Myths and Truths About the Seventh-day Adventists

Christians of all ages have strived to keep their faith in Jesus pure and trustworthy. Traditional churches take pride in their history of safeguarding beliefs and practices, traditions passed down through centuries. But is all that we hold dear truly taught by Christ? Could there still be more to uncover from God’s word?

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Christian denomination, descendant of the protestant movement, which emerged from a revival of interest in Bible prophecy, particularly related to Jesus’ Second Coming, during the 19th century in North America. To read a brief history of the Adventist Church, click here.

Adventists are known around the world for their interest in Bible prophecy, wholistic health, and preparation for Jesus’ Second Coming. However, particularly in Egypt, some misconceptions were spread among the Christian community. There seems to be a lack of first-source information. We hope this page helps clarify any questions regarding the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventists to you and your friends. Read below some myths and truths regarding this worldwide Christian movement.

Myth #1 – Adventists are not Christians, because they don’t believe in the deity of Jesus.

Truth #1: The seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide community of Bible-believing Christians. We believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God (John 1:14; Luke 1:23; Mat. 27:54), coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jo. 1:1-3; Gen. 1:1-2; Isa. 9:6; Rom. 9:5). He was sent by the Father to save us from our sins (John 3:16), to die and resurrect in our place (Rom. 5:6-11), and is now at the right-hand of the Father, interceding for all humanity (Heb. 12:2). Jesus Christ, then, is worthy of our worship, obedience and devotion.

Myth #2 – Adventists use a different Bible translation.

Truth #2: Adventists use Bibles published and printed by Bible Societies all over the world; In Egypt, Bibles are edited and published by the Bible Society of Egypt. These Bibles can be different versions, like the Van Dyck Version or the New Van Dyck Version, but the Adventist church has not produced or printed a unique exclusive version of the Bible; not in Arabic nor in any other language. The Bible we read and study is the standard Protestant Bible accessible to everyone.

Myth #3 – Adventists are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Truth #3: Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in the Trinity; they don’t accept Jesus as fully God, nor the Holy Spirit, which separates them from mainstream evangelical Christianity.

This is not the case with the Adventist Church. Adventists believe in the full divinity of Jesus Christ, and also the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2). For Seventh-day Adventists, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three coeternal divine Persons. Not so for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both denominations differ quite fundamentally in some beliefs and practices (like the divinity of Jesus, the interpretation of last-days prophecies, how to read the Bible, donating blood, etc).

Myth #4 – Adventists are Jews.

Truth #4: The Seventh-day Adventist church has no association with the Jewish culture or heritage in its origins or development. Adventists are Christians who believe in the whole Bible (Old and New Testament) as the basis for their faith. Hence they believe that Jesus Christ is the long-awaited Messiah of the Old Testament, they await for Jesus Second Coming in the near future, and, among other core beliefs, keep Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as “sabbath”, a day of rest, according to the 10 Commandments given by God (Exodus 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21). This commandment was reinstated by Jesus while here on earth by word and practice (Mat. 5:17-19; Luk. 4:16; Mat. 19:17). And following the example of Jesus, their Master, the early Christian Church also kept it (Acts 13:14; 17:2; 18:4).

Adventists strive to honor the sabbath day not only by abstaining from work, as the commandment requires, but also by gathering for worship, spending time with friends and family, enjoying God’s creation and serving those in need (Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Mat. 12:12).

Further Reading: What We Believe #20 Sabbath

Myth #5 – Adventists don't eat and drink like other Christians.

Truth #5: Adventists are Christians who believe in the importance of taking care of the body, as well as the mind. So they strive to follow God’s diet guidelines given in Leviticus 11 (see Gen. 7:1-3 for “unclean animals” before Sinai), and in keeping oneself free from alcoholic beverages, tobacco and other drugs.

Going beyond simply not eating pork or taking alcohol, Seventh-day Adventists believe humans were created as wholistic beings, with mind, body and spirit closely interconnected (Gen. 2:7; 3 John 2). What affects one part, affects the whole. Considering also the biblical teaching of the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20), Adventists are highly motivated to value physical health, health promotion and healthcare services for all. For this reason, the Adventist Church has invested in ministering to communities through varied health initiatives, as well as in owning hospitals, clinics and health centers all over the world.

Read further: What We Believe #22 Christian Behavior

Myth #6 – Adventists worship the archangel Michael.

Truth #6: The Adventist Church does not practice the worship of angels, saints or any other beings besides the triune God of the Bible (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), following God’s clear instructions in the 10 commandments (Exo. 20 and Deut. 5), and several other instances in Scripture.

This being said, it is important to clarify the true identity of the biblical figure “Archangel Michael”, which seems to be confusing to some Christians. The term Archangel in the Bible means “the highest messenger”, and the name Michael means “Who Is Like God?”.

Seventh-day Adventists hold the traditional belief that the Archangel Michael mentioned in the books of Daniel, Revelation, and Jude, is Jesus Christ pre-incarnate. This interpretation is not exclusive or original of Adventists; several prominent protestant leaders also believed in such interpretation (see quotations below).

The fact that Jesus is called in the Bible the ultimate Archangel does not take away from his Divinity, just as being called the Son of Man or the Chief High Priest also does not, but simply explains His roles in the plan of redemption.

Myth #7 – Adventists are not part of the Christian Coptic community because their beliefs are different from the majority.

Truth #7: If being Coptic means being Christian in Egypt, then members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church should be known and related to as fellow Christians, since they are followers of Jesus Christ, believers of His Divinity, and take His teachings (the Holy Scriptures) as guide for life.

The Adventist Church has been present in this country since 1878, organized into the worldwide church since 1902, and received legal status from the government in 1993. Hence, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is recognized by the Egyptian government as a Christian denomination, and carries the same legal standing as the Coptic, Catholic and Protestant churches in Egypt.

Myth #8 - Adventists do not believe in the resurrection.

Truth #8: The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is well documented in the Bible, and Adventists believe in it. The Bible teaches the dead will rise at the sound of God’s trumpet at Jesus’ Second Coming (1 Tess. 4:16); that the righteous will be transformed (1 Cor. 15:51-54), and all the just, those who are alive when Jesus comes, and those who died in Christ, will be taken up into the heavens and forever live in God’s presence (1 Tess. 4:16; Rev. 20:12-13, 21:3).

Myth #9 - Adventists set dates for Jesus’ Second Coming.

Truth #9: The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that “of that day and hour [Jesus’ Second Coming] no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only”(Matt. 24:36). There has been not setting of dates for Jesus’ Return in glory preached or publicized officially by the Adventist Church. Unfortunately, we recognize the existence of individuals who profess the Adventist faith and defend personal interpretations of Bible prophecy that can include date-setting. These do not represent the beliefs of the Church regionally or globally.

Some believe the Adventist Church set October 22, 1844 as a day for Jesus’ Appearing. This is not correct, since the Seventh-day Adventist church was organized only several years later, in 1863. Some of the Adventist pioneers did accept the message preached by William Miller, a prophecy student and preacher of North America who preached Jesus’ soon return after studying the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14.

To read more on the history of the Adventist Church and its relation to William Miller, click here.