ADVENTIST
DOCTRINES and Modern Versions of the Holy Bible
By
Neil C. Livingston
From http://www.adventist4truth.com/toolbox.html
The first citation deals with the
alarmingly widespread fundamentalist concept that the King James Bible is the
standard by which all other Bibles should be judged instead of realizing that
the orignial language texts are the best source for a translation. These
citations also reveal the Historic/Traditionalist SDA's fondness for the
proof-text method of Bible interpretation. Again this is something found any
many fundamentalist Christian groups. For more on proof- text interpretation
see the article Proof-texts and Psalms
51 "Born in Sin".
ADVENTIST DOCTRINES and Modern Versions of
the Holy Bible
"From the beginning of the great second
Advent movement, pioneer Seventh-day Adventist have used the proof-text method
to establish true doctrine. In this demonstration we will discover the
difficulty in proving Seventh-day Adventist doctrines using the New
International and Revised Standard Versions of the Bible.
The subject titles will be listed in the
order of a typical series of Bible studies. All truth in the King James Version
is denoted in italic typeface. The truth that have been altered in the New
International and Revised Standard Versions is underscored."
Some examples:
"The Sanctuary In Heaven
The Truth In the King James:
Daniel
The Altered Truth In Modern Translations:
Daniel
Daniel
This is a most important text used by pioneer
Seventh-day Adventists to teach the sanctuary truth. This is the great 2,300
day/year prophecy, which began in 457 B.C., and culminates in the beginning of
the "investigative Judgement," the "cleansing" of the
sanctuary, in 1844 A.D. This sanctuary truth, based largely on this text,
Daniel
For more on the Investigative Judgement and the Year/Day principle see the following links. Does The Bible Support The Year-day Principle As Used In SDA Prophecy Interpretations?
Seventh-day Adventist teachings on the investigative judgment
"The Latter Rain And The Blotting Out Of
Sins
The Truth In the King James:
Acts
The Altered Truth In Modern Translations:
Acts
Acts
This was a most important text used by
pioneer Seventh-day Adventists to prove the aspect of the sanctuary truth that
sins will be blotted out "when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord" or, when Jesus Christ entered the most holy place in
the Heavenly sanctuary in 1844. The modern translations simply state "that
times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." In other
words, if your sins are blotted out now (the final atonement was finished and
completed on the cross), then, times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord. The truth is that we should; "Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord." Do you see, dear Adventist friend,
how Satan can lead men to change a word here and a word there, and totally
change the "Present Truth" that Seventh-day Adventists are to give to
a perishing world?"
"The Mark Of The Beast
The Truth In the King James:
Luke
The Altered Truth In Modern Translations:
Luke
Luke
The N.I.V. and R.S.V. omit: "in letters
of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew." Pioneer Seventh-day Adventists have used
this text for years to prove that, VICARIOUS FILII DEI (the title given to the
Pope of Rome, and inscribed on his triple crown) adds up to 666 in the three
ancient languages of the world -- "in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew."
Now the contemporary Evangelical versions have omitted this important fact from
the Scriptures. It is interesting to note that these were the most prevalent
languages at the time of Christ. That is why they placed the sign over the
cross in these three languages. There were many different nationalities of
people gathered at
These are just a few texts used as an example
of how it is difficult, indeed, virtually impossible, to prove Seventh-day
Adventist truth from these modern translations. Many more examples could be
used if time or space, or reams of paper, would allow."
It is uncertain to me how the sign on the cross has anything to do
with 666, but ignoring that piece of illogical thought the NIV does state in
John 19:20: "Many of
the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the
city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek."
When Dealing with
Historic/Traditional SDA's you may often hear the term "New Theology",
I have yet to find it explicitly defined but the uses found in the following
book online should give a good indication. It may be helpful to note here that
the phrase Three Angel's Message(s) is a euphemism used by many SDA's (not just
historic) as the doctrines taught by the Seventh-day Adventist church. For the
Historic/Traditional SDA it is usually for that taught by the SDA church prior
to the early 1900's.
(For those interested in how SDA's
make such a statement read the article "Transmutation of the Three
Angels", the pamphlet gives a good idea of how the general SDA church
calls it teachings the Three Angels message even though in the conclusion the
pamphlet intimates that the SDA church no longer proclaims the Three Angels
message http://www.lightministries.com/webdoc220.htm).
Some of the so called "New
Theology" elements seem to be:
Evangelicalism, Christ sinless
nature, Christ finished Atonement through his life death and resurrection, the
doctrine of the Trinity.
Also From Neil C. Livingston
THE GREATEST CONSPIRACY
Satan's Warfare Against the Three Angel's Messages In the Twentieth Century http://www.adventist4truth.com/Manuscripts-Articles.html
---
In other words, noting time and place, 1906,
when this testimony was penned, the truth that pioneer Adventists taught from
1844 to the turn of the century, was, and still is, "the three angel's
messages." The pioneer Seventh-day Adventist message given this people in
the past century is the true end-time "Gospel" to a perishing world.
God does not change. His message does not change. Any message that is not in
harmony with this "most precious message" is what Ellen White called
"strange fire," what we know today as "new theology."
----
So that is the key, the doctrinal rock we
should hold on to -- the truth in our past history! "We have nothing to
fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and
His teaching in our past history." (ibid., Life Sketches, page 196). This
statement was published in 1915. We must go back to the beginning of the Advent
movement, the first "fifty years" of our past history to discover what
was the truth that was endorsed by "the wonderful demonstration of the
Holy Spirit that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to
the people of God." (ibid., A Call to the Watchmen, page 15). Then we must
compare any new teaching, any "new theology," to the teachings of
pioneer Seventh-day Adventists from 1844 to the turn of the century.
----
There were Ecumenical aspirations in the
apostasy of A. F. Ballenger in 1905. In thisapostasy, Ballenger introduced new
concepts and heresy on the Sanctuary doctrine.The underlying purpose for
Ballenger's thesis was Ecumenical! He desired a "new theology" that
would be accepted by the main-stream churches of the day, which would make the
---
Notice that Roy Adams, current assistant
editor of the Adventist Review, states that Ballenger's erroneous concept of
Christ's entry into the most holy place at His ascension "may be
retained." Moreover, Roy Adams believes that Ballenger's erroneous concept
can be "shown to be compatible with the notion of an antipical day of
atonement commencing in 1844." This is liberal "new theology"
Adventism in its most subtle and deceptive form. This is the "Omega"
of apostasy that Ellen White saw and that caused her to "tremble for our
people."
----
The earliest affirmation of the "new
theology" of Adventism to appear "in a non-Adventist journal of
note." This erroneous "new theology" is stated in three points
according to Froom, (1) the sinless human nature of Christ in the incarnation,
(2) the Trinity, (3) and the completed atonement on the cross. As documented
above in Chapters #11 and #12, these three doctrines were not taught or
believed by pioneer Seventh-day Adventists, neither were they taught in the
Spirit of Prophecy. These three erroneous Evangelical doctrines had to be
compromised into Adventist doctrine for the contemporary
---
The remnant people of God in these last days
"keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation
14:12). The modern translations state that these remnant people have
"faith in Jesus," rather than "the faith of Jesus." The new
theology in the
---
In contrast to this truth, the new theology
teaches that if we have faith in Jesus, He will do the walking for you.
Everything is done for you. What is the new theology? In brief it is:
"Dear Lord, forgive me for my past sins and forgive me for the sins I am
planning to commit in the future."
---
These are just a few texts (many more could
be used if time or space, or reams of paper would allow) used as an example of
how it is difficult, indeed, virtually impossible, to prove pioneer Seventh-day
Adventist truth from these modern translations. Notice that I said
"pioneer" Adventist truth. The "new theology" permeating
the contemporary
---
"Old Landmarks" verses "New
Theology"
Let us now compare the Fundamental
Principles, written by James White and published in the Yearbooks for 40 years,
with the "new" Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, written by F. M.
Wilcox and published in the "first"
Statement On the Godhead
Statement In the
THE TRINITY -- No statement on the Trinity.
1. THE FATHER -- That there is one God, a
personal, spiritual Being, the Creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient,
and eternal, infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness truth, and mercy;
unchangeable, and everywhere present by His representative, the Holy Spirit.
2. THE SON -- That there is one Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the One by whom He created all things,
and by whom they do consist. . ..
THE HOLY SPIRIT -- No statement on the Holy
Spirit. Statement on the Holy Spirit was included in the statement on the
FATHER, Who is "everywhere present by His representative, the Holy
Spirit."
Statement In the
THE TRINITY
That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the
Eternal Father, a personal, spiritual, Being, omnipotent, omnipresent,
omniscient, infinite in wisdom and love, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the
Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and whom the salvation of
the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third Person of
the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption.
Pioneer Seventh-day Adventists did not
believe in the "Trinity" as stated in this contemporary Statement of
Fundamental Beliefs. The word "Trinity" cannot be found in the Bible,
or in the Spirit of Prophecy.
"The Church had to wait for more than
three hundred years for a final synthesis, for not until the council of
Chapter VI, DOCTRINE OF A TRINITY SUBVERSIVE
OF THE ATONEMENT. Trinitarians do not believe that the divine nature died. . ..
They. . .take every expression referring to the pre-existence of Christ as
evidence of a trinity. The Scriptures abundantly teach the pre-existence of
Christ and his divinity; but they are entirely silent in regard to a trinity.
The declaration, that the divine Son of God could not die, is as far from the
teachings of the Bible as darkness is from light. And we would ask the
Trinitarian, to which of the two natures are we indebted for redemption? The
answer must, of course, be, To that one which died or shed his blood for us;
for "we have redemption through his blood." Then it is evident that
if only the human nature died, our Redeemer is only human, and that the divine
Son of God took no part in the work of redemption, for he could neither suffer
nor die. Surely, we say right, that the doctrine of a trinity degrades the
Atonement, by bringing the sacrifice, the blood of our purchase, down to the
standard of Socinianism. Joseph Harvey Waggoner, The Atonement, pages 174,
175.(emphasis supplied).
The original "Principles," written
by James White, stated that God the Father was "everywhere present by His
representative, the Holy Spirit." The new 1931 "Statement,"
written by F. M. Wilcox, states that the Holy Spirit is "the third Person
of the Godhead."
----
Contemporary articles and books authored by
modern-day Adventists fail to emphasize the last line in this statement by
Ellen White. Liberal "new theology" writers are inclined to emphasize
the first portion of the statement, "it invited the people to receive the
righteousness of Christ," and omit the last part of the sentence,
"which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God."
---
The first portion of the 1888 message was
"righteousness by faith." As we shall soon discover, by examining the
writings of Jones and Waggoner, a better title would be "obedience by
faith." Not all in the corporate Church of 1888 rejected this first
portion of the message. Today, however, SDA leadership, by-and-large, does
reject the idea of "obedience by faith." The new theology emphasis is
on "free grace," which is salvation without obedience to the law of
God. Justification for your past sins, and
justification for the sins you are planning
on committing in the future! This is the erroneous "righteousness by faith"
doctrine taught by the Sunday-keeping churches of
----
We can only obey the ten commandments
"through faith" in the power of Christ. "Here are they who keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12). This
was the byword of pioneer Adventism -- "The commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus." Again, the doctrine of "free grace" is one of
the "doctrines of devils" of the Evangelical Sunday-keeping Churches
of modern
---------
From these five statements it is clear that
Ellen White was in total agreement with the teaching of Waggoner and Jones on
obedience by faith to the law of God. The contemporary
----
Apostasy VS Truth On Overcoming Sin
Apostasy Of the New Theology
"The perfectionist agitation within the
Truth As It Is In Jesus
"The seal of God will never be placed
upon the forehead of an impure man or woman," Ellen White stated.
"All who receive the seal must be without spot before God--candidates for
heaven." (The Faith I Live By, "A Purified Church," page 288,
emphasis supplied).
Apostasy Of the New Theology
"Some of those in the `victory' stream
see the issue in terms of a theological scheme that links Jesus' human nature
with end-time perfection and the `delay' in the Second Coming," Johnsson
stated. "Christ had to be exactly like us, they argue, in order that we
might overcome as He overcame, thus attaining sinless perfection, and until we
reach that state, Jesus cannot come back." (ibid., Johnsson, Adventist
Review, May 6, 1994, pages 12-14, emphasis supplied).
The Truth As It Is In Jesus
"Christ is waiting with longing desire
for the manifestation of Himself in His church," Ellen White states.
"When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people,
then He will come to claim them as His own." (Christ's Object Lessons,
page 69, emphasis supplied).
When one compares William Johnsson and Roy
Adams' statements with these statements by Ellen White, it is obvious that the
Editor and Assistant Editor of the Adventist Review are not in harmony with the
Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Perfection of character is indeed required by
God. He has promised to do this work in us. This is the work of the Holy
Spirit.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall
abide in my love," Jesus said, "even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and abide in his love." (John 15:10, emphasis supplied).
"He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked," the apostle John wrote.
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him." (I John 2:6; 1 John 2:4, emphasis supplied).
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass
mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and
over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name," John
prophesied, "stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."
(Revelation 15:2, emphasis supplied).
Thought Question
Do William Johnsson, Roy Adams, and
contemporary Seventh-day Adventist leadership still believe in the pioneer
Adventist teaching on the 144,000 "last generation saints" who live
without a Mediator between God and man after Jesus, our High Priest, leaves the
heavenly sanctuary? Obviously, the answer is no to this question.
Paragraph #6, Part 7, Johnsson, Adventist
Review,
You can find several theological variants on
the above scheme, but the radical dissidents among us -- those who are becoming
offshoots -- all share it. They charge the official church with apostasy
because it does not endorse the scheme. Strongly antiauthoritarian, they employ
print and video to propagate their views, accept tithe funds, and run parallel
meetings and camp meetings. Some have gone so far as to ordain their own
clergy. ibid., William G. Johnsson, Editorial, Adventist Review,
Here Johnsson resorts to name calling;
"radical dissidents," "offshoots," "strongly
antiauthoritarian," "accept tithe funds," "run parallel
meetings and camp meetings," and, "ordain their own clergy." He
seems to take a pun from the Seventh-day Adventist-Evangelical conferences of
1955-56. Then it was stated that anyone who disagreed with the "sane"
leadership of the Church were a "lunatic fringe," and,
"wild-eyed irresponsibles." (See, Donald Grey. Barnhouse, Eternity,
September, 1956).
---
Notice that the word "in" was
substituted for the word "into." The Ellen G. White Estate says that
Enoch was changed "in the glorious image of his Lord." This rendering
of the passage suggests that Enoch's character was changed by the Lord at his
translation. The new theology teaches that the Lord will change the character
of the living at the Second Advent. The Scriptures and historic Adventism
teaches that our character must be changed now.
----
From a German Historic SDA web site
http://www.mefag.com/engl/facts.htm
Now we understand what is meant by the three
angel's messages of Revelation 14:
1. They tell us that the judgment, the
decision regarding our eternal life, now is taking place in heaven. (Verses
6-7)
2. They tell us that Protestantism also has
fallen (Verse 8), and according to Rev 18:1-5 "...is become the habitation
of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit." To every upright Christian
(his people) the angel appeals: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be
not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues..." Rev
18:4.
3. A very serious and loving warning from God
to the entire world: All that will worship the papacy or his image, when they
submit to the pressure to keep Sunday holy against their better judgment, will
receive the Mark of the Beast and suffer eternal death in consequence (Rev
14:9-11).
4. Verse 12 shows us the group of people that
do not receive the Mark of the Beast. They keep all commandments of God
(including the Sabbath commandment of the seventh day; compare Acts
----
From the above web site here is a brief example of their use of the Year-day principle and how it supposedly relates to the rule of the papacy. Notice the artificial use of 360 day year, which never was used in a Jewish calendar, also note the fictional date of 538 A.D. as the date for the end of the East Gothic Empire, elsewhere identified as the Ostrogoths. For an indepth look at the history of the Roman empire and the barbarian invaders see: The Ten Horns of Daniel 7, An Historical Perspective
The biblical measurement for prophesied
periods as 1 day equaling 1 year (Ez 4:6 and Num
From Holman's Bible Dictionary:
"Second, the entire Old
Testament moves on to a lunar-solar calendar that is based on observation of
the heavenly bodies and regulates a more sophisticated order of economic and
religious activity. This type of calendar had wide currency among the more
advanced societies. It is called "lunar-solar" because it allowed the
sun's orbit to mark the years' beginning, but based the beginning of months on
observation of the phases of the moon. The first appearance of the new moon
would mark the new month. According to the Talmud, the priests would watch for
this and proclaim it by sending messengers and blowing trumpets. The problem
is, first, that the moon's circuit is about 29 1/2 days, forcing a vacillation
between a 30-day and a 29-day month; and second, that twelve of these
moon/months equal 354 1/4 days, about eleven days short of the solar year.
From the Babylonians the Hebrews
learned to add an extra month every two or three years. In rabbinical times
this "intercalary" month was inserted seven times in nineteen years.
Third, a sect known as the Essenes
created a purely solar calendar that combined mathematical calculation with a
special ideology. Discarding observation of the new moon, the Essenes gave each
month thirty days but added a special day at the end of each three-month
period, giving a year of 364 days. We have reason to believe that when this
party tried to put this calendar into practice, the
---
The following is from a web site of
a particularly paranoid Historic/Traditional SDA. Certain that any who point
out errors within the SDA church are Jesuit infiltrators. Interestingly this
site points to http://www.amazingfacts.org as a reliable source for information about
the Seventh-day Adventist church instead of any official SDA web site.
http://www.seventh-dayadventism.org/
WELCOME
TO THE LAST WORD ON ADVENTIST TRUTH WEB SITE!!
This website was constructed for the unique
and exlusive (sic) purpose of defending the
Adventist faith from the horrible attacks both from the inside and outside from
the infiltrating men and women of the Papacy. Honest Seventh-day Adventists are
under a continuing attack by these people in an incredible variety of ways. A
significant percentage of people in the
All the doctrines of the
The Investigative Judgment, The Sabbath, The Ten
Commandments, The State of the Dead, The Inspiration of Ellen White, among every other point of faith that can be called
ADVENTIST.