is it biblical church or is it a cult ? Just curious
If they deny the Trinity, seek to control their members, and persecute people who leave, all of which they do, then they indeed are a cult, @riverbank.
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I was going to answer this but Bruce beat me to it.
Agreed.
Peter
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There are several warning signs about what makes a group/organisation a ‘ cult ‘
- the denial of Jesus as part of the Godhead ,calling him a god, or a godman, or that he was given a god status.
- having another book that is more authoritive than the bible.
- the belief that they ‘ only ‘ have the truth, all other christian groups, churches etc are in error.
- following from that to isolate there followers from other groups and family and outsider friends.
If you think the sda follow these principals then they are a cuklt.
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Thank you, @PeterC. I’m thankful we’re on the same wavelength!
I am always shocked when I read about a new group of crazy people I haven’t heard of.
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That was my Grandma’s church when she was alive, she used to drag us to church with her a lot and we went. I don’t remember the church or it’s pastor saying anything like those things. Now this was years and years ago lol, so maybe that church changed? And if so when did they change?
So she was a SDA and I distinctly remember her talking to me about (the Trinity) so if that denomination was not trinitarians then why was she? !!
The Seventh Day Adventists, according to my understanding, @Edward429451, has become believers who have accepted the Trinity and no longer control their members like a cult. However, some of them may still have cultish tendencies, perhaps. That’s what I have heard.
The us military know when cults are in the country from outside and they say they are crime 
they look for them specifically they are crime
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This site is hard to navigate. I hadn’t seen that you replied to me. I guess the site needs upgraded to one easier to navigete where all replies are in one button click? Lol.
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Interesting question. At first glace they believe as the Jews that the Sabbath is the observance of Saturday (the seventh day). The Sanctuary and the Investigative Judgment. This is a unique SDA doctrine originating from their interpretation of Daniel 8:14: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
They believe that in 1844, Jesus entered the “Most Holy Place” in the heavenly sanctuary to begin a work of “Investigative Judgment,” reviewing the lives of believers. This is, of course, nowhere in Scripture.
Adventists believe in “Conditional Immortality.” They interpret verses like Ecclesiastes 9:5 (“the dead know not any thing”) to mean that when a person dies, they remain in an unconscious “sleep” until the resurrection, rather than going immediately to heaven or hell. This is not Biblical.
The Spirit of Prophecy (Ellen G. White) The SDA church believes that one of its founders, Ellen G. White, possessed the biblical gift of prophecy. They view her writings as a “lesser light” meant to lead people to the “greater light” (the Bible). Interesting, but not Biblical.
Adventists often follow the “Levitical” food laws (distinguishing between clean and unclean meats) and emphasize the “body as a temple” (1 Corinthians 6:19). This leads many to practice vegetarianism or veganism.
I believe that to answer the question,
You have to answer that same question for ALL religions. All organized religions involve human intervention, including the codification of texts, the creation of hierarchies, and the establishment of rituals. A religion can be “divinely inspired” or revealed by God. However, religions are social constructs developed by humans to answer existential questions, provide community, and establish moral codes.
What is a cult? In modern sociology, the term “cult” has been largely replaced by New Religious Movement (NRM) because “cult” has become so pejorative. However, when people ask if a group is a cult, they are usually looking at behavioral traits rather than the age of the religion.
Scholars often use the BITE Model to determine if a group is a “destructive cult” rather than just a fringe religion. There are so many.
The primary difference often lies in the level of transparency and freedom. Established Religion, Destructive Cult, and Leadership are accountable to a board or an ancient tradition. Centralized in one charismatic, unaccountable leader, you can leave without major social or physical retaliation. Leaving often results in “shunning” or losing family/career. Transparent, though not always, heavy pressure to give assets; finances are often secret. and doubt are often permitted. Doubting the leader is seen as a sign of spiritual failure. Yours, not His.
You really have to realize that religion is a man-made concept and most of the time has nothing to do with the true God and or His plan of salvation. Simply put, Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 Jesus is the key to Salvation. It is simply accepted by you or not, a fact that without Him, you can not enter into Heaven. It is simply a fact, again, accepted by you or not, that “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 So any religion that does not have this simple truth, Jesus IS Lord and He is God, is a false religion.
Wonder about a religion? First, do they have Jesus? Second, look at what they are doing. Are they going out to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give peace to those in need? Are they using the Tithes and Offerings to help others? Is what they are telling you actually IN The Word? Are they producing anything? Are people being saved because of them? That is the sort of thing you should look into before committing to becoming a member of that religion or even that Church.
Peter