Miller’s Works, vol. 1. Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology
LETTER I. ON THE SECOND ADVENT
DEAR BRO. HIMES:- The following is an extract of a letter which I wrote sixteen years since to a friend, on the subject of the near approach of the dear Savior. This was several years before I publicly avowed my faith in the doctrine. WILLIAM MILLER. MWV1 212.1
1. 1 Come, blessed Savior! nor let time delay MWV1 212.2
2. The sacred morn of that expected day, MWV1 212.3
3. When all the happy throng, the heavenly band, MWV1 212.4
4. Descending from above, “the spirit land;” MWV1 212.5
5. When the seventh trump its solemn blast shall sound, MWV1 212.6
6. And Gabriel’s voice shall shake the solid ground. MWV1 212.7
7. Then sleeping myriads from their graves shall rise, MWV1 212.8
8. And meet their Savior in those nether skies; MWV1 212.9
9. While those who yet remain, by men oppressed, MWV1 212.10
10. Will feel a sudden change and join the bless’d; MWV1 212.11
11. Where, in one chorus joined, the song be raised, MWV1 212.12
12. To God, the Father, Son,-“Ancient of days.” MWV1 212.13
I sometimes almost flatter myself I shall live to see this glorious day. “Fanatical,” say you. Very well; I should not be surprised if you and I should both be on this earth, alive, - MWV1 212.14
13. When from the east we see a cloud arise; MWV1 212.15
14. And bring to view a Savior long despised; MWV1 212.16
15. When we shall hear that trumpet’s dreadful roll, MWV1 213.1
16. That shakes the earth from centre to the pole; MWV1 213.2
17. When, from the great white throne, indignant ire MWV1 213.3
18. Shoots forth its blaze, and sets the world on fire:- MWV1 213.4
19. Then all the wicked, all that pride can boast, MWV1 213.5
20. Shall be as stubble, saith the Lord of hosts; MWV1 213.6
21. When kings, and captains, tyrants, mighty men, MWV1 213.7
22. Are the great supper for the fowls of heaven; MWV1 213.8
23. And kingdoms, thrones, and powers, dominions riven, MWV1 213.9
24. Like chaff before the angry whirlwind driven. MWV1 213.10
25. The dragon, papal beast, and great arch foe, MWV1 213.11
26. Shall sink in endless night, eternal woe; MWV1 213.12
27. The orb of day, his face be hid in gloom, MWV1 213.13
28. And the old reeling earth in Nature’s tomb. MWV1 213.14
“Then you believe in annihilation?” methinks I hear you say. No, sir; I believe MWV1 213.15
29. That this dark orb shall from its ashes rise, 30. And the new heavens, descending from the skies, MWV1 213.16
31. The happy bride, adorned in righteousness, MWV1 213.17
32. Shall with the Bridegroom enter to his rest. MWV1 213.18
33. Then, O my soul, will you, permitted, view MWV1 213.19
34. This word fulfilled, “created all things new;” MWV1 213.20
35. And all be banished-trials, sins, and fears, MWV1 213.21
36. To live and reign with Christ a thousand years. MWV1 213.22
37. The beloved city, filled with boys and men, MWV1 213.23
38. Will constitute the New Jerusalem, MWV1 213.24
39. And there, as priests to God, with Christ to dwell, MWV1 213.25
40. While Satan and his hosts are chained in hell. - MWV1 213.26
41. But, lo! a thousand years are past and gone, MWV1 213.27
42. Since the new world was from the old one born; MWV1 213.28
43. When death gives up the particles of dust, MWV1 213.29
44. And hell lets loose the spirits of the cursed. MWV1 213.30
45. Then on the surface of the earth they stand, MWV1 214.1
46. A company unnumbered as the sand; MWV1 214.2
47. For in their flesh they sinned in time that’s pass’d, MWV1 214.3
48. So in the flesh must they be judged at last; MWV1 214.4
49. Driven and gathered, round the city roam, MWV1 214.5
50. To hear their sentence and receive their doom. MWV1 214.6
51. But can they scale those walls, so great and high? MWV1 214.7
52. No; nothing enters that doth make a lie. MWV1 214.8
53. Lo! on the golden walls, from tower to tower, MWV1 214.9
54. See saints stand judging them in this dread hour! MWV1 214.10
55. There justice, from above, in fiery breath, MWV1 214.11
56. Destroys the rebels-“this the second death!” MWV1 214.12
I am almost persuaded to believe that we shall never meet again until that day, when the Sun of righteousness shall rise MWV1 214.13
57. With healing wings, and grace on grace distil, MWV1 214.14
58. And cleanse the church on Zion’s holy hill; MWV1 214.15
59. Where sin no more controls, nor death by sin, MWV1 214.16
60. But justified and glorified with him: MWV1 214.17
61. No need of sun or moon, for he’s our light; MWV1 214.18
62. No changing seasons there, nor gloomy night; MWV1 214.19
63. No parting there of friends, nor farewells given, MWV1 214.20
64. But gathered all in one from earth and heaven. MWV1 214.21
65. On this my faith is fixed, my hope is raised - MWV1 214.22
66. To him the glory, and his name the praise. MWV1 214.23
67. Then, while I stay in this unfriendly state, MWV1 214.24
68. Lord, give me grace, and patiently I’ll wait. MWV1 214.25
The above is written to you, my brother, hoping that you may catch some of the feelings and exercises of the author’s heart, while he has often read and pondered over the blessed passages to which you are referred in the conclusion, under head of “Proof-texts.” I can only claim your indulgence; merit I claim not. MWV1 214.26
For poets say, and surely they can tell,
To read a poet right, “drink from his well;”
To feel the spirit, catch the spirit’s flame,
And kindred spirits kindle back again.
Then read the proof, my brother, and believe,
If I’m not right, I’m happy being deceived;
For hope’s an anchor,-all in this agree, -
And faith a helmsman-so at least with me;
The word of God my compass, love the pole,
Experience are my sails, and Christ the whole.
Grace is my ballast, for it keeps me low;
The Spirit is the wind, that bears me through;
Perfection is the haven for which I run,
Consigned to him who gave for me his Son;
Life is the voyage, and I am “homeward bound,“
Time is my log-book, death my anchor-ground;
The resurrection is my ship o’erhauled,
Eternity unites us all in all.
WILLIAM MILLER.
August 17, 1826.
MWV1 215.1
PROOF-TEXTS
1. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.-Revelation 22:20. MWV1 215.2
2. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.-Psalm 130:6. MWV1 215.3
3. To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.-1 Thessalonians 3:13. MWV1 215.4
4. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.-Psalm 50:4. MWV1 215.5
5. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.-Revelation 11:15. MWV1 215.6
6. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty; when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.-Isaiah 2:19-21. MWV1 216.1
7. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.-John 5:28. MWV1 216.2
8. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.-1 Thessalonians 4:17. MWV1 216.3
9. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.-2 Thessalonians 1:5-7. MWV1 216.4
10. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.-1 Corinthians 15:52. MWV1 216.5
11. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.-Revelation 5:9. MWV1 216.6
12. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.-Daniel 7:9-14. MWV1 216.7
13. And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.-Revelation 14:14-16. MWV1 217.1
14. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.-Matthew 26:64. MWV1 217.2
15. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.-Isaiah 27:13. MWV1 217.3
16. Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.-Matthew 24:29. MWV1 217.4
17. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.-Revelation 20:11. MWV1 218.1
18. For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.-Isaiah 66:15, 16. MWV1 218.2
19. For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.-Malachi 4:1. MWV1 218.3
20. Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.-Isaiah 5:24. MWV1 218.4
21. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.-Revelation 19:18. MWV1 218.5
22. And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God.-Ezekiel 39:17-20. MWV1 218.6
23. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.-Daniel 2:35, 44. MWV1 219.1
24. The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.-Isaiah 17:13. MWV1 219.2
25. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.-Revelation 13:1-7. MWV1 219.3
26. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.-Revelation 20:10. MWV1 220.1
27. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.-Isaiah 24:23. MWV1 220.2
28. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it: and it shall fall, and not rise again.-Isaiah 24:20. MWV1 220.3
29. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.-2 Peter 3:13. MWV1 220.4
30. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.-Revelation 21:2. MWV1 220.5
31. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.-Revelation 19:8. MWV1 220.6
32. There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.-Hebrews 4:9-11. MWV1 220.7
33. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do if God permit.-Hebrews 6:2, 3. MWV1 220.8
34. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.-Isaiah 65:17. MWV1 220.9
35. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-Isaiah 35:10. MWV1 220.10
36. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.-Revelation 20:6. MWV1 221.1
37. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.-Revelation 20:9. Zechariah 8:5. MWV1 221.2
38. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.-Revelation 3:12. MWV1 221.3
39. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.-Revelation 5:10. MWV1 221.4
40. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.-Revelation 20:2, 3. MWV1 221.5
41. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.-Revelation 20:7. MWV1 221.6
42. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.-Revelation 21:1. MWV1 221.7
43,44. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works.-Revelation 20:13. MWV1 221.8
45. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.-Revelation 20:9. MWV1 221.9
46. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.-Revelation 20:8. MWV1 222.1
47. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.-Romans 7:5. MWV1 222.2
48. For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.-1 Peter 4:6. MWV1 222.3
49. They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.-Psalm 59:6, 14. MWV1 222.4
50. Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.-Jeremiah 4:12. MWV1 222.5
51. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.-Revelation 21:12. MWV1 222.6
52. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.-Revelation 21:27. MWV1 222.7
53. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner-gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s wine-presses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.-Zechariah 14:9-11. MWV1 222.8
54. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? - 1 Corinthians 4:2. MWV1 222.9
55. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.-Revelation 20:9. MWV1 223.1
56. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.-Revelation 20:14, 15. MWV1 223.2
57. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.-Malachi 4:2. MWV1 223.3
58. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.-Isaiah 4:3-5. MWV1 223.4
59. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.-Hosea 13:14. MWV1 223.5
60. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.-Romans 8:17. MWV1 223.6
61. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.-Revelation 21:23. MWV1 223.7
62. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.-Revelation 22:5. MWV1 223.8
63. Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock, and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden: and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.-Jeremiah 31:12-14. MWV1 224.1
64. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.-Ephesians 1:10. MWV1 224.2
65. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.-Titus 2:13. MWV1 224.3
66. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.-Revelation 4:11. MWV1 224.4
67. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.-Ephesians 6:13. MWV1 224.5
68. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.-Hebrews 10:36, 37. MWV1 224.6