SDA Book “The Great Hope” Exposed!

By David J. Stewart | September 2013

Romans 4:4-6, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

       What a wonderful passage of Scripture in our text. The core doctrine concerning Biblical salvation is that a man's FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!!! Salvation is not by works of self-righteousness, which is what Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) teach, as I will show you.

Today I found a little plastic bag with SDA literature inside hanging on my door knob. They hung it on the wrong guy's door (or the right guy, depending on how you look at it). One of the items of literature is a free 94-page book titled, “THE GREAT HOPE” by Ellen G. White (adapted from her writing titled, “THE GREAT CONTROVERSY”). Ellen G. White (1827-1915) was a false prophetess. Wikipedia errantly describes Ellen G. White as “an American Christian pioneer,” because in fact she was no Christian at all. Ms. White openly denied the deity of Jesus Christ...

“The man Christ Jesus was not the Lord God Almighty.”
—Ellen G. White (1903, ms 150, SDA Commentary V, p. 1129)

SDA's today have since changed their official position on the doctrine of Christ's deity; however, they still esteem Ellen G. White as their grand prophetess, mentor and the very foundation of their religious cult. What a big contradictory mess! Run from Seventh Day Adventism as fast as you can!!!

My friend, Seventh Day Adventism (SDA) is a dangerous satanic religious cult, who teach a false plan of salvation rooted in self-righteousness and works. In their book titled “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 47, it says:

In the new birth the heart comes into harmony with God and His law. When this change has taken place, the sinner has passed from death unto life, from law-breaking and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life has ended; the new life of forgiveness, faith, and love has begun. Then “the righteous requirement of the law” will be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). The language of the heart will be: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalms 119:97).

Without the law, people have no conviction of sin and feel no need to repent. They do not realize how much they need the atoning blood of Christ. They accept the hope of salvation without a radical change of heart or reformation of life. So there are many superficial conversions, and many people who have never been united to Christ join the church. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 47; Pacific Press Publishing Association; Nampa, Idaho; ISBN:978-082-802-6765

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the exact same lying garbage theology of Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John Macarthur, Kirk Cameron, Robert Morey, William Lane Craig, Dan Corner, Aiden Tozer and thousands of other Lordship Salvationists who teach a corrupt meaning of Biblical “repentance.” Whereas the Bible teaches that repentance concerning salvation is simply “a change of mind”; Lordship Salvationists adhere to the Roman Catholic definition of repentance, which is to experience remorse, sorrow, grief, penance and a desire to depart from all sins (in effect, a change of lifestyle).

This latter form of repentance is the same false repentance of Judas in Matthew 27:3 (behavior modification, reformation, rehabilitation; but without regeneration). Judas was sorry he got caught betraying Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Judas tried to reform, returning the money to the Pharisees (but they refused, calling it blood money). Judas felt sorry. Judas sought reconciliation with man. Judas tried everything except repentance toward God and faith in Christ.

The problem with the preceding quote from Ellen G. White's “THE GREAT HOPE” is that she errantly assumes Biblical “repentance” to mean a change of lifestyle instead of the correct “a change of mind” (Greek: metanoia). Ms. White alleges that false converts accept the hope of salvation, but without experiencing a radical change of heart and a reformed life. This is verbatim exactly what Ray Comfort teaches. Ellen G. White understands this to be a lack of genuine repentance unto salvation, and a failure to comprehend the meaning and reality of God's law. She is wrong and I will explain in a moment!
 

Paul Washer, Ray Comfort And John MacArthur Teach Same Lies As SDA

SDA's teach the same theological rubbish that heretics like Paul Washer, Ray Comfort and John MacArthur teach. They all teach that faith in Jesus is insufficient to save a sinner; but also, they say that repentance from a sinful lifestyle is required, where the world is forsaken, a full commitment is decided to serve God, intent is made to reform, and one declares “Jesus is Lord.” Of course, this is unbiblical heresy. This false doctrine is popular in many religious circles today and is known as “Lordship Salvation.” Ellen White mandates “a radical change of heart” and “reformation of life” as necessary components of Biblical salvation.

In sharp contrast, the Bible teaches that we are saved by God's righteousness, by His grace and mercy through faith, and that not of ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” There's no mention in the Bible about a radical change of heart or a reformed life as being necessary to be saved.

False prophetess Ellen G. White further states in her damnable writings in “THE GREAT HOPE”:

The Word of God testifies against this traplike doctrine of faith without works. It is not faith that claims God's favor without complying with the conditions on which He grants mercy. It is presumption. (See James 2:14-24).

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 49; Pacific Press Publishing Association; Nampa, Idaho; ISBN:978-082-802-6765

Seventh Day Adventism (SDA) misinterprets James chapter 2, as do Roman Catholics, Dan Corner and other false prophets these days. Whereas the apostle Paul speaks of being justified BY FAITH IN GOD'S SIGHT in Romans chapter 4:5-6; BUT the apostle James speaks of being justified BY WORKS IN MAN'S SIGHT in James chapter 2:18-24. God can see our heart, but men cannot. This is why we can be justified by faith in our heart in God's sight. However, since mankind cannot see into our heart, we can only judge one another based upon external appearances or our written and/or spoken testimony (1st Samuel 16:7).

Look again at the preceding quote from Ms. White. She teaches that faith is not effective unless “conditions” are first complied with. In sharp contrast, Biblically, there are no such “conditions” for salvation. Eternal life is a free gift. Our sins are already paid for completely. The only “condition” of salvation is that we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ Who died, was buried and then resurrected three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

Listen once again to the heretical words of false prophetess Ellen G. White, who said:

They accept the hope of salvation without a radical change of heart or reformation of life. So there are many superficial conversions, and many people who have never been united to Christ join the church. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 47; Pacific Press Publishing Association; Nampa, Idaho; ISBN:978-082-802-6765

That sounds verbatim like Evangelist's Paul Washer and Ray Comfort. SDA's, Paul Washer, John MacArthur and Ray Comfort all teach that placing one's faith in Christ is meaningless unless there is a radical change of heart and reformation of life accompanying it at the time of salvation (which they misunderstand to mean repentance). Biblical repentance is a mere change of mind, not a change of behavior. To mandate a radical change of heart, and behavior modification, as part of saving-faith is a false plan of salvation rooted in human effort. A changed life is the FRUIT (result) of the ROOT of saving-faith, but it also requires a growth in grace process which could take decades to lead to consecration, if ever in the absence of a spiritual mentor. New converts must be taught “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).
 

SDA And John MacArthur Trample Under Foot The Blood Of Jesus

One sad observation is that John Macarthur denies the literal blood of Jesus. Instead, he teaches that Jesus' blood is precious and necessary ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT IT REPRESENTS CHRIST'S DEATH. MacArthur's Study Bible makes his satanic teachings very clear in his commentary for Hebrews 9:22-24.

Seventh Day Adventism also tramples under foot the blood sacrifice of Christ, teaching that Christ's blood sacrifice wasn't sufficient to save us. Instead SDA's teach that Christ entered into His work of “investigative judgment” (a bizarre teaching exclusive to SDA) in 1844 and still continues until this day to determine who is “worthy” to enter into Heaven. Biblically, no one is worthy of Heaven. We all deserve to burn in Hell forever for our sins. Thankfully, Jesus paid our sin debt so we could escape God's the Father's wrath (Romans 5:9).

Whereas the Bible teaches that Christ's blood upon the mercy seat in Heaven was the final step in making sacrifice for man's sins, SDA teach that Christ is still working on it. They teach the bizarre doctrine of “Investigative Judgment” (exclusive to SDA). A wayward Baptist minister named William Miller crunched some numbers from the Bible and foolishly predicted that Jesus would physically return in 1844. 10,000 followers (known as “Millerites”) quit their jobs, sold their homes, and gave all their worldly possessions away because they really expected to be leaving with the Lord in 1844. As you can guess, Jesus DIDN'T return and the 10,000 suckers panicked. To save face, one elder in the group announced a new cult teaching that Jesus had in actuality entered in Heaven into the Holy of Holies, to begin His work of Investigative Judgment. This is where Christ analyzes our lives and determines who is worthy to be resurrected and who is worthy not to be resurrected. Biblically, SDA's teachings are all lies of the Devil.

It is a sin to spiritualize the Bible by crunching numbers to concoct private doctrines. Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) did the same thing, when their founder Charles Taze Russell predicted that Christ returned in World War I based upon a bunch of numbers that he crunched from 586 BC when Jerusalem fell. It's all false prophecy. JW's claim that the 20th century's wars are physical evidence of spiritual struggles because Christ has already returned and the Watch Tower Tract Society is God's visible organization to usher in paradise on earth. That's what they believe and teach, and it is straight from the pits of Hellfire. JW's deny the Godhead, deny Christ's deity, deny Christ's bodily resurrection, deny the Rapture, deny a literal Hell with fire for all Christ-rejecters, deny the Millennial reign of Christ and deny the individual person and work of the Holy Spirit. JW's and SDA's, like Mormons, all require water baptism for salvation, which is a road to Hell. If you add ANYTHING to childlike faith in Christ alone, you're trying to steal your way into Heaven “SOME OTHER WAY” (John 10:1). The only way into Heaven is through the open gate at the front, and Jesus is that Door (John 10:9).

The world is dead in trespasses and sins and always has been (Ephesians 2:1-2). In my opinion, ninety-nine percent of mankind are going to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 7:13-14), because they love their sins and refuse to come to Jesus Christ to be forgiven and saved (John 3:20; 5:40). The Gospel is so easily perverted. Adding anything to simple faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection totally corrupts the Gospel, which cannot save. We are born again only by INCORRUPTIBLE SEED, by the Word of God (1st Peter 1:23). You cannot get saved by the words of men, the traditions of men or the religious dogmas of men. I know so many Hellbound people whose faith is in their name being on a church membership roll. Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world.

Only Faith Pleases God; Salvation Is Only By Faith

Hebrews 11:2-3 and 6, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. ... But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6 in the King James Bible teaches that God is pleased by faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines “faith” as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, faith is everything that we do (or don't do) as a direct result of “SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE” (Hebrews 11:27).

Thus, SDA's teach repentance as a mandatory condition of faith to be saved (and it is in a different sense); but they errantly teach a wrong meaning of repentance, saying that is refers to ceasing from literal sinful bad habits. Biblical repentance unto salvation is “a change of mind,” no more. A changed life is the result (FRUIT) of genuine repentance and not a part of the ROOT of saving faith.

False prophets like Pastor Aiden Tozer teach that there can be no regeneration until there has first been reformation. That's pretty much a direct quote from Mr. Tozer. He has it 180 degrees backwards! Biblically, there can be no true reformation until there has first been regeneration! YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN! (John 3:7).

SDA's require keeping of the Sabbath, ceasing from sinful bad habits, tithing and keeping God's law to be saved. SDA teach a self-righteousness works-based false plan of salvation. As with most religious cults who falsely claim to be “Christian,” SDA's deceitfully speak of God's righteousness, Jesus' blood and the gift of eternal life; while simultaneously 100% contradicting themselves by also teaching that faith alone cannot save anyone without adding works to it. I've studied the teachings of John Macarthur, Ray Comfort and Paul Washer extensively and they are in agreement with Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists when it comes to the false meaning of repentance. They all understand repentance unto salvation to mean a changed lifestyle that requires ceasing from a lifestyle of sin.

Biblically, Christians are supposed to live right because WE ARE saved, not to BE saved. There's a big difference!

Comfort, Washer & MacArthur Agree With Jehovah's Witnesses

Paul Washer Teaches Same False View Of Salvation as SDA's

Here are the words of heretic Ellen G. White, whose writings are the foundation of Seventh Day Adventism...

Without the law, people have no conviction of sin and feel no need to repent. They do not realize how much they need the atoning blood of Christ. They accept the hope of salvation without a radical change of heart or reformation of life. So there are many superficial conversions, and many people who have never been united to Christ join the church. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 47; Pacific Press Publishing Association; Nampa, Idaho; ISBN:978-082-802-6765

Now here is what Evangelist Paul Washer has to say, which is almost verbatim exactly what Ms. White teaches...

What you need to know is that salvation is by faith, and faith alone in Jesus Christ. And faith alone in Jesus Christ is preceded and followed by repentance — a turning away from sin, a hatred for the things that God hates and a love for the things that God loves, a growing in holiness and a desire — not to be like Britney Spears, not to be the like world, and not to be like the great majority of American Christians; but to be like Jesus Christ. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8

Paul Washer clearly teaches that continuing on in faith and repentance are REQUIREMENTS for salvation...

“The evidence that you are truly converted today is that you will continue on. If only most of the Americans had been told that, they would not be resting in false security today.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Sermon by Paul Washer, A Challenging Message From Paul Washer, found at the HeartCry website: http://heartcry.me.uk/?p=6

Mr. Washer is against the idea that a sinner who believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ to forgive their sins can be content, smug and worry free. According to Washer, they have a false sense of security, because he thinks that they aren't really saved if they continue in sinful living. This goes totally contrary to the Biblical Gospel.

Here are some important contrasts between the Gospel verses Lordship Salvation...

Think about this friend... If God imputes (i.e., places Christ's righteousness upon our record) at the time of salvation, then why would we have to “continue on” in belief and repentance to have “true security” as Washer's teaches? That is works salvation! Clearly, Paul Washer is sincere, but sincerely corrupted and wrong in his teachings. Mr. Washer understands repentance unto salvation to mean a departure from the act of sin itself. And he says that anyone who doesn't depart from sin has never repented.

Washer is tricky in his words. Although he speaks of “evidence” of salvation, he also plainly makes it clear that those “evidences” are a requirement for salvation. In effect, Washer has combined the FRUIT of a believer's faith (James 2:18-21) with the ROOT of a believer's faith (Romans 4:5-6). To do so is damnable heresy and a guaranteed road to Hell. The doctrines of Lordship Salvation and the Perseverance of the Saints are foreign to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both doctrines are rooted in works salvation.

Paul Washer is clearly a follower of John Calvin (1483-1546), who errantly taught that a believer will continue in faith and repentance as part of salvation. The dangerous mindset in all of Washer's teachings is that the convert is required to keep his salvation, which goes 100% contrary to the Biblical teaching that salvation is a NEW BIRTH, a miracle of God (John 1:12-13), a SECOND BIRTH, which cannot be undone. A person cannot be unborn physically. Likewise, the spiritual birth is also just as irreversible.

That is a false Gospel. In one statement Paul Washer says that we are saved by faith alone; but then in the next statement he subtly requires giving up one's sinful lifestyle to be saved. Washer says that repentance must precede faith to be valid. This is not faith alone as the Bible teaches. The Bible is clear that salvation is without works. Romans 4:5,6, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

According to Paul Washer's thinking the church congregation at Corinth wasn't saved, because they lived in horrible sin. Yet, Paul calls them “babes in Christ” in 1st Corinthians 3:1. In Romans 12:1, Paul begged the believers at Rome to surrender their lives to God, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." They were saved, but they hadn't presented their bodies to God “a living sacrifice” yet. 

Look at the carnal church at Corinth! They were suing each other (1st Corinthians 6:6), eating meats offered to idols (1st Corinthians 8:12), allowing fornication within the church (1st Corinthians 5:1), showing up drunk at the Lord's Supper (1st Corinthians 11:21), et cetera. The carnal church at Corinth is proof that Lordship Salvation is a lie. I am not trying to justify believers who live in sin. I am simply saying that our salvation is not dependent upon giving up our sins.
 

SDA's Boldly Deny The Existence Of A Literal Hell With Fire

In “THE GREAT HOPE” by Ellen G. White, it errantly and foolishly states on page 28:

“The heresy of Eternal Torment

Untold evil has come from the heresy of eternal torment. It takes the religion of the Bible, so full of love and goodness, darkens it by superstition and clothes it with terror. Satan has painted the character of God in false colors, making people fear, dread, and even hate our merciful Creator. The repulsive views of God that have spread over the world from the teachings of the pulpit have made millions of people skeptics and unbelievers.

Eternal torment is one of the false doctrines, the wine of abomination (revelation 14:8, 17:2), which Babylon makes all nations drink. Ministers of Christ accepted this heresy from Rome, just as they received the false sabbath...”

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, “THE GREAT HOPE,” pg. 28; Pacific Press Publishing Association; Nampa, Idaho; ISBN:978-082-802-6765

Clearly, SDA's are false prophets who deny the plain teaching in the Bible of eternal torment of the unsaved. We are warned in 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Revelation 20:14-15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” The Bible plainly teaches that God will punish all Christ-rejecters who die in their sins with flaming fire in the Lake of Fire. There is no teaching in the Bible of temporal punishment of annihilation as Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists errantly teach.

Psalms 9:17 warns, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” The word “hell” here is the Hebrew sheol, meaning “the grave, that is, the realm of the dead.” But the meaning of sheol has a wide application, not limited to the physical grave alone; but rather, it simply referred to the place where the dead go, which can imply Heaven or Hell, as well as the earth. Psalms 9:17 clearly implies that the wicked don't go to the same place (sheol) as the righteous, for what sense would the Bible make if both the wicked and the righteous go to the same place in eternity? Clearly, the wicked go to a place of suffering, whereas the righteous do not. Psalms 9:17 pronounces a curse upon the wicked and all the nations (not just some of them) that forget God (which certainly includes America today).

SDA is a satanic cult that denies a literal place that burns with fire, where the unsaved who die in their sins (John 8:24) are tormented forever and ever (Revelation 14:11).

• Mark 9:44, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
• Mark 9:46, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
• Mark 9:48, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
• Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
• Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

There are serious issues and theological flaws with the Seventh Day Adventist denial of a literal Hell where the wicked are tormented for their sins for ever and ever. If the wicked are all annihilated - unconscious of fire, torment or punishment for their sins and crimes against God and humanity - then how can there be justice? Adolf Hitler murdered millions of innocent Jews. George W. Bush murdered millions of innocent Iraqis. Pol Pot murdered millions of innocent Cambodians. Stalin murdered millions of innocent Russians. Will these evil men merely be denied eternal life and sent back to an unconscious state of the dead? Will they suffer the same fate as the dear old sweet Catholic Mother Teresa who spent her life helping others, yet she died in her sins without Christ, having placed her trust in the Roman Catholic religion instead of the blood of Jesus Christ? I think not.

Will the man who dies in his sins, having committed 5,000 sins in his lifetime suffer the same eternal penalty as the man who committed 50,000,000 sins? The Bible gives us the plain answer in Revelation 20:12-13, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” As you have just learned, God plainly warns that the DEAD (the unsaved) will be judged from the books according to THEIR WORKS. It would make absolutely no sense if the SDA's are correct that the dead will all be sent back into an unconscious state as punishment.

So what would be the benefit or purpose of holding wicked men and women accountable for THEIR WORKS? If Adolf Hitler and the 15-year-old boy who die in the sin of unbelief both suffer the same eternal fate, then God would be unjust and Hitler got away with all his heinous evils. Scripturally, men like Hitler will be tormented more for each sin committed. If a person goes to Hell, then they MUST pay for their own sins, each and every one of them without exception. Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” What “fear” would there be if evil men and women knew that their worst fate will be annihilation, a second death that brings total unconsciousness? There would be no fear. But read carefully what the Lord said in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” SDA's are a demonic cult, who will discover the second they enter into eternity how wrong they are concerning eternal punishment. The Bible teaches a literal place called Hell.

There are three different Greek words for our English word “hell” (namely, Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus). Tartarus is a special place reserved for fallen angels, i.e., demons. Hades is a temporal place, compartmentalized between Paradise and Torment as evidenced in Luke 16:19-31. In the Old Testament the righteous went to Paradise (also known as “Abraham's Bosom”). The wicked went to the place of Torment, as did the rich unsaved man in Luke 16:19-31. Lazarus was poor, but righteous, and he was escorted by angels to Abraham's Bosom. When Jesus rose from the dead, He brought the souls in Paradise to Heaven.

I am not argumentative or dogmatic on this teaching of Paradise and Torment (that is, Hades), because many respected Bible scholars (like Dr. John R. Rice) disagree and rather, teach that all saints in the Old Testament went directly to Heaven, as they do today. Such scholars deny the existence of a temporal place called Paradise or Torment. I would not argue the point; however, I am firmly convinced that the former teaching is Biblical.

The primary reason why I believe that Hades was compartmentalized (besides the factual account of Luke 16:19-31) is the third Greek meaning of “hell,” which is Gehenna. “Gehenna” is the Lake of Fire. The Bible teaches in Revelation 20:14-15 that death and hell (Hades) were cast into the Lake of Fire (Gehenna). Revelation 20:14, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” What is the second death? It is Gehenna!!! “Gehenna” refers to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, a place in the Old Testament where the city's garbage was burdened, dead bodies were cremated and all manner of filth was dumped...

The Book of Isaiah does not mention Gehenna by name, but the "burning place" 30:33 in which the Assyrian army is to be destroyed, may be read "Topheth", and the final verse of Isaiah which concerns the corpses of the same or a similar battle, Isaiah 66:24, "where their worm does not die" is cited by Jesus in reference to Gehenna in Mark 9:44, 9:46, and 9:48.

SOURCE: Gehenna - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bible makes a distinct contrast between these three Greek words for “hell.” If SDA's are correct that there is no literal place of torment and burning flames of actual fire, then what would be the purpose of distinguishing between Hades and Gehenna? For an in-depth explanation of hell, please read the book, A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION OF HELL (.pdf file) by Dr. Max D. Younce.
 

SDA's Teach The Unbiblical Heresy of “Soul Sleep”

SDA's refute the Biblical teaching of an immortal soul, whether in Heaven or Hell. According to SDA's, the soul ceases to be conscious upon the physical death of the human body, and will one day be resurrected, either to everlasting life or to be forever put back to rest unconscious. A group of Sadducees came to question the Lord, trying to stump Him. They didn't believe in the resurrection of the human body by God. They presented a hypothetical case to Jesus, concerning a woman whose husband had died. The man had six brothers. Under Mosaic law, when a man died without having any children to his name, the duty fell upon that man's brother to marry the widow and bear children for the deceased brother.

In this hypothetical situation, the Sadducees said that each brother married the wife, and then died, leaving the next brother to take her as a wife to fulfil Jewish law concerning carrying on a brother's seed. So all seven brothers had been married at different times to this same woman over her lifetime. Then the Sadducees asked the $64,000 question to Jesus... in the resurrection, whose wife amongst the seven brothers shall this woman be? Jesus answered their question.

Matthew 22:29-33, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.”

I have shared this passage of Scripture with you to plainly evidence from the holy Bible that “soul sleep” is unbiblical. The SDA heresy that the human soul is not immortal (alive forever) goes totally contrary to the plain teachings of the Scriptures. Jesus clearly taught that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are all alive presently in Heaven the Lord said. Jesus plainly said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” SDA's foolishly teach that believers are asleep, unconscious in the grave, awaiting the resurrection. Jesus said that God is the God of the LIVING!!!

The apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
 

What is Biblical Repentance?

Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) correctly understood repentance . . .

“Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'who gave himself a ransom for all.' Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside; Except Ye Repent, pg. 36)

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. Harry A. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as the confession that "one is utterly without merit" and that if one is "ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by faith. 

“Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word.”

SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3

All that God requires for salvation is that we receive Christ's death, burial and resurrection from the dead three days later as full-payment for our sins. Concerning salvation, “repentance” does NOT mean to cease from sinful bad habits, nor turn over a new leaf, nor make a full surrender to Christ, nor to forsake the world. A person may do all of these things and yet never have believe the Gospel at all. The Gospel is Good News to simply be believed; and not conditions to be achieved.

Gospel + Faith = Salvation

Eternal Security

“No Christian will ever have his name blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, for all such have eternal life—which is unforfeitable and everlasting.” — Pastor Harry A. Ironside

Religions: The Occult Connection | Part 2