The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

J. N. Andrews on the Disappointment

Elder J. N. Andrews, one who passed through this experience in 1844, thus speaks of the disappointment:— GSAM 196.1

“Those were disappointed who expected the Lord in 1843 and in 1844. This fact is with many a sufficient reason for rejecting all the testimony in this case. We acknowledge the disappointment, but cannot acknowledge that this furnishes a just reason for denying the hand of God in this work. The Jewish church were disappointed when, at the close of the work of John the Baptist, Jesus presented himself as the promised Messiah. And the trusting disciples were most sadly disappointed when he whom they expected to deliver Israel was by wicked hands taken and slain. And after his resurrection, when they expected him to restore again the kingdom to Israel, they could not but be disappointed when they understood that he was going away to his Father, and that they were to be left for a long season to tribulation and anguish. But disappointment does not prove that God has no hand in the guidance of his people. It should lead them to correct their errors, but it should not lead them to cast away their confidence in God. It was because the children of Israel were disappointed in the wilderness, that they so often denied divine guidance. They are set forth as an admonition to us, that we should not fall after the same example of unbelief.” ²⁵ GSAM 196.2