The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IX. Millerite Movement Penetrates Great Britain

As set forth in Volume III, throughout the early decades of the nineteenth century advocates of the premillennial advent were surprisingly numerous in England, Scotland, and Ireland, as well as on the Continent and out in Asia. In this connection the name of Joseph Wolff inevitably comes to mind as die great world missionary of the advent faith. A thousand ministers in Great Britain, in both Established and Nonconformist circles, were heralding the imminence of Christ’s advent, ³¹ and there were many brilliant ecclesiastical lights among them. They were commonly called Literalists in prophetic interpretation. The premillennial advent belief of the church in the earlier centuries was revived and advocated by them with power and effectiveness. PFF4 713.3

But a curious admixture of notions concerning probation and mortality during the thousand years, along with glorification and immortality at the same time, obtained among them. There was also sharp divergence of view as to the final role of the Jewish nation, both in relation to the return of Christ and to Palestine during the millennium. Litch aptly epitomizes the situation as it finally developed in relation to the Millerites in America: PFF4 713.4

“In 1840, an attempt was made to open an interchange between the Literalists of England and the Adventists in the United States. But it was soon discovered that they had as little fellowship for our Anti-Judaizing notions, as we had for their Judaism; and the interchange was broken off.” ³² It was shortly after this that ROBERT WINTER ³³ Englishman by birth and Primitive Methodist by profession, accepted the advent message while over in America in the spring of 1842. In the autumn he returned to Britain and effectively proclaimed the Midnight Cry, or advent near. ³⁴ Many others joined him in giving the advent message in essentially Millerite form, particularly Frederick Gunner; Charles Dealtry, formerly of New York; and W. C. Burgess.” ³⁵ Others included J. W. Bonham, Ernest Lloyd, Thomas Wilson, and William Barker. PFF4 714.1

This development was definitely a Millerite extension movement in Britain. American advent literature was reprinted and scattered widely throughout the “length and breadth” of the British Isles. And two periodicals were launched-the weekly Second Advent Harbinger, in Bristol and Maidenhead, edited by Winter and Gunner, and the British Midnight Cry, at Liverpool and Nottingham, edited by C. Dealtry. Every county was entered with literature and preaching. These: meetings were not only held in churches, chapels, and halls, but on the commons and in the streets—a thousand people frequently gathering to listen in these open-air meetings. ³⁶ And about fourteen successful camp meetings were held in different parts of Britain. PFF4 714.2

Volume 1, number 1, of the Second Advent Harbinger is dated March 19, 1844, and 150,000 copies of this and other advent publications had been distributed up to April 23. ³⁷ Their content was quite similar to that of the leading American papers. In fact, they were composed in part of reprints and rewrites of American articles. Charles Fitch’s call, “Come out of her, my people,” was published. The darkening of the sun on May 19, 1780, and the falling of the stars, were stressed in Britain as harbingers of the advent. The standard prophetic expositions on Daniel and the Apocalypse were emphasized. The American “1843” charts were used. And the well-known books by Miller, Fitch, Fleming, and Hervey were reproduced. The 391 years of the Turkish woe trumpet, ending in August, 1840, were expounded, and the 1260 years, as, from 538 to 1798, were set forth-with similar typical positions. PFF4 715.1