OTOH .... We did get our Health Message from the Catholics.
(In a way)
I thought we got our Health Message from the Jews (Leviticus) - which is probably the same place the Muslims got theirs.
I think we have similarities to both the Muslims and the Catholics.
Random comments on similarities between us and Muslims:We have a health message.
But what is our health message and why do we have it? What is its purpose? Therein lies the big difference between Adventists and Jews and Catholic and Muslims.
We have a prophet (peace be upon her).
Muslims say this automatically & perfunctorily every time they mention the name of Muhammad. We don't do this because we don't view her or any other prophet or apostle as anything but a mere human in need of God's grace and forgiveness, the same as Paul, Isaiah and Daniel.
The Muslims believe that God has always had His prophets to whom He gives revelation to guide His believers, and that Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet (after whom there are no new prophets).
Yes, this is true. They also believe that Muhammad was greater than Jesus Christ, although the Koran talks about Christ returning and being resurrected at some future time. It says, though, that Christ never died on the cross but that it only seemed like he died.
Adventists believe that God has always had His prophets to whom He gives revelation to guide His believers, and that Ellen White was the last and greatest prophet (after whom there are no new prophets).
Adventists do not teach that there will never be another prophet. It has never been our teaching as a church. Ellen White certainly never said such a thing.
I know, though, that this is the belief of some individual SDAs, but it is not based on anything in the Bible or in Ellen White's writings or even in anything published by the SDA church.
Ellen White and the church itself has always said we simply do not know if God will send another prophet. But if God does send another prophet, the test will be if that individual agrees with what God's prophets have said in the past. Just like Joshua was tested by whether he agreed with Moses, and so on.
Random Comments on similarities between us and Catholics:
Catholics have the Pope, who is infallible as a source of teachings and doctrines, and whose pronouncements cannot be questioned.
There is some truth to this, but there is also some error. The error lies in the fact that the pope does not claim to be a prophet of God in the Biblical sense or, generally, to receive visions or dreams from God. He also does not claim-- as some falsely believe he does-- that none of his pronouncements or teachings can be questioned. He is only considered infallible when he makes pronouncements from the chair of St. Peter-- that is, when he speaks "ex-cathedra," in his official capacity of Vicar of Christ, which he rarely does.
The truth is that very many Roman Catholics do not pay much attention to what the Pope says. They do not understand most of what he says, nor, frankly, does it matter. The only thing that really matters is that the priests and professional religious understand. It is not considered of great importance for the laity to have more than a superficial understanding of the pope's pronouncements. It is enough for them to give their assent, attend confession from time to time, go to mass and give offerings, etc.
The Catholic Church does not think of Christ's coming as being immanent or soon or that people have to "get ready" for Christ to appear. There is no sense of urgency. If you sin, you simply go to the priest for confession and absolution, etc. It is not a matter of the necessity of overcoming sin. The Church sees that as something more necessary for the religious-- the priests and bishops, etc.-- to do.
I do not want to give the impression that the Catholic Church says nothing about overcoming sin. It does. Rather, it does not put it in the context of developing character fit for heaven or because we want to show forth God's character and power in order to glorify God in the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
Besides, no one needs to be completely pure since there is purgatory which will purify us so we can enter heaven. In other words, there is kind of a second chance.
Catholics also revere the virgin Mary, whom they do not worship as God but who is there to point the way to God/Jesus and help mediate in the believer's relationship with God.
In the Adventist faith, we have Ellen White, who has been given both of these roles.
Adventists do not believe that Ellen White can do what Catholics believe Mary and the saints are able to do. We believe that Ellen White is dead and unconscious and lying in the cold grave. Catholics believe Mary is alive and well in heaven and able to mediate for them with her Son. They pray to saints and to Mary-- and light candles and give offerings in her name and in the name of other dead people-- in order to persuade God to do loving things for them and for dead relatives. The priests actually encourage them in doing these useless things. I have a sister-in-law who has crawled on her knees for miles to a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe, until her legs were bleeding, all in order to persuade God to give her son a successful operation. This was what she was taught would please God.
I used to take my wife to the Church where she prayed and lit candles for her dead father, mother and sister. She was really worried about them. Now she is not. She has told me over and over again how much better she feels knowing that her mother is resting in the grave and is not aware of all the problems going on down here on this earth.
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