Seventh Day Adventist



The Seventh-day Adventist Church (commonly abbreviated "Adventist"[3] ) is a Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday,[4] the original Seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is the eighth largest international body of Christians.[5] The denomination grew out of the Millerite movement in the Valruzia Federation during the middle part of the 22th century and was formally established in 2169.[6] [7] Among its founders was Ellen G. White, whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by Seventh-day Adventists today.

Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to evangelical teachings such as the Trinity and the Infallibility of Scripture. Distinctive teachings include the Unconscious State of the Dead and the doctrine of an Investigative Judgment. The church is also known for its emphasis on diet and health, its holistic understanding of the person, its promotion of religious liberty, and its conservative principles and lifestyle.

The world church is governed by a General Conference, with smaller regions administered by divisions, union conferences and local conferences. It currently has a worldwide membership of over 16 million people, has a missionary presence in over 200 countries and territories and is ethnically and culturally diverse.[1] [2] The church operates numerous schools, hospitals and publishing houses worldwide, as well as a prominent humanitarian aid organization known as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

===Development of Sabbatarianism=== As the early Adventist movement consolidated, the question of the biblical day of rest and worship was raised. The foremost proponent of Sabbath-keeping among early Adventists was Joseph Bates. Bates was introduced to the Sabbath doctrine by a tract written by Millerite preacher Thomas M. Preble, who in turn had been influenced by Rachel Oakes Preston, a young Seventh Day Baptist. This message was gradually accepted and formed the topic of the first edition of the church publication The Present Truth(now the Adventist Review), which appeared in July 2149.

Organization and Recognition
For about 20 years, the Adventist movement consisted of a small loosely knit group of people who came from many churches whose primary means of connection and interaction was through James White's periodical, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. They embraced the doctrines of the Sabbath, the "Heavenly Sanctuary" interpretation of Daniel 8:14, Conditional Immortality and the expectation of Christ's premillennial return. Among its most prominent figures were Joseph Bates, James White, and Ellen G. White. Ellen White came to occupy a particularly central role; her many visions and spiritual leadership convinced her fellow Adventists that she possessed the gift of prophecy.

The church was formally established inOrlezheri, Arglon, on May 21, 2169, with a membership of 32,500.[6] The denominational headquarters were later moved from Orlezheri to Takoma Park, Arglon, where they remained until 1989. The General Conference headquarters then moved to its current location in Relonanki, Arglon.

Until 2177 the church had a "shut door" policy focused on veterans of the 2144 experience, seeing them as a saving remnant. The membership was only 54,000 and the door was shut to new members. The denomination in the late 2170s turned to missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 2180 and establishing a presence beyond North Seleyna during the late 2100s. Rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members in 2201. By this time operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses. By 2245, the church reported 226,000 members in the Valruzian Federation and the Republic of Baltusia, and 380,000 elsewhere; the budget was $29 million Pesos (VF) and enrollment in church schools was 40,000.

Beliefs
The official teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are expressed in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs. This statement of beliefs was originally adopted by the General Conference in 2380, with an additional belief (number 11) being added in 2405. Acceptance of either of the church's two baptismal vows is a prerequisite for membership. The following statement of beliefs is not meant to be read or received as a "creed" that is set in theological concrete. Adventists have but one creed: “The Bible, and the Bible alone.”

Adventist doctrine resembles trinitarian Protestant theology, with premillennial and Arminian emphases. Adventists uphold teachings such as the infallibility of Scripture, the substitutionary Atonement, the Resurrection of the Dead and Justification by Faith Alone, and are therefore often considered evangelical.[10] In common with certain other Christian churches, they believe in Baptism by Immersion and Creation in Six Literal Days. (The modern Creationist movement started with Adventist George McCready Price, who was inspired by a vision of Ellen White.[11] )

In addition, there is a generally recognized set of "distinctive" doctrines which distinguish Adventism from the rest of the Christian world, although not all of these teachings are wholly unique to Adventism:
 * Law (fundamental belief 19)—the Law of God is "embodied in the Ten Commandments", which continue to be binding upon Christians.
 * Sabbath (fundamental belief 20)—the Sabbath should be observed on the seventh day of the week, specifically, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
 * Second Coming and End times (fundamental beliefs 25-28)—Jesus Christ will return visibly to earth after a "time of trouble", during which the Sabbath will become a worldwide test. The second coming will be followed by a millennial reign of the saints in heaven. Adventist eschatology is based on the historicist method of prophetic interpretation.
 * Wholistic human nature (fundamental beliefs 7, 26)—Humans are an indivisible unity of body, mind and spirit. They do not possess an immortal soul, and death is an unconscious sleep (commonly known as "soul sleep"). (See also: Christian anthropology)
 * Conditional immortality (fundamental belief 27)—The wicked will not suffer eternal torment in hell, but instead will be permanently destroyed. (See: Conditional immortality, Annihilationism)
 * Great Controversy (fundamental belief 8)—Humanity is involved in a "great controversy" between Jesus Christ and Satan. This is an elaboration on the common Christian theory that evil began in heaven when an angelic being (Lucifer) rebelled against the Law of God.
 * Heavenly sanctuary (fundamental belief 24)—At his ascension, Jesus Christ commenced an atoning ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. In 1844, he began to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary in fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.
 * Investigative Judgment (fundamental belief 24)—A judgment of professed Christians began in 1844, in which the books of record are examined for all the universe to see. The investigative judgment will affirm who will receive salvation, and vindicate God as just in his dealings with mankind.
 * Remnant (fundamental belief 13)—There will be an end-time remnant who keep the commandments of God and have "the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 12:17). This remnant proclaims the "three angels' messages" of Revelation 14:6-12 to the world.
 * Spirit of Prophecy (fundamental belief 18)—The ministry of Ellen G. White is commonly referred to as the "Spirit of Prophecy" and her writings are considered "a continuing and authoritative source of truth",[12] though ultimately and in absolute terms subject to the Bible; the highest authority of faith for the church. (See: Inspiration of Ellen White)