Seventh-day Adventist theology

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Adventism
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The theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church resembles that of Protestant Christianity, combining elements from Lutheran, Wesleyan-Arminian, and Anabaptist branches of Protestantism. Adventists believe in the infallibility of Scripture and teach that salvation comes from grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The 28 fundamental beliefs constitute the church's official doctrinal position

There are some teachings held exclusively by Seventh-day Adventists. Distinctive doctrines differentiate it from other Christian churches include: the perpetuity of the seventh-day Sabbath, the unconsciousness of man in death, conditional immortality, an atoning ministry of Jesus Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and a pre-Advent Judgment that commenced in 1844. Furthermore, a traditionally historicist approach to prophecy has led Adventists to develop a unique system of eschatological beliefs which incorporates a commandment-keeping "remnant", a universal end-time crisis revolving around the law of God, and the visible return of Jesus Christ prior to a millennial reign of believers in heaven.

(For differing theological perspectives, see the articles on Progressive Adventists and Historic Adventists.)

Overview[]

Official beliefs[]

The Seventh-day Adventist denomination expresses its official teachings in a formal statement known as the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. This statement of beliefs was originally adopted by the church's General Conference in 1980, with an additional belief (number 11) being added in 2005.^[1] The General Conference session in San Antonio 2015 made some changes to the wording of several fundamental beliefs.^[2] Also significant are the baptismal vows, of which there are two versions; candidates for church membership are required to accept one.

In addition to the fundamental beliefs, a number of "Official Statements" have been voted on by the church leadership, although only some of these are doctrinal in nature. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary is a significant expression of Adventist theological thought.

Source of authority[]

View of Scripture

The first fundamental belief of the church stated that "The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of [God's] will." Adventist theologians generally reject the "verbal inspiration" position on Scripture held by many conservative evangelical Christians. They believe instead that God inspired the thoughts of the biblical authors, and that the authors then expressed these thoughts in their own words.^[3] This view is popularly known as "thought inspiration", and most Adventist members hold to that view. According to Ed Christian, former JATS editor, "few if any ATS members believe in verbal inerrancy".^[4]

Adventists generally reject higher critical approaches to Scripture. The 1986 statement Methods of Bible Study, "urge[s] Adventist Bible students to avoid relying on the use of the presuppositions and the resultant deductions associated with the historical-critical method."

Early Adventists followed the Millerite lead of sola scriptura -- the bible as the only source of authority and understanding.^[5] But 40 years later, the leaders seemed to have forgotten the biblical view substituting 1) expert opinion, 2) authoritative position in the church, 3) Adventist tradition and 4) desire for creed like statements.^[6] In 1888, Ellen and Willie White with Alanzo Jones and Ellet Waggoner held, in contrast, that the Bible was the only determiner of Christian belief.^[7]

Role of Ellen White

Seventh-day Adventist approaches to theology are affected by the level of authority accorded the writings of Ellen White. Mainstream Adventists believe that White had the spiritual gift of prophecy, but that her writings are subject to testing by the Bible, which has ultimate authority.

According to one church document, "her expositions on any given Bible passage offer an inspired guide to the meaning of texts without exhausting their meaning or preempting the task of exegesis".^[8] "The Inspiration and Authority of the Ellen G. White Writings", document was issued by the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It has received worldwide review and input, although is not an official statement. It concludes that a proper understanding of White's writings will avoid the two extremes of regarding her "writings as functioning on a canonical level identical with Scripture, or […] considering them as ordinary Christian literature."^[9]

Because of Ellen's endorsement in 1888, of some of Jones and Waggoner's positions, many went on to accept nearly everything they said a truth.^[10] However, Jones lead those who would not seek Bible counsel alone into four false ideas, 1) to use Ellen's works as basis for sermons, 2) Verbal inspiration of all her writings, 3) her writings were inerrant with no factual errors, and 4) literary and historical context of a statement was not important. Ellen rejected these positions and Jones eventually became Ellen's most vocal enemy.^[11] Some SDAs still accept and promote these flawed uses of Ellen's writings.^[11]

Relation to other groups[]

Adventist theology is distinctly Protestant, and holds much in common with Evangelicalism in particular. However, in common with many restorationist groups, Adventists have traditionally taught that the majority of Protestant churches have failed to "complete" the Reformation by overturning the errors of Roman Catholicism (see also Great Apostasy) and "restoring" the beliefs and practices of the primitive church—including Sabbath keeping, adult baptism and conditional immortality.^[12]

Adventists typically do not consider themselves part of the Fundamentalist Christianity community: "Theologically, Seventh-day Adventists have a number of beliefs in common with Fundamentalists, but for various reasons have never been identified with the movement... On their part, Adventists reject as unbiblical a number of teachings held by many (though not all) Fundamentalists..."^[13]

Theological background[]

Seventh-day Adventist theology has undergone development from the beginning of the movement. Doctrinal development has been associated with significant events, including the Great Disappointment, the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference and discussions with evangelicals in the middle of the 20th century which prompted the publication of Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine. As a consequence of these developments, different theological streams have emerged which today exist alongside the mainstream of the Church.

Theological roots[]

While Adventism is a child of the 16th century Reformation initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, its theological orientation really finds itself at home with the Radical Reformation or the Anabaptists. Anabaptists went back to the original early church teachings and rejected infant baptism and state support of the church. They called for a believer's church where baptism followed faith, and stood for a separation of church and state. Anabaptists viewed the Major Reformation churches as not being consistent in the belief of Sola Scriptura. They sought to get back towards New Testament church ideals, rather than stick to where Luther, Calvin or Zwingli did theologically, moving away from church traditions and creedal formulas. Anabaptism influence permeated the evangelical denominations of the 19th century.^[14]

Restorationism was a vital force in many 19th century American religious movements. Restorationists believe that the Reformation, which began in the 16th century, would not be complete until the last vestiges of tradition were gone. Roman Catholic errors needed to be overturned and the teaching of the Bible firmly in place. They espoused Sola Scriptura, wanting Biblical evidence for every position. The Bible was to be their only guide-book in faith and practice. Its largest impact was the fostering of the getting back to the Bible attitude. Christian Connexion made an extremely large impact on Millerite Adventism and Sabbatarian Adventism. Adventist theology is distinctly Protestant, and holds much in common with Evangelicalism. However, like many restorationist groups, Adventists have typically taught that the majority of Protestant churches have failed to "complete" the Reformation by "restoring" the beliefs and practices of the primitive church—including Sabbath keeping, adult baptism and conditional immortality. Captain Joseph Bates described the seventh-day Sabbath as one of things that needed to be restored to the church before Christ would return.^[15][16]

The Methodist or Wesleyan movement was influential in early 19th-century America. Its freewill orientation (as opposed to the predestination perspective of the Puritan heritage) seemed to line up with the experience of a nation nurtured in a frontier mentality where anything could be accomplished if one willed it and worked at it. Methodism popularized such ideas as Christ dying for all people rather than for just a predestined elect; that people had free will rather than a predestined will; that God's Spirit worked with every person through prevenient grace to wake them up to a sense of their need to turn to Christ; that people could accept salvation through a faith response to God's Holy Spirit; that one could resist grace and harden the heart; and that a Christian could fall from grace through apostasy. Those theological concepts stood in sharp contrast to the inherited Puritan/Calvinistic mentality that had dominated colonial Christianity. Adventists also accepted with Wesley the Reformation concept of justification by faith. To counteract antinomianism, Wesley emphasized sanctification as a process of becoming more like Jesus. Justification was the work of a moment while sanctification was the work of a lifetime. The concept the perfection was the dynamic biblical concept in which one lived in a growing state of perfect love toward God and other people.^[17]

Deism also influenced SDA theology. William Miller had been a Deist before his conversion. His generation lived in a world highly appreciative of rational approaches to everything, including religion. Miller utilized this logical approach in his study of the Bible, referring to his experience as a "feast of reason." His evangelistic method aimed at his hearers' heads rather than their emotions. Such an intellectualist approach to religion found a central role in Sabbatarian and eventually Seventh-day Adventism.^[18]

The Puritan influence played a large part in shaping the thought of 19th-century America. They placed a major emphasis on the authority of the Bible and a Christian's obligation to the law. They specifically stressed the importance of strict Sabbath observance (by Sabbath they meant the "Lord's Day" -- Sunday). Their "Lord's Day" was not merely for worship but it also had relational overtones, where by if society is faithful to God, He will bless it, but if it is disobedient He will remove the blessings. This led to endless attempts to legislate Christian morality. By the 19th-century Puritan ideas on sabbatarianism had infiltrated the general thinking of religious people in the US. This brought the importance of the seventh-day Sabbath to the minds of early Adventists.^[19]

Along with most Americans, Adventists had confidence in the ability of the "common person" to do almost anything, including theology. Theology had once been the domain of trained scholars, but the impact of a more radical democracy in the early 19th-century opened up possibilities for laypersons to take leadership initiatives.^[20][21]

Like Baconianism, where facts of science were found by examining the world, amassing information and then deriving conclusions, so too was the Bible studied in like manner. Gather all the relevant biblical facts (or texts) on a topic, and you will be correct in your interpretation.^[21]

Shared Protestant doctrine[]

Because of their strong theological roots Seventh-day Adventists uphold the central doctrines of Protestant Christianity:^[22]

1. "That God is the Sovereign Creator, upholder, and ruler of the universe, and that He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
2. That the Godhead, the Trinity, comprises God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3. That the Scriptures are the inspired revelation of God to men; and that the Bible is the sole rule of faith and practice.
4. That Jesus Christ is very God, and that He has existed with the Father from all eternity.
5. That the Holy Spirit is a personal being, sharing the attributes of deity with the Father and the Son.
6. That Christ, the Word of God, became incarnate through the miraculous conception and the virgin birth; and that He lived an absolutely sinless life here on earth.
7. That the vicarious, atoning death of Jesus Christ, once for all, is all-sufficient for the redemption of a lost race.
8. That Jesus Christ arose literally and bodily from the grave.
9. That He ascended literally and bodily into heaven.
10. That He now serves as our advocate in priestly ministry and mediation before the Father.
11. That He will return in a premillennial, personal, imminent second advent.
12. That man was created sinless, but by his subsequent fall entered a state of alienation and depravity.
13. That salvation through Christ is by grace alone, through faith in His blood.
14. That entrance upon the new life in Christ is by regeneration, or the new birth.
15. That man is justified by faith.
16. That man is sanctified by the indwelling Christ through the Holy Spirit.
17. That man will be glorified at the resurrection or translation of the saints, when the Lord returns.
18. That there will be a judgment of all men.
19. That the gospel is to be preached as a witness to all the world."

Millerism[]

The theological foundation of Seventh-ay Adventism is traced back to the teachings of William Miller. Four topics were especially important in understanding that substructure: 1) Miller's use of the Bible, 2) his eschatology; 3) his perspective on the 1st and 2nd angel's messages of Revelation 14, and 4) the seventh-month movement that ended with the "Great Disappointment".^[23]

Bible use

Miller's approach to Bible study was thorough and methodical, intensive and extensive. His central principle of Bible interpretation was the idea that "all scripture is necessary". He said, "bring all scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction you cannot be in error." He held that the Bible should be its own expositor. By comparing scripture with scripture a person could unlock the meaning of the Bible.

Thus the Bible became a person's authority, rather than a creed or traditional writings. If a creed of other individuals or their writings served as the basis of authority, then that external authority becomes central rather than the Bible itself. Miller's guidelines concerning the interpretation Bible prophecy was built upon the same four concepts.^[20] The Bible, so far as millers and his followers were concerned was the supreme authority in all matters of faith and doctrine.^[24]

Second Advent

Millerism was essentially a one-doctrine movement--the visual, literal, premillennial return of Jesus. Miller was not alone in his interest in prophecies. The unprecedented upheaval of the French Revolution in the 1790s was one of several factors that turned the eyes of Bible students around the world to the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. Coming to the Bible with a historicist scheme of interpretation and the concept that a prophetic day equals a real time year, Bible scholars began to study the time prophecies. Of special interest to many was the 1260 prophetic day time prophecy of Daniel. Many concluded that the end of the 1260-day prophecy initiated the "time of the end", which they dated to the 1790s.^[25]

1st & 2nd Angels' messages of Revelation 14

The first angel proclaimed the "everlasting gospel" and "the hour of [God's] judgment is come." Miller believed that the first angel's message had recently been fulfilled with "the sending out of Missionaries and Bibles into every part of the world, which began about 1798." His followers came to see "the hour of his judgment" as when Jesus would return.

Throughout the 1830s increasing numbers of Protestant churches opened their doors to his preaching, not so much because of his "peculiar" preaching but because of his ability to bring converts to fill their churches. But a message that seemed harmless enough at first threatened to disrupt the churches by 1843. Millerism was not a separate movement at that time and the majority of believers remained members of the various churches. As 1843 approached, and Millerites became more assertive on the truth of the Bible over creeds, they increasingly found themselves forbidden to speak of their beliefs in their own congregations. When they persisted they were disfellowshipped. Also, large numbers of congregations expelled pastors who supported Miller's teachings, and refused to listen to Second Advent preaching.

Millerite preacher Charles Fitch tied this to the second angels message of "Babylon is fallen .. come out of her my people." Fitch included those protestant churches which rejected the Millerite teachings of the imminent second Advent with the Rome Catholic Church as being "Babylon." He called for his hearers to "come out of Babylon or perish." He provided his fellow Adventists a theological rationale for separating from their churches. It is difficult to overestimate the impact on the Adventist movement by Fitch's call. By 1844 some estimate that more than 50,000 Millerite believers had left their churches.^[26]

7th-month movement

Miller originally resisted being too specific about the exact time of Christ's return. Eventually, though, his message "about the year 1943" morphed into sometime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. Although this time passed, the spring disappointment did not greatly affect the movement. Then, S.S. Snow argued that the Day of Atonement, which fell on October 22 in 1844, would be the day that Christ would come. At first, Miller and Himes were reluctant to accept this date, however by October 6, they both came out in support of the 22nd of October. With the expectation of the Second Advent at an all-time high, October 22, 1844, was the climax of Millerism. The day arrived and went, thus encouraging scoffers and fearful, and leaving the Millerites is total disarray. Whereas once the movement knew exactly where it was going, it was now in a state of uncertainty and in a state of crisis.^[27]

The Great Disappointment[]

While most Millerites left the faith and even Christianity altogether, the minority that remained split into several camps.^[28] Joshua V. Himes rapidly concluded that the prediction of the Advent of Jesus was correct, but they were wrong about the time. He believed that they "should watch and wait for the coming of Christ as an event that may take place at any hour."^[29] The smallest group of Millerites consisting of a few dozen Bible students scattered across New England were not well acquainted until about 1847. They accepted the fulfillment of the 2300 days prophecy of Daniel 8:14 as 1844, but disagreed with the other Millerites on the event that took place. Future leaders of Seventh-day Adventism came from this group.^[30]

Theological development following The Great Disappointment[]

In the early days of the movement, Seventh-day Adventist typically focused on those doctrines that were distinctive to Adventism.^[31]

The pillars of Adventism - "Present Truth"[]

Pioneering Adventists emphasized the concept of "present truth"—see 2 Peter 1:12 (NKJV). James White explained, “The church [has] ever had a present truth. The present truth now, is that which shows present duty, and the right position for us…” ”Present truth is present truth, and not future truth, and the Word as a lamp shines brightly where we stand, and not so plainly on the path in the distance.” Ellen White pointed out that “present truth, which is a test to the people of this generation, was not a test to the people of generations far back.”^{[32][33][34][35]} The founders of the SDA church had a dynamic concept of what they called present truth, opposed to creedal rigidity, and had an openness to new theological understandings that built upon the landmark doctrines, or Pillars of Adventism that had made them a people.^[36]

Still, the possibilities of dynamic change in Seventh-day Adventist beliefs are not unlimited.^[37] The landmark doctrines are non-negotiables in Adventist theology. Collectively they provide Seventh-day Adventists with an identity.^[36] These pillars of their faith were thoroughly studied out in the Scripture and attested to by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Ellen White said, "When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth. ... Men will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for this time God has given as a foundation for our faith."^[38] Robert Johnston noted, “Without repudiating the past leading of the Lord, it [the Seventh-day Adventist church] seeks even to understand better what that leading was. It is always open to better insights to learn—to seek for truth as for hid treasure. … Adventists are still pilgrims on a doctrinal journey who do not repudiate the way marks, but neither do they remain stopped at any of them.”^[39] White further said that there is more truth to be revealed and that true doctrine will stand close investigation.^[40] But there is a solid foundation to build new truth upon.^[41] By early 1848, the first primary and closely related doctrinal pillars were adopted by Adventists: 1) The Second Advent, 2) The Heavenly Sanctuary, 3) The seventh-day Sabbath, and 4) the state of the dead.^[42]

The Pillars

These foundations, pillars, and landmarks are:

• the Second Advent of Jesus,
• the three angels' messages of Revelation,
• the sanctuary,
• the pre-Second Advent judgment,
• the Sabbath,
• the conditional immortality
• the law of God,
• the faith of Jesus, and
• the special gift of prophecy.^[43]

Second Advent of Jesus[]

Although the Second Coming [Advent] of Jesus is shared by all Christian churches, it was and is of special emphasis to the SDA church given its roots in Millerism and its inclusion in its name.

Seventh-day Adventists believe in an imminent, universally visible (every eye will see him)^[44] Second Coming of Christ, which will be preceded by a "time of trouble".^[45] The second coming will coincide with the resurrection and translation of the righteous, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The unrighteous, or wicked, will die during the Second Coming then be resurrected after the millennium.^[46]

As compared to other Christian views of eschatology, the Seventh-day Adventist view is closest to Historic (or post-tribulational) Premillennialism. Conditions on earth are expected to steadily deteriorate until the "time of trouble"^[47] (which is similar to the Great Tribulation of classic premillennialist teaching), when civil and religious authorities will combine to unleash intense persecution upon God's people, particularly those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath. The time of trouble will be ended by the glorious appearing of Christ, which will also mark the commencement of the millennium.

Adventists reject dispensationalist theology and the pretribulation rapture, believing that the church will remain on earth throughout the end-time crisis. A further difference is that the millennial reign of Christ will take place in heaven, not on earth, and will involve all of the redeemed people of God, not just national Israel^[46] (see Fundamental Beliefs, no. 26 & 27).

Seventh-day Adventists interpret Revelation using the historicist method that includes some still future events. (see: Seventh-day Adventist eschatology (Revelation's prophecies)).

Three Angels’ Messages[]

The Three Angels are, according to SDAs, symbolic of three successive global movements that spread specific, important messages during the end times before the second coming of Jesus. They teach that these messages are given to prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus, and see themselves as a central part of the mission.

The 3 Angels' messages:

• Angel One (Revelation 14:6): The everlasting gospel is to be preach to all who are on the earth, "for the hour of his judgment has come." Worship Him who made heaven and Earth the Sea and Springs of water.
• Angel Two (Revelation 14:8): Babylon the great is fallen because she caused all nations to drink of the wrath of her fornication.
• Angel Three (Revelation 14:9): If anyone worships the beast, & receives its mark, they shall drink of the cup of the wrath of God.

First Angel

Cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary[]

From the time of Second Great Awakening the Millerite movement proclaimed the soon return of Jesus. Adventists have traditionally interpreted the Millerite movement as the first of the three angels' messages. After the October 1844, Great Disappointment, it became progressively clear to a minority of the Milleries that the sanctuary of Daniel 8:14 could not be the earth and that the cleansing could not be the Second Advent. It occurred to Hiram Edson that instead of the High Priest coming out of the Most Holy and going to the earth on October 22, he proceeded in to the Most Holy place to do a work there prior to the Second Advent. After further extensive bible study, Hiram and several others concluded that: 1) A literal sanctuary exists in heaven. 2) The Moses' tabernacle system, patterned after the heavenly temple, was a visual representation of the plan of salvation. 3) Just as the earthly priests had a two-phase ministry in the tabernacle, so too Christ had a two-phase ministry in the heavenly. The first began in the Holy Place at His Ascension, the second, on October 22, the date of the antitypical Day of Atonement, when He moved to the Most Holy Place. 4) The first phase of Christ's ministry dealt with forgiveness, while the second involved the blotting out of sins thus cleansing both the sanctuary and individual believers. 5) The cleansing of Daniel 8:14 was a cleansing from sin accomplished by blood rather than by fire. 6) Christ would not return to earth until he completed his second-apartment ministry.^[48]

Adventists therefore believe that Christ's work of atonement encompasses both his death on the Cross and his ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. As W. G. C. Murdock, SDA Theological Seminary Dean during discussion in the 1980 General Conference Session, Dallas, said, "Seventh-day Adventists have always believed in a complete [sufficient] atonement that is not completed [finished]." Venden points out that the atonement must have been complete at the cross— i.e., the sacrifice was sufficient. For when Jesus died for man's sin, it was enough to purchase man's salvation and man cannot add anything to it. Yet, says Venden, the atonement involves more that just sacrifice. The process of redemption, the restoration of man's broken relationship to at-one-ment with God, was not finished at the cross, else there would be no more sin or sickness or pain or sorrow or separation or battered children or hospitals or funeral trains or tombstones or broken hearts. It is the winning of men back to a love relationship with God that is not yet completed.^[49]

Early Adventists emphasized the two parts to the atonement: "[Jesus] ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where, with his own blood he makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far from being made on the cross, which was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of his work as priest..."^[50] They refer to his mediatorial work in heaven as an "atoning ministry"^[51]

Pre-Advent Judgment[]

The pre-(Second) Advent judgment is a doctrine unique to Seventh-day Adventism. This judgment is the first phase of the final judgment and began on October 22, 1844. Adventists find the pre-Advent judgment portrayed in texts such as Daniel 7:9–10, 1 Peter 4:17 and Revelation 20:12. The purpose of this judgment is to vindicate those who have accepted salvation in the eyes of the onlooking universe, to prepare them for Jesus' imminent Second Coming, and to exonerate God's righteous character from the Devil's false accusations in the minds of all created beings. This judgment will distinguish true believers from those who falsely claim to be ones.^[52]

The biblical basis of the pre-Advent judgment teaching was challenged in 1980 by ex-Adventist professor Desmond Ford. (See Glacier View controversy.) The world church has officially reaffirmed its basic position on the doctrine since then. Still a minority progressive wing continues to be critical of the teaching. According to a 2002 worldwide survey, local church leaders estimated 86% of church members accept the doctrine.^[53]

The Seventh-day Sabbath[]

Worship Him who made heaven and Earth the Sea and Springs of water.

In 1843, after reading a Seventh-day Baptist tract, Millerite Adventist Joseph Bates became convinced that there had been no Biblical change of the day of the Sabbath. He advocated the seventh-day Sabbath among Millerites.

Later, in Autumn of 1846, Bates shared with Hiram Edson and others about the Sabbath, and, after further Bible study, accepted their insights about the heavenly sanctuary. Bates understood Revelation 11:19 as pointing to the opening up of the Most Holy Place where the ark was located during 1844, and directing their attention to the Ark and its contents -- the Ten Commandments -- specifically the Seventh-day Sabbath.^[54] Bates published several small books on this topic. His teachings formed the platform that would become the core of SDA theology.^[55]

Seventh-day Adventists believe that God set the Sabbath "apart for the lofty purpose of enriching the divine-human relationship".^[56] The Sabbath repeatedly appears throughout the Bible. It is mentioned in the Creation account, at Sinai, in the ministry of Jesus in the ministries of the apostles. This a weekly celebration of Creation is also a symbol of salvation from sin. By keeping the Sabbath, Adventists show their loyalty to God. It is a time to spend with family, friends, and God.^[46]

While the ceremonial and sacrificial laws of the Pentateuch were fulfilled by the death of Jesus, the 10 commandments remain for Christian believers. The words of Jesus are foundational to this conviction:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17–20

Adventists believe that the Sabbath is not just another holiday but rather is intended as a rest from labor to support ourselves and trust in God for support but also for believers to grow spiritually. Seventh-day Adventists do not believe that they are saved by keeping Saturday as the Sabbath, but they attach great significance to Saturday-Sabbath keeping. Adventists do not see the Sabbath as a works-based doctrine, but rather that righteousness comes solely through faith in Jesus alone. The Sabbath commandment is seen as an act of faith in God's ideal for the believer, although its significance may not be seen by non-believers. They believe that the Sabbath is a whole day dedicated for worship and fellowship with believers, laying aside non-religious projects and labor.^[46]

Second Angel

Adventists see the second message as a warning to all of God's people in the world that there is a great and mighty pseudo-Christian power - symbolically called Babylon the Great - that will try to force everyone to disobey the word of God. It is portrayed as a woman on whose forehead is written: Mystery! Babylon the Great! The Mother of Idolaters, The Detestable of the Earth. Revelation 17:5 An angel cries out: Babylon the great is fallen and has become the dwelling place of demons. Revelation 18:2 Its pretense is very convincing so that it takes awareness and discernment to keep from being deceived or forced into abandoning faith in Gods word and his commandments. A voice from heaven calls out: Come out of her my people! Revelation 18:4 This call to come out of Babylon is recognition that Jesus has followers in all churches - He is not content to leave them where his commandments are not observed.^[57]

Third Angel

SDAs believe that the Third Angel's Message is God's final appeal to mankind and the warning of a universal test, prompting the inhabitants of earth to make a choice. Everyone will make a choice in support of, or in opposition to, the beast and his image.^[58] While the Seal of God is only on the forehead, the Mark of the Beast is on the forehead and the hand. SDAs understand these to not be literal marks, but spiritual indicators of allegiance to each power. The mark on the hand indicates that by labor one supports the beast and its image, while on the forehead it indicates that by beliefs or personal convictions one supports them.^[59]

Bates stated what would become the SDA grasp of the mark of the beast. Starting with Revelation 12:17 that God would have a last-day remnant keeping "the commandments of God," he stated that "there will yet be a mighty struggle about the restoring and keeping [of] the seventh-day Sabbath, that will test every living soul that enters the gates of the city"^[60]

The people of God would be "persecuted for keeping the commandments" by those deluded by having the mark of the beast. Bates stated while examining Revelation 14:9-12, "that the first day of the week for the Sabbath or holy day is a mark of the beast [?]" Only two groups would be alive on earth in the end times-those who hav the mark of the beast and those who keep the commandments of God, including the seventh-day Sabbath.^[61] Given such an understanding, it is of little wonder that Bates had concluded early in 1847 "that God's holy Sabbath is a present truth"^[62]

It is impossible to overestimate the influence of Bates's contributions to the development of SDA theology. He united the doctrines of the Second Coming, the Sabbath, and the sanctuary within a great struggle between good and evil as portrayed in Revelation. Based on Bate’s views, the Sabbatarians would come see themselves not only as the true continuation of Millerite Adventism but as a prophetic people who possessed a last-day of urgency. They would see themselves as having a duty to preach the third angel’s message.^[62]

SDAs began to see the prophetic importance of the three angels for their mission. In 1850 James White published a significant article about their conclusions. White equated the first angel's message (see Rev. 14:6, 7) with the Millerite preaching of the Second Advent. "The whole Advent host," he penned, "once believed" that something special would happen in 1843. White believed that the third angel’s message included Revelation 14:12 and had begun to be preached in October 1844. He regarded the third angel’s message of Revelation 14:9-12 as the climax of the prophetic movement that began with Miller. It would be God’s last message of mercy to the world just prior to the Second Advent pictured in verses 15-20.^[63]

Also White pointed out that the message of the third angel recognize only two classes of people at the end of time. One persecutes the saints and receives the mark of the beast, while the other continues to be patient in waiting for Jesus and is "KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD."^[63]

The state of the dead[]

Because of focus on the Second Advent, the resurrection of the Saints and their condition during death was of special interest to the Adventists. The early Sabbatarian Adventist understanding about the nature of humanity came through two sources. Methodist minister George Storrs became convinced in 1840 after several years of Bible study that a person does not possess inherent immortality, but receives it only as a gift through Jesus. As a result, the wicked who refuse the gift will be utterly exterminated by fire at the second death. He wrote several small books on the topic and Millerite Charles Fitch was on the first to convert to Storr's teachings. The second source was through the Christian Connexion with its desire to get back to the teachings of the Bible and move beyond the theological deviations that had crept in during the history of the Christian church. James White and Joseph Bates brough conditionalism and annihilationism with them from the Connexion. After learning of this from her mother, Ellen Harmon White said, "My mind had often been disturbed by its efforts to reconcile the immediate reward of punishment of the dead with the undoubted fact of a future resurrection and judgement. If at death the soul entered upon eternal happiness or misery, where was the need of a resurrection of the poor moldering body? But this new and beautiful faith taught me the reason why inspired writer had dwelt so much upon the resurrection of the body."^[64] The Adventist views about death and hell reflect an underlying belief in: (a) conditional immortality (or conditionalism), as opposed to the immortality of the soul; and (b) the holistic (or monistic) Christian anthropology or nature of human beings, as opposed to bipartite or tripartite views. Adventist education hence strives to be holistic in nature, involving not just the mind but all aspects of a person.^[65]

Seventh-day Adventists believe that death is like unconscious sleep until the resurrection. They base this belief on biblical texts such as Ecclesiastes 9:5 which states "the dead know nothing", and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 which contains a description of the dead being raised from the grave at the second coming. These verses, it is argued, indicate that death is only a period of unconsciousness.^[66] Adventists teach that the resurrection of the righteous will take place at the second coming of Jesus, while the resurrection of the wicked will occur after the millennium of Revelation 20. They reject the traditional doctrine of hell as a state of everlasting conscious torment, believing instead that the wicked will be permanently destroyed after the millennium. The theological term for this teaching is Annihilationism.

This belief in conditional immortality has been one of the doctrines used by critics (particularly in the past) to claim that the church is not a mainstream Christian denomination.^[67] However, this view is becoming more mainstream within evangelicalism, as evidenced by the British Evangelical Alliance ACUTE report, which states the doctrine is a "significant minority evangelical view" which has "grown within evangelicalism in recent years".^[68] Evangelical theologian and conditionalist Clark Pinnock suggests Adventist Le Roy Edwin Froom's The Conditionalist Faith of our Fathers, 2 vols. as "a classic defense on conditionalism".^[69]

Spirit of Prophecy[]

The church believes the spiritual gift of prophecy was manifested in the ministry of Ellen White, whose writings are sometimes referred to as the "Spirit of Prophecy". The church's 28 Fundamental Beliefs state:

"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."^[52]

Two other official statements regarding the prophetic ministry of Ellen White have recently been voted at General Conference Sessions. The June 1995 document A Statement of Confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy states that White "did the work of a prophet, and more", and that her writings "carry divine authority, both for godly living and for doctrine"; and recommended that "as a church we seek the power of the Holy Spirit to apply to our lives more fully the inspired counsel contained in the writings of Ellen G White." The 2005 document Resolution on the Spirit of Prophecy called upon "Seventh-day Adventists throughout the world to prayerfully study her writings, in order to understand more fully God's purpose for His remnant people", describing her writings as "theological stimulus".

There has been an increasing tendency in the church to view White in more human terms, although still inspired. Whatever the prominence assigned to her writings for doctrinal authority, Adventists are agreed that the Bible takes precedence as the final authority.^[46]

Theological development following the 1888 General Conference[]

Righteousness by faith[]

Uriah Smith and other early adventists believed in a form of justification by faith built on the KJV misunderstood translation of Romans 3:25 that spoke of Jesus' "righteousness for the remission of sins that are past." Accordingly Ballenger wrote "to make satisfaction for past sins, faith is everything. ... but the present duty is our to perform. ... "Obey the voice of God and live, or disobey and die." (RH October 20 1891, p 642). They taught that maintaining justification after conversion was a matter of "justification by works." Butler, ex-president of the SDA General Conference, thundered, "There is a sentiment prevailing almost everywhere that is pleasant but dangerous; "Only believe in Christ, and you are all right, ... Jesus does it all." That teaching is one of the "most dangerous Heresies in the world." The whole point of the 3rd angel's message, he emphasized in "the necessity of obedience to the law of God." "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."^[70]

But a second strand of early Adventist thinking on salvation had also existed. James White proclaimed in 1850 "a free and full salvation through the blood of Christ." It was this second perspective that Jones and Waggoner expanded upon. If the key word for SDA traditionalists was "obedience," it was "faith for Waggoner and Jones. Mrs. White shared Waggoner's emphasis on Justification by faith. She noted that his teaching was not a new belief to her but the very one she had shared with her husband. She made it clear that concept of justification that she agree with in Jones and Waggoner's preaching was the same as that taught by the Evangelicals. However, they not only presented justification by faith but they united that teaching with a proper uplifting of God's Law.^[71]

Trinity[]

Early Seventh-day Adventists came from a wide assortment of nineteenth-century American Protestant churches, highly influenced in thought and teaching by Anabaptism and Restorationism. Some early Adventists, such as two of the church's principal founders, James White^[72] and Joseph Bates, had a background in the Restorationist Christian Connection church, which rejected the Trinitarian nature of God.^[73] However, the teachings and writings of Ellen White, who was raised in a Methodist family, ultimately proved influential in shifting the church from largely Semi-Arian^[74] roots towards Trinitarianism.^[75]

"She [Ellen G. White] taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals, which is not true of the medieval doctrine of the Trinity."^[76]

"Ellen White's view did change—she was raised trinitarian, came to doubt some aspects of the trinitarianism she was raised on, and eventually came to a different trinitarian view from the traditional one. [...] In her earliest writings she differed from some aspects of traditional trinitarianism and in her latest writings she still strongly opposed some aspects of the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. (4) It appears, therefore, that the trinitarian teaching of Ellen White's later writings is not the same doctrine that the early Adventists rejected.11 Rather, her writings describe two contrasting forms of trinitarian belief, one of which she always opposed, and another that she eventually endorsed."^[77]

"What James [SDA co-founder James White, husband of Ellen White] and the other men were opposed to, we are just as opposed to as they were. Now, their solution to that, at that time, they didn't see any solution by retaining the Trinity concept, and getting rid of its distortions. But, in reality, we have been faithful to their commitment, and I know of nothing that they were objecting to, in objecting to Trinitarianism, that we have not also objected to."^[78]

"A major development [in Adventism] since 1972 has been the quest to articulate biblical presuppositions grounding a biblical doctrine of the Trinity, clearly differentiated from the dualistic presuppositions that undergird the traditional creedal statements."^[79]

"In many ways the philosophical assumptions and presuppositions of our worldview are different from traditional Christianity and bring different perspectives on some of these old issues. We do not accept the traditional Platonic dualistic worldview and metaphysics that were foundational to the church fathers' theology of the Trinity, one of these being the concept of the immortality of the soul."^[80]

One Adventist sociology professor has described the Adventist view as follows:

"In spite of its clear monotheistic ring, the biblical account seems uncompromised on the idea of God as a group. While God has been declared to be one God (Deut. 6:4,1 Tim. 2:5), He has also been presented as a plurality of beings (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:5)....What the notion of a triune (group) God seems to suggest is that the three members of the Godhead become joined in their relationship with each other, on the basis of their common purpose, values and interests."^[81]

Despite their problematic history with this touchstone doctrine, the denomination has been "officially" Trinitarian for several decades. However, there remain small factions and individuals within the church who continue to argue that the authentic, historical Adventist position is semi-Arian.^[82]

The human nature of Jesus Christ[]

Since the middle of the 20th century, there has been ongoing debate within Adventism concerning the nature of Jesus Christ, specifically whether Jesus Christ took on a fallen or an unfallen nature in the Incarnation. This was precipitated by the publication of Questions on Doctrine in 1957 which some Adventists felt did not agree with what the church held.^[83][84]

The debate revolves around the interpretation of several biblical texts:

"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh." Romans 8:3 (ESV)

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

"...concerning his Son (Jesus), who was descended from David according to the flesh..." Romans 1:3 (ESV)

"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17 NKJV

According to Adventist historian George Knight, most early Adventists (until 1950) believed that Jesus Christ was born with a human nature that was not only physically frail and subject to temptation, but that he also had sinful inclinations and desires.^[85] Since 1950, the "historic" wing of the church continues to hold this fallen view of Christ's human nature.

Adventists since 1950 believe that Jesus was made in the "likeness of sinful flesh," as He inherited the fallen human nature of Adam,^[86] with its physical and mental weaknesses and was tempted on all points. However His spiritual nature was unfallen and did not have the propensity to sin. Christ was tested by temptation, but did not have ungodly desires or sinful inclinations.^{[87][88][89][90]}

Ellen White states: "Those who claim that it was not possible for Christ to sin, cannot believe that He really took upon Himself human nature. But was not Christ actually tempted, not only by Satan in the wilderness, but all through His life, from childhood to manhood? In all points He was tempted as we are, and because He successfully resisted temptation under every form, He gave man the perfect example, and through the ample provision Christ has made, we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust."^[91]

White also states:

"Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam … He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden."^[92]

The controversy within Adventism over Christ's human nature is linked to the debate over whether it is possible for a "last generation" of Christian believers to achieve a state of sinless perfection. These matters were discussed at the Questions on Doctrine 50th Anniversary Conference.^[93] Both points of view are currently represented at the Biblical Research Institute.^[94]

According to Woodrow W. Whidden II (himself a supporter of the "unfallen" position), proponents of the view that Christ possessed a "fallen" nature include M. L. Andreasen, Joe Crews, Herbert Douglass, Robert J. Wieland, Thomas Davis, C. Mervyn Maxwell, Dennis Priebe, Bobby Gordon and Ralph Larson. Proponents of the view that Christ's nature was "unfallen" include Edward Heppenstall, Hans K. LaRondelle, Raoul Dederen, Norman Gulley, R. A. Anderson, Leroy E. Froom and W. E. Read.^[95]

Michael the Archangel[]

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the term Archangel (meaning "Chief over the Angels") indicates a position of leadership, not a class of angel, held by the Word ( i.e. the pre-incarnate Jesus).^[96] They believe that "Michael" (meaning One who is like God) and "Immanuel" (meaning God with us) are but two of the many titles applied to the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead. According to Adventists, such a view does not in any way conflict with the belief in his full deity and eternal preexistence, nor does it in the least disparage his person and work.^[97] Thus, Michael is considered to be the "eternal Word", the one by whom all things were created and not a created being or angel. The Word was then born incarnate as Jesus.^[98]

In the Seventh-day Adventist view, the statement in some translations of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" identifies Jesus as Archangel, which is Michael.^[99] Other translations have "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God."1 Thessalonians 4:16 And the Seventh-day Adventists believe that John 5:25-29 also confirms that Jesus and Michael are the same.^[99]

There was a perception that Adventists were relegating Jesus to something less than divine or less than God but that is not valid since Seventh-day Adventism theology teaching is expressly Trinitarian.^[100][101]

Holy Spirit[]

The early Adventists came from many different traditions, and hence there was also diversity on their views of the Holy Spirit. Some held an impersonal view of the Spirit, as emanating from God, or only a "power" or "influence". However the main emphasis at this time was on Adventist distinctives, not on topics such as the Holy Spirit.

J. H. Waggoner called it "that awful and mysterious power which proceeds from the throne of the universe".^[102] Uriah Smith similarly described it as "a mysterious influence emanating from the Father and the Son, their representative and the medium of their power"^[103] and a "divine afflatus".^[104]

Yet by the end of the 19th century, Adventists generally agreed the Spirit is a personal being, and part of the Trinity. Ellen White was influential in bringing about an understanding of the Holy Spirit and spoke of "the Third Person of the Godhead" repeatedly^[105] and "a divine person".^[106]

Some Adventist books include Le Roy Froom, The Coming of the Comforter (1928); W. H. Branson, The Holy Spirit (1933); G. B. Thompson, The Ministry of the Spirit (1914); Francis M. Wilcox, The Early and the Latter Rain (1938).^[107]

Other doctrinal issues[]

Seventh-day Adventists have often focused on those doctrines which are distinctive to Adventism. This was particularly true in the early days of the movement, when it was assumed that most people the church witnessed to were already Christian to begin with, and that they already understood the gospel.^[46]

Creationism[]

The Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of creationism is based on believing that the opening chapters of Genesis should be interpreted as literal history. Adventist belief holds that all Earthly life originated during a six-day period some 6000 years ago, and a global flood destroyed all land based animals and humans except for those saved on Noah's Ark. Traditional Adventists oppose theories which propose interpreting the days of creation symbolically.^[108] Adventists reject the naturalistic views of the Big Bang, the solar nebular theory, the geological time scale, abiogenesis and evolution.

Although Adventists hold that creation week was a recent event, they believe the Bible speaks of other worlds populated by intelligent beings elsewhere in the universe, which pre-existed the Earth's creation.^[109] The Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association's Seventh-day Adventists Believe (2005), explains that the opening chapters of Genesis describe a limited creation:

'The "heavens" of Genesis 1 and 2 probably refer to our sun and its system of planets. Indeed, the earth, instead of being Christ's first creation, was most likely His last one. The Bible pictures the sons of God, probably the Adams of all the unfallen worlds, meeting with God in some distant corner of the universe (Job 1:6-12). So far, space probes have discovered no other inhabited planets. They apparently are situated in the vastness of space—well beyond the reach of our sin-polluted solar system quarantined against the infection of sin.'^[110]

While the majority of Adventists believe that all biological life was originally created recently during a literal week, there is a range of positions amongst Adventists regarding when the inorganic material of the universe and planet Earth was created.^[111] Some Adventists hold that the entire physical universe was created at the commencement of the literal Creation week, though it is generally recognised that the creation of angels and the conflict between Lucifer and God would need to have occurred prior to the Creation event described in Genesis 1. Other Adventists hold that the universe was created prior to the Creation week, but that planet Earth and its immediate surroundings were created de novo at the commencement of that week.^[112] Finally, another mainstream Adventist position is that the inorganic matter of planet Earth was created prior to the Creation week and was reshaped into its present inhabitable form during that week. All of these Adventist positions agree that the computed radiometric dates of standard geology are largely irrelevant to dating the creation of life on Earth.^{[113][114][115][116]} Clyde Webster calls radiometric dating an "interpretive science" with uncertainties. He stated that "it would seem logical, almost compelling to seriously consider other sources of data for determining the time of Creation" concluding that for a Christian scientist "such a primary source is the Holy Scripture."^[113]

Adventists were influential in the redevelopment of creationism in the 20th Century. Seventh-day Adventist geologist George McCready Price was responsible for reviving flood geology in the early 20th century. He was quoted heavily by William Jennings Bryan in the Scopes Monkey Trial. His ideas were later borrowed by Henry Morris and John Whitcomb for their landmark 1961 creationist text The Genesis Flood.^[117] The Morris and Whitcomb position is distinct from Seventh-day Adventism because they postulate both a young earth and a young universe.^[118]

About the time that The Genesis Flood was having a large impact in the evangelical world, a number of progressive Adventist scholars educated in secular universities began promoting Theistic Evolution.^[119][120] Some Progressive Adventists no longer hold the literal view of Genesis 1.^[121] Other Adventist scholars have identified the consequences of moving away from understanding that the Creation week involved a recent literal week.^[122][123]

In 2009, the Seventh-day Adventist Church held an international creation emphasis day as part of a "worldwide denominational celebration of the biblical account of creation."^[124] The event was part of a church initiative to underscore its commitment to a literal creation model.^[124] In 2010, the World Seventh-day Adventist Church's highest ecclesiastical body, the World General Conference Session, officially reaffirmed the Church's position in support of a literal six-day creation week.^[125]

Eschatology[]

The Great Controversy[]

Seventh-day Adventists believe that prior to the beginning of human history, a challenge occurred in heaven between God and Lucifer (Satan) over "the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe" (Fundamental Belief no. 8). Lucifer was subsequently cast out of heaven, and, acting through the serpent in the Garden of Eden, led Adam and Eve into sin. God has permitted Lucifer's rebellion to continue on Earth in order to demonstrate to angels and beings on other worlds that his Law is righteous and necessary, and that the breaking of the 10 commandments leads to moral catastrophe.^[126]

This understanding of the origin of evil is derived from the Bible (see Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.).^[127] The book entitled The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, particularly chapter 29, The Origin of Evil shows how this dispute originated.

Sunday law[]

Traditionally, Adventists have taught there will be a time before the Second Advent in which the message of the Ten Commandments and in particular the keeping of the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as Sabbath will be conveyed to the whole world. Protestants and Catholics will unite to enforce legislation requiring the observance of Sunday worship. In reference to the creation of an Image to the Beast Revelation 13-17, Ellen G. White stated:

"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting on such points of doctrines as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions; then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result." -Great Controversy p. 445

Jon Paulien maintains that the central issue of the "final crisis of earth’s history has to do with the Sabbath", based on the strong allusion of Revelation 14:7 to Exodus 20:11 (the Sabbath commandment of the Ten Commandments), and also other verses and themes in Revelation.^[128]

The Remnant Church[]

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has traditionally believed that as the remnant church of Bible prophecy, its mission is to proclaim the three angels' messages. "The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Jesus, 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 Jesus, 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." Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church ^[129]

"The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel of God's love in the context of the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6–12, and as revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and high priestly ministry of Jesus, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and Lord and to unite with His remnant church; and to nurture believers as disciples in preparation for His soon return."^[130]

The Seventh-day Adventist church regards itself as the "remnant" of Revelation 12:17 (KJV). The Remnant church "announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent" (Fundamental Belief no. 13). The duty of the Remnant is summed up in the "Three Angels' Messages" of Revelation 14:6-12, and its two distinguishing marks are seventh-day Sabbath observance and the Spirit of Prophecy (see below).

At baptism, Adventists may be asked the following question: "Do you accept and believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship?"^[131] (NB. In 2005 an alternative set of baptismal vows was created, which does not contain a reference to the Adventist church as the remnant. Candidates may now choose whether to take the original vow or the new one.^[132])

The scapegoat[]

Adventists teach that the scapegoat, or Azazel, is a symbol for Satan. They believe that Satan will finally have to bear the responsibility for the sins of the believers of all ages, and that this was foreshadowed on the Day of Atonement when the high priest confessed the sins of Israel over the head of the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:21).

This belief has drawn criticism from some Christians, who feel this gives Satan the status of sin-bearer alongside Jesus Christ. Adventists have responded by insisting that Satan is not a saviour, nor does he provide atonement for sin; Christ alone is the substitutionary sacrifice for sin, but holds no responsibility for it. In the final judgment, responsibility for sin is passed back to Satan who first caused mankind to sin. As the responsible party, Satan receives the wages for his sin and the sins of all the saved—namely, death. Thus, the unsaved are held responsible for their own sin, while the saved are no longer held responsible for theirs.^[133]

Soteriology[]

Original sin[]

Seventh-day Adventists have historically preached a doctrine of inherited weakness, but not a doctrine of inherited guilt.^[134] Adventists believe that humans are sinful primarily due to the fall of Adam,^[87] but they do not accept the Augustinian/Calvinistic understanding of original sin, taught in terms of original guilt. According to Augustine and Calvin, humanity inherits not only Adam's depraved nature but also the actual guilt of his transgression, and Adventists look more toward the Wesleyan model.^[135][136]

In part, the Adventist position on original sin reads:

"The nature of the penalty for original sin, i.e., Adam's sin, is to be seen as literal, physical, temporal, or actual death – the opposite of life, i.e., the cessation of being. By no stretch of the scriptural facts can death be spiritualised as depravity. God did not punish Adam by making him a sinner. That was Adam’s own doing. All die the first death because of Adam’s sin regardless of their moral character – children included."^[135]

The early Adventists (such as George Storrs and Uriah Smith) wrote articles that de-emphasise the morally corrupt nature inherited from Adam, while stressing the importance of actual, personal sins committed by the individual. They thought of the "sinful nature" in terms of physical mortality rather than moral depravity.^[137] Traditionally, Adventists look at sin in terms of willful transgressions. They base their belief on texts such as "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)^[138]

A few Adventists have adopted a more evangelical view of original sin, which believes in humanity's inherently corrupt nature and spiritual separation from God. They conceive of original sin as a state into which all humans are born, and from which we cannot escape without the grace of God.^[135] As one recent Adventist writer has put it, "Original sin is not per se wrong doing, but wrong being."^[139]

Soteriology and free will[]

The Seventh-day Adventist church stands in the Wesleyan tradition (which in turn is an expression of Arminianism) in regard to its soteriological teachings. Wesley's views are opposed to the Augustinian/Tridentine version of justification which understood divine acquittal and forgiveness as the fruit of an infused righteousness.^[140]

This is significant in two respects. Firstly, there is a very strong emphasis in Adventist teaching on sanctification as a necessary and inevitable consequence of salvation in Christ. Such an emphasis on obedience is not considered to detract from the reformation principle of sola fide ("faith alone"), but rather to provide an important balance to the doctrine of justification by faith, and to guard against antinomianism.^[141] While asserting that Christians are saved entirely by the grace of God, Adventists also stress obedience to the law of God as the proper response to salvation.

Secondly, Adventist teaching strongly emphasises free will; each individual is free either to accept or reject God's offer of salvation. Adventists therefore oppose the Calvinistic/Reformed doctrines of predestination (or unconditional election), limited atonement and perseverance of the saints ("once saved always saved"). Questions on Doctrine stated that Adventists believe "That man is free to choose or reject the offer of salvation through Christ; we do not believe that God has predetermined that some men shall be saved and others lost."^[22] The freedom of each individual to accept or reject God is integral to the Great Controversy theme.

"God could have prevented sin by creating a universe of robots that would do only what they were programmed to do. But God's love demanded that He create beings who could respond freely to His love—and such a response is possible only from beings who have the power of choice."^[142]

Assurance of salvation in Christ is part of the official beliefs,^[143] and an estimated 69% of Adventists "Have assurance of salvation", according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.^[144]

Ministry and worship[]

Baptism[]

Seventh-day Adventists practice believer's baptism by full immersion in a similar manner to the Baptists. They argue that baptism requires knowing consent and moral responsibility. Hence, they do not baptize infants or children who do not demonstrate knowing consent and moral responsibility, but instead dedicate them, which is symbolic of the parents', the community's, and the church's gratefulness to God for the child, and their commitment to raising the child to love Jesus. Seventh-day Adventists believe that baptism is a public statement to commit one's life to Jesus and is a prerequisite for church membership. Baptism is only practiced after the candidate has gone through Bible lessons. According to the Bible, the act of baptism shows that the person has repented of sin and wishes to live a life in Christ. Acts 8:36–37.

Holy Communion[]

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the bread and wine (grape juice) of the Holy Communion are "symbols" of the body and blood of Jesus; however, Christ is also "present to meet and strengthen His people" in the experience of communion.^[52] Adventists practice "the ordinance of foot-washing" prior to each celebration of the Lord's Supper, on account of the gospel account of John 13:1-16.

Spiritual gifts[]

The 17th fundamental belief of the church affirms that the spiritual gifts continue into the present.

Adventists generally believe the legitimate gift of tongues is of speaking unlearned human languages only, and are generally critical of the gift as practiced by charismatic and Pentecostal Christians today.

Ordination of women[]

The Adventist Church world church does not officially, at this time, support the ordination of women to ministry within its standard procedures. Instead women pastors in the denomination hold the title of "commissioned" rather than "ordained," which allows them to perform almost all of the pastoral functions their male colleagues perform but with a lesser title. This compromise was reached during the 1990s, with disagreement primarily occurring along cultural lines.^[145][146] Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church has no written policy forbidding the ordination of women, it has traditionally ordained only men. From its formation, Adventists traditionally held to the view that no precedent for the practice of ordaining women can be found in Scripture or in the writings of Ellen G. White and the early Seventh-day Adventist Church. However, in recent years the ordination of women has been the subject of heated debate, especially in North America and Europe.^[147]

Unity and variation[]

A 2002 survey of Adventists worldwide showed 91% acceptance of the following beliefs:^[148][149]

Results from 2002 Survey^[149]

Doctrine	Percentage of Adventists who agree
Sabbath	96%
Second coming	93%
Soul sleep	93%
Sanctuary and 1844	86% (35% believe there may be more than one interpretation of this doctrine)
Authority of Ellen White	81% (50% see a need for modern reinterpretation of White's writings)
Salvation through Christ alone	95%
Creation in 6 days	93%

A "Valuegenesis" study in 2000 of students at Adventist high schools in North America showed a generally high acceptance of the church's beliefs, with some such as marriage within the same faith, the remnant, Ellen White's gift of prophecy, and the pre-Advent judgment with acceptance rates less than 63% percent.^[150] "In looking at the research this may be because over the first ten years of Valuegenesis research, fewer young people were reading their Bibles and Ellen White. And for a church that values a written revelation of God, less reading of the Bible probably means less understanding of its beliefs."^[150]

In a 1985 questionnaire, the percentage of North American Adventist lecturers who nominated various beliefs as contributions they believed Adventists had made to contemporary theology are:^[151]

Results from 1985 questionnaire of North American Adventist Theologians^[151]

Doctrine	Percentage contribution
Wholism	36%
Eschatology	29%
Sabbath	21%
Great Controversy	18%
Sanctuary	15%
(None)	11%
Salvation	9%
Scriptural interpretation	7%
Mission theology	4%
Health	4%

Theological spectrum

A theological spectrum exists within Adventism, with several different theological streams existing alongside the mainstream. The conservative "historic" movement holds to certain traditional positions that have been challenged since the 1950s. By contrast, progressive Adventists typically question some of the church's distinctive teachings, and some of the fundamental beliefs of the church that are held by mainstream Adventists.^[152]

In a 1985 survey of North American Adventist lecturers, 45% described themselves as liberal compared to other church members, 40% as mainstream, 11% as conservative, and 4% gave no response to the question.^[151] There are two main organizations of Adventist scholars or interested laypeople. The Adventist Theological Society describes its beliefs as "balanced and conservative Adventist theology",^[153] whereas the Adventist Society for Religious Studies is more progressive by comparison.

Jon Paulien has identified four brands of Adventism – evangelists and frontier missionaries whose beliefs are traditional yet creatively expressed, scholars concerned with an accurate understanding of the Bible, the typical church member (including most of the younger, postmodern generation) who is most concerned with what is relevant to ordinary life and not concerned with most doctrines, and those in the Third World who are similarly concerned for a minimal belief set and passionate about their faith.^[154]

Regional and cultural differences

There is a common perception that different cultures and regions of the world vary in their theology.

According to Edwin Hernández, the principal investigator of the AVANCE study into Latino Adventists in the North American Division, "There was a very high degree (95 percent) of fidelity to the orthodox teachings of the church."^[155]

See also[]

• 28 Fundamental Beliefs (Adventist)
• Millerites
• List of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals
• List of Seventh-day Adventist medical schools
• List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools
• List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities

Notes[]

References[]

Books

• General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ministerial Association (2005). Seventh-day Adventists Believe (2nd ed.). Pacific Press Publishing Association.
• Knight, George (2000). A Search for Identity. Review and Herald Pub.
• Koranteng-Pipim, Samuel (1996). Receiving the Word: How New Approaches to the Bible Impact Our Biblical Faith and Lifestyle. Berrien Springs, MN: Berean Books. ISBN 1-890014-00-1. OCLC 36080195.
• Lomacang, John (2020). The Three Angels' Messages in summary. Pacific Press Publishing Association.
• Neufeld, Don, ed. (1976). "Fundamentalism". Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Commentary Reference Series. 10.
• Numbers, Ron (2006). The Creationists.
• Roth, Ariel (1998). Origins: Linking Science and Scripture. Review and Herald Publishing.
• White, Ellen (1864). Spiritual Gifts. 3.
• White, Ellen (1868). Testimonies For The Church. 2. p. 693.
• White, Ellen (1890). Patriarchs and Prophets.
• White, Ellen (1946). "Attitude to New Light". Counsels to Writers and Editors.

Journals

• Biblical Research Institute (Dec 23, 1982). "The Inspiration and Authority of the Ellen G. White Writings". Adventist Review. White Estate. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
• Brown, Nathan (June 19, 2003). "Liberalism as a Form of Legalism". Adventist Review. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald. ISSN 0161-1119. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
• Bull, Malcolm; Lockhart, Keith (October 1987). "The Intellectual World of Adventist Theologians" (PDF). Spectrum. Roseville, California: Adventist Forums. 18 (1). ISSN 0890-0264. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
• Miller, William (November 17, 1842). "Midnight Cry". Midnight Cry. p. 4.
• White, James (July 1846). "Present Truth". p. 1. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
• White, James (December 31, 1857). "Review and Herald". p. 61. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

Web

• Gillespie, V. Bailey (3 May 2010). "Studies suggest ways church can develop faith in its young people". Adventist News Network. Retrieved 2011-08-14.

Further reading[]

• Andrews Study Bible, 2010. The New King James Version (NKJV), with commentary by Seventh-day Adventist scholars
• Biblical Research Institute series: George W. Reid, ed., Understanding Scripture: An Adventist Approach vol. 1; Gerhard Pfandl, ed., Interpreting Scripture Bible Questions and Answers vol. 2
• Seventh-day Adventist Commentary Reference Series, including the Bible Commentary, Encyclopedia, and the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology
• Damsteegt, P. Gerard, et al. (1988). Seventh-day Adventists Believe: a Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines. Washington, D.C.: Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. ISBN 0-8280-0466-8
• Rice, Richard (1997). Reign of God (2n ed.). Berrien Springs, MN: Andrews University Press. ISBN 1-883925-16-9. First edition 1985
• Norman Gulley, Systematic Theology series (in process). Vol 1 Prolegomena
• Seventh-day Adventists Believe (A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines). Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1998
• Fritz Guy, Thinking Theologically: Adventist Christianity and the Interpretation of Faith. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 1999 (publisher's page)
• Robert K. McIver and Ray C. W. Roennfeldt (eds.) (2000). Meaning for the New Millennium: The Christian Faith from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective. Cooranbong, NSW: Avondale Academic Press. ISBN 0-9599337-6-X.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) This book "constitute[s] how a representative group of Australian teachers explain their beliefs."
• , Continuity and Change in Adventist Teaching: A Case Study in Doctrinal Development. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2001 (publisher's page). Pöhler, and possibly Knight, are reviewed in Alden Thompson, "Gored by Every Sharp Tongue?" Spectrum 29 (Summer 2001), p68–71
• The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Department of Education (1952). Principles of life from the Word of God: a systematic study of the major doctrines of the Bible (PDF). Poona, India: Oriental Watchman Publishing House. p. 268. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2012-04-23.

External links[]

• Fundamental Beliefs on the church's official website
• Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
• Theology articles as cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI). See also the Selected subject index by the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians (ASDAL)