2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables
7th day Adventist – Grew out of the millerite movement (William Miller claimed Jesus would return on a certain date in 1843). The date was then moved to 1844 and when Jesus didn’t return they changed the prophecy to the date that Jesus entered into the “heavenly sanctuary” where he began His investigative judgement upon all believers.
They believed this because they were convinced that His return would happen at any moment. Of course its been 172 years! All these teachings are from their “prophetess” Ellen G. White who claimed to have visions and revelations directly from God Himself.
-They observe a Saturday Sabbath – Believe worshipping on Sunday is the mark of the beast (End Times)
-Believe the Pope is the antichrist and the Catholic Church will be the harlot of Babylon and will persecute all true believers (Saturday Worshippers) during the tribulation
-Soul Sleep
-No Hell
-Observe O.T. dietary laws & focus a great deal on health
(Sometimes accepted as a legitimate protestant denomination!)
Mormonism – church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints (Have always been considered a cult until modern times when Pastors like Joel Osteen now accept the Mormon church as a Christian Church)
Their prophet is Joseph Smith who also claimed special visions and revelation. According to Mormon belief God told Joseph that all churches were an abomination to Him and that he must re-establish the true church which had been lost since the 2nd century – went apostate after the death of the apostles. God the Father appeared to Joseph in the woods of upstate New York in bodily form along with Jesus (don’t believe in the Trinity – totally different view of it) – Literally believe in MILLIONS of Gods!
-They believe God was once and sinful man (from another planet) and that sinful men can become Gods (Gods of their own planets/ creation)
-God (Elohim) produced Spirit Children in heaven with His polygamist wives – Jesus & Satan are spirit brothers.
-We all had a prior existence in heaven as Spirit Children of Elohim
-People with black skin are cursed because they remained neutral when Lucifer revolted in heaven. Jesus remained faithful and volunteered to come as the savior.
-Polygamy – outlawed by the Salt Lake City church in exchanged for Utah becoming a state. Many split from the mainstream church and formed “fundamentalist Mormon communities”. In these communities they keep the practice the early Mormon church observed where very young girls 12, 13, 14 years old are married off to men as old as 50 -60 years old.
-Practice baptism for the dead (by proxy)
-3 levels of heaven (near universalism) 3rd level you become a God – 1st (lower level) you remain single for eternity.
Believe the garden of Eden was in Missouri, that the lost 10 tribes of Israel took boats to the New World and lived in the America’s. Jesus after His resurrection appeared to them and gave them the gospel but eventually after a falling away of faith these white followers of Christ (Nephites) were killed off by the darker skinned (Lamanites) who Joseph Smith identified with the Native Americans.
Joseph Smith claimed that he was given golden plates by an angel which he translated into what we now know as the “Book of Mormon”. Mormons originally believe that the King James Version was the word of God but that view quickly changed into the view that it was corrupt. The Book of Mormon was now the only infallible word of God that mankind had.
They currently have a leadership made up of 12 apostles and 1 main prophet who is considered the head of (president) the church – He claims to receive special revelation from God and acts as a type of Mormon Pope.
Christian scientist – The grape nuts religion
Started by their prophetess Mark Baker Eddy who claimed to have been miraculously healed.
She then became convinced that all suffering and pain was an illusion and that it was basically mind over matter and through prayer all diseases, pain and heartache could be done away with.
-Her followers were discouraged from seeking any medical treatment – many died
-She then wrote the book “Science & Health with keys to the scriptures” - in other words to fully understand the Bible you had to read her book which showed people the full truth.
-They have a magazine called the “Christian Science Monitor” and you may find “Reading Rooms” in cities all over the U.S.
Jehovah’s witnesses – Founded by their “prophet” Charles Taze Russell
They are of course known as the folks who come 2 by 2 to knock on your door and tell you the world is about to end and that you need to be ready. This is the least of our concern when we look at their beliefs.
They believe Protestants and Catholics comprise the church of Satan and Christ will destroy these churches at his 2nd coming.
Russell was a publisher who was troubled by the Christian Doctrine of hell. He started holding Bible studies and gained a following. He printed His teachings and beliefs in his newsletter titled “Zions Watchtower” – JW’s still had out magazines to this very day.
Russell was inspired by the freemasons and often used their imagery. He also believed that the great Pyramid at Giza held the secrets to Christ return. Their main beliefs are as follows
-Jesus has already returned but his return was invisible (very similar to the 7th day Adventist). Russell and his successor both made prophecies about Christ visible 2nd coming but of course none ever came true.
Russells successor was a lawyer named Joseph Ruthaford – he went by the title “Judge Ruthaford” and although Russell is the founder Ruthaford is the one who added organization and doctrinal structure – he basically made the witnesses into what they are today. He also predicted Christ 2nd coming and believed the Old Testament Saints Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be raised from the dead. He wanted to provide them with a proper house to live in so he used ministry money to build a mansion, which of course he lived in throughout the great depression, he also owned several Rolls Royce’s.
-They reject the Trinity and believe Jesus is the Archangel Michael
-Jesus did not rise from the dead in bodily form, rather His resurrection was a spiritual resurrection.
-There is no hell
-The Bible is corrupt and only their version is correct – Jn 1:1 “word was “a” god)
-The World is about to end at any moment and only JW’s will be saved
-Only the 144,000 will go to heaven, if you’re fortunate enough to be saved you get to live on a paradise earth but you can be destroyed at any moment if you become unfaithful.
-No blood transfusions – many died
-Don’t celebrate birthdays or holidays
-refuse to say the pledge of allegiance/salute the flag/do not serve in the military
-practice shunning
