Worldwide: 9.7 million in 43,270 churches in 208 countries. North American Division (U.S. and Canada): 875,811 in 4,693 churches.

Radio and Television: "The Voice of Prophecy" (H.M.S. Richards' sons); "Amazing Facts" (Joe Crews); "It Is Written" (George Vandemann and Mark Finley).
Publications: "Signs of the Times"; "Liberty"; "Vibrant Life"; "Adventist Review"; "Ministry."
Books: The Bible Story by Arthur Maxwell and Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories by Arthur Maxwell.
Educational Institutions: Andrews University; Kettering College of Medical Arts; Loma Linda University.

The Interfaith Witness Department (IWD) defines a cult as any group that claims to be Christian yet deviates at a major point of Christian doctrine, especially regarding the nature of God and the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) affirm the Christian doctrine of the inspiration and authority of the Bible. They also affirm the trinitarian nature of the Godhead: the fatherhood of God, deity of Jesus Christ and the Person and deity of the Holy Spirit. They teach that man was created in the image of God, but is in a fallen state of sin and in need of redemption. They affirm that Jesus was virgin-born; lived a sinless life; was crucified, dead, and buried; and rose again bodily from the grave.

Thus the IWD does not designate the SDA as a cult However, the IWD designates the SDA as a Christian sect because they have a number of distinctive doctrines not in accord with historic Christian faith. This Belief Bulletin highlights those doctrines and provides biblical responses.

SDAs teach that the church founder, Ellen G. White, possessed a modern "spirit of prophecy." The church maintains that her visions and writings were divinely inspired interpretations of Scripture. Actually, the SDA movement was derived from several previous movements. Those movements included the Millerite Movement (Second Adventism), which had predicted the coming of Christ in 1844, and Seventh-day Sabbatarianism as taught by Joseph Bates. Mrs. White's visions combined these unusual theological notions into a unique religious system. She established the SDA movement in the 1850s. The SDA Church was formally organized in 1861 in Battle Creek, Mich.

The SDA Church teaches that Christianity in its original form was corrupted in the centuries after the New Testament era by apostate Roman Catholic popes. The sign of this apostasy was the shifting of the sabbath day from the seventh to the first day of the week. Throughout history, a small, faithful group of Christians has maintained true worship. Today the "remnant" church is the SDA Church.

The church consists of the body of believers in Christ It is the body of Christ in which the gospel is proclaimed, Christians are nurtured in their faith, and gifts of the Spirit are exercised. No single organization can claim exclusive title as the true or remnant church. 'The church includes all the redeemed of all ages (Matt. 16:15-19; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 1214; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:21; 4:4-13).

The SDA Church teaches that the biblical sabbath must be observed on the seventh day of the week (Friday evening until Saturday evening) in accordance with Old Testament law. It maintains that the New Testament church observed the sabbath which is the "seal" of God's law. Those Christians who worship on Sunday are in error and, in the last days, will bear the "mark of the beast" which they consider to be Sunday worship.

The New Testament church met on the "Lord's Day" (first day of the week) as a memorial of Christ's resurrection. The SDA church's insistence that sabbath-keeping is mandatory for Christians is unwarranted. The claim that Sunday worship is the mark of the beast is unfounded. Salvation and commitment to Christ are not demonstrated by adherence to external legalities (Rom. 13:8-10; 14:4-13; 1 Con 16:2; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:13-17).

The SDA Church publicly states its belief that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, SDA teaching often implies that certain outward acts of righteousness are necessary to maintain one's assurance of salvation, especially observance of the seventh-day sabbath. SDA members also are expected to observe strict dietary regulations and to abstain from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.

The SDA Church's emphasis on a healthy lifestyle is commendable. However, salvation is entirely a result of grace through faith in Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord. Good works result from one's assurance of eternal security through Christ's finished work (John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1-2, 35-39; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-10; 2Tim. 1:12).

The SDA Church teaches that the true "holy of holies" sanctuary of God is in heaven where, in 1844, Jesus began the second phase of His atoning ministry. This second phase, called the "investigative judgment" involves an examination of the dead to determine if they are worthy of being part of the first resurrection, and to determine who among the living are abiding in Christ and keeping God's commandments.

The Bible makes no reference to the SDA’s idea of two stages in God's plan of redemption. The SDA assertion that Christ entered the sanctuary in 1844 is unwarranted. Christ accomplished the totality of His redemptive work on the cross and in His resurrection. Salvation is assured by God's grace through faith in Christ (John 5:24; Rom. 5:6-10; 8:1; Col. 1:20-22; Heb. 13; 9:27; 1 John 5:11-13).

The SDA Church teaches that people who have died are in an unconscious, sleep-like, state. Believers are awaiting the appearance of Christ when they will be resurrected and caught up to meet the Lord. The unrighteous wicked will be resurrected and judged after the millennium.

The Bible implies that Christians' spirits go to be with Christ at death. Believers live in a conscious, interim state with the Lord, waiting for the day when they will accompany Him at His return. At that time, they will be reunited with their resurrected glorified bodies (John 11:25-26; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; l Thess. 4:13-18; 2Tim. 1:10).

The SDA Church teaches that we are in the last days. They do not set a date for the second coming, but imply that it will be soon. Bible prophecy can be understood from world history, as interpreted by Mrs. White. The SDA remnant church is proclaiming the final call for all people to prepare for the coming of Christ. They believe certain, specific signs will precede the end, especially a worldwide legal requirement for Sunday worship, the mark of the beast.

Jesus will in deed return physically to close the age and judge mankind. Believers are to be ready at any moment for the Lord's return. Mrs. White's interpretations of the prophetic biblical writings are questionable (Matt. 24:4-7,14,32-51; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7; 1 Thess. 5:1-11).

The SDA Church teaches that, after Christ's thousand-year rule, a second resurrection of those not saved will occur. Those whose names are not found in the "book of life" (unsaved) will be cast into the lake of fire and annihilated out of existence. The doctrine of eternal hell is denied.

The doctrine of eternal hell is affirmed. The saved will enjoy eternal life with Christ and the lost will suffer eternal punishment (Matt. 18:8-9; 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; John 3:16; 14:1-3; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20-22).

Members of the SDA Church may be genuinely saved Christians based on personal faith in Jesus Christ. The SDA Church, however, has some teachings that deviate from historic Christian doctrine. Baptists adhere to sound biblical teachings and reject extra biblical revelations or interpretations.

Tal Davis, Interfaith Evangelism Associate for Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements

1. General Conference of SDA Seventh-day Adventist Believe... A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines. Washington: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.

2. Martin, Walter. "The Puzzle of Seventh-day Adventism." Appendix in The Kingdom of the Cults (rev. ed.). Minneapolis: Bethany House Pub., 1985, pp. 409-500.

No. Seventh-day Adventists have several “distinctive doctrines” that they claim make them unique among all other churches.

B. The doctrine, based on Ellen G. White’s writings, that a believer will be judged by his or her works and this judgment of works determines one’s salvation. This is called the “Investigative Judgment” or the “Pre-Advent Judgment”. Ellen G. White’s book, the Great Controversy, teaches this doctrine in chapters 24 and 28.

C. The doctrine that in the last days, just before Jesus returns, only those worshipping on

Saturday will be saved. They particularly believe that worshipping on Sunday will be

D. That Sabbath keeping is the “seal of God”, even though the Bible says that the Holy Spirit indwelling a believer is God’s seal (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22).

E. That the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the only true church of God on earth.

Any other churches are apostate and referred to as “Babylon”, or “Apostate

F. When a Christian dies they cease to exist. Adventists, in common with Jehovah’s Witnesses, teach that a Christian does not go to be with the Lord at death. Adventists teach that the soul ceases to exist and must be recreated by God at the resurrection. Hence, the believer is separated from God by death, contrary to what Romans 8:38-39 and 2 Cor. 5:8 says.

G. Seventh-day Adventists do not believe in the eternal punishment of the devil and his

angels or of the wicked. They believe that the penalty for sinning against a holy

H. Seventh-day Adventists teach that the atonement was not completed at the cross, but is still in the process of being completed. This is part of their Investigative Judgment teaching.

Yes they do, but they also teach that a person’s ultimate salvation will be determined by the outcome of the Investigative Judgment. This doctrine, never taught before in the history of the church, teaches that beginning on October 22, 1844 an Investigative Judgment of all believer’s lives began. During this judgment, Adventists teach, believer’s names come up before God. If a believer has sinned that sin is marked down by a recording angel in heaven. That sin goes against the believer in the judgment. If a believer confesses that sin, “pardon” is written against that sin, but the sin remains on the books of record. Every single sin must be confessed to have “pardon” written by it. When a believer’s name comes up in this Investigative Judgment, God will weigh the good works against the sins. A believer never knows when God may come to his name in this judgment. When God looks at the believer’s life, Adventist’s teach, if those sins that were confessed and had been “pardoned” were not perfectly overcome, they will go against the believer. Bottom line, an Adventist must perfectly overcome their sin in order to stand before God. They are taught by their prophetess that they must stand before a holy God without Jesus as their mediator. Their prophetess Ellen G. White says, “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator” (The Great Controversy, p. 425). Needless to say, all of this contradicts the New Testament gospel of grace. The Bible teaches that believers never will enter a judgment for their salvation (John 5:24) and that there is no condemnation for a believer (Romans 8:1). The Bible teaches that when we confess our sins, they do not remain anywhere before God, they are forgiven and blotted out, wiped away! (See 1 John 1:8-9; Isaiah 43:25 and 44:22). The Bible teaches that Jesus will never stop being a believer’s mediator (Hebrews 7:25).

We stand before God, not by any merit of our own or because of any works we have done (Titus 3:5, Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9).

Yes. Seventh-day Adventists believe they are the only true church on earth. As recently as the spring of 2000 at their world wide General Conference meeting they passed a resolution affirming this belief. This is very important for them to believe. They refer to other Christians as either “apostate Protestant”, “Babylon”, “Sunday keepers”, or as sheep that have not yet come into the fold. They believe everyone who will be saved in the final days before Jesus returns will be a Seventh-day Adventist.

Yes. Seventh-day Adventists believe in the Trinity, though some of the pioneers of the Adventist church did not. James White (husband of their prophetess Ellen G. White) and Uriah Smith, author of “Bible Readings For The Home”, “Daniel and The Revelation”, books Adventist still circulate today, both shared the same Arian beliefs. They did not believe that Jesus was God.

Yes, Seventh-day Adventists share this belief with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Adventists are very firm in their belief that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. They must take this position because this is what their prophetess, Ellen G. White taught. They also believe that Jesus is God. There is a glaring contradiction here. Hebrews 1:13-14 says that Jesus is not an angel.

Yes and no.Officially the church encourages its members to be vegetarians because this is what Ellen G. White teaches. Most Adventists are not vegetarian. Many of those who are vegetarian eat diets that are high in fats, such as cheese and eggs.

Adventist do not eat the, “unclean” foods mentioned in the Bible, though in the New Testament Jesus and Paul declare all foods “clean” (Luke 11:41, Mark 7:19, Titus 1:15, Romans 14:14, 1 Tim. 4:3-5).

Adventists have made only cosmetic changes. Their core doctrines have not changed at all. They still preach at their evangelistic meetings that all other churches are wrong and are apostate Protestants or Catholics. They still believe Ellen G. White’s writings are as inspired as the Bible and they still believe and teach all their “distinctive” doctrines mentioned in question two.

Seventh-day Adventists desperately want to look like, sound like and be accepted like evangelical Christians. The problem is they don’t believe like evangelical, Bible believing Christians.

Adventists want to be accepted as evangelicals so that they can proselytize other Christians. If Adventists held a large evangelistic crusade in a city and had thousands of converts they would never funnel any of them to a Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran or non-denominational church. That would be unthinkable to them.

Obviously only God knows the state of a heart. There are some Adventists waking up to the fact that their church contradicts the Bible and they have doctrines, like the Investigative Judgment, that are incompatible with the New Testament teaching of salvation by grace through faith.

There are many Seventh-day Adventist pastors who have left the church because they have discovered the false doctrines and the errors of the Adventist prophetess, Ellen G. White. They need our prayers. Many of them are very gifted teachers, preachers and evangelists.

We at Seventh-day Adventist Outreach love the Seventh-day Adventist people. We desire to see them all come to a saving knowledge of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

Seventh-day Adventists will say emphatically that they believe the Bible alone. That, however, must be interpreted to mean that they believe the Bible alone and in Ellen G. White, whom they believe is God’s last day prophetess. They believe that her writings are as inspired as the Bible and Adventist interpretations of Scripture will never contradict Ellen G. White’s interpretations.

Official Adventist statements of belief say that they believe the Bible alone. Then in another section they say that the writings of Ellen G. White are a continuing source of authority in the church. Adventists have now published more books of Ellen White’s writings than there are books of the Bible. Many Adventists devoted to Ellen G. White read more of her writings than they read the Bible. Ellen G. White’s writings are quoted authoritatively by Adventist pastors in most of their sermons. They will refer to her as “The Pen of Inspiration”, “God’s Servant”, “The Messenger of the Lord”, “Inspiration”, “Sister White” or simply as “Ellen White”. When they do not refer to her writings in this way they will simply say the name of the book they are quoting from and give the reference. It is not uncommon for an Ellen G. White quotation to be memorized and quoted like a Bible verse. Many times those kinds of quotations are used as the final argument in Sabbath school class discussions.

No, Adventists have historically used the King James Version of the Bible. Some of their doctrines are much harder to prove from more modern versions like the New American Standard Bible or the New International Version.

In 1994 the Seventh-day Adventists did publish an Adventist paraphrase of the Bible, “The Clear Word Bible”, done by Adventist pastor and scholar Jack J. Blanco. This paraphrase has made huge changes to the Word of God. Large portions of Scripture have been altered to support Adventist distinctive doctrines. Passages of Scripture that refute Adventist false teaching have been “edited” so that they are rendered ineffective. This paraphrase is much worse of an attack on the Bible than the Jehovah’s Witnesses New World Translation or Joseph Smith’s (Mormon) “Inspired Translation of the King James Version”.

13. Why do Seventh-day Adventists make such a big deal about going to church on Saturday?

Seventh-day Adventists, like Jews, observe Saturday as the Sabbath. They do not understand that we Christians are under a New Covenant with New Covenant signs.

The Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments (Deut. 4:13, Deut. 9:9,11,15; 10:4, 1 Kings 8:9,21), had the sign of Sabbath keeping. God predicted that He would change this covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). Christians are under a New Covenant. The New Covenant signs that we are to observe are baptism (Col. 2:11-12) and the Lord’s supper (Luke 22:19-20).

The Apostle Paul teaches that we are now under a New Covenant and under “the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). Our “Law” is the teachings of the New Testament. (Gal. 6:2)

For further study we recommend our Bible study, “The Gospel & The Covenants”, these tapes have been used by the Lord to set thousands of Adventists free around the world.

14. Why don’t Adventists clearly identify themselves when they have “Prophecy Seminars” or health classes?

One can only suppose the Adventist leaders know the poor reputation they have in the Christian community doctrinally.

When Adventists hold their meetings, aimed primarily at taking members from other churches, they generally do not identify who they are. The following is a list of a few Adventist organizations or organizations with very similar beliefs (similar to an Adventist “para-church” organization if there was such a thing):

· · Many “Health Seminars” or “Vegetarian Cooking” classes held at Adventist schools or

· · SDA parochial day schools, boarding schools, high schools- also called “Academies”

· · Loma Linda University is their flagship medical center and world-class medical school

The magazine targeting Christian pastors and church leaders is Ministry Magazine. It is sent free to thousands of pastors across the land. Your pastor probably receives it. The issue he receives is slick and looks evangelical, containing many useful articles. What your pastor probably doesn’t know is that between every issue he receives is an issue intended only for Adventist pastors. There they debate issues such as how to interpret Ellen G. White, her role and function in the church, the Sabbath, the Investigative Judgment and other Adventist “distinctives” or fundamental Seventh-day Adventist doctrines.

It’s safe to say that the goal of everything the Seventh-day Adventist church does is to advance Adventism around the world and to attempt to make you or your family Seventh-day Adventists.

15. Why do my Adventist relatives and friends get so defensive when I talk to them about where I think they are doctrinally wrong?

Adventists are taught from childhood that they are God’s only true church on earth and that they are God’s remnant people. They are taught that they have the “truth” and all other Christians are wrong and are apostate. This causes them to have an attitude of spiritual arrogance and pride. They have a very difficult time receiving anything from a “Sunday Keeper”, as they refer to you. This spiritual pride and arrogance generally leads them to become defensive. Instead of listening to you they retreat into their doctrinal structure and hide. They are insecure in their beliefs and if you get them away from their proof-text method of presenting their doctrines they are lost.

They have been taught that someday those who worship on Sunday will persecute them, hunt them and even kill them. This doesn’t help.

-Lead them to verses in the New Testament they have never understood such as: Galatians 3-4, Colossians 2, Hebrews 8, and Romans 7.

-Ask them how the Sabbath can be the seal of a God when the Bible say the Holy Spirit is.

-Ask them how they could stand before God without a mediator when the Bible says Jesus always lives to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).

1. Pray for them. This is a spiritual battle. Ask the Lord to break down Satan’s strongholds and to open the eyes of Adventists around the world so that they can see the truths of the New Testament gospel of grace.

2. Support ministries that reach out to SDA’s with your prayers and financial support. There are many ministries linked on the web that minister to SDA’s worldwide. Remember, the Seventh-day Adventist church is a multi-million dollar organization. With much prayer and fasting God can break through to these dear people and set them free.

3. Tell other Christians what you’ve learned about Adventism. We must spread the truth about Seventh-day Adventism so that Christians are not deceived and Christian leaders around the world are made aware of these concerns.

The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. (Rev. 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Rev. 21:1-14.)

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)

The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God's unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God's kingdom. The Sabbath is God's perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God's creative and redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12; Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark 1:32.)

We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with the principles of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness. (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 John 2:6; Eph. 5:1-21; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5; 6:14-7:1; 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 10:31; Lev. 11:1-47; 3 John 2.)

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour's coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ's coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)

The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 146:3, 4; John 11:11-14; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John 5:28, 29; Rev. 20:1-10.)

The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)

On the new earth, in which righteousness dwells, God will provide an eternal home for the redeemed and a perfect environment for everlasting life, love, joy, and learning in His presence. For here God Himself will dwell with His people, and suffering and death will have passed away. The great controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more. All things, animate and inanimate, will declare that God is love; and He shall reign forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11:15.)

Seventh Day Adventists

(Taken from the Religious Movements Web Page: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/sevn.html)

Names of the Founders: William Miller founded the interfaith Millerite movement on whose doctrine the Adventist Church first formed. Three key leaders arose from this group to found what eventually became the Seventh-Day Adventists: James and Ellen White and Joseph Bates.

William Miller; Ellen G White; James White; Joseph Bates
Source: Adventist Pioneer Library @ http://www.tagnet.org/apl/Gallery.htm

Dates of Birth of the Founders:

William Miller 1782-1849
Ellen White 1827-1915
James White 1821-1881
Joseph Bates 1792-1872

Birth Places:
William Miller: Pittsfield, MA
Ellen White: Gorham, ME
James White: Palmyra, ME
Joseph Bates: New Bedford, MA

Year group was founded: The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was officially organized May 21, 1863, with around 3,500 members 1.

William Miller was born in 1782 and grew up in rural New York where much formal education was not available. An avid reader however, he borrowed books from neighboring men of influence and educated himself. He was raised in the Christian faith, but after leaving home he encountered and accepted deism. This faith was to wane with time, especially while serving in the War of 1812. After great struggle, he once again accepted Christ and the Bible as truth and joined the Baptist faith. In response to jeering deist friends, he began an intense study of Scripture to harmonize all the inconsistencies of the Bible using only Scripture and Cruden's Concordance 2.

During this search, he came upon Dan. 8:14, the 2300-day prophecy. The cleansing of the sanctuary he understood to mean, as did most of contemporary Christendom, the purification of the world by fire, or the second Advent of Christ 3 . After elaborate study of this prophecy in its Biblical context, he concluded that this period would end between 1843 and 1844.

For five years, Miller looked for discrepancies in his logic, but became all the more convinced. Feeling a great need to share his discoveries, he began with friends and family but found them uninterested. None of his minister friends shared his sense of urgency or responsibility. Frustrated he made a silent pact with God: if someone asked him, a farmer, to preach, he would share his discoveries. Within half an hour, a messenger came to his door with an invitation to preach at the Baptist Church in Dresden the next day. After much "struggling... in prayer," William Miller gave his first lecture on the imminent return of Christ in 1831 4.

The Advent Movement spread from that point on, as Miller tried to keep up with innumerable requests from Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches in New England 5. His messages focused primarily on deep heart searching, and revivals quickly followed wherever he went 6. By October 22, 1844, the last of several major dates proposed for Christ to return, the interfaith Millerite movement boasted membership of some 100,000 7. To their bitter disillusionment, that day set into history and many thousands left the movement's ranks.

A few tenaciously clung to the "Millerite" movement after the Great Disappointment of October 1844, refusing to believe that it had been a hoax. The revivals, deep and sincere, left them not knowing where to turn next. They searched their Bibles for where they had been misled 8. Not able to dispute the accuracy of the time prophecy, they turned to other ideas regarding the event that took place in 1844. Of the divergent ideas that emerged, Seventh-Day Adventists came to believe that the sanctuary being cleansed in Dan. 8:14 referred to the sanctuary in Heaven, and not the earth 9.

Shortly after the Great Disappointment of 1844, the seventh-day doctrine was espoused by Joseph Bates 10. Bates, a retired sea captain who had spent his entire savings in promoting the Millerite movement soon published a pamphlet that led James and Ellen White to accept this belief 11. These three were to become prominent leaders during the formation of the Seventh-Day Adventist church 12.

By 1850, many of the basic beliefs of the Seventh-Day Adventists had begun to form. This was facilitated by Bible conferences, held several times a year, where attendees would study Scripture regarding doctrines such as the Sabbath and the sanctuary. Although there remained differences in opinion, they came to accept the Bible and the Bible alone as their rule of faith and duty 13. Consequently, justification for their doctrines such as the unchangeable law of God (especially their Sabbatarian beliefs), the imminent return of Christ, and the work of Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary to blot out sins after 1844, are claimed to be Biblically based.

The Seventh-Day Adventist church is a sectarian Protestant movement, whose existence began with members of Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, and Presbyterian affiliations 14. When William Miller began to preach about his "discoveries," he did not intend to start a new religious movement. He hoped that his beliefs would be espoused by the Christian community, igniting revival and preparing them for what he believed was Christ's soon return. However, his teachings were ridiculed by the main Protestant body, leading "Millerites" to leave their former religious groups and join like believers.

Size/Global Missions: U.S. membership is about three quarters of a million but Adventists have maintained an aggressive foreign missions program. Worldwide membership is estimated at 9.7 million, in 205 different countries. Sabbath School attendance boasts some 11.4 million members 53.

With the church at large baptizing some 2,000 people each day, the Seventh-Day Adventist church is one of the fastest-growing today 54. In addition to the traditional missionaries sent to foreign lands, they have an extensive centralized educational system with over 5,000 schools, colleges and universities 55. Adventist World Radio, one of several SDA radio programs alone broadcasts in over 50 languages about 1,000 hours weekly 56. Similarly, Adventist Communication Network, one of several within the church, projects four regular programs via satellite to more than 2000 churches across the globe 57.

The Adventist church is actively involved in world development and disaster relief. Adventist Development and Relief Agency is an international organization that works in over 140 countries to promote economic development, food security, primary health care, disaster response and preparation, and basic education for underdeveloped countries 58.

Health Emphasis: SDA's believe the human body to be a temple of God and, hence, observe practices that modern science has proven to be healthy. Much of their practices have their foundations in the writings of Ellen White, who was remarkably beyond her contemporaries in the area of nutrition and preventive medicine. A professor of nutrition at Cornell University, Clive McCay, PhD, wrote, "in spite of the fact that the works of Mrs. White were written long before the advent of modern scientific nutrition, no better over-all guide is available today." 59 SDA's practice abstinence from smoking, alcohol, drugs, and a large proportion practice vegetarianism. More generally, they believe in creating a lifestyle that is health-giving 60.

Seventh-Day Adventists have been pioneers in promoting medical research. Loma Linda University & Medical Center is especially known for its proton radiation therapy and for being the pioneers of infant heart transplants.

John Harvey Kellogg, M.D. , who originated the breakfast cereals, was an influential figure in the early Adventist church. His research supported much of what Ellen White had counseled on health, especially vegetarianism. A noted speaker, author, researcher, surgeon and inventor, he made significant contributions to Adventism and society at large 61.

Legal Issues: Supreme Court cases involving SDAs were initiated by naturalization and military service classification issues, such as Giroud v. United States. Giroud, who was denied naturalization because he declared he would not bear arms to defend the U.S., but was willing otherwise to support and defend the Constitution and laws, took his case to the Supreme Court and was granted citizenship. The Supreme Court decided that Congress had not intended for the promise to bear arms to be a prerequisite to citizenship.

Supreme Court cases have also centered around Sabbath-employment issues, such as in Hobbie v. Unemployment Appeals Commission and Sherbert v. Verner. In both Sherbert v. Verner and Hobbie v. Unemployment Appeals Commision, Sherbert and Hobbie were dismissed from work due to conflicts with Sabbath hours. Unable to find employment that allowed Saturdays off, they applied for unemployment benefits, but were denied them. The Supreme Court upheld that the state could not "impose a burden on the free exercise of her religion," in the case of Sherbert v. Verner and that denying "receipt of a benefit because of conduct mandated by religious belief... must be subjected to strictscrutiny," in Hobbie v. Unemployment Appeals Commision. 62

Adventists ardently support religious liberty and actively work toward maintenance of the constitutional separation of church and state. A separate department is designated to promote such activities at an interdenominational and international level and is responsible for Liberty Magazine 64.

The Branch Davidians: The Branch Davidians were a sectarian splinter from the Seventh-Day Adventists. This split occurred in 1929 when Victor Houteff, who believed himself to be a messenger of God was, disfellowshipped due to his deviations from the main-line church teachings. Houteff authored a book, The Shepherd's Rod, in which he delineated his new beliefs. A unique feature of the Davidians was their doctrine of proselytizing only among SDAs because they believed that only Adventists had the proper beliefs and understanding to receive the spiritual truths that Houteff taught, but still this was met with small success 65.

When the siege of the Davidian compound near Waco commenced in February, 1993, the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists wasted little time in disavowing any affiliation with the Davidians. In a press release after the tragedy, they asserted "Although the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has no affiliation with the Branch Davidians or any other cult, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in the Waco, Texas tragedy. As compassionate, peace-loving people, our prayers are with these families" 66. The implication of this quick disavowal is that the SDAs associate themselves with the mainstream and not the fringe of American religion.

Jehovah's Witnesses: Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses have shared somewhat similar backgrounds. Although Jehovah's Witnesses came into existence about 50 years after the Millerite movement, both SDAs and JWs arose as sectarian movements with origins that pointed to the movement in 1844 67. As sectarian movements, both were initially in high tension with society. While JWs have maintained this high level of tension, becoming an "established sect," SDAs have reduced this tension somewhat, mainstreaming towards denominational status. The position of each of these movements with regards to military service provides a good illustration of this point.

The initial position of the SDA church was that they were "compelled to decline all participation in acts of war and bloodshed" 68. However, they accomodated to society by creating noncombatant roles whereby they could fulfill their military duties 69. In the ensuing years, situations arose where this precedent could not be followed, especially with foreign governments. The church then determined that the bearing of arms should be "a matter of individual conscience," 70 backing away from their initial official church position. They have instead encouraged obedience to civil authorities and focused on offering spiritual support to members in service.

Jehovah's Witnesses have believed in political neutrality since their inception. This precludes them from voting, saluting the flag and as expected, bearing arms 71. During times of war, they have firmly maintained their stand, leading to severe persecution 72. Situations of increased tensions (i.e. war), have only embedded them more deeply in their ideology. Persecution only caused them to view secular powers as "instruments of the Devil" 73. Thus their high tension status with society has prevailed despite the passing of time and JWs have become established as a strongly sectarian movement.

Generally speaking however, SDAs have reduced their initial tension with society in many ways, most notably by their extensive educational and health-care systems worldwide 74. These have increased the church's participation with society and has allowed substantial upward mobility for its members.

Adventism Movement: The denominational traditions of the Adventists Movement, especially the Seventh Day Adventist and the Jehovah's Witnesses, along with a growing sectarian body of scholarship, has resulted in a growing body of scholarly literature about the Adventistism. In addition to the substantial print resources we have note thus far, we would also call attention to several important online resources. See, for example, a synaposis of Millerite Movement (the prophesized end of the world in 1843) in Cornerstone Mazazine.

Footnotes

1 Land, Gary. Adventism in America: A History, p62
2 Maxwell, C. Mervyn. Tell It To The World, p13
3 Land, p4
4 Land, p5
5 Maxwell, p15
6 Maxwell, p16
7 Land, p34
8 Gaustad, Edwin S. The Rise of Adventism, p178
9 Damsteegt, P. Gerard. Foundations of the Seventh-Day Adventist Message and Mission, p122
10 Maxwell, p76
11 Maxwell, p81
12 Land, p38
13 Land, p40
14 Gaustad, p154
15 Mark 13:32 See text
16 Matt 24 See text; Mark 13 See text; Luke 21:5-36 See text
17 Acts 1:9-11 See text; Rev 1:7 See text
18 Gen 2:2-3 See text
19 Exo 20:8-11 See text
20 Deut 5:15 See text
21 Ezek 20:12 See text
22 Ezek 20:20 See text
23 Isa 56:6-7 See text; Isa 66:22-23 See text
24 Isa 58:13-14 See text
25 Heb 8:1-2, 5 See text
26 1 Cor 6:19-20 See text
27 2 Cor 7:1 See text
28 Lev 11 See text
29 Joel 2:28 See text
30 Isa 8:20 See text
31 Joshua 10:13 See text
32 2 Sam 1:18 See text
33 Romans 6:1-6 See text
34 Acts 16:30-33 See text
35 Col 2:12-13 See text; Acts 22:16 See text
36 Acts 2:38 See text
37 Matt 3:13-17 See text
38 Acts 8:36-39 See text
39 Rev 12:17 See text
40 Rev 14:6-12 See text
41 Heb 9:11-12 See text; Heb 10:19-22 See text
42 Dan 7:9-27 See text; Dan 8:13-14 See text; Dan 9:24-27 See text; Num 14:34 See text; Ezek 4:6 See text
43 Rev 14:6-7 See text
44 Lev 16 See text
45 Rev 20:12, 4-5 See text
46 1 Thess 4:16-17 See text
47 Rev 22:10-12 See text
48 Eccl 9:5 See text
49 John 11:11-14 See text
50 Rev 20:4,5 See text; 1 Thess 4:13-17 See text
51 Rev 20:5, 13-14 See text
52 1 Thess 5:19-21 See text
53 Office of Archives and Statistics, General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, August 1998. "Facts and Figures." http://www.adventist.org/pages/factsfigures.html
54 Ibid.
55 Ibid.
56 Jacobsen, Don. "A Message from the President of Adventist World Radio." http://www.awr.org/president.html
57 Office of Archives and Statistics, "Facts and Figures."
58 Adventist Development and Relief Agency. "Changing the World, One Life at a Time." http://www.adra.org
59 McCay, Clive, Rational Therapeutics p7-8 as cited at http://www.llu.edu/info/legacy/Legacy12.html#anchor93572
60 Schaefer, Richard A. Legacy: Daring to Care "Adventist Health Study" as cited at http://www.llu.edu/info/legacy/LegacyC.html#anchor1292276
61 Schaefer, Richard A. Legacy: Daring to Care "Battle Creek and Health Reform" as cited at http://www.llu.edu/info/legacy/Legacy16.html#anchor106162
62 Lawson, Ronald. "Seventh-Day Adventists and the U.S. Courts" Journal of Church and State, pp553-588
63 Ibid.
64 Lawson, Ronald. "Seventh-Day Adventist Responses to Branch Davidian Notoriety", Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, p330
65 Ibid, p324
66 Ibid., p329
67 Lawson, Ronald. "Sect-State Relations: Accounting for the Differing Trajectories of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses." Sociology of Religion, p351
68 Ibid., p355
69 Ibid., p356
70 Ibid., p359
71 Ibid., p362
72 Ibid., p365
73 Ibid., p363
74 Ibid., p326

William Miller; Ellen G White; James White; Joseph Bates Source: Adventist Pioneer Library @ http://www.tagnet.org/apl/Gallery.htm

Footnotes

William Miller; Ellen G White; James White; Joseph Bates
Source: Adventist Pioneer Library @ http://www.tagnet.org/apl/Gallery.htm