Seventh Day Adventist Teachings On Hell

[larry_m]

It would take up too much space & time to be exhaustive in our research on hell. I do believe in an eternal hell, but not in conciousness, in death. My humble understanding is that hell is the grave, eternal death, not burning. I hope that answers your question. Larry.

 

[larry_m]

I would like to ask a couple of questions to my friends who believe in an eternaly burning hell. Did our Savior pay for our sins? Since He did, is He still in the eternal burning hell paying for our sins? The scriptures say He is at the right hand of the Father, our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. Please enlighten me with some scripture, not mans philosophy. I would appreciate some feed back from my brothers & sisters. Thankyou. Larry.

 

[Protestant101]

(continued from previous post)
There are too many former Adventists, now happily Catholic, though, for you to be able to get away with veiling your meanings with nice sounding words. If you are up to the challenge, I look forward to your posts. MarysRoses

“Secret Codes” “Veiling Our Words.” “Deliberate Deceptions” This is all the double speak of anti-Adventist cultists. This kind of characterization, is infact, a secret code too, designed for only one purpose.

Rather than question our motive or character as such; it might be better to also recount the many Catholics who are now Adventists, and are happy in the Lord.

 

[lak611]

God is playing a game? This paragraph is a reference to the SDA believe in the 'Investigative judgment". This is an idea even many SDA theologians have rejected. The SDA idea is that Jesus began a new ministry in 1844, judging people prior to His second comming. How do you arrive from the bible at the idea the final judgment begins in 1844? That secret code again. MarysRoses

Is the secret code in Ellen White’s books?

 

[amills]

Rather than question our motive or character as such; it might be better to also recount the many Catholics who are now Adventists, and are happy in the Lord.

I remember an Adventist pastor telling me that he had studied Catholocism and knew all about the beliefs. He then told me about how Catholics were cannibals because of their belief in the Holy Eucharist, he explained to me quite clearly out of an unofficial Catholic Catechism (and out of context) how Catholics had eliminated the 2nd commandment and worship idols. He told me about how the Pope had changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. (didn’t know the name of the Pope).

He then clearly explained to me with examples that when these “truths” were revealed to the unknowing Catholics they readily accepted the Adventists Church and were very happy to reject the faith of their youth.

At that point I realized first that his claim to know what Catholics believe and his claim that he had studied the Catholic faith were false. His history was distorted and I certainly did not want any part of such a hateful religion. A read of EGW books confirmed my suspicions about the falsehood of the Adventist religion.

This was the first time I had encountered Anti-Catholicism. In my religious upbringing I was always taught that other Christians were good people who believed most of what we believed. However, we also believed in Sacred Tradition, etc. We were never taught to hate other religions or tell lies about them. I was very thankful for having a solid Catholic education of 12 years with holy and loving sisters and priests because I knew those lies when I encountered them.

In my personal opinion I don’t see how any Catholic who knew their faith could accept the Adventist religion. I would challenge you to show me one Adventist who left the Catholic church who really knew their faith to begin with.

 

[Protestant101]

Is the secret code in Ellen White’s books?

The “secret code” is non-existent within Adventism.

 

[lak611]

The “secret code” is non-existent within Adventism.

Do you have any documentation about this?

 

[Protestant101]

At that point I realized first that his claim to know what Catholics believe and his claim that he had studied the Catholic faith were false. His history was distorted and I certainly did not want any part of such a hateful religion. A read of EGW books confirmed my suspicions about the falsehood of the Adventist religion.

In my personal opinion I don’t see how any Catholic who knew their faith could accept the Adventist religion. I would challenge you to show me one Adventist who left the Catholic church who really knew their faith to begin with.

It is a common claim for various denominations to give such claims about those who “leave the truth” meaning, of course, their particular denomination. I don’t go for it at all. If someone leaves our Church, or your’s; the last thing I would say is “they never really were one anyways.” Often, people change denominations for reasons other than “doctrinal.”

The religion of Jesus goes far beyond pet doctrinal assertions; it crosses denominational barriers, whether or not you want to admit it or not. There are many people in the world who “keep the commandments” better than you or I ever will; and they don’t even belong to a Church.

I see the Adventist views on “eternal hell-fire” as an assurance to all that God prevails; and that He is both “just, and the Justifier; of them which believe in Jesus.” I have not seen anything in this topic yet to prove me wrong.

BTW; most Catholics, I would say, are not “anti-Adventist;” just like most Adventists, are in fact, not anti-Catholic. I guess it’s nice for “Catholic apologetics” if you can make such a charge stick; but it has no basis in real life.

 

[adventistnomore]

It is a common claim for various denominations to give such claims about those who “leave the truth” meaning, of course, their particular denomination. I don’t go for it at all. If someone leaves our Church, or your’s; the last thing I would say is “they never really were one anyways.” Often, people change denominations for reasons other than “doctrinal.”

I’m glad to see your position has changed so drastically since last Thursday, when you told me I lacked “a good understanding” of Adventist faith, and explained:

One of the major pitfalls of many who leave the Adventist Church for “better” “truth” is that they did not originally understand the most important points about a doctrine/s.

Let’s face it; we all do it.

 

[Protestant101]

I’m glad to see your position has changed so drastically since last Thursday, when you told me I lacked “a good understanding” of Adventist faith, and explained:

Let’s face it; we all do it.

Your case is no different than anyone else’s. Your denomination, in this case means nothing. The subject you are referring to could also be applied to someone still on the Church books, who also does not understand it. I wasn’t referring to why you left the Church; only to the fact that your writings in that other thread reflect a poor understanding of that particular doctrine.

You like to try and make a fool out of people you disagree with; hmmm.maybe I should start to think of you as “anti-Adventist;” like some here try to say I am “anti-Catholic?”

If you have a good Biblical point to make in this subject; I will respond to it.

 

[MarysRoses]

The “secret code” is non-existent within Adventism.

funny, Friedrich seemed to think so, he referred to it, in caps, ‘CODE’ several times. And wasn’t it Doug Batchelor that had a popular seminar named “The Prophecy Code”?

prophecycode.com/about-speaker.asp

Whether you call it a code or not, Adventists believe that there are hidden prophecies that one must understand and believe in order to not be deceived. This is only one of many unique beliefs that are outside of mainstream Christianity.

MarysRoses

 

[lak611]

funny, Friedrich seemed to think so, he referred to it, in caps, ‘CODE’ several times. And wasn’t it Doug Batchelor that had a popular seminar named “The Prophecy Code”?

prophecycode.com/about-speaker.asp

Whether you call it a code or not, Adventists believe that there are hidden prophecies that one must understand and believe in order to not be deceived. This is only one of many unique beliefs that are outside of mainstream Christianity.

MarysRoses

Is this code in Ellen White’s books?

 

[MarysRoses]

“Secret Codes” “Veiling Our Words.” “Deliberate Deceptions” This is all the double speak of anti-Adventist cultists. This kind of characterization, is infact, a secret code too, designed for only one purpose.

Rather than question our motive or character as such; it might be better to also recount the many Catholics who are now Adventists, and are happy in the Lord.

When the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door, they are glad to identify themselves. Adventists however, are less than honest, and refer to themselves as anything BUT Adventist unless very directly questioned. I know this for a fact from first hand experience. I know SDA materials and publishers and have asked people what church they were from before they knew that I knew. I got answers of "christian church " “local community church” etc. Ok, so if you ignore the fact that those are also names of actual congregations (we have 1st Christian and Faith Christian as well as Faith Community Church) those descriptions are true as far as Adventists are Christians and they have a church in the community… but the fact that most people would assume it was one of those other congregations makes it very deceptive, imho.

Other have had similar experiences.

When I was an Adventist, I was taught to avoid identifying myself as Adventist until people were considered receptive.

MarysRoses

 

[pedja]

When the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door, they are glad to identify themselves. Adventists however, are less than honest, and refer to themselves as anything BUT Adventist unless very directly questioned. I know this for a fact from first hand experience. I know SDA materials and publishers and have asked people what church they were from before they knew that I knew. I got answers of "christian church " “local community church” etc. Ok, so if you ignore the fact that those are also names of actual congregations (we have 1st Christian and Faith Christian as well as Faith Community Church) those descriptions are true as far as Adventists are Christians and they have a church in the community… but the fact that most people would assume it was one of those other congregations makes it very deceptive, imho.

Other have had similar experiences.

When I was an Adventist, I was taught to avoid identifying myself as Adventist until people were considered receptive.

MarysRoses

I never ever heard of such a thing and I have never experienced that Adventists were trying to hide their identity when they were talking to people.

You clearly have a huge personal problem with the SDA, that is so evident because you cant stop talking about them. However, I think you should not generalize and portray your personal experiences as a issue common to all Adventists.

Anyway, one question concerning everlasting hell: do you believe that human beings can be more compassionate than God himself?

 

[MarysRoses]

I never ever heard of such a thing and I have never experienced that Adventists were trying to hide their identity when they were talking to people.

You clearly have a huge personal problem with the SDA, that is so evident because you cant stop talking about them. However, I think you should not generalize and portray your personal experiences as a issue common to all Adventists.

Anyway, one question concerning everlasting hell: do you believe that human beings can be more compassionate than God himself?

This is the U.S. Other former SDAs here will be glad to verify what I just said, they’ve already said as much in other threads. Whether you like it or not, it happens here. As far as your personal attacks about my ‘personal problem’ thats a bit outside the scope of the forum, and you are welcome to email me if you want to discuss further.

As far as your question, I fully believe people can fool themselves into thinking they are more compassionate than God. The other side of this is that people can fool themselves into believing that because they find some teaching uncomfortable and imagine they know a better way, then God must be like that and fit their own idea of ‘compassion’.

As Christians, we can trust God to do what is best. As human beings, our capacity to understand God is limited and to limit God because of limited understanding, is a sure path to error.

The Adventist view of hell is not more compassionate than Catholic teaching on hell. Adventist views are based on a serious error in Adventism regarding the existence of our immortal souls and the nature of God.

God bless,

MarysRoses

 

[pedja]

This is the U.S. Other former SDAs here will be glad to verify what I just said, they’ve already said as much in other threads. Whether you like it or not, it happens here. As far as your personal attacks about my ‘personal problem’ thats a bit outside the scope of the forum, and you are welcome to email me if you want to discuss further.

As far as your question, I fully believe people can fool themselves into thinking they are more compassionate than God. The other side of this is that people can fool themselves into believing that because they find some teaching uncomfortable and imagine they know a better way, then God must be like that and fit their own idea of ‘compassion’.

As Christians, we can trust God to do what is best. As human beings, our capacity to understand God is limited and to limit God because of limited understanding, is a sure path to error.

The Adventist view of hell is not more compassionate than Catholic teaching on hell. Adventist views are based on a serious error in Adventism regarding the existence of our immortal souls and the nature of God.

God bless,

MarysRoses

Would you be willing to answer the question with a simple yes or no? My question was if you believe that humans can be more compassionate than God. Do you think that is possible?

For example if you would witness the burning of a killer/rapist/whatever who “deserves” to die and he is been set on fire, and he is burning and burning for one hour, two hours, days, years, 150.000 years, 1 billion years… and screaming and crying and begging for mercy and so on: how long do you think you would be able to stand there and watch it? Is it possible that you would start to feel sorry for him (no matter how much he deserves to die)? Do you think it would be possible that you would rather like to set an end to this (lets say after 500 billion years of burning in flames) because you would genuinely start to feel sorry for him??

 

[Protestant101]

funny, Friedrich seemed to think so, he referred to it, in caps, ‘CODE’ several times. And wasn’t it Doug Batchelor that had a popular seminar named “The Prophecy Code”?

prophecycode.com/about-speaker.asp

Whether you call it a code or not, Adventists believe that there are hidden prophecies that one must understand and believe in order to not be deceived. This is only one of many unique beliefs that are outside of mainstream Christianity.

MarysRoses

Ok. I see what you are trying to say. But the problem is, the CODE being referred to is not an “Adventist secret” we actually broadcast it to the world. Pastor Doug, and others, refer to this CODE as secret, only because many doctrines cover their real meaning with falsehoods. The “keys” are widely available to anyone who has a Bible; so in that sense, there is no secret. The link you provided actually has a list of Bible verses depicting what the Bible uses various things as symbols for; especially in Bible prophecy. Perhaps you could tell us which one of those texts are wrong? Which example used there needs correcting?

Bible Symbols, and Bible numbers, are commonly used in the Bible as symbols of a truth God wants known, something like a parable is a symbol for truths that Jesus often wanted to communicate. Please examine the “Code” in these two links and tell us which ones are wrong!!

In your post #54, you stated:

As a former Adventist, now Catholic… I enjoy translating the Adventist ‘speak’ for people unfamiliar with their tricky language.

I would suggest that you are the one with all the secret code. What do you call this “translating” that you do? And how does it apply to anything I said about eternal hell fire?

 

[adventistnomore]

If you have a good Biblical point to make in this subject; I will respond to it.

Granted.

 

[larry_m]

I see in these these conversations people defending their doctrines or church with alot of emotional fervor. This isn’t about Catholicism or Adventism. It is about the truth as it is in our Savior. Untill we stand up for the honor of the Father & not our feeble arguments, our discussions are in vain. I have been caught up many times trying to defend beliefs,or doctrines. Our Savior said He came here to do the will of His Father, period. Where are the arguments for the love & mercy of the Father shown in the cross. Quit trying to convince & convict. That is the work of the Spirit. I would bet the evil one is sitting back laughing at us & our bickering on doctrinal issues. Don’t get me wrong, doctrines have their place. Only after we have an abiding relationship with our Savior, May we get away from ism’s & get back to the truth as it is in our Redeemer. MaryRosas, I pray you have a close & loving relationship with your Savior no matter what communion you are in. Same goes with Protestant101 & all. Your brother in Yehushuah Messiah, Larry M.

 

[Friedrich]

Hi to Larry, Mary, and all the rest,

I haven’t looked at this post for a whole 24 hours, since I have just ended a wonderful Sabbath spent in Bible Study and prayer with fellow saints, all wanting to prepare for Heaven…

Once again thank you all for being so passionate about what you believe. Don’t let the passion turn sour though!

I do NOT write on this forum to try and down anybody, or to defend SDAs or my own beliefs. I am simply a Christian, eager to tell others what God has done for me and my family.

The Bible has no secrets or secret codes. The Bible is a miraculous perfect union, from Genesis to Revelation, where God is telling us that He is going to finalize the sin problem on this planet once and for all. By comparing Old and New testament, verse by verse, we find wonderful themes running consistently throughout. Our work is to prayerfull study this map from God – the CODE is found in it, clearly, and unambiguously.

Too many questions have been asked to even try and answer. Mary, I sense that you have a major problem with SDAs. Sorry about that. That is not what it is all about…

May I politely summarize my personal view:

God is not in the business of playing church-church. He is in the business of dealing with sin. He wants to eradicate sin from this earth. He used Noah to warn sinners of His imminent drastic dealing with sin during the coming flood. He chose Israel to be his ``LIGHT’’ to shine His love out to the world. They ran after other gods, so God sent them into 70 years of Babylonian captivity. This cured them of idolatry, but then they turned on their Saviour from sin–Jesus Christ, and crucified Him. God then used 12 disciples to tell the world about Him, which they did brilliantly. Since then God has used many different people/groups to witness for him. I believe God used leaders during the Dark Ages, He used Reformers to shed more light on the Bible again, and He still uses people today. Seventh Day Adventists are no better or worse than any of the groups used by God previously. We just have a different message, with emphasis on God’s day of Rest from creation, and His soon return to eradicate sin finally. If we refuse to carry this message to the world, God will choose somebody else! This means that ultimately God is not going to ask which church you belonged to, but if you and I were true to God’s requirements as given to us in the Bible (Is.8:20).

Sister MarysRoses? I am not ashamed of what I believe, only hesitant to offend others who may believe differently. My only advice is this: Let all of us make things right with God, obey his Word, and we will be neighbours together in heaven!

See you there,

Friedrich