- 1. Self-proclaimed Prophet Victor Houteff (1929) Davidian Seventh Day Adventist.
- 2. Self-proclaimed Prophet Benjamin Roden (1960) Branch Davidian
- 3. Self-proclaimed Prophet Lois Roden (1979) Branch Davidian
- 4. Self-proclaimed Prophet Vernon Howell aka David Koresh (1990) Branch Davidian Koreshites.
Around the time of the mid 1800’s three denominations sprang up.
- 1. The Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons and the Seventh Day Adventists each claim to have ‘Prophets’.
- 2. The Jehovah Witness (1870’s late) had – Charles Taze Russell and Judge Rutherford.
- 3. The Mormons (1820) – Joseph Smith (died 1844) followed by Brigham Young.
- 4. The Seventh Day Adventist – E.G. White (1827-1915).
For example the JW’s believed Christ is to return in 1914 (first event did not occur as World War 1 broke out).
E.G. White along with the Millerite movement believed that Christ was to return sometime in 1844, first time setting didn’t eventuate and then it was reset to Oct 1844 around the time of the Jewish (Yom Kippur).
None of the above events happened with regards to the advent of Christ. E.G White believed that probation was closed for the world, later to still believe this, until late into her ministry dispelled it.
The JW’s have the 7 volumes of ‘the studies of the scriptures’ the final book ‘The Finished Mystery’ written by Taze Russell. There are other extensive books written by Taze Russell and later by Judge Rutherford.
The Adventist have the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ ‘Testimonies to the church’ 9 volumes plus additional writings of E.G. White and James White and other SDA Authors.
The Mormons have ‘the book of Mormon’, ‘the Doctrine in Covenant’ and the ‘Pearl of Great Price’
Let it be known that we are talking about ‘Truth and Error’ as Satan would have it, so even in all these writings from all three denominations there are elements of ‘Truth’ but as for these messengers, ‘are they ‘Prophets’ ? Walther Martin an Evangelical does not make claim that the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Church is a Cult’ but when interviewed on the John Ankerberg show he had reservations due to proposed questions not being answered satisfactorily by the Speaker for the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Church’ on fundamental Church doctrine.
The Bible states that the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ is the ‘Testimony of Jesus Christ’ (Rev 12:17) and (Rev 19:10)
The book of Revelation
The book of Revelation written by John the Apostle was a book written and completed around 95AD and was written on the isle of Patmos. The book can be defended as canonical by Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD) who was acquainted with Polycarp, who had been mentored by John, although it wasn’t sure if it was going to be included in the Canon. It was the last book to be canonized.
When John was writing the book of Revelation (Rev 12:17 and 19:10) he was not referring to the Seventh Day Adventist Church literature books labelled the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’. Furthermore as a test to the argument, the real meaning of the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’, is the ‘Testimony of Jesus Christ’ to his Prophets, and not some living breathing ‘additional revelation’, in this case to the Prophet of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, E.G. White. This would be somewhat paradoxical, considering that the Church believes that there can be no other ‘Voice’ after Sister White.
Although Adventist believe that the ‘Spirit of Prophecy’ is a direct revelation from God to E.G. White, it is often referred to as the ‘lesser light’ as if it was the Moons reflection of the Sun.
Question, do we need the Moon to expound on the Sun? In other words do we need the writings of E.G. White to help us understand the Bible?
As a ‘commentary’ it is very good, but as it is a compilation of her writings revealing prophetic events it then comes under scrutiny, as she does not discuss or go into great detail the rise of Islam, the struggle for Jerusalem, the rise of the far east, the rise of a European super state, Global Government, weapons proliferation, Magog invasion, biotech and global pestilence, the decline of the US and Global Religion.
One needs to refer back to the Bible to see prophetic events unfold (Dan 12:4) as many run to and fro through the scriptures as knowledge increases (Hab 2:2).
Today there is no living Prophet of the SDA Church that can expound on E.G. Whites writings in accordance with the bible. To say we have it all and we don’t need anything more and that the buck stops with E.G White would be guilty of Revelation 3:17.
The SDA Denominational Beliefs in Tatters?
There was a great division in the Church in regards to E.G. White as a Prophet, in 1980 Desmond Ford and Walter Rea shook the Church about the authenticity of E.G. White and redefined the message of ‘Salvation and the Cross’ as well as ‘Righteousness by Faith’.
Walter Rea – Author of the book ‘The White Lies’
I found this book to be well written and researched. It takes a hard look at the people and movements that set themselves up as divinely inspired; demanding that all accept whatever “truth” is proclaimed from the mountain top without questioning the backroom manipulations of the message.
Rea continues, “If you are a Seventh-day Adventist looking for something to boost your faith in Ellen White, the SDA pioneer or “prophetess”, be forewarned that this book will prove to be a bitter pill to swallow. I’m very wary about throwing the baby out of the bath water so to speak without weighing all the evidence. Like I said before, E.G. White wrote or copied some great stuff, and like anything to do with ‘commentaries’ you need to look into the history, the time frame of when it was written, any bias or outside influences etc. On this basis although E.G. White sincere or not sincere cannot hold up to the test of a ‘True Prophet’.
Universities, Hospitals and Institutions
Today, the Church of Latter-Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventist Church have great Institutions, Hospitals and Schools in fact these facilities have made great inroads into secular society. Humanitarian efforts with Adventists (ADRA) are World Wide. Question, does this still change the fact that E.G. White is a ‘True Prophet’? I think not, the Catholic Church when it comes to Humanitarian efforts and with their Institutions, Hospitals and Schools out ranks oneself and yet they worship ‘Mother Mary’ and ‘dead Saints’.
People, Movements and False Prophets and associated characteristics
Not all of the below Cult Characteristics apply to the Seventh Day Adventist, Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses, but I’m sure there is a trend amongst the three.
Cult Characteristics
1. Faulty interpretation of the Bible
2. They question authority of the Bible
3. Salvation by grace is added to “Salvation = Faith + Works”
4. Their god or gods are not the God of the Bible
5. Doctrinal changes –” progressive revelation “
6. Add extra-scriptural writings
7. Saying one thing in public, another in private
8. Only group God deals with –” remnant “
9. Date setting – false prophecies
10. Vigorously attacks Christianity
11. Concept of Jesus is contrary to truth of Bible
12. Head of the organization comes between God and man
13. Claim to answer all religious questions
14. Division of believer’s loyalty between Church & God
15.” Us against the world” attitude
16. Doctrine of Last Things is overemphasized
17. Deny personality of Holy Spirit
18. Different view of immortality of soul
19. Definitions of human nature & sin different from Bible
Many times in Paul’s epistles he addressed these issues.
The book of Galatians 2:1-2 in relation to Acts 15 comes to mind. Here are a few other scriptures.
“False teachers can repent of their false teaching and change. If they do, the Church should forgive them and restore them if they remain in sound doctrine. If their apologies are hollow and deceitful and they persist in teaching false doctrine, they must come under Church discipline as detailed in 1 Cor. 5, Eph 5:6-14 and Matt. 18:15-17. We must try them (I John 4: 1), we must rebuke them (Titus 1:13), we must have no fellowship with them if they do not repent (Eph. 5:11), we must withdraw from them (2 Thes. 3:6), we must separate from them (2 Cor. 6:17), we must turn away from them (2 Tim 3:5,7), we must mark them and avoid them (Rom. 16:17), we must not receive them into our house (2 John 10). We are to reject heretics (Titus 3:10)”.
Prophets Today
Yes God has risen up people to have the gift of Prophecy. Yes there are men and women, Jews, Messianic and Christians who are looking at today’s events as they unfold with the use of scientific research and the Holy Bible they have been given certain truths that will come to pass and yes they have to come to pass if they are prophetic messages. Unfortunately the people below didn’t have their prophecies fulfilled.
Ellen G. White, spiritual founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, spoke as a prophet of God in declaring that anyone who had not accepted the Adventist message by October 22, 1844 had no hope of eternal life. (Robert D. Brinsmead, Judged by the Gospel: A Review of Adventism, 1980, pp. 130-133.)
Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, prophesied that the end of the world would occur by the end of 1914. (Charles Taze Russell, The Time is at Hand, 1889, p.99.)
Florence Houteff, who succeeded her husband as head of the Branch Davidians, prophesied that David’s Kingdom would be established on earth on April 22, 1959. (The Watchman Expositor, “A History of False Prophets,” www.watchman.org, accessed on 9/11/2003.)
Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the World Wide Church of God, prophesied that a great drought would strike the United States sometime before 1975, probably between 1965 and 1972, and that this would mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation which would result in the death of one-third of humanity. (Herbert W. Armstrong, 1975 in Prophecy, published in 1956, pp.10, 12.)
“Moses” David Berg, leader of The Children of God, prophesied that the United States would be destroyed in 1974 by the comet Kohoutek. (David Berg, “The Third Letter of Moses on the Comet,” November 12, 1973.)
Jean Dixon, America’s most famous psychic, claiming that God spoke through her, predicted that a woman would be elected President of the United States during the decade of the 1980′s. (Ray Comfort, The Secrets of Nostradamus Exposed, Living Waters Publications, 1996, p.111.)
Edgar E. Whisenant, a Christian layman, predicted the Rapture of the Church would occur on September 12, 1988. His booklet, 88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 1988, sold over four million copies. He confidently asserted, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong.” When the event failed to occur, he issued a new date of either September 1st or 30th, 1989. (The Watchman Expositor, “Failed Prophecy Hall of Fame,” www.watchman.org, accessed 9/22/2003, p. 2.)
Harold Camping, president of the Family Radio Network, set the date for the Lord’s return to be in the fall of 1994. His prediction was based on a complicated mathematical formula that tied the Rapture to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. (Harold Camping, 1994?, published in 1992.)