Who are Seventh-day Adventists?
It started with the man who hauled our wood…
I never knew who Seventh-day Adventists were and I was not a religious or spiritual person. When I was 17, I was cutting pulpwood with my dad. A man named Walter Leist hauled the wood we cut. But on Saturday when the truck came, it was driven by someone else named Don. Dad asked Don where Walter was. Don said, “Oh, Walter is in church. He is a Seventh-day Adventist.” I was about 20 feet away and heard the conversation. It meant nothing to me at the time. Fifteen years later at 32 years of age, it had a great deal of meaning!
At age 32, I was attending night classes at Central Michigan University. I was seeking my Master’s Degree in Education. I would listen to the radio on the 70-mile trip home. A man came on the radio speaking of Bible prophecy, about the city of Tyre, and the Saturday Sabbath. It was not too religious so I listened.
I had not realized that I was running away from God before this. If the group I was with spoke of spiritual things, I would leave. I was uncomfortable. If a religious program came on the radio I would change stations. I was running from God and did not know it.
When I arrived home I got a Bible from my brother, John, who is Baptist. (I got my Bible from, “John, the Baptist”). I began to study the prophecy of the city of Tyre being thrown into the sea (Ezekiel 26). This happened during the reign of Alexander the Great, nearly 300 years after the prophecy was given to Ezekiel. My position before age 32 was, “prove there is a God, and I will believe!”
This was proof for me.
Since the man on the radio said Saturday was the Sabbath, I tried calling churches to see who held services on Saturday. I called about a dozen. Then my wife called about a dozen. No one knew of any church that had Saturday services. I decided to call one more! If that was not it, I was through!! I found listed in the phone book, ‘Seventh-day Adventist Church’. I called and made an appointment with the pastor for the next Thursday. 48 years later, here we are with two of our three children as Seventh-day Adventists.
What the name means
“Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.”1 The name “Seventh-day Adventist” means we believe Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is God’s only Sabbath. We emphasize the observance of the fourth commandment, as well as the other nine Commandments because God’s Laws do not change. Adventists observe the Sabbath, not to earn salvation, but out of love; to spend sacred time with God and acknowledge Him as Creator.
“Adventist” shows we await the second coming of Jesus. The second coming of Christ is the grand hope that we are living for. In Christian theology, the word “advent” means “coming or second coming of Christ.” If Christ is not coming again, we have no hope of escape from sin, suffering, and death. Adventists keep His Coming as our focus. We live to see Him again.
People of the book
Seventh-day Adventists are known as people of the Book. The Book refers to the Bible, and our doctrines are founded on the holy word Of God. Visitors and members are encouraged to study the Bible to ensure that what they believe is supported by Scripture.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is also known as the Remnant Church in Adventist circles. This is derived from the Bible.
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17, NKJV). The word “remnant” refers to a small remaining quantity of something.
The name Seventh-day Adventist describes a people who seek to be united in doctrine and love. Jesus said it is by loving each other that others will know we are His disciples (John 13:35). The name describes a faith group concerned about the holistic development of an individual. Adventists value education and health. Besides governments, the Adventist church operates the second largest educational system in the world and also runs one of the largest healthcare systems in the world.
SDAs are among the most healthy and longest living people on the planet. We believe that God wants us to care for our bodies since His Holy Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The name also describes a group of people who like to serve. Seventh-day Adventists operate an agency called ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). We assist in helping folks that have been in a disaster both overseas and in the U.S.
The Red Cross and the Federal Government requests ADRA to administer and operate warehouses where people come to obtain aid. Oftentimes, we take truckloads from the warehouse to local churches or other distribution centers.
I assisted a few years ago in the flood in North Carolina. I drove a fork truck in the warehouse loading a U-HAUL truck. Then I drove the truck to local churches. In Texas, after Hurricane Katrina, I mainly ran a chainsaw, removing trees that had fallen on buildings. When not running the saw, I helped box up canned food to be distributed to those in need. Many church members come together to serve communities in need and care for those facing disasters.
“Seventh-day Adventist” doesn’t describe a perfect person or a group of people void of flaws. Instead, the name tells of individuals who have real problems and need a Savior. We face daily troubles and our church is growing in its knowledge of God. While we are flawed individuals, our Savior is perfect and we invite people to look to Him.
To truly experience the full meaning of the name Seventh-day Adventists, we invite you to visit your local Adventists church.
At the end of the day, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, ESV). That name is Jesus Christ.
Questions about Adventists? Ask here!
Find answers to your questions about Seventh-day Adventists
Why is the Sabbath Observed from Sunset to Sunset?
Why is the Sabbath Observed from Sunset to Sunset?Adventists observe the seventh-day Sabbath from the time the sun sets on Friday to the time it sets again on Saturday evening. In this post, you’ll understand more about the Sabbath and why it is observed between...
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Growing in Christ
By His death on the cross, Jesus gives His people victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us while the great controversy rages on. But by daily feeding on the Word of God, along with prayer, humility and surrender, we can grow in our knowledge and love of God.
We have been freed from our past life and now, “we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6.4). Our lives will then reveal to others the love and character of God (Mark 5:16).
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the New Earth?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the New Earth? Seventh-day Adventists believe that after the second coming of Christ, this very Earth will be cleansed by fire, then restored back to its original Eden-like perfection. This will crown the plan of redemption...
What Adventists Believe About the Millennium and the End of Sin
What Adventists Believe About the Millennium and the End of SinAs most Christians, Seventh-day Adventists hope for the time when the plague of sin and evil will be no more. This post will cover what the Bible teaches on how God will finally dispose of sin at the end...
What Are Seventh-day Adventists Beliefs on Death and the Resurrection?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Death and the Resurrection?Seventh-day Adventists believe that all who have ever lived and died will be resurrected at the end of the world. Some will be raised to live eternally with God. But those who have chosen against...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about The Second Coming of Christ?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About The Second Coming of Christ?The Second Coming of Jesus is so important to Seventh-day Adventists that they even have it as part of their identity. The word advent in “Adventist” refers to the second coming, or second advent...
What Adventists Believe About Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
What Adventists Believe About Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly SanctuaryWhat is Jesus doing right now? Seventh-day Adventists believe, according to what we’re told in the book of Hebrews, that Jesus is ministering in the sanctuary in Heaven right now. He is our high...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Marriage and Family?
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Marriage and Family?Seventh-day Adventists believe that the idea of a family originated with God as our Creator. And that God has laid out principles to uphold loving family relationships. To help strengthen these...
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Christian Behavior
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Christian BehaviorYou’d be hard-pressed to find a person on this earth who doesn’t think behavior is important. Or that the way we treat one another is crucial to our collective wellbeing. The patterns of actions, words, and...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Sabbath?
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Sabbath?Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Bible Sabbath falls on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday. We uphold that it was instituted at Creation and remains valid and relevant to this day, being one...
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Stewardship (and What Does It Mean?)
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Stewardship (and What Does It Mean?)Seventh-day Adventists firmly believe that love for God and fellow humans is the overriding principle of their faith. And to express that love in an overarching way would be through how they...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Law of God (10 Commandments)?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Law of God (10 Commandments)?God’s law in its entirety is perfectly summarized in the Ten Commandments. They provide the framework for how to regard God and how to regard our fellow human beings. This post will go over...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Prophetic Gift?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Prophetic Gift?The belief in and importance of spiritual gifts is central to Christianity and to carrying out Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit so we can have the...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Spiritual Gifts and Ministries?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Spiritual Gifts and Ministries?Seventh-day Adventists believe that the members of the church receive piritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. These are different but complementary. And they are meant to equip the church to...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Lord’s Supper (Communion)?
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Lord’s Supper (Communion)?Like many Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists believe in the practice commonly called the "Lord's Supper." They take a drink and eat unleavened bread together in obedience to Jesus’ direct...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Baptism?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Baptism?Like many Christian groups around the world and throughout history, Seventh-day Adventists believe in baptism. They baptize people by immersion, as taught and exemplified in the Bible. This post will walk you...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Unity in Christ?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Unity in Christ?Seventh-day Adventists believe in the Christian idea of unity. The idea of believers in Jesus being united with a common goal of representing God and His love to the world. This unity doesn’t mean uniformity...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Remnant and its Mission?
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Remnant and its Mission?Seventh-day Adventists believe God has faithful people in all churches, all around the world. They also see how God has always nurtured a group of faithful believers to proclaim His truth, love,...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Church?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Church?Seventh-day Adventists believe that the idea of the church is an important biblical concept. They see church as a community of believers who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And they’re organized so...
What Adventists Believe about The Experience of Salvation?
What Do Adventists Believe About the Experience of Salvation? Adventists believe that salvation is a gift that anyone can receive through belief and commitment to Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death. This post goes over what comes after making a decision for...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus?For Adventists, Jesus Christ is the foundation of their faith. This is because it’s only through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that any of us have hope of life beyond...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about The Great Controversy?
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About The Great Controversy?The Bible unveils a supernatural struggle between good and evil which Adventists often refer to as “The Great Controversy.” This struggle is the one answer to the big question—WHY?Why the outright evil...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Creation?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Creation?Seventh-day Adventists believe that God is the Creator of our world. They come to this conclusion from the first book of the Bible—Genesis. They believe that it only took God six literal days to form the world and...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about the Father?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About the Father?As do many Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. And included in this is the teaching of God the Father, who is praised in the church’s official statement of belief:“God the...
What do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about Sin and the Nature of Humanity?
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe About Sin and the Nature of Humanity?Adventists believe that human beings have a natural tendency to be sinful, evil, and selfish. But they also believe that God has provided a way through which we can experience victory over...
What Do Seventh-Day Adventists Believe about God the Holy Spirit?
What Do Seventh-Day Adventists Believe About God the Holy Spirit?Besides believing in the full divinity of God the Father and God the Son, Adventists also believe in the full divinity of God the Holy Spirit. This post will go over what the Bible says about the Holy...
What Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe about God the Son?
What Seventh-day Adventists Believe About God the Son “There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known...
Didn’t find your answer? Ask us!
We understand your concern of having questions but not knowing who to ask—we’ve felt it ourselves. When you’re ready to learn more about Adventists, send us a question! We know a thing or two about Adventists.