Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church Teach the Gospel?

BrandenHarvey said:

Anyone that preaches a different gospel is cursed.

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Thank you @BrandenHarvey for an interesting post, I was surprised to read that, since I assumed the Adventists regarded the Gospel as essentially the message contained in the four Synoptic Gospels and explained in the Epistles of the Holy Apostles Peter, Paul, John, James and Jude, and in the Acts of the Apostles, as prophesied in the Old Testament, and as reflected in the Apocalypse of St. John also known as Revelation.

Revelation is a greatly misunderstood book and would not have been included in the New Testament at all had it not been for the fourth century Alexandrian bishop Athanasius endorsing it - he had led the council of Nicaea.

At any rate I don’t see how it could be believed that the statement of those three angels was self-referenced by the angel in Revelation 14:6-12, and that that text doesn’t refer rather to the Gospel message contained in the rest of the New Testament, which makes me wonder, if the SDA thinks only those three statements are the Gospel, what exactly their opinion is of the rest of the New Testament?

It’s interesting to note in most churches the four canonical Gospels are read every Sunday and Apocalypse is read periodically on a rotating basis, except in the Coptic Orthodox Church where it is read in its entirety on Holy Saturday (the day before the Pascha, the feast of the Resurrection).

My friends @MarkRohfrietsch @Xeno.of.athens @prodromos @Ain't Zwinglian @Jipsah @PloverWing @chevyontheriver @Michie @jas3 @FenderTL5 @ViaCrucis @Mark Quayle and @Hentenza would I think be interested in your post as it contains a publically available fact that many of us were simply unaware of.

Just to clarify on this point anathema does not neccessarily mean cursed; when the early church anathematized someone it was not seen as a curse but as two things: a final warning of the need to repent of an error, and failing that, delivering them up to God since the Church was unable to reach them and unless they repented, someone under anathema must be separated from the faithful.

In some cases, anathematizations have ceased or been retracted, for example, the Eastern (Antiochian Orthodox, ALexandrian Greek Orthodox) and Oriental Orthodox (Assyrian/Syriac Orthodox, Coptic Orthodoox) churches of Antioch and Alexandria no longer anathematize each other.

BrandenHarvey said:

What is the gospel, according to the Bible?

Galatians 1:11-12

[11] But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. [12] For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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Gal 3:8 'The Gospel was preached to Abraham"
Gal 1:6-9 don't fall for a different gospel. There is only one.
Eph 2:8-10 we are saved by grace through faith
Rom 2:16 "God will judge the world through Christ Jesus, according to my Gospel"
John 3:16 God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

Rev 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an everlasting gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

Matt 5:
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

iHarken said:

The gospel is the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ through his death, burial, & resurrection. I don’t understand what Revelation 14 has to do with the gospel

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Let's start by actually reading Rev 14 NKJV

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.””

iHarken said:

Again & again you purposely misrepresent my thoughts & you have the audacity to ask for scripture

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Interesting direction you are going

iHarken said:

I will ask for the Lords forgiveness in my participation

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iHarken said:

I did not say that. Here is my quote:

“Again, I will continue to press that there is only one gospel

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amen. That is from Gal 1:6-9

And Gal 3:8 says the 'Gospel was preached to Abraham"

Heb 4:2 says of the OT saints "The Gospel was preached to us just as it was to them also"

The Gospel is unchanged from Gen 3 to Rev 22..

The Liturgist said:

if the SDA thinks only those three statements are the Gospel, what exactly their opinion is of the rest of the New Testament?

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We don't have any statement/belief saying that the gospel is fully detailed / explained in 2 verses in Rev 14

The Liturgist said:

Revelation is a greatly misunderstood book and would not have been included in the New Testament at all had it not been for the fourth century

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You are welcomed to your private opinion of course.
For many of us, we understand that the NT texts were being read and accepted by Christians long before the 4th century.

The Liturgist said:

At any rate I don’t see how it could be believed that the statement of those three angels was self-referenced by the angel in Revelation 14:6-12

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Rev 14:6-12 IS the message of 'those three angels'.
Have you read the text?? That is what it says

In any case, you don't have to accept the text, you have free will

truthuprootsevil said:

I listen to Amazing Facts which is The Seventh-Day activist broadcast. Doug bachelor currently the minister before him was Joe Crews and each of them preach the Gospel of Christ.

I visit Seventh-Day activist churches from time to time on the 7th and they teach the gospel of Christ.

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Amen!

BobRyan said:

You are welcomed to your private opinion of course.
For many of us, we understand that the NT texts were being read and accepted by Christians long before the 4th century.

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By some Christians, yes, but the Biblical canon as we know about it is not attested to prior to AD 367. Thus some Christians had Revelation, particularly those in Asia Minor and Alexandria with a strong connection to St. John, others did not. It is an example of what was known as “Antilegomenna” or disputed writings (which also included some writings which were actually spurious, like Laodiceans or the Apocalypse of Peter).

The Liturgist said:

By some Christians, yes, but the Biblical canon as we know about it is not attested to prior to AD 367.

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But this did not stop the first , second and third century Christians from reading the texts of scripture.

Even Paul said that their teaching in the first century was "accepted for what it is, the Word of God" 1 Thess 2:13

BobRyan said:

Let's start by actually reading Rev 14 NKJV

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.””

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People do not realize it, we are living in the same spiritual condition before the fall of Jerusalem where God’s people were captured by Babylon, professed people of God would not fear God, what is rightfully due to God. That’s why we have this everlasting gospel message to get people back to having their fear of God Exo20:20 Ecc 12:13-14 Ecc3:14 Rev14:6-14 and not their fear of God taught through mans traditions Isa 29:13 Mat15:3-14 we are on the brink of the same circumstances and the only solution is hearing the everlasting gospel message and responding to Rev14:6-7, 12

This is echoing the three angels message, the everlasting gospel, given by the prophet Jeremiah to God’s people as a warning, before being captured by Babalyon.

Jer 10:6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idol is a [b]worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates;
It is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of the craftsman
And of the hands of the metalsmith;
Blue and purple are their clothing;
They are all the work of skillful men.
10 But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation

11 Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

12 He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
13 When He utters His voice,
There is a [c]multitude of waters in the heavens:
“And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”
14 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge;
Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image;
For his molded image is falsehood,
And there is no breath in them.
15 They are futile, a work of errors;
In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
16 The Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The Lord of hosts is His name.


Ecclesiastes 3:14 - God's work Exo32:16 is forever, nothing can be added, nothing can be subtracted, that men should fear Him.
Jeremiah 10 - fear the eternal Creator, not the perishing idols, on the eve of Babylon.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, keep His commandments, for God brings every work and every secret thing into judgment.
Revelation 14:6–12 - the everlasting gospel: fear God, worship the Creator, the judgment hour is come, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Why Rev 14 is the everlasting gospel fear God, keep His commandments(His version) worship Him who made the heavens and earth Rev14:7 Exo20:11 Ecc3:14 Exo32:16 get back to the first table of commandments Exo20:6 Deut4:13 , loving God with our all heart, mind and soul Deut6:1-9

@BrandenHarvey : Let's use your summary of the gospel, from I Corinthians: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and ... He was buried, and ... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." Are you telling me that Seventh-Day Adventists disagree with this statement? Other SDA participants in this thread, do you disagree with the quoted statement from I Corinthians?

SDAs believe a number of things about the Sabbath and the end times that I disagree with. Fine, Christians disagree about a lot of things, especially regarding the end times. But I didn't think that "Christ died for our sins" was one of the points of disagreement.

PloverWing said:

@BrandenHarvey : Let's use your summary of the gospel, from I Corinthians: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and ... He was buried, and ... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." Are you telling me that Seventh-Day Adventists disagree with this statement? Other SDA participants in this thread, do you disagree with the quoted statement from I Corinthians?

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We agree with this statement, good point.

If thats all to the everlasting gospel Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day why are we still separated from God? While this is huge, obviously theres more to it. Rev14:6-12

SabbathBlessings said:

We agree with this statement, good point.

If thats all to the everlasting gospel Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day why are we still separated from God? While this is huge, obviously theres more to it. Rev14:6-12

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I assume that you and I are going to disagree about everything that either of us might say about the book of Revelation.

Nevertheless, if you believe that Jesus died for our sins, then I recognize you as a fellow Christian.

Returning to the thread title, if your church teaches that Jesus was incarnate, died, and rose so that our sins might be forgiven and we might be reconciled with God, then I wouldn't then say that your church is failing to teach the gospel.

Why does being conformed to the image of Christ take a lifetime (or more), instead of being instantaneous? An interesting question, and I don't know. Perhaps when we see God, we can tell God how frustratingly inconvenient this slow path of spiritual growth has been.

PloverWing said:

I assume that you and I are going to disagree about everything that either of us might say about the book of Revelation.

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I bet we may have some other common ground, like the Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I am assuming we agree?

PloverWing said:

Nevertheless, if you believe that Jesus died for our sins, then I recognize you as a fellow Christian.

Returning to the thread title, if your church teaches that Jesus was incarnate, died, and rose so that our sins might be forgiven and we might be reconciled with God, then I wouldn't then say that your church is failing to teach the gospel.

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Yes, our church teaches this, it's in our official beliefs

The Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ​

In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator.

This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness.

The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement, assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow.

(Gen. 3:15; Ps. 22:1; Isa. 53; John 3:16; 14:30; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.)

PloverWing said:

Why does being conformed to the image of Christ take a lifetime (or more), instead of being instantaneous? An interesting question, and I don't know. Perhaps when we see God, we can tell God how frustratingly inconvenient this slow path of spiritual growth has been.

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My guess it builds character, things that come too easy, our nature does not to see the value in it. Buts its a good question and I pray we can both stand in His Glory at His Second Coming which I believe is soon!

God bless sister!

PloverWing said:

<Snip>

Why does being conformed to the image of Christ take a lifetime (or more), instead of being instantaneous? An interesting question, and I don't know. Perhaps when we see God, we can tell God how frustratingly inconvenient this slow path of spiritual growth has been.

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It sounds a bit like our Lutheran take on "sanctification" vs. "justification"; we are justified by Christ (this is once and for all time, instantaneous if you like) while sanctification is a life long process, fully realized at the end of our earthly life. I believe that the Eastern Orthodox call this process "deification."

MarkRohfrietsch said:

It sounds a bit like our Lutheran take on "sanctification" vs. "justification"; we are justified by Christ (this is once and for all time, instantaneous if you like) while sanctification is a life long process, fully realized at the end of our earthly life. I believe that the Eastern Orthodox call this process "deification."

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We call it “theosis” which could be awkwardly translated as “deification” but the problem with that translation is that theosis does not mean becoming God or part of the Trinity or becoming a god in the polytheistic sense, that is to say, apotheosis. And as we all know, only Caesars, poets and George Washington are benefits of apotheosis (relax everyone, i’m joking, I suspect George Washington by the way would be rather embarrassed by the artwork in the rotunda of the US capitol depicting his apotheosis, which, for non-Americans reading this, yes, that is a thing). Thus I think sanctification is the correct way to translate it.

BrandenHarvey said:

Anyone that preaches a different gospel is cursed.

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I would say that Adventists do preach the gospel about Jesus' death burial and resurrection.

What I think you are seeing is that in addition to the gospel they tend to focus on what they consider to be "present truth" or last day "tests".

So for instance, here is Ellen White, in Early Writings, explaining why earlier Christians who didn't hold to the Seventh-day Sabbath teaching still rested in hope--but that now there is a test on the point:

The Liturgist said:

We call it “theosis” which could be awkwardly translated as “deification” but the problem with that translation is that theosis does not mean becoming God or part of the Trinity or becoming a god in the polytheistic sense, that is to say, apotheosis. And as we all know, only Caesars, poets and George Washington are benefits of apotheosis (relax everyone, i’m joking, I suspect George Washington by the way would be rather embarrassed by the artwork in the rotunda of the US capitol depicting his apotheosis, which, for non-Americans reading this, yes, that is a thing). Thus I think sanctification is the correct way to translate it.

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Well stated!

BobRyan said:

But this did not stop the first , second and third century Christians from reading the texts of scripture.

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And other stuff, as well, as Bro Liturgist pointed out.

BobRyan said:

Even Paul said that their teaching in the first century was "accepted for what it is, the Word of God"

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Even the Apocalypse? If so, St. Paul neglected tomention it.