The date is October 22, 1844.
Long before dawn, there is activity in many a house across the United States. Today is the long awaited day for the 50,000 to 100,000 Millerites who have worked and sacrificed to spread the message of Christ’s soon return to every corner of the young nation.
As they gather in each others’ homes, they talk of the different Bible texts they have studied, and how they point to this very day! Many of them were not able sleep at all the night before for excitement. But no matter, for tonight they will enter the land of eternal rest where there is no more night and no need of sleep.
All wait with bated breath, trying to catch the first glimpse of the cloud on which their Saviour would arrive.
Soon the sun has fully risen, and as it continues its track toward the western sky, most of these small companies move outdoors to enjoy the fall weather of the last day of earth’s history. Throughout the late morning and early afternoon, the strains of Advent hymns can be heard carrying across the un-harvested corn fields of these sincere believers. But the sun still continues its track and as it treks downward to the horizon, nearing the tree line, the temperature begins to drop and worry lines begin to grow on many faces.
Moving back indoors because of the declining temperature, many station themselves at the windows, watching the sunset with a growing dread. The clock seems to mock them as it strikes each hour, reminding them that they are one hour closer to the end of the day. Slowly, the younger children drop off to sleep, soon followed by the elderly folk. Then their worst fears are realized as the clock strikes twelve doleful tones.
Now, where sweet singing was heard just hours before, the most heartrending sobs can be heard.
Hiram Edson, a Millerite leader in Port Gibson, NY; described the experience in this manner:
“Our fondest hopes and expectations were blasted, and such a spirit of weeping came over us as I had never experienced before. It seemed that the loss of all earthly friends could have been no comparison. We wept and wept, till the day dawn.”[1]
But Edson and those with him could not give up. There were too many evidences of God’s leading the Millerite movement to do that. So, Edson and some of the other men went to Edson’s barn, to plead for light from the throne of grace. Edson continues:
“We entered the granary, shut the doors about us and bowed before the Lord. We prayed earnestly; for we felt our necessity. We continued in earnest prayer until the witness of the Spirit was given that our prayer was accepted and that light should be given, our disappointment be explained, and made clear and satisfactory.”[2]
After receiving this assurance, they returned to the house for breakfast.
Once finished, Edson turned to one of the brethren named Owen Crosier and said: “Let us go and see, and encourage some of our brethren.” So the two of them set out, and as they cut across the corn field, to avoid the jeers of mocking neighbors, something wonderful happened.
They had become so engrossed in thought, that Crosier did not notice when Edson stopped abruptly. Gazing into the sky, Edson was given a revelation:
“Heaven seemed open to my view, and I saw distinctly and clearly that instead of our High Priest coming out of the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary to come to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the 2300 days, He for the first time entered on that day the second apartment of that sanctuary; and that He had a work to perform in the Most Holy Place before coming to the earth.”[3]
As this moment Crosier realized that Edson was not at his side. Turning around and seeing Edson gazing heavenward, Crosier asked: “Brother Edson, what are you stopping for?” To which Edson replied: “God is answering our morning prayer, giving light regarding our disappointment.” Crosier then, returning to the spot where Edson stood, listened as Edson explained to him what he had seen.
With mounting excitement they ran back to Edson’s house. As soon as they entered, Edson went straight for the family Bible, paused over it for a quick prayer, and let it fall open at random. His eyes fell upon the words of Hebrews 8:1-2.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
After this, several weeks of further study ensued which solidified their belief that Christ had moved to the Most Holy Place on the 22nd. It was then that Edson, Crosier, and another brother, Dr. Franklin B. Hahn began discussions on publishing their findings. They decided that Crosier, being the best writer of the three, would be the one to compose the article. When it was finished, it was published as an extra of the old Millerite newspaper, The Day Dawn.
From here it was picked up by a more widely distributed Millerite paper, The Day Star, and spread all across the country; bringing joy to many of those Millerites who were left after the disappointment.
Fast forward now 176 years. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, the spiritual descendent of the Millerites, has a membership of over 21 million, covering much of the globe. But the messages of Revelation 14 and prophecy of Daniel 8:14, which were the foundational messages of the Millerite movement are nowhere to be heard! Oh yes they may be mentioned once or twice during the annual evangelistic series, but for the majority of the year these messages are left untouched.
The hymns that lifted the spirits of the Millerite believers also have been tossed to the wayside, along with the messages, as outdated relics of the past which are irrelevant in our “postmodern” world.
Some have even gone so far as to say that the whole Millerite movement was a big mistake, and that we as Adventists are no different from the evangelical churches.
Friends, The events that I have mentioned above set in motion the beginnings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is our God given heritage. Let us not toss it aside for an “exciting” new way to worship, a message that makes us more popular, or a gospel that replaces salvation with social justice.
NEVER be ashamed of our heritage or message. They are gifts from God, not to be despised!
Bibliography.
1. Edson, Hiram. manuscript fragment on his "Life and Experience," n.d. Ellen G. White Research Center, James White Library, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich. pp. 8a, 9.
2. Ibid. pp. 9, 9a
3. Ibid. pp. 9a, 10