Seventh-Day Adventism - Orthodox or Cult?

[Drew]

Drew, John here:

I was under the impression that some long posts when they belong to another, are to be 'short' ones & with their signature. (which has been done) So maybe this 'short post' :wink: is our example for length??

So, why not just go to your 'Bible' source and copy and paste what you see as Truth per thread topic? And just skip the E-mail address?

One often wonders how some folk believe the devil's first 'earthly' lie 'that ye shall not [surely] die' Genesis 3:3-4 :roll:

Is it any wonder how befuddled the ones still are at the tower of Babbling with Peters Acts 10:9-20 vision? Whatever?

I do not understand the above, which I believe is directed to me. Can you please rephrase?

 

[Drew]

I believe that the Scriptures do not teach this divisibility of the human person - instead I believe that the scriptures teach that man is a wholistic being, indivisble into the traditional three components - body, spirit, and soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This text in no way requires an interpretation to the effect that body, soul, and spirit are distinct componentsor parts. I believe this text refers to different aspects of a single human person.

Let's imagine a young man who says admiringly of a young lady: "She has a nice body, a nice personality, and a lively spirit". Does this mean that he thinks she is built out of these 3 distinct parts?. No. These are descriptions of 3 different characteristics of the young woman.

The notion of a multi-component person is a Greek idea, not a Hebrew one.

 

[Solo]

I believe that the Scriptures do not teach this divisibility of the human person - instead I believe that the scriptures teach that man is a wholistic being, indivisble into the traditional three components - body, spirit, and soul.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This text in no way requires an interpretation to the effect that body, soul, and spirit are distinct componentsor parts. I believe this text refers to different aspects of a single human person.

Let's imagine a young man who says admiringly of a young lady: "She has a nice body, a nice personality, and a lively spirit". Does this mean that he thinks she is built out of these 3 distinct parts?. No. These are descriptions of 3 different characteristics of the young woman.

The notion of a multi-component person is a Greek idea, not a Hebrew one.

I know that is what you think, and what you think has to twist the scriptures. But, hey, that's not the first time that you have done that is it?! :D

 

[Drew]

I know that is what you think, and what you think has to twist the scriptures. But, hey, that's not the first time that you have done that is it?! :D

This is Solo's usual technique - challenge his views with solid arguments and he resorts to character attack. Ho-hum. I tire of bandying words. If there are any other readers out there who are following this and are genuinely interested in the question of whether the human person is really divisible into body, spirit, and soul, please either make a post to that effect or PM me. I am not interested in a discussion that only involves Solo and me.

 

[Solo]

I know that is what you think, and what you think has to twist the scriptures. But, hey, that's not the first time that you have done that is it?! :D

This is Solo's usual technique - challenge his views with solid arguments and he resorts to character attack. Ho-hum. I tire of bandying words. If there are any other readers out there who are following this and are genuinely interested in the question of whether the human person is really divisible into body, spirit, and soul, please either make a post to that effect or PM me. I am not interested in a discussion that only involves Solo and me.

Please do not hijack this thread as is your habit. Start a new thread. This thread is based on the false teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists. Your approach is that of an Open Theist.
Thanks.

 

[Drew]

Please do not hijack this thread as is your habit. Start a new thread. This thread is based on the false teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists. Your approach is that of an Open Theist.
Thanks.

Man, what planet are you on? It is you who introduced the issue of separation of soul, spirit, and body (and did it with large text, I might add):

6. THE SOUL AND THE SPIRIT ARE SEPARATED FROM THE BODY AT DEATH:

I have not introduced open theism in this thread. Besides, the way that the open theism argument has been going, this would only add credit to my position anyway.

Since you introduced the issue, responding to it is in no sense a hijack (ulness a hijack means that someone actually dares to argue for a view that does not line with yours).

 

[Solo]

Seventh-day Adventism Teaches That Jesus' Blood Defiles

The Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine of "Investigative Judgment" is one of the most important teachings of their theology. The Seventh-day Adventist denomination developed from the roots of William Miller's teaching though Miller never joined the movement. Miller (1782-1849) was at one time a Baptist preacher who from 1816-1818 spent considerable time studying Scripture, particularly the book of Daniel. He came to the conclusion that Christ would return "about 1843." Later he declared the Christ would return during the Jewish year March 21, 1843-March 21, 1844. He based that on his interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27 and Daniel 8:14. His calculations rest on several unproved assumptions:

1. A day in prophetic writings always represents a year. [/*:m:11751]
2. The 70 weeks (Daniel 9:24) and the 2300 days (Daniel 8:14) began at the same time. [/*:m:11751]
3. The starting date was 457 B.C. (based on Ussher's chronology). [/*:m:11751]
4. The cleansing of the sanctuary spoken of in Daniel 8:14 stands for Christ's return to earth.[/*:m:11751]

The designated year arrived, the Lord did not return, and there was keen disappointment in Miller and his followers who were called "Millerites." Miller was still sure that he was right. A "re-interpretation" was promoted by Samuel S. Snow, one of the Millerite leaders. He became convinced that the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14 were to end not in the spring of 1844, as Miller had thought, but in the fall of that year. He predicted that Christ would return on October 22,1844â€â€the Day of Atonement. The Millerite camp quickly accepted this re-interpretation, including Miller himself. Anticipation and excitement mounted as the day approached. However, Christ did not return, and this time the disappointment was overwhelming. Many gave up what was now referred to as the "Advent Faith." However, there were still many who clung to it. One such group had gathered at the home of Hiram Edson in Port Gibson, New York on the appointed day to await Christ's return. The following morning, Edson along with a companion, decided to go comfort the other Adventist with assurance that they had received in prayer. Edson claimed to have seen a vision while passing through a large field at this time. In his own words he wrote:

• 
  We started, and while passing through a large field I was stopped about midway of the field. Heaven seemed open to my view, and I saw distinctly and clearly that instead of our High Priest coming out of the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary to come to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the 2300 days. He for the first time entered on that day the second apartment of the sanctuary and He had a work to perform in the most holy before coming to this earth.1
  Edson now believed there was a heavenly sanctuary corresponding to the Old Testament earthly sanctuary which had been patterned after it, and that there were two phases of Christ's heavenly ministry, just as there had been two phases in the sanctuary ministry of the Old Testament priests. Simply stated, Edson believed that Christ, instead of having come out of the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary to this earth at the end of the 2300 days, had for the first time passed from the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary into the heavenly holy of holies. His conclusion: Miller had not been wrong in his calculations, but simply in thinking that the sanctuary which was to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 day period was a sanctuary on earth.

Two other persons, O.R.L Crosier and a physician Dr. Franklin B. Hahm, had become involved in the movement earlier with Edson. These men applied themselves to Bible study, particularly in regard to the sanctuary ministry as described in the Old and New Testaments and in the book of Hebrews. Crosier wrote:

• 
  "We must see in the work of Christ a fulfillment of the work of the Old Testament priests. In the daily work of these priest, when they presented the daily offering to God and brought the blood of these offerings into the holy place, sprinkling it before the veil or applying it to the horns of the altar of incense, they were only transferring iniquity from the people to the sanctuary."

Crosier declared that on the Day of Atonement the sanctuary was cleansed when the high priest entered the holy of holies and sprinkled the blood of the slain goat upon the mercy seat (p.1232). After the sanctuary had been cleaned, the sins of the people were then put on the head of the scapegoat which was then sent into the wilderness (p. 1232). Therefore there were two parts in the ministry of the Old Testament priests: the first (daily ministry, which had to do with the holy place) led to the forgiveness of sins; the second (the yearly ministry, which had to do with the holy of holies), led to the blotting out of sins (p. 1232).

Crosier expounded further: these two phases of priestly ministry are also seen in the work of Christ. Throughout the centuries of the Christian era Christ has been doing a work comparable to the daily ministry of the priests, which work resulted in the forgiveness of sins but not in the blotting out of sin (p. 1233).

The process of blotting out sin began on October 22, 1884, when Christ entered the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary, an action which was comparable to the work of the high priest on the Day of Atonement. However, since the cleansing of the sanctuary was not complete until the sins of the people have been laid on the scapegoat, who, Crosier declared, typified not Christ but Satan: the last act of Christ's priestly ministry will be to take the sins of the heavenly sanctuary and to place them on Satan (pp. 1233-1234). Only after this has happened will Christ return (p. 1234).2

This teaching is the basis for the later Adventist teaching that Christ entered the heavenly holy of holies, and became known as the "Investigative Judgment" doctrine.

Another prominent person in the early history of Seventh-day Adventism was Joseph Bates. From 1839 onward he was in the forefront of the Adventist movement. Bates became convinced that the seventh day was the proper Sabbath for Christians to observe through reading an article in the Portland, Maine Hope of Israel of February 28,1845. Prior to this time a group of Adventists in Washington, New Hampshire, had been influenced by some Seventh-day Baptist to embrace the seventh day as a Sabbath. That began through the influence of a woman, Mrs. Rachel Oakes, who was attending an Adventist communion service on Sunday in the winter of 1843. After the service Mrs. Oakes challenged the preacher, Frederick Wheeler, to "put the cloth back over the communion table until he was willing to keep all the commandments of God, including the fourth." Wheeler promised her he would do some serious study on the subject and in March of 1844 he arrived at the conclusion that the seventh day was the proper Sabbath and began to observe it. Soon the leaders of the group accepted this view and the Washington, New Hampshire, group became the first Adventists to observe the seventh day.

Bates became involved with the group shortly after that time. Early in 1846 Bates wrote a forty-eight page tract entitled Seventh-Day Sabbath, A perpetual Sign. In it he argued that the seventh-day Sabbath has been prefigured in creation, ordained in Eden, and confirmed at Mt. Sinai.

In 1847 he wrote another tract, in which he discussed the message of the three angels of Revelation 14:6-12. Bates identified the beast as the Papacy and argued that it was the Papacy which changed the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first. Bates emphasized that obedience to God's commandments as regarded by the third angel was to consist particularly in the observance of the seventh day. The Adventists began to teach that the keeping of the seventh day was the "seal of God."

At this time two more prominent early leaders of the Adventist movement came to the scene-Ellen Harmon and James White. Ellen Gould Harmon was born in 1827 in Gorham, Maine. While still a child her family moved to Portland, Maine. Going home from school one day at the age of nine, Ellen was struck in the face by a stone thrown by an older girl. She was unconscious for weeks, her nose was broken, her face disfigured. Complication from this traumatic event, with succeeding complication, continued for years to make her an invalid.

In 1840 and 1842 William Miller lectured in Portland on the Second Advent. The Harmon family attended these lectures and came to accept Miller's teachings. They were, as a result, disfellowshiped from the Methodist church. Following the "great disappointment" of 1844 Ellen had her first vision which was followed by another vision. She began a life of public witnessing, counseling, teaching and writing. On August 30, 1846 she married James White, a young Adventist preacher who had been active in the Millerite movement.

Soon, a sizable group of Adventist believers in the Portland area began to recognize that Mrs. White was uniquely guided by the Holy Spirit-that she was a true prophetess, whose visions and words were to be followed. Others in the Adventist movement came to accept Mrs. White's leadership. Her husband claimed that during the earlier part of her ministry she had from one hundred to two hundred "open visions." These "open visions" later decreased and guidance came to her through messages in the waking hours or through dreams in her sleep. In February, 1845, she had a vision of Jesus entering into the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary thus confirming Hiram Edson's vision received in October of the preceding year. On April 7, 1847, she had a vision in which she was taken first into the holy place, then into the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary. There she saw the ark and the Ten Commandments in the ark, with a halo of glory around the Sabbath commandment. This vision confirmed Bate's teaching about the seventh day.

Article 19 of the "Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist" declares:

That the gift of the Spirit of prophecy is one of identifying marks of the remnant church. They [Seventh Day Adventists] recognize the gift was manifested in the life and ministry of Ellen G. White.

Thus the teachings of three Millerite Adventist groups formed the foundation of the new denomination:

1. The group headed by Hiram Edsom in western New York state, which emphasized the doctrine of the heavenly sanctuary. [/*:m:11751]
2. The group in Washington, New Hampshire, which along with Bates advocated the observance of the seventh day. [/*:m:11751]
3. The group around Portland, Maine which held that Ellen G. White was a true prophetess, whose vision and words were to be followed by Adventists. [/*:m:11751]

These three groups fused to form the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.



DOCTRINAL TEACHING OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ON THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT

Adventism teaches that the cross of Christ brought a two-fold work:

1. The sacrifice whereby atonement was provided [/*:m:11751]
2. After His ascension He applied this sacrifice. This work of application also has two phases:[1] from the time of His ascension to October 22, 1844, Christ did a work comparable to the daily ministry of the Old Testament priests, which resulted in the forgiveness of sins but not in the blotting out of sin;[2] On October 22, 1844, Christ entered on the "judgment phase" of His ministry whereby He blots out sin-a work, comparable to that of the high priest on the Day of Atonement.[/*:m:11751]

Article 16 describes this judgment in some detail-to Seventh-day Adventists. The time of the cleansing of the sanctuary synchronizes with the period of the proclamation of the message of Revelation 14 and is a time of investigative judgment; first, with reference to the dead, and second, with reference to the living. This investigative judgment determines who of the myriad sleeping in the dust of the earth are worthy of part in the first resurrection, and who of its living multitudes are worthy of transition.

During the time of this judgment which began in 1844 and is still going on, the names of all professing believers who have ever lived are brought up, beginning with those who first lived on earth. When a name is brought up, that person's life is carefully scrutinized. The "books" mentioned in Revelation 20:12 are assumed to be books of record, in which both the good deed and the bad deeds of every man have been recorded. These records are carefully examined.

Christ now acts as the Advocate of His people, pleading cases which have been committed to Him. When the name of a true child of God comes up in the judgment, the record will reveal that every sin has been confessed and forgiven, and that the individual concerned has tried to keep all of God's commandments. Such an individual will then be "passed" in the investigative judgment, it will then be determined that this person is worthy of a part in the first resurrection.

Seventh-day Adventists make a clear distinction between the forgiveness of sins and the blotting out of sins. They teach that when a man repents and believes he receives forgiveness of sin, but not the blotting out of sins. His "forgiven" sins are still on record in the heavenly sanctuary, even after he has confessed them and after they have been forgiven. They declare that the Old Testament typology teaches this: when the priests brought the blood of the sin offering into the holy place, they simply transferred the iniquities of the people to the sanctuary. They further declare that the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:23-25 teaches that one's forgiveness can be canceled after it has been bestowed, as was the case with the unmerciful servant. Their book, Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine states:

• 
  The actual blotting out of sin, therefore, could not take place the moment when a sin is forgiven, because subsequent deeds and attitudes may affect the final decision. Instead, the sin remains on the record until the life is complete-in fact, the Scripture indicated it remains until judgment"3

This issue is so critical to Adventists that they teach that no one can even say that a man's record is closed at his death:

• 
  He is responsible for his influence during life, and is just as surely responsible for his evil influence after he is dead. To quote the words of the poet, "The evil that men do lives after them," leaving a trail of sin to be charged to the account. In order to be just, it would seem that God would need to take all these things into account in the judgment.4

Sins will only be finally blotted out at the investigative judgment, Ellen G. White wrote:

• 
  When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration [the investigative judgment], He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment must bear the final penalty.
  
  When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be . . . As the priest in removing the sins from the sanctuary, confessed them upon the head of the scapegoat, so Christ will place all these sins upon Satan, the originator and instigator of sin. The scapegoat, bearing the sins of Israel, was sent away . . . so Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit, will be for a thousand years confined to the earth . . . and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked. Thus the great plan of redemption will reach its accomplishment in the final eradication of sin."5

Seventh-day Adventists derive this teaching from their interpretation of the second goat in Leviticus 16. On the Day of Atonement two goats were to be brought to the high priest. He was to cast lots upon the goats; "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." (Lev 16:8, KJV). After the high priest has completed the work of bring the blood of the slain first goat into the holy of holies, he laid both of his hands upon the second goat, and then proceeded to confess over him all the sins of the nation of Israel. The second goat was sent away into the wilderness. The Hebrew word for "scapegoat" is azazel. Seventh-day Adventists interpret this word to mean Satan. They maintain that the live goat was not slain, and therefore did not provide any propitiation for the sins of the people. "Azazel" occurs just four times in the Old Testament, all in Leviticus 16. Bible scholars are quite divided concerning the meaning of this obscure word.

The doctrine of Investigative Judgment is built on a system of errors, on a mistaken interpretation of Daniel 8:4 and on a faulty understanding on the Old Testament sacrificial system. Seventh-day Adventists teach that the sprinkling of the blood of the daily or occasional sacrifice by the Old Testament priests polluted the sanctuary, whereas the sprinkling of the blood of the goat slain on the Day of Atonement cleansed the sanctuary. The Seventh-day Adventist book, Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine advocates this teaching (pp. 431-32).

BIBLICAL VIEW

We may well ask, "Why should the sprinkling of sacrificial blood in one instance pollute the sanctuary, and in the other instance cleanse it? Why should such sprinkling of blood mean, in one case, that the sin involved was now recorded in the sanctuary, and, in the other instance, that the sin was removed for the sanctuary?" Furthermore, Scripture is clearâ€â€sacrificial blood does not pollute, it cleanses! Notice the following Scripture passages:

Passover: The blood of the sacrificial lamb at the first Passover does not in any way pollute any person or thing. In fact, God declares in vs. 14 below "The blood shall be a sign for you." The blood sprinkled on the doorway of the homes of the Israelites was anything but pollutedâ€â€that blood was actually a "shield of freedom" for the Israelites.

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13

Consecration of Aaronic priests: Notice that the blood taken from the Altar of Burnt Offering and applied to various parts of Aaron's body was declared by God to consecrate Aaron, not pollute him!

Scripture: Exodus 29:1, 10-21

Again notice in the passage below that the blood poured out at the base of the altar consecrated it.

Scripture Leviticus 8:15

And, again Moses consecrated Aaron with the blood from the altar.

Scripture Leviticus 8:30

And again blood for cleansing.

Scripture Leviticus 14:14

And, again

Scripture Leviticus 14:17

Again

Scripture Leviticus 14:25 (see also Leviticus 14:28, 51-52)

In Ezekiel 43 instruction are given for a future temple. Notice the passage below in which instructions are given for applying the blood on four horns of the altar and the four corners of the ledge, which application brought cleansing!

Scripture Ezekiel 43:18-26

The book of Hebrews develops in some detail the Old Testament sacrificial system and contrasts the Covenant with the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. Read this chapter and then consider the questions which follow.

Scripture Hebrews 9

Where is there any indication of an "investigative judgment" in that chapter? Furthermore, why would God have to wait until after a person's death, indeed, long after his death in order to see how the "scales" will balance for that person? Is not our God omniscient? Does He have to wait until "all the records and testimonies" concerning a person's life are brought in and then have an "investigation" in order to "judge" whether the person is fit to inherit eternal life? And if, as Seventh-day Adventists teach, many of the Old Testament offerings "polluted" the sanctuary why does Hebrews 9:22 declare:

• 
  And according to the Law, on may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is not forgiveness.
  The author says "almost," because in some cases certain vessels were purified by water, other by fire, (Num. 31:23), and some with the ashes of the red heifer (Num. 19:2-10). It was always understood that everything was at first cleansed by the blood of the victim.

However, this whole teaching of "investigative judgment" which is to be carried on after death, and in which Christ is to be intricately involved, is a "damnable doctrine" that has been perpetuated on people!

THE FINISHED WORK

Our Savior's work is finished! It would appear to me that Seventh-day Adventists have totally missed on of the most crucial teaching of the book of Hebrews. I would call it "The case of the missing chair!" What is the whole purpose of the book of Hebrews? Is it not to prove to disillusioned Jewish believers of the first century who were in danger of defecting from Christianity that to revert to Judaism would be to revert to a dead system? Does the author not argue eloquently that Christ is better than the angels, than Moses, than Joshua, and that His priesthood was superior to the Aaronic priesthood? Did the author not go into intricate detail to build an airtight case proving that the offering of Christ far superseded the Old Testament offerings? And did he not argue that the New Covenant superseded and indeed replaced the Old Covenant. But the crowning blow to any hope of returning to the Levitical system is the fact that Christ, when he finished His work, sat down!

There was no chair in the tabernacle or in the temple. Already in 1:3 the author anticipates his dramatic, climatic statement which will come in 10:12, "When He has made purification for sins, He sat down . . . "The author again refers to sitting in 1:13 God never told any angel to sit at His right hand. And in 8:1 the author making a summation declares with emphasis:

• 
  Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens.

And with a resounding crescendo the author builds his case throughout the book until he comes to the dramatic climax in 10:11-13:

• 
  And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting for that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

And then to make the emphasis complete, the author in 12:2 declared

• 
  . . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Five times in the book the seated position of our Savior is emphasized. Why? To show to all readers for all time that the work of redemption is completed, totally accomplished, finished, done, concluded, consummated, ended, satisfiedâ€â€in the words of John 19:30, FINISHED! How can Seventh-day Adventists presume to imply that our Savior's work is unfinished and we need an investigative judgment to consider the merits and demerits of a person to see if he is fit to enter the eternal kingdom? Additionally, that is a works salvation which totally contradicts the whole tenor of the New Testament teaching concerning salvation by grace through faith without merit on our part. To teach an investigative judgment as the Seventh-day Adventists teach is tantamount to heresy!

Additional Scripture: I John 1:7; Rev 7:14



Footnotes:

1. This note is from a manuscript of his life and experiences, by Hiram Edson, quoted by Francis D Nichol, The Midnight Cry (Washington, Review and Herald, 1945) pg 458

2. Cincinnati Day Star, Vol. IV, pp 1228-1234, an Adventist publication, dated February 7, 1846

3. Seventh Day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine p 441

4. Ibid. p 420

5. The Great Controversy p 442

Article Retrieved from http://www.sdaoutreach.org/Home/Article ... fault.aspx

 

[John the Baptist]

Hi ones! :fadein:
It seems that God is opening up the door for His will to be done. He knows that there are two side in the battle for His creation 'soul', & He lets the devil do his thing. Regardless of who it is that is doing the devil's thing???

Yet, could one not give the other side of the Truth, like I say, one way or the other???? OK: I for one am willing to support this 'freedom' with God's money as long as I am able. Just as long as we see this freedom Solo! In other words Solo, no more e-mail threats and warning, huh??

So here is anothers post that is imperative to study, if one will build upon the thread of the LOST SOUL
See Psalms 77:13 for where the Godheads ways are to be found!! ---John
____________


The Hebrew Sanctuary
The Illustrated Plan of Salvation

This article will briefly explore the basic meaning behind the Hebrew Sanctuary, and how it reveals God's plan of Salvation for all of humanity. More specifically, we will be looking at the traveling, or portable Sanctuary, that Moses and the Israelites used following the giving of the law on mount Sinai. This Sanctuary was carried by the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, until a more permanent structure could be built.

In Exodus 25 Moses is shown the plan for the Tabernacle or Sanctuary. This plan was a simplified version of the heavenly Sanctuary or Tabernacle, designed to reveal that Jesus Christ is our High Priest, our mediator, in the plan of salvation-

Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The Sacrifice to atone for sin.
Once it was built and functioning, the first step in the Sanctuary services was the offering of a sacrificial animal. This could be any of various animals, including a bullock, goat, lamb, or turtle doves offered for sacrifice by the repentant sinner. The sinner, by transgressing the law of God, recognizes that he faces the prospect of death -

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;...

The Sanctuary service provided an illustration of the way the sinner was to repent and atone for his sins. To bring home to the sinner the consequences of his sin, the sinner placed his hands on the head of the animal and confessed his sins to God. He was then required to slay the sacrificial animal by his own hand, as an offering for his sin, and collect the blood of the animal. This emphasized to the sinner that his transgression of the law of God was no small matter, and that death was the inevitable result. The animal that was sacrificed (usually a lamb) was symbolic for Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, offered as a sacrifice in our place, so that we as sinners do not have to die for our sins.

That was the full extent of the participation on the part of the sinner. From that point forward, all the rest of the service was conducted by a priest as mediator between the sinner and God. This was symbolic of Jesus our High Priest, our mediator between us and God the Father-

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings.
Exo 27:1-8, 38:1-7.

After confessing his sins over the animal and slaying it, the sinner let the priest as mediator take the lamb (or whatever animal was offered) and place selected portions of it (such as the fat, Lev. 4, 9) on the Brazen (Brass) Altar of Burnt Offerings, to be consumed by the flames. For those too poor to offer an animal, an offering of flour was permitted (Lev 5:11), which was also burned on the Altar. The Altar was constructed of Acacia wood, covered with brass. The Acacia wood symbolized the works of humanity, that but for the brass covering would be consumed by the fire. The brass was a symbol of suffering, so this Altar represented the suffering and death of Jesus Christ that covers and protects the repentant sinner from the divine fire of Judgment. The Altar had at each of its corners, a horn, representing the power, strength, honor, and victory of God. Before being sacrificed, the animal was secured to the horns of the Altar (Psa 118:27). Blood from the sacrificed animal was placed on the horns of the Altar by the priest, and any excess not used in the service was poured into it's base. The fire for the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings was a special divinely lit fire, that was started by fire coming down out of heaven (Lev 9:24). This symbolically represents the fire that will ultimately consume all sinners, known as the lake of fire in Revelation.

The Laver.
Exo 30:18-21, 38:8

Located between the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings and the Sanctuary, the Laver was a basin filled with water used for ritual cleansing. The Laver was made from the brass "looking glasses" (mirrors) of the women. Before handling the animal sacrifices brought by the people, the priest would have to cleanse his hands and feet with water from the Laver. This was symbolic of the act of baptism. Baptism is a declaration of the repentant sinner that he has been buried with Jesus Christ and resurrected with him as a new creature (Rom 6:4-13). The polished brass of the Laver is to be a "looking glass" revealing our sins, and showing us our need for a Savior, that we might be baptized and receive the righteousness that God offers us though His Son Jesus Christ. If the priest were to neglect this act of cleansing, he would be struck dead as a result (Exo 30:21). Why? Because to reject the cleansing righteousness of Jesus Christ is to die in one's own sin.

Justification
The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offering and the Laver were both outside of the Sanctuary proper, to the immediate east of the entrance. It was also in this area that the animals were slain for the services. These activities carried on outside the Sanctuary represented the process of justification and reconciliation of the sinner through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the acceptance of that vicarious sacrifice of the Lamb of God by the repentant sinner.

The Golden Candlestick (Menorah).
Exo 25:31-39, 37:17-24.

Inside the Sanctuary itself, in what is known as the first apartment, or Holy Place, were three pieces of furniture. To the south side of the room was a large golden candelabra, or Menorah, that had six branches off of a central candlestick. The Menorah used pure olive oil as fuel. It was the job of the priests to daily trim the wicks (which were made of old priestly garments) and refill the bowls of oil, so that the Menorah would constantly be a source of light for first apartment or Holy Place. The Menorah represented Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world, and the olive oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the wicks were symbolic of the righteousness of Christ. The Menorah also represents the seven churches of Revelation, who are to share the light of the gospel message with the rest of the world. It can be found in Revelation 1:12 and 4:5.

Sometimes the central candlestick is illustrated as being slightly taller than the others. The Menorah is also thought to be symbolic of the 7 days of creation, with the taller candlestick representing the Seventh - day (Saturday) Sabbath, the only week day that God sanctified (dedicated to a Holy purpose) -

Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

On the right is the Menorah as illustrated on the arch of Titus in Rome. The Menorah and other articles from Herod's Temple were apparently taken as war booty by Titus in 70 A.D. after the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Roman armies. The Israeli government recently asked the Vatican to search its vaults for the Menorah, so that should they have it, it might be returned to the Jewish nation. This is unlikely, since Rome was completely sacked and looted in 410 A.D. by the Visigoths, and again in 455 A.D. by the Vandals. Anything of value (such as a large solid gold candlestick) was probably taken.
Copyright by Instituto Geographico De Agostini S.p.A. - Novara - 1962

The Table of Showbread.
Exo 25:23-30, 37:10-16.

On the north side of the Holy Place was a small table known as the table of Showbread. It was constructed of Acacia wood and covered with gold. On it were kept 12 loaves of unleavened bread (Lev 24:5-9). These loaves were symbolic of Jesus, who is the bread of life (Jn 6:35), but they also represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Also kept on the Table of Showbread, were offerings of wine (Num 28:7), so both the bread and the wine of the Lord's supper were represented here. The Table of Showbread is alluded to in Revelation as a throne before the Candlestick, in chapter 4 verses 2-5.

The Golden Altar of Incense.
Exo 30:1-10, 37:25-29.

On the west side of the Holy Place, immediately before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, was a small Golden Altar of Incense. In it was a brass pot, containing hot coals from the Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings, and it was here that a very special blend of incense was burned by the priest, which filled the Sanctuary with a sweet smelling cloud, representing the prayers of the believers. On the day of atonement, blood from the lamb was put on the horns of the Golden Altar of Incense. The Golden Altar of Incense also figures prominently in the book of Revelation (Rev 8:3-5) with regard to the end of judgment, or close of probation on humanity.

Sanctification
The activities in the first apartment, or Holy place, represented the daily process of sanctification of the repentant sinner in preparation for the final judgment which occurred on the Day of Atonement, observed today as Yom Kippur.

The Veil of the Sanctuary
Exo. 26:31-33, 36:35, 2 Chron 3:14

This veil or curtain between the two apartments of the Sanctuary, the Holy and the Most Holy, has great significance. This is because it was this veil that tore at the very moment Jesus died on the Cross, symbolic of the end of the need for the human Levitical priesthood as mediator between man and God-

Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

The veil represents the body of Jesus. It is only by passing through this veil that access is possible to the Most Holy place of judgment. The tearing of the veil is symbolic of the death of the Lamb of God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the Most Holy place, of God, the place of judgment, through the new High Priest Jesus Christ, the one and only mediator between man and God.

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

The faithful have full and complete access to God, without the need of an earthly mortal priest to represent them.

The Ark of the Testimony of God.
Exo 25:10-22, 37:1-9.

This was a box constructed of Acacia wood covered with Gold. Inside it was kept the two tables of stone upon which the Law of God (The 10 Commandments) was written. Later it also contained Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna. The lid of the Ark was called the Mercy Seat (Exo 25:17), and above it was where the glory of the Lord was present, between two covering cherubs, or angels, on either end of the Ark. The Mercy seat, or lid, represented Jesus Christ, the mediator for humanity between the Law of God, that requires the death of the sinner, and a merciful God. The High Priest was the only person allowed to enter the Most Holy place where the Ark was kept, and that was only on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement (known today as Yom Kippur).

The Ark of the Testimony from Solomon's Temple was secreted away before the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and was never present in Herod's Temple. The armies of Titus found the Holy of Holies quite empty in 70 A.D. The Ark remains unlocated today, although there are numerous speculations about its whereabouts.

In Revelation (which was written about 95 A.D.), the Ark is seen in Chapter 11, verse 19. It is interesting to note that John is seeing the Ark of God in the heavenly Sanctuary, not the earthly Sanctuary (which was utterly destroyed in 70 A.D. by the armies of Rome).

Judgment
The activities on the day of Atonement symbolized the people of God, seeking representation by their High Priest Jesus Christ in the judgment, who met all the demands of the law perfectly and then was sacrificed for our sins. He paid the price for our disobedience, though he was perfectly obedient. The Hebrew Sanctuary illustrates that ultimately all humanity will be judged by the standards of God's Law. Those with faith will keep the Law perfectly through Jesus Christ. Those without faith will not have been able to keep the Law of God, and must die as a result. After all, the wages of sin is death. Since the Law of God could not be changed, Jesus died for us, in our place, to satisfy the Law.

By faith, we will take on the righteousness of Christ and be judged as keepers of the Law, with a right to the tree of life and eternal life.

Just as all Israel sought representation by the High Priest on that day, we should be fervently seeking our High Priest, Jesus Christ, to represent us in Judgment.

CONCLUSION

The Hebrew Sanctuary figures so prominently in the book of Revelation that you MUST understand the symbology of the Sanctuary and the yearly Sabbaths to really understand what John is trying to relate in Revelation. The Sanctuary is presented progressively in Revelation as follows-

The Golden Candlestick - Rev 1:12, 4:5
The Table of Showbread - Rev 4:2-5
The Golden Altar of Incense - Rev 8:3-5, 9:13
The Ark of the Testimony of God - Rev 11:19
The Temple closed to all men - Rev 15:8
Judgment ended, the fate of all people determined - Rev 22:11
Second coming - Rev 22:12
This shows a progressive sequence in Revelation leading to Judgment, the end of which is described in Revelation 8:3-5 with the throwing down of the golden censer, illustrating the conclusion of the mediation of the High Priest (Jesus Christ) on the behalf of all mankind.

So, if that is clear to you, then on what basis can anyone claim the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, the very focus of the Day of Atonement (Judgment Day), has been done away with? It is the very standard by which all humanity will be held accountable to God. It was by questioning, doubting, and then breaking God's Law that sin entered into the world in the first place. Those with faith will find mercy and atonement from God the Father through Jesus, and be restored to the prefall nature. Those without faith will face God's Law without an advocate, and the Law will condemn them to death. God's Law will stand unchanged and unyielding, the very character of God (love) expressed in words. The wicked will pay the price for their sins, and perish due to their lack of faith in Jesus, the one and only High Priest or mediator able to reconcile them with the Law of God, the Ten Commandments.

The entire Hebrew Sanctuary and it's related Sabbaths illustrated God's plan of salvation for all of mankind in a graphic way to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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An Overview of the Traveling Hebrew Sanctuary.
The Illustrated Plan of Salvation.
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(9) 2nd Apartment
The Holy of Holies
(8) The Ark of the Testimony of God containing the 10 commandments

(7) The Table of Showbread

(6) The Golden Altar
of Incense

(5) 1st Apartment
The Holy place

(4) The Golden Candlestick

(3) The Laver

(2) The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offerings

(1) The Sacrifice of the Lamb

The graphics of the sanctuary are adapted, with very minor revision, from an illustration by Tom Dunbebin.

http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/

 

[John the Baptist]

The State of the Dead

By Pastor J. Mark Martin

Here are some clear New Testament statements concerning the state of the dead:

1. A PERSON IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTS – SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY] .....

(can be read in it fullness above!)
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John here: well here is the other side of death! (again, another's work identified below)
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What Really Happens When You Die?

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

The Serpent's lie is still taught today from church pulpits:

On his October 7th, 2003 Breakthrough (RealPlayer Video) program, Pastor Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church, Columbus Ohio, made the following assertion:

Everybody, in this room, is going to live forever! No, no, I got to go real slow with you. Everybody, in this room, is going to live forever! I guess I better help you with one more word tagged on to that sentence. Everybody, in this room, is going to live forever, somewhere! - Rod Parsley.

On the June 28th, 2000, This is your day program, Benny Hinn said the following:

The important thing is - eternity. Now remember, like I said last night, nobody here is going to die. Our bodies will, of course. This flesh will go back to dust. But the real you, the real person, will never die. The real you, the real spirit, will never die, its gonna live forever. The question is where. Where will this real you live? Will the real you live with God in heaven and glory, or will the real you live with the enemy and his angels and his demons? That's your choice, you see, you make that choice in life. - Benny Hinn

And here is Pastor Raul Ries, Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, Diamond Bar, California, from the program broadcast on Thursday, November 2nd, 2000, "The Rich Man And Lazarus" (Real Audio), Tape TS-871.

Do people live beyond the grave, for all eternity? Yes! One of the things that we must understand, is that, everybody not only is going to die, but everybody is going to live forever, whether you go to heaven, or whether you go to hell. - Raul Ries

Also on past television programs broadcast from the South Bend Indiana based LeSEA (Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association) ministries, Steve Sumrall and Delron Shirley also made the astounding statement that no one ever really dies, that everyone lives forever, the righteous in heaven and the wicked in hell. The late Lester Sumrall even taught this himself; that every human being was given immortality by God, and will never die. (Lester Sumrall was an ordained Assemblies of God minister.)

Actually, this is a belief that is widely accepted by most of the Christian community, but does the Bible teach eternal life (immortality) for everyone, wicked and righteous alike? What does the Bible really teach about death?

THE FIRST LIE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

The first lie, told by Satan, assured Eve that she would not die. But what had God warned Adam and Eve about eating from the tree of knowledge?

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

O.K. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and were doomed to die. But what about their souls, you might ask, the soul continues on after death, right? Aren't Adam and Eve (their souls) in heaven now?

THE SOUL THAT SINS SHALL DIE

Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezek 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Psa 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psa 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Psa 56:13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psa 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

The soul dies? Yes! Nowhere does the Bible speak of humanity possessing an innately immortal soul, but it plainly teaches that the soul (person) that sins is destined to die. Adam and Eve don't have bodiless souls in heaven, they both are dead in the grave. Death is the result or penalty of sin-

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Eternal life will be the reward for those who are righteous, but this is only given after judgment. The wicked will not see eternal life, but eternal death, they will not have life.

THE SOUL - THE BREATH OF LIFE

But, what of the soul? Just what is it?

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The soul, as shown by this verse, is the spark of life, given by God. When God breathed life into Adam, he became a living soul (creature). Note that it does not say God put a soul into Adam. You are a soul because God has breathed life into you.

Job 12:9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Job 12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

1 Ki 17:17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

1 Ki 17:21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
1 Ki 17:22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

In the above incident with Elijah, the return of the child's soul and breath are identical in meaning. You do not have a ghost-like immortal soul that survives your physical death. Life is what makes you a soul. Without life you perish.

EVERY SOUL IN THE SEA

Rev 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.

Notice that even the inhabitants of the sea are referred to as living souls, just like Adam. This is because the soul is only the spark of life, which is given by God alone. It is not a ghost living inside you.

THE RICH MAN WHO LOST HIS SOUL

Note the story of the rich man who thought he was set for a life of leisure because his barns were full:

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The rich man's soul did not move to heaven that night, rather he lost his life. He lost his soul and perished. He ceased to live, and his goods then became the property of someone else. All of his planning was worthless.

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

The above two passages make plain that the words soul and life are interchangeable. When you die, you lose your soul, which is to say you lose your life. The wicked man who rules the world, but loses his soul, does not take up residence next in hell for eternity. Rather he perishes, he loses his life, he ceases to exist. The implication being that he has foolishly traded away his eternal life for earthly wealth.

ADAM AND EVE DENIED ETERNAL LIFE IN SIN

Now notice this account of Adam and Eve and how they were denied eternal life-

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil, they lost the right to eat of the tree of life. God expelled them from the garden, forbidding them to eat from the tree of life, and thereby denied them eternal life because they had sinned. They had to die because of their sin, but death did not give them instant access to heaven! When Adam and Eve died, they lost the God-given spark of life and perished. They returned to the dust-

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Job 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Death returns you to the dust, in a totally unconscious state. Nothing survives after death.

THE SLEEP OF DEATH

Now notice how Jesus himself describes death-

John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
John 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
John 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mark 5:39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
Luke 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

In Jesus own words above, death is described to be like a sleep.

Job 14:10 NIV But man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more.
Job 14:11 As water disappears from the sea or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,
Job 14:12 so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep.

Psa 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Absent From the Body - Present With the Lord?

When a man dies, he is asleep and does not awake until the end of time. But doesn't Paul say that the very moment he dies he will be with Christ?

Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Phil 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Phil 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Phil 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

2 Cor 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Jesus equated death with sleep, so Paul is saying that should he die, he would sleep the sleep of death, and next see Jesus Christ after the resurrection. To Paul, however, the passing of time after his death would be as an instant, the blink of an eye, and his next thing he would know it would be the second coming, and the resurrection of all the righteous saints.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

When does Jesus receive us? Jesus says it will be at His second coming, not at the moment of death.

Since the dead are asleep in the grave, what do they know, what are they conscious of?

THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING

Eccl 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Eccl 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

The dead know not anything, everything about them perishes, including their conscious mind. They remain this way until their resurrection.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psa 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Even the thoughts of the dead perish with them when they lose their soul (the spark of life).

Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

The dead are sleeping until their resurrection, that is when they will awake.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

This verse is used by the Catholic Church to prove that the soul can't be killed, that it is immortal. In fact it means do not fear those who can kill your physical body but have no control over your resurrection and eternal destiny. Rather, fear God, who does determine who goes into the lake of fire (eternal death) to be forever destroyed, body and soul, and who gets eternal life. The choice is actually ours, and God affirms the choice we make.

1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Those who are dead are asleep, to be awakened at the second coming. The above mentioned saints did not come down from heaven to re-inhabit their bodies. They were resurrected from the grave (awakened from their sleep) in a victory over death, at the time of Christ's resurrection.

KING DAVID IS NOT IN HEAVEN

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. ...

Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

King David is still in the grave. He is still asleep, still dead, not in heaven.

WHO HAS IMMORTALITY?

1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Tim 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1 Tim 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Tim 6:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1 Tim 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

In verse 16 above it states that only God has immortality. This includes the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. If God only has immortality, then we do not have it, at least not until our resurrection, when we will again be given access to the tree of life.

THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE

But aren't the righteous believers promised eternal life? -

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

At the second coming, the last day, THAT is when the righteous will receive immortality, but they do not have it before then. Here is a promise of eternal life-

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Here, in verse 14, the Holy Spirit is the eternal spirit. Verse 15 says that Jesus died to redeem us from our sins, that we may receive the eternal life that is promised. We do not receive this eternal life until after we have been judged righteous, which is at the second coming. Until then, we have the promise of eternal life.

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

We seek immortality, but do not have it yet. Only the righteous will receive it at the second coming, from God Himself, by being permitted access to the tree of life. The wicked, however, will not be given access to the tree of life, so immortality is simply not possible for them. They will not live forever, they will perish, they will cease to exist.

THE RESURRECTION HOPE

Every year during the Easter season, Christian pulpits ring with sermons proclaiming the fundamental importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Christian faith, and rightly so, for if Christ is not raised from the dead, our faith in in vain, as scripture makes very clear:

1 Cor 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 Cor 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1 Cor 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Cor 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1 Cor 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Cor 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Paul is clearly teaching here that the resurrection from the dead is a critical point to understand for the Christian, for if there is no resurrection from the dead (as demonstrated by Christ's resurrection), your faith is totally in vain. But, why would Paul say this, if when you died, you continued to live in a conscious spirit form in heaven (as is taught by most Christian churches)? That would make no sense at all. Paul is saying that without a resurrection, the dead would cease to exist forever, in any form at all. Death would be final, a completely futile and hopeless end of existence. Paul clearly put his hope in the promise of a resurrection from the grave, which he says happens at Christ's second coming.

Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Phil 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Paul again addressed the resurrection to the Thessalonian church:

1 Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring [forth from the grave] with him.
1 Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Thessalonians were sorrowing over the dead, and concerned that because they were dead, they were gone forever and without any hope of salvation. Note that Paul does not comfort the Thessalonians by saying the immortal spirits of their dead loved ones are already blissfully in heaven in the presence of the Lord. Paul responds that just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead, so those who have died in faith will be resurrected at the second coming, then to ever be with the Lord. And Paul makes the point that this resurrection of the righteous dead precedes the living saints joining the Lord in the clouds. Paul is clearly reaffirming the resurrection hope to the Thessalonian church, not the immortality of the soul.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates that for those with faith in Him, even the power of death can be overcome by that faith:

John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Lazarus was dead, in the grave for four days. Martha knew nothing of Lazarus being in heaven for the last four days, she mourned because her brother was in his grave, and she knew he would remain there, dead, until until the resurrection of the last day, the second coming of Christ. Jesus told her that He was the giver of life, that He had power over the grave, and could immediately resurrect her brother from death, because He was and is the son of God, the Christ. This resurrection hope, that Jesus can and will defeat the power of the grave, is the fundamental promise of Christianity, the keystone in the arch of the Christian faith:

Psa 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. ...
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rom 6:5 [NIV] If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Rom 6:6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
Rom 6:7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Rom 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Rom 6:10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
Rom 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:10 [NIV] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Phil 3:11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Phil 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

CONCLUSION

When we die, we sleep in the grave - we have no thoughts, no consciousness, no existence at all, until our resurrection. At the resurrection of the just, at the second coming, the righteous will receive eternal life. That is the reward for faith:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus brings the gift or reward of eternal life to bestow on the faithful at the second coming, but not before. The wicked however, will eventually perish forever in the lake of fire (after the 1000 years). Any church that teaches otherwise (that everyone, even the wicked, live forever) is merely repeating the first lie told in the Garden of Eden- "Ye shall not surely die".

See also:

The Witch of Endor, a Familiar Spirit, and the State of the Dead.
The Biblical Truth About Hell.
Purgatory?
Limbo?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Catholic rebuttal by Mario Derksen.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/

 

[Soma-Sight]

40 Bible Facts on the
First Day of the Week


1. The very first thing recorded in the Bible is work done on Sunday, the first day of the week. Genesis 1:1-5. This was done by the Creator Himself. If God made the earth on Sunday, can it be wicked for us to work on Sunday?
2. God commands men to work upon the first day of the week. Exodus 20:8-11. Is it wrong to obey God?

3. None of the patriarchs kept it.

4. None of the holy prophets ever kept it.

5. By the express command of God, His holy people used the first day of the week as a common working day for 4,000 years, at least.

6. God Himself calls it a "working" day. Ezekiel 46:1.

7. God did not rest upon it.

8. He never blessed it.

9. Christ did not rest upon it.

10. Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and worked at His trade until He was thirty years old. He kept the Sabbath and worked six days in the week, as all admit. Hence, He did many a hard day's work on Sunday.

11. The apostles worked upon it during the same time.

12. The apostles never rested upon it.

13. Christ never blessed it.

14. It has never been blessed by any divine authority.

15. It has never been sanctified.

16. No law was ever given to enforce the keeping of it, hence it is no transgression to work upon it. "Where no law is, there is no transgression." Romans 4:15. See also 1 John 3:4.

17. The New Testament nowhere forbids work to be done on it.

18. No penalty is provided for its violation.

19. No blessing is promised for its observance.

20. No regulation is given as to how it ought to be observed. Would this be so if the Lord wished us to keep it?

21. It is never called the Christian Sabbath.

22. It is never called the Sabbath day at all.

23. It is never called the Lord's day.

24. It is never called even a rest day.

25. No sacred title whatever is applied to it. Then why should we call it holy?

26. It is simply called "first day of the week."

27. Jesus never mentioned it in any way, never took its name upon His lips, so far as the record shows.

28. The word Sunday never occurs in the Bible at all.

29. Neither God, Christ, nor inspired men ever said one word in favor of Sunday as a holy day.

30. The first day of the week is mentioned only eight times in all the New Testament. Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2.

31. Six of these texts refer to the same first day of the week.

32. Paul directed the saints to look over their secular affairs on that day. 1 Corinthians 16:2.

33. In all the New Testament we have a record of only one religious meeting held upon that day, and even this was a night meeting. Acts 20:5-12.

34. There is not an implication that they ever held a meeting upon it before or after that.

35. It was not their custom to meet on that day.

36. There was no requirement to break bread on that day.

37. We have an account of only one instance in which it was done. Acts 20:7.

38. That was done in the night-after midnight. Acts 20:7-11. Jesus celebrated it on Thursday evening (Luke 22), and the disciples sometimes did it every day. Acts 2:42-46.

39. The Bible nowhere says that the first day of the week commemorates the resurrection of Christ. This is a tradition of men, which contradicts the law of God. Matthew 15:1-9. Baptism commemorates the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 6:3-5.

40. Finally, the New Testament is totally silent with regard to any change of the Sabbath day or any sacredness for the first day.

Here are one hundred plain Bible facts upon this question, showing conclusively that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord in both the Old and New Testament.

You may now be asking yourself, is all of this important, does it really matter? Well, let me close with this verse. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

 

[John the Baptist]

John here: An excellent post S.S.!

One of the best inquires that I ever remember reading came from DR. Hiscox author of the Baptist Manual. He brought up the thought question in
his sermon way back in 1893! This has always stuck with me because of his deep thinking, not just a bible verse.

He talks of why Sunday replaced the 7th day Sabbath. He says.. "To me it seems unaccountable that Jesus, during three years' discussion with his disciples, often conversing with them upon the Sabbath question, discussing it in some of its various aspects, freeing it from its false glosses, (Jewish tradition) never alluded to any transference of the day;
(This is what had really caught my eye!)

also, that during the forty days of his resurrection life, no such thing was intimated. Nor yet did the inspired apostles, in preaching the gospel, founding churches, counseling and instructing those founded, discuss or approach the subject."

His words still ring a loud & clear message in my ears! And I have also understood Christ telling us that the Holy Spirit would bring to remembrance things things that we had forgotten when needed. And in Revelation 1:10 John who penned the Lords Day in the year of around A.D. 96, surely had a good many years to 'tidy' up any miscalculation of the Lords day!

And yet, we see these professed Born Again ones of today helping the Holy Spirit out, huh? Revelation 22:18-19


---John

 

[Vic C.]

John here: An excellent post S.S.!...

Not so sure about that, gang. Some of the points are misleading at second glance.

28. The word Sunday never occurs in the Bible at all.

Show me where Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sat. are mentioned. :-?

30. The first day of the week is mentioned only eight times in all the New Testament. Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2....
... 33. In all the New Testament we have a record of only one religious meeting held upon that day, and even this was a night meeting. Acts 20:5-12.

Now, is that "the first day" as we define it, or as it was defined by the Jews of the first century? :-?

20. No regulation is given as to how it ought to be observed. Would this be so if the Lord wished us to keep it?

True, but much regulation exists for the Sabbath... is IT observed properly? :-?

38. That was done in the night-after midnight. Acts 20:7-11. Jesus celebrated it on Thursday evening (Luke 22)

Acts doesn't say that. :-?

Luke nowhere says Jesus did it on a Thurs. :-?

You may now be asking yourself, is all of this important, does it really matter? Well, let me close with this verse. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

Of course it's important... so is getting all your Biblical points correct. Also understanding the Sabbath, what it means to us and how it was observed when it was instituted is very important as well.

 

[Solo]

Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism
By David W. Cloud

Copyright © 1984,1999 By David W. Cloud
Second Edition Enlarged 1999
ISBN 1-58318-036-2
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail)
http://www.wayoflife.org (web site)

Table of Contents for "Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism"

INTRODUCTION

The Seventh-day Adventist denomination arose from the aftermath of the Second Coming movement of the mid-1800s. "Seventh-day" refers to the focus on Sabbath worship. "Adventist" refers to their belief that they are the fulfillment of Bible prophecy pertaining to the latter day remnant and the coming of Christ. The name Seventh-day Adventist was officially adopted in 1860, and the headquarters of the denomination was located in Washington D.C. in 1903. The writings of Ellen G. White (1827-1915) are exalted as prophecy in the Adventist movement. There are 7.7 million members worldwide in 36,032 SDA churches. There are more than 799,000 Adventists in the U.S. and Canada. They are working in 687 languages and dialects. The SDA has a large investment in publishing and education. They operate 57 publishing houses, and support 594 medical units, 973 colleges and secondary schools, and 4,533 elementary schools. There are more than 1,558 weekly radio and television broadcasts in many languages. More than 800,000 students are enrolled in Bible correspondence courses (Handbook of Denominations, 10th edition, 1995).


Adventists Wanted Me to Revise This Book


The following study is based directly upon Seventh-day Adventist publications. In researching this report, the author visited Adventist bookstores, colleges, and churches. I also took some of their correspondence courses. Though some of the books used for our documentation of Adventist belief were written in the 1800s and early 1900s, they are still being produced by Adventist publishing houses and distributed to the public throughout the world.


In early 1990 I received a letter from the editor of the Adventist periodical Ministry, challenging me to base my investigation of their beliefs solely upon one recently published volume titled Seventh-day Adventists Believe. In a review of Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism, they claimed that by using older sources I was misrepresenting their doctrine.


That idea is a clever deception for the following reasons.


First, Seventh-day Adventists Believe, the book they sent to define official Adventism, promotes exactly the same heresies which I expose in my book Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism. The entire issue is a smokescreen.


Second, Seventh-day Adventists Believe contains hundreds of citations of exactly the same works and authors I cite in my book. In fact, the vast majority of the footnotes in Seventh-day Adventists Believe cite SDA publications before 1970, which is exactly the matter they criticize me about. If they can quote these older works as authoritative, so can I!


Third, many of the quotations in my book Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism are taken directly from Ellen White's writings. The SDA claim that White was an inspired prophetess. If they reject her writings as undependable, they pull the rug out from under themselves because their doctrinal platform is built upon her writings.


Fourth, in their own writings they admit that their doctrinal landmarks were settled before 1850.

• "By the year 1850 the lines of fundamental truth were quite well understood and clearly defined. Looking back in 1905, [Ellen White] wrote, ëThe truth for this time God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. ... We are not to receive the words of those who come with a message that contradicts the special points of our faithí" (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, p. 122).

This same Adventist publication lists five "pillars of their faith": the Second advent, Sabbath worship, the third angelís message, investigative judgment, and the non-immortality of the soul. It is ridiculous for the Adventists to criticize me for using older documents when they themselves state in formal publications that their doctrinal foundation was fully laid in the 19th century.


Finally, the publications I quote in this study are still in print and are distributed as Adventist doctrine. These publications do not contain any type of disclaimer to warn the reader that the contents might not reflect official Adventist belief. If the Adventists do not want people to judge them by these older books, they should stop printing them! In my February 9, 1990, reply to the SDA publication Ministry I said:

• 
  I have considered the review you sent by William Shea and the statements made in your own letter and must stand behind the contents of my book. I offer the following reasons for this:[list:ba80b]
  1. Sheaís review is superficial, insidious, and does not deal with the weighty and thorough arguments I have given for my positions.
  
  2. The sources for my conclusions about SDA doctrine are based solidly upon the writings of prophetess Ellen G. White and upon legitimate materials published by official Seventh-day Adventist presses. Most of these writings were purchased from the bookstore at your school in Collegedale, Tennessee. Others were obtained from correspondence courses offered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  
  These materials, at least the vast majority of them, are still in print and are still promulgated. If the materials I purchased from you and which I quoted in my book are not to be considered reliable statements of Adventist belief, why do you crusade them before the public? Why are there no disclaimers on these writings, warning people that the statements contained therein are not dependable and not to be trusted in forming opinions about Adventism?
  
  3. I would come to the same conclusions about Adventist belief and write virtually the same book by using only prophetess Ellen Whiteís published writings. Are her writingsóthe ones the Adventist church publishes ónot reliable?
  
  4. I would come to the same conclusions about Adventist belief and write virtually the same book by using only the so-called "official Seventh-day Adventist doctrinal book," Seventh-day Adventists Believe. The statements of Adventist doctrine made in Seventh-day Adventists Believe are more cleverly presented than in some of the other publications, but the same sad old heresies are there.
  
  For these reasons I see no need to revise my book Avoiding the Snares of Seventh-day Adventism. If the time comes wherein you reject the writings of Ellen G. White and her position as a prophetess, and you reject the heretical "pillars" of the Seventh-day Adventist church which were developed and promoted by White and other early Adventist leaders, I will then be glad to reevaluate your beliefs.

[/list:u:ba80b]

I repeat, the entire matter is a deception, and I wanted our readers to be aware of this. Seventh-day Adventism has not changed at heart, but it is trying to put on a new face.


(To Be Continued with ADVENTIST HISTORY PROVES IT IS HERETICAL)

Retrieved from http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/avoiding/avoiding01.htm

 

[Soma-Sight]

The Sabbath in Prophecy

Almost the whole Christian world reverences Sunday, did God know that this attempt to change His holy Sabbath would occur?

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Daniel 7:25

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:28-30

Yes, long ago God predicted that, from within the church itself, misguided men would arise who would attempt to change His holy law.
Who is responsible for all of the confusion regarding the Sabbath?

In the Bible's prophetic book of Daniel, God lists many identifying characteristics of the little horn who would 'think to change' God's law. The Bible's identifying points clearly implicate the Roman Catholic church as this organization. Infact, you can even find the answer to this question by looking at the many statements made by the church and its leadership.

“The Catholic Church designated Sunday as the day for corporate worship and gets full credit – or blame – for the change.†This Rock, The Magazine of Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization, p.8, June 1997

"The Church, on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the Third Commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's Day." The Catholic Encyclopedia,

''Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.'' C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895.

* View a larger list of statements by Catholics, Protestants, and Historians.

^ Top

Is it important to keep the true Sabbath?

Yes it is. In God's final warning messages to the world we find a call to worship the Creator. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven... Saying with a loud voice Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6-7

The call to worship in Revelation 14:7 brings us back to the Sabbath Commandment which God set aside specifically for holy purposes: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11

Throughout the scriptures we can see an emphasis on the recognition of the Creator. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11
"For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." Psalms 96:4-5

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Psalms 121:2

By keeping the Sabbath holy, as He commanded us, we show our love for Him and give recognition of His authority in our life. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:1


Does it matter how we worship God?

Yes. In John chapter 4 the woman at the well asked Jesus the same question. Jesus responded: "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

God issues a strong warning in Revelation 14:7 clarifiying that we should "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." This strong warning is needed because the devil has deceived almost the entire world into accepting his substitute and thus multitudes worship or obey him rather than the Creator. "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:3-4

^ Top

Can we know for sure who this beast is and is it really all that important?

Yes, we can, and must know who this beast is.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" Revelation 14:9-10 The Bible clearly says that those who worship the beast will be lost.

In the light of this most serious and solemn warning from God we must not listen to anyone who tells us that we can't understand who the beast is or that it really doesn't matter. (See 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

By letting the Bible interpret itself, comparing scripture with scripture, we can know exactly who the beast is. (James 1:5, Isaiah 28:10-13) If you haven't done so already we suggest you review the points describing the little horn found in Daniel 7 and then let the Bible identify the first beast of Revelation 13.

^ Top


The Battle is Over Worship!


"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16

Continue to The Mark of the Beast - Part 1

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath_in_prophecy.asp

 

[Solo]

Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism
By David W. Cloud

Copyright © 1984,1999 By David W. Cloud
Second Edition Enlarged 1999
ISBN 1-58318-036-2
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail)
http://www.wayoflife.org (web site)

Table of Contents for "Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism"


ADVENTIST HISTORY PROVES IT IS HERETICAL

Seventh-day Adventism originated with the disappointed Second Coming movement of the 1800í's. William Miller, a Baptist layman, concluded in 1818 that Christ would return to earth in 1843. When that was proven wrong, he changed the date to October 1844. This belief was based largely on an interpretation of Daniel chapters nine and twelve using the erroneous day/year prophetic equation (one prophetic day equals one historical year). Tens of thousands followed Miller's conclusions, and many diverse, unscriptural adventist (advent refers to Christ's coming) groups sprang up within this excited religious atmosphere.


Until the end of 1844, Miller held resolutely to his conviction that Christ would return to the earth to "cleanse the sanctuary," which he interpreted to mean the earth. After the set dates passed, Miller wisely left off with date setting, admitted his mistake, and no longer participated in the adventist movement. He did not become a Seventh-day Adventist.


From the shambles of the confused and unscriptural date-setting movement, there emerged various groups with differing doctrinal peculiarities. Some of these groups gradually were formed into Seventh-day Adventism. The following history from Seventh-day Adventist publications contains the major factors in this formation.


1. A group of Advent followers in New Hampshire began Sabbath-keeping in 1844, and began to publish their views through pamphlets. Among these were Joseph Bates and James White, who later became Ellen G. White's husband.


2. Some of these Sabbath-keepers accepted the visions of Hazen Foss and Ellen Harmon in relation to the "Investigative Judgment" doctrine and the end-time "Third Angel's Message" of Revelation 14:9-12. The doctrine of investigative judgment, as taught by the SDA Church, claims that in 1844 Christ entered into the heavenly holy of holies to begin investigating the records of human works. It is supposed that this investigation will decide the eternal destinies of all men. The "Third Angel's Message," which is a warning against taking the mark of the beast and which speaks of "they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Re. 14:9,12), was erroneously taken by the Adventists to refer to themselves, since they uphold the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath. A SDA publication relates these events:

• Near the time of the expected advent in the fall of 1844, there was also given to Hazen Foss, a young Adventist of talent, a revelation of the experience of the advent people. Shortly after the passing of the time, he was bidden to relate the vision to others, but this be disinclined to do. He was warned of God as to the consequences of failing to relate to others what had been revealed to him, and was told that if he refused, the light would be given to someone else. But he felt keenly the disappointment of 1844, and said that he had been deceived. After a severe mental conflict, he ëdecided he would not relate the visions. Then, ëvery strange feelings came to him, and a voice said, You have grieved away the Spirit of the Lord (E.G. White Letter No. 37, 1890).
  
  
  Horrified at his stubbornness and rebellion, he told the Lord that he would relate the vision, but when he attempted to do so before a company of believers, he could not call it to mind. In vain were his attempts to call up the scenes as they had been shown to him; and then in deep despair he exclaimed, It is gone from me; I can say nothing, and the Spirit of the Lord has left me. Eyewitnesses described it as the most terrible meeting they were ever in.
  
  
  Early in 1845, Foss overheard Ellen Harmon relate her first vision to the company of believers at Portland, Maine. He recognized her account as a description of what was shown him. Upon meeting her the next morning, he recounted his experience, of which she had not before known, and encouraged her to faithfully perform her work, stating: ëI believe the visions are taken from me and given to you. Do not refuse to obey God, for it will be at the peril of your soul. I am a lost man. You are chosen of God; be faithful in doing your work, and the crown I might have had, you will receive.í On comparing dates, they discovered that it was not until after he had been told that the visions were taken from him, that Ellen Harmon was given her first revelation. Although Hazen Foss lived till 1893, he never again manifested interest in matters religious (Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White Messenger to the Remnant, revised to 1969, p. 30).
  
  
  "...in the year 1844 ... there was a group of Advent believers among whom was manifested the gift of prophecy. The agent of this gift [Ellen Harmon] was called to service in 1844. Later those associated with this gift came in contact with the Bible teaching already referred toóthe truths of the Sabbath and of the heavenly sanctuary and the judgment hour. Thus was formed the nucleus of the definite Advent Movement of the prophecy. We see the various special factors all having their roots in 1844. And from that day to this, the people of the prophecy have been hastening on toward all nations with the gospel message of preparation to meet the Lord" (Gift of Prophecy, p. 13).

What Do These Strange Roots Tell Us?


The advent movement was unbiblical from its inception. The Lord Jesus plainly warns against setting specific dates for His return:

• "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36).
  
  "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Mt. 24:42).
  
  "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 24:44).
  
  "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:13).
  
  "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is" (Mk. 13:32-33).
  
  "It is not for you to know the time or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power" (Acts 1:7).

Every religious movement, no matter how sincere and fervent, which has set dates for the Second Coming of Christ has done so in direct opposition to Jesusí warnings. God is not in any date-setting movement. William Miller was probably sincere in his zeal to proclaim Jesusí soon return, but he was sincerely wrong. He was deluded, together with those who followed him, including those who later became members of Seventh-day Adventism.


The doctrine of Sabbath worship for New Testament believers is a heresy in direct contradiction to Bible teaching. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col. 2:16). Those within the advent movement who accepted the Sabbath-keeping doctrine were simply being led another step further from the truth.


First the date-setting error; then the Sabbath error; then the Investigative Judgment error. The latter has no foundation in Scripture whatsoever, yet it was accepted as "light from heaven" by many of the already deceived and straying adventists.


Finally, the visions of Hazen Foss and Ellen White were added to this heretical stew. Hazen Foss was not dealing with the God of the Bible. The gifts and calling of the true God do not change (Ro. 11:29). Stubborn prophets and ministers are dealt with as rebellious children until brought to repentance, as Jonah was, but their gift and calling remains. Even though poor Hazen Foss repented and heartily agreed to obey the visions, he was rejected by the angel and told that he had "grieved away the Holy Spirit."


The Bible, on the other hand, says the New Testament believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit "unto the day of redemption" (2 Co. 1:22; Ep. 1:12-14; 4:30). Praise the Lord, He cannot be grieved away! The angel who dealt with Hazen Foss was a liar! He was a deceiving spirit, a fallen angel under the command of the father of liesóthe Devil. The powerful movement that has arisen upon the visions of this angel is as deceitful and false as he is.


There is an urgent need to learn from the Adventists mistakes. To disobey Romans 16:17 is serious and often leads to error and shipwreck of faith. The Adventists ignored clear Bible teaching on the Second Coming and followed a movement based upon doctrines contrary to this teaching. Many were then led on to other, more serious errors, culminating in the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist group.


When we find teaching in a religious movement that is contrary to plain Bible doctrine, we must avoid that movement in obedience to Romans 16:17. No matter how much supposed good is in the movement, it is dangerous and must be avoided if it promotes teachings plainly contrary to Scripture. Weakness hereóinability and unwillingness to stand against and separate from heresy's evidence of spiritual illness.


A Closer Look at the Roll of Ellen G. White's Visions in the Formation of the SDA


Ellen White's father, Robert Harmon, was a follower of William Miller. Because of their acceptance of adventist theories, the Harmons, Ellen included, were dropped from the Methodist church in Portland, Maine, in 1843 (D.A. Delafield, Ellen G. White and the S.D.A., p. 87). Ellen had made a personal commitment to adventism during a sermon by Miller, and at age 17 she allegedly began receiving visions concerning this movement. This began soon after October 1844, the last date that had been set by Miller and his followers; and in these visions, many Adventists saw the leading of God in answer to their bewilderment and desperation. The teenage girl was allegedly commanded by the revealing "angel" to proclaim the visions to others, and as she did, a following of adventists rallied around her as a prophetess of God.[/b]

• 
  "Back in December 1844, in her first prophetic vision, she was shown the advent people traveling on an elevated road to heaven, with a brilliant light illuminating their pathway. At the end of this path was the golden City of God, the New Jerusalem, described by John in the last chapters of the Revelation. The light shining from the commencement of the trail was symbolic of the Lordí's presence with the movement from its beginning until the second coming of the Lord ... In my second vision ... about a week after the first, the Lord gave me a view of the trials through which I must pass, and told me that I must go and relate to others what He had revealed to me ... Said the angel ... Deliver the message faithfully; endure unto the end, and you shall eat the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of lifeí" (Ellen G. White and the SDA Church, pp. 12- 13).

Seventh-day Adventism was guided both in its doctrine and practice by this female voice, who was believed to possess the gift of prophecy and to be an inspired commentator of Scripture. Note the following quotation from a SDA publication:

• "Mrs. White's preeminent mission was to help build the dynamics of a Biblical faith into a Christian movement. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is indebted to her as a spiritual leader and a pioneer builder and guide. In most of the soulwinning activities of the church, from its very beginnings, the leaders received guidance from what they believed were the prophetic insights of this servant of God" (Ellen G. White and the SDA Church, pp. 10-11).

Ellen Harmon married James White on August 30, 1846, and became a Sabbath-keeper soon after. The Whites had four children all boys and they worked together to establish the Adventist movement until James death in October 1881. Often James and Ellen would speak at the same meetings. Ellen lived and labored for thirty-four years following James death. Eleven of those years were spent in Europe and Australia, helping establish the SDA movement in those continents.


Mrs. White was involved in an aggressive public speaking ministry.

• 
  "A much sought-after public speaker, Ellen White was often invited to address those who attended important gatherings of the church. ... As a revival speaker she was unsurpassed. As a temperance lecturer she reached her largest audiences. ... She met literally thousands of speaking appointments" (The Spirit of Prophecy Treasure Chest, pp. 176-177; this official Seventh-day Adventist publication is distributed with an advanced correspondence course which is sent to those with more than casual interest in the denomination; the author took this course in the late 1970's; the book is also sold in Adventist bookstores).

During the seventy years between 1844 and 1915, it is claimed that Mrs. White received approximately 2,000 visions and dreams. She said she was commanded to write her visions for preservation, and in fulfilling this charge she produced over 100,000 handwritten manuscript pages from which were published fifty-four books.


Throughout her life, Ellen White and her denomination were guided by these profuse visions, which she received usually at night. Through these she was instructed concerning (1) the supposed divine origin of the Adventist movement, (2) the Investigative Judgment, (3) the importance of Sabbath-worship, (4) the SDA health movement, (5) worldwide Adventist literature outreach, (6) the worldwide Adventist school system, (7) even the financial systems and ecclesiastical organization of the SDA church.


Thus we see that the major guiding influence of the SDA Church has been, from its inception, the visions and interpretations of Ellen G. White. While Adventist leaders claim that the Bible is their sole rule for faith and conduct, the fact is that without Ellen White there would be no Seventh-day Adventism. Since there are many Bible reasons for believing Mrs. White's prophetic ministry was not of God, it follows that the denomination founded upon this ministry was also not of God.

(To Be Continued with SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DOCTRINE PROVES IT IS HERETICAL)

Retrieved from http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/avoiding/avoiding02.htm

 

[John the Baptist]

The Sabbath in Prophecy

Almost the whole Christian world reverences Sunday, did God know that this attempt to change His holy Sabbath would occur?

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. " Daniel 7:25

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:28-30

Yes, long ago God predicted that, from within the church itself, misguided men would arise who would attempt to change His holy law.
Who is responsible for all of the confusion regarding the Sabbath?

In the Bible's prophetic book of Daniel, God lists many identifying characteristics of the little horn who would 'think to change' God's law. The Bible's identifying points clearly implicate the Roman Catholic church as this organization. Infact, you can even find the answer to this question by looking at the many statements made by the church and its leadership.

“The Catholic Church designated Sunday as the day for corporate worship and gets full credit – or blame – for the change.†This Rock, The Magazine of Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization, p.8, June 1997

"The Church, on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the Third Commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's Day." The Catholic Encyclopedia,

''Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.'' C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895.

* View a larger list of statements by Catholics, Protestants, and Historians.

^ Top

Is it important to keep the true Sabbath?

Yes it is. In God's final warning messages to the world we find a call to worship the Creator. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven... Saying with a loud voice Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6-7

The call to worship in Revelation 14:7 brings us back to the Sabbath Commandment which God set aside specifically for holy purposes: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11

Throughout the scriptures we can see an emphasis on the recognition of the Creator. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11
"For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." Psalms 96:4-5

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Psalms 121:2

By keeping the Sabbath holy, as He commanded us, we show our love for Him and give recognition of His authority in our life. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:1


Does it matter how we worship God?

Yes. In John chapter 4 the woman at the well asked Jesus the same question. Jesus responded: "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

God issues a strong warning in Revelation 14:7 clarifiying that we should "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." This strong warning is needed because the devil has deceived almost the entire world into accepting his substitute and thus multitudes worship or obey him rather than the Creator. "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:3-4

^ Top

Can we know for sure who this beast is and is it really all that important?

Yes, we can, and must know who this beast is.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" Revelation 14:9-10 The Bible clearly says that those who worship the beast will be lost.

In the light of this most serious and solemn warning from God we must not listen to anyone who tells us that we can't understand who the beast is or that it really doesn't matter. (See 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

By letting the Bible interpret itself, comparing scripture with scripture, we can know exactly who the beast is. (James 1:5, Isaiah 28:10-13) If you haven't done so already we suggest you review the points describing the little horn found in Daniel 7 and then let the Bible identify the first beast of Revelation 13.

^ Top

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:16

Continue to The Mark of the Beast - Part 1

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath_in_prophecy.asp

_________

John here:
Is there a battle ongoing? :wink: My in-box here is getting filled up with warnings! But it is a truth, that the Worship of God is where the battle is centered. The devil uses 'force' or any other way that he can to get the one to bow down to him. (Matthew 4:8-9)
Yet, God lets him live on.. for a while at least. And his helpers?? Obadiah 1:16 will find all mankind in one of these two class.. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

The Battle is Over Worship! "IF YE LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." Simple & clear enough for me to believe!
And I would have it no other way, for I do love my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ! :fadein:.

_____________________________________


Continue to The Mark of the Beast - Part 1

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath_in_prophecy.asp

 

[Vic C.]

Is there a battle ongoing?

LOL, I don't know, bro. ;-) Should I go and charge up my Star Wars Lightsaber? :-D

 

[Solo]

Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism
By David W. Cloud


Copyright © 1984,1999 By David W. Cloud
Second Edition Enlarged 1999
ISBN 1-58318-036-2
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail)
http://www.wayoflife.org (web site)

Table of Contents for "Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism"

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DOCTRINE PROVES IT IS HERETICAL

In the following study we analyze seven of the heretical Seventh-day Adventist doctrines and compare them with Bible truth. These are not all of the heresies taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but they are seven of the most egregious.

HERESY #1: REDEFINING THE GRACE OF SALVATION TO INCLUDE THE WORKS OF THE LAW


Seventh-day Adventism plays the same game in salvation as every other false movement of Christendom. They profess to teach salvation by grace through faith, but they redefine this in a way that is contrary to New Testament doctrine.


Though they often deny this, the Adventist denomination teaches that salvation is by grace plus law, faith plus works. Grace, according to Adventist theology, is the power and forgiveness God gives to enable a sinner to keep the law and to thereby build a holy character fit for Heaven. He who fails to build the right character by Godís grace will never see Heaven. Faith and works are the two oars by which the believer is propelled to glory.


The Adventist doctrine of salvation is a subtle mixture of grace and law that can never provide Bible security. Simply stated, this doctrine is as follows: The sinner is powerless to live up to Godís holy standards, the law. He does not and cannot possess in himself the character demanded of God. Thus God has come to his aid through the sacrifice of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. God now offers, because of the atonement of His Son, enablement to the sinner by which he is empowered to keep the law. Christ's blood covers all shortcomings, (only) as long as these are properly confessed and forsaken. God offers the grace and power; the sinner must take these and develop within himself the character demanded by the law, or, at leastóto put it as the cults wouldóallow Jesus to do this work. The believing sinner who fails to properly walk with the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit shall ultimately be lost, in spite of his faith in Christ.


This doctrine of salvation cannot and does not offer any security for the adherent. There can never be assurance of eternal life for the cultist, because he does not, in practice, believe that eternal salvation is TOTALLY a gift of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The cultist, rather, is convinced that he, too, has a part in gaining eternal life. He must properly endure to the end in the law of God and the works of his church. If he fails to develop the proper character, he will never inherit eternal life. Thus, he can have no assurance of salvation until after the examinations of judgment day. The misled cultist cannot "stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). Since works play a role in his salvation, he can never testify with joy, saying, "I am NOW justified by his blood ... I SHALL BE saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9).


The goal of the cults when approaching an individual is to bring that soul into legalistic bondage and to shut him out from the true grace of God. They deny this, but their doctrine proves this is true.


Consider a person who has placed his trust in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, he has therefore been cleansed of sin, justified, placed into the family of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is a saved sinner, walking in the eternal liberty of the redeemed sons of God, happily serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not for fear of rejection, not to inherit salvation, not to complete his salvation but in gratitude to his Savior for the eternal life he has been freely given.


Along comes the false teacher. Rather than rejoicing with this redeemed sinner over his good fortune in finding salvation and encouraging him simply to continue in the grace of Christ in a good Bible-believing church, he clucks his tongue in a very concerned way and says: "Not enough; not enough. Faith in Christ is not enough! To be really saved, my friend, you must do this and that and the other; yes, if you really want to be saved, you must come with us into our group. You need the Sabbath. You need the sacraments. You need tongues. You need our kind of baptism. You need a second blessing. We will show you the way."


Such false teachers are aptly described by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians: "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Galatians 2:4).


It is important that we thoroughly document the SDA doctrine of salvation, since it is very subtle. Often, in their literature produced for the general public, the SDA modify what they really believe, including the doctrine of salvation, in an attempt to appear orthodox. The Christian should beware of the deceitfulness of the cults. They are as ready and able as the disguising chameleon to change colors according to varying situations. On one hand, they try to appear perfectly orthodox. They claim to be persecuted and misunderstood by other Christians because of their heresies. "We are just like you are," they protest. On the other hand they promote all sorts of heretical teachings and speak boldly against orthodox Bible doctrines and attempt to draw converts away from the Bible-believing churches. This should not surprise us. The New Testament refers frequently to the deception of false teachers:

• 
  "come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15).
  
  "deceive many" (Matthew 24:4,5,11,24).
  
  "deceitful workers" (2 Corinthians 11:13).
  
  "false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily" (Galatians 2:4).
  
  "cunning craftiness" (Ephesians 4:14).
  
  "seducing spirits" (I Timothy 4:1).
  
  "speaking lies in hypocrisy" (1 Timothy 4:2).
  
  "who creep into houses" (2 Timothy 3:6).
  
  "seducers ... deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13).
  
  "feigned words" (2 Peter 2:2).
  
  "many deceivers are entered into the world" (2 John 7).
  
  "certain men crept in unawares" (Jude 4).
  
  "seducers" (Revelation 2:20).

WHAT ADVENTISM TEACHES: The SDA doctrine of salvation documented. Consider carefully the following Seventh-day Adventist statements relative to salvation. While professing to uphold salvation by grace alone through faith alone, they actually redefine this contrary to apostolic revelation. The result is a false gospel that subtly mixes grace and law.


From a SDA tract deceptively titled Saved By Grace: "Christ says to every man in this world what He said to the rich young ruler: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, Matthew 19:17. In other words, THE STANDARD FOR ADMISSION INTO HEAVEN IS A CHARACTER BUILT ACCORDING TO THE TEN SPECIFICATIONS, OR COMMANDMENTS, OF GODíS LAW. ... He can lift you up to the place where the requirements of the law are met in you. ... THE MASTER BUILDER WILL STAND RIGHT WITH YOU AND IN YOU, AND SEE TO IT PERSONALLY THAT YOUR LIFE COMES UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD'S LAW" (Charles T. Everson, Saved By Grace, pp. 45-46).


From SDA correspondence courses. "It is not the work of the gospel to weaken the claims of Godís holy law, but to bring men up to where they can keep its precepts" (Prophetic Guidance Correspondence Course, Lesson 10, p. 36).


"Do you want to be a Christian? ... The steps to Christ are few and plain and easy to understand, and we will turn to God's Guidebook now for information. ... Believe; that ís the first step toward becoming a Christian. ... the second step is repentance ... repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and putting them away ... the next step in becoming a Christian is confession ... real repentance and confession mean not only to stop sinning, but to do everything possible to make past wrongs right ... The next step is baptism, and the proof for that is found in Acts 2:38-39 ... Fifth, obedience through Christ in us ... So we have clearly outlined the steps that we need to take in order to become a Christian: to believe in God, to repent of and to confess our sins, to be baptized, AND TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. ... He may stumble and fall, but he gets up and presses forward again, determined to overcome by God's enabling power. Such a fall is not counted against him when he repents and asks forgiveness and divine help to live the right life" (New Life Voice of Prophecy Guide, #12).


"Before Christ comes a second time to take us to His Father's house in heaven above, we must allow Him to conquer sin in our lives. ... Because in this life we have chosen to accept these lovely graces of Christ as our own, the sudden transformation at Jesus' appearing will seal our characters. ... ONLY THOSE WHO LIVE THE JESUS-LIFE CAN BE FREED FROM SIN. ... Jesus counseled the rich man who was seeking eternal life, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. ... It is Jesus who delivers us from sin but not in sin. WE MUST ACCEPT HIM AND THROUGH HIS POWER IN US BE SEPARATED FROM THE IMPURE, THE UNHOLY, THE DEFILING ALL DISOBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS" (New Life Guides, #10).


From a SDA catechism. " ... We were slaves to sin. Jesus came down and suffered with us, and for us, and delivered us. As we behold Him in His word, and in prayer and meditation, and serve Him in the person of others, WE MAY BE CHANGED MORE AND MORE INTO THE GLORY OF HIS LIKENESS; THEN, IF FAITHFUL, WE SHALL SOMEDAY SEE HIM FACE TO FACE" (Bible Footlights, 1960, p. 17).


From a SDA doctrinal study. "To whom will God impart immortality? To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality (Romans 2:7). What shall be their reward? Eternal life (Romans 2:7). Upon what conditions may men obtain this blessing? Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal lifeí (1 Timothy 6:12). ... Will a man's final destiny be in accordance with the life he has lived? Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7)" (C.B. Haynes, When A Man Dies, pp. 46-47).


From one of Ellen White's major works. While discussing the doctrine of Investigative Judgment, Mrs. White presents the following teaching about salvation: "The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are counted worthy of ëthe resurrection of life. ... As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. ... every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of Godís remembrance. ... all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance ... the work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another" (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 425, 431).


Adventism labels this doctrine "salvation by grace," but it is a very strange type of grace it is a "grace" foreign to the true gospel of Jesus Christ.


WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: How does the true gospel of the grace of Christ differ from the SDA gospel?


1. Salvation is by grace ALONE through faith ALONE, without the works of the law in any sense whatsoever. Contrary to Adventist doctrine, grace and faith, law and works are not mutually sympathetic systems and are not to be mixed.

• "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:19-20).
  
  "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:10).
  
  "But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood" (Romans 3:21-25).
  
  "Christ hath REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).
  
  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christís stead, be ye reconciled to God. FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM" (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
  
  "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW" (Romans 3:28).
  
  "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5).
  
  "AND IF BY GRACE, THEN IS IT NO MORE OF WORKS: OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Romans 11:6).
  
  "But that NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11).

The Good News of Christ is not salvation through grace producing the works of the law. It is eternal salvation by God's grace alone through faith alone WITHOUT THE LAW. All who will be saved must come on these glorious terms, trusting in the shed blood alone for full salvation.


Those who, after initial faith in Christ, attempt to return to the Mosaic law to perfect their salvation are committing the same error as the Galatians of the first century.

• 
  "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham" (Galatians 3:1-7).

Those who persist in placing themselves under the Mosaic law in spite of clear New Testament teaching are outside of true salvation. Seventh-day Adventist leaders who believe the teaching of their own denomination as stated in the such publications as the New Life Voice of Prophecy correspondence courses are of this number; they are Galatian legalizers.

• "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Galatians 4:9-11).
  
  "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you" (Galatians 4:19-20).
  
  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. 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. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Galatians 5:1-5).

2. Salvation is secure upon conversion. Only the true gospel can offer security. Note the following Bible confirmation of this precious doctrine.

Salvation is secure because it is a free gift, entirely unmerited by the sinner (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation is secure because it involves being declared absolutely righteous by God (Romans 3:21-24). The Greek word translated "justified" is also translated righteous. To be justified is to be declared righteous. Notice how the terms "justified" and "the righteousness of God" are used interchangeably in Romans 3:21-24 quoted above. Notice too, that this righteousness is obtained "by faith," "freely by his grace." What is the sinner's problem and curse? Is it not his lack of righteousness? Therefore, if God justifies the believing sinner, if God declares that sinner righteous, what more does such a blessed individual need? To be justified is to be righteous in God's eyes, just as righteous as Jesus. To be righteous is to be saved and safe. Hallelujah!

Salvation is secure because it is a present possession.

• Justification is a present possession (Romans 5:9).
  
  Peace with God is a present possession (Romans 5:1).
  
  Reconciliation is a present possession (Romans 5:10).
  
  Atonement is a present possession (Romans 5:11)
  
  Eternal life is a present possession (1 John 5:11- 13).
  
  Being a child of God is a present possession (Ephesians 1:6).
  
  Being accepted in Christ is a present possession (Ephesians 1:6).
  
  Forgiveness of sin is a present possession (Ephesians 1:7).
  
  Being made alive in Christ is a present possession (Ephesians 2:1).
  
  Being made fit for heaven is a present possession (Colossians 1:12).
  
  Being delivered from the power of darkness is a present possession (Colossians 1:13).
  
  Being translated into Jesusí kingdom is a present possession (Colossians 1:13).
  
  Mercy is a present possession (1 Peter 2:10).
  
  Healing of sin is a present possession (1 Peter 2:24).

My friend, do you enjoy these glorious spiritual possessions? Have you acknowledged that you are a sinner and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? A person is either saved or lost entirely saved or entirely lost. There is no middle ground, no growing into or perfecting salvation. Are you trusting the blood of Christ, and the blood of Christ ALONE for salvation? If so, the Bible says you possess all the spiritual blessings listed above, plus much, much more. They are secure blessings in Christ!


Salvation is secure because it is positional. There are only two types of persons in reference to salvation the person outside of Christ, and the person in Christ. All are sinners. It is the sinner's position in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ which determines his standing before God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). See also Romans 6:11; Ephesians 1:6; 1 John 5:12.


Salvation is secure because it is by imputation and substitution. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Galatians 3:13).


The sinner has two problems before God. He is sinful and needs forgiveness, and He is unrighteous and needs righteousness. He needs his sin taken away and righteousness imparted or imputed to him. This is what God gives in the Lord Jesus. By Christ's substitutionary death, He paid the price our sin demanded. He, therefore, offers full pardon and forgiveness. This is substitutionary atonement Jesus dying for man's sins. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).


God gives the forgiven sinner righteousness by imputing Jesus' righteousness to his account. This is not a righteousness which God works in the sinner, but righteousness which God places on the sinner's account. It is imputed, not infused. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

The cults despise this doctrine of imputed righteousness. They hate the teaching that a saved man's standing before God has NOTHING to do with his personal works, but rests SOLELY upon Christ's work and the righteousness God imputes to him on the basis of this work. Yet the Bible teaches this. Romans chapter four uses the words "impute," "reckon," and "count" eight times, emphasizing the blessed truth that the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to the believing sinner's account.


There is standing, and there is walk. There is position, and there is practice. There is relationship, and there is fellowship. To confuse these is to pervert the gospel. The two are seen clearly in the book of Ephesians. Chapters 1-3 present the believers position in Christ; chapters 4-6 present the walk he is to maintain in this world. The pivotal verse in Ephesians 4:1 says, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." Paul admonished the believers to walk worthy of their eternally secure position in Christ. The position doesnít change, but the walk certain does. Ephesians 5:8 says, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but NOW are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." The believer has a secure position in Christ, but he is called upon to live up to this position in this world by walking in obedience to God. Colossians 3:1,3 says the same thing: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God ... For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." In position, the Christian is dead to sin and risen with Christ; in practice he is to live up to this eternal calling by seeking the things which are above.


The Christian's standing and position and relationship is eternally secure the moment he is born again. His state and practice and fellowship changes according to his daily walk with Christ. The true believer is perfect before God justified, declared righteous. He is as righteous, in this sense, the day he is converted as he is after forty ears of spiritual maturing. At no time does his standing in Christ as a justified sinner change. The standing is not affected by his growth. He is admonished to live up to this glorious, free position. The believer is challenged to obey the Lord, not in order to attain a position of righteousness, but to live up to the position God has already given him.


What a wonderful salvation! The better a believer understands these truths and his secure position in Christ, the more heartily he desires to serve his Savior God.


Salvation is secure because sanctification has two parts. The New Testament presents two distinct aspects to the believerís sanctification, or his setting apart to God from sin positional and practical. The words "sanctification," "holy," and "saint" are all translated from the same Greek word. Thus the things we say here are equally true for all terms, for the believer's sanctification, for his holiness, and for his sainthood.


The word "sanctification" itself means to be set apart for special service. It can refer to the setting apart of the tabernacle furniture (Exodus 40:10-11,13), of a mountain (Exodus 19:23), of God in the believer's heart (1 Peter 3:15), even of food set apart by the believer's prayer (1 Timothy 4:5). So, when we speak of the believer's sanctification, we are referring to the believer being set apart from sin to God. To sanctify, or to make holy, does not necessarily mean to purify morally. Mt. Sinai certainly was not purified morally when the Israelites "sanctified" it!


There are two aspects to the believer's sanctification. First, the believer is said to be positionally, once for all, eternally set apart to God from sin at his new birth. He is, at that moment, positionally sanctified and holy. He is, right then, a saint, positionally, although, as a brand new Christian, he certainly is not very saintly. He is a saint, sanctified and holy, solely because of his position in Christ Jesus. Amen! "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (He. 10:10). Some other passages which teach this are Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2,30; 6:9-11; Hebrews 10:14; and 1 Peter 1:2. Positional sanctification is a free gift of Godís grace received by simple faith in Christ; it is a secure and present possession.


Secondly, the believer is instructed to be sanctified in a practical sense. This is Christian growth putting away the old man and putting on Christ, laying aside sin and attaining to godliness. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). Some other passages speaking of this are 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16; and Romans 6:19,22.


There are these two different parts to every believerís sanctification and holiness. He is once for all sanctified in Christ positionally at the new birth. Then he is to follow the Lord in obedience and growth in practical sanctification.


These two aspects are well illustrated by two Old Testament feasts; the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread. Of course, the Passover, according to 1 Corinthians 5:7, pictures the believerís salvation through the atonement of the Lord Jesus. This refers to positional sanctification. The feast of unleavened bread, which occurred during the seven days following the Passover, pictures the believer putting sin out of his life in a practical, daily sense (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). This is practical sanctification. Christís Passover sacrifice secures the believerís cleansing and standing before God. Saved from sin positionally, the believer begins to put sin out of his life and to grow in grace.


Those who teach a person can lose his salvation often fail to see these two different types of sanctification. They teach that unless the believer follows through with practical sanctification, he will not be saved. To teach this, though, is to deny the multitudes of comforting passages that say a believer is complete and safe in Christ. "...he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:6-7).


Salvation is secure because it is not servitude, but sonship. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). The man under the law is under the bondage of servitude. His relationship to God is based on faithful service to Godís law. He can never rest securely. The man under the grace of Christ has entered the eternal freedom of Sonship. His relationship is secure because it is based, not on his works, but on Christís work. Christ became a servant that sinners might be made free to serve Him in love and thanksgiving rather than in fear of possible failure and ultimate rejection. There is liberty in Jesus! He has redeemed the believer eternally from the slave market of sin. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).


Salvation is secure because the believer is promised certain deliverance from sin. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we SHALL BE saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we SHALL BE saved by his life" (Romans 5:9-10). See also Romans 8:28-30.


Salvation is secure because the believer is kept by the power of God. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). How can a believer be assured he will enjoy the inheritance spoken of in verse four? Because of the power of God spoken of in verse five!


From the previous studies, it can be seen that true Bible salvation does not have the uncertainty and legalistic admixture of the Adventist gospel. The SDA gospel is false.


DOES SECURITY IN CHRIST MEAN A PROFESSOR CAN LIVE IN SIN AND STILL GO TO HEAVEN?

It is important here to consider exactly what is meant by eternal security in Christ. Does true Bible salvation mean a person can profess Jesus and live "any way he wants to" and go to Heaven? Absolutely not.


1. Salvation demands repentance (Ac. 17:30). Repentance means a change of mind resulting in a change of life, and Jesus Christ said "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). The person who has never changed his mind about God, sin, Christ, and the Bible, has never turned from sin and self-will to God, has never been saved. The individual who professes salvation, yet does not experience a changed life, is not a person who falls away from salvation; he is a person who has never possessed salvation. He has never repented.


2. The new birth changes a man's life. The Bible says those who are truly saved are born again. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new birth is God giving the sinner a new nature. The saved man has new desires. Godís nature within him makes him desire to live Godís way. The indwelling Holy Spirit ministers a desire for holiness and truth. The professor in Christ who does not love Godís way is not a saved man who falls away from salvation; he is a hypocrite or a deceived person who has never possessed true salvation.


3. Salvation is evidenced by perseverance. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). Jesus did not say there are any exceptions to this. The true believer follows Christ. The writer to Hebrews says, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14). Note this verse does not say "we WILL BE made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence." It says we ARE made partakers if we remain stedfast. The stedfastness is the evidence of salvation, not the perfection of it. True faith keeps on keeping on; it perseveres. The Savior keeps His own. The saved man might stumble and halt and grow weak at times, but his faith will continue. The person who completely turns from the Lord Jesus is one who has never had true faith to begin with. He has perhaps dabbled in the things of Christ; perhaps he has curiously tasted of God's table, but he has never truly drunk of the salvation of Jesus Christ.


The verses quoted above teach that believers do not keep themselves saved by keeping on in the things of the Lord. By continuing in the things of Christ, they simply demonstrate that they have been saved. They keep on because God works in them. No one has any authority from Scripture to say someone is truly saved who does not continue in the things of Christ. On the other hand, this does not mean that the believer cannot enjoy a know-so position in Christ. He is safe in Christ already the very day he is converted. The Bible says so. This does not make him slothful; it inspires him with love and devotion to his Savior.


4. True saving faith produces works. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone..." (James 2:17). A faith that does not work is a dead faith. The individual who professes to be saved, but who is not interested in Christ and the things of God, has a very peculiar kind of "faith." It certainly is not saving faith.


We agree with the Adventists that salvation produces works; but we vehemently disagree with them that these works in any way perfect salvation. Evidencing salvation by one's works is one thing; perfecting oneís salvation through works is quite another. Evidencing salvation by works is the gospel; perfecting salvation through works is a perversion of the gospel.

(To Be Continued with HERESY #2: SABBATH-KEEPING)


Retrieved from http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/avoiding/avoiding03.htm

 

[John the Baptist]

Is there a battle ongoing?

LOL, I don't know, bro. ;-) Should I go and charge up my Star Wars Lightsaber? :-D

*********
Well, I just read the next post (or started to) And the font size was of the nature that even I could see it. :wink:

Anyway, it reminded me of a very recent (yesterday I think) warning received about using abnormal fronts. (bottom line???) It must have been from the new owner of the site here, I guess? It seems that he has taken over?? Maybe the Saul of Acts 8:1-3???

All jesting aside, I have been posting on the site here for quite some time, using a few 'handels' or whatever ones calls them? And a few thousand post perhaps in all, collectively? Anyway, I don't think that over these few years on this site (even with all the 'huge' host of mod's) have I ever had a warning until this guy comes along that tells me that I would .. 'not like the old Solo'. ???
Then the warnings come along regularly even with the 'end' of the warnings warning? :fadein:. Kind of reminds me of the no law for Christians that we hear so much of, as in James 1:15? Or is that a threat maybe, huh???

Hay, I can't help it if E.G.W. believes the same way that I do! :fadein:

---John

 

[ttg]

^^^^^^^^^^^
Cliff's notes version please?