Remembering Our History

Story by David Orange

As the days get shorter, the air gets crisper, and the leaves turn brilliant colors, fall is once again here, and many Seventh-day Adventists remember impactful events that happened in past Octobers. 

Five hundred and six years ago, on Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a local teacher and monk, posted his 95 Theses on the doors of castle church in Wittenberg, Germany, igniting the flame that became the Protestant Reformation.

Adventists also remember the 179th anniversary of the Great Disappointment of Oct 22, 1844, which led to the subsequent intense Bible study of small groups scattered across the northeastern United States. These groups later came together on October 1, 1860, to agree to be called Seventh-day Adventists, due to their focus on the truths of a recognition of the seventh day Sabbath and a literal imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.

Last year, also in late October, well-known evangelist Mark Finley held the Adventist Heritage Convocation—with the goal of learning from the past to succeed in the future. The event was held at his home church, Potomac Conference’s Living Hope Adventist Community church, in Haymarket, Va. 

Finley and others presented messages on the rise of the Advent movement and last day events from the book of Revelation; the latest health information and insights from Adventist history; 1844, the judgment, and the rise of the Advent movement; prophetic insights and lessons for the church today from 1844 and 1888; the gift of prophecy in the church and its relevance today; and early Adventist history from the perspectives of James and Ellen White.

The presentations have been shared online and can now be viewed. This weekend, get a refresher in Adventist history here.