Disappointment of 1843-44
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Hope Renewed
Our hopes now centered on the coming of the Lord in 1844. This
was also the time for the message of the second angel, who, flying
through the midst of heaven, cried, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city.”
Revelation 14:8
. That message was first proclaimed by
the servants of God in the summer of 1844. As a result, many left
the fallen churches. In connection with this message the “midnight
cry” [See
Matthew 25:1-13
.] was given: “Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” In every part of the land light was
given concerning this message, and the cry aroused thousands. It went
from city to city, from village to village, and into the remote country
regions. It reached the learned and talented, as well as the obscure and
humble.
This was the happiest year of my life. My heart was full of glad
expectation; but I felt great pity and anxiety for those who were in
discouragement and had no hope in Jesus. We united, as a people, in
earnest prayer for a true experience and the unmistakable evidence of
our acceptance with God.
A Trial of Faith
We needed great patience, for the scoffers were many. We were
frequently greeted by scornful references to our former disappointment.
The orthodox churches used every means to prevent the belief in
Christ’s soon coming from spreading. No liberty was granted in their
[60]
meetings to those who dared mention a hope of the soon coming of
Christ. Professed lovers of Jesus scornfully rejected the tidings that He
whom they claimed as their best Friend was soon to visit them. They
were excited and angered against those who proclaimed the news of
His coming, and who rejoiced that they should speedily behold Him
in His glory.
A Period of Preparation
Every moment seemed to me of the utmost importance. I felt that
we were doing work for eternity, and that the careless and uninterested
were in the greatest peril. My faith was unclouded, and I appropriated
to myself the precious promises of Jesus. He had said to His disciples,