Adventists Destroy the Bible
By Sydney Cleveland
Editor's note: Early in SDA history the people were known as "people of the Bible". In recent years Adventists are calling attention to what they believe to be Bible contradictions. Most all of these so called contradictions have been studied by Bible scholars and have been explained and they are not contradictions as supposed. The Seventh-day Adventists reply to Ellen G. White's Bible contradictions are for example; the Bible has contradictions so you must give EGW the same consideration as the Bible prophets who contradict each other. Instead of being called "People of the Bible" they now can be called "Destroyers of the Bible". Following is an e-mail reply to an Adventist by former Adventist pastor Sydney Cleveland.
Dear Friend Donna,
Thank you for contributing your extensive thoughts regarding Ellen G. White’s 50 Bible Contradictions. I do want to bring one fact to your attention: neither Robert Sanders nor myself have any web site “called the Ellen White web site” as you mistakenly think. But I do want to commend you for your statement: “I could share with you many more contradictions in the Spirit of Prophecy (writings of EGW) ...” I am glad we are both in full agreement that EGW does indeed contradict the Bible (to say nothing of the fact that she also repeatedly contradicts herself, modern science, history, and common sense).
However, I am concerned that you attempt to justify EGW’s acknowledged contradictions by claiming God’s Word lacks integrity. This same approach has always been Seventh-day Adventism’s “quick fix” when faced with EGW’s clear contradictions. I hope you understand the attempt to discredit the Bible is a two-edged sword which cuts to pieces Seventh-day Adventism’s view of Ellen White. For example, consider the following:
(1) The SDA Church has long claimed that the reason they believe EGW is a genuine prophet is because she “fulfills the Bible tests for a prophet.” From your statement “she does pass the test of a true prophet,” I understand you agree with the SDA Church’s official position on this. But let’s think more carefully about that. If, as you claim in your letter, the Bible is not reliable, then how can you and the SDA Church be credible by appealing to the Bible for proof that EGW is a genuine prophet? You see, if the Bible is not reliable in recording simple historical facts, as you claim, then it certainly cannot be relied upon to prove Ellen White’s claim to inspiration. So you and the SDA Church are left with only one “proof” of the authenticity of EGW – and that is the circular argument that she is inspired because she said she was inspired!
You would not accept that same reasoning from a Mormon about Joseph Smith’s claim to inspiration! No, you would open the Bible to prove them wrong – the very same Bible you tell me has myriad errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies! And neither would you accept your own reasoning from the Christian Scientists regarding Mary Baker Eddy’s inspiration; nor from the Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding Charles Taze Russell's inspiration. So why would you use circular reasoning to convince me that EGW’s claim to inspiration is genuine?
(2) By attempting to discredit God’s Word, claiming it is full of contradictions, you contradict Ellen White’s own “divinely inspired” comments regarding the integrity of the Bible: “Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be lost” – Selected Messages, vol. 2, page 18. And here’s another: “The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of (God’s) will” – Great Controversy, page vii. Now, Donna, if you are unable to believe in Ellen White enough to trust what she said about the validity, authority, and infallibility of the Bible, how do expect to convince me to believe in her?
Do you see that in your attempt to disparage God’s Word you are contradicting the very “prophet” you’re trying to support? The fact is, Donna, you can either accept the Bible as God’s full and final authority regarding His will, or you can accept Ellen White as God’s full and final authority regarding His will. But you cannot have them both, because they totally disagree!
Do you know how the SDA Church tried to solve that problem? They came up with The Clear Word Bible (written by Jack Blanko, published by the Review and Herald, their best selling book in 1993). That uniquely Seventh-day Adventist Bible is filled with Ellen White’s own words written directly into the text just as if it was the Bible prophets own writings. Thus it is the only Bible in history which “agrees” with Ellen White. But notice, Seventh-day Adventists produced this false “Bible” just like the Jehovah’s Witnesses produced their false New World Translation to support their false prophet’s errors, and just like the Mormons produced their false Book of Mormon to support their false prophet’s errors.
Doesn’t it bother you that the SDA Church had the brazen gall to rewrite the Bible—indeed blatantly butcher God’s Word—just so the Bible would agree with Ellen White? Do you see the similarity now between these three cults: Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh-day Adventists? And aren’t you right in there with them?
(3) You realize, of course, that your attempt to discredit God’s Word as being full of contradictions, errors, and inaccuracies, contradicts our Lord, Jesus Christ. Consider what Jesus had to say about the Bible in the following texts:
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Notice Jesus didn’t say the Bible only contained a bit of truth, He said it “is truth.” According to Jesus, the Bible is not a half truth, it is truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
2 Samuel 22:31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.” Donna, are you really ready to contradict God Himself by claiming His word is full of flaws?
Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his works are perfect.” Are you really comfortable contradicting God Himself by claiming God’s works are imperfect in order to support the false prophet Ellen G. White? Isn’t that a spiritual crime of the highest magnitude?
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Don’t you see your attacks on God’s Word simply demonstrate your lack of knowledge about the Bible and your blind zeal in regard to Ellen White? If you really understood the Bible as you claim, you certainly wouldn’t be so foolish as to make such wicked statements about God.
Psalm 12:6 “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless.”
You can search through your Bible and discover many more texts clearly teaching the flawless perfection of God’s Word – but you will never find a single text supporting your belief that God’s Word contains contradictions, errors, and mistakes!
I write this to you in Christian kindness: the so-called contradictions you presented in your letter are simply evidence of your ignorance of God’s Word. Once you let loose of Ellen White you will have no trouble understanding the Bible.
In the meantime, it is my prayer that God will help you discover the truths of His perfect Word and reject the outright lies of the false prophet, Ellen G. White.
God bless,
Sydney Cleveland