p. 148 | WHY BLAME WM. MILLER? by Wm. Covert

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, March 4, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 10

WHY BLAME WM. MILLER?

By Wm. Covert

BY ELD. WM. COVERT.

Many persons attach much blame to Wm. Miller, for making a mistake with reference to the event that was to be fulfilled at the end of the 2300 days of Dan. 8:14; yet they never think of censuring Daniel, although he was mistaken on two points of the prophecy, while Miller was mistaken on but one. Chap. 9:2 shows that Daniel supposed the period would end with the seventy-years’ captivity, Jer. 25:10, 13. He knew that period had almost expired; so he became very earnest in the matter. It is also evident that he expected that the restoration of Israel and the revival of their sanctuary service would be the event which marked the ending of those days. As he was misapplying what had been shown him, the Lord sends Gabriel to instruct him, that he might understand the matter.

The disciples of Christ were also disappointed, as they expected the consummation of their hopes in the midst of the covenant week. The citizens of Jerusalem witnessed a very animated demonstration on the part of the followers of Jesus, when he, in meekness, rode into Jerusalem. Matt. 21:1–9. They expected to see him crowned as king of Israel; but instead of this, they beheld him condemned and crucified. They were sadly disappointed, yet they should not be blamed. They were fulfilling the prediction of Zech. 9:9, in their demonstrations of joy. Wm. Miller was also leading on a people to fulfill the prophecy of Rev. 10. The great desire they entertained for a home in the kingdom of Jesus caused them, for a time, to overlook the many bitter experiences that the prophets pointed out just before them. Wm. Miller’s hopes caused him to do the same thing. If we excuse the one party, why not the other?

When Jesus had witnessed the mistaken zeal of the disciples, he began to correct them. See Matt. 23:37. In the 24th chapter we have the record of quite an extended lesson that he gave them, in which he speaks of many long years of tribulation to be accomplished before they could enter the blissful state to which they were looking forward; but notwithstanding all this, we find them making the same mistake again in less than two months, and the Saviour again correcting them. Acts. 1:6, 7. No doubt the early Christians treasured up what the great Teacher taught them on these occasions; but we only come down the stream of time about twenty years before we find the Thessalonian brethren in anxious expectation of the consummation of their hopes. They were now approaching the destruction of Jerusalem, another point in the great period under consideration. So serious was their mistake that Paul now comes forward and corrects them by calling their attention to the events yet to be accomplished in the prophecy of Daniel. Yet we do not censure them for their mistaken zeal, although Paul declared that he explained this matter to them when he “was yet with them,” and that there were certain points which they knew had not yet been accomplished. 2 Thess. 2:1–9.

Thus we have learned that Daniel misunderstood and misapplied what he himself had seen in vision, and still was “greatly beloved;” that the apostles and followers of Jesus made a mistake that was more than eighteen hundred years out of the way, and repeated it in less than two months after Jesus had corrected them on it, and yet Christ intrusted them with the great gospel commission; that the Thessalonian church might stand corrected even by Miller’s mistake almost eighteen centuries, and yet Paul said he was always bound to thank God for their faith and their love toward each other.

Friends, be careful how you blame Miller; for the history of the past shows that God has always loved the earnest, faithful, willing and obedient ones, even though their zeal for the consummation of the hope of the church may have led them to expect the event before the time. If while I am away from my home, my wife and children should expect me before I could come to them, and should prepare their house and hearts in order for my reception, it would only intensify my love for them. So God loves the earnest one that endeavors to please him.