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Ellen white doesn’t say Satan takes on a human physical body here at all. At least not in the way Jesus did. Or are you asserting it’s controversial that Satan might be able to appear to humans in any form at all?


To Ellen White, Satan IS a physical body. He doesn't assume one when convenient, he has never been anything else. That's why I question how physical demons are supposed to possess people. It doesn't make sense to me.
 
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Within Reason

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No revelation, that is on par with Scripture, has been revealed to man since the Book of Revelation.
Do you realize that both the Gospel and Epistles of John were inspired and written after Revelation? Do you realize that John makes mention of prophets future to his time in Revelation?
 
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Within Reason

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To Ellen White, Satan IS a physical body. He doesn't assume one when convenient, he has never been anything else. That's why I question how physical demons are supposed to possess people. It doesn't make sense to me.
Yes, satan is a physical being - no question, but one with a mind/heart (spirit, all three words linked in scripture) and EGW was right on this. Words are "spirit" (Job 26:4; John 6:63, etc). Satan (as devils) possesses people through words (which are formulated ideas) received into the heart/mind. Just as satan was physically "cast out" of Heaven, so too, is satan spiritually "cast out" of the mind/heart. First the natural, then the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46).

It is by the same means in which Jesus indwells in a person. Through the words, brought there by the Holy Spirit.
 
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Jamdoc

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A basic belief of the Seventh Day Adventists is that there is no soul or spirit separate from the body. The SDA church teaches that death is followed by Soul Sleep, that the person is not conscious until the resurrection, a literal, physical resurrection. This belief is jarring to many Christians and it overlooks some key passages in the Bible. Many members of the SDA church and others influenced by the writings of their founder, Ellen White, vehemently deny the existence of a soul.

To Ellen White, Satan is not a disembodied spirit, Satan has a physical body, a human body. The same goes for the fallen angels who followed Satan, they are not spirits either, they have bodies. At the end of the world, Satan and subordinate demons will be destroyed in the body, by fire, and will cease to exist. Mortals don't have souls, and neither do angels or demons.

In the Gospels, the casting out of demons is an important part of the ministry of Jesus and his Disciples. This casting out of demons, evil spirits, or impure spirits, occurs in numerous passages. Not one of these passages shows these afflicting demons as physical. Not once is a demon ever seen leaving the body of a demon-possessed person. There is no suggestion in the Gospel that a demon has any weight or that they occupy space. In the Gospel, a demon is a disembodied spirit that can sometimes prey on the souls of mortals.

The Gospels contradict Ellen White's assumption that demons must have actual bodies, a notion that comes from her denial of a soul.

The casting out of demons is described in nine passages in Mark, including three in the first chapter. It is also described in nine passages in Luke and eight passages in Matthew.
Soul sleep is wrong but literal physical resurrection is actually right. Revelation is clear on that.
 
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Jamdoc

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The bible describes death as sleep .... many many many verses .... Jesus himself describes death as sleep

The bible teaches we are not immortal in any way, shape or form ... that does not happen until Jesus returns (at the last trump) and the 1st resurrection happens.

It is summed up here by Paul, although there is many many verses that supports his summation

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death,cso that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

and here

1 Corinthians 15

50Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” ...

The body sleeps, but the soul does not.
2 Corinthians 5:8
 
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DNB

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Do you realize that both the Gospel and Epistles of John were inspired and written after Revelation? Do you realize that John makes mention of prophets future to his time in Revelation?
Most scholars consider The Book of Revelation to be, chronologically, the last manuscript written of our current NT canon. We do not need to question over a decade or so, which Book was written last. The point remains valid, no inspiration was given in regards to canon, after the final Book of the current canon, was written. And, that was The Book of Revelation, no other. You are profoundly out-scholared and outnumbered on that historical fact.

John's prophets are eschatological, we have not entered that dispensation yet.
Don't even try to compare the misguided Ellen White, with John's divinely appointed, potent and efficacious prophets.
Very weak and unsubstantiated contentions, WR.
 
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DNB

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The body sleeps, but the soul does not.
2 Corinthians 5:8
Your verse is implicit, and does not compare to the didactic and explicit context of 1 Thessalonians 4.
Plus, Paul often speaks to his Churches of being with them in spirit, but not actually present with them.
1 Corinthians 5:4, Colossians 2:5
Very bad exegesis.
 
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Dale

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As far as is shown, EGW, based her belief upon scripture, which she cited prolifically.

As for as EGW denying the existence of "a soul", this is incorrect. EGW acknowledges what the Bible says about "soul", while rejecting the dualistic Platonic philosophy of the pagan/heathen.

So, EGW continually uses the word "soul", and if typed into the Seventh-day Adventist online search of just EGW writings, we find the word "soul" used 42,224 times (though granted there are many duplicates and compilations to eliminate in that number) - Ellen G. White Writings



You say that Ellen White often uses the word "soul." Yes, but she uses it emotionally, as it "it stirs the soul." I'm not sure that she ever uses the word "soul" in the theological sense.
 
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Justin BT

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According to Ellen White, Satan naturally has a physical body and when the wicked are raised from the dead in the Second Resurrection, he sees an opportunity.

I dont know any SDA’s that would understand this text to be asserting that Satan has a human body. Or that a “heavenly body” (in the 1 Cor 15 sense) is any way comparable to a human body. Does anyone at all think the body of a demon/angel is in any way like a human body (pre or post resurrection)? Not even that Ellen White quote seems to suggest that, unless we understand the suggestion that an angels face looks like a humans face requires us to conclude that both types of boded are one and the same thing? Is that the suggestion?

However, I do know an SDA theologian, I’ll ask him if he thinks there are any SDA’s that think Satan has a human body in the earthly sense or heavenly sense.
 
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Cis.jd

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There are some beliefs that the aliens that have been popularly illustrated in pop culture are the fallen angels. When the fallen angels fell from heaven they entered the physical universe and where bounded by the laws with in it which means they took on a form of matter, and since they where not made in the image of God therefore their appearance is the alien like figure that many have illustrated.

This is conspiracy theory not theology. This is just pointing out that the SDA are not the only christians who believe demons have a physical body.
 
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Justin BT

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Interesting thought . I think the question at hand is not if angels/demons/spirits tam take on a human like form, but more so if angels/demons/spirits only exist in a physical human like form and can’t exist in a separate heavenly realm.

it seems like people are asserting that because Ellen White claims to have had a vision in which she saw Satan in a human like form, that Ellen White must have believed that Satan was locked into a human like physical body that is somehow in some way separated from the heavenly realm.
 
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Original Happy Camper

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Outside of that, as far as I know, I hold to no other SDA doctrine, whatsoever.

Sorry to hear that. You might want to reconsider that statement in light of the following

28 Fundamental Beliefs

The Holy Scriptures
1The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. The inspired authors spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to humanity the knowledge nec-essary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history. (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20, 21.)

The Trinity
2There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-know-ing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)

https://szu.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/28_Beliefs.pdf
 
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Original Happy Camper

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Well, this is just diabolical nonsense, no pun intended, at all! Ellen White is entirely deluded and filled with a lying spirit. No revelation, that is on par with Scripture, has been revealed to man since the Book of Revelation. And anyone who dares to add to it, stands accursed. She is declaring that it has been revealed to her, the anatomy and disposition of Satan, something not imparted, to such a detail, in Scripture.
She fabricated the whole depiction, to the point that it is full of nothing but stereotypes and clichés, that it ultimately sounds ridiculous.
She sounds frivolous, silly and immature. And worse, defiant in her audacity to make such extraordinary claims, and to allege that the inspiration came from God.
SDA people, be on your guard.​

Are you part of the remnant?

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
 
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GaryD1980s

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The OP asserts something about SDA doctrine that is clearly false. (The OP either knows little about SDA doctrine or is being deliberately deceptive about SDA doctrine – straw manning it) The OP uses no references to support his strawman.

Then someone points out the problem and is criticised for doing the same thing the OP did.

Can someone Provide some references to support the idea that even one SDA holds this position regarding angels and demons, then we’ll have something to talk about.
 
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GaryD1980s

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The OP asserts something about SDA doctrine that is clearly false. (The OP either knows little about SDA doctrine or is being deliberately deceptive about SDA doctrine – straw manning it) The OP uses no references to support his strawman.

Then someone points out the problem and is criticised for doing the same thing the OP did.

Can someone Provide some references to support the idea that even one SDA holds this position regarding angels and demons, then we’ll have something to talk about.

He did cite a reference. Ellen White expressed this ideology. You ask for an SDA that believes this? That's like saying "Well, Christ preached eternal life, but can you find a Christian who believes it?" Of course we do. Now, if SDA as an organization does NOT believe Ellen White's theories anymore, then how about coming out AS AN ORGANIZATION and denouncing those theories publicly? Not just one member here or there...but the organization as a whole.
 
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Bible Highlighter

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Even the so called "Nicene Creed", acknowledges that which is "visible" and "invisible", but says nothing about aethereal. Invisibility, is not the same as aethereality. Invisible, simply means, 'not seen', and in most cases the angels (good or evil) are not seen, and remain hid from sight, covering their glory of light. Light is used, even in modern science, to attempt cloaking - Are Cloaking Devices Coming? Metalens-Shaped Light May Lead The Way

Jesus cast the many demons into the herd of swine. If they were physical beings (in a similar way as humans) but merely invisible, how are they able to enter into swine? It makes no sense. Yes, spirits have substance in our real world, but they are not exactly like the same substance as flesh has. Jesus said, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." (Luke 24:39). Spirits are able to pass through physical objects of our world, and they are able to possess people. GOD who is spirit being lives in the hearts of believers. GOD can be present in every place at the same time.
 
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Bible Highlighter

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Not sure what SDA teaches on nature of angels.
What I do know is that Ellen G. White teaches a lot of false things that are not taught in the Bible and thus, a person should avoid the SDA church like the plague.

Here is a book that points out many of her errors.

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Ellen-White-Errors/dp/1304694518/
 
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summerville

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To Ellen White, Satan IS a physical body. He doesn't assume one when convenient, he has never been anything else. That's why I question how physical demons are supposed to possess people. It doesn't make sense to me.

Yeah, Ben Carson said the same thing..

Dr. Ben Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon and author of six best-selling books, gave a talk about creationism vs. evolution and said he believes the theory Charles Darwin “came up with was something that was encouraged by the adversary,”

Mis-interpretation of Daniel 8:13-14 resulted in the error of Seventh-day Adventistism

This website is focused on the correct interpretation of Bible prophecy and that puts us at odds with one of the core beliefs of Seventh-day Adventism, especially the doctrine of investigative judgement that is derived from SDA’s mis-interpretation of the eighth chapter of Daniel, a foundational error dating to the earliest days of the movement in the 1800s.
 
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eleos1954

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The body sleeps, but the soul does not.
2 Corinthians 5:8

Paul states he would RATHER be absent from the body and present with the Lord .... NOT that (when we die) we ARE absent from the body and present with the Lord ...

nothing is immortal about us until Jesus returns and the 1st resurrection happens ... the gift/reward of eternal life does not happen until Jesus returns

A soul is what you are ... a person .... a "soul" is not something you possess outside of your physical earthly life.

The body returns to dust. When He returns He gives us new bodies.

God breathed the breath of life into man and He became a living being (a soul)...

and Paul taught this ...

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
 
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