Adventist History

In the mid-1800s, a small community of Christians in the northeast United States began to study Bible prophecy and concluded that Jesus would return in 1844. They were led by Baptist preacher William Miller and included future Seventh-day Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White, then a teenager. When Christ didn’t return, the Millerites regrouped and later launching what is today a global Protestant denomination of some 17 million baptized members.

Key dates

• 1844: Great Disappointment
• 1860: The group decides on the name “Seventh-day Adventist”
• 1863: The Seventh-day Adventist Church is officially organized
• 1874: The Adventist Church sends its first missionary overseas. J. N. Andrews sails for Switzerland