The Story of our Health Message

After October, 1844

Most of these Bible students had participated in the advent movement of 1831 to 1844, and from this experience had received a rich legacy of prophetic interpretation. Although sharing in the disappointment when the time of expectation, October 22, 1844, passed and Christ did not appear, they still maintained their confidence that the prophecies had not failed and that the return of Christ was near. Some were led to a study of the sanctuary, and their findings proved to be the key that unlocked the mystery of the disappointment. As the truths relating to the sanctuary were further studied, these earnest students found additional light that is held to be fundamental by Seventh-day Adventists to this day. SHM 60.3

Others were led by their study to see the perpetually binding claims of the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue and were convinced that the change of the day of sacred rest from the seventh to the first day of the week had been effected by men and not by divine authority. The minds of still others were concentrated for a time on a study of the future experiences of the church and the events that were to cluster about the second advent. SHM 61.1

When, in God’s providence, these pioneer Sabbathkeeping Adventists were brought together in conferences for mutual and co-operative study, their individual contributions were fitted into a harmonious system of doctrinal belief. SHM 61.2

In all these experiences they were aided by the prophetic gift as manifested through the visions of Mrs. Ellen G. Harmon-White. This divine help came to them, however, not as a substitute for Bible study, but rather in connection with, or following, such study. Thus they received assurance of the validity of the truths they accepted, and so they were led to unity in faith and practice. SHM 61.3