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Appendix
335
date, and leave the settlement of epochs and the adjustment of eras
entirely at the mercy of every dreamer, so that chronology would be
of no more value than mere guess-work. As the seventy weeks must
terminate in A. D. 34, unless the seventh of Artaxerxes is wrongly
fixed, and as that cannot be changed without some evidence to that
effect, we inquire, what evidence marked that termination? The time
when the apostles turned to the Gentiles harmonizes with that date
better than any other which has been named. And the crucifixion,
in A. D. 31, in the midst of the last week, is sustained by a mass of
testimony which cannot be easily invalidated.”
As the 70 weeks and the 2300 days have a common starting-
point, the calculation of Mr. Miller is verified at a glance by sub-
tracting the 457 years B. C. from the 2300. Thus,
2300
457
____
1843 A. D.
But it requires 457 full years before Christ, and 1843 full years
after Christ, to make the 2300. Now the decree of Artaxerxes did
not go into effect at the beginning of the year 457 B. C., but in
the autumn of that year; it follows that the 2300 days would not
terminate in 1843, but would extend to the autumn of 1844. This is
plainly seen by the following simple diagram:—
457.
2300.
end of 1843.
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Decree given.
2300.
Days end in 1844.
This fact not being at first perceived by Mr. Miller and his
associates, they looked for the coming of Christ in 1843; hence the
first disappointment and the seeming delay. It was the discovery of
the correct time, in connection with other scripture testimony, that
led to the movement known as the midnight cry of 1844. And to this
day the computation of the prophetic periods placing the close of
the 2300 days in the autumn of 1844, stands without impeachment.