What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Many who leave other churches and join the Adventists"
Answer
Many believers felt compelled to leave their original churches because they were prohibited there from speaking about their hope for the imminent return of Christ or examining the biblical prophecies. As the religious leaders suppressed the testimony of God’s Word, the Advent believers, out of loyalty to God, felt obliged to separate from these organizations. In the summer of 1844, for this reason, about fifty thousand people left their churches to freely hold to biblical truth.
Reasons for the separation from the people’s churches
Since the church leaders were determined against the Advent doctrine and wanted to suppress any agitation on this topic, they not only denied their members the privilege of hearing sermons about the Second Coming, but even prohibited them from speaking about their hope in the meetings. ... About fifty thousand left the churches in the summer of 1844.
It was a matter of life and death; certain death if they remained in the old organizations, deprived of their rights and the “food at the right time”. Life, if they gave up everything for Christ and his truth. The fruit of this action was and is – life; a vigorous and strong faith and a deeper worship of God.
Why did they leave? The answer is in many cases too obvious. It is because they were silenced and gagged there and were forbidden to speak about their coming Lord. ... I cannot blame the brothers under such circumstances for withdrawing from the congregations where they are treated that way.
Many who belonged to the Advent movement, which was essentially interdenominational, were expelled from their respective churches because of their belief in the literal coming of Christ. Others were unequivocally made clear that they were not allowed to speak about their belief in Christ’s coming.
Since the Adventists saw that the churches rejected the testimony of God’s Word, they could no longer consider them the church of Christ... and when the message “Babylon has fallen” was proclaimed, they felt justified in separating from their former affiliation.
We say without fear of contradiction that they belong among the wisest, most prudent, and most experienced members of the church. Moreover, they are among the most intelligent, devout, and dedicated.
- Separation from churches 1844
- Freedom of conscience
- Roots of the Advent movement
Original Sources (English)
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