Ellen White Helps Found Seventh-day Adventists - Timeline Event
Time Period
1863
Description
Ellen G. White (1827-1915) was a follower of William Miller, who predicted the Christ would return in 1844. After the "Great Disappointment," she and a small group of others comforted the bewildered followers and sought to hold them together. She also began to have visions, earning her the status of prophetess.
Among those visions was a confirmation that 1844 was actually the beginning of events leading to the Second Coming. She also confirmed Saturday was the true Sabbath.
In 1850 in her native Maine, White and her husband, James Springer White, started a periodical to communicate with other Millerites (she was a prolific writer on topics from spirituality to health). In 1860, the name Seventh-day Adventist was adopted for the realigned group and the church was formally organized in 1863.
At its founding, there were some 3,500 members. The church reported 18 million members around the world as of 2013.
Among those visions was a confirmation that 1844 was actually the beginning of events leading to the Second Coming. She also confirmed Saturday was the true Sabbath.
In 1850 in her native Maine, White and her husband, James Springer White, started a periodical to communicate with other Millerites (she was a prolific writer on topics from spirituality to health). In 1860, the name Seventh-day Adventist was adopted for the realigned group and the church was formally organized in 1863.
At its founding, there were some 3,500 members. The church reported 18 million members around the world as of 2013.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Adventist FamilyAdventist Family: Other ARDA Links
Adventist Family: Religious Family Tree
Biographies
White, Ellen GouldMovements
Millenarian MovementRelated Dictionary Terms
Adventist Family, Millenarianism, Miller, William (1782-1849), Seventh-day Adventist Church, White, Ellen Gould (1827-1915), White, James Springer (1821-1881), Worship (Christianity)Photographs
Ellen and James White- Wikimedia Commons
Ellen White portrait- Internet Archive- from In Memoriam, Mrs. E. G. White
The Present Truth, periodical founded by James and Ellen White- Wikimedia Commons
Book/Journal Source(s)
Melton, J. Gordon, 2009. Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions, Eighth Edition Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.Web Source(s)
https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Statistics/ASR/ASR2014.pdfSeventh-day Adventist Church website, "2014 Annual Statistical Report: 150th Report of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for 2012 and 2013"
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
