We Are Not Jehovah’s Witnesses or Seventh-Day Adventists

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We Are Not Jehovah’s Witnesses or Seventh-Day Adventists

The teachings of The Restored Church of God are different from traditional Christianity. However, when some of our readers find certain doctrinal similarities with other religious groups, they conclude that we must be related to these organizations. This article will clear up such misunderstandings. Many notice that The Restored Church of God (RCG), which publishes The REAL TRUTH magazine, does not observe Christmas, Easter, Halloween or other holidays of pagan origin. As a result, some quickly associate this with the practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Other similarities, such as our not celebrating birthdays and our focus on the kingdom of God, seem to reinforce these assumptions. However, upon closely comparing our beliefs with those of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the differences far outweigh any similarities.

Many tend to classify us with any group that embraces even a few similar beliefs. For this reason, we are also frequently categorized as being associated with the Seventh-day Adventists. Obviously, this is due to our observance of the biblical seventh-day Sabbath. A close comparison of our teachings likewise reveals many differences.

Although completely independent of one another, it is interesting to note that the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventist movements are distinctly American in origin. Unlike The Restored Church of God, which traces its roots to the first-century Church established by Jesus Christ, these two organizations began in the 1800s. Both have also traditionally emphasized the Return of Christ as the focal point of their prophetic understanding. The differences between their respective approaches, in contrast to the beliefs of the Church of God, are more significant than most realize.

Many sincere and dedicated people follow the Seventh-day Adventists’ and the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs. It is not our intention to belittle their convictions, but to compare their doctrinal positions to our own. Since some of our readers confuse us with these organizations, our purpose is to emphasize that we do not subscribe to the vast majority of their doctrines.

Beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Movement

To better understand the origin of the Seventh-day Adventist movement and the influences upon it by remnants of the (Sabbatarian) Church of God, we need to review events that occurred primarily in the 1800s. Initially, we look back to 1664, when Steven Mumford arrived from England and helped to develop interest in the doctrines of the Church of God in Rhode Island. After a few decades, congregations developed in Newport and Westerly.

Membership in Rhode Island and Connecticut flourished, as did congregations later established in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. By 1818, the majority of these Sabbath keepers agreed to merge under the banner of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference. Reasoning that the name “Church of God” sounded too exclusivist, they desired a name similar to the churches around them; however, they still held to observing the Sabbath. This led to a split in the membership, in which a small minority continued as the Church of God. (You may read our fascinating book Where Is the True Church? – and Its Incredible History! to learn more.)

Just prior to 1843, a very popular movement took place in the U.S., in which a famous theologian, William Miller, pronounced that Christ would return about the time of 1843 to 1844. This was known as the Advent movement (in this context, “Advent” means avocation of Christ’s Second Coming). Miller’s movement at this point consisted entirely of Sunday-keepers.

When Christ did not return by 1844, William Miller and his many hundreds of followers were greatly disappointed. In fact, the abandonment by many of his adherents was actually called “The Great Disappointment.”

Many of the Adventists who left Miller began to associate with the remnants of the Church of God that still held fast to the Sabbath and refused to adopt the doctrines of the immortality of the soul and the trinity. After about 15 years of associating with them, the majority of these Church of God members started adopting some of the Adventists’ beliefs—just as the majority had previously accepted popular beliefs of other churches upon forming the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference.

In 1860, the Sunday-keeping Adventists influenced the majority in the Church of God to abandon the name “Church of God” (just as their predecessors did in 1818) in favour of a name “more descriptive of their beliefs.” They merged with the former Adventists (who vastly outnumbered them) and jointly decided to call themselves “Seventh-day Adventists.” It was not until 1863 that the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church was formally organized. Thus, this movement had roots with some who had been in the Church of God, through whom they were exposed to and accepted the truth of the Sabbath, as well as other positions, such as their initial opposition to the trinity, the immortal soul and an ever-burning hell fire.

Ellen G. White was most influential in shaping the posture of the newly formed Seventh-day Adventist movement. She articulated many doctrines and prophetic understandings that formed its foundational beliefs, and is considered its founder. White held that Miller’s 1844 prediction was correct, but that benchmark year began the period of supposed “Investigative Judgment,” a time in which Christ would begin judging the dead and the living on the earth. She believed this judgment period would be followed by the Return of Christ. More than 160 years have transpired since 1844, with no apparent evidence that Jesus did return, as Miller had predicted and White had later theorized.

Some Practices and Doctrines of the SDA Movement

Although it originated in the United States, the Seventh-day Adventist church is currently well represented throughout the world. The SDAs generally support and promote medical research, hospitals, clinics and dispensaries. They also operate more than 90 colleges and universities worldwide.

One unique aspect of this group is the special interest they take in health concerns. Many of its members are involved in owning or associating with health food stores and restaurants. One reason numerous SDAs take an unusual interest in health is their abstaining from eating meats—even those designated by the Bible as clean. Many but not all SDAs follow this practice. One of the doctrines prophesied for the “latter times” pertains to those who abstain from meats: “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,…abstain[ing] from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (I Tim. 4:1, 3).

One doctrine generally misunderstood by many Seventh-day Adventists is their church’s position on the nature of Jesus Christ. Instead of lowering Christ to the level of the archangel Michael, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach, the Seventh-day Adventists elevate Michael to Christ’s level. Both groups consider Christ and Michael to be the same personage.

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