“MAN PURIFIED… THE WISE TO UNDERSTAND” (AFTER 1290 DAYS)

1816

William T. Miller (1782-1849) was converted to Christianity in a Baptist church in Hampton, New York. A studious and self-educated man, he was not satisfied with certain aspects of Christian teaching and the many seeming contradictions of the Bible. This motivated him to undertake a two year comprehensive study of the Bible which convinced him that the Scriptures were consistent and harmonious when rightly understood.

1818

Finding the Bible to be “a system of revealed truth,” Miller set forth tentative conclusions of his two year study. He differed rather strongly from the popular views of his day in a dozen points, among them his conviction that the world had entered the last phase of prophetic time and that in 25 years “all the affairs of our present state would be wound up.” To verify his findings, Miller entered into four additional years of intensive Bible study, from 1818 to 1822.

1822

Mr. Miller, now in his prime at age 40, composed his “Twenty Articles of Faith,” which summarized most of his beliefs. Most of these points were considered fundamental gospel premises with which many devout Christians of diverse affiliations could agree: the inspiration of the Bible, belief in the Trinity, the creation and fall of man, Christ’s substitutionary atoning death, the saving power of faith in Christ, election founded on God’s purpose and foreknowledge, baptism by immersion, resurrection of the just and unjust, destruction of the wicked, and purification of the earth by fire. But the startling article concerned his unwavering belief in the imminent “second coming of Jesus Christ,” which he wrote, “is near, even at the door, even within twenty-one years, on or before 1843.”

1829

Mr. Miller attended a series of special meetings in his local Baptist church in Hampton, N.Y., consisting of special sermons by guest preachers. A reasonable presumption is that he shared his views on the advent with these visiting Baptist ministers.

1831

Mr. Miller began his public ministry by setting forth his advent expectations to a small congregation in Dresden, N.Y., as a substitute preacher.

1834

Mr. Miller became a full-time preacher gaining many adherents, chiefly among the Baptists at first, but later reaching a cross-section of the Christian community. With a strong will and constitution, he enthusiastically threw himself in to the ministry to carry on what he conceived as his special mission to warn men of their impending doom unless converted before the second advent of Christ.

1836

Mr. Miller’s writings began to attract some public attention and by 1838 were being republished by the Boston “Daily Times.”

1839

Mr. Miller made the acquaintance of Joshua V. Himes, leading to a new era of expansion for the infant Advent Movement. The following year, Himes began publishing the “Signs of the Times” in Boston, spurring the appearance of more than two dozen other journals, edited by ministers attracted from the ranks of Congregationalists, Methodists, Wesleyans, Christians, Baptists, and Presbyterian affiliations. The circulation of these second advent papers and journals was phenomenal, some reaching 100,000. By the middle of 1844, a total of 5 million copies had been distributed, and a very widespread witness given to northeastern and middle western America.

1840

The years 1840-1843 saw the establishing of sixteen large conferences in different major cities in six states (Mass., Maine, New York, N.H., Vermont and Penna.), varying in attendance from many hundreds to 5,000. These attracted the support of numerous ministers from a wide spectrum of denominations, and helped greatly in solidifying and spreading the message.

1842

Beginning of a series of 130 camp meetings, lasting until 1844, which brought Millerism directly to the masses. The earnest preaching and stirring hymn singing and testimonies of these open air meetings held a contagious attraction and novelty that drew from 4,000-10,000 to each site. Half a million people were reached in this way.

The year 1842 also saw the introduction of “The Big Tent,” 120 feet in diameter, accommodating 4,000-6,000 people. This innovation was prompted by increasing opposition from orthodox churches and the consequent difficulty of securing the large size halls needed for the work. “The Big Tent” was used successfully in New York, New Jersey, Mass., N.H., Vermont, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, until 1844. Suspended from two main supporting poles was a streamer reading “Thy Kingdom Come.”

1843

The actual date set for the return of Christ. It was based on the belief that the 2300 day prophecy of Dan. 8:14 would end in the advent of Christ, covering the period from 457 BC to 1843 AD. However, due to a later refinement in the calculation, the date of expectation was postponed to the Spring of 1844.

1844

When the Spring of 1844 passed uneventfully, intensive restudy led to the acceptance of Oct. 22, 1844 (thought to be the Jewish Day of Atonement) as the final and irrevocable date for the visible return of Christ. But again, “their Lord came not, and the day of sweet expectation had become the day of bitter disappointment.”

Summary

At the height of the Millerite movement, upwards of 50,000 believers had declared themselves to be Adventists. There were about 500 preachers from the leading denominations, 1500 public lecturers, and about 30 editors that comprised the loyal core of the group. They created a mighty stir across the land and aroused widespread interest in Bible study and the fulfillment of prophecy.

In the aftermath of the disappointment, there was great confusion and bewilderment, and the Adventist faithful had to face public ridicule at every hand. The Millerite Movement came to an abrupt end, many of its adherents drifted away, and the remnant divided into several factions. Nevertheless, a sanctifying mark had been left upon a nucleus of believers who had been brought to a closer walk with the Lord and had been given an awareness that the prophetic “end of the age” was upon them. These were now prepared for fresh outpourings of truth to accompany the advancing light.

(The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, LeRoy E. Froom, Vol. 4, pp. 455-826.)

– Contributed

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