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7th day Adventist Question?

he members have taken a very literal view of the Sabbath and I can respect one preferring one day above another. But my debate is really not on that issue as I have a huge problem with another position that being the mark of the beast. The teaching that Sun Worship is the mark of the beast is what is presented. I look at REv 13 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those [fn5] who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Now Peter writes

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

My emphasis is on no prophecy is of a private interpretation. now the text clearly does not say that Sun sabbath is the mark of the beast. i can not see that and consider that view a private interpretation.

Rev 20 makes this a clear point

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Is this view that Sun sabbath is the mark of the beast not adding to this book?

The same type of taking the word literally is the background of the strict view on the Sabbath yet when you take the same strict view of scripture here you have a problem. How do you reconcile these passages? With the idea that sun worship is the mark of the beast ?

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    This is a real problem with Seventh Day Adventist teaching on the end-times. They are preoccupied with the subject, and this is always a warning sign that a group may not be orthodoxly Christian.

    The gospel is about what God did in history, at Calvary and the empty tomb. If SDAs paid sufficient attention to Romans 1:2-6 they would be majoring on what it means to belong to Jesus Christ, for all such are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Our belonging to Jesus is not dependent on our interpretations of end-time prophecies! It is dependent on repentantly trusting only in what Jesus accomplished in history to save us from our sins. Those who do that are then indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth. If SDAs claim that only they have the truth about end time prophecies, they are no different to the JWs and the Mormons - who are pseudo-Christian groups.

    Further, the SDA interpretation is flawed because if keeping a Saturday sabbath is the guarantee of not having the mark of the beast, then that means all Jews and all Muslims will be included - they would never keep a Sunday sabbath! So where is the distinguishing mark for Christians? It just isn't there according to SDA teaching! No, it isn't observances that grant us God's protection at the end times; it's being found "in Christ", by faith, and the Holy Spirit will guide us safely through those perilous times, not any denomination.

  • Seaday
    Lv 5
    9 years ago

    If gathering to worship God on Sunday means you are worshiping the Sun, wouldn't it follow (using the same logic) that if you gather to worship God on Saturday you are worshiping Saturn?

    It is very sad when you believe your worst enemy are others who believe in Jesus and live their lives for him, rather than unbelievers.

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