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selves the doctrine of the second advent. The Lord held the spirit
of opposition in check while his servants explained the reasons of
their faith. Sometimes the instrument was feeble; but the Spirit of
God gave power to his truth. The presence of holy angels was felt in
these assemblies, and many were daily added to the believers. As
the evidences of Christ’s soon coming were repeated, vast crowds
listened in breathless silence to the solemn words. Heaven and earth
seemed to approach each other. The power of God would be felt
upon old and young and middle-aged. Men sought their homes with
praises upon their lips, and the glad sound rang out upon the still
night air. None who attended those meetings can ever forget those
scenes of deepest interest.
The proclamation of a definite time for Christ’s coming called
forth great opposition from many of all classes, from the minister
in the pulpit down to the most reckless, Heaven-daring si
man knoweth the day nor the hour!” [See Appendix, note 2.] was heard alike from the hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. They
closed their ears to the clear and harmonious explanation of the text
by those who were pointing to the close of the prophetic periods
and to the signs which Christ himself had foretold as tokens of his
advent. Many who professed to love the Saviour, declared that
they had no opposition to the preaching of his coming; they merely
objected to the definite time. God’s all-seeing eye read their hearts.
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They did not wish to hear of Christ’s coming to judge the world
in righteousness. They had been unfaithful servants, their works
would not bear the inspection of the heart-searching God, and they
feared to meet their Lord. Like the Jews at the time of Christ’s first
advent, they were not prepared to welcome Jesus. Satan and his
angels exulted and flung the taunt in the face of Christ and holy
angels, that his professed people had so little love for him that they
did not desire his appearing.
Unfaithful watchmen hindered the progress of the work of God.
As the people were roused, and began to inquire the way of salvation,
these leaders stepped in between them and the truth, seeking to quiet
their fears by falsely interpreting the word of God. In this work,
Satan and unconsecrated ministers united, crying, Peace, peace,
when God had not spoken peace. Like the Pharisees in Christ’s day,
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many refused to enter the kingdom of Heaven themselves, and those
who were entering in, they hindered. The blood of these souls will
be required at their hand.
Wherever the message of truth was proclaimed, the most humble
and devoted in the churches were the first to receive it. Those who
studied the Bible for themselves could not but see the unscriptural
character of the popular views of prophecy, and wherever the peo-
ple were not deceived by the efforts of the clergy to misstate and
pervert the faith, wherever they would search the word of God for
themselves, the Advent doctrine needed only to be compared with
the Scriptures to establish its divine authority.
Many were persecuted by their unbelieving brethren. In order
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to retain their position in the church, some consented to be silent in
regard to their hope; but others felt that loyalty to God forbade them
thus to hide the truths which he had committed to their trust. Not
a few were cut off from the fellowship of the church for no other
reason than expressing their belief in the coming of Christ. Very
precious to those who bore the trial of their faith were the words of
the prophet, “Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my
name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified. But he shall appear to
your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” [Isaiah 66:5.]
Angels of God were watching with the deepest interest the result
of the warning. When the churches as a body rejected the message,
angels turned away from them in sadness. Yet there were in the
churches many who had not yet been tested in regard to the Advent
truth. Many were deceived by husbands, wives, parents, or children,
and were made to believe it a sin even to listen to such heresies as
were taught by the Adventists. Angels were bidden to keep faithful
watch over these souls; for another light was yet to shine upon them
from the throne of God.
With unspeakable desire those who had received the message
watched for the coming of their Saviour. The time when they ex-
pected to meet him was at hand. They approached this hour with
a calm solemnity. They rested in sweet communion with God, an
earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the bright hereafter.
None who experienced this hope and trust can forget those precious
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hours of waiting. Worldly business was for the most part laid aside
for a few weeks. Believers carefully examined every thought and
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emotion of their hearts as if upon their death-beds and in a few hours
to close their eyes upon earthly scenes. There was no making of
“ascension robes;” [See Appendix, note 3.] but all felt the need of internal evidence that they were prepared to meet the Saviour; their
white robes were purity of soul,—characters cleansed from sin by
the atoning blood of Christ.
God designed to prove his people. His hand covered a mistake
in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. [See Appendix, note 1.]
Adventists did not discover the error, nor was it discovered by the
most learned of their opponents. The latter said, “Your reckoning of
the prophetic periods is correct. Some great event is about to take
place; but it is not what Mr. Miller predicts; it is the conversion of
the world, and not the second advent of Christ.”
The time of expectation passed, and Christ did not appear for
the deliverance of his people. Those who with sincere faith and love
had looked for their Saviour, experienced a bitter disappointment.
Yet the Lord had accomplished his purpose: he had tested the hearts
of those who professed to be waiting for his appearing. There were
among them many who had been actuated by no higher motive than
fear. Their profession of faith had not affected their hearts or their
lives. When the expected event failed to take place, these persons
declared that they were not disappointed; they had never believed
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that Christ would come. They were among the first to ridicule the
sorrow of the true believers.
But Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with love and sym-
pathy upon the tried and faithful yet disappointed ones. Could the
vail separating the visible from the invisible world have been swept
back, angels would have been seen drawing near to these steadfast