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The question that Gustave has asked is an important question. It has been asked by others in various forms. Dr. Fred Veltman did a comprehensive review of the EGW book, Desire of Ages, and published a statement of his findings in a document that exceeded 2,100 pages. I believe that the following website provides you with a pdf of his report. https://ia802303.us.archive.org/25/items/FredVeltmanLifeOfChristResearchProject1988/1988_veltman_lifeOfChristResearchProject.pdf Modern SDA scholarship has developed the question that Gustave asked, into two forms. In one form the asked question relates to the extent to which the views of Ellen White reflected the views of contemporary, non-SDA people living in her day. In its second form, the question asked relates to the extent to which the views of Ellen White reflected the views of other SDA leaders who disagreed with the then current views of non-SDAs living in her day. These are two different questions which differ from each other in some respects. I am currently reading a 2020 book published by the SDA Avondale Academic Press in which four different academic scholars discuss the historical development of SDA ideas on geological issues associated with the Genesis flood. In one of the chapters written by three of those scholars, it is suggested that the views of Ellen White on those issues were influenced primarily by SDAs who had rejected the standard geological understanding of the non-SDA scholars in her day. I suggest that the question that Gustave has asked only covers one aspect of the basic question that should be asked. I am not aware of any scholarly attempt to investigate this issue that “Gustave has raised. NOTE: If you are looking for the book I mentioned, be sure you get the 2nd edition of the book.

As to current SDA belief. I think that it can be said that SDAs do not believe in intelligent life on any planet in this solar system other than the Earth. However, they are likely to believe that such intelligent life exists outside of this solar system.

When talking about the impact of Jesus we are not talking about a straight line. The world did not just magically change the moment Jesus arrived. Jesus introduced principles that fundamentally challenged the world of His day and gradually, over centuries, altered the way many human beings thought and lived, resulting in massive transformation of […] The post What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? The “Mustard-Seed Principle” (What If– 8) appeared first on Jon Paulien's Blog. View the full article

There is an oral tradition of stories that has developed over time about Ellen White. Some of this involves stories of her doing something that was beyond the ability of normal people. One example is the story that while in vision she would sometimes hold a large and heavy Bible above her head while turning the pages to verses that she cited. In another story it is alleged that while in vision she often did not take normal breaths. And other stories give her a physical strength that was beyond that of a normal human female. These are stories that probably have received the most attention. Other stories involve family events and relationships and the more common things of life. It should be acknowledged that proof of an alleged supernatural event associated with a vision of Ellen White is not proof of the validity of that vision. Supernatural events are not always of a divine nature. If it is true that she did, at times hold a large Bible above her head, while paging through it that in itself is not proof that God was involved in her doing that. Stories of such should not be considered to be proof that God inspired her. But such stories do not all meet the same standard of proof that they actually happened. Perhaps they did happen. Perhaps they did not. This story of the Bible is considered by some to be lacking in proof that it actually happened. My personal position is that whether true or not, those stories are not helpful in establishing whether or not one should accept the ministry of Ellen White as being a gift of God.

Here is some additional information from the White Estate: https://whiteestate.org/about/issues1/mistaken/writings-falsely-attributed/inhabited-planets-our-solar-system/ Contrary to some reports, Ellen White did not identify by name any of the "worlds" that she was shown in vision. Joseph Bates, a retired sea captain with a special interest in astronomy, was present during at least one of these visions, and he is reported to have identified the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus as being among those described. Some have mistakenly linked Elder Bates' remarks to Ellen White's description of a "place" inhabited by "noble" and "majestic" beings. In Ellen White's own account of her vision, however, she says only that she was taken to "A PLACE" that was bright and glorious" (emphasis supplied). She does not identify "the place" as Jupiter, Saturn, or any other planet in our solar system. Here is her description: "The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place." Early Writings, pp. 39, 40. https://whiteestate.org/about/issues1/unusual/scientific-issues/astronomical-statements/ Attention has been called to statements that seem to show that Ellen White made grievous errors regarding scientific issues. Prophets are not called to update encyclopedias or dictionaries. Nor are prophets (or anyone else) to be made "an offender by a word" (Isa. 29:21). If prophets are to be held to the highest standards of scientific accuracy (every few years these "standards" change, even for the experts), we would have cause to reject Isaiah for referring to "the four corners of the earth" (Isa. 11:12) and John for writing that he saw "four angels standing at the four corners of the earth" (Rev. 7:1). Some point to the phrase, "As the moon and the stars of our solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun," charging that Ellen White was untrustworthy in scientific matters. [1] But most readers would recognize this use of "stars" for "planets of our solar system" as a non-technical description easily understood by laymen. Some have declared Ellen White was in error when she allegedly said that she had visited a "world which had seven moons," [2] and that the planets visited were Jupiter and Saturn. In point of fact, she never named the "world which had seven moons." But there is more to the story. Less than three months after she and James were married in 1846, she had a vision at the Curtis home in Topsham, Maine, in the presence of Joseph Bates. Although Bates had seen Ellen White in vision on several occasions, he still had doubts about her prophetic gift; but through the Topsham vision he was convinced that "the work is of God." [3] James White reported that, in this vision, Mrs. White was "guided to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and I think one more. After she came out of vision, she could give a clear description of their moons, etc. It is well known, that she knew nothing of astronomy, and could not answer one question in relation to the planets, before she had this vision." [4] What was it that convinced Bates, the old sea captain and amateur astronomer, that Ellen White was "of God"? After the vision, she described what she had seen. Knowing that she had no background in astronomy, Bates said, "This is of the Lord." Obviously, what Bates heard corresponded to his knowledge of what telescopes showed in 1846. Almost certainly this vision was given in Bates's presence to give him added confidence in Ellen White's ministry. If she had mentioned the number of moons that modern telescopes reveal, it seems clear that Bates's doubts would have been confirmed. [5] (See "Avoid Making the Counsels 'Prove' Things They Were Never Intended to Prove.") [1] Education, p. 14 (same statement, The Desire of Ages, p. 465). [2] Early Writings, p. 40. This vision was first described in the Broadside, To those who are receiving the seal of the living God, first published Jan. 31, 1849. [3] A Word to the Little Flock, p. 21, cited in F. D. Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics, p. 581. [4] Ibid., p. 22. Ellen White wrote: "I was wrapped in a vision of God's glory, and for the first time had a view of other planets" (Life Sketches, p. 97; see also Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 83). No evidence exists that this is the same vision described in Early Writings, p. 40. See pages 144, 145. [5] Further information regarding this 1846 vision is found in Loughborough, The Great Second Advent Movement, pp. 257-260. For a discussion of how Loughborough's memory of his conversation with Bates many years earlier fits into this memorable moment for Bates, see Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics, pp. 93-101. [Adapted from Herbert E. Douglass, Messenger of the Lord: the Prophetic Ministry of Ellen G. White (Nampa, Idaho.: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1998), pp. 490, 491.

BWphotodude, How does one say something and it [what was said] can be interpreted to not say something?

“You insisted that I had some Davidians/Shepherd's Rods connections even after I denied that I had never previously heard of the group. My brief read of wiki and an Adventist website seemed to indicate that they were at least offshoots from the SDAs.” I felt that way because that is what they do is teach the same message you teach. So do the Jehovah Witness. You all varies on other belief except this one. “No, we do not "KEEP" Sunday. We usually remember the death and resurrection once a week, but some of our travelling Mission people will share during the week, especially if they can only stay in one location for a day or two. Also, a Christadelphian in a Muslim country would most probably remember the sacrifice of Jesus on a Friday, and in Israel on Saturday. Our rest in Christ is 24/7 as taught in Matthew 11:25-30, Hebrews 4. We have found rest in Christ.” You are not making sense because the word “keep,” also means; “to carry out in practice; look out for, regard, pay attention to." Your church brings up like most who wants to substitute Sunday for the Sabbath, the breaking of bread. What does breaking of bread or eating every Sunday have to do with a day? It doesn’t! People in the ancient met together on specific days because of time and travel. In certain culture they meet like that even now, in what we called third world countries. Now, tell me how do you find rest in Christ/27, along with the explanation you provided does not make sense as well? YAHSHUA is not a day and the Bible never said to substitute HIS SON for HIS HOLY DAY. What YAHSHUA Said and it was clear that HE is MASTER of the Sabbath because HE made it Holy when HE created the Worlds. That is why the Bible said in Gen 2:1, 2: that the heavens (universe) and the earth and all the host (all the habitable worlds) of them were now finish or complete. How was this done in six day for each world, that HE created. It was done and on the 7th day HIS work stopped to celebrate on HIS HOLY SABBATH. Heavens worship THE SON and THE FATHER! YAHSHUA said take MY YOKE because it is lite and a yoke does not relate to resting. It means HIS YOKE is easy to bear but still have to work. That means faith without work is dead. Yep, you are resting alright in a grave doing nothing! For as the New heavens and the New earth, which I will make, shall remain before ME, Saith YAHWEH, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one New moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before ME, saith YAHWEH. Isa 66:22, 23 Your Church also do not believe that YAHSHUA is not THE CREATOR and not an ELOAH like HIS FATHER. You appeared to make breaking bread a day, but do not read the truth about THE SON. Gen 1:26, John 1:3, 14, Cols1:16, Heb1:1, 2, Finally, your Church do not stand for anything but fits in where it can fit in from Muslims, Protestants, the Jews who are not IsraEL (they call themselves Israeli), or why not Voodoo, Hindu to be flexible with their religion. "No, Paul preached in the Synagogue on the Sabbath because that is when and where the Jews were assembled. It does not record that he shared the fellowship memorial when he was in the Synagogue in those particular references, and if he tried to do this he would most probably met some strong opposition from the unbelieving Jews, for example in Antioch Acts 13. Also preaching is not resting, but an increase of their labors. If I was invited to speak at the local SDA hall, I would most probably need to go on Saturday. If I was invited to speak at the local Baptist Church I would most probably need to go on Sunday." And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the *Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Act 13:42 * This word is truthful, but not understandable by most Denominations. They do not understand this are the Greeks and the Romans. Shem or Ham are called Gentiles and YAHWEH told who the Gentiles are. You as I have said with regret have not read our Paul at all. Paul was sent to preach to the Gentiles. That would be the Corinthians (Greeks), Thessalonians(Greeks) , Ephesians “the Luwians an Aryan tribe), Galatians (the Europeans Celtic), Colossians (the Greeks and the Turks), Romans (the Latins). All were Japheth’s children. There is a lot of bad information concerning who or what a Gentile is. Most denominations within Christianity teach that a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. The Webster dictionary defines Gentile in this way: A person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith. Yet, from a Scriptural standpoint is this correct? Who Are The Gentiles According to Scripture? At Genesis 10:1-5, we are told that Gentiles are persons who are descendants of Japheth. http://www.e-prophetic.com/articles/who-are-gentiles/ Happy Sabbath Trevor, blessings!

✨?✨ We shall be changed ✨?✨ 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The 1919 Bible Conference's issues do not only apply to the writings of Mrs. White but inspiration in general, including the Bible. Sadly the rejection of this message made the 1922 General Conference the worst in our history, and most of the church's problems over the 20th century stems from our rejection of this message, and our healing will come from once we finally accept the 1919 Bible Conference message.

It was an excellent article!!! Some of our theologians have pointed out that the Roman Catholics had a view of intercession where you go to your priest to pray to the saints to pray to Mary to pray to Jesus to pray to the Father to forgive you. This was the view in the culture the reformers grew up in and they kept the same model but removed the middlemen, and had us just pray to Jesus to pray to the Father. We find Biblical intercession in Exodus 19:5-6 and in Revelation 1. Jacob's ladder was the tower of Babel upside down, The Biblical view of intercession is backwards from the Catholic view: It is God as king and power (God the Father) reaching out to through God as personal friend (God the Son) and through angels and priests to God's people and through them and how God working with our subjective experience (God the Holy Spirit) to turn people's hearts to accept God in their hearts. We sadly read into Mrs. White's quote about standing before God without an intercessor by reading into those words the Roman Catholic view of intercession as trimmed by the Reformers, and we mix it with a misunderstanding of just what (or rather who) hell fire is. And mixing her words with these two errors give us a very, very wrong understanding of her words. When we read it in the context of the Biblical view of intercession it is telling us that those who will respond to God's love have responded to God's love, and he has won us over. We love and trust him no matter what. Meanwhile, those who have not have so hardened their hearts that they have become deaf to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit. They will not repent, nor will they listen to the Sprit's plead for mercy in their actions and how they treat others.

In the past, SDA pastors have been asked not to marry two people (a male and a female) who had widely different religious beliefs. In practice, this generally involved the marriage of a SDA with a person who was not a SDA. But, there was considerable freedom to perform the marriage of two people who were not SDAs. Today that restriction is not always strongly enforced and more freedom is given to the judgment of the involved pastor. I have performed the marriage of a SDA to a person who was not a SDA member. In doing so denominational leaders have given me the freedom to use my own judgment. But, keep in mind that I do not perform the marriage of everyone who asks. If I do not believe that the marriage will likely succeed, I do not do it. So, in actual fact, it was the exception when I performed the marriage of a SDA to a person who was not SDA. As a point of interest I will give two examples of marriages that I have refused to perform, in addition to one mentioned earlier in this thread. * In one case one of the parties was comatose, about to die and therefore unable to give consent to marriage! The other person was not a happy person at my refusal to perform the marriage when she had a valid license. * I once refused to perform the marriage of a Jewish person to a Protestant. My refusal resulted in a formal complaint with the VA. My response was simply that as a religious (sacramental) service, I determined when to provide and when not to provide and the government was not entitled to any other response. My personal reason, was that I did not believe that the Jewish person fully understood what was happening.