According to historians of the movement, this group gained its more recent name from the teaching that the expected return of Jesus Christ on October 22, 1844 had been fulfilled in a way that had not previously been understood (see also: Great Disappointment). Further Bible study led to the belief that Jesus in that year had entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary, and began an "investigative judgment" of the world: a process through which there is an examination of the heavenly records to "determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement"¹ after which Jesus will return to earth. This completion of the return of Christ may occur very soon, according to the church's teaching.
For about twenty years the Adventist movement was a loose group of people who held to this message. It was led by James White, Ellen G. White and Joseph Bates.
Later a formally organized church called the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was established in Battle Creek, Michigan in May, 1863 with a membership of 3,500. Through the evangelism and inspiration of Ellen G. White, the church quickly grew and established a presence beyond North America during the later part of the 1800s. In 1903, the denominational headquarters were moved from Battle Creek to Washington D.C, and in 1989 to Silver Spring, Maryland.
Believe in a literal six-day creation process, culminating in a seventh day sabbath of rest, which is still to be observed from Friday's sunset to Saturday's sunset, in accordance with Scripture.
Maintain that there is no biblical mandate for the change from the true Sabbath to Sunday observance, which is to say that Sunday keeping is merely a "tradition of men".
Believe that death is a sleep during which the "dead know nothing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5), which is to say that nothing of a person survives death, that the dead simply cease to exist until they are resurrected, either at the second coming of Jesus (in the case of the righteous) or after the millennium of Rev.20 (in the case of the wicked).
Maintain that, as a consequence of the state-of-the dead belief, Hell does not currently exist; instead the wicked are consumed in fire after the millennium. Perspectives vary, within the church, on the term of the burning of the wicked. However church doctrine holds that even completely evil beings, such as Satan himself, will ultimately be destroyed once and for all, rather than suffer indefinitely. In the wider Christian community this doctrine is known as Annihilationism.
Amazing Facts was founded in 1965 by Joe Crews in Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by the success of the Voice Of Prophecy, Crews' original objective was to reach out to both Christian and non-Christian listeners via daily 15-minute programs by opening with a historic fact, and how it applies to the overall Biblical messages. Later, the program offered accompanying home Bible study courses, as well as books written by Crews himself. In 1987, Amazing Facts initiated a television ministry. In 1993, after Joe Crews' untimely passing, Doug Batchelor assumed the position as Director/Speaker, and has held that position ever since. Today, Amazing Facts broadcasts mainly out of Sacramento, California.
The Quiet Hour was founded in 1937 by J.L. Tucker as a radio program. Succeeding members of the Tucker family have run the ministry since then, and it too has expanded into television.
Breath Of Life is one of the most recent Adventist broadcast ministries to hit the airwaves. Although its main audience is African-American, the message is similar to the other broadcast ministries.
The Three Angels Broadcasting Network was founded in 1984 by Danny Shelton. Troubled by bad thoughts, but inspired by his and his daughter's singing religious songs, Shelton had an idea to build a television station that would fulfill his own deepest needs. Eventually this would blossom into a major 24-hour satellite service seen around the world. 3ABN (as it is often called) broadcasts all the major Adventist ministries, as well as its own in-house productions on the gospel, and mental & spiritual health. Addtionally, there is a Three Angels Broadcasting Radio Network as well.
All the main Adventist broadcast ministries have engaged in worldwide outreach via numerous crusades and rallies.
