...'.

THE END OF HISTORICISM

Millerite Hermeneutic of Time Propheciesin the Old Testament

byKai Arasola

wCopyright 1990 Kai Arasola

Revised edition of an earlier mimeographed dissertationsubmitted to the Theological Faculty of the University ofUppsala for the degree of Doctor of Theology, publiclyexamined on May 24, 1989.

Abstract

Arasola, K.J., 1989. The End of Historicism. MilleriteHermeneutic of Time Prophecies m the Old

IlXTestament. 226 pp. 6//5Uppsala. A7J../ISBN 91-630-0105-5 ' . <::1oThis dissertation shows that William Miller' ,' i ,"( ;jl -"V tl"had several ways of counting the time of the parousia. Many orhis interpretations have long been forgotten and overlooked byliterature and research on Millerism.

Miller had fifteen "proofs" of the second Advent in 1843. Theseproofs were found 1D various parts of the Bible from Genesis tothe book of Revelation. Miller's proofs included the "prophecyof Moses," seven prophetic years or 2520 literal years. He foundthis prophecy in Lev 26, Deut 15, Dan 4, and Eze 39. He alsocounted the time of the end by 6000 years from the creation.These views may have affected the later doctrines of Jehovah'sWitnesses. Miller also had other imaginative propheticinterpretations like the Jubilees or the two days of Hos 6:2.However, the backbone of Miller's fifteen proofs was a complexsystem of interlinked prophecies from the books of Daniel andRevelation which in turn shaped the teachings of Seventh-dayAdventism.

This study describes Miller's historicist hermeneutic. It alsoshows that because of the disappointment at the end of therevival the popular historical method of prophetic interpretationchanged. HIStoricism was replaced by Darbyan futurism and bypreterism. Few outside the denominations that stem fromMillerism dared keep on using the traditional historical method.

Kai Arasola, Department of Theology, Uppsala University, Box1604, S-751 46 Uppsala, Sweden.

Printed in Sweden by DATEM PUBLISHING, Sigtuna, 1990.

The Millennium was supposed tobe very near. I fully entered intothe enthusiasm of the time. -- Myheart was fixed on the Millenniumand I resolved to live or die for it.

Noyes, Confessions ofReligious Experience

IV

ABBREVIATIONS

ABUAHAHerAMAMDZANF

ASRdiss.DSDSEEOTH

EvTIDBICCIEP

JWKJVLSLWMCMEA

MINMSn.d.n.p .N&PNF

OTNTPFFPTRDROASALSAMSDASDABC

Aid to Bible UnderstandingAdvent HeraldAdventist HeritageThe American MonitorAdvent Message to the Daughters of ZionRoberts & Donaldson eds. Ante-Nicene Fathers 6vols.Advent Shield and ReviewdissertationDay StarDay Star ExtraWestermann ed . Essays on Old TestamentHermeneuticsEvangelische TeologieThe Interpreter's Dictionary of the BibleThe International Critical CommentaryThe Investigator or monthly Expositor and Registerof ProphecyJehovah's Wittness

James VersionWafch ed . Dr. Martin Luthers Werke 67 vols.Hilton ed. Luther's WorksMidnight CryHoornstra ed. The Millerites and Early AdventistsA Microfilm collection of Rare Books andManuscriptsMinistryManuscriptno dateno placeRoberts & Donaldson eds. Nicene and PostNicene Fathers, 4volsOld TestamentNew TestamentFroom, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, 4volsPresent TruthReader's DigestSandeen ed. Rise of AdventismSecond Advent LibraryHale, Second Advent ManualSeventh-day Adventist(s)Nichol ed . The Seventh-day Adventist BibleCommentary

SDABD

SDAE

SEASMVSTTGCTMCVOP

VI'WA

Horn ed . The Seventh-day AdvenDictionaryNeufeld ed. The Seventh-dayEncyclopediaSvensk Eksegetisk ArsbokMiller 1842i Synopsis of Miller's ViewsSigns of the TimesThe Great Crisis of 1843True Midnight CryMiller 1842j Views of the Prophecies antChronology-Vetus TestamentumD. Martin Luthers Werke.Gesammtausgabe. Weimar 1883-1948

vi V11

1. Introduction

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2. Background

2.1 William Miller2.1.1 Miller and the prophecies2.1.2 Miller begins to preach2.2 Millerite message2.3 Mass meetings and publications2.3.1 The organization and spread of Millerism2.4 Millerism and American religiousity2.4.1 Popularity of Millennarianism2.5 A significant change in Millerism2.5.1 The seventh-month movement2.6 The aftermath of the disappointment2.7 Miller 's heritage2.8 Summary

3. The historical method

4. Miller's view of prophecy and history

84

8688

8990

929495

45464748

49

Year-day methodOther methods of counting timeThe scope of Miller 's exegesis -problem of literatureThe scope of Miller's exegesis - 15 proofsThe scope of Miller's exegesis -an analysis of periodicalsSynopsis of Miller's chronologyThe prophecy of Moses

The basic premise of Miller's exegesis 49Rules of interpretation 50Observations on Miller 's rules 53Scriptural analogy 54Iml?0rtance of words 55Unilateralism and literalism 56Millerite view on Biblical languages 57Resistance to historical critical influence 58Lack of Christocentricity 59The influence and function of hermeneuticalrules 60Millerite confession of faith 62Return of the Jews 64Miller 's argument on the promises 66Millerite support 66Literal fulfillment 67The importance of prophecies concerning Israel 68Premillennialism 68The Day of the Lord 70The importance of premillennialism 72Historical application of the book of Daniel 73Sequencial fulfilment 75Details 75The Horns 76The hom of Daniel 8 78Daniel chapter eleven and twelve 80The book of Revelation 82Summary 83

American contributionSome features of American literatureMiller's relationship to other historicistsSummary

5.15.25.3

5.3.15.3.2

5.3.35.4

5. Miller's chronological exegesis

3.123.12.13.133.14

4.14.24.34.3.14.3.24.3.34.3.44.3.54.3.64.3.7

4.44.54.5.14.5.24.5.34.5.44.64.6.14.6.24.74.7.14.7.24.7.34.7.44.7.54.8, 4.9

23

2324252728

29303233353740404143

1

22345

6

678891111131416171921

Protestant apocalypticismFrom Reformation to American biblicismReformation hermeneuticThe rise of biblicismDefinition of historicismAn excursus - early background ofhistoricismThe church fathersThe year-day theory and papal antichristJoseph MedeSir Isaac NewtonThomas NewtonJohn GillGeorge Stanley FaberHistoricism in popular commentariesContemporary British premillennialism

The problemThe scope of the researchComments on MethodologyAn overview of the contentsLiterature

3.13.23.2.13.2.23.33.4

3.4.13.4.23.53.63.73.83.93.103.11

1.11.21.31.41.5

viii ix

5.4.1 Proof of 6TI B.C. 98 6.3.2 The Autumn feasts 1545.4.2 Comments on the prophecy of Moses 100 6.3.3 The Seventh-month 1555.5 Year of release 102 6.3.4 Details of the sanctuary typos 1565.6 104 6.4 Objections to Snow's typology 1585.6.1 Bac ound an of the seven times 106 6.5 Midnight cry 1605.7 The of the e 107 6.6 Excursus, background to typology 1616.7.1 Extrabiblical research 111 6.6.1 New Testament typology 1625.7.2 Popularity and influence of the 6000 6.6.2 Cocceius and Marsh 163

year theory 112 6.6.3 North American concepts 1655.8 The Jubilees 113 6.6.4 Examples of sanctuary typology 1665.8.1 The terminus for the Jubilees 115 6.7 Summary 1675.8.2 Comments on the Jubilees 1165.9 The third day 118 7. Conclusions and Miller's heritage 1695.10 The cleans:r of the sanctuary 1205.10.1 Daniel 8 an 9 interpreted together 121 7.1 The power of 1695.10.2 When was Jerusalem rebuilt 124 7.2 The nature of M' er's exegesis 1695.10.3 The date of the crucifixion 124 7.3 The Seventh-month movement 1705.10.4 What is the Sanctuary 126 7.4 New of prophetic exegesis 1715.10.5 Comments on the 2300 year prophecy 127 7.5 The en and the continuation of Millerism 1715.11 Time of the End 1285.11.1 The French revolution 130 Bibiography 1735.11.2 The time of the Antichrist 1315.11.3 Comments on the 1260 years 133 Millerite sources 1735.12 1335 dayslyears 134 Periodicals 1815.12.1 Taking away of the daily 134 Periodical articles 1815.12.2 From Daill to the end 135 Manuscripts and letters 1895.13 Number 0 the beast 136 Old historicist literature up to the time of Miller's5.14 Proof for the year-day theory 138 contemporaries 1905.14.1 History of Islam 139 Published literature on Millerism and Miller 2035.14.2 Fractions of a prophetic day 140 Published literature on 2055.14.3 News from the east 141 Seventh-day Adventism and Je ovah's Witnesses 2085.14.3.1 Wallah, hillah, tillah 142 General literature 2105.14.4 Comments on the fall of Turkey 143 Periodicals and articles 2155.15 Observations on Miller's chronological points 144 Unpublished manuscripts 2165.16 Summary 146

6. Festal calendar and sanctuary typologyAppendixes

147Example of Millerite hermeneutical rules 218

6.1 Two Jewish calendars 148 Exegetical and other articles in Millerite periodicals 2196.2 A correction of calculations 150 Miller's 15 proofs 2206.2.1 The time of the crucifixion and 1844 150 Millerite charts 2216.2.2 Correction for the year zero 151 William Miller: "Time Proved in 15 Different Ways" 2226.2.3 Autumn speculation 151 William Miller: "A Bible Chronology from Adam to Christ" 2266.2.4 Creation in the autumn 1526.2.5 The seven times 1526.3 Daniel 8:14 and sanctuary typology 1536.3.1 Development of Millerite interest in typology 153

i .

x

FOREWORDA word of gratitude to professors Ringgren and Ottosson forthe and freedom of research they have givenwith a topic which in their particular fields must appearpeculiar. Millerism may indeed appear a far fetched topic for astudy in the history of exegesis. Yet even this subject hasprovided joy of discovery as previously undiscovered facts onMiller's exegesis have been uncovered. Dr. Harry Leonard'sreading of the manuscript has not only saved this book from anumber of embarassing mistakes but also provided insight intoareas of further research and writing.

There is a further word of gratitude that must be extended tofamily members. At times they may have wondered how a lastcentury revivalist can rob a family of a father for months.However, whether they appreciate Miller or not, this documentis dedicated to

Ida Marie,Kristiina,Pasi and Mika.

1

1 INTRODUCTIONA system of prophetic exegesis captured the imagination ofNorth America a century and a half ago. It caused more than alittle upheaval in the established churches. It initiated the birthof several new religious denominations. This apocalyptic revival,Millerism, is generally remembered as a queer, extremistphenomenon of nineteenth century American religiosity, butwhat is not commonly known is the fact that this revival wasone of the turning points in the history of prophetic exegesis.

Millerism represents a Biblical interpretation that not onlybrought excitement, inspiration as well as trauma to thousands,but also marked a watershed in the history of millennialistexegesis. The inglorious end of Millerism brought disrepute toanyone attempting to calculate a prophetic time-table for worldhistory. Within a few years from the widely publicized failure ofMillerite expectations, the centuries-old, well-establishedhistorical method of prophetic exposition lost dominance, andgave way to both dispensationalist futurism and to the morescholarly preterism.'

Very few outside of former Millerites dared keep on using thecontinuous historical hermeneutic as it was charged with -Millerism's infamous failure. This is the reason for the title TheEnd of Historicism. However, one should not get the impressionthat historicism is dead. There were people who remainedfaithful to the old hermeneutic, and the denominations that grewout of Millerism now have millions of adherents. The changethat took place simply means that within a few decades from

lThis development was not limited to North America alone,but took place also in Germany and Great Britain.

2

Miller historicism was no more the standard protestant methodin the universities, theological seminaries or in the churches.

1.1 The ProblemThe basic question this research sets out to answer is, "Whatwas the exegesis like that shook America and upset theestablished tradition of prophetic interpretation?" It may well bethat some Millerite viewpoints appear naive to twentieth-centuryobservers, yet the question is worth asking. Naive or not, Millermarks the end of one school of exegesis which he developed toits logical conclusions.

Furthermore, Millerism is a dramatic example of the impact thatprophetic expositions may have. Such episodes must be ofinterest to anyone concerned with the history of exegesis. Thisis so in spite of the fact that the influence of prophecy on thereligious thinking of past centuries is usually underrated byhistorians.

By any standards Miller and his revival represent a noteworthypart of nineteenth-century American history. In fact Millerism isone of the most widespread apocalyptic revivals ever, and thereare still several million people, Seventh-day Adventists, membersof the Radio Church of God, or of the many small Adventistchurches and even Jehovah's Witnesses, that in one way oranother have to reckon with William Miller in their spiritualpedigree,"

1.2 The scope of the researchWhile Millerism made its impact in North America there wereother influences which contributed to the end of the historicalmethod of prophetic interpretation. There was Darbyisim, theEnglish counterpart of Millerism, there were the PlymouthBrethren and people like Scofield who shaped the new her-meneutic of futurism and of course there was the slowlywidening influence of historical critical research, all of which

2Some of these groups (e.g. JWs) are largely unaware ofany link they may have to Millerism.

3

contributed to exegetical changes in the nineteenth century . Suchfactors catalyzed the impact of Millerism. They are outside thesphere of this research which is limited to describing propheticexegesis within Millerism, and the background of this exegesis.

Many aspects of Miller's interpretation are discussed only in acursory manner. His use of the Bible, his ideas on millennialismand zionism are passed over with but a few remarks. Theprimary focus of this research has been on time prophecies thatMiller related to a terminus in 1843/4. All of these timecalculations, with only a couple of secondary exceptions, stemfrom the Old Testament. Admittedly a major section ofinteresting and informative exposition is thus left aside, but thislimitation is not only due to lack of space and time but is alsoprompted by the writer's personal interest.

1.3 Comments on methodologyAttemps at organizing and interpreting other people's ideas arealways hazardous. The research has been based on aninvestigation of Millerite books and periodicals. All materialrelating to time prophesies has been analyzed and classifiedunder the headings of Miller's fifteen proofs which cover theessential aspects of Millerite chronological exegesis.

It is important to be aware from the outset that some OldTestament texts that the Millerites used do not appear asprophecies to a modern reader. There are also severalexplanations which call for the reaction: This is no exegesis atall. However, Miller and many of his followers regarded thetexts prophetic (with utter seriousness). Furthermore, the historyof exegesis must deal with what people discovered in a textrather than what we think they should have found.

It is also appropriate to note that even though the followingpages include phraseology such as Miller "believed" or "liked" or"thought" or "cherished" or "disapproved" there is no device tomeasure the actual beliefs any more than likes or dislikes of aperson no more alive. Here, as in any history of ideas, the onlyconcrete facts are the writings available. The writing itself doesnot necessarily prove that the author himself believed what hewrote, neither does it usually tell the origin of the idea. Theonly fact is the text. Everything else is speculation. This means

4

that every time a word implying emotion or thought appears inthe following pages, it is not intended to express the actualsentiment of a person but rather that of a piece of writing.

One of the methodological problems related to the study ofMillerism is the repetitious nature of Millerite writings. There isno need to read through many Millerite publications before onerealizes that on many subjects the contents are virtually identicaleven when different authors are named on the title page. Inaddition they loved reprints. Many documents appeared first inthe periodicals, then in pamphlet form. After a year or twoseveral pamphlets were collected into a book. No effort hasbeen made to determine who wrote something first.

In a case of similar ideas between Millerites and non-Milleritesone can at best suspect dependence, but never prove it - unless,of course, clear reference or ipsissima verba are found. Thismakes the background of Miller's exegesis an illustration ofsimilar thinking rather than a proof of Miller's dependance onearlier exegetes. The same must hold true also in the case ofMiller's impact on later exegetes.

1.4 An overview of the contentsThe first part is a short background on Miller and Millerism.Historical, political, social, or religious factors that may haveaffected the rise of Millerism have been cut out. A shortdescription of Miller and his revival remains. The historicalbackground is followed by exegetical background. Chapter threegives a definition of historicism, describes its the rise and drawscomparisons between Miller and other historicists.

Miller's exegesis is depicted from two angles. Firstly, to showthe foundation of Miller's exegesis his view of the Bible and hishermeneutical methods are described with examples of non-chronological exegesis. Secondly, there is a description ofMiller's prophetic time-table with a separate chapter on thespecific issues relating to date-setting and typologicalinterpretation of the final stage of the revival.

5

1.5 literatureIn historical research the availability of sources is often aformidable opponent to the researcher. In the case of Millerismone is in a fortunate position. While numerous valuable sourceshave been lost, University Microfilms has published a microfilmcollection of rare books and manuscripts on Millerism." Thesefilms include over 1000 titles, Millerite as well as non-Millerite ,110 volumes of periodicals, and over 1000 copies of letters andmanuscripts. The collection is not exhaustive and there has beenfrequent need to complement it with other literature, yet it hasbeen invaluable in providing many of the primary sources forthis research.

The largest collection of original Millerite material is found atAurora College, Aurora, Illinois. There are also extensivecollections at Ellen G. White Estate, Takoma Park, Washington,D.C., and Heritage Room, Andrews University, Berrien Springs,Michigan. In Europe Newbold College, Bracknell, Berks.,England, has a branch of Ellen G. White research center, withsome original and some copies of Millerite and early Adventistmaterial.

3Hoonstra J. ed. The Millerites And Early Adventists, AMicrofilm Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts, 1978[MEA] .

6

2 BACKGROUND

2.1 William MillerLiterature on Willam Miller is somewhat schizophrenic inpicturing the man. On the on e hand he is portrayed as areligious zealot, an enthusiast , a maniac with a fertileimagination, a man who is certainly literate but scarcelylearned.' On the other one finds him described as a farmer ofsuperior virtue: sober, honest, temperamentally conservative,utterly logical, self-educated with wide general knowledge, aningeniously resourceful mind, and careful in relationships to theexpressions of religious extremes." The safe position lies inacknowledging that no one-sided view of the man matches fullywith all available data."

There is no need for an extensive treatment of various facets inMiller 's or the revival's historical development, because a wealthof literature on Miller and Millerism is in existence." Miller

'E.g. McMaster 1910, 134-141; Sears 1924; Canevin,"Gabriel, Blow That Horn", AM Nov 1942; RD Jan 1943.. Theview is usually documented by quotes from Miller'scontemporary opponents, especially newspaper reports. See e.g.Nichol 1944, 15, 14Of.

2E .g. Nichol 1944, 17-74; SDAE 787-9; PFF IV, 455-75. Cf.Linden 1978, 36-40 ; Cr oss 1965, 291.

3A certain interpretative problem will always remain .Compare e.g . Nichol 1944, 321-354 with Linden 1978, 36-40, orwith Sandeen "Millenialism" in ROA, 112f.

4In recent years the writing on Miller has graduallymatured from a simple black or white description. See e.g.Linden 1971 and 1978; Rowe MS 1974; Numbers & Butler 1987.The Bibliography has a section on Miller and Millerism.

7

commanded some respect in his community. He personifies thetalented and virtuous American, the "self made man" who fromcommon background makes his way into wide recognition." He

support to serve as a captain. However, farming. remained hisprimary occupation until Millerism was well consolidated,"

2.1.1 Miller and the propheciesIn spite of (or perhaps becauseof) " his stern religious upbringingMiller turned 10 free-masonry, free-thinking and deism." Theevents of the War of 1812 converted him back to the religionof his childhood. With the enthusiasm of a new convert andwith the rationalistic method of historicism he se t out to exp lorethe prophesies . He believed that "G od in his wisdom had sointerwoven sever al prophesies, that -- they tell us the samethings." Even if deism plays no significant role in Mill er'swritings, he may be termed as a an antideist who sought toconvince his audience that the Bible was "a feast of reason." ?

·"In his hermeneutic'.r ·· is . obviously of and ':the BritiSh millenarian tradiliol He is familiar

with Mede, Newt on, Faber, and Gill. " H owever , pr ob ablyfru strated by the differing op inions of the commentaries, heitlecided.. in 1816 to launch a Bible study relying solely on the"Bible and a Cruden's concordance. The results of his studyshow that he was primarily concerned to harmonize prophetic

5Rowe MS 1974, 6.

6For further details see e .g. SDAE, 787.7Rowe MS 1974, 22f, 27, argues for Mill er's turn to deism

as a re action to strict childhood instruction; Cf. Rasmussen MS1983, 18.

8Linden 1978, 37.

gMiller, 1838, iv.,oMiller 1845, 6.

" Cf. ch, 5. Miller "Address to Believers in All Denomina-tions" in Bliss 1853, 251. Miller 1833, 10, 42 includes a directqu ote from Gill . Cf. Rasmussen MS 1983, 52-57.

8

time periods. He was confident that everything made sense.abQQJcf,wntten that has a better connection

and harmony than the

2.1.2 Miller begins to preachMil ler' s so lita ry st ud ies b rought results within two yea rs. In 1818he had reached his basic conclusio ns, bu t it was not until fouryears later, after thorough checking and rechecking of his

that he felt confident enough to promote hispr ophetic time-table in pri vate conversa tion and co rrespond ence .In he felt enticed into a career of part-time

Baptist, Methodist, and Congregation al mini st er sinvited him to lecture as his message was useful in theirpro tracted meetings." A revival was slowly kindled. Miller 'sth eory was .convincing because i\that protestants Because his message wasappealing, Mil ler came to be involved in a series of events thatgave birth to one of the most widespread apocalyptic re vivals inChris tian history." Miller him self accounted for th e success "by?upposing that God is supporting the old man's work, wicked,imperfect, and igno rant he is."le

2.2 Millerite message

Mille r's as Linden has observed, "shared many ideasrampant 10 the small comrnunitive groups of ante-bellumAmerica." It was not on ly apocalypti c but also "devotio nal andrevivalist ic''." In a se rmon rep orted in 1840 he said:

Be warned . Repent. Fly, fly for succour to theark of God - to Jesus - the Lamb which oncewas slain, that you might live, for he is wor thy to

12Mille r 1838, iv.13PFF IV, 461-482. Cross 1965, 292f." Rowe MS 1974, 6.15Cf. Cross 1950, 2537; Linden 1982, 13.1eMill I Ier, etter Ju y 21, 1838 to Truman Hendryx, MEA ." Linden 1978, 32.

9

receive all honor, power and glory. Believe, andyou shall live . Obey his word, his spirit his callshis invitations. Ther e is no time to delaY.18 '

This quotation and Mill er's written confession of faith place himwell within the boundaries of mainstream Americanpr ot estan tism with the exception of the dated parousia . He?elieved in the trinity, in salvation thro ugh satisfactio vicaria and10 a .somewha t so ftened version of the Calvinis tic concept ofsalvation for the ele ct only." While this is true of Millerhimself, matters of dogma, except eschatology, wer e ofsecondary imp ortance to him . He was not concerned with theArian views of a sizeable propor tion of Millerite spokesmen."Henry Da na War d sums up Millerite att itudes convenient ly:"Some me n are Roman Catho lics, some are Pr otestants: let them.be Cat holics or Protestants, only looking for the coming of theLord according to his word.?" The revival is therefore bestdesc ribe d as a one idea movemen t. It s ce ntral them e was theliteral second coming of Christ "abo ut the year 1843.,,22 Miller 'sstro ng rel iance upon the Bible made his message appealing andthe stage was set for an ecume nical or an interdenominationalrevival.

2.3 Mass meetings and publicationsTh er e were .two agents that the Mille rites skillfully em ployed tospread their message: Mass meetings and an effecti vepublicat ion programme. The former ca tered for the emotional

18Excerpt from William Mill er's sermon in Miller 1842/b ,174.

:9MilJer's 20 articles of faith . Bliss 1853, 77-80.

2CO ut of 43 known Millerite preacher s 38 had Trinitarianand 5 Ar ian background . (A rati o of 7 to 1.) Froorn 1971, 141jf.

21Ward 'T o the Confer ence of Christians- -" ST Jan 1, 1842.

=rhe phrase is typical of Miller 's early comme nts on the(!ate. Cf. title from Scripture 'an d History of (heSecond Corning of Christ about the Year 1843 (editions 18331836, 1838, 1840, 1842/b). '

10

needs of the group" while the latter was geared for theintellectual satisfaction of the Millerites with thousands of Eagesof tedious theological arguments and apology for Millerism...

Towards the end of the movement several of these largemeetings were organized every month. The camp meetings andthe second advent conferences drew audiences of up to tenthousand." Apart from mass meetings Millerite success must becredited to the phenomenal publication programme of themovement. In 1843 they had produced an estimated one millioncopies of periodicals, but during the culminating year the totalnumber of copies rose to about five million.28 Some of the titlesmatch the disposition of their camp meeting SOngs.27 The

Zlofhe emotional tone of the meetings is reflected in hymnslike "Farewell poor careless sinners too, it grieves my heart toleave you here, Eternal vengeance waits for you, 0 turn andfind your salvation near" Himes ed. 1843/b part I, 21. See alsothe sulphurous description of the end in Anon. "A Scene of theLast Day" in Miller 1842/c, 99-114.

24Millerite argumentation runs often with a set ofquestions: 1) mao is the people refered to, 2) what is thesequence of events and the historical context, and mostimportantly 3) when is the fulfillment to be expected. Everyquestion was to be answered within the framework of Miller'srules of interpretation. See e.g, Miller 1845, 68; Miller 1844, 14;Miller 1842/a, 8; Miller 1842/b, 191, 286.

25In 1842 Millerites are reported to have organized 30, in1843 about 40, and in 1844 at least 54 camp meetings. Oftenthe meetings were announced with proviso, "providencepermitting," or "if time lingers." The audience rarely fell below4000 and a couple of times audiences of 10000 to 15000 or10000 to 12000 are declared. In 1842 "The Big Tent" was pur-chased to be used in the protracted meetings. This mammothtent had the seating capacity of 5000 to 6000 but was frequentlyunable to accommodate the crowds that gathered. PFF IV, 645-662. Cf. Dick, "Advent Camp Meeting" Ailer, winter 1977.

26PFF W, 624f.27E.g. The Voice of Warning; City Watchman'S Alarm;

Faithful Watchman; The Trumpet of Alarm; The Voice of Elijah;The Trump of Jubilee; The Advent Shield; Watchman's LastWarning. There were also several publications with rather sober

11

flagship of the publication programme was The Signs of theTimes started early in 1840 and renamed into The AdventHerald early in 1844.28 In June 1841 a decision was taken topublish a series of books and pamphlets "that none need be indarkness.f" These books were called the Second Advent Library.

2.3 .1 The Organization and spread of MillerismMiller's popularity grew rapidly with the help of publicationsand large revival meetings. The printing and distribution ofperiodicals as well as the financial and other arrangements forthe mass meetings required organization. Miller himself was apoor organizer . This lack was compensated for by the fact thatseveral ordained ministers took their stand on the side ofMiller.f In fact Miller's role in the progress of the revival hasbeen overemphasized and misrepresented. He was a figurehead",,:hose ideas kindled the fire. But the flames soon grew out ofhis command. As early as 1837 he was no more in control ofthe Joshua Himes' organizational abilityconsolidated into a well structured undertaking with asound financial basis, some property, and a massive productionof publications."

2.4 Millerism and American religiousitySince Jonathan Edward's "Great Awakening" in 1740 North

protestantism had had a revivalist tempe;. Eachrevival gave an outlet to the dormant powers of enthusiasm. The

century started with massive waves of revivals" followed byFinney's "new measures" in 1830's. These awakenings sought to

titles like: Bible Examiner; World's Crisis; Coming of Christ, etc.See PFF IV, 626.

28See e.g. Nichol 1944, 79.29ST April 15, 1841; Nichol 1944, 91.30PFF IV, 503-554.31Especially Froom and Nichol make the revival appear

dependant solely on Miller. See Linden 1978 45f' Rowe MS1974, nf. ' ,

32"The Great Revival" E.g. Handy 1976, 162-8.

12

fight back deism and sectanamsm, as well as communitarianism.With hindsight one may say that there was more success in thebattle against deism than in the one against sectarianism.

Geographically Millerism concentrated on the New Englandstates, "the burned over district.f" It was around 1840 that thecasual, rural and local movement spread into the cities. In itsculminating year the revival may have had up to 50,000followers and probably many times that number of people onthe fringe, following events with curious alarm." Cross has aptlydescribed the revival claiming that no sizeable "group of folkadopted such ideas so wholeheartedly since the early days ofRoman Empire.f"

33Cross 1950, 3; 173-184. After each round of Finney'sawakening it proved to be exceedingly difficult to rekindle theenthusiasm again, a phenomenon which gave rise to the titles"the burned over district" or the "infected district". It was thisarea of the United States that turned out to be particularlyreceptive to the novel doctrines of Spiritualism, Mormonism,Millerism and a few years later Adventism, Christian Scienceand Jehovah's Witnesses. Thus revivalism may have played intothe hands of sectarianism and millenarianism.

However, one should note that Cross's conclusions on theburned over district are not indisputable, because before Finneythe same general area witnessed the rise of The Shakers(founded by Ann Lee, with emphasis on the literal presence ofthe Holy Spirit, around 1774), The Disciples of Christ (formedaround the interesting charismatic personality, Alexander Camp-bell, who among other teachings rejected the Old Testament,around 1811), and Unitarianism the "liberalism" ofthe day, led by the moderate William Channing, around 1820).

34Nichol 1944, 217f gives an estimate of 500 publiclecturers some of whom were ordained ministers. PPP W, 699gives a figure of 1500-2000 lecturers during the seventh monthmovement. See also Cross 1950, 287; Linden 1978, 63; Sweet1950, 278. It is impossible to give any accurate fisure on themembership of a group that kept no records and lived as if itwere one foot inside the pearly gates.

35Cross 1950, 287.

13

The main body of Millerites came from Baptist or Methodistbackground, but there were also Episcopalians,Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians, Lutherans, aswell as a good number from small obscure churches at thefringe of Protestantism."

2.4.1 Popularity of millennarianismWithin nineteenth century North American Protestantism aninterest in the last things was not a fringe phenomenon. Therewas intense millenarian speculation by some of the leading theo-logians'" as well as by many popular preachers." Severalventured to calculate the time of the eschaton. Millennialconvictions were strong among the Shakers. The Mormons"expected a quick end. The spirit of the times is reflected in thewords of John Humphrey Noyes, leader of the Oneidacommunity.

The Millennium was supposed to be very near. Ifully entered into the enthusiasm of the time. --My heart was fixed on the Millennium and Iresolved to live or die for it. -- A feeling ofexpectation on this point lay at the bottom ofthat triumphant march of revivals which shook theland for several years from that time. TheMillerites have since met with unbounded ridicule'but it should be remembered that all thatportion of the churches who were spiritual whobelieved in revivals, and who were zealous :- had

36Nichol 1944, 217; Froom 1971, 146f.37Apocalyptic speculation was promoted by e.g. U. Ogden

(rect?r of Trmity Episcopal Church, Newark NJ), S.(president of Harvard), Timothy White (president of Yale), O.Elsbree (professor at Buckland), E. Nott (president of UnionCollege), Lyman Beecher (president of Lane TheologicalSeminary), etc. See PPF W, 56-133.

38E.g. S. M'Corkle (Presbyterian pastor) Father JohnThayer, Jedidah Morse, Morse 1810. Cf. PPP W. 56-133'Sandeen, "Millenialism" in ROA, 104-109. "

14

a fit of expectation as enthusiastic and almost asfanatical as the Millerites."

Obviously William Miller was not the only one in tere sted in theend of the world. America was drunk on the millennium. FromMiller 's success on e may conclude that he is an eloquentrepresentati ve of the historicist millennial spe culation.

2.5 A significant change in MillerismChr ist ian enthusias ts have th rough the ages antic ipate d an earlymillennium . However , only rar ely has the anticipa tion includedan exa ct da te . It is important to note th at Mill er originally

specific He preferred the les s pr etentiou sexp ressio ns "onor before",' and "about the year 1843 ."40

A clear turn in the Mill erite movem ent began at the sixteenthMillerite ge nera l confe re nce , held in Bost on in M ay 11'142. Oneof th e outcomes of th is meet ing was a stronge r ad vocacy of adefi nite time." most Millerites a loosely defined time was

emotionally ofMillerism was , promises of God" ,"at the time appointed THE END SHALL BE."42

Man y Milleritcs were convinced that a careful application ofpr ophecies would pr oduce a definite time. As 1843 approached,

:;9Noyes, Confess ions oj Religious Experience, 1849, 2,quoted in Sande en 1<)70, 49.

40 E .g. "Miller's Twenty Articles of Faith," ST May 1, 1841.The phrase is also typical of Miller 's ea rly comments on th edate . C f. the title of one of th e most popular Mi lle rite books:Evidence from Scripture and Hi story oj the S econ d Com ing ojChrist ab out the Year 1843 (Editions lR33, 11'136, 183R, 1840,1842b) . Cr. Bliss l R43, 77-80; PFF lV, 406f, 463 , 789 ; Damsteeg t1977, .15[; Cross 1%5, 291.

. ,Arthur "Joshua V. Himes and th e Cause of Adventism"in Number s &. Butler 191'17, 43. This was against the wishe s ofsome le ad ing Milleritc s like Dr. H enry Dan a Ward.

42A non. "Diagram exhibiting the eve nts of pr opheey--" AHFeb 21, 1844.

15

th e pr essure for spec ulation to find a more exact dateincreased. In what has be en termed biblicist naivete Millerjoined th e "game and paved the way for the revival' s slipping outof his exegetical scheme." Nearly a decade before 1843 he hadproposed th at the true Biblical calendar should be based on theJewish year , which would bring the consummation of end-timepro pheci es to be tween the Spring of 1843 and the Spring of1844.44

In lat e lK42 and ea rly 1S43 they fel t a nee d for defining theJewish yea r mo re exactly, and M iller's so urces , 0 "the most) l.pproved and standard chronologers -. who have never yet been"shown to be'- iti"'"erfor" indicated that &arch 21, 1844 would bethe last day of th e Jewish year, A .D. 1843.45 When the tim eap proac hed oth ers tri ed [0 be even more spec ific th an Mille rhad been. Accordin g { o poss ibly mistaken informatio n. theJewish year corresponding to lS43 was claimed to end on Aprilnew moon, or A pril 18. IS44:16 With the increasing speculatio nthe emphasis of Millerism Was changing. Inst ead of theambiguous "about the year 1843" exact final dates were beingdiscussed.

Afte r a d isa ppointme nt in Mar ch M iller hazarded no fu rthe rannoun cements to spec ify the tim e. Miller himsel f nevercommitte d him self to the Kar aitc April d at e which othe rsadvocated , and he rega rded the "v1arch dat e mor e genuine."He was now content to kee p the parousia imminent. However ,many of his sup po rters were not pr epared to se ttle for irn-

43Lindc ll 1Y78, 56-()). Cf. PFF IV, 7R4-826.44PFF IV, 794.

45Mi lle r docs no t appear 10 have been aware of thetechnica lities of the J ewish ca lender. H e th ought th e Je wish yearran [rorn eq uinox to eq uinox. Mille r "Synopsis of Miller's Views "Me J une IS, 1843. Cr. ano n. ''The Ti me of the End " S T J an 4,184\ anon. "T he Vernal Equinox" AN April 3, 1844; PFF I V,784, 7(}4. Miller, Himes, Litch, Hale, Fitch and Hawkey objec te dto det er mining the exact dal e of the parou sia.

4sS T June 21, l H43; PFF IV, 796f.47Miller, 1845, 24.

16

med iat ism. He was unable to keep the movem ent on his side."Miller ite mentality pre ferred an exact date . Mill er ism was re adyfor its last turn .

2.5.1 The seventh-month movementIn <Febr uary 1844 two men , Samuel Snow and George Sto rrsbegan pr omoting a typologi cal solution to the problem of time .By the summer t of 1844 they had concluded that October 22,1844 was the exact date of the end and in an August campmeeting they attaine d massive su pport for their calculationsagai ns t feeble polemi c by Mill er and his associates. They thuslaunched the final fervent ph ase of th e revival, ca lled the"seventh-month movement" or th e "midnight cry".49 In its exegesisas well as its emp has is this stage of Mille rism has to bedis tinguished from the earlier revival. Snow and Sto rrs boostedthe revival off to its Waterl oo."Literature on Millerism shows a gene ral confus ion ininterpreting this stage of the revival. 'Miller is unfairly blamedfor the failure of . the October calculation 'iff spite of hisremaining unsympathetic to it, except for a fortnight before th edisappointment." A comparison between Mill er 's exegesis an dth at of the seventh-month movement compe ls one to make aclear separa tion between origin al Millerism and this last st age of

48Cf. Linden 1978, 60f.49T he name "Seventh month movemen t" comes from the

Jewish calendar th at Snow and Storrs utilized in their exegesis,and'Midnight cry" was derived from the parable of the tenvirgins. T his pa rable used exte nsive ly as a time pr oph ecy (1night =, 1/2 prophe tic Jay = 6 months according to theyear /day theory) which brought the wailing Millc rites fromspring 1844 to the autumn of 1844.

50Linde n 1en8, 65.e.g. Harri son 1979, 192-206; Darnstecgt 1977, 78-135;

Sandeen 1970, 4LJ-55. These authors fail to d istinguish . theseventh month movement. The same is ofte n true of SDAliterature tho ugh in a differ ent sense. E .g. PFF I V 784-876 andNicho l 1944, 217-260 fail to observe the di ffer en ce ther e was inbo th the emphasis and exegesis of Millerism prior to the springof 1844 .

17

th e revival. The seventh-month movement singled out one ofMiller's many argume nts and excgeted it with a methoddifferent from Miller's. Tradition al histori cist expos itions,develop ed and advocated by Mill er , bec ame secondary tosanc tuary typology. Th e Levitical festa l calendar was promotedby implication as the most important pr ophecy in all of theBible.

Th e basic method remained unchanged while emphasis changed .Because the former leaders of the movement wer e no longer incont rol, as the argu me nts of Snow and Sto rrs swavcd the fai thand the emo tions" of the gro up. this inter val in hasbeen call ed-a sectarian turn. The ad opt ion of an exact date waslike a built-in exp los ive for the revival. During the late summerand ea rly autumn the commitmerit. zeal, sacr itic es, and numberof supporte rs excee ded everything that had been seen so far inthe his!my of th is revival. The gravity of d isap poin tment was tomatch the enthusiasm of exp ectation. As the morning o fOctober n dawned it was again true that : 'th l:: hour knoweth'no man". Millerism had come to an end. As it died it gavebirth to Adventism."

2.6 The aftermath of the disappointmentOne can still apprec iate the impact the disappointment had onman y Milleri tes. The few weeks of the seventh-month movementhad meant everything for many of those involved , Many lefttheir cro ps unharvest ed or negle cted othe r secular duti es. -Manyhad donated their savings to spread the "p res ent truth" and ai lhad to bear the ridicule of their neigh bors and relativcs.f

Th is research docs not follow the even ts of the chaotic disin-teg ra tion uf the revival. After the initia l reac tions one finds fourmain trends:"

52Linde n 1978, 65.

53Nicho l 1944, 2661'.

54The:e is little published resear ch on the per iod betweenOct 22, 1844 ami the Import ant Alba ny conference in AprilIH45. Sec c.g, Linden 1978, 79-81.

18

, 1. The majority disengaged themselves from therevival, man y pr ob ably lost all int erest in theapocalyptic.

2. .A ' large Advent Christian group was formedaround William Miller and othe r prominentMillerite leaders. They regarded the seventh-month movement hand any further time calcula-tions a mistake. They were satisfied to keep theparousia imminent .i"

3. Some small groups went on recalculating..theprophetic time-tables and setting new dates forthe parousia.

4. Some endo rse d th e exegesis of the seventh-month movement claiming t hat the time was rightbut the event wrong. They .advanced the so called"shut door" the ory of Christ ha ving entered themost holy place of. th e heavenly sanc tuary on Oct22 and tha t pro bati on was closed .

A t th is junct ure one of the od di ties of church histo ry tookplace. The hard-cor e Mill erites of the last two gr oups pr ovedthe stro ngest. The seventh-month adherents ad optedsabbatarianism and grew into Seventh-day Adventism , andthrou gh a pro cess which takes one far from original Miller isrnthe time-sett er s affec ted the bi rth of the Watcht ower. The leas tpopula r post-d isa ppo intme nt opt ions pr obabl y involved thedeepest co nvictions .P"

T he birth and th e tea ching of the dive rse Adven tist bodies isbes t understood when th e seve nth-month ph ase of th e re vival iskept d istinc t from early Miller ism . This conclusion is supportedbv Mille r's lat er evaluation which includes th e seve nth-mo nthmovem ent, ea rly sabbatarian ad ventism and possibly oth erMil leri te offshoots.

19

As time has progr essed, I have been pain ed tosec many err ors which have been embraced indifferent of the co untry by some whohave labored with myself. -- I ha ve be en pai nedto sec a spir it of sectarianism and bigotry. --

Some arc disposed to lay stress on the seventh-month movement which IS not warranted by theWord . Ther e was then a dedi cation of th e heart

> in view of the Lord's coming ...' now to contend that we were not mistaken ISdishonest. We should never be ashamed tofrankly confess all our 'errOrs.57

In Miller's view the sabbatarian Adventis!.s:'-Y! 9 .k.ept hold of theseventh-month movement exegesis 'were illegitimate children ofMillerism,

2.7 Miller's heritageThe seve nth-mo nth movem ent is the real exegetical watersh edth at marked the end of historicism and made futurism orpr cterisrn att ractive . Sandeen has portrayed th e disgust and

with whieh the Mill erite system of interpreting theBible came to be regard ed after the inglorious climax of th emovement. Mill er became an an athema, a th eological lep er foranyone speaking or writing on Biblical prophecies. Miller'sfail ur e mad e the inroad of Darbyism easie r. Miller hadexha usted the tr adition al historicist interpretati on of theprophecies . The method whi ch had be en dominant inprotestantism for mor e than three centuries had but litt le roomin America after the grea t di sappointmen t. A simi la rdevelopment made historicism unpopular in Brita in where th edispensa tionalist me thod came to dominate most of the churc he ssupport ing a biblical or fundamen talist traditi on."

Miller 's tradition al emphas is and method was ret ai ned byden ominati on s that in one way or an othe r have their roots in

55('1. A rt hur 1970, 137-9; Rowc MS 1974, 2771'.

56Carroll 1979, 85-110 pr e.' sents a psychologicalexplanation of th is development. Unfortunate lyknowledge of M illeri sm is superfi cial.

th eor y inCarr oll's

51Mille r 1945 , 26-28.

58Sandc en 1970, 42-102. Cf. Fr oom 's co nclusions in PFFIV, 203 f. For th e de velopment of disp ens at ion alism see e.g, Cox1963b; Turner ]944 ; Sa ndeen 1970.

20

the Milleri te re vival. After th e disappointment mainstreamMi llcrisrn dwindled into various Adventist chur ches. E van gelicalAd ven tists became extinct by the first years of th is cen tury. Thelargest den ominat ion stemming from mainstream Mi llerism is th eA dvent Ch ristian Church, but there ar c others : The Churc h ofGod (Adventist) , The Church of God (A bra harnic Faith), Lifeand Advent U nion all of which arc listed in the Yearbook ofAmerican Churches .59

However , as has been po inted o ut ea rlie r, M illeris rn co ntinuedto grow th ro ugh offshoots. The wi dest present day audience forMillerit e type of hermeneutic ca n to day be found in two groups ,the Seven th-day Adventists and Jehovah 's W itnesses . As th esetwo groups her e a re mentioned together it mu st be emphaticallysla te d that their developmen t began from thorough ly d istinc tgro ups of ze alous Millerites. Subsequently Seventh-day Adven tistsgenera lly identify with the Pr ot estant tradit ion while J eh ovah'sW itnes ses do not. At the pr esent time the ir doctrinal di fferen-ces are so great th at representati ves of eithe r gro up would feelun comfortable with any equation between th e two. Furth ermore,even in the area of prophetic inte rpre ta tio n , the currenthermeneutic of these two denominati on s is d iffer ent.60

:i.evcnth-day Adven tists owe their herme neutic and emp hasis inI'Fticu la r to th e seven th-month movement. T hey soon le ft as ide

Millerite ca lculations exce p t those relat ing to th e books ofor th e October 22, 18-:14 was rega rded as a

with'a misinterpreted event. "A fter an ini tial "shutdqd'r" of the dat e the prophecy was said to havebc£n fulfilled III the heavenly sanctuary. H aving adopted seventh-day sabbatarian ism the gr oup launched an aggressive mission .?'

As ind icated earlier, some small splin te r groups of Adventis tskep t se tt ing new dates for th e parousia. N.H . Barbour wr ites of

59"Adve ntist Bod ies," SDA E, 10.

HOJehovah 's Witnesses do no t comm on ly acknowledge thattheir movement has any co nnec tion with Millerisrn. SDAs areequa lly unaware of any 'l ink there is between Millerism and theJWs.

oIE .g. Lin den 1982; Damsteeg t 1\)77, 259, 263, 135-164.

21

the first "midnigh t cry III the seco nd in 1860, and th ethi rd in 1873.62 Bar bo ur together with his associa tes , J .H .Pato nand J .Wen de ll gr ea tly influenced the young Cha rles Taze Russe lwho ca me in co ntac t with them in uno. Ru sse l fam iliari ze dhimsel f with th e message of Willi am Mill er and G eorge Sto rr s,and edited with Barbour som e advcntis: publications'" untilbr eaking away to form the Wat ch tower society. While Ru sselshows indepen dent thinking in believing the parousia to beinvisible and in p urs uing A ria nism alongsid e nume rousexpositio ns unique to the Jehovah's Witnesses, the methodol ogyas we ll as man y int erpr et ati on s arc closer to o rig inal Mi lleri srnth an th e teachings of present day Se venth-day Advent ists .f"

2 .8 Summary

Early ninet eenth -century Nor th Amer ica was fert ile grou nd forth e birt h o f new and extrem e religious ideas. The economic,int ell ectual, as well as religious, tr aditions of the day pr odu cedmany communitarian or secta rian revivals . and it co mes as nosur prise th at Miller ism appealed to lar ge number s of people . Itis possible to see it as we ll as its exeges is as a respon se to th esociological and spir itua l needs of the tim e. Apoca lypticism waspo pula r with in th e mainst ream of Ame rica n Protestantism.

William Mi ller himself had neith er th e inter est nor ab ility tohand le th e revival he sparked off. Othe rs took ove r th eorganizational side of th e revival whil e Mill er remained itsfigureh ead. Mill er himself was rel uct ant to pin point an exact davfor the parousia. But his rel uct ance wa s not sha red by his

62Ba rbo llI J871. 3D.

u3T he magazin es were' ca lled The f lcrald of {he Morningand The n lr!!/, Worlds Plan of Redemption. Beckfor d 197.\ 2;Hoekerna 1%], 224.

64Je hovah's W itnesses in fact retain severa l o f M iller 's 15argumen ts on even though they canno t be regarded asa outgrowth of Millcrism . (E.g. 6000 yea rs from th ecreation to the end of the world, the yea r-day method, apr oph ecy on th e seven times [or igin ally taken from Levit icu s 26,now usua lly from and int er pr etation of G og and Magogthat mat ch es th at o f Miller, e tc. Cf. Rccs MS 1984, 14.

22

supporters, in particular Samuel Snow. Snow's insistence on aprecise date led to the breakdown of Millerism. Seventh-dayAdventists and Jehovah's Witnesses as well as several smallAdventist churches grew up from the remains of Millerism.Outside of these groups very few ventured to trust thetraditional historicist method of exegesis which Miller hademployed.

23

3 THE HISTORICAL METHOD

No revival nor exegesis is born in a vacuum. It would make afascinating but difficult study to investigate the influence thatcertain historical events have had on the exposition of theScriptures. Climactic historical occasions have boosted interest inBiblical prophecies. However, no historical circumstance canproduce exegesis without creative minds, able to adapt themessage of the Bible to a particular setting. But there is acontext to Millerism which is far more important to his exegesisthan the economic or sociological situation in which the revivalbrooded. This is the historical method of propheticinterpretation. Miller's concepts may well have beenindependent, but they were certainly not born withoutinformation on the conclusion and presuppositions that go withhistoricism.

3.1 Protestant apocalypticismIt is an interesting fact of church history that withinProtestantism outbursts of millenarianism have occurred morefrequently in the Reformed tradition than in the Lutheran one.'

,After Stiefel's failure in Lockham (8 AM. Oct 19, 1533)there have been but few apocalyptic revivals within Lutheranism.There were individuals who had millenarian ideas: Johann AmosComenius (-1670), Johan Albrecht Bengel (-1752), JohannPhilipp Petn (-1792), L.R Kelber, Heinrich Richter (-1847) allof whom created millennial time tables. Some of the Swedish"ropare" child preachers of 1840's, and Abraham Achrenius inFinland can also be added to a list of Lutheran apocalyptics. Aparallel list of persons with apocalyptic interests within theReformed tradition would grow into over a hundred names ifpicked from PFF II-IV. This was recognized also in Miller'sday. Brooks, the editor of the Investigator wrote, "Prophecy isnot now, in any shape, popular on the continent." IEP New

24

Futhermore, within the Reformed field of influence millenarianrevivals mainly sprung up in the Anglo-Saxon world, Englandand America. And, for some reason, early nineteenth centurywas one of the periods characterized by widespread millen-nialism.

These observations must , however, be taken with caution. It byno means follows that the Reformed doctrine and hermeneuticas such causes millenarianism, or that the national mentality andsociological circumstances in England and North America wereuniquely suited for producing a harvest of apocalyptic revival-ism. The true reasons for the appearance of millenarianexpectations must, of course, be much more complex. After allthere were several millennialist revivals in the Middle Ageswithout the aid of either the Reformed or Anglo-Saxonheritage."

The exegetical method that most English or American exegetesused in their prophetic calculations between from lateseventeenth to early nineteenth century is called the historicalmethod. In this chapter this historicist tradition of propheticinterpretation is surveyed with references to Miller's exegesis.

3.2 From Reformation to American biblicismMillerite exegesis cannot be properly understood without someinsight into the view of the Scriptures it employed. It is a littleknown fact of considerable significance that even in the best ofAmerican theological seminaries Francois Turrettini's dogmaticswas used as a textbook in the first half of the nineteenthcentury." Turrettini's biblicism dominated theological thought.People were brought up to believe that they were faithfulfollowers of Luther and Calvin while they followed the methodsof protestant orthodoxy. The Millerites were no exception. Theyhad but little to say about the Reformation, but they did claim

series 1836, 5n.2See e.g. Cohn 1957, 1-1943Rogers & McKim 1979, xvii-xviii .

25

a share in the best of Protestant tradition,"

Superficially, Millerites, like any other group of AmericanProtestants of the time, can indeed be linked with theReformation. They certainly approved the Reformation slogans:faith in the sufficiency of the Scriptures; the Bible as its owninterpreter, sacra Scriptura sui ipsius interpres, the perspicuity ofthe Bible, claritas sacrae Scriptuae? In fact such a connection ismade. Miller's method is presented as one which is based solelyon the principles of the Protestant Reformation,"

An excursus to Reformation hermeneutic serves two purposes.Firstly, it shows that the above-mentioned view in fact shortcircuits the background of Miller's hermeneutic with its partlyunfounded claim on Miller's following the methods of theReformation. Secondly, it gives a dimension which will make iteasier to evaluate Miller's exegesis.

3.2.1 Reformation hermeneuticThe change of method after the Reformation can be seenclearly if Luther's and Calvin's main interpretative point is given.Luther's method was not one of rationalism, it was one of

"See e.g. Rasmussen MS 1983, 52-66.sFor a summary of Reformation view of the Scriptures see

e.g. Kraus 1956/1969, 6-18; Farrar 1886, 323-354.erhe basic argument of PFF series is that of placing

Millerism into Reformation tradition as far as propheticinterpretation is concerned. See also Damsteegt 1977, 16-20;Nichol 1944, 89; Olsen "Hermeneutical Principles and BiblicalAuthority in Reformation and Postreformation Eras" SOBH, 109-25. It is typical of fundamentalists to claim that their her-meneutic is based on the Reformation. Barr 1977, 20. Cf. e.g.Lindsell 1976, 56-62; Preus "The View of the Bible Held by theChurch: The Early Church through Luther" in Geisler (ed.)1980, 372-380. Gerstner, "The View of the Bible Held by theChurch: Calvin and the Westminster Divines" in Geisler (ed.)1980, 385-395.

26

faith.' In his view the crux interpretum and authority of the Biblewas Jesus Christ. "Sacred Scripture is God incarnate." Heunderstood the Bible as the book of Christ and about Christ.1IEvery true interpretation of the Scripture would lead to Him."When I have a text that is like a nut with a hard shell, I im-mediately dash it against the Rock [Christ] and find thesweetest kernel.?" Without Christ he felt there was nothing leftin the Bible - a viewpoint that allowed for modest criticism ofcertain parts of the Bible as well as some untraditional views onauthorship.11 Thus Luther shuns scholastic biblicism. It is truethat he was also deeply interested in last day events in theScriptures, but his focal point was the Biblical message of JesusChrist.

For Calvin the Scriptures were less human than for Luther. Hebelieved the Bible had flowed from the very mouth of God."He made little distinction between various parts of the Bibleand approached it with a "letter-worship" attitude that led himinto gross inconsistencies with some parts of the OldTestament." Yet, in spite of his underlying biblicism, he wasattentive to the natural historical meaning of texts, emphatic on

7Dillenberger 1960, 30. Cf. Olsen "Hermeneutical Principlesand Biblical Authority in Reformation and Postreformation Eras"SOBH,53.

8LS 3.21 cited in Wood 1%9, 176; Rogers & McKim 1979,78. Cf. WA 48,31; Kooinman 1%1, 237f.

9WA 4.535 cited in Wood 1%9, 140; Rogers & McKim1979, 79.

IOLW 10.6 cited in Rasmussen MS 1983, 58.l1E.g. Seeberg 1%4, 3OOf; Kraus 1956/1969 16-28; Barr

1977, 173f; Kraeling 1955, lOf. Luther expressed his doubts overthe canonicity of e.g. Esther, Hebrews, James and Revelationfor not making the gospel clear, and he felt free to publicizecritical views on the authorship of Genesis, Ecclesiastes, Judeand the Revelation. He also preferred Kings as historically moreaccurate than the Chronicles.

12Calvin Institutes 1:7,5; Farrar 1886/1%1, 349.13Farrar 1%1, 349f.

27

Christocentricity, and was thus kept from the many problemsand arguments which make later Reformed biblicism looknaive." His hermeneutical key is expressed in comments onJohn, "We ought to read the Scriptures with the express designof finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from thisobject, though he may weary himself throughout his whole lifein learning, will never attain the knowledge of truth."15 In thisfundamental issue Calvin's view is the same as Luther's. Thisapproach does also give a different meaning for any apocalypticexegesis or calculations that the reformers did. IS

3.2.2 The rise of biblicismLuther's hermeneutic should have put an end to the oldperfectionistic eschatology based on omens and signs. However,his Christocentricity was soon forgotten. Protestant scholasticismpreserved all rules the Reformation had brought out on theBible, but it forgot the foundation on which the rules werebased." Orthodoxy turned the Bible into a repository ofinformation on all manner of things, including science andhistory, which then had to "be proven correct by the current lstandards." Reformation humanism was replaced by scholastic'biblicism, which regarded the Scriptures as unilaterally inspired.Often the natural meaning of the text was overlooked in pursuitof an organized pattern of dogma.

Unilateralism required that apocalyptic prophecies should bestudied with the same interest as the Gospels. Galileo and

"See e.g. Rogers & McKim 1979, 114-116."Calvin, Commentary on John 5.39; CR XLVII, 125; Cf.

CR XLV, 817. Rogers & McKim 1979, 107.18E.g. Luther shared in some conjecture on the 6000 years

"Supputation Annorum Mundi Emendata" cited in PFF ll, 279;Cf. Melanchton "In Danielem Prophetam Commentarius" inOpera Corpus Reformatorum vol 13, cols. 978 quoted in PFF ll,291.

17The Reformation had not purged out all of the "oldleaven", cf. Berkhof 1960, 28.

"Rogers & McKim 1979, xvii; Kraeling 1955, 12.

Copernicus brought about the dawn of a scientific world viewwith mathematics as its foundations. Faith in a mystic inspirationof the Word made the prophecies particularly intriguing foranyone willing to apply the science of mathematics to theScriptures. It was believed that diligent obse rvation hadunraveled the laws of nature and that similar industriousharmonization of the Bible texts would unfold God's sec rets."

One simple way of expr essing th e change from th eChristocentric hermeneutic of Luther and Calvin to theBiblicism of Pr ot estant scho lasticism is the following: For th eReformer s the Bible was God's word, but for the theologians ofort hodoxv the Bib le was God 's words.'? Millerite unilateralism ,lack of Christocc ntric content in expositions, play with Biblicalnumbers, harmonization , emphasis on individual words, all stemfrom pr otest ant orthodoxy. .

3.3 Definition of historicismMill er 's method is called hist oricism. Historicisin.,(al$ocalledf

some times the historical' messianic' int erpretation) was a p;oduc t of Biblici sm . For th epurposes of this research historicism is defin ed as th e methodof prophetic interpretation which dominated British andAmerican exegesis from lat e seventee nth century to the middleof nine tee nth century. However , fairness to historicism demandsthe observation that many indi vidual aspects of this mode ofint erpretation had been popular for ce ntur ies , and some for a

. 19BalJ 1981.. 73 points out how pe ople stud ied propheci eswith th e same mtcn suy as the gospels. This was also Miller 'sconclu.sion : "I not but regard the chronological portions o fth e Bib le as being as much a portion of the word of God asany othe r par t 01 th e Scriptures." Miller 1845, 10. For details of

in America and a description of th e turn fromReformation humanism to scholastic rationalism see Rogers &McKim 1979, 147-199.

20D illenherge r 1960, 97; Rasmussen 1983, 59. Rasmu ssenshows Mill er' s involvement in Biblicism. Aft er thed isappointment it took ab ou t 4{) years for the SDAs to beginWith an y christocent ric emphasis. White 1898, 211; White 1915a,315; Arasola MS 1981, 64-66 .

29

millennium before there was any protestant orthodoxy. The birthof historicism was not so much a process of new invention asone of pulling together separate ideas into a coherent Bibli cistsystem.

The. main characteristics of historicism are: 1) The endorsement ·a preoccupationwith prophetic time

petiods; ¥. 2) • continuous . . '". •. *

4) At the foundation of the method, itsdistinguishing feature , was the cr eation of a coherent system ofinterdependent synchronizations between prophecies. The methodincluded a. desire to place every prophecy into an elaborate

. lies in:.the '..biblicist, concept of scholasticism believed that allparts" ,Qi",," '" .Bible contained

. .." ..a mystica ' 'elWUnt''''''·'6 ''''''<'p. . .harmonized by rational processes. Itt was th e biblicist view ofthe Bible which empowered historicism." This was alien toLuther's or Calvin' s view of Dani el or the Apocalypse."

3.4 An excursus, early background of historicismIn a sense the intentionally obscur e language of the book ofDaniel23 suited well , historicist int erpretations. In his sketch of

P?wer s tl;re. author of.Its formidable little horn umdentified while the earlier symbolsare interpreted within the book itself. SOOlf after the Ma ccabeanperiod Daniel's symbols are already applied to the Romans."

21Cf. Dillenberger 1960, 97.

22Cf. Sandeen's definition of historicism. Sandeen lcn O 36 -39; See also PFF I, 22f.

23Russel 1964, 16.

24Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece are mentioned byname within the book of Daniel (e .g, D an 2.37-39; 8.20; 11.2;8 .20; UJ.20; 11.2.) Rome come in already in thy tr an slat ion ofthe which makes Dan 7.17 four kings [ \=7t; 1 int ofour kingdoms [ ], or even more dearly in Dan

30

New Testament authors and the church fathers interpreted thebook of Daniel and projected the abomination of desolation asan event of the future (Mt 24:15). In fact, the Synoptic apo-calypse is by allusion and quotation based on the book ofDaniel.2&

3.4.1 The church fathersAmong the church fathers Hippolytus in particular expressedkeen interest in the apocalyptic. He was one of the first knoWIJto have calculated a time for parousia - A.D. with th,help of an early version of the 6000 year theory.27 More thanmillennium later many historicists would have happily endorsedhis words:

Speak with me, 0 blessed Daniel. Give me full

11.30 ships of Kittim, which was translated as the power of theRomans [i'\Eoucft ·Pwpliiol}. Also Josephus clearly applied thefourth power to the Romans. E.g. Antiquities X,10,4; X,7; Warsof the Jews, VI,2,1 in Josephus 1886. See also translators notesin Thackeray's and Marcus translation of the LXX (1926-1943).

2&One can draw several parallels between Matthew 24 andthe book of Daniel: Mt 24.5 • Dan 7.8,25; Mt 24.6,7 - Dan11.4-27; Mt 24.15 - Dan 9.27; 11.31; Mt 24.21 - Dan 21.1, etc.Nestle's and the United Bible Societies Greek texts include 24cross references to the book of Daniel for the Synopticapocalypse. This can be compared with 19 references for Isaiah,12 for Joel and 9 for the book of Zachariah. However, what isimportant is the fact that all of the main themes of theSynoptic apocalypse can be traced to the book of Daniel. Seee.g, Hongisto MS 1984, TI-100.

2tlSchaff 1882/1910, vol 2, 7%f, PFF I, 278.27This theory appears to have a very early background. See

e.g. "the Epistle of Barnabas" ch. 15 m ANF, 283f, "--in sixthousand years the Lord shall bring all things to and end ." Cf.Irenaeus "Against Heresies," cbs 28:3; 30:4; 33:2, in ANF, 557,550, 562. Hippolytos' date for the parousia [500 A.D.] was basedon the 6000 year theory and LXX chronology; Hippolytos"Fragments from Commentaries" fragment 2 on Daniel cbs. 4-7,in ANF V, 179. The tradition may have a Jewish background.See Slavonic Enoch 32.2; 33.1£; PFF I, 195f, 204.

31

assurance, I beseech thee. Thou dost prophesyconcerning the lioness in Babylon; for thou wasta captive there. Thou hast unfolded the futureregarding the bear; for thou wast still in theworld, and didst see the things to come pass.Then thou speakest to me of the leopard; andwhence canst thou know this, for thou art alreadygone to thy rest? -- The leopard has arisen; thehe goat is come; he has smitten the ram; he hathbroken his horns in pieces; he hath stampedupon him with his feet. -- Rejoice blessed Daniel.Thou hast not been in error: all these things havecome to pass.

After this again thou hast told me of the beastdreadful and terrible . It had iron teeth . --Already the iron rules; already it subdues andbreaks all in pieces>- already we see these thingsourselves."

In a milder form Hippolytus' interest in the apocalyptic wasshared by many of his better known predecessors. Justin Martyr,Irenaeus, Tertullian, and a little later Julius Africanus expressedsimilar sentiments.Z8 With the exception of the anti-ChristianPorphury, the hermeneutic of Daniel in the first Christiancenturies can be regarded as the precursor of later historicism.Beginning with the church fathers on, Babylon, Persia, Greeceand Rome were commonly seen as the four kingdoms. Thismade it easy for Europeans to regard Europe with its many

28Hippolytos "Treatise on Christ and Antichrist" chs. 32f;ANF V, 210; PPF I , 274.

29Justin Martyr expected the parousia soon and takes issuewith Trypho who interprets Darnel's times lasting 100 years."Dialogue with Trypho" ch. 31£; ANF I, 209f. Irenaeus writesthat "the empire which now rules shall be part itioned. He [Johnthe Revelator] teaches us what the ten horns shall be whichwere seen by Daniel." "Against Heresies" 5.26; ANF I, 554.Tertul1ian "On the Resurrection of the Flesh" ch. 24; ANF III,563. Julius Africanus proposed a month for a prophetic daytheory to calculate Daniel's prophecies. "Extant Fragments ofthe Five Books on the Chrono-graphy of Julius Africanus"fragment 18; ANF VI, 137. Cf. PFF I , 219-282.

32

nations as the ten horns of Daniel seven.i"

However, it would be a mistake to identify the patristic exegesiswith historicism as Froom does." Three essential elements ofhistoricism were missing from the early Christian exposition ofthe apocalyptic. There was no synchronization or harmonizationof prophecies. There was no papal little horn. Neither was therethat strong emphasis on chronology, which is typical of thecontinuous historical exegesis. These features were notdeveloped until a millennium later."

3.4.2 The year-day theory and papal antichristTowards the dawn of the second millennium of the Christianera some ] ewish scholars began calculating prophetic time bycounting years for days. This device made it possible to datethe eschaton close to the year 1000 when applied to the periodsof 1260 days, 1290 days, or 1335 days as found in Daniel.loaGliimOfFiore (1130-1202) is the first Christian who is knownto have employed the year-day method. He applied it on the1260 days of the book of Revelation, and his imaginative play

30The history of the interpretation of Daniel shows acontinuous updating and revitalization of the meaning attachedto the symbols. E.g. the little horn was first applied toAntiochos Epiphanes, to the Empire of Rome, a few centurieslater to Islam, and at the time of the Reformation to thePapacy. The exception to this desire of updating the applicationis the historical critical method because it looks at what wasrelevant in the past rather than in the present.

31ln his monumental apology for historicism Froo:n regardsTheodoorct as the last correct interpreter and Augustine as theoriginator of a hermeneutical apostasy to be corrected only bypost-Reformation orthodoxy. Sec e.g. PFF I, 450-543. Augustine'sown comments on Daniel are interesting in contrast withFroorn's comments on his importance. See e.g. Augustine on thecrushing power of the kingdom of God, Tracktate 4 on theGospel of John, sec. 4; N&PNF VII, 26. Cf. PFF I, 488f.

32Froom fails to see the many variations there have beenin the area of prophetic exegesis, For different efforts ofinterpreting prophecies and finding relevance see e.g. Carrol1979, 214-9; Rowley 1947; Koch 1972.

33

with cryptic numbers aroused widespread interest in apocalypticfigures." Without a change in the exegesis of prophetic times itwould have been difficult to reapply eschatological imagery andkeep it relevant.

Joachim of Fiore can be credited with also another exegeticalinvention that was later taken over and developed by historicists.He believed that the antichrist would usurp the Roman see,Some late medieval scholars, of whom Eberhard Il, archbishopof Salzburg (1200-124fJ) and John Wyclif (1324-13R4) arcexamples, identified the little horn with the bishop of Rome.?"At the time of the Reformation this became a firrnlv helddoctrine among the majority of Protestants. Neither Luther norCalvin had any doubts on this point."

3.5 Joseph Mede

The basic characteristics of historicism had emerged over a longperiod of time. What was needed was someone to draw all thefeatures together. The man who pioneered historicism wasJoseph Mede (1586-1638). Even though Mede, a master ofChrist's College in Cambridge, is only one among manyapocalyptic expositors of his time, he is credited with what hasbeen named "a Copernican revolution in the interpretation ofprophecy.r" The respect he commanded is indicated bv titleslike "the father of prophetic interpretation," and "inspired for

33Joachim proposed that from Christ to about 1200 A.D.42 generations and 1260 prophetic years. Dempf 1929,

74; Pl-F. J, 695. However, prophetic dates were not paramountm Joachim's work. Reeves 1969, 4Of, 51-55, 437. See alsoReeves 1976; Williams (ed.) 1980.

340n Eberhard see e.g. PFF J, 796-806. Wyclif leaves noroon: for ?OU?t his position: >-in the seventh chapter ofDaniel Antichrist IS forcefully descnbed by a horn arising in thetime of the fourth kingdom. u For so our clergy foresee thelord pope, as it is said of the eight blaspheming little head."PFP lI, 55.

35E.g. PFF lI, 241-394; 373-394.

38Ball 1981, 193-212; Manuel 1974, 90; Rasmussen MSL983, 67.

34

the interpretation of the prophecies: given him by laterexpositors. His major work Clavis Apocalyptica or The Key ofthe Revelation was still in print in the nineteenth century, andnearly every serious commentary on Daniel or the Apocalypsereferred to his name."

Mede's main contribution was a system of synchronism betweenvarious prophetic symbols. Primarily he worked within theApocalypse but he did coordinate the key prophecies of Danielwith those of Revelation. Thus he radically affected the futureexegesis of Daniel. Mede's most far reaching conclusion wasthat of equating seven time prophecies which contained timespans of 3 1/2 years, 1260 days, or 42 months (Dan.7.25; 12.7;Rev.11.2,3; 12.6,14; 13.5). These, he explained must apply to theantichristian power of papacy. He also labored to link otherprophetic time periods with the time of the antichrist to provide"a sure guide in this holy Labyrinth.f" This plan he called "thatSACRED KALENDAR and GREAT ALMANACK OFPROPHECIE" or "A Prophetical Chronology of Times ."39

Mede's version of the year-day method was simple. He madeone day in apocalyptic prophecies correspond to a literal solaryear. With this device the 1260 days of the Roman Antichristwould last 1260 years. There were, however, some propheticperiods like Dan 8.14, 2300 evenings and mornings, which Medeinterpreted literally to the time of Antiochos Epiphanes.f

Mede did also leave the boundaries of Daniel and Revelationand, writing to Archbishop Ussher, he expressed the increas-ingly popular concept that the second advent and millenniumwere to come at 6000 years anno mundi. Employing theSamaritan Pentateuch he was able to match the end of 6000

37E.g. I. Newton "Fragments from a Treatise onRevelation" , in Manuel 1974, 121; Cf. Manuel 1974, 90; T.Newton 1754, 22, 442 & passim ; Faber 1828, vii, ix, xi-xiii,

38Mede 1650 part 1:1.39Mede The Apostasy of Latter Times, 69. PFF II, 545.4°Mede Apostasy, 2:806; PFF II, 542-549, 785f; Rasmussen

MS 1983, 66-71.

35

years with his terminus for the 1260 days/years of papal an-tichristllittle horn - to IIAnno Aerae Christianae 1736."4' Finally,but not least importantly, Mede placed the coming of Christright after the ruin of Antichrist at the end of 1260 years, to befollowed by the millennium." In this he initiated a tradition ofpremillennialism within the historicist method. Froom classifiesthis as epochal because it meant a repudiation of the Augus-tinian theory of amillennialism.P Indeed Mede stands out as onewho turned the tide in the history of exegesis for about twocenturies until the Millerite disappointment in 1844.44

3.6 Sir Isaac Newton

Next in the line of well known historicists, stands Sir IsaacNewton (1642-1727) who was not only a well known scientist

alS? .a keen interpreter prophecies. He applied Mede'srationalistic method and Wished to explain both physicalphenomena as well as prophecy with the new mathematics."The Bible he considered "the dictates of the Holy Ghost."Therefore the "prophetick dictates" were "histories of things to

.- without ambiguity. v" Methodologically Newton addedto Mede. His main contribution was that of confirming the

notion that the historicist exegesis was scientific "withoutambiguity." The goal of this discipline was, in his opinion, to

the obscure prophetic language. This language, Newtonbelieved, was purposely difficult to keep the information withtrue and to prevent it from "the proud, the self-conceited, the presumptuous, the sciolist, the sceptic." It is quite

"Mede's terminus a quo .was A.D. 476 leading up to 1736,about a century from his time. Mede letter to archbishopUssher, May 22, 1628, in Works 1663-i664 2:896. RasmussenMS 1983, 69. '

42Mede K..ey. to the Revelation, 1:20; 2:122; "A Compendiumof Mr. Mede-- (in Key to the Revelation), no page numbers.

43PFF II, 544.

44Ball 1981, 216; Ladd 1956, 32; Rasmussen MS 1983, 71.45Dillenberger 1960, 118f, 126; Manuel 1974, 48.461. Newton "Fragment from a Treatise on Revelation " in

Manuel 1974, 113f. '

36

"certain that the church shall at length attain to theunderstanding thereof."

Daniel, Newton claimed, was the key to all other prophecy, and"to reject his [Daniel's] Prophecies is to reject the Christian reli-gion.?" In his exegesis he, unlike Mede or many of hiscontemporaries, did not give any date or year from which aterminus could be calculated. Instead he specified the timevaguely, at "about the time of the invasion of the Barbarousnations and their erecting several Kingdoms in the RomanEmpire," and "it being certain that 1200 of the 1260 years arerun out already.?" The manuscript of this statement has beententatively dated around 1680 which places Newton close toMede (A.D.476-1736). Whatever the case, the great scientist didnot want to bind himself to a single year.

While Newton was not overly specific on the most significant ofapocalyptic time prophecies, his writings set forth a magnificentprofusion of eschatological detail including a mathematicalfoundation for calculating prophetic time. Newton made theparallel between three and a half years (e.g. Dan 7.25) with 42months (e.g. Rev 13.5) and with 1260 days (e.g. Rev 12.6),which gives 360 days for each prophetic year and 30 days to aprophetic month. Thus, unlike Mede, he disassociated prophetictime from solar or lunar calendars. This model for prophetictime was widely used a century later."

It is of particular interest to note that Newton began countingthe 70 years of Daniel 9.25 from Artaxerxes' decree (Ezra7),which he believed was issued in 457 B.C.51 One cornerstone of

471. Newton "Fragment from a Treatise on Revelation," inManuel 1974, 107-111, 123, 89.

481. Newton 1733, 16f.491. Newton "Yabuda" MS 23.6 in Manuel 1974, 99f.sor. Newton's result was 391 years. PFF II, 666. The

Millerites added 15 days for the "one hour."511. Newton 1733, 130f. Johan Funk (1558), Heinrich

Bullinger (1557), and Jaques Cappell (1624) had proposed 457B.C. as a starting point for this prophecy. PFF II, 582f, 631£.

37

Millerism was thus being laid. Daniel 8.14 meant 2300 yearsaccording to Newton, though without a definite starting point.He strongly opposed any application to Antiochos Epiphanes.t"Manuel summarizes Newton's main contribution aptly:

There was nothing left over, no random wordsstill unexplained, no images that were superfluous .The system was enclosed, complete, and flawless.Newton saw his 'methodizing of prophecy' as anideal scientific structure, exhibiting the greatestpossible simplicity and harmony.f'

3.7 Thomas NewtonThomas Newton, John Gill, and George Stanley Faber wouldrank high in any list of eighteenth and nineteenth centuryexegetes . Of course many other prominent men who pursuedsimilar solutions to the apocalyptic riddle could be mentioned."However, for our purposes these three are important because oftheir likely influence on William Miller.55

Bishop Thomas Newton (1704-1782), was dean of St.Pauls inLondon and bishop of Bristol. In nineteenth-century Americanliterature no other eighteenth-century exegete of prophecies ismentioned more often than he is.56 Bishop Newton'sDissertations on the Prophecies (1754) became immenselypopular. The book was translated into German and Danish andit ran through many Engljsh editions. His thesis on prophecyappears to have had a different purpose from the works ofMede and Sir Isaac Newton though he operates with the same

521. Newton 1733, 123f; PFF II, 662.53Manuel 1974, 98.54pFF III, 263-639.

55See Miller "Address to Believers in All Denominations"in Bliss 1853, 251; Miller 1833, 10, 42 includes a quote fromGill. Cf. Rasmussen Ms 52-57.

56Miller's contemporaries praise T. Newton freely. See e.g.Anderson 1840, 36; Boudinot 1815, 67; Bush 1842, 6; Pym 1839,109; Smith 1808, iii; Starkweather 1843/b, 5; Watkins 1795, 55;etc.

38

fundamental premiseswith Genesis andeschatological prophetthat the whole Bibleon the two adventsused as keys for unlnot be surprising if tThomas Newton's botry harmonizing all tit

Thomas Newton refitNewton's method . HoHe advocated prophincreasing infidelity (were an exact "SUDllexegeted scientifically,'

Part of his propheticmillennium at arouncchronology as suchimportance of the 60(references to it in theinstance he expressecdays/years as well as/years coincides withthe creation.

Emphasis on the (jprophetic Bible study.on chronology into aprophecies of Danielmay not have beenprepare his grand escvalidity of 1843. Whatany part of the Bible

57Southard "The5&J'. Newton 183

IS his exegetical predecessors. He beginsirefully maps traditional Messianic ores. His fundamental idea, like Miller's, isiresents a harmonious chain of prophecyf Christ . Daniel and the Revelation areeking other parts of the Bible. It woulde "Newton" Miller had in his library wasc and that it inspired William Miller toprophecies of the Bible.57

d and systemized Mede's and Sir Isaacever, his ultimate purpose was apologetic.cy as the main argument against thethe age. The prophecies, he believed,ary of the history of the world" when

chronology was to expect the dawn of the6000 Anno Mundi even though biblicaldoes not dominate his thesis. The

I years for him is apparent from repeatedcontext of apocalyptic time prophecy. Forthe idea that the terminus of the 1260that of the 2300 evenings and mornings-he terminus of the sixth millennium from

DO years greatly changed priorities inIt turned any genealogy or any statementime prophecy of equal importance to theand John the Revelator. Newton mayorie inspiration that sparked Miller off toatological scheme with "15 proofs" on thever the case, both men believed that theis primarily prophetic. Both of them did

lome of Wm Miller" Me Oct 26, 1843.715; Rasmussen MS 1983, 75.

II

39

also create a harmony of prophecies in order to interlink all ofthe various lines of prophecies they found.59

There is one essential difference that must be noted whenMiller and Newton are compared. While Newton wrote in amanner that was likely to stimulate chronological speculation henever ventured to commit himself to any single date . Hebelieved that the terminus ad quem can never be seen clearlybefore the time has come." For the 1260 day/year period hesuggested at least three starting points. The earliest is withJustinian's degree (533 AD), the second Phocas ' degree in 606(this had the additional benefit of being also the beginning ofMohammed's rise to power), and the third the early eighthcentury when the pope was established as a "temporal prince."?'The parallel termini, which Newton did not spell out but whichthe reader could easily deduce for himself, were 1793, 1866 andthe late twentieth century. Newton's dates for the 2300days/years (Dan 8.14)62 and his theory of the 6000 years of theworld history" match with the last of the options above.Newton provided the blueprint and left the calculations to hisreaders.

3.8 John GillJohn Gill (1697-1771) was another scholar with whom Miller

59por the apocalyptic 6000 years see T. Newton 1833, 221£,259f. One of the most peculiar interpretations within Millerismis Miller's effort to turn Lev 26 into a time prophecy. For aninteresting use of Lev 26 in T. Newton's writings (though in asomewhat different context from Miller) see e.g. T. Newton1833, 89, 92, 105.

eo.'But as lrenaeus saith in a like case, it is surer and saferto wait for the completion of the prophecy than to conjectureand to divine about It." T. Newton 1933, 222; cf. p. 321.

61T. Newton 1933, 221£; PFF II , 685.62JIe opposed any application to Antiochos, because then

the "sanctuary was not yet cleansed." T. Newton 1833, 259f.63-y'. Newton approved of Ussher's popular chronology

which dated creation to the year 4004 B.C.

40

would have been familiar." He commanded great respect withinthe Baptist denomination and was called "in some respects themost learned man that had yet appeared in our denomination.Nor, indeed, have any equalled him, to the present day, inacquaintance with Hebrew and the Rabbinic literature."85 Gill'smulti-volume commentaries of the Old and the New Testamentcontain thorough expositions of the prophecies.

Gill provided little new for the historicist method. He was abeliever in the year/day method. His terminus a quo for the1260 years of Dan 7.25 was A.D. 606 which made him concludethe prophecy in 1866. Like Thomas Newton he expected theend of the 2300 evenings and mornings at terminus of the6000th year from the creation. Futhermore Gill allows for thepossibility that the number of the beast, 666, might signify years.He did also go beyond the strict year/day principle and heproposed that the two days of Hosea 6.2 signify 2000 years afterwhich the restoration of the Jews will take place. In a modifiedform Miller included all of these viewpoints into his proofs."

3.9 George Stanley FaberThe most productive exegete of the prophecies among Miller'scontemporaries is George Stanley Faber (1773-1854). Accordingto Froom he was "the most voluminous religious writer of hisgeneration.?" There is no certainty as to which of Faber's manycommentaries Miller referred to, when he acknowledged havinga "Faber" in his library." It is likely that it was Dissertation onthe Prophecies, originally published in 1804 and distributed inAmerica in 1808.

Faber's exegesis closely follows that of Mede, the two Newtonsand Gill. He keeps within Daniel and Revelation with the

54Rasmussen MS 1983, 56.65Cramp 1868, 484.66Gill 1809/10, NT 3:792, or 6:327, 334. PFF II, 682-684;

Rasmussen 1983, 78f.67pFF III, 339.66Southard "The Home of Wm Miller" Me Oct 26, 1843.

41

popular terminus of 1866.66 However, contrary to the Newtonshe believed the little horn of Dan 8 to be Mohammedianism." '

Even though Faber comes to a definite year he leaves theactual events ot that year in the shadow. He expected the endof both Papal and Islamic power, "the western and the easternantichrist", but he is ambiguous on whether Christ will thenreign literally or spiritually."

3.10 Historicism in popular commentariesThe work of the leading historicists might have been sufficientin preparing the. ground for the nineteenth-century apocalypticrevivals, There IS, however, another group of writings thatestablished the dominance of this historicist exegesis. Largenumbers of protestant commentary sets were distributed in thefirst half of the century. Most of these were of British origin.P

Froom lists thirteen different Protestant commentaries availablein Miller's time. The grip that historicism had over seriousNorth American exegesis can be seen in that only one of thethirteen commentaries makes Antiochos the only fultillment ofthe. little horn in Daniel 7, two give an option betweenAntiochos and Rome, and the remaining propose the Papacy asthe only solution."

B9Faber 1808, 160-79. Faber later revised his calculation onthe 1260 days/years to run from 604 to 1864. Faber 1828 3'487-95. ' .

1808, 1:211f; Rasmussen MS 1983, 81.71E.g. Faber 1828, 1:xx-xxi, 468-71, 487-95. Rasmussen MS

1983, 81.72Commentary sets were used widely especially by the

clergy. For further examples of 19th Century exegetical literaturesee e.g. PFF IV, 82-410.

73PFF W, 329f. However, it must be noted that Froom isoptimistic in classifying some of these commentators into thehistoricist camp. instance, Matthew Henry (1662-1714) in hisSlX volume J!X.poSltlOn of the Old and New Testament is so terseand guarded m. his comments on apocalyptic prophecy that hecannot not be listed as a supporter of historicism.

42

While the concordance was regarded as more valuable than acommentary there are some commentaries which were significantfor the continuous historical method. One of these was the sixvolume commentary by Thomas Scott (1747-1821), originallypublished 1788-92, and produced in America in 1804-9. At leasteight reprints were made of the American edition. In hiscomments Scott follows the two Newtons and Faber. Like themhis 1260 years began in 606 A.D . and ended in 1866.74

Another very influential commentary was Adam Clarke's (1762-1832) eight volume Commentary and Critical Notes. Americaneditions of this commentary were produced almostsimultaneously with the British ones (1810-25). Clarke isparticularly effective in the area of chronology. His commentaryincludes exhaustive chronological tables and with exact datingfor every incident. He also prints his prophetic times boldlyincluding a count on the number of years one must wait to seefulfillment, The 1260 years he began with Pepin's giving powerto pope Stephen II in 755, thus ending in 2015 A.D., though healso notes the 1798 date as a turning point marking the beginn-ing of the downfall of the papacy. Miller chose the latter datefor his terminus of the same prophecy. In regard to the 2300years his commentary gives the dates from 334 B.C. to 1966A.D.75

The only important American commentary at the time was thatof William Jenks (1788-1866) Comprehensive Commentary on theHoly Bible (1834-8) which followed British historicism except inadvocating postmillennialism."

3.11 Contemporary British premillennialismIn America Millerism emerged as the largest premillennialistgroup of nineteenth century. Several historians have noted thefact that in Britain there was a contemporary premillennialawakening. This revival was led by Cuninghame, Bickersteth,

74Scott 185!.75Clarke n.d., vol IV, 603-613.76Cf. PFF W, 125f.

43

Birks,. and .The exegesis of these men spread toand tunmg of the two revivals and the apparent

similarity of their doctrine tempts one to conclude that therewas some kind interdependence between the two revivals."Such 1S, however, vigorously denied by Froom." Asthe eVldence. up, one cannot determine with certaintythat the British revivalists and Miller worked out their viewsunaware of each other.

. three. reasons against Miller's being influencedby the British views. First, Miller and Millerites do refer to the

Protestant c:ommentators," chiefly Mede, the Newtons,an? Gill, bU:t 1S no to the nineteenth-century

Second, L1tCh, one of Miller's leadingassistants, wr:ote 184:4 that the British revivalists did not "gainmuch attention in this country, until after Mr . Miller hadlab?red for a. number of years."? Third, Rasmussen mistakenlyclauns that Miller expected a heavenly millennium in contrast tothe premillennialists who believed that Christ would reign

this e3!th for tho.usand years." In reality there is littledifference m the Millennial teaching of the two groups.

. argument is not impeccable. Miller could haveobtained cop!es of the millennialist journal, The ChristianObserver which was published from 1802 in London, with

American editions. After he had formulated his mainattacked the concepts of the

E?g1ish literalists,. acknowledging his awareness of their.and. There is, however, no direct proof of

early British literalist influence on Miller.

77PFF W, 189-90; Ladd 1965, 35f., 42.76Sandeen, "Millenarianism" in ROA; Sandeen 1970, 50f.79PFF W, 518.SOLitch "Rise and Progress of Adventism" ASR May 1844,

pp. 46-93. '81Rasmussen MS 1983, 89-91.82Miller 18421c, 83-86.

44

The striking similarity between these British literalists and Milleris in the timing of the prophecies. Of all the historicistsmentioned earlier in this study no one published the very dateswhich were essential for the Millerites. Yet every one of Miller'stermini ad quem can be found in The Christian Observer. InEngland the Albury conferences of the 1820's concluded thatthe second Advent would occur in 1843 or 1847. Both of thesedates became popular in America. Edward Irving, and HenryDrummond, William Miller's English counterparts were par-ticipants in these conferences." Furthermore the FrenchRevolution was claimed to mark the end of the Papal powerand of the 1260 years. Likewise the prophecy of Dan 8.14 wasfrequently explained in conjunction with Dan 9.24-27, a her-meneutical device of great value to Miller. Thus the year 457B.C. could be proposed as the terminus a quo of the 2300evenings and mornings or years." Cuninghame also presented aprophecy on the jubilees, which is another match with Miller'sexegesis." Overall there is more than passing resemblancebetween the hermeneutic of the two revivals.

Outside of actual British premillennialism one may note that thewritings of enthusiasts like Lacunza and Joseph Wolff were atleast partly available in the English language. Irving himselfprovided one translation of Lacunza's text.88 Because JohnWesley's had endorsed Johan Albrecht Bengel's complicatedmathematics for a parousia in 1836 this year was expounded asthe year of the end." It is likely that also this date was familiarto William Miller. 88

83Sandeen 1970, 18-22.54For a convenient summary of the hermeneutic in The

Christian Observer see PFF III, 283-97. One of the pointsfrequently debated in the magazine is whether 2200, 2300, or2400 is the correct figure for Dan 8.14.

55Cuninghame 1840a, xiii.88Sandeen 1970, 11, 19. (Lacunza's work was translated by

Edward Irving.)87Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament,

quoted in PFF II, 692-4.88B[rinsmead] 1979, 19. Cf. PFF II, 709-713.

45

3.12 American contributionIn North America indigenous time-setting sprang up. Miller hada host of contemporaries interested millennialism. Around 1835/6eight year old Ellen G. Harmon, better known as Ellen G.White, a and co-founder of Seventh-day Adventism,found a slip of paper on the street. The paper contained sucha calculation. She was filled with terror at the thought of a

end to the world ." While the origin and details of thistime prophecy are unknown, several individuals counting theyears for the eschaton are known. The years were frequently1843, 1844, 1847, or 1866/8.90 The disposition of many wasexpressed in J.P. Wheethee's words: "the last sands are droppingfrom the glass of time; the great time-bell is about to toll thehour of midnight,'?'

3.12.1 Some features of American literatureAn examination of early nineteenth-century American literatureon prophecies leaves one in no doubt about the strength of thehistoricist exegesis. The names of Mede, the two Newtons or ofFaber are m.entioned uncounted times. There is not the slightestd?ubt that literally thousands of Miller's contemporaries sharedhis method as well as his imaginative approach to the problemsof prophecy. On the sensational side of American exegesis one

. de.tails concerning particulars on prophetictermini, including a dated parousia,92 the eastern question orthe future of Islam,93 prophetic solutions to the internationai ordomestic politics of the day,9<4 the return of Jews,95 peculiar

1915, 20.

90PFF W, 370-81 mentions Shimeall, McGrecor WheelerWheetee, Shannon, and Robinson in support of these dates. '

91Wheetee, "Letter March 17, 1843" ST Apr 5 1843; PFFW,376 . '

Whi92E.g. Pym 1839, 52; Roberts 1828, 71; Rudd 1734, 418;te 1823, lOf; etc.

93E.g. Morse 1810, 6; Rudd 1734 15' Smith 1811, 101;White 1823, 10f; True 1834, 6; etc. "

9<4E.g. Thorp 1841, 82; Thompson 1812, Bf; etc.

46

typological prophecies from Israel's sanctuary service or theJubilees," calculations on the 6000 year theory," or likeproblems.

As far as time prophecies are concerned American expositionshave been well tabulated by Froom." The tables are, however,misleading. They give the impression that everyone wascalculating times for the parousia the way Miller did. There areindeed many calculations'" but if one searches the availableliterature for elements that match with Miller's exegesis theresult is disappointing. Similarities are largely superficial. A highdegree of common outlook can only be found between Millerand the British apocalyptics.

3.13 Miller's relationship to other historicistsIt appears to have been a matter of honor for William Millerand his supporters to claim that Miller's exegesis was fullyoriginal. There are several distinct statements on Miller'scomplete independence. Those involved in the revival were notprepared to acknowledge their hermeneutical roots. For instance,in 1843 Southard wrote that Miller "never had a commentary inhis house, and did not remember reading any work upon theprophecies except Newton and Faber, about thirty years ago."100Miller himself repeated this claim to originality adding that "all"preconceived opinions were laid aside when he conducted hisresearch. His apologists, Nichol, Damsteegt and Froom, interpretthis to mean that Miller was unaware of any parallel

95Wintrop 1843, 112f; Spalding 17%, 5; White 1806, 19-21& passim; Ramsay 1841, 24f; Rudd 1734, 10, 214; etc.

seE.g. Dickinson, chart 4.s7E.g. Dickinson 1843, 8; Chamberlain 1805, 93.98PFF W, 392-405.

amount of speculation on the date of the end issufficient to challenge Anderson's conclusion that the datedparousia was a scandal. A milder word would do better justiceto the situation. cr. Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy"in Numbers & Butler 1987, 89.

1°OSouthard "The Home of Wm Miller" Me Oct 26, 1843.

47

interpretation while unknowingly and unintentionally being inline with "some of the finest minds".'?'

However, from Southhard's comment as well as from the actualMillerite exegesis one can reasonably draw the conclusion thatwhen Miller launched his Bible study around 1816 he was atleast aware of Newton's (whether Sir Isaac or Thomas isuncertain) and Faber's interpretation. This conclusion isconfirmed by the occurrence of other references to the pioneersof historicism. In another context Miller is quoted mentioningthe two Newtons together with Joseph Mede. Futhermore Millerreveals firsthand familiarity with Gill as he is directly quoted.'?"

Mede, the two Newtons, Faber and Gill are all men whosework was at the very centre of the historicist tradition. Millerworked in no vacuum, and he is known to have been an avidreader'P" and he may well have studied a number of the wellknown as well as the less known exegetes of prophecy. It ispossible that he wanted to improve on the variantinterpretations and to create such a harmonious interpretationthat it would be above dispute.'?'

3.14 SummaryThe elements that made up the historicist interpretation grewup over a millennium from the early church to the late middleages. These included the continuous application of propheticsymbols from time of Babylon to the present age, the year-day hermeneutic of prophetic time, and the identification of thepapacy with the little horn. The full package of historicism was

101Miller 1845, 6. Bliss 1853, 69f. PFF W, 462-9; Nichol1944, 150 fn., "-- he came to his conclusions exclusively througha study of the Bible and reference to a concordance." Cf.Damsteegt 1977, 18 fn.

102Miller "Address to Believers in Christ m AllDenominations", in Bliss 1853, 251; Miller 1833 10 42. Cf.Hawley "The Voice of the Second Advent Sustained by theVoice of the Church" ST, June 7, 1843.

l03Nichoi 1944, 2Of.104Cf. Rasmussen MS 1983, 55f; PFF W 66.

48

drawn together by Joseph Mede aided by the conceptions andmethods of Protestant scholasticism. The system was refined andclarified by reputable eighteenth-century scholars whose researchwas at the time widely acknowledged. Historicism was the mostpopular method of prophetic exegesis from late seventeenth tomiddle nineteenth century.

No North American Protestant inter est ed in Biblical propheciesin the early half of nineteenth century could avoid encounteringthe traditional historical method. The books of the pioneers ofthe method were widely available in reprints, the method waspromoted by popular commentary sets , and by a host ofindigenous writers whose ba sic outlook stemmed fromhistoricism but who tried to press their own peculiar notionsinto the field of apocalyptic interpretation. If one looks forclose equations between Miller and othe r exegetes, one has toturn to Gill, the two Newtons as well as the Britishprernillennial revivali sts .

49

4 MILLER'S VIEW OF PROPHECYAND HISTORY

4.1 The basic premise of Miller's exegesisMiller's fundamental aspiration was to create a harmonious andsystematic expos ition. He wrote: "God in his wisdom had so

several prophecies, that they tell us the samethings. -- There never was a book writt en that has a betterharmony." words "harmony" , and ."iIltcrwovcn." ':l re the keywords. For ..the -whole Bible was a coherent system. 'of

Subsequently all exegesis must be seen as piecesthe consistent de sign which he believed to lie behind any

subject, whether time pr ophecy, the rise and fall of historiu;1kingd oms, millennialism, or the fat e of the Jews.

has been rec ogniz ed. There is nothingsurpnsmg. 10 t.lllS because It would be no great exagge ration tosay that In this respect he was like cvervbodv else ." For Mille rthe _whole Bible belonged togeth er . Th e task the exege te wasto fwd it slot into .which every prophecy fitted. Re ferring to hislong and solita ry Bible study he wro te : "I was thus satisfied thatthe Bible is a of revealed tru ths, so clearly and simplygwen that the wayfari ng man, though a fool, need not errtherein ."? He felt that the pieces of the punk had fallen inplace.

'Miller lk42/b , 4.2Sandeen "Millcnnialisrn" RO' A 1121'In /1. , .

3RJiss 1853, 20.

50

4.2 Rules of interpretationInterpr et arion was to be guided by proper rules which wouldprovide consistency. William Miller present ed a set ofhermeneuti cal canons which received wide circulation among theM illcrite s . Mille r originally p ub lish ed his fourteen rules in lS40·After a few re p rints" (with m inor modifications) they wereedited by Apollos Hale and republished in a streamlined andmor e logical set of thirtee n rule s which were printed in theSecond A dven t Manual. " Because of its early and wid edis:ribution Millcr's original version is preferable i;l spite of itsless fl uent sequence.

In recent years these rule s have been repu blished several times. 'However. because discussion on the ramification of the rules hasnot ;"(:: t been exhausted. the rules arc repeat ed once more withhints on their implicatio ns. Miller' s rules arc a convenientstarling point because they express his method of interpreti ngthe Bible in a concise form. With these rules. Miller claimed ,no dOC need to "err far from the truth." He prefaced the ruleswith the words: "Evcrv rule should be well studied, in connexionwith the scr ipture refe rences, if the Bible student would be ata ll hc: ncli led by th e m." The Bihli cal refe re nc e s, or the "proof-"as they were cal led, are as follows:

"Miller "Miller's Lett ers No. ') ST May 15, 184(} Thi soriginal version was most exhaustive of all with even ' Biblereference printed out and with editorial comment s. .

5E. g . Miller "Rules of .,:' JI,f C Nov 17, 1842. See also (/ OPIR42/j, 20-24.

e./iAM, 103-6. Cf. Darnstcegt 1977, 299f. Hale's versionomits rule HI and the second sentence of rule no. X. Oneshould also nutc that Miller's first effort of crea ting guide linesis in Evi 1833. Miller was not the only one to guidelinesfur among the Millerit cs. Sec e.g. R. "Second Coming--. .\ r Apr il 15, 184<1. See App endix I.

'E.g. Harri son 1979, 201lf. Judd "William Miller,Disappointed Proph et" in Number & Butler 1987, 20r.Damstccgt J977 , 29Yf used the edited version of the rules.

"M ille r "Rules of --" ,'vIC Nov 17, IS42.

51

I. Every word must have its proper bearing onthe subject present ed in the Bible . Proof. Mall.v.18.

II. .All Scripture is necessary, and rnav beunderstood by a diligent application and study.Proofs. 2Tim. iii. IS, 10,17.

[II. Nothing revealed in Scriptures can or will behid from those who ask in faith, not wavering.Pr oofs. Deut. xxix.29. Matt. x.26,27. lCor ii.IOPhil. iii.IS. 1sa. xlv.l I. Matt. xxi.n. Joh. xivl], 14.xv.7. James i.5,6. IJohn \'.13,14,1 5,

IV . To under sta nd doctrine, bring all theScriptures together on the subject you wish to

then leI word have its prope rm,tluence; and "can -form- . yoilrtheoryWithout a contnf'dictton, vou cannot be in crrurProufs. Isa. x..wiii.7-2S1. xxxv.S. Pro vo xix.27.xxlv.27,41,45. Rom. xvi.2n. James v. Iv , 2Pcti.19,20. .

V must be its own: expositor, since it isa rule 111 Itself. If I depend on a teacher to

to me, and he should guess at its mean-mg,. or to be thought . wise, then his guessing,desire, creed or Wisdom , IS my rule, not the Bible,

VI. God has revealed things to come. bv visions.10 . figures and par ab les ; and in this way 'the samethIngs arc (? ftcn revealed time and time again, bvdilferen! visions, or in different anllparables. It you WISh to understand them, voumust combine them all In one, P ru ols . . Ps .lxxxix.Iv, [-Ill:-.. xi i. Jt) Hab. ii.2. Acts ii.l! . lCorX(, . Hcb, ix.<J ,24. Ps, lxxviii.Z, Man. xiii.L\,:q C;cn:xlt. l-J2. Dan. ii.vi i. <Inti viii. Act s x.')-[Ii.

VII. Visions are always ment ioned as such. Proof.2C·or. xii. l .

VIII. Figures always have a figurative meaning,and arc used in proph ecy to representfutur e things, limes and events: such asmountain s, meaning beasts, meaningkingdoms; Waters, meanin g people. Lamp, meaning

52

Word of God. Day;""'memllng yefU,,'J, Proofs. Dan.ii.35,44. vii.8,17: Rev. xvii. 1,15. Ps . cxix.105. Ezek .iv.6.

IX. Parables are used as comparisons to illustr atesubject, and must be explained in the same wayas figure s, by the subj ect and Bible. Mark iv.B.See expl anati on of the ten virgins, Mi ller'sLectures, No xvi.

X. Figures some times have two or mor e differ entsignifications , as day is used in a figur at ive senseto represent thr ee different peri ods of time. 1.Indefinite. 2. Definite, a day for a year. 3. D ayfor a thousand years. If you put on the rightconstruction it will harmonize with the Bible andmake good sense, otherwise it will not. Pr oofs.Eccles. vii.14. Ezek. iv.6. 2Pet. iii.8.

Xl. How to know when a word is usedfiguratively. If it makes good sense as it stands,and does no violence to the simple laws ofnature, then it must be understood literally, ifnot, figurat ively. Proofs . Rev. xii.l ,2.xvii.3-7.

XlI. To learn the tru e meaning of figures, traceyour figur ative word through your Bible, andwhere you find it exp lained , put it on your figure,and if it makes good sense you need look no-further , if not , look again .

XIII . To know whether we have the truehistori cal event for the fulfillment of a prophecy.If you find every word of the pr ophecy (after thefigures are understood ) is liter ally fulfilled , thenyou may know that your history is the tru e event.But if one word lacks fulfillment , then you mustlook for another event, or wait its futuredevelopment. For God takes care that histor y andpr ophecy doth agree , so that the true be lievingchildren of God may never be ashamed. Proofs.Ps. xxii.5. Isa, xlv.17,18,19. 1Pet. ii.6. Rev.xvii.17.Acts iii.18.

XIV. The most import ant rule of all is that youmust have faith. It must be a faith that requir es asac rifice, and, if tri ed , would give up the dearest

. 1!

II

I

·1I' 1!

53

object on ea rth, the world and all its desires,cha racte r, living, occupation, frie nds, home,comforts , and worldly honors. If any of theseshould hinder our believing any pa rt of God'sword, it would show our faith to be vain. Norcan we ever be lieve so long as one of the semotives lies lurking in our hearts. We mustbelieve that God will never for feit his word. Andwe can have confide nce that he tha t takes noticeof the Sfarrow , and numbers the hairs of ourhead , wil guard the translation of his own word,and throw a barrier around it, and pr event thosewho sincerely trust in God, and put implicitconfidence in his word , from erring far from thetr uth, though they mav not und erstand Hebrew orGr eek.9 ' -

These ru les refle ct the indepe ndence, the intellectual level, ,ISwell a., the type of mind Miller ism catered for. They encouragea do-it-yourself approa ch to the Scr iptures, intended to providethe active layman with a rationale for believing in the Milleritechrono logy of the end.

4 .3 Observa tions on Miller's rules

The re are a number of obse rvations that should be made onMille r's rules. Their repetitive and arg umentat ive style is typicalof ninetee nth-cen tur y religious writing. What is essential is tonote what t-,,1iller include s as well as what he OIll IlS .f urthermo re one must keep in mind tha t even though some ofthe rules seem to apply to gene ral Biblical exegesis, the ircontext in the Millerite revival presupposes that their primaryintention lies within the sphere of prophetic exegesis. All of therule s. whether they mention prop hecy or not, are relevant withinthe framework of continuous histor ical interpret ation ofprophecy.

9VOp 1842/j, 20-24. Cf. Miller "Miller's Lett er s No. 5-·" STMay 15, 184D; Miller "Rul es of .. » M e Nov 17, 1R42; Bliss 1B53,7() ·72; -r. Harrison 1979, 20nr. J udd "William Miller ,Disappointed Prophet" in Numbe r & Butler 1987, 20r. Sec alsos.o«, 103-6; Darnstcegt 1977, 299f.

54

4 .3.1 Scriptural analogySeve ral among Miller 's hermeneutical precepts encourage Sc rip -tural analogy.'? The idea of the Bible being its own exposi to rwas the backbon e of historicism from its beginning. Mede, thepion eer of the method, had alr eady been convinced of a needfor comparing "Scripture with Scr ipture" in order to find "thepr op er and genuine use of th e like Words and Phrases inseveral passages of Scripture." 1 In pr actice thi s exegetical devicemeant tha t the mo st impo rta nt tool of th e interpreter was aconcordance through which he could find correlating Biblicaltexts. T hese "proof texts" were then collec te d into a clus te r todemonstr a te the correct meaning of a word in need of aninte rpr etation ,

In pra ctice thi s meant th at for any pr ophetic word, be ahorn , a lion, a dragon, a day , or the moon, the exegete 's firstta sk was to trace the use of the particular word in the entireBibl e. Then the meaning that was appro priate within the contextwas chose n, In the framework of unilateral biblicism suchco ncl usions are perfectly logical, even though the original intentof the word, sensus litteralis historicus, was frequently over-looked .T he metaphor s were thought of as codewords, "decor ativesubstitutes" to be exchanged with the liter al, non -symbol icmeaning." There are, however , a few inst ances in which theactual character of a met aphor is conside red. For instanceMill er writes about th e power and ru le of a lion, th e ce le rity ofa leop ard , th e voraciousness of a bear and the submissivenature of an OX.'3

This principle meant th at the concordance was more importa ntth an a comme ntary for a truly Biblical interpret ati on of a text.

" Rules IV, V, VI, IX, X, XII. VOP 1842/j, 20-24. Cf. alsoMill er 1845, 6.

" Worthingon "Preface to Med c's Works" in Mede 1663/4,no page numbers; Rasmussen 1983, 71.

12Porte r 1983, ix.' 3Miller 1836, 3f. Cf. Darnstecgt 1977, 18,

.......•

.t

II:-1. i,

55

Miller was proud of his indep endent applica tion of Biblicalanalogy.

I det ermined to lay aside all my prepo ssessions,to tho ro ughly compa re Scr ipture with Scr iptur e ,and to pu rsue its study in a regular andmeth odic al mann er. I commenced with Ge nesisand read verse by verse."

Virtua lly every pie ce of exegetical writing by the Millcritesreflect s this con co rd ance logic. T he text or the subjec t und erinterpret ation is cla rified by appropriate parallel texts on thekey words of the opening text. When the subjec t was the nsurr ounded with ana logous texts, the reader was induced toconclude like Sir Isaac Newt on in his use of the same prin cipal."< -thcre is no gro und in Scripture for any othe r intcr prcration.'"

4 .3.2. Importance of words

T he usc of a con cordan ce in this exege ses had (\ pro foundimpact on Miller's conclusions. Th e exegesis of a text wasba sica lly an exer cise in find ing out the mcanmg of eve ryind ivid ua l word in the text. Sever a l of Miller 's rules reflect Ihisemphasis on single words." II IS no wonde r, then, 1ha tMille rism ce nte red on wor ds like "Babylon," "day,' "sanctuary."the cle ansing," "the seve nt h month," and so on .

One fruitage of this was the publication of a small pr opheticdictiona ry. T his eight page glossary, Explanation of propheticfIgures had nearl y 140 entries, The contents ope n with "adu lte ry"an d close with "wrath, day of ' both of which arc interp reted ina prophet ic sense , In the glossa ry one finds obvious exp lanationslike: 'DAY, is one year - revolution of the earth in its orbit.:'\ullu iv..14. E / c. iv.5,fj . Dan. vii.2.r "HORN. Kings. Dan.vii.24.\ iii.20,21. Rcv.xvii.lz.I ri." SEA. A large body of people .Is,t.lvii.2ll. Dan .vii.J , Rev.vii.z.J ." But there ar c also many words

"'Bliss 1853, 6. Cf. Sou tha rd ''The Horne of· ·" Me Oct 26,Ui43.

" Newton "Fragments from--" in Manuel 1974, 1Hi." Rules T, IV, VIII, X, X I, X II. VO? 1842/j, 20-24.

56

with no obvious connec tion with apo calyptic prophecy. Forinstance: "BELLY. Practical part. Rom.xvi.18. Job xv.35.Rev.x.9,1O. Luke xv.16. John vii.38." "BREASTS. Consolation ,word of God . Isa.lxvi.1l."'7 It must have been a chall enge to usesuch mean ings consistently as rule XII suggests.

4.3 .3 Unilateralism and literalismMiller fully identified with what can be termed unilater alBibJicism. He believed that an answer to a problem in, forinstance , the hook of Daniel can as natu rall y be found withinthe boo k of Ge nesis as in that of Revelation . Th e fact that hemade no distinc tion between the various pa rts of the Biblemade his cherished concordance method possible. It is nowonder that this hermeneutic has also been named the prooftext method . However , in Miller 's case the goa l was one offindin g "proof words" as well as proof texts.

Such unilat er alism is expressed several times in the rul es." Thiswas a time when there were generally few doubts conce rningthe absolute uniformity of the Scriptures among AmericanProtestan ts." Th is characteristic was combined with a type ofliter alism. While many pre-historicist exege tes and even ahandful of Miller's contemp orar ies followed trad itions begun byOrigen or Augustine who allegori zed Scr ipturalmeanings never intended by the authors , the Milleritcs, Withot her historicists, did their share of violence to the or iginalintent of the Biblical au thor by insisting upon a fulfillment ,liter al to the de tail, wherever possible." The Alaine WesleyanJourna l gives a contemporary opini on that "Mr. Miller is a greatstriclcr [sic] for literal interpretations; never admitting the

'7VOp 1842/j, 25--31. Cf. Anon. "Mr. Miller " 57 May 15,1841.

" Rules II, IV, V, VI, IX, X, XII. VOP 1842/j , 20-24 .

" Rogerseclvlck.im 1979, 265-322. Sandeen thatthere was virtually no debate over the absolute authority andinfallibility of the Scriptures, "Millennialism" in ROA , 112f.

20RuJe XI. VOP 1842/j , 20-24.

..!1

57

figurative, unless abso lutely required to make correct sense ofmeeting the event which is intended to be point ed OUt.,,2t

This was not, however, literalism ill the Mop suestian sense. Itwas founded on the commonly accepted concept of a mysticalmeaning behind Biblical words and it presup posed a pa rticula rview of inspirati on . Subseq uently, not everyone agrees with theassessment on Miller 's literalism. Because he freely app lies O ldTcs ta rnc n t symbols tn Chri stian doc trine and history andove r looks a liter al application to J ewish history, he has alsobee n rat ed a spiritual rather than a literal intcrprctcrj" Suchconfusing assessmen ts arc due to an ambivalence in the meaningof the "literal" and "spiritual.' However, !1l1 nne can denythe fact that M iller's p ro phetic inte r pret at io ns cente r aroundconcret e histori cal events ami arc. in this sense, uu er lvliteralistic.23 . .

4 .3 .4 Millerite VIew on Biblical languages

The charac ter of Millerite exegesis is mad e clear by the factthat the rules play down linguistic study as well as historical orcultural resea rch . This is not done by omission only, but isclea rly stat ed in rule XIV:

-- he that takes not ice of the sparrow, andnumbers the hairs of our head, will guard thetranslation of his own word, and throw a barrieraro und it, and pr even t those who sincerely trustin God -- from erring far from the tru th, thoughthey may not understand Hebrew or Greek .'?"

This statement could be inter pre ted as negative evidence on theintellectual level of Millcri sm. However, it can also he taken asi\ clever way of apo logizing for the lack of learned men in

2·"Mr. Miller " Maine Wesleyan Iournat , March 20, 1840 .\ 'l illcr agreed with the statement: "I have found one honesteditor.' I/OP 1842/j , [G.

2?Rowe MS !tJ74, 196.23Cf. Ramm It)70, 24 1-244.24SA M, 106.

58

Millerite ranks. Or one may also look upon it from the anglethat with this rule Miller exhorts laymen to study the Scripturesfor themselves, independently of theologians who, after all, werelikely to discredit Millerite viewpoints. There is an excellentillustration of this in Miller's debate with Dr. Stuart whopublished a set of rules with emphasis on the historical context:

The meaning of the Bible, of any passage thereof,is not to be determined by modem notions; butwe must go back to the times and modes ofthinking of the sacred writers themselves. --Regard must be had to the controversies of theage in which the sacred writers lived and wrote."

Miller comments:

On the first impressions, without vanation, Ishould pronounce it one of the most skepticalworks that I have read for twenty years.':"

Overall Miller's rules demonstrate distrust for accepted creedsas well as for the scholarship of religious teachers."

4.3.5 Resistance to historical critical influence

It will come as no surprise to discover, that the Millerites sidedwith the majority of American protestants in their total andhighly emotional rejection of "neology," theological researchemploying the historical critical method." The first reports ?fGerman critical Biblical scholarship reached North America 111

Miller's day." The issues were, of course, especially sensitive tothe Millerites when the authorship or the fulfillment of

25Miller "Review of 'Hints on Prophecy,' by M. Stuart" STNov 23, 1842.

26M iller "Review of 'Hints on Prophecy.' by M. Stuart" STNov 23, 1842.

27Rules V, XIV. VO? 1842/j, 20-24.

28Ahlstrom 1975, 277; Clements 1976, 2-8.

29Millerites regularly reported on new developments. Anon.'The Tendency to German Neology" ST June 21, 1843 ridiculesthe conclusions of Semler and Eichorn. See also Whiting Uj44.

59

prophecies, in particular the book of Daniel, was in question.Because they believed that their interpretation was the logicalabsolute of conservative Christianity, they had reason to suggestthat some churches promoted modern notions to counteract Mil-lerism."/It is likely that the name of Antiochos Epiphancs was frequentlythrust into the debate because Millerism was so popular."Miller's rules take no direct notice of these theologicalcontroversies, but their disposition is clearly for a conservative,biblicist view against one where the original historical mcamngof a text is sought after.32 ..

4.3.6 Lack of Christocentricity

Finally, and possibly most significantly, one can consider what isomitted in Miller's rules. Thev make no mention of Christ. ofsalvation or of the gospel. This matches the ncar total lack ofdevotional writing in Millerite periodicals.f In spite of the factthat some historicists outside of Millerism sought to interpretprophecies with a Christocentric method'" only few Milleritesexpressed any concern about this. Dr. Henry Dana Ward withthe following comment is an exception rather than the rule:

'The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."0:0 matter where the prophecy is found, whetherin the Old or New Testament, one spirit animatesthe page; the testimony it bears is still to Jesus;and that interpretation is to be preferred whichtestifies of Jesus. h The Old Testament ought

:;0Anon. "The Neology of the Church" Af! April 3, 1844;Anon. "The Methodists also on the Road to German Neology"Al-i April 17, 1844.

J1Sec Bush 1842; Colver 1843; Stuart 1842.

32Rulcs XIV, XIII, V. VO? I842/j, 20-24.33See Appendix II.J4E.g. Vitringa's canons were published in the Investigator.

"Tht; infallible key is the right knowledge of Jesus Christ--".Vllnnga "On the Interpretation of Prophecy," IE? IV:157-169.

60

always to be interpret ed In holy co nformity to theNew Test ament. "

Dr. Ward, an episcopalian rector, was a leading figure in theearl y ph ases of the Millerite revival but he was lat er quie ted byzealous tim e se tti ng and liter alism towards th e end of themovement." Subseque ntly it is not surprising to find th at forsome post Millerite gr oups it took de cades to begin a se riousdiscussion on sootcriology."

However, one must not conclude that the lack of Christo logicalco nte nt in M iller 's rul es is a sign of a lack in persona l piet y. Itis rather an indication of Miller 's stro ng endorsement of theprevailing Biblicisrn which mad e th e Bibl e a co llection of tru thson all ma tters. H is enthus iasm on the eschaton crowded outsome of th e devotiona l conte nt they ce rtainly believed in. T hegenera l argumenta tive style of his wr iting lead s him , in almostevery document, to prove points related to pr ophecy. This leftno room for sa lvifie sides teps .

4.3.7 The influence and function of hermeneuticalrulesPro per rules we re regarded as keys for unl ocking the otherwisemysteriou s symbols of th e apocalypt ic. "PROPH ECY, likeScie nce," wrote Faber, "has its own peculiar language. Forunderstanding the prophecies, therefore, as Sir Isaac Newton ju stlyobserves, we are, in the first place, to acquaint ourselves with thefigurati ve language of the prophets ."38 Faber co ntinues bycomparing prophecies to hieroglyphics which ca n only bedeciphered wit h co rr ec t information , a Rosella stone. whi ch the

35Ward 1843, 5.

36PFF IV, 569-576.37E .g. SDAs had their sooteriological ensIS III 1888. E .G.

White supported traditional protestant values together with EJ .Waggon er and A.T . Jones. See Froom 1971; O lsen 1966; Linden1982.

38Faber 1828, 1:2. Cf. Newton 1733, 16.

61

hist orical method pr ovid ed and expressed III rul es like those ofMiller 's."

Hermeneutical rules were writt en to remove ambiguity from theinte rpreta tion of pr ophet ic symbols. Th e laws of th e Bible we reregarded a replica of those found in nature . The sear ch fo rsuch rules was regarded as a scientific and schola rly e nterp risewith ,111 exact ma thematical foundation." Mill er 's rules addedrespectability to his exegesis. E llen CJ. White re ported yea rslat e r th at the opponents of Millcr isrn were un able 10 disproveMiller 's co nclusions because they wer e based on such carefullythought out pr inc ip les." rules a lso had long termconseque nce s. They mak e it ea sier to underst and someexegetical or doctrinal conclusion s of var iou s Advent ist churchesor even Je hovah's Witnesse s.

T he rules show that th e Miller ites took the task of inte rpret ingthe Bible seriously. In his comment s on the M illeritcs WhitneyCross suggests th at they ca nno t be regar ded "victims (;1'eco nomic change, or hypn ot ized followe rs of a maniac, thrownint o promine nce merely by freak coincide nce" beca use the la rgerpart of Amer ican P rotes tantism came close to th eir be liefs."Their doc trine," he continues, "was th e logical absol ute offund amental ist or thodoxy. '?"

J9-j'he confidence placed on such ru les is obvious inFaber's words. "In the use of this language the re is by nomean s th at ob scuritv and unce rt aint y, which some ha lf infideI

pr etend.. -- They. might just as reasonably th rowaside a Chinese inscnpuon , as incapable of being decypher ed.With out a key, neither ca n be understo od : but when a key isproduced, th e book will very readily be opened." Faber 1828,12. Cf. Faber IH28, 2.

4°T he laws of th e Bible were regarded a replica of those111 nat ure with an exact mat hematical founda tion. Ma nuel 1974,(JR .

4'Wh ile IlJ l1 , 405f; 411; "Not es on Travel" RH Nov 21,IK84.

., 2Cr05s 1965, 320.

62

4.4 Millerite confession of faithFU . 'DAMENTAL PRINCIPLESon which theSECOND ADVENT CAUSE IS BASED

I.-The word of God tea ches th at the ea: th is tobe regenerated in the restitution . of all things, andrestored to the Eden state as It came t: om th eha nd of th e Maker before th e fall, and .IS to b.ethe eternal ab ode of the righteou s III th ei rresurrection state .

Il-The only Mill ennium found in th e .word ofG od is the 1000 years which ar c tobe tween \he fir st and the second asbrough t to view in the 20th Andth e "various portion s of Sc riptu re .. . arcadduced as evide nce of such a III liI,ne,arc to have their fulfillment only 10 th e NewEarl h, wher ein dwclkth right eousness.

Ill. -Th e on ly rest oration of Isr ael yet future . isthe res toration of the Sa ints to the new Eart h,whe n the Lord my God sha ll come, and all hISsa ints with him.

IV.-The signs which we re to precede the comingof our Savio r, have all been given ; andpr ophecies have all been fulfil.led but those whlc.hrelate to th e coming of Chr ist, end of thi swo rld . and th e restitution of all things.

V -Ther c are non e of the prophetic. periods, aswe under st and them, extendi ng beyond the(Jcwis h) year 1843.

VI -Thc abov e we sha ll eve r ma intain as th etruths of th e word of G od , and

therefore till our Lord come, we shall ever look

63

for his return as the next event In historicalprophecy?"

These lines we re writ te n by the ed ito rs of the S igns of th eTimes as an expression of their principal viewpoints. After theSpring of 1843 virtually ever y issue of the Signs of the Times o rTIle A dven t herald carried the "Fundame nta l principles". Thus itmu st .have been th e .fir st sUl1.1mary th at manx peo ple read .on th ete achings of Mill erism, This was the Mill erite confession offaith . Regar dle ss of religiou s ba ckground, everyone who agree don th ese points was accepte d in Millerite fellows hip, even ifthere was variance in min or details.

"Fundamenta l principles" include severa l facto rs which arcimport ant for under stan d ing Mille r's exege tical conclus ions. Theyshow how important prernillenn ialism was for the Millerites.T hey cla im th at "the res toration of the Sai nt s to the new Earth"is the on ly fulfillment of pr ophecies given to Isr ael. [n Miller 'sca se these two ideas arc a requisi te for his finding severa lpr ophecie s wh ich lead to 1843. Furthermore th ey state th at th esigns of the times'" have all been fulfilled and tha t the nexteve nt to be expec te d is the parousia.

The existence of "Fundamenta l Principles" did not mean th atther e was no room for deb at e ove r various Mille rite doctrinesin th eir periodicals. Frequent ar guments included matt ers likethe return of the Jews and the dating of Daniel 's prophecies."?Some of th is debat e is mere promotion of Millerite ideas

4J''F unda me nta l principles" AH Feb 14, 1844. Supplement tothe A H 1844 (no. 17) includes a comme nta ry with a slightlyedi ted text o f the "principles",

44The "signs of the tim es" in Milleri te wr itings means no tonly the synoptic apocalypse but also the boo ks of Dan iel andRevel ati on .

45See e.g . MiIler "Mr. Miller's reply to Cambell, Smith, andothe rs , on the Lillie Horn in Daniel 's four th kingdom" ST Apr il1, lR4{); Cambe ll "Mr. Cambe ll's re ply to Mr. Miller, on theLittle horn in Dani el 's fourth kingdom" ST April 15, 1840;Litc h, .Mr. Li tch's reply to rev. E than Smith, and others on theLitt le I lorn in Dani e l's fourth kingdom" ST May 1, 184{). Someof the art icles were collected into pamphlets like Bush 1844.

64

against their opponents" while some of it IS genuine allowanceof di ffering opinions."

4.5 Return of the JewsMil ler 's Old Testament exegesis would never have pr oduced theresult s it did with out one hermeneutical conclusion. The return,restorat ion, and/o r co nvers ion of the Jews was a most popul areschatological expec tation in ea rly nine teenth century NorthAmerica. It was an ess ential clement of the po pula r postrnil-lc nnialism , bu t also many prcrnill ennialists believed tha tsomething spect acular would happen with the Jews in fulfillmentof O ld Testament prophec ies on the future glory of Israe l. Thiswas looked forward to as the final sign of the times.

Th e lite ralist ic enthusiasm with which the return of the Jewswas expected made men look for the ten lost tribes of Isr ael invari ous pla ces. Som e found them among American Indians . As itproof it was shown tha t ther e were 29 similar words in anInd ian dialect an d the Hebrew. Furthermo re both the Indiansand the Israelit es were well known for their internpcrancc.:"O ther s det ected them among the Ncs torians in Khoor dist an o rother far away places." A liter al return was exp ected to beliteral up to the smallest detail.

Mille r did not share th ese popular nut ions. Mille rite publica tionsmake it abso lutely cle ar that Miller and man y of his follower sbelieved it essential to pr esent a differ ent view on the pr omises

' BE.g. Bliss 1843/a (first published as a se ries in ST andA/ C in the spr ing of 1843); Miller 1842/g (first published in ST,aut umn 1842.

' 7E.g. Cambell was allowed to express freely his propheticexpositions concern ing prophe tic chro nology and the return ofthe Jews even though he held views differ ent from those ofMille r. Cambell "Mr. Cambell on the Return of the Jews" .<; TJune 15, 1840 . By 1842 alti tudes were less relaxed . Sec c.g,Mill er ' Miller' s rcply --" in VOP 1842/j (first published in ST inthe autumn of 1842).

48Smith 1823, 47-68.

49Ramsay 1841, 62.

6S

made for Israel." He makes the following comment on thetopic. The quotation is also an exce llent example of Miller'sstyle of writing:

The substance of the prevailing opinion on thissubject is, that the Jews, the literal descendantsof Jacob, are to be gathered from their dispersedcondition among the nations of the ea rth, andrestor ed to the land of Palestin e, whe re they arcto enjoy an indep endent, national gove rnment andprivil eges, among the nations of the earth , neverto be dispersed again, to the end of time.

If this doctrine can be suppor ted , it must pr ovefatal to the doctrine ma intained in these pages .»-And it must be confessed that ther e are manypassages of Scripture which at first view seem tofavor the sentiment; and wer e ther e no others tocounteract them, or to explain their meaning, wecould arrive at no othe r con clusion tha n that th eJews must be restored ."

SOFor books see e.g: Bliss 1842/a , 20-35; VO? 1842/j, 85-100; 225-23] ; Lit eh 1842/b , 35-76; Litch ]842/a, 4D-56; Lit ch1843; Fleming 1844, 9-15; War d ]843; Cox 1842, 36-43; Sabine]843, 58-77; Spa lding 1841, 156-177. Some examples ofrep resentative per iodi cal arti cles: Miller "Letter from mr. Mill er ,No 3, On the Return of the Jews ' ST April 15, 1840; Ward'T he Restor ati on of Isr ael" ST Sep 1, 1840: Anon. "ThePromises to Abraham" ST Ju ne 1, 18-H; Anon. "Who are theIsrael to whom the Prom ises Arc Made" ST J une 1, 1841; W ."Pler oma , or the Fullness of the Jews" ST Sepl, 1841; W ."Ple ro rna, or the fullness of the Ge ntiles" S'T Sep 15, 1841; Cox"Return of the Jews" ST June 1, 1842; Wals icnholme"Conver sion of the Jew's" ST Aug 10, 1842; B. 'T he Return ofthe Jews" ST Aug 31, 1842; Ward "Prophecy and the jews" STApr 12, 1843; Co les "The Jews - Roman xi" ST may 17, 1843 ;Ward, Jar s, Ru ssel "Circ ular - Th e Address of the Co nferenc eon the Second Advent of the Lord, Convened at Bost on Ma ss.Oct 14, I84D" ST Nov 1, 184D includes the following significantcomment: "We do not condemn those who cir cul ate Judaisingnotion."

5 1Miller n.d.za, 4{)f.

66

One can see the importance of this point in Miller's own words.Faith in the return of the Jews would prove fat al to hisexpectation of an immediate parousia, Miller did not want tohave anything in between th e pr esent and th e se cond Adve nt.

4.5.1 Miller's argument on the promisesMill er's interpretation of "the original pr omise made to th epa tr iar chs" shows both sharp logic and a good kn owledge of theBib le Hc po ints ou t th at all o the r O ld T est am ent prophecie s"supposed to refer to the restorati on of the J ews" arc in fact inag reeme nt with the or igina l prorni sc .i" H e unde rst ood that anyfutur e fulfillment of the Ol d Testam ent pr ophecies must lin d ihso lution in the New Testament

Miller tu rn s to the bo ok of Hebrews to prove that th e"Abraharnic pr omi se" is an everlasting promise: "Fo r he lookedfo r a city which hath foundati on s, whose builder and maker isGod . -- But now th ey desire a bette r COLIIlIl)', th at is, anhe ave nIv: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called th ei r God:for he hath pr epared for th em a city."(Heb 11:10,16) And if thepromise is to be fulfilled in ete rn ity it mu st apply to those whoart: Abraha m's seed in faith rather th an in the flesh. (Rom2:2K.29; 9:6 ,7) With proof like this it is easy for Mill er toco ncl ude tha t th e pr omises arc not int ended fo r th e or iginalrecipients but rather for those who believe in Christ, whos eseco nd adve nt will be the ultimat e fulfillment of th e prornises.f

4 .5 .2 Millerite supportIn Himes' reprint o f Spalding's book ther e is a skillfully plannedcase for a Christianization of O ld T est ament pr ophecies.Spald ing places side by side Old and New T est am ent proph ecieson th e new ea rth. H e find s numerous examples of OldT estam ent qu ot ati ons in the New with th e purpose of pr ovingthat both Jew and Gentile ha ve one and the same hop e." Forman y Millerites th ey not only had the same prophecies for the

52Miller n.d.Za, 41.

53M ille r n.d .za , 41-4K

54Spalding 1841, 167-170.

67

future but also a similar basis of sa lvation. Old T estament herosof faith were regarded Christ ian s." Using Gal 4:22f and Rom10:12 it was concluded that the Christia n believer s are the truechild re n of Abraham and th at ther e is no d iffer ence between aJew and a Gentile. "The Jewish nati on fell from th eir earthlyprivileges, and through that fall sa lvation came to the gentiles."All we re on the same platform."

The argume nts were repeated in var ious forms, and at tim eswith pu re rh et ori c. In the Signs of the Tim es an anonymousMillerite wrote that "in all of New Testament th ere is not onepromise to be found on earthly greatness made to any nationunder heaven . There are pr omi ses of infinite value, bu t they a rcmad e to th e hou seh old of faith, to those that are in Christ.>-·,57 The gathering of Israel (Isa 11:10-12) was expecte d to ta keplace under the new covenant with both J ews an d Gentilesjo ining the Chris tian church."

4.5.3 Literal fulfillmentIf some one was unconvinccd with the New Testament evidenceof Ab ra ham' s seed and pr omi ses, Miller tr ied anothe r ap pr oach.Hi s logic dem anded th at a literal fulfillment mu st be liter al ineve ry respect. Such a fulfillment, he claimed, was impossiblebecau se th e ten tribes are lost. One co uld also li nd pr ophecieson the Jews ruling over the Gentiles .(D t 30:7; Isa 1] :14;55:7,8,15) This, he continued, would scarcely be palatable to

5S"When Abraham was co nvert ed he was circumcised ofhe art ," Anon . "Who ar e the Israe l to Whom the Pr omises ArcMad e" S T June 1, 1841.

56Anon. "T he Promises to Abraham " ST Juri c 1, 1841. Cf.e .g . Cox "Return of th e Jews" ST June 1, 1842; Litch 1842/a ,55-76.

57Anon. "T he Promises to Abraham " ST June 1, 1841. Cf.Mill er "Evidenee--" ST May 1, 1841.

58M iller VOP 1841 , 229f. Mill er believed that Isa 11:11 andJer 32:37-4{) would prove the new covenant fulfillment.

68 69

many of those who arde ntly advocate a literal restor ation of theJews."

I Various Millennial Views

4 .5.4 The importance of prophecies concerrung Isra elA. Amilleonialism

1000 yrs

View endorsed by e.g. Augustine, Luther, and Calvin.

B. Postmillennialism:

View endorsed by Cocceius, Vitringa, JonathanEdwards, Charles Finney, Whitby.

C. Premillenoialism:

Eternity

Eternity

JudgmentParou sia

ParousiaResurrectionJudgment

----1--------- -------Return ofthe Jews

Present age is themillenn ium or thereis no millenn ium

4 .6 Premillennialism

It is not easy fully to appreciate the importance of the Milleritehermeneu tic on prophecies conce rn ing Isr ael and the return ofthe Jews. Whil e Miller's fourteen rules are an important butrepetit ious exp ress ion of his biblicist premises, his view on Israelis eq ually fundam ental for under standing any aspect of hisexegesis. In some respects this co ncept is the real powe rhousebehind Miller 's man y interpretat ions, because it gave him analmost inexhaustible wealth of materi al in Old Testamentpro phecies, history and sanc tuary ser vice , all ready for an es-chato logical app lication outside Palestine. Without this pr incip lemuch of Millerite chrono logy would have co llap sed; after all ,every one of Miller 's key texts carne from th e Old Testament.Thi s pa rticula r hermeneutical device is in fact mor e importantfor Mill er's system of exegesis than any other single viewp ointtha t he pr omoted.

While not relating directly to his Old Testament exegesi s,premi llennia lism gave Miller the framework within which heinte rp reted all eschato logica l prophecies whether from the O ldor the New Testament. Th e pionee rs of historicism, Mede, thetwo Newto ns, (j ill and Fab er wer e all prcrnillcnnialists. T owardsthe end of the eighteenth-century prernilleni alism began to giveway to postm illennialism in Europe as well as America ."Postmi lknnia lism was frequently connected with an expecta tionof the Jews' reinstatement into Palestine as an inaugur ation of a

1000 yrs

Parousi a Millennium Judgment EternityIst resurrection 2nd resurrection

View endo rse d by e.g. Mede, Isaac Newto n, ThomasNewto n, Gill, Faber , Irvin, Miller.

1841, 228. Some of Miller's claims were simply bel-ligerent. For instance "How many will br others Phelp s andCambe ll, and others, who are sticklers for the Jew's return, andfor a tempor al millennium, he the means of lulling to sleep."VO? l k41, 221. Or he refers to Peter's words that God is norespecte r of per sons (Acts 10:34f) . But if God should restorethe Jews as his people, then God would be a respecter ofpe rsons and "Peter needed anot her conversion." VOP 1841, 221.

sOPFF IV, 391f.

period of peace and prosp erity. These chilias ticexpectat.lOns seeds of dispensationalism, a system ofprophetic exegesis which became extremely popular towards thelast part of the nineteenth century when historicism had run outof favor."

6'Sandeen 1970, 5-7.

70 71

resurrect ion by a millennium. (Rev 20:4,5) This, Miller asserted,means that the Day of the Lord cannot be an ordinary day.Th e appear ing of the Sun of right eousness "is a plain figure ofthe coming of Christ," but even if the sinne rs are destroyed atthe purousia their ultimate destruction cannot be hut a thousandyears later. (Rev 20:7-15) The Day of th e Lord is theMillennium."

G6J.,()p lS42/j , 145-15().

. 56Some Millcritcs advanced ideas of a prophetic millenni umlastIng WOO prophetic or J60.()()() literal yea rs. Such ideas we renot too pr oblematic as millennium was r an ofctcr nuv. l: .g. Allen "O n the Des iunati on s of Ti llle- -' ST Oc l 11840. 0 ,

8 7VOP 1842/j , 149f.

Thi s .is the day of the Lord, one thou sand yea rs.Is this day to be understood a literal or figurativethousand years? I answer, liter al, for it is an

of a figure rather than a See2Pet 111.8: But , beloved, -- one day IS With theLord as a thousand years .,»

When will the wicked be raised and judged ? 1answer, when [he thousand year s are expired ,Satan shall be loos ed out of his prison, Gog andMagog will come up on the sur face of the eart h.Gog and Magog signify the whole host of thewicked which have ever lived on the ea rth theopposers of Chr ist." '

Dur ing the millennium the saints were expected to live in thesafety of th e New Jerusalem which "is on the eart h, and ofco urse must have come down from heaven at thecommencement of the thousand years ."68 Miller was emphatic onan earthly millennium, possibly because the stone of Daniel 2in his view, could on ly mean the es tab lishment of God 's etern al

After the turn of the nineteenth-century premillennialismappea rs to have had a spontaneous revival in both America andBrit ain .62 Millerites endorsed the old but again prevalentp remillennialism. This was a recurrent topic in theirperiod icals." The re wer e also chapters on the subjec t underseveral disguises. Directly on the Millennium, of course, but alsound e r tit les relat ed to the resurrection , the judgment, th e neweart h and so on.54 T he following chart compa res some of themain characteristics of various millennial views:

4 .6 .1 The Day of the LordTh e key to Miller 's thinkin g lies in his Old Testament conceptof the Da y al' th e Lord. He found two types of Old Test amenttexts Oil the subject. One category is on the destruction of thewicked "Behold the day of the Lord cometh, cru el both withwrath and fier ce anger; and he shall de stroy the sinners thereofout of it," (Isa 13:9) and the oth er is on the glory of the sa ints,"Fo r beh old , the day come th -- [when] unt o you that fear myname shall the Sun of right eou sness ar ise." (Ma l 4:1f.) T hesetwo varieties of text s ar e then interpreted in the light ofRevela tion 20 which separa tes the first and the second

52PFF IV, 414f.

63Within four yea rs the re wer e 61 arti cles tou ching thesubject in ST, Ali Ale Id. II]. For represen tati veexamples see Anon. Fundamental Principles AMDZ May, IS42;Litch "Revi ew of 'Bible Read er ' on Miller 's View of the Mille n-nium. No. III" ST Jul y I , 1841 [This is part of a series thatbe:$in June 1, 1841]; Walstenholmc "T he Puritan TheMillennium" ST May 1, 1842; B. "A Temporal Millennium aSoul Destroying Doctrine" ST June 29, 1842; Law "A PlainExposition of a Plain Pa ssage - Rev xx.c-o'' ST J une 29, 1842;Collins "Two Re surrections I & II" ST June 6 & 22, 1842;An on . "Second Advent of Christ Pr crnillennial'' ST Sep 6, 1843.

64The main sources for the Millerite teachin g on theMillennium are Bliss 1842/a, 35-71; Bliss 1843/f, 7; Miller 1842/h,2,'1-38; Litch 1842/b, 1:38-54, 197-207; Lit ch 1842/a, 19-39;Flem ing 1842, 24-32; Fleming 1M4, 6-9, 15-18; Fleming 184{) , 18-2(); Her vey 1843/a, 68[; Spalding 1841, 54-76. T here arc alsosome unclear present ati ons like Fitch 1841, 14-30; Cox 1842, 5-36.

58kDP 1B42/j, 151. Th eCuningharnc , Birks and Irving heldfrom the Mil leri tc s, Rasmussen MSthis point.

British prcrnillennia lisrsviews only slightly d ifferent1983. 8:L-S4 is mistaken on

72 73

69Mille r 1842/d , 18-24.

70A Student of Pr ophecy "Doct r ine of the Millennium" 5TFeb 1, 1842 .

7'See e.g. M iller "Disser tation on the Judgment" ST Jan 15,1841; B[lis s?) "A Temporal Mille nnium--" 5T June 29, ]842;Pseu don ym: A Bible R eader "A Bibl e R eader on Mr. M ille r'sView on th e Millennium" ST J an 15, 1841.

72Bliss 1842/a cites Barnabas, Papi an , Polycarp, Turtullian[sic) and Cyprian as believers in Chris t's lit e ral millennial reignon eart h.

4 .7 Historical applica tion of the book of Daniel

13T he Millcri tes loved numbers. On [he ligh te r s ide of the\;f ille ritc reasoning, prernillennialism was support ed wit h anes tima te on r opulati on densit y. During th e pro sp erouscircumstances 0 th e M illenn ium with no deat hs to he exp ec tedE Jacob claimed tha t th e eart hs populat ion wou ld double every:.:"1 vca rs. Thus th e then currant SlOO .OOO inh abitants wouldmushroom in to a staggerin g 2.6:)8.8 27.906 .662.--Ul().OOO .OOO leavingan impossible 5.6 milli on inh abi tants for eve ry sq ua re yar d o fthe ea rt h. Jacob "The Mi llennium" Me Oct S, 1843.

7"I3[ liss';' ] "A Tempora l Millennium--" ST .lun 1842.

7SAn on. "D aniel's Visio ns" Me Feb :), 1843.

76Bes t sources for th e Mi ller ite exegesis o f Daniel arc Bliss1C\42ia; Bliss 1843/f. 1-6 ; FOP 1842/j, 173- J8 1 [Lillie horn] ; Litch1842/b, 1:77-111 ILitt le horn] ; 2:3-113 [Dan 111; Litch 1842/a, 88 -UO [Dan 11-12a ]; Storrs 1843, ] -53; Articles : The Author of 'ACl ue to th e Time' "T he Endless Kingdom" 5T May 11, 1842IDan 2]. See also b ibliographical no tes on D an 7 and 8 in th e10IIowing chapter.

I cannot agree with some who tell us that theprophecies cann ot be understo od . I co nsider suchlanguage the language of injideiitv. What is it butsaying - "Revela tion is 110 Revelation ? Revel ationis some thing mad e known, and, of course, to beunderstood. -- I mo st solernnlv beli eve th at Goddesigne d eve ry part of th e Bib le should be under-

T he books of Dani el and Revelation nat urally te nd to millenn ialexpectat ion s. Mill e rism is no exce ption. The Miller ires lovedbot h o f the se books. II is typical for a Mi llerite chart to includewords like "R ead, Daniel II, VI I and VIII . 'W hoso readct h, lethim UNDER'<''TA ND!' "75 And the \1illerit es ce rtain ly believed tha t they didunde rstand;"

things." Their attack against postmilJennialism was so fiercebecau se they believed that the tenet o f th e type of "tempo ralmillennium" in which th e world would gra dually turn into aplace of p eac e , prospe rit y, and sa fety was "a so ul destroyingdoctrine." 7

4.6.2 The importance ofpremillennialismIn the final an alysis Millercame to his particularpremillennial views because hebelieved that O ld Testamen tp romises on Isr ael 's fu turemust lind their fulfillment inth e Christian chur ch. Noothe r millennial view seemed Millerite woodcut ST April 1,

1841to provide a slot into whicheven th e most obscure ordi fficul t O ld or New T estamen t texts co uld be placed." Whenthey ran out of Bible texts the Millerites took the chur chfathers to witness for premillennialism ." T hey loved proving

kingdom on this earth at thefall of all earthly powers." Atthe beginning o f themillennium the enemies ofG od are destroyed, and the"happy period" portrayed byIsaiah , Jeremiah, E zekiel, andZ a ch ar iah cornme n ccs. ?"Miller 's main in te rest was inconnectin g the Millenniumtogether with his ideas o fprophetic time.

74

stood. "

The Millerites had little to sayan the narrative sec tions ofDaniel. The folIowing is limited to comments on their views ofDaniel's prophecies. The first lesson many Millerites received onDaniel came from posters that were decorated with a picture ofDaniel 2 or of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8. These rathergro tesque visual aids were often accompanied by time sca leswhich matched the change s of kingdoms according to th eMiller ite understanding. The yea r 1843 was naturalIy matched

Millerite woodcuts ST April 1, 1841

with the toes of clay and iron,78 as welI as the final end of thelast beast and its little horn ."

77Storr s 1843, 4.l8The most famous of these charts was designed by

Charles Fitch and Apo llos Hale in 1843. In this one the sta tuteof Daniel is separa te from the timet able . See Appendix IV.Eve n their opponents copied some of these charts. Litch"Danie l's Vision s" New York Tribune Extra March 2, 1843;Trumpe t of A larm Apr 24, 1843.

78E.g. Storrs 1843, 22-57.

75

4 .7.1 Sequential fulfillmentMiller explained the pr ophetic symbols of Daniel in sequencethrough Babylon, a kingd om called Mod o-Persia (a fter Dan8:20), Greece, pagan Rome and finally papal Rome, whichincludes no sur prises foranyone familiar with histori calinterpre tation of prophesies."

T her e were several aspects inthe prophecies of Danielwhich were assumed toconfirm the historicist view ofI he kingdoms, Every visionleads to the establishment ofGod's kingdom [Dan 2],8' thejudgment [Dan 71 or the timeof the end [Dan 8], all ofw h ic h m a t c h th eeschatological sett ing the Millerite woodcut ST April 15,Milleri tes were interested in. 1841Some of the symbolic metalsor beasts had qualities whichappeared to portray the kingdom it was att ached to. Forinstance Babylon was a kingdom of "gold" and Rome displ ayedthe irresis tible streng th of "iro n." Likewise [he clumsy butpower ful "bear" and swift 'leopard" matched the war techn iqu e[ha t Persia and Macedonia employed.

4.7.2 Det ails

Confi rmation of the historica l interpre ta tion was searched for 111

OCE .g. Miller 1833, ch. 1.

8'B1iss 1842/a, 8-14 emphas izes that God's kingdom wasnot established 1800 years ago [like many amillcnn ialists andsome postmillennia lists claim ed] because it is not yet established,On the othe r hand, Bliss con tinues, the "church militant " hasexisted all the way from Abel.

76

every minute detail." Storrs commented on th e be ar 's two sides(Dan 7:5): "Representing two lines of kings, onethan the other."83 Similarly the two horns of th e ram m Daniel8:3 were said to be two royal lines in th e Medo-P ersiankingdom. They were th e "me rid ian .glory" of kingdom." Forevery minor fea ture some kind of historical re alit y was assume d .

The Bible was used to exp and on the meaning of a symb ol.George Sto rrs' Bi ble Examiner is one of th e most compre he ns ivecomme ntaries th at Miller ism ever pr oduced on the book o fDaniel. Storrs' comments on Babylon reflect the desire to find aBib lical and somewha t myst ical meaning for th e golden head o fthe statue in Dan iel 2.

Babyl on was the first kingdom of universal empire.It was founded by Nimrod, the great grandson ofNoah . See Genesis x.8-10 . It lasted ne ar seventeenhundred year s, though under . different p arnes;some times called Babylon , sometimes Assyri a, andsome times Chaldea. It extended from Nimro d toBelshazzar, who was its last king.85

4. 7.3 The hornsFrom th e very first issue of the Signs th er e begins an ongoingdiscussion on the exac t identity of the ten horns." Historicist

82Some times parallels were exte nded to the point ofcontradic tion. E.g. Mill erites identified th e ten toes ofNebuchadnezzar 's image with th e ten kingdoms of Dani el 7. Thesame application was also done with the Rey 13.1 and 17.12,16leaving ten kingdoms mto Europe at the tim e of the secondadve nt afte r three had supposedly been plu cked away by 538AD. See Sto rrs "Exposition of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream" MeMay 4, 1843.

83Sto rrs 1843, 18.

84Bliss 1842/a, 102; Sto rrs 1843, 18, 31.

85S torr s 1843, Sf.88Mi lle r "M r. Miller 's R eply to Cambe ll and Othe rs on th e

Little Horn in Daniel 's Fourth Kingdom" ST Mar 20, 1840 .Lit ch "Mr. Lit ch's R eply to E than Smith and O the rs on the

77

exegetes had always had minor var iants in their lists of thehorns and th e Millerit es are no exception . These powers we reco ns istently found in Europe." This is important becau se itopened a possibilit y for arr iving at an anti-Roman exeges is ofthe littl e horn. The little horn rose from "among them." Itappeared "after" the other horns and was "different" from them,it "blasphemed" God and pushed aside "three horns".(Dan 7:8)The fulfillment of all this was envisaged in the papacy which, ofco urse, appeared in Europe after the tribes thought to berepresen ted by the horns. It was differe nt as it was a rel igiou spowe r, its teachings were blasphemo us for the puritan frame ofmind. The Mille rites identified th e th ree horns pl ucked awaywith tb e Hcruli (476 A D.) , the Vandals (534 A.D.) and th eOstrogo ths (538 AD.). The defe at of th ese Arian nations wassee n to have been ca used by papal and it wasrega rded a victo ry for the bishop of Rome .

The list of pa ra llels between papacy and the litt le horn isimpressive. It included blasphemy, per secution of the sa ints,change of times ami laws, duration, the descrip tion of the riseof pap acy as well as its ru le, and fina lly th e end of papacy.Litch 's commentary on the se qualities includes charges of papalatrocities matching each detail of th e desc ript ion."

Millerite perio dicals printed their fi er cest exegetical debates withthose who objected to Mi ller's ideas over the identity of the

Littl e H orn in Daniel's Fourth Kingd om" ST May 1, 1840.

87F lcming 1842, 40; SAM 841'; Litch lR42/b, 1:77-111 ; Bliss1842/a , 86; give the following iden tific ati ons: Bl iss [identical wit hMill er's, Litch 's and Hale 's list]: H uns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths,Fr ank s, Vandals, Sucves, Burgundians, Heruli, Saxon and Angles,Lornba rds (Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogo th s wer e plucked out) ;Fleming: France, Britain, Spain, Port ugal, Naples, Tu sca ny,Aust ria - p lus 3 that were plucked ou t by being given to th epope - Lombard y, Rome, R avenna .

BeA detail which was litt le discussed is the fact that therelat ionship of the rise of papacy and the defeat of theOstrogoths in 538 is no t well attested in secular history. Cf.She a MS 1980, 270-288.

B9Litch 1842/b, 83-91,

Sample text: Bliss "Inconsistencies--" MeMarch 10, 1843

78

little horn in Daniel 8.C o n t i n uo u s h istoric alinterpretation had alwaysb een fairly unanimousco nce rn ing Daniel 2 and 7.However , Daniel 8 had beeninterpre te d in a variety ofways. Mede solved thepr oblems of this chapter byapplying the prophecy toAntiochos Epiphanes . Thetwo Ne ....'tons di ffered fromhim by stre tching the littlehorn all the way throughpagan Rome to papalRome." Miller's historicistcontemporaries were at Millerite woodcut Evi 1842/bvariance on thi s issue. Thesedifferences were caused byth e fact that the basic principles of continuous histori calapplication bring the little horn into the Grecian period as thesymbo l of the he-goat is clearly identified within the chapte ritself.(Dan 8:21) Yet , on the other hand, parallelism andsynchronization of the little horns of ch apters 7 and 8 led somehistoricists to apply the horn to the papacy. This was alsoMiller's conclusion .

4.7.4 The horn of Daniel 8Millerite periodi cals give several reason s for the papal identifica-tion of the little horn in Daniel 8. It was claimed to be absur dto have a horn symbolize anything but a kingdom whileAnti ochos was but one of 26 individuals. The vision claims totake the reader to the "time of the end," (Dan 8:17) andAnt iochos br ought no end to the world. The little horn wassaid to grow into exceeding greatness, bigger thaneverything that preceded it, which would be hist orically untruefor An tiochos. (Dan 8:9) Fur thermore the geographicaldir ection s for the conques ts of the little horn: south, cas t, andthe beautiful land (Dan 8:9) pr esumably mat ched more closel y

llONcMon 1733, 107-127; Newton T . 1803, 285f.

79

with the conquests of Rome than with those of the kingdom ofthe Seleu cids, As a final point of identification th e little hornper secuted the saints, 50 million of whom wer e claimed to havebeen killed by the Rom an Ca tho lic church. When compare dwith this figur e Antiochos destruction of a few thousand Jewsappeared insignificant."

Colbert, one ofMi l I e r ' sco n te mpo ra r ies ,wro te a book onthe l i te ra lfulfi ll men t o fDaniel which theMilleri tes took asan anti-Miller itedocument. Thelit er alne s s o fC o l b e r t' sapproxima te 1260,1290, 1335, or2300 days wasridiculed by theM ill eri t e s asa ny t h i n g b u tl i t er a l. Th e yclaimed that thr ee years and ten days ( lMac 1:54; 4:52f) is farfrom the "lite ra l" 1260 or even 1150 days." Th e final andconclusive argument against Antiochos was, however, that Daniel8 pr esents Per sia as "great" (Dan 8:4). Th en Gr eece isdescribed as "very great" (Da n 8:8). Fina lly the little horn isdescribed as "excee dingly great" (Dan 8:9). Thus if Ant iochoswere the fulfillme nt, he would have had to be greate r thanPer sia or Alexander the Gr eat. Rome, the y claim ed , wou ld

g1Anon "Is Antiochos Epi phanes the Hero of Daniel'sProphecy" ST Dec 28, 1842. Cf. Bliss 1843/d.

92IBlisslJ "The Inconsistencies of Co lver 's .,» Me March 10,1843.

80

match the description perfectly."

In some of the illustrations the Millerites portraled the littlehorn as extremely long in proportion to the goat." This was sobecause the horn had to represent about two thousand years ofhist ory in the form of pagan as well as papal Rome.

Anon. "Du ra tion of·-" ST May 24, 1843

Daniel 8 was vital for Millerism, Its chronology, the 2300even ings and mornings was decisive for the fate of the wholerevival. This aspect of Daniel 8 will be discussed in thefollowing chapter. But the basic outline of the chapte r was alsovita l. They believed that th ey had interpreted every aspect ofthi s chapter logically according to all available Biblical orhistorical information. The identification they gave to th e varioussymbols made it possible for th em to pr ocl aim the time aspectsof th e chapte r with co nviction .

4.7.5 Daniel chapter eleven and twelveAs Miller 's ch ronological exegesis is dis cussed in the followingcha pte r one may pass over Dani el 9 directly to chapter e leven

81

which includes no time-prophecie s. A large part of its contentsrel ate so directly to Antiochos Epiphanes that historicism nevercreated great enthusiasm about it.95 From Miller's point of viewthe main problem of this cha pte r lies in the fact that anyext ensive identification of Antiochos in chapter 11 would er odethe conclusion that the little horn of Daniel 8 marks Rome.

In his few comments on this chapter Miller evad es Antiochos inthe early part of th e chapter. The important point in his viewwas the appe ara nce of the Rom ans on th e Jewish scene in 158B.C., a da te which was imp ort ant for his chronological exege sis .The dividing line for him lies in vv, 20 and 21. Th e taxco llecto r is applied to Augustu s (Lk 2:1) and th e ano inte dprince naturally to Christ himsel f. T he vile per son is Tibcri usIn the latt er half of the ch apter the king of the north was withvarying degrees of appropriate ness applied to Roman Caesars ,the papacy and finally to Napoleon and his Egyptiancampaigns." Millerite exposition is a peculiar combination ofliteral and symbolic interpretation .

In Dani el 12 besides time-prophecies, there were two interestingpoints. Because Millerites believed that Christ was also th eSaviour of the Jews, Mi chael (Dan 12:1) was sai d to be Jesus."The second idea rose from Dani el 12:4 - "many shall run toand fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Th e fulfillm ent ofthis was seen not only in the ir "inc reasing knowledge" of thebook of Daniel but also in th e rapid ly cha nging systems ofcommunication [tel egr aphs, steam engines, etc.] and inforrna-tion."

Mill eri sm cat er ed for the type of mind th at was mainlyinterested in th e end. Becau se of this th e books of Dani el andRevel at ion were so important. The historical int erpretati on ofpr ophet ic symbo ls appear s to have had two fun ction s: it pro ved

93[Bliss] "The Inconsistencies of Colver's ..» Me Mar 101843 . Cf. Anon. "Is Antiochos Epiphanes the Hero ofProphecy" ST Dec 28, 1842.

g4Anon "Dur ation of E arthly Kingdoms" ST May 24, 1843.

23195F d" .'or iverse mt erpretauon s compareand Newton, T 1803, 301-378.

96Litch 1842/b, 3-113.

97 Litc h 18842/b, 2:114.

98Fleming 1842, 62f.

Newton, I 1733, 196-

82

J\'lillcritc woodcuts ST April 15, 1841

the acc uracy of prophecy and pointed out signs of the times.H istorical events wer e seen to run towards a divinely plannedgo al.

4.8 The book of RevelationMiller's exposition of the book of Revelation ha s not beenincluded in th is study. This docs not mean that the boo k ofRevelation was unimpor tant for the Miller itcs." Even thoughtheir main escha tological calculations were derived from the OldTestam ent , they , like all histor icists , loved the Apocalypse. ForWilliam Miller the book of Revelati on was a series ofpr ophecies which repeat ed the history of the Christian era fromdi ffer ent angles . Every new vision of the Apocalyp se was seenas an enlarge ment on the latt er part of the same history whichthey had found in the book of D ani el. Th e seve n chur ches (Rev2-3) wer e seven epochs of the Christian church. The seven seals(Rev 6-8) and the seven trumpets (Rev 8-9) were regarded asrepetit ions of the princip al events in the histor y of the world,

99The best Mill erite sources on the book of Revelation areMille r 1842/b, 127-232 [fir st cha pters of Re v); Miller 1844 [latterpart of Rev); Litch 1842/b , 1:175-196 [seven last plagues ); ande.g. A Lover of Truth "The Beast s" ST Mar 1, 1842.

83

illustrating among other things the rise and fall of both RomanCa tho licism and Islarn. P? Th e final chapters represented last daysigns. The seven last plagues were understood to have beenfulfilled with the exception of the seventh, which was expectedto come true on the day of the second Adven t.' ?' In particu larchap ter 20 was imp ortant as it lay at the foundati on of Milleriteteaching on premillennialism .

4.9 SummaryTh e Millerite view of the Bible may not have been unique fornin eteenth-century Nor th America. It views the Bible as astoreroom . .< . ' - ' ,. " er of things including, of.course, the past and the present. In the case of the Milleritessootc r iological issues were left behind a qu est for a divinephilosophy of history. This meant painstaking comparisons ofBibli cal texts with the help of a concordance. The mean ings andsymbo ls of key words was a vital part of the process. Withthese tools det ails of prophecy wer e explained to cover most ofhum an histor y. With the help of two vital principlesprern illcnnialism and an application of Old Testamentpr ophecies for Israel to the Christian church - Miller built aherme ne utical structure that suppor ted his idea s on the time inevery re spect.

HXJS ee e.g. Anon . "End of the 1260 Days" S T July 19, 1843;Litch 1842/b , 2:132-227.

10lLitch 1842/b, 1:175-196.

84

5. MILLER'S CHRONOLOGICAL EXEGESISWhen Miller began studying his Bible he was excited with itspredictions about the future. He was amazed at how literallyand specifically the prophecies that had been fulfilled were ac-complished. He admired those prophecies which he believed topoint to specific events in the history of Israel or to the firstcoming of Christ. These were often presented as the unarguable,Biblical proof of the value of prophecy.' Miller was assured thatthe ones relating to the second Advent would be likewisefulfilled. He was intrigued at the thought that God had placedprophecies into the Bible for humans to understand. Inparticular time-prophecies appealed to him. "I could but regardthe chronological portions of the Bible as being as much aportion of the word of God, and as much entitled to ourserious consideration, as any other portion of the Scriptures."Indeed, he sensed an obligation to understand these passages. "Ihad no right to pass over the prophetic periods."

The results of his chronological labor were published insermons, books, pamphlets and periodicals. Synopsis of Miller's

'There were several compilations of such prophecies.Hervey 1843/b includes the largest Millerite collection ofprophecies on the first Advent. Bliss 1842/a, 114f. lists timeprophecies that were believed to have been fulfilled: 120 yearsof Noah (Gen 6:3), 7 days of waiting for the flood (Gen 7:4),400 and 430 years of Egyptian bondage (Gen 15:3; Ex 12:41),40 years in the wilderness (Nu 14:34), 65 xears for the fall ofEphraim (Isa 7:8), 70 years of the exile (Jer 25:11), and 490years to the death of Christ (Dan 9:24). See also VOP 18421j,41-43.

2Miller 1845. Cf. VOP 18421j, 45; Miller 1842/b, 4-5; Nichol1944, 33. Cf. Rasmussen MS 1983, 34.

.:¢

85

Views includes the following statement on his final conclusion:

I believe the time can be known by all whodesire to understand and to be ready for hiscoming. And I am fully convinced that some timebetween March 21st, 1843, and March 21st, 1844,according to the Jewish mode of computation oftime, Christ will come, and bring all his saintswith him; and that then he will reward every manas his works shall be,"

The power of Millerism lies in these time calculations. Whatsteam was for an engine, defmite times were for the Millerites.Miller is by no means original in his enthusiasm to create atime table for the eschaton. However, his creative imaginationlocated chronological prophecies in all parts of the Bible. Hebrought them together into a unique combination.

God in his wisdom has so interwoven the severalprophecies, that the events foretold are not alltold by one prophet. And although they lived andprophesied in different ages of the world, yetthey tell us the same things; so you take awayone, and a link will be wanting. There is ageneral connection through the whole; like a well-regulated community they all move in unison,speaking the same things, observing the samerules, so that a Bible reader may almost wi,thpropriety suppose, let him read in what prophecyhe may, that he is reading the same prophet, thesame author .• therefore the biblical student mustselect and bring together every part of the subjecthe wishes to investigate, from every part of theBible.4

Thus Miller located eschatological time-prophecies in suchdiverse books of the Bible as Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy,Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea as well as Luke, Hebrews, and theRevelation. Miller's interpretation of these texts is the theme ofthis chapter.

3SMV, 17f.4Miller 1842/b, 4.

86

If Millerite prophetic chronology were to be appraised bytoday's exegetical criteria one could easily find reason tocriticize his use of the Bible and his conclusions. This wouldmean imposing modern standards upon people who workedunder ambitions and logic quite different from today's. Thepurpose of the following pages is not to claim that Miller's con-clusions were sound or unsound. It is simply to describe theevidence that the Millerites gave for their prophetic time table.Any evaluation of Miller's exegesis must be done by the his-toricist criteria. Such evaluation is not, however, important here.The main purpose of this chapter is to give, for the first time,a full picture of the exegesis that shook the life of thousandsand that was at least partially responsible for the end ofhistoricism as a popular method of interpreting prophecies.

5.1 Year-day methodApocalyptic timekeeping was the heart of Millerite exegesis. Forcenturies the historicist method had employed a system whichinterpreted prophetic times with a simple formula: a prophetic"day" means a literal "year"." This made it possible to interpretapocalyptic prophecies so that they terminated in the modernera. Miller accepted this year/day principle and in his ownwords found himself in "accordance with the opinions of all thestandard .. ..fOIllillcntators.,,6dilY had occasion to expound on the

One of Miller's expositions on the year-day principle shows howthe usc of a concordance is a prerequisite for the whole idea.He explains how even a child may take the word "day" to find"what his heavenly father means by days in a figurative sensefor he is satisfied it cannot be literal" as several kingdomscannot rise and fall in a time span of 2300 [or 1260] days ofDaniel's prophecies.

5Cf. chapter 5."Miller 1849, 11. Miller appears to refer in particular to

Mede and sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Newton in thiscontext.

7See e.g. Bliss 1853, 207f; Miller 1842/g.

87

The first text he lights upon is in NUID. xiv.34,"each day for a year." May this not be it? says thechild. He takes hold of it by faith, carries ithome, lays it up in his cell of sweets, richer thana lord, and again goes forth in search of more.He now lights upon Eze. iv.6: [ have appointedthee each day for a year." -- He does not stop tocriticise -- and query, and reason himself out ofcommon sense and reason too; but Abraham-likehe believes, and lays up his treasure at home. isee, says the child, this use of days was soordained by my Father in two cases and twowitnesses is enough." '

This rather emotionally loaded argument for the year-daymethod continues by an application, which was considered an

proof of its suitability. Miller applies the year-daydevice to the "seventy weeks" of Dan 9:25. Like earlier

believed that a 490 year period leading up to thetune of Chnst was an unarguable conclusion for any discussionon the year for a day theory."

Miller's use of the year/day method employed the followingformula:

1 prophetic day means 1 literal year1 prophetic month means 30 literal years1 prophetic year means 360 literal years

This equation was founded upon an idea of a "propheticcalendar" which followed neither lunar nor solar calendars."

6Miller 1842/g, 22f.

9Miller 23. Cf. Shea 1982, 74-79 for modernargumentation which follow's Miller's and old historicistunderstanding of the year-day method.

lOSome MilJerites and some non-Millerites did at timespropose variants to the simple 1 day = 1 year hermeneutic.Flemming, Apoc. Key, 20-22; quoted in Faber 1808, 14, gives anexample. The system created a prophetic calendar in which 1month is 30 days and a prophetic year equals to 360 daysInstead of the 365 days of a regular calendar year. This made

88

The length of a "month" was counted from Mede's equation ofDaniel 7:25; 12:7; Rev 11:2; 12:6,14; 13:5. This synchronizationmade 3 V2 years equal to 1260 days and 42 months.' 1 TheMillerites utilized this hermeneutic to its limits. They appliedthe formula even to fractions of a day and they believed oneprophetic hour to mean fifteen literal days or half an hour tomean a literal week."

The high regard in which the year/day theory was generally heldis reflected in the fact that Miller's opponents rarely objected toit. Dr. Bush in his Reasons for rejecting Mr. Miller's views of theAdvent comments:

In taking a day as the prophetical term for ayear, I believe you are sustained by the soundestexegesis, as well as fortified by the high namesMede, Sir I. Newton, Bishop Newton, Kirby,Scott, Keith and a host of others."

5.2 Other methods of counting timeMiller did, however, differ from most historicists in employingmore than one formula for the interpretation of time.

Figures sometimes have two or more differentsignifications, as day is used in a figurative senseto represent three different periods of time.1. Indefinite. (Eccles. vii.14)2. Definite, a day for a year. (Ezek. iv.6)3. Day for a thousand years. (2Pet. iii.8)

If you put on the right construction it willharmonize with the Bible and make good sense,

prophetic calculation rather impressive: 1260 x 360 : 365453600 : 365 = 1242 + 270 : 365 = 1242 yrs, 270 days.

llVOP 1842/j, 79-81.12E.g. SMV, 27f.13Bush 1844, 6.

89

otherwise it will not."

In another context he clarifies his argument on the meaning ofthe word by stating that there were three types of days:natural, lasting 24 hours or one cycle of the earth round itsaxis; prophetic, meaning a year or one cycle of the earth roundthe sun; thousand year days, which due to their length deservedthe title "Lord's day." In addition to using the popular year/daymethod. also the thousand years for a daycalculation in some of his interpretations of the date of theparousia. The basis for turning a day into a thousand years wasnaturally derived from 2 Pet 3:8,10. King James' translation "benot ignorant of this one thing," appeared to emphasize' thelegitimacy of this chronology."

5.3 The scope of Miller's exegesis - problem ofliteratureBiographical as well as scholarly literature on Millerism gives an

view. on. exegetical interests. Anyone readingliterature on Millensm 15 likely to conclude that Daniel 8:14 wasMiller's only and main reason for expecting the parousia in theyear 1843 and that he was interested primarily in the books ofDaniel and Revelation. This is unfortunate since it fails to dojustie;:e to Mil!er. This chapter describes Miller's fifteen ways ofproving the tune of the eschaton, and at the same time it willshow that Miller was absorbed in proving the time with all ofthe Bible. Miller wanted to present a coherent Biblicalbroadside on the time of the parousia.

There is no reason to assume that the omissions in the variousdescriptions on Miller's interpretation were deliberate. Many ofthose who have written on Miller have had a Seventh-dayAdventist background. The result has been "strongly partisanhistory''" which unintentionally omitted ideas that were nolonger relevant for Sabbatarian Adventism. Again, Miller's

l·VOp 1842/j, 2If.15VOP 1841, 167. See also Bliss 1842/a, 52."Sandeen 1970, 288.

>

90SIS' has been shadowed by that of the revival's last. . aI exege id dongm S enth-month movement. The sheer bulk of one SI e

turn, ;; Millerism has hampered judgment and thehave been perpetuated in scholarly as well as

maccuracles 17popular works.

5.3.1 The scope of Miller's exegesis - IS proofs. , urees confirm that even though Daniel 8:14 may have

Millerite rtant and popular part of Miller's argumentationbeen an time it certainly was not the only one. For?n the lectures were published in 1833, 1836, 1838,instanced 1842. Each time only some of Miller's arguments were1840. and, nly some of his fifteen proofs were chosen. Anpublishe 0 & hisundated letter explains the reason lor t :

I have prepared at the time my lectures werepublished, lectures of seven different modes on

17Th birth of Seventh-day Adventism was dependant one _month movement. SDA writers have concentrated

the seventhesis of this period. With the exception of Bates 1847the. exeg can be traced to the earliest SDA accounts

thi:s D;UStakBates 1847 highlighted several of Miller's prophetic. . OS However, the desire to give an explanation to

mterpretaUO at the end of the Seventh-monththe great ade more prominent writers like J.N. Andrews and

marrow the interest down to Daniel 8:14. AJ. White.: of these ideas can be found in e.g, Loughborough

White 1911, 355-390.. . .1905, 1909"s and Nichol's investigation established the

FroomIV has 400 pages on Millensm, yet.only a criticalE.g. PFF nl-737 would realize that Millentes believed inreader PPthat are not elaborated on all. Nicholmany things some interpretations that Miller chenshed to the1944 522-524 with a short comment on "secondary"appendIX, a:ieegt [di;s.] 1977 makes the same oversight whichproofs. D . d on to non-SDA scholarly works on Miller. Cf.IS also dfrlle 1974. The inadvertent overlooking of things thatRowe [ SSt al for Miller but are irrelevant for Seventh-daywere repeated in the latest books and articles: E.g.

of the Advent" AR, Feb 11, 1982; MaxwellMaxwe y of William Miller" AR, Feb 18, 1982; Reid "From"The Destiny" Min, Apr, 1982; Gale 1975.Despair

91

prophecy which in my humble oppuuon [sic]proved the time; but the publishers thought threeof them would be enough, they therefore selectedout three or four of the most prominent onesand published them left [sic] the rest, which Ibelieve have since been published or are now inprep."

He believed that all possible time-prophecies must be broughttogether for a true understanding of the Biblical revelation. Hedecried using only a few "proofs." Another illustration of this isrelated to a review of Miller's lectures in the Maine WesleyanJournal. Having been allowed space for but five of his fifteenarguments Miller concludes, ''These are only rart of thescriptural data by which this theory is established."1 Similarly inhis "Address to the Second Advent Conference" in 1841 hementions most of his arguments, 6000 years, 2520 years, 2450years, 2300 years, 2000 years and 391 years 15 days. Then hemakes a point which cannot be appreciated if one focusesexclusively on Daniel.

You will next inquire, How shall we know whenthese times will all end? I answer, when you orany other man can show by scripture rule thatthey all harmonize and come out in one and thesame year, they cannot be far from the truth. 20

The division of Miller's exegesis into 15 categories stems from adocument published in January 1843, the very year he expectedChrist to return. This synopsis of his views lists fifteen modes ofarriving at 1843 under the heading: "Time proved in FifteenDifferent Ways."21 This document is not the most comprehen-sive account of any single part of Miller's exegesis, but it is thebest available summary of his chronological exegesis."

18Miller, undated [probably 1842] letter to Br. Copeland.19Anon. "Mr. Miller", Maine Wesleyan Journal, Mar 20,

1840, p.2.1842/c, 97.

21SMV,18.

22Cf. Rasmussen MS 1983, 22-51.

. _ " __ = __ = _ rS _

93

... PICTOmM. CHART ". DA1'i'IF,L'S V["lll!fS.4...... __ l!"J .,.....c• . •• ,toI'"

." __." " ' -.

,f.:(f{ " .....:. .. _

Millerite chart by Himes, n.d,

final count Daniel 8:14 is discussed in 34 separate items, muchmore frequently than all the other proofs. However, the resultwould have been very different had the analysis covered but afew months shorter period. In the period 1840-1842 the theoryof 6000 years was the most frequently discussed way of timing

second Adven.t.26 In the year 1843 speculation on the exacttune of the end increased and Daniel 8:14 was discussed overand over in several articles . This paved the way for the seventh-month movement. Overall the periodicals show that theMillerites had sufficient interest in a number of Miller's fifteenproofs to make it a gross misrepresentation of Millerism toleave anyone of Miller's fifteen proofs undiscussed. Each oneof the arguments must be taken into consideration for a fullsummary of Millerite teaching.

. Millerism certain ideas were popular at certaintunes . In 1840 the Eastern question was discussed with greatfrequency. Then. from the autumn of 1840 on there appear anumber of articles on the 6000 years. This subject wasexhausted by the end of 1842 when an increasing number ofarticles on 2300 evenings and mornings were printed.

The distribution of these articles on time-prophecies gives aninteresting insight into the development of Millerism. In the

23E.g. Litch, Fitch, Bliss, Hervey, Hawley, and Batespublished articles and books which included some of Miller'spoints.

24E.g. ST May 1, 1841; June 1, 1841; April 26, 1843; May24, 1843. Me Nov 18, 1842; March 17, 1843; June 8, 1843; July20, 1843; Aug 31, 1843. French "Diagram of Daniel's Visions"ST Mar 1, 1841.

25See Appendix II.

The validity of various exegetical points was at times questionedin Millerite periodicals. This is true also for Miller's argumenton Daniel 8:14. In an effort to arrive at a correct definition ofMillerite teaching the present writer analyzed the subject matterof every article in Millerite periodicals between January 1840and December 1843.2!l This analysis included 685 articles with aminimum length of a third of a page. More than half of theseperiodical items, 355, were exegetical in nature, mostly on theMillennium, the resurrection, the judgment, and the principles ofinterpretation as well as the prophecies on the return on theJews. There were 127 articles on time-prophecies out of which123 were on one or more of Miller's 15 proofs.

5.3.2 The scope of Miller's exegesis - an analysis ofperiodicalsMiller's comments and his books confirm that he himselfappreciated all of his fifteen proofs. It must, however, be notedthat these fifteen ways were not Miller's ways only, but many orall of them were shared by other leading Millerites.P This isalso indicated by the many chronological charts and articles thatthey published." None of the charts was prepared by Millerhimself, yet most of them included several ways of adding upprophetic years to the terminus of 1843. However, it must berecognized that all of the fifteen proofs were not equallypopular with other Millerites. Some of them are promoted inbooks only and are virtually unmentioned in Milleriteperiodicals, while others are frequently discussed in both booksand periodicals.

92

94

5.3.3 Synopsis of Miller's chronologyMiller prepared fifteen proofs which on closer analysis includeseven diverse ways of calculating 1843 as the fmal year ofworld's history. The actual sequence in which Miller developedhis 15 proofs is unclear because many of them are referred toor found in the earliest written sources." A clue as to theevolution of Miller's thinking might be available in the VermontTelegraph from the early part of 1832, when Miller presentedhis view in writing for the first time. These have not beenavailable for this study, but there are other observations one canmake on Miller's fifteen proofs.

Only two of the seven stem from the book of Daniel and nonefrom the Apocalypse.P The deduction that Daniel 8:14 was notthe exegetical hub of Millerism is sealed by the observation thatin the Synopsis of Miller's Views Miller's comments on Danielare the shortest of all among the fifteen proofs, and in no waysingled out. After the "proofs" he states, "These several ways ofprophetic chronology prove the end in 1843."211

Five of the seven time spans were recurrently printed in a shortstatement on Millerite beliefs on the editorial page of theAdvent Herald.:ItJ All fifteen proofs were fublished in the leadingMillerite periodical, Signs of the Times,3 and N. Southard, theeditor of Midnight Cry chose the synopsis of the fifteen pointsto represent Millerite beliefs in a history of various North

27Anon. "Miller" ST May 15, 1840.28SMV, 18-30. See Appendix V.2IISMV, 30. Cf. Appendix V.3O]'hese five are: "I. 6000 years of the Hebrew text- n.

The seven times -- III. The Great Jubilee -- IV. 2300 days ofDaniel viii -- V. 1335 days of Daniel xii -- We must therefore,if we read the Bible aright, near the termination of all theprophetic periods." E.g. Anon. "Prophetic time" AH Feb 14,1844.

3'Miller, ''Time, proved -- " ST Jan 25, 1843.

95

American denominations.f It has been a mistake to limitMiller's exegesis of time-prophecies to Daniel and Revelationonly. Anyone in doubt should read those Millerite sources thatendeavored to give a compendium on Millerite kerygma. All ofthese unhesitatingly interpret several Biblical texts to prove thetime of the second advent."

Miller's fifteen points are the subject matter of the rest of thischapter. These time-prophecies are so diverse that it is difficultto see how they relate to each other without visualization.Appendix III includes a chart on Miller's basic time-prophecieson one page. Copies of some Millerite charts are alsoincluded ."

5.4. The prophecy of MosesThe "first of the main pillars" of Millerism was the "prophecy ofMoses" as Miller called the text he found in Lev 26.

And if ye will not yet for all this hearken untome, then I will punish you seven times more foryour sins. And I will break the pride of yourpower; and I will make your heaven as iron, andyour earth brass: And your strength shall be

m for your land shall not yield hermcrease, neither shall the trees of the land yieldtheir fruits.

And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will nothearken unto me; I will bring seven times moreplagues upon you according to your sins. I willalso send wild beasts among you, which shall robyou of your chilo/en, and destroy your cattle, andmake you few m number; and your high ways

32Southard "Second Advent Believers," in Rupp ed [1844]668-691. . ,

most important of these was SMV. Southard editedSMV's text for Rupp ed. 1844, to stand as a scholarly andrepresentative summary of Millerite Adventism. See also VOP18421j, 32-53.

3-4See Appendix IV.

96

shall be desolate. And if ye will not be reformedby me by these things, but will walk contraryunto me' Then will I also walk contrary unto you,and will' punish you yet seven times for your sins.And I will bring a sword upon you, that shallavenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when yeare gathered together within your cities, I willsend the pestilence among you; and ye shall bedelivered into the hand of the enemy. And whenI have broken the staff of your bread, ten womenshall bake your bread in oven, they shalldeliver you your bread agam by weight: and yeshall eat, and not be satisfied. And ifye will notfor all this hearken unto me, but walk contraryunto me' Then I will walk contrary unto you alsoin fury;' and I, even I, will chastise you seventimes for your sins. (Lev 26:18-28, KJV)

This "prophecy" is expounded by Miller himself as well .as .hisassociates in several books and in a number of penodicalarticles." The text depicts the exile as a sevenfold punishmentfor Israel's sins. Due to the King James translation Millerinterpreted this as a time-prophecy : "I, even wi!! y?Useven times for your sins."(v.28) The word time in M.illentevocabulary implied a year,aa which led him to a prophetic andchronological interpretation of the text. The year/day. methodconverted the "seven times" into 7 x 360 years, and Miller hadno obstacles for the claim that the "seven times" of Lev 26:18-28 symbolized 2520 years within which "the church has beenpunished by the kings and rulers of this world.f"

Miller is not concerned with the obvious exilic context of thetext . He believed that Old and New Testament believers formedone church, one spiritual Israel and that both Old and New

most detailed discussions of the seven times theoryare in Miller 1842/b, 250-263; SAM, 33-49 and VOP 1842/j, 32-39' 43-46 See also Miller 1842/e, 16; Litch 1842/b, 2:124-130;Bliss 1843/b, 66; Bliss 1843/f, 6f. Miller "Reasons for Believing -- " TGC July 4, 1842; Plummer "The prophecy of Moses" STMay 17, 1843.

aaCf. Dan 7:25; 4:25 KJV.37Miller 1842/b, 256.

97

Testament times could be covered with one prophecy. Theterminal points of this 2520 year period were located within theBible. His general concept of hist?ry, enlightened by bo?kof Daniel, led him to state that this "prophecy" must begm WIthBabylon and cover the period of all the great oppressors of "thechurch": Babylon, "Medo-Persia", "Grecia", and Rome, pagan aswell as Papal."

Miller makes the surprising claim that he found the seven timesof Lev 26 before he came to Dan 8:14. In a sermon, recordedby Litch, Miller says: "I was satisfied that the seven timesterminated in 1843. Then I came to the 2300 days; they broughtme to the same conclusion.f" However, Miller's terminus a quois so obscure that one can reasonably assume that, in a mannernot unfamiliar to other blstoricists," Miller first fixed theterminus ad quem, 1843 A.D, subtracted the 2520 years to arriveat the desired starting point 677B.C., and then with the help ofmarginal notes in his King James Bible, found the only eventdated 677 B.C.'" The incident with this date was Manasseh'sshort arrest by the Assyrians. The text includes the peculiarfeature of his being taken to Babylon rather than Assyria. (2Chr33:11). Was this not, Miller asked, the time when "the people ofGod are to be in bondage to the kingdoms of this world; or inBabylon, literal and mystical.t"

5.4.1 Proof of 677 B.C.For anyone reading the King James Bible and approving theyear-day method, Miller's basic conclusions on Leviticus 26 were

38Miller 1842/e, 16-18.39Litch "Rise and Progress of Adventism" ASR May 1844.

In Miller 1845, 1, the order is as follows: 1) Seven times; 2)2300 days, 3) 1335 days.

40See e.g. Newton T. [1766], 9-12.41KJV Bibles had Ussher's chronology printed in the

margins and 2Chr 33 is dated 677 B.C. Several 19th Centurycommentaries and O'I' chronologies also follow this chronology.See e.g. Clarke n.d. II, 691.

"2SMV, 18f. See Appendix: V.

9998

plain. It appears, however, that there was struggle toprove the terminus a quo, 6TI B.C.. verify the unpor,tance ofthis episode proof of Manasseh's SIgnificance for Israel s futurefate had to be demonstrated. Hale refers to the actual wordingof Leviticus, "I will break the pride of your power," (Lev 26:19)and continues: "If the kingly form of civil government is herereferred to, it was never "broken" until the captivity of Manas-seh."43 Miller found other texts like Jer 15:4, which states thatGod punishes Israel because of Manasseh's sins," and that thetransgressions of Manasseh were in fact the very ones referredto in the book of Leviticus."

II Illustration of Miller's proofs 1 and 2

Punishment of Israel2520 yrs

677 B.C.

End

1843

There was a further verification of 677 B.C. Miller asserted thatthen "the ten tribes were carried away by Esarhaddon, king ofBabylon"." This puzzling claim is explained in another contextwhere he does refer to Assur and he writes that the ten tribesof Israel began to be carried away in 722 B.C. but thecompletion of her slavery did not come until 677 B.C:.47. At acloser look this peculiar idea turns out to be a detail in theMillerite layout of Old Testament chronology, and again its base

43SAM,37.44He also refers to Isa 7:8. SMV, 18.45SMV, l8f. Hale makes the following comparison: Lev

26:14,18,27 match 2K 21:9-13, and Lev 26:1,2 equal 2K 21:2-8and 2Chr 33:2-11. SAM, 38. Cambell created a variant ofMiller's ideas. His ideas never reached popularity among theMillerites, but they serve to illustrate the love they had forcounting times. First Cambell gave exact tunes for the four SInsand punishments, 677 B.C., 607 B.C., 590 B.C., and 584 B.C.,all related to Millerite dates on the exile. He then added 2520years to each one getting dates, 1843 for the first signs of theend 1913 for the battle of Armageddon, 1930 for the

of the Jews and finally 1934 for the millennialjubilee. Cambell "Mr Cambell on the return of the Jews" STJune 15, 1840.

46Miller 1842/b, 251-256.47Miller 18421e, 20. While there is no direct Biblical

evidence for such a deportation Ezra 4:2, 10 are cited as aproof of deportations from the Northern Kingdom after 722B.C. SAM, 41. Cf. Herrmann 1975, 215f.

Miller's texts: Lev 26; Dt15:1,2; Jer 34:14

lies in the marginal notes of KJV Bibles. The evidence for thisdate is in Second Advent Manual where Hale points out that Isa7:8 was dated to the year 742 B.C.<4a The text prophesies that"within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken." Asimple subtraction produces 677 B.C. giving Biblical confirma-tion for Miller's dating. It was easy for Hale to suggests thatEsarhaddon took both Manasseh and the remnant of Israeltogether into captivity."

Having presented this evidence concerning the date, Millerexplained that "since the days of Manasseh not a moment hasshe [the church] enjoyed of respite, but has been scatteredamong the kingdoms of the world."50 For Miller Manasseh:stime marks the beginning of oppression for God's people. Thiswas the period when Jerusalem was trodden underfoot ?yGentiles." On the other hand, in A.D. 1843 the "kingdom willbe given to the saints of the Most High; mystical Babylon willbe destroyed'f" and the time of "the punishment of the people

48Cf. Clark n.d. 4:50-55.4llSAM, 38-40.50Miller 1842/b, 256.51Bliss 1843/e, 4; cf. Lk 21:24.

1842/b, 262.

100 101

Yet even Biblicist or historicist interpreters were not so blind tothe original meaning and to the context of a text that theywould have taken Miller's claims without criticism. Prof. G.Bush advised Miller on the correct meaning of Lev 26, andpointed out that there is no word "time" in the Hebrew, but

54Bush 1844, 10.suppose I come to you and get your

understanding of the original text, will you ensure me that Ireceive a better understanding from you alone, than I couldhave from fifty men, equally as good as yourself, if not better,who did give us the sense in English, when they gave us thepresent translation? If you say Yes, I shall then believe youhave as much vanity, as you say the adventists have assurance.And if you say No, then when you read the original text only,with your judgment to understand and teach the English sense,and I read it in the English text, I have fifty times the weightof judgment to yourself." Bush 1844, 9f.

56 Miller was obliged to admit that something in hischronology was wrong. But he added "With respect to otherfeatures of my views, I can see no reason to change my belief."Miller 1845, 34, 15. Instead he believed that his opponentsdisproved themselves by their conflicting arguments and soconfirmed his exegesis. See e.g. Miller's letter to T.E. Jones,Nov 29, 1844; Bliss 1853, 280; Cf. Rasmussen 1983, 84f.

57Litch continues with the idea that the 2300 days of Dan8:14 is still the bulwark of the cause. Litch "Restoration of theKingdom to Israel" Me Nov 30, 1842.

ME.g. SAM, 33, calls the seven times "the first of theprophetic periods, which are considered as main pillars in thecalculations of Mr. Miller." Cf. Anon. "The Seven Times of Levxxvi: Why are they repeated four times." ST Jan 24, 1844. Bliss1853, 71.

Because of the problems that there were in the actual meaningof the "seven times" some Millerites hesitated in acceptingMiller's interpretation. After years of investigation Litch wrote,"I am constrained at length to acknowledge it as such.?" Butthere was also enthusiastic endorsemeat." Finally one must notethat this hermeneutic, like every other B.C. to A.D. calculationthat Miller made, includes an error of one year. This is due to

rather "an intimation of degree" meaning sevenfold/" Millerinsisted on the superiority of the King James translation as fiftytimes better to any, however learned, "opinion" on the originaltext.M It is an interesting fact that Miller is not known to havechanged any of his fifteen proofs at any time whether in face ofserious objections or even the disappointment of 1844.511

onof

It would be easy butunfair to criticize thehermeneuticalconstruction that Millerbuilt upon Lev 26. Thefollowing remarks arenot intended ascriticisms but rather asobservations. The 'firstof the main pillars" ofMillerite chronology is l.an excellent illustrationof much of nineteenth-century North Americanexegesis. It almosttotally ignores the -.original context andcombines texts together Josiah Lltch's chart New Yoricin a rather flaccid Tribune, F.x1ru March 2, 1842fashion, and it shows ablind faith in theEnglish translation. On the other hand Miller's interpretation issimple and straightforward. It includes nothing mystical .ordifficult to comprehend. For anyone who accepted the KingJames version as the genuine Bible text this interpretation mayhave appeared valid.

5.4.2 Commentsthe "ProphecyMoses"

of God will end."53

102

his taking for granted the existence of a year zero. Correctarithmetics would have yielded 1844 instead of 1843. Thismistake was shared by many of Miller's contemporaries/"

5.5 Year of releaseIn the Pentateuch Miller found another text which he believedto demonstrate that a "seven times" or 2520 year period endedin A.D. 1843. This was the year of release.

At the end of every seven years thou shalt makea release. And this is the manner of the release:Every creditor that lendeth ought unto hisneighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it ofhis neighbour, or of his brother; because it iscalled the LORD's release. (Dt 15:1,2 KJV)

At the end of seven years let ye go every manhis brother a Hebrew, which has been sold untothee, and when he has served thee six years, thoushalt let him go free from thee; but your fathershearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear .(Jer 34:14 KJV)

The sources for the Millerite interpretation of these texts arenot as numerous as the ones for the prophecy of Moses.eo Thetext stems from an old sacral ordinance of letting the land liefallow and it is here applied to a release from debts and fromslavery." Miller's interpretation transformed the text into anallegory of world history. Like a Hebrew slave who was to bereleased "at the end of every seven years," the people of Godwere to expect the parousia to release them from the slavery ofthe spiritual Babylon at the end of seven symbolic prophetic

5llproom recognizes the problem and points out that eventhe marginal notes on Dan 9 in KJV Bibles make the samemistake. There were also several renowned scholars, includingMr. Hales on whom Miller heavily depended in matters ofchronology, who made the same error. PFF W, 791.

6OE.g. SMV 19; Miller 1842/e, 27.51Cf. e.g. Rad 1966, 14.

103

years.52 The time calculated for this prophecy is the same asthat of proof number one. This interpretation emphasized 1843as the year "when the children of God will be released from allbondage and slavery.1lIl3

This hermeneutic gave Miller a powerful homiletical base topreach on liberty for all captives at the second advent. Isa61:1,2 was one of his key texts.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; becausethe Lord hath anointed me to preach goodtidinzs unto the meek; he hath sent me to bindup the brokenhearted., to proclaim liberty to thecaptives, and the opening of prison to them thatare bound; To proclaim the acceptable year ofthe Lord., and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all that mourn."

The text does mention "the acceptable year" and the "day ofvengeance" which in itself implied an eschatological fulfillmentfor the Millerites. The prophetic interpretation of the year ofrelease gave Miller the answer for questions arising from thetext: who are the captives and when are they liberated. Thecaptive is the true church oppressed by the powers mentionedin Daniel, and the time of the liberation is in A.D. 1843, at theend of seven symbolic years of slavery and at the dawn of thegreat antitypical sabbatical year.ll6

This interpretation illustrates Miller's adherence to a kind ofmagical inspiration where God implants prophecies of the

82SMV, 19.83SMV 19.114Miller 18421e, 3.

is some inconsistency in the argumentation. This isdue to the fact that some texts on the year of release show sixyears of labor and release on the seventh (Ex 21:2; 23:10 aswell as Jer 34:14b) while others indicate release after sevenyears (Dt 15:1,2; Jer 34:14a). The former was applied by Millerto mean six thousand years of sin with the seventh as freedomin heaven during the Millennium, and the latter to the periodof 2520 years.

104 105

III Chart illustrating the time span of Miller's proof no. 3

llllVOp 1842Jj, 82f.70See e.g. VOP 1842Jj, 85-100.

End2520yrsBurning of or oppositionto enemy weapons1-------------1677B.C. 210yrs 1843

I I

One may observe that outside of Millerism Ezekiel's prophecyon Gog and Magog was a popular one. It was a popular prooftext for Zionistic arguments on the return and future victoriesof the Jews. Such a concept Miller flatly rejected." Miller'sview on a spiritual Israel lies at the foundation of this as wellas the previous seven year interpretations.

1588AD. 1798AD.Edict of End ofNantes papacy

Miller's text: Eze 39:9,10,12

which in turn was seen as a portion of the longer 2520 yearperiod. Miller's idea of this seven-month/210-year time span iscurious. He wrote that during this period the "People of God"were "putting away the rotten carcass of papal power." Thestarting point of his calculations was 1588, marked by the Edictof Nantes and the turning of Henry IV, king of Navarre, againstthe papal power. Thus 1798, when papacy was believed to havereceived its deadly would, became the end of this 210 yearsperiod." Miller's comments on 1588 are somewhat confused asthe four decades of Huguenot wars began in 1562, Henry ofNavarre became the king of France in 1589, and the Edict ofNantes was not given until 1598.

And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shallgo forth, and shall set on fire and bum theweapons, both the shields and the bucklers, thebows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and thespears, and they shall bum them with fire sevenyears: So that they shall take no wood out of thefield, neither cut down any out of the forests; forthey shall spoil those that spoiled them, and robthose that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. --And seven months shall the house of Israel beburying of them, that they may cleanse the land.(Eze 39:9,10,12 KJV)

esE.g. SMV 19f; VOP 1842Jj, 67-84.87SMV 19f.esVOP 1842Jj, 79-81.

The text includes an additional feature in verse 12, a period ofseven months for the burial of the dead and for the cleansingof the land. As far as prophetic time is concerned Millercounted each month as thirty days which in literal time denotedthirty years." Therefore seven months stood for 210 years,

The prophecy in Ezekiel 39:9,10. mentions a seven year periodwithin which Israel, after the hordes of Gog and Magog aredestroyed, gathers spoil and burns the weapons of her enemies.Millerite make only occasional references to thisprophecy. Miller's interpretation turns the actual imagery ofthe prophecy upside down. He interpreted this seven yearperiod to mean time during which the enemies of God's peopleoppressed them - seven prophetic years from 677 B.C. to AD.1843.87

Miller developed a third exegetical design related to the "seventimes" or the 2520 year period.

5.6 Gog and Magog

eschaton into everything there is in the Bible. Miller craves tobuild everything into a harmonized typological system where OldTestament events and the whole history of Israel grow intosymbols of a grand plan of world history.

106 107

Whether original or not Miller's view certainly had ainfluence on some Advent believers after the disappointment. 4

71Burwell 1835, 166-170 has a section on sacred numbers.He bases his seven year prophecy on Leviticus and begins thetime from the fall of Samaria.

1828 2:33-39.73SAM 33; Miller 1949, 13-16; Litch "Review of Cambell of

the Captivity of the Jews" ST Oct 15, 1840. See also Cambell"Mr Cambell on the return of the Jews" ST June 15, 1840.

74See e.g. John Stevenson "God's Measuring Rods" AdventHarbinger and Bible Advocate June 9, 1849. This articlesynchronizes the seven times with the 6000 years.

711Cf. "Seven" ABU 1234. Cf. Cambell "Mr. Cambell on theMode of Computing the Time" ST July 15, 1840. Cambell playswith the figure seven, the number of perfection. He describesseven priests, seven trumpets, seven days, seven times, andproposes a 6000 year theory which approaches that of the JWs.

Fourth among Miller's fifteen points involves the whole Bible.

And on the seventh day God ended his workwhich he had made; and he rested on theseventh day from all his work which he hadmade. And God blessed the seventh day, andsanctified it; because that in it he had restedfrom all his work which God created and made.(Gen 2:2,3 KJV)

For we which have believed do enter into rest, ashe said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if theyshall enter into my rest: although the works werefinished from the foundation of the world. For hespake in a certain place of the seventh day onthis wise, And God did rest the seventh day fromall his works. -- There remaineth therefore a restto the people of God. (Heb 4:3,4,9 KJV)

And six years thou shalt sow thy land and gatherin the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thoushalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thypeople may eat: and what they leave the beastsof the field shall eat. In like manner thou shaltdeal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.(Ex 23:10,11 KJV)

It [the Sabbath] is a sign between me and thechildren of Israel for ever: for in six days the

5.7 The age of the earth

It is more than likely that a key prophecy in Jehovah'sWitnesses' eschatology has its background in3 Miller's idea. TheWatchtower society has recalculated the terminal points of theprophecy, and the emphasis is now on Daniel 4 rather thanLeviticus 26, the latter of which is mentioned as a prophecyonly in their older books."

"..'" " . a...... llIe .. ..,flfd..>1_. . ,M" .. ' 11u... -- ..'U1.k...,eii_ _ •Z l/,II M ....u_ .... _1Moa.. -O-' I•.

Several of Miller's historicistforefathers endorsed a sevenyear prophecy. Miller's threeprophetic ways of counting 2520years are almost certainly notunique to him although exactparallels have not been located.A hermeneutic which resembles 'n, • • ,,"_.... _..

Miller's is in Burwell's ...... .., , .. d" e.... .,( ,II

book,published in 1835, at a ..........- ...... "1'time when Miller probably hadhis prophetic ideas fairly wellformulated." The most notablesupporter of a seven yearprophecy was Faber who didbase his calculation [657 B.C. toA.D . 1864] on Daniel 4.72 Theidea of involving Daniel 4 in theseven year calculation was not Millerite woorcut on Dan 4,foreign to the Millerites. In fact Numbers & Butler 1987.Miller, Litch and Hale do makeNebuchadnezzar's seven years of insanity a proof of thelegitimacy of the seven year calculation."

5.6.1 Background andimpact of the seven times

108

LORD made heaven and earth, and on theseventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Ex31:17 KJV)

Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six yearsthou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in thefruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be asabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for theLORD; thou shalt neither sow thy field norprune thy vineyard. (Lev 25:3,4 KJV)

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be asign between me and them, that they might knowthat I am the LORD that sanctify them. (Eze20:12 KJV)

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,that one day is with the Lord as a thousandyears, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pet 3:8KJV)

Like many before him he believed that "the sabbath" or ratherthe weekly cycle is a miniature model and a prophecy of theworld's history. "Christ will also labor six days [1000 years each]in creating the new heavens and earth, and rest on theseventh ."76 Miller explained that Old Testament Israel was giventhe literal sabbath as a "sign," because God had given itexpressly for such a purpose. However, the Christian church,observing no literal sabbath,77 must regard the sabbath aprophetic sign, a symbol of the coming millennium. At the endof the 6000 years "the Anti -typical Sabbath of a 1000 years willcommence.l" the time of peace and rest for the wholeuniverse."

76SMV, 20.77Miller that a literal Sabbath should not be kept

because all Jewish ordinances were cancelled and because theSabbath had become a symbol of the Millennium. VOP 1842/j,160-162.

78SMV, 21.79VOP 18421j, 156-171; SMV, 2Of.

109

The popularity of this topic is obvious from the manychronological charts Millerite periodicals and books included'?as well as from the number of articles and books that deal withthis interpretation." The main problem was not one ofdemonstrating that the weekly cycle is a symbol of world historybecause a sizeable portion of Miller's contemporaries alreadyheld this concept. The major obstacle for the Millerites was toovercome the widely approved chronology of archbishop JamesUssher. Ussher's Annales Veteri et Novi Testamenti (1650-4) haddominated the exegesis of Old Testament chronological informa-tion for nearly two hundred years. Miller was obliged to workdiligently and repeatedly with his calculations to push thecreation from Ussher's 4004 B.C. back to 4157 B.C. which, withhis one year's arithmetical error, gave 1843 as end of the 6000years."

BOE.g. ST May 1, 1841; June 1, 1841; April 26, 1843; May24, 1843. Me Nov 18, 1842; March 17, 1843; June 8, 1843; July20, 1843; Aug 31, 1843. French "Diagram of Daniel's Visions"ST Mar 1, 1841. See also SAM for a chart that with acombination of literal and prophetic times. Appendix VI.

81The main Millerite sources on the 6000 year chronologyare SAM, 13-32; Cox 1842, 56-68. VOP 1842/j, 32-39; 157-171'

to Miller 1842/b, 1-4. Especially Bliss. was frequentlylabormg With Old Testament chronogenealogies, See Bliss1843/a, 4; 25-28, Bliss 1843/f, 10, and Bliss 1851. Jones "TheKingdom at Hand" ST June 15, 1840; Litch "Reply" ST June 151840, makes an interesting combination of prophecy andchronology; Cambell "Mr Cambell on the mode of Computingthe Time" ST June 15, 1840. Fleming "Review of Rev Dr .Week's Lectures against the Chronology of Wm. Miller" ST Apr12, 1843. One of the most detailed and extensive articles isAnon. Dr. Jarvis No.4, The Chronology of the Bible" ST Aug16, 1843. E.BK "Theory of Types No.1" ST Mat 15, 1841develops 6000 years into a speculat ive system involving a certainnumber of generations and creation days which were believed tobe 7 years long. B. "Six thousand years" ST Nov 22, 1843.

UUssher's chronology was printed in many editions of theBible and various commentaries. The general nature of

cal !s reflected in bishop John Lightfoot'stiming 0 the creation, Faithful to Ussher he placed creation onOct 22, 4004 B.C. at 9.00 A.M., which led Brewter to comment"Closer than this, as a cautious scholar, the Vice Chancellor of

110 111

8!lSAM, 13.

problems of these calculations are reflected inMiller's on one of his charts of world history, "If thisChronology is not correct, I shall despair of ever getting fromthe Bible and history, a true account of the age of the world."Miller "A Bible Chronology from Adam to Christ," in Himes ed.VOP 18421j, 36-39; MC Nov 22, 1842.

87For the sensitivity of this subject see e.g. H[imes]"Opposition on the M.E. Church-Zion's Herald vs. 'Millerism'"ST Jan 24. 1844.

88Bliss 1843/a, 25.89VOP 18421j, 170.

postulated, would cast a shadow on God.8!l

The efforts that the Millerites put forward to interpret the Bibleso that 6000 years would run from the creation to 1843 ledthem further into historical investigation than any other subject.The complexity of problems forced them into repeatedrecalculations." They needed authority to back up their idea ofpushing Archbishop Ussher aside." Sylvester Bliss was theMillerite specialist on chronological problems. He wrote:

Chronology of the Hebrew text; for every periodwhere that has failed us, we have taken thechronology as given by Dr. Jarvis, and such is theresult. Our object has not been to prove thisearth just 6000 years old, but to show from bestof evidence that it cannot vary much from it.88

Unfortunately Jarvis' chronological studies have not beenavailable for this research. The discussion on the problems ofBiblical chronology gave Miller awareness of different chrono-logical systems that the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagintfollowed. Even Chinese. Indian and Roman chronologies arementioned by him as illustrations." The Millerites appealed tothe authority of the church fathers, Irenaeus, Barnabas, Cyprian,Lactantius as well as well known scholars like Mede, Clarke orGibbon or even Bunyan to exhibit the validity of the 6000 year

5.7.1 Extrabiblical research

Cambridge University did not venture to himself."Kaiser, Classical. Evangelical Essays,. in Geraty "TheGenesis Genealogies as an Index of Time Spectrum vol 6/l.

83VOP 18421j, 36-39.84VOP 18421j, 170. Cf. ST Dec 15, 1840.

Some Millerite timetables with 6000 years leading up to 1843were presented as "very clear evidence." The tables oftenincluded Anno Mundi dates e.g. 5997 for the "present year."84At other times words of caution were included. "Very well. Noone pretends to tell, positively, how long the world has sto?d,but still it is believed there are serious reasons for supposmgthat its age is not far from 6000 years." Anything else, they

Miller's texts: Ex 31:17

Creation 6000yrs End Eternityl000yrs

1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4157B.C. 1843A.D.

The book of Judges provided the evidence Miller needed. Hisbasic claim, which had to be modified several times in theuncounted debates over this issue, was that Ussher made amistake in assuming overlaps in the rule of the judges. Ussher'sdating for this period of Old Testament history was based onchronological statements in 1 Kings 6:1 and Judges 11:26 whichleft only 295 years for the time between Joshua andMiller preferred to explain Ussher's argument and Withlittle help from Josephus he argued that the Judges weresuccessive with a span of 448 years. This gave the needed 153years to pull the creation back into 4157 B.C and allowed forthe parousia 6000 years later in 1843.83

IV Chart illustrating Miller's understanding of the 6000years

112

theory.SO

5.7.2 Popularity and influence of the 6000 yeartheoryFaith in the 6000 year hermeneutic was prevalent in ante bellumAmerica." From Millerite periodicals one can only infer thatthe Millerites accepted this concept unanimously. Blisscomments in his Chronology of the Bible:

The coming of Christ would be at the end of thesix thousand years from the creation has been thebelief of those who look for the pre-millennialadvent, ever since the days of the primitivechurch.92

An average layman had little possibility of exanumng criticallythe detailed charts with hundreds of Bible texts. Anyinformation in the Bible took precedence over any dataavailable from historical sources. For instance the events ofChrist's ministry were dated with the help of the book ofDaniel/" Yet even by the historicist standards the Milleritesshould have known better than to place the birth of Christ inyear zero." Litch does in fact make an apology of this detail,but he brushes the whole question aside by pointing out that acorrection would make no difference to the final outcome."However, this error together with other minor deviations fromwell known historical dates like those of the exile, show thatMiller's aim was one of proving the time of the end rather thanthat of finding reliable dates. He used historical data when it

&oaliss 1843/a, 29f. Anon "Six Thousand Years" ST Nov 22,1843.

9IE.g. Chamberlain 1805, 93, expresses the nearness of the6000 years of history.

92Bliss 1943/a, 3.93E.g. SAM 25-7, counts the crucifixion from the Book of

Daniel.94E.g. VOP 1842/j, 39.96Litch 1842/c, 14.

113

matched his plan and disregarded it, even where informationwas readily available, if the data did not appear relevant for hisgoals.

It was on the 6000 years and the age of the earth rather thanDaniel 8:14 that the largest remaining Millerite groups investedtheir energies on after autumn of 1844.96 It is also more thanlikely that the slightly modified version of the 6000 year theoryof Jehovah's Witnesses stems from William Miller."

5.8 The JubileesOne of Miller's most imaginative interpretations stems from thebook of Leviticus.

And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of theyears unto thee, seven times seven years; and thespace of the seven sabbaths of years shall beunto thee forty and nine years. -- And ye shallhallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim libertythroughout all the land unto all the inhabitantsthereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shallreturn every man unto his possession, and ye

96A fascinating example of post disappointmentharmonization is in John Stevenson "God's Measuring Rods"Advent Harbinger and Bible Advocate June 9, 1849. This articleadvises one to take first 7 x 360 = 2520. Then the result isdeducted from the perfect number: 6000 - 2520 = 3480. This isthe Anno Mundi date for Judah getting into trouble. Then 70years more leads to the beginning of the exile, Anno Mundi3550. From this one can count forward another 70 years to theend of the exile or 390 years of sin backward [according to Ez4:1,8] to 3160 Solomon's death and Jeroboam's rebellion againstGod. With the help of 1K 6:1,37 one could count further backto the time when the Temple was build and to the time of theexile etc .

ABU 322-347 looks like a modernizedversion of Millente discussion on the 6000 years. There arereferences to various calendar systems of the ancient Near East.The creation is dated 4026 B.C. the birth of Christ Oct 1, 2H.C. and the reader is left to expect the eschaton in 1975 [thearticle is written in 1969].

114 115

Sample text, Supplement to VOP 1842/j

SUPPLEMENT,

IUOSITIOH or XILLU'. CllO.&T

CJlAONoLOOY 01 Tilt: WORLD, OFTHE raO'IlETIC P£&IOD3.

sabbaths, and carry us up to the perfect sabbath in heaven.'l9lIThe seven Sabbaths Miller found were 1) the seventh-daysabbath, 2) the fiftieth-day sabbath (Lev 23:15,16), 3) theseventh week sabbath (Deut 16:9,10), 4) the seventh monthsabbath (Lev 23:24,25), 5) the seventh year sabbath (Lev 25:3-5), 6) "the year fiftieth, Jubilee" (Lev 25:8-13), and 1) thefiftieth Jubilee, which he designated the antitype of allsabbaths."? "The Jews kept but six Sabbaths; if they had keptthe seventh they would have been made perfect without us; butthey broke the seventh. 'Therefore there remains a keeping ofthe Sabbath to the people of God."'(Heb 4:9)101

The symbolism of the Jubilees was interpreted in a forthrightmanner. The Jubilee was thought to mean consummation andrestoration, deliverance "from bondage and corruption" and thetime to be "introduced into the glorious liberty of the childrenof God."l02 The method of counting the time was uncompli-cated. It included no device for manipulating the time fromdays to years. "How long." writes Miller, "is a Jubilee ofJubilees? Ans. 49 times 50 years = 2450 years."l03

shall return every man unto his family. A Jubileshall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall notsow, neither reap that which groweth of itself init, not gather the grapes in it of thy vineundressed. For it is the jubile; it shall be holyunto you: Xe shall eat the increase thereof out ofthe field. (Lev 25:8, 10-12 KJV)98

Miller's argument runs as follows: "As seven days constitute asabbath, so seven kinds of sabbath form a complete round of

98There is no wide selection of sources for the Milleritejubilee interpretation: Miller 1842/e, 28; Spalding 1841, 30;Anon. "The Ordinance of the Year Jubilee" ST May 1, 1841.On the speculative side there is a series of articles in the Signsby E.B.K. "Theory of Types Nos. 1-5" ST Mar 15 - Sep 1, 1841,which combines the Jubilees into world chronology. See alsoCambell "Mr. Cambell on the Mode of Computing the Time"ST July 15, 1840, which included as count of world history,seven millenniums in 140 Jubilees.

5.8.1 The terminus for the JubileesMiller arrives at the terminal points of this "prophecy" with afascinating argument. He believed there cannot have been anypost exilic Jubilees because the Jubilee belonged to free menand the Jews returned from the exile as "slaves and bondsmenand remained so under the kingdoms of Persia, Grecia, andRome."I04 He decided to initiate the tally for the fiftieth Jubileefrom Josiah's reign when the last Jubilee, as he believed, hadhave been celebrated in a free Israel.

ll8Miller 1842/e, 28.lOOMiller 1842/e, 28; SMV, 21f.101SMV, 22.I02Anon. ''The Ordinance of the Year Jubilee" ST May 1,

1841.lO3SMV, 22.lO4Miller 1842/e, 29f.

116 117

Even within historicist ideals Miller should have seen that in his

V A Chart illustrating Miller's view of the fiftieth Jubilee

I07E.g. Clarke n.d. vol 1, 868.I080nly historical critical approach might in a case like this

suggest either two originally different feasts, or two differentsources for Miller's J>roof texts, Lev 23:15,16 and Dt 16:9. Cf.e.g. Driver 1895 [ICCj, 195f.

109Cf. e.g. Clarke n.d. vol 1, 606, comments on Lev 25:10.IIoE.g. Cunningham 1840, xiii, makes a time calculation of

3430 years based on the jubilees.I11Reeves 1976, 8; Reeves 1%9, 40, 86, 89.

list of the seven Sabbaths the second and the third sabbathwere one and the same festival, the feast of weeks or thePentecost. 107 This must be so within Miller's own biblicistmethod which is characterized by harmonization.108 There isanother point that Miller does not discuss. Contemporaryscholars found no agreement upon whether 49 or 50 yearsshould be counted.f" Mathematical harmony appears to havebeen more important for him than a critical look at his owntheories and agreement even with the conservative Biblicalscholarship of his time.

Millerite teaching on the typological and prophetic significanceof the Jubilees is not fairly appraised, however, until oneacknowledges that the theme of a shortly beginning millennialJubilee was extremely popular. Interpretations varied, and whilethere was probably no other theory like Miller's, thoseChristians who expected Christ's return accepted that theJubilee was a familiar symbol of the approaching glory."? Interminology the medieval father of apocalypticism, Joachim ofFiore comes close to Miller with his theory of the seventhsabbath rest in the seventh age.III

Towards the end of the revival the Millerites looked for moreand more effective means of finding the exact time of theparousia. The speculative and inexact nature of the beginninofthis "prophecy" may have led to the secondary role that thisinterpretation played in the Millerite movement. Its effect onJehovah's Witness' eschatology would require further study.Their Bible Dictionary gives only a cursory allusion to anysymbolic meaning that there may lie in the Jubilee, but it does

End

1843A.D.

2450yrs49 JubileesJosiah1----------607B.C.

Miller's text: Lev 25:8-13

5.8.2 Comments on the JubileesMiller's argument is somewhat baffling. One may appreciate theJubilee signifying freedom from slavery and return of ownershipon the land. These features made the Jubilee a frequentlyacclaimed symbol of the second advent in Miller's time. Yet theidea of a prophetic Jubilee appears somewhat out of place.Miller's arguments are normally replete with Biblical texts. Forobvious reasons he is not able to find a single text pointing tothe fiftieth Jubilee. The whole idea is based more on a desireto find mathematical order within the Scriptures than on theusual multitude of proof texts.

For some reason Miller suggested that the Jews ceased keepingthe Sabbath as well as Jubilees at the close of Josiah's reign"the last king of Jerusalem that obeyed the commandments ofthe Lord, or kept his statutes ltl O!5 His dating made him choosewhat he believed to be the last year of Josiah's reign, 607 B.C.He argued that after this date the Jews would not and couldnot celebrate the Jubilee or the year of release. This broughtMiller's calculation down to 1843 and conveniently reinforcedthe message of the Millerite revival. lOll

118

make a count of seventeen Jubilees, the last one of whichhappens to be dated 607 B.C.112

5.9 The third dayMiller's proofs number six and ten must be discussed togetherto avoid unnecessary repetition. They provide a fresh scheme toachieve the target year of 1843.113

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for hehath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten,and he will bind us up. After two days will herevive us: in the third day he will raise us up,and we shall live in his sight. (Hos 6:1,2 KJV)

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox,Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to dayand to morrow, and the third day I shall beperfected. (Lk 13:32 KJV)

The two texts have nothing in common except that bothmention two days followed by a third of a special character. "Inthe third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."Here Miller asserts to have found a prophecy in which everyword is full of meaning, "a pearl of great price, lying deep inthe waters of prophecy."114 After God's people have been tomfor two prophetic days by worldly powers there is the time ofresurrection and life with the Lord in perfection with the devil"chained, and cast out of the earth into the pit, and shut Up."115

These two days of Hosea and Luke cover the same period oftime. Miller contended that these days cannot mean naturaltwenty four hour days "for the church has been tom and

112ABU 971f.11:loJ'he best Millerite sources are e.g, VOP 18421j, 32-39;

Miller 18421c, 45-75; Miller "Evidence •. Chapter IV" ST July15, 1841.

114Miller 1842/c, 46.115SMY, 26.

119

smitten for more than 48 hours."!" Miller argues that onlywhen the principle of 2 Pet 3:8 is applied, the meaning ofHosea's prophecy becomes intelligible. As the days are turnedinto millenniums the prophecy reveals the specific time when alllabor will be finished and the millennium of bliss will begin asRev 20:4,6 and John 14:3 describe it.117

The most engaging part in the exposition of this "diamond" ofprophecy comes in the method of determining the terminus aquo. Miller makes a comparison with Hosea's prophecy and thewords of Jesus. "I cast out devils and I do cures to-day andtomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."(Lk 13:32,33).The words are addressed to Herod, "that fox." Miller remindedhis readers that Herod was a Roman appointee, therefore thecontext, in his view, demanded the beginning of this twothousand year period with the Romans taking control overPalestine.

VI A Chart illustrating Miller's interpretation of the twoprophetic days from the time of Roman's to the end

2001yrs

1843A.D.

Miller 's texts: Has 6:1-3; Lk 8:32

The actual date for the Roman rule was settled with 1Maccabees 8 and 9. These chapters describe a league which theJews, led by Judas Maccabeus, made with the Romans. Miller's

118Miller 1842/c, 59..117SMY, 22f; 26f.

120

date for this was 158 B.C.ll8 Two millenniums added to 158B.C. made in Miller's calculation A.D. 1842. This is, of course,one year short of 1843, but this one year was claimed to be theproof of the accuracy of this particular prophecy. This is sobecause Hosea said, "After two days he will revive us.--" Thefirst year "after' 1842 is 1843. Similarly Jesus said that perfectionwould come "on" the third day, correct for 1843 and thousandyears after it.119 With this explanation Miller proposed theprophecy as another unquestionable proof for the parousia in1843.

One may note that Miller does not mention the possibility thataccording to his own literalistic method 1844, 1845, or any yearwithin a millennium would be "after" 1842 or "on" the thirdmillennium since 158 B.C. No examples of similar expositionhave been found in contemporary literature.

5.10 The cleansing of the sanctuaryThe prophecy for which Millerism is best remembered is foundin the book of Daniel.

Then I heard one saint speaking, and anothersaint said unto that certain saint which spake,How long shall be the vision concerning the dailysacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, togive both the sanctuary and the host to betrodden under foot? And he said unto me, Untotwo thousand and three hundred days; then shallthe sanctuary be cleansed. (Dan 8:13,14 KJV)

The interpretation of this text was regarded as an importantchallenge because its exegesis varied more among historiciststhan that of any other time-prophecy in the book of Daniel.Some serious conservative historicists applied Daniel 8 only toAntiochos. Others sought to stretch the time into the Christianera, but with widely variant starting points and. diverselengths of time, 2200, 2300, or 2400 days. The Millentes wroteno books on this prophecy alone, but it is discussed extensivelyin Miller's Evidence, Hale 's Second Advent Manual, Litch's

118Miller 18421c, 56.18421c, 56-73.

121

Prophetic Expositions, Fleming's Synopsis, and Hawley's SecondAdvent Doctrine .120The prophecy of Daniel 8 required several definitions to makethe Millerite interpretation possible. First of all the length oftime needed discussion. The Millerites were well aware ofJerome's reading of 2200 evenings and mornings as well theSeptuagint's 2400. Here the Hebrew text was consideredpreferable because it must be considered more original, becauseno variants were known amonJ?; the Hebrew manuscripts, andbecause the "Vatican edition" [Codex Vaticanus?] of the LXXalso had the reading 2300:121 Secondly, .the itseltno terminus a quo suitable for historicist application.Therefore Miller and his associates tried to prove a connectionbetween chapters 8 and 9 in Daniel.

5.10.1 Daniel 8 and 9 interpreted togetherIt was pointed out that in Daniel 9:23 Gabriel came to makeDaniel understand "the vision", which, Miller claimed, mustmean the one that precedes.V'

18421b, 39-75; Miller 18421f; VOP 18421j, 46-53;Miller 18421g; SAM 42-59; Fleming 1842, 39-60; Hawley 1843,62-93; Litch 1843; Litch 18421a, 74-87; Litch 18421c, 22-62;Hervey 1843/a, 40-108; Bliss 18421a, 101-111; Litch 18421b, 1:112-144; Bliss 18421b, 26-46; Bliss 18421c; Bliss 1843/d; Bliss 1843/£,Sf. There are also several articles on the subject. e.g. Miller"Cleansing of the Sanctuary, A Letter from Wm Miller" ST Apr6 1842; B. "The 70 Weeks and 2300 Days of Daniel" ST June22, 1842; Anon. "The Sanctuary" ST Feb 1, 1842. Inquirer "TheSanctuary" ST Feb 15, 1842, Mar 1, 1842. Anon. "Is AntiochosEpiphanes the hero of Daniel's Prophecy" ST Dec 28, 1842;Evan "The Prophecy of Daniel" ST Mar 8, 1843; Anon. "TheEnd of the Prophetic Periods" ST Apr 5, 1843. Anon. "Dura-tion of Earthly Kingdoms" ST May 29, 1843. Hawley "TheDoctrine of the Second Advent Sustained by the Voice of theChurch" ST June 7, 1843.

121Litch 1842/b, 1:115.is reflected in the heavy debates there were over

the topic even among the Millerites. See e.g. VOP 18421j, 47.123Cf. Zevit "Exegetical Implications of Daniel 8:1, 9:21"

VI' vol 28 (1978).

122

Does not the angel say to Daniel, ix.23,"Therefore understand the matter and considerthe vision?" Yes. Does not the angel then go onand give his instruction concerning the 70 weeks?Yes. Do you believe the Bible is true? We do.Then if the Bible is true, Daniel's 70 weeks are apart of the vision, and 490 years wereaccomplished when the Messiah was cut off andnot for himself. Then 1810 years afterwards thevision is completed.l'"

The second confirmatory statement was seen in a anotherreference to a "vision" (Dan 9:24). The seventy weeks were to"seal up the vision." This vision was believed to be that ofDaniel 8.125 The sealing aspect was strongly advocated byMiller's associate, Apollos Hale, a Methodist minister.

--there can be nothing sealed without somethingto seal, to which it is made an appendage. Asthe 70 weeks are the appendage - the seal - tosomething else called the vision, that vision must,in nature of the case, be something different fromthe 70 weeks, even if the 70 weeks could withany propriety be called a vision.128

Miller agrees with Hale but stresses a slightly different view. Hewrote, that the sealing meant confirmation on the fulfillment ofDaniel 8 because sealing means fulfillment, and a prophecycannot be fulfilled without a starting polnt.!"

There was a third detail related to the wording of Daniel 9:24which was used to strengthen the argument on the unity ofDaniel 8 and 9. Litch investigated the Hebrew background of

124Miller 1836, 47.

125VOP 1842/j, 47. Hale suggested that Daniel's referenceto Jeremiah's 70 years shows that he misunderstood Daniel 8somehow to mean that the 70 years would not terminate at theexpected time. Therefore Gabriel came to explain the matterand to give the correct place for Jeremiah's seventy as well asthe 490 and 2300 years. Hale 1846, 43.

128Hale 1846, ch. 1.127VOP 1842/j, 47.

123

the word "determined" [1I:lm J and he contends that it shouldhave been translated "cut .off' or "separated" which, in theframework of prophetic time, could mean only that the seventyweeks or 490 years of Daniel 9 were "cut off' from the longer

. d f 2300 . d . 2300 128peno 0 evenmgs an mormngs or years.

The case for the oneness of Daniel 8 and 9 was establishedstep by step. Daniel's prayer [ch. 9] provided a furtherpossibility of pointing out how the two texts belonged together.Daniel was worried over the fate of his people and he wantedto know the solution to chapter 8 when he prayed. Chapter 9must therefore be an explanation of chapter 8.129 For theMillerites the problem was solved. Everybody knew how Daniel9 must be interpreted. A Christological interpretation waspresupposed even by the marginal notes of the Bibles. Thismade the preceding argument crucial for Millerism. WithoutDaniel 9:25 as a legitimate solution for the beginning of the2300 evenings and mornings they would not have had such aterminus a quo that would bring the conclusion of the prophecyin the region of 1843. The time was to be counted "from thegoing of the commandment to restore and to build JMiller's interpretation of Daniel 8 cannot be looked upon 1Disolation from Daniel 9.

William Miller was not alone in the linking of the 70 weeks andthe 2300 days. Already in 1654 Tillinghast advocated in Englandthat the 70 weeks were a lesser period within the greater oneof 2300 days.l30 A century later in 1768 Johan Petri clearlyproposed that the 70 weeks be placed to the first part of the2300 days.?' By the turn of the nineteenth century this viewbecame increasingly popular even though there were manyserious historicists who preferred Antiochos and literal time as

128"The Hebraists all admit that the word determined, inour English version, does signify 'cut off.' Not one has disputedit." Litch Me vol 4 no. 25. In Litch 1842/b, 1:133 three"Hebraists," Fulson, Bush and Seixas, are mentioned by name .Cf. Bliss 1851, 15.

129Litch 1842/b, 1:128-137.130PFF W, 209.131PFF Iv, 210.

124

the fulfillment of Daniel 8.132

5.10.2 When was Jerusalem rebuiltAll throughout the historicist tradition the interpretation of Dan9 had remained fairly stable. The prophecy of 70 weeks wasexegeted as a Messianic prophecy. The time was counted asprophetic years. "The rule is this. There is nothing said aboutdays at this time by the angel. The Hebrew is seventy heptades,or seventy sevens." This means 490 years.133 Christ was the"anointed prince" to be "cut off." (Dan 9:24-27) SubsequentlyCyrus' decree (2 Chr 36; Ezra 1) was as unsatisfactory as it lednowhere.P' Therefore several historicists started this propheticperiod some time between 453 and 457 B.C.l35 Miller chose theseventh year of king Artaxerxes Longimanus. The letter ofArtaxerxes in Ezra 7:11-26 was explained to be the final Royalcommand concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Mostcontemporary commentaries followed Ussher and dated the fifthmonth of the seventh year of Artaxerxes to 457 B.C.138

5.10.3 The date of the crucifixionBecause Daniel 9 was regarded a Messianic prophecy.I" thistiming, and the whole design that Miller put on Daniel 8 and 9was believed to have been confirmed by events relating to thelife of Christ. In the Millerite version the 490 years of Daniel9:24 were added to 457 B.C. This led to "Messiah the Prince,"

132E.g. Mede, the father of historicism.133Bliss 1842/a, 103.134Cf. e.g. Lacoque 1979, 194f.135Damsteegt 1977, 30.138Cf. e.g. Clarke n.d. vol II, 732. PFF IV 396f. Litch used

"Rollin's chronology" Litch 18421b, 1:135.137This was also used to prove the unsuitability of

Antiochos. "It is, however, very evident that AntiochosEpiphanes could not be the little horn predicted, for the littlehorn was to stand against the Prince of Princes, and Antiochosdied 164 years before the Prince of Princes was born." Bliss1842/a, 104.

125

or the crucifixion in AD. 33. Both 457 B.C. and AD. 33 wereconveniently verified by marginal notes in many KJV Bibles.This made Miller's interpretation of Daniel 9 appearimpeccable.P" Millerism was a Bible reader's religion.

VII Chart illustrating the Millerite exegesis of Dan 8 and 9

2300 years

I490 years 1810 years I----11--------457 B.C. 33 AD. 1843 AD.Ezra's Crucifixion ParousiaDecree

Miller argued the unity of Daniel 8 & 9 with thefollowing:

1) Daniel did not understand the vision of ch. 8 (Dan8:27)

2j The two chapters connected in Dan 9:21.3 "The vision" mentioned in Dan 9:23 and 9:24.4 (Dan 9:24) was interpreted to mean "cut off" pointingto a shorter time "cut off" from the longer 2300 days.5) Terminus a quo only unexplained part of Dan 8:14.

In his detailed comments on the chronological combination ofDaniel 8 and 9 Litch asserts that AD. 33 can be proven to bethe date of the crucifixion. Christ was crucified before a paschalfull moon and on a Friday. Passover falls on the first full moonafter the equinox. The Sabbath after the crucifixion Friday musthave been the first full moon of the passover. Litch continues:

I fmd by calculation, the only passover full moonthat fell on a Friday, for several years before orafter the disputed year was 3rd of April 4746

138E.g. Miller 18421b, 71.

126

Julian, 490 after Nehemiah, 33 A.D.' 38

This made it possible for Litch to conclude that the "chronologyof the 490 years -- rests on the most solid Tocomplete the exegesis of the 2300 years Miller and hisassociates were left with the simple task of adding a further1810 years to A.D. 33 to arrive at 1843.141

5.10.4 What is the sanctuaryHaving arrived at the desired year of 1843 Miller proceeded toexegete the non-chronological parts of the prophecy. Thisexegesis would have been meaningless had not Miller believedthat Daniel's cleansing of the sanctuary was in fact the parousia.To establish this Miller labored to obtain a clearcut meaning forthe word "sanctuary". This part of Miller's exegesis is a primaryexample of the concordance method. With the help of hisCruden's he found seven possible meanings for the wordsanctuary. These were:

1. Jesus Christ (Isa 8:14; Eze 11:16)2. Heaven (Ps 102:19; 20:2)3. Judah (Ps 114:28)4. The temple of the Jews (1 Chr 22:19; Ex 25:8)5. The holy of holies (lChr 28:10; Lev 4:6)6. The earth (Isa 16:13; 1 K 8:27; Rev 5:10; 20:6;Mt 6:10; Ps 32:15; Rev 11:15; Ps 96:6-13)

7. The saints (lCor 3:16,17; 2Cor 6:16; Eph2:21)'42

'39t.itch 1842/b, 1:138-140.1842/b, 1:140.

l4lVOP, 47.142Miller 1842/f, 4-7. Even though Miller again assembled a

number of texts to prove his points many of his proofs[especially under point 6] appear irrelevant on closerexamination. After the disappointment the interpretation of theSanctuary symbol was hotly debated between mainline Milleritesand Sabbatarian Adventists. It was then contested that 145 timesthe word "sanctuary" is used and not a single time applied tothe earth. Everyone knows, they claimed, that the earth isneither a dwelling place of God nor yet a holy or sacred place,

127

After listing his possibilities Miller sets out to deduce thecorrect one by a process of elimination. "The question nowarises which of these sanctuaries does Daniel mean?" The nextpart of the evidence provides a typical example of Miller's logicand style:

I answer not the first Jesus Christ for he is notimpure.-- not the second heaven for that is notunclean, people, -- not the third Judah for literalJudah is cut off as a people,-- not the fourth, thetemple, for that is destroyed and what is notcannot be numbered. v"

Naturally the holy of holies could not count either as it was notin existence any more, and Miller was left with only twoappropriate meanings: the earth and the saints, both of which,he claimed, needed and would receive the cleansing promisedby Daniel at the end of the 2300 years.l'"

5.10.5 Comments on the 2300 year prophecyIt is interesting that there was more debate in Milleritepublications over the details of Daniel 8:14 than over any otherissue. Many of these arguments were with non-Millerites whoobjected to the 2300 evenings and mornings meaning days, orwho proposed that the little horn of Daniel 8 was AntiochosEpiphanes.l'" It may have been that the Millerite editorsallowed for this debate because of their confidence in thecorrectness of the opinions they held on Daniel 8.

From the earliest period of Miller's prophetic interest his viewon Daniel 8:14 emerges as one of his main arguments for the

and that the sanctuary must be a definite object. Similarargument was repeated against the church being the sanctuary.AH Aug 2, 1850, pp. 28-30.

143Miller 1842/f, 7f.144Miller 1842/f, 8f.

debates with Stuart, Colver, Morris, True, Brownand Dowling were reprinted in book form. Miller 1842/g; Bliss1843/d; Bliss 1842/a; Litch n.d./d; Litch 1842/c.

128

nearness of the parousia. Together with the 6000 year theory itwas popular with the majority of the Millerites. This particularexegesis grew in importance as the end of the Milleriteexpectation approached in 1843 and 1844. This may have beendue to the fact that this prophecy had been interpreted to tellthe time of the end by numerous historicist exegetes beforeMiller.

If one tries to look at Miller's exegesis through the eyes of acontemporary, one may assume that this hermeneutic togetherwith Miller's views on other prophecies in Daniel and theApocalypse appeared as regular exegesis, while his teachings onLeviticus, Jubilees or even the 6000 years may at times havereached the borderlines of propriety.The increasing popularity of this doctrine among the Milleritesmay have been caused by the nature of the prophecy. Itallowed for speculation on the exact day of the second adventwhile most of the other "proofs" were only good for determiningthe year. As the time approached this prophecy was interpretedwith increasing resolution to find the exact date. This wasagainst Miller's personally expressed wishes.I.e

As one looks at the way Miller's inheritance was shared, itappears that after the disappointment, caused by a typologicalelaboration of this prophecy, most Millerite groups took arather detached view on Daniel 8, while Sabbatarian Adventismappeared to stake its life on the typologically updatedinterpretation of this prophecy.I"

5.11 Time of the endMiller 's exegesis also included the prophetic period of 1260days, 42 months, or 3 112 years which was one of thecornerstones of historicism.

And he shall speak great words against the most

146Miller objected to the specific date until a fortnightbefore the time.

..,g. Linden 1984. This prophecy still appears to be ofvital significance for Seventh-day Adventism. E.g. Linden 1982.

U9

High, and shall wear out the saints of the mostHigh, and think to times and laws: andthey shall be given into his hand until a time andtimes and the dividing of time. (Dan 7:25 KJV)

And one said to the man clothed in linen, whichwas upon the waters of the river, How long shallit be to the end of these wonders? And I heardthe man clothed in linen, which was upon thewaters of the river, when he held up his righthand and his left hand unto heaven, and swareby him that liveth for ever that it shall be for atime, times, and an half; and when he shall haveaccomplished to scatter the power of the holypeople, all these things shall be finished. (Dan12:7 KJV)

But the court which is without the temple leaveout, and measure not; for it is given unto theGentiles: and the holy city shall they tread underfoot forty and two months. And I will give powerunto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy athousand two hundred and threescore days,clothed in sackcloth. (Rev 11:2,3 KJV)

And the woman fled into the wilderness, whereshe hath a place prepared of God, that theyshould feed her there a thousand two hundredand threescore days. (Rev 12:6 KJV)

And the woman were given two wings of a greateagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, intoher place, where she is nourished for a time, andtimes, and half a time, from the face of theserpent. (Rev 12:14 KJV)

And there was given unto him a mouth speakinggreat things and blasphemies; and power wasgiven unto him to continue forty and two months.(Rev 13:5 KJV)

These prophecies are to be found in the books of Daniel andRevelation. They cover the work of the little horn and one ofthe beasts of Revelation as well as the period of the scatteringand persecution of God's people. The Millerites frequentlydiscussed both the events and the termini of these prophecies in

130

their books and periodicals.t"

These prophecies were not exegeted to lead to Miller's year ofthe end, 1843. Instead they were believed to indicate thebeginning of the "time of the end." One can compare Miller'sinterpretation of this prophecy to a backbone in a skeleton. Itprovided the supportive structure to which several other time-prophecies were fixed,

5.11.1 The French revolutionThe prophetic significance of the French revolution wasunderwritten by many commentaries of the early nineteenthcentury. For some Americans the news from France may haveappeared to mark progress and reform, but the sudden changesof power, the bloodshed, the attacks against Christianity and theBible made many religious people regard the revolution as asomber sign of the times. These interpretations were highlightedby the fate of the papacy in the aftermath of the revolutionwhen Napoleon sought to make the pontiff his puppet. After all,papacy had been the antichrist of prophetic hermeneutic sincethe Reformation.r'"

Miller chose the year 1798 for the termination of the papaldomination.P? At that time Napoleon's troops entered Romeand he put an end to the pope's political rulership. This wasthe deadly wound (Rev 13:3) and the end of the little hom's

148Some of the most detailed and thorough discussions ofthis prophecy are in Miller 1842/b, 86-114; Miller 1842/a, 30-36;Miller 1842/g; Litch 1842/a, 57-73; SAM 82-95; Storrs 1843, 1-53; Bliss 1842/a 78-101; Bliss 1843/d; Bliss 1843f, 4f. See alsoVOP 1842/j, 46-53. Litch 1842/b, 2:121-124; Litch 1842/c, 62-80;Cook 1843, 50-62; Hervey 1843/b, 40-108; Anon. "1260 Years ofPapal Triumph" ST Feb 1, 1843; Anon. "End of the 1260 days"ST July 19, 1843.

149Sandeen 1970, 5-7, 13. For a Millerite view see e.g.Miller, "Remarkable Fulfillment of Prophecy, Relating to Franceand the two Witnesses" VOP 1842/j, 203-211. PFF Iv, 60, 67, 71,78 etc. cr. White 1911, 265-288.

l!50Cf. PFF II 751-782.

.1.

131

persecution of the saints (Dan 7:25).'81 The Millerites remindedthemselves of the details: "Feb 10, 1798 General Berthier, at thehead of the republican army of France, entered the city and

it." The J?Ope was imprisoned and taken to France togetherWIth the cardinals and the whole papal system lost its powerbecause it was reorganized by Bonaparte.P"

Miller was not alone in suggesting that the end of this periodwas in the year 1798. At this time Miller had been a lad of 16.The first one to suggest A.D. 1798 as the terminus of Danielseven and its parallel prophecies was Samuel M'Corkle whogave the events a prophetic meaning in the very year they tookplace.Hl3

5.11.2 The time of the antichristAttacks against the papacy were common in all areas ofnineteenth-century American life. In the sphere of prophecieshistoricists applied concepts like "antichrist," "little horn,""abomination of desolation," the "beast" of the book ofRevelation and others to the papal power. This outlook waswell est,ablished. re.formers, and it had been kept up bythe .tradition. Miller approaches these prophecies froma slightly different angle. He IS not overly concerned with thepossible papal atrocities used to prove the antichristian charac-ter of this power.HIli Miller was interested in chronology and inthe historical accuracy of the prophecy.

The easiest aspect of these prophecies was the length of time in

151Miller 1842/b, 104.1842/b, 1:105-109.

153pFF Iv, 396.154See e.g. Ball 1981, 199, 208f.155Anti-Roman sentiments had been boosted by the

continuously increasing proportion of Roman Catholicunrmgrants. See e.g. Gaustad "Introduction" in ROA xi-xx; PFF!y. 27,5f describes the rise of anti-Catholic literature and feelingincluding popular horror stories (like Maria Monk's AwfulDisclosures Of Six Months in a Convent) and popular journals.

132 133

5.11.3 Comments on the 1260 yearsWhile Froom's Prophetic Faith has been criticized for its slantedview on the history of prophetic exegesis and Millerism, thefour volumes do provide an excellent survey of the backgroundof the Millerite type of hermeneutic for both the 2300 days aswell as for the 1260 days. While it may hold true that Miller is

157Miller 18421a, 31-36; VOP 18421j, 49-53; Miller 1836, n-75; Bliss 18421a, 79.

1ME.g. Bliss 18421a 79-80. Bliss' argument is an excellentillustration of Millerite polemic. Morris had objected to Miller'sdate without suggesting another in its place. 'Morris does notknow when the time begins, so he cannot know when it doesnot begin."

'saliss 18421a, 86-90.l80Litch 1842/b, 1:101.

dominating the scene with "all" acknowledging his supremacy.?"However, the terminus a quo was obscure enough to call forsome serious criticism. It is not easy to convince people of adate which is not generally attested in secular history. TheMillerites compensated for this lack of historical references toAD. 538 with a careful presentation of minor details of theevents of AD. 538. At times they also resorted to polemicattacks against opponents.1M

The minutiae presented in verification of the significance ofAD. 538 make Millerite exegesis appear like a collection ofquotations from a history book. Attention was drawn toBelisarius who chose deacon Virgilius for the papal throne inAD. 537 because Virgilius had paid him 200 lbs. of gold. InAD. 538 this fraudulent arrangement was legalized. The pontiffhad received all the accessories of power by this time. The onlyproblem was an attack by the Arian Ostrogoths in March 538.He was only able to use his powers as the Ostrogoths weredriven out later in the same year.1S The logic was simple.While Goths held the city the Pope was helpless, but whenBelisarius expelled them the Pope was left to defend himselfand "Rome was under his power."leo There was no need tocarry the research further.

1260yrsBeginning of End ofPapacy Papacy1---------1538 AD. 1798AD.

What required careful explanation was the terminal point of theprophecy. Counting the 1260 years back from 1798 required 538as the starting point. The historical event connected with thisyear was the expulsion of the Ostrogoths from Rome. Thisinterpretation matched a fairly widely approved view of the tenhorns, three of which were plucked away from before the littlehom. (Dan 7:8) Because the Ostrogoths were the last one ofthe three the time appeared logical. All details of these eventswere seen to match those of Daniel 7. The interpretation wasconsistent with the method used and information available. Theconclusion was that in AD. 538 the Roman bishop was left

Miller's texts: Dan 7:25; Dan 12:6,7; Rev 11:2,3; Rev12:6,14; Rev 13:5

VIII Chart illustrating Miller's view of the rise and fall ofthe papacy

l!5&y'he Millerites applied the 1260 year time regularly onthe papacy. Outside of Millerism several expositors includedIslam into their interpretation. There are only few Milleriteexamples of this. Anon. "Chronology of the MohammedanPower" ST 15, 1840 recalculates 1260 84 years short bysome chronological device, then starts the prophecy with 622 forthe beginning of Islam and concludes it in 1843.

question. From its beginning historicism had presented all 3 112year, 42 month and 1260 day prophecies to mean the sameperiod of 1260 years. Anyone proposing a different solutionwould have been regarded unorthodox. Neither was there anyproblem with the papal application. lee

134

no "fiery comet with a lOoo-year tail" and that everymillennarian was not necessarily "a forerunner of the New Yorkfarmer-preacher.v'" Froom does conclusively show that Miller'sexegesis of Daniel 7 and 8 follows widely accepted historiciststandards. It follows naturally that any later historicist inter-pretations of these chapters are close to Miller's views.

5.12 1335 days/yearsAnd from the time that the daily sacrifice shallbe taken away, and the abomination that makethdesolate set up, there shall be a thousand twohundred and ninety days. Blessed is he thatwaiteth, and cometh to the thousand threehundred and five and thirty days. (Dan 12:11,12KJV)

For Millerites these concluding verses of Daniel represented animportant scheme of prophetic interpretation. These prophecieswere carefully incorporated into an intricate system which wasfounded on the 1260 years and which included the number ofthe beast as an appendix. The times Daniel 12:11,12 wereimportant links in the arrangement. The most detailedexpositions of this prophecy are found in Hale's Second AdventManual, in Bliss' answer to Colver and Miller's Reply toStuart .182

5.12.1 Taking away of the dailyFirst Miller took the prophecy of 1290 days/years. Countingbackwards from 1798 he fixed "the time that the daily sacrificeshall be taken away" (Dan 12:11) at AD. 508. For Miller thetaking away of the daily sacrifice was identical with the end ofpagan Rome.l'" "I have come to this conclusion: that this power,

181Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy" in Numbers& Butler 1987, 89.

182SAM 59-81; Miller 1842/g; Bliss 1843/d. See also VOP1842/j, 46-53; Litch 1842/b, 2:121-124; Litch 1842/c, 81-90; Cox1842, 48-55.

183Miller 1842/b, 104; 113.

135

called 'daily sacrifice,' is Rome pagan abomination; the sameChrist has reference to in Matt. xxiv.15."'8-4 At first sight Miller'sconclusion may appear impossible to prove but he certainlymade a serious effort of establishing his point.

The motivation for this exegesis lies in Miller's unshakenconviction that the little horn of Daniel must mean the Papacy.Did the papacy take away daily sacrifices? Certainly no Jewishones, so the "daily" must, he continues, mean something else,something which was put away by the papacy. Was it notpaganism with its daily sacrifices that lost its strength with therise of Roman Catholicism, Miller asked. This conclusionallowed Miller to name two abominations, one in the form ofthe papal antichrist and the other, represented by "dailysacrifice," being satan's continual opposition to God's work inthe form of paganism. This was believed to clarify the enemy'stwo disguises: pagan and papal Rome. The first alluded to byChrist himself in reference to the "abomination of desolation"(Mt 24:15; Lk 21:21) and the second by Paul in his prophecyon the "man of sin." (2 Thess 2:3_10)'85

The destruction of Jerusalem then turned out to be the work ofthe "daily" or "Rome pagan." This interpretation made the year508 AD. appear reasonable. After all, Western Rome had fallenbut a few years earlier. Hale made a further observation on theevents of the year AD. 508. "Anastasias sent pope the title andinsignia of patrician and consul and conferred the appellation ofAugust," details which Hale extracted from Gibbon's popularhistory of the Roman empire.P"

5.12.2 From daily to the endFrom AD. 508 it was easy to proceed to 1843 by adding 1335years. The cobweb of prophetic lines had reached the decisiveyear of the end. More than anything else the prophecy of Dan12:12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousandthree hundred and five and thirty days," was the ultimate

18-4VOP 18421j, 48. See also Litch 1842/b, 2:128.185VOP 18421j, 48.1111JSAM 74.

136

demonstration of the coherence of Biblical prophecies reaching1843.'B7

IX Chart illustrating Miller's interpretation of time-prophecies that he believed to indicate the times relative tothe papacy.

I1290yrs

Dan 12:111260yrs

Dan 7:25 I I508 538 1798 1843

1335yrsDan 12:12 , I

Daily Rise of Time of Secondremoved papacy the end Advent

5.13 Number of the beastHere is wisdom. Let him that hath understandingcount the number of the beast: for it is thenumber of a man; and his number is Six hundredthreescore and six. (Rev 13:18 KJV)

Several of Miller's fifteen proofs relate to the book ofRevelation. None of these leads to Miller's year of the end,1843. They provided supportive structure for what Miller foundin the Old Testament. These interpretations gave timing for thepapacy and antichrist, dates for Islam, the eastern antichrist,and with Miller's exposition of the number of the beast thetimes for ancient Rome. Even though these points fall outsidethe main interest of this research they will be included in asummarized form in this and the following sections.

Miller carried on his exegesis of the "time of the end" and theyear 1798 by turning the number of the beast, 666 (Rev 15:18)

1B7VOP 18421j, 26.

137

into a time-prophecy.'· He believed that this duration stretchedfrom 158 B.C., when Jews made a "league" with the Romans,until 508 AD. when be believed the pagan Rome or the dailyto have met its end.'· Thus the number of the beast confirmedand bound together Miller's idea of the two millennial days ofHosea 6 and the apocalyptic times of Daniel 7 and 12.

X Chart illustrating Miller's interpretation of the number ofthe beast

Rise of Rome 666yrs end of Rome "daily")------1

158B.C. 508A.D.

Miller's text: Rev 13:18

XI Utda's Dumbering or the Greek letters in "the Latinkingdom

" = 8 X 30 IJ = 2II 1 II = 1T = 300 a = 200L = 10 & = 10

" = 50 X 30." 8 f = 5

L = 10II 1

Total 666.

'eBsee e.g, Miller 1841/1>, 76-85; Miller "Evidence --Chapter IV" ST July 15, 1841.

'·SMv, 30.

138

This idea of prophetic synchronization is typical for Miller andthe Millerites. His view on the 666 was not, however,unanimously accepted by all of his fellow believers. Litch tellshow he after initial acceptance later gave up 666 as a measureof time. "I am now satisfied it was an error." Instead heinterpreted this time period as in the more regular historicistfashion pointing to Rome."?

5.14 Proof for the year-day theory.And there came out of the smoke locusts uponthe earth, -- And to them it was given that theyshould not kill them, but that they should betormented five months: and their torment was asthe torment of a scorpion, when he striketh aman. (Rev 9:3,5)

And the four angels were loosed, which wereprepared for an hour, and day, and a month, anda year, for to slay the third part of men. (Rev9:15)

One of the most colorful interludes within the short history ofMillerism is the summer and autumn of 1840 when Millerexpected the first serious omens of the end. He based theseideas on Revelation 9:5,15. Usually the whole episode iscredited to Dr. Josiah Litch, but certainly also Miller is involvedas well as the editorial staff of the Signs.171

This interpretation has been called a prophecy which led

170Litch 1842/a, 72.171The main source is Litch 1842/b, 2: 132-227; See also

Miller 1842/b, 115-126; Litch 1838; Bliss 1842/a, 166-176; Bliss1843/f, 8f; Fleming 1842, 71-73; Fitch 1841, 41-49. For Articlessee Litch "Fall of the Ottoman Power in Constantinople" STAug 1, 1840; Litch "Events to Succeed the Second Woe" STAug 1, 1840; The editorial column "THE NATIONS" betweenApril 15 and Aug 1, ST 1840; Anon. "The Six Trumpet Period"ST May 1, 1840. Litch "Fall of the Ottoman Empire, orOttoman Supremacy Departed" TGC Aug 4, 1842. Anon. "BlowYe the Trumpet in Zion Sound an Alarm in My HolyMountain" ST May 311, 1843.

139

thousands to believe in Christ,172 as well as one that gave theMillerites the first bitter taste of frustrated expectation.l" Aperusal of Millerite material shows that neither interpretationmatches fully with the facts. The lack of dramatic events at theexpected time prevented Miller's and Litch's ideas from growinginto a spectacular advertisement for Millerite exegesis.f" neithercan the slightly hesitant enthusiasm, with which the "fulfillment"was pronounced, be designated a disappointment. The Milleritesdid not realize that the events failed to measure up with theirassumptions.

5.14.1 History of IslamMiller initiated an interpretation of the two verses of Revelation9 as a time-prophecy which would lead either to 1839 or 1840.In the locusts he pictured a symbol of the Islamic power, the"Mahometans," in particular the remnants of an ailing greatpower, Ottoman Turkey. This transformed the exegesis ofRevelation 9 into a discussion on a political issue of front pagecalibre - the Eastern question. The Sultan of Turkey and hisrebellious vassal, Mehemet Ali, the Pasha of Egypt wereengaged in a power struggle with regular involvement of thegreat powers of Europe. At the end of this period Miller notonly expected the fall of Turkey, but also the breaking loose ofan Armageddon and possibly the close of probation. "It is done.The kingdoms of the earth and governments of the world willbe carried away."175

172Arasola 1955, 233.173Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy" Numbers &

Butler, 1987, 78.174Litch lamented the lack of interest people showed in the

11th of August. Litch 1842/b, 2:200. Anderson "The MilleriteUse of Prophecy" in Numbers & Butler 1987, 86.

175Miller was accused of having predicted the close ofprobation at this time. His only written comments on thissubject are ambiguous, even if he was clear on expecting the"Great Battle" in 1839 or 1840. See e.g. Miller "A Lecture onthe Signs of the Present Times" ST Mar 20, 1840, and Miller1842/b, 115-126, which are reprints of older texts. He may havedone so in his sermons as Litch is asked "Do you believe with

140However, his associates, in particular Litch, did researchinto the history of Islam and at first he defined the time to themonth of August and later exactly to the day.178 The prophecyincludes two pieces of chronological information. One of theseis five months, which in a regular year for day reckoning stoodfor 150 years. The other is "an hour, a day, a month, and ayear" which was believed to lead on for a further 391 yearsand '15 days to the fall of the Turkish empire. The beginning ofthe first of the time periods was discovered in Gibbon's history,which told that on July 27, 1299 Osman brought the Ottomanempire into European consciousness by attacking Greece. Thefirst 150 years of the prophecy were concluded on July 27, 1449and the second period was to finish on August 11, 1840.177

5.14.2 Fractions of a prophetic dayThe time required a strictly literalistic application of the year-day theory. An hour was one 24th part of a day symbolizingone 24th part of a year or 15 days. The rest was simplearithmetic, a day was taken .for a year, a month for 30 yearsand a year for 360 years adding up to a total of 391 years plus15 days . Beginning in the Spring of 1840 there were frequentreminders of the approaching terminus. In April The Signsbegan printing a regular column called THE NATIONS. This

Mr. Miller that the day of grace will close in the month ofAugust." L[itch] "Events to Succeed the Second Woe" ST Aug 1,1840. See also Anon. "The Closing up of the Day of Grace" S,TAug 1 1840, which comments on the events to be expected inAugust: "This must certainly close up the gospel dispensation --In conclusion we solemnly warn our fellow Christians of allsects and denominations to trim their lamps." See also Anon."Sixth Vial" ST May 1, 1840.

178Litch 1838 is the earliest source which indicates themonth of August. "Turkish government should be overthrown inAD. 1840 -- some time in the month o.f August Theprophecy is the most remarkable and definite of any in theBible" He did not publish an exact day until August. Litch

111-125. Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy" inNumbers & Butler 1978, 78-91.

177SMV, 27. Cf. Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy"in Numbers & Butler 1987, 84.

141

column incorporated news on political developments in the NearEast. The August 1 issue included two articles by Litch. Theserevealed the very day when the "locust" nation of Turkey couldbe expected to fall, August 11.' 78

XII Chart illustrating Miller's Interpretation of Rev 9:5,15

150+3911-------1

1299AD. 184OAD.July 27 Aug 11

5.14.3 News from the EastWhen August 11 passed there was an abrupt pause in Milleriteperiodicals on the subject. The Millerites waited for news fromTurkey with keen interest and expectancy of an Armageddon.V"For a time there appears to have been a moment of disquiet.P?No world war broke out. Nothing spectacular happened. Theeditors promised that Miller would later comment on chargesthat he had falsely expected the close of probation.!" For a fewweeks there was no "THE NA TIONS" column in the Signs of

"Events to Succeed. the. Second Woe" ST 1,1840. Litch also had another article in the same issue. This isless dogmatic on time. "But whenever it is fulfilled, whether1840, or at a future period --. "Fall of the Ottoman Power inConstantinople" ST Aug 1, 1840.

17sL[itch] "The Battle of Armageddon" ST Sep 1, 1840.the editors collected some material which reflects

embarrassment into Anon. "The Fall of the Ottoman Power in1840" ST sep 1, 1840.

18tEditorial ST Sep 15, 1840. There appears no clear latercomments on the issue, but Miller "Miller's Letters No.8" STSep 1, 1840, explains the dilemma with the claim that all thatneed be said is that mercy must close before the actual advent.

142

the Times. Then steamers from the Old Continent broughtdetailed information of events in August and "THE NA TIONS"reappeared in the Signs.l82 Litch together with the other editorswas able to publish news of prophetic fulfillment around August11.

5.14.3.1 Wallah, hillah, tillahAt first the reports were given with caution, and only afterseveral months do they ring with a note of triumph. In OctoberLitch entitles his article "The Battle Begun" and but he is notyet able to date the fulfillment to the day. Yet the fightingappeared to seal the prophecy.P" In January it is asserted thaton the very day, August 11, Turkey had brought itself to thebrink of a war by imprisoning the special envoy of the alliedWestern nations in Alexandria.!" Mehemet Ali had provenunable to accept the conditions placed on him, instead he hadanswered:

"Wallah, hillah, tillah" (an oath by God) I will notyield a span of the land I possess, and if war ismade against me, I will tum the empire upsidedown and be buried in its ruins. Mehemet Alil85

The words "Wallah, hillah, tillah" must have appeared exciting tothe Millerites as they were repeated numerous times in variousarticles over the issue.l88 This was the decisive stroke. Litch

182E.g. 'The Nations" ST Oct 1, 1840 describes vividly how''The steamship Britannia with captain Woodruff arrived" withthe news that "Things are fast tending to a general conflict."

183His article tells about "alarming intelligence" from theNear East. It claims that "Beyrout" is "in ruins" and that onAug 15, "the Sultan, by his embassador [sic] -- signed the deathwarrant of the Ottoman power." Litch "The Battle Begun!" STOct 14, 1840.

184[Litch] "Turkey and Egypt" ST Jan 15, 1841, Feb 1,1841.

185Litch "The Fall of the Ottoman Power" ST Jan 1, 1842.188E.g. fLitch] ''Turkey and Egypt" ST Jan 15, 1841 and

Feb 1, 1841. Litch 1842/a, 124.

143

concluded that he was now "entirely satisfied that on the 11thday of August -- Ottoman supremacy departed."? In spite ofthe fact that later judgement has failed to single out theMillerite dates as outstanding for the history of Turkey or ofIslam, the Millerites experienced this "fulfillment" as a boost fortheir morale and it certainly proved an effective means ofcreating interest in prophetic timekeeping.l'" For more than ayear the Signs frequently included news on the Eastern questionin "THE NA TIONS" column.

5.14.4 Comments on the fall of TurkeyJudgment on the impact of this interpretation must be guarded.It would be a mistake to regard this interpretation as one whichconverted thousands to Millerism. This idea would not explainLitch's dismay over people's reluctance to accept the events ofAugust 11 as a "convincing" "sign from heaven."189 Likewise it isan error to call it a bitter disappointment. No one was to knowthat in spite of Turkey's troubles and occasional militaryskirmishes she was to continue as an independent state and thatAugust 11, 1840 would not later be one of the important daysin Turkish history. Subsequently after initial uncertainty theinterpretation was promoted with reasonable enthusiasm. Thefact that there was no strong challenge to Miller's and Litch'stheory indicates that the hesitation and disappointment was notall that serious. In spite of the fact that Litch later renouncedhis Turkish interpretation it did add credibility to the whole ofMillerite exegesis. Miller was able to pronounce his view of theyear-day method: "That God has used days as figures of years,none will or can deny."I90 The system of dates and periods wasconsidered sealed and confirmed.

187Litch "The Fall of the Ottoman Power" ST Jan 1, 1842.188Litch 1842/a, 115-132. Cf. White 1911, 334f; Smith 1944,

502-7; Arasola 1955, 228-34; SDABC VII, 794-796.18er-itch 1842/b, 2:200; MC quoted in The Western Midnight

Cry, Jan 20, 1844; Anderson, "The Millerite Use of Prophecy" inNumbers & Butler 1987, 86.

190VOP 18421j, 52f.

144

However, one must agree with Anderson that Litch neverallowed events to test his theory. It appears that if MehemetAli overthrew the Sultan, "or if the Sultan maintained his thronewith outside help, the prophecy was still 'fulfilled.' If a generalwar broke out, or if it did not, the prophecy was still 'fulfilled.'Whether probation closed on August 11, 1840, or appeared tocontinue -- the fall of Turkey was still a sign that the door ofmercy would close. -- The hypothesis was not falsifiable.'?"

5.15 Observations on Millers chronological pointsWithout apocalyptic chronology there would not have been aMillerite revival. Chronological exegesis was the driving force ofthe movement. The "burned over district" found something newand exiting in the complex and intriguing calculations on thedate of the parousia. One can give some reflections.

Firstly, as has been stated earlier, the chronology leading to1843 was based primarily on the Old Testament. The only NewTestament calculation leading to 1843 was that of Luke 13:32,and even that was paralleled with the text in Hosea 6. It ispossible that the Old Testament, due to its great diversity ofhistorical and prophetic material, suits the Millerite type orprophetic speculation better than the New Testament.

Secondly, the "proofs" rest on technical points like Biblical andhistorical chronology, which probably gave an aura of learningto the system. Laymen were unable to check the validity of thepoints themselves and emotional factors and the rhetoric of theargument may have led many to decide in favor of Miller.

Thirdly, all of Miller's calculations contain a mathematical error.Miller overlooked the non-existence of a year zero, whichindicates that no Millerite before 1844 did his homeworkthoroughly.1112

1111Anderson "The Millerite Use of Prophecy" in Numbers& Butler 1987, 87.

l112Samuel Snow, the starter of the seventh-month theorywas the first Millerite known to have drawn attention to themistake.

145

Fourthly, some of the proofs are not time-propheciesl'" at all,or their actual intent is turned upside down.194 The power ofreligious convictions has rarely followed the paths of logic.

Fifthly, Millerites appear to have believed that a multiplicationof weak points makes one strong point. Thus the argument wasmultiplied into 15 points some of which were justly ridiculed byopponents and brushed aside by thoughtful supporters.I'"

Finally, one should observe the strong points of Miller'sarguments. They were presented persuasively. There were nohidden meanings or occult references. The meaning of everysymbol, or every important word was argued with biblical texts,often much to the shame of Miller's opponents.P" The methodemployed widely accepted principles of historicism. Milleritestudy of the Scriptures combined skills in calculation anddetective work - an enterprise that could be taken up withoutprevious expertise or resources of a library, and yet it providedthe hearer with the joy of new discovery. Motivation sprungfrom the urgent relevancy of the message. The hermeneuticsimplified human history into straightforward phases leading upto the present. It may be added further that the nearness of thesecond advent gave no time for pondering intellectually knottyproblems.?" The spirit of Miller's work was one of discovery.The following words describe Miller's experience when he firstharmonized Bible prophecies, and it was shared by many of hisfollowers:

The Bible was now a new book . It was indeed afeast of reason: all that was dark, mystical, orobscure to me in its teachings, had been

193E.g. Proof I, Lev 26.1IME.g. Proof III, Eze 39.195There were Millerites who wondered about the

legitimacy of Proof I from Lev 26. E.g. Litch "Restoration ofthe Kingdom to Israel" Me Nov 30, 1842.

198Cf. e.g. White's later reflections on Miller's persuasiveskills. White 1911, 405f.

11l7Cf. Harrison 1979, 202.

146

dissipated from my mind, before the clear lightthat now dawned from its sacred pages; and 0how bright and glorious the truth appeared. Allthe contradictions and inconsistencies I hadbefore found in the Word were gone; andalthough there were many portions of which Iwas not satisfied I had a full understanding, yetso much light had emanated from it to theillumination of my before darkened mind, that Ifelt a delight in studying the Scriptures, which Ihad not before supposed could be derived fromits teachings.l'"

5.16 SummaryMiller's exegesis has been generally misunderstood andmisinterpreted in literature. For William Miller it was extremelyimportant not to base his chronological argument on one textonly. The ultimate "proof" for him was that there were fifteen"proofs". He always preferred to present as many of hischronological expositions as possible.

For a modem reader many of Miller's chronological claimsappear naive, but in the 19th century they were the logicaloutcome of the prevalent method. Miller proved himself amaster of visual and numerical imagination. He plays withnumbers, years and thousands of years, with sevens andmultiples of seven. The interpretations have a kaleidoscopicquality in which a little change of angle turns on new colors.Among the ideological followers of Miller Seventh-dayAdventists have mainly cherished Millerite views on Daniel andthe Apocalypse, while the Jehovah's Witnesses have kept up anumber of Miller's other chronological expositions.

198Miller 1845, 12.

147

6. FESTAL CALENDAR ANDSANCTUARY TYPOLOGY

Miller's original exegesis did not provide any exact date for theparousia. In fact it is possible that some of Miller's earlycomments on the time gave a span of four years. He expectedthe second advent between 1843 and 1847.1 When he beganpreaching the definition was narrowed down to "on or before,"and "about the year 1843."2 As the time approached Millerspecified the time in even greater detail:

I believe that time can be known by all whodesire to understand and to be ready for hiscoming. And I am fully convinced that some timebetween March 21st, 1843, and March 21st, 1844,according to the Jewish mode of computation oftime, Christ will come, and bring all his saintswith him; and that then he will reward every manas his works shall be,"

This general position was followed in practically all earlyMillerite charts, periodical articles, and books." Towards the end

'Ford 1980, A-82.2E.g. "Miller's Twenty Articles of Faith," ST May 1, 1841.

The phrase is also typical of Miller's early comments on thedate. Cf. the title of one of the most popular Millerite books:Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming ofChrist about the Year 1843 (Editions 1833, 1836, 1838, 1840,1842). Cf. Bliss 1853, 77-80; PFF IV, 406f, 463, 789; Damsteegt1977, 35f; Cross 1965, 291.

3SMv, 17f. ST Jan 25, 1843. Cf. PFF IV, 789.4Por charts see ST May 1, 1841; June I, 1841; April 26,

1843; May 24, 1843;Me Nov 18, 1842; March 17, 1843; June 8,1843; July 20, 1843; Aug 31, 1843. PFF IV, 794.

148

of the revival new measures were used to define the timeexactly to the day. It has already been pointed out that this wasno longer Miller's exegesis but rather that of Snow and Storrs.The specific date for the parousia was October 22 in 1844. It isthe purpose of this chapter to outline the exegesis, whichprovided such unequivocal measure for Christ's return.

Froom suggests that pressure from opponents forced Miller'sscholarly associates to study anew their ideas of the Jewishyear," While this may be correct, one should not overlook thepossibility that the Millerites had a great personal interest instudying and restudying every imaginable in order tofind, if possible, new details on the time. It was no accidentthat their sixteenth general conference made a decision to placegreater emphasis on the time?

6.1 Two Jewish calendarsAs attention was drawn to the Jewish year, the first result wasa correction in their previously proclaimed prophetic times.Miller held to the regular Rabbinic calendar with his dates forthe termini of the Jewish year, March 21. His associates, Bliss,Litch, Himes, Southard, Hale and Whiting aroused doubts aboutthe correctness of his view. They submitted the proposition thatall prophecies should be counted with the Karaite dating, the"original Jewish calendar" which followed a luni-solar year andbarley harvests as indicated by the Pentateuch,"

Now there is a dispute between the Rabbinical,and the Caraite Jews, as to the correct time ofcommencing the year . The former are scatteredall over the world, and cannot observe the timeof the ripening of that harvest in Judea. Theytherefore the commencement of the yearby astronomical calculations, and commence with

!!PFF IV; 795.8Lindtn 1978, 59.7The Conference was held in Boston in May 1842. Cf.

chapter 2.5.8PFF IV; 796. Cf. de Vaux 1961, 189-194.

149

the new moon nearest the vernal equinox, whenthe sun is in Aries. The Caraite Jews, on thecontrary, still adhere to the letter of the Mosaiclaw, and commence with the new moon nearestthe barley harvest in Judea; and which is onemoon later than the Rabbinical year. The Jewishyear of A.D. 1843, as the Caraites reckon it inaccordance with the Mosaic law, thereforecommenced this Jear with the new moon on the29th day of Apr' , and the Jewish year 1844, willcommence with the new moon in next April18/19.9

The correctness of this information has later been challenged.Without the sources that the Millerites used, it is impossible toevaluate properly their information on the Karaite calendar." Atany rate many preferred a calendar that began with barleyharvest rather than solstice.11

The law of Moses requires that the passover shallbe at the full moon, when the barley harvest isripe, which varies from the last of march to thefirst of May. -- This year the first full mooncame on the 3d of April; and whether the barleywas then ripe, and the true passover then kept;or whether it was not observed till the followingmoon, we have no certain means of knowing. Asthe first full moon came so late this year, it ispropable the Caraites then observed the passoverunless the harvest was more than usually late."

Miller was never overly keen on changing his views. After adisappointment in March he wanted to tone down theenthusiasm on the time." He was satisfied simply to keep the

ST June 21, 1843. PFF IV; 796.l°E.g. Ford 1980. A-81-86. It would be exceptional for

orthodox Jews to have the beginning of Nisan later than Marchand the Day of Atonement in late October.

"Cf. Lev 23:5-10.12E.C.C. "The Seventh Month" AH Sep 21, 1844.13Miller,Apology 1845, 24.

150

parousia imminent. However, many of his supporters were notprepared to settle for immediatism. He was unable to keep themovement on his side." From late 1842 the Millerites had beenpreoccupied with the exact definition of the date, and theypassed through a series of disappointments in the spring of1844. Millerism was ready for its last turn. The final stage ofthe movement sustained prophetic calculations based on theKaraite calendar.

6.2. A correction of the calculationsThe movement focused now on chronological problems. Amongthe Millerites there were especially two men who bear respon-sibility for much of the discussion on the various calendars aswell as on typology. George Storrs and Samuel Snow publishedarticle after article on these subjects.

6.2.1 The time of the crucifixion and 1844One of the first changes that Snow and Storss suggested wasbased on a restudy of Daniel 9 and in particular the date ofthe crucifixion. (Dan 9.2fi,27) Snow put together Daniel's words,the "Messiah be cut off' and "in the middle of the week heshall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease." Hisinterpretation was that the ceasing of the sacrifice was aprophecy on the crucifixion. Christ died in the middle of the70th week and brought an end to the Jewish sacrificial system.The death of Christ was redated into 31 AD.1!5

Snow's labors with the time of Christ's ministry proved valuablefor his exegesis of Daniel 8.14. He believed that Christ beganhis ministry in the autumn of 27 AD. The crucifixion wouldthen fall exactly three and a half years later to the spring of 31AD. The confirmation of this, Snow claimed, was found in thechronological work of William Hales, who had contested thatthe only Friday passover within the years of Christ's ministrywas in AD. 31.1 Snow continues that if the rest of the 70th

I·Cf. Linden 1978, 6Of."Snow MC May 2, 1844, 353.16TMC Aug 22, 1844.

151

week is added to this date the 490 year prophecy ends in theautumn of A.D. 34, a year's correction to Miller's suggestion.24.This was the time when the persecution of the church wasbelieved to have begun and the Jewish dispensation came to anend. The Gospel began to reach the Gentiles.

6.2.2 Correction for the year zeroWith his AD. 34 date for the end of the 490 years Snow hadin fact rectified the mistake that Miller made with the yearzero. The terminus of the 2300 years was now moved to themathematically correct 1844 instead of 1843. Snow does notshow full awareness of the simplicity of the problem. He usesastronomical charts which give him the correct result in B.C. toA.D. calculations." Snow's conclusions would in fact have givenanother full year for the disappointed Millerites. Most of theirprophetic expositions could have been improved to extend fromspring 1844 to spring 1845. However, after the final disap-pointment in the autumn of 1844 there was no energy left forfurther chronological revisions.

6.2.3 Autumn speculationSnow took his dates for the crucifixion with extreme seriousness.If the middle of the last prophetic week of Daniel 9 lies in theSpring, then the terminus a quo and the terminus ad quem mustboth be in the Autumn. This in turn made it possible for Snowto time the beginning of the 2300 days from the Autumn of 457B.C. and its end to the Autumn of 1844, into the month ofTishri, on to the Day of Atonement, which Was almost to theday half a year from the time of the passover in Nisan. Snow'sGod was "an exact timekeeper.t'" He wanted to make theMillerite prophetic system perfect to the detail.

I believe this argument to be based on correctpremises, and to be perfectly sound. What then isthe conclusion? It must certainly be this. -- theremaining part of the 2300 days -- brings us to

17Snow MC May 2, 1844, p. 353."Snow, "Reasons for believing" AH Oct 9, 1844.

152

the autumn of A.D. 1844.' 11

6.2.4 Creation in the autumnSnow got involved also with other aspects of Miller's theory. Hewas a firm believer in Miller's 6000 year theory. He made thesuggestion which now appears curious but which at the timewas published in all seriousness. "Now this long period -- theaion of age of this world, began in Autumn." In proof of anautumn creation Show offered three considerations. First, "it hasbeen the concurrent opinion of chronologers, both Jewish andChristian." Secondly, man had to subsist on a diet of fruit andseeds (Gen 1:29), and it was only reasonable to assume thatthese would be ripe in the Autumn. His third reason refers toan Egyptian calendar which had been held "since creation" andstill dated creation to the Autumn.20

We have the very best of reasons for believingthat 6000 years allotted for this world in itspresent state, began in the month of Tishri."

6.2.5 The seven timesSnow extended his chronological work also to Miller's "prophecyof Moses."

The seven times of Moses, in Lev 26, amount to2520 full years. They began with the breaking ofthe power of Judah, at the captivity of Manasseh(B.C. 671). This is the time that has always beengiven as the date of their commencement. -- Inthat year, in fulfillment of the prediction in Hos.v5, Israel and Judah were both broken. But as itmust necessarily require considerable time toremove the ten tribes, and bring foreigners to filltheir place -- we cannot well date Manasseh'scaptivity earlier than Autumn of that year. Aboutone half, therefore, of the Jewish Year B.C. 677,

"Snow Me May 2, 1844, p. 353. C.f. PFF W, 799."Prophetic Chronology" AH Aug 14, 1844. Cf. Snow

"Reasons fo Believing" AH Oct 9, 1844. Rees MS, 1983, 12-14.21Snow "Prophetic Chronology"AH Aug 14, 1844.

153

must be left out of the reckoning. This willnecessarily extend down the period of the 2520years, down to the Autumn of A.D. 1844.22

Snow found support for his exposition of the seven times.23However, the simplicity of his argument on the seven timesreveals a lack of awareness of the complexity of the problemsin Biblical chronology.

6.3 Daniel 8:14 and sanctuary typologyAll the exegetical corrections that Snow proposed focus on oneidea. The parousia must fall in the Autumn of 1844, to be moreexact, between the sunset of October 21 and the sunset ofOctober 22. This theorem sprang from a novel typological inter-pretation of Daniel 8:14 which must be discussed in greaterdetail.

6.3.1 Development of Millerite interest in typologyThe origin of Millerite typological interest can be found inseveral sources. One, though probably not the most important, isMiller's concept of the prophecies relating to the Jewish ratherthan the Gregorian calendar. This idea involved technical detailwhich many Millerites loved. It gave the adherents confidence inthe logic and scientifically sound foundation of their faith.Interest in the intricate problems of calendars escalated gradual-ly towards the end of 1843. The Jewish calendars, Jewish feastsand typological and eschatological meaning of various symbolstook more and more space in Millerite periodicals .

Before Miller had given any serious suggestions on the JewishYear Himes published a reprint of Spalding's book on

22Snow "Prophetic Chronology" AH Aug 14, 1844.23E.g. E.C.C. ''The Seventh Month" AH Sep 21, 1844 lists

with the great enthusiasm every imaginable Old Testament texton the seventh month in an effort to show some mystical unionbetween the seven times of Lev 26 and the seventh monthassumed to be related to Daniel 8:14.

154

prophecy." This not only included detailed expositions ofapocalyptic prophecy and a skilfully prepared argument for thenon-return of the Jews, but it also presented the notion that theSpring feasts of the Jewish year point forward to the firstadvent of Christ while the Autumn feasts, the Day ofAtonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, symbolize the secondadvent.

There is also a third early source on typological interpretation.This is a detailed series of five articles by "E.B.K."25 Thesearticles speculate on the eschatological meaning of variouselements in the Jewish Sanctuary service. They do not includediscussion on chronological symbolism which was to become soimportant for Snow, yet they entice the reader to consider theprophetic significance of Levitical institutions.

6.3.2 The autumn feastsIn May 1843, when there were several months to the end of the"Jewish year," Miller brought into the open Spalding's idea onthe eschatological import of the Jewish feasts.

All the ceremonies of the typical law that wereobserved in the first month, or vernal equinox,had their fulfilment in Christ's first advent --

The feasts and ceremonies in the seventh monthor autumnal equinox, can only have theirfulfilment at his second advent.211

After Miller's comment this hermeneutical idea was frequentlydiscussed and elaborated on in Millerite periodicals." Eventhough Miller did nothing to pursue the exegetical implicationsof the idea it is the real inception of the seventh-month

24Spalding 1796, 1841.25E.B.K. "Theory of Types, Nos. 1-5" ST Mar 15 - Sep 1,

1841.2llMiller, "Letter May 3, 1843" ST May 17, 1843.27E.g. AH Sep 18, 1844, p. 52; Oct 2, 1844, pp. 70-72; MC

Oct 11, 1844, p. 115.

155

movement.28

According to this concept the spring feasts, passover and thefeast of weeks, met their antitypes at the beginning of theChristian era. This had always been the traditional Christianview: the Passover was accepted as the type of the eventsrelated to the crucifixion, and the feast of weeks as the type ofthe Pentecost. It is a fairly logical step forward to regard theautumn feasts, the day of the atonement and the feast oftabernacles, eschatological."

6.3.3 The seventh monthMiller had played his role in introducing an eschatologicaldimension into the autumn feasts. Other Millerites beganlaboring with the Jewish festal calendar. There may even havebeen some, who looked with special interest upon the seventhmonth of the Jewish year in 1843.30 As they did this they werein fact knowingly or unknowingly borrowing an idea which SirIsaac Newton had asserted more than a century earlier:

The temple is the scene of the visions, and thevisions in the Temple relate to the feast of theseventh month: for the feasts of the lews weretypical of things to come. The Passover relatedto the first coming of Christ, and the feasts ofthe seventh month to his second coming: his first

being therefore over before this Prophecywas given, the feasts of the seventh month arehere only alluded unto."

Samuel Snow combined Miller's idea on the meaning of theJewish feasts with Miller's well known explanation of Daniel8:14 In the spring Snow did not propose an exact date but

28PFF IV, 795."Letter, May 3, 1843" ST May 17, 1843. Cf. Snow,

MC May 2, 1844, 355.30PFF W, 795.31Newton 1733, 255; PFF II, 668.

156

TYPOWGICAL MEANING

Proof for this exegesis was found in the King James translation. 304KJV translates misleadingly "cleansed." This ispropably due to LXX translation The useof a concordance may lead to combine Dan 8:14 with Lev 16:19which mentions the cleansing [iilt!)' J of the altar on theday of the atonement.

35Snow, TMC August 22, 1844.

157

Snow was simply suggesting that the OT economy of sanctuaryservices and especially the feasts were a straightforwardprophecy of various aspects of the first or of the second adventof Christ. He described how the heavenly high priest wouldcome out of the cleansed sanctuary and bless the waitingcongregation exactly on the day of atonement.

The high priest went into the most holy place ofthe tabernacle presenting the blood of the victimbefore the mercy seat, after which on the sameday he came out and blessed the waitingcongregation of Israel. -- Now the importantpointin this type is the com,:;:on of the reconciliationat the of the . priest out of the holyplace. The high priest was a type of Jesus ourHigh Priest; the most holy place, a type ofheaven itself; and the commg out of the highpriest a type of the coming of Jesus the secondtime to bless his waiting people. As this was onthe tenth day of the 7th month, so on that dayJesus will certainly come, because not a si':Jlepoint of the law is to fail. All must be fulfilled.

Snow's argument had a certain degree of logic. He only neededto ask when the paschal type was fulfilled. Most of his readerswould have agreed readily that it was on the regular time ofthe passover sacriftce in the afternoon with Christ as thepassover lamb. During the passover celebration the first fruits of

Dan 8:14 included the words "then shall the sanctuary becleansed" and Lev 16:19 describes one of the rituals of the Dayof the Atonement: "And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it[the altar] with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallowit from the uncleanness of the children of Israel." Both textshad a relationship to the sanctuary and both texts mentioned acleansing."

Autumn:

Day of Feast ofAtonement Tabernacles

Passover Feast ofweeks

FEASTS

Spring:

-I 1-----1 1-Crucifixion Parousia MillennialPentecost marriage feast

of the lamb

XIII Chart illustrating Snow's typological interpretation ofthe Levitical festal calendar

32Snow "Our Position As to Time" ASR May 2, 1844, 125.33Snow "Reasons for BelievingAH Oct 9, 1844.

For some reason Snow or other Millerites never realized thatthey were no longer interpreting Daniel when they got involvedwith the festal calendar. The interpretation was rather that ofLeviticus 16. Daniel's prophecy was only secondary. It showedthe year, but the day was indicated by the Jewish festalcalendar. Leviticus 16 was presented as the primary interpreterof Daniel 8, while in fact focus was on an eschatological jomkippurim which was timed with Daniel 8:14.

6.3.4 Details of the sanctuary typos

rather the autumn in general.f However, in the late summer of1844 he had done further research on the festal typoi and hewas perfectly convinced that Daniel 8:14 pointed forward to auniversal Day of Atonement, the cleansmg of the heavenlysanctuary.P

159XIV Chart illustrating Snow's view of the typological meaningof the autumnal Jewish feasts

38Linden 1982, 17.38PFF IV, 812-820.

''The Seventh Month" AH Aug 21, 1844.

Millerite leaders." The Millerite papers admonished theirreaders to avoid everything foolish and fanatical. Whileobjections to Snow's views were printed in the Advent HeraldSnow and Storrs began publishing their own paper. Snow andthose who backed him regarded the spontaneity of the revivalas a certain sign of the work being from the Lord.-

Parousia

ANTITYPE:

October 22, 1844

Marriage feast of the lamb

October 27,1844

Day of Atonement10th of the seventhmonth, Tishri

Feast of Tabernacles15th of the seventhmonth, Tishri

THE TYPE:

Litch published several points to show his disapproval of Snow'sdoctrine. He felt that there are no grounds for claiming that thedecree to rebuild Jerusalem was given in the autumn of 457B.C. Litch argued further that there was no proof of Christbeginning his ministry in the autumn as John 2:13 shows thatsoon after Christ's ministry had begun there was the Passover.He had not accepted the typology of Snow. As he pointed out,there was no reason to claim that Christ can only come back atthe end of the 2300 days." However valid Litch's counterar-guments may have been, they did little to tum the tide. Oneafter another the Millerite leaders embraced the new typologicalinterpretation of prophecy. The people were counting timeaccording to the Jewish calendar. And as the month of Tishri

Snows ultraistic speculation was slow to catch the support of

6.4 Objections to Snow's typology

However, they never paused to wonder whether the evening wasto be Palestinian or North American time.

36Snow "Reasons for believing" AH Oct 9, 1844.37Storrs "Go Ye out to Meet Him" AH Oct 9, 1844.

The law of Moses contained a shadow of goodthings to come; a system of figures of typespointing to Christ and his See Heb. x.1;Col. ii.16,17. Everything contamed in the law wasto be fulfilled by him. -- Not the least point willfail, either in the substance shadowed forth, or inthe time so definitely pointed out by theobservance of the For God is an exact timekeeper. See Acts xvit.26, 31; Job xxiv.1; Lev xxiii.-4,37. These passages show that TIME is animportant point in the law of the Lord/"

This belief in the exact fulfilment "in regard to time" was taken,were possible, even to the time of the day.

From the language of Leviticus xxiii.32 [from evenunto even shall ye celebrate your sabbath), I thinkthe hour of the Advent will be at the evening ofthe tenth day; thus God may design to try ourfaith till the very last moment; and "he that shallendure unto the end, the same shall be saved .?"

the harvest were offered on the morning after the Sabbath. Thisin Snows view was fulfilled with Christ rising from the dead inthe morning. Snow tried to prove that every imaginable symbolwas fulfilled literally also in relationship to time. Likewise theChristian day of Pentecost with the bestowal of the Holy Spiritand the mass conversion, which was the first gathering ofharvest to the kingdom of God, happened on the literal Jewishharvest festival, feast of the weeks with events matching those ofthe type.

158

160

began Miller and Litch also accepted the evidence." Southardpublished his acceptance in the Advent Herald.

The weight of evidence that the Lord will comeon the tenth day of the seventh month is sostrong that I heartily yield to its force, and Iintend, by the help of the Lord, to act as if therewas no possibility of mistake."

6.5 Midnight CryThe final crowning point to prove that the argumentation onLeviticus 16 and Daniel 8 was correct came from Matthew 25,the parable of the ten virgins. Christ was not only presented asthe high priest coming out of the sanctuary but according to theparable as the bridegroom. The bride,the church, had beenwaiting for the arrival of the groom in the spring while he infact would come in the autumn.

'How long the vision? Unto 2300 evening-mornings.' An evening, or 'night,' then, is half ofone of those prophetic days. Here then we havethe 'chronology' of Jesus Christ. The tarrying timeis just half a year. When did we go into thistime? Last March or April. Then the latter partof July would bring us to midnight. At that timeGod put this cry into the hearts of some of hisservants, and they saw, from the Bible, that Godhad the chronology of the tarrying time,and Its length. There it is, in the 25th ofMatthew. 'At midnight there was a cry made,Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meethim. ' Here we are - the last warning is now

0 heed it ye virgins. Awake, awake,awake.

Even the waiting time of half a year from spring 1844 to theautumn was seen in prophecy. The Day of Atonement was aday of waiting and soul searching. In the morning trumpets

41PFF W, 820f.42Southard, editorial Me Oct 3, 1844.43Storrs "Go Ye out to Meet Him" AH Oct 9, 1844.

161

were blown, and in the evening the blessing was received. Thisformed the final confirmation of the autumn expectation.Morning to evening was half a day, in prophetic time this washalf a year . The spring expectation was the blowing of trumpetsin the morning and the "midnight cry" led to the preparation tomeet the bridegroomlbigh Eriest half a year later in the autumnsymbolized by the evening.

The exegetical elements, apocalyptic prophecy from Daniel,sanctuary typology, a parable of Jesus, were all put togetherinto a package which aroused unforeseen interest in propheticinterpretation. This exegesis is also the trademark of one of themost memorable disappointments that a large group of peoplehave ever experienced, and even though it differed in manyways from traditional historicism, it marks the beginning of adecline in the popularity of this system of prophetic exegesis.

6.6 Excursus, background to typologyTypology has a background distinct from that of generalhistoricism. The Christian church has from its beginning seenmany Old Testament ima.§es and passages as types andprophecies of Jesus Christ. As one looks back further onefinds a pattern in the writings of the Old Testament. Theprophets were the first to use typology. As Israel was facingnational disasters "they looked for a new David, a new Exodus,a new covenant, a new City of God: the old had become a typeof the new and important as pointing forward to it."46 This

"Storrs "Go Ye out to Meet Him" AH Oct 9, 1844. Cf.PFFW, 799-826.

45Modern Biblical research does not usually agree with theinterpretations which were common before the inroads ofhistorical critical scholarship into OT interpretation. See e.g,Ringgren 1956, 7.

46For David see e.g, Jer 23.5; 33.15-18; Hosea 3.5; Amos9.11; Isa 55.3f. Ps 132.11-17; for Exodus e.g, Isa 52.4-12; Jer16.14,15; 23.7,8; Hos 8.13; 11.11; Zech 10.10; for a city Ez 45;Dan 9.24-27; Jer 31.23; Isa 60.10. Cf. Rad EOTH, 17-39; Rad"Typologische des Alten Testaments" EvT 12 (1952-1953); Rad "Typological Interpretation of the Old Testament" Int15 (1%1).

162

pattern was taken up by the NT writers who saw the OldTestament as a prefiguration of the Christ-event. The number oftypes found is vast."

This view of the types has not passed unchallenged." It presup-poses "the conviction of the unchanging nature of God"49 as wellas an assurance that the past acts of God "will be repeated ona scale greater and more wonderful than that of the past ."!50Such conviction was part of the first Christian faith."

6.6.1 New Testament typologyThe typology of the NT is both horizontal, referring to historicalfulfillments, and vertical, illustrating things considered asheavenly realities. An example of horizontal typology is in 1Cor10 where Paul regards things from the Exodus and wildernessitinerary as symbols of various things in Christian experience."These things happened as types [tupoi] for us, that we shouldnot crave evil things, as they craved" and "Now these thingshappened to them as examples [tupikos) and they were writtenfor our warning, upon whom the end of the ages has come" (vv.6,11).52 It was this horizontal typology that Snow employed in

47Rad EOTH 34-36; Rad 1965, 363.4llRad's view has been contested by e.g. Bultmann, who

considers such thinking "almost entirely foreign to ancientIsrael," see EOrH 19, and Baumgartel, who regards typologyincompatible with modern historical thinking and for whom O'I'views are irreconcilable with NT gospel, EOTH 157. cr.Eichrodt in EOrH 224-245 who in turn gives some justificationfor typological considerations; or Lampe 1957, 9-38 on "thereasonableness of typology." Also Wolff EOrH 160-199; andWolff "Old Testament in Controversy: Interpretative Principlesand Illustrations" Int 12 (1958), expresses the view that

approach is "indispenstble." Cf. Barr "Revelation inHistory" IDBSup 746-749; Davidson 1981, 59-73.

4"Foulkes 1958, 40.!iOpoulkes 1958, 8.51Bultmann "Prophecy and Fulfillment" in EOTH, 19.52Cf. e .g, Rom 5.U-21; 1Pet 3.18-22.

163

his calculations of the day of the end. Some of the clearestexamples of vertical typology are found in the book of Hebrews .Modern scholarshig usually dissassociates itself strongly from thisform of typology. There is no reason to discuss the verticaltypology any further as it was not important for the propheticcalculations in question until the birth of Seventh-dayAdventism.

The New Testament thus sowed the seeds for both historicaland heavenly antitypes. It is not necessary here to cover thebackground of typological hermeneutic through the centuries.54The views vary from the illustrious allegories of Origen throughthe medieval quadrica to the more sober exegesis of theReformers." During the period of Protestant orthodoxy ''Typeswere regarded as O'I' facts which were ordained by God toadumbrate or foreshadow aspects of Christ or the Gospel in theNT."58 This view has in succeeding centuries been accepted asthe traditional understanding of biblical typology. It is stillregarded as the true concept on the subject by many with aBiblicist view on the Scriptures."

6.6.2 Cocceius and MarshWithin protestant biblicism there were two main lines of

53E.g. Rad 1956, 367. "Typological exposition of the kindpracticed in Protestantism from the time of the Reformationdown to that of Delitzsch can never be revived. Too much ofwhat it took for granted, not least its underlying philosophy ofhistory, has proved untenable, and the gulf between It andourselves has become so wide that no great profit could beexpected from any discussion of it."

54See e.g. Fairbairn 1857, "book first" for an overview ofthe history of typology.

55Luther insisted on taking seriously the literal meaning ofthe Word and from that starting point looked for aChristocentric, typological understanding. He believed that theO'I' "pointed forward to Christ" WA 12:275; Althaus 1966, 96.For Calvin see e.g. Institutes 2.9.3; 2.10.4, Davidson 1981, 31.

58Davidson 1981, 32f.57E.g. Lockyer 1973.

164

prophetic typoloe. On one extreme there was the so-calledCocceian school with an elaborate and imaginative exegesis"impregnated with typology.1t!58 Sensus allegoricus was soimportant for Cocceian interpretation of types that Harnack'sterm "Biblicalalchemy" [given for Origen's exegesis] suitsperfectly some of these fanciful expositions.eo On the otherextreme there was the Marshian typology representing a reactionfrom the prevelant undisciplined method!' Marsh looked forScriptural sanction for each type and gained fair scholarly butlittle popular support for his method/" However, Cocceian

!!lAtter Johannes Cocceius (1603-1669). Fairbairn 1864, 27-32.!llIBrown "Hermeneutics" p. 613, quoted in Davidson 1981,33.80fIarnack n.d. vol I, 114f.8tA Marshian method of typologhy was named afterHerbert Marsh (1757-1839), bishop of Peterborough. "By whatmeans shall we be able to determine, in any given mstance, thatwhat is alleged as a type, was really designed for a type? Theonly possible means of -knowing that two distant, though similarhistoncal facts were so connected in the general scheme ofDivine Providence that the one designed to prefigure the other,is the authority of that book in which the scheme of DivineProvidence is unfolded." Marsh himself is pre-critical in hishermeneutic. See Marsh 1828, 372. cr. Fairbairn 1864, 32-44;Davidson 1981, 33-37.

Marsh's solution is problematic if one considers thepossible "Biblical types": Adam (Rom 4:11; 1Cor 15:22);Melchizedek (Heb 8); Sarah and Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, andby implication Abraham (Gal 4:22-35); Moses (Gal 3:19; Acts3:22-26); Jonah (Mt 12:40); David (Ez 32:24; Lk 1:32); Solomon(2Sam 7); Zerubbabel and Joshua CZech 3,4; Hag 2:23);preservation of Noah and his family in the ark (lPet 3:20);exodus (Mt 2:15); the passage through the Red Sea, the givingof manna, Moses veiling his face, the water flowing from thesmitten rock, the serpent lifted for healing in the wilderness(lCor 10); Joh 3:14; Rev 2:1 . Fairbairn 1864, 4Of. Somesacrifices and feasts, at least the assover, should be interpretedas "Biblical types". Franks n.d. [19181, 15f. The OT itself givesno explanation for the various rituals, cr. Vriezen 1958, 29lf;Wallace 1981" 4f.

165typology was prominent in Britain and North-America until mid-nineteenth century.83

6.6.3 North American conceptsEven though the scholarly nineteenth-century commentariespromoted the sober Marshian typology, popular books andpamphlets applied typology to any number of aspects within thesphere of Christian life. It turned the Bible into a "vast volumeof oracles and riddles, a huge book of secret puzzles to whichthe reader has to find clues." Often little account of actualhistory was taken."

Another feature of American typology is its interest in thetermini technici of the sanctuary, the sacrifices of the feasts -types which became so important for the Seventh-monthmovement and later for Adventism. Yet the literature availablefor this research has not provided any examples of OldTestament typology combined with prophetic exegesis that wouldparallel with Snow's typological ideas.Finally it is worth observing that the whole relationship thatNorth American Christians had to the OT in Miller's timewould deserve further study. In many areas of life OTterminology was regularly used. Sunday was called the Sabbath/"Several Pentateuchal laws from tithing to marriage laws, andfrom the treatment of the poor to the distinction of clean andunclean animals were regarded as normative or valuable bysome Christians." With such interest and authority invested inthe Old Testament it is to be expected that a detailed typologyof various themes would exist.

83See e.g. introductions in Habershon n.d. [liThe Types notFanciful"]; Taylor 1635, 1-5; White [F.] 1877, 1-3.&4Lampe 1957, 31.e&rhis is in line with the Calvinistic/Puritan tradition ofNorth America .eeunilateralism lies behind these concepts. Lampe 1957, 17.

166

6.6.4 Examples of sanctuary typologyThe spirit of allegorizing typology is illustrated in words thatcome from a twentieth-entury fundamentalistic handbook onMessianic prophecies. The claim is that the detailed "precisemeasurements and construction of the tabernacle-- with all theintricate instructions as to the offerings and feasts" repaymeditation more amply than any other section of the Bible. "Aswe prayerfully and patiently study them, we find them full ofthe deepest teaching concerning Christ and spiritual things, andof the wisest councels for the right ordering of our daily life."81The hermeneutic presupposed spiritualization, a deepening,ethicizing, symbolizing or dematerializing of fairly concretereligious terms."

The importance of sanctuary typology was reinforced withBengel's observation: "While two chapters in Genesis are givento tell us how the world was created, there are sixteen chaptersto tell us how the Tabernacle was constructed. For the worldwas made for the sake of the Church, and the great object ofcreation is to glorify God in the redemption and sanctificationof His people.'tIl8 The interest frequently led to an ignoring ofreality." Earthly occurences and objects were not only regardedas foreknown by God but also as expressions of the details ofthe atonement, "the plan of salvation," of the exact copy ofheavenly things that before the tabernacle and thatstill continue to exist. 1 "The careful study of the types," claimsHabershon, "leaves no room for doubting that the wholeLevitical economy was divinely instituted to forshadow the workand person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself."72 With this

67Lockyer 1973, 343. Cf. White [F.] 1877, 3, "Every part ofthe sacred structure, from the Golden Chest-- down to thesmallest pin or cord which fastened the whole to the ground isreplete with instruction."

88Daly 1978, 4.as quoted in White [F.] 1877, 3.

7°Cf. Lockyer 1973, 343-476.71Cf. Harnack n.d. vol I, 320.72Jfabershon 1915, 12.

167

mentality it was natural to combine prophecy with typology.

Typological interpretation was also applied to historicalnarrative." Certain details in the history of Israel or someindividuals were thoughtof as of the life of Christ or of the whole Christiandispensation 4. As a result numerous typological propositions, farfetched, trifling or even contrary to the type and its contextwere presented. This was due to the fact that the method hadno fixed rules to guide its interpretations, which left room onevery hand for arbitrariness and caprice to enter."

The seventh-month movement of Millerism employed only a verynarrow area of typology in its prophetic hermeneutic. Manydetails of this typology can be compared with the typologicalschemes that were presented in popular books. Snow's ideaswere criticised by Miller and some others on the grounds thatthe principles did not stem from the Bible, in other words forbeing in line with the Cocceian method.

6.7 SummaryTowards the end of Millerism a fresh interest in details ofJewish calendar and of sanctuary typology was aroused. Thetime was defined in a complex way which made it impossiblefor laymen any more than preachers to control whether thebasic arguments were sound. The Millerite message was focusedon a few issues only, in fact only one issue - whether the Day

73E.g. Guild found no less than fortynine typicalresemblances between Joseph and Christ, and seventeen betweenJacob and Christ. One of these was Jacob's a supplanterof his brother which Guild made to represent Christ's suplantingdeath, sin and Satan. Guild 1626, quoted in Fairbairn 1864, 30.Cf. e.g, Lampe's comments on the interpretation that the scarletcord of Rahab at Jericho served as a token of the blood ofChrist. An example stemming from the church fathers. Lampe1957, 33.

74E.g. Law 1855 (rep. 1%7), 97-151; Habershon n.d.; White[F.], 1877, 120 and in passim.

711Fairbairn 1857, 31£.

168

of Atonement was a type of the Parousia to be timed with thehelp of Daniel 8:14.Such detailed prophetic association with the Pentateuchalsanctuary or the feasts has a background in the Cocceiantypological school of thought. Various Old Testament types wereresearched and given historical or theological applications bynumerous contemporaries of Miller. Consequently it is nosurprise joefiadSnbW wj'ththe:aid ofStotrs bringing the ideasin and the Millerites all prepared io accept them:"

169

7. MILLER'S HERITAGE - CONCLUSIONS

7.1 The power of prophecyMillerism proves the impact that prophetic exegesis may have.The calculations of a man whose mind was loaded with

e\te11ts ' 8.I\d.- only to "repeat almost... "name the exact place, "

book," cbipter- and verse" proved convincing to thousands. 1Miller must be viewed within the context of historicist exegesis.His interpretations were the logical absolute of popular biblic-ism. This gave the revival enormous potential for growth,"

7.2 The nature of Miller's exegesisThe partisan character of books on Millerism has kept manyaspects of Miller's exegesis in the dark. It appears that hisimagination was even more fertile than has been recognized. Inparticular Miller played with one idea: is aprophecy. Subsequently he found time-prophecies in all parts ofthe Scriptures from the Pentateuch all the way to the book ofRevelation. urJfts Il .QLt,I1ese prophecies . he called "proofs" of the ;f

parousia around 1843. '"

A description of these various time-prophecies is the primarycontribution of this piece of research. Miller counted the timeof the Advent from Leviticus 26, the "prophecy of Moses. " Hefound the same length of time also in a typological

'Anon. "The Honest Editor again" ST Apr 1, 1841.2Cross 1%5, 320. Because most of Miller's opponents

agreed with his method, and because of Miller's Scriptural andhistorical information the clergy was careful not to approachhim but rather fired "their small guns at a distance." Anon."The Honest Editor again" ST Apr 1, 1841.

170

interpretation of the year of release, the prophecy of Gog andMagog, as well as that of Nebuchadnezzar's madness in Daniel4. The details were filled up with imaginative use of historicaland Biblical data.

One fundamental aspect of prophetic exegesis came fromBiblical chronogenealogies. The weekly cycle was turned into aprophecy of the world lasting 6000 years to be followed by themillcnnial Sabbath. D etailed compositions on chronological detailwere part of any Millerite's spiritual diet. There is also anotherexample of a thousand years for a day interpretation in Miller'swritings, a pearl lying deep in the waters of prophecy." Thiscame from the two days of Hosea 6:1,2 and Luke 13:32.

Miller also found a typological interpretation of the secondadvent in the Jubilee feast. He expected the 50th Jubilee toannounce the parousia.

Furthermore there were Miller's better known interpretations ofDaniel 7, 8, 9, and 12. These prophecies Miller combined witha chronological application of the number of the Beast andturned them into a complex map of prophetic lines allconcluding in 1843.

7.3 The Seventh-month movementWhen the target year approached concentration on Daniel 8:14incre ased with the result that a polarization took place amongthe Millerites. The exegesis changed from regular historicismint o a combination of typology and historicism. Thedevelopments that led to the birth of var ious Adventist chur -ches , the Seventh-day Adventist church as well as th eWatchtower society are related to the attitudes that the variousfactions within Millerism to ok to the exegesis .The . "22no 'Of OCtooer ' 1844.2'1Sil.

exegetiCal ''0( '$the varIOUS post-Millente denominations out the future of ]t he historicist method. .

3Miller 1842/c, 46.

I.1

I;

171

7.4 New ways of prophetic exegesisWhat is important to the history of exegesis as a whole is thefact that the whole historicist method appeared to lose much ofits appeal as well as its power to kindle revivals after the greatdisappointment. Very few wanted to take the risks involved infresh time sett ing and identification with Mill er. Those who didtake the risk found it difficult to arouse interest.

T he situation in No rth Ameri ca afte r Miller and In Engl andaft er Irving and his associates made it easy for John Darby togain int er est in his dispensation alist views. Darby promotedimmedia tism referred to as the doctrine of th e any-m omentcoming: the invisible secret rapture first, and then, 'aft er theliteral fulfillment of ail unfulfilled prophecies, the final comingof Chris t. Thi s expec tation of the imminent advent, with noobs tacle in the way of Christ's return has proved to be thegreatest attraction of dispensationalist theology." There is nopoint in describing further details of the development ofhistoricism or in compar ing and contrasting the theories rela tedto these successive conservative methods of pr opheticinte rpre tation. It sho uld be noted that the rise of dispen-sationalism was pr obably more dependant on the shame of time-sett ing than on clearer logic or more faithful adherence to theintent of the Biblical writers .

7.5 The end and continuation of MillerismMiller ism had come to an end . With it histor icism gradua llyceased to be the only popular method of inte rpretation. It waslargely repl aced hy futuris m and pr eteri sm. Ye t one mustacknowledge that in fact histori cism did not die with Miller. Itstill lives in a modified and partly ren ewed form with in thegroups tha t have some roots in Millerism . Th e fact th at some o fthese groups are growing rap idly shows that th e met hod still hasvitality. \1 ille r's heritage is twofold. On the one hand hecontributed to the end of a dominant system of exege sis, on theother he is regarded as a spir itual fathe r by millions ofChristians who have taken some pa rts of the Mill er ite exeges is

"Sandeen 1970, 63f.

172 173

Millerite sources

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Address of the conference of Believers in theSecond Advent of Christ at the Door, Held inRochester, N.Y. 2d, 3d, 4th & 5th April 1846.Rochester, N.Y. [MEA]

Address of the Building Commiuee on Opening theSecond Advent Tabemacle, May 4, 1843. Boston.[MEA]

A Voice in New HamrShire; or Reflections onRev. J.Ward's "Brie Remarks on Miller'sLectures," by a Female. Exeter, N.H. [MEA)

Address of Advent Believers, Being a Re-Affirmation of their Faith and a Warning againstCertain Defections from it. [Boston] [MEA]

Anon.1851 Address of Advent Believers, Assembled in

Conference at Auburn, N.Y., January 15, 1851,Being a Re-Affirmation of Their Views on theSecond Advent - the Millenium - the NewHeavens and earth, etc. Boston. [MEA]

Bates, Joseph1847 Second Advent Way Marks and High Heaps, or a

Connected View of Prophecy, by God's PeculiarPeople from the Year 1840 to 1847. NewBedford, Mass. [MEA]

1850 An Explanation of the Typical and Anti-TypicalSanctuary, by the Scriptures, with a Chart. NewBedford. [MEA]

Anon.1850

Anon.1846

Anon.1843

Anon.1842

as their raison d'etre. Whether he would be happy to be soregarded is another matter.

174 175

1852

1851

1843/a

1842/a1842/b1843

1844

1843/b

Brown, Freeman G.1843/a Entire Consecration Second Advent Letters to

Brother Hervey. Portsmouth N.H. [MEA]Views and Experience in Relation to EntireConsecration and the Second Advent: Addressed tothe Ministers of the Portsmouth, N.H., BabtistAssociation. Boston. [MEA]

1843/c A Warning to Watchfulness. Boston. [MEA]Cook, John B.1843 A Solemn Appeal to Ministers and Churches,

Especially to Those of the Baptist DenominationRelative to the Speedy Coming of Christ. Boston.[MEA]

Cox, Gershom Flagg1842 Letters on the Second Coming of Christ and the

Character of his Millennial Kingdom. Togetherwith a Reply to the Objections and Arguments ofRev. D.D. Whedon. Boston. [MEA]

Fleming, Lorenzo Dow1842 A Synopsis of the Evidence of the Second Coming

of Christ About A .D. 1843. Boston. [MEA]First Principles of the Second Advent Faith withScripture Proofs. Boston. [MEA]

Fitch, Charles1841 Letter to Rev. 1. Litch on the Second Coming of

Christ with the Sentiments of Cotton Mather onthe Same Subject, Approved by Thomas Prince.Boston. [MEA]The Glory of God in the Earth. Boston. [MEA]A Wonderful and Horrible Thing. Boston. [MEA]"Come out of Her, My People." A Sermon.Rochester, N.Y. [MEA]

Galusha, Elon1844 Address of Elder Elon Galusha, with Reasons for

Believing Christ's Second Coming at Hand.Rochester, N.Y. [MEA]

Hale, Apollos1842 Review of Dr. Pond's L etter against the Doctrine of

the Second Advent in 1843. Boston. [MEA]1843/a Herald of the Bridegroom in which the Plagues

that Await the Enemies of the King Eternal AreConsidered; and the Appearing of Our Lord toGather His Saints --. Boston. [MEA]

1843/e

1843/f1844[1849]

1843/c1843/d

18531887

1842/b

1843/b

Bernard, David1843 Letter of David Bernard (A Babtist Minister) on

the Second Coming of Christ. Boston. [MEA]Bliss, Sylvester18421a Review of Morris' "Modem Chiliasm; or The

Doctrine of the Personal and Immortal Reign ofJesus Christ on Earth Commencing about A.D.1843 as Advocated by William Miller and OthersRefuted." Boston. [MEA]Review of Rev. DE Dagget's Sermon of the "Timeof the End Uncertain," in the National Preacherof Dec. 1842. Boston. [MEA}The Chronology of the Bible Showing by theScriptures and Undisputed Authorities that WeAre Near the End of Six Thousand Years fromCreation. New York. [MEA]An Exposition of the Twenty-forth o[ Matthew; inwhich it is shown to be an Histoncal Prophecy,extending to the End of Time, and Literallyfulfilled. Boston. [MEA]Exposition of Zechariah XIV. Boston. [MEA]Inconsistencies of Colver's Literal Fulfilment ofDaniel's Prophecy. Boston. [MEA]Paraphrase of Matthew XXWth and XAYth.Boston.Reasons of Our Hope. Boston. [MEA]Paraphrase of Daniel XI and XII. Boston. [MEA]Questions on Bible Subjects, Desired for the useof Sunday Schools. Boston. [MEAAnalysis of Sacred Chronology with the Elementsof Chronology and the Numbers of the Hebrewtext Vindicated. Boston. [MEA]Questions on the Book of Daniel, Designed forBible Students, in the Sabbath School, in theBible Class, or at the Fireside. Boston. [MEA]Memoirs of William Miller. Boston. [MEA]Analysis of Sacred Chronology with the elementsof Chronology and the Numbers of the HebrewText Vindicated. Revised with Notes. Togetherwith the Peopling of the Earth --. MountainView, Ca. [MEA]

178 179

1843

1842/h

18421g

1842/f

18421d1842/e

1842/c

1842/a

1840 [Evi 1840]Evidence from Scripture and History of the SecondComing of Christ about the year 1843 Exhibited ina Course of Lectures. Boston. [MEA]

1841 [VOP 1841)Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic ChronologySelected from the Manuscripts of W. Miller witha Memoir of His Life by Joshua V. Himes.Boston. (MEA]Dissertations on the True Inheritance of the Saints,and the Twelve Hundred and Sixty Days ofDaniel and John with an Address to theConference of Believers in the Advent Near.Boston. [MEA]

1842/b [Evi 1842/b]Evidence from Scripture and History of the SecondComing of Christ about the Year 1843 Exhibited ina Course of Lectures. Boston. [MEA]A Familiar Exposition of the Twentyfourth Chapterof Matthew and the Fifth and Sixth Chapters ofHosea. To Which are Added an Address to theGeneral Conference of the Advent and a Sceneof the Last Day. Ed. by Joshua V. Himes.Boston. [MEA]The Kingdom of God. Boston. [MEA]A Lecture of the Typical Sabbaths and GreatJubilee. Boston. [MEA]Letter to Joshua V. Himes on the Cleansing of theSanctuary. Boston. [MEA]Miller's Reply to Stuart's "Hints on theInterpretation of Prophecy" in Three Letters,Addressed to Joshua V. Himes. Boston. [MEA]Review of a Discourse Delivered in the NorthChurch, Newburyport, on the last evening of theyear 1841, by L.F. Dimmick. Boston. [MEA]

18421i [SMV 18421i]Synopsis of Miller's Views. Boston. [MEA]I8421j

[VOP 18421j]Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic ChronologySelected from the Manuscripts of W. Miller witha Memoir of His Life by Joshua V. Himes.Boston. [MEA]Synopsis of Miller's Views. Boston. [MEA]

the Negative . Phonographically Reported by las.M. W. Yerrington. Boston. [MEA]Prophetic Significance of Eastern and EuropeanMovements; Being a Plain, Literal andGrammatical Construction of the Las't FiveChapters of Daniel, Applied to EventsShowing Conclusively that a Syrian Prince, notNapoleon III, is the Antichrist of the Last Days.Boston. [MEA]A Dissertation on the Chronology of Prophecy. N.p.[MEA]A Dissertation on the Second Advent. N.p. [MEA]

Dissertation on the Glorified Kingdom of God onEarth, at Hand. [Boston]. [MEA]

n.d./g

n.d./e

Ei$.ht Fundamental Errors in Miller's TheoryPointed out by Charles K. True and William C.Brown, in Zion's Herald, March 1840 Reviewedby J. Litch. N.p. [MEA] "Dialogue on the Nature of Man, His State inDeath, and the Final Doom of the Wicked.Philadelphia. [MEA]The Eternal Home; Strange Facts Confirming theTruth of the Bible. [Philadelphia?]The . Pre-Millennial Vindicated; Being aReview of Rev. Dr. DaVId Brown's Post-MillennialAdvent of Christ. Boston. [MEA]

Miller, William1833 [Evi 18331

Evidences from Scripture and History of the SecondComing of Christ about the year A.D. 1843 and ofHis Personal Reign of 1000 Years. Brandon.[MEA]

1836 [Evi 1836]Evidence from Scripture [sic.] and History of theSecond Coming Of Christ about the Year 1843Exhibited in a Course of Lectures. Troy. [MEA]

1838 [Evi 1838]Evitie.nce from and History of the SecondComing of Chnst about the year 1843 Exhibited ina Course of Lectures. Troy. [MEA]

n.d./a

n.d./f

n.d.zd[1841?]

n.d./bn.d.zc[1841?]

1867

180 181

1844

1841

1843/b

On the Designat ions of Time. The Signs of theTimes, October 1, 1840.

A lover of the truthThe Beasts. The Signs of the Times , March1,1842.

Allen

A Bible ReaderA Bible Reader on Mr. Miller 's View on theMillennium. The Signs of the Times, June 15,1841.

8.2 Periodicals

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm inmy Holy Mountain. Signs of the Times, May 31,1843.

Anon . [Litch?]The Closing up of the Day of Grace. The Signs

Anon .

Advent Herald. Vol VII; Feb 14, 1844-end 1844. [MEA]Advent Message to the Daughters of Zion. May-Sept 1844. [MEA]Advent Shield and Review. May 1844 - end 1844. [MEA]The Great Crisis, 1843. July 4, 1842. [MEA]M"uinight Cry. Vols 1·11; Nov 17, 1842-end 1844. [MEA]Signs of the Tunes. Vols I-VI; March 20, 1840-Nov 8, 1844.[MEA]Voice of Truth. Jan 1, 1844 - end 1844. [MEA]

8.2 .1 Periodical articles

1843 Israel and the Holy Land.' "The Promised Land."In which an Attempt Is Made to Show that theOld and New Testaments Accord in TheirTestimony to Christ and His Celestial Kingdom -'. Boston. [MEA]

1869 The Hope of the Church; History of the Doctrineof the Millennium. Buchanan, Mi. [MEA]

n.d. History and Doctrine of the Millennium. N.p.[MEA]

Whiting, Nathaniel N.1844 Origin Nature and Influence of Neology, Boston.

[MEA]

,,

1844/a

1844/b

Remarks on Revelation 's Thirteenth, Seventeenthand Eighteenth. Boston. [MEA]Wm. Miller's Apology and Defence. Boston . [MEA]Address to the Public. Boston.A Dissertation on Prophetic Chronology. N.p.[MEA]

Sabine, James1842 The Appearing and Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus

Christ in four letters to an unbeliever. Boston.[MEA]

Spalding, Joshua1796 Sentiments conceming the Coming and Kingdom of

Christ Collected from the Bible and the Writingsof Many Ancient and Some Modern Believers. InNine Lectures. With an appendix. Salem. [MEA]Sentiments concerning the Coming and Kingdom ofChrist Collected from the Bible and the Writingsof Many Ancient and Some Modern Believers. InNine Lectures. Boston. [MEA]

Starkweather, John1843/a A Narrative of Conversion to the Faith of the Pre-

Millennial Advent of Christ in 1843, withSuggestions and References to Aid SeriousInquirers after Truth. Boston . [MEA]A Plain Guide to a Right Understanding of theScriptures Pertaining to the Future Kingdom andComing of the Lord. Boston. [MEA]The Reasoning of True Faith Respecting the 2300Days in Dan . 8:14. Boston. [MEA]A Scriptural Test of Saving Faith, Exhibited in anExposition of Dan. 12:10. Boston. [MEA]

Storrs, George1843 The Bible Examiner, Containing Various Prophetic

Expositions. Boston. (MEA]Ward, Henry Dana1838 Glad Tidings. "For the Kingdom of Heaven Is At

Hand." This Gospel Is Preached Not As IsCommonly Supposed, Concerning the Church, NorConcerning the Gospel Dispensation, ButConcerning the Future State After theResurrection of the Dead in the World to Come .New York. [MEA]

1845n.d.zan.d./b

182

Anon.

Anon

Anon.

Anon .

Anon .

Anon.

Anon.

Anon.

Anon.

Anon.

Anon.

Anon .

Anon.

of the Times, Aug. 1, 1840.

A Condenced View of the Visions of Daniel.Advent Message to the Daughters of Zion, May1844.

Chronology of the Mohamedan power. The Signsof the Times , Aug 15, 1840.

Daniel's Testimony. What Shall Be in the LatterDays. The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1843.

Daniel's Visions. Midnight Cry, February 3, 1843.

Diagram Exhibiting the Events of ProphecyConsidered in the Preceeding Article from theFall of the Papacy down to the Millennium, withTheir Probable Order. The Advent Herald,February 21, 1844.

Dissertation on the Judgment. The Signs of theTimes, Jan IS, 1841.

Dr . Jarvis No.4. The Chronology of the Bible.The Signs of the Times, Aug. 16, 1843.

Duration of Earthly Kingdoms. The Signs of theTimes, May 24, 1843.

The End of the Prophetic Period. The Signs ofthe Times, Apr. 5, 1843.

End of the 1260 days. The Signs of the Times ,July 19, 1843.

The Fall of the Ottoman Power in 1844. TheSigns of the Times, Sep. 1, 1840.

Fundamental Principles. The Advent Herald, Feb14, 1844.

Fundamental Principles. Advent Message to theDaughters of Zion. May 1842.

183

Anon.The Honest Editor again. The Signs of the Times,April 1, 1841.

Anon.Is Antiochos Epiphanes the Hero of Daniel'sProphecy. The Signs of the Times, December 28,1842.

Anon.The Methodists Also on the Road to GermanNeology. The Signs of the Times, April 17, 1844.

Anon.Mr. Miller. The Signs of the Times, May 15, 1840.

Anon.Mr. Miller. Maine Wesleyan Ioumal, March 20,1840.

Anon. [Eds.]The Nations. Turkey. The Signs of the Times,April 15, 1840.The Nations. Sixth Vial. The Signs of the Times,May 1, 1840.

Anon.The Neology of the Church. The Advent Herald,April 3, 1844.

Anon.The Ordinance of the Year of Jubilee. The Signsof the TImes, May 1, 1841.

Anon.The Promises to Abraham. The Signs of theTimes, June 1, 1841.

Anon.Prophetic Time. The Advent Herald, February 14,1844.

Anon. [Eds.]Second Advent of Christ premillennial. The Signsof the Times, Sep. 6, 1843.

Anon.The Seven Times of Lev xxvi: Why are theyrepeated four times. The Signs of the Times,January 24, 1844.

Anon.The Sign of the Son of Man in heaven. The Signsof the Times, Oct. 11, 1843.

The Seventh Month of the Jewish Sacred Year.The Advent Herald, Sep. 21, 1844.

The Law of Moses. Day Star Extra, Feb 7, 1844.

Theory of Types, Nos. 1-5. The Signs of theTImes, March 15 - Sep 1, 1841.

E.B.K.

Hawley

185

The Prophecy of Daniel. The Signs of the Times,Mar . 8, 1843.

Flemming, L.n.Review of Rev. Dr. Week's Lectures against theChronology of Wm. Miller. The Signs of theTImes, Apr. 12, 1843.

Mr. Cambell on the return of the Jews. The Signsof the Times, June 15, 1840.Mr. to Miller on the LittleHorn in Darnel s fourth kingdom. The Signs ofthe Times, April 15, 1840.

Evan

E.C.C.

Return of the Jews. The Signs of the Times, June1, 1842.

The Jews- Romans XI. The Signs of the Times,May 17, 1843.

Crosier

Two Resurrections, No I. The Signs of the TImes,June 6, 1842.Two Resurrections, No II. The Signs of the TImes,July 22, 1842.

The D?ctrine of the Second Advent Sustained bythe VOice of the Church. The Signs of the Times,June 7, 1843.

Himes, JosiahOpposition on the M.E. Church - Zion 's Heraldvs. Millennium. The Signs of the Times, January24, 1844.

The Millennium. The Midnight Cry, October 5,1843.

Coles, L.B.

Collins, L.C.

Cox

Jacobs

Anon.Watchman's Warning - no. 1. The Image and theFour Kingdoms. The Midnight Cry, June 8, 1843.

Anon.

B.

The Vernal Equinox. The Advent Herald, April 3,1844.

Who are the Israel to whom the promises areMade. The Signs of the Times, June 1, 1841.

The author of "A Clue to the Time"The Endless Kingdom. The Signs of the TIme,May 11, 1842.

The Six Trumpet Period. The Signs of the TImes,May 1, 1840.

The Time of the End . The Signs of the Times,January 4, 1843.

A temporal Millennium a Soul DestroyingDoctrine. The Signs of the Times, June 29, 1842.The Return of the Jews. The Signs of the Times,Aug. 31, 1842.The 70 Weeks and 2300 Days of Daniel. TheSigns of the Times, June 22, 1842.Six thousand years. The Signs of the Times, Nov.22, 1843.

Bliss, SylvesterA Temporal Millennium. The Signs of the Times,June 29, 1842.The Inconsistencies of Colver. Series in The Signsof the Times and The Midnight Cry, Spring 1843.

Cambell, DavidMr. Cambell on the Mode of Computing theTime. The Signs of the Times, Jan . 15, 1840; July15, 1840.

Anon.

Anon.

Six Thousand years. The Signs of the Times,November 22, 1844.

Anon. [Eds .)The Tendency to German Neology. The Signs ofthe Times, June 21, 1843.

Anon.

Anon.

184

186

Jars, Henry

French, C.

Inquirer

[Litchl

L[itch]

Litch, Josiah

The Kingdom at Hand. The Signs of the Times,June 15, 1840.

Diagram of Daniel's Visions. The Signs of theTimes, March 1, 1841.

The Sanctuary. The Signs of the Times , Feb. 15,1842 & March 1, 1842.

Turkey and Egypt. The Signs of the Times, Jan .15, 1841 & Feb. 1, 1841.

The Battle of Armageddon. The Signs of theTimes, Sep . 1, 1840.Fall of the Ottoman power in Constantinople.The Signs of the Times, Aug.1, 1840.

The Battle Begun! The Signs of the Times, Nov 1,1840.Daniel's Visions. Trumpet of Alarm, April 24,1843; The New York Extra Tribune, March 2,1843.Events to Succeed the Second Woe . The Signs ofthe Times, Aug. 1, 1840.Fall of the Ottoman Power in Constantinople.The Signs of the Times, Aug. 1, 1840.Fall of the Ottoman Empire, or OttomanSupremacy departed. The Great Crisis of EighteenHundred Forty Three. Boston, August 4, 1840.Fall of the Ottoman Power. The Signs of theTimes, Jan. 1, 1842.Mr. Litch's reply to Rev. Ethan Smith, and otherson the Little Horn in Daniel's fourth kingdom.The Signs of the Times, May 1, 1840.Reply. Combination of prophecy with chronology.The Signs of the Times , Jan. 15, 1840.Restoration of the Kingdom to Isra el. TheMidnight Cry, Nov. 30, 1842.Review of "Bible Reader" on Miller's view of theMillennium; No III. The Signs of the Times, July1, 1841.

187

Review of Cambell on the Captivity of the Jews.The Signs of the Times, Oct. 15, 1840.Rise and Progress of Adventism. Advent Shieldand Review, May 1844.The Seventh Month. The Signs of the Times, Aug.21, 1844

Low, A.D.A Plain exposition of a plain passage- Rev. XX4-6. The Signs of the Times, June 29, 1842.

Miller, WilliamEvidence From Scripture and History of theSecond Coming of Christ about the Year 1843...The Signs of the Times, May 1, 1841.Evidence from....about the Year 1843 and of HisPersonal Reign of 1000 Years, first published in1833. The Signs of the Times , April 1, 1841.Evidence ch.IV. The Signs of the Times, July 15,1841.A Lecture on the Signs of the Present Times TheSigns of the Times, Mar . 20, 1840.A Letter from Wm. Miller. Cleansing of theSanctuary. The Signs of the Times , April 6, 1842.Letter from Mr. Miller, No.3. On the Return ofthe Jews . The Signs of the Times , April 15, 1840.Letter, May 3, 1843. The Signs of the Times, May17, 1843.Miller's Letters No.5. The Bible Its ownInterpreter. The Signs of the Times, May 5, 1840.Miller's letters No.8. The Signs of the Times,Sep . 1, 1840.Miller's Twenty Articles of Faith. The Signs of theTimes, May 1, 1841.Mr . Miller' s Reply to Cambell and Others on theLittle Horn in Daniel's Fourth Kingdom. TheSigns of the Times, March 20, 1840.Mr. Miller's Reply to Cambell, Smith, and Otherson the Little Horn in Daniel's Fourth Kingdom .The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1840.Miller's reply to Dowling. The Signs of the Times ,Aug. 15, 1840.Mr . Miller 's Review of Dowling. The Signs ofthe Times, August 1, 1840

188

Reasons for believing the second coming ofChrist in Eighteen Hundred Forty Three. Fromthe Chronology of Prophecy. The Great Crisis ofEighteen hundred forty three. Boston, July 4, 1842.Review of "Hints on Prophecy," by M. Stuart. TheSigns of the Times, Nov 23, 1842.Rules of Interpretation. The Midnight Cry, Nov 17,1842.Synopsis of Miller's Views. The Signs of theTimes., Jan 25, 1843; The Midnight Cry, June 15,1843.

Plummer, E.The Prophecy of Moses. Signs of the Times, May17, 1843.

R.Second Coming of Christ. No. 1. The Signs of theTImes, April 15, 1840.

Snow, Samuel SheffieldOur Position As to Time. The Advent Shield andReview, May 1844; The True Midnight Cry, Aug.22, 1844.Prophetic Chronology. The Advent Herald, Aug.14, 1844.Reasons for Believing. The Advent Shield andReview, Oct 9, 1844.

SouthardSecond Advent Believers. Rupp ed . [1844]The Home of Wm. Miller. Midnight Cry, Oct 26,1843.

Stevenson, JohnEditorial. The Midnight Cry, Oct. 3, 1844.God's measuring Rods. Advent harbinger and BibleAdvocate, June 9, 1849.

Storss, GeorgeExposition of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. TheMidnight Cry, May 4, 1843.Go Ye Out to Meet Him. The Advent Herald,Oct 9, 1844.

Stuart, MosesReview of Hints on Prophecy. The Signs of theTimes, Nov. 23, 1842.

189

A Student or ProphecyDoctrine of the Millennium. The Signs of theTImes, Feb 1, 1842.

W.Pleroma, or Fulness of the Jews. The Signs ofthe TImes, Sep.l, 1841.Pleroma, or the Fulness of the Gentiles. TheSigns of the TImes, Sep. 15, 184l.

Walstenholme, J.The Puritan- The Millennium. The Signs of theTunes, May, 1842 .Conversion of the Jews. The Signs of the TImes,Aug. 10, 1842.

Ward, C.; Jars, Henry; Russel, PhilemonCircular - The Address of the Conference on theSecond Advent of the Lord, Convened at Boston,Mass. October 14, 1840. The Signs of the Times,Nov 1, 1840.

Ward, Henry DanaProphecy and the JewsSigns of the TImes, Apr.12,1843.The Restoration of Israel. The Signs of the TImes,Sep. 1, 1840.To the Conference of Christians. The Signs of theTImes, Nov. 23, 1842.

Manuscripts and letters

Miller, WilliamLetter to Truman Hendryx, July 21, 1838. [MEA]Undated [possibly 1842] letter to Br. Copeland.[MEA]Letter to T.E. Jones, Nov 29, 1844. [MEA]

Old historicist literature up to the time of Miller'scontemporaries

Anderson, William1840 An Apology for Mi//ennial doctrine; in the form in

which it was entertained by the primitive church.Philadelphia. [MEA]

190 191

Andros, Thomas1814 The Place of the Church on the Grand Chart of

Scripture Prophecy, or the Great Battle ofArmageddon in Four Lectures, the Last Three ofWhich Were Delivered on the Annual Fast , April7, 1814. Boston. [MEA] The Premillenial Advent. Dublin. [MEA J

Review of the Doctrines and Prophetical Chronologyof Mr. William Miller, by an Israelite. Toronto.[MEA]

The Testimony of Scripture about the SecondComing of Christ. N.p. [MEA]

Appleby, WJ.1844 A Dissertation on Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. Also

the Rise and Faith of the Most Notable OrthodoxSocieties of the Present Day. Together with, ASynopsis of the Origin and Faith of the Churchof Latter-Day Saints.-- Philadelphia. [MEA]

Ballou, Adin1843 The True Scriptural Doctrine of the Second Advent;

an Effectual Antidote to Millerisrn, and All OtherKindred Errors. Milford, Mass. [MEA J

Barbour, Nelson H.1871 Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873 or

the Midnight Cry. Rochester , N.Y. [MEA] ,Barrett, B.F.1843 The End of the World; or Consummation of the

Age. Tract no. 6, for the New Church in theUnited Stales. Boston. [MEA]

Boudinot, Elias1815 The Second A dvent, or Coming of the Messiah in

Glory Shown to Be a Scripture Doctrine andTaught by Divine Revelation, by an AmericanLayman. Trendon, N.J. [MEA]

Burnap, George1844 The End of the World. A Discourse Suggested by

the Miller Doctrine Baltimore. [MEA]Burwell, Adam Hood1835 A Voice of Waming and Instruction Concerning

the Signs of the Times, and the Coming of theSon of Man, to Judge the Nation s, and RestoreAll Things. Kingston, Ont. [MEA]

Bush, George1842 The Mil/ennium of the Apocalypse. Salem, Mass.

[MEA]

Anon ./an.d.Anon./bn.d.

Anon .1344

An Exposition of the Prophecies and Doctrines ofthe ancient Jews and Christians, Relative to TheirMessiah and His Kingdom, Particularly the

and Doctrines of the PrimitiveChristians Relatice to a Second Pers onalAppearance of Jesus in Palestine.-- Danbury, Ct.[MEA]

A View on the Literal Construction of theProphecies of the Kingdom of Our Lord and HisSaints, Now About to Be Revealed, by a Studentof Prophecy. Boston . [MEA]

Prophecy: a Prominent Branch of ChristianEvidence; Being a Review of Rev. Andrew P.Peabody's Essay on the Prophecies Relating tothe Messiah. Portsmouth, N.H. [MEA]

The Cup of Trembling, or the Terrors of the Lordof Hosts ; an Introductory to the GloriousMillennia! Jubilee, Now Ap.£roaching, withAdditional Remarks. New York . [MEA]

The Future Destiny of Israel, by a Clergyman ofthe Church of England. Philadelphia. [MEA)

The Testimony of Christ's Second Af'Pearing,Containing a General Statement of Al ThingsPertaining to the Faith and Practise of theChurch of God in This Latter-day. Albany N.Y.[MEA)

The Return of the Jews to their Ancient CityJerusalem and the Second Advent of Our Lord, toThis World, in Glory, Proged to Be ScriptureDoctrines by a Citizen of Baltimore. Trenton, NJ.[MEA)

Anon.1841

Anon ./b1840

Anon./a1840

Anon.1836

Anon.183?

Anon.1817

Anon.1810

192 193

Millennium Prior to the Judgment. Providence,R .I. (MEA]

1842 An Exposition of the Prophecies, byWilliam Miller to predict the Second Corning ofChrist, in 1843. With a Supplemental Chapterupon the True Scriptural Do ctrine of aMillennium prior to the Judgment. New York.[MEAl

1843 Reply to Miller. A Review of Mr. Miller's Theoryof the End of the World in 1843. New York.[MEA]

Duffield, George . ,1842 Dissertations on the Prophecies Relative to the

Second Coming of Christ. New York. [MEA]]843 Millenarianism Defended; Reply to Prof Stuart's

"Strictures on the Rev. G. Duffield's Recent Workon the Second Coming of Christ. New York.[MEA]

Faber, George Stanley .1808 A Dissertation on the Prophecies that Have Been

Fulfilled, Are Now Fulfilling, or Wil! HereafterBe Fulfilled, Relative to the Great Period of 1?60Years; the Papal and Mohammedan Apostacies;the Tyrannical Reign of Antichrist, or the InfidelPower' and the Restoration of the Jews. ToWhich'is Added an Appendix. Boston. [MEA]

1810 A Dissertation on the Prophecies that Have BeenFulfilled, Ar e Now Fulfilling, or HereafterBe Fulfilled, Relative to the Great Period of 1260Years. London. [MEA]

1828 The Sacred Calendar of Prophecy: or aDissertation on Prophecies Which Treat of theGrand Period of Seven Times, and Especi ally ofIts Second Moiety or the Later Three Times anda Half. 3 vols. Lond on.

Folsom. Nathaniel d184D A Dissertation on the Second Coming an

of our Blessed Lord and Saviour , JesusChri st, upon the Earth. Cazenobia, N.Y. [MEA]

Frey, Joseph Samuel C.F.1840 Judah and Israel; or the Restoration and

Conver sion of the Jews and the Ten Tribes. NewYork . [MEA]

.-t

Remarks on the Book of Daniel in Regard to theFour Kingdoms, Especially the Fourth; the 2300Days; the Seventy Weeks, and the EventsPredicted in the Last Three Chapters.Boston.[MEA]

NathanielThe Prophecy of Daniel, Literally Fulfilled,Considered in Three Lectures. Boston. [MEA]

Reasons for Rejecting Mr. Miller's Views of theAdvent; with Mr. Miller's Reply. Also anArgument from Professor Bush on PropheticTime. Boston. (MEA]

Clarke, Adamn.d . The Holy Bible, Commentary and Critical Not es.

Vols I-VI. London.RichardNew Discoveries Concerning the Millenium .Pougskeepsi e, N.Y. [MEAl

1844

Chamberlin,1805

Colver,1843

Chase, Irah1844

Cramp, J.M.1868 Baptist History. London.Cuninghame, William1840/a The Polit ical Destiny of the Earth, as Revealed in

the Bible . Philadelphia. [MEA]1840/b The Pre-millennia! Advent of Messiah Demonstrated

From the Scriptures. Philadelphia . [MEA IDickinson, Dexter1843 A Key to the Prophecies, and Second Advent of

Christ, with the time of His Firs t and SecondManifestations. Boston . (MEA J

Dimmick, Luther Fraseur1842 The End of the World Not Yet. Review of a

Discourse deliver ed in the North Church,Newburyport, on the last evening of the year184] . Newburyport , Mass. [MEA I

Dow, Lorenzo[18]] j A Hint to the Public, or Thoughts 011 the

Fulfillment of Prophecy. IBoston .] [MEA IDowling, John1840 An Exposition of the Prophecies, Supposed by

William Miller to Predict the Second coming ofChrist, in 1843. With a Supplement ary ChapterUpon the Tru e Scriptural Doctrine of a

194

Gaussen, Louis[1844?] '0e German Rebuke of American Neology, a

DIScourse -- Entitled Popery, and Argument forthe Truth by Its Fulfilmentof Scripture Prophecies. Boston. [MEA]

Gill, John1809 An Exposition of the New Testament . 3 vols.

London.1810 An Exposition of the Old Testament . 6 vols.

London.Gorton, Benjamin1802 Scriptural A ccount of the Millennium; Being a

Selection from the Prophecies Concerning Christ'sSecond Coming, and Personal Glorious Reign onEarth a Thousand Years . To Which are Addesda Number of Arguments to Show that This EventHas Not Yet Taken Place. Troy. [MEA]

1808 A View of Spiritual or Anti-typical Babylon, withIts Downfall Exhibited, by a Vision of ElishaPeck; As Well As by Sundry Scripture-propheciesand Revelations. Interpreted and Explained, toOpen to View for a Warning to Mankind theCertainty of the Near Approach of the Great andTerrible Day of the Lord. Troy. [MEA]

Gunn, Lewis Carstairs1843 This World to Have No other Age or Dispensation.

The Present Organisation of Matter, Called Earth,to be Destroyed by Fire. Also, before the EventChristians May Know about the Time When IiShall Occur. Philadelphia. [MEA]

1844 The Age to Come! The Present organization ofMatt er Called Earth , to Be Destroyed by Fire atthe End of This Age or Dispensation . Boston.[MEA]

[1850?) Time Revealed and to be Understood. Concord.N.H. [MEA]

Habershon, Matthew1841 A Guide to the Study of Chronological Prophecy,

Selected and Abridged from a Larger Treatise bythe Same Author Entitled "A Disser tation on theProphetic Scriptures". Philadelphia. [MEA1

Hales , William1809- A New Analysis of Chronology, in Which an

Attempt Is Made to Explain the History and

195

Antiquities of the Primitive Nations of the Worldand the Prophecies Relating to Them onPrinciples Tending to Remove the Imperfectionsand Discordance of Preceding Systems. 3 vols.London. [MEA]

Haven, Kittrtdge1839 The World Reprieved, Being a Critical Examination

of William Miller's Theory That the SecondComing of Christ and the Destruction of theWorld Will Take Place About A.D. 1843.Woodstock, Vt. [MEA]

Hawley, Silas1843 The Second Advent Doctrine Vindicated, a Sermon

Preached at the Dedication of the Tabernacle.With the Address of the Tabernacle Committee.Boston. [MEA]

1845 The Fulness of the Jews; the Restoration of theJews and Subsequent Probation to the GentilesDemonstrated from Romans Eleventh. Boston .[MEA]

Hazen, James A.1842 The False Alarm; a Discourse Delivered in the

Congregational Church, South Wilbraham, SabbathEvening, June 12th, 1842. Springfield, Mass.[MEA]

Henry, Matthew1844 Exposition of the Old and New Testament. 6 Vols.

London.Henshaw, John Prentiss Kewley1842 An Inquiry into the Meaning of the Prophecies

Relating to the Second Advent of Our LordJesus Christ, in a Course of Lectures Deliveredin St.Peter's Church, Baltimore. Baltimore. [MEA]

Hengstenberg, E.W.n.d. Christology of the Old Testament . 2 vols. (Repr. by

McDonald Publishing Co. Florida, n.d.)Hopkins, John Henry1843 Two Discourses on the Second Advent of the

Redeemer, with a Special Reference to the Year1843. Burlington, Vt. [MEA]

Hutchinson, Richard1843 The Throne of Judah Perpetuated in Christ, and

Ascended at His Second Advent; Verifying theHopes of Israel, with Evidence that This Sublime

196 197

Event Is Nigh at Hand, Even at the Door.Montreal. [MEA]

1844 The Abrahamic Inheritence; Shewing What It Is,Who Are the Heirs, and When It Will Come, byan American Minister. Nottingham. [MEA]

Irving, Edward[1829] The Signs of the Times . [ondon .][MEA]Jacobs, Enoch1844 The Doctrine of a Thousand Year Millennium, and

the Return of the Jews to Palestine, before theSecond Advent of Our Saviour, withoutFoundation in the Bible . To Which Is Added aParaphrase of Romans 9th, 10th, and 11thChapters. Cincinnati, Ohio. [MEA]

Jarvis, Samuel Farmar1843 Two Discourses on Prophecy: with an Appendix in

Which Mr . Miller's Scheme, Concernmg OurLord's Second Advent, Is Considered andConfuted. New York. (MEA]

Image; or, Thesymbolized inGolden Headed

Jones, Henry1839

1841

18421a

[l842]/b

1843/a

1843/b

1843/c

n.d.

Principles of Interpreting the Prophecies, BrieflyIllustrated and Applied with Notes. Andover,Mass. [MEA]Dissertation on the Nature and Manner of Christ'sSecond Coming, together with the EventsAttending and Preceding It. [Boston.] [MEA]American views of Christ's Second Advent,Consisting Mostly of Lectures -- Selected and inPart Given by Henry Jones. New York. [MEA]A Scriptural Synopsis of the Doctrine in General,of Christ's Second Advent at Hand. [New York.][MEA]Compend of Parallel and Explanatory ScriptureReferences on Christ's Second Advent at Hand,with Synopsis, and Principles of Interpretation.New York. [MEA]Modem Phenomena of the Heavens or Prophetic"Great Signs" of the Special Near Approach of"the End of All Things ." New York. [MEA]A Synopsis Explanatory of the Book of Psalms.New York. [MEA]Dissertation on the Restoration of Israel. N.p.[MEA]

3-

Junkin, George1844 The Little Stone and the

Lectures on the PropheciesNebuchadnezzar's Vision of theMonster. Philadelphia. [MEA]

Kalonne, Henry .1843 The Book of Daniel Clearly WIth a

Rational Analysis of the Apokalypsis, Intended asa Good Eye Salve for the Modern Prophet Millerand His Followers. New York .[MEA]

KaptT, S.C.1837 The Coming of the Lord, as Inferred from the

Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Chapters ofSt.Matthew, Compared with the Signs of theTimes . Translated From the German by aClergyman of the Church of England. London.[MEA]

Keith, Alexander .[1830] The Evidence of Prophecy, Selected and Abndged,

with Additional Reflections from a Work --Entitled Evidence of the Truth of the ChristianReligion. New York . [MEA]

1832 Evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion,Delivered from the Literal Fulfilment ofProphecy; Particularly as Illustrated by. theHistory of the Jews, and by the Discoveries ofRecent Traveller s. New York . [MEA]

Kenrick, Winslow R. .,1845 A New Exposition of the Prophecies of Daniel.

Framingham. Mass. [MEA]Kinne, Aaron . . .1813 A Display of Scriptural Prophecies, With Their

Events, and the Periods of Their AccomplishmentCompiled from Rollin, Pridraux, Newton, andOther Eminent Writers. Boston. [MEA]

Labagh , Isaac P.1842 A Sermon, on the Necessity of the Personal Return

and Reign of Christ on the Earth, to thePerfection of the Happiness of the HumanFamily. New York. [MEA]

Lathrop, Joseph .,1811 The Prophecy of Daniel, Relating to the Time of

the End. Opened, Applied, and in TwoDiscourses Delicered on a Public Fast.

198 199

1833

1803

1840b

A Treatise on the Millennium, or Latter-day Gloryof the Church, Compiled Principally from theProductions of Late Eminent Writers upon ThatSubject. To Which Is Added, Further Remarksand Notes by the Compiler. Providence. [MEA]

Priest, Josiah1828 A View of the Expected Christian Millennium,

Which Is Promised in the Holy Scriptures, and IsBelieved to Be Nigh Its Commencement, andMust Transpire Before the Conflagration of the

Potter.Ray1824

1836 The Pope, the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition.A Dissertation on the Prophecy of the ApostlePaul Concerning the Man of Sin. Fayetteville.[MEA]

Noel, Gerald Thomas1840 A Brief Enquiry into the Prospects of the Church

of Christ, in Connexion with the Second Adventof our Lord Jesus Christ. Philadelphia. [MEA]

Osgood, Samuel1794 Remarks on the Book of Daniel, and on the

Revelations. New York. (MEA]Paxton, J.D.1844 No Future Retum of the Jews Called for by

Prophecy; Two Sermons Preached at Mulberry,August, 1844. Louisville. [MEA]

Peabody, Andrew Preston[1843] Sermon on the End of the World. Portsmouth,

N.H. [MEA]Pierson, Josiah1831 Millennium, a Poem in Five Books. Rochester,

N.Y. [MEA]Plumb, David1843 The True Heirs of the Abrahamic Inheritance; or

Jewish Restoration Disproved. Utica, N.Y. (MEA]Pond, Enoch1843 A Review of the Second Advent Publications First

Published in the New England Pur itan. Boston.[MEA]

Porter, Ebenezer1823 Signs of the Times: a Sermon Preached in the

Chapel of the Theological Seminary, Andover, onthe Public Fast, April 3, 1823. Andover, Mass.[MEA]

1663-4

Springfield, Mass. [MEA]Lincoln, L.E.1843 Disquisitions on the Prophecies of Daniel, with an

Appendix, Exhibiting the Fulfilment of Prophecy,"In the Third Year of Cyrus, King of Persia," tothe Present Time. Lowell, Mass. [MEA]

Mede, Joseph1650 The Key of Revelation, Searched and

Demonstrated out of the Naturall and prop'erCharacters of the Visions.-- 2 parts. 2nd Englished. London.The Works of the Pious and Profoundly LearnedJoseph Mede B.D. 2 vols. London.

M'Neile, Hugh1840a Prospects of the Jews; A Series of Popular

Lectures on the Prophecies Relative to the JewishNation. Philadelphia. [MEA]Sermons on the Second Advent of the Lord JesusChrist. Philadelphia. [MEA]

Morse, Jedidah1810 Signs of the Times:a Sermon Preached before the

for Propagating the Gospel among theIndians and Others in North America, at theirAnniversary, Nov. 1, 1810. Charlestown, S.T.MEA

Newton, Sir Isaac1733 Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel; and

the Apocalypse of St. John. In Two Parts. London.[MEA]

Newton, Thomas, Bishop[1766] Dissertations on the Prophecies Which Have

Remarkably Been Fulfilled and at This Time AreFulfilling in the World . n London.Dissertations on the Prophecies Which HaveRemarkably Been Fulfilled and at This Time AreFulfilling in the World . To Which Are AddedExtracts from the Writings of Owen, Usher,Knox, Brown, More, etc. A New ed. in whichthe Greek, Latin and Other Translations AreTranslated into English. London. [MEA]Dissertations on the Prophecies Which HaveRemarkably Been Fulfilled and at This Time AreFulfilling in the World . -- Two vols. London.

200 201

1842

Rudd, Sayer1734

Records, Historic and Prophetic; and the "Signsof the Times,"». New York. [MEA)

Skinner, H.B.1842 A Synopsis of the Views of Those W'ho Look for

the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1843.Asburnham, Mass. [MEA]

Skinner, Otis Ainsworth1840 The Theory of William Miller Concerning the End

of the World in 1843 Utterly Exploded ; BeingFive Discourses, with Some Essays on the SameSubject. Boston. [MEA]

Sentiments concerning the Coming and Kingdom ofChrist; Collected from the Bible and from theWritings of Many Ancient and Some ModernBelievers, in Nine Lectures . Salem. [MEA] Stuart,MosesHints on the Interpretation of Prophecy. Andover,Mass. [MEA]Hints on the Interpretation of Prophecy. WithAdditions and Corrections. 2.ed. Andover, Mass.

Sermons, Containing an Illustration of theProphecies to Be Accomplished from the PresentTime until the New Heavens and Earth AreCreated, When All the Prophecies Will BeFulfilled. Exeter, N.H. [MEA]

1842/a

1842/b

1839

1823

1814

Smith, Ethan1811 A Dissertation on the Prophecies Relative to

Antichrist and the Last Times; Exhibiting theRise, Character, and Overthrow of the TerriblePower, and a Treatise on the Seven ApocalypticVials. Charlestown, Mass. [MEA]A Key to the Figurative Language Found in theSacred Scriptures, in the form of Questions andAnswers. Exeter, N.H. [MEA]View of the Hebrews; Exhibiting the Destruction ofJerusalem, the Certain Restoration of Judah andan Address of the Prophet Isaiah Relative toTheir Restoration. Poultney, Vt. [MEA]Prophetic Catechism, to Lead to the Study of theProphetic Scriptures, in Questions and Answers.Bostons. [MEA]

Spalding, Joshua1796, 1841

Smith, Elias1808

- ....

An towards a New Explication of theDoctnnes of the Resurrection, Millennium, andJudgment, being the Substance of SeveralDiscourses on the 20th Chapter of the Revelationof St. John. London.[MEA]Sabine, JamesThe. Appearing and Kingdom of Our Lord JesusChrist, m Four Letters to an Unbeliever. Boston.[MEA]

Scott, Robert1816 An Antidote for Deism; or Scripture Prophecy

Fulfilled. A That. the HolyScnptures are of DiVIDe Original, Being the FirstPar.t of the Christian's Humble Plea, ContainingPlain Reasons Why the Holy Scriptures AreRecieved As of God. Pittsfield. [MEA]

1834 Free Thoughts on the Millennium or GrandSabbatical Year of the World . Adchessed to theCandid and Considerate Whether Sceptics Jewsor Professors of Christianity. New York. [MEA] ,

1843 Christ's Second Coming. Boston.Scott, Thomas1851 The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and

the New Testament according to the AuthorizedVersion. London.

Sheldon, William1868 Adventism, W'hat Is It? Its Relation to Theology

and Prophecy. In Two Parts . Buchanan Mich.[MEA] ,

Shlmeall, Richard Cunningham1842 Age of the World, as Founded on the Sacred

Heavens and the Earth. Embelled with a Chart ofthe Dispensations from Abraham to the End ofTime. Albany, N.Y. [MEA)

Pym, William W.1839 Word of Warning in the Last Days. Philadelphia.

[MEA]Ramsey, William1841 The Second Coming of Our Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ, in the Power and Great Glory beforethe Millennium. Philadelphia. [MEA]

1843 The Millennium and the New Jerusalem Contrasted.New York. [MEA]

202 203

Swan, John1656

Watkins, John1795 An Essay on the End of the World. Worchester,

Mass. [MEA]Way, Thomas1840 Thoughts on the Scriptural Expectations of the

Christian Church, by Basilicus. Philadelphia.[MEA]

White, George1806 The Restoration of the Jews; an Extract from

Herman Witsius, London. [MEA]White, Josiah[1823]

1844

The Death and the Resurrection of the TwoWitnesses, Revelation XI. [Northampton,Mass.][MEA]

Whiting, Nathaniel N.1843 La vou des ecritures saintes touchant l'avenement

de notre seigneur Jesus-Christ. Williamsburg N.Y.WEA] ,

Origin, Nature, and Influence of Neology. Boston.[MEA]

Wincell, Horacen.d. Great and Soon Coming Events. Of the Order of

Events of Prophecy about the Time of Christ'sComing to Judgment. N.p. [MEA]

Winchester, Elahan1792 Lectures on the Prophecies that Remain to Be

Fulfilled. [Norwich?] [MEA]Winthrop, Edward1843 Lectures on the Second Advent of Messiah, and

Other Important Subjects. Cincinnati, Ohio.[MEA]

Woodward, Henry1840 Essays on the Millennium. Philidelphia. [MEA]

Published literature on Millerism and Miller

Boutelle, Luther1910 Brief History of William Miller The Great Pioneer

in Adventual Faith. N.p.B[rinsmead] R[obert] D.1979 1844 Re-Examined: Syllabus. Fallbrook, Calif.

[MEA]

The Standard of Time; or the Measuring-reedContaining an Exact Chronological Computationof the years of the World (from the CreationThereof, to the Time of the Destruction ofJerusalem by the Romans). London. [MEA]

[Symmes, L.]1844 A Directory to the End of the World, by Scripture

Testimony, and an Exposition of Part of the. Bookof Daniel, Selected and Arranged by a Pilgrim,Boston. [MEA]

Thompson, Otis1812 Signs of the Times; a Sermon Preached at

Attlborough, West Parish, on the Annual Fast inMassachusetts, April 9, 1812. Providence, R.I.[MEA]

Thorp, William .1841 The Destinies of the British Empire and the Duties

of British Christians at the Present Crisis.Philadelphia. [MEA]

Thurman, William C.1864 The Christian Calendar for A.M. 5929. Arranged

According to That Method of Reckoning time,Enjoined by Our Heavenly Father, and Put illTabular Form for the Convenience of HisChildren Who, Renouncing the Custom of theHeathen, Wish, in All Things, to Honor OurGod. Hausetown, Ind. [MEA]

True, Oliver[1834] A Sermon on the Prophecies and Signs of the

Times. [Rochester, N.Y.] [MEA]Turrettini, Francois[1981] The Doctrine of Scripture: Locus 2 of Institutio

Theologiae Elenctiae.Grand Rapids, Mi.Upham, Charles Wentworth1835 Discourse in Prophecy as an Evidence of

Christianity. Salem, Mass. [MEA]Ward, Jonathan1842 Brief Remarks on the Lectures of Rev. William

Miller, on the Second Coming of Christ. Exeter,N.H. [MEA]

204 205

1978

Gale, Robert1975 Published literature on typology

The Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days.Rochester, N.Y. [MEA]

Andross, Elmer E.1912 A More Excellent Ministry. Mountain View, Ca.Atwater, Edward E.1875 The History and Significance of the Sacred

Tabernacle of the Hebrews. New York.Bercovitch, Sacvan, ed.1972 Typology and Early American Literature. Amherst,

Mass .Branson. William Henry1935 The Atonement in the light of God's Sanctuaries.

Mountain View, Calif.Brown, M.H.1894 Christ Our Advocate: His Ministry in the True

Tabernacle. Mountain View, Calif.Buksbazen, Victor[1954?] The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel. Philadelphia.

Adams, Roy1981 The Sanctuary Doctrine. Three approaches in the

Seventh Day Adventist Church. (Diss.) BerrienSprings, Mi.

Andreasen, M.L.1937, 1947 rev. ed.

The Sanctuary Service. Washington D.C.1948 The Book of Hebrews. Washington D.C.Andrews.John Nevins1853, 1872

Numbers, Ronald L. and Butler, JOl;1ath.an L. . . .1987 The Disappointed. Millensm and Millennarianism

in the Nineteenth Century. Bloommgton andIndianapolis.

Sears, Clara Endicott1924 Days of Delusion. A Strange Bit of History.

Boston.White, James Springer1875 Sketches of the Christian Life an.d Public Labors of

William Miller. Battle Creek, MI. [MEA}

·•·.·•·•.··1.········ : ··

f '

.The Urgent Voice. The Story of William Miller.Washington D.C.

Gaustad, Edwin Scott ed .1974 The Rise of Adventism. Religion and society in

mid-nineteenth-century America. New York.Hoornstra, J. ed .1978 The Millerites and Early Adventists. A Microfilm

Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts. AnnArbour, Mi.

Linden, Ingemar,1971 Biblicism, Apokaiyptik; Utopi. Adventismens

historia i USA samt dess sv, utveckling till o.1939 (diss .). Uppsala.The Last Trump. An historico-genetical study ofsome important chapters in the making anddevelopment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Frankfurt am Main, Bern, Las Vegas.

Loughborough, John N.1905, 1909, reprinted 1973

The Great Second Advent Movement . Its nse andprogress. Washington D.C.

Mueller, Konrad F.1977 Die der Siebenten-Tags Adventisten

(diss .). Hildesheim.Nichol, Francis D.1944 The Midnight Cry. A defense of the character and

conduct of William Miller and the Millerites, whomistakenly believed that the second coming ofChrist would take place in the year 1844.Washington D.C .

The Burned-over District. The Social andIntellectual History of Enthusiastic Religion inWestern New York, 1800-1850. New York.

Daan, Ruth Alden1987 The Millerite Heresy, Millennialism and American

Culture. Philadelphia.Damsteegt, P. Gerard1977 Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message

and Mission. (Diss.) Grand Rapids. Mi.

Cross, Whitney R.1950, 1965

1662Daly, Robert1978

206

1862

Notes on the Book of Leviticus. Chicago.Marsh, Herbert1828 Lectures on the Criticism and Interpretation of the

Bible. Cambridge.Moorehead, William Gallogly1895, reprinted 1957

Studies in the Mosaic Instututions: The Taber-nacle, the Priesthood, the Sacrifices, Feasts ofAncient Israel. Dayton, Ohio. [reprint, GrandRapids, Mi.)

Randles, M.1877 Substitution: A Trea tise on the Atonement.

London.Seiss , Joseph Augustus1866 Holy Types: or the Gospel in Leviticus: A Series

of Lectur es. Philadelphia.Simpson, Forster G. .1852 Lectures Of! the Typical Character of the Iewisb

Tabernacle, Priesthood and Sacrifice s. London .Smith, Uriahn.d. [1897?], reprinted 1979 or Christ in Type andLooking unto Jesus:

207

Hardinge, Lesley G.1977/a Shadows of His Sacrifice. Studies in the Sanctu ary .

N.p.1977/b Outline Studies of the Sanctuary. [Payson, Ariz.]Haskell, Stephen Nelson1914 The Cross and Its Shadow. Washington D.C.Heppenstall , Edward1972 Our High Priest. Washington D.C.Junkin, George1865 The Tabernacle. Philadelphi a.Lampe, Geoffrey William Hugo and Woolcombe , K1957 Essays on Typology. London.Law, Henry1855, reprinted 1967

The Gospel in Exodus. London .Christ is A ll. The Gospel in the Pent ateu ch. Fourvols. Western-Super-Mare.

Lockyer, Herbert1973 A ll the Messianic prophecies of the Bible. London .Mackintosh , Charles, Henry1878, 1880

The Typology of Scripture, Viewed in Connectionwith the whole Series of the divine Dispensations.Edinburgh.

Foulkes, Francis1958 The Acts of God: A Study of the Basis of

Typology in the Old Testament. London.Franks, Robert Sleightholme1918 A History of the Doctrine of the Work of Christ in

its Ecclesiastical Development. London, NewYork.

Frazee, W.1977 Ransom and Reunion through the Sanctuary.

Nashville, Tenn .Gilbert, Fredrick Carnes1937 Messiah in His Sanctuary. Washington D.C.Goppelt. L.1939, reprintedl966

Typos: Die Typologische Deutung des AltenTestaments im Neuen. Darmstadt.

Grenstedt, Lawrence William1929 The Atonement in History and in Life; A Volume

of Essays Edited by the Rev. L.W. Grenstedt.New York.

Habershon, Ada R.1915, revised 1974

The Study of the Types. London. [Rev. GrandRapids, Mi.]

Cocceius, Johannes1648 Summa doctrinae de [oedere et testamento Dei.

Leyden.Summa tehologiae a Scripturis repetita. Geneva .

The Origin of the Christian doctrine of sacrifice.Christian Sacrifice: The Judaeo-ChristianBackground before Origen. Philadelphia.

Davidson, Richard M.1981 Typology on Scripture, A Study of Hermeneutical

tupos Structures. (Diss.) Berrien Springs, Mich.DeVries, Henri1925[?] The Lord 's Anointed. London.Fairbairn, P.1857

208 209

General literature

Ahlstrom, Sydney E.1972 A Religious History of the American People. New

Ha ven, Conn.

Life Sketches of Ellen G. White. Being a Narr ativeof Her Experience to 188] as Writt en by Herself ;with a Sketch of Her Subsequent Labors and HerLast Sickness Compiled from Or iginal Sources.Washington D.C.

The Desire of Ages. Mountain View, Ca.1911

The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan.Mountain View, Ca.Gospe l Workers. Washingt on D.C.1915/a

1915/b, ]943

1888, 1907,

Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia . WashingtonD.C.

Seventh -day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine:1957 An Explanation of Certain Major Aspects of

Seventh-day Adventist Belief. Washington D.C.Spalding, Arthur Whitefield1%1-2 Origin and History of Seventh -day A dventists. 4

vols. Washington D.C.White, Ellen Gould1898, 1940

Linden, Ingemar1982 1844 and the Shut Door problem . Uppsala.1983 Adventismen i Skiljevagen. Rimbo.Numbers, Ronald1976 Prophetess of Health. New York .Olsen, A. V.1966 Through Crisis to Victory. From the Minneapolis

Meeting to the Reorganization of the GeneralConference, 1888-1901. Washington D.C.

Schwartz, R.W.1979 Li$ht Bearers to the Remnant. Denominational

Hist ory Textbook for Seventh-da y AdventistCollege Classes. Mountain View, Ca .

Neufeld , D.F., ed.1966{SDAEj

Seventh-day Adventism and Jehovah's Wittnesses

(ABU]1971 Aid to Bible Understanding, Containing Historical

Geographical, Religious, and SocialConcerning Bible Persons, Peoples, Places, Plantand Animal Life , Activities, and so forth . NewYork .

Ballenger, Albion Fox1914 An Examination of Forty Fatal Errors Regarding

the Atonement: A Review of a Work which "FullyExplains the Sanctuary questions as Understoodby the (Seventh-day Adventist) Denomination.Riverside, Calif.

[192-?] Cast out for the Cross of Christ. Tropico, Calif .Beckford, James A.1975 The Trumpet of Prophecy; A Sociological Study of

Jehovah's Wittnesses. Oxford.Conradi, L.R.1932 1st Frau E.G. White die Proph etin der

Endgemeinde? Hamburg.1939 The Founders of the Seventh-day A dventist

Denomination. Plainfield.Hoekema, Anthony1963 Four Major Cults. Exeter.

Antitype. Battle Creek Mi.1863 The Sanctuary: and the Twenty-three Hundred

Days of Daniel VIII, 14. Battle Creek, Mi.Vallenkampf, Arnold and Lesher, W. Richard eds.1981 The Sanctuary and the Atonement: Biblical

Historical, and Theological Studies. Washington:D.C.

White, Ellen Gould1969 Christ in His Sanctuary. A Compilation from the

Writings of Ellen G. Whit e. Mountain View, Ca.White, F.H.(1877?] Christ in the Tabemacle. With Some Remarks on

the Offerings . London.Whitfield, Frederick1875 The Tabemacle, Priesthood, and Offerings of Israel.

London.

210 211

Principles of Biblical Interpretation; SacredHermeneutics. Grand Rapids, Mich.

Calvin Jean[1966, 1975]

The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers; The HistoricalDevelopment of Prophetic Interpretation. 4 vols.Washington D.C. [MEA]

1971 Movement of Destiny. Washington D.C. [MEA]Geisler, Nonnman L. ed .1980 Inerrancy. Grand Rapids. Mich.Handy, Robert T.1976 A History of the Churches in the United States and

Canada. Oxford.Harnack, Adolfn.d.[1900]

History of Dogma. 7 Vols. New York.Harrison, John Fletcher Clews1979 The Second Coming. Popular Millenarianism 1750-

1850. London and Henley; New Bruswick, N.J.Hermann, Rudolph1971 Bibel und Hermeneutik; mit einem herausgegen

von Gerhard Krause. Gottingen.Hilton, W., ed.1958-67 Luther's Works, Ameri can Editi on 55 vols.

Philadelphia.Holmqvist, Hjalmar1931 Kirkkohistoria. 3 Vols. Porvoo, Borga.Hudson, W.S.1961 American Protestantism. Chicago.1973 An Historical Account of the Development of

American Religious Life. New York.

Eissfeldt, Otto1974 The Old Testament, An Introduction. Oxford .Farrar, Fredrick William1886, reprinted 1961

History of Interpretation. Grand Rapids, Mi.Festinger, Leon; Riecken, Henry W.; and Schachter, Stanley1956 When Prophecy Fails. A Social and Psychological

Study of a Modern Group that Predicted theDestruction of the World. Minneapolis, Minn.

Ford, Desmond1980 Daniel 8:14, The Day of Atonement and the

Investigative Judgment. N.p.Froom, Leroy Edwin1946-1954

Institutes of the Christian Religion. 2 vols.Philadelphia, London; Grand Rapids, Mi.

Robert P.When Prophecy Failed. Reactions and Responsesto Failure in the Old Testament PropheticTraditions. London.

Carrol,1979

Channing, A.1955 A History of the United States. Vol.V. New York .Clements, R.E.1976 A Century of Old Testament Study. London.Cohn, Norman1957 The Pursuit of the Millennium. London.Cox, William Edward1963/a The New Covenant Israel. Philadelphia.1963!b An Examination of Dispensationalism. Philadelphia.Dillenberger, John and Welch, Claude1954 Protestant Christianity Interpreted through Its

Development. New York.Dillenberger, John1960 Protestant thought and Material Science. London.Driver. S.R.1895, reprinted 1973

The Intemational Critical Commentary. A Criticaland Exegetical Commentary on Deutoronomy.Edinburgh.

1975 The Evangelicals. Nashville, Tenn .Arasola, Arvo Wilhelm1955 Maailman Kohtalontie. Helsinki.Ball, Bryan William1981 The English Connection. The Purirtan Roots of

Seventh-day Adventist Belief. Cambridge.Barbour, RJ.1972 Traditio-Historical Criticism of the Gospels; Some

Comments on Currant Methods. London.Barr, James1977 Fundam entalism. London, New York.Berkhof, Hendrikus1960, 1977

212 213

Koch, Klaus1972

Finney to Billy Graham. New York.McMaster, John B.1883-1913

JewishThe Method and Message of theApocalyptic. 200 Be - AD 100. London.

The Revelance of Apocalyptic. London.

The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Translations of theWritings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325. GrandRapids, Mi.

Rogers, J.B. and McKim, D.1979 The Authority and Interpretation of the Bible, An

Historical Approach. New York.Rowley, H.H.1947Russell, D.S.1964

1976

The Life of the Mind in America: From theRevolution to the Civil War. New York.

Paine, Thomas1938 The Age of Reason. London.Porter, Paul A.1983 Metaphors and Monsters. A Literary-critical study

of Daniel 7 and 8. Lund.Rad, Gerhard von1966 Deuteronomy, A Commentary. London. (OTL)Ramm, Bernard L.1967 Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids, Mi.1970 Protestant Biblical Interpretation. A Textbook of

Hermeneutics. Grand Rapids, Mi.Reeves, Marjorie1969 The Influence of Prophecy in the Later Middle

Ages - A Study of Joachianism. Oxford.Joachim of Fiore and the Prophetic Future.London.

Ringgren, Helmer1956 The Messiah in the Old Testament. Chicago,

London.Roberts, Alexander and Donaldson, James1950 [ANF)

A History of the People of the United States. 8vols. New York.

Menzel, Donald Howard; Whipple, Fred L. and Vancouleurs, G.1970 Survey of the Universe. New Jersey.Miller, Perry1965

Kraus, HJ.1956, reprinted 1969

Geschichte der historisch-kritischen Erforschung desAlten Testaments. Neukirchen-Vluyn.

Lacoque, Andre1979 The Book of Daniel. London.Ladd, George E.1956 The Blessed Hope. Grand Rapids, Mi.Lindsell, H.1976 The Battle for the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mi.Ludlum, David M.1948 Social Ferment in Vermont, 1791-1850. New York.Luther, Martin1883-1948 [WA]

D. Martin Luthers Werke. KritischeGesammtausgabe. Weimar.

Malachy, Yona1978 American Fundamentalism and Israel, the Relation

of Fundamentalist Churches to Zionism and theState of Israel. Jerusalem.

Manuel, Frank Edward1974 The Religion of Isaac Newton. Oxford.McLoughlin, W. G.1959 Modem Revivalism from Charles Grandison

The Rediscovery of Apocalyptic. A Polemic Workon a Neglected area of Biblical Studies and itsDamaging Effects on Theology and Philosophy.London.

Kooinmann, WJ.1961 Luther and the Bible. Philadelphia.Kraeling, E.G.1955 The Old Testament since the Reformation, New

York.

Hutten, Kurt1966 Seher, Grubler, Enthusiasten. Sekten und religiose

Sondergemeinshaften der Gegenwart. Stuttgart.Josephus, Flavius1886 The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by

William Whiston. London.1926-43 Josephus with an English Translation by H.St.J.

Thackeray, cont. by Ralph Marcus. London.

214 215

Smith, Uriah1897, 1921, 1944

Daniel and the Revelation. The Response ofHistory to the Voice of Prophecy. A Verse byVerse Study of These Important Books of theBible. Washington D.C.

Sweet, William Warren1952 Religion in the Development of American Culture

1765-1840. New York.

A History of the Christian Church. 7 vols. NewYork.

Schaff, Philip, ed.1956 A Select Library of Nicene and Post Nicene

Fathers of the Christian Church. 14 vols. GrandRapids, Mi.

Schaff, Philip and Wace, Henry, eds.1956 A Select Library of the Nicene and Post Nicene

Fathers of the Christian Church. Translated intoEnglish with prolegomena and Explanations. 14vols. Grand Rapids, Mi.

Scofield, Cyrus L. ed.1917 The Scofield Reference Bible. New York.Seeberg, Reinhold1%4 Text-Book of the History of Doctrines. Vol I.

[Grand Rapids,} Mi.Shea, William H.1982 Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation, Daniel

and Revelation Committee Series, vol 1.Washington D.C.

Smith, H.S., Handy, R.T., and Loescher, LA.1960-3 American Christianity. An Historical Interpretation

with Representative Documents, 2 vols. NewYork.

Revivalism and Social Reform in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America. New York.

Essays on Old Testament Hermeneutics. EnglishTranslation Edited by James Luther Mays.Atlanta.

Periodicals and articles

Barr, JamesRevelation in History, Interpreters Dictionary of theBible Supplement, pp .746-9.

Bultman, RudolfUrsprung und Sinn der Typologie als her-meneutische Methode. Teologische Litteraturzeitung75 (1950)

Cuninghame, William .Inquirer. The Investigator or Monthly Expositor andRegister on Prophecy. Vol1 (1931) pp. 160-163.

Dick, Everett N.Advent Camp Meeting. Adventist Heritage, Winter1977.

Ferch, ArthurJudgment Exalts the Cross. The Ministry, April,1983.

Geraty, LawrenceThe Genesis Genealogies as an Index of Time.Spectrum Vol.6, no. 1.

Maxwell, GrahamPreacher of the Advent. The Adventist Review,Feb 11, 1982.The Legacy of William Miller. The AdventistReview, Feb 18, 1982.

Tyler, Alice Felt . Social1944 Freedom's Ferment. Phases of Amencan OCIHistory from Colonial Period to the Outbrake ofthe Civil War. New York.

Walch, Johann Georg, ed.1881-1910

Dr. Martin Luthers Samtliche Schriften. 23 vols. St.Louis.

deVaux, Roland1961 Ancient Israel, Its Life and Institutions. London.Westerman, Claus, ed.1%3 [EOTH]

andMi.,

BritishRapids,

Smith, T.L.1957

Sandeen, Ernst Robert1970 The Roots of Fundamentalism.

American Millenarianism. GrandChicago.

Schaff, Philip, ed.1882/1910

216

Rad, Gerhard vonTypological Interpretation of the Old Testament.Interpretation, Vol 15, (1%1).Typologische Auslegung des Alten Testaments.Evange/ische Teologie. Vol 12 (1952,3).

Reid, George W.From Dispair to Destiny. The Ministry, April1982.

Sprengel, Merton E.Dark Day. Review and Herald, May 22, May 29,June 5, 1980.

VitringaOn the Interpretation of Prophecy. TheInvestigator or monthly Expositor and Register onProphecy, Vol 4 (1834/5), pp. 157-69.

Wheetee, J.P.Letter March 17, 1843. Signs of the Times, April5, 1843.

White, Ellen GouldNotes on Travel. The Review and Herald, Nov 25,1884.

Wolff, Hans WalterOld Testament in Controvercy: InterpretativePrinciples and Illustrations. Interpretation, Vol 12(1958)

Zevit, ZionyExegetical Implications of Daniel 8.1, 9.21. VetusTestamentum, vol 28 [1978].

Unpublished manuscripts

Alttala, Wiljam1967 (Thesis) University of Helsinki.Arasola, Kai Jaakko1981 Ellen G. White ja Vanhan Testamentin profetismi.

(Thesis) University of Helsinki.Arthur, David Tallmage1961 Joshua V. Himes and the Cause of Adventism

1839-1845. (Thesis) University of Chicago, Ill.[MEA]

1970 "Come out of Babylon": A Study of MilleriteSeparatism and Denominationalism, 1840-1865.(Thesis) University of Rochester, N.Y. [MEA]

217

Dederen, Raoul .n.d. Ellen White's Doctrine of the. .Scnpture.

Washington D.C. Supplement to the Mrmstry.Graybill, Ronald D.1983 The Power of Prophecy: Ellen G. White. and the

Women Religious Founders of .the NineteenthCentury. (Diss.) John Hopkins University,Baltimore, Maryland.

Hongisto, Leif1984 The Apocalyptic Discourse in Mark 13: Toward a

Hermeneutic. (Thesis) Andrews University,Berrien Springs, Mich.

Rasmussen, Steen R.1983 Roots of the Prophetic Hermeneutics of William

Miller. (Thesis) Andrews University, BerrienSprings, Mich.; Newbold College, Bracknell,Berks. England.

Rees, Islwyn1983 Samuel S. Snow and His Contribution to the

Development of Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine.Newbold College, Bracknell Berkshire.

1984 A History of the Outside Dates of the 2300 Daysof Daniel 8:14 As Interpreted within Seventh-dayAdventism. Newbold College, Bracknell, Berks.England.

Rowe,David L.1974 Thunder and Trumpets: The Millerite Movement

and Apocalyptic Thought in New York1800-1845. (Diss.) University of Virginia, [UM!]

Shea, William H. . .1980 Daniel and the Judgment. Andrews University,

Berrien Springs, Mich.1981 The Year-Day Principle. Northern European

Division of the SDA Church, St.Albans, Herts.England.

Yoo, Keum san1984 A Comparative Study of Major Current

Conservative Interpretations of the Seventy Weeksof Daniel 9:24-27. Newbold College, Bracknell,Berks. England.

218 219

APPENDIX II

'The low figure indicates that there were few or no separate ar:ticles on thesubject. However, some of the 21 articles In category no. 16, Include thesepoints.hCategories 6 and 10 deal with same period of time and are inseparable.'''Categories 8, 12, 13, 14 deal with the same penod of time and areinseparable.

MILLERITE EXEGETICAL AND OTHER ARTICLESDistributioo of topics eoeered by articles in Millerite periodicals, 1840-1843.

The following lists are based on articles in Signs of the andHerald [Midnight CIJ1 January 1840 and December 1843. Articles With the

length of 1/3 page are included. Subjects are divided into categories 1-16 (Miller's 15 proofs), 17-24 exegetical articles, and 25-30 other articles.

561089561451330

464211561254416232

2'O'O'232"1""3425···4'1"925···25···25···2'21123

DO. occureeeesSubject matterA. Exegesis on Miller's 15 points:1. seven times of Lev 262. The year of release (Dt 15)3. Seven years of Eze 344. 6000 year chronology5. The jubilees6. The two days of Hosea 67. 2300 evening-mornings of Dan 8.148. The time of the little hom, Dan 7.259. 1335 days of Dan 12.1210. Two days of Luke 1311. Five months of Rev 912. 1260 days of Rev 1113. 1260 days of Rev 1214. 42 months of Rev 1315. 666 of Rev 1316. Combinations of several pointsTotal of AB. Other exegetical articles:17.MethOd of Interpretation18.Time prophecies (not to 1843/4)19.Kingdoms of Daniel 2, 7, 1120.Symbolism in the Apocalypse21.Parousia, Millennium, Judgement22.Signs of the times (Biblical studies)23.Return or nonreturn of the Jews24.0ther propheciesTotal of BC. Other articles:25.News items & signs of the times26.Exhortation & polemics for Millerism27.News on the progress of Millerism28.Doctrinal articles29.Devotional articles3O.UnciassifiedTotal for C

R. "Second Coming of Christ no. I" ST Apr 15, 1840.

4. When a passage is clearly figurative, the figure is to becarefully studied, and the passage compared with other parts ofthe Word where the same or similiar figure may be employed.

3. When the literal sense involves the in contradiction,or expresses ideas which are unnatural, It is figurative, orparabolic, and is designed to illustrate rather than reveal thetruth.

Example of Millerite hermeneutical rules

Our rules are the following.

1. The Bible contains a revelation from God to man, and ofcourse must be the best, plainest and simplest that can begiven. It is a revelation in human language, to human beings,and must be understood by the known laws of language.

2. The Bible is always to be understood literally, when theliteral sense does not involve contradictions, or is not unnatural.

APPENDIX I

220 221

APPENDIX III - MILLER'S 15 PROOFS APPENDIX IV - MILLERITE CHARTS

Summary over Miller's exegesis of time prophecies . Chronological chart overMiller's fifteen ways of providing the second advent in 1843.

Rev 13.18

Lk 13.32

Dan 12.6,7

Has 6.1-3

Ex 31.17

Proof texts

Dan 8.14

Rev 95,15

Rev 11.3Rev 12.6,14Rev 135

Lev 26Dt 15.1,2Jer 34.14

Eze 34.9,10

Lev 25.8-13

Dan 12.11-13

2520yrs

Time prophecy

6000yrsI

1843AD.

I I607B.C 1843AD.

2001yrsI I158B.C 1843AD.

2300yrsI I457B.C 1843AD.

l 260yrsI I538 AD. 1798A D.

I1290yrs

I508 A D. 1798AD.

1335yrsI I508AD. 1843AD.

I2001yrs

I158B.C. 1843AD.

150 + 391I I1299AD. 1840AD.

l260yrsI I

538A.D. 1798AD.

I-I666yrs

158B.C508AD.

1----------1677B.C 1843AD.

9

15

11

10

Miller's Proof no.

7

6

121314

1---------------44157B.C.

123

8

5

TDIE

222223

1842 and we haTe 2'000 nan, or tw-o dOly.; Peteruys,' Peter iii. 8: u Ifut, be not 191IOftIltnf .chia one thine, that OM day w "'llh the Lord... ::-lwnuaand .,.ears. a.t1d .. thoaaud yean p ooe da,.And 18ii'p sbe 6nt yeaT iA the."i'J'ifiv(j the Lord. The world bu IIIIlCe 1Mrm 01 2000 ynn under the . 2!*n 3t'7l \lndeT the .A..!"ri:ltl,Bahylml1:1T1 , Medo-Pe1WIU:.a.nd G recian ; and 2000 ."".an under. Rome Pap.Papal and KiDgly. [S... &C. Ad,. L". ..3.,.U.)VIl. I ean pyo...e it by the leng1b of the 'YWOD ..hidl

D..iel bad, (.-iii. 1-14 ,) of lbe ...... , b...-. ....-.=-:..... . .. LU,,;U U:LWcJ ...... inionoed .... d&yalonR'. Da.a. . viii. 13.14 : "Then I heard ua&apnkiDg, ODd another AiDt aid DDtothat oanaia aoiatwhicb .pok., H.... loog Ihal1 be the .,..." -rUlethe deily AeriDce;&ad lb.to .. belb tb........uary &ad tb< hoot to be troddeaUDder foot.. ADdbe aid. Wlto me. Unto nro \bollllMd.'Dd tbree hDDd"", daY' ; th.,. oball the AnCN&rJ beeleaeeed." And from whieb the iO ween weeeQIloff and. folfiUed. the Tn: of Chrilt', death. DaD. iLro:-27. Then 70 ·...uk. of yean being cot ofl" &om.2300 d.Y' , mk.. \h... day. y ; aDd 490 yambein, r.16J1ed in A. D. 33, I 1810 yeva to t1larl11JiltDeDt or th.........b",h added to 33 mUale.3 , .hea the """"''1 will be eJ......d. aocI thepeople DrGod juotibed . (&.. M ill6', L<r:twea" . 73.)Vlll. It ... be p""ed by Daoi.l ri. 6,7 : uAild

one M.id\0 the mao dothed in liDen. wl:Ueh W'U a,o.the waknof the ri'reT, How long shall it be to the eedof theee wonden ! And I heard tbe man clothed. ialinen, wlUeb ..u upon the wa\en tbe rinT. -.rhea •he held up his hand and , hLS left lundheuen. a.nd Iwe.r by him tha t liyeth [oreTer, thar It

be for a time . times , .nd a b1.lf; and ..beo heah:l11 h3Te accom plished to 8C3tter the PO\\'"et' of theboly peo ple. al l t he-se'things ahall be rinished ," Thequ estion is :L"i\.:cd, How long to the end ofders 1 These wonde... to the re-sUrre<:tlOD . See2d 3d "enes : .. And m::1ny of them tb:l.l. .leep inthe dust of the eanh .h&l1 awake l lOme to eyerlutinglif- And lOme to .hame and eTeTI3!ting contempt.

theT th.3.tbe wUe . sha.l1 erone::l.S tbe brigbme- ofthe fimmtnt ; .nd they th:l t turtl many to

as the .tars fore"er :lnd e" er. '.' an....er ...glnn by the angel • • ho inforIM Dantelrt !hall be for •time , and a ha lf, and when he !h31l h....e a.c:r:om-plished to antler the po.wer of tbe boly :illwill be finished , Eu. xu. 10- 15 : . l Say un to \hem.Tbl'5 a:aith t he LoTJ GOD; Thi3 bard en conoernr:ththe prin ce in JeruS:l.lem , and aU the house of I..andthat are among them . 'Say, Iwm yom' mgu: like as 1haTe done, 80 .ball it be done limo them =."th;eJrem<JT'8 and go into c:aptiTi.1.y. And the pnnce"dtat.arooar them. .hall beu upon hi.a,houlders ill the twi--light aDd .hell It" forth : lb.y . hell dig _gil the..all 'to earry out thereb...: be . hall ecn-er his face, d1dhe aee Dot the groo nd "'ith hi. eyes. My aJ.o.illI .pr-nd him. and h e ah.ll be taUD m myfRare ' an d I u·ill bri1g him to Baby lon , to the 1aDd ofthe ch21deans, Tet . haU be not .ee it . thO'llgb ab:aIldie there. ADd. I will acatter \Oward wiDd. aD.that are about him to help him. and a.Uhia banda:; aDd.I will <in. ODt the _or<! .n.. th.m. ADdthey IIIta1lknow that I am the wbeD ] .ball ecaner them.among the na tions, and them iD the eomt-

JeT. :IT . .. : .. And 1 lrill c:1ttM them 10 'berem o"ed mto all lringdoms of the esrth, beeaae ofManaaeeh the eon of Hezelriah , 1 adah, ,f«that ....hich he did in Je.T'O.S3Jem .tt Thwbeguo , wheo Ian.el wa.s eeanered bywhen the king of J udah, Manueeh, euried toB:Jb"l oD. B. C. e7i. Thus th ey continued be apeople 8C3tteTcd, by the of the. earth" until theyfled intO the wilderness m A . D. 538. makes12U yUT':!. There they 'in thes time and half- whic h began A. D. S38, ad

A . D . 17:>8. Th e kiDgw or the eartJlthen h1d power , the time , .times. ::Lnd & half of lhe

of the holJ people tS filled br .5yeam,be lDg the Tema.iJlder .of the m.king all. 1.2'60"ean. under the o.llons or kinlt'!l, aDd ending m

fl< ..

d l r:::e now if we foLlo....OD to know the ; billgoing forth La Prepared u the morning ; d he .h-:Ucome untO u. ... \he rain, as the forme r TWJnuT\tD the earth ." Thil prophec.-y)I tw .o ofth e Roman Kingdom, ,in ita Impe '. ar:dPa.pal form. with ita ..t iron and pene-cuting the o( God the third day IS the aameu Rn . u . 6 ; H BJeue:d and ) '01" is he th.r hathpa.rt in the tint rerun-ection: oo'.-o:ebthe wcoad dea.thh::oth no but the!, of Godof Chris t , an.d .hall wlIfi lho .u&a.ndwhe n the of God .,rill li .... lQ . 1ght , liyeand m gn wnh blD'l .. thc;Jttaa.nd re.n. If, then , thethird daT is a thouaan d/Tean, then the two day. areof equ:I'l ltngth . Wlten did the- ""0 daY' begin_,,-ns. When the Je.a made a league with Ro-m:ln5. See HMe""'" 13: "WheD EphT3Jm AW

, ic'k.neM, and Judah as'" h i.... th en weDtF:phra im to the ASlyrit.n, and sent to kmg Ja reh :could he not he:ll you , no r cun you of ynul . .DJ.n. xi. .. And the leag ue made Wlth htm ,he wo rk deceitfullv; for he sha.1l come up . an dsh:l.ll become stm nl! with-a people ." 1 Maee3btts8th :Jnd 9th chaDte·n. T hia lea,.ue was eonfinn e-dandr.llihed .3.nd the Grecian kingdom to rule Me rGod ·s 'penple H. C . l oSS vears . Then ado 1$8 to

&hall fiftieth yur be unto you; nO,t lOW.neither rear \.h:l.t ",..tUe;:h 0 iteelt tn It nO:T3ther the ;rn.pee in it of thy TIRe undressed. or ttr:! the jubi lee ; It .hall be hol y unlO you. ye .ha.lI eatthe increase thereof O1ltof the field . In year ofth is jubi lee , Te shall retum eTery'm.ll bnto ha. ivn." l'ow, if we (2.ft .how &Oy rule weean find the &Dutype• ...-e,can !ell when the peopleG od v...ill lDw the mhentanc.e the . pUf'Chueposaeuion . and the redempti.on the lr bocbn.. and therrum of j ubilee will procllLlm liberty . a gl.onous one.thro!.....h all the land , In order to do thl' we musttake of the order of the II

Sabbaths ehall be complete. " There us. •even ktndsof S :lbb:u h s, wbich aU hu e seven fur. g1" eo .. umbe r .Th. , ... kept bot alI Sahbotba; if lbey badh",

the lMJYev.t.b they ....culd b....e been tnade perfect.withov.t u ; but u.sy broke the eese nth . II Thereforetbero .......... """pin, cf lb. Sabbolh to the pooploof God." The Jewish Sabbaths were :-. I. The 7th d.y. E.od. nxi. IS.2. The 50tb dey_ wit. xxiii . 15. 16.3 The 7th week. Deut. xTi . i .. : Tbe ith month . Luil. xxi ii. 25.$ . The 7th year . wlt. x:u , :-t, C.6 The 7 liu>eo 7 y.... &ad50tb y..r 'Dbt1...7: The 7 times 7 ,.biJ... and 50th J.bil.. will

bring va VI a complete or Sab..bath.-theJu biMe of Jubilees. Thu. I urnes "SO yean &a 4:9tUne8M) - USC years. . ,It ia ...ery nident nt')yea.r of 171e»e or was

e-rer kept after the reign of J 08 1::Lh, the lut king ofJerusalem that obeyed the commandment:' of theLord or kert hi. This king'. mg-n endedB . C: llO7. See Kings chap«r, Cbroa. 35and 38 chapLen . and eh1pter , Afterwhich the nenr kept , nen her .("oulda Tear of re1eue . or Jubilee ; felT .neu her the tr kings.their 'DobIes . the ir people. nr thei r. b.nds eouid haTebeen redeemed afle r th is. JeT. :th" . 20-23 . Hueended the Ju bilees , when the y not keptmore than 21 Jubilees. l:lCking ZS of coming to the

l::Lnd w-u to la y wh ilepeop le of God were in the il ene-min' LeTtt .:n ....-i . 34 . How long a Jubiiee of49 times 50 yean _ 2-450 :ten,. '''hen did thesen ars beg in A ns . \Vhrn the Jew. cea.seuthe keep-Ing of t he Sabbaths and J ubilell!'S. :l.t the

re i.gn.. B . C . 607 . GO, frnm 2450. _11leu es ."... D . ; wh en the Ju bilee of Ju bilees """ ltlcom. . (& , &C. Adv. lA.,No. 14. )VI. I proTe it by Hosea ...t. 1-3 : II Come••nd let

us return unto the Lord ; for he hath torn, he wtllheal us ; he b:lLh sm itten. :lnd he will bIRd \d up.

third d.. h.

DIFFERENT

Jc:.:a rs, propneuc , wmcb is commoo ye-:.rs. Be,rinning u before, .heD Babylon began to epcil IIHlrob them, and wben the,. by the fire oC the truth beflllCO burn ap the weaponJ of their enemies, in thta moral...,r ; ·lhiawill.Ddin 1e.3. (&0 MiD..'. Lif.aa1'" , p. e9 .)IV . It io ,....-I. aloo, bT ,b••il:" or the Sobhatb.

Exod. mi, 13-17 : U Speak th oa aJao unto thecbildno. of Iarvl. "pDg. VDrily my Sobbathe y..h.1I keep : {or it w a . iga bet ...een me and yoa

YOOt gt'Mruiona ; th:n ye 111..:' kn ow tblotI am the Lord tha.. doth ..nctify you . Ye ahall k«pthe S:lbbath 1.herefore : (or it i. he,ly unto you . ETeryoae that dehJeth it .hall urely be put to dea.th ; forwhCMlOeyer doethany work therein . that .aul sh.n becut otr {rom among his people . S ix may workbe done , bot ia d ie ....enlb ia the Sabtnth of rest , bolyto the Lord : doeth any work. in the Sib .

ob.eTYe the Sabbath throu@'bout theiT {ora co"enant . h ta a me :uldthe children o( Israel fore"eT: j'or in , ix theLord made heaYen and · earth . :lnd on the 8eTen'th duhe rll!'Sted &Dd _lUi H eo. jy. 4. 9-11 -:" F or be spake in a tert3in plaee of the d.yon th is wise : And God did}est the 8eTentb d3Y fromal l hie ..orks ." II Tbere therefoTe i, Tutto the people of God . F nr he t h:lt is enu:red into hi..-Te:!t , he also h at h eeued (rom h is own worn . • • Goddid from tu... us labo r the-refo re to enter int o th a.tTe'it. les t &.Py aw:I f3l1 afte r the ..me eumple of UDb&-li . r. "A. God .... fix daY' ereating the old be....en. and

ftMb, .o_d rat.ed on the tltyenth; &0 it is a .ign thatChrist will alto Ia.bor .il: day. in Cl'e:Lting the newheu ens and e-arth, and rftt on th e se '·en tb . Howlon e- is a d3T w ith tbe Lord ! Peter te lls us in his 2E p1stle iii. 8 : But, be not i.rnonnt of thisemethin g I that one cisy illwith the Lord &! a tbo usand"("un, an d. tbouunJ. r urs as one d:ly, .. !i. then , a

yean ill a day 'VII' ith the Lord, how long b3.SChris t bef:n \0 w('Irk ereating the ne'...' I ans_er.,,'e will allo_ the Bible to us a ehronolo,l!'J', weshaH 'find thi. yea r , 1843. the 6000 from Ad:un·.f:J11 will be Then the Anti -typical Sabha thof 1 1000 -rean 'W"ill commeuce. Re ". :n :. 6: W Ble:!-eed and holy i.I he that hath part in the nT':!t reIIur ree-cion : on u ch the 8eCOnd death ha.th no power. bULthe y ahaJJ be 'pries ta of God and of Christ. and sha llre ig n w ith him • thousand years. P. ( &e L ife and

can pro ...e it by t he typ ical ju bilee ,J.,p:vit. 1:1:T . 8--13 : U And thou , halt le"eD:S 3.bbaths of yea rs nnto th ee. ae...en ·tim" 8e'f'eD Ye1lf'S'""";and the space of the .eYen S3bbatl13 of yean .halluotO thee forty and nine years. T hen shalt thou

th<e tntm pe t of the ju bilee to lOund. on th etenl h daT of lhe 8eTenth month , in th e daT o f atone-men t ahall ye ma ke the tru mpet aound throughout ::d lyout' l::a.nd. And ye . h&!1hallow the fiftiet h yen, andpToCb im liberty all th e b nd , unlO all th einh:Jhitants thet'eof : it shall be • j uhilee unto you ;:\nd ye sh:t.lI re turn man unt o hi:! posseui('ln . andye !h:t.1I re lllM'l n eT}'" man IInto his f:lm tly . A jubil ee

FIFTEENINPROVED

PROOF.Matth : rri . 27 : For the Son of man .ball in

the glory of hi. Fa ther , 'trith hi. angds; and tben b.ahall reward eYeTTm.:sn &eCording to his worb.ReT. xxii. 12 :' And behold. I come quickly ; andJ't!wardis with me, to gin eTery ID3n aoeording ..

his wora &hall be .

!'&OTtO l!f TITTrt:t' IHTT U .t ;(T TrIoTS .

I . I proy! it by the time giyen by MQfM:s. i.D the26 th chapte r of LeTit leO!. beinR' MiTeR tim h Ik3t thepeoplt of God are to be in hond:l.£e to the kingdomsof thi. world ; or in Babvlon, -titeral and muuc:l.1;which 8e\"en times cannot" be understood Jese thanIf>1'"en tim es 360 of the eanh in ita orbit,mak ing 2.520 yean. t belie"" tnis beg3n :lccording1.0 J eremiah 1 ..... ,- ' . And ] will e1uee them to beremo\"ed into aJI kinf!dona of tbe nnh. bee3u-e of

the SOD of Heuk.ia.h. of J forthat .""'hie b he did in Jerusalem, " and Ju. vii . 8, . .. Forthe head of Sy ri.1. . ia Dam3Xus, :lnd the hnd ofmucus is Res in : and \t"it hio three score and liTeyun , b:l.ll Epbnim be broke n, that it be not am:::Dology, 2 Chron . uxiii. 9, U So jta.na..s.leh mdeJudah aDd. the iDh&bitaots of JeTUAJem to eJT. and todo wone tbl.D. lhe heathen. whoID tbe Lord had de-atroyed hefore the c.hildreo of Ianel . lt-the ei7lh yruB. C. Then take 6;7 out of lea'Ye- A. D .18-43, wh en th e pun iahmeot of tbe peop le of God :-illend . (& e MIlkr '. 25 1.)II . It ia pro...ed typieaUy by the year of relea&e.

See DeoL YT. 1, 2 : " At the end of e"'e" .ennTean thoo .halt make & releue ; and thie is u.e man·

of the aNitor that lendeth aughtunto his . haJl re lease it ; he wall Dot n:a.etit of hi! neighbol or of his brother. bec&ue it ia eal1edthe LoTtI'. re leue," Alto Jer . xxxi". 14 : At theend of 8e"'en yetrs Jet ye go "U1 man his brot he r aHe bre", • • hid t hath b«n aold on to thee , and when heh'3th thee aU. yeua, thou ,hllt let him go fTee(rom thee ; bu t "'oor (ath en bearkent'd not unto me ,nei ther inelined'thei r ear ." ,\Ve are , by \his type ,t:\ught tbat people of God win be fromtheir :10<1 when the...- haTe &eT"'edtheir '; p rophet ic yea nJ.../ 360 ye3.nI U .2520.B f'S!lnlU nll with the ra plln ry of lmel and th t! ofJ udah , 677 B . C o. end in A . D . IS·U,

th e ctll.ldren of God. will be from alloond3.R"e and si;.\"en ' . (Su &eOftd Ad cenl L ihrtzry,j'o,'o. 14.) ,TIL it also plt'T ed th e l!'tTtn 't'e:l r!J ' ..-u of

Zion with her given to liS in r:u: kieJ :u.:rix.9, 10 : .. And that 'd,"ell in the cities ofshall go forth, aT\'d . hJ.ll eet on fiTe and bum the

both !ihie lds and buckle"" the boWII andthe aTT O'WS , and the han d!!ltaTes. and the Spe&f'!l, andthn sha ll burn thero w ith fire -e'en Yun : eo thatthe=' sha n tak e no wood ou t of the field I neither eut

:lnv out of t he fOT the" sh all bum thel"t'e-apons ' with and the'y ,h :LlI those that

1Tit h t heir en emies , s potl in 'r lho!(" Ih:lt spo iledthem, and robbi.llg those that hJ.ye robbed them. 7

by William Miller

TIMEWAYS

APPENDIX V

224year iS43 ,-whieh ia the fulDesi Ephe. i .7. 10 : u Haring made mown unto u the ofhi.IIwill, aeeordiDg \0 bil fO?d ... be lw.b.purpoeed in himaelf : th:.t 10 \he o( thefulDa. of timea he might (':libel' t or ether UI OM aUthing'S in Christ , both wh icb are in beaTeD, &ad which.re on eertb ; even in him :"- wheo. the people o(God, both among Jew. ud Getl tiles, wUl PO more be___ .. l,i\ ":lLnered ill ODe body in ChriR . (S-Se. No.8" . 4S .) .IX. It caD aIoo bo p"""od by Dozi.1 xii. 1I-1S :" ADd from u.. tam. \hat the claily-.eri6ce -ball "taka " aDd \he aboa:aiAatiw that maketh deaolate... 'p, th ohall bo.' tl"S.-d two b.Ddred ud.....,y doy". Bl.-d .. h. lhat loe\h. ud .......u.lO the tho.-d thn>e bnDdred d h. aDd tbitt}'doy". But CO thon thy ...y 1iI1 !be end be : for th"",balt Tell , aad .w.d iD thy lot at Lbe eod of \A.do!",." •The namber 1335 dan, Crom the tam, .....y ofRome POfUl, A. D: !>Oli, 10 eel up RomeP.paI. oDdthe reigu of P,J*ry', ill290 dar-, which .... es.actJyf.lnllod in Iml.o&l1I, bewg fuWlod in 17118. Tbiapro"ea the 1335 .,... to be yean, &ad"Lbat Dantel willstand in hia lot in A. D. lQ43. For proof te1:U, MeDoz. xi . 31 : " ADd lU1DO oholl,tand on biaput, ood

th.y 011.11 polla'" tb. AnClU'ry of _n!!'h. ud ,ball..lL.....y the daily _ri6ce , ...d tbey .h.1I plo<etheabomilJaUt'lD. that maketh de.olate ." 2 Thea. ii . 6-'6 : .. And no. 're know what ,o 1.hholdeth that bemig b.t be J"e'Yealect. in hit time . For myRtry ofiniqultJ doth &1readywork : ooly he _ho now lette1.hwill let , unt il he be t.a.keD out of the W3.1. And then.ball tha.' W ieked. be rne:a.led , ...hom the Lord . h:Ll1conaume with the rpint of hi. mouth . and 'hall de·atroT with th e brigbtneN of h.ia Job xix .

II For I know that Ply Redeemu IiTtl h . and thathe , hall ataDd at the latter d:LJ upon the tanh ."(&. Miller ', J.Actv,a. 10K' 100.)X . It can alto be proTed by \he warda of Cbrirt ,Luke xiii . 32 : U And be Mid unto thero . Go ye lndtell tha.t (ox , Behold, I c;wt OQt duit. , and I do CUTnto-day aDd and. the third <in I ,ball beper.feeu-d." Thue two days , in which Christ QSLS outdeTili and doa curts, are the a.me u Hoeea '. t .....odar- , at the end of which, the de,..tl " 'ill be chained,and cut oot of the n1'1h. into the pit, and .hat op.Tl>ia will alL. 2000 y..r, of the Ro..... power. RO'.W . 9: U And the great dragon wu eut O'at, that oldaetpent, called \he lnTil , and Sa\&D., ...hich dec:eiTeth.1.b..wbole wotld : be ..... CU1: 00\ ioto the evth , udbw angela were e:u\ ODt wjth him." ADd then thepeoplo of GDd..ill be perfecl<d. !\e •. u . 9 : .. Bl..-ood ...d boly ia be lhat both pArt " tho lint rooorree-tioo : 00 IUch the eeeond. death hath DO power, butthoy ,bill be pri"" of God ... d of Cbri!t, ood ,bollre lQ"O witli him a tbouaand. ,.eva. II .This time born with the " greot dn.gon," Re• .xii. 3 ; "And.. tbere appeam:l another wonder inhea-rea ; &Ad behold, a great red dragon , ba...u.g MlTea.hea.ds &oDd len hOrDa, and .yea UOW'QI 8poD hieb..d.. And his tail <In.. the thin! pArt of lh. oW"Sof heanD, and did cut them to the ea rth : and thedr1.goD stood brefore the woman whieh wu ready to bede livere d, for to d.yOlU ber chil d .. eooo u it "'loSborn ."Thia go't'crameDt will dnw after him oJLC t

h• ,J put

of which wicked men baTe power 10 \.beeartb . 6000 yean: and the 7000th. the ye3f Christwill uke posaeuiOD and re ign with his w na, in per -feet bli.'\!;.This dngon power began iu power the .ainu

when the made with h!m. B. C. 158,-and... end in l&4.:2. T hen the tb ird da y wil l begin l843.(&. &C. Ad. Lib. No. 3, 6 1.)Xl. T he trumpeta are also _I. N!Telttion of time ,Se e ReT . ix. •• And to them. ws.s giTen that theY'should oot kill them, but lb.t th e y ahould be tor -mented fiTe mon th.a : and the ir torment wu u thetC'rment of a 8eOrpion, when he atriketh .. man ."T!'l.ese fi'Ye moatb.s belt'U when the Turk.. m.a.deincur-

aioa uno the Gnek -te.rri1oriee, .ecording to f.;ibbou ,in tb. ,.ear 1209, on the sr7\b day o( Jol,.. 6 month.... lMl 5X3G-150. Thia tnuDpet ended IUY.And c.he aUth trumpet began to ecund , &ad wu to.aund 391 yean and l5 .. in Ra'Y. iI . 15 : ·.. And the fear aDJelt wen leeeed , . hieb were pre-pa.red(oru boor,AAda d.ay,&Dd I. month,aad a yet.r,for .. llay the thin! port of _; ..,.{ oaded lSCO"on the 11th of An«a_. Tboa the __th .......patberi", __ with the f.u- of timeo. !leY. 51 : "And !be ...,.,1 ..bieb I ... otucl apoe theWId apon th. _nh, lil\ed 'Op b:a lwMl to b.Tea, &J:Id....,.. by him that liTet.h{oreYer aDd. eYer t who ereetedhenn, aDd \be thiAr that t.berein are , &Dd the ea.nhaDd the thiors th&t therein are , U1d the 1eI., and thelhinp whicb are thenm, thai there Uaould be lime 'DOlonrr : but in the d.y" of the ...ft:e of th....."th"gel, .beD be aball MgiD to .amid , the mystery ofGDd .bonld be finiabed , .. be botb d..1uod 10 hi. lOT...... the propb...." ADd with Dooie1xii. 7. See If''Ctioa. 7...here it it Ibown to ebd in theyou IBU. (&. Miller ', L«twru, p. lPO.)XU. It caD be p"""ed by tbe two ... i....... beingelothed ill _kcloth 12llO yan. See !leY. xi. 3 :U ADdI will giTe J'OW"eT 'UDto my two wltHaeS. Indtheyahall prophesy a thousand two hundred ud tbTM-ICOre dayll, clothed ill au:kdotb ." This tilDewith Papwc,., and ended iD 1798, duriD« whichtime the Bibl...u onpp.-.-.! from the l" ,y, in . 11Lhe t:OODtT.ee papacy but power , until the lawlof the papal hierarcb,. "'ere abolished and frretion wu gnnled to tbe papal ,ta{n in l798 . Thenthe J"'ml&inder hannonizn ...ith the trumpets : -eeReT . 14, 15 : .. The IJeOOnd wo U pas t ; aDd be-bold, the th ird _0C01Mtb qniekly. And thea.ngelllOunded ; and there,..-ne gTe.t 'Yoieesio hUTen,e:ayia( . The kinJrdoml of thit world ue become thelLingdomeof Olll" Lord. and of his Cbriat; and b••hollreigu (omt:!' and enr." ..\Dd \eml lnatft with A . D.18<3 . (&. Mill,,', L«tvrt', , . 190 .)XUI. h ean bfI preTed by Re"'. xii. G, 14 : .. Andthe \Tom3.n flel\ in to the .ilderne"A, _here .he ba thpbce prepared o( God, thulhn abould feed tberea tbousa nd two hun dred and da.,.. . And to

the ....oman were ,iTen two win£" of a gr eat eag le,that abe 8y into the wildemess, loto her place ,where Bhe nODrUheJ for .. time, and limn. and half• time , from the r.ee orthe oerpont." It io eridratthat the ('bDreb bot now in the wiJderlH!ll, for if so,"he 1II0at haye Moen there io tbe apoMJee' d.,...(en' ahe

more now IrDOftg the Dation., than iaany p',nxla. tirr,e 8inee the ... preached. ; ·andit is TefT ",dt1tt, (or pat, the troe clnm:h hu

an outl .... among the kiDgdOlM .bieh a.!'l:lM eatof the Roman Empire. - TM cbureb wu driTen intotho wild ......, ..herathey ..... gi_ mlO the pawnof the Pope.-DonieJ .n. 25 : And be .boll apealegreatword. ·apjnat the -Me.t High, IlQd Jb&1l Wl'!Uoat the uinta of the Moet High, ud \biD\: \0 changetimet I.I\d l&w.: ADd they abali be @'iTeft into hia handantil & time and t imes and the diriding of time,"-inthe na.r A. D. 538 ; &ridwu in "the wildernea 1260'Jt':m. anti! 1i98. wbeD free tolennon wu gT'lDted inthe kingdoma in the Papa.J knltory. Tbia aJlIO hat'-monius with the tC."itMSMs and the trumpd . Comp:a.reRey . x i. 15, " A nd the aeTen tb angel lIOunded ; andthere "ere g-reat T01<:8 in heaTen , u, inR, The kjng-doms of th is wor ld ar e become the kingdoms of nurLord , and o( his ChrUt; a.nd he .ha.ll reirn fOreYeTand eyer ," with ReT. xii . 10, U ADd I heard a loudToiee .ying in heuen . Now is come II.1ntioa , and

and the kingdom of our God , and the powerof hts Christ: for the aceuaer of our bftthren 111 cutdown which .lXUeed them oar God day and. ith'." (S« Mill,,', L«tvrtr.p. 20.)x:IV. It 18 PJ"O"'"ed b,. Re"'. xiii. 5 : U ADd there...... r iyen onto him a mouth speaking pat thin,.and &lid power ..... E'1Tea unto him toeontiDue fon,. ud two montla ." Thi.l time began aItbe lamt: time as the when power W'U riTeD

to the Pope b,. A .i>. untilthe Pope wu carried ea pt,""ty . In 18. ...eraboli!hed, in the year 198. See .that leadeth capti.ay .ball go lOtothat kille th WIth the muat be fa• .crd . Here is the pa tleDeI: and the ,aJ 0 ..-lAta.U Tbi. it the nme u the little borD lADamel 7th, ud I'J"DCbrolliMs wi\h DuMI'. dh01l &Ul........ fluoloU,·, or 14 &NIlmargillal .-liDJ.) eompazo Dooiel Xl . 31 , ucI ""-11 wiLhRe't'. Pi, 3--8 ; -.nd of CO\l1"M b.. POW" •

wUh t.'e utl o:f ha.." at," \be12ijJ y..... Tuen D""",l xu. lij,- B eeeed .. hetb&1.-.it.eLh , aDd. c:osuth \0 the three hUA-tired and iTll and thirty day., ......-.:'&me. ua 10 \he1843. (Set Miller ', Led-,,·77.) ...rexV. It eaa. be pro.ed. by the D.umhe'D)D ReT.xw.18 : U Here '- wllldom. Let him tbu u.Dder-&t&Pdiog count the Dumber of the .for It \& the

number of I. ma.a ; aDd his 1. an .threescore and aix," ...·Ith Damel 12 , Ubefo re quoted. Tbia \ext ahowl the number (Of yeanthat Rome 'Would e1is1 under the u'Laaphemoul bead ofPapniam. after h ..u co tLnee1ed wl'..h the ofGod by lea,gue B . c. &dd G66will brin us to A. D . s,()d , when the ...·u t.a\':en

add Daniel xii . 12, the 1335. 508,makes the yeu 18·U . When the 3nd blS unageill be wrmen1.ed in the presen ce ul the holya.n ge ls ,:nd the Lamh. See Re". I. i\". 9--12 ; ••.'\nd .th eth ird angel foUowed them, uymg wilh :L .loud .00ce,If any 1B&D worship beut ano. .hlS .unage, &ridrece in h.ia D1uk. in hia or lr. hiS han d. the

ah&ll drink o( the Wlae of the wn.lR uf GueS ,::b is poured oot without mixture in\.O Ule ofhi. indignation; and be 1halL. be tormented W1th tireaDdbrlmalDDe in the pruence of \be h.oIya.ngell. an.din the reeeD08 of \be Lamb : and Lbe MIlO"e of theuMCetlde\b. up foreyer and and \heyDO real. dAyDO!' Dight, who tbe beut.• nd hwimJ,ge LOdwhoaoenr TeCei't'eth the mark of name .He te i. tbe patie nce of the aainl.S: here are tbe.Yhth a;keep the eornm<U\dmeDl.S of God , the 0J ..... " (S« ,\[ ,II<r', L<aores .1"'g' .G.)

aeyet"1lwna of prophetic proyethe eod in 1843. Now wha.t I.A there l.Q 3.11 Ull.A rec.k-ooing of time , that .baWd ••tiJJe Ollt; 10 sueb ru'

225

..........

• Ttll, ,ntM It. Judl-..=:4.e"'1l1"I.. Act. .hi. 20; .Ieo tIL.Iii.

t Samuel t_14 not bc... bMftmnI'I thoul n En dltd ,"'-, I.,... la_tift,lhol of I.... Ark rnn,. thah'lO ,. "'11 t ,nu\. n..rroadH. "l1M, a., 63.heft S. ul madotkln,_

To 1Mflood.

• n..l:.o."did M4.bt l l" ''''It It ,T Cf l\h " lh:ll h ; 1"-0 Alwan.l.! l'\ !

1'11 . • •

t: J•• hu. ..... ,.ovn, ",.n 1.. I

ClI I'" old tt,... .[ iStll, ." "... ..n h. cnle.-...tC.I1IM1l, . ntl l lO .. llIro he diN ,k.". 2$ , ,.....

, h dC" bcCllL 8M Jude.. U.7-14.

• See J:.t ...t t (rom ""l"C'1,...,,',A"r."IlI'; No, J41110 Pr ilJfl.IU( ', COlln" tlol\.

3G3731i-t,'36803U9337004157

6000 1

=="'- I1 -1157 GCD . i ' l ii.

130 130 4027 .. •• 3105 235 3922" 690 325 3832 .. .. 970 395 3762 .. .. 1265 460 3697 .. .. 15162 622 3535 .. .. 1865 G87 3nO .. .. 21187 874 3283 .. .. 25182 1056 3101 .. " 28600 IG56 2501 .. eii. 61 1657 2500 u viii. 132 105D 2198 .. xi. 1035 1694 2·103 .. .. 1230 li24 2413 II U 1.:U 1i59 2399 " I. 1630 1768 2369 .. .. \ 832 1820 23:n It u 2030 18SO 2307 .. .. 2229 lR'9 2278 Gen. xi. 2420.')· 2094 2073 II co 3<?4:l0t 2511 lli43 Ex .'Il i.4 0,4140 Hill3 Josh. T. 625j 25.9 1578 I xi• .7; xxi•.2919 :l597 1,)(10 See Josephus9 2605 l udg. iii, 840 26-15 1512 .. .. II19 2GOJ H 9'1 " .. ..80 270 HH .. " 3020 27t3 1394 • II jy. 340 2303 )354 u T . 317 2810 1347 .. Ti. 140 2850 1307 II viii. 293 2953· 1304 u il. 2223 .2870 1281 .. x. 222 2998 1259 " " 318 2916 1241 " " 86 2912 1235 u xii . 77 2929 1m " .. 910 1218 n u 118 2947 1210 II U J440 2987 1170 • xiii. 140· 3027 1130 IS.", . i•. 1824 t 305\ 1106 ...ii. 2-1740 :J091 1066 Atl' xiii. 2140 3131 1026 2 S.", . •. 440 3171 ose I Kin. xi. 4217 31S8 969 2 ehr . xii. 133 3191 960 1 Kin. n. 241 32:12 925 " .. 1025 3257 900 II J'l ii..a 25 3262 895 2 Kin, Tiii .17I 3263 994 .. .. 266 3209 888 .. xi. 3, 440 3300 848 .. xii. I29 33111 819 .. xi.. 2II .1319 509 H u .I.252 :1-.101 ;56 II If 216 3417 i40 U u 3316 3413 724 II IT i . 229 :l4li 2 695 10 Iviii . 255 i 35 17 610 :: II i. I

I ..

6736137

457ISla

3

11

I UxxiT. 2- 1070 363\ 526 2 Chr. nni.

520 Rol. i . p. :!54513 .. "" 306477 It ii . 9461 u .. U It

457 Euii.lO-13

.l BIBLE CHRONOLOG Y FROM ADAM TO CHRIST.

-N". N.""(;1 ..' PAlft.rt. ...". KinJ;_.a: , .C rea.t ion

I. Adam2. Se rb3. E nos.4. Cai nun5. M"h alalcelG. Jared7. Enoc hS. Met huselah9 . Larn cch ,10. NO:1h

Th. Flood11. Sh em .• ....

li': . '. '. , . ' .H. Heber15 . Pclcg16. Reu17. Scrug19. Nah or . .. .- -- -19. Ternh'a lire20. Exode, &c. •21. Wilderness22. Joshua • • • • .1. Elders nnd Annrchy .2. Un der Cushan . . .J. Othnie l

6. Jnhin7. Barak9. MiJ i:m ilea9. Gid eon10. Abimelech11. Tal.12. hirJJ . Phil istines14. Jepluhah15. Ibnn. ,16. Elan.17. Abdon . ,18. Phih"i...19. Eli20. Samuel, prorhe,

3. Solomonof. Rehcboam5. Abij.m6. ASQ7 . Jehoshoph.,8 . Jeh oram9 . Ahaz iah . • . •10. Atlmliah. hit mother11. J onah • '. • . .12. Arnae inh

Interregnum ]Azar inh . . .

14. Jotham15. Ahna ,16. Hezek lnh ,17. Man :lsseh18. Amon19. Jcsiahto. Jeh oahnz , 3 months2 1. ,l ehoi:lk im . , .

The 70 YC:U1 of ccpr ivi-' y beg :ln lu-re, endedl at yC,lf or CpU!

e yn s . . .. .. . .

D;triul .Xerxc! • . . . .

l.ongimanusIlirth of Chr ist- . .Add pree cet year, 1840To 1943 . . , . .

1f th is Chro nolog y is no t correct, I shal l despair of ever gdting rr(\1'T\ the Bible end hi ...tor y. a tr ue account of the nee of the world. At I ny I1Ite, I shRII rest sAti,fied here, en dwait th e event; time will determ ine. All it respects the tnt in 1 vi. I, it cannot bereconci led with 'he history of 'l ie Judges and the sta tement or 51. Paul ; 1 han thereforefollow ed two witnesses instead of one. As it respect! Samuel, I haye no doubt or al long ..period as 21 reus; but it mar possiLly have exceeded 24 years.

226

APPENDIXVI

\

\\,

\tIti1l