Lesson for December 17, 2025

Seventh-day Adventists

Ellen White was one of the founders and spiritual leaders of the Seventh-day Adventists. She called herself only a “messenger,” and claimed to have the “spirit of prophecy.” She said that her messages were direct from God for the guidance and instruction of the Church. Others called her a prophet, and “the Spirit of Prophecy.” Having only a third-grade education, Ellen White said for years she was unable to read, supposedly confirming that she was “inspired by God.” However, it was discovered that she could not only read, but that she plagiarized other Christian authors throughout all her writings.

Here are some of the false teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA):

1. Keeping the Sabbath:

   Seventh-day Adventist: teach that keeping the Sabbath has not changed from the Old Testament commandment and is to be observed unchanged by the Church. They believe that salvation is conditional upon keeping the Sabbath and other false doctrines. They teach that Sabbath (Saturday) must be observed, by refraining from work, sports, and travel from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening.

   The Bible: the New Testament never commands Christians to worship or meet on Saturday, which SDA considers the Sabbath. Instead, Christians normally meet on the first day of the week, Sunday, as did the early church. (I Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; John 20:19, 26; Romans 14:5-6; Colossians 2:16-17)

2. Water Baptism:

   Seventh-day Adventists: teach water baptism is essential for salvation.

   The Bible: No one has ever been saved by being submerged in water. Water baptism was a teaching aid for the early church before the Canon of Scripture was completed. Salvation is by faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ and His payment for sin, not by any form of works. (Romans 3:21-26, 28; 4:4-6, 5:1; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9)

3. Investigative Judgment:

   Seventh-day Adventists: teach that in the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Sanctuary, Christ is now conducting an investigation into the lives of all who have ever professed belief in Christ. He is judging all their works, by the standard of God’s Law. All those whose lives fail to measure up to the standard of God’s Law are rejected and condemned as not having true faith. Those whose lives meet the standard of God’s Law and thus manifest the perfect character and righteousness of Christ are recognized as having true faith, and so their sins are “blotted out.” SDAs say, “This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom.”

   The Bible: teaches that God’s justice in saving a person who believes in Jesus for salvation is vindicated by the spiritual death of Jesus on the Cross. (Romans 3:21-26)

4. The Atonement:

   Seventh-day Adventists: teach that “the atonement” is not yet complete. This is their quote: “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel sin. It will stand in the sanctuary until the final atonement…” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 357). “Now while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ” (The Great Controversy, p. 623).

   “… Instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming” (The Great Controversy, p. 422).

   The Bible: teaches the atonement for the sin of the entire human race occurred once on the Cross, when Jesus made the payment for sin. When sin had been paid for, Jesus said, “Finished.” Jesus is not continuing to make an atonement for our sin. (Hebrews 10:11-14)

5. Salvation Includes Works:

   Seventh-day Adventists: teach that believers enter into a judgment of their works which determines their salvation. “At the time appointed for the judgment… All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged ‘out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works'” (The Great Controversy, p. 486). “Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living” (Early Writings, p. 280). “So, in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God” (The Great Controversy, p. 480).

   “… As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth… Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted; names are rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance” (The Great Controversy, p. 483). (See John 5:24; Rom. 8:1). “Now while our Great High Priest is making atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ.” (The Great Controversy, E.G. White, 1911, p. 623).

   The Bible: the phrase “at-one-ment” describes in a simple way the effect of the Atonement. Because of the Atonement, those who choose to believe in Christ “become one” with Him. The Atonement was the single act that satisfied (propitiated) the righteousness of God. Atonement is the just act of God in pouring out the sins of the entire human race (past, present and future) upon Jesus Christ and judging Him in our place. Atonement accomplishes for us that which we could not do for ourselves. The barrier of sin was removed, thus making peace with God (Reconciliation). The believer is given eternal life and an eternal inheritance that is beyond anything that the mind of man can imagine. The righteousness of God is imputed to the believer and God’s justice declares the believer to be righteous as a result. (I John 2:2)

6. Satan Bears Our Sins:

   Seventh-day Adventists: “It was seen, also, that while the sin offering (in the Old Testament) pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed” (The Great Controversy, p. 422). “Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 475)

   The Bible: all sin was placed on the humanity of Christ and judged by God the Father. Jesus became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21)

7. Christ Not Our Mediator:

   Seventh-day Adventists: One of the more surprising false teachings of the SDA says that Christians will stand before God with Christ’s intercession. “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator” (The Great Controversy, p. 425). “When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. This is the time of reckoning with His servants” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 19).

   The Bible: Jesus is our High Priest, appointed by God the Father to be the Mediator between God and mankind. The Bible teaches that there is only one mediator between God and mankind, Jesus Christ. (I Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-6, 9:15, 12:24)

8. Soul Sleep:

   Seventh-day Adventists: Soul sleep is the teaching that when a person dies, his soul “sleeps” until the time of the future resurrection. In this condition, the person is not aware or conscious. The Seventh-day Adventists hold to the doctrine that the wicked are judged and don’t exist anymore. The Seventh-day Adventists teach that the soul is simply inert and resides in the memory of God.

   The Bible: The Bible speaks of those who have died as being asleep. (Daniel 12:2; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6,18,20) However, sleep is a metaphor for death. “Asleep in Christ” is a reference to a believer being dead physically. (I Corinthains 15:18) I Thessalonians 4:14)

   A body, when dead, appears to be resting in sleep, thus the metaphorical usage of sleep/asleep. But the soul does not sleep. The moment we experience physical death; our souls are transferred to a different place. Believers are in Heaven in an interim body with a soul and a human spirit. (II Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

   Unbelievers temporarily reside in the compartment of Hades called Torments. According to Jesus’ account in Luke 16:19-31, neither in Paradise nor in Torments are people sleeping. The individuals in Jesus’ story—Lazarus and the rich man are conscious and active after death, in Hades.

9. No Eternal Hell:

   Seventh-day Adventists: do not teach the biblical doctrine of Hell. They teach that unbelievers will be annihilated and that Hell is temporary. Ellen G. White, in a writing titled, “The Heresy of Eternal Torment” says, “Untold evil has come from the heresy of eternal torment. It takes the religion of the Bible, so full of love and goodness, darkens it by superstition and clothes it with terror. Satan has painted the character of God in false colors, making people fear, dread, and even hate our merciful Creator. Eternal torment is one of the false doctrines. The Great Hope, Ellen G. White, page 28)

   The Bible: Matthew 25:41, Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15, 21:8 describe a place called the Lake of Fire that burns forever. Satan, fallen angels, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all unbelievers will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, often called Hell.

10. Remnant People:

    Seventh-day Adventists: believe they are the only true church on earth. They refer to other Christians, as either “apostate Protestant,” “Babylon,” “Sunday keepers,” or as “sheep” that have not yet come into the fold. They believe everyone who will be saved in the final days before Jesus returns will be a Seventh Day Adventist.

    The Bible: teaches that anyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ and His payment for sin on the Cross receives eternal life and can never lose it. No believer in Christ has to wait until a later date to know if they are saved and have eternal life. (John 3:16, 18, 10:29; Romans 8:1; I John 5:13)