The Biblical Basis for the Denomination Name Seventh Day Adventist
The Biblical Basis for the Denomination Name Seventh Day Adventist
Below is an excerpt from The Great Second Advent Movement by J N Loughborough which gives his account of how the Seventh Day Adventist corporate name came to be the chosen for the organization of believers in 1863:
“A Denominational Name
This conference also took into consideration the subject of a name by which our people should be called. This again called forth a diversity of opinions, some pleading for one name and some for another. The “Church of God” being proposed, it was objected to on the ground that it gave none of the distinctive features of our faith, while the name “Seventh-day Adventists” would not only set forth our faith in the near coming of Christ, but would also show that we were observers of the Seventh-day Sabbath. So unanimous was the assembly in favor of the latter name that when put to vote, only one man voted against it, and he soon afterward withdrew his objection.
The Name Approved
In Testimony No. 6, we read: “No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession, and expresses our faith, and marks us as a peculiar people. . . . “The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God’s law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” The effect of the testimony was to settle forever this question in the minds of the believers.”
Sister White wrote the following:
Chapter 42—Our Denominational Name [223]
“I was shown in regard to the remnant people of God taking a name. Two classes were presented before me. One class embraced the great bodies of professed Christians. They were trampling upon God’s law and bowing to a papal institution. They were keeping the first day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord. The other class, who were but few in number, were bowing to the great Lawgiver. They were keeping the fourth commandment. The peculiar and prominent features of their faith were the observance of the seventh day, and waiting for the appearing of our Lord from heaven.
The conflict is between the requirements of God and the requirements of the beast. The first day, a papal institution which directly contradicts the fourth commandment, is yet to be made a test by the two-horned beast. And then the fearful warning from God declares the penalty of bowing to the beast and his image. They shall drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.
No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of papacy.
The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our [224] faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God’ s law, 217 218 Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I was shown that almost every fanatic who has arisen, who wishes to hide his sentiments that he may lead away others, claims to belong to the church of God. Such a name would at once excite suspicion; for it is employed to conceal the most absurd errors. This name is too indefinite for the remnant people of God. It would lead to the supposition that we had a faith which we wished to cover up.” {end of quote}
This is an extract from history. The most acknowledged source quoted regarding the nobility of the name Seventh Day Adventist is from Selected Messages Book 2.
“Chapter 49—A Distinctive Name and People.
Not Ashamed of Our Name.
We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, “No, no! We are not. It is the name the Lord has given us. It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches.”—Letter 110, 1902.
We are Seventh-day Adventists, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. As a people we must take a firm stand for truth and righteousness. Thus we shall glorify God. We are to be delivered from dangers, not ensnared and corrupted by them. That this may be, we must look ever to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.—Letter 106, 1903.”
This was the name that Ellen White claimed God endorsed to represent the Church at the time of its incorporation in 1863, and continued to promote until her death. The name appears 1,542 times, when I search Seventh Day Adventist in my Ellen White App for Apple. What is the significance of the name Seventh Day Adventist as it relates to our topic the false prophet?
As shown above, the false prophet is apostate Protestantism. The true church today is Protestant. The Millerite Movement was Protestant. As we have proven already, Seven Day Adventists are not Protestant, for they do not believe in sola scriptura, but the Bible and the “Spirit of Prophecy,” the “Spirit of Prophecy” being the writings of Ellen White. This begets the question, is the name Seventh Day Adventist in harmony with Protestantism? To answer this question, we must first ask, does the corporate name “Seventh Day Adventist” appear in the Bible? The answer is No. However, this fact does not prove that the corporate name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not Protestant, or necessarily a wrong name. We are in totally harmony with the principles stated in the quotations above that the name represents, the sabbath and the commandments of God, etc. This still begets the question, does not answer the question, does the name “Seventh Day Adventist” biblically represent the Church of God? Does the name “Seventh Day Adventist” totally encapsulate, is its meaning a complete representation of the end time church of God? Ellen White stated above that this is the name the Lord has given the church.
The reader may ask, why raise this issue? Because there are many lawsuits, legal issues raised over the name “Seventh Day Adventist. The main foundation for these contentions is Ellen White’s prophetic testimony that the “Seventh Day Adventist” name given by God, the name is from a Divine source. However, when you read the accounts above, no scriptures are given to support this fact.
Loughborough stated in his book: The effect of the testimony was to settle forever this question in the minds of the believers. The source of the credibility by which SDA Church, then and today, holds concerning the name ”Seventh Day Adventist” is Ellen White. This is undeniable. The SDA Church may argue such scripture testimony exists, which the author does not know, then let the SDA Church put forth such reference.
Since the SDA Church may make such a claim, we will answer the question, What does the Bible say? In the Book of Revelation 1:4, 11, 20 reference the seven churches Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. God has given the book of Revelation a title different from any other book in the Bible, signifying that it is open to all. It is the “revelation of Jesus Christ.”
The names of these churches, according to the definitions of the words, are brought out the religious features of those periods of the gospel age which they respectively were to represent. The history of the Christian church is repeated four times in different figures, illustrating almost every phase of experience the church will pass through. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 prophetically narrate events concerning the histories of the church periods. The order of the churches represent a chronological sequence of the history of the church. This history begins with the Ephesus church and ends with Laodicea. The purpose of this treatise is not a dissertation on the prophetic interpretation(s) of the book of Revelation, but to briefly introduce the topic in relation to our topic the false prophet. There are many different interpretations regarding the exact time periods that the seven churches represent. For our discussion, we are going to apply the interpretation which holds the first four churches have an end to their periods, the last three ending period is when Christ comes. Since our explanation/presentation does not depend on the starting dates for the periods, we will leave them out of discussion.
We will make a comment to the assertion that the Philadelphia Church period extends until the time of Jesus’ second coming. In support of this premise: The open door reference as part of the Philadelphia church is a symbolic reference to the Day of Atonement, the final phase of Jesus’ earthly ministry in the Sanctuary Service. Hence the Philadelphia church period is one of the churches associated with the end of time. Philadelphia is one of the two Churches that in its introduction Jesus does not identify having any faults, Smyrna is the other. Revelation 3:8 testifies that The Philadelphia Church “hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” and verse and in addition verse 10 foretells “hast kept the word of my patience.” Continuing verse 11 declares that they hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 14:1-5 foretells of 144,000, believers that pass through the tribulation, who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins and in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. We conclude that there will be some who will remain faithful when Jesus comes. In the prophecy concerning the next Church period Laodicea, Jesus has nothing good to say about Laodicea in His introduction of the church. If the Philadelphia Church period were to totally end at some point, then as a result of this end, those faithful Philadelphian believers would have to somehow pass through into the Laodicean period, which Jesus in His introduction finds nothing good. This creates a paradox, contradiction that cannot exist. Hence our supposition that the Philadelphia Church dispensation continues until Jesus comes again. By the way, we may infer that the means by which they were able to remain faithful through all the trials is that they bought (or obtained) the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and anointed their eyes with eyesalve,
Now with the bookkeeping done, and all the pieces in place, let us now proceed to answer the question is the name Seventh Day Adventist in harmony with Protestantism? The name given by God according to the scriptures?
As we stated above the name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not found in the Bible. The name Philadelphia is? Just a review, the following attributes are represented in the name “Seventh Day Adventist:”
the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandment (especially God’s true Sabbath)
Now let us consider what the name Philadelphia signifies, represents from the Book Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith:
· The word Philadelphia signifies brotherly love, and expresses the position and spirit of those believers,
· Selfishness and [367] covetousness were laid aside, and a spirit of consecration and sacrifice was cherished. The Spirit of God was with every true believer, and his praise upon every tongue. Those who were not in that movement knew nothing of the deep searching of heart, consecration of all to God, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit, and pure, fervent love for one another, which true believers then enjoyed. Those who were in that movement are aware that language would fail to describe that holy, happy state.
· The Key of David. — A key is a symbol of power.
· The event the opening of under consideration can appropriately apply to the opening of Jesus’ ministration in the most holy place…the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14.
· The Word of My Patience. — Says John, in Revelation 14:12, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Those who now live in patient, faithful obedience to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will be kept in the hour of temptation and peril just before us.
· From the point above, Overcomers. The blessings of the overcomers are: I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
· Behold, I Come Quickly. — The second coming of Christ is here again brought to view, and with more startling emphasis than in any of the preceding messages. The nearness of that event is here urged upon the attention of believers. The message applies to a period when that great event is impending; and in this we have most indubitable evidence of the prophetic nature of these messages.
These are some of the attributes that one associates with the name Philadelphia. The name Philadelphian is found in the Bible, where the name “Seventh Day Adventist” is not. We will stop here and let the reader conclude for himself/herself.
Roger Maniccia
Lawrenceburg, Tenn
rmaniccia@att.net