We return now to the question posed by one of our forum members, viz.

Why didn’t anybody interpret Revelation the way you do before Charles Russel Taze and Ellen G. White came along? The commonalities are astonishing.

I realize that the “commonalities” which you are suggesting here are in regards to Revelation specifically, and we will address that issue, but we would also like to mention some of the other beliefs held by our Seventh Day Adventist friends to see if Bible Students share these too.

As for similarities between Russell’s teachings and that of Ellen G. White (i.e., the Seventh Day Adventist) yes there are some similarities between the two, even as there exist between Adventist, Witnesses, born- again Christians, Mormons, and all the other creeds of orthodoxy. This is one of the oldest ploys used by critics of one belief or another, accuse them of being the same as another group, simply because they share some common views or beliefs.

Bible Students are typically accused of being Jehovah’s Witnesses for this very reason, however a more through look at the beliefs of the two groups would reveal that there is a vast difference between the two. Baptist likewise share some of the same beliefs as Adventist, does this make them Adventist? They also share some similar beliefs with Catholics, does this make them Catholics? I’m sure we could find many shared beliefs between all the various creeds.

But for now, let us take a look at some of the beliefs of our Seventh Day Adventist friends and see if Bible Students share the same or similar beliefs. We will examine a few of their 28 fundamental beliefs and compare them with what Bible Students believe and see if there are any commonalities. Beginning first with,

The Sabbath:

Seventh Day Adventist believe that after six days of Creation the gracious Creator, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath.

The Bible Students view on this issue is expressed in the answer given by Pastor Russell, the question was:

Which day should be observed as the Sabbath Day, the first day or the seventh day of the week?

“It would depend upon the religious belief of the one who asks the question. To the Jew the seventh day (Saturday) is the one to be observed, as it was commanded in the Law that was given to the Israelite’s that they should keep the seventh day as a holy day. That Law is still binding upon the Jews. If a Seventh Day Adventist, then let him keep the seventh day, for he believes that he is under the Law, and with that belief he certainly should keep the seventh day. To those who are members of some one of the various Protestant Churches, or of the Roman Catholic Church, let them observe the first day (Sunday) as the day of rest, as they believe that it is so commanded, and surely it would not be right for them to violate their conscience by doing otherwise.

To the true Christian, the consecrated child of God, let these keep every day holy unto the Lord and not merely one day in seven. And let these enjoy a rest by faith in the Lord and in His sure promises.

Let no one attempt to judge another in respect to this matter of observing the sabbath or holy days. No one has the right to judge his fellowman in this regard; but let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Rom 14:4, 5).

If any one presumes to judge another in these matters, he is violating a direct command of the Lord as expressed by one of His inspired Apostles

“And let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come. (Col. 2:16,17).

If anyone should say that we are not saved and that we are lost because we do not observe some special day, ask him gently but firmly–“Who made thee a judge?” (Q823)

We will take a look at another Seventh Day Adventist belief in our next post, one shared with most of orthodoxy.