The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IV. Conclusions Reached as Result of This Study

The prophecies especially fascinated him and convinced him of the inspired origin of the Bible. Though expressed in figurative language, they were obviously fulfilled literally and historically. And he reasoned that these past fulfillments were the assurance and guarantee of the integrity of the portions obviously yet future. He became sure that the historic first advent was soon to be matched by the glorious second advent of our Lord. Here is his own statement of the conclusion reached: PFF4 462.2

“Finding all the signs of the times and the present condition of the world, to compare harmoniously with the prophetic descriptions of the last days, I was compelled to believe that this world had about reached the limits of the period allotted for its continuance. As I regarded the evidence, I could arrive at no other conclusion.” ⁵ Finally, in 1818, at the close of these two years of intensive study, he came to believe that there were a dozen points on which he was compelled to differ radically from the popular views of the day. He was persuaded- PFF4 463.1

1. That the popular view of a temporal millennium before the second advent, and the end of the age, was a fallacy. PFF4 463.2

2. That the theory of the return of the Jews was not sustained by the Word. PFF4 463.3

3. That Jesus will come again personally, with all the holy angels with Him. PFF4 463.4

4. That the kingdom of God will be established at that coming. PFF4 463.5

5. That the earth will perish in a deluge of fire. PFF4 463.6

6. That the new earth will spring forth out of its ashes. PFF4 463.7

7. That the righteous dead will be resurrected at the advent. PFF4 463.8

8. That the wicked dead will not come forth until the close of the thousand years. PFF4 463.9

9. That the papal Little Horn will be destroyed at the advent. PFF4 463.10

10. That we are living in the last phase of the outline prophecies-such as, in Daniel 2, in the period of the “feet and toes.” PFF4 463.11

11. That all prophetic time periods—such as the 70 weeks, the 1260 days, and the rest-are to be computed on the year-day principle. PFF4 463.12

12. That the 2300 year-days, extending from 457 B.C. to about A.D. 1843, will bring the climax of prophecy and of human history; and that Jesus will come “on or before” the Jewish year “1843.” His major conclusion, as stated in his own words, was this: PFF4 463.13

“I was thus brought, in 1818, at the close of my two years’ study of the Scriptures, to the solemn conclusion, that in about twenty-five years from that time [1818] all the affairs of our present state would be wound up.” PFF4 463.14

Picture 2: TREASURE CHEST OF MILLERITE SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Repository of the extensive correspondence to and from Miller, together with his sheriff’s record book, 1822 declaration of faith, and numerous manuscripts. These included articles, expositions, sermon outlines, addresses, charts, statements for publication, petitions from ministers and churches for Miller to bring his message to their communities, and his ministerial credentials
Page 463

So startling were these conclusions of 1818 that Miller felt there must surely be some mistake. No one agreed with him as far as he was then aware. ⁷ He was so startled by his findings that he determined to review, to restudy and challenge each step—weighing every objection, such as “no man knows the day or the hour.” This was consistent with his poise and methodical make-up. Thus it was that four years more, from 1818 to 1822, were spent in further laborious, intensive effort, a total of six years of specialized study such as few men ever put into the sheer study of the Bible. Then, on September 22, 1822, in his prime, at the age of forty, having finished his review of the conclusions reached in 1818, and now persuaded that they were sound and true, he wrote his credo, or “Compendium of Faith.” PFF4 465.1