Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission

by P. Gerard Damsteegt

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 1977

Overview

In this indispensable book, P. Gerard Damsteegt explores the origins and basic theological structures that have motivated the Seventh-day Adventist Church for more than a century. Limiting himself to a descriptive historical-theological and missiological approach, Damsteegt analyzes the origin and significance of Seventh-day Adventists’ methods of Bible interpretation; the development of their ecclesiology, soteriology, and apocalyptic-eschatology; their self-understanding of the role they play in the history of the Christian church and salvation history; their views on inter-church relations; their concepts on truth and revelation; and their approach to others.

This study endeavors to contribute an in-depth understanding of Seventh-day Adventists and to lead to improved relations between them and persons of other persuasions. Anyone interested in learning about the history of the Seventh-day Adventist church will find this book a treasure.

Key Features

• Provides an understanding of the origins and basic structure of Seventh-day Adventist theology
• Investigates the origin and significance of methods of Bible interpretation by Seventh-day Adventists
• Endeavors to inspire improved relations between Seventh-day Adventists and persons of other persuasions

Contents

• The Background for the Origins of the Theology of Mission
• The Controversy Around the Millerite Apocalyptic-Eschatology
• The Crisis of 1843-44
• The Early Development of the Theology of Mission (1844-49)
• The Basic Structure of the Theology of Mission (1850-74)
• Toward a World-wide Mission (1850-74)
• Miller’s Rules of Bible Interpretation
• Fundamental Principles of SDA in 1872
• Fundamental Beliefs of SDA in 1970
• A Reproduction of the 1843 Chart
• A Reproduction of the 1863 Chart

Top Highlights

“the official separation of Church and State. The new Constitution declared that” (Page 3)

“Josiah Litch wrote that the time of the end had begun at the time of the unsealing of the book of Daniel in 1798.¹⁰² By this he meant that in that year the significance of the time element of ‘a time and times and the dividing of time’ (Dan. 7:25) became clear.” (Page 21)

“The principal exponent of premillennialism in America during this period was William Miller (1782–1849” (Page 13)

“Abolition of slavery was also championed, with the American Anti-Slavery Society being formed in 1833” (Page 11)

“the rise of perfectionism was one of the clearest expressions of ultraism” (Page 12)

Product Details

• Title: Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission
• Author: P. Gerard Damsteegt
• Publisher: Andrews University Press
• Publication Date: 1977
• Pages: 348
• Christian Group: Seventh-day Adventist
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Theological Systems - Seventh-Day Adventism

About P. Gerard Damsteegt

P. Gerard Damsteegt was born in the Netherlands to Pieter and Anna Damsteegt. He is an avid reader of history, philosophy, and various religions; especially works on existentialism.

Damsteegt served as head of the chaplaincy and health education departments of Bangkok Adventist Hospital and as the senior pastor of the hospital church. Later, he moved to Korea to do full time evangelism, where he established the Far Eastern Division Soul Winning Institute.

Damsteegt serves at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary at Andrews University in the Church History Department in the area of Adventist studies. He is married to Laurel Nelson, and they have two children, Joelle and Pieter.