Some may not even know that there is such a movement. Still others may have heard of it, but do not know what or why it exists. In this brief article, we would like to share with you what could be a life saving history of our church and where it is today.

 

Early in the church’s history, and after the Great Disappointment in 1844, several of the people and many “Millerites” (followers of the teachings of William Miller) were convinced that “the mistake had not been in the reckoning of the prophetic periods, but in the event to take place at the end of the 2300 days [Daniel 8:14].” The Great Controversy, 425. Their study of the prophecies was correct, but the event was wrong. It was during this time that Ellen G. White discovered that the event “pointed to Christ’s ministration in the most holy place, to the investigative judgment, and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people and the destruction of the wicked.” Ibid.

 

It was also during this time that, through prayer, study, and visions, the fundamental doctrines of the second-advent movement were further developed. The Sabbath, the heavenly sanctuary revealing the spiritual condition necessary to be ready for the second coming of Christ and many other subjects including the state of the dead, the health reform, the gift of prophecy in the remnant church, etc., were brought forward and adopted. So why is there such confusion in the church today about these and other subjects? Have we forgotten the way we were led into truth?

 

Historic Adventist is an informal designation for conservative individuals and organizations that seek to preserve certain fundamental beliefs and practices of the church. As a general rule, Historic Adventists feel that the church leadership has shifted or departed from key doctrinal “pillars” ever since the middle of the 20th century. Historic Adventists have tended to promote the message through independent ministries, some of which have a strained relationship with the official church.

 

Historic Adventist theology differs from mainstream Adventist theology in the areas of sin, salvation and end times. Mainstream Adventist theology often uses the term “new theology” as a pejorative term for perceived doctrinal shifts in the church. Much of the confusion started with a misunderstanding of Righteousness by Faith and the belief that we can be saved in our sins. Instead of preaching the Three Angels’ Messages, the Sanctuary message, and overcoming sin, the church has fallen into the popular topics of the day.

 

In the late years of the 1980s and early part of the 1990s, several ministers had been studying and preaching the gospel as it was understood at the inception of the church. The Reformation and Revival message of the time of the end and the fact that there will be a people living without sin just before Jesus comes are salvational messages. As their reward, many such ministers and laity were disfellowshiped from organized conference churches for doing what the Bible tells us to do—preach the Word. 

 

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, founder of Steps to Life; Elder Ron Spear, founder of Hope International; Dr. Ralph Larson, evangelist, teacher and college administrator; and others were instrumental in forming a network of independent historic ministries and home churches. Unity meetings were held during the 1990s in an attempt to draw the work of the historic churches and ministries together. 

 

Today, many of the historic churches and ministries have joined together in the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists. This movement is an international body consisting of a multiracial network of Seventh-day Adventist believers who desire to maintain and advance the original beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist faith at a time when many of the original beliefs, worship style, and practices are being compromised by the established Seventh-day Adventist Church.

 

The Bible sums it up best in Ephesians 5:23–27: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” 

 

Let us pray together for God to prepare His people for the events that are just before us. Teachings on Christian perfection and personal holiness were present in the religious revival of the Great Awakening in America and were evident in early Adventist movements. Pray that these teachings be brought back to life and sin is separated from sinners. As we are told in the Bible, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48.