This work on Seventh-day Adventism is an attempt to present facts that are little known or previously distorted, and to critically evaluate the theological structure of Adventist doctrine with the prayerful hope of being completely objective (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit), even when the results of this study do not correspond to our own positions for this work to be in any way useful and edifying.

The Historical Roots of the Seventh-day Adventist Movement

Seventh-day Adventism originated from the "Great Second Coming Awakening" that shook the entire religious world in the mid-19th century, when the theme of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ took over Britain and continental Europe. Long before, many different interpretations of Bible prophecy from the Old World had made their way into American theological circles.

Largely based on the apocalyptic books of the prophet Daniel and the Revelation of John the Theologian, the theological teaching of the Adventist movement was widely reflected in the pages of theological journals and newspapers. Quotations from the New Testament vied for space on the covers of the leading stock market publications, and "seventy weeks," "two thousand three hundred days," and "the abomination of desolation" (Dan. 8:9) were common topics of conversation. Following the chronology of Archbishop Ussher and interpreting the 2300 days of the prophet Daniel as 2300 years, many theologians of various denominations have come to the conclusion that Christ will come to earth around 1843. Among these theologians was one William Miller, a Baptist minister from Low Hampton, New York. The Great Second Coming campaign, which swept the United States in 1840, began with the activities of William Miller, who already in 1818 secretly taught that in about 25 years (1843) Jesus Christ would come again. As Miller himself stated, "In 1818, as a result of my two years of careful study of the Bible, I came to the conclusion that in about twenty-five years from now all the foundations of our present universe would undergo a major change."1

Miller continues: "I believe that this time is known to all who wish to understand and be prepared for His coming. And I am deeply convinced that on some day between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, according to the Jewish calendar, Christ will come to earth with all the saints, and that then He will reward each man according to his works, as foretold in the Scriptures."

Finally, his followers set the date of October 22, 1844, as the final date when Christ would return to earth for his saints, execute judgment on sin, and establish the kingdom of God on earth. It is enough to turn to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in order to see that Miller's teaching is directly opposite to the Word of God. Jesus said: "Of that day and hour no man knoweth, not even the angels of heaven, but only my Father alone" (Matt. 24:36 and 24:42; 24:44; 25:13). The Gospel of Mark also tells us that specific dates cannot be fixed. In verse 33 in chapter 13, the Lord says, "Take heed, watch, pray; for you do not know when that time will come"... And one of His last words to His disciples is a rebuke to those who try to fix specific dates: "And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father has set in His own power" (Acts 1:7). Naturally, this should have been enough of a deterrent for Miller and his followers, but sad as it is to admit, the opposite actually happened.

Let us compare Miller's position in comparison with the texts of the Holy Scriptures. God declared that no man could know the exact time—Miller stated that he did know that time; God said that all times and ages are in His own power alone - Miller's followers claimed to have a prophetic key to times and ages. Jesus Christ says: "No man can know the day and the hour"... - the Millerites fixed the date of the day (October 22, 1844) and history preserves the bitter experience of their tragic disappointment.

Almost everyone, looking at the various calculations of the era of popularity of Millerism in the United States, comes to the conclusion that Miller and his followers were either "crazy" or "unconscious tools in the hands of Satan." However, it is necessary to take into account the following facts3.

The Great Advent revival movement that swept people from the Atlantic to Europe was supported by a huge wave of modern biblical scholars. Although Miller himself did not have sufficient academic theological training, theologians in Europe and America expressed Miller's "point of view" before he himself announced it. In fact, there was only one statement of his own, that in 1843-44 the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 would be fulfilled. (In other words, a period of 2300 days from 457 BC, ending in 1843-44 AD).

William Miller was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on February 15, 1782, and was still a young man when his family moved to Law Hampton, New York, near the Vermont border. Miller was brought up under the tutelage of a deeply religious mother, but despite all her zeal in instilling the foundations of faith in her son, Miller became a deist. It was only after many spiritual searches that led to his conversion that he began to prepare for a career as a Baptist minister. A great many books have been written about Miller and his followers, but for the information of their authors, none of them has ever proved that Miller was not sincere in his interpretations of the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures. In fact, he valued his reputation as an honest and righteous Christian among his acquaintances. No one should compare the mistakes of the Millerites and their delusions with the personality of Miller himself. Despite his shortcomings, Miller was a deeply religious man and a Christian. But those who had a broader knowledge of the texts of the Holy Scriptures would never have embarked on the tragic path of searching for and calculating specific dates.

It can be clearly seen that although Miller popularized the concept of the Second Coming of Christ in 1843-44, he was by no means alone in this. If we try to condemn Miller, we must simultaneously condemn the vast number of internationally recognized scientists who were among the most highly educated people of the time. Although they also had false interpretations of the prophecies about the time of the Second Coming. Leaving the scholars alone, who later mostly admitted their mistakes, the fact remains that Miller and the Millerite movement acted contrary to the texts of the Holy Scriptures and instead of the expected reward for their labors, received humiliation and deep despair.

William Miller established the time of Christ's Second Coming between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, by making calculations according to the Hebrew calendar.4 As soon as the first of the received dates approached, religious horror seized the Millerites - the Lord comes to earth. Although Miller's followers were quite sincere in their errors, nevertheless, the greatest disappointment awaited them at the end of 1843 C.E. - the Lord did not come. When the dream that had lived in their hearts all this time turned to dust, they turned their questions to Miller and waited for his explanation. He answered his followers with his characteristic honesty and directness. In a deep emotional shock, Miller wrote: "If I were given the opportunity to live my life anew with the same testimony that I possessed, I would be honest before God and men if I did as I did. Although opponents say that this time will not come or it is far away, they cannot provide any weighty arguments to support their point of view. It is obvious that they base their knowledge on assumptions or guesses, but I believe that their position is largely based on their own unwillingness to the Lord's coming. I admit my mistake and express my disappointment, although I still believe that the Day of the Lord is near, He is at the door, and I urge you, my brethren, to watch and be on guard and not to let the day find you unprepared."5