THE GREAT HOAX

by Dennis J. Fischer

Exactly one hundred and seventy-four years ago today, on Tuesday October 22, 1844, William Miller (1782-1849) predicted the end of the world.  In preparation for this great hoax, many of his followers fervently and foolishly sold their businesses, farms, homes, emptied their savings accounts, failed to plant family gardens, and gave all to the cause of the Millerite movement.  However, when the awaited day came and went without the return of our Lord, William Miller still had a nice upstate New York farm home to return to. 

It is obvious that the affectionately-called "Father Miller" was not as dedicated to his cause as his ardent followers were. In spite of the denial by SDA apologists, history verifies that a few Millerites even wore white "ascension robes" to meet the Lord in 1844. Moreover, medical history documents that some Millerites were admitted to various "insane asylums" due to a condition clinically described as "Millerite Madness." Sadly, there were also a few reports of suicide among those who were foolishly caught up in the Millerite frenzy. As you may or may not know, segments of Millerism developed into the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventism—both groups being guilty of repeated time-setting errors.


There is no record that William Miller ever missed a single meal nor that he provided food and/or shelter for any of his deceived and destitute followers facing a cold New England winter. Although he finally admitted the time-setting errors in his 15 different charts, Miller seemingly had no remorse for his cultic actions. Instead, his disappointed and  impoverished followers were at the total mercy of friends, relatives, neighbors, and still others became embarrassed residents of nearby Shaker communes. Interestingly, as would be expected, they didn't stay in Shaker communes any longer than absolutely necessary for survival due to the required separation of men and women (including husbands and wives) by the longtime dictates of Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784).

Mother Ann Lee, a separatist leader of the Shakers, claimed to have numerous visions like Ellen White supposedly experienced many decades later.  Interestingly, the Shakers were the first sect to make a big deal about the so-called "Dark Day" on May 19, 1780. It was actually the lingering thick smoke of a raging forest fire that caused the sun to be blocked out in the middle of the day.  Seventh-day Adventist evangelists still proclaim that the "Dark Day" in 1780 was a notable, supernatural sign of the imminent return of Christ. Nevertheless, this "Dark Day" experience brought prominence to  Shakerism whereas earlier they had kept  a low profile.  The 18th century Shakers believed that Christ's return would be in spirit only whereas the 19th century Millerites believed in His physical return as well.  Shakerism is often considered the forerunner of modern Charismaticism.

Sadly, Seventh-day Adventism is entirely based upon this time-setting deception in 1844. Official Adventism has never bothered to issue a formal apology for having caused such incredible hardship, pain, and suffering to the descendants of many duped families by their founding pioneers who vigorously promoted Millerism. Instead, they have blamed God for it all to this day. In far too many cases, entire estates were depleted by donating all the proceeds to the Millerite cause. Indeed, those who are intent upon accurate answers will no longer remain in a toxic-faith system or false gospel.  

The Apostle Paul TWICE warned against those who preach anything else than what he preached. "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9 ESV).

Think about it!  Did Paul preach the so-called "investigative judgment" alibi?  Of course not! Truly, the gospel plus anything else is no longer the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All in all, it is safe to say that if William Miller would have had a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew, Seventh-day Adventism would not be known today. Let us wholeheartedly embrace the counsel of Paul, found in Titus 1 and 2, to only teach sound doctrine.

Updated: October 22, 2018

courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES

Worldwide Chaplaincy Services

E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

THE GOSPEL OF FEAR

Even a casual look at the history of Seventh-day Adventism reveals a plethora of stunning conspiracy theories of many kinds.  Scare tactics have always been used successfully by Adventist apologists and public evangelists to both acquire and retain members.  While still an Adventist, I well remember the push to boycott the well-known soap maker, Proctor and Gamble.  This boycott cost  Proctor and Gamble an immense amount of money in legal fees to prove that they were not a devil-possessed company after all.  


With so many Adventists believing and promoting this, the Adventist Review finally carried a small notice saying that the Proctor and Gamble conspiracy theory was completely bogus.  Indeed, Adventist eschatological dogma has inspired this type of behavior over and over again throughout their history.  In truth, the boycott of Proctor and Gamble amounted to nothing less than monetary theft from a reputable company through their loss in sales and costs for legal defense.

From its inception,  Seventh-day Adventism has repeatedly made outrageous claims on topics ranging  from masturbation and vegetarianism to frightening forecasts of impending events that have both disappointed and embarrassed many of its adherents.  The SDA cultic mentality of US versus THEM has fueled this passion to preach a gospel of fear and gloom at every opportunity.  Consequently and sadly, Adventism has fathered an assortment of unsavory offspring like the Urantia Foundation, Pilgrim's Rest, Strong City sex ranch in New Mexico, Shepherd's Rod, and the infamous Branch Davidians.


Liberty  magazine, for example, used to have the highest circulation of any Adventist magazine. However,  the Adventist laity in the pew eventually became suspicious and weary of their organization seeing a Jesuit hiding behind every bush and tree by selling Liberty "bonds" (discounted bundles of subscriptions) to prop up its declining circulation. The dramatic decline in Liberty  magazine subscriptions resulted from Adventists largely realizing that the forecast for a National Sunday Law never looked more unlikely and unpromising than today.  


In spite of this fact, there are still some historic Adventists who nostalgically miss the emotional and frightening Sunday Law sermons of yesteryear.  I was present at a SDA church service in eastern Tennessee when the   speaker passionately denounced Catholicism for nearly an hour to a receptive audience.  Oh yes, he failed to make any comment about the Islamic invasion and Muslim jihadists.  Ellen White failed to comment on the threat of Islam as well. She also never envisioned a day when computers would easily assist in exposing her blatant plagiarism.

With 1.3 billion Muslims in the world today (plus millions of additional devout agnostics, atheists, Buddhists, communists, Confuscianists, Jews, Hindus, Seventh-day Adventists, Sikhists, Shintoists, Taoists, Zoroastrians, etc.), the feasibility of National Sunday Law legislation has never been more bleak and unthinkable.  The intense, even terrorist, hatred against Christians today does not in the least favor groups of unbelievers ever embracing and honoring the greatest event in redemptive history; namely, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, Adventists have increasingly acquired political and social clout throughout the world.  For example, the Chaplain of the United States Senate is a Seventh-day Adventist.  Many Adventists are longtime public office holders in their respective countries.  The SDA General Conference president now claims that Adventists are even a "mainline" Protestant denomination.  With all these favorable factors and trends, it is no wonder that many Adventists no longer see the so-called threat of the "National Sunday Law" on the horizon.  Sane and wise Adventists do not see their Christian neighbors as collectively becoming their killers very shortly over the Sabbath issue.  Indeed, thoughtful Adventists can no  longer maintain their cognitive dissonance--trying to embrace two opposing views at the same time.

Well-read Adventists are aware of how their church has made repeated changes after falsely crying wolf (i.e., Israel never becoming a modern State, the  "King of the North" being Turkey would be destroyed, failed prophecies of Ellen White, ad infinitum). Truly, the SDA track record on futuristic events reveals repeated unreliability and outright deception. After all, Seventh-day Adventism was founded upon the hoax of William Miller claiming that Christ would return on October 22, 1844.  The Adventist gospel of fear and uncertainty is not good news.   


In summary, the  Apostle  Paul warned, even twice for emphasis,  "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9 ESV).  Think about it!  Did Paul preach about the National Sunday Law that would culminate in Sunday keepers actually killing the Sabbath keepers?  Moreover, did Paul list "Sabbath-breaking" as a sin?



Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

AMYRALDIANISM (Four-Point Calvinism)

This insightful exposition provides useful information on Amyraldianism (hypothetical universalism). Is there really a four-point Calvinist? Is such a person simply an Arminian in denial? Does four-point Calvinism equal no-point Calvinism? Is a four-point Calvinist as inconsistent as a psalm-singing atheist? The Five Points of Calvinism (the doctrines of grace) are like beautiful threads woven together to make a soteriological masterpiece.

The faulty notion of Arminianism and Semi-Pelagianism that God helps sinners to save themselves is totally foreign to Scripture. Consequently, it is foreign to Calvinism as well. Our awesome God is certainly not at the mercy of the fallen, corrupt will of man, but rather sinners (that's all of us) are at the total mercy of a holy and just God for the gift of salvation. A gigantic, salvific difference! Moreover, the popular adage that "God helps those who help themselves" could not be further from biblical truth. To read an analysis of this commonly misunderstood topic, simply click here. Getting the Gospel right should be our top priority.

In awe of His saving, sovereign grace,

Dennis Fischer 
Web Chaplain

courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES

Worldwide Chaplaincy Services

E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

THE PELAGIAN CAPTIVITY OF THE CHURCH

This powerful, must-read article by Dr. R. C. Sproul addresses the state of contemporary Protestantism.   If the sixteenth-century Reformers were alive today, would they be able to recognize their core beliefs in evangelical Protestantism?

Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain

www.bible-researcher.com/sproul1.html

FIVE BIG MYTHS ABOUT CALVINISM

http://www.reformationtheology.com/2009/04/five_big_myths_about_calvinism.php

AN INFORMAL CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVINE ELECTION

Paul Washer informally explains the doctrine of divine election:


www.effectualgrace.com/2011/08/31/paul-washer-divine-election-explained/

A SURVEY OF PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS

Take a listen to this excellent presentation on the book of Galatians by the hosts of the White Horse Inn radio broadcast.   This particular radio program (part 3 of a 5-part series) deals with law and grace plus the first and second Adam.  So, sit back, relax, and click on the audio button to hear this important, biblical message. May God's richest blessings attend your quest for biblical truth.


www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2010/02/07/the-book-of-galatians-pt-3/


PS:   You are cordially invited  to  click on the "Modern Reformation" name on the upper right-hand side of the above-linked page.  It is my distinct pleasure to wholeheartedly recommend MODERN REFORMATION  magazine, a bi-monthly (published every two months) periodical dealing with theology, apologetics, and cultural issues.  Get your FREE sample copy today!


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain

THE HERETICAL LEGACY OF CHARLES FINNEY

Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875), the inventor of the so-called "anxious bench" or altar call, is rightly a very controversial figure in biblical Christianity today.  His outright denial of the substitutionary atonement of Christ makes him a notable heretic instead of a pious saint.  The following linked articles written by Dr. Michael Horton and Dr. Phillip Johnson expose, in factual detail, the many heresies of Charles Finney that still deceive and influence the Christian community in our day:

www.mtio.com/articles/aissar81.htm

www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/finney.htm

TRINITARIAN HERESIES

Modalism (i.e., Sabellianism, Noetianism, and Patripassianism)


This view teaches  that the three persons of the Trinity are different "modes" of the Godhead,  Adherents believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct personalities, but rather different modes of God's self-revelation.  A typical modalist approach is to regard God as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Spirit in sanctification. In other words,  God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in different eras, but never  as triune.  Stemming from Modalism, Patripassianism believed that the Father suffered as the Son. Modalism is akin to the teaching of Mormonism.


Tritheism


Tritheism confesses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three independent divine beings; three separate gods who get along well together and have a similar purpose. This is a common mistake because of misunderstanding the use of the term "persons" in defining the Trinity.


Arianism


Arianism teaches that the preexistent Christ was the first and greatest of God's creatures but denied His fully divine status.  The Arian controversy was of major importance in the development of Christology during the fourth century, and it was addressed definitely in the Nicene Creed.


Docetism


This view taught that Jesus Christ was a purely divine being who only had the "appearance" of being human.  Regarding His suffering, some versions of this view taught that Jesus' divinity  abandoned or left Him upon the Cross while others claimed that He only appeared to suffer (much like He only appeared to be human).


Ebionitism


This view taught that while Jesus was endowed with particular charismatic gifts which distinguished Him from other humans but nonetheless regarded Him as a purely human figure.


Macedonianism


This view believed that the Holy Spirit is a created being.


Adoptionism


This view taught that Jesus was born totally human and was only later "adopted"  --either at His baptism or at His resurrection--by God in a special (i.e., divine) way.


Partialism


This view taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together are components of the one God.  This led them to believe that each of the persons of the Trinity is only part God, only becoming fully God when they come together.




NOTE:  Seventh-day Adventism was founded upon Arianism, and they openly teach Tritheism today.  In biblical Christianity, each "person" of the Godhead is fully God. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9 NASB).  When Jesus declared that "the Father is greater than I" (verse 28), He was not admitting inferiority to the Father (after claiming equality repeatedly),  but was saying that if the disciples loved Him, they would not be reluctant to let Him go to the Father because He was returning to the realm where He belonged and to the full glory He gave up.  


He was going back to share equal glory with the Father that would be greater than what He had experienced in His incarnation.  He will in no way be inferior in that glory, because His humiliation is over. Ellen White, the revered SDA prophetess and their infallible interpreter of Scripture, referred to the Godhead as the "three living persons of the heavenly trio," "the three great Worthies," "the three great powers," and other Tritheistic descriptions that Mormonism teaches as well. Sadly, Ellen White never got the Trinity doctrine right. For an in-depth, factual study of this topic, simply log unto: www.cultorchristian.com .

courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES

Worldwide Chaplaincy Services

E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

THE HISTORICAL AND REDEMPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EIGHTH DAY

By Dennis J. Fischer

• Eighth day was when the wave offering was presented to the Lord (Lev. 23:11).
• Eighth day was when Pentecost was observed (Lev. 23:15-16).
• Eighth day was a holy day of rest during the weeklong festival of booths (Lev. 23:36,39: Num. 29:35).
• Eighth day was when circumcision was performed on Hebrew baby boys.
• Eighth day was the consecration of the firstborn (Ex. 22:30; Lev. 9:1).
• Eighth day was the fulfillment and conclusion of the priestly ordination (Lev. 9:1).
• Eighth day was the day of offering in the cleansing of lepers, Nazarites, and those with a  discharge (Lev. 14:10; 15:14, 29; Num. 6:10).
• Eighth day was when Christ arose as the firstfruit of the dead (1 Cor. 15:20).
• Eighth day was the day the Christian Church was born with the fullness of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:1).
• Eighth day was worthy of mentioning by the Apostle John as the "Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10).  A day that the early believers clearly understood as the Resurrection Day (the greatest event in redemptive history). Already in about A. D. 100, the Didache confirms the Resurrection Day as being the  corporate day of worship for Christians.

Like a birthday celebration or other special event, Sunday is not another holy day like the festal, weekly Sabbath was, but rather it is a very special day for Christ-followers around the world as a weekly Easter.  Only the first day of the week (historically the Eighth Day) can be the "Lord's day."  Since our Lord's resurrection is a historical and redemptive event  in biblical Christianity, believers honor it with weekly, special assembly and contemplation of the Christ Event.  Truly, not just any day could be this special!

Christians begin every week by honoring their risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Obviously, our awesome and sovereign God predestined (foreordained) the resurrection of our Lord to occur on Sunday.  God's sovereign selection  of Sunday, as the Resurrection Day, had absolutely nothing to do with any religious or political leadership nor any cultural factors. Furthermore, Jesus repeatedly chose to specifically meet with His disciples on the eighth day following His resurrection.  Therefore, it is of monumental importance to understand the historical and redemptive significance of the "eighth day" that culminated into being the Lord's Day  or Resurrection Sunday.