top of page

7th Day Adventist CHURCH

Brief History:

​

       Seventh Day Adventism originated in the movement of William Miller who set the time for the end of the world to be 1843. They now claim to be carrying on the work begun by Miller. (Miller was a farmer who lived in Low Hampton , New York. When he was a Baptist (1831), he won 50,000 people to his views regarding the coming of Christ in 1843. It was at this time that the 7th Day movement began.  

      When this prophecy failed, he declared he had miscalculated and he then set the time at 1844 which also passed without incident. When he re-set it at 1845, some of his followers divide, and out of those fragments came Seventh Day Adventism. Adding some new doctrines (principally Sabbath keeping-Miller had observed Sunday as the Christian day of assembly), James White and his wife, Ellen G. White, became the leaders of the Sabbath branch of Adventism. She wrote:  "I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as he wanted them; that his hand (was over and hid the mistake in some of the figures" (Early Writings, p. 64). "I saw that God was in the proclamation of the time 1843" (Spiritual Gift, Vol. I, p.133).  Mr. White also endorse the Miller movement of Adventism (Life of Miller, p.6). Mrs. White further wrote: "as the churches refused to receive the first angel's message (Miller's work), they rejected the light of heaven and fell from the favor of God" (Early Writings, p. 101, quoted in Seventh Day Adventism Renounced by D.M.Canright, p.68-69). 

        None  of those who were later the leaders of Seventh Day Adventism such as White, Andrews, Bates and Rhodes were of any note in Miller's movement, though they were all in it. Yet afterwards, they claimed to be the only ones who had the right view of it, and all the rest were "in the dark." "foolish virgins," "apostates," etc. (Canright,p. 78-79). So today you may see some say that the 7th Day Adventist denomination started in Battle Creek, Michigan as late as  1863.The word of Mrs. White came to be regarded as the voice of God. She claimed to have had visions emphasizing the importance of Sabbath observance, and Adventists regard her as a prophetess and her writings as inspired (see The Visions of Mrs. E.G. White, 144 pages. In this her inspiration is defended). Her writings are called Testimonies.  "It is God and not an erring mortal, that has spoken" (Testimonies, Vol. III, p. 247. Those who oppose her are  "not fighting against us, but against God,"  p. 260). Her last book is The Great Controversy. 

​

Selective Interpretation of Ellen G. White

As it relates to the counsel of Ellen G. White, “A Study of Church Governance and Unity” proposes the following: “’The judgment and voice of the General Conference’ represent ‘the authority and influence that God has vested in His church…, and most importantly, ‘private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered’.” (page 29) Yes, this is exactly what the document says—including the words “most importantly”!

Did Ellen G. White say these things? Absolutely (apart from the “most importantly” bit)! Does a contextual examination of her writings suggest that these are inflexible edicts? Absolutely not! This is the same Ellen G. White who said about the same General Conference, “For men to claim that the voice of their councils in their past management is the voice of God seems to me to be almost blasphemy.” (Manuscript 35, 1901; Manuscript Releases, Volume 17, page 250)

The careful reader has probably noticed that the quote in which the General Conference is accused of near blasphemy is taken from the very document that my essay finds fault with. One could reason that if the authors of “A Study of Church Governance and Unity” wanted to push an agenda, they could have omitted the evidence that goes against their thesis. However, while this may have been the strategy in the pre-Google age when the vast volumes of Ellen G. White’s writings were under carefully supervised lock and key, it is difficult to use those tactics in our information age.

What we have in our possession, is a document that provides the pretense of fairness by providing White’s contrary statements about the General Conference. Without a doubt, she clearly states that the General Conference is God’s representative. Contrarily, the evidence is clear that she also says the General Conference is not God’s representative. So which is it?

The authors dealt with this obvious contradiction by approaching the issue chronologically and concluding that she said it did before she said it doesn’t and then she said it does. In other words, the documents in which she said it does are chronologically located between the ones in which she said it does not. Indeed, it is true that the original statement was made in 1875. However, it is also true that there are a series of statements around the turn of the twentieth century in which she says the General Conference did not speak for God. And then we have a final statement in 1909 where she declares that it does.

Nonetheless, a chronological approach to the statements only serves the purpose of those who wish to manipulate Mrs. White’s words for their own political agendas. The fact that she changed her mind about the authority of the General Conference on at least two occasions is evidence that her final position should not be viewed as perpetual canon law. In case we have not realized, Ellen G. White has been dead for over one hundred years and the General Conference is still operating—without her.

In my estimation, if the authors of “A Study of Church Governance and Unity” really wanted to use Ellen G. White as a source for decision making, they would have been more honest in their application of her writings. Given the fact that she is not present in our midst to personally address the issue, the hermeneutical process should have been driven by context rather than chronology.

To be fair, the document does address the contexts in which White viewed the General Conference negatively, but it is done in a way that supports their chronological framework. It’s almost like a game of “musical chairs” in which the person who cannot find a seat when the music stops playing is the loser. As far as the authors are concerned, the prophetic music stopped playing when Ellen G. White died and her opinion about the authority of the General Conference is forever frozen in time.

Unfortunately, this chronological emphasis fails to apply the relevant question to our contemporary context: “Does the current General Conference behave like the one that speaks for God, or the one that doesn’t speak for God?” What would Ellen G. White have said to this General Conference?

Conclusion

While we may have our personal convictions, we will never know in which camp Ellen G. White would have placed this current administration. Nonetheless, even if she were still around, we already have a guide for spiritual decision making, and that is the Bible. Further, we already have an unmovable basis that should inform our decision making, and that is the Kingdom. No, I didn’t forget about the “Gospel,” I’m simply acknowledge that the Gospel we share is about the Kingdom over which Jesus our Lord and Savior reigns supreme.

 

​

   

​

​

​

                      

​

​

​

​

​

 1.  "Law of God" and "Law of Moses". These are two different laws. 

   Animal sacrifices and other ceremonies such as incense were in law of Moses and these only were taken away. God gave the Ten Commandments, and Moses gave ceremonies such as incense, etc. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

2. The Ceremonial Law only was nailed to the cross; The Ten Commandments were not part of the Ceremonial Law, hence not removed. The Ceremonial Law was the Book; the Moral law was on stone.  Synopsis of Present Truth p.255. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

3.  The Sabbath is part of the Moral Law hence permanent. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

4. The spirit in man is only his breath, which passes out of existence at death and is annihilated. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

5. Ellen  G. White's Testimonials are inspired like the Bible (See Testimonials 

, Vol. III, p. 257). 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

6. Mrs. White made false prophecies: 

     A. Impossible for slavery to be done away. Testimonials, January 4, 1862, p. 256, 266. 

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the required 27 of the then 36 states on December 6, 1865 and proclaimed on December 18. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

7. Sabbath was kept by God, and that it has been kept by man from the creation. 

   

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

8. Catholics changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

9. Observance of Lord's Supper at regular intervals is unimportant. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

10. Seventh Day Adventist Church. The name Seventh-day Adventist is based on the Church's observance of the "biblical Sabbath" on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. "Advent" means coming and refers to their belief that Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth

​

​

​

WRONG TIME:  1831  A. D. 

WRONG  PLACE Low Hampton, NY

WRONG FOUNDER:  William Miller 

​

Some claim later date, but still ...

​

WRONG TIME: 1863

WRONG PLACE:  Battle Creek, MI

WRONG FOUNDER(S): James S. White, Ellen G. White, Joseph Bates and J N Andrews

​

​

​

 1. Many who advocate "Adventism" and Sabbath keeping today have been taught that the Law of God and the Law of Moses are two different laws but the Bible teaches otherwise. One and the same law. Ezra 7:6,12. 

​

2. Used interchangeably in Nehemiah 8:1, 8; Luke 2:22-23. 

3. God gave the law of Moses.  Ezra. 7:6 

4. Moses gave the law of God. 2 Chronicles 34:14. 

5. Animal sacrifice was in the law of God. 2 Chronicles 31:3; Luke 2:24. 

6. The law was changed.  Hebrews 7:12

7. Christ removed the first that he might establish the second. Hebrews 10:9-10. 

8. "Moses said, Honor thy father and they mother,"  the fifth of the Ten Commandments. Mark 7:10. Jesus said Moses gave it. 

9. Killing forbidden in Ten Commandments, which Moses gave. John 17:19. 

 

 

 

1. Only one law in Old Testament. 2 Chronicles 31:3; Nehemiah   8:2, 3, 8, 14, 18; Psalms 19:7; Malachi 4:4.

 

2. The  "Book of the law" contained all five books of the Pentateuch.  1 Corinthians  14:34 refers to Genesis  3:16,  Joshua 8:31 quotes  Exodus 20:25; Ezra quotes Numbers 3:6; Matthew 22:36-40 quotes Leviticus 19:18.

​

3. The  "Book of the Law" by the ark quotes the Ten Commandments . Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-22. 

​

4. Law of Lord contained both moral and ceremonial, 2 Chronicles 31:3; Matthew 22:36-40; Leviticus 19:1-37.

 

5. Moral things have to do with man's relationship to man and are right within themselves; ceremonial laws or religious laws are made right only by divine commandments and deal with man's relationship with God . Mark 2:27. 

​

6. Ten Commandments done away.  2 Corinthians 3:7 -11

​

7. .Ten Commandments called covenant . Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:12, 13  1 Kings 8:9, 2 Kings 17:15-17;  2 Chronicles 5:10; 6;11. 

​

8. Covenant of the decalogue abolished.  Jeremiah 31:31-34;  Zechariah 11:10-14; Hebrews 8:6-13;  Hebrews 9:15-17. 

​

9. Decalogue done away  (Consists of laws, statutes, commandments).  Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14-17. 

​

10. The whole Law done away at the cross. Acts 15:1-11; Romans  6:14; 7:1-7; 

​

​

Galatians 3:23-25;  4:1-8 ; Hebrews 7:11-12. 

1. Four of the 10 Commandments are "ceremonial" or "religious" in that they deal with relationship  to God; six of the 10 are  "moral": in that they deal with man's relationship with man. Sabbath law is not social, but religious. 

2. Done away as part of Decalogue.  2 Corinthians 3:7-11. 

3. Blotted out.  Colossians 2:14-17; Hosea 2:11 . associated with meats, drinks, feast days. 

4. Sabbath a shadow, supplanted by the substance. Hebrews 4:1-11; 10:1; Galatians 4:10, 11. 

5. Apostles never taught Sabbath keeping, but did teach meeting on first day of the week. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians  16:1-2. 

6. No meeting of Christians  after the death of Christ was recorded as having been on a Sabbath day. 

7..Paul 's preaching was often to Jews on Sabbath in Synagogue in Acts.  He preached, as did Christ, every day and every place. 

8. All days of equal importance now. Romans  14:5. 

9. The Sabbath was commanded to Israel.(not everyone) Deuteronomy 5:15; Exodus 31:13-17. 

10.. The Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel. (review what Moses taught in Scriptures above)

​

​

​

1. God is Spirit. John 4:24. 

2. We are God's offspring. Acts 17:28-29. 

3.God is totally immortal. 1 Timothy 6:16. 

4.God is Father of Spirits. Hebrews 12:9​

5. Man is made of body and spirit ; both mortal  and immortal. Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 7:59; Luke 23:46. 

6. Departed spirits still exist and are conscious. Matthew 17:3 -Moses and Elijah;  1 Samuel 22 - Saul's spirit was brought  forth and spoke; Matthew 22:32 - Abraham living ; Jehovah is God of living;  Revelation 6:9-11 -Souls of the dead were seen to be alive. 

​

​

1. 2 Peter 1:3 " All things pertaining to life and godliness given in the first century. No Christian in the 1st century nor today ever needed Ellen G. Whites "testimony". 

2. Hebrews  1:1-2: God spoke through His Son, not through Ellen G. White, in these last days. 

3.  Jude 3:  The faith once for all delivered happened in the 1st century long  before William Miller, Ellen White were born, thus before there was a 7th Day Adventist Church. 

4.  2 Timothy   3:16-17:  "Thoroughly furnished"  by Scriptures. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

1. If the prophecy come not to pass, it came not from God, do not hear him! Jeremiah  14:14

2. Teach lies, the TAIL. Isaiah 9:15.

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

​
 

​

1. Sabbath was  "made  known" to Moses. Nehemiah 9:14. 

2. Here are the duties of those who actually kept the Sabbath: 

No fire Exodus 35:3; No baking or boiling-Exodus 16:23; No travel - Exodus 16:29; Offer sacrifice - Numbers  28:9-10. No work - Exodus 20:9-10. 

3. No record of any man keeping the Sabbath or knowing of it until Moses' time.  It commemorated deliverance from  Egypt. Deuteronomy 5:15; 1 Kings 8:9-21. 

4. Not given to the fathers.(Not one of the Patriarchs -Abraham, Isaac , Noah, Jacob, etc) ever kept it Deuteronomy 5;1-14. (this is what Moses said and taught. Many who claim  to Keep the Sabbath do not listen to what Moses says here or what they read in other parts of the Bible concerning the truth about keeping the Sabbath TODAY. 

​

​

​

​

1. The Sabbath is still the Sabbath! No one has changed it. The 7th day is still called the Sabbath Day

2. One of the biggest myths that have been spread is that the Sabbath day was changed to Sunday. No student of the Bible  has ever seen this teaching in Scripture. Those who believe or have been taught that Sunday is the Sabbath has been grossly misinformed. Sunday is NOT in the Bible and neither is Saturday, well the 7th day is in the Bible yes, and so is the 1st day.

3. The law was changed by Christ before the Roman Catholic Church ever existed. Hebrews 7:12. 

4. Christians were taught NOT to keep the Sabbath. Colossians 2:16.

5. Christ changed the day of worship, Hebrews 10:9-10, "at the time of reformation." If you have a problem with this "change", your problem is with God. 

 

 

 

 

1.  Early Christians observed weekly on FIRST DAY of the week. Acts 20:7; 2:42. 

​

​

​

​

​

     

​

​

1. Not in Bible.  "Adventist", not in Bible. 2 John 9-11. 

2. Acts 4:12: no other name. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

bottom of page