Participants:
Series Code: LIN
Program Code: LIN000011A
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00:21 October the 22nd, 1844
00:24 was for many people the worst day of their lives, 00:28 they had preached a message of hope 00:30 about Jesus' soon return and then all their hopes 00:33 were dashed. 00:35 Friends who had ridiculed them 00:36 waited with fresh ammunition in the coming days. 00:40 It was not an easy time to be a believer. 00:43 The great disappointment was exactly that. 00:46 A huge disappointment 00:47 to those who had eagerly waited for Jesus' return 00:50 and while it caused a lot of embarrassment 00:53 to those who had fervently preached it, 00:55 all was not doomed and gloom. 01:02 Fervently believing in the return of Jesus, 01:05 many of the believers acted practically 01:08 so that their works corresponded with their faith. 01:11 Some of them sold homes earlier 01:13 in the year as they believed 01:15 that they would not need them soon. 01:17 Also, some of the farmers left their crops in the field 01:21 and one of these was named Leonard Hastings. 01:24 He had a potato patch right here 01:26 and he believed in Jesus' soon return 01:29 and thought that by digging his potatoes 01:31 it would be a denial of his faith. 01:34 Some of his friends 01:35 did not believe in Jesus' soon return 01:37 and offered to dig the potatoes for him 01:39 and store them in the barn. 01:41 He was sure that he wouldn't need them 01:43 and by not digging them, he would proclaim his faith. 01:47 Some said that the potatoes would rot in the ground 01:50 while others called him foolish. 01:56 The autumn of 1844 was particularly mild 02:00 and when he finally dug his potatoes in November, 02:03 he found he had some of the best potatoes 02:05 he had ever grown. 02:07 Some of his farmers in the area did not fare so well. 02:11 You see in that particular part of New England 02:13 there was a potato blight 02:15 that rotted nearly all the potatoes 02:17 that have been dug on time. 02:19 He had a huge supply of potatoes enough for himself 02:23 and some of his neighbors who had called him foolish. 02:27 In spring the next year, 02:29 he was one of the few farmers who had seed potatoes 02:32 due to the blight that happened the year before. 02:35 He was then able to sell these at $4.50 a bushel, 02:40 a huge price in that day. 02:46 Leonard Hastings wasn't the only potato 02:48 patch preacher, Silas Guildford, 02:50 William Miller's brother-in-law was another one. 02:53 He planted a 22-acre field of potatoes 02:56 here in upstate New York 02:59 near Oswego in the spring of 1844. 03:02 In the autumn he didn't dig his potatoes 03:05 and the snows came early. 03:07 In the spring of the next year he said to his wife 03:10 that he was going to go up to the field 03:12 and dig the potatoes. 03:13 She pleaded with him not to, 03:15 saying, they had already been the joke of the town 03:18 and they didn't need to give people 03:19 another reason to make fun of them. 03:21 Besides that the potatoes would have frozen 03:24 and they would have rotted in the ground. 03:26 He went up to the field with his son Ervin 03:29 and as he put his fork in the ground 03:31 he dug up some lovely potatoes, 03:34 the whole field as well yielded a huge supply 03:37 of some of the best potatoes he had ever seen. 03:40 He was able to sell them 03:42 for $4.50 a bushel, 03:44 a huge price, pay off his mortgage 03:47 and have a good amount of money left over afterwards. 03:55 God honored the faith of these believers 03:58 to provide a testament of His power 04:00 and watch care over His children. 04:03 Sometimes God allows hard times 04:05 to come upon us but we are never alone, 04:08 as a mother watches over her children 04:10 so God watches over us, His children. 04:14 If you are faithful to God, 04:15 then you can be assured that there are times 04:18 when God will do the impossible 04:20 for you to demonstrate His power. 04:22 The Bible says, 04:24 "That the eyes of the Lord run to and fro 04:26 across the face of the earth looking for those 04:29 whose hearts are perfect towards Him 04:32 and on whose behalf He can show His power." 05:16 Ellen Gould Harmon and her twin sister Elizabeth 05:19 were born on November the 26th, 1827 05:23 in the town of Gorham, Maine 05:25 about 12 miles west of Portland. 05:28 The state of Maine has named her birthplace a historic site. 05:32 Even though there is some question today 05:34 over the exact place of the house. 05:42 Her father Robert was a hat maker 05:44 and this was the family business. 05:46 Acting upon the information that hats sold 05:48 for a much higher price in the south than the north, 05:51 he headed down south to the state of Georgia. 05:54 Whilst he was gone though, something tragic would happen. 06:02 Ellen and Elizabeth 06:04 attended the Brackett Street School. 06:06 The building stands behind me today 06:08 although it's no longer used as a school. 06:10 And one day whilst walking home, 06:12 they were shouted at angrily by a bigger girl, 06:15 sensing trouble and wanting to avoid it 06:18 they started to run, 06:19 and whilst running Ellen turned to look 06:22 and in that split moment a rock smashed her in the face. 06:26 Despite bleeding heavily 06:28 and fainting several times she made it home 06:31 and a doctor was called for immediately. 06:39 The first doctor said that 06:41 she wouldn't live more than a few days, 06:42 another one suggested that 06:44 they put some silver wire in her nose 06:46 to maintain its shape 06:48 but in the end nothing was done. 06:50 She lay unconscious for three weeks 06:53 and when she finally regained her consciousness 06:55 she had no recollection. 06:58 Her face was forever changed 07:00 and when her father returned from his trip down south, 07:03 painfully for Ellen, 07:05 he did not recognize her at first glance. 07:14 Ellen had to put it with ridicule and name-calling 07:16 from the children in her neighborhood 07:18 and struggle to read when she went back to school. 07:21 And eventually she had to leave school. 07:24 The course of her life would take another massive turn 07:27 when a popular preacher William Miller came to town. 07:36 Her family were Methodist and they went to hear him 07:39 preached at a church on Casco Street, Portland. 07:42 They heard him speak convincingly 07:44 and passionately about the soon and imminent return of Jesus. 07:49 It seems almost strange today to think that 07:52 this was a radical new teaching. 07:54 They embraced this message 07:56 and for this reason they were disfellowship 07:59 from the Chestnut Methodist Church here, 08:02 not because anyone questioned their morals or Christian life, 08:06 but simply because they embraced the message 08:08 of the soon return of Jesus. 08:16 Ellen was 17 years old on October the 22nd, 1844 08:21 when Jesus did not come 08:22 and they experienced the great disappointment. 08:25 Her twin sister Elizabeth and her brother Robert 08:28 would lose their faith in 08:30 Jesus' soon returns in the coming weeks 08:32 though Robert would later regain it. 08:35 And so, God ordained that out of obscurity 08:38 from a small town in Maine in the northeasterly tip 08:42 of the United States of America 08:44 something great would emerge. 08:46 Despite suffering terrible injuries 08:48 that would have hindered many other people in life, 08:51 despite a lack of education facing ridicule 08:55 about her appearance and faith, 08:57 God would use her to impact the world. 09:00 And so today no matter how small 09:02 or insignificant our background or experience may be, 09:06 God is looking for humble vessels 09:09 that He can use. 09:10 May you be one of them. 09:52 Several weeks after the great disappointment, 09:54 Ellen was in the home of Mrs. Haynes 09:57 when as all the young women knelt to pray, 09:59 God gave Ellen Harmon a vision. 10:02 He showed her the travels 10:03 of the people of God to the City of God 10:06 and assured her that 10:07 the light given before October the 22nd was genuine. 10:12 No explanation for the great disappointment 10:14 was given, but the assurance on its own 10:17 was a huge encouragement. 10:23 A week later God gave Ellen another vision 10:26 with the added injunction 10:28 to tell the world what I have told you. 10:30 Ellen was a timid, 10:32 frail and sickly young 17-year-old 10:35 and she wondered if she could possibly do 10:37 what God was asking her. 10:39 The angel assured her that God would be with her, 10:41 that He would be her guide and her strength. 10:44 Ellen was willing, 10:45 but she wondered if the Advent believers 10:47 would accept a message from someone so young 10:50 and in such poor physical condition. 10:59 That night there was a meeting at her house of the believers 11:02 but feeling nervous and frightened 11:04 she actually ran away from home 11:06 and went to a friend's house three or four miles away. 11:09 There she met a man named Joseph Turner 11:11 who encouraged her and told her that 11:14 he was interested in hearing what she had to say. 11:17 She fled to an upstairs room and was there troubled 11:20 by a sense of duty and commitment mixed with fear. 11:24 Had God forsaken her? 11:26 At last, she surrendered and promised that 11:29 she would share once she got home 11:31 but when she got home, the believers had left 11:34 and the meeting was over. 11:41 At the next meeting, 11:42 she gave an account of her vision in detail 11:45 and instead of being met with derision and scorn, 11:48 she found the believers happy 11:49 to listen and learn the reasons for their disappointment. 11:52 Afterwards still feeling fearful, 11:55 she had a visit from her angel who said, 11:58 "Deliver the message faithfully, 12:00 endure to the end 12:01 and ye shall eat the fruit of the tree of life 12:04 and drink the water of life." 12:13 Ellen committed herself to use in the gift 12:15 that God had bestowed upon her. 12:18 This gift was given to guide this small 12:20 and fledgling group through some hard times ahead. 12:23 There was no organized church, no recognized pastors, 12:27 no health care or education system, 12:30 no official publications, 12:32 just scattered groups of believers 12:34 trying to make sense out 12:36 of the great disappointment experienced 12:38 and be faithful 12:39 to their understanding of God's Word. 12:48 The gift of prophecy would be pivotal 12:50 in helping this small group to pull through, 12:53 it would help to confirm 12:54 what they had studied in God's Word 12:56 and let them know 12:58 when they were on the right track. 12:59 It would be a beacon of life providing guidance 13:02 and direction and is one of the means 13:04 that God has used to lead His people. 13:07 In Old and New Testament times, 13:10 the gift of prophecy has been used. 13:12 In 2 Chronicles 20:20, it says, 13:16 "Believe on the Lord your God and be established, 13:19 believe His prophets and you shall prosper." 13:22 God has given us a great gift today. 13:25 Let us remember to prove all things 13:28 and hold fast that which is good. 13:45 When I was growing up, if you wanted to study history, 13:48 or do research on a particular topic, 13:50 there was really only one option that we had, 13:52 and that was to read a book. 13:54 And I never really used to like reading that much. 13:56 So we decided to create a resource 13:58 that will translate this written information 14:01 into the language of today. 14:05 My name is Adam Ramdin. And my name is Clive Coutet. 14:07 And we are the cofounders of Lineage Journey. 14:10 Back in 2016, I was reading a Great Controversy 14:12 and I was really struggling to find any relevant video 14:15 resources that I could use to aid me in my study. 14:18 So I decided to approach Adam about the possibility 14:20 of making some videos on the Reformation. 14:22 So we started filming in the end of 2016, and in 2017 14:27 we released 48 videos that covered the period 14:30 of the early church all the way through 14:32 to the end of the Reformation. 14:35 Then in 2018 and 2019 we released 14:37 another 52 episodes on church history. 14:40 These have now been viewed all over the world 14:43 in over 100 countries 14:44 covering about 50 different languages 14:47 and we have over 3 million views online. 14:50 These videos have been used as a resource 14:52 in both secular and Christian schools 14:55 as well as several church denominations 14:57 across the globe using Bible studies, 14:59 study groups, as well as play to the general congregation. 15:03 They also make a great online evangelistic tool 15:05 where people are able to share them, 15:07 and we've seen them go into countries 15:08 that we ourselves can't go, 15:10 countries that are Muslim countries where 15:12 the Christian message cannot go. 15:14 One of the challenges we have though, 15:16 is that amongst our team of almost 10 people, 15:18 we are all volunteers on this project, 15:20 sacrificing our time, our effort and energy 15:22 in order to make these resources together. 15:25 Just to put things into perspective, 15:27 each Lineage episode as well as the filming 15:29 takes an additional two to three days 15:31 in post-production. 15:33 That is a lot of time and sacrifice that 15:35 this team has made in putting 100 episodes together. 15:38 So we need to raise the funds 15:39 to cover the cost of the filming 15:41 as well as the continued production costs 15:44 that come after that. 15:45 So for as little as $1 a month, 15:47 you can help us to expand this ministry 15:49 to create new resources to reach more people 15:52 across the world. 15:54 Thank you for visiting this page 15:55 and taking the time to watch this video. 15:57 We really appreciate that. 15:59 Thank you for your support of the ministry so far. 16:01 And we ask that you would prayerfully consider 16:03 being a partner with us on this Patreon page. 16:07 May God bless you. 16:08 And we ask that you continue to keep 16:10 this ministry and our future plans in prayer. 16:36 Ellen White wasn't the first or only person 16:39 to receive visions during this time period. 16:41 Two men also received the gift of prophecy, 16:44 but each one would have vastly different experiences 16:48 and outcomes in their lives and ministry. 16:51 God often overlooks people 16:53 that are qualified in an earthly sense 16:56 and uses those whom others might not. 16:59 Academic qualifications, eloquent speech 17:02 and a popular personality are all valued by society, 17:06 but God looks for the person who is humble, 17:09 who if they are used will bring honor to God. 17:12 The first person worthy of our mention is William Foy. 17:23 William Foy, an African-American 17:25 was known as an exceptional speaker 17:27 and was in his early 20s in 1842 17:30 when he received several dramatic visions. 17:33 The first was on January the 18th 17:35 and it lasted for two and a half hours 17:38 and happened in a church 17:39 in Southwark Street here in Boston. 17:42 A physician was present 17:44 and could detect no sign of life 17:46 except around his heart, his breath had left him. 17:51 He had a second vision on February the 4th 17:53 that lasted for 13 and half hours 17:56 and was instructed to share this vision with others. 18:07 William Foy was hesitant to go public 18:09 due to the large amount of prejudice 18:11 he would receive as an African-American 18:12 during this period of America's history. 18:15 Yet when he received an invitation 18:16 to speak in a church 18:18 and share his vision, he agreed. 18:20 The church gladly heard his message 18:22 and he soon got invitations over the next three months 18:24 to speak in churches of all different denominations. 18:28 William Foy served faithfully as a prophet 18:31 in the pre-great disappointment period. 18:34 He never said that his gift would extend 18:36 for a long time 18:37 or that he would receive more visions. 18:39 The evidence seems to suggest 18:41 that he'd received a specific message 18:43 for a specific time 18:45 and that he faithfully fulfilled this task. 18:54 The second man to receive visions 18:56 was named Hazen Foss. 18:58 In January of 1845, 19:00 he met Ellen White and told her his story. 19:04 Shortly after she received her first vision, 19:06 he received the exact same vision 19:08 and was instructed to tell others 19:10 about it yet he didn't. 19:12 Still upset after the great disappointment 19:14 of 1844 and possibly not wanting 19:18 to open himself to ridicule, he refused. 19:21 The Lord came to him and told him that 19:23 he would have another opportunity, 19:25 yet if he still refused the gift would be given 19:28 to somebody else. 19:29 Even with such a warning, 19:31 he manifested a recalcitrant 19:33 and rebellious attitude 19:35 and did not share and a strange feeling 19:38 came over him and he heard a voice say, 19:41 "You have grieved away the Spirit of God." 19:51 Frightened and horrified, 19:53 he decided he would share the vision 19:55 and called a meeting of the Advent believers, 19:58 he explained to those present what had happened 20:01 but when it came time to share the vision, 20:03 he couldn't remember any of it, not even a single word. 20:07 Those present later described it 20:09 as a most horrible and sobering scene. 20:12 As he spoke to Ellen White, 20:14 he implored her to be faithful to the gift 20:17 that God had given her 20:18 and lamented himself as a lost man. 20:21 He would live till his 70s and lies buried here, 20:25 but in his life he would never show 20:27 any more spiritual interest again. 20:37 Here in East Sullivan in Northern Maine, 20:41 we have the grave of William Foy. 20:43 And so, we have the story of two men, 20:46 one obedient to the call of God 20:48 and one resistant to the call of God, 20:51 the best time to follow God, 20:53 the best time to follow His plan 20:55 for our lives is always the earliest time. 20:59 It is never good to delay, 21:01 to debate or to barter with God. 21:04 If God is calling you to ministry, 21:07 harden not your heart, follow the Lord 21:10 and share the message wherever He leads. 21:47 Rachel Oakes was attending this church here 21:49 in Washington, New Hampshire, one particular Sunday 21:52 as she was visiting her daughter Delight 21:55 when the circuit riding preacher 21:57 who came to town was Frederick Wheeler. 21:59 That particular Sunday it was communion 22:02 and as the speaker spoke, 22:04 he spoke how we ought to be 22:05 willing to follow Christ all the way, 22:08 how we needed to obey God and keep His commandments. 22:11 Rachel Oakes was a woman of conviction 22:14 and as she heard these words, 22:15 she decided to speak to him afterwards. 22:18 She later said that she wanted to stand up 22:21 in the middle of the message, 22:23 but she refrained from such a public spectacle. 22:32 My brother, you'd do better 22:34 to set that communion table back against the wall 22:37 and cover it with a white cloth 22:39 until you're willing to keep all the commandments of God. 22:42 You see, Rachel Oakes was a Seventh-day Baptist 22:45 and she felt strongly about this subject 22:48 and admonished Frederick Wheeler 22:49 that he ought to follow God all the way. 22:52 Wheeler later stated that her words cut deep 22:56 and they sent him straight back 22:57 to the Bible to study the subject for himself. 23:01 This was a turning point in his life 23:03 and he was convicted 23:04 on the Sabbath and saw it as binding. 23:14 This event would actually happen 23:16 before the great disappointment of October the 22nd, 1844 23:21 and the big issue at that time 23:23 was the imminent return of Jesus 23:24 rather than the Sabbath. 23:26 This would soon change though. 23:36 Rachel Preston lived the rest of her life in Vernon, Vermont 23:40 in an area rich in history. 23:43 Near her home is a well-preserved 23:45 Advent Christian chapel 23:46 that Joshua V. Himes dedicated in the 1860s. 23:50 Dwight L. Moody lived nearby 23:52 and preached here on a few occasions 23:54 and Ira D. Sankey also sang here. 23:57 Rachel Preston did not become 23:59 a Seventh-day Adventist 24:00 until just a year before her death. 24:02 She is buried here in Vernon, Vermont. 24:05 And near her grave, 24:06 there is a fitting historic marker 24:08 that outlines her special place in history. 24:19 The town of Washington, New Hampshire 24:21 has a special place in history and whilst it might not be 24:25 entirely accurate to say, it's the birthplace 24:28 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 24:29 it is the location of the first Sabbath 24:32 keeping Millerite Church that continues 24:34 as a Seventh-day Adventist Church today. 24:44 Here you can walk the Sabbath trail 24:46 that charts the history of the Sabbath 24:48 from creation to the new earth on 31 granite stones. 24:53 The Sabbath is a beautiful truth 24:55 that God was slowly restoring back 24:57 to His people bit by bit. 25:00 The Sabbath is a gift that God has given to us, 25:02 a time to take out of our busy schedules 25:05 to renew and deepen our relationship with Him. 25:09 I pray that this week you may take the time 25:11 to spend with Him on the day that God has given to us. 25:22 Frederick Wheeler moved 25:24 from the Washington, New Hampshire area 25:26 and went to live in upstate New York 25:28 and lived a long life of loyal service to God, 25:32 always faithful in following Him 25:34 and remaining confident in his beliefs. 25:37 At the age of 96 he wrote, 25:40 "The gospel armor I will not put off, 25:42 the contest I will not yield 25:45 until with the ransomed host I shout the final victory." 25:50 He died at the age of 99 25:52 and is buried here in West Monroe, New York. 25:56 His tombstone reads, 25:57 "He was a pioneer minister of the Seventh-day Adventists." 26:08 Rachel Preston teaches us the importance of boldness 26:12 but not any type of boldness, 26:14 boldness that was kind and courteous, 26:17 she didn't seek to embarrass the person 26:19 she was talking to but approached him in a kind, 26:22 courteous and Christ-like manner. 26:24 Frederic Wheeler teaches us the importance 26:27 of humble honesty, 26:29 when he saw something in his life 26:30 and it was pointed out something that wasn't right, 26:33 he changed what he did and he changed 26:35 what he believed to be in line with God's Word. 26:39 May God grant us these attributes of character 26:42 as we follow Him in our lives. |
Revised 2020-05-29