What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "William Miller's Calculation of the Investigative Judgment"
Answer
William Miller calculated the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings from Daniel 8:14 and concluded that this prophetic period would end in the year 1844. He set the beginning of this period at 457 B.C., coinciding with the decree of Artaxerxes for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Originally he expected Christ’s return between 1843 and the spring of 1844, because he mistakenly assumed that the “sanctuary” was the earth, which would be cleansed by fire. Only later was it recognized that the calculation extends to the autumn of 1844, because the decree did not take effect until the second half of 457 B.C. This time marker, according to Adventist understanding, marks the beginning of the investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary.
The Basis of the 2,300 Years and the Year 1844
From the 2,300 days the angel gave the events for the first four hundred ninety years. There remained eighteen hundred ten years (2,300 − 490 = 1,810). The four hundred ninety years ended in the year 34 A.D. Adding the eighteen hundred ten years gives the year 1844 A.D. Daniel was shown the event that would characterize this year. It was the investigative judgment...
Because this fact was not initially perceived by Mr. Miller and his companions, they expected Christ’s coming in 1843 or in the spring of 1844; thus the first disappointment and the apparent delay arose. It was the discovery of the correct timing in connection with other scriptural testimonies that led to the movement known as the “midnight cry” of 1844. And to this day the calculation of the prophetic periods that place the end of the 2,300 days in the autumn of 1844 remains unchallenged.
But the 2,300 days cannot be counted from the beginning of the year 457 B.C.; for the decree of Artaxerxes – which is the starting point – did not take effect until the autumn of that year. Consequently, the 2,300 days, beginning in the autumn of 457 B.C., must extend to the autumn of 1844 A.D.
William Miller and others, in their study of the explanation in Daniel 8:14: “Until the 2,300 evenings and mornings have passed, then the sanctuary will be cleansed,” discovered that this long prophetic period would end in the year 1844. They failed to associate this text with the ancient typological sanctuary, instead applying the term “sanctuary” to the earth and teaching that Christ would come to earth in 1844 to cleanse it and judge humanity.
That they begin with the seventy weeks of chapter nine at the issuance of the command for the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem; – then the conclusion is inevitable that the sanctuary (whatever the event may be) will be cleansed in the year 1843.
- 2,300 days prophecy Daniel
- Cleansing of the sanctuary 1844
- Decree of Artaxerxes 457 B.C.
Original Sources (English)
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