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As many of you know, William Miller, a fascinating character was a great biblical scholar. He proclaimed and taught that Christ would likely return to this earth in the year 1844. Hundreds of believers gathered to wait for the glorious event. When Christ did not return, the episode was dubbed, “the Great Disappointment”. I wanted to go over a bit of background for this event and then discuss the possibility that Christ did actually return to earth, visiting the Temple in the Holy of Holies. The following is a copy and paste from:
http://www.isitso.org/guide/sdahist.html Miller based his prophetic scenario in particular on Daniel 8, in which the prophet Daniel, in vision, hears two “saints” talking about some of the events he saw earlier in the vision:
Dan 8:13-14
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that 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?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Miller accepted a popular theory proposed by many Bible students of his time (and still popular in many circles today) that a day in prophetic passages is almost always intended to stand for a year in fulfillment. (This theory is based on passages such as Ezekiel 4:6.) And thus he taught that this prophecy would be 2300 years in fulfillment. He believed that the 2300 years started in 457 BCE with a decree from Babylonian monarch Artaxerxes allowing those Israelites in Babylon who wished to, to return to the land of Israel and rebuild the Temple. Thus Miller was convinced that the “cleansing of the temple” (which he believed to be symbolic of the Second Coming– the second “Advent of Christ” when He would “cleanse the earth”) would occur at some point between two spring equinoxes: March 21,1843 and March 21, 1844.
As the year passed “uneventfully”, according to some, many accused Miller of deceit.
From The Disappointed, p. 32 (Chapter 2, “William Miller: Disappointed Prophet” by Wayne R. Judd)
He refused to bear responsibility for deception. ‘No one can honestly say that he has been deceived by me. My advice has always been for each to study the evidence of his faith for himself.’ [letter from Miller to T.E. Jones, 11/29/44] He speculated that God may have designed the delay so that people would turn to the Bible to study further and be reconciled to God. After all, to have erred in the precise date did not reduce the advent urgency. Every passing day was one day nearer the end.
As a Latterday Saint, I do NOT believe that the year of 1843-1844 was an “uneventful year”. This was a year of great (or perhaps greatest persecution of the Saints). JS was martyred in 1844.
From a Church history website:
— about Feb 7, 1844
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith prayed that the Saints would be delivered from the harassment of Thomas Reynolds, governor of Missouri. (1)
Could this conversation be a fulfillment of Daniel, Chapter 8, verse 13?
ttp://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/2009/09/lds-history-feb-5-1844.html
I apologize for having to leave this thread. There are a few things that I wanted to add. As far as the “sanctuary” that Daniel spoke of “being cleansed”, I sort of think of it as the literal burning of the Original Navoo Temple – cleansing by fire.
The Navoo temple was built, destroyed, burned and then rebuilt and rededicated, this time to stand forever. Could this be a symbolic of the spiritual cleansing of our mortal “sanctuaries”, and the rebuilding
and rededicating of ourselves to Christ?
This to me, would be both a literal and figurative fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic dream.
Months before JS died, he instructed one of the brethren to “take the Saints out West”. This happened in a brick building in Navoo. Smith was then asked, “how long the Saints would suffer persecution and be “trodden under foot”. Again, this may be the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy where he say two Saints speaking.
JS also prophesied that the Saints would one day be free from their enemies. Some of the Church’s worst enemies were in the State of Illinois, where Smith was martyred and the Saints expelled. It is comforting to note that my nephew was called to serve a Mission to Navoo Illinois several years ago. While serving, the Governor of Illinois issued a formal apology to the LDS Church. The Navoo Temple has been rebuilt and rededicated, more beautiful than ever. We are at peace with the people of Illinois.
A little lady convert, taught by my nephew, came to SLC to meet our family and see Utah. She joined us for Christmas Dinner. We were one family in Christ.
Hi Wallace, This interests me because when I was investigating the 7th Day Adventist church 15 years ago, I learned about the beginnings of Ellen G. White (considered a prophetess in their church and founder). I actually read about her in lds church history books and there is where I learned about the Millerite movement and the Great Disappointment. It said the JS actually approached Ellen G. White and told her that Brother Miller is a fine man but his prophecy is not true. He invited her to investigate the lds church but she declined. Out of the Millerite movement and the Great Disappointment came the Jehovah Wittnesses and 7th day Adventists. The great Disappointment was very upsetting to Ellen G. White and she prayed alot about it and started getting her visions. The 7th Day Adventist believe the Millerite movement was good in that it really started people talking and thinking about the 2nd Coming for the first and people prepared themselves more. Not sure on your questions but it is interesting to think about. Someone also showed me how baptism for the dead has been done for Father Miller and Ellen G. White.
Interesting, from Rough Stone Rolling, Bushman notes JS’s own evolving prophecies on the Second Coming, which obviously changed like everyone else’s when it didn’t happen: 1st-Initial claim- Second Coming would arrive within a half dozen years (of 1830)
2nd- Christ will come in 1843 (widely believed, as MWallace noted)
3rd -“More than 40 years will pass before the second coming of the Son of Man” JS’s words
4th- Missionary lessons including teaching that the Second Coming would just be the millennium
I’m not sure how helpful prophecies have been to this world. After reading
The History of the End of the World, which discusses literal effects of misinterpretations of the Book of Revelations throughout history, I am convinced that all Second Coming theories serve as downers. So far, every single person to claim they know when it will happen has gotten it wrong. It is obviously a fascinating subject, but I think folks have a sick “I told you so” element to their fascination with it, as if they are so anxious to see others punished and themselves rewarded for getting it right. Obviously, Mormons believe they’re in the latter days, so what? What does that change? Revelationsreads like a cornucopia of revenge motifs, but it’s all out of our hands. How many of us have heard, by members, that the Second Coming will probably occur in our lifetime? And how many people in the last two thousand years have heard it too? O.k rambling, sorry. I guess my point is that the past two thousand years can be seen as the Great Disappointment. Yeah, when Jesus himself said that nobody but the Father knows, even Jesus himself, I guess he meant it. 😯 Ray, I totally agree. There have been so many with different interpretations/theories/revealments as to when Christ will return. Studying scriptures is fine. But better yet, I lean on the grace and accept the timeline of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He will accomplish his mission ultimately. To my impatient children (on travel years ago) with their “When are we going to get there?” question, my pat answer was “When we turn in the driveway.” There we will be joyfully received and refreshed by loved ones, who praise Him as we do.
I just got back from Rome, and it was interesting to read about the early Christians. They didn’t bother with embalming their dead because they believed that the resurrection was imminent, so embalming was unnecessary. I have often reflected that this is one thing that every generation of believers has in common, a belief that their generation is the chosen one. Its interesting that can keep going…generation after generation. I was reading about this recently…here’s one example of how the church teaches our youth they are the chosen generation…
Quote:“William Grant Bangerter, “What’s Wrong with Being ‘Peculiar’?,” Tambuli, Mar 1983, 35
One of the great passages of scripture is found in the first book of Peter wherein he tells us what kind of people we ought to be. I think of this especially in reference to young people: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
I don’t know whether all young people understand what is expected of them as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, but we are a chosen generation, having been called out of the world by the knowledge of the restoration of the gospel to live strictly in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We become a royal priesthood as we are blessed and sealed by the ordinances of the gospel to other people on the earth.
I remember them teaching me when I was young we were held back until the last days because of our faithfulness in the pre-existence. I heard them tell my kids that same thing recently. Hmm…
I guess that the question is not when Christ will return, but when we will return to Christ. Great way to say it, MWallace! “I guess that the question is not when Christ will return, but when we will return to Christ.” That is so profound IMHO.
We’re not waiting on some second coming….He’s waiting on us.
Well stated MW.
MW, that is profound. Like many principles of the gospel, there are universal and personal applications and meanings.
Surely Christ waits at the door and knocks…we must let Him into our lives and return to Him.
And universally, it is clearly taught He will come again to the earth and usher in the millenium, the actual event that has been taught in Peter’s day, prior to Joseph Smith, and since Joseph Smith…generation after generation … keeping people in fear of the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord.
I think it is another tool of religion to keep people “on their toes” about living righteously…generation after generation.
hawkgrrrl wrote:I have often reflected that this is one thing that every generation of believers has in common, a belief that their generation is the chosen one.
Heber13 wrote:
And universally, it is clearly taught He will come again to the earth and usher in the millenium, the actual event that has been taught in Peter’s day, prior to Joseph Smith, and since Joseph Smith…generation after generation … keeping people in fear of the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord.I think it is another tool of religion to keep people “on their toes” about living righteously…generation after generation.
From a believer’s perspective it makes sense for God to intentionally not reveal the time of his coming. It keeps us under “test conditions” so-to-speak. If the 1st century disciples knew that we would still be waiting in the 21st century, they might not behaved with the same level of imperative. So if the date remains veiled, and we all have an expectation that we are the chosen generation, we will all have an equal chance of desiring to prepare ourselves. Who knows – we may still be waiting in the 31st century – but the point is we think it’s soon, so our behaviour is the same whether we’re in the 1st or 21st.
MapleLeaf wrote:
From a believer’s perspective it makes sense for God to intentionally not reveal the time of his coming. It keeps us under “test conditions” so-to-speak. If the 1st century disciples knew that we would still be waiting in the 21st century, they might not behaved with the same level of imperative. So if the date remains veiled, and we all have an expectation that we are the chosen generation, we will all have an equal chance of desiring to prepare ourselves. Who knows – we may still be waiting in the 31st century – but the point is we think it’s soon, so our behaviour is the same whether we’re in the 1st or 21st.
The sense of immediacy seems to be a requirement of all of God’s peoples.HiJolly
The natural (wo)man is lazy. An imminent coming literally is true on an individual basis, but that’s not enough to motivate many to grow and become. Hence, the need for a collective imminent coming, imo. When will He come again? Will He come again? How will the world end? I don’t know literally, but I don’t mind the figurative outlook at all. It really is the same way we should be living our individual lives, anyway.
If you get a chance and haven’t heard it, Tim McGraw sings a song called “Live Like You Were Dying” that is quite profound. (You can tell I like all kinds of music, if I can cite Avenue Q, Hillary Weeks and Tim McGraw here.
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