Beware This Cult!

Chapter 7 - Why All This Fuss about a False Prophet?

By Gregory G. P. Hunt, M.D., B.Sc., F.R.C.P.


I care. If you are involved in Seventh Day Adventism or any other cult, let me assure you that your friends and relatives do care. When one considers how God's Word is being perverted and maligned, the shortest verse in the Bible comes to mind, "Jesus wept". (John 11:35) There is no doubt that God cares.

We have recently witnessed a false prophet at work. Jim Jones completely changed the life of a large group of people, convinced them to leave their native United States and retreat to the jungle wilderness of Guyana. The world was shocked at the mass suicide and murders which followed. How in God's name could such an atrocity occur we all asked?

I see the same thing happening in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Perhaps no one has blatantly committed suicide or homicide but lifestyles have been changed drastically; a wall of prejudice and intolerance is erected against other Christians. The average member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church thrives on self righteousness and hypocrisy.

Ellen White claims to be God's spokesman; a prophet for a lost world during the latter days. Paul entreats us, "Quench not the spirit, despise not prophesyings, prove all things". (I Thes. 5:18-21) We are to take anyone seriously who claims to be a prophet; we are to examine his claims and his fruits, and we are to decide whether the person is a true or false prophet.

Elsewhere in His word, God tells us that he will send false prophets to test us; that these prophets will speak words which will come true. Then they will lead us astray after other gods. He indicates that he is trying to prove us to know whether we love him or not. When we discover that the prophet is false we are commanded to "Stone that prophet to death". (Deut. 13:1-5)

Some of Ellen White's predictions are very impressive, much of her counsel seems to make a lot of sense. Many of her writings hold great power over her readers. She is revered by all classes of people from the simple native of far away mission fields to the sophisticated and highly intelligent modern professional and corporate officer. Like it or not, we must take Mrs. White seriously. Someday we will be asked to answer for our decision.

Perhaps one of the stronger proofs Adventists use to support their prophet is the fact that Adventists live about seven years longer than the general population as a result of following Ellen White's' counsel. However Mormons can claim the same longevity. Obviously Adventists will not admit that the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith might be a true prophet on these grounds.

It is notable that several cults began around the same time in history. The predictions by William Miller, that Christ would come back to this earth in 1844 in the second advent, seemed to spearhead many new cults. During this time period we have appearing on the scene the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Christian Science movement, Mormonism, and the Jehovah's Witnesses. This time period witnessed the comparable prophets, namely Ellen White, Mary Baker Eddy, Joseph Smith, and others.

All these denominations that arose during this time period, including Adventists, expect you to believe that theirs is the true church. They will quite effectively use the Bible itself to prove that they are the true remnant church. Consider these passages from Revelation which Adventists use to back up their claims. "The remnant of her seed which keeps the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". (Rev. 12:17) Adventists will attempt to convince you that unless you keep the seventh day, that is Saturday, as the holy Sabbath, then you are not part of the remnant church. They will go further in trying to convince you that this is in fact a sin against the Holy Spirit.

They also use, "For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy". (Rev. 19:10) They will point out that they have a contemporary prophet in the person of Ellen White. They have perverted the term 'Spirit of Prophecy' from the above Bible passage to be equated with Ellen White. They overlook the fact that the phrase 'Spirit of Prophecy' is intended as another term for the Holy Spirit. This can be deduced quite easily from Rev. 1:2-3. The soil is now quite fertile for you to fall into the ranks of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Unless you know the word of God you cannot very easily contend against these seemingly good Biblical arguments.

Only after you have decided that Ellen White is in fact a false prophet can these other difficult subjects be seen in their true light. Hence the great importance of recognizing Mrs. Ellen White for what she is; a false prophet.

When I consider Seventh Day Adventists whom I know personally, I realize that none of them is happy. None of them have the peace of Jesus Christ. The perverted lifestyles have served only to alienate and divide members of the family. Of course hard-line Adventists just love to see families divided as this indicates persecution and reinforces their delusions of self-righteousness.

I see a group of very unhappy people pretending endlessly, trying to put up a good front and making a mockery of God and His word. I hear accounts of young children being forced to listen to readings from Ellen White's books daily for periods of 30 to 60 minutes at a time. I see countless examples of one member shaming another for not following Mrs. White's counsel, then turning around breaking some of her rules themselves.

I see Adventists continually badgering and harassing relatives in an attempt to get them into the church and thus save them. I see Ellen White's rules being pushed on people who are reaching out for God, searching for something better and often these poor souls make an about face and leave God in dismay.

I see a ten year old boy being baptized in the Seventh-day Adventist Church despite the objections of a non-Adventist mother. The child who cannot possibly make such a serious decision, goes through with his baptism just to side with Dad against Mom and perpetuate that old game; ’Dad, let's you and Mom fight.’

I accompany a lady to church as she reaches out to God for some peace and comfort from her long mental suffering. I see her leave the church in dismay after hearing a regular Ellen White type sermon damning jewelry and makeup. Will she ever risk approaching God again? How can you or I allow something like this to happen?

There is the example of the young friend of mine who once had a reasonably strong belief and faith in God. Now in his late teens and in college he has finally discovered that his parents had been daily reading to him for long periods from books written by a false prophet. What a rude awakening to realize that he has spent all these years trapped in a lifestyle prescribed by a Victorian era, fanatic old lady. What recourse does this man have but to throw up his hands in disgust and turn his back on God? Will he ever again risk a relationship with God? How tragic are the fruits of a false prophet!

Then there is the example of my own pathetic sister. Basically quite religious all of her life, her emotional needs could not be met by the Catholic Church. She was easy prey for the recruiting forces of the Adventist Church. Being the wife of a doctor, she was even that much more a 'preferred' candidate. The philosophy of Ellen White has allowed her to nurture her long standing neurosis which at this point has rendered her almost totally antisocial. She has withdrawn into her own little world. She has been professionally brainwashed by suave talking Adventists and her easily converted husband. She no longer thinks for herself about any subject concerning her religious philosophy or eternal life. She is totally unapproachable by other members of her immediate family and is unfortunately trapped for life. I pray somehow by the grace of God she can be reached.

As if this is not heartbreaking enough, there are now six lovable little ones who face the same neurosis, the same lifestyle, the same fate. Here are innocent children who, due to the isolation resulting from this religious lifestyle, are just unavailable to be loved by their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The examples of heartbreaking situations like this are many indeed.

I realize there are many things to prevent people coming to God. We are warned in the Bible that such things as selfishness, cares of this world, too much ambition etc. will prevent people from finding God. In each church there are false doctrines which tend to make God and His word appear incredulous. Especially, is this so during the searching teenage years. In the Adventist Church there is a false prophet, Ellen White, setting up a code of rules which God never intended.

The situation in the Adventist Church today is much the same as that of the Jewish Church at the time of Jesus. The Jewish leaders had set up so many impossible rules and rituals that the common people could not possibly attain. Jesus described these people as follows; ""The Scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men." (Matt. 23:2-5) Jesus was very angered by the legalism which permeated His church at the time of His first advent. I suspect He will be just as angry with the legalism practiced in churches such as the Seventh Day Adventist denomination when He comes the second time.

Yes, there are many warnings about false prophets in the Bible. We would do well to heed these warnings and make our rule of faith the Bible and the Bible only.


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