Part 3: Seventh Day Adventists
Traditionally, the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Kenya has conducted its affairs quietly, and, as a result, many non-Adventists don't know much about it. However, the leadership wrangles that have rocked it recently have made it famous.
I talked to a few colleagues in the office on Friday, and six out of ten told me the only thing they know about SDA is that its followers go to church on Saturdays. None of them knew anything about its origin or growth.
bf32fbc1-6585-40a4-fd95-08d7f49180deAdventism is a Christian movement that began in the USA in1830s. It was inspired by the teachings and writings of William Miller, a Baptist minister who preached that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would occur on 22 October 1844. He named this event "The Advent of Jesus Christ", hence the name "Adventists".
Miller was a "Bible Worm" (as in "Book Worm") who studied the Bible deeply and intensely, verse by verse, to try and find meaning.
He first wrote about the Advent in 1833, but the reaction was lukewarm.
However, in 1840, Joshua Vaughan Himes, his friend, who was also a pastor and a successful publisher, established a fortnightly newspaper called "Signs of the Times" to publicize the Advent message. This publication earned him many followers throughout the USA - who became known as Millerites. Thousands travelled to New York, where Miller lived, to hear his message, and they went back home to preach it. By 1843, it had spread to Canada and Europe.
As the predicted date of the Advent approached, most Millerites were anxious. Some went into seclusion, others got into months of continuous prayer and fasting, and some sold their property.
Closer to the date, Miller sent out this message to his followers: "I expect any moment now to see the Savior descend from heaven. I have now nothing to look for but this glorious hope."
But 22 April 1844 came and passed without incident, and Miller's followers were disappointed.
Some quit Adventism altogether, but many remained.
Those who remained reasoned that Miller miscalculated the day of the Advent, and they kept hope that the second coming of Jesus is not far away. However, due to differences in interpretation of scriptures, the remaining Adventists split into several denominations, but "Jesus is Coming Soon" remained the key message of all their doctrines.
Two of the most known offshoots of the Millerite Movement are Jehovah's Witness and the Seventh-Day Adventists.
The Seventh-Day Adventists was founded in 1863 by the trio of James White, his wife Ellen G. White, and their friend John Bates. The three were devoted followers of Miller, and, after the disappointment of 1844, they formed a small community of Millerites who still believed in Miller's message. This community gradually grew into the worldwide movement that we now refer to as SDA - boasts of 4.5 million members worldwide.
The religious doctrines of SDA are influenced by the writings of Ellen G. White (born 1827 and died 1915). This includes the observance of Saturday as the Sabbath day and their strict diet regulations.
Now you know.
