posted on November 16, 2004 08:37:28 AM new
Between 1831 and 1844, William Miller, a Baptist preacher, launched what he called the "great second advent awakening", also known as the Millerite Movement. Miller preached a set of fourteen rules for the interpretation of the Bible, which spread to followers throughout the world. Based on his study of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Miller calculated that Jesus would return to Earth sometime between 1843 and 1844.
Millerites claimed to have discovered when Jesus Christ would return to Earth as stated in the Bible. Miller reached this belief in the 1820s but did not begin to share it with other people until the 1830s. By the early 1840s, approximately one million people had attended camp meetings and heard Miller's message. Perhaps ten percent of those people actually believed Miller.
Miller predicted that Christ's second coming would occur in April 1843 and that all worthy people would ascend to heaven on October 23, 1844. Thousands of people across the United States eagerly anticipated the event. Numerous people forsook their original religious beliefs and adopted Millerism, hoping that Jesus Christ would find no fault with them upon his return to Earth. Millerites consisted of all types of people. Many working-class people hoped that Christ's arrival would end their laborious lives. Other Americans believed that many people were sinners and that only the true believers, the Millerites, would escape punishment. God wanted the deserving to assist their unworthy neighbors through various reform movements, such as the temperance and abolition movements. Other people believed that citizens of the United States were God's chosen people and that Jesus Christ's arrival would prove this point.
As October 23, 1844 approached, many Millerites sold all of their earthly possessions. Dressed in white robes, they climbed the highest mountains and hills that they could find so that they would be closer to heaven. Unfortunately for these people, they did not ascend to heaven on the appointed day. Miller claimed to have made an error and quickly issued a new date for the second coming, approximately six months later. Once again, this day came and went. In most cases, Miller's followers abandoned him. In 1845, some of Miller's followers joined the Adventist Church, which Miller helped establish. Adventists believe in the second coming of Christ, but they do not specify a day when this event will occur.
posted on November 16, 2004 10:04:14 AM new
I am glad that you liked the history aspect of this. I guess that would be my complete point. That in all of history, there have been religious nutcases, including present day or in history. People who would believe in almost anything, especially if they would benefit from it in some way.
posted on November 16, 2004 10:41:36 AM new
You do post what you think and want nobody is stoping you but I would also like to know....What is your point.
_________________
To Quote John Kerry in his concession speech. "But in an american election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans
posted on November 16, 2004 01:15:37 PM new
Well, if it was a sodomite movement they would all climb to the top of the nearest spire and wait to be turned into pillars of salt.
__________
The Democrats were rejected by a majority of Americans
posted on November 16, 2004 02:53:04 PM new
"Well, if it was a sodomite movement they would all climb to the top of the nearest spire and wait to be turned into pillars of salt."
That could be very nasty if your on a salt free diet.
YO MILLERITES--THIS BUDS FOR YOU
[ edited by classicrock000 on Nov 16, 2004 02:58 PM ]
posted on November 17, 2004 01:01:34 AM new
Get ready libra and linda,
I am doing the calculation for the next date. I think that you should sell all of your earthly belongings (to me cheap) and I will tell you the next date. If you could get others to do the same, I would appreciate that too.
