In Defense of the Great Disappointment

[Jon0388g]

Did William Miller ever preach a definite date for Christ's Second Coming?


Were the opposition correct in using the Scripture 'but of that day and hour knoweth no man' to stop the Millerite movement?


Was EGW justified in condemning those who applied this Scripture?


Did EGW 'blame' God for a mistake in the reckoning of prophetic periods?


How can we be sure that the Great Disappointment of 1844 was a fulfillment of prophecy?




1. William Miller never preached a definite time for Christ's Second Coming.

"I am fully convinced that some time between March 21st, 1843, and March 21st, 1844, according to the Jewish mode of computation of time, Christ will come." Signs of the Times of January 25, 1843.

"'I think the event for which we look cannot be afar off. I know of no rule by which we can fix on any day or hour. But Christ tells us we may know when it is near even at the door. James 5:9, tells us, when this time of patient waiting comes, then, "Behold, the Judge standeth before the door." I feel as confident as ever that God will justify us in fixing the year."
Christian Life and Public Labors of William Miller, chapter XVI, 1875


"the year of expectation was according to prophecy; but...that there might be an error in Bible chronology, which was of human origin, that could throw the date off somewhat and account for the discrepancy"
Everett N. Dick, William Miller and the Advent Crisis Berrien Springs: [Andrews University] Press, 1994, 27.


“William Miller had not set a specific day for the Advent, but expected it at some time during the "Jewish year 1843," that is, the year 1843/1844 from spring to spring…..The month and day [were] worked out chiefly by Samuel Snow” Christian Resource Centre, search "seventh-month movement"



"'This is the position I have now to take, and what more work I have to do, will be done in this manner. I will,
"'1. PROVE BY SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY THAT TIME IS FULFILLED.
"'2. SHOW THE SIGNS ALL COMPLETED.
"'3. THE DUTY OF WATCHING, FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR THE LORD MAY COME. And if God has anything more for me to do in his vineyard, he will give me strength, open the door, and enable me to do whatever may be his will, for his glory and the best good for man.” Letter to Mr Himes, March 25 1844


The time period of spring 1843-1844 was calculated by William Miller based on the prophecies. He says in many instances that, although heavily criticised by many scholars and ministers, none could show him where he had went wrong in the reckoning of the times.


One of his contemporaries named Samuel Snow, was the chief originator of the date October 22, 1844, which he calculated during the summer of 1844. Miller was not even with him at this time. The calculation of October 18 soon caught on with the main body of Millerites and came to be known as the Seventh-month Movement. Even after this, Miller was reluctant to settle on a specific date, although he became convinced October was a significant month in the Jewish Karaite method of prophetic interpretation. He writes,



"'If Christ does not come within twenty or twenty-five days, I shall feel twice the disappointment I did in the spring.' " Midnight Cry October 12 issue, 1844



Note this is published 10 days before October 22. Miller never seemed to advocate setting a definite day for the coming of Christ.

 

[mva1985]

Thanks Jon for putting that together. Great work!

 

[TrustAndObey]

Jon, this part was particularly interesting to me:

The time period of spring 1843-1844 was calculated by William Miller based on the prophecies. He says in many instances that, although heavily criticised by many scholars and ministers, none could show him where he had went wrong in the reckoning of the times.

I see that all the time!

"You're WRONG!"

"Oh yeah, why?"

"I don't know...you just are!"



Don't you wish you could look back in time and see them going..."well, this part is right....and so is this one.....it all LOOKS right.....but I'm going to criticize him anyway!"

I imagine the Holy Spirit did some work in their hearts when they were seeing so much of it that was right that they may not have ever studied before.

Good post Little Bro!

 

[Jon0388g]

2. "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36


Since it has been shown that Miller from the start did not preach a day nor an hour for Christ's coming, were his opposition justified in hurling this Scripture at his arguments based on the prophecies?


What saith the Scriptures?

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33


"So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors." Mark 13:29

Did Miller study the prophecies of Daniel, and discern the signs as already fulfilled?


"I found, in going through with the Bible, the end of all things was clearly and emphatically predicted, both as to time and manner. I believed; and immediately the duty to publish this doctrine, that the world might believe and get ready to meet the Judge and Bridegroom at his coming, was impressed upon my mind. I need not here go into a detailed account of my long and sore trials. Suffice it to say, that after a number of years, I was compelled by the Spirit of God, the power of truth and the love of souls, to take up my cross and proclaim these things to a dying and perishing world." Memoir of William Miller, by Joshua Himes p7


What did Miller have to say about the popular passage used against him?



""'Various difficulties and objections would arise in my mind from time to time; certain texts would occur to me which seemed to weigh against my conclusions; and I would not present a view to others, while any difficulty appeared to militate against it. I therefore continued the study of the Bible, to see if I could sustain any of these objections. My object was not merely to remove them, but I wished to see if they were valid.

Sometimes, when at work, a text would arise like this: "Of that day and hour knoweth no man,"; and how, then, could the Bible reveal the time of the advent? I would then immediately examine the context in which it was found, and I saw at once that, in the same connection, we are informed how we may know when it is nigh, even at the doors; consequently, that text could not teach that we could know nothing of the time of that event. Other texts, which are advanced in support of the doctrine of a temporal millennium, would arise; but on examining their context, I invariably found that they were applicable only to the eternal state, or were so illustrative of the spread of the gospel here as to be entirely irrelevant to the position they were adduced to support." Christian Life and Public Labors of William Miller, Chapter III


This is particularly important again since we now know Miller never even set a day for the return of Christ. He set a date for the year, which was a misinterpretation but was solidly based on prophecy, and in light of the fulfilling of many signs and wonders. He thus knew the Second Coming was near, even at the doors. He knew full well that of the specific day knew no man.EGW comments similarly:


"Wolff replied: "Did our Lord say that that day and hour should never be known? Did He not give us signs of the times, in order that we may know at least the approach of His coming, as one knows the approach of the summer by the fig tree putting forth its leaves? Matthew 24:32. Are we never to know that period, whilst He Himself exhorteth us not only to read Daniel the prophet, but to understand it? and in that very Daniel, where it is said that the words were shut up to the time of the end (which was the case in his time), and that 'many shall run to and fro' (a Hebrew expression for observing and thinking upon the time), 'and knowledge' (regarding that time) 'shall be increased.' Daniel 12:4. Besides this, our Lord does not intend to say by this, that the approach of the time shall not be known, but that the exact 'day and hour knoweth no man.' Enough, He does say, shall be known by the signs of the times, to induce us to prepare for His coming, as Noah prepared the ark."--Wolff, Researches and Missionary Labors, pages 404, 405............A clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were looking for the Lord, and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was clearly shown." Great Controversy pp359-371


This passage of Scripture was hurled at Miller while he went about preaching the Judgment Cry in 1843-1844. In those days, the popular interpretation of Scripture was that Christ would not come until after the millenium - the 'millenium of peace'. Miller opposed this train of thought from the start. He clearly understood the Bible taught Christ's coming as pre-millenium. Thus, the ministers of that day mis-used this Scripture to oppose Miller's message, putting off Christ's coming until the very distant future. Miller writes that some would not even consider his arguments from the prophecies, and those that did could not show him his error.

Couple this with the fact that many prominent scholars and other pastors around the world were coming up with very similar dates (year-dates) for the Second Advent, the opposition seems irrational, at best.


When the Millerites calculated the date 22/10/1844 for Christ's coming, Miller himself wrote on the eve of the 21st:


"The ninth day [of the seventh month (October 21)] was very remarkable. . . . In the evening I told some of my [brethren] Christ would not come on the morrow. Why not? said they. Because he cannot come in an hour they think not, nor as a snare." Letter to J. O. Orr of Toronto, Canada West, on December 13, 1844,











</SPAN></SPAN>

 

[Jon0388g]

3. Was EGW justified in condemning those who applied this Scripture?



Mrs White writes:

"Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with sympathy and love upon those who had with sweet expectation longed to see Him whom their souls loved. Angels were hovering around them, to sustain them in the hour of their trial. Those who had neglected to receive the heavenly message were left in darkness, and God's anger was kindled against them, because they would not receive the light which He had sent them from heaven." EW 236.1

"The proclamation of a definite time for Christ's coming called forth great opposition from many of all classes, from the minister in the pulpit down to the most reckless, heaven-daring sinner. "No man knoweth the day nor the hour!" was heard alike from the hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. They closed their ears to the clear and harmonious explanation of the text by those who were pointing to the close of the prophetic periods and to the signs which Christ Himself had foretold as tokens of His advent.
Many who professed to love the Saviour declared that they had no opposition to the preaching of His coming; they merely objected to the definite time. God's all-seeing eye read their hearts. They did not wish to hear of Christ's coming to judge the world in righteousness. They had been unfaithful servants, their works would not bear the inspection of the heart-searching God, and they feared to meet their Lord. Like the Jews at the time of Christ's first advent, they were not prepared to welcome Jesus. Satan and his angels exulted and flung the taunt in the face of Christ and holy angels, that His professed people had so little love for Him that they did not desire His appearing.
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]Unfaithful watchmen hindered the progress of the work of God. As the people were roused, and began to inquire the way of salvation, these leaders stepped in between them and the truth, seeking to quiet their fears by falsely interpreting the Word of God. In this work Satan and unconsecrated ministers united, crying, Peace, peace, when God had not spoken peace. Like the Pharisees in Christ's day, many refused to enter the kingdom of heaven themselves, and those who were entering in they hindered. The blood of these souls will be required at their hand." [/FONT]


We as traditional Adventists believe Mrs White to be a prophet of the Lord. She writes:​

• "No man knoweth the day nor the hour" was heard by hypocritical minister and bold scoffer​
• They would not listen to clear and harmonious explanation of the text offerred by Miller, who never even preached a definite date for the Second Coming​
• They refused to take heed the close of the prophetic periods and the signs fast fulfilling​
• Many - keyword - who 'professed' to love the Saviour declared they had no objections to the preaching of the Second Advent, just to the definite time.​

Even if they declared to only have objections to Miller's preaching on a definite time, they were still unjustified since Miller pointed to a year in which Christ could have come based on the prophecies. Which we are admonished to understand. EGW said they closed their ears to this. They also 'professed' a love for the Saviour.

It is significant to note that this text was used to oppose Miller and his message primarily during 1843-1844. The definite date of October 22 was not formulated until summer 1844, the Seventh-month Movement. So in the beginning they were not utilising this passage of Scripture against the Seventh-month movement because it had not come about yet. They would have been justified in doing this.


If a prophet of God was given insight into the real motives of the opposition, who are we to question? Only those who doubt her prophetic gift would have a problem with this, although neither side can give proof on the condition of those people's hearts.​

 

[Jon0388g]

4. Did EGW 'blame' God for a mistake in the reckoning of prophetic periods?




A portion of SOP being used by our critics to cast contempt on Mrs White is the following:


I saw the people of God joyful in expectation, looking for their Lord. But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover this mistake, and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see it. God designed that His people should meet with a disappointment. The time passed, and those who had looked with joyful expectation for their Saviour were sad and disheartened, while those who had not loved the appearing of Jesus, but embraced the message through fear, were pleased that He did not come at the time of expectation. Their profession had not affected the heart and purified the life. The passing of the time was well calculated to reveal such hearts.
236
They were the first to turn and ridicule the sorrowful, disappointed ones who really loved the appearing of their Saviour. I saw the wisdom of God in proving His people and giving them a searching test to discover those who would shrink and turn back in the hour of trial. {EW 235.3}

Those faithful, disappointed ones, who could not understand why their Lord did not come, were not left in darkness. Again they were led to their Bibles to search the prophetic periods. The hand of the Lord was removed from the figures, and the mistake was explained. They saw that the prophetic periods reached to 1844, and that the same evidence which they had presented to show that the prophetic periods closed in 1843, proved that they would terminate in 1844. Light from the Word of God shone upon their position, and they discovered a tarrying time--"Though it [the vision] tarry, wait for it." In their love for Christ's immediate coming, they had overlooked the tarrying of the vision, which was calculated to manifest the true waiting ones. Again they had a point of time. Yet I saw that many of them could not rise above their severe disappointment to possess that degree of zeal and energy which had marked their faith in 1843.
{EW 236.1}


Can we conclude from this that EGW lays 'blame' on God for the mistake in prophetic calculations?


Firstly, we must clarify. What did EGW say God was in?

I saw that God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. It was His design to arouse the people and bring them to a testing point, where they should decide for or against the truth. {EW 232.2}


Notice she does not say "God was in the proclamation of the time of 1843." Can you see the difference? She in fact says God was in the proclamation of the time. What time?


Again, as with most of our critics, scrolling 'up' from where they quote often reveals the truth in context. What 'proclamation of the time' did EGW say God was in?


"Angels of God accompanied William Miller in his mission. He was firm and undaunted, fearlessly proclaiming the message committed to his trust. A world lying in wickedness and a cold, worldly church were enough to call into action all his energies and lead him willingly to endure toil, privation, and suffering. Although opposed by professed Christians and the world, and buffeted by Satan and his angels, he ceased not to preach the everlasting gospel to crowds wherever he was invited, sounding far and near the cry, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." I saw that God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. It was His design to arouse the people and bring them to a testing point, where they should decide for or against the truth. {EW 232.1 232.2}


What 'time' was God behind? The judgment hour! Was this the message to be preached in 1843?! Oh yes!


So now, we can better understand if EGW laid 'blame' on God for the mistaken date of 1844.


She wrote:

"But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover this mistake, and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see it. God designed that His people should meet with a disappointment.....I saw the wisdom of God in proving His people and giving them a searching test to discover those who would shrink and turn back in the hour of trial." {EW 235.3}


Does EGW in any wise imply that God was the author of the mistake? Any balanced reader can see that she wrote His hand 'covered' a mistake. The mistake in the calculation was already there. His hand covering it signified He allowed the mistake to remain unseen - in order to test whose faith was built on the Rock.


So we see that the Great Disappointment involved two tests: one in the mistaken date of 1843, and the main test of the Disappointment of October 22, 1844. Do we see any parallels with this in the Scriptures?


"For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.....From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." John 6:55, 56, 66


Christ here references the fact that His kingdom was purposed to be a spiritual kingdom, and that the blood of the covenant must be shed so they could eat of His flesh and drink of the blood. The first test. What did Scripture record? "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." They were not faithful enough to hear the message that He must die.


Doesn't the Scripture say that proven faith produces endurance, and endurance - hope? This first test by Christ prepared the true disciples for the greater test of His death on Calvary - they were utterly devastated that their pictures of a physical, earthly kingdom were not realised by Christ. At the Ascension, they realised their error, and the blessing was even sweeter.


Are there no parallels between this account and the Great Disappointment? Let's see:

Disciples: the disciples had a correct message to preach of 'the kindgom of heaven', yet a misinterpretation of the nature of that kingdom.

Millerites: a correct message to preach in 'the hour of His judgment has come', yet a misinterpretation of the nature of that judgment.


Disciples: a test when Christ referred to the spiritual, not the temporal nature of His kingdom.

Millerites: a test when a mistake in their prophetic reckoning was allowed by God to go unnoticed.

Disciples: the main test of Christ's death on Calvary.

Millerites: the main test of the Great Disappointment.


Disciples: a blessing in seeing Christ ascend to heaven, with a greater and truer understanding of His kingdom.

Millerites: a blessing in visions of Christ's movement into the Most Holy Place, with a greater and truer understanding of His judgment.


Disciples: then taking the message of the gospel to the world.

Millerites: the Seventh-day Adventist Church forms. God's Everlasting Gospel containing the Three-Angels' Message is taken to almost every country on the planet.


Any parallels?

 

[TrustAndObey]

Jon, this is all really good! Did you do it yourself?

 

[Jon0388g]

Jon, this is all really good! Did you do it yourself?

Yeah I did, thanks! I thought I'd study out the charges being levelled against us, and as usual I come out being more assured of our Firm Foundation.


I deliberately posted it in here too, so that it wouldn't fall on deaf ears. Although I don't think Tall has an agenda, I do think he is going about it in the wrong way. I just wanted to make sure the Adventists that read it to know the whole issue and can make their own decisions.




Jon

 

[mva1985]

Yeah I did, thanks! I thought I'd study out the charges being levelled against us, and as usual I come out being more assured of our Firm Foundation.


I deliberately posted it in here too, so that it wouldn't fall on deaf ears. Although I don't think Tall has an agenda, I do think he is going about it in the wrong way. I just wanted to make sure the Adventists that read it to know the whole issue and can make their own decisions.

Jon

This is what usually happens when some one studies with an open Spirit led mind. We become more convinced.

 

[OntheDL]

Did William Miller ever preach a definite date for Christ's Second Coming?

Were the opposition correct in using the Scripture 'but of that day and hour knoweth no man' to stop the Millerite movement?

Was EGW justified in condemning those who applied this Scripture?
Did EGW 'blame' God for a mistake in the reckoning of prophetic periods?

How can we be sure that the Great Disappointment of 1844 was a fulfillment of prophecy?

1. William Miller never preached a definite time for Christ's Second Coming.

"I am fully convinced that some time between March 21st, 1843, and March 21st, 1844, according to the Jewish mode of computation of time, Christ will come." Signs of the Times of January 25, 1843.

"'I think the event for which we look cannot be afar off. I know of no rule by which we can fix on any day or hour. But Christ tells us we may know when it is near even at the door. James 5:9, tells us, when this time of patient waiting comes, then, "Behold, the Judge standeth before the door." I feel as confident as ever that God will justify us in fixing the year."
Christian Life and Public Labors of William Miller, chapter XVI, 1875

"the year of expectation was according to prophecy; but...that there might be an error in Bible chronology, which was of human origin, that could throw the date off somewhat and account for the discrepancy"
Everett N. Dick, William Miller and the Advent Crisis Berrien Springs: [Andrews University] Press, 1994, 27.

“William Miller had not set a specific day for the Advent, but expected it at some time during the "Jewish year 1843," that is, the year 1843/1844 from spring to spring…..The month and day [were] worked out chiefly by Samuel Snow” Christian Resource Centre, search "seventh-month movement"

"'This is the position I have now to take, and what more work I have to do, will be done in this manner. I will,
"'1. PROVE BY SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY THAT TIME IS FULFILLED.
"'2. SHOW THE SIGNS ALL COMPLETED.
"'3. THE DUTY OF WATCHING, FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR THE LORD MAY COME. And if God has anything more for me to do in his vineyard, he will give me strength, open the door, and enable me to do whatever may be his will, for his glory and the best good for man.” Letter to Mr Himes, March 25 1844

The time period of spring 1843-1844 was calculated by William Miller based on the prophecies. He says in many instances that, although heavily criticised by many scholars and ministers, none could show him where he had went wrong in the reckoning of the times.

One of his contemporaries named Samuel Snow, was the chief originator of the date October 22, 1844, which he calculated during the summer of 1844. Miller was not even with him at this time. The calculation of October 18 soon caught on with the main body of Millerites and came to be known as the Seventh-month Movement. Even after this, Miller was reluctant to settle on a specific date, although he became convinced October was a significant month in the Jewish Karaite method of prophetic interpretation. He writes,

"'If Christ does not come within twenty or twenty-five days, I shall feel twice the disappointment I did in the spring.' " Midnight Cry October 12 issue, 1844

Note this is published 10 days before October 22. Miller never seemed to advocate setting a definite day for the coming of Christ.

Jon, thank you for the great post. Great work!

When I look at you and the young believers in my local churches, I know in my heart the Adventist movement started in 1840s will never die off.