Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists

(Eze. 18:20) has been reversed to say "the soul,
even though it sins, shall live eternally."
This erroneous doctrine of natural immortality
has led to belief in consciousness in death. As we
have seen, these positions directly contradict the
Biblical teaching on this subject. They were
incorporated into the Christian faith from pagan
philosophy--particularly that of Plato--during the
time of the great apostasy (see chapter 12 of this
book). These beliefs became the prevailing view
within Christianity and continue to be the dominant
view today. Belief that the dead are conscious has
prepared many Christians to accept spiritualism. If
the dead are alive and in the presence of God, why
could they not return to earth as ministering spirits?
And if they can, why not try to communicate with
them to receive their counsel and instruction, to
avoid misfortune, or to receive comfort in sorrow?
Building on this line of reasoning, Satan and
his angels (Rev. 12:4, 9) have established a channel
of communication through which they can
accomplish their deception. Through such means as
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