From Seventh-day Adventism Renounced,
Chapter 4, 1889.
William Miller was a farmer, with only a country school education. About
1831 he thought he had discovered the time when Christ would return. The first day
he fixed was 1843. It failed. Then he fixed on spring, 1844, and that
failed. Then he fixed on October, 1844, and that failed.
What was the burden of Miller, the one great point on which he
differed from the Evangelical churches? All these churches loved Jesus and preached
the Second Advent, even teaching that it was near at hand. But here is where the two
differed. The Millerites said they knew when it was to be. They
staked all upon this, and said the issue was so clear that all who did not endorse their set
time were rejected of God.
Jesus says: "Ye know not when the time is." Mark
13:33. But the Millerites knew better. Here is a sample of what they said:
"This is God's truth."
"It is as true as the Bible."
"There is no possibility of a mistake."
History of the Advent Message,
p. 596.
But their set times came and passed without the least regard to
their figures and facts, proofs and demonstrations. Remorseless old Time, the true
tester of every theory, marched right on and demolished them all. Miller's
prediction was a failure. All his work wherein he differed from evangelical churches
was a falsehood, and by the passage of time it was a proven falsehood. He
preached that the world would end in 1843 and it did not. He set it for the spring
of 1844 and it did not come. He set it for October of 1844 and it did not
come. If ever a religious movement was based on failure it was Millerism.
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the
thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken.
Deut. 18:22.
Here is a simple and fair test. And by it, the Lord was not
in Miller's movement.
That no one will know the time of the Advent is as plainly taught
as words can teach.
Of that day and hour knoweth no man.
Ye know ot what hour your Lord doth come.
In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matt. 24:36,42,44.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matt. 25:13.
Watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.
Mark 13:33.
It is not for you to know the time or the season.
Acts 1:7.
Jesus said, "Ye know
not when the time is." Miller said, "We know when the time is."
Jesus said, "It is not for you to know the time or the seasons."
Miller said, "We know all about them." Jesus said, "No man knows the
day." Miller said, "We know the day." Which was right?