Page 592 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

“Mrs. White was involved in an aggressive public right character by God’s grace will never see heaven.
speaking ministry. ‘A much sought-after public speaker, Faith and works are the two oars by which the believer
Ellen White was often invited to address those who is propelled to glory.
attended important gatherings of the church. she It is important that we thoroughly document the SDA
reached her largest audiences. ... She met literally
thousands of speaking appointments’” (The Spirit of doctrine of salvation, since it is very subtle. Often, in
Prophecy Treasure Chest, pp. 176-177; this official their literature produced for the general public, the SDA
Seventh-day Adventist publication is distributed with modify what they really believe, including the doctrine
an advanced correspondence course which is sent to of salvation, in an attempt to appear orthodox. The
those with more than casual interest in the Christian should beware of the deceitfulness of the cults.
denomination; the author took this course in the late They are as ready and able as the chameleon to change
1970s; the book is also sold in Adventist bookstores). colors according to varying situations. On one hand they
During the seventy years between 1844 and 1915, try to appear orthodox. They claim to be persecuted and
Mrs. White supposedly received approximately 2,000 misunderstood by other Christians because of their
visions and dreams. She said she was commanded to heresies. “We are just like you,” they protest. On the
write her visions for preservation, and in fulfilling this other hand they promote all sorts of heretical teachings
charge she produced over 100,000 handwritten and speak boldly against orthodox Bible doctrines and
manuscript pages from which were published fifty-four attempt to draw converts away from the Bible-believing
books. churches. This should not surprise us. The N.T. refers
Throughout her life, Ellen White and her frequently to the deception of false teachers: “come to
denomination were guided by these profuse visions, you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
which she received usually at night. Through these she wolves” (Mt. 7:15); “deceive many” (Mt. 24:4-5, 11,
was instructed concerning (1) the supposed divine 24); “deceitful workers” (2 Co. 11:13); “false brethren
origin of the Adventist movement, (2) the Investigative unawares brought in, who came in privily” (Ga. 2:4);
Judgment, (3) the importance of sabbath-worship, (4) “cunning craftiness” (Ep. 4:14); “seducing spirits” (I Ti.
the SDA health movement, (5) the Adventist literature 4:1); “speaking lies in hypocrisy” (1 Ti. 4:2); “who creep
outreach, (6) the Adventist school system, (7) even the into houses” (2 Ti. 3:6); “seducers ... deceiving and
financial system and ecclesiastical organization of the being deceived (2 Ti. 3:13); “feigned words” (2 Pe. 2:2);
SDA church. “many deceivers are entered into the world” (2 John 7);
Thus, the major guiding influence of the SDA Church “certain men crept in unawares” (Jude 4);
has been, from its inception, the visions and “seducers” (Re. 2:20).
interpretations of Ellen G. White. While Adventist What Adventism Teaches about Salvation: Consider
leaders claim that the Bible is their sole rule for faith carefully the following statements about salvation from
and conduct, the fact is that without Ellen White there Adventist publications. While professing to uphold
would be no Seventh-day Adventism. Since there are salvation by grace alone through faith alone, they
many Bible reasons for believing Mrs. White’s prophetic actually redefine this contrary to apostolic revelation.
ministry was not of God, it follows that the The result is a false gospel which subtly mixes grace and
denomination founded upon this ministry was also not law.
of God. We will look more closely at this issue later in From an SDA tract deceptively titled Saved By Grace:
these studies. “Christ says to every man in this world what He said to
A Biblical Refutation of Seventh-day Adventism the rich young ruler: ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep
Heresy #1—Redefining the grace of salvation to the commandments,’ Matthew 19:17. In other words,
include the works of the law THE STANDARD FOR ADMISSION INTO HEAVEN IS A
CHARACTER BUILT ACCORDING TO THE TEN
Seventh-day Adventism plays the same game in SPECIFICATIONS, OR COMMANDMENTS, OF GOD’S
salvation as every other false movement of LAW. ... He can lift you up to the place where the
Christendom. They profess to teach salvation by grace requirements of the law are met in you. ... THE
through faith, but they redefine this in a way that is MASTER BUILDER WILL STAND RIGHT WITH YOU
contrary to the New Testament. AND IN YOU, AND SEE TO IT PERSONALLY THAT
Though they often deny this, the Adventist YOUR LIFE COMES UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF
GOD’S LAW” (Charles T. Everson, Saved By Grace, pp.
denomination teaches that salvation is by grace plus 45-46).
law, faith plus works. Grace, according to Adventist From SDA correspondence courses:
theology, is the power and forgiveness God gives to
enable a sinner to keep the law and to thereby build a “It is not the work of the gospel to weaken the claims
of God’s holy law, but to bring men up to where they
holy character fit for heaven. He who fails to build the

592 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity