Is that how you keep the Sabbath Holy Thomas by teasing people and mocking them?
God Bless & Happy Sabbath,
-Willy

Bob,
You know what is interesting. A very long time I admired people who could tell me about Jesus from the Bible. Always wondered at where they got the skill to be able to preach such a wonderful message.
Mind you I would read my Bible once in a while when I got bored, and went to church once in a while, as I prefered to do other things that are not Christian.
One night I decided to read whatever pages in Revelation, and thats where I read about the war in heaven, but the more I read it and came to the part where the angel said woe to the inhabitants of the earth a light bulb went off in my head. It read as if that part of Revelation did a 360 earth history wise.
I understood that the devil was in heaven as Lucifer, but he was cast out, and when he was cast out he came to the earth like the Bible says. I put 1+1 together and came to the conclusion that this is when he must have tempted Eve. No EGW goggles, no ph.d required, just a desire to learn why I was always hurting.
God Bless & Happy Sabbath.
-Will

Will,

I find your commentary very interesting.

How did you conclude that there was "War in Heaven" at the time of the fall of Satan and not after "Christ's Ascension" as it is presented in Revelation 12. Please keep in mind that this is the only place in the Bible that speaks of the "War in Heaven".

I see a very clear sequence of events as presented in Revelation 12.

1. The woman with 12 stars is in labor to give birth.

2. The dragon brings his angels to this earth in an attempt to kill the child to be born.

3. The man-child is born.

4. The man-child is taken to Heaven.

5. The woman flees into the wilderness.

6. There is war in Heaven and Satan and his angels are cast out of Heaven to this earth.

7. The dragon pursues the woman in an attempt to destroy her.

The sequence is very clear and the interpretation is even clearer.

1. The woman represents Israel.

2. The dragon represents Satan and his attempts to destroy Jesus at His birth. Satan brings his angels to this earth to enter into conflict with Jesus.

3. The man-child is Jesus that was born a Jew. He lived on this earth until His mission was completed and then He ascended to Heaven to be with His Father, God.

4. After Jesus' ascension, the early Christian Church, comprised primarily of Jews experienced phenomenal growth. The Jews attempted to quell the expansion of the church, through some persecution.(Note: This persecution was of little significance in comparison to the latter persecution meted out by the Roman Empire.)

5. After Christ's ascension to Heaven, the unfallen beings understand, once and for all, the true nature of evil and there is "War in Heaven" whereby Satan and his angels are banished from Heaven to this earth.

6. Satan attempts to destroy the Christian Church through extreme persecution meted out by the Pagan Roman Empire.

This is the clear sequence that I see from the study of Revelation 12. Of course, this disagrees with your perspective and that of EGW.

The one question that I present to you is this......Which brings us back to the primary subject of this thread....

Is your perspective confirmed by the Holy Spirit or do you believe that since EGW supports it, then it must be true?

Bob,

When I was reading Revelation and read about the war in heaven, then read at how satan was cast to the earth, and how the angel said woe to the inahbitants of the earth etc etc, the devil has great wrath and all that the following came to mind.
1. Well the world does suck royally, and the hurt I am feeling has got to be the enemy's wrath.
2. The devil tempted eve so he somehow had to have come to the earth.
3. The Bible must be the Word of God!

That encompasses what I learned, and when my interest was heightened to want to be a Christian, and give my life to Christ. Its confirmed, signed sealed delivered. Anything else you want to QA and cross examine from my testimony?
God Bless and Happy Sabbath,
Will

Bob,
Jesus has held my hand and led me this far in my life and teaching me.Youre a smart man you figure it out.
God Bless and Happy Sabbath,
Will

Will,

I apologize if I have offended you by my remarks.

The point that I am trying to make is this.....

Does the SDA Church's understanding of Truth rely primarily upon the perspective presented by EGW or does it rely upon the "direct influence of Holy Spirit" to lead them into all truth?

You stated that through your own personal study of Revelation 12, which was not influenced by EGW in the least , you concluded that the "War in Heaven" took place at the time of Satan's Fall. ( I am also assuming that you had never heard anyone else present the perspective that the "War in Heaven" took place at the time of the Fall of Satan.)

As I have mentioned earlier, my understanding of the timing of the "War in Heaven" took place after "Christ's Ascension".

Now I am not questioning God's leading in your life, but I do wonder if He lead you to your current understanding of Revelation 12. I truly believe that He lead me to my current understanding of the fulfillment of this prophecy.

If you can honestly state that God lead you to your understanding of this scripture, then the only conclusion that I can arrive at is that we do not serve the same God, because God is not the "author of confusion".

One other point.....

Does the Bible state that it is the "Word of God"?

From my reading of John 1, it would appear that Jesus is the "Word of God".

Bob,
Fron what I have seen the SDA Church follows Jesus Christ, and Jesus said that He would send us His Holy Spirit to tech us. I do not see preaching Ellen White each and every Sabbath as if she were a deity. That view comes from people who are former adventists or nonadventists as was mentioned in the thread.
I cannot attend every SDA church globally, but I am speaking of the church I am am member of, and when I go away on vacation I receive a blessing for hearing the Gospel on the Seventh Day.
God Bless and Happay Sabbath,
Will

Bob,
You are right Jesus is the Word of God, and Jesus also told the Pharisees that you think you have eternal life reading this, but it testifies of Me. So when I read it I made the association that this book is inspired by God to show me Jesus Christ. I hope this has more than answered your question you had asked me.
God Bless and Happy Sabbath,
-Will