Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission

E. Summary

The background for the origins of the SDA was the political, social, and religious climate of the U.S.A. during the first half of the 19th century, a context conducive to the development of new religious movements. In this climate in which postmillennialism was prevalent, a very active interconfessional movement emerged around William Miller, the major exponent of premillennialism at that time. To the followers of Miller, the Millerites, the only hope for this world was the personal return of Christ inaugurating the millennium. The missionary consciousness of the Millerites must be placed in the context of their conviction that they were living in the time of the end of the world. On the basis of historicist hermeneutical principles the time of the end was associated with the captivity of the pope in 1798. Several cosmic phenomena and certain events in the decline of the Ottoman empire, indicating its dependence on the Christian powers of Europe, were considered further confirmation for their identification of the time of the end. The central thrust of the Millerite motives for mission was based on Daniel 8:14. Owing to their understanding of the sanctuary, their premillennial views, and the application of historicist hermeneutic it was concluded that this text predicted the end of the world and the return of Christ in 1843, followed immediately by the establishment of the millennium. This date was confirmed by various other time calculations. FSDA 55.1

Other concepts which provided additional thrust for the Millerite missionary enterprise were the Midnight Cry and the Judgment Hour message. The Midnight Cry of the parable of the ten virgins was interpreted as a present reality and a symbol of the contemporary widespread proclamation of the Second Advent and was closely associated with the Judgment Hour message of Revelation 14:6, 7. Both of these thrusts contributed to the Millerite self-understanding as an important movement in the history of salvation. FSDA 56.1

Being generally an interconfessional movement among Protestants, Millerism initially adhered to the Protestant view of the Roman Catholic Church as Babylon and had a high regard for the primitive church and the Reformers. However, the spiritual condition of the Protestant churches of their day was strongly criticized for sectarianism, heresies, and thirst for power. FSDA 56.2

As a result of the predominant apocalyptic-eschatological motives for mission the Millerites felt an urgent responsibility to proclaim on a worldwide scope the news of the imminent Second Advent and judgment. They did not think it necessary that this message be given to every individual but only as a witness to all nations. When the year 1843 approached they were generally convinced that their world-wide mission was currently being accomplished, so that the end of the present world and Christ’s return could be expected at any time. FSDA 56.3