The Seventh Day Adventist
William Miller, a Baptist farmer from Low Hampton, New York, is credited for having begun the Adventist denomination. Miller predicted the year 1843 would mark the end of time and won some 50,000 followers as a result. When his prophecy failed he claimed a miscalculation and reset the end of time (1845).
Some of his followers broke away and started the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. This movement added some new doctrines to Miller's movement -- especially Sabbath Keeping (Miller observed Sunday as the Christian day of worship). James and Ellen G. White took over leadership. They endorsed William Miller's movement.
Ellen wrote, "I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as he wanted them; that his was over and his the mistakes in some figures. I saw that God was in the proclamation of the time 1843." Mrs. White also wrote, "As the churches refuse to receive the first angel's message (William Miller's work), they rejected the light of heaven and fell from the favor of God."
The word of Ellen G. White came to be regarded as "the voice of God." She claimed to have visions which emphasized the Sabbath Day Observance. In the book The Visions of Mrs. E.G. White, her inspiration is defended and her writings are referred to as Testimonies. "It is God and not an erring mortal, that has spoken" (Testimonies, Vol. 3, page 247). Adventist consider opposition against Ellen G. White as "not fighting us, but against God."
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Words of Men |
Words of God |
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The inspiration of Ellen G. White |
The word of God is all we need. It is complete. (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
God speaks only through His Son. (Hebrews 1:1, 2; Matthew 28:18-20)
There will be no more revelations (Jude 3; 2 john 9-11). N ot even from "angels". (Galatians 1:6-10) |
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A distinction is made between the "Law of God" and "the Law of Moses". They claim these are two separate and different laws. The "Law of God" (The Ten Commandments) were given by God and "Law of Moses" which included ceremonies (like sacrifices) was given by Moses. |
The "Law of God" and the "Law of Moses" are one and the same. (Ezra 7:6,12; Nehemiah 8:1,8; Luke 2:22,23)
God gave the Law of Moses (2 Chronicales 34:14). Animal sacrfices were included in the Law of God (2 Chronicles 31:3; Luke 2:24). Jesus said Moses gave the command to honor father and mother and forbid killing. |
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Adventist claim that only the "ceremonial law" of Moses was nailed to the cross. The Ten Commandments or "moral law" were not apart of that ceremonial law and therefore are to be observed today. The Moral law was written on stone! |
The Law of the Lrod contained both moral and ceremonial instructions (2 Chronicles 31;3; Matthew 22:36-40; Leviticus 9:1-3)
The Ten Commandments were removed (2 Corinthians 3:7-11; Matthew 5:21-48). Fulfilled in Christ Jesus. |
| They reston, since the Sabbath is apart of the "moral" law it is a permanent law. |
The Apostles never mentioned Sabbath observance. They do, however, set forth an example of first day of the week worship. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
Only Israel was to observe the Sabbath (Deuteronomy 5;15; Exodus 31:13-17). A sign or taken for Israel. |
| Source: Traditions of Men Versus the Word of God by Alvin Jennings |
"...How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him." (Deuteronomy 18:21,22)
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of god; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)
Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ
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