Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church the bride of Christ?
Are the offshoots of SDA the bride of Christ?
Let’s explore these questions from the perspective of end-time events.
Identifying the bride of Christ
- And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
One characteristic of the church of Christ is to keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. What is the testimony of Jesus Christ?
- And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Another characteristic of the bride of Christ is adhering to the spirit of prophecy. It is a broad term denoting Christ’s words in the voices of His prophets.
Is Ellen G. White a prophet of God?
When it comes to the prophetic gift of a person, the standard is set high. Jesus said “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15-16; 24:24-25; Mark 13:22-23). The prophet can fit only in two categories: either it is a true prophet or a false one. So the examination of the writings of Ellen White needs to be done individually. But in our humble opinion, those who gave the candid examination of the writings of Ellen White certainly will hear Christ’s voice in it.
- Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Again, the keeping of the commandments of God is being emphasized as a characteristic of God’s true church, as well as having the original unadulterated faith of Christ.
- These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
The bride of Christ is not defiled with women. These are not literal virgins; rather, the woman is a symbol of the church, so the bride of Christ is a virgin, not being adulterated nor defiled with false religious systems. Rather, they hear the voice of Christ and follow Him wherever He goes.
- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
- To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
- And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Characteristics / summary
Christ’s bride are people who:
- keep the commandments of God
- have the spirit of prophecy / the testimony of Christ
- have the faith of Jesus
- are not defiled with false religious systems
- hear the voice of Christ
- follow Christ wherever He goes.
The bride of Christ in the end-time perspective
As we have seen by the characteristics of the bride of Christ, they are fully surrendered to Christ. But in the Great Conflict, Satan will extort their own conscience.
- And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
This extortion of the conscience of men will determine the side on which each individual will stand. Either they will receive the mark of the beast, or the seal of God. However, the bride of Christ will overcome the extortion because they did not love their own lives.
- And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Individual vs. corporate
corporate
adjective - relating to a large company or group.
noun - a corporate company or group.
The bride of Christ is the church, which is a corporate entity - because it is a company or group of people. It is a group of people who listen to the voice of Christ and keep all of His commandments. But listening to the voice of Christ and keeping God’s commandments is executed on the individual level.
Pattern matching SDA with the bride of Christ
We see the pattern match between the SDA and the bride of Christ in the history of the SDA church. Here is a brief overview:
In the 1840s, Christ had raised the global movement (Millerite Movement) for raising awareness over the close of the final prophetic time period of 2300 days and night prophecy and the cleansing of the Sanctuary from Daniel 8:14. It was a powerful movement because Jesus was leading it. The message was:
- 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.
- And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
They understood that the cleansing of the Sanctuary was the cleansing of the Earth by the brightness of Christ’s Second coming. There was a strong call for repentance of their sins, for Christ was coming! Churches and denominations of that time did not accept or approve these messages, and they condemned the movement. The result was that people were extorted in their conscience, so they left these churches or got expelled (See the example of disfellowshipping Ellen’s family from the Methodist church: Life Sketches, chapter 5). They left the Babylonian fallen religious system.
But contrary to the popular belief that the Sanctuary was the earth, and the cleansing of it was the cleansing of the earth by fire in Christ’s Second coming, Christ came on the clouds of Heaven, in the Heavenly Sanctuary, to the Ancient of Days to start an investigative judgment to cleanse the Sanctuary according to the type of the earthly sanctuary - “the hour of his judgment has come”. This misunderstanding caused the Great Disappointment. Was this powerful movement of God? Only a handful of people could not deny the voice of Christ in the Millerite Movement. They studied the prophecies and saw that all dates aligned perfectly. That small group of people recognized the voice of Christ in the movement and they wholeheartedly followed Christ. They had the testimony of Jesus - the spirit of prophecy, they followed the voice of God’s prophets. They could not deny the leading of Christ in the Millerite movement. So they resolved in further study of the Scriptures with more earnestness.
Here is a reflection of Ellen White in regards to these times:
“Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, ‘We can do nothing more,’ the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me.” {EGW, SpTB02 56.4; 1904}
This small group, the remnant of the movement, which followed the Lamb in the Most Holy Place, they sacrificed everything for Christ, they came out of Babylon - the fallen churches, and through Christ’s leading they understood the testimony and the faith of Jesus. This resulted in accepting all the commandments of God, including the fourth, the Sabbath. This group constituted the Seventh-day Adventists:
“That which the Holy Spirit testified to as truth after the passing of the time, in our great disappointment, is the solid foundation of truth. Pillars of truth were revealed, and we accepted the foundation principles that have made us what we are—Seventh-day Adventists, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus.” {EGW, Lt326-1905.3; 1905}
SDA corporate organization
Mentioned pioneers, the group of faithful people which had passed through the Great Disappointment experience, organized themselves into the church as an organized entity and they named it - the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1864 they established the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The purpose of the organization is to have a joined effort in fulfilling the church’s purpose - proclamation of the three angels messages.
It is a duty of every Seventh-day Adventist to support the church in its mission.
Misconceptions
There are a number of misconceptions regarding the SDA corporate organization. Here are a few:
Does my membership of the SDA corporate church make me faithful?
The bride of Christ hears His voice and follows Him wherever He goes. It is perfectly plausible to be a member of the SDA corporate church and not keep the commandments of God. For he who stumbles in one point is guilty of all (See James 2:10-11).
The SDA church has a creed, and my faithfulness is tested by that creed
In order to be God’s bride, the SDA Church must not have a creed, besides the Bible. Why? Because faithfulness is tested by God’s commandments, not by churches’ maxims, rules of faith, and creeds. Everyone’s conscience has to be subjected to the Word of God, not to something nor someone else.
When our pioneers published the Declaration of the Fundamental Principles as a public synopsis of our faith, they clearly emphasized that this list of statements representing the SDA faith is not a creed nor a rule of faith.
In presenting to the public this synopsis of our faith, we wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline, aside from the Bible. We do not put forth this as having any authority with our people, nor is it designed to secure uniformity among them, as a system of faith, but is a brief statement of what is, and has been, with great unanimity, held by them. We often find it necessary to meet inquiries on this subject, and sometimes to correct false statements circulated against us, and to remove erroneous impressions which have obtained with those who have not had an opportunity to become acquainted with our faith and practice. Our only object is to meet this necessity. {FP1872 3.1}
“As elsewhere stated, Seventh-day Adventists have no creed but the Bible; but they hold to certain well-defined points of faith for which they feel prepared to give a reason “to every man that asketh” them. The following propositions may be taken as a summary of the principal features of their religious faith, upon which there is, so far as we know, entire unanimity throughout the body. They believe,—” [continued with 28 points of beliefs] {FP1889 147.1}
The SDA General Conference is the voice of God in regards to my faith
This is a popular misconception of the General Conference’s jurisdiction. By careful examination of Ellen White’s quote, the misconception is cleared. Please pay attention to whether Ellen White is talking about the General Conference being the voice of God in regards to faith, or in regards to the plans for the prosperity and advancement of God’s work. Is the authority of the General Conference in areas of personal faith, or is the authority in the area of the missional work?
I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man’s judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man. Never should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and to say what plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Conference, the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a laborer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body. {EGW; 9T 260.1; 1909}
At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God’s work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work. {EGW; 9T 260.2; 1909}
God has His voice in regards to faith. It is the Bible! The General Conference is not the voice of God in regards to faith. It should never be, otherwise it will come to the position to extort the conscience of their believers. However, it is the duty of the SDA church to teach the Bible, and should be ready to test every of its teachings by the Scripture.
The unity of the church
The unity of the church should not be enforced by creed, and rules of faith, rather it should spring out by the convictions of the Holy Spirit. We should seek the unity of the Spirit, rather than spirit of unity.
The challenge of the modern SDA Church
The SDA church has gone through a process of transformation across time, and our beliefs have changed. Some argue that these changes are the result of the advancement of present truth, while others believe that the church has backslidden. We encourage every soul to investigate these differences with the Word of God and the Testimony of Christ, but in the following, we want to present the historical facts, as well as our overview of the principles of the liberty of conscience in the context of the Bride of Christ in the end-time perspective.
The doctrinal statement of the SDA church in the time of Ellen White was very different from the one we have today. See Fundamental Principles vs. Fundamental Beliefs.
According to Ellen White, the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist church was denoted by the Fundamental Principles. In the chapter “The Foundation of Our Faith,” she warned us not to depart from the foundation of our faith - the Fundamental Principles. In the beginning, she wrote:
As a people, we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God. {EGW; SpTB02 51.2; 1904}
At the end, she concluded:
We are God’s commandment-keeping people. For the past fifty years every phase of heresy has been brought to bear upon us, to becloud our minds regarding the teaching of the word,—especially concerning the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and the message of heaven for these last days, as given by the angels of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the way-marks which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His word and the testimony of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority. {EGW; SpTB02 59.1; 1903}
In the context of the chapter, in 1903 there was already a satanic effort to depart from the fundamental principles. The heavenly messenger pinpointed:
I have been instructed by the heavenly messenger that some of the reasoning in the book, “Living Temple,” is unsound and that this reasoning would lead astray the minds of those who are not thoroughly established on the foundation principles of present truth. It introduces that which is naught but speculation in regard to the personality of God and where His presence is. {EGW; SpTB02 51.3; 1904}
The book “Living Temple” introduced reasonings regarding the presence and the personality of God, which departed from the foundation principles of present truth - in the context, the Fundamental Principles.
Comparing the current Fundamental Beliefs and the declaration of the fundamental principles, we see that the change indeed appeared in regards to the presence and the personality of God. To see the detailed historical overview, read the Forgotten Pillar book. In the chapter, Ellen White prophesied:
The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. {EGW; SpTB02 54.3; 1904}
Understanding the difference between the Fundamental Principles and the Fundamental Beliefs, have we entered into the process of reorganization? Have the Fundamental Principles been encountered as error? Has a new organization been established? Her words indeed ring true once we become familiar with the original Seventh-day Adventist belief. But she prophesied that the original SDA beliefs will be again proclaimed to the world in the closing of our work:
The Lord has declared that the history of the past shall be rehearsed as we enter upon the closing work. Every truth that He has given for these last days is to be proclaimed to the world. Every pillar that He has established is to be strengthened. We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth. {EGW; 20LtMs, Ms 129, 1905, par. 6}
She clearly prophesied that the apostasy will come into the SDA church. In 1905 she wrote:
One thing it is certain is soon to be realized—the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever we are to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time. We need now larger breadth and deeper, more earnest, unwavering faith in the leadings of the Holy Spirit. If we needed the manifest proof of the Holy Spirit’s power to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need today all the evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There must not be any languishing of soul now. If ever there was a period of time when we needed the Holy Spirit’s power in our discourses, in our prayers, in every action proposed, it is now. We are not to stop at the first experience, but while we bear the same message to the people, this message is to be strengthened and enlarged. We are to see and realize the importance of the message made certain by its divine origin. We are to follow on to know the Lord, that we may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Our souls need the quickening from the Source of all power. We may be strengthened and confirmed in the past experience that holds us to the essential points of truth which have made us what we are—Seventh-day Adventists. {EGW; 20LtMs, Lt 326, 1905, par. 2}
We are not to step off from the fundamental principles. We are also not to stop at the first experience, but while we bear the same message to the people, this old message is to be strengthened and enlarged. The difference between the Fundamental Principles and the Fundamental Beliefs does not follow that rule. The Fundamental Beliefs are silent in regards to the personality of God, but it has a different view of who God is. Also, with a different view of who God is, it explains the presence of God differently than the Fundamental Principles. This has repercussions on the understanding of the First Angel Message. Who is the God we ought to worship? For our Adventist pioneers, it was the Father, the hour of His judgment came in 1844, when the Ancient of Days sat and the books were opened. For us today, it is the Triune God. Although both new and old Adventists keep the Seventh-day Sabbath, the God of the Sabbath is different.
Sabbath God vs. Sunday God
See the article of J. B. Frisbie - “The Seventh-Day Sabbath Not Abolished”, where he pattern matched the Sabbath and Sunday over the truth on the presence and the personality of God, and the trinity god.
We observe these changes only in hindsight. Ellen White was warned about these changes:
“I tell you now, that when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place.” {EGW; 25LtMs, Ms 1, 1915, par. 2}
More resources
For more data on how God has led the SDA church, and how He established the Fundamental Principles, see “The Way He Led Us”
How did the change took place
Dodley M. Canright
Historically these changes happened as the reaction of the evangelical christians accusing us to be a cult. First instance of that was D. M. Canright, with his book “Seventh-day Adventism Renounced”. He wrote about doctrinal differences of SDA and Evangelicals:
“In doctrine they differ radically from evangelical churches. The main points are these: They reject the doctrine of the Trinity; hold to the materiality of all things; believe in the sonship of Christ…” {D.M.Canright, Seventh-day Adventism Renounced, original 1889 publication, chapter 1. pg. 25}
In 1889, Canright rightly said that SDA do not believe in the Trinity. The reason for rejecting the trinity was their understanding of the doctrine on the personality of God. See Adventist Pioneers on the Trinity. The materiality of all things is reflection on the personality of God doctrine (see James White pamphlet “The Personality of God”), on which Canright was well acquainted with (He wrote a lengthy article on it while being a faithful SDA). The divinity of Christ for early SDA pioneers was based on His Sonship, while today it is based on the fact that Christ is part (and the whole) of one monotheistic God - Triune God.
The reaction was that the second generation of the SDA, like Wilcoxs brothers, which started to use word “trinity” in our publications in a positive sense, in order to counteract Canright’s attacks. This resulted that from early late 1890’s our publications started to endorse the word “trinity”, while still holding the same understanding over the presence and the personality of God. This resulted in omission of denial of the trinity in the second edition of Canright’s book (see p.25).
Influence of Canrights criticism over adoption the word "trinity"
For more information on the adoption of the trinity influenced by Canright’s criticism, see “Unaccounted Factor-How Criticism Motivated The Adoption of Trinitarian Theology Within Seventh-day Adventism”, by Jason Smith, A Research Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements, for the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Southern Adventist University, January, 2018
John H. Kellogg
In early 1900’s SDA church is doing damage control over Canright’s book by nominally adhering to the trinity doctrine, yet the church still taught the doctrine on the personality of God. Dr. Kellogg on the other introduced the ideas which were not in harmony with the doctrine on the presence and the personality of God. When in 1903 the Living Template was published, it instigated the major crisis in SDA church. Ellen White raised her voice against his false teachings on the presence and the personality of God. When condemned, Dr. Kellogg wanted to revise his book by nominally adhere to the trinity doctrine (See Letter: A. G. Daniells to W. C. White. October 29, 1903. pp. 1, 2) . Ellen White stood against that change. In her letter to Dr. Kellogg Lt253-1903, she opposed the revision of the Living Temple because of the trinity doctrine. She started her letter:
The book Living Temple is not to be patched up, a few changes made in it, and then advertised and praised as a valuable production. {EGW; 18LtMs, Lt 253, 1903, par. 1}
In closing of the letter she wrote:
Patchwork theories cannot be accepted by those who are loyal to the faith and to the principles that have withstood all the opposition of satanic influences. {18LtMs, Lt 253, 1903, par. 28}
The patchwork theories are referring to the trinity doctrine, by which dr. Kellogg wanted to patch up his book. And she pointed the obvious that the trinity doctrine cannot be accepted by those who are loyal to the faith and to the principles. She was pointing out to the adventist pioneers and early experiences how God had lead His people after Great Disappointment. Adventist pioneers indeed did not accept the trinity, because they adhered to the fundamental principles which God gave them. In this letter we see that Ellen White was in harmony with early pioneers, because she too uplifted the doctrine on the personality of God, recalling her vision on it. Also she was referencing the first two points of the Fundamental Principles (For detail analysis see chapter “Patchwork Theories” in the Forgotten Pillar book).
The sentiments of Dr. Kellogg lead astray from the foundation principles of present truth - the fundamental principles (see SpTB02 51.3). Interestingly, these spiritualistic sentiments did raise the questions over the trinity doctrine. Dr. Kellogg admitted this, in recalling his excommunication from SDA church to his evangelical friends:
“All I wanted to explain in Living Temple was that this work that is going on in the man here is not going on by itself like a clock wound up; but it is the power of God and the Spirit of God that is carrying it on. Now, I thought I had cut out entirely the theological side of questions of the trinity and all that sort of things. I didn’t mean to put it in at all, and I took pains to state in the preface that I did not. I never dreamed of such a thing as any theological question being brought into it. I only wanted to show that the heart does not beat of its own motion but that it is the power of God that keeps it going.” {Interview, J. H. Kellogg, G. W. Amadon and A. C. Bourdeau, October 7th 1907 held at Kellogg’s residence}
More INFO
For more information on Dr. Kellogg and the trinity stance you can find in the Forgotten Pillar book
Walter R. Martin
In 1940s Walter Martin, American Baptist Christian Minister, researched christian denominations about the cultism, in order to write his book The Kingdom of Cults. Initially he wanted to include Seventh-day Adventists as a cult, yet he wanted to check out with the General Conference and conduct a series of interviews in regards to the SDA doctrine. This instigated a series of interviews between the leading SDA scholars like Le Roy Edwin Froom, Walter E. Read, and Roy Allan Anderson (commonly known as “FREDA”). Walter had his criteria of what consists a religion to be a cult. And knowing the criticism of D. M. Canright, he initially taught that SDA is cult. But through the series of inter religious dialogue, FREDA disproved Canright’s allegations. So the consensus was made that General Conference publish the book called “Questions on Doctrines” demonstrating to the evangelical world that SDA is not a cult. Recalling the experiences over this book Martin said:
MARTIN: No. In fact, the General Conference was not really too warm to the entire project initially. Anderson, Froom, Read and Unruh paid some of the expenses from their own pockets. And we, out of our own pockets, did the same thing, because I came to the realization that there was a real area of conflict that had to be resolved. After all, if Seventh-day Adventists were in essence Christians, then to classify them as a cult would be a great sin. If they were really cultists, and didn’t even know that they were, then we could do them a great service by pointing it out to them. And if we could deal with all of the issues that had been raised from the Adventists’ controversies of Canright, all the way through to that particular day, then perhaps we could set the record straight once and for all. Just exactly what did they believe?
You have to understand that 30 years ago there was great confusion. As a matter of fact, today there is still in many areas of Adventism. They had strains of Arian Christology; there were men in positions of authority who denied the deity of Christ and the Trinity. For all I know, some of them may still be there today. There were people who were absolute legalists, who believed that any person who kept Sunday - even in good conscience before God - right at that moment had the mark of the beast. And they were printing and distributing it under official Adventist logos. {https://web.archive.org/web/20050224182337/http://web2.airmail.net/billtod/martin.htm, interview from 1955}
The SDA church was under the doctrinal change. The change from the Fundamental Principles was gradual, and slowly it was removed during the years. Not only did the personality of God replaced by the trinity doctrine, but also the teaching on the atonement of Christ, and the attitude towards the Spirit of Prophecy got changed.
Offshoots
‘Off-shot’ is a label marking the Seventh-day Adventist which is not in harmony with Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. But which Seventh-day Adventist belief? The current Fundamental Beliefs or the original Fundamental Principles?
The current Seventh-day Adventists Scholars deem our adventist pioneers as offshoots - meaning, not in harmony with the Fundamental Beliefs. George Knight, Professor of History, Andrews University said:
“Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination’s Fundamental Beliefs… Most specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the trinity.” {Ministry Magazine, Oct. 1993 p10.}
William G. Johnson, Editor of the ‘Review’ said:
“Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth’. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Many of the pioneers, including James White, J.N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, and J.H. Waggoner, held to an Arian or semi-Arian view – that is, the Son at some point in time before the Creation of our world was generated [begotten] by the Father. Likewise the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it.” Adventist Review, Jan. 6, 1994 p 10, 11.
Who is the offshoot? The pioneers, or the currently established scholasticism? This has to be answered by each individual Seventh-day Adventist.
Repercussions, and challenges of the modern SDA church
Ellen White said that in the final days the history will be rehearsed. There will be a revival of the Fundamental Principles. See Revival of the Fundamental Principles.
But what are the repercussions of those who adhere to the original Fundamental Principles? From the personal experience, as well from the experience of many people on the same path, has been a similar experience as Ellen White have had with her family with Methodist church. You can read this in her Life Sketches chapter 5. The same principles are being executed by the General Conference, which eventually result in the extortion of consciences of their members. If their the members have tested the Fundamental Principles by the Scriptures, and got convinced that they are true, why are their conscience being extorted by not holding the harmony with the current Fundamental Beliefs?
Should we leave SDA church because of the apostasy?
The answer is resounding no! See Love for the Church when it is in apostasy. The current situation of the Seventh-day Adventist church is perfect environment to grow in the character of Christ.
Conclusion
The current state of the Seventh-day Adventist church is under serious challenge. The revival of the straight testimony borne in years past is causing the shaking of the church.
The Seventh-day Adventist church was the result of people which had followed the Lamb (Christ) in the Most Holy Place. Ellen White described the condition of our church:
The present is a solemn, fearful time for the church. The angels are already girded, awaiting the mandate of God to pour their vials of wrath upon the world. Destroying angels are taking up the work of vengeance, for the Spirit of God is gradually withdrawing from the world. Satan is also mustering his forces of evil, going forth “unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,” to gather them under his banner, to be trained for “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” [Revelation 16:14.] Satan is to make most powerful efforts for the mastery in the last great conflict. Fundamental principles will be brought out, and decisions made in regard to them. Skepticism is prevailing everywhere. Ungodliness abounds. The faith of individual members of the church will be tested as though there were not another person in the world. {EGW; 6LtMs, Ms 1a, 1890, par. 8}
If we refuse to subject our conscience to any man, save Christ, we are safe. Regardless that we might be extorted, either by maxims and rules of the church (the fundamental principles controversy), or either by the state (the Sabbath controversy), it should not matter us. We should:
- keep the commandments of God
- having the spirit of prophecy / the testimony of Christ
- having the faith of Jesus
- not defiled with woman / not defiled with false religious system
- hear the voice of Christ
- follow Christ where ever He goes