The Seventh Day

Adventists
Sunday Studies on Cults

The SDA

Founded 1863 by Ellen G. White, James White

and Joseph Bates.
HQ: Washington D.C., USA

Origins: followers of William Miller.

He predicted Christs return to be between 1843
and 1844. Came up with investigative judgment
doctrine.
Ellen White claimed to receive divine revelations,
which are the basis of SDA teachings.
She died in 1915 leaving 53 books, however some
dispute that her work is plagiarized.

Their name
Seventh-Day

Saturday is the Sabbath

Adventist

Christs second coming

(Adventism)

SDA in Singapore

Balestier

Jurong - Singapore HQ

Methods of promotion

Medical facilities

Large number of hospitals and health

institutions around the world.
In Singapore, e.g. Adventist Home for the
Aged, Adventist Rehab Center

Education
Adventist Church operates 7598 schools,
colleges, and universities worldwide.
Largest Protestant education system in the
US.
Goal: encompass mental, physical, social, and
above all, spiritual health with intellectual
growth and service to humanity
In Singapore: San Yu Adventist School,
Seventh Day Adventist Kindergarten

Media
Book: Seventh-Day Adventists Believe (1989)
Publishing companies
Magazines
Radio & TV
Internet

Key beliefs

Salvation by works
Sabbath keeping - no secular work or
recreation
Adherence to kosher laws in Leviticus 11
Dietary laws - vegetarianism, abstinence
from alcohol, smoking and sometimes caffeine

Strict observance of
Sabbath
Saturday is strictly observed as the Sabbath
Day.
All who worship on other days are deemed
to be breaking Gods command.

Law keeping

Belief that keeping the law is evidence of

obedience to God.
Hence they strictly observe dietary
requirements conforming to OT laws.

Investigative Judgment
Ellen White claimed to have received this doctrine by
divine revelation.
In 1844, Christ entered 2nd and last phase of atoning
ministry and is examining the records of all believers.
Those with sin unforgiven and unrepented will be
rejected.
Those who have repented, claimed the blood of Christ
as their atoning sacrifice by faith and whose
character is found in harmony with the law of God
will be accepted and their sins blotted out.
Not agreed on by all.

Refutation of Wrong
Doctrines

Salvation by works
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Total depravity man cannot save himself but
salvation is a gift (Rom 3:23)
Unconditional election God chooses man, man
cannot save himself through his work
Irresistible grace Salvation by work makes
grace resistible as man can choose not to save
himself by refraining from doing works required.

Saturday as Sabbath

Christ has established the Sabbath on the

1st day.
The church proclaims his will, not sets the
day.

How Christ set the

Sabbath
By rising on the 1st day (Luke 24:1)
By meeting with his disciples on the 1st day
(Jn 20:19, 26)
By sending the Holy Spirit on the 1st day
(Pentacost was a Sunday)
By directing the apostles to meet for
worship on the 1st day of the week (Acts
20:7, 1 Cor 16:2)

Law keeping
Christs coming has abolished the OT ceremonial law.
BC Art 25: We believe, that the ceremonies and
figures of the law ceased at the coming of Christ,
and that all the shadows are accomplished; so that
the use of them must be abolished amongst
Christians; yet the truth and substance of them
remain with us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have
their completion. In the meantime, we still use the
testimonies taken out of the law and the prophets, to
confirm us in the doctrine of the gospel, and to
regulate our life in all honesty, to the glory of God,
according to his will.

Law keeping
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.
Gal 5:2-4 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that
if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing. For I testify again to every man
that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do
the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you, whosoever of you are justified by
the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Investigative Judgment
Salvation by faith alone, not work.
Elect has already been chosen, the rest will
be damned.
The elects work will be tried, but not to
judge his worthiness to be saved.
This judgment will prove that the elect is in
Christ (James 2:18)

Investigative Judgment
We are already assured our place in heaven.
We work good works because God works in
us.
We believe that there is only one more
return of Christ, which has not yet come.
When Christ returns, the return will be
marked by the sound of the trumpet, and
thus will be the end of the world.

How to react to cults

Our reaction
We are still called to treat them with
kindness.
Respond politely, stating our beliefs, but do
not engage in discussion/debate with them.
Do not argue or become emotional.
If someone you know is involved in a cult,
pray for him!
Our testimony is important!

Biblical response
2 John 10 & 11
If there come any
Someone from the cults

unto you,
at home/church/outside

and bring not this doctrine,

doctrine of Christs divinity, virgin birth,
crucifixion and risen Savior

Biblical response
2 John 10 & 11
receive him not
do not invite him

into your house,

your home or church

neither bid him God speed:

do not wish him well by saying God be with you

Biblical response
2 John 10 & 11
For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker ofText
his evil deeds.
guilty before God

STUDIES ON DENOMINATIONS

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
25 March 2012

Scope:
History and beginnings of the Seventh-Day Adventists
Methods of promotion
Key beliefs
Refutation of their wrong doctrines
Our response to cults

1) History of the SDA

Founded in 1863 by Ellen G. White (1827-1915), along with her husband James White, and
Joseph Bates. She was the groups prophetess and leader.
Group HQ in Washington, D.C.
SDA originated from followers of William Miller, who predicted Christs return to be between
March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Of course, this did not occur, and his followers offered
another explanation, the investigative judgment doctrine (covered later on).
Ellen White claimed to have received revelations from God through visions or dreams, which
form the basis for the SDA teachings.
When she died in 1915, she left 53 books; however in the 1980s Elder Walter Rea, a SDA pastor
researched into her writings for 2 years and concluded that every major work by her had a
previously published source.
The groups name is derived from a) their insistence of Saturday being the Sabbath (Seventh
Day) b) their interest in Christs Second Coming (Adventism).

2) Methods of promotion

Medical facilities: large number of hospitals and health-related institutions around the world e.g.
Adventist Home for the Aged in Singapore
Educational facilities: 7598 schools, colleges and universities operated by the Adventist Church,
largest Protestant education system in the US. Its education is said to encompass mental,
physical, social and above all, spiritual health with intellectual growth and service to humanity
as its goal.
Media: A book, Seventh-Day Adventists Believe A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines
distributed free to clergymen in 1989 in an effort to gain credibility into mainstream Christianity.
Owns many publishing companies (e.g. Pacific Press Publishing Association), official magazines
Adventist Review and Adventist World. Radio, TV (Hope Channel, official TV network operating 8
channels), 3 internet channels, also private media promoting SDA beliefs.

3) Key beliefs

Salvation by works:
o Sabbath keeping no secular work, refrain from secular recreation but nature walks,
family activities, charity or other compassionate activities allowed. Fridays spent
preparing for their Sabbath, some gather in homes to worship to welcome Sabbath
(practice called Vespers)
o Adherence to kosher laws in Lev 11 (including abstinence from pork), recommending
vegetarianism (est 35% practice), no smoking or alcohol, some abstain from caffeine.
Saturday strictly observed as Sabbath, and all who worship on Sunday are believed to violate
Gods command.
Law keeping as evidence of obedience to God, rigidly observe dietary laws conforming to OT law.
Investigative Judgment doctrine:
o Church founder Ellen White claimed to have received by divine revelation.

o
o
o

o


4)

Belief that in 1844 Christ entered the second and last phases of his atoning ministry and
is examining the records of all believers to determine who will be accepted / rejected.
Those who have sins unrepented and unforgiven will be rejected.
Those who have repented, claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice by faith
and whose character is found in harmony with the law of God (Works) will be accepted
and their sins blotted out.
However, while the church has reaffirmed its teaching on this doctrine, the IJ doctrine is
still not agreed on by all followers, especially the more liberal wing.

Refutation of their wrong doctrine

Salvation by works:
o Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
o Total depravity man cannot save himself as he is totally dead, but salvation is a gift
(Rom 3:23)
o Unconditional election God chooses man, man cannot choose to save himself through
his work
o Irresistible grace Salvation by work shows that grace is resistible as man can choose
not to save himself by refraining from doing works required.
Saturday as Sabbath:
o See Remembering the Lords Day by David J. Engelsma
(http://www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_39.html#sabbath5)
o Christ has established the Sabbath on the first day of the week; the church does not set
that day, she only proclaims the will of God. Christ did this by:
st
Rising on the 1 day (Luke 24:1)
st
Meeting with his disciples on the 1 day (Jn 20:19, 26)
st
Sending the Holy Spirit on the 1 day (Pentacost was a Sunday)
st
Directing the apostles to meet for worship on the 1 day of the week (Acts
20:7, 1 Cor 16:2)
Law keeping
o Christs coming has abolished the OT ceremonial law.
o BC Art 25: We believe, that the ceremonies and figures of the law ceased at the coming
of Christ, and that all the shadows are accomplished; so that the use of them must be
abolished amongst Christians; yet the truth and substance of them remain with us in
Jesus Christ, in whom they have their completion. In the meantime, we still use the
testimonies taken out of the law and the prophets, to confirm us in the doctrine of the
gospel, and to regulate our life in all honesty, to the glory of God, according to his will.
o Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
o Gal 5:2-4 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the
whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace.
Investigative judgment
o Again, salvation is by faith alone (Eph 2:8) and not work.
o Also, Christ has already chosen all his elect. These will be saved, and the rest who are
reprobate will be damned.
o The elects work will be tried, but the judgment will not be because of works. His works
will prove whether he is in Christ (Jam 2:18). For the elect, we are assured of our place in
heaven (Luke 10:20), and we work good works because God works in us (Phil 2:13, BC
Art 24)
o Furthermore, we believe that there will only be one more return of Christ, which has not
yet come. When it comes, it will be announced by the trumpet and Christ will thus
return to gather His elect to Him, and that will be the end of the world. (1 Cor 15:52,
Matt 24:29-30)

5)

Dealing with cults

Although we do not agree with the beliefs of the cults, we are still called to treat them with love
and kindness, for the Bible tells us to love our enemies.
We are to respond to them politely state our beliefs firmly but decline to enter into discussion
with them. Do not argue or become emotional
If someone you know is involved in a cult, pray for him that God will bring him to the knowledge
of the truth.
Our testimony is important they too are watching how we live our Christian lives. Even as we
dispute their wrong doctrine, remember to maintain a kind spirit.

2 John 10,11 instructs us:
"If there come any (including the cults)
unto you, (at your home, on the street, or in a church service)
and bring not this doctrine (the doctrine of Christ - that Jesus is God, virgin born, crucified and risen
Savior)
receive him not (don't invite him)
into your house, (your home or church)
neither bid him God speed: (don't wish him well by saying, "the Lord be with you")
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (guilty before God)