Seventh-day Adventist Church

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== Seventh-day Adventist Church ==

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday as the Sabbath and its emphasis on the imminent Second Coming (or "Advent") of Jesus Christ. The denomination grew out of the Millerite movement in the United States during the mid-19th century and was formally established in 1863.

History

The roots of the Seventh-day Adventist Church can be traced back to the Millerite movement of the 1840s, which was led by William Miller. Miller predicted that Christ would return to Earth on October 22, 1844, a date that became known as the Great Disappointment when the event did not occur. Following this, a group of Millerites continued to study the Bible and eventually formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The church was officially organized on May 21, 1863, in Battle Creek, Michigan, with a membership of 3,500. James White, Ellen G. White, and Joseph Bates were among the key founders.

Beliefs

The Seventh-day Adventist Church holds 28 fundamental beliefs, which can be categorized into six doctrines: the doctrines of God, man, salvation, the church, the Christian life, and last-day events. Some of the key beliefs include:

• The Trinity
• The Second Coming of Christ
• The observance of the Sabbath on Saturday
• The Investigative Judgment
• The Three Angels' Messages
• The state of the dead and conditional immortality

Organization

The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates a representative form of church government. It is organized into local churches, which are grouped into conferences, which in turn are grouped into unions, and finally into divisions. The highest level of governance is the General Conference, which oversees the global church.

Education and Health

The church places a strong emphasis on education and healthcare. It operates one of the largest Protestant educational systems in the world, with numerous Adventist schools, colleges, and universities. The church also runs a global network of hospitals and clinics.

Global Presence

As of 2021, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a worldwide membership of over 21 million people. It is present in more than 200 countries and territories and operates in numerous languages.

Related Pages

• Ellen G. White
• Millerite movement
• Great Disappointment
• Investigative Judgment
• Three Angels' Messages
• General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
• Adventist education
• Adventist Health System