Seventh-day Adventists: Facts, Beliefs, and Resources

• Buffer
• Tweet

What is the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

The Seventh-day Adventist church is a Protestant church which is based on the belief that the biblical Sabbath should be observed on the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, hence the part of the name “Seventh-day.” It is also based on the belief that Jesus Christ will come back to the earth. This coming is referred to as an advent, which is where the “Adventist” part of the name comes from. This Sabbath is observed like the Jewish Sabbath, from sundown Friday night until sundown on Saturday.

Who started the Seventh-day Adventist Movement?

The Adventist movement began in America in the 1800s. William Miller, who grew up in a farming community, was said to be a non-believer or atheist in his early years. He evidently went through a change of heart and biographical data about his life indicate that he began to study the Bible. Based on certain references, he concluded that the return of Jesus was imminent. He set a time by which he expected this to occur, stating that there would be a “cleansing by fire” between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Miller attracted a group of followers who believed with him in this “advent” (coming), hence the name Adventists.

His followers comprised people from a range of Christian faiths such as Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists. This early group called themselves Millerites. When this second coming did not happen, a time referred to as “The Great Disappointment,” many followers of Miller were turned away. Those who stayed renamed themselves “Millennium Millennialists,” followed by the term “Adventists.”

At the time of the “Great Disappointment,” a young Methodist teenager by the name of Ellen Harman, who later became Ellen White upon marriage, was said to have a vision. These visions were alleged to have become frequent, and she was thought to receive prophecy. The people who chose to follow her believed that she was a divinely sent messenger to carry the word of God. Seventh-day Adventists follow her teachings to this day. She was a prolific writer and her teachings are recorded and learned by Adventists.

To counter the disappointment regarding the anticipated arrival not happening, White attributed the error to a misinterpretation. She explained that the notion of a holy sanctuary did not mean the church on earth but rather a heavenly sanctuary. She said that Jesus did come, but that he was involved with the cleansing by fire of the sanctuary above, prior to coming to earth.

White proclaimed Saturday as the Sabbath day to be observed, according to the biblical Sabbath as the seventh day of the week. The name Seventh-day Adventists was derived from this belief in the seventh day Sabbath. The concept of Advent, giving the complete name, relates to the belief in the Advent of Jesus.

These two beliefs, the Sabbath and the anticipation of the second coming of Jesus, form the principle tenets of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. They believe in the Old and New Testament, as well as the notion of Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Fundamental beliefs include concepts of creation, salvation, the remnant, the great controversy, the heavenly sanctuary, the Sabbath, prophecy, death and millenialism.

The strong missionary component of the Adventists comes largely from the influence of White. She believed that it was her duty, and of her followers, to spread the teachings of the Bible, particularly from an Adventist perspective. The purpose was to prepare people for the Advent which is still believed to be taking place.

Seventh-day Adventists hold their Sabbath prayers in church on a Saturday. They have communion services four times per year. Only people who are baptized by immersion are permitted into the congregation.

Whilst Ellen White began her church experience as a Methodist, and although there were Methodists as part of the congregation even from the earlier time when William Miller began the movement, it cannot be said that all the congregants were Methodists. They were, in fact, gathered from a range of Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and others.

Beliefs and Rituals of Seventh-day Adventists

Seventh-day Adventists follow certain dietary restrictions, such as not eating pork, shellfish or other animals mentioned as unclean in the Bible, specifically in the book of Leviticus. Many of them are vegetarians, dress modestly, abstain from drug, tobacco and alcohol use, and do not go out dancing or to the movies. They are very involved in education and medicine and there are numerous colleges, universities and medical facilities which are run by Seventh-day Adventist believers. Throughout the world, as of 2005, there were around 14 million people who were Seventh-day Adventists.

What are the Seven Dispensations Called?

Dispensationalism is a Christian doctrine, which believes that there are seven time periods, or dispensations, which make up Biblical human history. These time periods begin with the time of Adam and end with the period of the Millennial Kingdom, in which it is believed that Jesus Christ will rule the Earth for 1,000 years.

1. The seven dispensations are called Innocence (comprising the time of Adam)
2. Conscience (comprising the period after man sinned and lasting until the flood)
3. Government (comprising the period after the flood when man was permitted to eat meat and the death penalty was instituted)
4. Promise (comprising the period from Abraham to Moses and the giving of the Torah)
5. Law (comprising the period from Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ)
6. Grace (comprising the crucifixion to the Millennial Kingdom)
7. The Millennium Kingdom.

During each of these dispensations it is believed that God acts in a certain way and different parts of the Bible are thought to relate to each dispensation. The belief of Dispensationalism was developed by John Nelson Darby and the Brethren Movement during the 1800s. What are the 3 variations of dispensationalism? Dispensationalism can be broken down over time into three variations, each influenced by different figures: Classical, Revised and Progressive.

Are Seventh-day Adventists Dispensationalists?

Seventh-day Adventists are not Dispensationalists. Seventh-day Adventists are considered to be of the Protestant faith, and Dispensationalists are evangelical Christians. Although both believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ and a millennial period, the two movements vary in their view of what will happen during this millennial period. The Seventh-day Adventists believe that the millennium period is the time between the first and the second resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this time only Satan and his angels will inhabit the earth and the wicked will be judged and the world will be freed of sin. After this period, there will be a new earth in which only the righteous dwell. The millennial period according to the Dispensationalists is derived from the book of Revelation and comprises a 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth, specifically as King of Jerusalem on David’s throne. Only believers will enter this Millennium Kingdom and the world will be at peace. Another difference between the two doctrines is that Seventh-day Adventists observe the Biblical Sabbath on the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, and Dispensationalists observe the Biblical Sabbath on the first day of the week, or Sunday.

Resources about Seventh-day Adventists

About Seventh-day Adventists

Online books about Seventh-day Adventists

Official Website of Seventh-day Adventists

What if it were Today? An Examination of Dispensational Premillennialism

Resource by B.Matthews

I am a fun outgoing girl who loves to go to concerts and sit on the grass and read. My favorite books are those that make me think about life, love and how the world spins around no matter the troubles that you're going through.

Related Research For Teachers, Students, and Kids