SDA Church Beginnings

-Meet William Miller.

Hey, curious minds! Ever heard of Millerism? It’s a tale woven around the fascinating William Miller, who, in the early 1840s, crunched some numbers and boldly predicted Christ’s return. Ready for the plot twist? When the appointed time arrived, Christ didn’t.

Despite tweaking calendars and refining calculations, the big reveal didn’t happen. Miller admitted he missed the mark, and most followers headed back to their regular pews, leaving Millerism in the lurch.

Only a handful of die-hard Millerite groups persisted. Sadly, their legitimacy dwindled, and they slid into fanaticism fueled by dreams and visions. Cue the bizarre beliefs and behaviors, leading to denouncement by both religious and secular authorities.

The Prophet

](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_G._White)

-Introducing Ellen G. White.

Enter Ellen G. White, a visionary soul among the scattered remnants of Millerism. Despite her frailty and limited education, she became the prophet they needed. Her visions offered solace to a desperate, poor, and needy group, who saw them as divine guidance.

This teenage girl, with her share of struggles, discovered her calling in publishing and promoting her visions. The religious movement, as bleak as Ellen White’s early days, found new momentum with her at the helm.

But, here’s the twist in the tale. The relentless promotion of visions, coupled with revisions, eventually became their downfall.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

If only someone had scrutinized those visions! They’d have found them un-biblical, inconsistent, contradictory, and containing factual errors. But alas, belief prevailed, and new visions explained that while the timing was off, the essence was correct.

Christ wasn’t returning to Earth but busy cleansing a heavenly sanctuary. It was the Investigative Judgment time, where sins were tallied, and salvation hung in the balance. Despite the unmet expectations, belief in the visions persisted.

Fast forward through failed predictions and calamities, and “I was shown” in a vision became the standard for interpreting the Bible in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their focus shifted from time-setting to old testament rituals and character perfection.

Ellen G. White continued to have visions, directing the SDA Church for over 60 years.

Those Visions

Curious to peek into those visions? Head over to the Ellen G. White Estate for a glimpse. Some controversial bits were stashed away, but there’s enough online to get the vibe.

Dig deeper into the analysis at Sabbatismo, Truth or Fables, and Ellen White Exposed.

So What

What’s your take? Are these visions divine?

If you’re up for a change and think they are, you could become an SDA by diving into the baptismal pool. But if not, scrutinize those SDA Baptismal Vows, especially item number 8, which talks about prophetic gifts and marks of the remnant church.

SDA theology hinges on the veracity of these visions. It’s not always laid out in their community outreach, so be wary. Despite the Saturday vibe, SDA theology stands apart from conventional Protestantism, and the belief in Ellen G. White’s visions is the linchpin.

Stay tuned for more on those visions!

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Cheers, D 🌴🌊