Our definition of a denomination that supports Biblical Christianity is one that conforms with our Core Statement of Faith. Under that criteria, are there areas where 7th Day Adventists are in opposition?

Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) have a list of 28 Fundamental Beliefs of which 25 are in full alignment with Biblical Christian theology. This includes the plan of Salvation, the Trinity, the omnipotence of God, the divinity and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, an inerrant Bible, and the importance of evangelism.

However, the following diverge from a traditional Biblical Christian worldview.

#25 Second Coming of Christ – Annihilationsim

7th Day Adventists believe that “the unrighteous will die” rather than spend eternity in a real and literal Hell. They believe at the end of time, before the earth is renewed by God for the New Heaven, Satan, his demons, and all those who were not saved by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be burned up by God (i.e. annihilated).

#26 Death and Resurrection – Soul Sleep

The SDA believe that at the point of physical death, everyone will remain in “an unconscious state” until they are resurrected. Biblical Christians believe that at death, the saved will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) and the lost will be in a temporary Hell where they will remain until the end of the age when the Lake of Fire is opened for Satan, his demons, and the lost for eternity (Revelation 21:8).

#27 Millennium and the End of Sin – Annihilationism

Again, 7th Day Adventists believe that at the end of time, the unrighteous will be resurrected and, along with Satan and his demons, the “wicked dead will be judged” by God. Who will “consume them and cleanse the earth.” Biblical Christians believe that the lost, Satan, and his demons will spend eternity in a real and literal Hell (Matthew 25:41).

Other Issues with 7th Day Adventists

Beyond the three points of divergence listed above, there are those who suggest that the denomination sees worship on Saturday, immersion baptism, and the continuing influence of the writings of one of their founders, Ellen G. White, as areas of concern. Historically, SDA came under fire for a potential works-based salvation and writings that perhaps were on an equal footing with the Bible. However, there has been subsequent clarification on their views on these matters such that today few evangelicals consider 7th Day Adventists to be a non-Christian cult.

Are 7th Day Adventists Christian?

There are three levels of Biblical Christian theology, in my view: Essential, Core, and Non-Core. Clearly, points 25-27 of the 7th Day Adventists’ doctrine statement fall outside of our stated Core beliefs. Soul Sleep and Annihilationism are not part of a Biblical Christian worldview.

However … Essential Biblical Christian doctrine is limited to the plan of salvation. It reads…

Salvation (Essential) — Everyone sins and no one can save themselves. It is only through accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior that one can receive eternal life in Heaven. Salvation is available to anyone who acknowledges in their heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins, rose bodily from the grave, and asks Him to forgive them of their sins and save their soul. The difference between a saved and an unsaved person is a God-produced difference.

To the question of whether 7th Day Adventists are Biblical Christians, based on Core doctrine, the answer is no. However, believing sinners, Satan, and demons are burned up at the end of time, or that when we die we fall asleep until the resurrection have no impact on the Essential doctrine of Salvation. So, we may have cautions regarding these two areas of divergence, however, as saved souls by the grace of God, we will see 7th Day Adventists in Heaven. And, from the perspective of eternity, they are certainly our brothers and sisters in Christ.