Advent Expectancy Reaches Its Culmination

In the second decade of the nineteenth century, William Miller came independently to essentially the same conclusion in North America. Miller began public presentation of his convictions about 1831. He was soon joined by Fitch, Litch, Bates, Himes, and Bliss.AGP 242.3

This stalwart band in America, increased rapidly by others, began to witness with a power and to an extent that are an astonishment to all who learn the facts. Beginning in the smaller towns, their message soon permeated the great cities. Books, tracts, and then periodicals were published in increasing number until there were more than forty papers issued in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, prior to October 22, 1844, devoted exclusively to heralding the approaching advent.AGP 242.4

Public lecturers grew in number, drawn from the ministry of nearly all Protestant denominations. “Conferences” of Christians “expecting the advent” began to be held in 1840,—general conferences for the public representatives, and local conferences for the laity. There were nearly a dozen of the former, and about forty of the latter, which were in instances attended by as many as two thousand persons. Important actions were passed by these general conferences that molded, unified, and greatly forwarded the whole movement.AGP 242.5

Giant “camp meetings” were held, with thousands in attendance,—thirty-one being held within the space of four months, in 1842, including several in Canada. One hundred twenty-four of these were held during 1843 and 1844, fourteen of which wereAGP 242.6

held in Great Britain. “Tabernacle” meetings and “grove,” or open air, meetings were also employed.AGP 243.1

Then, resentment, ecclesiastical action, and persecution on the part of the nominal churches came into the picture to complicate and impede.AGP 243.2

Thus we come to the end of Miller’s predicted time—March 21, 1844, the close of “the Jewish year 1843.” There was keen disappointment that the Lord did not appear at that time, and there was considerable shrinkage in numbers as the more superficial dropped out.AGP 243.3

The advent movement then entered a period of indifference called “the slumber time.” But in August, at the important Exeter, New Hampshire, camp meeting, evidence was presented that explained the error in time calculation by Miller. It was seen that 2300 full years would reach from the autumn of 457 B. C. to the autumn of 1844 A. D. The parable of the virgins helped to explain the nature of the disappointment. On the basis of the types in the sanctuary system of old, the antitypical Day of Atonement would fall on the tenth day of the Jewish seventh month,—or, according to modern reckoning, on October 22, 1844.AGP 243.4