Seventh-day Adventist eschatology


The Seventh-day Adventist Church holds a unique system of eschatological beliefs. Adventist eschatology is based on a historicist interpretation of prophecies in Daniel, Revelation, Matthew 24, as well as other Bible verses. It is characterized principally by the premillennial Second Coming of Christ. Traditionally, the church has taught that the Second Coming will be preceded by a global crisis with the Sabbath as a central issue. At Jesus' return, the righteous will be taken to heaven for one thousand years, after which unsaved will be punished by annihilation and thereby cease to exist. The saved will then live for eternity on the recreated Earth.
The classic Adventist commentary on the end-times was Uriah Smith's . The writings of Ellen G. White have also been highly influential, particularly the last part of her book The Great Controversy. "Prophecy seminars", developed since the mid-20th century, have been a key popular source.

Basis

Fundamental beliefs

The eschatological teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are summarised in the final 5 of the denomination's 28 fundamental beliefs:
According to a 1985 survey, 29% of North American Adventist lecturers nominated eschatology as the area of greatest contribution by Adventists to then-current theology. This ranked second only to wholism.

Biblical basis and perspectives

Seventh-day Adventism derives its eschatological teachings in large part from its interpretation of the apocalyptic Bible books of Daniel and Revelation, as well as Jesus' end-times sermon found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Mainstream Adventism interprets biblical prophecies using the historicist method, which utilises the day-year principle; some of the prophecies of Revelation are yet to be fulfilled.
A 2004 official statement remarks: Adventists' "sense of identity and calling grows from an understanding of Bible prophecies, especially those concerning the time immediately preceding the return of Jesus."

Ellen White and SDA pioneers

The writings of Ellen G. White have been highly influential in the formation of Seventh-day Adventist eschatology, particularly the final chapters of her book The Great Controversy.
The classic interpretation was Uriah Smith's book, known by its abbreviated title as Daniel and the Revelation. It was affirmed by Ellen White, "and had an unrivaled influence on prophetic teaching." It was based on his earlier works Thoughts, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Revelation, and Thoughts, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Daniel. The book was revised several times during Smith's life and afterwards. The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia states, "Although a creative writer, he also borrowed from contemporary and early expositors for his materials, especially in his interpretations of prophecy."

Based on interpretation of prophecies of Daniel and Revelation

The background to Adventist eschatology is found in the book of Daniel, which has strong thematic and literary links to Revelation.

Method of interpretation of prophecy

The Adventist Church believes that the Bible is true and accurate; it approaches Biblical prophecies as symbolic presentations of God's foreknowledge of the history of the world, as noted in Amos 3:7 – "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." From its beginnings, the Seventh-day Adventist church has followed – like the Protestant Reformers – the historicist method of prophetic interpretation to explain symbols and their meaning. Use of this method lead the Protestant reformers to be unanimous in their protest against papel Rome. Interpretation of Bible prophecy in this manner was the rallying point and the battle cry that made the Reformation seemingly unconquerable.

Historicism

The historicism method sees the prophecies of Daniel as being fulfilled throughout history, extending from the past through the present to the future. It is sometimes called the 'continuous historical' view. This method starts with Daniel 2 and works progressively through consecutive prophecies of the book—chapters 7, 8 and 11—resulting in a view of Daniel's prophecies very different from preterism and futurism. According to Shea, Antiochus Epiphanes is thus scaled down to a very modest subheading under the Greek kingdom. "This is the most ancient system of interpretation in both Jewish and Christian traditions. So far it is the only one which respects the historical intention of the biblical author as such.

Prophecies of Daniel

Chapter 2 - Multi-metal statute

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King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream which he cannot remember after waking. He calls in the wise men to tell him of the dream but they cannot do so. In anger he decides to kill them all, but Daniel pleads for a day to pray for his God to give him the dream and its interpretation. The next day Daniel tells the king that he saw a large statue of a man: "The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay." "Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.... You are that head of gold."
Below the head, the body was composed of inferior metals descending in value until they reach their basest form in the feet and toes of iron mixed with baked clay. In contrast to the value of the metals, the hardness of the metals increases toward the feet. "After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Then there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron.... feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron." The statue was divided into five body part sections, each representing a kingdom.
Each mineral is designed to convey a specific characteristic of the kingdom it describes. The character of the Babylonian Empire was indicated by gold. It was the golden kingdom of a golden age. The principal is also applied to the iron, for example, "strong as iron, for iron breaks and smashes everything."
According to Doukhan the fifth kingdom – the feet Iron and clay – receives three meanings in the prophecy. First, "this will be a divided kingdom;" second, it "will be partly strong and partly brittle;" and third, "the people will be a mixture and will not remain united". White states that the iron with clay represents the merger of state with church enforcing a day of worship.
The dream ends with the image being dashed to pieces by a large stone. All the pieces – the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold – were ground to dust together, and like chaff, it was finally blown away where no place could be found for it. Then something durable and of heavenly worth occupied it place. Smith states that after the kingdoms of man pass away, the kingdom of God shall be set up and have no end. Ford adds that the contrast between the metals prized by men and the unworked stone implies a transition from the efforts of men to the creative work of God.
;Kingdoms identified in chapter 2
Of the five kingdoms symbolized by the 5 divisions of the body of the image, only one is identified in the text.
Nebuchadnezzar was informed that he and his kingdom was represented by the head. "Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold."

Chapter 7 - The 4 beasts and Judgement

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During the reign of Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, Daniel experiences a dream or vision. It has been fifty years since the vision of chapter 2.
"There before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea." SDA Smith believes that the winds represent strife, political commotion and war. The sea represents peoples, nations and tongues. The four beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. There was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth. The third beast looked like a leopard with four heads and four wings on its back.
The fourth beast was different from the others - terrifying, frightening and very powerful - with large iron teeth and ten horns on its head. Then a little horn came up among the ten and uprooted three of the others. It had eyes like a man and a mouth that smoke boastfully against the Most High. It oppressed His Holy people, defeating them for a time, times and half a time. It tried to change set times, and the laws.
Then "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.... The court was seated, and the books were opened." Smith believes that this is a divine judgment. The beast was slain because of its boastful words and its body destroyed in fire. The other beasts, who had had their power removed beforehand, continued to live till the end. One like a son of man came in the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
;Literary comparison between chapters 2 and 7
SDA historicist scholars point out the following literary parallels of the same or similar words and phrases between chapters 2 and 7, thereby showing the visions are parallel to each other.
;Kingdoms identified in chapter 7
None of the beasts are directly identified in chapter 7, however, the Lion, through literary comparisons, is identified by Pfandl as the same Babylon of the golden head in chapter 2.
In chapter 2 The final kingdom is God's kingdom that will never be destroyed. In chapter 7 the people of God will receive an everlasting kingdom and possess it forever and ever. Both visions end with God's kingdom.

Chapter 8 - The Sanctuary prophecy

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For a second time during the reign of Belshazzar, just 3 years later, Daniel receives a dream. This time he is standing beside the Ulai Canal in the city of Susa.
Before him was standing a ram with two horns, one was longer than the other. It attacked to the North, then west, then south. No animal could stand against it. It did as it pleased and became great.
Then a goat with a single horn came flying across the earth from the west and charged the ram. The ram's horns were broken and it was powerless against the goat. The goat knocked it down and trampled it. No one could rescue the ram from the very great power of the goat. But the large horn is broken off when it is most powerful and four prominent horns grow up in its place.
Another horn, a master of intrigue, appeared and grew exceedingly great in power to the south, east and the Beautiful land. It thought itself to be as great as the host of heavens and threw stars down to earth and stomped on them. He pretended to be the commander of the army of the lord, took away the daily and threw down the sanctuary. It prospered and truth was thrown to the ground.
An angel asked, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled?" Another angel responds, "It will take 2300 evenings and mornings and then the sanctuary will be cleansed."
;Literary comparison between chapters 7 and 8
Chapter 8 parallels chapter 7.
;Kingdoms identified in chapter 8
;Great Ram = Media/Persia
The great Ram is identified in the text as Media/Persia.
;Very Great He-goat = Greece
The very great He-goat is identified in the text as Greece.
;Exceedingly Great Horn =
The exceedingly great Horn is not identified in the text, but must be greater than Greece and Media/Persia.

SDA historicist interpretation of the parallel symbolic kingdoms

The sequence of world kingdoms is interpreted by Adventists as representing in turn Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. This interpretation is not unique to Adventists and was held by many expositors in the 18th and 19th centuries.
1st Kingdom: Babylon
;Head of gold = winged Lion
Seventh-day Adventists interpret the symbol of the head of gold as representing Babylon. Babylon, whose name came from Babili meaning "gate of the gods", was built by Nimrod, whose name meant "he shall rebel. This priest-king of devil worship founded the Babylonian mystery cults and designed the Tower of Babel. Babylon was designed as a counterfeit of the paradise of God. It had a might river running right it and beautiful ornate gardens. The government was an absolute monarchy. The dominion of the king was reminiscent of that which was entrusted to man in the beginning.
Nebuchadnezzar was called king of kings, i.e., the world's emperor. He ruled over not only human beings but all the beast of the field and the birds of the air. In the statement "You are the head of gold" Nebuchadnezzar is taken for the empire itself.
Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the recognized center of wealth and glory. Gold flowed into it from all the provinces of the empire. The immense treasures gathered by King Solomon and brought to Jerusalem were confiscated and carried to Babylon It was the wealthiest city of its time. Gold is peculiarly appropriate to represent the Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar. More so than a writer in the Maccabean age would likely know.
According to writers of the day, the temple walls of Merodach's cell was made "to glisten like suns." The hall was overlaid with shining gold, lapislazuli, and alabaster. Nebuchadnezzar overlaid "with bright gold the chapel of the lordship which a former king had fabricated in silver." The roofing of E-kua was covered with "bright gold" as was the cell of Nebo at Borsippa. "Magnificence and display form the characteristics of the golden kingdom."
Herodotus reported: "In the temple of Babylon there is a second shrine lower down, in which is the great sitting figure of Bel, all of gold on a golden throne, supported on a base of gold, which a golden table standing beside it... In the time of Cyrus there was also in this sacred building a sold golden statue of a man some fifteen feet high... I was told by the Chaldeans that to make all this more than twenty-two tons of gold were used."
After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 BC the Babylonian empire ran rapidly downhill.
Although the lion is not identified in the text, Seventh-day Adventists identify the Lion with the same kingdom as the Head of Gold — Babylon — because of literary similarities. Smith says, "From these symbols we may easily deduce that Babylon was the kingdom of the lion." Further, the symbol of a winged lion was "particularly appropriate for Babylon. Representations of lions appear on the walls of the great processional way to the Ishtar Gate as well as the gate itself. They occur also on the outer wall of the throne room."
Shea says that the wings on the back of the lion symbolically gave it the rapidity of flight. That speed was demonstrated in Babylon's early conquests under Nebuchadnezzar. But speed on the battlefield declined and conquests grew scare as the kingdom shrunk under weaker kings—the wings had been ripped off. It was lifted up on two feet and a human mind was a given it. Its glory was short-lived. In just 70 years it was conquered by the Persians. Although Daniel's attention switched to the next beast, the lion did not leave the scene.
Since iron and clay are materials that cannot form a durable structure, Adventist scholars interpret this as the many short-lived attempts throughout European history to form a large empire such as the Holy Roman Empire, Napoleonic France, Nazi Germany, The European Union.

Prophecies of Revelation

Traditionally, Adventists interpret the letters to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3 as fulfilled in consecutive periods of church history.
According to mainstream Adventist thought, prophecies usually have only a single fulfillment. For instance Gerhard Hasel argued apocalyptic prophecy has only "one fulfillment for each symbol." "General" or "classical" prophecy may have dual or multiple fulfillments only if Scripture itself points to this, for instance with the virgin birth, and the latter rain. In contrast, a minority have argued for multiple fulfillments of other prophecies. Some Progressive Adventists advocate multiple diverse possible fulfillments of prophecy, and some try to include Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who conquered Israel, as a preliminary fulfillment. Most Adventists disagree with this.
The themes of Revelation are heavily grounded in the Old Testament, so Adventist scholarship first looks to this background before attempting interpretation. The context and overall literary structure are important for interpretation. For instance Revelation is not always chronological, but many visions are parallel, and progressively illuminate themes. In addition to parallels, there are contrasts such as the Lamb and the beast; and the seal of God and the mark of the beast. Revelation shows a typological connection between ancient Israel's history, and church history.

Eschatological events

In traditional mainstream Adventist teaching, the end times consists of four distinct episodes:

Events prior to 1844

The Roman Empire was a world power active during the ministry of Jesus. Adventists believe the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was a partial fulfillment of Jesus' end-times discourse in Matthew 24.
The empire continued several centuries into the Christian era, when it was ultimately replaced by the papacy. The papacy is identified with the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians, the "Antichrist" of 1 John and the "little horn" of Daniel chapters 7 and 8. It is believed that the Roman Catholic religion grew into a corruption of original, authentic Christianity. Among other things, it is considered to have changed the church's day of worship from Saturday to Sunday.
The "1,260 days", "42 months" or "time, times and dividing of time" of apocalyptic prophecy are equated, and are interpreted as 1260 years, based on the day-year principle. This has traditionally been held to be the period AD 538 to 1798, as the era of papal supremacy and oppression as prophesied in Revelation 12:6, 14-16. This period began with the defeat of the Ostrogoths by the Roman General Belisarius. In Adventist belief, this was the last of three Germanic tribes to be defeated by Rome. The period ended with the successes of Napoleon of France; specifically, the capture of Pope Pius VI by General Louis Alexandre Berthier in 1798, which was a blow to the papacy. This capture of the pope by the French army was understood as the "deadly wound" of. Today many Adventist scholars believe the end-points cannot be given precisely, because the history was more of a gradual rise and fall; however the mainstream view does support a period of 1260 years. A minority view by Samuele Bacchiocchi is that the rise to "supremacy" and the "downfall" of the papacy are events spanning a larger time, and cannot be pinned to such points in time.
After the end of the 1260 days, and prior to 1844, several significant events took place. In 1755 a massive earthquake hit Lisbon. On May 19, 1780, northeastern America experienced a day of extraordinary darkness followed by a blood-red moon that night. On November 13, 1833, a spectacular Leonids meteor shower occurred. These three events were thought to be a fulfillment of, paving the way for the final events of history.

Three angels' messages

During the 1830s and 1840s the Millerite movement proclaimed the soon return of Jesus. Adventists have traditionally interpreted this as the initial proclamation of the three angels' messages.

The Investigative judgment

The investigative judgment commenced in 1844 "at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days". During this time, Jesus Christ is believed to be ministering in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary, "blotting out" the sins of all who are found to truly believe in him. Meanwhile, on earth, the remnant church proclaims the "three angels' messages" of Revelation 14; it "announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent." As a result, there is "a work of repentance and reform on earth."
The completion of the investigative judgment marks the "close of probation". In Adventist teaching, this is a crucial moment when sinners will no longer be able to repent and be forgiven, because Christ will have ceased his intercessory ministry.

The time of trouble

Following the close of probation will be a "time of trouble," a brief but intense period of time immediately preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Adventists believe the Roman Catholic Church will return to prominence during the end times, fulfilling the prophecy of the first beast of Revelation 13 whose "deadly wound" will be healed. The United States of America, meanwhile, will establish ties with the Papacy, in fulfilment of the second beast of Revelation 13. Some of the more liberal Adventists do not share these convictions about the Roman Catholic Church, or are more cautious..
Ultimately, the Protestant churches of America will join the confederation between the beasts, forming the "image to the beast". At this time, a conflict will ensue that will "involve the whole world," and in which "the central issue will be obedience to God's law and the observance of the Sabbath." Religious and civil authorities will combine to enact a "Sunday law" which requires all people to observe Sunday as a sacred day. The "Sunday law" is interpreted as the meaning of the "mark of the beast" described in.
In contrast to those who choose to obey the "Sunday law," and therefore receive the "mark of the beast," people who observe the seventh-day Sabbath will receive the "Seal of God". Sabbath keepers will experience fierce persecution from world governments, which will include economic coercion and ultimately the death penalty.
Despite being almost overwhelmed by persecution, the people of God will be delivered by the second coming of Jesus Christ, when he returns to earth in glory.
The "time of trouble" has also been known as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble," described as "a brief period of extreme tribulation" just before the Second Coming, and after the close of probation. It is contemporaneous with the seven last plagues. The term comes from, and is based on the narrative of Jacob's wrestling with God in, and Jeremiah's description of Israel's captivity in Babylonia prior to the predicted liberation in verses 3, 7–9, 11.
Recent arguments claim an allusion from Revelation 14:7 in the three angels' messages to Exodus 20:11 in the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Thus in the end time, the battle over worship will include the Sabbath.

The Second Coming

Seventh-day Adventists believe the Second Coming of Jesus will be literal, personal, sudden and universally visible. The second coming coincides with the resurrection and translation of the righteous, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Adventists reject an intermediate state between death and resurrection, and hold that the soul sleeps until the resurrection of the body at Christ's coming. They also reject the doctrine of the pretribulational rapture. The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not hold the traditional view of the premillennial and none of the postmillennial schools of end-time belief. As both of these schools believe that Christ will literally and physically be on the earth at his second coming. In contrast to this Adventism teaches that the righteous will rise up and meet Christ in the air at His second coming and are taken with Him to Heaven.

The Millennium

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of the Millennium, according to Adventist teaching. At the second coming, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and both they and the righteous living will be taken to heaven to reign with Christ for 1000 years. The rest of mankind will be killed at the second coming, leaving the earth devoid of human life.
During the millennium, Satan and his angels will occupy the desolate earth; this is how Adventists interpret the "binding" of Satan described in chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation. The millennium will be the time when the wicked will be judged. Satan and his angels will be loosed at the end of the millennium when the wicked, or unrighteous are brought back to life to face judgement.

The destruction of sinners and new earth

At the close of the Millennium, Adventists believe that Christ will again return to earth together with the righteous and the "Holy City" to implement His judgment on the wicked. He will then raise the wicked, who will surround the New Jerusalem along with Satan. At this point Satan, his angels, and wicked humanity will suffer annihilation in the Lake of Fire. Adventists disagree with the traditional doctrine of hell as a place of conscious eternal punishment.
Finally, God will create a new earth where the redeemed will enjoy eternal life free of sin and suffering.

Additional interpretations

's book has been a frequent evangelistic handout. While much of it presents Christian and Adventist church history, the later chapters describe end-time events. Her views expressed in the book represent the mainstream opinion in Adventism. Some alternative views about eschatology have been proposed by individuals and groups in the Adventist church.
Critics have written on issues regarding the book The Great Controversy. One critic has stated
"There can be little doubt that the Roman church courted
much of the antagonism it received."
"incredibly arrogant
and contemptuous of democratic principles" in the U.S.
"The Roman Catholic Church of those days was a
contemptuous and contemptible organization, rightly perceived
as a threat to the nation and the world."
"But those days are over. The world has changed. The
United States has changed. And even the Roman Catholic
church has changed, in the second half of our century, having
reconciled itself with progress, liberalism and modern civilization.
It is no longer the Bible-suppressing, science-resisting,
liberty-opposing, Protestant-hating, culture-ignoring, Latin-mumbling,
obscurantism-loving ecclesiastical organization of
former years, intent on ruling the world from Rome. Vatican
Council II transformed all that."
However Ellen White stated...
Opinions vary in regards to this topic.

Cosmic signs

Great cosmic signs have traditionally been interpreted as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and signs of the nearing Second Coming, such as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake in Portugal, New England's Dark Day of 1780, and a spectacular meteor shower in 1833. This is based on the sixth seal of the "seven seals", and Jesus' end-times sermon in Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24–25. Adventists had argued the Dark Day was a supernatural sign. Critics claim that it occurred from natural causes due to forest fires. The interpretations are still commonly held by Adventist, although some have challenged the interpretations.
Some state there were bigger earthquakes before Lisbon. Still, they remain highly significant events in history. They believe people were led to God, and these are preliminary signs, but not the ultimate cosmic signs bring in the Second Coming.
Many believe their occurrence towards the end of papal supremacy is significant, and that the order of events matches the biblical prediction. Some believe the context of Jesus' end-times sermon indicates the period stretches from the destruction of Jerusalem to the seven last plagues prior to the Second Coming. Jon Paulien claims they are signs of the age, not signs of the end; they do instruct us to keep watch. The events are the "day of the Lord" foretold in Old Testament prophecy.

Spiritualism

Ellen White was critical of spiritualism. Many Adventists see the spreading social acceptance of the belief in evil spirits and their powers such as in witchcraft, the occult, as evidenced in the prominent films, books, and society along with the spread of Spiritual Formation in modern-day churches, and the acceptance of communicating with spirits in modern-day churches in Montanism style movements which have emerged from the late 19th century as an indication of the fulfillment of the prediction.

World empires

The traditional teaching is that Rome was the last world empire prophesied in Daniel 2 and 7, which divides up into the nations of Europe. On the other hand, one historian claimed several subsequent empires which have been larger, including the Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman empires.
Adventists predicted that in WWII, Hitler's forces would not conquer Europe, based on Daniel 2:43 which states the toes of the statue would not remain united.

Ottoman Empire

In 1838, Millerite preacher Josiah Litch had predicted the fall of the Ottoman Empire in August 1840, based on Revelation 9. This was regarded as being fulfilled on August 11, 1840, when Turkey responded to an ultimatum by European powers, which affirmed the Millerites' beliefs. .

New World Order

Eschatological expectations have prompted some Adventists to closely observe current geopolitical events, in a manner similar to many Christian futurists and dispensationalists. Illinois pastor A. Jan Marcussen has predicted the imminent rise of a global church-state alliance with the Papacy and U.S. Government as key players, along with other bodies such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. The resulting New World Order would precipitate the final events of history: the "sealing" of Sabbath-keepers, a universal Sunday-law, the seven last plagues and Armageddon.
"Not only does the Bible not predict one world government before the kingdom of God; it denies it.
"Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom".
The Bible does however warn of "an alliance between church and state."
"The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause "the earth and them which dwell therein" to worship the papacy—there symbolised by the beast "like unto a leopard."
The beast with two horns is also to say "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;" and, furthermore, it is to command all, "both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:11-16. It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgement of her supremacy. But in this homage to the papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Verse 3. The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, "his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Paul states plainly that the "man of sin" will continue until the second advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. To the very close of time he will carry forward the work of deception. And the revelator declares, also referring to the papacy: "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life." Revelation 13:8. The papacy will receive homage in the honour paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church."

Antichrist

For the mainstream view, see by Clifford Goldstein.
Seventh-day Adventists teach that the office of the papacy is the Antichrist, a belief so widely held by Protestants that it became known as the "Protestant view" of prophetic interpretation. In 1798, the French General Berthier exiled the Pope and took away all his authority, which was later restored in 1929. This is taken as a fulfillment of the prophecy that the Beast of Revelation would receive a deadly wound but that the wound would be healed. Adventists have attributed the wounding and resurgence in to the papacy, referring to General Louis Berthier's capture of Pope Pius VI in 1798 and the pope's subsequent death in 1799.
A minority view by Samuele Bacchiocchi has suggested expanding the Antichrist concept to include also Islam. However the majority Adventist view today disagrees and holds to the traditional Adventist view of the papacy as the Antichrist.

Roman Catholicism

Modern "mainstream" Adventist literature continues to express the traditional Adventist teaching that Roman Catholicism, in coalition with other churches, will perpetrate religious oppression during a final end-time crisis, and that the Sabbath will be a key issue.

666: Vicarius Filii Dei

Some Adventists have interpreted the number of the beast, 666, as corresponding to the title Vicarius Filii Dei of the Pope. In 1866, Uriah Smith became the first to propose this interpretation to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. See Review and Herald . In The United States in the Light of Prophecy, he wrote,
Prominent Adventist scholar J. N. Andrews also adopted this view. Uriah Smith maintained his interpretation in the various editions of Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, which was influential in the church. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary states, "Whether the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei appears on the tiara or the mitre is really beside the point. The title is admittedly applied to the pope, and that is sufficient for the purposes of prophecy. Various documents from the Vatican contain wording such as "Adorandi Dei Filii Vicarius, et Procurator quibus numen aeternum summam Ecclesiae sanctae dedit", which translates as "As the worshipful Son of God's Vicar and Caretaker, to whom the eternal divine will has given the highest rank of the holy Church".
Samuele Bacchiocchi an Adventist scholar, and only Adventist to be awarded a gold medal by Pope Paul VI for the distinction of summa cum laude. has documented the pope using such a title.
Beliefs regarding this topic vary by individual.

Sunday law

Traditionally, Adventists teach that right at the end times the message of the Ten Commandments and in particular the keeping of the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as Sabbath will be conveyed to the whole world and there will be a reaction from those who hold to Sunday as the day of worship. Adventists have taught that a persecuting "Sunday law" will be enacted at some stage in the future, as part of the final events of earth's history before Jesus returns, as stated in significant publications such as Questions on Doctrine, Seventh-day Adventists Believe…, and Ellen White's classic The Great Controversy. Jon Paulien has argued for a parallel between Revelation 14 and the fourth of the Ten Commandments, in Exodus 20. He hence argues the Bible features Sabbath in the end-times.
Some progressive Adventists, disagree with specific traditional views about the "time of trouble." and the coming Sunday Law

Armageddon

Adventists believe in a future final battle prior to Jesus' return.
This battle is termed "Armageddon" in Revelation 16:16, a term which occurs only once in the Bible. It derives from the Hebrew for "Mountain of Megiddo", and occurs only in Revelation 16:16 in the Bible. Modern Adventist scholarship believes it refers not to a physical battle in the Middle East, but is a metaphor for a spiritual battle. There is no mountain called "Megiddo", but the city Megiddo, now ruined, lies in the Jezreel Valley, at the foot of Mount Carmel which was the site of Elijah's conflict with the prophets of Baal. Based in this imagery, Armageddon is understood as a worldwide 'spiritual' battle – a battle for the mind. Paulien believes it is not literal fire, and not literally on Carmel, but likely false prophets and false Christs performing miracles in the world. The Euphrates river is equated with the "many waters" the prostitutes sits on, which the Bible identifies as peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. Thus the drying of the river is the removal of the political powers supporting Babylon.

Prophecy Seminars

A "prophecy seminar" is a common form of outreach used by Adventist ministers, in which Bible prophecies such as those in the books of Daniel and Revelation are presented.
In 1969 George Knowles developed a small group seminar. He joined It Is Written, and together with George Vandeman prepared a day-long seminar, which developed into the It Is Written Revelation Seminar by 1975. Soon others ran their own seminars. A resource center founded in Texas in 1980 was named Seminars Unlimited in 1986, and by the 1990s was distributing evangelistic materials to Adventists worldwide.
Some currently used seminars are:
The seminar Revelation: Hope, Meaning, Purpose was written primarily by Jon Paulien and Graeme Bradford, and "published under the guidance of the Biblical Research Committee of the South Pacific Division " in 2010. It consists of 24 sessions, available as printed booklets and also on 12 DVDs.

Daniel and Revelation Committee Series

The Daniel and Revelation Committee Series consists of the following volumes:
Adventist evangelists such as Mark Finley, Doug Batchelor, Dwight Nelson, John Carter, John Bradshaw, and form a major popular face of the church, through their ministries at a local level and/or their appearances in public and on Adventist television networks such as 3ABN, It Is Written, and the Hope Channel. 3ABN founder Danny Shelton is comparable.

Comparison to other Christian views

The Seventh-day Adventist Church fits into the premillennial school of end-time belief, although it is taught that the millennial reign of Christ takes place in heaven instead of on Earth. There are several unique aspects of the denomination's teaching, such as the investigative judgment and the idea of a "Sunday law", which are shared by no other Christian denomination.
Seventh-day Adventism's eschatological teaching may be contrasted with: