The From A Los Angeles Seventh- Day Adventists

“My lord!” Bellowed the messenger of King David. “What is it, can’t you see i am working,” answered the King in agitation. “but my lord, it is a message from the gods!” replied Samuel with great fear in his eyes. The king

In the 1800s a Market Revolution began, changing the way in which America operated and in the midst of all that was a Second Great Awakening, causing people to once again, question their religious beliefs and practices. Paul Johnson and Sean Wilentz tell the story of Robert Matthews, or the Prophet Matthias and his followers. Matthias had an unconventional childhood, he became an orphan at a young age and was raised by church elders. He worked under one of the elders to learn the carpenter’s craft. He easily found work but had trouble keeping it because he was always preaching at his fellow workers about their sinful ways. Matthias was eager to make good but continually fell into misfortunes, “which led him on a prolonged and erratic religious journey” (49). The Kingdom of Matthias gained and lost members, had changes in beliefs, and was full of ever changing marriages. Although looking back on it now, Matthias’s messages and beliefs seem almost laughable, but at they time his followers found his message, ministry, and lifestyle very compelling.

This message graced the corridors of celestial cathedrals, churches, synagogues and temples, where El talked to rabbis, priests, ministers and Buddhist monks who now believe in the message, and the pastor who stood frozen in place under the atrium dome, enraptured, as he read the message. El also went to colleges and universities, where he spoke with professors, scholars and school presidents who also, now believe in the message.

Furthermore, the leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh was known as the “Sinful Messiah.” Koresh believed he was the son of God and convinced many of his followers this was true. As the “Sinful Messiah” Koresh was able to smoke, drink, and have sex with

As we examine the heroes of the faith outlined for us in the Old Testament, we would be hard pressed to find a more faithful man that King David. After the death of King Saul, David became the King of the Hebrew people. David, who was meek and pious, steadfastly believed in the true God and tried to do His will. He had endured much persecution from Saul and other enemies but did not become bitter, did not lift his hand against Saul, as he was the Lord’s anointed, but placed all his hope in God, and the Lord delivered him from all his enemies.

faith-promoting myth was necessary. Young had to be set apart from the masses, even from the Twelve itself, by a wondrous miracle. Nineteenth- century Latter-day Saints in a rather classic example of spontaneous collective behavior 84 began to interpret as miraculous what in 1844 had simply been a turf battle and a changing of the guard. ()

Church of the Brethren does not accept abortion. Participating in abortion is not support their beliefs. Church of the Brethren is a denomination that was formed to continue their practices their own way. They started as a small group and to this day still recruit new members. They solely use the New Testament as their source of guidance for the practice they preach. Rational Choice theory explains Church of the Brethren 's position in opposing abortion.

One of the stories that caught my attention was the Helzer brothers’ story because it happened locally. The older of the two Helzer brothers, Glenn (a.k.a. Taylor) Helzer, was the one that was in charge. He attended a “brainwashing” seminar known as “Harmony” training. After the training, he “decided that God had put him on earth to take over the Mormon church and become its true prophet” (Rich 32). Then he convinced Dawn Godman to attend a “Harmony” training. To illustrate, Dawn Godman, who was a roommate of the Helzer brothers, was “… a depressive, overweight woman …” (Rich 32). Godman was in a depressive state, which made her vulnerable and seeking a sense of purpose, which led to Taylor controlling her psychologically. The Helzer brothers and Godman abducted an elderly couple for money and killed them; in addition, killed several other people. Godman continued to follow the Helzer brothers and commit these heinous crimes because her life had purpose which was being a “disciple” to Taylor. Later, David Sullivan, an investigator, took part in the “Harmony” trainings to gain Godman’s trust. During Godman’s hearing, Sullivan showed her a hand signal which meant “… he was a trusted, heart connection” (Rich 36). Sullivan helped Godman finally realize that Taylor was not a prophet and her purpose was not to be his “disciple.” Godman, herself, ultimately, came back to reality and testified against the

Ans. The Spirit that spoke to the prophets in former days—and I was greatly astonished, and for two years prayed continually, whenever my duty would permit—and then again I had the same revelation, which fully confirmed me in the impression that I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty. Several years rolled round, in which many events occurred to strengthen me in this my belief. At this time I reverted in my mind to the remarks made of me in my childhood, and the things that had been shewn me—and as it had been said of me in my childhood by those by whom I had been taught to pray, both white and black, and in whom I had the greatest confidence, that I had too much sense to be raised, and if I was, I would never be of any use to any one as a slave. Now finding I had arrived to man’s estate, and was a slave, and these revelations being made known to me, I began to direct my attention to this great object, to fulfil the purpose for which, by this time, I felt assured I was intended.”

• Wrote about Jesus the tribe of his Christian followers that had still to this day not disappeared. Pg. 79

In addition, there were prominent figures and leader during this time that also aided in the growth of Christianity. The most prominent figure of Christianity was Jesus who started this new religion. Around the age of thirty when Jesus began his teaching ministry, Jews of various classes heard Jesus’ message, and he soon had a small group of followers that believed that he was the Messiah who would deliver the Jews promised by God to the prophets. “Performing

As I continue to listen and read the textbook, more questions pop into my head as to what people buy into with their belief in Christianity. As history goes on, more and more variations of Christianity are formed through different beliefs of the “perfect” way to worship God. When reading about the different groups, such as the Seventh Day Adventists and the Jehovah Witnesses, I noticed numerous concepts that people bought into. The Seventh Day Adventists saw the end of the world coming on a specific day. The Jehovah Witnesses saw the present world as ruled by Satan and do not believe in celebrating holidays such as Christmas, birthdays, and Easter in the present day. They also have the belief that 144,000 will go to Heaven and the rest will live

the revelation he began preaching publicly. He had gained few followers early on and was met with

“Christian theology has had to protect the biblical view of special revelation against many perversions. Platonic preoccupation with “eternal ideas” accessible by rational contemplation alone, plus the disregard of history as a meaningful arena. ” Acknowledging and identifying the Four Horseman in Rev. 6:1-8 King James Version is no different in the body of the church today. Many venues have tried to explain and teach expansions views of their current teachers/shepherds that really do not qualify to have the title. Let alone study or understand the Word of God as a literal as history events that have occurred and as future events that will come.

Speaking of a “right at the door”, my wife and I, like most other people on in this country, had a knock on our door by some Jehovah’s Witnesses. They had their material at the ready and started in, as they often do, asking us about “paradise earth”. I invited them into our home. At the end of the discussion, we arranged a time for them to come back for a follow-up visit. When they did, my wife and I were prepared with coffee (yes, they do drink coffee) and snacks. I also had some time to brush up on my study in this area. The husband, now retired, had served as the overseer at the Watchtower Headquarters in New York City for decades as a proofreader of their Watchtower material. I knew I was in for a fierce debate. As the late Dr. Walter Martin once said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses will turn most Christians into a theological pretzel.” The couple we entered into discussions were no ordinary J.W.’s. They made the average J.W. visit feel like a picnic. In our get together, he brought up the year 1914; a very significant year for J.W.’s. I think, to his shock, I agreed that 1914 was a very significant prophetic year. What started as a meeting, turned into an 8-month discussion, sometimes with laughter, other times pretty intense. And no, we did not join the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but we did part as friends. We didn’t “save” them; only God can do that. But we planted seeds and perhaps more importantly, showed them that Christians can be loving yet bold, knowledgeable