A farmer/preacher named William Miller came to New York from his home state of Massachusetts. He became interested in biblical prophecy. He created his own method to interpret the Scriptures and decided in 1818 in the year 1843 Jesus would come back to earth. For the next 25 years he preached and publish pamphlets. As the predicted date grew closer his followers increased to between 50,000 to 100,000 people.
These followers made preparations for The End. They climbed onto house tops wearing appropriate garb, closed stores and broke up homes. It was reported that there were even cases of suicide and insanity. By the proclaimed date of March 21, 1843 him, thousands of people looked to the clouds.
With disappointment, afterwards came recalculations of the figures and it was decided that there was an error because the real date should have been October 22, 1844. Later, it was decided that, even though Christ did not physically return to the earth, a reinterpretation of certain information declared Christ did come in 1844 but was not to earth. Instead, it was a transfer of heavenly location and a shift of ministry.
Let’s try to put some understanding into what we have here. There are other similar cases of the danger of a little bit of knowledge. William Miller read in the Bible what he wanted and made it say what he desired. For some reason because people do that with the Bible it seems less obvious to others. Were we to juggle information of any other book, people would quickly call the juggler into question.
Does not this point out our own vulnerabilities and spiritual hunger. The more honest and introspective person will admit to a spiritual search. In fact, it can best be compared to an instinct like other instincts which drive us. We have a vacuum, a void, and emptiness in our lives that can only be filled by God. Many people try to fill it with pleasurable distractions or unique lifestyles. Some go to the length of compromising common sense and available knowledge.
What mistakes do William Millers and their followers of this world make? The Bible says Jesus will physically return to this earth, but in his time and at a time that no one knows and what no one expects. Any prediction for the return of Christ is therefore not biblical. Our concern is not to set a date, but to live a daily life in harmony with God.
Also, throughout Scripture God speaks of life, joy, peace, and love. Any teaching of doom, gloom, or death is again not biblical. Whatever happens at The End Time for the believer. It will be a pleasure, advance, and a glorious experience. Jesus tells us that “many will come in my name” and that we are not to believe them because they are false prophets. Any distraction away from Jesus or substitute for him is not biblical. The person who says he is a modern Jesus is a false prophet because there is only one Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. To the searcher or the one discouraged with formalized religion this prophecy making is another distraction away from the good intended by God for mankind.
The Bible encourages us to search and ask questions by “rightly dividing the word of truth.” There is nothing wrong with studying and questioning if done in a humble spirit consistent with the whole teachings of God. When Jesus does return to the earth, it will be to take his children into the presence of the Loving Heavenly Father.
Christian Writer 