After the copy for this issue had gone to the printer we received information which we feel should be included, for it points up the character of the days in which we live as they lead up to the great apostasy. It also shows the necessity of being forewarned about the great delusion which has been fostered by Drs. D. G. Barnhouse and E. S. English, and Mr. Walter Martin; namely, that the Seventh-day Adventists are sound in the faith and should be treated as dear brethren in Christ. The campaign of these Adventism apologists is bearing its sad and destructive fruit, which is apt to gather momentum as it rolls. The information was this:
The official organ of the Seventh-day Adventists-Review and Herald-announced that their general headquarters had a telephone call from the Salvation Army headquarters in New York requesting "inspirational literature that could be supplied to their 2000 field leaders across the United States." This was answered by a suggestion that the Salvation Army purchase 2000 books of one kind, and then the Seventh-day Adventists would furnish free 2000 copies of Mrs. 'White's book, Steps to Christ. The transaction was completed, and the books were supplied with all possible speed. The Review and Herald expressed the hope that "this literature will bring inspiration and blessing to every one of these Salvation Army leaders."
Thus the leaven of evil continues to spread with the impetus supplied by misguided (if not deceived) leaders. Now the top echelons of the Salvation Army have been supplied with books that teach a part of the strange "message," and the way is open for further indoctrination with the Christ-dishonoring, bondage-producing, soul-enslaving legal system which denies the existence of the soul and spirit of the departed, and rejects with scorn the eternal punishment of the damned. A great step has been taken which may result in the Salvation Army's becoming a recruiting agent for Adventism deception.
In previous numbers we have taken issue with Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse, Mr. Walter Martin, and Dr. E. Schuyler English for their articles in Eternity, Our Hope, and Christian Life magazines in which they sought to take the Seventh-day Adventists out of the ranks of the cults and to force their reception by sound, orthodox Christians. We pointed out some of the heresies, held by the Adventists, which undermine the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The subjects considered were that the Lord Jesus as a man possessed the nature of man in his fallen estate, that He was liable to sin, that He risked the loss of everything when He thus became a man, that when He arose from the tomb He took our sins back to heaven, that He is at present engaged in an "investigative judgment" to see who are worthy of eternal life, and that when He has finished He will come forth and place the sins of believers on Satan who will be the scapegoat to bear away the sins. We still affirm that these doctrines are held among them and are in the books now being advertised and sold by them, and that they are fundamental errors. They are a part of a system of doctrine which cannot lead souls to deliverance and peace.
As the afore-mentioned heresies are by no means all of the fatal doctrines propounded and tenaciously held by the Seventh-day Adventists, we feel called upon to examine other grave errors. And inasmuch as Dr. E. Schuyler English has said of Mr. Martin's defense of these people that "He is not talking about [Seventh-day Adventism in] the year 1875, or 1900, or 1925, but 1956," we shall be content to refer only to periodicals published by them in 1957, or to books which they have advertised or sold in 1957.
We cannot conceive that the Adventists really wish to have very close relationship with orthodox, evangelical Christians, unless for the purpose of proselytizing; for it is abundantly clear from their current writings that they consider themselves (and themselves only) to be the true "Remnant Church," and to have a special "message" to carry to all the world—a message that is basically different from the plain, simple gospel presented by true, earnest evangelical Christians. Of course they have welcomed the efforts of those who are seeking to remove the stain and stigma of bad doctrine that has followed them from their beginning. Now let us note a few of the many comments in their 1957 periodicals regarding their special "message":
"The borderlands of the Northeast Union are rich with prospects for God's last message"; "One of these insidious leaks is loss of confidence in the message. Ours is a most glorious message, and its truths are very precious"; "For this is God's message and we are His people"; "Seventh-day Adventists are interested in the island [Pitcairn] chiefly because almost all of its 138 inhabitants belong to the remnant church.... Thus thousands of people pass Pitcairn every year and learn something of the great Advent message"; "When the message of the three angels of Revelation [14:6-11.7 took hold of their hearts, many of these Islamic people accepted it, and several whole villages became Seventh-day Adventists"; "That congress filled him with the spirit of our message"; "the spread of our message"; "Songs were sung, attracting more people, then the third angel's message was preached for the first time in this area"; "These young men first heard of our message through the Voice of Prophecy"; "This experience... shows us that there are in every dark county, every city, and every village honest souls who are waiting for God's last saving message"; "The wife of a Hindu doctor accepted the message"; "the truths that make up God's message for this hour"; "giving Bible studies to those not acquainted with the faith of Seventh-day Adventists"; "A promising evangelistic project is found in providing for the fields color sound films on the main points of the Seventh-day Adventist message"; "Seventh-day Adventists have a special message to bear to the world in this generation.... The world needs, most desperately needs, that message."
We could multiply quotations to prove the Adventists feel that theirs is a distinctly different message; but these gathered at random from only a handful of copies of their official organ, the "Review and Herald," should suffice for our purpose. Theirs is different from the message that Paul preached, when he merely pressed repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the people "turned to the Lord," and not to some special message. And the same gospel preached by the Apostle Paul is God's only saving message for today.
But let us go to their own publications to find out what we can of their special message, and let us note some of the salient points. We shall first consider what the Adventists call "The Spirit of prophecy." The expression is found only once in the Bible; namely, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev. 19:1010And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10). (In this place the meaning is that the Holy Spirit's work will not be confined to the Church and this day, but after the Church has been translated to heaven, He will work in hearts as "the testimony of Jesus.") But this has been appropriated by the Adventists to themselves, and to themselves only, in order to build a doctrine which is used to prove that Mrs. Ellen G. White was endowed with a distinct prophetic gift from God to the remnant church, and that it is connected with their special message. This is not some casual point in their doctrine, as we shall observe, but it may well be called the warp and woof of it. Its threads run through every phase of Adventism, and without it Adventism would fall. Here are some recent quotations regarding "The Spirit of prophecy":
One of their most prominent leaders, Carlyle B. Haynes, in an article entitled: "The Spirit of Prophecy-Should It Be Presented in Our Evangelistic Meetings?" says: "It had been a conviction with me for some time that the presentation of the message was incomplete without a comprehensive setting forth of the Bible teaching concerning the Spirit of prophecy-. I had observed over the years that converts to the faith who became firmly grounded in the clear teaching of Scripture about this ancient and important gift, became church members of the strongest kind. These were the ones who were the most firmly established and least likely to drift away from the message.... I followed the custom of preaching three times on 'The Gift of Prophecy.' " Mr. Haynes then told of a woman whose face glowed with interest and satisfaction when she listened to the story of "the restoration of the gift of prophecy to God's remnant church."—Review and Herald, July 18, 1957.
Eph. 4:8-138Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:8‑13) is used by Seventh-day Adventist writers to bolster their contention that Mrs. White possessed a special gift of prophecy. In these verses the Spirit of God says that the ascended Christ gave gifts to His Church—"apostles... PROPHETS... evangelists... pastors and teachers." But in Eph. 2:2020And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20) we read that the Church was built on the FOUNDATION of the "apostles and prophets"; that is, New Testament prophets. (Judas and Silas are mentioned as being prophets in Acts 15:3232And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. (Acts 15:32).) The apostles and prophets did not remain after the establishment of the Church; they were the foundation, and the upper structure of a building is not the foundation. Therefore it is evident that these two gifts—apostles and prophets—ceased to exist after the Church's founding; but the "evangelists... pastors and teachers" remained "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." But this is rejected by Mr. Haynes, who says, "As none of these objectives is yet reached, every one of the gifts designed to reach them is still needed. No one can be allowed to depart from the church without their being a real loss.... All these gifts, then, including the gift of prophecy, should still be in the true church of Christ."—Marks of the True Church, pp. 24, 25. Will Mr. Haynes, who contends that the gift of prophecy was continued in Mrs. White, also contend that the Adventists have apostles? (The Mormons have twelve apostles.)
In a pamphlet, "The Testimony of Jesus—The Spirit of Prophecy" by another prominent leader, W. E. Read, purchased from an Adventist book room in 1957, we read: "Through the years they [the Adventist people] have believed and taught, and still believe and teach, that this gift has been exercised among them in the life and works of Mrs. E. G. White, who for several decades received revelations and visions from the Lord.... For seven decades Mrs. E. G. White... gave messages of counsel and warning, which we believe were just as verily from God as were the messages of the prophets in days of old.... The work of Mrs. White closed in 1915,... but her work still lives.
... Near the close of her life she declared: 'Whether or not my life is spared, my writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last.'"
Every issue of the official publication of the Seventh-day Adventists—Review and Herald—has quotations from Mrs. White's writings on almost every page. They are the court of last appeal, and from the highest to the lowest among them they feel it necessary to punctuate their statements by references to Mrs. White's writings. From the pen of the president of the organization we read these words: "From various writings of the messenger of the Lord we read these words of admonition."—R. R. Figuhr. Then the editor of this periodical says: "They lead one to the conclusion that Mrs. White was illumined from heaven when she wrote." - F. D. Nichol. And Mr. Frederick Lee, the associate editor, says, "Ponder this message from the messenger of the Lord," and, "The Spirit of prophecy tells us in clear language." Then there is a statement by one who knew Mrs. White: "She attracted them [children] as did Jesus when
He was here on earth... nor have I ever doubted that she was God's messenger to His last church on earth." And from a recently purchased Adventist pamphlet we read: "The divinely inspired writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White should be in every Seventh-day Adventist home. If carefully studied, they will pilot us safely into the heavenly harbor."—J. K. Jones, President, Southern Union Conference. "Next to the Bible, I regard the writings of the Spirit of prophecy as God's most precious visible gift to His remnant church."—A. V. Olson, General Conference Vice-President for Southern Europe. We could go on and on quoting official references to Mrs. White as God's messenger, but all this strikes us as very similar to the place given to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy by the Christian Scientists. With them it is the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's Science and Health; and our observation of Adventism is that with them it is the Bible and Mrs. White's works.
Now the Adventists' apologist, Mr. Walter Martin, in Our Hope, tells us that this group does not place Mrs. White's writings on the level of Scripture, but if they were "as verily from God as were the messages of the prophets in days of old," they are despising God when they place them on a lower level than the prophets. But, let us see if they do not say otherwise. Listen to these words from K. H. Wood, the assistant editor of Review and Herald: "God wants His children to be happy.... So He has warned and counseled"; and then to prove his point Mr. Wood quotes from Mrs. White to the end that early marriages are not to be encouraged, thus linking God's warning and Mrs. White's counsels together. So this Adventist writer calls Mrs. White's counsel God's warning and counsel, and then concludes by saying, "even among us who have been given inspired warnings." If this be true, it is as binding as Scripture. You cannot belittle testimony that would come with the same authority as the Old Testament prophets, nor warnings that are inspired by God.
Another statement from the same issue of Review and Herald says: "The letting down here and there in the way of life we have been taught in the Word of God and the Spirit of prophecy writings weakens us." Here we have the Word of God and Mrs. White's writings placed side by side. Just how much different is this from combining the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's Science and Health?
The Adventists' apologist, Mr. Martin, contends that so long as the Adventists consider Mrs. White's writings only apply to them, it is not within the realm of objection on our part. In other words, it is of no concern to evangelicals as long as they do not try to bind them with it. Is this correct? No, it is not. If God spoke through Mrs. White, then we too are responsible to hear. It cannot be passed off that lightly. And so the Adventists themselves teach that all are responsible when they hear her message. To assume Mr. Martin's indifferent attitude leaves simple souls in the dark when that message is presented.
It is also contended that Mrs. White did not introduce any of the major teachings of the Adventists; but it cannot be denied that she by her dreams and visions and counsels did establish them, and her word is used today to bolster each one of them. She spoke as an authority on practically every point.
There is a special advantage to the Adventists in stressing the point that Mrs. White was a special messenger from God. It enables them to press home on their proselytes their special message with the supposed authority of God. If this "Spirit of prophecy" is accepted, then the way is open for their neophytes to accept anything she said. The deluded ones are now ready to swallow down the camel (Matt. 23:2424Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:24)). This same thing is true with Roman Catholicism; when once the premise is accepted that that corrupt religious system is the Church, and that Christ ordered it to teach, then the dogmas and precepts of men become supposedly divine commands.
In the case of the Adventists this is done in spite of the precise words of Scripture: "I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man," and "Let your women keep silence in the churches." Of course they will quickly recall that God spoke through women prophets of old, but nowhere in the Old Testament was it forbidden. The Church did not exist then. The Adventists may also refer to the New Testament where Philip's daughters prophesied; but this they did not do in the church, nor has one statement of theirs ever been recorded.
Another distinctive feature of the Adventist "message" is the emphasis placed upon the ten commandments. It is not generally brought up in their early contact with non-Adventists, nor in the beginning of their proselyte-seeking campaigns, but sooner or later the duty to keep the ten commandments will be stressed. To them it is a vital part of their teachings.
Their Review and Herald for August 1, 1957 quotes approvingly this testimony from a convert: "For the growing betterment of my character I owe to the sermons, lessons, and literature of the Voice of Prophecy [Adventists' principle radio broadcast]. In fact, for my very understanding of the Bible and the message of Salvation I am indebted to the Voice of Prophecy. Yes, it was the Voice of Prophecy that taught me to keep all the ten commandments of God." Where is any of this in the gospel that Paul preached? This convert's character was bettered, and his understanding of the Bible and the message of salvation came through something that taught him to keep the ten commandments.
In a book advertised in the Review and Herald of May 16, 1957, we read: "The church of Jesus Christ must go forth to the world, clothed in the power of the Spirit of God to call men back to the Creator Christ and His commandments."—Christ Forever, by Arthur E. Lickey.
Mr. Francis D. Nichol, in the July 25, 1957 issue of the Review and Herald, says: "Now in these final days of the earth's history God is making one last dramatic endeavor to present the grandeur and the worth of His holy law and to provide exhibits of its worth in the lives of men and women....You have the rare privilege of cooperating with God in this audacious attempt to give the moral standards of heaven a foothold on earth. Don't fail God in this." In another issue, an advertisement for a book by Mr. Nichol, entitled, Making Ready For Heaven, says, among other things, "It reviews in detail the Ten Commandments and the demand they make on the believer."
Mr. Milton E. Kern, who was secretary of the Adventists' General Conference Missionary Volunteer Department from 1907 to 1930, and who is now an honored "82-year-old veteran worker," wrote in reply to Mr. E. B. Jones's book of reasons why one should not be a Seventh-day Adventist: "We are condemned by Mr. Jones for teaching that the 'condition of eternal life is... perfect obedience to the law of God.' [Mrs. White in Steps to Christ.] Yet we are told, in the same connection, that Jesus rendered that perfect obedience. That is right. He says, 'I have kept My Father's commandments.' John 15:1010If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10). And Jesus' practice was in harmony with His teaching. We read, 'One came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?' What was Jesus' answer? 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' On being asked which, Jesus quoted five of the Ten Commandments. (Matt. 19:16-1916And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 19:16‑19).) Again a lawyer came asking, 'What shall I do to inherit eternal life?' The lawyer quoted the two commandments that sum up the whole Decalogue, and Jesus replied, 'Thou hast answered right: this do and thou shalt live.' (Luke 10:25-2825And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10:25‑28).) The instruction given by Jesus to such inquiry was different from that given by our critic [Mr. E. B. Jones], who declares, 'There is, indeed, no law—no keeping of the law required as a means of salvation,' because now we are 'under grace.' "
In the above quoted paragraph we have followed our practice of putting quotations from Seventh-day Adventist literature in italics, but we have exempted their last sentence which they quoted from Mr. Jones, for it is definitely right, although they quote it to condemn it. And while we find some statements and protestations here and there from the Seventh-day Adventists that they believe in being saved by grace without works, yet, time and time again, the evidence that they are law-keepers for salvation does intrude itself. And Mr. Kern here defends it. He and the rest of their writers, from Mrs. White down to the most recent, quote and requote a verse from Rev. 22, as it is found in the King James Version, thus: "Blessed are THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." v. 14. This exactly suits their religion of works—commandment-keeping as a prerequisite to salvation. And although they are very adept at quoting from various translations of the Bible, especially the new R.S.V., they never once quote this verse from the R.S.V., for there it reads: "Blessed are those WHO WASH THEIR ROBES." Note the difference. The former makes it commandment-keeping, and the latter, the cleansing of the robes-the blood of Christ. And yet practically every other translation supports the latter rendering. We have at hand here the following translations and versions which quote it "wash their robes" or the equivalent: A.R.V.; Douay; R.V.; Ronald Knox; Confraternity; J.N.D.; Wm. Kelly; R. F. Weymouth; and the Berkeley Version. We do not have one that supports the King James, the translators of which obviously made an error, but an error that suits the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of error.