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Seventh Day Adventist
Adventist, Evangelical
Date Founded: 1863
Membership/Number of Clergy: (USA) 1,117,816/3,417 as of 2013
Headquarters: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904
Core Beliefs: Adherents agree with most other protestant basic Christian beliefs. For a complete list see the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. They avoid the foods identified as "unclean" in the Bible and do not use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. Divorce, except for cases of sexual unfaithfulness, is not permitted. Most notably, Christ's second coming is literal, personal, visible, worldwide, and imminent. The exact timing of that event is not known, so believers are advised to be ready at all times.
Short History: They arose during the Great Awakening in the Northeastern US in the early 1830s. The second coming of Christ was expected on October 22, 1844. When this did not occur, many believers left the faith or found other groups to join. A core group of what later became the current day Seventh-day Adventists studied the bible, prayed, and were led by the prophecies of one of their leaders Ellen White. White determined that the the original date of the second coming had been correct, but was actually the beginning of Christ's second period of Atonement. When this period ends he will come again. The church was officially formed at a meeting in held in 1863.
Local Churches close to LPTS campus:
Note: Seventh-Day Adventist congregations hold sabbath on Saturdays!