ASK PASTOR MAC: Seventh-day Advantages

Q: Where did the name Seventh-day Adventist come from?  Is it true that God gave that name to Ellen White in a vision? Is it really that important to embrace a name that so many people seem to get confused? “Huh, Seventh-day Adventurers? Oh, I’m sorry, did you say Seventh-day Advantages?”  

A: On September 29, 1860, delegates representing sabbath-keeping advent believers from at least five states convened in Battle Creek, Michigan.  The main agenda was to form a legally recognized organization and adopt a name for such an organization.

Forming a new denomination was unpopular among most early Adventists.  Many saw it as unnecessary since Jesus was soon to return. Others feared becoming stagnant like other denominations.  George Storrs verbalized this phobia by saying that a church “becomes Babylon the moment it is organized.”

To such commentary James White replied, “I do not know how we can prevent it [forming a denomination] unless we disband and scatter, and give up the thing altogether.”  He saw the need to attend to “matters in a legal manner—the only way we can handle real estate in this world.” 

What was the real estate that needed to be handled in a legal manner? The publishing house.  Printed material had been instrumental to the doctrinal development of these early Adventists. When Thomas Preble, a Millerite preacher of Baptist background, learned about the Sabbath truth he wrote a tract about the Sabbath to enlighten others.

One tract was readily received by Joseph Bates, who wrote his own booklet on the Sabbath and gave it to James and Ellen White. The Whites were convicted by the truth of the doctrine after reading his booklet. These three were prolific writers and the driving force toward organizational development.

Every Sabbath-keeping Adventist knew the power and importance of the press.  They accepted that they needed a legal identity to be more effective in the production and promotion of their publications, but what would be the name?

Adventists had often referred to themselves as “the remnant” and “the scattered flock.”  Outsiders had applied many names to them also: “Seventh-day Doorshutters,” “Sabbath-keeping Adventists,” and “Shut-door Seventh-day Sabbath and Annihilationists.” 

Many, including James White, preferred the name “Church of God.” Since other churches already claimed that name, they moved on. On October 1, 1860, David Hewitt moved for the adoption of another name that others had called them, “Seventh-day Adventists.”  The motion was voted and carried.

Ellen White was quiet throughout much of the conference, but now exclaimed, “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 transgressor of God’s law, and will lead toward repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Just as outsiders provided a name that stuck when they called Jesus’ disciples “Christians” in Acts 11:26, so it was with the name Seventh-day Adventists.