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  You are here:  AllExperts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Protestantism > Seventh-Day Adventists

Expert Profile: Tom Norris

Expertise:  I can answer most any question about church history and theology, starting from 1818 when William Miller articulated the 1st Angels Message that became the foundation of the Adventist Movement. While this first prophetic message terminated in the spring of 1844, it was followed by what Adventists refer to as the 2nd Angels Message, which dates from the spring of 1844 until the great disappointment of October 22, 1844. By 1847, the 3rd Angels Message had been developed and this Sabbatarian theology represents the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Moreover, I can explain the historical and theological development of the SDA denomination from its beginning and on through the great Battle Creek schism that forced the SDA's to retreat to Takoma Park. Here the 20th century church recovered from their internal battles that had erupted at the 1888 General Conference in Minneapolis over the definition of the law and the Gospel. Fearing another repeat of this disaster, President Daniels, determined to hide this debate. However, this policy led to more conflict, especially over the role and authority of Ellen White, a unique and accomplished religious writer that had remarkable spiritual gifts. However, by the decade of the 1970`s, the church once again erupted into debate. The hierarchy settled the turmoil in 1980 with the trial of Dr. Desmond Ford at Glacier View. Here Dr. Ford was exiled because he supposedly disagreed with Ellen White over the Fundamentals. But this controversial action resulted in another major schism that is still in progress today.
Tom Norris was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist in Takoma Park, Md. He attended SDA grade and High schools, moving on to study Adventist theology at Columbia Union College. He also spent significant time conducting independent research in the General Conference Archives and the Ellen G. White Estate. Over the years he has also interviewed a number of prominent Adventist scholars, theologians, and Pastors ranging from the late Arthur White to the exiled Dr. Desmond Ford. In addition, he has amassed a large private library, which includes numerous rare books and manuscripts about Adventist theology and history. He is presently the online editor of Adventist Reform, and can be found at Adventist for Tomorrow answering questions online about SDA theology and history as well as promoting Adventist Reform.

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What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?  Seventh-day Adventist eschatology was meant to reach a point of sophistication whereby a new and final Message would emerge at the end of time. So this is the challenge for this unique group, whose self-proclaimed mission is to complete the Protestant Reformation and prepare the church for the Great Time of Trouble that precedes the Second Coming.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:  Many do not understand that the Adventist Movement is responsible for changing the eschatological paradigm for the entire Protestant church. Although every 19th century church repudiated their pre-millennial eschatology about the Second Coming as the Day of Judgment, virtually every denomination has since embraced this fundamental Adventist theology.
What do you like about this subject?  The Study of Seventh-day Adventism is fascinating because it deals with how the world will end. With the recent focus on WMD's and the Middle East, the eschatology of the SDA's becomes even more timely and provocative. The SDA's also have a very interesting emphasis on Natural Health and Vegetarianism.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject  The modern SDA Church has not been honest about Historic Adventism. The leaders have seriously and dishonestly misrepresented the theology of Ellen G White and the Adventist Pioneers, even as they have beem caught hiding thousands of documents in the White Estate in order to promote myths and legends as if they were facts.
Average Ratings
Prestige Points: 1688
Knowledge   9.64   Best of the best
Clarity of Response   9.74   Best of the best
Timeliness   9.60   Best of the best
Politeness   9.84   Best of the best
Number Of Questions
(in Past 24 Hours)
0
Max Questions to be Asked
(in 24 Hour period)
1
Total Questions
(since joining AllExperts)
214
Recent Reviews from Users
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User Comments
Thank you for your response to my question. I started typing a response to you, but somehow "lost" it, so I'll just sum it up here. You made the follo
(Ken on 11/17/08)
thank you for your reply.
(art on 09/02/08)
Thanks Tom your answer was very informative.
(Sal on 07/24/08)
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Recent Answers from Tom Norris
2008-11-17  RE: Sabbath Here are three questions from Pam: QUESTION # 1. What is this long list of false SDA doctrines? ANSWER: The first great error of the SDA's is their false Gospel. The second is their teaching about...
2008-11-10  Ellen Whites papers Brad, you must have misunderstood my position about Ellen White. She is not a fraud or quack as many have charged. She did have legitimate Spiritual Gifts, including visions and dreams. And I have never...
2008-11-05  Reformed Sabbath Does the church have a weekly Sabbath or is this just an optional doctrine? What is the correct Sabbath for the Laodicean Church, if any? Can it be on Sunday, or must it only be on Saturday, as the SDA's...
2008-10-04  Investigative Judgement The SDA church is founded on the history and theology associated with the Three Angels Messages of Rev 14. This is how they defined themselves as well as their mission. Consequently, they have written...
2008-10-03  Communion at Home? The object or definition of the Gospel is not about the Sabbath or law keeping. The SDA's are very wrong to try and convince the Gentile church that that they should keep the Old Covenant Sabbath-- as...
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