WE ARE NOT JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES OR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS The teachings of The Restored Church of God are different from traditional Christianity. However, when some of our readers find certain doctrinal similarities with other religious groups, they conclude that we must be related to these organizations. This article will clear up such misunderstandings. ANY NOTICE that The Re- traditionally emphasized the Return of Baptist General Conference. Reasoning stored Church of God Christ as the focal point of their prophetic that the name “Church of God” sounded M(RCG), which publishes understanding. The differences between too exclusivist, they desired a name simi- their respective approaches, in contrast lar to the churches around them; however, The Real Truth magazine, does not to the beliefs of the Church of God, are they still held to observing the Sabbath. observe Christmas, Easter, Hal- more significant than most realize. This led to a split in the membership, in loween or other holidays of pagan Many sincere and dedicated people which a small minority continued as the origin. As a result, some quickly as- follow the Seventh-day Adventists’ and Church of God. (You may read our fasci- sociate this with the practices of the the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs. It is not nating book Where Is the True Church? – Jehovah’s Witnesses. our intention to belittle their convictions, and Its Incredible History! to learn more.) but to compare their doctrinal positions Just prior to 1843, a very popular Other similarities, such as our not to our own. Since some of our readers movement took place in the U.S., in celebrating birthdays and our focus on confuse us with these organizations, our which a famous theologian, William the kingdom of God, seem to reinforce purpose is to emphasize that we do not Miller, pronounced that Christ would these assumptions. However, upon subscribe to the vast majority of their return about the time of 1843 to 1844. closely comparing our beliefs with doctrines. This was known as the Advent movement those of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, (in this context, “Advent” means advoca- the differences far outweigh any Beginning of the Seventh-day tion of Christ’s Second Coming). Miller’s Adventist Movement similarities. movement at this point consisted entirely Many tend to classify us with any To better understand the origin of the of Sunday-keepers. group that embraces even a few simi- Seventh-day Adventist movement and When Christ did not return by 1844, lar beliefs. For this reason, we are also the influences upon it by remnants of the William Miller and his many hundreds frequently categorized as being associ- (Sabbatarian) Church of God, we need of followers were greatly disappointed. ated with the Seventh-day Adventists. to review events that occurred primar- In fact, the abandonment by many of his Obviously, this is due to our observance ily in the 1800s. Initially, we look back adherents was actually called “The Great of the biblical seventh-day Sabbath. A to 1664, when Steven Mumford arrived Disappointment.” close comparison of our teachings like- from England and helped to develop Many of the Adventists who left Miller wise reveals many differences. interest in the doctrines of the Church of began to associate with the remnants of Although completely independent of God in Rhode Island. After a few decades, the Church of God that still held fast to one another, it is interesting to note that congregations developed in Newport and the Sabbath and refused to adopt the doc- the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh- Westerly. trines of the immortality of the soul and day Adventist movements are distinctly Membership in Rhode Island and the trinity. After about 15 years of asso- American in origin. Unlike The Restored Connecticut flourished, as did congrega- ciating with them, the majority of these Church of God, which traces its roots tions later established in New Jersey and Church of God members started adopting to the first-century Church established Pennsylvania. By 1818, the majority of some of the Adventists’ beliefs—just as by Jesus Christ, these two organiza- these Sabbath-keepers agreed to merge the majority had previously accepted tions began in the 1800s. Both have also under the banner of the Seventh Day popular beliefs of other churches upon 1 forming the Seventh Day Baptist General Bible as clean. Many but not all SDAs together; and a little child shall lead them. Conference. follow this practice. One of the doctrines And the cow and the bear shall feed; their In 1860, the Sunday-keeping prophesied for the “latter times” pertains young ones shall lie down together: and Adventists influenced the majority in to those who abstain from meats: “Now the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the Church of God to abandon the name the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the the sucking child shall play on the hole “Church of God” (just as their prede- latter times some shall depart from the of the asp, and the weaned child shall cessors did in 1818) in favor of a name faith,…abstain[ing] from meats, which put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They “more descriptive of their beliefs.” They God has created to be received with shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy merged with the former Adventists (who thanksgiving of them which believe and mountain: for THE EARTH shall be full of vastly outnumbered them) and jointly know the truth” (I Tim. 4:1, 3). the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters decided to call themselves “Seventh- One doctrine generally misunderstood cover the sea” (Isa. 11:6-9; see also 35:1- day Adventists.” It was not until 1863 by many Seventh-day Adventists is their 2 and Amos 9:13-14). that the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church’s position on the nature of Jesus There are also vast doctrinal differ- Church was formally organized. Thus, Christ. Instead of lowering Christ to the ences in other areas, such as the obser- this movement had roots with some who level of the archangel Michael, as the vance of God’s annual Holy Days (which had been in the Church of God, through Jehovah’s Witnesses teach, the Seventh- picture His overall Plan of salvation) whom they were exposed to and accepted day Adventists elevate Michael to Christ’s instead of the world’s pagan holidays. the truth of the Sabbath, as well as other level. Both groups consider Christ and positions, such as their initial opposition Michael to be the same personage. Beginning of the Jehovah’s to the trinity, the immortal soul and an Witnesses Movement ever-burning hell fire. Vast Differences in Shortly after the Seventh-day Adventist Ellen G. White was most influen- Prophetic Understanding movement began around 1860, the tial in shaping the posture of the newly One of the major differences between the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) movement formed Seventh-day Adventist move- teachings of The Restored Church of God started. This organization was started in ment. She articulated many doctrines and and the Seventh-day Adventists is our Pennsylvania by Charles Taze Russell, prophetic understandings that formed its belief that the Millennium will occur on and was established as a religious society foundational beliefs, and is considered Earth—1,000 years of peace and abun- of ministers. “The Watchtower Bible and its founder. White held that Miller’s 1844 dance under the rule of Jesus Christ and Tract Society was incorporated in 1884 prediction was correct, but that bench- His resurrected saints. with Russell as president…The Society’s mark year began the period of supposed The SDAs, however, teach that the magazine, Watchtower, was first pub- “Investigative Judgment,” a time in which saints who have previously died will be lished in 1879.” Christ would begin judging the dead and resurrected and taken to heaven. They The Jehovah’s Witnesses Society the living on the earth. She believed believe that during the following 1,000 adopted their name from Isaiah 43:12 as this judgment period would be followed years, only Satan and his demons will found in the American Standard Version by the Return of Christ. More than 160 be living on the earth, and that the planet of the Bible: “…You are My witnesses years have transpired since 1844, with no will be desolate. Then, at the end of the says Jehovah [Heb. “YHWH”] and I apparent evidence that Jesus did return, Millennium, the second resurrection will am God” (World Book Encyclopedia, as Miller had predicted and White had occur, and the righteous will return to Vol. 11). The TANAKH (the Jewish later theorized. Earth and establish the New Jerusalem. Publication Society translation of the The portrayal of the Millennium as scriptures according to the traditional Some Practices and Doctrines a time of desolation amounts to a gross Hebrew text) renders this same passage of the SDA Movement distortion of what the scriptures plainly as “…So you are My witnesses declares Although it originated in the United reveal. In contrast to the SDA position, the LORD and I am God.” The King James States, the Seventh-day Adventist church we read of this time in Revelation 20:6: Version (KJV) also uses the term “LORD” is currently well represented throughout “Blessed and holy is he that has part in in this verse. the world. The SDAs generally support the first resurrection: on such the second From the KJV, Exodus 6:2-3 reads: and promote medical research, hospitals, death has no power, but they shall be “And God spoke unto Moses, and said clinics and dispensaries.