Seventh Day Adventist
7th Day Adventist
Leviticus 23:39 ......on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
I would like to first point out that I consider the people of the 7th Day Adventists to be my brothers in Christ. I have met many born again believers that are 7th Day Adventists and I know they love the Lord Jesus Christ. I guess the main reason I have written this letter is, not to deny the Adventist from Sabbath worship, but to clarify the scriptures. The main fault (error) of the 7th Day Adventist church, is the separation and singling themselves as the Only True Faith, "The Remnant". They claim to have the “Nitch” on the market for salvation. They found the hidden key and all others are lost without the SDA key of Sabbath worship. The 7th day Sabbath has become their salvation!
Unfortunately, the United Pentecostal Church, Church of Christ and several other denominations have done the same. The UPC church claims that unless you are baptized in the name of “Jesus Only” and speak in tongues, then you are not saved. The Church of Christ claims that if your church does not have the name “Church of Christ” as the correct name of the church, then you are not saved. All this separates the body of Christ.
Paul writes in 1 Cor. 1:13 “Is Christ divided?”. One says, I'm a Baptist, another says, I'm a Pentecostal, another says, I'm 7th Day Adventist.
Luke 11:17 ..”Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.”
If you hold on to the 7th Day Adventist teachings, especially the “National Sunday Law” , you are helping to divide God's kingdom.
Some SDA groups continue to teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, not Almighty God himself. This heresy was taught by E.G. White and the early SDA group! This is a damnable doctrine, a doctrine that will cause you to die in your sins and perish, and will seperate you from the living God for all eternity.
"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." John 8:24
While some SDA groups no longer hold to this teaching, other SDA groups still do.
This error was adopted by Charles Taze Russell, who later started the the Jehovah's Witnesses. Charles had been an SDA student and accepted EG White's teachings that Jesus was Michael the Archangel. In addition, Charles also accepted the SDA doctrine of the Sadducees who taught the soul of man was mortal and died with the body!
For a complete study on the deity of Jesus Christ and the impossiblity of Jesus being a created angel, please go to Jesus!
Historical Perspective on Sabbath Worship
Ignatius, the second bishop of Antioch and a personal disciple of more than one of the Apostles of Christ, wrote:
no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him... let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of idleness; for “he that does not work, let him not eat.” For say the [holy] oracles, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.” But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them. And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week]. Looking forward to this, the prophet declared, “To the end, for the eighth day,” on which our life both sprang up again, and the victory over death was obtained in Christ, (THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE MAGESIANS chapter 9 A.D. 30-107 )
The historical fact is, that the first Christian converts were Jews. These Jewish believers in Christ, continued to keep the Saturday Sabbath as their tradition and law commanded. As Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, led Gentiles to Christ, they would gather to worship the following day, Sunday. The reason was simple. Gentiles were forbidden by the Jewish Law to enter Jewish Synagogues and defile the Jewish Holy Place of worship! Paul had a tremendous struggle with the Jewish Converts called "Judaizers" who would follow him from city to city, telling the Gentile converts that they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish laws, which included Sabbath Keeping. Paul would have to return, or write letters like the one he wrote to the Galatians, and convince these Gentile converts that they were saved by faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the Jewish Law! So the early Christian church worshipped on both days, from the very onset of the Christian faith! The Jewish Converts on Saturday, the Gentile converts on Sunday! As the Jewish converts passed away, and the Gentile church continued to thrive, it would only be reasonable to note that the observance of Sunday took precedence!
1. The Encyclopedia Britannica under "Sabbath" and "Sunday" says. "In the early Christian Church Jewish Christians continued to keep the sabbath, like other points of the law ... On the other hand, Paul from the first days of Gentile Christianity, laid it down definitely that the Jewish sabbath was not binding on Christians. Controversy with Judaizers led in process of time to direct condemnation of those who still kept the Jewish day ... In 321 A.D. Constantine made the Christian sabbath, Sunday, the rest day for the Roman Empire, but it was observed by Christians for nearly 300 years before it became law by Constantine."
2. The New International Encyclopedia on "Sunday" says, "For some time after the foundation of the Christian Church the converts from Judaism still observed the Jewish sabbath to a greater or lesser extent, at first, it would seem, concurrently with the celebration of the first day; but before the end of the apostolic period, Sunday, known as the Lord's Day, had thoroughly established itself as the special day to be sanctified (set apart) by rest from secular labor and by public worship. The hallowing of Sunday appears incontestably as a definite law in the Church by the beginning of the fourth century; and the Emperor Constantine confirmed the custom by a law of the state."
Sabbath Worship
I would like to make a general observation. The word “Sabbath”, by definition, does NOT mean Saturday! It does, however, mean “REST, INTERMISSION”! I would like to point to the word “REST”! Although the commandment does command the Jew to rest on the 7th day, nowhere does the scriptures say that anyone must keep the "Saturday" Sabbath! The last time I counted, Sunday to Sunday is... you guessed it, seven days, which makes Sunday, the "7th day" from last Sunday! To be Biblically sound to those who feel that they must "keep the law" to the very "jot and tittle", those who rest every 7 days, whether it be from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday, or any other "7th day rest" are keeping the 4th commandment to the very letter in the Law of Moses! Deut. 5:13-14 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: [14] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…
The SDA argument that Sunday is named after the Pagan worship of the "Sun" is mute. I might counter that Saturday is named after the Pagan worship of "Saturn!" The Pagan names we use for each day of the week is a foolish argument since God owns them all! While God commanded the Jews to work 6 days and rest the 7th day, God never said that day must be "Saturday!"
The seventh-day sabbaths of Israel were changing sabbaths, being observed on two different days each year because of an additional sabbath at Pentecost. If the fifteenth day of Abib (when Israel left Egypt), which was on the sabbath, was Saturday, then the seventh-day sabbath would fall on Saturday for seven weeks or forty-nine days. The fiftieth day, Sunday, would be Pentecost. The next seventh-day sabbath after Pentecost would then fall on Sunday, and so on until Pentecost of the following year which would change the seventh-day sabbath again. Thus, there was no such thing as the sabbath always being on Saturday throughout the year, or perpetually. (Finis Jennings Dakes study Bible Exodus 16:23)
While the SDA's wish to contend over the details of the Law, I wish to reveal something I believe they have failed to see in scripture. A Sabbath that is not Saturday, nor Sunday! Jesus himself was accused of breaking the Sabbath, He allowed his disciples to break Sabbath, and justified David and the priests who broke the Sabbath which I will cover in this study in Matthew chapters 11-12!
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18
I believe that Jesus had made a very clear attack on the Sabbath day in order to show that He Himself is our Sabbath Rest! I contend that, as those of the SDA church attempt to keep the Sabbath through the letter of the Law, that they have, in truth, failed to find the TRUE Sabbath, which is Christ! After finding Jesus, they return to the works of the Law, to find their “REST!” As if, "Saturday" Sabbath keeping will make them perfect and reserve for themselves a prominent designation as the "Remnant" of God, the only ones who keep the commandments of God!
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-5
Justin Martyr wrote:
But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him (Christ), and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the feasts. Assuredly they shall receive the holy inheritance of God. (2nd Apology of Justin Martyr Letter to a Jew named Trypho Chapter 26 date 110-165 AD)
If you will go with me, through the verses in Matthew chapters 11 and 12, we shall find a discourse where Jesus made a very clear dissertation of showing how HE, Jesus, has fulfilled the Sabbath. In the following study, we will find a very controversial encounter that Jesus had with the Pharisees, one in which Jesus, is clearly showing that HE himself, is the REST in which we are to seek, and that HE himself has replaced the Sabbath DAY as being our true "rest!"
Matthew 11:28-12:13
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
[12:1] At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. [3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? [6] But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. [7] But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. [9] And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
[10] And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. [11] And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? [12] How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. [13] Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
I would like to identify a key element noted in Col. 2:16, which Jesus confirms in these verses above. This element is that the Sabbath rest, was only a shadow of the real thing. Those who wish to return to Sabbath keeping to keep their salvation, are trusting a shadow to give them their rest, rather than the body or substance, which is Jesus Christ himself!
Col. 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The discourse in Matthew, begins with Jesus declaring that HE is the rest!
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Then, we see the disciples of Christ `breaking” the Sabbath by plucking ears of corn!
[12:1] At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
You and I both know that these disciples of Christ, being Jews, knew exactly what they were doing was a crime according to the Jewish Law. They knew their crime was punishable by death as illustrated in the following from Numbers!
Numbers 15:32-36
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. [33] And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. [34] And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. [35] And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. [36] And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Yet, upon the Sabbath, Jesus permitted the disciples to pluck and eat the corn, which would have been chargeable by a penalty of death according to the law! No doubt, this act by the disciples was a necessary introduction for Jesus to explain how it was Jesus himself, that was to be our REST, not a day of the week. Jesus then began to show through the scriptures, how others had broken the Sabbath, but were not chargeable for the crime! Jesus was reaching for the heart issue, which the Pharisees could not understand!
[3] But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; [4] How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Jesus explained how David ate what is not lawful, but yet he was not charged for the crime. And again, Jesus explained how the priests break the Sabbath by working in the Temple on the Sabbath, and yet they are blameless. Even the Pastors and school teachers of SDA church's are working every Saturday as they open the church doors, prepare the church for service and then teach and preach. They are Sabbath breakers, true?
But then Jesus puts the nail into the law, nailing it to the cross, as He declares:
[6] But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. [7] But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
The SDA church has “condemned the guiltless” as they charge that every worshipper that worships our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on another day, are Lawbreakers! Once again, the word “Sabbath”, means REST, and I return to the words Jesus spoke as he began this discourse
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
And his final words …. That in this place is one greater than the temple. [8] For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Jesus IS the Sabbath REST for every believer that will “Come unto me…” “I will give you rest” “ye shall find rest unto your souls” !
In the verses that followed in Matthew 12:10-13, Jesus breaks the Sabbath, by healing a man!
In retrospect, Jesus declares that He is the Sabbath Rest, then his disciples break the Sabbath as Jesus pardons their crime, charged by the Pharisees, by showing Old Testament examples of the Sabbath being broken. Jesus then declares that HE is the Lord of the Rest (Sabbath) and then, He Himself breaks the Sabbath by healing a man! Wouldn't YOU agree that He is trying to make a point that SDA teachers have failed to see?
Through Christ, every believer that has turned to Jesus, have entered into the REST! But, as Paul contended with the church's of Galatia, those who are of the SDA church, have turned to the Law in order to be found pleasing to God, and then condemn the guiltless who worship on Sunday!
Gal 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.
This then leads us into Hebrews chapter 4:
Hebrews 4:1-11
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. [3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. [5] And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. [6] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: [7] Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. [8] For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. [9] There remaineth therefore a rest (sabbatismos) to the people of God. [10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The early church father Justin Martyr who lived in 110-165 A.D. wote:
The Lawgiver is present, yet you do not see Him; to the poor the Gospel is preached, the blind see, yet you do not understand. You have now need of a second circumcision, though you glory greatly in the flesh. The new law requires you to keep perpetual sabbath, and you, because you are idle for one day, suppose you are pious, not discerning why this has been commanded you: and if you eat unleavened bread, you say the will of God has been fulfilled. The Lord our God does not take pleasure in such observances: if there is any perjured person or a thief among you, let him cease to be so; if any adulterer, let him repent; then he has kept the sweet and true sabbaths of God. If any one has impure hands, let him wash and be pure. (2nd Apology of Justin Martyr Letter to a Jew named Trypho Chapter 12)
For the scholar who would study this scripture, you will find that the writer of Hebrews was pointing to a "perpetual sabbath", instead of a day of the week! In the first few verses, the writer warns the people that there are some who would NOT "enter" the REST which was promised. Not mixing the word being preached with faith, they failed to ENTER the REST! Notice that it is something to be ENTERED, not KEPT!
Hebrews 4:1-11
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it
The writer then points to the fact that it is the BELIEVER, that ENTERS the REST! One who ENTERS the REST, is no longer “working” to keep the Sabbath! Just as God finished his works on the seventh day, and NO LONGER works, we are also to ENTER the rest, and WORK no longer!
[3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
You and I both know that each of us still has to return to work each week, in order to pay our bills. Even though you KEEP the Sabbath, you return to work! But yet, this scripture is speaking of another type of work of which we are never to return to. Working to earn our salvation! Those who, by faith, believe in Christ, and are RESTING in Christ, are no longer working to earn salvation. The SDA member, although they do not realize it, are trusting their WORK to save them, instead of resting in Christ! They return to work every week, the work of the law of keeping the Sabbath, in order to please God! But in so doing, they have failed to enter the REST and are unknowingly, breaking the true Sabbath! If this is NOT true, then tell me, what happens if you fail to keep the Sabbath? Do you feel guilty of a sin? How about those who worship the Lord on Sunday? Are they guilty of taking the Mark of the Beast * and therefore in danger of Hell (Rev. 14:9-11)?
* note The SDA doctrine teaches that Sunday worship is the Mark of the Beast (when the Sunday Law prophecied by E.G. White is passed)!
[5] And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. [6] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: [7] Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. [8] For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Because they did not believe, they did not trust the gospel preached, they did not REST in Christ, they could not enter that rest.
[9] There remaineth therefore a rest (sabbatismos) to the people of God. [10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The final words speak of entering the rest, and ceasing from works! The SDA member whom is trusting their Sabbath keeping to keep them saved, have NOT entered the rest, and continue to work until now! The word spoken in verse 11, charges the SDA member to “labour therefore to enter into that rest”
The word labour is defined as follows:
spoudazo, spoo-dad'-zo; from Greek 4710 (spoude); to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest :- do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
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The Sabbath is a Shadow!
Col. 2:13-14
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Most SDA's have no trouble understanding how the law of circumcision was a “Shadow” or a representative of a deeper, spiritual law, the circumcision of the heart. So circumcision of the flesh is no longer required, to be saved, true? Why? Because it was only a shadow of the real thing, true? Yet they cannot see the spiritual impact of the Sabbath “rest!” Paul writes that the Sabbath days were only a Shadow of what was to come and Jesus Christ is the body, or substance of that true rest!
Col 2:16-17 & 20-23 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
So if circumcision, which was required by the Law, was pointing to a spiritual truth, "the circumcision of the heart," and circumcision of the flesh is not required for salvation, then why is it so hard to understand that the Sabbath (rest) was a fleshly, outward “Shadow” of an inward, spiritual truth?
Galatians 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
In order to build their denomination, the SDA church has become chargeable as one whom judges those who worship on other days!
Rom 14:4-6 & 10 “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it...” (10) “why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
I might ask the SDA church the same question that Paul had asked:
“why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
And to those of you that have been attacked by the leaven of the Pharisees, who “condemn the guiltless” may I encourage you with Pauls words:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col. 2:16
Other Scriptures for Review!
Gal 4:9-10 “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.”
Gal 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.
Galatians 3:2-5 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul is, in essence, saying "Now that you are saved and have received the Holy Spirit by faith, are you now going to be perfected by keeping the Sabbath?"
Hebrews 7:18-19
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. [19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The LAW can not make you perfect!
John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Any day, every day!
If you have questions about the Law, please read this letter I had with an SDA on Romans Chapters 7-8!
If you will note the link bar at the top of this page, there is much for your study on this topic!
God's Commandment - LOVE!
2 Cor. 3:3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 Cor. 3:15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
One of the key items that the SDA teachers have failed to reflect, is the issues of the heart compared with commandments written on stone!
The SDA's like to quote the following scripture from Revelation to entrap the unsuspecting victim into condemnation:
(Rev 14:12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
So then, WHAT are the commandments of God which these Saints keep!
(Mat 22:37-40 KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
And HOW are the OLD TESTAMENT Commandments fulfilled in the New Testamant:
(Rom 13:8-10 KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
(John 13:34 & 2 John 1:5) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
(Mat 24:12-13) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
(Gal 5:22-24 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Justin Martyr writes:
But we do not trust through Moses or through the law; for then we would do the same as ourselves. But now - (for I have read that there shall be a final law, and a covenant, the chiefest of all, which it is now incumbent on all men to observe, as many as are seeking after the inheritance of God. For the law promulgated on Horeb is now old, and belongs to yourselves (Jews) alone; but this is for all universally. Now, law placed against law has abrogated that which is before it, and a covenant which comes after in like manner has put an end to the previous one; and an eternal and final law - namely, Christ - has been given to us, and the covenant is trustworthy, after which there shall be no law, no commandment, no ordinance. (2nd Apology of Justin Martyr Letter to a Jew named Trypho Chapter 11)
For where it is said, `The law of the Lord is perfect,' you do not understand it of the law which was to be after Moses, but of the law which was given by Moses, although God declared that He would establish a new law and a new covenant. (2nd Apology of Justin Martyr Letter to a Jew named Trypho Chapter 34)
Those who walk in the Spirit through love, are not bound by the Law written on stone tablets!
Women Teachers
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Tim 2:12-14
I find it very interesting that the 7th Day Adventists are so very strict in their teaching on obeying the Sabbath and dietary laws, yet they throw this instruction away. Elen G. White, a WOMAN and founder of the SDA church, is the key teacher of the 7th Day Adventist. Yet the scripture says the reason not to permit a woman to teach is because she is easily deceived by Satan. E.G. White, was a false prophet and false teacher of which Jesus warned us about. She was used by the powers of darkness to bring division within the Body of Christ. The Men who study her prophecies, become heretics and try any form of trickery to make the scriptures line up with her teachings (as you will note in my studies on Mark Finley). We are Not to make scripture agree with prophecy, but instead, we are to test the prophecy BY the scriptures.
To see the rest of this interview, go to You Tube
In reading “Studying Together” by Mark Finley, I have found many of his teachings to be outright deceptive and misleading in an attempt to build and support false doctrine.
Unclean Food:
There is NOTHING wrong with eating healthy. But the Adventist church has made this “LAW.”
Col. 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Mark 7:15, 18-19 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Strongs definition: Purging = 2511 katharizo (kath-ar-id'-zo); from 2513; to cleanse (literally or figuratively):
KJV-- (make) clean (-se), purge, purify.
The scripture clearly calls all meats clean!
Food does not defile a man. You can eat any meat, it will only “goeth out into the draught.”
Rom 14:1-3 & v.14 to 17
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.”
“I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Yes! He is talking about “unclean” food.
unclean in the Strongs is koinos, koy-nos'; probably from Greek 4862 (sun); common, i.e. (litin) shared by all or several, or (cerimonial) profane :- common, defiled, unclean, unholy.
1 Tim 4:1-5
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
“Every creature...” this includes every creature! “Nothing to be refused” means “nothing.”
Luke 10:8 “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:” So then, what should a missionary do when pork is placed in front of him?
Hell:
The 7th Day Adventists teach that there is NO hell! They believe that the person that is cast into hell, is burned up and disintegrated into nothingness! There is NO torment according to their doctrine, and through such doctrine, the wicked have nothing to fear on judgment day!
Once, when I confronted a man who was about to leap over a bridge to his death rather than go to jail for a crime he committed, I asked him "would it be better to spend a few years in jail, or eternity in Hell?" He responded "I'm an SDA, I don't believe in Hell!" Although I was able to minister to the man and prevent him from jumping, this doctrine from the powers of darkness, had nearly convinced this man that it would be better to kill himself and end all of his sufferings, than to live and pay the penalty for his crime!
The SDA doctrines on the state of the dead, the body and soul, and hell are exactly the same as the Jehovah's Witness teachings. (An early Adventist, Nelson H. Barbour, co-published with the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Both proved to be false prophets. False date-setting caused them to part company.)
For a scripture by scripture investigation of Mark Finley's "Studying Together" on the topic of hell, go to Mark Finley on HELL!
STATE OF THE DEAD
Are the dead asleep until the resurrection as the 7th Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses teach?
Soul and Body
The SDA teachers declare that the Soul IS the living Body. When the body dies, the soul ceases and is therefore unaware of anything until the resurrection! I contend that the Soul IS seperate from the body, and continues to exist even after the Body dies. Early church father Justin Martyr also contends that the Soul and Spirit continues to exist outside of the Body, although the body, which is only a house for the soul, is dead!
The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which died. For the spirit dies not; the soul is in the body, and without a soul it (the body) cannot live. The body, when the soul forsakes it, is not. For the body is the house of the soul; and the soul the house of the spirit. These three, in all those who cherish a sincere hope and unquestioning faith in God, will be saved. (2nd Apology of Justin Martyr Letter to a Jew named Trypho Chapter 10 AD 110-165)
We see this very thing in 1 Kings 17:21-22 Elijah prays for the soul of the dead boy to return to his body. When his soul returns, the boy lives again.
(1 Ki 17:21-22 KJV) And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
When the boy died, his soul LEFT the body. Elijah prayed for the soul of the boy to return to the body! The soul never ceased when the body died! The fact is, when the soul leaves the body, the body is dead, but the soul remains alive!
Matt 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
So then, if a man kills the body, he cannot kill the soul, but God can destroy BOTH Body AND SOUL. This Scripture clearly identifies the soul and body as separate living things. While the soul is in the body, the body is alive. When the soul leaves the body, the soul remains alive, but the body is dead! On judgment day, the soul is returned to the body for judgment, and the condemned person will be cast, SOUL and BODY into hell!
1 Thess 4:14 "God will bring WITH Him those who sleep" to be resurrected with their physical body in v. 16. If their body is in the grave, HOW can God bring them WITH Him when He returns from heaven?
1 Thes 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Another early church father, Irenaus 120-202 AD, writes:
1. The Lord has taught with very great fullness, that souls not only continue to exist, not by passing from body to body, but that they preserve the same form [in their separate state] as the body had to which they were adapted, and that they remember the deeds which they did in this state of existence, and from which they have now ceased, - in that narrative which is recorded respecting the rich man and that Lazarus who found repose in the bosom of Abraham. In this account He states that Dives knew Lazarus after death, and Abraham in like manner, and that each one of these persons continued in his own proper position, and that [Dives] requested Lazarus to be sent to relieve him - [Lazarus], on whom he did not [formerly] bestow even the crumbs [which fell] from his table. [He tells us] also of the answer given by Abraham, who was acquainted not only with what respected himself, but Dives also, and who enjoined those who did not wish to come into that place of torment to believe Moses and the prophets, and to receive the preaching of Him who was to rise again from the dead. By these things, then, it is plainly declared that souls continue to exist that they do not pass from body to body, that they possess the form of a man, so that they may be recognized, and retain the memory of things in this world; ( Irenaus 120-202 AD)
For a deeper study with a verse by verse confrontation with the false doctrines of Mark Finley, go to State of the Dead
CONCLUSION
The 7th Day Adventists, although I believe that some are “born again” and love the Lord Jesus Christ, is borderline cult and remain in bondage to the Law of keeping the Saturday Sabbath, and have failed to find the true REST in Jesus Christ!
Their teachers are dividing the church, condemning Sunday worshippers, following a false prophet . Paul warned the Galatians saying:
Gal 3:10-13 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
You are under a curse, you who try to be justified by the law!
Gal 4:11 & 19
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Isn't it interesting that he would say “I travail in birth AGAIN until Christ be formed in you”. You might want to study the book of Galatians. You, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are falling into the same error as the Galatians! Your in bondage to the law, and you have failed to understand Christ and faith. Study the book of Galatians, let the words of Paul (by the Holy Spirit) speak to you, so that “Christ may be formed in you!”
Gal 2:16-21
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Please pray with me:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for trusting the law to save me. I surrender to you and trust you alone to save me from the wrath to come. I now trust that I am saved by Faith ALONE. You are my Sabboth, my High Priest, My husband, my God. I REST in YOU! Forgive me for bringing any division in your Temple, the church, by seperating myself from the rest of the body of Christ. Forgive me for trusting in Ellen G. White, a false prophetess and the false teachings of the 7th Day Adventists. Help me Lord, to walk in the truth. Protect me from all deceit and trickery of men who would claim me as their own. I belong to NO ONE but YOU! Amen.
Recruiting methods of the SDA
The SDA recruits new members by attracting them to "Revelation Seminars".
Here, in Haines City, Florida, they covered their sign with this banner after putting the little "Revelation" sign shown in front of the banner, throughout the city.
Unsuspecting Christians come, not knowing that they will soon find themselves under great condemnation for "Sunday worship", thinking it is the "mark of the beast" and that they are guilty of breaking the fourth commandment.
But when you look behind the banner...
