The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission from the beginning has been to share God’s truth in the Bible. And as times have changed, we’ve explored new ways of doing this—one of those being movies.
Interested in what the Adventist Church has put out? Or wondering what movies feature Adventists?
Here, we’ll introduce you to those films and cover:
- Why media is important in Adventist ministry
- The purpose of Adventist movies
- How to tell what kind of Adventist movie it is
- A list of Adventist movies
- Where to watch Adventist movies
First, let’s look at the role media plays in Adventist ministry.
Why media is important in Adventist ministry
Tor Tjeransen / Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)
The Adventist Church has always used whatever medium possible to present the gospel to others, whether through pamphlets, books, or more recently, radio, television, and the internet.
Though the Bible wasn’t written at a time when all these different types of media existed, it provides us with principles we can apply to these methods today. Our desire is to take advantage of every opportunity to reach out to people with the love of Jesus Christ.
And that’s meant getting creative with film.
Film is a great way for Adventists to integrate the storytelling theme we value with an engaging and thought-provoking visual presentation.
Adventists have used film in many different ways to reach audiences. Some churches live stream their services and provide recordings of them. We’ve also produced short videos and movies.
You might have already guessed that Adventist movies are made for outreach purposes, but let’s take a closer look at the reasons Adventists make films.
The purpose of Adventist movies
Pieter Damsteegt / Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)
Many Adventist movies are created for the purpose of evangelism. Some of our biggest productions highlight the end times and the second coming of Jesus since these topics are so important to us.
These movies are produced by the church and its affiliated ministries like Hope Channel and Amazing Facts. They represent official Adventist teachings and aim to help viewers understand topics in the Bible through a visual story.
Another purpose of Adventist movies is to inform. While the movies about the end times inform viewers about Bible prophecy, others educate viewers about the Adventist Church specifically.
One well-known example is Tell the World. This movie takes viewers on a journey of the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It shows how one of our founders, Ellen White, began her ministry and how Adventists developed some of our key doctrines through diligently studying the Bible.
Then, there are some movies that seek simply to provide uplifting entertainment through a spiritual lens.
For example, Hope Channel put out a family movie called The Mysterious Note. This little film was meant to help parents and children understand the meaning of stewardship—responsibly caring for what God has given us.
Several movies also prominently feature Adventists, even though they are not produced by the church. Here are a few:
- Hacksaw Ridge: This movie tells the story of Desmond Doss, a World War II medic and Seventh-day Adventist who refused to bear arms, yet saved 75 men and received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
- The Conscientious Objector: A documentary of Desmond Doss.
- Gifted Hands: The story of Ben Carson, the famous Seventh-day Adventist surgeon.
- The Adventists: A documentary exploring the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle and reasons why Adventists live so long.
While these movies prominently feature Seventh-day Adventists, they are not produced by the church or any affiliate ministries. We encourage you to watch them with discretion.
How can you tell which movies are produced by the Adventist Church and which ones aren’t? Read on to find out.
How to tell what kind of Adventist movie it is
Photo by Juan Ordonez on Unsplash
If a movie is officially put out by the church, you might see that it’s copyrighted by the church or one of its ministries, like Amazing Facts Africa, Hope Channel Kenya, or the 2nd Coming Broadcasting Network (2CBN). These movies endorse Adventist theology and don’t contain any questionable elements like language or undue violence.
If the copyright is by an individual name or a ministry or group not directly affiliated with the church, exercise caution before viewing the movie. Do some research to be sure it’s something you are comfortable watching.
Also realize, any theology presented in these unaffiliated movies that is attributed to Adventists may indeed not be official Adventist theology.
Of course, this is not to discourage you from viewing those movies. Many movies out there are inspiring and uplifting in their own right. They just may not accurately represent the Adventist Church.
So which ones are put out by the Adventist Church? Let’s take a look.
A list of Adventist movies
Here are several movies produced by the church:
- Tell the World: As we already mentioned, this movie shows how the Adventist Church began.
- Opposites: This film follows the stories of two people living totally different lives in Brazil.
- Revelation: The Bride, the Beast, and Babylon: This documentary breaks down the symbolism found in the book of Revelation.
- A Matter of Conscience: Learn what happened to some British Seventh-day Adventist conscientious objectors in World War I.
- The Mysterious Note: A family moves to take ownership of a store when their children find a mysterious note that might change everything.
- Final Events: A two-part documentary in which Pastor Doug Batchelor presents what the Bible says about end-time events.
- War in Heaven, War on Earth: This movie explores the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its connection to the Civil War.
Photo by Souvik Banerjee on Unsplash
Where to watch Adventist movies
Many Adventist movies are free on YouTube or other similar online platforms. Some can also be rented, streamed, or purchased on platforms like Vimeo. And, many of these are available at the Adventist Book Center if you’d like to get them in a DVD format.
In all our movie productions, Adventists seek to glorify God. Whether we’re telling the Adventist story, sharing biblical messages, or providing wholesome entertainment, we strive to create films that will bring viewers a little bit closer to Jesus.
If you’d like to learn more about Adventists and what we choose to watch, check out our page on how Adventists make movie choices.
If you’d like to learn more about Adventists and what we choose to watch,
Related Articles
More Answers
What is the Concept of “Present Truth” and Why is it Important?
Present truth is the principle that certain biblical truths are relevant to God’s people at specific times in history. God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal truths that help us better understand how to interpret and apply His Word in a present moment.
What Does the Bible Say About Modesty
The Bible teaches that modesty, a form of humility and respect, is a valuable quality in everyone—men, women and children. It has to do with how we present ourselves, which should exemplify our inner relationship with God.
13th Sabbath Offering: What It Is and Why It Matters
On the last Sabbath of every quarter, Adventist churches participate in the 13th Sabbath offering—a special offering that goes to mission fields around the world.
Everything You Need to Know About an Adventist Church Potluck
Every so often, usually on a schedule ranging from once a week to once a month to once a quarter, an Adventist church will have “fellowship dinners,” often casually referred to as potlucks.
How to Join the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Whether you heard about the Seventh-day Adventist Church through a traveling evangelist, during your online searches, or through a loved one or relative, you might be considering joining yourself.
How Do Adventists Make Movie and Music Choices?
We have entertainment at our fingertips. With just a tap on our smartphones, we can access all the latest movies, music, YouTube videos, and more.
Do Adventists Celebrate Birthdays?
Yes, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate birthdays because we see them as excellent reminders of the life God has blessed us with. And we celebrate them the same way everyone else does—with friends, family, presents, and a special meal.
Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?
Yes, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination formed in 1863. Just like other Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and seek to follow the principles of the Word of God.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in the Secret Rapture
The secret rapture belief asserts that the followers of Jesus will be suddenly and stealthily “raptured” from earth and taken to heaven. Then, any people left on earth will face a period of great difficulty—before Christ’s second coming actually happens.
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal is a songbook used worldwide by many Adventist congregations during their worship services. Since its publication in 1985, it has helped foster praise to God while reminding church members of our mission and drawing them closer to Jesus.
Do Adventists Have Their Own Bible?
Adventists have some unique beliefs—you might be able to name some of them right now. The seventh-day Sabbath. Death as a sleep. Hell as nonexistence.
Do Adventists Celebrate Communion and Foot Washing?
Like many Christian denominations, Adventists regularly participate in communion, also referred to as the “Lord’s Supper” or the “Last Supper.” They also practice foot washing (John 13:1-20), or the “ordinance of humility,” during the service—which isn’t as common.
How do Adventists choose what to eat?
Every day, parents go through the ritual of getting their kids to eat what is healthy and good while trying to steer them away from what can hinder the growth of their developing bodies. Nutritionists work with their clients to make better food choices.
What Are Seventh-Day Adventist Sermons Like?
In nearly every Seventh-day Adventist Church, the sermon is the focal point of the main service—similar to many Protestant Christian denominations. It is a time of biblical instruction by the pastor, who shares what they’ve been studying in the Bible and preparing over the previous week.
Didn’t find your answer? Ask us!
We understand your concern of having questions but not knowing who to ask—we’ve felt it ourselves. When you’re ready to learn more about Adventists, send us a question! We know a thing or two about Adventists.