Although Ellen G. White is presented as the founder of Adventism, she was first a follower of one William Miller of New York. Miller prophesied that Christ would come in 1844. Obviously this was a false prophecy! Mrs.White then stepped forward with her "higher revelation" that Christ only went into the "heavenly sanctuary" to "complete" the work that he started here on earth! This is what the Adventists refer to as "investigative judgment." The doctrine is explained in Mrs. White's book, The Great Controversy:
"… before Christ's work for redemption of men IS COMPLETED, there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service, which began when … our high priest entered the most Holy to perform the LAST DIVISION of His solemn work to CLEANSE THE SANCTUARY ... so the actual cleansing of the heavenly (sanctuary) is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins that are there recorded. But, BEFORE this can be accomplished, there MUST BE AN EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS of record to determine who … are entitled to the benefits of His Atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a WORK OF INVESTIGATION - a work of judgement…. INSTEAD OF COMING TO THE EARTH at the termination of the 2,300 days in 1844 (as "prophet" William Miller had widely proclaimed), Christ entered in to the most holy place of the heavenly, to PERFORM the CLOSING WORK OF ATONEMENT preparatory to his coming."

We do not find a reference in the Bible for such an event as investigative judgment, to a sanctuary in heaven, or to sin being in heaven. If these things are not found in the Bible, what was the source of these ideas? Many possibilities have been suggested. But one source is known. One of Mrs. White's counselors and intimates, D.M. Canwright, wrote,

"She often copies her subject matter without credit or sign of quotation from other authors. Indeed her last book, THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, which they laud so highly as her greatest work, is largely … a compilation of Andrews' HISTORY OF THE SABBATH; HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES, by Wylie; LIFE OF MILLER, by White; THOUGHTS ON REVELATION, by Smith, and other books."

There is strong evidence that most of what Mrs. White's writing were plagiarized from others. Despite this evidence, modern Adventists still refer to her as "the Spirit of Prophecy!"

Still, what Adventists are most known for is their observance of the Sabbath. But it is many of their other teachings that are of greater concern. The following are some examples:

1. Seventh Day Adventism denies the Biblical Doctrine of the complete atoning sacrifice of Christ as the only means of man's salvation:
"For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record." -THE GREAT CONTROVERSY-

Adventist's are unable to answer the question, "How are sins pardoned, yet kept on the books?"

2. Seventh Day Adventism denies the finality of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross despite His statement, "It is finished." (See previous quote on "investigative judgment.")
3. Adventism declares that Satan is the "Joint Sin Bearer" with Christ, and the vicarious substitute of the sinner!
"… while the sin-offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as the mediator, the SCAPEGOAT typified SATAN, the author of sin, upon WHOM THE SINS OF THE TRULY PENITENT WILL FINALLY BE PLACED." -THE GREAT CONTROVERSY-

The belief that Satan is substitute for the finished work on Calvary by Christ, is clear heresy. Mrs. White alleged that she found this teaching in Leviticus 23 and the Book of Daniel. See if you can find it there!?

4. Adventism believes Christ inherited a sinful, fallen nature.
"In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature. …The idea that Christ … did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen world, … Christ inherited just what every child of Adam inherits - a sinful nature." BIBLE READINGS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE, page 115 in the 1915 edition

5. Adventism teaches that the soul "sleeps" at death, and that there is no "eternal damnation" of those who reject Christ:
"…upon the fundamental error of 'natural immortality' rest the doctrine of consciousness in death, a doctrine like eternal torment, opposed to the teaching of the Scriptures… The theory of 'eternal punishment' is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abominations of Babylon...

This teaching ignores Paul's statement "absent from the body …present with the Lord" or "To be with Christ, which is far better." We also cannot find any explanation of the term "natural immortality."

6. Adventism demands that the Sabbath be followed:
They claim that the Council of Laodicia in 364 A.D. changed the Sabbath to Sunday, which cannot be shown historically. Additionally, they claim that Christians are still under the Law of Moses and are bound to keep the "least of its precepts" - therefore keep the Sabbath.

1. The Sabbath was given as a "sign" and perpetual covenant between Jehovah and Israel, as shown in Exodus 31:12-18; not the Church!
2. The Ten Commandments, of which the law of the Sabbath is the fourth, are called the "ministrations of death" and the "ministration of condemnation," "written and engraven in stone" (2 Corinthians 3:7,9), which ministration was "done away" and "abolished". In its place we have the "ministrations of the Spirit" and "the ministration of righteousness" (verses 8,9). Thus we read "Let no man therefore judge you .. of a Sabbath day" (Colossians 2:16 - also Romans 14:5,6).

3. We also read that the "handwriting of ordinances" was "blotted out" and "nailed" to Christ's cross, for Christ has fulfilled the law on our behalf.

4. In Romans 6:14 Paul declares, "Ye are not under the law, but under grace." (See also Romans 7:4,6 and Galatians 5:18).

5. The book of Galatians is mainly directed at this issue, rebuking those who sought to bring the Gentile converts under the yoke of the law: "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"

Because of these false teachings, some feel that Adventists are not truly Christian. But most of us who have both studied their doctrines and attended their churches, believe that they are. But when we categorize various groups in terms of their fidelity to Scripture, we divide them into three groups: Orthodox (in keeping with Biblical Truth), Heresy (False, unbiblical teachings) and Heterodox (Biblical on the essential doctrines of salvation, but in error in other areas). Most Adventists, (but not all), fall into the "heterodox" camp, because of their many false teachings most based upon the numerous spurious "visions" of Mrs. White. The previous doctrines only scratch the surface of errors in Adventist theology. Pastor Sydney Cleveland, former Pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Robert K. Sanders, former Elder and 37 year member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, have compiled a list of 50 contradictions between the teachings of Ellen White and the Bible. Here are just a few of the examples they found:

1. Can we be certain of our salvation?

Ellen White
Holy Bible

Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved. Christ's Object Lessons, p. 155 1 John 5:1
NOTE: The reason the apostle John wrote his letter was to assure the believers that they had obtained eternal life.

2. Does God love wicked children?

Ellen White
Holy Bible

The Lord loves those little children who try to do right, and he has promised that they shall be in his kingdom. But wicked children God does not love. Appeal to Youth, p.61
God loves honest-hearted, truthful children, but cannot love those who are dishonest. Ibid., p. 41
Matthew. 5:44,45,48; Luke 6:27
NOTE: How could God love His worst enemies and yet not love wicked children?

3. Is it a sin to be sick?

Ellen White
Holy Bible

It is a sin to be sick; for all sickness is the result of transgression. Health Reformer, Aug. 1, 1866 Job 2:7 NOTE: God Himself said that Job was "a perfect and an upright man." (Job 2:3) Paul had a "thorn" in his body. (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).


For more information on the teachings of Adventism, we recommend that you read The White Lie by Walter Rea. For free online copies of other out-of-print books, as well as much more additional information on Adventism, go to http://www.ellenwhite.org/

http://www.calvarychapel-lc.org/wwb_7thdayadventism.htm