My dear readers,

1. Monstrous mistake became the SDA Church movement

This week, in response to the question:"Will Jesus return soon?" I have reviewed the history of the "Seventh Day Adventist" Movement (extracted from the internet: Seventh-Day Adventism Orthodox or Cult?).

Seventh-Day Adventism (SDA) arose from the aftermath of the Adventist movement of the mid-1800s. "Seventh-day" refers to sabbath, or Saturday, worship.

"‘Adventist’ refers to the SDA belief that they are the fulfilment of prophecies pertaining to the latter days remnant and the coming of Christ. The world was predicted by William Miller, a New England Baptist preacher, to end in 1844, with the Second Coming of Christ. Miller's followers condemned all the churches of the day as apostate and warned Christians to come out of them. A great many did, and the ‘Adventist’ movement was born and grew rapidly." (Encyclopedia of American Religions, Vol. 2, pp. 21–22)

"Christ did not appear in 1844. After this ‘Great Disappointment,’ the ‘little flock’ still insisted the date of their original prediction had been correct. They decided the event of 1844 was not the Second Coming, but the entrance of Christ into the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Sanctuary … This doctrine was endorsed by Ellen G. White." (Ibid., p. 680)

"From 1844 to 1851, the group taught the ‘shut door’ doctrine ... Anyone who had not accepted the Adventist message … was to be shut out permanently … like the five foolish virgins. Cut off from the Bridegroom, they could not join the Adventists …

"Ellen White approved and taught this doctrine. Her first vision experience was largely responsible for its being received by the Adventist group.

"By 1846, the group had adopted the Seventh-Day Baptists’ view that the Saturday Sabbath must be observed by Christians. A highly elevated form of this doctrine became the hallmark of Seventh-Day Adventism.

"Ellen G. White never held official title as head of the SDA church, but was one of its founders and acknowledged spiritual leader. She claimed to have the ‘spirit of prophecy,’ and that her messages were direct from God …

"As of year-end 1999, the SDA church claimed more than 10.9 million members worldwide: 46,700 churches and more than 900,000 Adventists in the U.S. and Canada, including 13,815 ordained ministers. They claimed to be working in 725 languages and over 1,000 dialects; they operate in 56 publishing houses and support 549 medical units (including 117 nursing homes and retirement centers and 30 orphanages); and 5,846 schools, colleges, and universities …"

Among those adamantly opposed to the SDA Movement is Dr John Whitcomb, well known Biblical scholar and authority in the USA. (Readers who are interested may read from the internet more of this article and Dr Whitcomb’s teaching on the SDA and its doctrinal errors – Ed.)

2. "Progress Report" from CMI

From Australia comes another report of appreciation. Please read of another reader won to "Creationism" and belief in our God.

"I have recently started a mechanical engineering degree where one of the first courses is about ‘the scientific method.’ As you can guess, much focus was on ‘pseudoscience’ where creationism and Intelligent Design were lumped together and ridiculed. Armed with the results of your work (plus a lot of prayer asking for wisdom),Iwas able to ask questions in such a way as to make a positive impact on the discussion. I take it as a win that a fellow student said afterwards that she was planning to sleep through the class, but my questions got her to start thinking about some of the claims made too. Thank you!"

The work of CMI goes on, from strength to strength, pulling down Satan’s stronghold of "scientism" and evolution, lies of the Devil.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor