What do 7th Day Adventists Believe ?

[civic]

@civic

Back in 2001 I was driving across the Arizona desert to once again attend the Spirit-filled Living Conference at Dr. Jack Hayford's church (where I used to attend in California, and even received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and most of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (except 2). I happened to be asked to come up on the platform to receive a "blessing/prophecy." The speaker knew me and wanted to show an example of giving a blessing. It was on tape and I played that tape over and over to hear this prophecy. There wasn't anything I could relate to. But as soon as I got home the prophecy started coming to pass. One of the lines of this long prophecy was "that her eyes be opened by the Spirit of God." Last year they were opened and I could see a bright white halo around my pastor's head and shoulders during his sermon. I started visiting other churches; once with a missionary friend and when the pastor started to preach instead of a white halo, black billowing smoke that turned into a funnel like tornado. It was clear as day. I looked around and I could tell no one else saw this, and it lasted throughout his sermon.

I tell you that because I decided to visit the Seventh-day Adventist church in Murfreesboro, and was amazed. I've seen a different type of bright white halo around 4 different women. Though white, it didn't appear the same as my pastor's. It was like a round softball size ball and brighter than my pastors, but it was surrounded by a blacker than black round frame. ??? God revealed knowledge about it. I know what that means, but at least they are saved. And nothing around the man giving the sermon. I've decided to attend on Saturdays as I have nothing better to do, and make some friends. I just don't want to debate the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath or anything else. They know I'm no longer an Adventist, and last week was the first time two ladies wanted me to debate the issue. I refused. We are too close to the second coming and I don't want to spread doubt when they are fine keeping the Sabbath.

Just be a friend with them and share your love for Jesus. Practice loving them like Christ loves you. Everyone is in a different place in their spiritual growth and knowledge of the Lord. And as you know we are all equipped with different gifts in the body.

 

[charismaticlady]

Just be a friend with them and share your love for Jesus. Practice loving them like Christ loves you. Everyone is in a different place in their spiritual growth and knowledge of the Lord. And as you know we are all equipped with different gifts in the body.

I feel comfortable in any denomination that practices obedience and growth in the fruit of the Spirit.

 

[Brakelite]

Seventh-day Adventists teach that the near the end of time the "mark of the best" of Revelation 14 will be placed upon those who worship on Sunday instead of Saturday.

That's it? That's all they got? No context? No explanation? Like ummmm, let me think. Oh. How about this... Who is the beast?

 

[mailmandan]

That's it? That's all they got? No context? No explanation? Like ummmm, let me think. Oh. How about this... Who is the beast?

The article gives a thorough explanation and it's obvious who the beast is.

 

[charismaticlady]

As a seer myself (like EGW), I feel comfortable joining the SDA members for church and then on Sunday and Wednesday go to the best Calvary Chapel I've ever witnessed who don't believe the errors believed by its founder who added the "T" from T.U.L.I.P. Any part of Calvinism is a death sentence to its followers. Rev. 3:1 "you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." (Sardis is the Reformation.)

 

[Brakelite]

In the early 2nd century, Roman rulers such as Pliny, Trajan, and others, all of whom were pagan in all things, had only a smattering of knowledge of Christianity. What they had heard their imaginations run amok, and their spiritual understanding developed into a form of what they believed was what Christians practised, a system that cast true Christianity into an ugly light. Rumours abounded.
One Christian apologist, Athenagoras, explained the so called "secret crimes" that Christians took part in, and for which they were killed.
First, was atheism, which at that time was a form of superstition that denied the state and pagan gods. The second accusation was Thyestean banquets, in other words, cannibalism.
The third, Oedipodean intercourse, being incest.
Pagans had heard just enough of "eating the body", and"drinking the blood", and of Christians talking about "love" and "love feasts", and being "brothers and sisters", to get very wrong ideas that grew and developed lives of their own. Even cultured orators repeated these charges, and the church suffered as a result.
It seems that many non Adventists have likewise heard "just enough", but have failed miserably to investigate further, and like the pagans of old, developed their own ideas of what Adventists believe, creating one straw man after another. In my experience, and regardless of what I and other Adventists say, the preferred misunderstanding is clung to tenaciously and given its own life by heaping upon its head more and more nonsense. Written quotes from true Adventist sources that say the opposite, are ignored and the original author, such as Ellen White and/or numerous others are ridiculed and called a liar. (The amount of source material available and original literature on dozens of web sites make any ignorance inexcusable). Generally, no change of mind regarding actual real Adventist theology and it's
relation to biblical truth is seldom if ever contemplated.

 

[Brakelite]

Seventh-day Adventists teach that the near the end of time the "mark of the best" of Revelation 14 will be placed upon those who worship on Sunday instead of Saturday.

The article in general is a fair resume of Adventist belief. However, the focus of objection regarding the absence of NT teaching on the Sabbath is readily explainable if everyone, as the article itself states, during the time of the apostles, kept the Sabbath. And as the scriptures and the article agrees with, declare, KJV Acts 15:21
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
It would have been superfluous for Paul to teach on something already very well understood, even by the gentiles...
KJV Acts 13:42-44
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
As for Ellen White's perspective regarding the change, it was well known among Adventist historians that Sunday was practised early in Christianity. This developed out of fear of being identified as Jewish during Roman reprisals against Jewish zealots and their constant uprisings against the Romans. Ellen White knew this. What she was referring to, and what the article agrees with, is the papal official adoption of Sunday and the implementation of Sunday as an official doctrine of Christianity, and the subsequent denigration of Sabbath keeping which in the early centuries was still kept. Many Christians observed both. For some time, as attested to by historians at the time, Sunday was observed only in Rome and Alexandria. There is a facet of history by which Sunday was exalted and enforced elsewhere by papal Rome when the church started celebrating Easter on days other than the traditional Passover, and as papal influence grew and became more linked to the civil power. Easter Sunday was first exalted, then the weekly Sunday not long after. It wasn't until the council of Laodicea I think around the 5th century that Sunday was first written and accepted as an official dogma and doctrine. From that time the Sabbath was much more maligned, those observing the Sabbath branded as Judaizers, and every teaching of truth regarding the Sabbath either obscured or given a slant that brought distaste and disquietude regarding its validity. Such as what we see so often today now repeated ad nauseum on forums such as this. "The Sabbath is a burden". "Sabbath keepers have gone back to the curse of the law". "Adventists are legalists". There's nothing new under the sun. Just different personalities spouting the same objections.
You and I have crossed swords on a number of occasions both here and in other forms, and I believe sincerely that you love Jesus, are a serious Bible student and desire truth. I believe you will gain a great deal of understanding and better appreciate Adventists theology by reading the following. It isn't short. It is a full explanation. Nothing is hidden, and there's very little reference to Ellen White. We do not need Ellen White to confirm our biblical theology. Here is a link to a detailed comprehensive study by pastor Steven Both explaining in a step by step process how we come to the conclusions we do regarding the mark of the beast, the identity of the beast etc.

666 The Number of the Beast-Vicar of the Son of God, Vicarius Filiii Dei

666 The Number of the Beast: The Pope can modify Divine Law, since his power is not of man, but of god, and he acts in the place of God on the earth

watchmanministries.net

 

[mailmandan]

The article in general is a fair resume of Adventist belief. However, the focus of objection regarding the absence of NT teaching on the Sabbath is readily explainable if everyone, as the article itself states, during the time of the apostles, kept the Sabbath. And as the scriptures and the article agrees with, declare, KJV Acts 15:21
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
It would have been superfluous for Paul to teach on something already very well understood, even by the gentiles...
KJV Acts 13:42-44
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
As for Ellen White's perspective regarding the change, it was well known among Adventist historians that Sunday was practised early in Christianity. This developed out of fear of being identified as Jewish during Roman reprisals against Jewish zealots and their constant uprisings against the Romans. Ellen White knew this. What she was referring to, and what the article agrees with, is the papal official adoption of Sunday and the implementation of Sunday as an official doctrine of Christianity, and the subsequent denigration of Sabbath keeping which in the early centuries was still kept. Many Christians observed both. For some time, as attested to by historians at the time, Sunday was observed only in Rome and Alexandria. There is a facet of history by which Sunday was exalted and enforced elsewhere by papal Rome when the church started celebrating Easter on days other than the traditional Passover, and as papal influence grew and became more linked to the civil power. Easter Sunday was first exalted, then the weekly Sunday not long after. It wasn't until the council of Laodicea I think around the 5th century that Sunday was first written and accepted as an official dogma and doctrine. From that time the Sabbath was much more maligned, those observing the Sabbath branded as Judaizers, and every teaching of truth regarding the Sabbath either obscured or given a slant that brought distaste and disquietude regarding its validity. Such as what we see so often today now repeated ad nauseum on forums such as this. "The Sabbath is a burden". "Sabbath keepers have gone back to the curse of the law". "Adventists are legalists". There's nothing new under the sun. Just different personalities spouting the same objections.
You and I have crossed swords on a number of occasions both here and in other forms, and I believe sincerely that you love Jesus, are a serious Bible student and desire truth. I believe you will gain a great deal of understanding and better appreciate Adventists theology by reading the following. It isn't short. It is a full explanation. Nothing is hidden, and there's very little reference to Ellen White. We do not need Ellen White to confirm our biblical theology. Here is a link to a detailed comprehensive study by pastor Steven Both explaining in a step by step process how we come to the conclusions we do regarding the mark of the beast, the identity of the beast etc.

666 The Number of the Beast-Vicar of the Son of God, Vicarius Filiii Dei

666 The Number of the Beast: The Pope can modify Divine Law, since his power is not of man, but of god, and he acts in the place of God on the earth

watchmanministries.net

In regard to Acts 13:42-44, Paul's work here was evangelism. Notice that these were "unbelievers" before Paul preached to them. Yes, they believed in the Jewish system, but the Bible says in Acts 14:1, that they BECAME believers proving Paul's work there was evangelism and not sabbath worship. So, who was it who kept the sabbath during the time of the apostles? The Jews and Greeks/proselytes.

The Greeks were Jewish converts to Judaism known as proselytes. They practiced the law of Moses and kept the sabbath. The only Greeks that were in the synagogue would be these proselytes. These Greeks were not yet Christians until after Paul shared the gospel with them. Acts 13:43 "Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God."

Acts 14:1 - "In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks."

Acts 17:4 - "And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

Acts 18:4 - "And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks."

*So, the mission of Paul here was evangelism and not sabbath worship.

 

[Handaan]

Does anyone know if seventh-day Adventist ever use speaking in Tongues? I've heard some people say they do others say they don't. I looked online, No not Wikipedia, And I read that some seventh-day Adventist Congregations do and some don't. So I still don't have a definitive answer. Would appreciate any input.

 

[Brakelite]

Does anyone know if seventh-day Adventist ever use speaking in Tongues? I've heard some people say they do others say they don't. I looked online, No not Wikipedia, And I read that some seventh-day Adventist Congregations do and some don't. So I still don't have a definitive answer. Would appreciate any input.

Generally no.

 

[Handaan]

Generally no.

Thank you for the reply. So generally no could mean a sometimes do. Because that's what I've read. That is not a common practice but some seventh-Day congregations do.

 

[Brakelite]

In regard to Acts 13:42-44, Paul's work here was evangelism. Notice that these were "unbelievers" before Paul preached to them. Yes, they believed in the Jewish system, but the Bible says in Acts 14:1, that they BECAME believers proving Paul's work there was evangelism and not sabbath worship. So, who was it who kept the sabbath during the time of the apostles? The Jews and Greeks/proselytes.

The Greeks were Jewish converts to Judaism known as proselytes. They practiced the law of Moses and kept the sabbath. The only Greeks that were in the synagogue would be these proselytes. These Greeks were not yet Christians until after Paul shared the gospel with them. Acts 13:43 "Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God."

Acts 14:1 - "In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks."

Acts 17:4 - "And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

Acts 18:4 - "And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks."

*So, the mission of Paul here was evangelism and not sabbath worship.

Of course Paul evangelized in the synagogues wherever he went. But why should that be the only reason he was there on Sabbath? Jesus also went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, the Bible saying of both, that it was their custom to do so. A custom no doubt developed from childhood and with no sign of abandoning it. Sharing the gospel as Paul did, and proclaiming Himself the Messiah as Jesus did, wasn't an activity that offended the Creator of the Sabbath.
And BTW, the entire city according to Acts 13 turned up at the synagogue the next Sabbath to hear Paul. The point being, as the article you linked pointed out, Sunday or first day sacredness was unknown to the early church except for a small number who didn't want to be identified by the Romans as Jews. And that was in the second century. Therefore it was the church, not the teachings of the Apostles or of Jesus, that changed the commandment. And it was the Catholic church that developed in later centuries that made Sunday their own, enforcing it as a statute and doctrine of the church. And it is a mark of their ecclesiastical authority in that Christian fs the world over follow their lead and obey their doctrine instead of God's commandment. Jesus and the disciples said a few things about worship and obeying man rather than God.

 

[Fred]

Does anyone know if seventh-day Adventist ever use speaking in Tongues? I've heard some people say they do others say they don't. I looked online, No not Wikipedia, And I read that some seventh-day Adventist Congregations do and some don't. So I still don't have a definitive answer. Would appreciate any input.

Despite these guidelines, speaking in tongues remains a controversial topic within the Adventist Church. Some members and pastors embrace the practice, while others reject it as a relic of a bygone era. The Adventist Church does not have an official stance on speaking in tongues, but encourages its members to study the biblical teachings on the subject and to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in their own spiritual journeys.

What are Adventists' Views on Speaking in Tongues? - Adventist Guide

Adventists also hold a unique perspective on speaking in tongues, which is a controversial topic within the larger Christian community

adventistguide.com

 

[Handaan]

Despite these guidelines, speaking in tongues remains a controversial topic within the Adventist Church. Some members and pastors embrace the practice, while others reject it as a relic of a bygone era. The Adventist Church does not have an official stance on speaking in tongues, but encourages its members to study the biblical teachings on the subject and to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in their own spiritual journeys.

What are Adventists' Views on Speaking in Tongues? - Adventist Guide

Adventists also hold a unique perspective on speaking in tongues, which is a controversial topic within the larger Christian community

adventistguide.com

Thanks Fred I appreciate it

And that's the way I thought it was. The part about have an interpreter present is a way I've always Heard it taught In Pentecostal churches.

I learned this it's interesting from your link.

Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia. is a phenomenon in which a person speaks in an unknown language or languages. Sounds like some of the posts I've read here Just kidding

 

[Brakelite]

Thank you for the reply. So generally no could mean a sometimes do. Because that's what I've read. That is not a common practice but some seventh-Day congregations do.

I don't personally know of any but it doesn't surprise me. Adventists don't green generally recognisea display of "gifts" as being the outpouring of the holy Spirit, but rather a spirit of true repentance and change of heart and mind. They don't deny the gifts, after all, they have the spirit of prophecy and there have been healings, and our missionaries have spoken in tongues/languages not their own while teaching and preaching the gospel in foreign lands. The exercise of those gifts aren't seen at a priority in church in order to "prove" somehow that they have the holy Spirit working among them. The fact that the Adventist church is the fastest growing Protestant denomination world wide is evidence enough.

 

[Handaan]

I don't personally know of any but it doesn't surprise me. Adventists don't green generally recognisea display of "gifts" as being the outpouring of the holy Spirit, but rather a spirit of true repentance and change of heart and mind. They don't deny the gifts, after all, they have the spirit of prophecy and there have been healings, and our missionaries have spoken in tongues/languages not their own while teaching and preaching the gospel in foreign lands. The exercise of those gifts aren't seen at a priority in church in order to "prove" somehow that they have the holy Spirit working among them. The fact that the Adventist church is the fastest growing Protestant denomination world wide is evidence enough.

That's two things I've learned I didn't know they were Pentecostal. Thanks once again.

 

[charismaticlady]

Does anyone know if seventh-day Adventist ever use speaking in Tongues? I've heard some people say they do others say they don't. I looked online, No not Wikipedia, And I read that some seventh-day Adventist Congregations do and some don't. So I still don't have a definitive answer. Would appreciate any input.

Back in 1968 when I was at an Adventist college my Bible teacher told us people speaking in tongues are speaking blasphemy. I have to laugh at that now because if someone knows the language spoken and says its blasphemy is because they themselves are possessed by a demon! Not that the speaker is possessed.

 

[charismaticlady]

That's two things I've learned I didn't know they were Pentecostal. Thanks once again.

I wouldn't call them Pentecostal as that is a denomination. And as far as the Spirit of Prophecy only EGW had that, not the members following her. Also they are a partial preterist saying the 7 trumpets has been taking place during her lifetime and throughout the life of the Church to the end. And that the 7 trumpets will also take place in the future as written. I never knew they believed that. I have started going to church there on Saturday mornings and then my church on Sunday.

 

[Brakelite]

I wouldn't call them Pentecostal as that is a denomination. And as far as the Spirit of Prophecy only EGW had that, not the members following her. Also they are a partial preterist saying the 7 trumpets has been taking place during her lifetime and throughout the life of the Church to the end. And that the 7 trumpets will also take place in the future as written. I never knew they believed that. I have started going to church there on Saturday mornings and then my church on Sunday.

Not preterist CL. Historicist. The believe prophecy began to be fulfilled from the time of the prophet until it's conclusion. There are examples of that in a number of timelines. Daniel 9:25 a prime example. The vision of the statue in Daniel 2 another. From the time of the property Daniel until the second coming. Same as the visions in Daniel 7 and 8. Revelation similar. The trumpets, the seals, all covering the time between John and the second coming, but from different perspectives and focusing on different aspects of society. But the time line similar. Even the letters to the 7 churches have an aspect of historicism within. While they indeed were messages to survivors churches, each letter was a prophecy of a different and distinct time period in church history. We are living currently in the age of the Laodicean church. The repentant Laodicean church will be the last church and witness the second coming. The unrepentant Laodicean church will form the greater part of the apostate church of Babylon in union with the state.

 

[charismaticlady]

Not preterist CL. Historicist. The believe prophecy began to be fulfilled from the time of the prophet until it's conclusion. There are examples of that in a number of timelines. Daniel 9:25 a prime example. The vision of the statue in Daniel 2 another. From the time of the property Daniel until the second coming. Same as the visions in Daniel 7 and 8. Revelation similar. The trumpets, the seals, all covering the time between John and the second coming, but from different perspectives and focusing on different aspects of society. But the time line similar. Even the letters to the 7 churches have an aspect of historicism within. While they indeed were messages to survivors churches, each letter was a prophecy of a different and distinct time period in church history. We are living currently in the age of the Laodicean church. The repentant Laodicean church will be the last church and witness the second coming. The unrepentant Laodicean church will form the greater part of the apostate church of Babylon in union with the state.

Yes, they said historicist also in Sabbath School. I also see the 7 letters being church history. Yes, we are in the last church age, but the last four letters overlap each other and also go to the end seeing as Thyatira is the Catholic Church and Orthodox (the two legs of iron). Sardis is the Reformation. I claim Philadelphia as my promise.