Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-Day Adventism

by Dale Ratzlaff

Overview

Ellen White said that Daniel 8:14 was the "central pillar of Adventism". Cultic Doctrine examines this foundational, "central pillar" in five differently ways. The doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment that is said to have started on October 22, 1844 is Adventism's "contribution" to Christianity. No other church group in history has taught this doctrine.

Cultic Doctrine has over 700 footnotes, mostly from Adventist sources, is a thorough study of this centerpiece of Adventist Theology yet remains easy to read.

"The time for a reassessment among evangelicals is long overdue, because for too many inattentive Christians, Seventh-day Adventism represents a profound danger hidden in plain sight." — Paul Carden, Executive Director, Centers for Apologetics Research, San Juan Capistrano, California.

"If you have every wondered what makes Seventh-day Adventism different from evangelical Christianity, you’re holding in your hand the very best explanation I’ve ever seen. This book will affect and challenge Adventism for decades to come." — J. Mark Martin, Senior Pastor, Calvary Community Church, Phoenix, Arizona

"Ratzlaff’s writing clearly possesses a spirit of meekness; it is nevertheless a tour de force. Patiently pursuing his subject, he lays out the evidence supporting an irresistible conclusion—Ellen White was not a true prophet or messenger from God, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not what it claims to be, the only true 'remnant church.'"— Timothy Oliver, Editor & Researcher, Watchman Fellowship

"Of all the books I have read on Seventh-day Adventism, this is the most in-depth, yet readable examination of SDA’s 1844 investigative judgment doctrine…The way Mr. Ratzlaff analyzes the main points of SDA doctrine and confronts SDAs with Bible truth is superb. I congratulate Mr. Ratzlaff for this wonderful work." Pastor Ernesto Alers-Martir, Spanish Bethel Christian Missionary Alliance Church, Montreal, Quebec

The late Donald G. Barnhouse, after thorough study of this tenant of Adventism said, "The [sanctuary] doctrine is, to me, the most colossal, psychological, face-saving phenomenon in religious history. ... We personally do not believe that there is even a suspicion of a verse in Scripture to sustain such a peculiar position, and we further believe that any effort to establish it is stale, flat, and unprofitable. ... [It is] unimportant and almost naïve. Eternity, 7:67, September 1956, pp. 6-7, 43-45.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940014444804
Publisher:	LAM Publications, LLC
Publication date:	05/18/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	380
Sales rank:	169,874
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dale Ratzlaff was a fourth generation Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) and was educated in SDA schools from first grade through seminary. He pastored in the Adventist church for 13 years, seven of those years as a Bible teacher at Monterey Bay Academy, La Selva Beach, California.
In the 1980s, while nearing the end of his doctoral program at Andrews University, Pastor Ratzlaff did an in-depth study of the SDA doctrine of the investigative judgment and cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, which Adventists teach started in 1844. He became convinced that this doctrine could not be supported by Scripture, was contrary to clear biblical teaching, and undermined the new covenant gospel of grace. As he could no longer teach this doctrine in clear conscience, Dale Ratzlaff and his wife, Carolyn, left the SDA denomination.
About two years after leaving the SDA church. Dale Ratzlaff led a group of Christians in a seven-month inductive Bible study of the Sabbath. He continued studying the topic of the gospel, the covenants and the Sabbath and published Sabbath in Crisis in 1990. This book went through four printings and has been replaced by the revised and enlarged, Sabbath in Christ.
Dale Ratzlaff is also the author of Truth about Adventist “Truth” and Truth Led Me Out. He is founding editor of Proclamation! and serves on the board of Life Assurance Ministries, Inc.
The Ratzlaffs live in Peoria, Arizona have two married sons, Bruce and Mike, and four grandchildren.

Editorial Reviews

By putting the cultlc teachings of Adventism into stark relief, Dale Ratzlaff has done an invaluable service to evangelicals—and his research demands a twofold response. First, to resist the proselytizlng-by-stealth practiced so widely by Adventists among professing Christians; and second, to share the biblical gospel with the millions of Adventists whose hopes are shaped by the false doctrines of Ellen G. White.

PAUL CARDEN

If you have ever wondered what makes Seventh-Day Adventism different from evangelical Christianity, you’re holding in your hand the very best explaination I’ve ever seen. This book wil affect and challengeAdventism from decades to come.

MARK MARTIN

His writing clearly possesses a spirit of meekness; it is nevertheless a tour de force. Patiently pursu g his subject, he lays out the evidence supporting an irresistible conclusion-Ellen White was not a true prophet or messenger from God, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not what it claims to be, the only true “remnant church.” If Adventist leadership will heed his plea, then perhaps their church Is salvageable. If not, then it is t me for evangelicals everywhere. . . .

TIMOTHY OLIVER

Of all the books I have read on Seventh-day Adventism, this is the most in-depth, yet readable examination of Adventism’s 1844 investigative judgment doctrine. The analysis of this doctrine is formidable. From the historical point of view, the book Is well documented and unbiased with the facts clearly laid out before the reader to evaluate. The biblical evidence is also convincing.

ERNESTO ALERS-MARTIR