Q: What are SDA?

A: We simply are Bible Christians

Q: What do SDA believe?

A: We believe that the Bible is God-inspired words and that it constitutes the ONLY rule of faith and practice for the Christians. We believe both the old and the new testaments comprise the words of God.

We take the words of God literally. We believe in the trinity that comprises God, Jesus, and the holy spirit. We believe that all things were made by Jesus. We do believe that God speaks through people.

We love the Lord and our neighbors. We also believe in providing relief to elevate the needs of people. The Bible says “I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. I was hungry you fed me” – Matthew 25:35-36

Q: Do you base your teachings on the writings of Ellen G White?

A: No, the teachings are based on what the Bible says. Ellen G White herself said to not base our beliefs on anything she said but on the words of God: “I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice”. Everything people say about Christianity should be measured up with the words of God.

Q: I heard that you believe in a connection between being a  Christian and health, can you tell me more?

A: As the Bible says, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We need to care for our bodies. Most of Seventh Day Adventists follow the Bible’s health principles which include eating intelligently, exercising, drinking water, enjoying the benefits of sunlight, having temperance in the good things and abstinence in the bad things, breathing fresh air, resting by having the right quantity and quality of sleep and avoiding stress, and trusting God. Studies that appeared in diverse media such as the National Geographic magazine, show that Seventh Day Adventists are among the people who live the longest next to some people from Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), or the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica).

Q: Why “Seventh Day”?

A: We worship on the Sabbath. We don’t see any evidence in the Bible or in history that it has been changed by God. We do what God commands to do and we as all of the other commandments we also follow the 4th commandment.

Q: Why “Adventist”?

A: We believe that Jesus will return soon: “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:3

Q: Can you give me a little history?

A: Around 1840 many Christians thought that Jesus was just about to come and they misunderstood the prophecies. Jesus didn’t come and there was a great disappointment. The Seventh Day Adventist denomination didn’t exist at this time, and contrary to what many think because our denomination includes the word “Adventist”, Seventh Day Adventists never set a date for Jesus coming. Jesus actually said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36 After the great disappointment, many churches joined together. They agreed that the prophecies were misunderstood, and studied the words more deeply. At this time the Seventh Day Adventist church was founded by the comingling of Christians from many backgrounds who put away differences. The founders were Baptists, Methodists or Presbyterians. One of the founders was Ellen G White, who was inspired and had the gift of prophecy.

Q: You are more and more known in the world. Can you give me some statistics?

A: In 2015, we had 81,000 churches in the world, 19,000,000 members, 1,200,000 baptisms, presence in 216 countries, 947 languages used in publications, 7700 schools, 1,800,000 students, 175 hospitals and sanitariums, 140 nursing homes and retirement centers, 385 clinics and dispensaries, 29 orphanages, 18,500,000 outpatient visits. This is a worldwide movement. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:14

Q: Why do you keep the Sabbath on Saturday?

A: The Sabbath was never changed by God and the Catholic church openly admits it: “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” – The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1957)’ “But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.” – The Faith of Our Fathers (Ayers Publishing, 1978), “If Protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath day by God is Saturday. In keeping the Sunday, they are following a law of the Catholic Church.” – Chancellor Albert Smith for Cardinal of Baltimore Archdiocese, letter dated February 10, 1920

Q: Do you believe you are saved by keeping Sabbath?

A: No, all 10 commandments are important. But because most people forget it over time, this is one of the commandment we talk more about. The Bible says: “REMEMBER the sabbath day, to keep it holy” – Exodus 20:8, but this is the commandment which was the most forgotten. We do not believe that we keep the law to be saved, but because we are saved. We believe that we are saved by grace: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2:8. We believe that the death of Christ was a sacrifice for our sins, and we love Jesus “because he first loved us”. Love comes first, and on this subject, John said: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” – 1 John 2:4 and Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15

But God knows our hearts, and knows if we truly love him, and we don’t believe that only SDA will go to heaven.

Q: I read a website article saying that the SDA is a cult.

A: If the lord would have a church in the last days which would have a revival of biblical truth how do you think Satan would like to portray them?

The Pharisees also tried to portray Jesus as a liar and tried to trick him many times. The Apostles and the prophets also had many trials. For example, Paul says “Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” – Acts 24:13-14

We know from what the Bible says that our church will be affected and a great time of trouble will come upon us. But we also know that people will dig in the Bible like never before and will find the truth for themselves. We advise people to not just try to understand what SDA is just from one person they meet or from one article they read, but to study it for themselves.

Q: Do you believe that we go to heaven or to hell right away after death?

A: In the Bible, there were some people who went to heaven such as the prophet Elijah, and in his wisdom, God knows his plans, but the Bible is clear on the subject of death. Death is a dreamless and peaceful sleep until Jesus comes back. It is not biblical to go to heaven and hell as soon as you die. And this is why in many tombs there is written “RIP” meaning rest in peace. It is important to know this and has to be studied carefully because especially in the last days Satan will use seducing spirits to deceive people, and Christians should not be involved in that.

I wrote this Q & A by listening to one of Doug Batchelor’s video from Amazing Facts Ministry. He was talking about the Facts and Fables regarding Seventh Day Adventists. I really encourage to visit their site: https://www.amazingfacts.org.