What do Seventh-day Adventists believe?

Seventh-day Adventists confess one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they confess Jesus as truly God and truly man. They also teach that the seventh-day Sabbath binds all people, that Christ began an investigative judgment in 1844, that the dead are unconscious until the resurrection, and that Ellen G. White’s writings carry prophetic authority under the Bible.

Key points

• The North American Division’s history page says the church arose from the Millerite movement of the 1840s and organized in 1863, and that “Seventh-day” names the Sabbath, Saturday. (1)
• Fundamental Belief 2: “There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons.” (2) Belief 4: “Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ.” (3)
• Fundamental Belief 20 says the fourth commandment “requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath.” (5) Colossians 2:16–17^2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ^2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Colossians 2:16–17 · King James Version calls sabbath days a shadow. (14) The day itself is Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday?.
• Fundamental Belief 24 says that in 1844 Christ “entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment.” (6) Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;Hebrews 10:12 · King James Version says that after one sacrifice for sins he sat down. (12)
• Fundamental Belief 26: “Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people.” (7) Luke 23:43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Luke 23:43 · King James Version, King James Version: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (13)
• Fundamental Belief 18 says the gift of prophecy “was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White,” and that “the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.” (4)
• Fundamental Belief 22 says dress is “simple, modest, and neat,” and it names unclean foods, alcohol, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs. It does not name pants. (8)

Where the church came from

The North American Division’s history page: (1)

The Seventh-day Adventist® Church arose out of the Millerite movement of the 1840s when thousands of Christians searched for greater understanding of biblical prophecy. Among these early believers was a group who valued both the soon return of Jesus, the seventh-day Sabbath, the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and the conditional nature of humanity until the Resurrection. These early believers chose the name “Seventh-day” as a reference to the biblical Sabbath, Saturday, ordained by God at Creation. “Adventist” refers to the return, or second advent, of Jesus Christ. In 1863, these Sabbatarian Adventist believers officially organized into a denomination with approximately 3,500 members across 125 churches.

That page is the church’s account of its origin. “Seventh-day” is the Sabbath. “Adventist” is the return of Jesus. The organization date on that page is 1863. Ellen G. White is not called the founder there. Belief 18 names her as the manifestation of the gift of prophecy.

What they confess about God

Fundamental Belief 2, The Trinity, as the North American Division prints it: (2)

There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.

Fundamental Belief 4, The Son: (3)

God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged.

Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God’s power and was attested as God’s promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things.

Fundamental Belief 5, The Holy Spirit, says: “God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption.” (17) Ellen G. White, Evangelism, page 615, in the official writings edition: (10)

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.

The present Fundamental Beliefs and that 1905 sentence confess one God in three persons, and a Son who is forever truly God. That is the same confession as the Trinity and Is Jesus God?. The disagreement with Nicene churches is not Belief 2. It is the Sabbath, the 1844 judgment, the state of the dead, and the authority given to White’s writings.

Fundamental Belief 9 says, “The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil.” (18) The resurrection of Jesus is that bodily rising. Adventists affirm it in Belief 9.

The seventh-day Sabbath

Fundamental Belief 20: (5)

The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts.

Exodus 20:8–11^20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ^20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ^20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ^20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.Exodus 20:8–11 · King James Version does command the seventh day. Luke 4:16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.Luke 4:16 · King James Version says it was Jesus’ custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. The Christian question is whether that commandment is still the church’s required day. Colossians 2:16–17^2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ^2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Colossians 2:16–17 · King James Version, King James Version: (14)

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16–17 · King James Version

The full case, including the first day of the week and Justin’s Sunday assembly, is Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday?.

The judgment that began in 1844

Fundamental Belief 24: (6)

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension.

In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus.

The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent.

Ellen G. White, Christ in His Sanctuary, as the official writings site prints it: (11)

But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation—a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works.

Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that, instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming.

Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.Hebrews 9:12 · King James Version, King James Version: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;Hebrews 10:12 · King James Version: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 7:27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.Hebrews 7:27 · King James Version: “for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” (12)

Hebrews says the sacrifice was once, the entrance was once, and the priest sat down. Belief 24 also says the cross was “once for all,” and then it adds a second phase of atoning ministry that began in 1844 and closes probation before he comes. That second phase is the distinctive. Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.Revelation 22:12 · King James Version does say his reward is with him. The verse does not say that an investigative judgment opened in 1844.

Fundamental Belief 10 says, “Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment,” and “This faith which receives salvation comes through the divine power of the Word and is the gift of God’s grace.” (19) Belief 19 says, “Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Commandments.” (21) Where Adventists stand beside other churches on whether a believer can fall, Can you lose your salvation? quotes the churches and does not decide that dispute.

Death

Fundamental Belief 26: (7)

The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later.

The history page calls this “the conditional nature of humanity until the Resurrection.” Daniel 12:2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.Daniel 12:2 · King James Version says many who sleep in the dust shall awake. Ecclesiastes 9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.Ecclesiastes 9:5 · King James Version says the dead know not any thing. Those sentences are in Scripture.

Luke 23:43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Luke 23:43 · King James Version, King James Version: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Philippians 1:23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:Philippians 1:23 · King James Version: “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” 2 Corinthians 5:8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.2 Corinthians 5:8 · King James Version: “willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (13) (15) (16)

The resurrection of the body remains the Christian hope. Those three sentences also say the dead in Christ are with him before that day. Belief 26 says the state until that day is unconscious for all people.

Ellen G. White

Fundamental Belief 18: (4)

The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church, and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.

Fundamental Belief 1: (9)

The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.

Belief 18 gives her writings prophetic authority. The same belief, and Belief 1, say the Bible tests all teaching. The 1844 judgment and the unconscious state of the dead are teachings those writings carry. They are tested by Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;Hebrews 10:12 · King James Version and Luke 23:43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Luke 23:43 · King James Version, not by a second standard beside Scripture.

Fundamental Belief 13 calls a last-day remnant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and it ties that proclamation to the three angels of Revelation 14 and to the judgment in heaven. (20) That is the church’s account of its own mission.

How they live

Fundamental Belief 22: (8)

While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently.

Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well.

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs quoted here do not name Christmas, Easter, or pants. Belief 22 names unclean foods, alcohol, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics, and it says dress is simple, modest, and neat, with cultural differences recognized.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the Seventh-day Adventist Church originate?

The North American Division history page traces it to Sabbatarian Adventists in the Millerite movement of the 1840s. They organized as a denomination in 1863. (1)

Who is Ellen G. White?

Fundamental Belief 18 says the gift of prophecy “was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White,” and that her writings “speak with prophetic authority” while the Bible remains “the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.” (4)

How are Seventh-day Adventists different from other Christians?

Beliefs 2 and 4 confess the Trinity and the Son as forever truly God. The differences in the Fundamental Beliefs are the seventh-day Sabbath as binding on all people, the investigative judgment beginning in 1844, death as an unconscious state, and White’s prophetic gift. (2) (5) (6) (7) (4)

What are Seventh-day Adventists not allowed to do?

Belief 22 says they abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures, from alcoholic beverages, from tobacco, and from the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics, and that dress is simple, modest, and neat. (8) The beliefs quoted on this page do not forbid pants, and they do not name Christmas.

Do Adventists celebrate Christmas and Easter?

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs as published by the North American Division do not name Christmas or Easter. This page does not add a rule the beliefs do not state.

Keep reading

• Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday?
• The Trinity
• Is Jesus God?
• The resurrection of Jesus
• Is the Holy Spirit a person?
• Can you lose your salvation?