Page 92 - Cults and Marginal Groups - Textbook w videos short

Among those adamantly opposing that conclusion was Biblical scholar Dr. John Whitcomb, Jr., then of
Grace Theological Seminary. Detailed below is Whitcomb's reasoning* for his classification of SDA as a
[anti-assurance, Sabbath-keeping, Law-enslaving] cult.

The Pillars of the Church

If you go online and print the doctrinal statement of the Seventh-Day Adventist
Church, you would see many mainstream Christian doctrines which are foundations to
the church. Here are a few:

- The infallibility of Holy Scriptures
- Trinitarian doctrine
- Literal Genesis view of creation
-Freewill and the sinful nature of man, who needs redemption by Christ.
- Sanctification through the Holy Spirit
- The Church as a community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- Baptism by Immersion
- The Lord’s Supper
- Spiritual Gifs and ministries
- Marriage and Family
- Second Coming of Christ
- New Heaven and New Earth

Does this look like what we believe? Pretty much! That is why many people think that Adventism is
basically another denomination among Christian churches in the area. However, the Seventh Day
Adventist Church had adopted some doctrines that are foreign to mainstream Christian doctrines and
separate themselves from the rest of Christianity by espousing these doctrines which we will show are
contrary to God’s Word:

- SDA’s as remnant who proclaim the Three Angels’ Message
- Christian behavior including abstaining from Leviticus’ unclean foods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco.
- Soul-Sleep at death and annihilation for the wicked (no eternal punishment – Hell)
- Satan on earth alone during millennial reign of saints in heaven
- Christendom to take the mark of the beast and persecute the SDA church.
- Seventh-day Sabbath, God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people
- Sanctuary Message and Investigative Judgment
- The Gift of Prophecy given to Ellen G. White

It is these differing doctrines that we will concentrate on in this study, and the question we must ask
ourselves is, how do these doctrines affect the other mainstream Christian doctrines espoused by the
church and after examining them in detail, can we classify SDA teachings as cultic or within the
parameters of the mainstream evangelical community?

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