Any Seventh-day Adventists here? Can you help me with a Catholic problem?

Question

Hello, I was in a Catholic forum trying to explain to this lady who was once an SDA but departed the faith to become a Catholic..she seems very stubborn and I was wondering if anyone could help me show her the truth the right way. She seems to be reaching out seeking something, but mostly in a huge denial of the Sabbath etc.

I dunno if I should just give up on her or what, but I felt compelled to try my best to explain the Sabbath truth and Bible prophecies to her, but I do not feel I am doing a very good job as she is coming up with all sorts of excuses, like the date 538 A.D. is not the correct date of the 1260 day prophecy.

This is how she tried to explain 538 A.D. as a flawed date of the 1260 day prophecy:

There are many places I find flaws. One of them, the use of the year 538 a.d. for the 'establishment' of the papacy. Research it, and you will find the only groups seriously using that as a date for the establishment of the papacy are groups supporting Adventist views of prophecy interpretation. Among the many problems with the date:

It was not the year Code of Justinian was given.
It was not the first such proclamation or edict.
It changed nothing about the papacy not already established by earlier laws.

If anyone would be willing to help me explain to her the forum is here:

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=125808

Thanks!

Answer 1

Really why does it matter which sect of Christianity the woman chooses to use? The fact of the matter is that at the end of the day she still loves Christ, anything beyond that seems to me to just be gravy

Answer 2

Hi,

I am Seventh-day Adventist and I could give you some websites which could be very helpful.

I have heard almost the same arguments. My opinion is that that stuff about the year of the code of Justinian, or the date the 1260 day prophecy began, can be proven by history. Those are facts that prove that the Bible is right. You know the Scripture and history are in harmony with each other, an extraordinary harmony I would say. You can make a research about it, and it doesn´t have to be from a SDA resource. Look up at an encyclopedia, or the internet, etc. Those dates were not made up by the SDA church, they´re in history.

Please, take my advice: try to avoid discussions. You know that the Bible is not to be argued. I read once about two teens who ended up fighting because they were discussing about God´s grace; pastors had to come and stop them. How could boys end up fighting about such a beautiful doctrine? However, it happens sometimes (you know the devil never stops working). The Word of God is not to be a center of discussion or wars, etc. Just the opposite, it is for life!

If this lady just doesn´t want to know anything about the SDA church, you´re going to have to respect her decision. You can talk to her, explain her doubts, and help her in anything you can, if she just doesn´t want to know anything about it, or rejects to know the truth, we have to respect that, just the way God does.

I just click on the link you gave; now I see clearer what you meant. Use the Bible, the Scripture talks for itself. But, as I told you, if she doesn´t want to believe, we must respect that and not get into arguings, it would be useless.

I´ll give you some websites about the Sabbath:

http://www.SabbathTruth.com

On that website, you´ll find the following videos:

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabnewcov1.asx

http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabnewcov2.asx

I also recomend to you the following website:

http://www.amazingfacts.org/

You´ll find almost anything in the website given above. From Bible prophecy, Bible studies, Bible questions, articles, media, links to other websites, etc. I just love it!

For example, check out the following article about alcohol:

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=683&x=23&y=23

You know, there might be good and sincere people who haven´t discovered some Bible truths (health issues, Sabbath truth, etc.). Our responsability and privilege as Christians is to share those truths with others. But we have to ask ourselves how Jesus would do it. He certainly wouldn´t have furiously argued. We must share the truth with love. That´s the only way. And, of course, with the Holy Spirit´s aid to convince the hearts, because if it is not Him who talks, it doesn´t matter how convinceful we may be, we´ll not succeed. The Holy Spirit must guide us to present the truth, and convincing people´s hearts is His work. And the people´s role is to decide what they´re going to do with that truth.

Hope the websites I gave you may help. If you need any farther help, please ask me. I´ll be glad to help.

Take care, my brother; God bless you!

Answer 3

Sorry, I can't help you specificially with the theology of it, but as an ex-SDA, I don't like it when people try to shove religion down my throat. I have a very strong set of beliefs, but they don't necessarily conform to a specific religious sect. I consider myself to be a Christian, but I don't practice a specific religion. I am at peace between myself and my God.