I Don’t Feel Alone Anymore
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you again for all the work you are doing creating the FAF podcasts. I left Adventism almost 20 years ago, and at that time I had nobody to share my experience with because members of my family were still in the system. And there were no resources on the internet that I could go to, to confirm my findings. But it started with the Desire Of Ages; I had read things in there that seemed to me to contradict scripture. Once I allowed that skepticism to settle in, I was on a mission to find the truth—little did I know that 20 years later I would still be fighting that Great Controversy world view.
These podcasts have been so enlightening and also reassuring me that many others have had the same issues and drawn the same or similar conclusions as I have.
These podcasts have been so enlightening and also reassuring me that many others have had the same issues and drawn the same or similar conclusions as I have. I DON’T FEEL ALONE anymore. I basically binge listen to these podcasts, and they fill me with a sense of relief, acceptance, and even anger at times because of the deceptions that were put onto me over the 35 years I was in the Adventist “church”. I listen to your podcasts on your YouTube channel; they are constantly streaming in my apartment as I clean the house, cook meals, and even when I am sleeping.
What a fantastic resource. I know a LOT of study and effort goes into producing this work, and I cannot express how much I appreciate what you both are doing, as well as your spouses. What a blessing to have these podcasts available. I cannot thank you enough.
May God continue to bless you as you are blessing us formers.
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Thank you so much for writing! We are grateful to God that He is using the podcasts to help others like us unpack their Adventist worldview. Hearing your own story is encouraging to us, and it is incredibly affirming to hear that our own experience with God’s word as it exposes and corrects our “heads” is similar to what He is doing for others as well.
I know what you mean about feeling alone. You are NOT alone! I’m thankful that the podcasts help normalize that reality for you. That “aloneness” is one of the cultic effects we experience as we begin to learn what is real and true.
I Have Two Questions
So my understanding of the Investigative Judgement is that in the end it’s Satan that bears the sins of all, not Christ. Isn’t that denying the very deity of Christ, AND denying His atonement with the cross/resurrection? Is there a worse heresy?
Why does Adventism believe God requires Satan to eradicate sin when the Bible says Jesus Christ finished it on the cross and established a new covenant?
- Why does Adventism believe God requires Satan to eradicate sin when the Bible says Jesus Christ finished it on the cross and established a new covenant? Also, The Great Controversy is the darkest, most depressing book I’ve ever read in my life. I can’t fathom how they can call it The Great Hope; it contains none to very little gospel (good news). The more I read, the more I’m appalled. Standing in the sight of a Holy God without an intercessor???
- While I’m going through all of the stages of grief about all of this and figuring out how to find a solid, non denominational church, can you recommend a couple of books to read that lay out actual Christian doctrine? I’d very much appreciate it.
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Have you listened to our Former Adventist Podcast series on the 28 Fundamental Beliefs? The full 28, consecutively, walk through the Adventist deception and show how it is arranged deliberately in the order those doctrines occur for the purpose of cementing its particular view of reality firmly in people’s minds BEFORE they learn about EGWs supposed prophetic authority. You can find the whole set here: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2021/10/04/inspecting-adventisms-fundamental-beliefs/
First Question
The end of the investigative judgment has Jesus placing the sins of the saved on Satan the scapegoat and carrying them into the lake of fire, thus cleansing heaven. This end-game is the logical conclusion to the “great controversy paradigm” that EGW said began in pre-history. Lucifer, she said, became jealous when God chose Jesus to be exalted as His Son. Lucifer felt that honor should have gone to him. Although she never states it directly, she strongly implies that Jesus and Lucifer had been essentially equal before God chose Jesus to exalt. Thus Lucifer became jealous and proceeded to impugn God’s character, accusing him of being unfair and of giving a law that was too hard to keep. This jealousy triggered the great controversy which continues to rage, with Jesus and Satan fighting for the souls of men and God meekly limiting his power to allow Satan to play out his evil fully in order to demonstrate to the watching universe how BAD he is. Meanwhile, humans who commit themselves to the law and to the Sabbath help Jesus to win this war for the reputation of God. By choosing to obey, we prove that Satan’s accusations of God’s being being “unfair” are false, and our obedience helps to bring about Satan’s demise ultimately. In the end, he has to take our sins into the lake of fire and be punished for them because he is blamed for human sin.
You are completely right that this makes Satan, not Jesus, the ultimate sin-bearer. In the great controversy paradigm, Jesus is primarily an example…
You are completely right that this makes Satan, not Jesus, the ultimate sin-bearer. In the great controversy paradigm, Jesus is primarily an example, showing that if he could keep the law, so can we. Jesus suffered the ultimate persecution, being killed for us, yet never complaining or accusing his enemies. He was the meek suffering servant who showed us how loving God is by loving his enemies and showing us that we can, too.
You are correct that there cannot be a worse heresy. Adventism is actually built around the core doctrine that Satan is, in effect, the “tragic hero” of our salvation. Jesus is merely the nice guy that shows us how to please God. Adventism actually is doctrines of demons.
Here are two articles that may help you grasp this big picture. The first one about Adventists having the wrong priest also addresses the way Adventist art teaches heresy without words. I will also link you a conference talk about the same subject that shows more pictures that you can see. The second article gives an overview of the contrast between the Great Controversy worldview and biblical Christianity.
Second Question
One of the books that helped me when I first came out of Adventism was the book Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem. I had NEVER seen anyone pull all the Bible texts relating to each Christian doctrine together and show how they fit together before. It’s an easy read but thorough. Bible Doctrine is excerpted from a really big reference book by Grudem called Systematic Theology, but I believe that Bible Doctrine is an especially good place to start.
I recommend beginning simply to read through books of the New Testament contextually.
Concurrently, I recommend beginning simply to read through books of the New Testament contextually. In fact, this practice is what began changing my worldview and giving me a grasp of what the new covenant, salvation, belief, the role of the Holy Spirit, and our life in the body of Christ really is. I recommend beginning with Galatians, moving to Hebrews, then doing Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Romans, the gospel of John, and moving through all the rest of the epistles and gospels. Ask God to teach you what He wants you to learn, and He is faithful. He will teach you truth.
Reading the Bible in context (even copying the Bible as you read into a notebook) is key. This is the place where truth and reality become very clear.
You might also find our podcast series through Galatians, Hebrews, Colossians, and even Daniel and Revelation helpful. We will be starting a series through Romans later this year as well, the Lord willing.
Thank You for the Podcasts
Thank you, ladies for your weekly podcasts. I am a second generation Adventist and have studied the Bible on my own since 1987. I have listened to your podcasts for over a year now and look forward to every episode. Thank you so much for all the time, effort ,and Christian love you both put into this ministry. May God bless you and give you wisdom in all that you do.
—VIA YOUTUBE
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