Popular Posts

February 24, 2011

More Thoughts on the SDA View of Death



Ever wonder why Seventh-day Adventists actually prefer to be extinct (nonexistent) during the immediate state?  Apparently, this preference is largely related to their not having eternal security in Christ.  Being that the so-called "investigative judgment" may not have cleared their names before physical death, this in effect buys them more time. This is a way of putting off the inevitable—their eternal consequences for a holy or profane life. If one is not certain about the gift of salvation here and now, then putting off knowing what fate awaits you would be somewhat comforting and less scary.  Truly, the "investigative judgment" alibi translates into a form of purgatory akin to what our Catholic friends embrace.


It has been said that false religions are wrong about the three essential S's: sin, salvation, and the Savior. Any way you look at it, the Adventist belief in the spirit being breath and the resulting doctrine of "soul sleep" (more accurately known as their extinction/re-creation view in theological parlance) clearly places Adventism outside the pale of biblical Christianity. The doctrine's hold on people, I believe, is a spiritual hold.  The Adventist spirit of deception has imprisoned its members by a deep unbelief in the truth about Jesus and His amazing work of grace.

Being the bedrock heresy of Adventism, soul sleep being the belief that the human spirit is merely one's "breath," has skewed their teaching of the nature of sin, the nature of salvation, the nature of God's justice, and the nature of Christ.  If spirit is merely "breath," then Adam and Eve's sin was more physical than spiritual.  What is "spiritual" if the human spirit is merely breath?  If the human spirit is merely "breath," then what exactly is the original sin we all inherit from Adam?  It must be physical. It must be sin-damaged genes that set us up to commit our own sins.  If "spirit" is something that knows God, on the other hand, the sin we inherit is a dead spirit—a literal spirit disconnected from God that results in spiritual death (dead men walking).


If spirit is merely "breath," then did Jesus inherit Mary's sinful flesh or not?  If He did, then how could He be said to be without sin?  If He did not, then how could He be said to be our example?  He would have had an "advantage" over us—and Ellen White (and my Adventist Bible teachers) clearly taught me that Jesus had no advantage over me.   He was human just like I am—and therefore His example means I, too, can become perfect.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has never settled the argument over Jesus' nature.  Ellen White spoke out of both sides of her mouth on this issue, and the SDA Church does not have an official stance on whether or not Jesus had sinful flesh.  If, on the other hand, spirit is something volitional that knows God, then whether or not Jesus inherited Mary's genes is a moot point regarding His sinfulness.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  He was born without original sin; His spirit was connected to God from conception on.  All of us must be born again because we were born spiritually dead, but Jesus was born spiritually alive. Both our physical and spiritual birth is done for us.  It's all about Him!

If spirit is "breath," then salvation is a physical phenomenon.  Sin is in my genes, and sin is about my flesh causing me to commit sins. Salvation, then, must be more about correcting or overcoming my sinful flesh.  If sin is physical, then I must be able to do things to improve my condition.  Just as I can build muscle by a workout, so I could improve my behavior by careful discipline and observation of some humanistic guidelines.

If, on the other hand, sin is ultimately spiritual, then there's nothing I can do to fix the problem.  God who is spirit must fix  my spirit. The only One who was spiritually alive could bring my dead spirit to life. Jesus was without sin, even though He is genetically Mary's son. The incarnation  was a mystery that God does not reveal.  But I know that sin is not primarily physical.  Our physical selves are affected by it—no question!  But the true nature of sin is a dead spirit disconnected from God.  And, interestingly, even Jesus' body went to the grave, as ours do—while He surrendered His spirit to God.  When He arose again He had a resurrection body different from His human one—just as we will also.

Even though most Adventists don't understand why the doctrine of soul sleep has such a powerful hold on them, I believe that, like the Sabbath, it is binding because it perpetuates heresy—the heresy that sin is physical and we have nothing more to us than bodies and breath; the heresy that salvation is about getting our physical impulses under control and not ultimately about a restored relationship with God; and the heresy that Jesus either inherited Mary's sin and therefore His sinlessness was about not sinning by means  of His great will power and determination and obedience—or that He set  aside His advantage and made Himself like us so we could never excuse our sins by saying Jesus wasn't exactly like us.

Furthermore, when annihilationists and universalists give an elaborate and esoteric interpretation of those biblical texts that relate to endless punishment, they go to great lengths to demonstrate that "everlasting" does not mean everlasting and "torment" does not mean torment!  It never seems to occur to them that if the biblical authors wanted to express clearly the idea of the extinction or ultimate salvation of the wicked, there were words available to them in the Hebrew and Greek languages which could have been used.  But the biblical authors did not use those words.

On the other hand, if the biblical authors wished to express clearly to their readers the idea of unending, conscious torment, there were words in the Greek and Hebrew language which would express that idea. Indeed, the biblical authors used those words which were the only ones available to them which would indicate endless punishment to the average person of their day.  To think that they would use the precise Greek and Hebrew words which would mean endless punishment to the common reader in order to teach annihilation or universalism is to label them either deceptive or ignorant.

When the New Testament writers sought to explain what they believed about the nature of man, they consistently spoke of man as having a dual nature. Thus, man cannot be reduced to being just a physical or spiritual being but is a combination of both (body and spirit). Furthermore, the authors of the New Testament used those Koine Greek words found in the common language of their day. They used the Greek terms utilized in the Septuagint. They deliberately chose these terms because they refer to the immortal and invisible soul of man which survives the death of the body. The mere presence of such terms in the New Testament reveals the error of the secular and religious materialists who deny that the New Testament teaches that man has a dual nature—material and immaterial.

The late Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones aptly stated: "We do not give birth to ourselves—neither physically nor spiritually.  We are not born because we believe. We believe because we are reborn."  Just as we had nothing to do with our physical birth,  we likewise have absolutely nothing to do with our spiritual birth as well.   Both are done for us.   It's all about Him!   Let us declare with Jonah, the reluctant prophet: "For my salvation comes from the Lord alone"  (Jonah 2:9 NLT).  Soli Deo Gloria!


NOTE: For an in-depth, biblical study on this important topic, you may want to order the 315-page book entitled "Death and the Afterlife" by Dr. Robert A. Morey. The late Dr. Walter Martin said of this book: "The most comprehensive biblical study of the subject in the last half century!" Simply order it through your favorite bookstore. I heartily recommend this classic book for your personal and/or church library. Teaching sound doctrine is a biblical mandate (see Titus 1 & 2).

Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain




courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

February 20, 2011

Ellen G. White's Outrageous Teachings on Tithe Paying


compiled by

Dennis J. Fischer


  • If you don't pay tithe God may strike your favorite horse or cow dead
  • If you don't pay tithe God won't bless you
  • If you don't pay tithe you are not worthy of prayer when sick
  • If you don't pay tithe you may not get to heaven
  • If you don't pay tithe God may not answer your prayers
  • If you don't pay tithe you lie to the Holy Ghost
  • If you don't pay tithe it is recorded in heavenly record
  • If you don't pay tithe you must confess sin and pay up
  • If you don't have money for food you must endure privation and pay tithe first 
  • If you don't pay tithe you don't trust God and may fall into your grave
  • If you don't pay tithe heavenly record shows you are an embezzler
  • If you don't pay tithe you are not worthy of eternal life
  • If you don't pay tithe you will be cursed by God
  • If you don't pay tithe you will be poverty stricken
  • If you don't pay tithe the Lord will reduce your income
  • If you don't pay tithe you will receive a curse
  • If you do pay tithe you will receive a blessing
  • If you don't pay tithe you shouldn't be called a Christian
  • If you don't pay back tithes you will be cursed of God
  • Even young children are commanded to pay tithe
  • If a Christian has $10,000.00 or $20,000.00 he should pay a "sin offering"
Seventh-day Adventist prophetess and co-founder, Ellen G. White, warns what will happen if members do not faithfully pay ten percent tithe:

If you don't pay tithe God may strike your favorite horse or cow dead

"Those who are selfishly withholding their means, need not be surprised if God's hand scatters.  That which should have been devoted to the advancement of the work and cause of God, but which has been withheld, may be intrusted to a reckless son, and he may squander it.  A fine horse, the pride of a vain heart, may be found dead in the stable. Occasionally, a cow may die. Losses of fruit or other crops may come..."  Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 661

If you don't pay tithe God won't bless you

"There are many who will not be blessed until they make restitution of the tithe which they have withheld. God is waiting for you to redeem the past." Counsels on Stewardship, p. 87

If you don't pay tithe church members should not pray for you when sick

"We should first find out if the sick one has been withholding tithes or has made trouble in the church."  Healthful Living, p. 121 "Prayer for the Sick"

If you don't pay tithe you may not get to heaven

"When we rob God we rob ourselves also.  We give up the heavenly treasure for the sake of having more on this earth.  This is a loss that we cannot afford to sustain."  Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 272

If you don't pay tithe God may not answer your prayers

"As the Giver of every good blessing, God claims a certain portion of all we possess.  This His provision to sustain the preaching of the gospel. And by making this return to God, we are to show our appreciation for His gifts. But if we withhold from Him that which is His own, how can we claim His blessing?  If we are unfaithful stewards of earthly things, how can we expect Him to entrust us with the things of heaven?  It may be that here is the secret of unanswered prayer."  Christ's Object Lessons, p. 144

"...there are those who are guilty of the same sin as Ananias and Sapphira, thinking that if they withhold a portion of what God claims in the tithing system, the brethern will never know. Thus through the guilty couple whose example is given us as a warning...In keeping back part of the price, they lied to the Holy Ghost.  Guilt likewise rests upon every individual in proportion to like offenses."  Testimonies, Vol. 4, pp. 469, 470

If you don't pay tithe unfaithfulness is written in heavenly record

"The man who has been unfortunate, and finds himself in debt, should not take the Lord's portion to cancel his debts to his fellow-men.  He should consider that in these transactions he is being tested, and that in reversing the Lord's portion for his own use he is robbing the Giver. He is a debtor to God for all he has, but he becomes a double debtor when he uses the Lord's reserved fund in paying debts to human beings. "Unfaithfulness to God" is written against his name in the books of heaven.  Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 391

If you haven't been paying tithe you must confess your sin and pay up

"As the sin of robbing God was presented, the people received clearer views of their duty and privilege in this matter.  One brother said that for two years he had not paid his tithes, and he was in despair; but as he confessed his sin, he began to gather hope:  'What shall I do?' he asked.  I said, 'Give your note to the treasurer of the church; that will be businesslike.'  He thought that was a rather strange request; but he sat down and began to write...'For value received. Have I not been receiving the blessings of God day after day?  Have not angels guarded me? Has not the Lord blessed me...?  For value received, I promise to pay the sum of $571.50."  Counsels on Stewardship, p. 95

Ministers must never touch tithe money in emergency even if they intend to repay

"Some have been at fault in diverting from the altar of God that which has been especially dedicated to Him.  All should regard this matter in the right light. Let no one, when brought into a straight place, take money consecrated to religious purposes, and use it for his own advantage, soothing his conscience by saying that he will repay it at some future time. Far better cut down on expenses to correspond with the income, to restrict the wants, and live within the means, than to use the Lord's money for secular purposes...The portion that God has reserved for Himself is not be diverted to any other purpose than that which He has specified. Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use for themselves in an emergency,  not to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lord's work.  The minister should, by precept and example, teach the people to regard the tithe as sacred. He should not feel that he can retain and apply it according to his own judgment, because he is a minister.  It is not his..."  Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 247

Even young children are commanded to pay tithe

"Teach Children to Pay Tithe and Offerings--Not only does the Lord claim the tithe as His own, but He tells how it should be reserved for Him. He says, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.' This does not teach that we are to spend our means on ourselves and bring to the Lord the remnant, even though it should be otherwise an honest tithe.  Let God's portion be first set apart.  The directions given through the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul is in regard to gifts presenting a principle that applies also to tithing.  'Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.' Parents and children are here included."  The Adventist Home, page 389

If you don't have money for food you must endure privation and pay tithe first

"Many, oh, so many, among believers have scarcely food enough to eat, yet in their deep poverty, they bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord's treasury. Many who know what it is to sustain the cause of God in hard and trying circumstances have invested means in the publishing house.  They have willingly endured hardships and privation, and have watched and prayed for the success of the cause. Their gifts and sacrifices express the fervent gratitude and praise of their hearts to Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.  No more fragrant influence can ascend to heaven.  Their prayers and their alms come in a memorial before God." Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 212

If you don't pay tithe you don't trust God and may fall into your grave

"The covetous are among us... They are withholding and robbing God, for they are fearful they shall come to want.  They dare not trust God. This is one of the reasons that, as a people, we are so sickly, and so many are falling into their graves."  Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 199

If you don't pay tithe the records in heaven show you are an embezzler

"All that is withheld of that which God claims, the tenth of the increases, is recorded in the books of heaven as robbery against Him. Such defraud their Creator; and then this sin of neglect is brought before them, it is not enough for them to change their course and begin to work from that time upon the right principle.  This will not correct figures made in the heavenly record for embezzling the property committed to them in trust to be returned to the Lender.  Repentance for unfaithful dealing with God, and for base ingratitude, is required."  Testimonies, Vol. 3., p. 394

If you don't pay tithe you will not be worthy of everlasting life

"Our heavenly Father bestows gifts and solicits a portion back, that He may test us whether we are worthy to have the gift of everlasting life."  Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 408

If you don't pay back tithes you will be cursed of God

"Let the neglected tithes be now brought in. Let the new year open upon you as men honest in their dealing with God.  Let those that have withheld their tithes send them in before the year...shall close, that they may be right with God, and never, never again run any risk of being cursed by God." Testimonies to Ministers, p. 306

If you don't pay tithe you will be poverty stricken

"It is not returning to God His own that makes men poor; it is withholding that tends to poverty."  Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 449

If you don't pay tithe the Lord will reduce your income

"I call upon our brethern to cease their robbery of God...The Lord sometimes opens the eyes blinded by selfishness by simply reducing their income to the amount they are willing to give...In many cases God tests man with blessings, and if unfaithfulness is manifested in rendering to Him tithe and offerings, His blessing is withdrawn."  Testimonies, Vol. 4., p. 484

If you don't pay tithe you will receive a curse--if you do you will be blessed

"But while He pronounces a blessing upon those who bring in their tithes, He pronounces a curse upon those who withhold them.  Very recently I had direct light from the Lord upon this question, that many Seventh-day Adventists are robbing God in tithes and offerings."  Testimonies to Ministers, p. 60

If you don't pay tithe you shouldn't be called a Christian

"Nothing but utter inability to pay can excuse one in neglecting to meet promptly his obligations to the Lord.  Indifference in this matter shows that you are in blindness and deception, and are unworthy of the Christian name."  Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 476

STATEMENTS BY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST LEADERS REGARDING MANDATORY TITHING:

The leaders warn "The tithe is not ours to tinker with."

"Church officers and church elders and other officers and institutional leaders are to recognize it as a principle of the leadership of God's work, that a good example be set in the matter of tithe-paying.  No one is to continue as either a church officer or conference worker who does not conform to this standard of leadership...The tithe is not ours to tinker with." Pacific Union Recorder, December 21, 1981;  "Let Me Answer Your Questions About Tithe," by Elder Walden, Treasurer

SDA credentialed employees must pay tithe and submit to tithe audit

"The 1985 Annual Council has revised the North American Division tithe policy (D-55-20).  It mandates that it become a clear condition of employment to all credentialed church employees that they pay tithe, permit the auditing of their tithe records, 'require their dismissal if they do not pay tithe, after persuasion fails..."  Limboline, December 6, 1986

SDA leaders insist members sell property or get bank loan to repay back tithe

"Paying Back Tithe...If we have been delinquent in returning God's tithe, we should consider our best possible approach should be in making restoration and then religiously do something about it...Some may choose to add specified extra amount in their regular tithe each week or month...Others may choose to sell a piece of property or go to the bank, as one dear sister did, when she remembered that she had never returned $2,000.00 tithe on a house she had inherited from her family..."  "It's Square Up Time" from a small pamphlet "Time to Tithe" published by the Department of Stewardship and Development, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

SDA leaders tell members they will be more spiritual if they pay tithe

"Nearly all offerings are neatly organized into three parts:  World Mission Budget, Conference Budget, and Local Church Budget.  Of course, tithe is not an offering and is returned before we give any offerings...Ellen White points out that 'Those churches who are the most systematic and liberal in sustaining the cause of God are the most prosperous spiritually..."  Pacific Union Recorder, June 1, 1981

EGW AND "SIN OFFERINGS"

"If a Christian has ten or twenty thousand dollars, God's claims are imperative upon him, not only to give his proportion according to the tithing system, but to present his sin offering and thank offerings to God." ("The Claims of Mrs. EGW As Stated By Herself"  Tract No. 1, p. 16)  See also: Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 390, 391, 394, 405, 510



courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries






.

HOW TO FIND A CHURCH THAT MATCHES YOUR THEOLOGICAL CRITERIA

by Dennis J. Fischer

Christians truly need each other.  Our spiritual growth is greatly decelerated by trying to go it alone. Most of the things we learn in life we learn from others.  Moreover, as Christ-followers, we shine our brightest in fellowship with like believers.  We thrive best with ongoing discipleship and encouragement. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us:  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Heb. 10:23-25 NASB).


It is somewhat awkward and sometimes even frightening for former Seventh-day Adventists to venture out to find a church family. Many former Adventists, having never needed to church shop before, can waste a lot of time in this important endeavor.  After all, we are often not familiar with the theological landscape in our community.  Are there any shortcuts in this process?  How many churches do I need to visit before making a decision to become a member?  Some churches do not have formal membership requirements to be active participants. Is it really possible to find a church in a small community that fits one's theological criteria? Unfortunately, after repeated attempts of finding a solid, Bible-believing church, some have needlessly given up in utter despair and disappointment.


Without any doubt, if there really is a perfect church out there somewhere, it would certainly no longer be perfect by my presence. On the other hand, we have a sacred responsibility to embrace sound doctrine.  While we don't want to major in minors like we used to, we have diligently prayed and studied our way this far and don't want to fail in our quest for finding a church family where we can feel both comfortable and challenged at the same time.  Above all, continue to pray for the Lord to direct you in finding a new church home. For a former Adventist, the church selection process can feel akin to a scary spiritual free-fall.  Indeed, we serve a prayer-answering God.


If we have children, we should be concerned about children's and youth ministries as well. Fortunately, most churches today have websites that are most helpful in finding what they believe and what they feature and/or emphasize in their ministries.  To avoid the need of visiting every church in your city or neighborhood, it is often helpful to contact a favorite seminary or Bible college instead.  Their placement office will gladly tell you where their graduates are now serving as pastors.


If that doesn't work for you, then make a few phone calls to senior pastors in your area. Ask them about their beliefs before visiting their church.  When visiting, be sure to speak to the pastor.  If the theology fits, be sure to complete their welcome class.  This orientation will be most helpful in getting acquainted with your new church family. Fortunately, I live in a larger city and have many choices.  


If you live in a small town or in a rural area, you may need to find a church a few miles down the road or even in the next town. Driving a few extra miles for better youth programs is a wise thing to do. The same holds true for theological compatibility.   All in all, by contacting your favorite seminary or Bible college, you can usually shortcut the process of church shopping. Most importantly, pray earnestly that God will bless you with a wonderful church family. In most communities, you will not have merely one choice but several options.


Amazingly, in my own experience, I overlooked the best match in town for several years.  In regard to finding a Bible-believing pastor, John MacArthur rightly stated that "The measure of a pastor is not how clever or how interesting he is, but how well he guards truth." Admittedly, it was well worth shopping for, but I regret not having found my church family many years earlier.  In truth, however,  I may not have been ready earlier.  I had many things to learn and to unlearn. Thankfully, our awesome, sovereign God will not allow His people to remain unsettled perpetually. Only God knows why we were allowed to be a part of a false gospel for so long. Through God's amazing, saving grace, He didn't leave us where He found us. To God alone belongs all the honor, glory, and praise!  Soli Deo Gloria!


Moreover, in my case, it was purely a theological decision because our children are now adults, and they now have their own needs and preferences. Furthermore, I realize that our sovereign God sometimes allows us to learn extra things in preparation for finding our favorite church family. Apparently, some families must think the Sunday church service is like a convention—sending just one delegate. Oh yes, don't forget to attend and participate in an adult education class each week at your new church as well.  May God abundantly bless your quest for Biblical truth and your search for a church home.



ON A CHURCH PLAQUE

Enter this door
As if the floor
Within were gold;
And every wall
Of jewels all
Of wealth untold;
As if a choir
In robes of fire
Were singing here;
Nor shout nor rush
But hush...
For God is here.

February 15, 2011

SATAN THE SIN-BEARER?

"...the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed.  When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty." (Great Controversy, page 422).


"The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord.  Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated...so Christ will place all these sins upon Satan...so Satan bearing the guilt..." (Great Controversy, page 485)

"Satan...held a council with his angels...They must prevent all whom they could from receiving the salvation purchased for them by Jesus.  By so doing Satan could still work against the government of God.  Also it would be for his interest to keep from Jesus as many as possible.  For the sins of those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ will at last be rolled back upon the originator of sin, and he must bear their punishment, while those who do not accept salvation through Jesus will suffer the penalty of their own sins."  (Early Writings, page 178)


"When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, then the sins of the repentant soul who has received the grace of Christ and has overcome through the blood of the Lamb, will be removed from the records of heaven, and will be placed upon Satan, the scapegoat, the originator of sin, and be remembered no more against him [the redeemed saint] forever...When the conflict of life is ended, when the armor is laid off at the feet of Jesus, when the saints of God are glorified, then and then only will it be safe to claim that we are saved, and sinless."  (Selected Messages, Vol. 3, page 355, paragraph 5)


"Much love to your dear father and to your sisters and brother.  Tell them to be faithful to serve God...I have often prayed for them.  Tell them to pray much that their sins may be confessed upon the head of the scapegoat and borne away into the land of forgetfulness.  A little longer and Jesus' work will be finished in the sanctuary."  (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, page 131, paragraph 3)


Thus, Satan gets favorably rewarded for his busy deviltry—the more people he can keep from becoming Christians the less suffering he will have to endure for the confessed sins of the righteous that were only conditionally-forgiven. The biblical, Christian definition of Jesus' atonement for our sins is the "putting away" of sin (Heb. 9:26), the actual "blotting out" of sins (Acts 3:19), the taking away of sin (John 1:29), and the getting rid of our sins.  Does a false gospel ever get any worse than the previous paragraphs describe?  In stark contrast to the statements quoted above from Ellen White, here is what the Bible further says on this important, salvific topic:


"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:12 ESV).


"Do not remember against us our former iniquities, let  your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!" (Ps. 79:8,9 ESV).


"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more" (Heb. 10:17 ESV).


"...your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for" (Isaiah 6:7 ESV).


"...For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34 ESV).


Dear friend, who is your scapegoat?


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain








courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

THREE KINDS OF DEATH

(1)   Spiritual death or separation from God (as experienced by Adam and Eve and their posterity). As a result of the Fall, all human beings are born as rebels against God. With such radical or total depravity, we are born with a "dead" spirit that only our sovereign God can bring from death to life.


(2)  Physical death (bodily death).


(3)  Eternal death (also called the "second death"). The death that never dies (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 20:10). Due to the unconfessed and unforgiven sins of the ungodly, their sins are forever before the Father as cosmic treason and a crime against His holiness. Moreover, the punishment of the wicked is infinite in duration because they committed sins against an infinite God. Hell is also eternal because of the perpetual sinning of those confined there. 

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), the greatest philosopher and theologian of the medieval church, well stated that "The duration of a punishment does not match the duration of the act of  sin but its stain; as long as this lasts a debt of punishment remains.  The severity of the punishment matches the seriousness of the sin...God is of infinite greatness. Therefore, an infinite punishment is deserved for a sin committed against Him."



courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

Thoughts on the SDA View of Death

Since Seventh-day Adventists believe in the liberal, unbiblical concept of annihilationism, it should not surprise us that they further believe that Satan, the fallen angel, has an actual physical body of flesh like we humans do. However, the problem is not solved because after Satan is forced to join "the beast and the false prophet" in "the lake of fire," after one thousand  years, the Apostle John declares, "...and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev. 20:10 ESV).  This passage certainly is not teaching the quick-fix of annihilationism. Obviously, one must be alive to be tormented.


Adventists are usually very reluctant to take an in-depth look at their esoteric teachings to discover where they  ultimately  lead them to. After all, they have been repeatedly told that they corporately hold the exclusive franchise of heaven.  Official Adventism is only one step away from embracing the notion that all punishment is inconsistent with the kind and loving nature of God.  Due to their humanistic, sentimental reasons for teaching a temporary punishment, one can thereby easily extrapolate the theory that all punishment is against the loving nature of God. Consequently, it is not surprising to discover that some Adventists already believe in a painless annihilation. All in all, they greatly minimize the stain of sin.


With merely a "painless" or "momentary" annihilation at worst after living a profane life, why wouldn't Adventists increasingly just opt for a hedonistic lifestyle? In other words, they do not believe  that the unconfessed and unforgiven sins of the ungodly are forever before the Father from this life, the duration of hell is also eternal due to the endless sinning of the ungodly in hell, and that the remaining stain of sin is a huge affront to God. Their lack of understanding the holiness of God results in a  low view of sin whereby the ungodly do not really deserve more than a transitory fate.   Moreover, their view attacks God's divine justice by insisting that God doesn't have the moral right to inflict unending punishment on the wicked. They feel compelled to arbitrarily adjust God's divine love and justice to accommodate their unique suppositions.

Jesus said that our "spirit" or "soul" cannot be literally killed (see Matthew 10:28).  Importantly, in the original Koine Greek,  the word for "destroy" (meaning "ruin") in this passage is not the same word form as "kill." Moreover, this passage very clearly teaches the dualistic nature of man; namely, body and soul.  The Bible nowhere teaches the resurrection of the soul—only the resurrection of the body. Interestingly, even though our Adventist friends believe that the body and soul are one complete, inseparable unit, they NEVER ever talk about the resurrection of the soul.

To add additional confusion to this topic, they also believe the human spirit is merely one's breath. Thus, according to their understanding, something actually does return from heaven (i.e., their spirit, life principle, or spark of life) to reunite with the body to make a complete whole again in the resurrection. Therefore, in a strange way, they also believe that the body without the soul is dead.  Matthew Henry's Commentary adds, "The soul is killed when separated from God and his love.  Hell is the destruction of both body and soul in hell...The ruin of the whole man:  if the soul is lost, the body is lost too.  They sinned together; the body was the soul's tempter to sin, and its  tool in sin, and they must eternally suffer together."

In summary, here is a quotation from Ellen White about Satan having an actual physical body unlike the other angels: "I was shown Satan as he was, a happy, exalted angel.  Then I was shown him as he now is. He still bears a kingly form.  His features are still noble, for he is angel fallen.  But the expression of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, mischief, deceit, and every evil.  That brow which was once so noble, I particularly noticed. His forehead commenced from his eyes to recede backward.  I saw that he had demeaned himself so long, that every good quality was debased, and every evil trait was developed. His eyes were cunning, sly, and showed great penetration.  His frame was large, but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and face. As I beheld him, his chin was resting upon his left hand.  He appeared to be deep in thought.  A smile was upon his countenance, which made me tremble, it was so full of evil, and Satanic slyness." (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 27)

Adventist dogma requires Satan having a physical body to suffer for their sins in annihilation and to thereby finally blot out their confessed sins that were only conditionally forgiven.  Shockingly, as their scapegoat, they believe Satan bears their sins by suffering in the quick-fix of annihilation. (see Great Controversy, pages 422 & 475; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 475; Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, page 131, paragraph 3).  


Sadly, without Satan finally atoning for their sins in annihilation, our Adventist friends claim to have absolutely no hope of ever entering eternal bliss. After all, those who become citizens of heaven had their sins completely blotted out.  Amazingly, Satan has yet a powerful, salvific role to perform, according to the twisted soteriological views of Seventh-day Adventism, by his meritorious annihilation in their behalf. Thus, official Adventism claims to have two sin-bearers; namely, Christ and Satan (Satan being their final sin-bearer).  Frankly, does heresy ever get any worse than this?


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain 


NOTE: For more thoughts on the SDA view of death, simply click here.




courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE: The Acrostic TULIP





Total (radical) Depravity


Unconditional Election


Limited (particular) Atonement


Irresistible Grace


Perseverance of the Saints


(These doctrines comprise the Five Points of Calvinism)


NOTE: The Five Points of Calvinism all depend on each other. If T is true, then U is true, and so are L, I, and P.  They all hang or fall together.  We cannot select them like apples from a cart. Soteriologically, they all belong together.  The Calvinist says that if man does anything good, God gets all the glory.

THE FIVE SOLAS: Battle Cries of the Protestant Reformation



Sola Scriptura: ("by Scripture alone")


Sola Gratia ("by grace alone")


Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")


Sola Fide ("by faith alone")


Soli Deo Gloria ("glory to God alone")


*These Latin phrases articulated the fundamental teachings of the 
Protestant Reformation





courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries










February 07, 2011

PRAYING FOR UNCLE HENRY

Have you ever wondered why Seventh-day Adventists pray?  Have you ever asked an Adventist why he or she prays?  What are they actually asking God to do for those they pray for?  Do former Adventists and other believers somehow have a different purpose in praying than devout Adventists do? More importantly, dear friend, why do you pray for others? Hypothetically, let's examine the following scenario with Uncle Henry.

Uncle Henry graduated with highest honors from an Adventist university.  As a successful, highly-paid professional, Uncle Henry seemingly has a great life. He is highly respected in his community. He even took a minor in religion.  He further claims to be very knowledgeable about the unorthodox teachings of open theism or the moral influence theory as taught by his SDA alma mater.  In spite of his knowing the 28 fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventism backwards and forwards, he has recently decided to leave Adventism and become an agnostic like his secular friends. His Adventist friends and relatives are greatly disappointed and even in a state of shock. Obviously, Uncle Henry has freely made a decision to no longer be associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church nor any other religious group.

In light of this dilemma, his closest Adventist relative earnestly prays as follows:  "Dear Heavenly Father, as You are fully aware, Uncle Henry has exercised his God-given freewill and right to reject the "truth." Now Lord, just stand back and don't change his desires in any way. Just leave him alone.  His endowed freewill is of utmost importance to me. He clearly and freely has decided not to love and follow You. Most of all, dear Lord, I pray that You will not fix his choice on You. Please respect his independent and freewill choice by not intervening in his life in any manner.  Thank you for hearing and answering my solemn, heartfelt prayer."  Is this the type of intercessory prayer that devout Adventists pray?   Of course not!  Far from it, indeed!

There is a clashing dichotomy between the reason why Adventists pray for others and what they claim to believe when not bowed in prayer. When not in a stance of petitioning prayer, Adventists are synergistic (not believing in faith alone, but rather wholeheartedly believing in partnership salvation whereby God actually helps them to save themselves).  They verbally insist that they don't want God to change anyone's  will in any manner to avoid creating a robot. Amazingly, however,  the typical Adventist is devoutly Calvinistic (monergistic) when bowed in prayer, but  he promptly returns to his semi-Pelagianist stance when his prayer time is over.

Do Adventists sincerely want the lost to have their hearts become receptive through the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, their ears unstopped, and their eyes opened to the Gospel as they understand it? Yes, they most decidedly do!  Their cognitive dissonance is very apparent here.  They are trying to believe in two opposing views at the same time.  History has repeatedly revealed that the enslaved often don't recognize their enslavement. Likewise, our SDA friends are seemingly unaware of their conflicting and contradicting belief system. There is no such thing as a "neutral" free will, devoid of all bias and prior inclination, in fallen humankind.  Thankfully, in spite of having a natural bent toward evil, the regenerate are declared righteous  due to His imputed righteousness in their behalf.  Short of glorification, however, the elect still have a propensity toward evil because of their original sin condition.


The Bible repeatedly admonishes us to pray for others.  It is in God's sovereign plan to have His people pray for others and to actively evangelize them.  God delights in seeing our dependence upon Him through our intercessory prayers.  It is only through Him that human hearts are changed and their ways amended.  Indeed, "...salvation comes from the Lord alone" (Jonah 2:9 NLT).   Soli Deo Gloria!  The fallen human will is morally-incapable to choose Christ.  In his classic book, "Chosen by God," Dr. R. C. Sproul rightly states:  "We conclude that fallen man is still free to choose what he desires, but because his desires are only wicked he lacks the moral ability to come to Christ.  As long as he remains in the flesh, unregenerate, he will never choose Christ. He cannot choose Christ precisely because he cannot act  against his own will. He has no desire for Christ. He cannot choose what he does not desire. His fall is great.  It is so great that only the effectual grace of God working in his heart can bring him to faith" (page 75).

The prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, declared, "Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven." Similarly, the great Reformer, Martin Luther, stated:  "If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright."  Let us not grow weary in fervently praying for the "Uncle Henry" in our families that God will touch his life with empowering, liberating, and transforming grace. Surprisingly, Seventh-day Adventists are monergists (Calvinists) when they pray and synergists when not bowed in prayer. When hard-pressed for an answer, our Adventist friends will reluctantly admit that their prayers for others are indeed asking God to intervene directly and to decisively overrule the fallen human will. Amazingly, thanks to our awesome and sovereign God, their true theology comes out in their prayers.  In summary, here is an excellent definition of monergism and synergism:

"Monergism is the biblical doctrine that regeneration (the new birth) both precedes and elicits faith in Christ in those whom the Holy Spirit sovereignly determines to dispense His grace upon (John 1:13; 6:63-65; Acts 16:14b;1 John 5:1).  Synergism (or synergistic regeneration) is the erroneous doctrine which believes that faith precedes and gives rise to regeneration.  Man cooperates with God in regeneration. Synergists believe the theology that all unsaved persons receive an equal amount of "grace" before God.   Those who cooperate with this grace are saved and those who don't are lost. While a synergist believes grace plays a role in salvation yet he does not believe salvation is by grace alone--instead it is grace plus our response which makes us to be born again.  This means, that in the synergist's belief system, the Holy Spirit has not enabled people in any way to have saving faith, over my neighbor, since this decision is totally independent of God's action of grace."  (Excerpt  from "A Prayer That a Synergist Won't Pray" by John Hendryx)


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain



courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com


January 28, 2011

BEYOND ADVENTISM: The "Truth" Re-Examined


BEYOND ADVENTISM

The "Truth" Re-Examined

  By Dennis J. Fischer


PROLOGUE  


Welcome to this brief and candid tour that gives you an inside look at Seventh-day Adventism today.  At first glance, some SDA readers may view certain theological elements in this exposition to be utterly shocking, unbelievable, and even grossly overstated. It is my fervent prayer, that as the readers probe the depths of Adventism, they will ultimately come to the conclusion that the information presented herein is indeed concise, objective, and factual.

With intentional ambiguity and complexity, many facets of Adventism are most difficult to examine, understand, and expose (i.e., their stance on abortion, the nature of man, their exclusive investigative judgment alibi, etc.) Many of their leading apologists widely differ in their understanding of the doctrinal pillars in their belief system.  It is not uncommon to find two opposing views, on many topics, in the writings ascribed to Ellen White. 

Therefore, whatever "Spirit of Prophecy" evidence you may present, the Adventist apologists can cite yet another contradicting quotation as also being a "continuing and authoritative source of truth." In short, Ellen White is all over the road on many key doctrines. Consequently, the fragmenting of Adventism can be observed everywhere. The founding members of their conservative and liberal theological societies were known to even refrain from dining together when their meetings were held in the same vicinity.

Beginning in the mid-1950s, Seventh-day Adventists have revealed a deep yearning to appear as authentic, evangelical Protestants.  A very controversial book entitled "Questions on Doctrine" was published in 1957 by a select group of SDA administrators, editors, and teachers in response to a challenge from the late Dr. Walter Martin, a professional cult watcher. This 720-page book serves as a prime example of their desperate strategy to disguise themselves as fully embracing  biblical Christianity and to thereby  long for the  day when their shameful stigma as a cult would be somehow lessened or even removed. 

However, since that time, Seventh-day Adventists have officially replaced and deleted key words in some doctrinal statements (e.g., the words "all-sufficient" and "unerring" were removed from their statement on the authority of Scripture). This action allowed ample room for the extra-biblical writings attributed to their revered messenger, prophetess, and infallible interpreter of Scripture, Ellen G. White.



                BEYOND ADVENTISM
  
The "Truth" Re-Examined

Dennis J. Fischer


After being devout, third-generation Seventh-day Adventists for many years, my wife Sylvia and I requested our names to be removed from their membership records.  With several delays in spite of our reminding them repeatedly for eight months, the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Lincoln, Nebraska USA, finally honored our request on October 16, 2000.  We joyfully consider this date our Freedom Day in commemoration of our inevitable separation from spiritual, psychological, and monetary abuse. 

Having anchored our lives in the New Covenant teaching of Jesus Christ, we thank God continually for removing the "veil" that represents unbelief from our hearts (2 Cor. 3:15,16). With the veil of ignorance and obscurity removed, we are able to  see the glory of  God revealed in Christ (John 1:14). The Law was never intended to save anyone, but rather to lead us to the One who would. Collectively, Sylvia and I have more than 100 years of active experience in Seventh-day Adventism. Without any doubt, a colossal sum of information can be obtained about any religious organization during such a lengthy time span.  It is safe to say that we know far more about Seventh-day Adventism today than when we were still active members.

Belief transitions, at best, are not without trauma. However, in the truest sense, nothing is really lost because our awesome, sovereign God faithfully redeems those many years to His honor and glory. Salvation is a rescue operation from start to finish. It is most important to remember that our merciful God never goes on a rescue mission that fails.  It's all about Him! Our journey in Adventism included dedicated service in both this country and overseas. My wife spent part of her early years in Baghdad, Iraq with her SDA missionary parents. She was baptized in the Jordan River during one of her trips to the Holy Land.

Also, Sylvia appreciated the refreshing reprieve from the Egyptian desert heat while visiting the tomb of King Tut. She even slept in an Edomite cave in historic Petra (south of Amman, Jordan) before tourist hotels were built nearby. Years later, while I was serving in departmental leadership, we went on an all-expense paid trip to the Bahamas that was funded by my employing Conference.  On other occasions, I enjoyed a day of deep sea fishing off the coast of North Carolina with a group of SDA leaders, and I also enjoyed horseback riding with another Adventist group in the scenic mountains of eastern Tennessee. So, we have many fond memories of our Adventist service as well. I have served the SDA organization as a local church elder, credentialed literature evangelist, credentialed missionary, and licensed minister. Consequently, our lives reflected a fervent denominational identity.

First of all, we dearly love the Adventist people. They will always be in our hearts and prayers.  Many of our friends and relatives still remain in the complicated grip of Adventism.  How can so many decent, well-meaning people be caught up in proclaiming a false gospel? The Lord has given me an online chaplaincy ministry, in more than one hundred languages and dialects (powered by Google Translate technology), to reach out daily to struggling Adventists and others with the awe-inspiring gospel of Jesus Christ. Admittedly, it is not an easy task to minister to those who have been heavily indoctrinated to think that they already know everything about the Bible. On the other hand, it is always encouraging and exciting to see how our merciful, sovereign God repeatedly opens the most calloused, resistant hearts when they are called to become members of His wonderful family.

There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. It is often charged that the main reason why people leave the SDA Church is due to some moral failure or secret sin on the part of the disaffected. Though Sylvia and I would be the first to admit moral failings, this is not what led us to leave Adventism. We intensely wanted their teachings to be true. However, our crisis of conscience, coupled with an honest desire to do what is right, led us in the opposite direction. The unsettling realization that we taught our children wrong about the most important things in life was most painful to ponder and endure. Ultimately, our loving, sovereign God took over our spiritual direction by calling us out of Seventh-day Adventism. We give all the honor, glory, and praise to God alone. Truly, our experience reaffirms the fact that His rescue missions never fail.

My wife and I are continually grateful that God did not leave us where He found us. Unquestionably, our awesome God knows how to make friends out of His enemies in the election process. Many times, especially while engaged in exit counseling, there are those who have threatened to throw me out of chat rooms, various online forums, and conversation cafes in the blogosphere. Worse yet, sad to say, they employ very unkind remarks whenever their legalism is challenged and exposed. Using the social media to tell outright lies about me is one of their favorite tactics. Therefore, having a thick skin is definitely required in this outreach ministry. Sometimes I feel somewhat derided like Paul when he was repeatedly thrown out of the synagogues of his day. Even though God called and commissioned the Apostle Paul to preach to the Gentiles, he had a real burden for the struggling legalists he knew so well.

Amid the vastness of cyberspace, many honest-hearted Adventists are discovering, for the first time, that Jesus Christ is indeed their true Sabbath Rest. Jesus is the reality and substance of the Old Covenant shadows, that included the festal, weekly Sabbath given exclusively to the Hebrew people (see Col. 2:16,17; Deut. 5:3). According to Leviticus 23:1-3, the weekly Sabbath was one of the seven appointed feasts (holy convocations) mandated for the "sons of Israel." 

Certainly, under the New Covenant, we are not required to observe the Jewish feasts in order to obtain or maintain our salvation. Moreover, there are no holy days nor any festivals in the Christian calendar (Romans 14:5). Those who still insist upon observing any Old Covenant shadow, pointing forward to our Lord and Savior, are actually denying the glory, majesty, and reality of Jesus Christ. Still others are threatened with the thought of losing their salvation if they leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  It is exciting to know that heaven has a party when Jesus is born in a new heart.

Sylvia and I found our time thoroughly occupied with raising our three daughters, working wholeheartedly for the denomination, and later operating a family business. Someone aptly stated that "a wise man changes his mind seldom, but a fool never." Regrettably,  we were too busy to even get into theological matters. Satan truly delights in our excessively busy lives.  After all, we were constantly taught that we were the only ones who had the "truth."  We were arrogantly pleased that we were a part of heaven's exclusive franchise, God's last-day "remnant church," with its suppositional advantages that "outsiders" could only wish they had.

We were comfortable and savvy in a doctrinal proof-text system or "inner canon." Outside of this so-called "inner canon" that reflects serious hermeneutical errors, we were lost in Scripture—especially in the New Testament Epistles.  It always seemed easier to quickly consult the writings of Ellen White than to personally study the Bible in depth. Our home was saturated and imbalanced with stacks of books attributed to Ellen White. These books were beautifully bound with matching color schemes. Some of her books are now being rewritten into a contemporary Easy English format. Unfortunately, this maneuver will make it much easier to hide her rampant plagiarism.

The Ellen G. White Estate effectively practices "selective revelation" by withholding many key pages of her "inspired" writings in their files. Occasionally, they will make a new release or produce yet another compilation to increase sales. There is definitely a lot of secrecy surrounding the safeguarding of Ellen White's writings.  In-person access to their files remains extremely restricted—even for the most devout SDA scholars trying to do some research. Obviously, there are many things they want to keep hidden from the public and especially from their own members.

Having fervently believed that her "inspired" writings are a "continuing and authoritative source of truth," our former devotion to her ministry can rightfully be called Ellenolatry and/or Ellenology—a veneration akin to Mariology in Catholicism.  Ellen White's problematic and blasphemous role, as a latter-day coredemptrix in salvation, is officially verified by the SDA teaching that requires candidates for baptism to confess her as being the "Spirit of Prophecy" before they can be baptized into Christ.  For example, Ellen White's authoritative and dominant role in creating distinctive SDA dogma is seen in her embellishment of the Fourth Commandment to include the Mosaic Sabbath also being the "final test" and "seal of God." The real truth is that there are no current SDA beliefs that Ellen White did not sanction or create—the lone exception is their doctrine about clean and unclean meat that was added after her death in 1915. Since she had pro and con statements about that topic, she immersed herself in advocating a meatless diet instead.           .

The Bible always had lots of competition from other Adventist publications as well.  With any spare moments, we were engrossed in literally scores of books, periodicals, and newsletters that largely dictated our subculture. We thought we knew everything; you would only have had to ask us for all the right answers.  As a former departmental leader, I well remember the unique feeling of orthodoxy, satisfaction, and acceptance in quoting Ellen White in my sermons.  It remains a powerful symbol of approval in Adventist circles that even translates into job security.  The current SDA General Conference president, with his many quotes from Ellen White in his sermons, is a prime example of this practice.

"Seventh-day Adventism is incredibly complex"

Unlike the basic tenets of the Christian faith, Seventh-day Adventism is incredibly complex.  With an aberrant closed theology, it is no surprise that we found virtue in our closed minds. It was considered meritorious and even salvific to become "settled in the truth."  We felt sorry for the ignorance of those poor "non-Adventists" or "Sunday keepers" who were described in-house as heathen, outsiders, apostate Protestants, whores of Babylon, and their clergy as false shepherds.  Sadly, we even made fun of people who believed in biblical Christianity like we do now. Utilizing typical cultic methodologies, Seventh-day Adventism employs the following spiritually-abusive strategies:


  • Extreme authoritarian accountability, top-heavy organizational structure, and a closed belief system.
  • Information control that denigrates or cuts off outside sources of information—especially if critical of the group. Consequently, they develop a voracious appetite to hear the latest behind-closed-door maneuvers and scandals of their hierarchy. Cognitive dissonance, the anxiety resulting from simultaneously holding contradictory and incompatible beliefs, plays a dominant, troubling role in their mindset.
  • Discouraging critical, rational thoughts and questions; for example, comments like, "Satan is the cause of all doubt; he wants to keep you from the truth," or "Those former Adventist ministers and laymen are actually full of pride. They think they know more than the entire church."
  • Excessive financial obligations that comprise a two-tier membership system (e.g., only "tithers" are allowed to hold local church offices or positions of influence, no tithe funds can be used for local church needs like building expansion, remodeling, maintenance, and church school needs). One hundred percent of the tithe funds go directly to several levels of hierarchical, administrative organizations.  The local church properties are wholly owned by the Conference. Ministers are appointed and paid by the Conference. Generally,  only one offering per month is allowed for church expenses—many non-tithe contributions are also remitted to the Conference treasury. The SDA hierarchy essentially exerts almost total control over the local churches.
  • Language manipulations—ascribing new "inside" or "in-house" meanings in ordinary words or use an excessive vocabulary subtly moving a person to want to become an insider. Largely, these aberrant linguistic problems have roots in their faulty hermeneutics. Others, like their exclusive "investigative judgment" and "shut-door" terminology, are solely reflective of their subculture. Although Seventh-day Adventist apologists often use the right theological terms (i.e., grace, faith, justification, sanctification, forgiveness, Trinity, etc.), these key words have a different meaning  to them than affirmed in biblical Christianity. Consequently, it is easy to fall prey to their stance of utilizing  well-known, salvific terminology. Those who know little or nothing about Adventist dogma are the most vulnerable to deception. With their charming and subtle manner, the top SDA leaders initially managed to even deceive (albeit temporarily) a trained cult watcher, the late Dr. Walter Martin, in the 1950s.
As a young minister, father, and departmental leader, I had little time to even think about questioning anything as I weekly preached perfectionist and promotional type sermons to a receptive Adventist audience.  The Lord has graciously forgiven me. Truly, God redeems our past to advance His kingdom. In other words, He faithfully restores the years that "the swarming locusts" have eaten (Joel 2:25 NLT) and nothing is actually lost. Soli Deo gloria!

"Information is a tool that empowers and enriches...lives"

Eventually, with an empty nest and semi-retirement looming on the horizon, we found extra time to delve into the essentials of the Christian faith.  We soon discovered that sincerity of belief is no substitute for Biblical truth.  Our exodus from Adventism took several years of diligent prayer and intensive Bible study. Even though we were deeply involved in Adventism, we knew very little of what was actually going on.  It was very difficult to obtain information about anything that their hierarchy did not see fit to divulge. All of this changed, of course, with the dawn of the Internet.  

The arrival of online religion is as consequential as when the printing presses brought the written word to medieval Europe. With religious literacy dramatically on the upswing, cyber-Christians find new appreciation for personal freedom in Christ. Cyberspace affords us the priesthood of all believers—creating an equal playing field. Information technology is a tool that empowers and enriches the lives of even the lowest social class in our society. While cyberspace is no equal substitute for in-person relationships, it does avail us of meaningful, worldwide Christian fellowship. The Internet was a significant and valuable tool in our quest for truth.

A wide spectrum of Seventh-day Adventists know very little about their history, doctrines, organizational structure, and governing policies. When an inquiring member determines that even one doctrinal pillar is not Biblical, it clearly creates concern that other teachings may not pass close scrutiny as well. Being born in the Millerite deception of the early 1840s, Adventism shortly thereafter imposed a vast assortment of cultic views on its ardent followers:

  • The exclusive investigative judgment doctrine, as the central core of their faith, teaches that the atonement was not completed at the Cross, initially delayed for 1800 years, it is still in the process of being completed. Indeed, an anti-gospel message! 
  • The "shut door" teaching, later abandoned, that grace for sinners ended on October 22, 1844.
  • Only 144,00 people would be saved—later abandoned as membership exceeded this number.
  • Soul sleep, conditionalism, and annihilationism were brought from the liberal Christian Connection/Connexion Church, a restorationist group related to the Stone-Campbell movement, by James White and Joseph Bates, early SDA pioneers. However, since Seventh-day Adventists claim not to have an immaterial spirit (soul) entity, their views about death and the afterlife are best described as the extinction/re-creation theory. Not even God can resurrect someone who doesn't exist. Thus, in the truest sense, Seventh-day Adventists are actually denying the doctrine of the resurrection. Moreover, they claim to die just like animals (with the exception of being in the memory of God like a fallen sparrow or a flattened squirrel on a roadway). How can someone await anything, much less a resurrection, when supposedly nonexistent?
  • Those worshiping on Sunday will ultimately receive the mark of the beast.
  • The final test will be Jewish Sabbath observance—even though the word "Sabbath" does not appear in the entire books of Genesis and Revelation. Adventists insist, however, that both books are somehow significant in supporting their Sabbatarian views.  Jesus is not their final test. Instead, they warn that the final test is all about a day of worship—creating a dividing wall in Christendom. The final test centers upon the created instead of upon the Creator Himself.
  • The Law of Moses (also commonly known as the "Pentateuch" or "Torah") is not defined as a mixture of 613 ceremonial, civil, judicial, and moral laws that are basically summarized in the Decalogue as having both ethical and ritual elements. Adventist apologists greatly err in their presupposition that only moral declaratives are found in the Ten Commandments. Conversely, Seventh-day Adventists utilize a pick-and-choose tactic to impose Jewish dietary, Sabbath, and tithing laws on the uninformed as being morally-binding. Importantly, the weekly Sabbath never was a moral injunction, but rather it was a ceremonial, festal convocation given to the "sons of Israel" (see Lev. 23:1-3). On the other hand, God's timeless moral laws never take a break, and they were never trumped by ritual law for any reason (i.e., infant male circumcision on the Sabbath, display of freshly-baked showbread every Sabbath in the Holy Place, and an additional priestly sacrifice of two male lambs every Sabbath morning as directed in Numbers 28:9-10). Furthermore, moral (ethical) commandments are valid 24/7 (every nanosecond of time) and not merely once a year, season, month, or week. God's morality does not change with the rotation of the earth. Truly, God's righteous standards are beyond the constraints of time and space. Unlike ceremonial (ritual) laws, moral laws never allow exceptions for works of charity, mercy, or even purported necessity. In other words, there is never a valid excuse to disobey God's moral commandments. Without the Levitical system being fully in place, it is impossible to properly observe the festal, weekly Sabbath and to faithfully practice the Mosaic tithing codes.
  • In the context of an imminent "National Sunday Law," a death decree will be issued upon all loyal Sabbatarians.  In the final crisis, they warn, "Sunday keepers" are going to actually kill the "Sabbath keepers." Indeed, that is heavy, scary stuff! Moreover, this absurd, sensational,  and unthinkable theory envisions and implies a soon-coming scenario when one billion Muslims and millions of Buddhists and Hindus will supposedly join Christ-followers around the world by worshiping on the Lord's day to celebrate His resurrection and thereby fully unite with Sunday keepers to kill all Sabbath keepers. Remember, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists do not even believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Substitute. Thus, why would Muslims and other non-Christians have an intense and sudden interest in safeguarding Sunday as the weekly Easter?
  • Satan bears their sins as typified by the scapegoat on the annual Day of Atonement. Thus, Satan has an atoning work to perform for their salvation by finally having to suffer, through his meritorious annihilation, for all their sins that are meticulously recorded in heaven as merely conditionally-forgiven (see Great Controversy, pages 422 & 485; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 475; Early Writings, page 178, Patriarchs and Prophets, 1890, page 358).  Only through Satan, the final sin-bearer, will their sins be finally blotted out.  In the truest sense, Seventh-day Adventism teaches that God favorably rewards Satan for his busy deviltry—the more people he can keep from becoming Christians the less suffering he will have to endure for confessed sins that were only conditionally-forgiven. Eternal bliss is ultimately conditional upon the atoning role of Satan.   Sadly and unbiblically, official Adventism claims to have two sin-bearers; namely, Christ and Satan.
  • Arianism, a belief held until the mid-1890s, teaches that Christ was created or "derived from the Father" as Ellen White described it. Most current SDA beliefs were formulated by their Arian pioneers. Consequently, some of their doctrines are still tainted by this heresy.
  • The latter rain or special outpouring of the Holy Spirit is still in the future—a denial of Pentecost. This teaching accounts for their typical begging and pleading, in their public prayers, for the Holy Spirit  to come upon them—even though they deny having an immaterial spirit entity to commune with God. Not surprisingly, SDA apologists are silent about the fact that the Christian Church was born on Pentecost Sunday as foreshadowed in the Mosaic Covenant.
  • The extra-biblical authority of their prophetess, messenger, and co-founder, Ellen G. White (referred to in-house as the "Spirit of Prophecy"). However, in context, the phrase "spirit of prophecy" in Rev. 19:10 denotes the central theme of both OT prophecy and NT preaching as the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (not a reference to a false prophetess nor to her toxic-faith system). Sadly, Ellen White remains the apple of the Adventist eye, and she fills the role of being their infallible interpreter of Scripture. Interestingly, in many ways, Seventh-day Adventism is a microcosm of what they strongly dislike about Catholicism.
  • In regard to the physical signs on earth and in the heavens before the return of Christ  in Matthew 24:29, they claim the stars fell on November 13, 1833 and the dark day occurred on May 19, 1790 (both in the northeastern area of the United States). Amazingly, Seventh-day Adventists still believe that a meteor shower in 1833 was really the stars falling, and the dense smoke from a raging forest fire was the dark day in 1790 that obstructed the sun and the moon from giving light. However, this passage clearly indicates that these signs will occur after the tribulation and will almost momentarily precede the second coming of Christ. Furthermore, Adventists believe that the Lisbon earthquake on November 1, 1755 was also a key sign of the imminent return of Christ, but there have been many stronger earthquakes in recorded history with far greater consequences. Through the years, an assortment of SDA conspiracy theories and predictions have ultimately failed to be true. Some of their lingering in-house conspiracy theories are so bizarre and unbelievable that they are not worthy of even mentioning nor describing in this exposition. Many devout Adventists delight in retelling these strange conspiracy theories to help  reaffirm their cultic views to each other.
  • That fallen humankind can reach perfection with divine assistance and flawlessly uphold God's righteous standards—a partnership for salvation (see Christ's Object Lessons, page 69). In other words, they believe that God helps the unsaved to save themselves. Moreover, Seventh-day Adventism teaches that fallen human beings are the captains of their eternal destiny. Therefore, our sovereign God is ultimately at the   mercy of humankind instead of the other way around.  In fact, they are actually planning to put God on trial (during the Millennium) to finally vindicate His character and justice by meticulously auditing His records. Amazingly, this certainly implies that those who mistrust Jesus will be in heaven.
  • That the created archangel, Michael, is actually Jesus Christ (akin to the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses).  This view seriously compromises the divinity of Jesus Christ.
  • In spite of their official claim of now being Trinitarians, Adventists are actually teaching Tritheism instead (three separate beings or gods united in purpose).  Simply log unto www.cultorchristian.com for the factual details. They still have no consensus on the nature of Christ. They further believe that Jesus had the fallen nature of Adam while living in this world. Consequently, they insist that perfection is possible for them as it was for Jesus in His sinful flesh.  This view makes Jesus Christ primarily an Exemplar instead of a Savior and Substitute.
  • Their sins, once confessed and merely conditionally-forgiven, may haunt them again and be held against them until the "blotting out" of sin occurs after the final phase of their exclusive investigative judgment alibi that began in 1844 (when Satan is finally forced to supposedly bear their sins through his meritorious annihilation). There are literally scores of other aberrant teachings, traditions, and unpublished standards that foster wholesale legalism and create uncertainty of one's identity and position in Christ.
  • Ellen White's unique "Great Controversy" theme implies that Satan is not a defeated foe and there is still somehow an equal rivalry between Christ and Satan in their supposed cosmic struggle. Thus, Satan has the theoretical possibility of winning his ongoing duel with Christ. The Biblical truth is that there is no "great controversy" between Christ and Satan—never has been. The divine Creator and His created being, Lucifer, have never been in any form of equality. Christ's superiority and victory over Satan has never been in doubt from day one. Satan became a defeated foe at Calvary. Indeed, Ellen White taught a grave and serious error in stating that Jesus, the God-man, could have failed His divine mission to this world in His sinful flesh. Another amazing heresy!
  • Based primarily upon Revelation 1:7 ("even those who pierced him" ESV), Adventist apologists have created a doctrine known as the "special resurrection" of the crucifiers (including those who authorized and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus). The Apostle John, in this passage, is simply revealing the vast diversity of those who will witness the second coming of Jesus Christ. In context, however, this Johnanine passage does not teach an additional or "special" resurrection of any group. Ellen White said that anyone who died believing the SDA message was a part of the 144,000. But Revelation says the 144,000 are translated, and translation occurs prior to the resurrection. So how does a dead person get translated? Adventists had to concoct a way to make alive the SDA "saints" who had died.  So, they devised the idea of a special resurrection, whereby the SDA "saints" would be raised prior to the general resurrection. Adventists reason that since those who pierced Jesus are alive to witness His second coming, then they must have been resurrected prior to the second coming. However, this is based upon a flawed understanding of Revelation 1:7. This is simply another case where SDA apologists had to devise another false doctrine to accommodate a previous false doctrine.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church was not formally organized until 1863. Since then, however, Adventism has fathered numerous unsavory offspring with names like the Urantia Foundation, Shepherd's Rod, Pilgrim's Rest, Strong City, and the infamous Branch Davidians. It truly boggles our minds how we could have believed all these things for so many years. We give praise to our Lord Jesus for our priceless freedom from the slavery and bondage of legalism. Having thoroughly studied Ellen White's writings, we have come to the conclusion that her works are best characterized as a "multiple guess" type of inspiration. Her largely plagiarized writings cover the delights of vegetarianism (with a strict two-meal-a-day regimen that disallows even a tiny morsel of food between meals), to declaring masturbation the same as "self-murder" or suicide.

Many of her "inspired" books are inspirational and informational; after all, most of her writings comprise the copied or rewritten thoughts of uninspired authors from diverse fields like education, health, history, medicine, and religion of her day. Believing that the "lesser light" will somehow lead us to the "greater light" is like trying to find the sun with a flashlight. The Holy Spirit is fully able, willing, and anxious to lead us into Biblical truth.  Jesus is not merely a philosophical segment of our lives (as an intellectual assent), but rather we have a whole new identity in Christ as His adopted children. Thankfully, Jesus didn't leave us where He found us. With His own timing, our merciful God called us out of Adventism for His honor and glory.

"Christ becomes secondary in many of their doctrines."

My wife Sylvia and I are most grateful for the meaningful insights gleaned from many Christian authors and personal friends. Foremost and best of all, the inerrant Holy Scriptures, in their original autographs, provide us with an unparalleled, all-sufficient revelation for Christian faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17).  All Scripture is fully inspired—meaning "God breathed." Indeed, God is the ultimate author of the Bible in that He had complete control of His inspired penmen. Moreover, the Bible is God's voice speaking to us. Often even one word in a passage makes the difference between life and death. Adventists, on the other hand, hold to merely thought inspiration.  This non-verbal view allows many mistakes and contradictions like Ellen White had in her writings.

The New Testament, being the later, clearer, and final revelation to man, must be allowed to augment the Old Testament teachings on topics less clear as progressive revelation. Growing up as an Adventist in western North Dakota, I well remember an elderly, German-speaking SDA evangelist who emphatically declared that the partition of Scripture into Old and New Testaments was purely "man-made." Similarly, with the covenants, Seventh-day Adventists regard the New Covenant simply as a warmed-over Old Covenant. Thus, Jesus Christ becomes secondary in many of their doctrines to this very day—a point they would readily deny. 

The fact is that most of their doctrines were formulated under the direction of their Arian pioneers. This heretical legacy continues to taint and complicate many of the 28 fundamental beliefs they hold today. For example, it is most difficult—sometimes even impossible—for them to exalt Christ above the importance of the weekly, festal Sabbath. It has even affected their hymnody by changing some key phrases of traditional Christian hymns to accommodate their anti-Trinitarian stance (e.g., they altered important wordage in the beautiful hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy" in their 1941 hymnal, #73, and others as well). Growing up as Adventists, Sylvia and I were totally unaware of singing a variety of edited hymns instead of the authentic, traditional hymns of the Christian faith. To their credit, the current Adventist hymnal does not have the edited version of the hymn cited above. Historically, Seventh-day Adventists have struggled with accepting the Holy Spirit as a "person" in the Godhead. For many years, they wrongly insisted that God, the Holy Spirit, was merely some sort of influence, unseen  force, or a feeling effect like that produced by the wind.

Ellen White sternly warned, "I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers...And if one believed, and kept the Sabbath,...and then gave it up...they would shut the gates of the Holy City against themselves, as sure as a God that rules in heaven above" (A Word to the Little Flock, page 18). Gratefully, under the New Covenant, there is no "dividing wall" (Eph. 2:14-15). This is a primary characteristic of the New Covenant. Sadly, according to Seventh-day Adventist understanding, Jesus Christ is not the unifying factor among God's elect. Instead, it is the Jewish Sabbath (the created instead of the Creator). Notice that Ellen White, in the statement quoted above, emphatically and unashamedly declared that former Sabbatarians will be excluded from entering "the gates of the Holy City." Almost every religious conversation with an Adventist will automatically turn to Sabbath observance, not to Jesus being our atoning Savior and Substitute. If in doubt, simply give it a try! We rest where God rests—in Christ and His finished work (see Heb. 4:9-10; Matt. 11:28-30). Jesus is our true Sabbath Rest—uniquely our "sabbatismos" in Koine Greek (denoting spiritual instead of physical rest).

Unquestionably, the SDA doctrine about the state of the dead is one of their most aberrant and deceptive beliefs. Soul extinction and conditionalism (related to mortalism), together with their exclusive investigative judgment alibi, affects the nature of Christ, the nature of man, and the nature of salvation (soteriology). This further accounts for the elective abortions performed in some Adventist hospitals (notably in the 1970s when abortion procedures were very lucrative to hospitals). Without believing in the dualistic nature of man, body and spirit, it is not difficult for Adventists to view the fetus as merely "body tissue" that can be sucked into a sink.

Obviously, with this heretical and immoral view, there is a vastly diminished respect for the sanctity of human life. Conversely, how can Adventists loudly proclaim to be "commandment keepers" when they fail to even observe the Sixth Commandment? It is fair to say that they got hung up on the Fourth Commandment. Interestingly, a large segment of Seventh-day Adventists are pro-life, but their official church position is pro-choice. This confirms the fact that there are many conscientious, honest-hearted Adventists that challenge hierarchical statements and position papers from their General Conference.

It can be argued that the  SDA emphasis on physical health stems from their view of the nature of man—the body entity being all they really have. Adventists define the soul as merely their breath (air) or life principle (spark of life) in their nostrils that automatically returns to God at death. They further believe that their body becomes nonexistent, yet somehow sleeps.  In real life, a person that sleeps is not "dead, dead" as Adventists put it. Something that does not exist in any form certainly does not await anything—much less a resurrection. Their view provides absolutely no continuity of personhood.  At best, they are in the memory of God like a fallen sparrow. They further believe that they die just like animals, with the only difference being that they are in the remembrance of God.  To them, the soul is not a separate, immaterial entity that God calls home at one's physical death. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul clearly affirmed that he "would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8 NIV).

Seventh-day Adventists repeatedly fail to utilize and/or ignore accepted principles of hermeneutics in defining biblical figures of speech, metaphors, places, and words (e.g., Abraham's bosom, pits of darkness, death, destruction, devour, eternal, everlasting, fire, forever, gehenna, grave, hades, hell, perish, sheol, and tormented). Biblically, death is defined as separation from God (e.g., the fall of Adam). Linguistically, the same words in Scripture do not always mean the same thing in various settings and time frames. Words must be studied not only etymologically, but comparatively as well, to comprehend the biblical writer's intent. The context, grammar, and syntax, together with other pertinent tools of interpretation must always be considered when reaching a theological conclusion. With their proof-text system of interpretation, they repeatedly incorporate selective and prejudicial evidence to support an extra-biblical hypothesis. Unfortunately, this flawed methodology is frequently employed by their apologists and historians as well. They routinely analyze historical documents and Biblical passages in light of their cultic presuppositions. Their primary focus is to align historical data in such a manner that it fully supports their worldview.

Adam still had an intact physical body immediately after the Fall, but his soul suffered separation or death as God  had promised in the event of disobedience. Adventism attempts to make God into a liar when He warned Adam and Eve about the immediate consequences of sin, "...for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die" (Gen. 2:17 NASB). Interestingly, Adventists agree with the serpent, "You surely will not die" (Gen. 3:4 NASB).  Official Adventism denies the fact that Adam and Eve spiritually died on the very day of their disobedience. Immediately after their disobedience, our first parents sought to hide themselves from their Creator. Thus, man's original sin condition still separates us from God due to our inherent rebellious, fallen nature.

Unlike any other part of creation, man was created to possess the very image of God Himself—the crowning act of creation. Remember, at creation, the Creator was in spirit form without a physical body. Adam was intentionally and meticulously fashioned into the "spirit" image of his divine Creator which enabled him to have a very personal relationship with God. Therefore,  we see the dual nature of man at creation—body (material) and soul (immaterial)—revealed right from the beginning in Genesis.  Also, unlike the animals, God specifically "breathed" the soul or spirit into man (see Gen. 2:7). Human beings, as the crowning jewels of creation, are most honored to be divinely-endowed with a spirit entity as image-bearers of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life.


"Satan and his hosts never have a good day."

As early as the Second Council of Constantinople in A. D. 533, the heresy of conditionalism/soul sleep was formally condemned. Centuries later the great Reformer, John Calvin, devoted his early literary work entitled, "Psychopannychia" to debunk this aberration of the Christian  faith.  The theory of annihilationism in which the wicked pass into nonexistence either at death or at the resurrection was first advanced by Arnobious, a fourth-century "Christian" apologist [see Baker's Dictionary of Theology, page 184]. Satan still does not want sinners to be concerned about eternal punishment—merely a slap on the wrist will suffice as a quick-fix to culminate a profane life.

"The magnitude of  the punishment matches the magnitude of the sin...Now a sin that is against God is infinite; the higher the person against whom it is committed, the graver the sin and God is of infinite greatness. Therefore, an infinite punishment is deserved for a sin committed against him"  (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae; Blackfriars ed., 1a2ae.87.4). Interestingly and strikingly, the Scriptures portray how the wicked will actually beg for obliteration in asking for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them "from the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. 6:16).  However, in spite of their frantic pleas, suicide and/or annihilation will not be permitted to substitute for their "eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46).

The lead Seventh-day Adventist argument is that God is "too kind and loving" to extend His justice forever. This view wrongly teaches that our holy God does not view sin as being a big deal after all. With the resulting quick fix of annihilation at the end of a profane life, one may easily reason to accept a hedonistic lifestyle. If such a transitory fate were true, many would opt to embrace the worldly view (Ecclesiastes 8:15) to just eat, drink, and be merry today and quickly be extinguished tomorrow. Annihilation does not constitute the ultimate punishment. Rather, annihilation would constitute the end of punishment.  The ungodly in hell would like for annihilation to be true. Hell's worst feature is its duration. Obviously, with this view, the corrupt pleasures of a lifetime of wickedness would far outlive the toughest penalty that the worst criminal in history would have to endure, under the momentary timeline of annihilationism. Indeed, the Bible teaches that we have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Our awesome, holy God does not view wickedness lightly. The primary reason why our Savior told us so much about hell is that He doesn't want anyone to claim in the final judgment that they were not adequately warned. It is noteworthy that Jesus Christ spoke far more often about hell than He did about heaven.  Hell is so hard for people to believe that it required Jesus Himself to verify its existence. It reveals His great love for us.  Those  persons who end up in the eternal torment of hell are without any excuse.  The unregenerate in hell not only realize that they deserve their fate but that they actually chose it as well. Heaven would be hell for the ungodly. God doesn't owe us anything. The fact that God elects or saves anyone makes His grace even more amazing.  Moreover, His saving a few does not obligate Him to save all. Our merciful Father effectively makes friends out of His enemies in the election process. His choosing the elect is not based upon any human merit. Throughout redemptive history, our sovereign God has always reserved the right to select the members of His wonderful family. Truly, "salvation comes from the Lord alone" (Jonah 2:9 NLT). It's all about Him!

The only alternative for annihilationism is quarantine. And that is precisely what hell is.  Our righteous God has created a place of eternal separation for those in perpetual rebellion against Him.  How could a just and loving God eliminate or obliterate His crowning jewels of creation simply because they were not divinely chosen? Since human beings are fashioned into the very image of God, zapping them out of existence would do violence to His nature. "For believers death means being 'away from the body and at home with the Lord' (2 Cor. 5:8). That is why He promised the penitent thief, 'Today you will be with me in paradise' Luke 23:43). That is why Paul described departing the body to be with Christ as 'better by far' than remaining in the body (Phil. 1:23). And that is why Scripture speaks of deceased human beings as souls 'under the altar' (Rev. 6:9) and as the 'spirits of righteous men made perfect' (Heb. 12:23)." (Robert A. Peterson; Two Views of Hell, page 171)

Adventists frequently like to say, "My god is too kind and loving. He would never eternally torment the ungodly."  Those in hell will suffer eternal torment not only for their unconfessed and unforgiven sins they committed in this life, but also for their endless sinning in hell. Not surprisingly, there will be no praying nor hymn singing there. By rejecting what our sovereign God says about death and the afterlife, Seventh-day Adventists seek to mold Him to their mindset instead. They arrive at this conclusion based primarily upon human emotion or sentiment instead of from Scripture alone.  Therefore, they unknowingly worship an idolatrous deity that fits their humanistic perceptions. The sovereignty of God is not considered when something doesn't mesh with their esoteric views.


By creating their own god, they can conveniently sidestep anything that counters their theological comfort zone.  What blasphemy to assert that one knows the thoughts and ways of God!  Let us review the depressing plight of the devil.  God has placed Satan and his angels under conscious torment ever since He cast them out of heaven.  And note this, Satan and his hosts never have a good day. They exist without any hope of regaining their original state. Their constant anguish and despair is merely a foretaste of the reality of hell they will soon begin to experience forever. Is God "too loving and kind" to allow Satan and his angels to suffer ever since their expulsion from heaven?

Furthermore, Satan knows what awesome, unspeakable splendor exists in heaven. The thought of loss is greater than the thought of gain.  If the SDA supposals are true, Satan should have been annihilated or obliterated immediately after his rebellion in heaven, because God is "too loving and kind" to cause him to endure such intense anguish and discomfort for thousands, perhaps millions, of years already.  The truth is that heaven only gets better while hell only gets worse. Adventist dogma is very suspicious and distrusting of God's motives and justice. Consequently, they are planning to put God on trial during the Millennium to audit and verify His records.

According to the SDA view, God is depending upon redeemed humankind to vindicate His righteous character and justice by their meticulously going through all the juicy details of those not found in heaven.  Adventists vividly surmise that engaging in this type of gruesome, detailed investigation of the unsaved will somehow alleviate their initial sorrow and loneliness in heaven. In other words, the spotlight in the theater of the universe will focus upon human beings instead of Jesus Christ during the Millennium. With the reality of Calvary, God certainly doesn't need any further vindication of His character and justice.  What possible credentials do created beings have to judge their Creator?  This is yet another example of how Seventh-day Adventism diminishes the glory, honor, and majesty that belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let us remember the Adventist depiction of God, as being "too kind and loving," who would never allow Satan and his evil angels to endure such severe, constant suffering all these many, many years already. I can well envision my Adventist friends asking, "How could a kind and loving God inflict such horrific punishment upon a former leader in heaven?" Furthermore, they would likely add, "Only a tyrant would do such an awful thing. I would never worship nor respect a God like that!"

Dear Adventist friend, we serve a just, righteous, and sovereign God. The unconfessed and unforgiven sins of the ungodly (in this life) are forever before the Father. Moreover, hell is also eternal in duration due to the perpetual, ongoing sinning of the unregenerate in hell. The intentional parallelism in Jesus' statement, recorded in Matthew 25:46, is too obvious to miss. Indeed, we can fully place our trust in the Bible. Others will continue to deny any literal interpretation of Scripture because they don't want to face the literal realities that would reveal. Humanly speaking, God's ways may not always seem right or appealing to us. On the other hand, why not just believe what He says? What view of punishment do you think Satan wants us to believe in—eternal agony in hell or the momentary quick-fix of annihilation after living a profane life?

"We persevere because God preserves us."

The gift of our eternal security in Christ should be a most serious consideration (1 John 5:11-13). We are admonished not to be merely "hope so" Christians, but rather to be "know so" Christians. "For the gifts and calling of  God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29 NIV).  The Apostle John, confirming our eternal security in Christ, clearly stated: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13 NASB). Furthermore, Jesus declared, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give [present tense] eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one" (John 10:27-30 NASB). These passages, plus many others, certainly do not entertain the notion that our eternal security in Christ is merely "presumption" as our Adventist and Catholic friends like to tell us. The assurance of our salvation, here and now, is vital to our spiritual lives. Without it, our growth is retarded and we are assailed with crippling doubts.

Thankfully, we no longer adhere to a "roller-coaster" religion that teaches a fall from grace with every act of sin.  This translates into Seventh-day Adventists living in fear of losing their grip on God several times a day.  Let us, instead, embrace the promise of "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6 NIV). After all, we are sinners saved by grace. The central core of the Gospel is the assurance that we can be right with God right now. This is good news, indeed! Truly, we can trust God's Word.  No true believer ever loses his salvation.  To be  sure, Christians fall at times seriously and radically, but never fully and finally. Jesus is our Savior and Ark of Safety, not our probation officer. We persevere because God preserves us. Christianity, in the truest sense, is not a religion but rather a relationship with Jesus Christ. The rebellious sin problem is of utmost concern to our holy and sovereign God.

In his classic book, Chosen by God, the late Dr. R. C. Sproul summarized this topic very well: "With respect to the assurance of salvation there are basically four kinds of people in the world. (1) There are people who are not saved who know that they are not saved. (2) There are people who are saved who do not know that they are saved. (3) There are people who are saved who know that they are saved. (4) There are people who are not saved who 'know' that they are saved" (page 163). Truly, salvation is a very personal matter. We cannot fool God about anything.

Dr. Sproul further added that, "False assurance stems chiefly from false understanding of what salvation requires and entails" (Ibid., page 164). The Apostle Peter gives us an important mandate, "Therefore, brethern, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing..." (2 Peter 1:10 NASB). "To be lacking in assurance is a grave hindrance to spiritual growth. The person who is not sure of his state of grace is exposed to doubts and terrors in his soul. He lacks an anchor for his spiritual life.  His uncertainty makes him tentative in his walk with Christ" (Ibid., page 168).

Adventist apologists cannot  allow souls to be in heaven before their "investigative judgment" scenario clears their names.  Just when Adventists will need Jesus the most, shortly before His glorious appearance, He will be unavailable to them according to their unbiblical hypothesis.  This esoteric view actually teaches that fallen mankind, prior to glorification, will ultimately be capable of facing a holy God without the intercession of a mediator, due to their achieved perfection status. The Bible clearly teaches that everyone will consciously spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Most of what we know about hell was taught by Jesus Himself. Please note His clear message, "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:46 NASB).

By the way, the New Testament writers, under divine inspiration, had ample access to the exact Koine Greek words they needed to relate where we will consciously spend eternity. The intentional parallelism in Jesus' words quoted above are too obvious to miss. Indeed, this passage describes an unending condition for all.  The same word "eternal" describes both heaven and hell (see also the usage of the same Greek word in John 3:16 and 2 Thess. 1:9). How can the adjective "eternal" be correct in regard to heaven and not be correct in regard to hell? "Those who teach soul sleep and conditionalism know it is contrary to many Scriptures, as is vividly portrayed in the SDA's Clear Word Bible with over 50 passages changed by additions, deletions, or rewording, so readers won't see what God says about man and death" (Verle Streifling, PhD.; The Nature of Man and Death, page 7).

Thankfully, we don't have to endlessly try to explain away what Jesus meant by "eternal." Since God is the ultimate author of Scripture, it is apparent that the original biblical languages were determined by Providence to provide the best communication with the human family. We can always place our trust in a passage when the hermeneutical principles of clarity, context, figures of speech (metaphorical language), grammar, original language, progressive revelation, and syntax are fully applied.  It is most important to understand what a passage does not say as well as what it does say. This example highlights the importance of seeing that all Christian teachings fit neatly together like a completed puzzle.

In the larger picture, authentic Christian dogma is interrelated to the extent that it reveals unity of thought on the essentials of salvation. Because of their extra-scriptural authority, based on the voluminous writings attributed to Ellen White, Seventh-day Adventists do not officially believe in the all-sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture. Therefore, they cannot be considered to be truly Protestant.  Let us wholeheartedly embrace the Five Solas (or slogans) that became the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation; namely, Sola Scriptura ("by Scripture alone"), Sola Fide ("by faith alone"), Sola Gratia ("by grace alone"), Solus Christus ("by Christ alone"), and Soli Deo gloria ("Glory to God alone"). The gospel plus anything else is no longer the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Socrates is credited for the well-known adage that "The unexamined life is not worth living."  Moreover, it is ethically important to add that unexamined religion is not worth practicing, and unexamined dogma is not worth believing.  Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), the prince of preachers, correctly concluded that "The grace that does not change my life, will not save my soul." Belief usually does not stand still. It grows, develops, regresses, stagnates, and changes. We should be certain that our worldview is biblical, factual, and relevant in our day. For example, generations of devout Adventists have kept their weary eyes on the Papacy and not upon the Muslim jihadists.

The early SDA pioneers spurned the Trinity doctrine primarily because they didn't want anything in common with Catholicism and so-called "false churches" or "apostate Protestantism." Sadly, Seventh-day Adventism officially teaches Tritheism instead of authentic Trinitarianism today (www.cultorchristian.com). The legacy of outright heresy (doctrinal error) continues to plague and taint their belief system in numerous ways. With His precise timing, God called us out of Adventism with a sacred design for our lives. Our journey out of Adventism was completed with the Biblical discovery that Jesus Christ is indeed our true Sabbath Rest (Col. 2:16,17; Matt.11:28-30; Heb. 4:9,10; Gal. 3:11, 13,19, 23-25; 5:1,18; Phil. 3:9,10; Rom. 14:5). Truly, Jesus is the end focus, ultimate goal, and purpose of the Law "for righteousness to those who believe" (Rom. 10:4 ESV).

Under the New Covenant teachings of Jesus Christ, we have a clearer picture of salvation than the Old Covenant, with its shadows, could provide. Through His indwelling Spirit, we are a new creation "sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).  Our focus no longer centers upon the fading shadows of the sun, but rather upon the unsurpassing glory of God the Son. We are not saved by a sunset calendar.  The weekly, Mosaic Sabbath could not save us nor provide divine rest for our souls. However, the only and true Sabbath Rest (Jesus Christ) saved us through His amazing free grace.  To God alone belongs all the glory!

Being transformed by truth, we became members of a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church.  Moreover, Sylvia and I have come to greatly appreciate the high view of God and Scripture as expressed in Reformation theology. The doctrines of grace are aptly and beautifully expressed in the acrostic TULIP; namely, total (radical) depravity, unconditional election, limited (particular or definite) atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. Furthermore, the doctrines of grace cannot be cherry picked or selected like apples from a cart. Soteriologically, they belong together as a complete unit. In the truest sense, there is really no such person as a Three-Point or Four-Point Calvinist nor a so-called "moderate" Calvinist. These are merely labels for an Arminian in denial. The Calvinist says that if man does anything good, God gets all the glory. It's all about Him! As I indicated earlier, Jonah, the reluctant prophet, declared: "For my salvation comes from the Lord alone" (Jonah 2:9 NLT).

As many are painfully aware, "Calvinism" is a bad word in Adventist circles. For example, it would be unthinkable for a Five-Point Calvinist to embrace Adventism's "investigative judgment" alibi with its heretical teaching that Jesus' death did not fully atone for our sins. In biblical Christianity, the finished work of Christ on the cross is non-negotiable. Although John Calvin effectively systematized what is known as Reformed theology today, it is actually unfortunate that these Christological and soteriological truths bear a particular person's name. Truly, Calvin did not proclaim and safeguard any essential biblical truths that Luther, Augustine, John, Paul, and Jesus had not already taught.

"Salvation is...a rescue operation from start to finish."

Theologically, Seventh-day Adventists are most accurately described as adherents of Semi-Pelagianism (named after the Celtic monk who opposed the doctrines of grace when Augustine was the Bishop of Hippo Regius—the ancient name of the modern city of Annabar, Algeria). Semi-Pelagianism was rightly condemned in the Second Council of Orange in 529 A. D.  Basically, Semi-Pelagianism wrongly teaches that God helps us to save ourselves.

On the other hand,  Scripture clearly teaches that salvation comes from the Lord alone.  Salvation is a gift to be received, not a goal to be achieved. From Genesis to Revelation,  salvation is portrayed as a rescue operation from start to finish.  We wrongly believed, while still devout Seventh-day Adventists, that we are supposedly the captains of our eternal destiny. Our sovereign God is certainly not at the mercy of the fallen human will (Romans 9:16,18).  If that was actually the case, not even one person could ever be saved.  Our choices are determined by desire. As I noted earlier, we cannot choose what we innately do not desire. Without divine intervention first, the unregenerate (spiritually dead) cannot bring themselves to life because they lack the moral ability and passionate desire to do so. Only our merciful God can open calloused, stony hearts (read about the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16:14-15). It's all about Him!

Our awesome and gracious Father is calling ever-increasing numbers of Seventh-day Adventists out of legalism and fear and into the freedom and security found only in Jesus Christ.  Consequently, those who are intent upon accurate answers will no longer remain in a toxic-faith system. Moreover, they are no longer content with observing the ritual shadows pointing to the Cross. Walking in the light, words fail to adequately express our joy and peace that we have found in Jesus. Eventually, their reckless handling of Scripture became too hard for us to ignore. Our Savior graciously declared, "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:30 NASB). Having sipped enough nectar from the roses of life,  my wife Sylvia and I do not regret a mile we have traveled for the Lord.  We love and serve an awesome God. Yes, indeed, there is an abundant, wonderful life beyond Adventism.

EPILOGUE

The overall purpose in relating my theological journey out of Seventh-day Adventism is to give all the honor, glory, and praise to our awesome and sovereign God.  Now that I have shared my pilgrimage with you in the preceding pages, it is my prayerful request that you will join me in reaffirming the refrain of this beautiful, cherished hymn, "My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now." May those inspiring words characterize your testimony as well.  Our loving Father is effectually calling many out of false gospels as never before witnessed. Moreover, our merciful God specializes in things thought impossible.  A Christological and soteriological stance that makes one's heart to sing with gratitude and praise is truly God-centered and God-exalting.

There needs to be an objective distance from Seventh-day Adventism to tell the story accurately.  Current Adventists who take the initial challenge of a six-month break from reading the writings attributed to Ellen White have repeatedly found the experience to be eye-opening, truth-revealing, and highly transforming. Indeed, we can fully trust the Bible as the all-sufficient and unerring revelation of God's will for our lives. It usually takes about three years to be fully deprogrammed and healed from brokenness, despair, deception, disappointment, embarrassment, and resentment after leaving a typical cult—including Seventh-day Adventism.

The healing process includes: (1) learning and unlearning the meaning of common theological words and phrases, (2) prayerfully deciphering the religious landscape in the local community, (3) adopting helpful coping strategies when suddenly shunned, ignored, alienated, marginalized, fired, misunderstood, or persecuted by SDA colleagues, friends, employers, spouse, and sometimes even disowned by devout Adventist parents, (4) effectively separating the ingrained and/or memorized thoughts from a false prophet with those from the Bible, and (5) becoming an active adherent of biblical Christianity.

The most compassionate and loving deed that anyone can do is to warn others against toxic belief systems or false gospels—especially the most subtle ones masquerading in our communities as authentic, evangelical Protestants. Dudley M. Canright (1840-1919), Adventism's most notable heretic, wisely stated: "To criticize, expose, and condemn others is not a pleasant task, but when religious teachers enthrone error, and mislead honest people, silence would be unkind and censurable."  This is why the inspired writers of the New  Testament devoted so much time and effort to dispel and expose numerous heresies. The greatest fortress against any heresy is to be thoroughly grounded in  Scripture.

As a young, inexperienced cult watcher in the mid-1950s, the late Dr. Walter Martin was greatly surprised by his kind and courteous reception by SDA leaders.  After all, he reportedly wore a flak jacket while researching Mormonism in Utah.  He was typically viewed with great suspicion and dishonor by other cults on a continual basis, but the older Adventist leadership team treated him like a son. Yes, they deceived him about what they really believed—to the extent of their even agreeing to publish a book entitled "Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine" to informally state their beliefs in 1957.

However, this book  lacked the official endorsement of a General Conference Session about doctrine. Thus, that 720-page book, prepared by a small, anonymous group of Adventist leaders, teachers, and editors, was short-lived by discontinuing its publication within a very short time. The majority of SDA leaders disapproved of its Evangelical bent. After being carefully selected for having at least a cursory understanding of biblical Christianity, the anonymous book authors primarily stated what they thought Dr. Martin wanted to hear in order to be removed from his cult list. All in all, if official Adventism could deceive a professional cult watcher like the late Dr. Martin, they certainly can more easily deceive the totally uninformed about Seventh-day Adventism.

The Bible is God's voice speaking to us.  Dear Adventist friend, my wife and I have been where you are right now, so we understand the pain in seeing more clearly the truth as the light of His Word continues to shine out in the darkness. It is most noteworthy, throughout redemptive history, that our awesome, sovereign God never goes on a rescue mission that fails. After all, Jesus came to "save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21 NASB).  It is my earnest prayer that our loving Lord and Savior will reach down and transform you with His irresistible, saving grace. Getting the Gospel right should be our highest priority. Your heartfelt blog comments, e-mails, instant messaging, letters, personal visits, informal Facebook conversations, and phone calls are always welcome.  May God continue to abundantly bless your quest for biblical truth.  Soli Deo gloria!

In His power and for His glory,


Dennis J. Fischer, Founder & Director
DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com
Blog: notesfromdennisfischer.blogspot.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/dfministries


WEBLIOGRAPHY