Our mission is to uplift the character of love of our Father
Our mission is to uplift the character of love of our Father
Introduction
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;..." Isaiah 11:1-5
Our roots are anchored on the promises of Genesis 3:15, continues in Deut 6:10, the Psalmist summed it up beautifully, "He brought Fourth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness...that they might observe His status, and keep His laws. Praise ye the Lord." And continues and culminates on the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 about the 2300 years prophecy.
Light from the Father to the Son from the Son to the People
Before the throne I saw the Advent people --the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company. Then I saw an exceedingly bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off from them. Some cherished it and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company all rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with it's glory. EW 54.2
The Great Disappointment of 1844
Although the keynote of William Miller's message was the return of Jesus, he did not until the summer of 1844 preached a definite day. In December 1842, he had expressed his belief that the Lord would come between March 21,1843, and March21, 1844. According to his reckoning, the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 would terminate with the Jewish year 1843, which would be March 21 in our year 1844. Every denomination in the land at that time held that the judgment 1843, which be introduced by the second coming of Jesus. Thus it will readily be seen that the Advent people supposed the Lord would come at the close of that prophetic period.
But the month of March, 1844, passed, and Jesus had not come. Then the believers who had not fully consecrated their lives to the message turned against it. They did all in their power to hinder those who still clung to the doctrine of the Lord's near coming and the judgment-hour message. Thus, in their hearts they said, “My Lord delayeth His coming.”
Many advent believers, however, did not give up their faith. They frankly admitted there had been a mistake, but pointed out that the parable of the ten virgins indicated there would be a tarrying time. Diligently they studied and earnestly they prayed for further light. S.S. Snow embraced the opinion that as the types which pointed to the second advent of the Savior were observed by the Jews on the tenth day of the seventh month of the Jewish sacred year, so the 2300 days would end on the tenth day of the seventh month (Jewish time), or October 22,1844. Then how had they come into this tarrying time? -They made the mistake of placing the beginning of the 2300 days in the spring instead of the fall The decree to restore and build Jerusalem was made at the first by Cyrus, renewed by Darius, and completed by Artaxerxes Longimanus in the seventh year of his reign. It went into effect in the autumn of the year 457 b. c. So, October 22, 1844, was settled upon by the advent believers as the definite day when Jesus would come.
In the spring some of the believers had been so impressed that the Lord would come before another winter that they did not cultivate their fields. Some who did cultivate, and plant felt so definitely that the Lord would come that fall that they could not consistently harvest their crops. Others, it was said, went out to cut their grass, but found themselves entirely unable to proceed, and left their crops standing to show their faith. One advent believer had a solicitous neighbor by their works. Who offered to dig his potatoes for him, saying, “You' may “No! said the man of faith, “I am going to want them. Let that field of potatoes preach my faith in the Lord's soon appearing.”
But not until July did the blessing of God in reclaiming backsliders begin to attend the proclamation of a set time, and those who accepted the message showed a marked change in their lives. These movements were in different parts of the New England States. At the Exeter, New Hampshire, camp meeting all these influences mingled into one great movement and rapidly spread through all advent groups of believers in North America.
In the parable of the ten virgins at midnight the cry arose Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. This awakening of advent believers with the definite message that Christ would come on October 22, 1844, was the midnight cry. It came in July at the “midnight’ of the tarrying time.
At first the definite time set for Christ's second advent was generally opposed; but there seemed to be an irresistible power attending its proclamation. It produced everywhere the most deep searching of heart and caused a weaning of affections from the things of this world, a confession of wrongs, and penitent supplications to God for pardon and acceptance. As the time, October 22, 1844, drew near, only a few weeks or days left, the messengers grew more earnest in their appeals to friends and neighbors. When good-byes were said, the partings were most solemn. At a camp meeting, the last they expected to attend on this earth, brother shook the hand of brother, each pointing the other to the final gathering of the grand encampment in the New Jerusalem.
Means had come in freely. Thousands of papers and tracts were scattered. Some who had held on to their money pleaded in the last few days for the leaders in the work to take it. “You are too late. We don't want money now, the refusal. They never expected to publish another bit of literature.
At last the day came. It found thousands waiting literature. They had made provision for nothing earthly beyond that date. They did not even cherish the thought, “If He doesn't come.” In almost breathless anxiety they assembled at places of worship, expecting momentarily to hear “the voice of the Archangel” and “the trump of God” and to see Jesus their King coming to take them home. Some who had not joined the advent believers were solemnized by their earnest sincerity and watched with apprehension as the day passed. Others continued scoffing. In one place while the believers were assembled, engaged in prayer to God, these mockers gathered around the house. Two of the bolder put on long white robes, and climbing up on from this incident the housetop, sang songs and mocked. Came the story that the believers donned ascension robes and waited for their Lord to come. The day passed, and no Savior had come. What could it mean? Surely the Father above must have looked down on in tender pity and love upon His heartbroken children. But they knew Him in whom they had believed, and were ready to say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Of course. there were some who found the test too severe: but faithful leaders stood nobly in their places, comforting and encouraging the disappointed people, while their own heartache.
What was the real cause of the disappointment? “Errors that had been long established in the church prevented them [William Miller and his associates] from arriving at a correct interpretation of an important point in the prophecy. Therefore, though they proclaimed the message which God had com-mitted to them to be given to the world, yet through a misapprehension of its meaning, they suffered disappointment." The
“error resulted from accepting the popular view as to what constitutes the sanctuary.” — “The Great Controversy,” pp. 351,352.
Although some turned away entirely, there were many who were so sure of God's leading that they could not think of turning back. They were disappointed, but not discouraged. They again examined their calculations of the 2300-day prophecy, but they could find no error in that. It was securely fixed by the birth and crucifixion of Christ. The time was certain. And God's word could not fail. Now the great question became. What is the sanctuary?
Light first came to Hiram Edson of western New York The morning following the passing of the time October 22, 1844, he was praying for light, when the conviction flashed into his mind that the sanctuary of the 2300-day period was heavenly sanctuary. Soon a conference was held at Hiram Edson's home, and the meeting proved to be a great blessing in encouraging hearts and uniting efforts.
But what did the cleansing of the sanctuary mean? Then again, they turned to the Bible, especially the book of Hebrews, and light came. Had not God made it very clear that the Jewish service in the earthly sanctuary were types of the heavenly! Now they understood that when Jesus returned to heaven, He went as our High Priest. He had been ministering in the first apartment, but now, according to Daniel 8: 14, at the close of the 2300 days in 1844, our High Priest had entered into the “holy of holies’ to cleanse the sanctuary.
Those who had proclaimed the message had given the right message at the right time, but they were mistaken in the event to take place. God had let them come “to the test of a definite time, in order to reveal to them what was in their hearts. “The Great Controversy,” p. 353 “It had been God's purpose to conceal the future, and to bring His people to a point of decision. Without the preaching of definite time for the Coming of Christ, the work designed of God would not have been accomplished.” — “Early Writings,”p.246.
There were many among the early advent believers who still maintained that some mistake must have been made in the computing of the 2300- days prophecy. Perhaps, after all, the 2300 days did not close in 1844. These set other dates for the coming of Christ, and in time they split into several bodies, each of which, however, continued to emphasize the Bible teaching concerning the soon-coming Savior. But the Advents people who prayed and studied to know the true nature of the event which they were certain had taken place October 22, 1844, formed the group which became the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. The Great Advent Movement p,26-30
Conclusion
However, we are an remnant of the pioneers who started the Great Advent Movement of 1844. We are called by the Great I Am to continue and finish the work that this courageous people champion. They put everything they had on the line to secure the preaching the work God gave them to do. The site is dedicated to Our heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ and the Pioneers of Advent Movement of the 1844:
Ellen G. White
James White
Joshua V. Homes
Josiah Litch
Charles Fitch
Joseph Bates
William Miller, and many more
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