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xiv
Early Writings
believed to take place at the second advent—was definitely pointed
out
.
“Miller and his associates at first believed that the 2300 days
would terminate in the
spring
of 1844, whereas the prophecy points
to the
autumn
of that year. The misapprehension of this point brought
disappointment and perplexity to those who had fixed upon the
earlier date as the time of the Lord’s coming. But this did not in the
least affect the strength of the argument showing that the 2300 days
terminated in the year 1844, and that the great event represented by
the cleansing of the sanctuary must then take place
.
“Entering upon the study of the Scriptures as he had done, in
order to prove that they were a revelation from God, Miller had not,
at the outset, the slightest expectation of reaching the conclusion at
which he had now arrived. He himself could hardly credit the results
of his investigation. But the scripture evidence was too clear and
forcible to be set aside
.
“He had devoted two years to the study of the Bible, when, in
1818, he reached the solemn conviction that in about twenty-five
years Christ would appear for the redemption of his people.”—
The
[xv]
Great Controversy, 324-329
.
The Disappointment and Its Aftermath
It was with keen anticipation that the Advent believers neared
the day of the expected return of their Lord. They saw the fall of
1844 as the time to which the prophecy of Daniel pointed. But these
dedicated believers were to suffer severe disappointment. As the
disciples of old failing to understand the exact character of events
to take place in fulfillment of prophecy relating to the first advent
of Jesus suffered disappointment, so the Adventists in 1844 were
disappointed concerning the development of prophecy relating to
the expected second coming of Christ. Of this, Ellen White wrote in
this volume:
“Jesus did not come to the earth as the waiting, joyful company
expected, to cleanse the sanctuary by purifying the earth by fire. I
saw that they were correct in their reckoning of the prophetic periods;
prophetic time closed in 1844, and Jesus entered the most holy place
to cleanse the sanctuary at the ending of the days. Their mistake