We Got Mail

Colleen Tinker, Feature, Letters to the Editor

Podcast Timely and Encouraging

I have been listening to your podcast for a while, and I’m so grateful for your ministry! The recent episode about “Leaving Adventism—Is It Worth It?” was very timely for me. I have been out of Adventism for a while, and a member of a non-denominational Community Church, but my brother, who has not had strong church attendance for many years, has recently decided to go back to Adventist roots and had texted me a Youtube video about Charlie Kirk’s observance of the Sabbath. My reply spurred a lengthy back-and-forth text discussion with him, and it was both encouraging and discouraging at the same time. 

While I was encouraged by the Holy Spirits’ leading me to Bible references and my assurance of my salvation despite not keeping Saturday Sabbath, I was discouraged at my brother’s lack of open-mindedness to the Bible and what it actually says, and his constant swinging the topic back to his fear of the “End Times” and obedience to God and His 10 Commandments (Saturday Sabbath) in particular, when “the world comes down on Adventists, and passes laws for them to make Sabbath-keeping illegal”. He says he’s ready to be a martyr when it comes down to them making him abandon his beliefs about keeping the Sabbath when “Sunday laws” are eventually passed. 

The podcast encouraged me that I’m not alone, that even my own family will disagree, but that its OK! It’s disheartening, but I have to believe that it’s to be expected and to stay the course! 

It’s just hard when both sides are so convinced. We will just have to “agree to disagree”. 

I just get frustrated when my Adventist family keeps “preaching to the choir”, so to speak; they are trying to convert those who are already saved, rather than focusing on those who are truly lost to the Gospel! 

Please keep me in prayer as the text discussion is ongoing, and he is very hard to reason with, and it makes me sometimes question my beliefs—which I dont normally do. 

Thanks again to your wonderful ministry. Wish I could have a face to face group and conversation with Colleen and Nikki! Sometimes I feel like Im going crazy!

—VA EMAIL

Response: Thank you for writing. You are not crazy!

It is impossible to have satisfying and resolving conversations with committed Adventist apologists because they are married to their worldview and to their paradigm of texts and doctrines. When an Adventist persists in arguing without an openness to know and be convinced of the truth, it’s often better to leave that conversation alone. Jesus’ words apply to these go-nowhere argument with Adventists: 

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”—Matthew 7:6

Also, Paul said:

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and conflicts about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.—Titus 3:9

Just by the way, the “commandments” argument is such a poor Adventist argument. Here is an article that addresses this word in Revelation (and those Adventist proof-texts): What Commandments Are In Revelation?

Does Satan Repent In the End?

Thank you for your ministry which I have been following for many years. Recently I had a conversation with a friend who is also a “former”, as am I, and she surprised me by referring to Ellen White as the possible source where she had heard the following. She said that when all of this world’s history is wrapped up and every knee bows to Jesus, that Satan will also bow the knee. I had no answer for her as she is a very persuasive type, and I need to know my stuff, even though the thought didn’t make sense to me. I would love your comment, and thank you in anticipation.

—VIA EMAIL

Response: the Bible never hints that Satan will repent. EGW, however, did write that Jesus first went to the angels and took the identity of Michael the archangel in order to try to help Lucifer come to repentance. 

This idea is not Scriptural. It is a cultic idea that meshes with the Adventist belief that Satan is the final sin-bearer, the scapegoat who carries the sins of the saved into the Lake of Fire where he pays for them. This idea is connately anti-Christ. 

Nikki Stevenson sent me a text after reading your email, and she said:

I was reading chapter 42 of The Great Controversy…and could not believe the detail that she added to the last battle! She does say that Satan kneels and concedes that Jesus is Lord in that chapter. 

Scripture DOES tell us what happens to Satan:

And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.—Revelation 20:7–10 LSB

Satan will be eternally condemned to hell. Jesus also affirmed this fact when He said:

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;’”—Matthew 25:41 LSB

The wicked who refuse to believe and trust the Son will be thrown into the lake of fire which was “prepared for the devil and his angels”. 

Satan has no chance of being saved, of coming to saving faith. Yes, he KNOWS who Jesus is. Jesus is his creator; the Lord Jesus made all things, and nothing which is made was made apart from Him. Satan knows who Jesus is! †

Write to: LifeAssuranceMinistries@gmail.com

Colleen Tinker
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