Understanding Adventist Terms

COLLEEN TINKER
JEREMY GRAHAM

In this article we share a (non-comprehensive) list of terms which, within Adventism, have different definitions than they have in evangelical Christianity. This difference in definitions results in confusion among mainstream Christians. When an evangelical hears an Adventist use these words, he or she assumes the Adventist means the same thing the evangelical means. In reality, the Adventist usually means something different, thus perpetuating the misperception that Adventists understand the gospel and salvation the same way the Christian community understands them. 

We will give each word followed by its Adventist definition, quotations from Adventist publications demonstrating these uses (if necessary), and footnotes showing supportive sources. The evangelical definition will follow (if applicable).  [This article is not derived from a book or other larger work.]

Authority: A confusing blend of the Bible and of Ellen White whose writings “are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.” It is also the General Conference in session, according to Ellen White. Further, EGW identified William Miller’s 1843 chart and message of Jesus’ imminent return to be authoritative. The experience of the early Adventists is also considered authoritative.¹

Evangelical: The Bible is considered the only authoritative objective source of truth. (2 Timothy 3:16)²

Backslider: Anyone who once believed the Adventist doctrine and then doesn’t attend church.

Example: “These volunteers visit three people per week (non-Adventist or backslider) inviting them to church and making the necessary contacts within the Church Family to provide for their presence with the Church Family.”³

Communion:  Sometimes called Quarterly Service, Ordinance of humility, or simply ordinances. Includes taking the “emblems” (bread and grape juice) after participating in footwashing.⁴

Evangelical: Celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Does not include footwashing. [“T]hat part of the Eucharistic rite in which the consecrated bread and wine are distributed to participants⁵ (Matthew 26:26-30).

Discouraged: Any person who has not actively started “breaking” the Sabbath but hasn’t been in church for several weeks or months and is in danger of apostasy.

Example: “‘Heart Call’ is our division-wide reclamation program. It’s a program prepared to reach out to 20,000 women who may have become discouraged and have not been attending church, or whose names have been removed from church records. They are our sisters, our daughters, our friends—and WE WANT THEM BACK!”⁶

Evangelical: Any believer who feels overwhelmed and needs encouragement to remember that the Lord Jesus is still holding and walking with him or her (Eph. 3:10-13).

Everlasting gospel: The Three Angels’ Messages⁷ (see below).

Evangelical: The gospel of the Lord Jesus as recorded in the New Testament (1Cor. 15:1-8, Col. 1:21-23).

Hope (as in “We have this hope”): The eventual second coming and the possibility/desire that one will be found ready to go to heaven at that time; the eventual vindication of Adventism itself. 

Example: “I will never advocate the popular theory that it does not matter what doctrine men espouse, if they only have faith. ‘Faith without works is dead, being alone.’ Genuine faith will be expressed by good works. We are looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We may not be living when Christ shall come in power and great glory, for all are subject to death at any time, but if we are righteous, in harmony with the law of God, we shall respond to the voice that will call the people of God from their graves, and shall come forth to receive immortality. It is only the blessed and holy who will be ready for the first resurrection; for when Christ comes, he will not change the character. The change that will take place will be that change spoken of by Paul when he says: ‘We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.’ The word of God declares that we must be found blameless, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Now we are to learn obedience, submission to the divine will, that God may work in us to will and to do of his good-pleasure, and that we may work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. But our own efforts are of no avail to atone for sin or to renew the heart. Only the blood of Christ can atone for us; his grace alone can create in us a clean heart, and enable us to obey God’s law. In him is our only hope.”⁸

Evangelical: the return of Jesus and our security of eternity with Him (Col. 1:27; Tit. 1:1,2; 2:13; Heb. 6:13-20).

Inspiration (as in “Inspiration says…” or “from the pen of Inspiration …” ): Always a reference to Ellen G. White without overtly saying her name. Sometimes referred to as “My favorite author…” or “A great Christian writer has said…” 

Example: “Pen of inspiration: Colloquial phrase used to describe the writings of Ellen G. White, and should not be used when writing for the public.”⁹

Evangelical: A reference to the prophetic gifting from God to the writers of the Bible resulting in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

The message: Adventist health message, Three Angels Messages, and other unique doctrines.

Example: “When young people preach the Adventist message, they remain in the Seventh-day Adventist Church —when we entrust them with the message.” ¹⁰

Evangelical: The good news of salvation through Jesus Christ
(1 Cor. 1:18; Heb. 4:1,2). Currently refers also to a paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson.

Right arm of the message (or of the Gospel): The health message which includes abstinence from unclean meats (and preferably all meat and even dairy products), caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco and an emphasis on lifestyle and medical work which is considered a primary “witnessing” method to attract new members.

Example: “Health evangelism is a ministry that changes people. Health evangelism improves health, prevents disease and lengthens life. Health evangelism results in a knowledge of and a deeper experience with God. Health evangelism results in baptisms and church growth. Health evangelism is the right arm of the gospel.” ¹¹

New birth: A nebulous term with variable meanings including being raised to new life through Adventist baptism, “conversion” to Adventism, accepting Jesus and the “full truth” of Adventism, successive times of new beginnings, etc.

Example: “God has opened the way for us to receive help from the source of all power. He has accepted his people in the beloved. Those who thus unite with the church by baptism are sealed as men and women who have been born again, of water and of the Spirit. They have entered upon a new life. They are to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust. They are to keep themselves free from every dishonest practice. Their example is to be a continual witness to the power of heavenly grace. The spirit of truth is to control them.”¹²

Evangelical: Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit upon trusting in Christ and thus being brought from spiritual death to life—a new creation born of God (Jn. 3:5-7; 1:12-13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:1-5).

Sanctification: The Holy Spirit helps the believer keep the Ten Commandments increasingly well until one perfectly reflects the character of Christ (i.e. ideally sins no more).

Example: “ ‘When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.’ Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.”¹³

Evangelical: Legal—Counted holy by God when one is alive in Christ. (Rom. 15:15-16; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 10:10) Experiential—the process of learning to live by the Spirit instead of by the sinful nature (1 Thess. 4:3-6; 5:23).

Seal of God: Sabbath-keeping (sometimes now called “the sign of the seal of God”)

Example: “Thus the distinction is drawn between the loyal and the disloyal. Those who desire to have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Thus they are distinguished from the disloyal, who have accepted a manmade institution in place of the true Sabbath. The observance of God’s rest day is a mark of distinction between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not (RH April 23, 1901).” ¹⁴

Evangelical: The indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30;
2 Cor. 1:21-22).

Spirit (human): A person’s breath/life force which leaves the body and goes to God upon death. It is not conscious nor can it exist apart from the body. It is no different from the breath of an animal. (Analagous to electricity—pull the plug on an appliance, and it stops.)¹⁵ (See also “State of the Dead” below.)

Evangelical: The insubstantial part of a person which is able to respond to God and to know Jesus. The spirit can worship and discern spiritual truth; it goes to be with Jesus when a person dies. It bears the image of God who is spirit (Jn. 4:24; Lk. 23:46; Ac. 7:59-60; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:21-24). 

Spirit of Prophecy: Almost always a reference to Ellen White’s writings (as a fulfillment of Rev. 12:17 and 19:10).

Example: “To enhance Adventist identity and increase spirituality among church members, delegates voted a conceptual plan to print and distribute two million sets of 10 Spirit of Prophecy books at a price affordable to members in every country. The initiative is called ‘Connecting With Jesus’….[S]urveys demonstrate, however, that most church members believe that the Spirit of Prophecy is ‘an authority for the Adventist Church today’ and that there is a relationship between a strong spiritual life/mission emphasis and members regularly reading Spirit of Prophecy books. The objective of ‘Connecting With Jesus’ is to challenge every member to recapture a personal vision for helping Adventism fulfill its prophetic mission.” ¹⁶

Evangelical:  It is the truth from and about Jesus,the testimony of Jesus which every believer has (see Rev. 19:10).

State of the dead: Core belief which holds that when a person dies, his body goes into the ground, his breath returns to God, and his “soul” (personality) ceases to exist until the resurrection. Nothing sentient or conscious remains; man dies as an animal dies. It borders on annhilation.¹⁷ 

Evangelical: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:21-24).

Three Angels’ Messages: The messages of the three angels of Revelation 14:6-12; “The gospel in verity”. Adventists claim these messages contain the essence of the “gospel”:  The hour of God’s judgment has come (October 22, 1844; investigative judgment of believers); worship the Creator (includes sanctifying the seventh day—call to Sabbatarianism).  Babylon is fallen (apostate churches who worship on Sunday). Those who worship the beast (papacy) and his image (“apostate” Protestants) receive his mark (Sunday-keeping) and will suffer torment forever (until they are annihilated). The saints are those who obey God’s commandments (most notably keep the seventh day) and (thus) remain faithful to Jesus. The Three Angels’ Messages also include “the health reform”.

Example: “This is the passage [Rev. 14:7-10] we call the ‘Three Angels’ Messages.’ These are the verses that contain the reason for the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist church. No other church is proclaiming these three messages. In no other church will you hear these messages explained.”¹⁸

The truth: Adventist doctrine, i.e. a person who left Adventism “left the truth”; a person baptized Adventist “found the truth”.

Example: “We are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given us in our early experience. At that time one error after another pressed in upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures, and earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power of God would come upon me, and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error.” ¹⁹

Evangelical: Reality as embodied in Jesus and recorded in God’s word (Jn. 1:14; 5:39-40; 14:6).

The Lord’s work/God’s work: Advancing the Adventist “message”.

Example: “Krause passes on the plea from Bairagee for spiritual support from the Adventist Church worldwide. ‘Please tell our world believers and request prayer for our new church members in Chittagong Hill Tracts. We trust that in spite of persecution, the Lord’s work will continue to flourish.’ ” ²⁰

Evangelical: Advancing the gospel of the Lord Jesus through whatever means God prepared in advance for one to do (Eph. 2:10; 3:7-9; Phil. 3:7-9, 14; 17; 4:18; Rom. 12:1-2). 

Conclusion

Adventists use the same words as Christians when they talk about theology and salvation. They have attached private interpretations to these words, so Adventists say them among themselves understanding them within the context of Ellen White-shaped theology. When Christians speak with Adventists, the Christians do not understand that the Adventists are applying this private interpretation, but the Adventist in conversation with a Christian often knows he is reserving a “private understanding” that he is not communicating to the Christian.

Because Adventists are taught that their theology is “the truth”, the fact that they understand the words differently does not cause them discomfort. They believe that they can find “common ground” with Christians by “sounding right”, thus avoiding being marginalized and “misunderstood”. Should the Christian become interested in Adventism, then he would be introduced to Adventist proof-texts and taught the in-house understandings of the normal Christian words. 

The one fool-proof way for a Christian to begin to understand what an Adventist really means when he speaks of salvation is literally to study the Bible with him. Unless one grapples with the actual text of Scripture with an Adventist, the true nature of Adventist theology and biblical interpretation will not be clear. As long as Adventists and Christians merely discuss the terms of theology, they may sound similar. When they actually handle the Word of God together, however, the chasm dividing them becomes clear.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned (Mat. 12:36-37). †

 

Endnotes

1. Fundamental belief #18, Seventh-day Adventists Believe, An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p. 247; White, Ellen G, Testimonies for the Church, Vol 3, p. 492; ibid, Spiritual Gifts Vol 1, p. 139; Ratzlaff, Dale, Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists, p. 112-113, footnote 39. 
2. Zukeran, Patrick, “Authority of the Bible”, http://www.probe.org/content/view/39/77/)
3. (http://www.nadadventist.org/adultministries/ministries/careteam.html) See also: http://www.net05.org/serve.php, http://www.amazingfacts.org/Portals/0/PDFs/NukeNews/File2/articles/July2004.pdf
4. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual Revised 2005, 17th Edition, pages 81-86, 96-98. (http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf); Seventh-day Adventists Believe…An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Chapter 16, “The Lord’s Supper” p.225,  Pacific Press Pub Assoc,  2005; Quarterly Service: http://www.tagnet.org/spiritquest/feet.htm; Ordinances: http://www.placervillesda.org/your.htm
5. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communion)
6. (http://www.tagnet.org/aec/women/heartcall_ins.htm); White, Ellen G, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 10-24-93, “Brotherly Love Needed”, par. 7
7. http://www.adventist.org/world_church/name_mission/index.html.en; amended in 2004 to: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat1.html
8. White, Ellen, The Signs of the Times, “Faith Manifested by Works”, 2-09-1891 See also Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-01-1892, “The Necessity of Co-operation With God”; An Appeal to Our Ministers and Conference Committees, 09-24-00, pg 40, par 1; Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, “Rejoice in the Lord”, Par 6; Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 06-12-88, “The Renewing of the Mind”, Par 5; Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,11-09-86, “Mental Inebriates”, Par 15-16
9. ANN Style Guide – Glossary” (http://news.adventist.org/styleguide/glossary.html) See also: “Holiness Our Destiny,” sermon by Richard O’Ffill (http://www.revivalsermons.org/sermons/holiness_our_destiny.shtml) (http://mcdonaldroad.org/sermons/01/0623da.htm); Lake Union Herald, Volume 96, Issue 3, March 2004, “New Believer’s Guide to Adventist English” http://www.lakeunionherald.org/96/3/18023.html (under “Spirit of Prophecy”); Adventist Review, October 5, 2000 (http://www.adventistreview.org/2000-1545/story2.html) (Jan Paulsen, General Conference President)
10. http://news.adventist.org/data/2005/03/1113917513/index.html.en (5th paragraph): Mark Finley, director of the church’s Center for Global Evangelism, told church leaders April 13 at Spring Meeting, one of the church’s two annual business meetings. See also: White, Ellen G, Testimonies for the Church Volume Seven, Ch. 2, Par 4, Pp 54-55; Testimonies for the Church Volume Six, ch. 5, Par. 4, p 315; ch. 1, , Par. 2, p 19; Testimonies for the Church Volume Seven, ch 1, par 3, p 35; Testimonies for the Church Volume Five, ch. 75, Par 1, p 591
11. HealthWorks, “A newsletter published by the Health Ministries Department of the North American Division,” Volume 7, Number 2, March-April 2005, page 1, paragraph 1 http://www.nadadventist.org/hm/healthworks/HW2q2005.pdf; See also:  http://www.thequiethour.org/evan/evanopp/healthexpo.php; http://www.pacificunionrecorder.com/104/1/17625.html; http://www.gccsda.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=757&Itemid=2, White, Ellen G, Testimonies for the Church, Vol 6, p. 288.
12. Manuscript Releases Volume Six, contained in Materials Requested by 1973 Seminary Prophetic Guidance Class, Par. 1, Pg. 28; See also: http://www.adventiststewardship.com/article.php?id=261; http://www.adventistreview.org/2003-1539/tues.html; What Adventists Believe, (http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/index.html).
13. White, Ellen G. Christ’s Object Lessons, ch. 3, par. 1, pg. 69; See also:  http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-10.htm; White, Ellen G. The Youth’s Instructor 08-24-99, par 2; Ibid,The Great Controversy, ch. 27, “Modern Revivals”, par 2, pg. 469; Ibid, Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, 11-01-1892, “The Necessity of Co-operation With God (Concluded)” Par 2.
14. S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7, “REV14”, par. 2, pg. 981. See also: http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-19.htm;  http://www.andrews.edu/~damsteeg/seal.html; White, Ellen,The Signs of the Times, 03-22-10, par. 4; Ibid, The Signs of the Times, 03-22-10, par. 4; Manuscript Releases Volume Nine, CN 695, par. 1, pg. 88; Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church, par. 1, pg 6.
15. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, April/May/June 1999 (Second Quarter), Lesson 4, April17 and April 18 (http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/less04.html ); Seventh-day Adventists Believe … An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Chapter 7, “The Nature of Man” (http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-07.htm ); Ibid,  Chapter 26, “Death and Resurrection”, p. 388, 390-91; (http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-25.htm ); “Adventist Review,” March 14, 2002 (http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1511/story4.html ); Planet in Rebellion, by George E. Vandeman, Southern Publishing Association 1960, pages 320-323 (as quoted by David W. Cloud, “Avoiding the Snare of Seventh-day Adventism” http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/avoiding/avoiding05.htm
16. Adventist Review, October 7, 2004, http://www.adventistreview.org/2004-1541/update5.html; See also: Lake Union Herald, Volume 96, Issue 3, March 2004, “New Believer’s Guide to Adventist English” (http://www.lakeunionherald.org/96/3/18023.html ); http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat24.html; http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/spirit-of-prophecy.html; Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual Revised 2005, 17th Ed, http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf
17. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide,” April/May/June 1999 (Second Quarter), Lesson 8 (http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/less08.html ); Seventh-day Adventists Believe…An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Ch. 26, http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html; Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual Revised 2005, 17th Edition http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf, see page 29; http://news.adventist.org/data/2003/10/1069166562/index.html.en (mentions “State of the Dead” as a distinctive Adventist doctrine)
18. (Pastor Dale Wolcott, http://www.midlandsda.org/Sermons/3-9-2002.html); (Rev. 14:6-12; includes the “everlasting gospel”) http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat1.html; Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, April/May/June 2002 (Second Quarter), Lesson 11 http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/02b/less11.html ( includes IJ, Sabbath, Babylon/apostasy/apostate Protestantism, annihilation); Seventh-day Adventists Believe…An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, “The Remnant and Its Mission” ch 13, p. 181, (includes IJ, Sabbath, Babylon/Protestants/Rome, beast=Papacy, image of the beast=Protestants, mark of the beast=Sunday worship, commandments=Sabbath) http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-12.htm; Seventh-day Adventists Believe…An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, “The Sabbath”, ch. 20, p. 281 (http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-19.htm); White, Ellen G, Testimonies for the Church Vol 8, Ch. 2, Par 2, pg 94; White, Ellen G, Testimonies for the Church Vol 1, Ch. 85, “The Health Reform”, Par 2, pg 486
19. White, Ellen G, Gospel Workers, 1915, ch. 8, “Dangers”, par. 2, pg. 302; see also: Adventist Review, September 7, 2000 (http://www.adventistreview.org/2000-1541/story1.html ); White, Ellen G, Gospel Workers, 1915, ch. 8, “Dangers” par. 3, pg. 302; Ibid, Gospel Workers, 1915, ch. 8, par. 1, pg. 303; Ibid , Testimonies for the Church Vo. 1, ch. 76, par. 2, pg. 413; Ibid , Manuscript Releases Vol. Nineteen, entry 1378; par. 1, pg. 128; Ibid , Counsels to Writers and Editors, ch. 19, par. 2, pg. 145; Ibid , Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, 10-08-1889, “The Need of Advancement” par. 4; Ibid . Reflecting Christ, ch. 238, par. 4, pg. 242; Ibid . Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, 04-01-1880; “Missionary Address (Concluded)” par. 4; (http://news.adventist.org/data/2000/05/0960327152/index.html.en
20. Adventist Review, May 2, 2002 (http://www.adventistreview.org/2002-1518/story3.html ); http://news.adventist.org/data/2006/03/1145481213/index.html.en; http://www.adventistreview.org/9944/story4-1.htm; http://www.adventistreview.org/2005bulletin/TrustServ.html

 

Colleen Tinker is editor of Proclamation! magazine.

Jeremy Graham was born in Loma Linda, California, and was raised in Seventh-day Adventism. However, the Lord set him free in the truth of Jesus Christ in 2003. He currently lives in east-central Arizona, and is now glad to be called a Christian.