Key to the Prophetic Chart

OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN 1844

The reason why the expectation of those who were looking for the Lord to come in 1844, were not realized is clearly explained by the subject of the Sanctuary. The prophetic command had been given to write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2; Isaiah 30:8. And this had been fulfilled. All was apparently so plain that he that ran might read and understand it. And yet this same prophecy implied a disappointment in the next verse. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3. A person or thing cannot be said to tarry till the time passes at which it was expected. We were sure that no mistake had been made in the time, and in that we were correct; but we mistook the events to transpire at the end of the days. The testimony adduced relative to the Sanctuary shows us that not the coming of the Lord, but the cleansing of the Sanctuary was the work to take place at that time; and that we were only warranted to expect from the declaration, “Then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed” [Daniel 8:14], that at the end of the days our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, would enter within the vail into the most holy place, to perform before the ark of ten commands, the last act in his ministration. Having, since his ascension, ministered in the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, as foreshadowed by the ministration of the priests in the earthly tabernacle, we believe that at the end of the days in 1844 He entered the most holy place and commenced, according to the prophecy, that work which is called the cleansing of the Sanctuary. KPC 33.1