A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST VOTER’S GUIDE TO THE 2024 PRESENTIAL ELECTIONS

“My brethren, shall we spend our time in political campaigns, … when we so soon expect Christ in all the glory of His Father, and all the holy angels with Him, when He shall sit upon the thrones of His glory?” — Review and Herald, September 11, 1856.

“To the question, why we do not with our votes and influence labor against th evil tendency of the times, we reply, that our views of prophecy lead us to the conclusion that things will not be bettered… And we feel it our duty to confine our efforts to preparing ourselves, and others as far as in us lies, for the great and final issue already pressing upon us — the revelation of the Son of man from heaven, the destruction of all earthly governments, the establishment of the glorious, universal and eternal kingdom of the King of kings, and the redemption and deliverance of all His subjects.” — Review and Herald, September 11, 1856.

“They think it right to vote in favor of temperance men being in office in our city instead of by their silence running the risk of having intemperance men put in office. Brother Hewitt tells his experience of a few days since and is settled that it is right to cast his vote. Brother Hart talks well. Brother Lyon opposes. Not others object to voting…” — Temperance, 255-256.

“Resolved, That in our judgment, the act of voting when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife.” — Review and Herald, May 23, 1865.

[Dan 2:44 NKJV] 44 “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

[Rev 21:2-3 NKJV] 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them [and be] their God.

[Jhn 18:36 NKJV] 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

[Heb 11:13-14, 16 NKJV] 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced [them] and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. … 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly [country]. 

[1Sa 12:17-20, 22 NKJV] 17 “[Is] today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.” 18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” 20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. … 22 “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.

[1Sa 12:13-15, 22 NKJV] 13 “Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen [and] whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 “If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. 15 “However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as [it was] against your fathers. … 22 “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.”

[Rom 13:1-2 NKJV] 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

[Rom 13:7 NKJV] 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes [are due], customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

[1Ti 2:1-3 NKJV] 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

[Jer 29:7 NKJV] 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

“to express your choice or opinion, especially by officially writing a mark on a paper or by raising your hand or speaking in a meeting” – Dictionary definition of “VOTE”

[Jos 24:15 NKJV] 15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

But God also recognizes the need and duty to choose godly leaders:

[Deu 1:13 NKJV] 13 ‘Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’

“The act of voting, when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity, and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper.” — 2BIO, 115.8

[1Pe 4:3-5 NKJV] 3 For we [have spent] enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles… 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with [them] in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of [you]. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

“God’s children are to separate themselves from politics, from any alliance with unbelievers. Do not take part in political strife. Separate from the world, and refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that will lead to contention and disorder. Dissension is the moral poison taken into the system by human beings who are selfish.” — Gospel Workers, 391-395

[Act 5:29 NKJV] 29 But Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

“Should we vote on prohibition?” she answered, “Yes, to a man, everywhere, and perhaps I shall shock some of you if I say, ‘If necessary, vote on the Sabbath day for prohibition if you cannot at any other time’” Ibid. — Woman of Vision, 203.5

“Men of intemperance have been in the office today in a flattering manner expressing their approbation of the course of the Sabbath-keepers not voting and expressed hopes that they will stick to their course and, like the Quakers, not cast their vote. Satan and his evil angels are busy at this time, and he has workers upon the earth. May Satan be disappointed, is my prayer.”— E. G. White diary, Sunday, March 6, 1859.

“James first talked, then Brother [J. N.] Andrews talked, and it was thought by them best to give their influence in favor of right and against wrong. They think it right to vote in favor of temperance men being in office in our city instead of by their silence running the risk of having intemperate men put in office.” — 2 SM, 337.

“We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty, and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord’s family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day, and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath. The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.” — Fundamentals of Christian Education, 475.2

“The political excitement of 1860 will probably run as high as it has for many years, and we would warn our brethren not to be drawn into it. We are not prepared to prove from the Bible that it would be wrong for a believer in the third [angel’s] message to go in a manner becoming his profession, and cast his vote. We do not recommend this, neither do we oppose. If a brother chooses to vote, we cannot condemn him, and we want the same liberty if we do not. But we do believe that he who enters into the spirit of the coming contest, loses the spirit of the present truth and endangers his own soul.”—The Review and Herald, August 21, 1860.

 “Those of our people who voted at all at the last Presidential election, to a man voted for Abraham Lincoln. We know of not one man among Seventh-day Adventists who has the least sympathy for secession.”—The Review and Herald, August 12, 1862.

“Every individual exerts an influence in society. In our favored land, every voter has some voice in determining what laws shall control the nation. Should not that influence and that vote be cast on the side of temperance and virtue? … The advocates of temperance fail to do their whole duty unless they exert their influence by precept and example—by voice and pen and vote—in favor of prohibition and total abstinence.” — RH October 15, 1914, par. 21-22

“The people of our land need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.”—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:382. ChS 163.2

“Shall we sit with folded hands, and do nothing in this crisis? … God help us to arouse from the stupor that has hung over us for years.” —The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888. ChS 163.3

Keep your voting to yourself. Do not feel it your duty to urge everyone to do as you do.—Letter 4, 1898. — 2SM 337.1

Dr. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”