Page 591 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

called to service in 1844. Later those associated with away! The angel that dealt with Hazen Foss was a liar!
this gift came in contact with the Bible teaching He was a deceiving spirit, a fallen angel under the
already referred to—the truths of the Sabbath and of command of the father of lies—the devil. The religious
the heavenly sanctuary and the judgment hour. Thus movement that has arisen upon the visions of this angel
was formed the nucleus of the definite Advent is as deceitful and false as he is.
Movement of the prophecy. We see the various special
factors all having their roots in 1844. And from that There is an urgent need to learn from the Adventists’
day to this, the people of the prophecy have been mistakes. To disobey Romans 16:17 is a serious error
hastening on toward all nations with the gospel and often leads to spiritual shipwreck. The Adventists
message of preparation to meet the Lord (William ignored clear biblical teaching on the second coming
Spicer, Gift of Prophecy In the Seventh-day Adventist and followed a movement based upon doctrines
Church, p. 13). contrary to this teaching. Many were then led on to
What do these strange roots tell us? The advent other, more serious errors, and this culminated in the
movement was unbiblical from its inception. The Lord formation of the Seventh-day Adventist cult.
Jesus plainly warned against setting dates for His When we find teaching in a religious movement that
return: “Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour is contrary to plain Bible doctrine, we must avoid that
your Lord doth come” (Mt. 24:42). “But of that day and movement in obedience to Romans 16:17. No matter
that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are how much supposed good is in the movement, it is
in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, dangerous and must be avoided if it promotes teachings
watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mk. contrary to Scripture. Weakness here—inability and
13:32-33). unwillingness to separate from heresy—is evidence of
Every religious movement, no matter how sincere serious spiritual illness.
and fervent, which has set dates for the second coming A Closer Look at the Role of Ellen G. White’s Visions in
of Christ has done so in direct opposition to Jesus’ the Formation of the SDA
warnings. God is not in any date-setting movement. Ellen White’s father, Robert Harmon, was a follower
William Miller was probably sincere in his zeal to of William Miller. As a result of their acceptance of
proclaim Jesus’ soon return, but he was sincerely wrong. adventist theories, the Harmons, Ellen included, were
He was deluded, together with those who followed him, dropped from the membership of the Methodist church
including those who later became members of Seventh- in Portland, Maine, in 1843 (D.A. Delafield, Ellen G.
day Adventism. White and the S.D.A., p. 87). Ellen had made a personal
The doctrine of sabbath worship for New Testament commitment to Adventism during a sermon by Miller,
believers is a heresy in direct opposition to Bible and at age 17 she began receiving visions concerning
teaching. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in this movement. This began soon after October 1844, the
drink, or in respect of an holyday or of the new moon, last date that had been set by Miller, and in these visions
or of the sabbath days” (Col. 2:16). Those within the many Adventists saw the leading hand of God in answer
advent movement who accepted the sabbath-keeping to their bewilderment and desperation. The teenage girl
doctrine were being led a step further from the truth. was allegedly commanded by the revealing “angel” to
First there was the date setting error, then the proclaim the visions to others, and as she did so a
sabbath error, then the investigative judgment error. The following of Adventists rallied around her as a
latter has no foundation in Scripture whatsoever, yet it prophetess of God.
was accepted as “light from heaven” by many of the Seventh-day Adventism was guided both in its
already deceived and straying adventists. doctrine and practice by this female voice, believed to
Finally, the visions of Hazen Foss and Ellen White possess the gift of prophecy and to be an inspired
were added to this heretical stew. Hazen Foss was not commentator of Scripture. Note the following quotation
dealing with the God of the Bible. The gifts and calling from an SDA publication:
of the true God do not change (Ro. 11:29). Stubborn “Ellen Harmon married James White on August 30,
prophets and ministers are dealt with as rebellious 1846, and became a Sabbath-keeper soon after. The
children until brought to repentance, as Jonah was, but Whites had four children—all boys—and they worked
their gift and calling remains. Even though poor Hazen together to establish the Adventist movement until
Foss repented and heartily agreed to obey the visions, James’ death in October 1881. Often James and Ellen
he was rejected by the angel and told that he had would speak at the same meetings. Ellen lived and
“grieved away the Holy Spirit.” labored for thirty-four years following James’ death.
The Bible says the N.T. believer is sealed by the Holy Eleven of those years were spent in Europe and
Australia, helping establish the SDA movement in
Spirit “unto the day of redemption” (2 Co. 1:22; Ep. those continents.
1:12-14; 4:30). Praise the Lord, He cannot be grieved

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 591