We as former Adventists are often asked why we write material which appears to be attacking the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Many current Adventist leaders from all levels of the SDA denomination have been in communication with our ministry and have encouraged us to keep doing what we are doing. Most of these people are aware that there are many embedded errors in Adventism; nevertheless they remain in the SDA church for one or more of the following reasons: (1) to help Adventists understand the gospel; (2) to change the church from the inside; (3) to stay for job security and retirement; or (4) to stay for family and reputation. These people wish to remain anonymous and we will grant their request.
Thousands of former Seventh-dav Adventists who have made the transition to the simple gospel of Christ and have become Bible-only believers have expressed to us the joy of the freedom they experience in Christ. They have a deep desire to help free others from the bondage of Adventism.
In seeking to promote change we want to be kind to our “mother church”, yet we must be open and honest in facing the errors that are embedded in Adventism. From our perspective it appears that the Adventist church is like a chameleon. In its public relations it seeks to appear as a mainstream Christian church. Yet in the latter stages of most Adventist evangelism or doctrinal teaching, it claims that the Seventh-day Adventist church is the “remnant church of Bible prophecy” and that the seventh-day Sabbath is the seal of God which all true believers must have in order to escape the seven last plagues. It teaches that the Catholic Church is the harlot in the book of Revelation and that Protestant churches which worship on Sunday are the “daughters of Babylon”, and in the last days all true Christians are to be called out of churches which worship on Sunday so they will not receive the mark of the beast.
Today there is a virtual mandate that evangelicals not only understand the errors of Adventism, but learn how to minister to the approximately 300,000 Adventists who leave the SDA church every year.1 It is our prayer that this little book will be a useful first step in this regard.
This book is not intended to be an in-depth evaluation of the errors of Adventism. Rather, its purpose is to give a sweeping overview of these errors with enough documentation to support the statements made therein. As I have written several other books and dozens of articles on these topics, I have often noted where the reader may find a more exhaustive study of the topic at hand. I have at times listed an internet website as the source for a given statement. I recognize that these may be somewhat dynamic and subject to change. If you can’t find a given site, try searching on Google.
For those who wish to develop a much needed ministry to transitioning Adventists, or desire to study Adventism more deeply, I suggest that you consult the resources: www.LifeAssuranceMinistries.org, www.TruthorFables.com.
In His joy,
Dale Ratzlaff
- See http://news.adventist.org/data/2005/06/1120249432/index.html.en