Comparing the Movements of the Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious movement in the early to mid nineteenth century, known for its emphasis on revivalism and spiritual experience. It produced a handful of new religious systems with certain traits in common, which distinguish them from the Evangelical churches. Belief systems of today which which trace their genesis to the Second Great Awakening are:
- Mormons (LDS)
- Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW)
- Seventh-day Adventists (SDA)
- Christian Scientists
- Christadelphians
The intent of this article is to demonstrate:
- That these belief systems grew from a common root
- Their structure, theology and claims are very similar
- That they are not strictly “biblical” churches, but depend on extra-biblical sources of authority to maintain their doctrinal identity and unity (whether they own up to it or not)
- They all add requirements to the gospel that are outside the New Covenant.
How These Movements Differ from Biblical Christianity
The following items are common features or beliefs that distinguish these from Biblical Christianity. I won’t be able to cover all of these points in this article:
- Remnant theology
- Extra-biblical prophets
- An organization that is the “voice of God”
- An identity rooted in speculative eschatology rather than the gospel
- Failed prophecies
- Historical revisionism
- Denial of Christ’s completed work of atonement at the cross
Remnant Theology. These groups are sectarian by their own declarations of exclusivity. They view all other Christian faith communions as part of the “great apostasy” and only their “church” is the depository of God’s truth.
This doctrine stems from the Restoration Movement, which was a popular religious philosophy during the Second Great Awakening. Each of the churches that formed as a result of Restorationism felt called to denounce established Christianity, and restore the “original Apostolic Church”.
“Restorationists – Strictly speaking, the Restoration Movement is a Christian reform movement that arose in the United States during the Second Great Awakening in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. It rejected the idea of reform of any previous tradition and emphasized the idea of a direct renewal of the Christian church by God. The doctrinal differences among these groups can sometimes be very large; they include, among others, the Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Christadelphians, Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses”. – Article, “Protestantism”, New World Encyclopedia
LDS: According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Great Apostasy in Christianity began not long after the ascension of Jesus Christ. (See Missionary Department of the LDS Church (2004). Preach My Gospel.)
“They claim that the LDS Church is the restoration of Jesus’ original church, has the authentic Priesthood authority, and all doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, fulfilling many of the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah and Malachi in the Old Testament and also the prophesies of Peter and Jesus in the New Testament.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_(Latter_Day_Saints)
JW: “Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that after the death of the apostles, the early congregations embarked on a “Great Apostasy”, diverging from the original teachings of Jesus on several major points. Influenced by Restorationism in the 19th century, Charles Taze Russell and his associates formed a Bible study group in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, developing teachings that they considered to be a revival of “the great truths taught by Jesus and the Apostles”, in what the Watch Tower Society today says was a return to original Christianity. Although many of their fundamental teachings have changed over the years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have consistently claimed to be the only true religion.” – http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/doctrine-changes/jehovah-witness-beliefs/
SDA: “The entire world is deceived today. Truth has been covered up with error. The Protestant churches have accepted the teaching of the antichrist… And so most [non-SDA] church members are in mortal danger, but don’t know it. …the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the world’s last hope for rescue…” – Daniel W. O’Ffill with Carol Johnson Shewmake, What to Say in a Whole New Way, (1994, Review and Herald Publishing Assn.), pp. 16, 18.
“…Satan has taken full possession of the [non-Adventist] Churches” and even their prayers are an “abomination” to God. (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, page 190). James White (Ellen’s husband) was ordained a minister of the Christian Connexion in 1843, which was part of the Restorationist movement.
Authoritative writings other than the Bible. They each have a “prophet” that used their extra-biblical revelations (the “voice of God”) to establish doctrine and maintain their authority within the movement. These prophets are the test of true orthodoxy, and if anyone rejects their writings and follows the Bible only, they will follow a path to perdition.
LDS: “If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth…no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, page 190
JW: “From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude…They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago…” – Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1981
SDA: “The Holy Ghost is the Author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy.” – Ellen White, Selected Messages, Vol. 3, page 30
“It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.” – Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 4, page 211
“In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days He speaks to them by the testimonies of His Spirit. There was never a time when God instructed His people more earnestly than He instructs them now concerning His will and the course that He would have them pursue.” – Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 5, page 661. Here she places the importance of her message above the prophets and Christ himself (compare Hebrews 1:1).
“It is from the standpoint of the light that has come through the Spirit of Prophecy that the question will be considered, believing as we do that the Spirit of Prophecy is the only infallible interpreter of Bible principles, since it is the Christ, through this agency, giving real meaning of his own words.” – G.A. Irwin, General Conference President, from the tract The Mark of the Beast, p. 1.
“Our position on the Testimonies is like the key-stone to the arch. Take that out and there is no logical stopping-place till all the special truths of the Message are gone…Nothing is surer than this, that the Message and visions belong together, and stand or fall together.” – Review and Herald Supplement, August 14, 1883.
“There is one straight chain of truth without one heretical sentence in that which I have written.” – Ellen G. White, Letter 329A, 1905
Biblical Christianity:
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev. 22:18, 19
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4:12
Note the similarities of the threats uttered by Mormons, Witnesses and Adventists, against those who reject of the teaching of their “prophets”. These movements set up novel systems of theology which rely on the interpretations of their “inspired” writers. Their belief systems could not survive if the Scriptures alone are followed; Adventists acknowledge this.
Evangelical, Bible-believing Christianity has existed for centuries with the Scriptures as its basis. There has been no need of exterior regulation or threats from inspired individuals who take it upon themselves to establish a unique orthodoxy.
“The Organization” as the voice of God. These movements teach that their leaders are the voice of God to the people.
LDS: “What is the Priesthood? It is nothing more or less than the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family… by which they may baptize for the remission of sins and lay on hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and by which they can remit sin with the sanction and blessing of Almighty God. It is the same power and priesthood that was committed to the disciples of Christ while He was upon the earth…” – Joseph F. Smith, 6th Prophet of the LDS Church, Gospel Doctrine, 1919, p. 173
JW: “We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste…We should meekly go along with the Lord’s theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave’s provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord’s visible organization and not be so foolish as to put against Jehovah’s channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.” – Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, p. 79-80
SDA: “When the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has on earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but must be surrendered.” – Ellen White, Testimonies, vol. 3 page 492
“We acknowledge the General Conference to be the highest authority recognized by God on earth. Here the whole of our people are represented, and speak through their delegates. Here is not north nor south, nor east nor west, it is one the world over.” – President Olsen, General Conference Bulletin, October 23, 1889.
Biblical Christianity: the churches were independent congregations in each city.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” 2 Thes. 2:15
“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” Acts 16:5
The apostolic church consisted of local companies of believers that were congregational, self-governed (under the Holy Spirit), without an ecclesiastical hierarchy controlling them. They were responsible to spread the good news about Jesus, and pass on apostolic teaching, practice, and tradition to the next generation. Congregations should be organized, but not subjects of a spiritual authority that speaks to them for God.
Failed Prophecies
LDS: Many failed prophecies regarding the Mormon church and the Lord’s coming. (See http://www.irr.org/mit/wdist/false-prophecies.html).
JW: Predicted Jesus’ coming in 1914. When it didn’t happen, they revised the nature of the event to something that could not be seen. They have set many other dates, such as the end of the world in 1975. All of their date setting have been failures. (See more at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php).
Adventist: predicted Jesus’ coming in 1843 and 1844. When it didn’t happen, they revised the nature of the event to an invisible happening, rather than admit their error. Ellen White made further predictions of the Second Coming to happen in the 1850s.
Identity rooted in Speculative eschatology rather than the gospel. Each of these movements believes that it has been raised for a special purpose in the end time, and that anyone who rejects their particular message will be destroyed. These prophetic interpretations were cleverly crafted to instill fear and create religious bondage and control.
This is opposed to the biblical church which finds its identity in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
LDS: “White Horse” prophecy: Many Mormons believe that the United States will eventually become a theocracy led by them. (One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church, Richard Abanes, page 17).
JW: The Millennium will be a time of world peace led by the servants of the Watch Tower. There will be destruction for those who reject their message.
SDA: The mark of the beast will be an enforced Sunday law. Whoever does not join Seventh-day Adventists and keep the Sabbath will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Biblical Christianity: “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Atonement, the work of Christ for our salvation. These movements do not believe that the atonement was a completed act at the cross, but shift the emphasis elsewhere; Gethsemane, 1844, or the future. All of them include man in that work, it enables these religions to entrap their membership in the serving of their systems to accomplish acceptance and reconciliation with God.
LDS: “Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent” – The Promised Messiah, by Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, page 337
“In a garden called Gethsemane, outside Jerusalem’s walls, in agony beyond compare, he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance.” – ibid. 552
JW: “Jesus, according to their argument, removed the effects of Adam’s sin by His sacrifice on Calvary, but the work will not be fully completed until the survivors of Armageddon return to God through free will and become subject to the theocratic rule of Jehovah.” – Martin, Jehovah of the Watchtower, pp. 71-72.
SDA: In 1844 “Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest entered the Holy of Holies… to there make atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to his benefits.” – E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 308
Christian Science: Mary Baker Eddy writes, “Atonement is the exemplification of man’s unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life and Love.”
Biblical Christianity: It is a completed act, past tense, occurring at the cross; Christ entered the Most Holy place at his Father’s side at his ascension.
And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, … having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Col. 1:20
When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb. 1:3
… behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 6:19-20
Hebrews 10:12
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God … For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb. 10:12, 14
Conclusion
The examples above strongly indicate that the movements that sprang from the Second Great Awakening spring from the same root, and are built on certain similar, non-biblical ideas. That these ideas are powerful is shown by the fact that these movements are among of the fastest growing religions.
Biblical churches:
- do not view themselves as superior to other New Covenant congregations
- do not use modern inspired prophets or writings
- do not view their leadership as the voice of God
- do not deny or diminish the Christ’s completed atonement on the cross
- are not founded on failed prophecies
- do not distort history to buttress their presuppositions
Solus Christus | In Christ Alone 
Thank you for your posts. They are so important for those of us who have loved ones in some of these movements. Mine are SDA. The more enlightened we believers become, the more effective we can be in our prayers and our witness to them and to others.
As a former, life-long Ellenite Adventist that is now a Millerite Adventist, I must assert the absurdity of denying the Great Apostasy. This is a subject for which Bible prophecy and church history combines to speak with undeniable authority.
Thanks for your comment. I wouldn’t argue that there have been, and still are, strong forces within Christianity that are preaching a false gospel. That is ultimately what the “falling away” was. Seeds of this were already evident in the Galatian church in Paul’s day.
What I have trouble with is that these groups feel that they can cut loose from Christian history, isolate themselves,anoint their own prophets, follow a way that seems right to them, and condemn everyone who does not adhere to the revelation given to them through these individuals or ecclesiastical systems.
These groups fall into traps that are already warned against in the New Testament, errors which were repeated and reproved within the early Christian churches – so that evidence of the “falling away” is alive and well in their systems – yet, they feel the need to point to “Rome” or “Protestantism” as those who have apostatized. For example, the denial of the essential divinity of the Son of God, rejection of Jesus’ finished atonement, and the necessity of observance of certain Jewish cultic norms to be saved are a few of these obvious errors.
I didn’t know there were any Millerite Adventists still in existence. I would ask why you follow William Miller, when history shows that he was wrong, and he confessed as much?
Wm. Miller was right about Daniel 8:14 pointing to the end of the world after 2300 years. What Wm. Miller didn’t see or understand is that Christ gave two possible scenarios for the end of the world, which is straight from the book of Daniel, and that the updated eschatology in the book of Revelation, which came from the Father, presents three distinct endtime scenarios. The possible end of the world in 1844 is that second scenario in the book of Revelation.
Wm. Miller never repudiated what he taught from Scripture about the 2300 years and credited the disappointment to the errors of historians that he relied on to pinpoint the start the 2300 year countdown. Essentially then, Miller’s mistake was in not recognizing the conditional nature of prophecy. To be absolutely fair therefore, Miller’s teaching from the book of Daniel should be compared to Christ’s unmistakable declaration in Matthew 24:34, which was also based on Daniel, that the complete fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy of the endtime would happen in the generation of His audience.
Zog, see Millers other 14 proofs of time by googling “William Miller’s fifteen proofs”. He was a hack and a false prophet.
You are violating Jesus’ command in Matt 7-15-23 to beware false prophets. Thus you are lawless as of 2015. Notice the tragic outcome in verse 23. Notice no forgiveness mentioned.
Now go to Luke 6:46-49 and be similarly admonished. No forviveness mentioned. Tragic end.
Jesus did not teach that the prophets would be fulfilled in a coupla thousand years. Here, see for yourself: Matt 5:17, Matt 11:13, Luke 21:22 (all things written fulfilled), and John 19:28.
Miller really didn’t have a clue what the heck he was doing!
It is now 6 years since you posted. Hope God got hold of you and turned ya around!
Regarding:
“…Satan has taken full possession of the [non-Adventist] Churches” and even their prayers are an “abomination” to God. (Ellen G White, Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, page 190)”
Deceived people who disobey Jesus’ command in Matt 7:15-23 to BEWARE false prophets are upside down in their sinful teachings. By claiming to keep a day holy, when none of them do, they sin even more by bearing false witness. Then they teach that the scapegoat of Lev 16 represents satan — more sin of bearing false witness in addition to idolatry, for they take Jesus’ out of the Law Fulfiller role (Matt 5:17) and plug satan into Jesus’ place. SDA’s are saturated in sin, although they do not know it, because the are deceived, apostate, and reprobate! They keep zero days holy, see James 2:10, friendly little SDA-destroying, sin-calculator app. In their holy-day-deception, they schism from fellowship with Sunday-churchers, another sin accounted to the SDA! They are unable to stop sinning, or just don’t care. Their weather forecast for eternity: Hot with increasing torment.
SDA sin, rebellion, and stubbornness is accounted to them as witchcraft and idolatry, 1Samuel 15:23.
Here is proof Satan has taken full possession of the SDA church: they worship a “jesus” who knew He was capable of sinning, but taught much different in John 5:19,30. In other words, SDA’s, deceivedly worship a liar. Satan is a liar. Do the easy spiritual math to observe that SDA’s are actually deceived, apostate, satan worshippers and are not even aware of it. Deceived people do not know they are deceived! But Ellen G White led them step by step, book by book, into her false, satanic teachings. They keep no commandments.
BTW, deceived, satan worshipping liars who promote idolatry and a false she-prophet keep zero days holy! James 2:10 explodes all their deceived, law-keepng claims! SDA’s violate and sin against tons of Jesus’ commands. Matt 7:15-23 truely applies to them. They are called lawless people by Jesus. He tells them to get away from Him, He never knew them. Their church might as well be taken in full possession by satan, as they accuse all the other churches in their deceived, apostate, SDA, reprobate state.
SDA’s sin against their babies, deceiving them from birth. This violates Golden Rule plus Luke 17:1,2. Millstone. Around. Their. Necks. Satan has taken full possession of SDA’ism. They need not worry about keeping a day holy! They have bigger problems.
SDA’s defile themselves with all their satanic, false teachings (Mark 7:15,20-23), more and more juicy, sabbath-canceling sin. It is SDA prayers that are an abomination to God! What a lawless, apostate people. And they suppose themselves to be a special remnant! See King James Version of Rev 19:21 to see their remnant status!
I bet they didn’t listen to Jesus in 1843 and 1844, that no man knows the day or hour. They likely blew right by that teaching! This is sinning against James 1:22, hearers but not doers, deceiving themselves. More sin!
Similar cases can be constructed against LDS, Watchtower JW’s, Christian Science, Dispensationalism, Islam, Catholicism, Christadelphians, Heavens Gate, Jim Jones, and many others.
Regarding:
In 1844 “Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest entered the Holy of Holies… to there make atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to His benefits.” – E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 308
The SDA god did not make atonement for them 2000 years ago (different, cursed gospel!). Satan is who they are really inadvertantly admitting is their god, as he is the one who did not atone for sin. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned! Slowly but surely, Ellen White accidentally reveals her god to be satan, revealing her possible mark of the beast (unforgivable sin, claiming Holy Spirit gave her this), and definitely a false she-prophet, NOT “shown to be entitled to His benefits”. She and they (SDA’s) have never kept a day holy in their pathetic lives, devoted to religious lies. James 2:10 destroys their boastful, wicked, sabbath-keeping claims.
In spite of Matt 5:17 (fulfillment of law & prophets), Luke 21:22, and John 19:28, SDA’s are pathologically insistent that their “jesus” did not fulfill the Leviticus 16 Day of Atonement piece of law all by Himself 20 centuries ago. Their sinfully wretched teaching of a 2000-year-old incomplete atonement (going way beyond what Jesus teaches, not having God, 2John 1:9-11) is due to their foul, sinful, sabbath-canceling teaching that satan accomplishes some of Leviticus 16 law for them far in the future.
Jesus says of SDA’s who ALL defile themselves with their mouths (more sabbath-canceling sin !!), well, read it in Mark 7:15,20-23. They have no Christian standing, they are not Christ-obeyers, which is why they are thrilled and confident that they have no Intercessor, no Mediator in their future. And satan partially atones for them in the distant future, finally getting that piece of Leviticus 16 law fulfilled (that their “jesus” didn’t tell the truth about)!! They eventually tell on themselves! How wickedly deceived. Sabbath keepers? Nope. Commandment keepers? Nope. James 2:10 shreds all their deceived claims.
They are as spiritually messed up a rebellious, stubborn people now as they were in 1844, not hearing or doing Jesus teachings, going about confidently deceiving each other (wickedness). Their rebellion and stubborness is surely accounted unto them as witchcraft and idolatry, see 1Samuel 15:23. They fantasize they keep a day holy. They have never kept anything holy, as they are about as spiritually reprobate as one can get.
One elderly SDA actually told me that she would look me straight in the eye as she marched down into hell in the future (after hearing me outline the wicked, sabbath-boast-shredding teachings of Adventism). Her words, not mine. Just absolutely pathetic. God hardens whom He will. That was her reprobate, unregenerated, SDA witness. She has never kept a day holy in her whole life. Their hell-bound, satanic pride is the most important thing to them, aside from devoting their whole schismatic lives living out a lie that they are law keepers.