What's your opinion on the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) reigion and how it was founded?

Question

SDA is seen as a cult religion because of how it was founded and some of their beliefs. Do you agree? How you feel about Ellen White being seen as a prophet, even though her predictions did not come true, including Jesus return?

I too was a SDA from birth until I learned the truth. But my church taught from the Bible. I have recently found that a lot of things we were supposed to believe they did not teach but slid it in in their own way. When I ask my mother about those things, I get brushed off as if it is nothing. That's why I left the SDA church.

For yjose that have said her predictions came true, name me a few, I have found otherwise

For those that have said her predictions came true, name me a few, I have found otherwise

For those who have said they did come true, expecially the one pertaining to the twin towers, she never stated that exact event. Do you know how many towers have fell since that day? What about the fact that they kept changing the date he was to return only to come back with he was moving from one place to another in the judgement phase. And yes like someone stated, she was accused of plagerism, using others works. The fact that everything has to be a cover up or an excuse should be enough th question their intents.

Answer 1

Interesting stuff but I have a few questions about some statements made.

"How you feel about Ellen White being seen as a prophet, even though her predictions did not come true, including Jesus return?"

Well, first I know the Ellen White did not make any prophecy about when Jesus would return, but I am wondering what some of the other untrue prophecies you have in mind are.

"SDA was founded because their were no calander days when God created earth. How does anyone know what day the 7th day landed on?"

That is a very simple question to answer. In Exodus chapter 16, we find the manna falling from heaven. The manna did not fall on the Sabbath, so the Hebrews had to gather double amounts of manna on Friday. God knew what day the Sabbath was because he did not send any manna on that day; the Jews of today keep that same day holy, so we too can easily figure out what day is the seventh.

"Any religion that does not preach from the Holy Bible is worshiping another God"

The Seventh-day Adventist church does preach from the Bible. Perhaps you should look at some of the things Ellen White said about the Bible. "We then took the position that the Bible, and the Bible only, was to be our guide; and we are never to depart from this position." (This Day With God, p. 355); “The words of the Bible, and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit.” (Prophets and Kings, p. 626); “...Don’t you quote Sister White. I don’t want you ever to quote Sister White until you get your vantage ground where you know where you are. Quote the Bible. Talk the Bible. It is full of meat, full of fatness. Carry it right out in your life, and you will know more Bible than you know now.” (Spaulding-Magan Collection, p. 174)

"The New Testament clearly states that we are to worship on the 1st day of the week - so why do they worship on Saturday - mayby they do not follow the Bible?"

Where does the New Testament say any such thing? I do not see one command to keep the first day holy in any part of the Bible. In fact, I read that Jesus, Paul, and all the other apostles kept the Sabbath.

"I know they under no circumstances can they have a blood transfusion."

That is odd and untrue. Seventh-day Adventists can have blood transfusions.

"They don't understand the bible so they wrote their own & invented a religion to suit their purposes."

That is also an odd statement. I would like some proof to back it up though. Because someone things something is true does not make it true.

"I stay out of the way of SDA religion, because they believe that if you don't worship on a Saturday you are going to hell."

This is also untrue. Seventh-day Adventists believe that people of all faiths can be saved; this is because the Bible says that only God knows the heart. Those who are sincere in keeping Sunday over the Sabbath may be saved, but it is for no human to say.

"The Apostles didnt preach a message like this, in fact they told us to meet on the FIRST day of the week, which is Sunday... not making it a new Sabbath day but to commemorate Christs resurrection."

Could we have a text to back this up? I have seen no such evidence in any part of the Bible. In fact, I still read that Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles kept the Sabbath.

"Ellen White fell into the category of a false prophet because of her “prophesies” that did not come to pass."

And again, what are these prophecies? People always say they are there, but never have any to quote. If you think the judgment is an example or the fact that the Millerite movement misunderstood the prophecy as an example, read Acts 1:6 to find out how much the apostles misunderstood prophecy. Some of your "facts" are also wrong, but that is only to be expected. One example, Ellen White did not come up with idea that Christ didn’t return but that the prophesies were just not interpreted correctly and that it really meant that Jesus moved from the holy place to the most holy place in order to begin his completion of his atonement for the sins of the people. This was decided before Ellen had her first vision by the reaming group of Millerite believers and affirmed by Ellen White through a vision some six months later.

If one really wants to know about Seventh-day Adventists, it would make more sense to go to http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html than to listen to unsupported cult rumors.

Answer 2

I spent 6 years attending a SDA church. I never completely agreed with some things, but I do believe in observing the Sabbath, so I went there. My biggest problem was Ellen White. Most of them honestly don't realize how wrong she was because they don't read everything she ever wrote. My favorite deleted part is where she said black people were a product of the amalgamation (breeding) of humans with animals!! Surely a prophet , while human of course, wouldn't say such a ridiculous thing!
A lot of what she DID have right, she copied from other writers. I don't have a problem with most of their beliefs, but if you look deeply into the history of the church you see that there are other groups with similar beliefs that don't include the ever-changing beliefs that the SDA's seem to have. The SDA church has changed to appear more mainstream. Their current beliefs aren't all that different from some other denominations. BUT, if they have changed so much over the last 100 years or so, they seem too uncertain for me.
I still visit my old church occasionally, and I love the people there. It's a very very tiny church (about 10 people each Saturday), and a very friendly group of people. But if they ever ask, I'll tell them how I feel about their prophetess.

Answer 3

She never predicted Jesus return she warned others not to do so. It was basically founded back when she was living. and It is not a cult. We believe in the whole Bible just like most religions claim to. Check out amazingfacts.org for a complete listing on beliefs. Jesus is coming very soon is one of our main beliefs as is the fact that since Jesus never changed the commandments we still worship on the day he originally told us to worship on. Saturday. All of EGWhites predictions did come true, for someone with only a third grade education she sure did write a lot of books I think there is also a separate website devoted to her writings and biography.

Answer 4

I don't agree that SDAs are a cult because I am an SDA myself and I don't think Ellen White made any predictions about Jesus's return only about what was going to happen. We are not a cult, and the only reason we are called one is because we don't believe in what everyone else believes about certain things.

Answer 5

Acually it clearly states in the bible in Genesis, that he worked for 6 days, and on the 7th day he rested. Which means its Saturday, its the last day of the week, also we do follow the bible, that is what we trust and follow, and about Ellen G. White, she only predict about what's going to happen in the future, and one prediction came true already. In her book, it states that the tallest towers in the biggest city was going to fall, which im sure she was talking about New York. Maybe the president should read her book, and might be aware of the other events that might come.

Answer 6

I dont hold much value in "founders" they're human too and unless the church is worshiping the founder... then no biggy

However as far as their doctrines go I feel they dont teach the Truth of the Gospel message. To assume and say that those who go to church on Sunday follow the BEAST is not only nonbiblical but a lie. They leave little novel like books around town here about how someday the Beast will say that everyone has to worship on Sunday and everyone who doesnt will have their heads cut off!! And worshiping on Sunday would be "The Mark of the Beast" *though I dont know how that has anything to do with the inability to buy or sell without it... but whatever* They believe this to be true, and well... I cant imagine how that would happen. The only person who may possibly ever say we can only worship on Sunday would be the Pope... and I dont think he would, and if he DID, No way would Protestants listen. We'd worship on Wednesday just for spite.

The Apostles didnt preach a message like this, in fact they told us to meet on the FIRST day of the week, which is Sunday... not making it a new Sabbath day but to commemorate Christs resurrection.

What does the Bible say about those who come preaching a different message than the Apostles did? Oh yeah... that they will be forever ACCURSED!

Answer 7

Ellen White fell into the category of a false prophet because of her “prophesies” that did not come to pass. Ellen White first became involved in what was called The Millerites that were another group that gave false prophesies of the return of Christ. After changing the dates several times, they soon became disillusioned and the group broke up. One of the members of this group was Charles Taz Russell who went on to form the cult of Jehovah Witness’s and Ellen White went on to form the cult of Seventh Day Adventism that was originally simply called Adventist Church which was in reference to the advent of the second coming of Christ. Rather then acknowledge she was duped by a group of false prophets, Ellen White drummed up the idea that Christ didn’t return but that the prophesies were just not interpreted correctly and that it really meant that Jesus moved from the holy place to the most holy place in order to begin his completion of his atonement for the sins of the people. In Seventh Day circles, this is called the “Investigative Judgment”. It is all very confusing and detailed, to much so for a short answer but as with all cults, they have to make up these elaborate confusing doctrines to fit their false prophesies and visions.

Answer 8

It is religion and if you see something wrong on it don't judge it
try to study why does sda's are like these or like that.
God is always good he will never forsake us. If you see that
sda is not good ask God for it if sda's the church you should be.
search and read the bible. God bless you...

A Brief History of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church

In just a century and a half the Seventh-day Adventist Church has grown from a handful of individuals, who carefully studied the Bible in their search for truth, to a world-wide community of over eight million members and millions of others who regard the Adventist Church their spiritual home. Doctrinally, Seventh-day Adventists are heirs of the interfaith Millerite movement of the 1840s. Although the name "Seventh-day Adventist" was chosen in 1860, the denomination was not officially organized until Ma y 21, 1863, when the movement included some 125 churches and 3,500 members.

Between 1831 and 1844, William Miller--a Baptist preacher and former army captain in the War of 1812--launched the "great second advent awakening" which eventually spread throughout most of the Christian world. Based on his study of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Miller calculated that Jesus would return to earth on October 22, 1844. When Jesus did not appear, Miller's followers experienced what became to be called "the great Disappointment."

Most of the thousands who had joined the movement, left it, in deep disillusionment. A few, however, went back to their Bibles to find why they had been disappointed. Soon they concluded that the October 22 date had indeed been correct, but that Miller had predicted the wrong event for that day. They became convinced that the Bible prophecy predicted not that Jesus would return to earth in 1844, but that He would begin at that time a special ministry in heaven for His followers. They still looked for Jesus to come soon, however, as do Seventh-day Adventists yet today.

From this small group who refused to give up after the "great disappointment" arose several leaders who built the foundation of what would become the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Standing out among these leaders were a young couple--James and Ellen G. White -- and a retired sea captain named Joseph Bates.

This small nucleus of "adventists" began to grow -- mainly in the New England states of America, where Miller's movement had begun. Ellen G. White, a mere teenager at the time of the "great Disappointment," grew into a gifted author, speaker and administrator, who would become and remain the trusted spiritual counselor of the Adventist family for more than seventy years until her death in 1915. Early Adventists came to believe -- as have Adventists ever since -- that she enjoyed God's special guidance as she wrote her counsels to the growing body of believers.

In 1860, at Battle Creek Michigan, the loosely knit congregations of Adventists chose the name Seventh-day Adventist and in 1863 formally organized a church body with a membership of 3,500. At first, work was largely confined to North America until 1874 when the Church's first missionary, J. N. Andrews, was sent to Switzerland. Africa was penetrated briefly in 1879 when Dr. H. P. Ribton, an early convert in Italy, moved to Egypt and opened a school, but the project ended when riots broke out in the vicinity.

The first non-Protestant Christian country entered was Russia, where an Adventist minister went in 1886. On October 20, 1890, the schooner Pitcairn was launched at San Francisco and was soon engaged in carrying missionaries to the Pacific Islands. Seventh-day Adventist workers first entered non-Christian countries in 1894 -- Gold Coast (Ghana), West Africa, and Matabeleland, South Africa. The same year saw missionaries entering South America, and in 1896 there were representatives in Japan. The Church now has established work in 209 countries.

The publication and distribution of literature were major factors in the growth of the Advent movement. The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (now the Adventist Review), general church paper, was launched in Paris, Maine, in 1850; the Youth's Instructor in Rochester, New York, in 1852; and the Signs of the Times in Oakland, California, in 1874. The first denominational publishing house at Battle Creek, Michigan, began operating in 1855 and was duly incorporated in 1861 under the name of Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association.

The Health Reform Institute, later known as the Battle Creek Sanitarium, opened its doors in 1866, and missionary society work was organized on a statewide basis in 1870. The first of the Church's worldwide network of schools was established in 1872, and 1877 saw the formation of statewide Sabbath school associations. In 1903, the denominational headquarters was moved from Battle Creek, Michigan, to Washington, D.C., and in 1989 to Silver Spring, Maryland, where it continues to form the nerve center of ever-expanding work.

Answer 9

I have read some of her writings. They do seem to be inspired writings with truth in their words. However, they are her thoughts in regard to the Bible and ways of living. A true prophet not only testifies of Christ, but is his mouthpiece. I think a lot of her beliefs are good advice. I do not believe that the church that she created has authority from God. I believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be the Lord's true Church.

Joseph Smith was a prophet of God in her time as well. He spoke with God personally and was instructed to restore the Lords Church. He was given Priesthood authority by the laying on of hands, and twelve apostles were chosen.

Although a very inspired woman, and prophetically blessed with inspiration to be a leader, I believe that there is much good in her teachings but have found the true church to bear the name of the Lord.

The Revelations in the Church of Jesus Christ reflect his personal teachings and are not based on personal belief of ones own ideas.

The Spirit will testify of truthfulness to you. I suggest you pray and continue in your search for truth. Its exists. I assure you God has not left his children astray or alone in these days.

Answer 10

About par with most other religions. Although they play the "fear" and "control" card a little better then most.

Do you need a religion to connect to the divine? Its OK if you do, but there might be a better way for you. If so you will find it.

You see what most religions fear the most is their members finding God without them. You will no longer require a go between from you to God, Jesus, Mosses, Yahweh or however you view the divine.

We also don't think Jesus is returning (although all things are possible)
This time around you (all of us) are the saviors. Although we disagree with the concept of being saved. Original sin was a man made idea for control purposes.