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Preface
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1844, and who with open minds and hearts stepped forward into the
Sabbath and the sanctuary truths as the light of heaven illuminated
their pathway. These people were not localized in any one place but
were individuals or very small groups here and there throughout the
north central and north-eastern part of the United States
.
Hiram Edson, one of this group, lived in central New York State
at Port Gibson. He was the leader of the Adventists in that area.
The believers met in his home on October 22, 1844, to await the
coming of the Lord. Calmly and patiently they awaited the great
event. But as the hour of midnight came and they realized the day of
expectation had passed, it became clear that Jesus would not come
as soon as they had thought. It was a time of bitter disappointment.
In the early morning hours Hiram Edson and a few others went out
to his barn to pray, and as they prayed, he felt assured that light
would come
.
A little later, as Edson and a friend were crossing a cornfield to
visit fellow Adventists, it seemed as if a hand touched his shoulder.
He looked up to see—as if in a vision—the heavens opened, and
Christ in the heavenly sanctuary entering into the most holy place,
there to begin a work of ministry in behalf of his people, instead of
coming forth from the most holy place to cleanse the world with fire,
as they had taught. Careful Bible study by Hiram Edson; F. B. Hahn,
a physician; and O. R. L. Crozier, a schoolteacher, soon revealed
that the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 years was
not the earth but the tabernacle in heaven, with Christ ministering
in our behalf in the most holy place. This mediatorial work of
Christ answered to the “hour of God’s judgment” Call sounded in
[xix]
the message of the first angel (
Revelation 14:6, 7
). Mr. Crozier,
the schoolteacher, wrote out the findings of the study group. These
were printed locally, and then in fuller form in an Adventist journal
known as the
Day-Star
, published in Cincinnati, Ohio. A special
number dated February 7, 1846, was devoted entirely to this Bible
study on the question of the sanctuary
.
Truths Confirmed by Vision
While this study was in progress, and before their work was
made known, far to the east in the state of Maine, a vision was given