Joseph Bates (Adventist)

Joseph Bates (July 8, 1792 – March 19, 1872) was an American seaman and revivalist preacher. He was a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is considered one of its most important pioneers.

Born in Rochester, Massachusetts, Bates went to sea at a young age, eventually becoming a captain. He experienced a religious conversion during his maritime career and embraced temperance and abolitionism.

Bates accepted the teachings of William Miller regarding the Second Advent of Christ around 1839. He actively participated in the Millerite movement, advocating for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Following the "Great Disappointment" of October 22, 1844, when Christ did not return as expected, Bates was instrumental in redirecting the focus of some Millerites to the Sabbath.

In 1846, Bates read a pamphlet by T.M. Preble advocating for the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Convinced of its biblical validity, he began to promote Sabbath observance among the remaining Millerites. His pamphlet, "The Seventh-Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign," published in 1846, was crucial in persuading James and Ellen White, key figures in the developing Adventist movement, to accept the Sabbath.

Bates played a significant role in unifying the scattered Adventist believers. He traveled extensively, preaching and writing about the Sabbath, the sanctuary doctrine, and other key Adventist beliefs. He served on early Adventist committees and contributed significantly to the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in 1863.

Bates's seafaring background gave him a practical, straightforward approach to biblical interpretation and organization. He advocated for healthful living and was a proponent of the health reform movement that later became a distinctive feature of Seventh-day Adventism. He continued to be an active voice in the church until his death in 1872. His contributions to Adventist theology and organization are recognized as foundational to the denomination's identity.