The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: Millerite Charts Epitomize Their Interpretation

I. Charts and Diagrams Used to Expound Prophecy

The Millerite preachers were alert and versatile. They seized upon every available aid of the time to make their message clear and plain, and to bring it effectively before the people. They were quick to apply the principle of visual aids. No stereopticon machines or motion picture films, silent or sound, were available at the time, and there were no television channels. So they used charts that would arrest the attention of the populace and portray in picture form what no mere words could express of the mystic symbols of Daniel and the Revelation. For centuries this principle had been applied in books on prophecy for the individual reader, as reproduced in Volumes I to III of Prophetic Faith. But the Millerites extended that device to large charts that could be seen by an entire congregation, and it proved to be highly popular. Miller, and Fitch as well, even had a large image made up of sections, ¹ like the description in Daniel 2, with the various parts removable. This device not only illustrated the theme but made a deep impression. PFF4 719.1

The different prophetic time periods—their beginning, course, events, and ending, and their relationship to the other time periods, as well as to the great symbolic outline prophecies—called for illustrative aids. Indeed, the Millerites became pre-eminently the “chart” people of the time, so that whenever one heard a Millerite preacher he would usually see a prophetic chart. And whenever one scanned important Millerite literature, particularly in periodical form, he would frequently find an illustration, diagram, or chart. Though this is somewhat more technical and detailed, we will note a number of these, as they form prime summarized exhibits of Millerite exposition of prophecy. PFF4 719.2

1. CHARTS COME TO OCCUPY CENTRAL PLACE

Numerous charts, antedating the famous “1843” chart, appeared in varying forms in different periodicals and books of the movement. Even laymen, when they wrote letters, often used special stationery which had on the reverse side, a small chart portraying these ^prophetic symbols and time prophecies.. Miller himself had a large diagram of the visions of Daniel and John painted on canvas, similar to the miniature appearing in the latter part of his book. ² It was he, in fact, who started the chart plan in the movement. PFF4 720.1

2. USED UNDER EVERY SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCE

The Millerite preacher needed to do little more than to hang up one of these charts in order—to arrest the interest of an audience. For instance, in July, 1842, after attending one of the Millerite conferences, Himes was returning home by coastal vessel from Bangor, Maine, to Boston. Despite a bit of seasickness, he hung up his chart and discoursed on the prophecies to the passengers for “an hour or two.” A year later the widespread knowledge of these charts is attested by the fact that even the captain of a canal boat plying between Albany and Buffalo had a copy on board and showed it to some immigrants from Norway, But the moment they saw it, declares the Midnight Cry, they recognized the chart at once, and stated that many Norwegian papers had reproduced copies of it. ³ Such was the amazing spread of the knowledge and influence of these charts. PFF4 720.2

Early in 1844 Bates, after his tour through Maryland in February, headed north again by boat. Aboard he hung up the famous “1843 Chart” and sang an advent hymn. When the passengers had gathered around, he gave a lecture on the prophecies and the second advent. ⁴ Thus it went. PFF4 721.1

3. PROGRESSIVE REVISION IN INTERPRETATION

These pictorial charts and diagrams not only afford one of the best exhibits offered of the main Millerite expositions of prophecy, but the progressive development of their interpretation is clearly reflected in these designs. And by comparison, the frank correction of early inaccuracies can be seen at a glance. The earlier individual charts were largely the extension of Miller’s personal views. Then the convictions of his leading associates—Himes, Litch, Fleming, and Fitch-began to appear, which were clearly an improvement over certain of Miller’s pioneer concepts. PFF4 721.2

Finally came Fitch’s famous “1843 Chart,” unanimously approved and authorized by their most important General Conference. From this time—the summer of 1842—it continued to be the unchallenged standard portrayal until April, 1844, up to the accepted close of the “Jewish year 1843.” Only during the intensive “seventh month movement,” from July to October, 1844, do we find no new charts employed. This was chiefly because there was no change of view on any major principle of prophetic interpretation, only the correction of the year, or time phase—from “1843” to “1844”—as demanded by the computation of 2300 full years, from the autumn of 457 B.C. to the autumn of A.D. 1844. Now note certain details. PFF4 721.3