Health 
Reform 
& 
the 
Advent 
Movement
First Angel’s 
Message 
Rev 14: 6-7
Second Angel’s 
Message 
Rev 14: 8
Third Angel’s 
Message 
Rev 14: 9-11
A Firm 
Platform 
These messages were 
represented to me as an 
anchor to the people of 
God. Those who 
understand and receive 
them will be kept from 
being swept away by the 
many Delusions of satan. 
EW pg 256.
A Firm 
Platform 
I saw a company who 
stood well guarded and 
firm, giving no 
countenance to those 
who would unsettle the 
established faith of the 
body…I was shown three 
steps- the first, second, 
and third angel’s 
messages. EW pg 256.
A Firm 
Platform 
Said my accompanying 
angel, “Woe to him who 
shall move a block or stir a 
pin of these messages. The 
true understanding of these 
messages is of vital 
importance. 
The destiny of souls hangs 
upon the manner in which 
they are received.” EW pg 256.
May 21, 1863 
A group of 21 delegates 
representing 3,500 Seventh-day 
Adventist met in Battle Creek, 
Michigan "for the purpose of 
securing unity and efficiency in 
labor, and promoting the 
general interests of the cause of 
present truth, and of perfecting 
the organization of Seventh-day 
Adventists."
Review and Herald, 
May 26, 1863 
[The result was the 
formation of the General 
Conference and a linking 
together of local churches, 
state conferences, etc. The 
fully united and fully 
organized Seventh-day 
Adventist Church was born.]
The Beginning 
of oUR 
healTh 
Message
"It was at the 
house of Brother A. 
Hilliard at Otsego, 
Michigan, June 6, 
1863 that the great 
subject of health 
reform was 
opened before me 
in vision." 
3 SM p. 276
December 25, 1865 
"Tell My people that they must establish an 
institution of their own. A home where the sick 
can be treated and where they can learn how to get 
well and keep well." 
Statement from a vision received Christmas day 1865. 
[The Western Health Reform Institute (later called 
Battle Creek Sanitarium) opened the following 
year in 1866; the first issue of The Health 
Reformer came out in August, 1866.] 
RH 4-30-14; 1T p. 492.
Western Health Reform Institute 
1866-1877
Our Health Message is more 
than: 
 Veggie 
burgers 
 tofu 
 Hot foot 
baths 
 and stop 
smoking 
programs
Food is 
only part 
of the 
picture…
(1869) 2T 202, 203 
• When Christ was the most fiercely beset by 
temptation, He ate nothing. He committed 
Himself to God, and through earnest prayer, 
and perfect submission to the will of His 
Father, came off conqueror. Those who 
profess the truth for these last days, above 
every other class of professed Christians, 
should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer.
MS 93, 1901 
• What a pity it is that often, when the greatest self-denial 
should be exercised, the stomach is crowded 
with a mass of unhealthful food, which lies there to 
decompose. The affliction of the stomach affects the 
brain. The imprudent eater does not realize that he is 
disqualifying himself for giving wise counsel, 
disqualifying himself for laying plans for the best 
advancement of the work of God. But this is so...
• Indulgence of appetite is the cause of 
dissension, strife, discord, and many other 
evils. Impatient words are spoken and unkind 
deeds are done, dishonest practices are 
followed and passion is manifested, and all 
because the nerves of the brain are diseased 
by the abuse heaped upon the stomach.
(1875) 3T 486, 487 
• If the indulgence of appetite was so strong 
upon the race that, in order to break its 
power, the divine Son of God, in behalf of 
man, was required to fast nearly six weeks, 
what a work is before the Christian in order 
that he may overcome even as Christ 
overcame! The strength of the temptation to 
indulge perverted appetite can be measured 
only by the inexpressible anguish of Christ in 
that long fast in the wilderness.
2T 400 
• All who are partakers of the divine nature will 
escape the corruption that is in the world 
through lust. It is impossible for those who 
indulge the appetite to attain to Christian 
perfection.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES 
of Seventh-day Adventist Medical 
Institutions 
Adopted by the 
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT of the General 
Conference at the Autumn Council held 
October, 1956
In the early days of the Advent 
people, instruction was given to 
establish health institutions 
whose objectives were: 
• 1. "To relieve the sick and the afflicted, 
• 2. "To awaken a spirit of inquiry, 
• 3. "To disseminate light, 
• 4. "To advance reform.“ 
7T, p. 104
Does health play a role in 
the spreading of the gospel? 
• Managing your health is as much part of 
God’s stewardship as managing your 
money, time and talents 
• Good health contributes to clear 
thinking, for the correct discernment of 
truth, and helps a person to be more 
effective for the Lord
TThhee DDiivviinnee PPaatttteerrnn 
Matt 9:35 
Then Jesus went 
about all the cities 
and villages, 
teaching in their 
synagogues, 
preaching the gospel 
of the kingdom, and 
healing every 
sickness and every 
disease among the 
people.
Should We Employ His Method? 
Only Method that Works 
Study Christ's Methods.--If ever it has been essential 
that we understand and follow right methods of 
teaching and follow the example of Christ, it is now. 
--Letter 322, 1908. {Ev 53.1} 
Christ's method alone will give true success in 
reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men 
as one who desired their good. He showed His 
sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and 
won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow 
Me." --MH 143.3
The True Interpretation of the gospel 
The Lord will give you success in this work, 
for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, 
when it is interwoven with the practical life, 
when it is lived and practiced. 
The union of Christ like work for the body and 
Christ like work for the soul 
is the true interpretation of the gospel .- 
-An Appeal for the Medical Missionary College, pp. 14, 15. {CME 7.3}
“Christ’s method alone will 
give true success in reaching 
the people. The Savior 
mingled with men as one who 
desired their good. He showed 
sympathy for them, ministered 
to their needs, and won their 
confidence. Then He bade 
Integrating Lifestyle into 
Evangelistic Series 34 
them ‘Follow Me’.” 
Ministry of Healing, p. 143
Christ The Pattern 
“Christ’s method alone 
will give true success 
in reaching the people” 
Ministry of Healing, p. 143 
Six steps in soul winning: 
“The Savior mingled with men (contact) 
As One who desired their good, (concern) 
He showed His sympathy for them(compassion) 
Ministered to their needs, (caring) 
And won their confidence (confidence) 
Then He bade them. ‘follow Me.’ (commitment)
3SM p. 274 [First statement in SOP regarding diet.] 
"Deny the unhealthy appetite, eat less fine food, 
eat course food, free from grease. Then as you 
sit at the table you can from the heart ask God's 
blessing upon the food." [1854]
Saturday Evening Post January—Feb. 1992 
by Patrick Perry 
Members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church 
are often acknowledged as the "healthiest people 
in America." In a nation with increasing cases of 
heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, and 
other diet-related maladies, this denomination's 
adherents have managed to beat the odds. Study 
after study has found that church members not 
only live longer, but experience few of the 
debilitating diseases that affect most Americans.
Consider the following statistics: 
* Male Seventh-Day Adventists have a life 
expectancy 8.9 years longer than the average, 
while females have one that is 7.5 years 
longer. 
* Even though vegetarians, Seventh-Day 
Adventists have a reduced risk of 
osteoporosis compared to meat-eaters in the 
general population.
* Members experience a lower incidence of 
breast, prostate, pancreatic, bladder, and 
ovarian cancers than the general population. 
* Adventists who use no meat, milk, or 
eggs--total vegetarians--have an expected 
coronary heart disease mortality rate only 12 
percent of that of the general population; 
non-vegetarian male Adventists have 56 
percent of the expected coronary heart 
disease mortality rate.
Seventh-Day Adventists teach prevention of 
disease by life-style management. The secret 
to healthy living, they believe, is not how 
much you eat, but what you eat, and when. 
Whole grains, water, fresh fruits, and 
vegetables play a key role in the church's diet, 
but brisk walks, a hearty "main meal" 
breakfast, and avoidance of smoking, alcohol, 
sugar, and fat are also important.
"What does this mean for those of us who are not 
Seventh-Day Adventist?" ask authors Chris Rucker 
and Jan Hoffman in The Seventh-Day Diet. "It 
means that instead of waiting for science to give us 
a 'magic pill' for cancer, instead of waiting for more 
expensive, sophisticated types of surgery to control 
heart disease, instead of cringing at the thought of 
another painful, self-depriving weight-loss 
program, we can take a look at the practices of a 
people who have found a better way.“ . . . We 
encourage you to investigate further and practice 
the principles of the Seventh-Day Adventist diet.
Read- 
John 10:10
In Mrs. E. G. White’s will, dated February 12, 
1912, provision was made regarding certain 
“proposed books,” which she greatly desired to be 
prepared. Among these was a historical work 
listed as “Experience of Ellen G. White in 
Connection With the Health Reform Movement 
Among Seventh-day Adventists.” 
Preface, The Story of Our 
Health Message 
[Begun by Clarence C, Crisler, secretary of Mrs. 
White. After Crisler was called to serve in the Far 
East. the Trustees of the E. G. White Estate 
asked D. E. Robinson to complete the work.]
Loma Linda School of Nursing 
July 10, 1907 
First commencement consisted of 
these five nurses.
Matthew 28:19 
Go ye therefore and teach 
(+ health reform) all nations
1NL p. 41 We are to carry 
forward in our world gospel 
medical missionary work. This 
work means far more than many 
comprehend. The one great work 
of medical missionaries is to be to 
fulfill the commission to carry the 
gospel of salvation to all parts of 
the world.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be 
preached in all the world for a witness unto all 
nations; and then shall the end come. 
Laodicea Romans 
3:27 
DA p. 633 By giving the gospel to the 
world it is in our power to hasten our 
Lord's return.
AA p. 13 Wonderful 
is the work which the 
Lord designs to 
accomplish through 
His church, that His 
name may be 
glorified. A picture of 
this work is given in 
Ezekiel's vision of the 
river of healing: [Eze. 
47:8-12 quoted]
The 
River 
Ezek 47:9 . . . they 
shall be healed; and 
every thing shall live 
where the river 
flows.
MM p. 317 We shall 
see the medical 
missionary work 
broadening and 
deepening at every 
point of its progress, 
because of the 
inflowing of hundreds 
and thousands of 
streams, until the 
whole earth is covered 
as the waters cover 
the sea.
How many are called to be medical 
missionaries? 
CH p. 389 All gospel workers should 
know how to give the simple treatments 
that do so much to relieve pain and remove 
disease.
John The Baptist 
• He must be a temple for the indwelling Spirit 
of God. In order to fulfill his mission, he must 
have a sound physical constitution, and 
mental and spiritual strength...
• In the time of John the Baptist, greed for 
riches, and the love of luxury and display had 
become widespread. Sensuous pleasures, 
feasting and drinking, were causing physical 
disease and degeneracy, benumbing the 
spiritual perceptions, and lessening the 
sensibility to sin. John was to stand as a 
reformer. By his abstemious life and plain 
dress he was to rebuke the excesses of his 
time. DA 100
A Representative of God’s Last-Day 
Messengers 
• In preparing the way for Christ's first advent, 
he was a representative of those who are to 
prepare a people for our Lord's second 
coming… 
• All who would perfect holiness in the fear of 
God must learn the lessons of temperance 
and self-control... 
{DA 101.2}
Divine Plan in Medical Missionary 
Work 
…Ever since the entrance of sin the Crisis 
progresses. Sickness, suffering, and degradation 
is the result and is pervasive…Through Jesus 
Christ, God designed a plan of rescue for the 
world. That end time plan is called Medical 
Missionary work.
THE DIVINE HEALER
THE BEST MEDICINE 
The influence of the Spirit of God is the 
very best medicine that can be received 
by a sick man or woman. Heaven is all 
health; and the more deeply the 
heavenly influences are realized, the 
more sure will be the recovery of the 
believing invalid.--3T 172.
NOT BY HUMAN POWER 
We cannot heal. We cannot change the 
diseased conditions of the body. But it is 
our part, as medical missionaries, as 
workers together with God, to use the 
means that He has provided. Then we 
should pray that God will bless these 
agencies...
THE LORD’S IMPERATIVE 
Do medical missionary work. Thus you 
will gain access to the hearts of the 
people. The way will be prepared for 
more decided proclamation of the truth. 
You will find that relieving their physical 
suffering gives an opportunity to 
minister to their spiritual needs. {CME 
7.2}
IN TIME OF PERSECUTION 
…those who would stand for freedom of 
conscience will be placed in unfavorable 
positions. For their own sake, they 
should, while they have the opportunity, 
become intelligent in regard to disease, 
its causes, prevention, and cure...
IN TIME OF PERSECUTION 
All those who do this will find a field of labor 
anywhere. There will be suffering ones, 
plenty of them, who will need help, not only 
among those of our own faith, but largely 
among those who know not the truth. The 
shortness of time demands an energy that 
has not been aroused among those who 
claim to believe the present truth.--Counsels 
on Health, p. 506.
THE GREAT FINAL TEST 
The truth for this time, the third angel's 
message, is to be proclaimed with a 
loud voice as we approach the great 
final test. This test must come to the 
churches in connection with true 
medical missionary work.
A MIGHTY MOVEMENT 
There is no change in the messages that 
God has sent in the past. The work in 
the cities is the essential work for this 
time. When the cities are worked as God 
would have them, the result will be the 
setting in operation of a mighty 
movement such as we have not yet 
witnessed.--Medical Ministry, p. 304
GIVE HEALTH REFORM ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE 
The gospel of health has able advocates, but 
their work has been made very hard because 
so many ministers, presidents of conferences, 
and others in positions of influence have 
failed to give the question of health reform its 
proper attention. They have not recognized it 
in its relation to the work of the message as 
the right arm of the body...
Health Reform AND THE 
Third Angel’s Message
Third angel 
When the third angel's message is 
received in its fullness, health reform 
will be given its place in the councils of 
the conference, in the work of the 
church, in the home, at the table, and in 
all the household arrangements. {6T 
327.2}
THE GOSPEL WORKER 
All gospel workers should know how to give 
the simple treatments that do so much to 
relieve pain and remove disease. 
(Ministry of Healing, p. 146) 
Every gospel worker should feel that the 
giving of instruction in the principles of 
healthful living is a part of his appointed 
work. Of this work there is great need, and 
the world is open for it. 
(Ministry of Healing, p. 147)
THE URGENCY OF THE HOUR
QUALIFIED BY THE SPIRIT 
As the time comes for it [the message of the 
third angel] to be given with greatest power, 
the Lord will work through humble 
instruments, leading the minds of those who 
consecrate themselves to His service. The 
laborers will be qualified rather by the 
unction of His Spirit than by the training of 
literary institutions. {Evangelism 699.5}
AS THE HAND TO THE BODY 
God has shown that health reform is as 
closely connected with the third angel's 
message as the hand is with the body. 
There is nowhere to be found so great a 
cause of physical and moral degeneracy 
as a neglect of this important subject. 
{CH 73.1}
THE RIGHT HAND 
Medical missionary work is the right 
hand of the gospel. It is necessary to the 
advancement of the cause of God. As 
through it men and women are led to 
see the importance of right habits of 
living, the saving power of the truth will 
be made known...
THE RIGHT HAND 
Every city is to be entered by workers 
trained to do medical missionary work. 
As the right hand of the third angel's 
message, God's methods of treating 
disease will open doors for the entrance 
of present truth.--Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 
59.
THE RIGHT HAND 
A body without hands is useless. In giving 
honor to the body, honor must also be given 
to the helping hands, which are agencies of 
such importance that without them the body 
can do nothing. Therefore the body which 
treats indifferently the right hand, refusing 
its aid, is able to accomplish nothing. 
--Medical Ministry, p. 238.
NOT THE MESSAGE ITSELF 
…but the arm cannot take the place of 
the body. The proclamation of the third 
angel's message, the commandments of 
God and the testimony of Jesus, is the 
burden of our work...
The message is to be proclaimed with a 
loud cry, and is to go to the whole 
world. The presentation of health 
principles must be united with this 
message, but must not in any case be 
independent of it, or in any way take 
the place of it. {CD 75.1}
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mmiissssiioonnaarryy eeffffoorrtt.. TThhee wwoorrkk ttoo bbee ddoonnee ccaallllss ffoorr 
ssaaccrriiffiiccee aatt eevveerryy aaddvvaannccee sstteepp.. 
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ffoorrtthh ppuurriiffiieedd aanndd rreeffiinneedd aass ggoolldd ttrriieedd iinn tthhee ffiirree.. {{CCHH 
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