Editorial: “The Prophecy Cult”
A friend of mine, when asked what makes him an Adventist, declares emphatically that the foundation of his belief is the parallel identities of Rome in Daniel 2, 7, and 8, along with the beasts of Revelation 13. He finds in these the confirmation for the existence of our church, and the truth of our prophetic message. I’ve heard him repeat it many times.
He doesn’t mention Jesus. After all, all churches have Jesus. Only we have the prophecies.
Still, I am always astonished when I hear him say it. Not that the prophetic applications (however doubtful) of these bizarre prophecies don’t have some interest. But to say, “I belong to this church because we know what the prophecies mean,” seems, well, not particularly Christian.
I am a Christian because of the example, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And I’m a Seventh-day Adventist for the same reason. To the extent that our church reflects the story of the four gospels, it is a Christian church.
But when it becomes about Daniel and Revelation and The Great Controversy—and, as often happens, the core matter of being like Jesus is neglected—we are not a Christian church, but a prophecy cult. For a big subset of Adventists, and that includes those leading the church, the most intense subject of interest is not Jesus, but Roman Catholics and what they’re going to do to us.
How can this be Christian? More, how can it be psychologically healthy for a church to focus on its enemy, rather than its savior and friend and example?
To me, the questionable identities of ancient powers is of so little importance compared with Jesus, that it is hardly worth talking about. When we lift up Jesus, when we talk about his life and follow his teachings, when we try to live his kindness, when we’re kind to one another even when we have differences—then we are a Christian church. When we focus on obscure prophecies and talk about Roman Catholics more than Jesus, we are a cult.
I know which I’d rather be.
Loren Seibold
Executive Editor, Adventist Today magazine and website
14 September 2024
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