fellow Christians, im confused on something?

Question

some denominations believe that when you die,you either go to Heaven or Hell.but i was brought up to believe that when you die,youre only unconcious until God comes back.(i was raised SDA by my dad.)

even Jesus Himself said when He rose Lazarus from the dead,that they wont be "dead",theyll only be in a deep sleep.(i watched a movie about the Passover,& that was in it)

besides,whats the point of having a Second Coming if we go to one or the other as soon as we die??that doesnt make sense to me.

would also like to straighten something else out;why is it that ive always heard SDAs were another Christian denom.when just yester.ppl started telling me that the SDAs ARENT Christian but only a cult?i also researched it & found it also being claimed on google.is it BASICALLY Christian but SORTA cult because we have slightly diff.teachings than the "mainstream"?(in my q. 2the sunday worshipers & jehovahs they called it mainstream)apparently the "mainstream" sees us as only a cult.

im getting the impression that theres only one true Christian belief & all the others are only cults because they have different beliefs. im wondering if its only the Sunday Worshipers that are the "true" belief. & if theres only one true one w/ a bunch that "branch off" into their own beliefs, then why all the "denominations"?

I AM SO CONFUSED NOW!!!

did my dad raise me in a cult instead???

i 4got to mention that whenever i hear "cult", i think of the satanic cult.

Answer 1

My friend,

I urge you to make your own study. It is not going to be easy but I tell you that when you study, call on the Holy Spirit to enlighten you. This I ask of you, do not forget to pray! Pray to God! He will lead you to the right one.

Take very special consideration on these issues:
1. How the Church was formed. Read its history. There is only one Church that Jesus established. We can see on the book of Revelations the wedding feast of Jesus and His bride. There is only one bride so there is only One Church. Jesus could never be polygamous. With the Church's formation, you will see which one came first, the Church or the Bible.

2. How the Bible was compiled. There are a lot of different interpretations of the Bible so it's going to be important for you which one you should use. Go down to history so you would know how it was compiled and who compiled it. With this, you would know which one to use.

3. How the Church grew from the time of the Apostles to our time. There is an unbroken succession from the time of the Apostles to ours. This will show who has been given the authority to oversee Jesus' Church until He comes back.

These are the things that I have studied (and still studying) so I could be assured that I am in the One True Church that Jesus established.

Be wise my friend in studying so when you have come to the knowledge of the Truth, no one can say that the faith you have is blind faith.

My prayers are with you!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Answer 2

Well, the word cult is very general. Many Pentecostal Christians are considered cults because they disagree on points. The apostles were basically called a "cult" in their day because Jesus was very much against the religious philosophy of that day. Dont' sweat about being called a cult.

However, the SDA is off on many things from a bible point of view. Your' actually not too far off on saying that there is "one" belief and many branches.

Rather than having many people tell you that they are "the ones", do an in depth study of the Book of Acts in your own bible. Read carefully exactly what they taught, preached, and did. If the churches around does not teach, preach and act the same way, no matter what they have on their sign, they are not parallell.

You'll find the original church that Jesus Christ started through the Apostles preached repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for remission/washing way of our sins (not in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit), they taught the infilling of the Holy Ghost and that all this is a "new birth" as in John 3.

Very different than SDA or even "mainstream" Christianity teaches. Not to throw another wrench in your thinking, but it is very, very GOOD that you are questioning what you believe. You are now at a point that you must seek God's truth on your own and for you own.

Any questions, visit: www.housefellowship.org

Be blessed.

Answer 3

I am also a SDA. I think the devil has been spreading lies about our church, so that some people think it's a "cult". That couldn't be further from the Truth. We believe in Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross, and was raised from the dead on the third day, and that He will return again soon. We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. We share all the basic tenets of Christianity with other churches. The definition of a "cult" is one that breaks off from the mainline and follows a MAN instead of Christ, and no longer uses the Bible as the "rule of law".

Answer 4

Many (not all people)presently think there is my way or the 'wrong way'. That concept unfortuneately applies in 'Christianity' also; ( there is the church I go to or others are a cult).
As for the 'many denominations' here in USA presently; let me explain it this way, for now.

Christ gave Jews and Christians the '2 or more witnesses' principle (Jews Deut. 10-20, Christians Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1). Test; What is the scriptural old testament? The scriptural old testament is the law of Moses (synonym 2 Cor. 3:13-14; witnesses Joshua,David, Solomon, Nehemiah, Jesus, Paul, etc); not Genesis-Malachi (that concept violates Joshua 1, and 2 Tim.3:16-17).
More questions regarding the above; email me soon with the question(s).

Answer 5

First- people need to look up the definition of Christain and most religion sects that point the finger at everyone telling them they are not christain goes against the whole concept of being christain. "Mainstream" thinks that catholic, baptist, eps., and presb. are they only "christains."

Here's my thoughts-- do you believe in Jesus Christ? do you study his teachings in the holy scriptures? do you worship satan? Well if you answered yes, yes, no... you are christain!

Your believe is what is in your heart. you are not wrong. in the king james version of the bible the new testiment states that there will be a second coming and there will be a resurection where will we be raised. The bible also states that there are different "glories" of heaven.

I dont believe you are immediately sorted to heaven or hell-- the king james version supports this.... otherwise, why would we need a resurection day (judgement day) if everyone was judged immediately!

Pray about it--- the Lord will answer you if you listen with an intent, honest, and sincere heart. Pray quietly, ponder your thoughts, and read your holy scriptures and YOU will have an answer! I promise!

And as for religion on a whole...any church has very unchristain like qualities. Study early history and your stomach will turn at what Catholic priest and those in power did back when, Jesus was NOT catholic (unlike someone previously indicated)_Even the bible has been edited -it didnt come together as one book but was compiled from lots of sources and people's writings (kinda like a journal) and if you study early history again... you will find it was not uncommon for Kings to add and remove things from the scriptures to keep them "doing the right thing". So, even the versions of the bible we have today are not totally accurate therefore you have to pray and ask God for your own understanding and HE WILL give it.

Answer 6

The kingdom of heaven is at hand, peace be with you.

Read all the Words Jesus spoke. The story of Lazarus is in Luke 16:19-31 and John 11:1-43, John 12:1-17 is also the same story.

However, Luke 16 tells us what happens in the spiritual world, and John 11 tell us what happens in the physical world.
John 12 tells us how the people of the physical reacted to these events. Read Luke 11:24-26

Ponder on each and every words, do not let men tell you what to think, trust in Jesus.

This is a memorial to Mary for she anointed Jesus at the hour of his death.

Answer 7

I agree with Joslin, but that is a lot of cut & paste.

To your specific questions, the Bible says: Jesus knew the condition of the dead. He referred to Lazarus as sleeping as in Lazarus without any knowledge of what was going on around him, with no memories or abilities. (Eccles. 9:5,10) his thoughts did perish. (Psalms 146:4)

As you correctly reason, what would be the point of having a resurrection if the dead had already left the grave?

Some say the soul goes on. Is this true? Then why does Ezekiel 18:4 say, "The soul that is sinning--it itself will die."

As regards being Christian, would it surprise you to know most claiming to be Christian are definitely not! Many public claim to know God but disown Him by their works. (Titus 1:16) People gather teachers or preachers for themselves to have their ears tickled or hear what pleases them. (2Tim. 4:3)

One thing is have you noticed how many clergy can't wait to get involved in politics? James 4:4 says 'friendship with the world is enmity with God.' As Jesus said about his true followers, 'if they were part of the world, the world would love its own. They are no part of the world just as I am no part of the world.' (John 15:19; 17:16)

So here is an answer to your question from the Bible the authority.

Answer 8

I am not or ever been in the SDA'S but i do keep the 4th commandment as well as the other 9, the mainstream church's has always called the others that keep the sayings of Jesus, a cult. The mainstream church's are blind to the fact, that from Genisis to Revelations , the seventh day sabbath was indeed keeped by all of God's people, including Jesus and the apostiles after His death.
Remember God has blinded those who will not see, until the second resurrection, and also remember that most of the mainstream sunday going religions believe that the 10 commandments have been done away with,Especially the 4th commandment about the sabbath day. Which is so FAR FROM THE TRUTH OF GOD, that it makes sunday church's the actual CULTS.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

You are so very correct in the belief that death is sleep until Jesus returns to this earth, this world is also blinded to this fact of truth, for this world follows the commandments and traditions of men, rather than of God.

There is tons of this proof in Gods word, but i will show you this since you brought up LAZARUS , Remember what Martha said to Jesus about Lazarus death,

Joh 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
even Martha knew when we will rise from the dead, and she and Lazarus were great friends of Jesus and were taught the truth from Jesus's own lips, very often.

perhaps you would take the time to read a small booklet on this very subject , if you are truly seeking the truth of God.

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/AD/

Answer 9

Please don't beat yourself up. The SDA are a very Christian, very charitable organization. Jehovah's Witness' have more of the cult status, but hey what is wrong with that. Believe in your God and be a good person. Enough beating up on peoples beliefs, just thank your Dad for caring enough to raise you to be an upstanding decent spiritual human being.

Answer 10

Jesus will come at the end of time to judge all human beings. This is called the parousia, His second coming. It was foretold by the angels as He ascended: "This Jesus who is taken up from you to heaven, will come in the way in which you saw Him going into heaven" (Acts 1:11).

However, those who die before the parousia will be judged immediately at their deaths. This is known as the particular judgement. The Epistle to the Hebrews says (9:27): " It is appointed to men to die once, and after that comes the judgement". Then, "Each one will receive his pay, according to his works" (1 Cor 3:8).

There are three possible outcomes to the particular judgement. Those whose love for God has been perfected in this life are taken straight to heaven, where they enjoy endless happiness in the face to face vision of God. Those who die in God's love but still love Him imperfectly must be purified in the intermediate state of purgatory. Those, however, who reject God's love by mortal sin and die without repenting are condemned to the everlasting torments of hell. The general judgement at the end of time simply solemnly confirms the particular judgements of each one, with the difference that then the body as well as the soul will receive what is due it. And all God's judgements will be revealed as most just.

The Catholic Church is the original Church given to the world through Christ all other religious sects are man made