The Great Controversy is a central doctrine in Seventh-day Adventist theology, depicting an ongoing cosmic conflict between God and Satan over the authority of divine law and the allegiance of creation. [1] According to Adventism, this struggle revolves around whether God’s law—specifically the Ten Commandments—is just and whether created beings are capable of perfect obedience.
“The law of God will be satisfied with nothing short of perfection, of perfect and entire obedience to all its claims. To come halfway to its requirements, and not render perfect and thorough obedience, will avail nothing.” [2]
However, biblical Christianity presents a different picture, one in which God’s sovereignty is never contested, and His justice does not require validation.
This article will explore the Adventist view of the Great Controversy, contrast it with biblical teachings, and address key doctrinal inconsistencies within the Adventist framework.
The Adventist Narrative of the Great Controversy
Seventh-day Adventism teaches that before creation, God exalted Jesus to a position of equality with Himself.
“Satan in Heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing a powerful intellect. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. A special light beamed in his countenance, and shone around him brighter and more beautiful than around the other angels; yet Jesus, God’s dear Son, had the pre-eminence over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created. Satan was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved on Christ alone.” [3]
This belief, drawn largely from Ellen G. White’s visions, holds that Jesus was originally Michael the Archangel, one among several archangels, and was later promoted to divinity.
“Again: Christ is called the Word of God. John 1:1–3. He is so called because God gave His revelations to man in all ages through Christ. It was His Spirit that inspired the prophets. 1 Peter 1:10, 11. He was revealed to them as the Angel of Jehovah, the Captain of the Lord’s host, Michael the Archangel.” [4]
Here we clearly see Ellen White staking the claim that Jesus was Michael the Archangel.
According to this view, Satan (then known as Lucifer [5], a Latin transliteration of the Hebrew word (הֵילֵל) hêlēl), an archangel himself, resented Jesus’ promotion and challenged God’s authority.
Satan’s rebellion led him to spread accusations against God throughout heaven and the unfallen worlds. He claimed that God’s laws were unjust and impossible to keep, convincing a portion of the angelic host to join him in his defiance. According to Adventists, this was the beginning of the Great Controversy—a cosmic battle in which God must prove His justice by demonstrating that His laws can be perfectly kept.
“From the very beginning of the great controversy in Heaven, it has been Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God. It was to accomplish this that he entered upon his rebellion against the Creator; and though he was cast out of Heaven, he has continued the same warfare upon the earth. To deceive men, and thus lead them to transgress God’s law, is the object which he has steadfastly pursued.” [6]
Adventists believe that Jesus’ life on earth served as a model of perfect law-keeping, showing that, through divine power, humans can achieve complete obedience.
“The law of God is the only true standard of moral perfection. In the life of Christ this law was carried into action, and this is our example. Nothing short of this will meet the requirements of God. We may plead our inability to keep the law, but this will not excuse us. Such a plea is the language of the carnal heart, which is not willing to put forth determined effort in self-conquest.” [7]
Furthermore, they teach that His death was necessary to uphold and vindicate the law, rather than primarily serving as a substitutionary atonement for sin.
“By His life and His death, Christ proved that God’s justice did not destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted. God had given man unmistakable evidence of His love.” [8]
The final act of this cosmic conflict, according to Adventist eschatology, will occur when Christians and unbelievers unite to persecute Sabbath-keeping Adventists, marking the climax of the Great Controversy just before Christ’s return.
“As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. (Faith here is synonymous with Sabbath worship.)” [9]
Doctrinal Inconsistencies in the Adventist Framework
While the Great Controversy is foundational to Adventist theology, several elements of this belief are inconsistent with biblical teaching:
1. God’s Sovereignty Is Absolute, Not Contested
The Bible never presents God as being in a cosmic struggle for legitimacy or supremacy. Scripture affirms that God is the unquestioned ruler over all creation:
“…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15, ESV)
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19, ESV)
Satan is not God’s equal or rival but a created being who remains under God’s authority. In Job 1–2, Satan requires permission even to test Job, demonstrating that he operates only within the limits set by God.
“And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:12, ESV)
“And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”” (Job 2:6, ESV)
The idea that God must vindicate Himself or prove His justice through a demonstration of law-keeping is foreign to Scripture.
Here are several reasons why:
-
- Inherent Righteousness: God’s justice and righteousness are intrinsic qualities that do not depend on human adherence to the law. He is just by nature and does not need to demonstrate this through legal compliance.
- Scriptural Insights: Many biblical passages illustrate God’s grace and mercy, emphasizing that His actions are not bound by human legalistic standards. For example, Scripture highlights justification by faith rather than works, indicating a clear departure from the idea of law-based vindication.
- Grace Versus Law: The distinction between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of grace further supports this viewpoint. The New Testament consistently emphasizes grace, revealing that reliance on law-keeping for divine justification is inconsistent with God’s message.
- Divine Sovereignty: Lastly, God’s sovereignty allows Him to enact justice independently of human actions, reinforcing the belief that He does not need to prove His righteousness through law-keeping. [10]
These points collectively illustrate that the notion of God needing to demonstrate His justice through law is foreign to the teachings of Scripture, highlighting His grace and inherent righteousness instead.
2. The Ten Commandments Are Not the Eternal Standard of Righteousness
Adventists place the Ten Commandments at the center of the Great Controversy, arguing that God’s moral law is unchanging and eternal.
“The law of God in the sanctuary in Heaven is the great original, of which the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone, and recorded by Moses in the Pentateuch, were an unerring transcript. Those who arrived at an understanding of this important point, were thus led to see the sacred, unchanging character of the divine law.” [11]
“The law of God, from its very nature, is unchangeable. It is a revelation of the will and the character of its Author.” [12]
However, the New Testament presents a different perspective:
Paul explicitly refers to the Ten Commandments (written on stone) as a “ministry of death” and states that it has “faded away” in light of the new covenant in Christ.
“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:7–11, ESV)
The Law was a temporary guardian until Christ came, but now that faith has arrived, we are no longer under that guardian.
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Galatians 3:24–26, ESV)
The Old Covenant, which included the Ten Commandments, has been made obsolete by the New Covenant in Christ.
“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:6–13, ESV)
Righteousness in the New Testament is not based on law-keeping but on faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-26, Philippians 3:9). The idea that human beings can achieve perfect obedience as Jesus did contradicts Scripture’s teaching on sin and grace (Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Jesus Is Not Michael the Archangel
Adventist theology teaches that Jesus and Michael the Archangel are the same being. This concept can be clearly seen by looking at the Seventh-day Adventist Quarterly lesson. The Review and Herald publishes these lessons and provides a common study topic for all Adventists globally. In the 4th Quarter, Lesson 13 of 2004’s Adult Bible Study Guide, the author asks this question:
“Why do we believe that Michael is Jesus?” [13]
It is clear that Adventist Theology depends on this conclusion and is disseminated to all Adventists globally through their Quarterly. But this doctrine clearly contradicts biblical Christology. The Bible affirms that Jesus is fully God from eternity past, not a created archangel who was later exalted:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1–3, ESV)
Jesus was already equal with God before taking on human flesh.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV)
Jesus is explicitly said to be greater than the angels, superior in every way.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:3–4, ESV)
Michael the Archangel is never identified as Christ in Scripture but rather as a powerful angelic being who serves God (Daniel 10:13, Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7). [14]
4. Jesus’ Death Was Not to Vindicate the Law, but to Save Sinners
The core purpose of Christ’s death was not to uphold the Ten Commandments but to provide atonement for sin. The New Testament writers do not speak of Christ as merely making the forgiveness of sins possible, but as actually putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
“It is clear that the concept of reconciliation is sometimes present when the actual word itself does not occur, for example when ‘making peace’ is spoken of. This opens up for us the whole New Testament conception of peace with God.” [15]
“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:7–10, ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
While Jesus was sinless, His mission was not to prove that humans can keep the law but to fulfill the law on our behalf and offer salvation through grace (Matthew 5:17, Galatians 2:16).
God’s Authority Does Not Need Vindication
The Adventist concept of the Great Controversy fundamentally misrepresents the nature of God’s sovereignty, the purpose of Christ’s mission, and the role of the law. Scripture does not present a cosmic struggle in which God must prove His justice. Instead, it affirms that:
-
- God is already sovereign over all creation (1 Timothy 6:15).
- The Ten Commandments are not the eternal standard of righteousness but part of a fulfilled Old Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).
- Jesus is eternally God and is not an angelic being (Hebrews 1:3-4).
- Christ’s death was a substitutionary atonement, not a legal demonstration of law-keeping (Romans 5:8).
While the Great Controversy framework may provide an engaging fictional narrative, it does not align with the biblical portrayal of God’s absolute sovereignty, grace, and redemptive plan. Instead of a God who must prove Himself, Scripture presents a God who reigns supreme, offering salvation not through legal perfection but through faith in Jesus Christ and His Righteousness.
As a point of closing interest…
There is strong literary and theological evidence that Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy theme bears significant similarities to John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667), suggesting that her concept was influenced, at least indirectly, by Milton’s retelling of the cosmic conflict. While White does not directly admit that she drew from Paradise Lost, multiple parallels between the two works raise compelling questions about possible influence. Who knows, I might have to write an article on these connections!
In Christian Love,
[1] The most extensive source for the Cosmic Conflict is Ellen G. White’s sizeable book entitled The Great Controversy, which explains this GCT Worldview of the SDA Church in great detail.
[2] Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1855), 416.
[3] The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1 (Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, 1870), 17.
[4] Ellen Gould White, The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets as Illustrated in the Lives of Holy Men of Old, vol. 1, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1890), 761.
[5] The term “morning star,” often associated with Lucifer, actually refers to Venus in ancient texts and symbolizes brightness and divine authority. In the New Testament, “morning star” is used to describe Jesus, signifying the dawn of God’s kingdom rather than any connection to Satan. (https://drmsh.com/the-naked-bible/morning-star/)
[6] Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan; Great Controversy (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1888), 582.
[7] The Review and Herald, n.d., 2836.
[8] Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 762.
[9] Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan; Great Controversy (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1888), 607.
[10] “Penal Substitution,” in Wikipedia, November 16, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Penal_substitution&oldid=1257768621.
[11] Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan; Great Controversy (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1888), 434.
[12] Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan; Great Controversy (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1888), 466.
[13] Gerhard Pfandl, “ETQ40413” (Pacific Press Publishing Association, n.d.), https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:3839eda5-0335-4fbe-8a72-72780b9131c8.
[14] For a dialogue on this exact topic, I would suggest the following podcast episode by Dr. Michael Heiser. In it, he engages in a question regarding the Jehovah’s Witnesses teaching that Michael is Jesus, which is similar to Adventism.
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-424-qa-50/
[15] Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, Third Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965), 214.
0 Comments