Blog
Ep. 1 – The Mosaic Covenant and the Law of Moses
The relationship between the Mosaic Covenant and the Law of Moses has been a point of theological debate. Many who adhere to Covenant Theology argue that the Law of Moses continues to serve as a rule of life for believers today and use this assertion to support their...
The Adventist Three Angels’ Messages
Decoding Adventist Interpretation vs. Historical Context In the realm of Christian eschatology, few passages have sparked as much debate and divergent interpretation as the Three Angels' Messages found in Revelation 14:6-12. This cryptic series of proclamations has...
How My Bible Study Method Changed: Moving Beyond William Miller’s Concordance Approach
I used to believe that all I needed to understand the Bible was the Bible itself and Strong’s Concordance. I remember being given a Strong’s Concordance from my dad when I was in my teens. And through the years, I’ve seen many newly baptized Adventists receive...
The Great Controversy: A Biblical Evaluation of Adventist Theology
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...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #6
Reason #6 - Theological Bias Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) interpretation of the Mark of the Beast and related eschatological themes reflect the denomination’s theological emphasis on Sabbath observance, projecting this belief onto the text of Revelation rather than...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #5
Reason #5 - Broader Symbolism of the Beast’s Mark The Mark of the Beast in Revelation is best understood as a symbolic representation of loyalty to the Beast’s anti-God agenda, starkly contrasting the “seal of God” described in Revelation 7:2-3, Revelation 9:4, and...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #4
Reason #4 - Economic and Political Dimensions of the Mark Revelation 13 associates the Mark of the Beast with economic control and political power, exemplified by the inability to buy or sell without the mark. “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #3
Reason # 3 - Misinterpretation of Sabbath and Sunday The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) position upholds Sunday observance as a human tradition and the Sabbath as a divine institution, consistent with their theological framework. However, no biblical evidence suggests...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #2
Reason #2 - Historical Context and Audience Revelation was written to Christians living under Roman rule in the first century, addressing their immediate concerns about loyalty to God versus participation in Roman imperial worship. Remember, if we are following the...
Sunday Worship CANNOT EQUAL the ‘Mark of the Beast!’ – Reason #1
Reason #1 – The Biblical Context of Revelation 13 Let’s look closely at Revelation 13:15-17, “And it (the second beast) was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship...
The Enigma 666: Why Can’t the Mark of the Beast be Sunday? (Part 3)
The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) interpretation that the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13 symbolizes the enforced observance of Sunday instead of the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) has been challenged for several reasons. I argue that this view lacks solid grounding in...
The Enigma of 666: Adventism’s Mark Of The Beast (Part 2)
The Number 666 as a Symbol of Apostate Power For the SDA Church, the number 666 is understood as a symbol of human authority in rebellion against God, particularly relating to a system of religious and political power that usurps divine prerogatives. This...
The Enigma of 666: Decoding the Number of the Beast (Part 1)
Among the most intriguing and widely recognized biblical symbols is the number 666, referred to as the “number of the Beast” in Revelation 13:18. Despite its fame, its exact meaning remains a source of extensive debate. The passage states, “Let the one who has...
John’s Apocalypse: Through the Lens of the Old Testament
Have you ever wondered how the Book of Revelation connects with the profound stories, prophecies, and imagery of the Old Testament? These connections are not only fascinating but deeply transformative, offering fresh insights into God’s divine plan and His eternal...
The Origins of Evil – The Great Controversy?
"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." ~ St. Augustine Is Satan a real being? How does our belief around this thing shape our view in Scripture? The notion that a singular "personified evil...
Who Plays A Role In Atonement?
In Seventh-Day Adventist theology, sins were not forgiven at the cross itself; instead, the cross served as the place where the atoning sacrifice was made. According to their teachings, sins would only be erased during a process known as the Investigative Judgment,...
To Meat or Not to Meat, That is the Question!
The legacy of Ellen G. White is one of profound influence and enduring controversy within the Adventist Church. Her writings and teachings, particularly on health reform, have shaped Adventist practices for generations. Yet, beneath the surface of her widely...
Drooping Flowers and Dead Leaves
Ellen White often made claims she attributed to ‘Divine’ revelation, but what happens when we critically examine these statements? Should such claims be accepted as truth simply because of their source? Many, including well-educated Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs), seem...
Is it Christian to Hold Others Accountable In or Out of the Pulpit?
What does a person do when they hear a sermon, whether it is from a pastor, elder, guest speaker, etc., where statements are made during this sermon that are clearly out of step with Scripture? What really is our responsibility? Well, it depends on the relationship...
A Record Keeping God?
Last week at the dinner table, a 'wait a minute' moment popped up as our family read, talked, and contemplated day two of our family Advent book. I’m not sure if you have experienced this or not. These are moments when you realize something you have been taught or...
Ellen White, Astronomy, and ‘Divine’ Manipulation
In 1846, Ellen G. White, a prominent figure in the early Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) movement, reportedly experienced a "vision" in which she saw the solar system and its inhabitants. Several others, including Mrs. Truesdail, a committed member of the SDA church,...
Steps to Christ? Or Steps to Something Else?
The book Steps to Christ, supposedly authored by Ellen White, is THE book that an Adventist would hand someone if they wanted to evangelize another Christian or non-Christian. In fact, many have come to know Christ by reading this exact book. Ty Gibson's personal...
Sabbath Is An Eternal Sign, So You Must Keep It… FOREVER!
Should we understand the Sabbath as an ‘eternal sign’ described in Exodus 31:12-17? Exodus 31:12-17 serves as a foundational text for Adventists to argue that Sabbath-keeping is mandatory for salvation, universally binding, and eternal. However, this passage is often...
Adventism Is The Truth; Therefore, It Is Biblical, Right?
Adventism has a gnostic feel to its 'truth.' Let me explain what I mean. Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and spiritual beliefs that emerged around the first and second centuries AD. It emphasizes personal spiritual knowledge, or gnosis, over...
How Would We Identify Sin Without the Ten Commandments?
It's been longer than I've wanted since I last posted an article. I'm learning the importance of understanding how people arrive at their interpretations of Scripture. Words matter, and a person's hermeneutics matters! When a faulty understanding of a word is applied...
Sin = Breaking the Ten Commandments???
There are numerous misconceptions, faulty assumptions, and flawed interpretations of Scripture within Adventism's Theological Framework. One of these faulty assumptions can be seen in the following statement: 1 John 3:4 (KJV) indicates that sin is defined as breaking...
A Study in Galatians: Paul’s Gospel VS Adventist Gospel
Imagine yourself in southern Turkey during the reign of Emperor Claudius, a time when the Roman Empire was at the height of its power and influence. The air is thick with the smell of incense burning in the many temples that fill the town. The streets are lined with...
A Prediction Affirmed: End Times and the Ottoman Empire
In 1838, Josiah Litch, a prominent figure in the Millerite movement, boldly declared a prophecy that sent shockwaves through the religious world. His prediction, based on a striking interpretation of Revelation 9:15, was nothing short of astonishing: the mighty...
In Light of the Law
The Seventh-day Adventist Church uses many faulty hermeneutical methods to reach some of its doctrinal conclusions. In this article, we will examine one of these conclusions. We can infer that when the terms 'law' or 'commandments' are mentioned positively in...
Christianity VS Seventh-day Adventism
Key Person or Founder, Date, Location(C) Jesus Christ. It was founded around AD 30-33 in the Judean province of Palestine (Israel today) under the Roman Empire. Followers of Jesus became known as Christians.(A) Primary organizers: James (1821-1881) and Ellen...
1° Matters
Words matter when it comes to theological statements! The Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs book, Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An Exposition of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, makes a de facto claim: "As a reflection of God's...
Why I Speak Out
Many of my Adventist friends have questioned my focus on Ellen G. White in my writings. It's a valid concern, especially considering the wealth of fascinating Biblical topics one could explore. But it's important to remember that I was a devout Seventh-day Adventist...
Interpretations Taken Out of Context (Part 1)
I want to provide a few examples to unearth the best evidence for how Scripture is taken out of context, especially when using the Adventist Framework. Remember, while each of you might be coming from a different background, my goal is to show how interpreting the...
Push Back Against Ellen White is a Last Day Sign?
“Be careful how much you study; you might study yourself right out of the SDA Church!” What an interesting perspective on biblical studies, especially on researching the SDA Church’s history and the writings of Ellen G. White. Time has proven this statement to be more...
William Miller – Soul Condemned or Saved?
Some of you may have read my earlier post about William Miller and his influence on Ellen G. White in the early years. The Seventh-day Adventist church probably wouldn't have existed without William Miller. But most don't know Ellen White's additional odd statements...
I’m Right, You’re Right, Who’s Right? (Part 4)
While we have been working to understand better inspiration, methods of studying the Bible, and what context means in Biblical interpretation, I will direct our attention to how these ideas and concepts are used inside the Adventist framework of Biblical...
I’m Right, You’re Right, Who’s Right? (Part 3)
It is essential to recognize and flesh out what we bring to the text. We all do this, even if we don't realize it. Our personal presuppositions and worldview will shape how we see the ‘truths’ in the text. I have learned this reality all too well as I’ve emerged from...
I’m Right, You’re Right, Who’s Right? (Part 2)
Framing Inspiration to Deal with what is in the text Let's begin our discussion on inspiration by framing it as a process with two key participants. First, there's God, who is the ultimate source of the biblical texts. Then, there's the human author, who serves as the...
I’m Right, You’re Right, Who’s Right? (Part 1)
How can we be certain of the accuracy of our understanding of the biblical text? While I may not be fluent in Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic, I place significant trust in the academic work of experts who have dedicated their lives to understanding these ancient Biblical...
Ellen White: More Failed Predictions (Part 3)
This is the third part of a series on testing Ellen G. White's statements about the soon return of Jesus Christ. I desire that you test the spirit and see if this woman was following God or being used as a deceptive tool. Please don't take my words as truth; read the...
Ellen White: Rewriting History (Part 2)
In the November 19, 1992 issue of the Adventist Review, the current SDA Church members were notified of the legitimacy of rewriting Ellen White. On page 8, Paul A. Gordon, secretary of the White Estate, asked: "Is it legitimate to change, abridge, or simplify Ellen...
Testing the Spirits
Dear friends, Don’t trust every spirit blindly, but carefully examine them to determine if they truly come from God, as many false prophets have spread throughout the world. (1 John 4:1) It's interesting that this verse instructs believers to "test the spirits" to...
Ellen G. White: False Date Setting, Rewriting History, and a Fascination with End Time’s Predictions (Part 1)
It's a pretty weighty and bold statement to claim that Ellen G. White is a False Prophet. Many have told me that I would have to stand before God regarding my decision and how I'm approaching these topics. I guess I'm a little confused as to why I would stand before...
Who is Lucinda Burdick?
Note: Lucinda Burdick and Ellen Harmon [White] were close friends during the mid-1840s. Mrs. Burdick, a pastor's wife, had many opportunities to hear Mrs. White's prophecies. This eyewitness account by Mrs. Lucinda Burdick was given in 1908 and notarized at the...
Investigative Judgment Analyzed (Part 2)
Claimed For All, But Bypassed By Some Now that we have understood the doctrine and analyzed whether it is coherent with Scripture, we will explore another aspect of investigative judgment. If you haven't read Part 1, ensure you do so before diving into the people we...
The Investigative Judgment Analyzed (Part 1)
I realize that if you have been following my journey, you have probably read some pretty direct and bold assertions about the most important author in Adventism: Ellen G. White. CLAIM: Ellen G. White is a liar, bears a false witness, and is a false prophetess. I...
The Truth Will Set You Free!
One of the most important and bravest moments of my Christian life happened two weeks ago. A little context: a person's childhood helps mold them into the person they will become. Even the Bible makes it clear... right? "Train up a child in the way he should go; even...
The Erroneous Claim Behind the Miller Chart
Dear Friends and Family, I write these blog articles and posts because of my pursuit of truth and a deep love for all of you! My statements and conclusions are from years of study and research, but an intentional motivation to be bold and honest about the early...
Why I Left the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Honestly, the last few days have been mentally tough. It’s difficult when we have dedicated our entire lives to the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be met with loss of friends, hostility, angst, and bitterness, all because we are convinced that many of the church's...
Adam, Eve, and White’isms
These questions probably don’t seem very important. After all, if someone opens the Bible and reads what the inspired scriptures say, the answers are pretty straightforward. I remember growing up as a kid and hearing the answers to the first questions differently. It...