serenity or tranquility that comes over us when we put our complete trust in Jesus. Sowing seeds of the Word is therefore seven days a week and not just one day that is set aside. In other words, all days are set aside for Christ. We find rest in Christ because He is the source of our rest. We become one with Christ when we accept Him as our Savior, and He becomes our Shabbat. EFEDAA62-88B5-4D08-9908-171B64251B26.gif
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
They do believe in salvation only through the shed blood of Jesus and this I do believe in.
Yes, but then they add the "Investigative Judgment" which determines if you are "worthy" to be resurrected or raptured.

"The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent."
https://www.adventist.org/christs-ministry-in-the-heavenly-sanctuary/

But the Bible makes it clear that it is only on the basis of the worthiness of Christ that we are either resurrected or raptured. How would anyone truly know if they are "worthy" for salvation? It is only by the grace of God that sinners are saved. If it were based upon His justice, none would be saved.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
“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.
I believe that God will hold each of us accountable for the truth and light that we know. If someone has given their life to God and accepted Jesus as their Savior and was taught to go to church on Sunday and it's the only thing they know and live in Jesus I see no reason why they wouldn't be in heaven. But if you were raised believing that Saturday the 7thd day is the Sabbath then that is the day you should worship and continue to trust in God and the grace that is offered you from Jesus sacrifice. No reason that person should not be in heaven also.

The only time I believe the 7th day Sabbath comes to the forefront is when Man issues a mandate and says if you don't worship on a certain day of the week as in a Sunday law and if you worship on another day as in 7thd day Sabbath you will be put to death. Then I must obey God rather than man as the 10 commandments clearly point out that the 7thd day is the day to worship. Which was given to us at the end of creation week and put under importance by being placed as the 4th commandment in the 10 that God wrote on stone with His own finger starting it with the word REMEMBER.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
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!
At the end when Jesus comes there will only be two groups of people. Those who believe and accept Jesus as their Savior and those who don't. So you could enter any denominational name you would like in group one or two. As there are believers and non believers in both groups.

Even Jesus said the sinners, (tax collectors and prostitutes) are entering into heaven before the religious leaders of his time....


Matthew 21:30-32

Amplified Bible



30 Then the man came to the second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.”
Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you [walking] in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even change your mind afterward and believe him [accepting what he proclaimed to you].
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
Yes, but then they add the "Investigative Judgment" which determines if you are "worthy" to be resurrected or raptured.

"The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent."
https://www.adventist.org/christs-ministry-in-the-heavenly-sanctuary/

But the Bible makes it clear that it is only on the basis of the worthiness of Christ that we are either resurrected or raptured. How would anyone truly know if they are "worthy" for salvation? It is only by the grace of God that sinners are saved. If it were based upon His justice, none would be saved.
This is where they get the idea of the judgement from the following verses.

This is more of showing the reasons why someone was saved or not as the deeds are shown and the choices that each person has made.... The choice to choose God and accept Jesus as their personal Savior or the choice to follow their own way and not accept Jesus. The daily choices we make shows the world whether we have accepted Jesus or not. That is why we must pray daily for God's Holy Spirit to come into our hearts and do the work that only Jesus can do for us.

  1. Daniel 7:10
    “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; A thousand thousands were attending Him, And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him; The court was seated, And the books were opened.
    In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations


  2. Revelation 20:12
    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth].
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
To add to my previous post--I don't see any reason not to honor the sabbath and keep it holy-but never to become legalistic about it. I am still trying to sort the thing out as I just begun to study it very recently.

It is one of the 10 Commandments written by the very finger of God in STONE. Jesus said, " If you love me, you will keep my commandments." I have always attended church on Sunday. I have been looking and looking for a new church--during this time I have been studying denominations and was disturbed by all the false teaching I discovered in ALL of them. One day, I was looking at the Commandments and began to wonder why we keep all the Commandments with exception of the Sabbath--I looked up bible verses and could find nothing in the New Testament where the Sabbath was done away with. There are a number of the verses in Acts where both Jews and Gentiles gathered to hear Paul speak on the Sabbath--again they met every day, but why do meet on Sunday--that is as an assembly--only because Constantine changed Sunday to the Sabbath--it's like the inverted cross of Satanists--the Sabbath says God's work is finished. Sunday is the opposite of that. There is more than just about a day--God sanctified it--therefore it is into perpetuity..

Note that when it says let no one judge you on xyz...or on a sabbath day--this is different than THE Sabbath--these were special days, like Holidays. Again, this is not about legalism--as I said, I am still trying to come to a better understanding of this myself.
If you continue to allow God to teach you which is what it sounds like you are doing. He will lead you to the truth and He is the best teacher I have ever had.

For years I struggled with salvation as I always felt lost and I cried out to God and said to Him. I can't do it I can't keep the 10 commandments. I can't be holy as you are holy or perfect. God answered me and said you are right Darlene you can't do it. But that's why my Son Jesus died for your sins. Because I no longer look at you but I look at His perfect life instead He paid the price for you.

I started crying like a baby and said it is just that simple and He said yes. For the first time in my life I understood and it was God who helped me to understand... So you are on the right track in praying and asking God to help you find the answers because He will turn away no one who is searching for truth with all their hearts...

So continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your studies and you will find that the Sabbath has not been changed and in Isaiah it says we will worship from one sabbath to the next.

Isaiah 66:23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

If you read the whole chapter you will find it is talking about after Jesus has come.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
Except that that is only half the story. Check out their teaching about the so-called "Investigative Judgment". So SDA doctrines are a mixture of truth and error. Practically an Ellen G. white cult.
The Bible says there will be a judgement.

  1. Daniel 7:10
    “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; A thousand thousands were attending Him, And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him; The court was seated, And the books were opened.
    In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations


  2. Revelation 20:12
    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth].
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
That is completely false. They follow Ellen G. White no matter how wrong she was.
They believe the Bible is the book to adhere to and following Jesus is most important. Ellen White books are additional reading but not mandated. Ellen White never professed to be a prophet. She said some people called her that but she never took on that role herself.