Adventist Teaching: No
Biblical teaching: Yes
The Adventist Church’s theology is funneled through the lens of the “spirit of prophecy”—what they believe to be the Holy Spirit manifest in the writings of Ellen G. White, which corrects “inaccurate interpretations of scripture.”
Ellen White clearly stated in multiple places that eternal life is not given until after the closing work of the investigative judgment. This is because this work will determine who is and isn’t worthy of receiving the atoning benefits of Christ’s sacrifice and are worthy of eternal life. Only after one has demonstrated a perfect obedience to the 10 Commandments will they be rewarded with eternal life. Right now, they are on a probationary period.
The Bible doesn’t teach this. Jesus very plainly said that whoever hears His words and believes “Him who sent me” has (present tense) eternal life because they have already passed from death to life (John 5:24). John says the same thing in his epistle—that he wrote what he did so that you may know that you have (present tense) eternal life (1 John 5:13).
Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the One True God (John 17:3). Believers—by definition—know God and are “in Christ” (Romans 8:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 3:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Eternal life is already presently ours.
