Chapter Two: William Miller's Reasoning

When the Second Advent did not materialize, the date was changed to 1844. It is absolutely shocking to see the convoluted thinking, the erroneous hermeneutics, and the baseless conclusions exhibited in that document.  The very unscholarly word that kept coming to my mind as I read it was “daffy”.  Please, read this chapter only if you have an interest in understanding the historical context of the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. Otherwise, spare yourself the frustration. It would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic and have such a deadly grip on the hearts of Adventist’s.  But the disconcerting fact is that Ellen White called his proofs a “perfect chain of truth.” She also claimed that God was responsible for the error in dates originally 1843 then changed to 1844: “The Lord showed me that the 1843 chart was directed by his hand, and that no part of it should be altered; that the figures were as he wanted them.  That his hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until his hand was removed.” Review and Herald, 1850 Nov. 01

In light of the fifteen spurious “proofs” of the 1843 date for the return of Christ, Ellen White had this to say about their author: “William Miller possessed strong mental powers, disciplined by thought and study; and he added to these the wisdom of heaven by connecting himself with the Source of wisdom.” The Great Controversy p. 335

Let’s look at Miller’s 15 proofs that Christ would return in 1843. They are quoted verbatim from his lectures (all original errors of spelling, grammar and usage have been preserved) and taken from a photocopied version of Kai Arasola’s book, “The End of Historicism” published in 1990 and now out of print. Dr. Arasola, an Adventist theologian, got his Doctorate of Theology from Uppsala University in Sweden.  His book can be purchased thru this link: http://www.goodnewsunlimited.org.au/store/product.php?p=77. Please read them all to get a picture of the impossibly hopeless reasoning.

Time Proved In Fifteen Different Ways

By William Miller

“One: I prove it by the time given by Moses, in the 26th chapter of Leviticus, being seven times that the people of God are to be in bondage to the kingdoms of this world; or in Babylon, literal and mystical, which seven times cannot be understood less than seven times 360 revolutions of the earth in its orbit, making 2520 years.  I believe this began according to Jeremiah 15:4, - “And I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, because fo Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.: and Isa, 7:8, “For this head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Resin: and within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people,: - when Manasseh was carried captive to Babylon, and Israel was no more a nation, - see chronology, 2 Chron. 33:9, “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel,” – the 677th year B.C. Then take 677 out of 2520, leaves A.D. 1843, when the punishment of the people of God will end.

“Two: It is proved typically by the year of release.  Se Deut. 15:1, 2: ‘At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release; and this is the manner of the release; every creditor that lendeth aught unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor or of his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.’ Also Jer. 34:14: At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother a Hebrew which hath been sold unto thee, and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee; but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.’ We are, by this type, taught that the people of God will be delivered from their servitude and bondage when they have served the 7 prophetic year. 7 times 360 year is 2520. Beginning with the captivity of Israel and the king of Judah, Manasseh, 677 B.C., must end in A.D. 1843, when the children of God will be release from all bondage and slavery.”

“Three: It is also proved by the seven years’ war of Zion with her enemies, given to us in Ez. 39:9,10: “And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them and rob those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.’ The Children of God will be contending with their enemies, spoiling those that spoiled them and robbing those that have robbed them, 7 years, prophetic, which is 2520 common years.  Beginning as before when Babylon began to spoil and rob the, and when they by the fire of the truth began to burn up the weapons of their enemies, in this moral warfare; this will end in 1843.”

“Four: It is proved, also, by the sign of the Sabbath.  Ex. 31:13-17: ‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.  Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore: for it is holy unto you.  Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Six days may work be done, but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath-day he shall surely be put to death.  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day re rested and was refreshed.’ Heb. 4:4, 9-11: ‘For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise: And God did rest the seventh day from all his works,’ ‘There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.’

“As God was six days creating the old heavens and earth, and rested on the seventh; so it is a sign Christ will also labor six days in creating the new heavens and earth, and rest on the seventh.  How long is a day with the Lord?  Peter tells us in his 2 Epistle 3:8:  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.’  If, then a thousand years is a day with the Lord, how long has Christ been to work creating the new?  I answer, if we will allow the Bible to make us a chronology, we shall find this year, 1843, the 6000 years from Adam’s fall will be finished. Then the Anti-typical Sabbath of 1000 years will commence.  Rev. 10:6 ‘Blessed and holy is the that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

“Five:  Again, we can prove it be the typical jubilee.  Lev. 25:8-13: ‘And thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of year unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.  Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.  And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty through all the land, unto al the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubilee shall that reap that which growth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undress.  For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you, ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.  In the year of this jubilee, ye shall return every man unto his possession.’ Now, if we can show any rule whereby we can find the antitype, we can tell when the people of god will come into the inheritance of the purchased possession, and the redemption of their bodies, and the trump of jubilee will proclaim liberty, a glorious one, through all the land.  In order to do this we must take notice of the order of the Sabbaths.  ‘Seven Sabbaths shall be complete.’ There is seven kinds of Sabbaths, which all have seven for given number.

The Jews kept but six Sabbaths: if they had kept the seventh they would have been made perfect without us; but they broke the seventh. ‘Therefore there remains a keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.’ The Jewish Sabbaths were: -

1.         The 7th day Ex. 31:15.

2.         The 50th day. Lev. 23:15,16.

3.         The 7th week. Deut. 16:9.

4.         The 7th month. Lev. 23:24,25.

5.         The 7th year. Lev. 25:3,4

6.         The 7 times of 7 years and 50th year Jubilee.

7.         The 7 time 7 Jubilees and the 50th Jubilee will bring us to a complete or perfect Sabbath, -the great Jubilee of Jubilees.  Thus 7, time 7, 50 years is 49 times 50+2450 years.

It is very evident no year of release or Jubilee was ever kept after the reign of Josiah, the last king of Jerusalem that obeyed the commandments of the Lord, or kept his statues.  This king’s reign ended B.C. 607. See 2 Ki. 23;2 2 Chron. 35,36 and Jer. 22.  After which the Jews never kept, neither could they keep a year of release, or Jubilee; for neither their kings, their nobles, their people, or their lands could have been redeemed after this.  Jer. 44:20-23.  Here ended the Jewish Jubilees, when they had not kept more than 21 Jubilees, lacking 28 of the coming to the great Jubilee

And now the land was to lay desolate, while the people of God were in their enemies’ land. Lev. 26:34. How long is a Jubilee of Jubilees? Ans. 49 times 50 years = 2450years.  When did these years begin? Ans. When the Jews ceased the keeping of the Sabbaths and Jubilees, at the close of Josiah’s reign, B.C. 607. Take 607 from 2450, it leaves A.D. 1843; when the Jubilee of Jubilees will come.”

“Six:  I prove it by Hosea 6:1-3: ‘Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he wil heal us; he hath smitten, and he will grind us up.  After two days will be revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  Then shall we know, i9f we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us at the rain, as the latte and former rain unto the earth.”  This prophecy is the two days of the Roman Kingdom, in it Imperial, Kingly and Papal form, with its great iron teeth, tearing and persecuting the people of God; and third day is the same as Rev. 10:6: ‘Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years;’ when the people of God will live in his sight, ‘live and reign with him a thousand years.’ If, then the third day is a thousand years, then the two days are of equal length.  When did the two days begin?  Ans. When the Jews made a league with the Romans.  Se Hosea 5:13: “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not hear you, nor cure you of your wound.’ Dan. 9:23: “And after the league mad with him, he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.” 1 Maccabees 8,9.  This league was confirmed and ratified, and the Grecian kingdom cease to rule over God’s people B.C. 158 years.  Then add 158 to 1842, and we have 2000 years, or two days; as Peter says, 2 Pewter 3:8 ‘But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” And 1843 is the first year in the 3d thousands years, or 3d day of the Lord.  The world has stood wince the fall of man 2000 years under the Patriarchs; 2000 years under the Assyrian Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Grecian; and 2000 years under the Roman Pagan, and Kingly.

“Seven:  I can prove it by the length of the vision which Daniel had (8:1-14) of the ram, he-goat and the horn, which Daniel was informed was 2300 days long. Dan 8:13, 14: ‘Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto the certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot.  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and thee hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ And from which the 70 weeks were cut off, and fulfilled, the year of Christ’s death. Dan. 9:20-27. Then 70 weeks of years being cut off from 2300 makes these days years; and 490 year being fulfilled in A.D. 33, leaving1810 years to the fulfillment of the vision, which added to 33 makes 1843, when the Sanctuary will be cleansed and the people of God Justified.

“Eight: It can be proved by Daniel 7:6, 7: ‘And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the rive, when he held up his right hands and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half, and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.’ The wonder? These wonders are to the resurrection, See 2d and 3d verses: ‘And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars, forever and ever.’ The answer is given by the angel, who informs Daniel it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.’ The question is asked, How long to the end of these wonders? 

These wonders are to the resurrection.  See 2d and 3d verses: ‘And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.’ The answer is a time times, and a half, and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all will be finished.  Ez. 12:10-15: ‘Say unto them Thus saith the Lord God; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and al the house of Israel that are among them.  Say, I am your sign: like as I have don, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity. And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulders in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.  My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of Chaldeans, yet shall he not se it, though he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all that are there.  And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.’ Jer 15:4: ‘And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.’ This scattering begun, when Israel was scattered by Esarhaddon, and when the king of Judah, Manasseh, was carried to Babylon, B.C. 677.  Thus they continued to be a people scattered, by the king of the earth, until they fled into the wilderness in A.D.538, which makes 1215 years. 

There they remained in the wilderness a time, times, and a half – which began A.D. 538, and continued until A.D.1798. The kings of the earth then had power, and the time, times, and a half of the scattering of the holy people is filled up by 45 years, being the remainder of the 1215, making in all 1260 years, under the nations or kings, and ending in the year 1843, -which is the fullness of time. Eph. 1:7,10: ‘Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:’ –when the people of God, both among Jews and Gentiles, will no more be scattered, but gathered in one body in Christ.

“Nine: It can be proved by Daniel 7:11-13: ‘And from the time that the daily sacrifices shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.’

The number 1335 days, from the taking away of Rome Pagan, A.D. 508, to set up Rome Papal, and the reign of Papacy, is 1290 days, which was exactly fulfilled in 1290 years, being fulfilled in 1798.  This proves the 1335 days to be years, and that Daniel will stand in his lot in A.D. 1843. For proof texts, see Dan 11:31: ‘And arms shall stand on his part, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.’ 2 Thess. 2:6-8: ‘And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.’ Job 19:25: ‘For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

“Ten: It can also be proved by the words of Christ, Lk. 13:32: ‘And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and to-morrow, and the third day Shall be perfected.’ These two days, in which Christ casts out devils and does cures, are the same as Hosea’s two days, at the end of which, the devil will be chained and cast out of the earth into the pit, and shut up.  This will take 2000 years of Roman power. Rev. 12:9: ‘And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out with him.’ And then the people of god will be perfected. Rev. 20:9. ‘Blesses and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: of such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.’

This time began with the ‘great dragon,’ Rev. 12:3: ‘And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

This government will draw after him one third part of the time, which wicked men have power in the earth, viz. 6000 years; and the 7000th, the year of Christ will take possession and reign with his saints when the league was mad with him, B.C. 158,, -and will end in 1842. The third day w ill begin 1843.

“Eleven: The trumpets are also a revelation of time. See Rev. 9:5: ‘And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.’ These five months began when the Turks made incursions into the Greek territories, according to Gibbon in the year 1299, on the 27th day of July, 5 months is 150 years, 5 X 30 = 150. This trumpet ended in 1449. And the sixth trumpet began to sound, and was to sound 391 years and 15 days, as in Rev. 9:15: ‘And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year for to slay the third part of men; and ended 1840 on the 11th of August. Then the seventh trumpet begins, and ends with the fullness of times.  Rev. 10:4,7; ‘And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.; And synchronizes with Daniel 12:7. See section 7, where it is shown to end in the year 1843.

“Twelve: It can be proved by the two witnesses being clothed in sackcloth 1260 years. See Rev. 11:3; ‘And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three-score days, clothed in sackcloth.’ This time began with Papacy, 538, and ended in 798, during which time the Bible was suppressed from the laity, in all the countries where papacy had power, until the laws of the papal hierarchy were abolished and free toleration was granted to the papal states in 1798. The remainder harmonizes with the trumpets; see Rev. 11:14,15: ‘The second wo is past; and behold, the third wo cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.’ And terminates with A.D. 1843.

Thirteen:  It can be proved by Rev. 12:6:14; ‘And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.’ It is evident that the church is not now in the wilderness, for if so, she must have been there in the apostles’ days, for she enjoys more liberty now among the nations, than in any previous time since the gospel was preached; and it is very evident, for ages past, the true church has been an outlaw among the kingdoms which arose out of the Roman Empire. The church was driven into the wilderness, where they were give into the power of the Pope, -Daniel 7:25: And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into this and until a time and times and the dividing of time,” –in the year A.D. 538; and was in the wilderness 1260 years, until 1798, when free toleration was granted in the kingdoms in the Papal territory.  This also harmonizes with the witnesses and the trumpet. Compare Rev. 11:15, ‘And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.’ With Rev. 12:10 ‘And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night.

Fourteen: It is proved by Rev. 13:5, ‘And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.’ This time began at the same time as the preceding, when power was given to the Pope by Justinian, A.D. 538, and lasted until the Pope was carried into captivity, and his power abolished, in the year 1798. See 10th verse; ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the fiat of the saints.’ This beast is the same as the little horn in Daniel 7th, and synchronizes with Daniel’s “abomination that maketh desolate,’ or ‘that astonisheth.’ (See marginal reading.) Compare Daniel 11:31, and abolished with the end of his ‘setting up,’ and the 1290 year.  Then Daniel 12:12, -‘Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.’ – carries us to the year 1843.

Fifteen: It can be proved by the numbers in Rev. 13:18: ‘Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.’ Connected with Daniel 7:12, as before quoted.  This text shows the number of years that Rome would exist under the blasphemous head of Paganism, after it was connected with the people of God by league; beginning B.C. 158, add 666 year will bring us to A.D. 508, when the daily was taken away.  Then add Daniel 12:12, the 1335 to 508, makes the year 1843. When the beast and his image will be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and the Lamb.  Se Rev. 14:9-12: ‘And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the best and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is po9ured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the lam: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day or night who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

At this juncture my sanity could be called into question for laboriously typing this scrambled, twisted mass of the worst hermeneutics I have ever encountered.  So, what would the purpose be for the effort? This is the “heritage” we are asking the people to perpetuate when we send them back to the roots of Adventism and the false prophetic foundation they are expected to build upon.  Considering the faulty reasoning in Miller’s “proof texts” it is alarming that Ellen White’s discernment was so distorted that she vehemently endorsed these obvious errors and misapplications of the Word of God. 

It also gives one pause to see echoes of Miller in other teachings of Ellen White, which she incorporated into her lines of reasoning in The Great Controversy, etc.  Miller’s entire premise is faulty and she claims divine inspiration for her endorsement of his erroneous proof-texting. It seems that when she wanted to settle an issue in peoples’ minds she had a “vision” to confirm it. And that was to be the end any dispute because she “saw.” Do we not owe it to our people to free them from this heavy burden? Do we not owe them the right to breathe fresh air? This is the trash in the closet that needs to be thrown out. Let’s be finished with the cover-ups, the silence, the apprehension to address the core, and the sickness of hiding for fear of recrimination. 

What thinking person who “searches the scriptures daily to see if these things are true” can, with integrity, keep silent?  What system not only fosters that kind of spiritual abuse, but also requires it of its pastors and members? I don’t intend to belabor the errors inherent in the 1844 doctrine, which was the nidus for the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist church. You understand the false teachings well enough; but I would make a plea to stop the perpetuation this error at Celebration Center. We can start clean, and refuse to build this church on false and rotten prophetic roots. 

Consider Ellen White’s endorsement of Mr. Miller with these firm affirmations. Note how she uses language of authority in vision to support her conclusions:

“ I saw that God sent his angel to move upon the heart of a farmer who had not believed the Bible, and led him to search the prophecies. Angels of God repeatedly visited that chosen one, and guided his mind, and opened his understanding to prophecies, which had ever been dark to God's people. The commencement of the chain of truth was given him, and he was led on to search for link after link, until he looked with wonder and admiration upon the word of God. He saw there a perfect chain of truth. That Word, which he had regarded as uninspired, now opened before his vision with beauty and glory. He saw that one portion of scripture explained another, and when one portion was closed to his understanding, he found in another portion of the Word that which explained it.” {1SG 128.1}

“Angels of God accompanied Wm. Miller in his mission. He was firm and undaunted. He fearlessly proclaimed the message committed to his trust. A world lying in wickedness, and a cold, worldly church were enough to call into action his energy, and lead him to willingly endure toil, privation and suffering. Although opposed by professed christians and the world, and buffeted by Satan and his angels, he ceased not to preach the everlasting gospel to crowds wherever he was invited, and sound the cry, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” {1SG 132.2}

(And I would interject here that the very logo of the three angels used to symbolize the mission of Adventism, needs to be removed from all of Celebration’s publications and signs. That symbolism perpetuates the lie of the Investigative Judgment, the 2300-day prophecy and Sanctuary teachings.)

“God led the mind of Wm. Miller into the prophecies, and gave him great light upon the book of Revelation.” {Ibid.}

“God moved upon his chosen servant, who with clearness and in the power of the Holy Spirit, opened the prophecies, and showed the harmony of the visions of Daniel and John, and other portions of the bible, and pressed home upon the harts of the people the sacred, fearful warnings of the Word, to prepare for the coming o the Son of man.” {Ibid.}

These statements attribute the erroneous prophecy to God.

As an interesting footnote, there was another group who followed William Miller. They admitted that he was wrong (as did Miller himself). They became the First Day Adventists and eventually, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, led by Charles Taze Russell. They are the only other significant group, aside from the Christadelphians, that teaches soul sleep.