The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

The Situation after Oct. 22, 1844

Having the case before us as stated in the words of prophecy, let us take a retrospective view of the situation as events developed. As has already been presented, down to April, 1844, churches were opened to the proclamation of the advent message, the calls for laborers being more numerous than could be supplied by the living preachers. After the disappointment, in the spring of 1844, those who had not in sincerity embraced the doctrine, turned to opposing it. When, in the summer of 1844, as the second angel’s message of Revelation 14 and the “midnight cry” (Matthew 25) were given, there arose the most bitter persecution of those who still dared affirm their faith in the near coming of the Lord. These opponents sought by various means to suppress the subject, and in every way possible to hinder the work of those who still proclaimed “the hour of his judgement is come.” William Miller said of this opposition, “It is the most unnatural and unaccountable.” So determined was the opposition near the close of the twenty-three hundred days that Geo. Storrs said of it, “We have done with the nominal churches and all the wicked, except so far as this cry may affect them.” GSAM 219.1

After the close of the period, as the opposition and scoffing from the wicked was doubly and trebly intensified, William Miller said of the situation, “We have done our work in warning sinners, and in trying to awake a formal church. God in his providence has shut the door.” ¹¹ GSAM 219.2