| Author | Message | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 85 Registered: 6-2006  |
Hey Friends, What is the SDA view of Satan? Is it similar to that of mainstream Christianity? In a conversation I had last week with my husband, he said something about us humans being in the same place as Satan, and something about us being judged on the same level as Satan? He thoroughly confused me... It was brought up because I finally had the nerve to challenge him on the IJ. I told him that I didn't believe in it and didn't want the kids exposed to it. That upset him as he still believes in the IJ. Leigh Anne | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1430 Registered: 10-2004  |
Leigh Anne, I don't know what your husband was referring to. It sounds confusing to me, too. Was he talking about the level that Satan was at before he fell? Or the level he is at now? As for the SDA view of Satan, the following are a few of their beliefs. I believe you're already aware of the doctrine that Satan is the scapegoat of Leviticus 16, and atones for the sins of the righteous, etc. The two goats of Leviticus 16 both had to be without spot or blemish and totally equal (they had to cast lots to determine which one would be killed and have its blood taken into the Most Holy Place and which one would be the scapegoat). So this makes Christ and Satan equal. They also teach that Satan (and all angels/"spiritual beings") has a body. Here is EGW's description of Satan (warning: it might creep you out!):
Another thing from EGW's writings is that Satan is omnipresent. EGW also teaches that in his position before he fell, Satan was next to Christ and Christ was next to God. Meaning that Christ was no more "God" than Satan was Christ. This was Ellen's "Trinity." Here is the quote:
Notice that Satan was already "next to Christ," but he desired to be "next to God." That means that Christ was no closer to "God" than Satan was to Christ. EGW also gives the same position to both Satan and Christ in her writings. First, here is what she says about Christ:
But she also gives that same position to Satan:
Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4397 Registered: 12-2003  |
Jeremy, I remember when I first saw these quotes all compiled when you sent them to me for use in an article I was working on. It is absolutely amazing to me how many times Ellen equalized Jesus and Satan and called Jesus an "angel". These are blasphemous statements. We cannot pretend that these statements "don't count" because Adventists don't actively teach them (or at least don't PUBLICLY teach them). These are still in the official books authored by the church's official "messenger", and these beliefs shaped the whole idea of the Great Controversy, of Jesus and Satan being in a still-to-be-determined battle in which we, the human creations, will help to vindicat the Lord of lordsóas if He needs our help. It's really horrifying, when you think about it! Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2267 Registered: 11-2002 |
They believe that satan will pay our penality for our sins. This teaching totally, 100% is blasphomous and negates the bood shed of the cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yep, I kid you not. EGW said the final price for our sins will be born by satan! | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 57 Registered: 8-2005 |
Anybody remember being taught that Satan tried to make us sin because it would lessen his time burning in hell if he could take us with him? Kim | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1431 Registered: 10-2004 |
Kim, that's another thing that is horrible about their scapegoat doctrine--since Satan only bears the sins of the righteous, and not the wicked, then God rewards Satan for keeping people from Jesus (which EGW says is within his power). EGW directly states that it is in Satan's interest to keep people from Jesus.
This is the Adventist version of "Limited Atonement." Jeremy (Message edited by jeremy on July 28, 2006) | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 87 Registered: 6-2006 |
I'm back! Yes, everyone, that is what my husband was talking about - I had it wrong. (Mind you this discussion was at 1:00 am) My husband kept talking about Satan being the scapegoat and the atonement, and something about Satan paying for our sins... (I still can't wrap my brain around that one) In the 20+ years that we've been together, that's the first time I've ever heard that! However it sounds as if it's still being taught. My father-in-law is a HUGE EGW disciple so I'm not surprised. Thanks for all the examples. I'm going to have to think about this for a few days just so I can't climb in my husband's head. I want to tell him how WRONG this is, but I don't want to start a huge fight, or cause him to shut down on me. This just makes me sick! You know, this doctrine is not so far from Mormonism which teaches that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers. Ugh |
