The Cult of Seventh Day Adventists
Three Reasons
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One day a Seventh Day Adventist kneeled down and prayed for a woman. The woman was very happy that someone kneeled down and prayed for her right there. The woman was very impressed with the Seventh Day Adventist. Actually, the woman, like many other people, had just met a member of the cult of the Seventh Day Adventists. In this article, you can learn what the Seventh Day Adventists teach about salvation and why they are a cult because of what they teach and preach. They love to say they love Jesus, but they deny Him and His teachings concerning salvation and other matters. This articles provides three reasons why the Seventh Day Adventists are a cult and have always been a cult. A little bit of the history of the Seventh Day Adventists provides insights into how the cult started based on false prophecies.
The Seventh Day Adventists grew out of false prophecies that Christ would return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. When those prophecies failed, they had to change the date and decided that Christ would return on October 22, 1844. When their false prophet died, and Christ had not returned, a new false prophetess arose. She provided more false prophecies to explain the previous false prophecies. She also denied the essential truths of salvation found in the Bible. She loved to quote the Bible, but then she claimed new revelations from God which explained the Bible.
Over time, the Seventh Day Adventists splintered into many groups that disagreed with each other, but the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists provided an official statement of beliefs, copyright date of Copyright © 2020 found at https://www.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ADV-28Beliefs2020.pdf. This doctrinal statement demonstrates the false teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists. Their Official Statement of Beliefs appears to say one thing, but they define common terms to mean something different from what the Scriptures say.
The Seventh Day Adventists follow the false prophetess Ellen G. White and claim “her writings speak with prophetic authority” (Statement 18, The Gift of Prophecy, Statement of Beliefs). Therefore, we may examine the writings of Ellen G. White to understand the teachings of Seventh Day Adventists. Ellen G. White denied salvation by faith alone. She taught that salvation depends upon both works and faith blended together. You can read below what Ellen G. White said about salvation in her own words. As long as Seventh Day Adventists declare in their Official Statement that Ellen G. White is a prophetess and “her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church” (Statement 18, The Gift of Prophecy, Statement of Beliefs), then they embrace a false teacher who denies the Gospel of Jesus Christ, denies the deity of Jesus Christ, and denies the atonement of Jesus Christ, as discussed below.
The Seventh Day Adventists love to say they must compare all things with Scripture to determine truth, but they refuse to compare the teachings of Ellen G. White with the Scriptures and see that she opposed Scripture with her teachings concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the deity of Christ, and the atonement of Christ. Based on her writings, Ellen G. White never knew God and anyone who embraces her false teachings likewise rejects Jesus as God and Savior. Until the Seventh Day Adventists repudiate Ellen G. White as a false prophetess, and repudiate her teachings, they continue to be deceived. Compare the Scriptures to the teachings of Ellen G. White and you will see that everyone recognizing her as a prophetess and following her teachings, including the Seventh Day Adventists, deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ, deny the deity of Christ, and deny the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Reason One that Seventh Day Adventists Are a Cult
Seventh Day Adventists Deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Ellen G. White proclaimed a gospel of good works before salvation and also the necessity of good works to maintain salvation. Ellen G. White contradicted the Bible with her false teachings regarding the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says:
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Galatians 1:6-9
In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul warned that anyone who changes the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be accursed. Paul described the Gospel of Jesus Christ as “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). We receive the free gift of salvation by faith alone, without works of any kind (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Seventh Day Adventists Falsely Teach that Salvation Requires both Faith and Works.
The Bible says:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The Bible says that salvation does not depend upon works, but only upon faith.
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of Seventh Day Adventists, taught:
Many at the present day say, ‘Believe, only believe, and live.’ Faith and works go together, believing and doing are blended. The Lord requires no less of the soul now, than He required of Adam in Paradise before he fell–perfect obedience, perfect righteousness” (Review and Herald, Nov. 1, 1892, in Selected Messages, Book One, M373).
Ellen G. White and the Seventh Day Adventists say that we are saved by faith alone, but then admit you need both faith and works blended together to be saved. They contradict the Bible which provides that salvation comes by faith alone, period, nothing else.
Seventh Day Adventists Falsely Teach that You Must Stop Sinning before Jesus Will Save You.
The Bible says:
Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:5
Salvation means we were sinners and continued to be sinners when Christ saved us by grace. Ellen G. White lies when she teaches that we must stop sinning before Jesus will come into our hearts. In contrast, Jesus comes into our lives and only by the power of God can we be freed from slavery to sin.
Ellen G. White, the false prophet of Seventh Day Adventists, taught:
“In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning.” (Signs of the Times, March 3, 1888).
Seventh Day Adventists Falsely Teach that God Requires Entire Surrender before Justification and You Lose Justifcation by Sinning
The Bible Says:
“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law
Romans 3:28
God justifies people by faith alone, not by works. Our works never produce justification and obedience to the law does not maintain justification.
The Bible also says:
nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 2:16
The Bible says justification by the works of the Law never justified anyone.
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of Seventh Day Adventists, incorrectly taught that you must work to surrender your heart before you can be saved. Likewise, Ellen G. White incorrectly taught that you can lose your salvation by your works.
God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be a continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. . . “ (Selected Messages, Volume One, p. 366)
The Bible says that justification never involves keeping the law or obedience. Our works never saved us and our works will never cause us to lose salvation.
Reason Two that Seventh Day Adventists Are a Cult
Seventh Day Adventists Deny the Deity of Christ
Ellen G. White denied the deity of Christ Jesus. She incorrectly taught that God the Father created Jesus. Therefore, Ellen G. White denied the eternality of Christ and His deity. In contrast, the Bible provides that Jesus was God and had always been God, eternal and never created. Ellen G. White contradicted the Bible with her false teaching that Jesus was created.
The Bible says:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1
Jesus is the Word, and as the Word, Jesus was with God and was God, indicating the Trinitarian relationship with God. Jesus was never created.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:16-17
Jesus created all things and He was before all things. Therefore, Jesus is God the Son, and He was not created. He was God from eternity past, without beginning and without end, just like God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Three divine Persons. One God.
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventists, wrote:
“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind.” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 07-09-1895, “The Duty of the Minister and the People,” Par. 14.) [Emphasis added].
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventists, wrote again:
“The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings,” (Patriarchs and Prophets. Pg. 34.) [Emphasis added.]
Ellen G. White left no doubt that she considered Jesus a created being.
While Ellen G. White referred to Jesus as the Son of God, she denied His eternal deity by claiming God the Father created Jesus. Therefore, Ellen G. White actually meant that Jesus could not be eternal God of the same essence as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Ellen G. White incorrectly divided Jesus from the essence of God the Father and God the Holy Spirt. The One True God eternally exists in three divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They cannot be separated and never fight with each Other. Therefore, if anyone claims that the Father created Jesus, they have destroyed that eternal unity of the One True God. Ellen G. White denied that unity by claiming the Father created Jesus.
Ellen G. White denied the deity of Christ by denying His omniscience.
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventists, dreamed up the idea of Investigative Judgment and wrote:
“Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies, and there appears in the presence of God, to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man – to perform the work of investigative judgment, and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits” (Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, 307.2).
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventists, continued:
“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected” (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 483).
Ellen G. White, the false prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventists, then set a date she falsely claimed the Investigative Judgment started and continues to this day (in her mind at the time):
“At the time appointed for the judgment –the close of the 2300 days, in 1844– began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass Its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are judged ‘out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works ” (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 486).
Ellen G. White invented the concept of Investigative Judgment which she falsely claims started in 1844 and continues to this day, according to her false teaching. Because she falsely claimed that Jesus began the work of investigating and blotting out sins in 1844 A.D., Christ had to search and scrutinize each professing believer to determine if they were worthy of eternal life. Of course, Ellen G. White denies the omniscience of Jesus because she claims Jesus does not know whether each individual professing believer will be saved until He scrutinizes them carefully. According to Ellen G. White, Jesus has been scrutinizing believers since 1844 and the scrutiny continues unabated. Ellen G. White contradicts the Bible, because Jesus knows everything and has always known everything. Also, the Investigative Judgment shows once again that Ellen G. White taught that you must do enough good deeds to get into heaven. Therefore, Ellen G. White again denies that salvation rests solely upon faith in Jesus Christ because she taught Jesus must scrutinize each believer’s works to determine salvation. Jesus said that at the moment of salvation by faith alone the believer passes out of death and never comes into judgment for salvation (John 5:24). Only unbelievers stand before Jesus for judgment of punishment at the Great White Throne Judgment when the books are opened and they are judged according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12).
The Bible says:
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?” declares Yahweh. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares Yahweh.
Jeremiah 23:24
The Bible also says:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:12, 13
The Bible also says:
But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
John 6:64
Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him from the beginning. Jesus, as God, knows all things and nothing is hidden from His sight. Jesus was truly omniscient, and Ellen G. White lied when she claimed that Jesus commenced an investigative judgment in 1844 A.D. to determine the salvation of professing believers. Jesus has always known the saved from the unsaved, because He has always been God, and He has always known the works, faith, and eternal destination of each individual born on earth at any time. Jesus never taught that good works bring salvation or destroy salvation. Therefore, the entire concept of investigative judgment denies salvation by faith alone because it focuses upon good works as a means of salvation.
Reason Three that Seventh Day Adventists Are a Cult
Seventh Day Adventists Deny the Atonement of Christ
Ellen G. White never knew God because she never believed in the atonement for sins provided once and for all by Jesus Christ. Ellen G. White incorrectly taught that Jesus did not complete His atonement for our sins by shedding His blood and dying on the cross. Ellen G. White taught that Jesus had to continue His atonement in 1844 A.D. by entering the heavenly sanctuary and making an atonement there. Ellen G. White contradicted the Bible with her false teachings regarding the atonement of Christ by claiming further atonement was required in heaven after Jesus died on the cross on earth.
The Bible says:
and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:12
The Bible says that Jesus made complete atonement by His blood. Second, the Bible also says that Jesus has entered the holy place, because He had already obtained eternal redemption for us. Our redemption was complete when Jesus Christ offered His blood on the cross and then entered the holy place. The veil of the temple separating the holy place from everything else was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51), signifying the complete atonement had been made by Jesus and His work of atonement had been finished once and for all. The way into the holy of holies had been opened once and for all times, providing a new and living way of access to God through the completed work of Christ by sacrificing HIs blood and life on the cross (Hebrews 10:19-20). Atonement had been completed by Jesus Christ once and for all. No further atonement would be required because of the fullness and finality of the blood and death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The Bible says:
but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
Hebrews 10:12
After Jesus Christ offered His blood as the perfect, complete and satisfactory sacrifice for all sins by all people at all times, Jesus Christ sat down on the right hand of God. No further atonement was required on earth or anywhere else. The redemption of the saints had been completed when Jesus said, “It is finished!” on the cross (John 19:30).
In contrast to the teachings of the Scriptures, Ellen G. White denied that the atonement of Jesus Christ was complete when He died on the cross.
EGW: NO “Instead of … Daniel 8:14 referring to the purifying of the earth, it was now plain that it pointed to the closing work of our High Priest in heaven, the finishing of the atonement, and the preparing of the people to abide the day of His coming” (Testimonies, Volume 1, p. 58).
Ellen G. White falsely claimed that Jesus did not complete the atonement of sinners on the cross, but had to go into heaven and make a final atonement many centuries later in 1844 A.D.
EGW: NO “Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly (sanctuary), at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation” (Early Writings, p. 253f).
Conclusion
So long as the Seventh Day Adventists recognize and follow Ellen G. White as a prophetess of God, and do not repudiate her as a false prophet and false teacher, then they share in her heresies of denying the Gospel of Jesus Christ, denying the deity of Jesus Christ, and denying the atonement of Jesus Christ. Ellen G. White appeared to many as an angel of light, but she was actually disguising her true identity as a minister of the devil because of her denials of the truths of Scriptures related to salvation and many other doctrines taught there. Please pray for the people now deceived by Ellen G. White and the Seventh Day Adventists who still recognize the writings of Ellen G. White as speaking “with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church.” A veil lies over their face as they read the writings of Ellen G. White and that veil will only be lifted when they come to Christ Jesus as Savior, according to the Scriptures. Please examine everything carefully, and hold on to the good.
HALLELUJAH !