The Great Expectation

The year 1844 arrived with great expectations! William Miller never set a specific date for Christ’s second coming.

But from his early Bible studies, he had concluded that the twenty-three hundred symbolic days (twenty-three hundred literal years) of Daniel 8:14 would end around 1843, when he believed Christ would return. Later on, he suggested the spring of 1844 as the end of that time period. Meanwhile, Samuel S. Snow was convinced that the twenty-three hundred years extended from the autumn of 457 BC to the autumn of AD 1844, more precisely to October 22, 1844. He presented his exciting views at a Millerite camp meeting in Exeter, New Hampshire, in August of that year.

From then on, Millerism gained a renewed fervor and a sense of urgency. The Millerite hope made a great impact on both ministers and laypeople.

It has been estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 lecturers were proclaiming the advent message in the climactic phase of the movement.

Despite the lack of exact numbers, we can estimate that between 50,000 and 100,000 people formally joined the movement.

To those figures, W. R. Cross added “a million or more” skeptical expectants —an impressive number in a time when the American population was less than twenty million. The time was solemn, and many people prepared themselves to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven. When October 22 finally arrived, the Millerites were taken over by an indescribable solemn introspection and expectation.

There was no room for wild excitement and public demonstrations. In the quietness of their homes, they patiently waited for the Lord’s appearing.

Joshua V. Himes went to the house of his close friend William Miller, where a few family members waited for the Lord on “Ascension Rock.” They kept watching the eastern horizon, eager to behold Jesus as soon as the sign of His coming appeared.

Eventually, the sun went down, and night began to cover the earth with its usual darkness. But there was no reason for discouragement.

After all, the parable of the wise and foolish virgins showed that “at midnight,” the bridegroom would come (Matthew 25:6). The Millerites were at the very border of eternity.