It may surprise you that the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, a Christian movement intent on proclaiming the Second Advent (Second Coming) of Jesus, was born from the Great Disappointment, a bitter moment in the mid-1800s when tens of thousands fell into despair after Jesus did not return to Earth on the day they expected.
How could anything good come from such an event? It all goes back to the Bible, God’s Word.
Instead of giving up on Christianity, many who had accepted the teachings of William Miller and thus believed that certain Bible prophecies pointed to 1844 as the year of Jesus’ return, chose to take another look at Scripture. What they found didn’t just transform their view of the Second Coming; it changed their understanding of God’s character, law, plan for humanity, and the abundant Christian way of life He wants all of us to experience today. They even rediscovered a passage that foretold the Great Disappointment itself.
Today, the Seventh-day Adventist church joyfully urges people to prepare for Jesus’ return—not by predicting dates or withdrawing from the world, but by drawing close to our Savior every day.
Jesus’ Return
Again and again, the Bible describes the day when Jesus will return to Earth to resurrect dead believers and take all the redeemed to heaven:
“One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! . . . His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away . . . ” (Daniel 7:13a–14)
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)
But the Bible does not just encourage us to live in the knowledge that Jesus will one day return; we’re called to diligently prepare for His coming:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. . . looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:10–14)
We cannot know when exactly the Second Coming will occur. Even Jesus said, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). But like the five wise women in Jesus’ parable about the 10 virgins, we must have enough oil—we must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives—so that when our Bridegroom arrives, we’re ready to meet him.
Why Jesus’ Return Shapes How Christians Live Every Day
As we’ve seen already, the biblical way to prepare for Jesus’ return does not include setting dates or obsessing over prophecy, but spending time with Him so that we can become more like Him: “without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14). But why?
Why should our knowledge of Jesus’ future return impact the way we go about our everyday activities? Why does God want to work through the minute details of our lives to ready us for the Second Coming?
The answer is threefold:
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Our Little Habits Prepare Us for Heaven
Scripture (Luke 16:10, for example) and science agree on this point. Through small acts of faith and daily surrender to Christ, we enable the Holy Spirit to mold our characters to fit the standards of heaven. We’ll never be perfect—we’ll never even get close—but God’s abundant grace lets us claim Jesus’ righteousness as our own.
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Our Daily Faith Helps Spread the Word to Others
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
By honoring God through daily acts of praise and service, we point others to Jesus and the hope of His return.
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Living in the Light of Jesus’ Return Makes Us Happier and Healthier
In this world, we will continue to suffer the effects of sin, including death. But we can combat this despairing situation by living each day looking toward and preparing for Jesus’ return and the resurrection of the righteous. Doing so grants us an unearthly kind of hope. On a more practical note, the Christian way of life includes honoring God by taking care of our physical bodies.
How to Live a Christian Way of Life Rooted in Love, Obedience, and Hope
The Bible provides practical tips for living a Christian way of life that prepares us for Jesus’ return:
- Care for your body and mind. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
- Abide in Jesus daily through prayer and Bible study. (John 15:4–5)
- Love others intentionally. Help those who are struggling with their practical, everyday needs. (John 13:35; Matthew 25:34–39)
- Connect with other believers who will challenge you to follow God’s will and continually remind you of the “big picture.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
- Walk humbly with Jesus; remember that your works cannot earn your salvation. It is only through Christ that you can approach God and be saved. (Micah 6:8; Ephesians 2:8–9)
- Obey God’s commandments. (John 14:15; Revelation 14:12)
- Amid grief, meditate on the hope of the resurrection and God’s promise to end pain. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14; Revelation 21:4)
- Fix your mind on God’s eternal promises—not the news, worldly distractions, or false hope. (Hebrews 10:23; Colossians 3:2)
How to Live a Christian Life Without Fear or Speculation
As the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist movement discovered, the true Christian way of life is not fearful, obsessive, or speculative. God wants us to experience peace. He wants us to rest in the hope of Jesus’ return and live in humble service, remembering what Jesus said to His followers: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7).
Simply put, we cannot know the day of Jesus’ return, but we can know that He is returning. By preparing to meet Him and spreading the Gospel, we can gain a taste of heaven’s joy now.
But living this way is easier said than done, especially in an age when truth is easily distorted and lies are easily spread. How can we live a Christian life rooted in hope instead of fear and speculation? The Bible says:
- Trust God’s Word over human theory. (Colossians 2:8)
- Test ideas against the Bible. (Acts 17:11)
- Search for truth prayerfully. (James 1:5)
- Know your Savior. (John 17:3)
Our God is not vindictive, malicious, or unforgiving. He promises rest, for His “yoke is easy and [His] burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
What It Means to Be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian While Waiting for Jesus’ Return
The Seventh-day Adventist movement does not idly wait for Jesus’ return. Instead, it strives to boldly proclaim the news of Jesus’ Second Coming throughout the world. At the same time, Adventists stress the importance of walking daily with God and obeying His Word so that their faith is neither theoretical nor future-oriented.
Adventist writer R. F. Cottrell shared:
“It is in vain for people to call themselves Adventists and say they believe that the coming of the Lord is at hand, unless their faith and preaching produce a real reformation. They that are prepared for translation without death at the advent, will certainly be reformers. It will be something besides mere theoretical faith in Christ’s coming. They will have faith in this and will be waiting for the Lord, but this is not all, there will be a moral reformation and renovation with them.” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. February 22, 1881)
Seventh-day Adventists Christians are meant to take action and produce real change.
Living With Watchfulness Without Withdrawal From the World
Seventh-day Adventists and many other Christians often struggle leading balanced, social lives while looking and preparing daily for Jesus’ return. Such a glorious promise tends to overshadow everyday activities. In some ways, this is a good thing. The hope of Christ’s soon coming helps us get through difficult times. But how are we supposed to live in watchfulness without completely withdrawing from the world?
Here are three scriptural methods:
- Follow God’s command to work hard in your earthly employment—whether that be in an office, hospital, home, on the road, etc. (Proverbs 13:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12)
- Focus on others, not yourself. Minister to the lost. (Philippians 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:20)
- Emulate the patterns of Jesus’ life. He spent ample time practically serving others, preaching the Gospel, socializing with old and new friends, and walking alone with God.
Faithful Living As a Witness Before Jesus’ Return
Living each day in light of Jesus’ return can be an ethereally hopeful experience, but it’s not always easy. Adventist founder and well-known Christian writer Ellen G. White personally experienced the woes of speculation and the joys of biblical preparation.
Concerning the year before the Great Disappointment, she wrote:
“This was the happiest year of my life. . . . Every moment seemed to me of the utmost importance. I felt that we were doing work for eternity, and that the careless and uninterested were in the greatest peril. My faith was unclouded, and I appropriated to myself the precious promises of Jesus. He had said to His disciples, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive.’ I firmly believed that whatever I asked in accordance with the will of God, would certainly be granted to me. I sank in humility at the feet of Jesus, with my heart in harmony with His will.” (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 59–60)
Scoffed at and ridiculed, White and her fellow Millerites happily preached, visited unbelievers, prayed, and encouraged one another—their earnestness only increasing as October 22, 1844, drew near. Every morning, they felt that it was their “first work to secure the evidence that [their] lives were right before God.”
But when October 22 came and went, the hope of several believers dissipated. As scoffing grew severely worse, some even renounced their faith. Yet others chose to dig even deeper into the Word of God, where they found the strength to continue preparing for the glorious day of Jesus’ return.
“We were surprised that we felt so free in the Lord, and were so strongly sustained by His strength and grace. . . . After our disappointment the Scriptures were carefully searched, with prayer and earnest thought; and after a period of suspense, light poured in upon our darkness; doubt and uncertainty were swept away.” (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 61–63)
How are we to live a faithful Christian life in light of Jesus’ return? Believe, pray confidently, walk humbly with God, minister to others, proclaim the Gospel, and dig ever deeper into God’s Word.
You don’t have to wait for the Second Coming to spend time with Jesus. He is knocking at the door of your heart right now. All you have to do is let Him in.
Not sure where to start? Pray the prayer below to invite Him into your life daily:
Jesus, thank you for your wonderful promises. I accept You into my heart and dedicate my life to You. Help me to be a faithful witness for You by not only giving me the strength to share Your Word with others but also by reminding me to spend time with You each and every day. I want to experience Your peace and get to know You better. I look forward to the day You’ll appear in the clouds of heaven to take me home. Amen.
Related Articles:
Surrender to God: What Full Surrender Means in the Christian Life
Preparing the Heart for the Second Coming of Jesus
Is the Second Coming Real? Uncovering the Truth in Scripture
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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
