Participants: Jim Nix (Host)
Series Code: SF
Program Code: SF000003
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00:14 From the 1700's into the early 1800's interest
00:17 increased in the prophecies found in Daniel 00:19 and Revelation. Those who studied believed 00:22 that some important event would soon occur. 00:24 In Italy, a man by the name Manuel Lacunza 00:28 secluded himself to spent time studying the Bible. 00:31 He prayed for the Holy Spirit open his mind to the 00:33 prophecies of Daniel, Paul and John. 00:36 While studying he became convicted that Jesus 00:38 would soon return and so he wrote a book about it 00:41 that was later translated and circulated to nearly 00:44 half the world. Joseph Wolff traveled 00:46 extensively as a missionary to Europe and Asia. 00:49 To share his faith in Christ especially to the Jews. 00:52 While in England, he learned of the prophecies 00:54 that pointed to Jesus is soon return 00:56 and began sharing them with the many to whom 00:58 he spoke. In Sweden, the state church 01:01 outlaw the teaching of the second coming of Christ, 01:03 but in 1842 and 1843 reports began circulating 01:08 the children who are ruled by some unseen force 01:10 to preach the message "Fear God, and give glory 01:13 to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." 01:18 And in the United States, there was William Miller 01:21 Miller was raised in a Christian home, 01:23 but became agnostic, who had no faith in the Bible 01:25 that he believed contradicted itself. 01:29 But thoughts of life after death and the 01:31 judgment troubled him being honest at heart 01:33 Miller decided to sit down with only the Bible 01:36 and concordance and to study for himself 01:38 to see if the apparent contradictions 01:40 could be resolved. After two years of Bible study, 01:43 Miller was unable to justify his position. 01:46 In fact, he found in Jesus, a best friend 01:49 and savior. The book of Daniel 01:52 became one of the chief objects of Miller study 01:54 especially was ----- by Daniel 01:57 8:14 where it said "Unto two thousand and 02:00 three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary 02:03 be cleansed. Miller as well as many 02:05 scholars today believe that Daniel 02:07 prophecy represented a year. 02:11 Believing of the cleansing of the sanctuary spoken 02:12 of an prophecy was the cleansing of the earth 02:15 by fire at the second coming. 02:17 Miller thought that he could discover 02:19 when the 2300 day prophecy would end. 02:21 He could learn when Christ would come again. 02:25 Taking the prophecies found in Daniel 02:26 8 and 9. He was able to construct this timeline. 02:29 Daniel was told that the 2300 day prophecy 02:32 would began at the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 02:34 Miller found that that day was 457 B.C. 02:38 The next event on the prophetic timeline 02:41 was 27 A.D., which according to prophecy 02:44 was the coming of the prince, the anointed one. 02:48 This day turned out to be when Jesus was Baptized 02:50 and began his public ministry. 02:53 A prophetic week or seven literal years later 02:55 was to be the end of the time determined upon 02:57 Daniels people and his Holy city. 03:00 At this point on the timeline, Steven was stoned 03:03 ceiling the rejection of Christ by the Jews 03:05 as a nation and the beginning of the time 03:07 when the Gospel was to be preached 03:09 to the gentiles. The prophecy also said that in 03:12 the midst of the week or three and a half years after 03:15 27 A.D. He shall cause sacrifice and 03:18 oblation to cease. This is when Christ died 03:21 on the cross and put an end to the system of sacrifices 03:24 that it pointed to his death. So far all the dates 03:27 had matched up with key events 03:29 in Christian history. As Miller continued to study, 03:32 he realized that the final event 03:33 on the timeline was just a few stored years ahead. 03:37 He determined that the prophecy 03:38 would end somewhere around 1843 or 1844. 03:42 At first, Miller was reluctant to share 03:44 his studies of prophecy, but as you will learn in a moment. 03:47 God open the door in a special way. 03:51 To learn more about William Miller 03:52 and the times in which he lived we join Jim Nicks 03:55 of the Ellen G. White estate as he will tour 03:57 of William Miller's restored home 03:59 in Low Hampton, New York. The exterior of the house 04:03 has just been restored in the last year or two 04:06 they've been working on it. If you had seen the house 04:08 when we acquired it in 1984 it look considerably 04:12 different. Let me tell you it was a mess, 04:14 and the shutters were gone. It had green siding on it 04:17 that's all been removed well over the green siding 04:20 was even some other siding in parts 04:21 of the house. It's been restored 04:23 considerably by volunteers all the work that you see 04:26 almost all the work that you see 04:27 has been done by volunteers. Just briefly about 04:30 these two front rooms because there are the rooms 04:33 that are most closely related to how they look 04:36 back when William lived here. This was William Miller's 04:39 parlor on this side. Now the furniture 04:42 that's in the parlor today was not William Miller's. 04:45 But it is 19th century, Victorian parlor furniture 04:51 and it belong to William Miller's daughter 04:54 little Lucy, you will also see a very interesting 04:58 flora pattern in there that's painted 05:00 it's a very crude primitive flora pattern 05:03 that does go back to Miller's time. 05:05 You gonna want to look at that 05:06 because that is kind of an unusual art 05:09 consultant, historical consultants say that's kind 05:11 of an unusual feature defined one that just 05:14 hand stance on the floor. Now on this side 05:17 this was William Miller's study. 05:19 This was where he prepared his sermons. 05:22 If you would come to visit William Miller 05:23 this is where you would've been assured in to see 05:26 him when he lived here now there are a few pieces 05:29 of furniture is this room here that actually 05:32 belong to William Miller that have been donated 05:35 to us by descendents and they are so back here for us 05:39 to enjoy. The bed that William Miller slept in 05:42 and died in is there in the corner 05:44 that is his bed. The desk is not his, it is one 05:49 that he has been donated and it is of that era 05:52 but it is not his. But the chair that's there 05:55 in front of the desk is William Miller's chair. 05:58 There is also a deacons bench 06:00 a set tea type thing. I guess it is still 06:03 on this wall, looks like it is 06:05 that set tea that deacons bench 06:08 was in the Miller family. So there are owners 06:11 rocking chair in there that rocking chair 06:13 belong to William Miller. So we have four pieces 06:16 of furniture in there that belong to William Miller. 06:20 When Miller first came to his initial conclusion 06:22 1843 was still about 25 years into the future. He 06:26 was impressed that he needed to share this information 06:28 with others, but he was reluctant. 06:31 For five years, Miller reanalyzed his position 06:33 to be sure that he had not overlook something. 06:36 It wasn't until 13 years later 06:38 in August of 1831 that is burn to share 06:41 his findings seemed overwhelmed. In order 06:44 to ease his conscious, he promised the Lord 06:46 that should he receive a call to preach this message 06:48 he would go, he sat back feeling confident 06:52 and no one would ask a simple farmer to speak. 06:55 However within 30 minutes, a knock on his front door 06:58 brought his first invitation. Miller was so upset, 07:01 that Lord would take him up on his promise 07:03 that he stormed out of the house 07:05 to this nearby Maple growth to wrestle with God. 07:08 Finally, he submitted to the will of God 07:10 and decided to go. As he did a piece came 07:14 upon his heart and when he spoke at that first meeting 07:17 the people responded very favorably. 07:21 When he returned home from that first 07:22 speaking engagement, he found another request 07:24 waiting for him. Many more would follow 07:27 so many in fact that he could not accept them all. 07:30 From October 1834 to June of 1839, 07:33 the record shows that Miller gave 800 lectures. 07:38 As the year 1843, Grunear interest in what Miller 07:41 had to say increased helping the spirit of this art. 07:44 was what happened in the night of November 13, 07:46 1833 that was the night the stars fell. 07:50 This spectacular heavenly display extended all over 07:53 North America and caused quite a stir. 07:57 One newspaper editor wrote, "We pronounce the rain 08:00 of fire, which we saw on Wednesday morning last, 08:02 an awful type, a sure forerunner, 08:05 a merciful sign, of that great and dreadful 08:08 day which the inhabitants of the earth will witness 08:11 when the sixth seal shall be opened. 08:13 The time is just at hand, described not only in the 08:16 New Testament, but in the Old Testament; 08:18 and a more correct picture of a fig tree casting 08:21 it's fruit when blown by a mighty wind, 08:23 it was not possible to behold." 08:26 This event was seen by some as a fulfillment of the words 08:29 of Christ found in Mathew 24:29, 08:32 When speaking of the last days 08:34 he had said " the stars shall fall from heaven." 08:39 For the first eight years of his ministry, 08:41 Miller preached to little churches 08:43 in small towns. However, while preaching 08:45 in Exeter, New Hampshire. He met a man who had 08:48 changed all that. That man was Joshua V. Himes. 08:52 Himes asked Miller, why he was not getting 08:54 his message out to the world. Miller responded 08:57 that he had tried to reach every town and village 08:59 where he was invited, Himes was shocked. 09:01 What about the source in the large cities? 09:03 It was then that Joshua Himes became Miller's promoter. 09:07 He gave him the access to the large cities of America. 09:10 Another key individual to join the Miller like movement 09:13 was Charles Fitch, a congregational pastor 09:17 from Boston. One of Fitch's contributions to the movement 09:21 was his 1843 chart, which provided a visual 09:24 representation of the prophecies Miller's 09:26 spoke of. This is one of the original charts 09:29 printed at the time. A symbolic beast were 09:32 illustrated by pictures. And important dates were 09:34 highlighted. The flow of the chart 09:37 was also designed to show how different prophecies 09:39 all ended in the year 1843. 09:43 This broadside or handout was also printed 09:45 to help illustrate the key aspects of 09:47 Miller's presentation. The striking title 09:49 and images portrayed, no doubt 09:52 help to attract attention 09:53 to the contents. Jim Nix also took us 09:56 to Portland Maine, where Miller spoke 09:59 to a congregation at the Casco Street 10:01 christian church. He describes the impact 10:03 of Millers message. This is the Casco Street 10:06 Christian church as it appeared 10:08 after it was a church, but before it was torn down. 10:12 This is where William Miller spoke by this time you could 10:15 see its a Carriage and Sleigh manufacturing company. 10:18 So, we don't know of the picture of the church 10:21 as it appeared when Miller was speaking there, 10:24 but it still look like a church by the time 10:27 this photograph is taken much later. 10:29 This is the place where Miller held his meetings 10:31 in 1840 and 1842. You probably recall 10:35 reading Ellen White talking about the impact 10:38 that Miller's preaching had on this town. 10:41 And how the solemn, the meetings were. 10:43 The newspapers tell us that after Miller was here 10:46 in town that four weeks at 11 'o clock every morning. 10:52 The bankers would get together 10:53 not to count their money, their gold and silver 10:57 but for Bible study that was a kind of impact 10:59 that William Miller's preaching had. 11:01 Very solemn, if you accepted it even if you 11:04 didn't accept his teachings it was biblically based 11:09 enough that you kind a kept one eye on the heavens 11:13 especially on October 22 to see if maybe the Miller 11:15 writes were right after all. You see when William Miller 11:18 would preach, the place was always packed. 11:21 I don't care where it was this church or other places 11:23 Miller was a popular preacher people came to listen 11:27 and so the place was always packed. 11:30 And you can picture someone coming into the back 11:32 of the hall looking around, trying to find where another 11:34 person could squeeze in, can't see a place 11:38 Miller up there in a poppet looking down can see 11:40 where another person could squeeze in, 11:43 and so he leaves the poppet goes escorts them 11:47 to a seat get some seeded and then goes back up 11:50 and resumes preaching. Now I've never seen that 11:53 happened, but you can begin to see why people 11:56 even who disagreed with his theology 11:59 talked about his sincerity, he practiced 12:02 what he preached. 12:05 Although, he did not set an exact date. 12:07 Miller believed that Jesus would come between the 12:09 Spring of 1843 and the spring of 1844. 12:14 Based on the Jewish calendar. When the spring of 1844 12:17 past without incident the believers were 12:19 understandably disappointed. But they turned again 12:22 to God's word, had they made a mistake was 12:25 there are miscalculation. Upon the reexamination 12:29 of the evidence, they found one key point 12:31 they had missed. They had supposed 12:34 that they creed to rebuilt Jerusalem 12:35 had got into effect at the beginning of 457 B.C., which 12:39 coincided with the spring of our present day calender. 12:43 As a result, they had come to expect Jesus to return 12:46 between the spring of 1843 and the spring of 1844. However, 12:50 upon closer study they found out that the decree did 12:53 not actually going to affect until the fall of 457 BC. 12:59 2300 years from that date would be the fall of 1844. 13:04 The believers were revived. A man by the name of 13:08 Samuel Snow discovered even more evidence 13:10 to support this new date. He found that Jesus died 13:13 not only at the exact year stated in Daniel's prophecy 13:16 but he also died at passover. 13:19 At the exact time, the sacrifice were being 13:21 presented in the temple along those same lines. 13:23 He discovered that the Jews celebrated the day 13:26 of atonement the cleansing of the sanctuary 13:29 in the fall. Could it up also be expected 13:32 that God will fulfill the prophecy to cleanse 13:34 the sanctuary of the exact date as well. 13:38 In 1844, that day fell on October 22, the believers 13:45 also related the parable of the 10 versions 13:47 to their experience. They believed that 13:49 they have been in a waiting time 13:51 just before the bride groom was to appear. 13:53 They now went out with what they term 13:56 the midnight cry. Behold the bridegroom 13:59 cometh. Those early believers 14:02 were hardened in their faith. In New Hampshire, 14:04 a man by the name of Leonard Hastings 14:07 refuse to harvest his potato crop 14:09 as a decoration of his believe in christ 14:11 imminent return. Jim Nix took us to that field 14:14 and told us the story. Behind you was a field, it's 14:20 still a field there, but that was a field that played 14:22 significant part in Adventist history. 14:26 Today and tomorrow, we will be doing something 14:28 with the Miller writes as well as the early 14:30 Sabbath keepers and living in this area. 14:33 His farm was here, his house was on this side 14:35 was this man by the name of Leonard Hastings. 14:38 Now you all know the story of Leonard Hastings, 14:40 you may never have seen a picture of him 14:42 and doubtless you don't even know his name. 14:44 But you know that in the fall of 1844, there was a man 14:48 who did not dig his potatoes. He left them in the field. 14:52 Alright, his house was right here 14:53 right, where these pumped trees 14:55 is out there that is where his house was 14:57 and his field that famous field 14:59 in Adventist history is right behind this. 15:01 It's still a field, but now it's got some 15:03 stones in it, not potatoes. But this is the man. 15:07 Now you may never have heard his letter. 15:09 I love to read this to teachers especially. 15:12 I have printed it on the back side of 15:15 a photocopy of his handwritten letter 15:16 that he wrote to the orthodox church 15:18 here, the orthodox congregational church 15:21 when he asked to have his name dropped. 15:23 The reason I would like read this to teachers 15:24 is because these guys back then, 15:26 these pioneers they knew how to pack a lot 15:28 into a sentence. This whole thing is two sentences long. 15:31 Now, let me, I can't read this to you, I can't read one 15:35 sentence on one breath, but here we go September 15:37 17, 1843, believing is I do that the second advent of 15:41 the Lord in 1843 is plainly and clearly taught 15:44 in the Gospel and also the Christian perfection 15:47 or sanctification is required of us 15:49 in God's word and that in and through the 15:51 atonement of the lord Jesus there is ample provision 15:54 made for our sanctification and full redemption 15:56 in this world. And knowing as I do, 15:58 there is a church you do regret and make light 16:00 of these glorious true and ever say that men 16:03 may go on sinning to heaven and also the Christ cannot 16:05 come in the clouds of heaven these 1000 years. 16:07 I therefore feel it my duty and compliance was 16:10 what God says by John the revelator to 16:12 come out for my people that you may be 16:14 not partakers of our sins and that you receive 16:16 not our pledges, do request of you 16:19 that my name be erased from the church record as I shall 16:21 no longer consider myself a member of your church. 16:24 That was the first sentence as I say they do 16:27 you had a pack a lot in to a sentence, here is the 16:29 second one, I feel that I do this in conformity 16:31 to the requirements of the great head 16:33 of the church. And now in his name 16:35 I'll beseech you all not to make lie anymore 16:38 of the coming of the blessed lord. 16:39 For at that appointed time, he will come and not 16:42 Terry. All the unbelief of the world 16:44 will not stop him. So do get ready 16:46 by making a full consecration of yourselves 16:48 to the living God for as in the days of Noah. 16:51 So, shall the coming of the son of man be. 16:54 That was his appeal to them and of course then the 16:57 following year in October, he left those potatoes 17:01 in the field as a testimony of his faith. 17:04 He would not even dig them and sell them 17:07 and then you know the story 17:08 you've all heard the story. How potatoes blight disease. 17:11 Rotted potatoes that were dug here in New 17:13 England that fall and so in the spring 17:16 when Hastings went out into his field 17:19 apparently kicking around in the dirt little he 17:21 realize that the potatoes had not frozen 17:23 and he dug the potatoes and they were good. 17:27 And he sold them for more then he had because 17:29 all the potatoes are rotted. He sold them for more then 17:30 he would have received had he dug them in the fall. 17:33 Now if you are skeptic like I am about some 17:35 of these stories was that really 17:37 a potato blight was that really a 17:40 rot of the potatoes. Is this story could possibly be true. 17:44 Well, I want to show you a photocopy 17:46 of a paper, this was Xerox copy 17:50 that I made out of a paper that I own. So, I know 17:51 it's a good paper because I have it in my library at 17:54 home. It's the Gospel banner published in Augusta Maine 17:57 October 26, 1844, the very week of the disappointment 18:01 and it talks about the potato disease. 18:03 In fact, if you go back to old farmers 18:05 papers from that year. You'll find there was 18:09 a lot of discussion about the potato disease. 18:11 They did not know what was happening to their potatoes 18:14 except they knew they were all spoiling and 18:15 rotting. So yes the story has a very firm basis 18:18 and the man who had the faith 18:21 and left his potatoes there. As I said lived here 18:24 and had his field across the way. 18:29 Expectations arouse as the October 22nd date 18:31 neared. The thought of Christ returning moved people 18:34 to sell their businesses and pay off debts. 18:37 To leave food in the fields and orchids and harvesting, 18:39 to men broken relationships with friends and family. 18:43 And to look forward to see loved ones from whom 18:45 they have been separated by death. 18:48 Jim Nix took us to ascension rock 18:50 next to Millers farm in Low Hampton, New York. 18:53 The place where tradition says William Miller waited 18:55 with family and friends for Christ to return to earth. 18:59 We are standing on ascension rock. 19:03 Ascension rock gets the name from the fact 19:06 that we're told by members in the Miller family. 19:10 So this is the very old tradition 19:11 in the Miller family that on October 22, 19:14 1844, the Adventist in this area 19:18 came here to William Miller's farm 19:21 to this outcropping of lime stone 19:23 and here they waited for Jesus to return that day. 19:28 Now you can feel or imagine what it must have been like 19:32 back there in 1844. You have to imagine a 19:35 little now because this was the working farm. 19:37 Some of you may have seen the picture 19:39 in the display case over in the house 19:40 of how this farm even looked in 1950. 19:43 This was a working farm, so all these trees 19:45 were not here at that time. So this outcropping of rock 19:50 would have given you a view, if we didn't have these 19:52 trees here, a view from arisen to arising. 19:56 So that you could come out here 19:57 and watch for the Lord to come 20:00 on that day. Now we don't know 20:02 how many people were actually here. 20:04 There is no record, not even a rumor 20:06 of how many people gathered that particular day. 20:10 But as I was trying to describe 20:12 in the chapel earlier it must have been 20:15 something very special to be here or in a grove 20:18 or in a church somewhere that day. 20:22 Believing that after all these years 20:25 preaching then being left at by your neighbors 20:27 and scorn ridicule Jesus was finally coming on this day. 20:33 And then what a disappointment 20:35 and you can see why they called it as a great 20:37 disappointment. Just one illustration to help you 20:41 realize why they call the great 20:43 disappointment. Charles Fitch one of 20:46 the prominent Millerite leaders who had been 20:50 preaching in September. He was, he did a Baptism 20:53 in a lake, he caught a cold and he died 20:56 Monday, October 14th, so just a weak 20:59 and a day before. His obituary 21:02 was sent to the editor of the Millerite paper, 21:05 The Midnight Cry, and it didn't arrive 21:08 in time to get into that October 19th issue 21:10 the last issue that came out 21:11 before October 22. So it was published in the 21:14 next issue, which came out October 30 21:17 a little over a week late, but let's give the editor 21:21 a little bit of slack, he expected to be in heaven 21:23 he had not thought about putting out another paper. 21:25 So, it was few days late getting that next issue out 21:27 we can understand, but Charles Fitch is 21:29 obituary in there, talks about his illness, 21:32 talks about his death, and in the last sentence 21:35 of that obituary gives us an insight 21:38 into what it must have been like 21:39 and why it was called the great disappointment. 21:41 Is that last sentence said that his widow 21:44 and fatherless children are now at Cleveland 21:47 confidently expecting the soon return of our Lord. 21:52 And that doesn't take a lot of imagination 21:53 does it to picture that funeral. 21:55 Mrs. Fitch, the children and she says to those 21:59 children who were crying their by the casket 22:01 of their father, don't cry next Tuesday when Jesus 22:05 comes we'll see Papa again. And you could begin to 22:09 understand why it came to be known as 22:11 the great disappointment. 22:14 Now after the spring disappointment 22:16 spring of 1844, the first one that I talked about earlier 22:20 William Miller who is a poet, 22:21 I don't know if you knew that 22:23 William Miller wrote poetry, wrote number of poems 22:25 but he wrote one expressing his disappointment 22:28 in the spring of 1844 just three stanzas 22:31 I would like to read it to you. 22:33 How tedious and lonesome the hours, 22:35 While Jesus my Savior delays. 22:37 I've sought Him in Solitude's bowers, 22:40 And looked for Him all the long days. 22:44 Yet He lingers. I pray tell me why 22:46 His chariot no sooner returns? 22:47 To see Him in clouds of the sky 22:50 My soul with intensity burns. 22:53 I long to be with Him at home, 22:54 My heart swallowed up in His love. 22:57 On the fields of New Eden to roam. 23:00 And to dwell with my Savior above. 23:10 The day after October 22nd got great disappointment in 23:12 the ranks of the Millerites what had gone wrong? 23:16 The evidence was so strong soon after the event. 23:19 William Miller sent a letter sharing his feelings 23:21 on the topic. Historian John Wood 23:24 shares that letter. Eight days after the 23:28 so called great disappointment 23:29 and Christ hadn't come on the day of atonement 23:33 as figured in the Karaite calendar 23:35 in 1844, he wrote a letter that did indeed 23:39 go to The Midnight Cry stating his position 23:42 On what had happened in October of 1844, 23:47 This is significant I want to read one 23:49 statement from the letter. This is a test 23:58 to them who look for him he will appear second time 24:00 without sin unto salvation 24:03 I must and will submit for God is good 24:06 that he knows the day. I pray that you have the 24:11 Spirit of God in your convention 24:13 referring to New York City and ask an interest 24:15 in your prayers that I maybe resign 24:17 would ever comes. My hope is strong 24:20 and my faith in 1844 has waved not, 24:24 come Jesus come. What's interesting here is 24:32 that immediately after the disappointment 24:33 Miller was still holding to the idea that 24:37 something significant happened in 1844. 24:42 Soon after the disappointment 24:43 Hiram Edson gathered with some friends 24:45 to pray earnestly that the Lord would show 24:47 them why he had not come. 24:50 Later, while crossing the field with the friend 24:52 Hiram stopped in his tracks, 24:54 it was as if God was directing his mind 24:56 to an important event that have taken place 24:58 in heaven. In Old testament times 25:02 the Lord directed Moses to set up a sanctuary, 25:04 an earthly temple as a copy of the heavenly 25:06 one shown him. This structure and it's services 25:10 were designed to illustrate how God had chosen to 25:12 deal with sin. As part of the service a lamb 25:15 was slain for the sinner. The Millerite saw this 25:19 as a representation of Christ died and pass over. 25:22 But that was only part of the ceremonies 25:24 associated with the sanctuary. 25:27 Once a year, the high priest would enter the most 25:29 Holy place to make final atonement for sin. 25:33 In a way, it was final judgment of sin. 25:35 Those Israelites who refuse participate will 25:38 cut off among the people. By studying references 25:42 to the sanctuary found in scripture 25:43 the Millerites will let to believe 25:45 that after Christ arose to heaven. 25:47 He entered the Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary 25:51 October 22nd was now seen as the time 25:54 when he left the Holy place to enter the final phase 25:57 of his work. A work of judgment 25:59 in the most Holy place. They now saw 26:02 that instead of Christ returning to cleanse 26:04 earth with fire as they had first believed. 26:06 It actually entered the most Holy place of heaven 26:09 to begin a special cleansing work there 26:12 The final phase of judgment before he would 26:14 return to earth to a award the righteous. 26:18 Through the experience of the great disappointment 26:20 a group of believers was to be formed, 26:22 today it is known as the Seventh-Day 26:24 Adventist Church. A church whose doctrines 26:27 are the result of much Bible study and prayer. 26:31 As Adventist we continue to look forward 26:33 to the soon coming of our savior. 26:36 And although we know not the day or hour 26:37 of his coming. We are certain of one thing. 26:41 He is coming again. If you would like 26:44 more information and the Biblical references used 26:46 to support the doctrines presented in this program. 26:49 Please write to 3ABN P.O. Box 220 26:52 West Frankfort, IL 62896 or call 1-800-752-3226 27:01 and ask for the second coming offer. 27:13 Jim Nix took us to many other sites of historical 27:16 Adventist interest. It was in the Washington 27:18 New Hampshire area that we discovered the birth place 27:20 of the present day Seventh Day Adventist Church. 27:23 Jim Nix tell the story. Okay, this Church was built 27:27 in 1842, it was at that time a Christian connection church. 27:33 This was a group of sort of independent churches 27:37 that kind of agreed on the theology 27:39 and the members and this into the western community 27:41 decided they wanted to build church. 27:43 Now, we went by the church up there on the town green 27:46 that's were other people work the other end of the 27:48 community, but this was the forming community 27:50 down here there was no church, so they 27:51 this built church in 1842. Shortly thereafter, 27:55 the Millerite movement came through this part of 27:57 New Hampshire and the majority of this church 27:59 the members became Millerite Adventist. 28:02 So, now we have Christians who are Millerites 28:06 they have an ------ minister 28:09 one who lived over in Hillsborough. 28:11 His name was Frederick Wheeler 28:12 he would come through here occasionally 28:14 on Sunday and he would be holding services 28:17 in his church. Now I realized this picture 28:19 Of Fredrick Wheeler makes him look very old. 28:22 He lived to be 99, but in the 1840s he was in his 30s, 28:25 so if you just darken up the beard and take it clear off 28:28 in your imagination that you can picture how 28:30 he would have looked on a Sunday when he was here 28:33 preaching in this church people would come. 28:35 Now the winter of 1843, 1844, there was a widow 28:40 who came to this community, you all know her name. 28:42 Rachel Oaks or sometimes you've heard as 28:45 Rachel Oaks Preston, she came as a widow 28:49 and she found the man. Oh! She found someone to get 28:52 married to here by the name of Nathan T. Preston 28:55 and so she left here as Rachel Oaks Preston 28:57 but she became Rachel Oaks. Her daughter Delight Oaks 29:00 was invited to be local school teacher 29:02 and so we have a picture of Rachel Oaks here. 29:07 Here she is, this lady was The Seventh-Day Baptist. 29:11 She was not a Millerite, but she was Seventh-Day Baptist 29:14 and since she was here and had her room 29:17 apparently listed daughter room for a while 29:19 or rented a room from Cyrus Farnsworth 29:21 who live not too far over here. 29:24 One of the early members of this congregation, why 29:27 probably that's were Rachel would have stayed also and so 29:31 said she was closes to this church 29:32 on Sundays even though she was a good Sabbath 29:35 Keeper. She was a Seventh-Day Baptist. 29:37 She would come to this church 29:38 for Christian fellowship, she kept Sabbath at home, 29:43 don't misunderstand, she kept Sabbath 29:44 but then she came here to be with other Christians. 29:47 and that's how come during that winter of 1843 29:51 and 1844 probably late 1843 when Fredrick Wheeler 29:57 was here preaching a community sermon. 30:00 Rachel Oaks was also here sitting on somewhere 30:03 on this side of the church this was the ladies side 30:05 of the church, there is was the men side over here. 30:09 So, she was sitting over here somewhere 30:13 and she can hardly keep her seat 30:14 when Fredrick Wheeler you know the story, 30:16 I'm just reviewing it since it happened here. 30:18 Fredrick Wheeler announced to the congregation 30:21 that all of those who planned on participating 30:24 in the community service that day 30:26 should be keepers of God's Ten Commandments 30:30 and here is this good Seventh-Day Baptist 30:32 sitting there on Sunday listening to the preacher 30:34 you can imagine, she can hardly keep her seat, 30:37 but she apparently did and eventually she met him 30:40 later in the week in town somewhere 30:43 and she said I ---- to talk with you 30:46 and she gave him a Bible study 30:47 probably gave him some tracks too 30:48 I don't know for sure. And Fredrick Wheeler then 30:51 being a good honest soul he studied it out 30:54 and he decided that she was correct, 30:56 the Biblical evidence supported the Seventh-Day 30:59 as the day, we should worship on. 31:02 And so not here, but according to his son 31:05 George Wheeler in a memory statement 31:07 the first sermon that Fredrick Wheeler 31:09 preached was over in Hillsborough 31:11 on March 16, 1844 that was his first sermon 31:16 advocating the Seventh Day Sabbath. 31:18 Now, not much was said about the Seventh Day 31:20 Sabbath in the Millerite Movement. Oh! There are 31:22 some articles that appear in the fall not too 31:25 just a few weeks before October 22. 31:27 There is a couple of articles that appear 31:29 so that we know there was some agitation going on 31:31 here there was apparently some there may have been 31:33 some elsewhere, but the feeling of the Millerites 31:36 was we are focusing on one thing, Jesus is coming. 31:38 We don't want anything that gives us any 31:41 doctrine or division and they were sure about the 31:43 Sabbath and so Jesus is coming that were focus on 31:46 and if we are supposed to keep Sabbath. 31:48 In a few weeks, we'll all be keeping it in heaven 31:50 that's fine, if we are not suppose to and 31:52 it's not that significant, well then it was fine too. 31:54 So, there was not much said about the Sabbath. 31:57 After the disappointment of October 22, 1844 32:01 of course the pioneers went back to their Bibles 32:03 trying to discover why Jesus hadn't come 32:07 and they discovered other things too not just 32:09 the answer to that question. One of the things 32:12 they studied and decided, our pioneers decided was 32:16 about the Seventh Day Sabbath. 32:18 Anyway, William Farnsworth have been studied 32:20 thinking about the Sabbath and according to his son 32:24 in January of 1845 sitting in this church 32:30 on the Sunday morning maybe the congregation 32:32 is still Sunday keepers he stands up 32:34 and he said that his forth he and his family. 32:38 Now, at that point all 22 have been born, but 32:40 there was several small Farnsworth's here by there. 32:43 That he and his family will going to keep the Seventh 32:46 Day Sabbath and William's younger brother Cyrus stood 32:49 up and said he was going to do the same thing 32:51 and the parents Daniel and Patty Farnsworth, we don't 32:54 have a picture of the mother, but there is a father 32:56 Daniel Farnsworth, the Farnsworth and 32:59 few other stood up and said they will be 33:01 Sabbath Keepers. Now that divided the 33:03 congregation. The majority of the congregation 33:06 did not want to keep the Seventh Day Sabbath. 33:10 So, this church became the oldest Sabbath keeping 33:16 Adventist congregation because few of the members 33:19 were often met at homes on Sabbath, but the majority 33:23 of the congregation remains Sunday keepers. 33:26 So the building itself remain the Sunday keeping church. 33:30 And we don't know exactly what a change has, 33:32 but by 1862 at the latest somewhere between about 33:34 1857 and 1862 this had changed the majority 33:38 of the Sunday keepers had left, 33:39 remember these were typical knowing the church is back 33:42 in those days and the people have build the church 33:44 own the church embody into it, owned it. 33:47 So when the majority had left and so lot, and now with the 33:50 majority, the new majority were Sabbath keepers 33:54 and so this became the Seventh Day Adventist church. 33:56 So, this is not our oldest Seventh Day Adventist church 33:59 as such because it doesn't become one until about 34:02 1862, so there is somewhere in there. 34:06 But it is the oldest congregation of Sabbath 34:08 keeping Adventist to this day 34:09 if you come here formal about mid May 34:12 until all mid October there is a group 34:16 that meets here. Now, from this church 34:18 several things well not several because Sabbath 34:22 went out from this church and I see if I can help 34:26 put it together for you quickly. 34:30 We have never been able to Prove, where T. M Prebble 34:33 as I say William Seventh Adventist historians have 34:35 never been able to prove conclusively where T. M. 34:39 Prebble obtained the Sabbath idea. T. M. Prebble 34:43 lived over here in ---- New Hampshire 34:45 which is not very far from Hillsborough 34:47 where Fredrick Wheeler lived and Fredrick Wheeler being a 34:51 good itinerant minister if he is gonna be talking 34:54 with other pastors where what's one of the things 34:57 he would be talking about, he would be talking about 34:59 the Seventh Day Sabbath and Prebble became the 35:03 Sabbath Keeper in the summer of 1844, 35:06 so he became a Sabbath Keeper before Fredrick Wheeler, 35:08 I mean before William Farnsworth stood up 35:10 here in January 1845, he became the Sabbath keeper. 35:16 He wrote a pamphlet which we already showed you 35:18 it was there at Paris Hill it was an article 35:21 that was printed in the hope of Israel 35:23 came out February 28, 1845 then it was reprinted in 35:26 pamphlet form, but now we are gonna think about 35:28 the other form that came out first 35:29 the article in the hope of Israel. 35:31 One of subscribers at the hope of Israel 35:33 which is published at Portland Maine, the ones 35:35 subscribers was Joseph Bates 35:37 down on the coast of Massachusetts 35:39 living it ---, he reads it he looks up all the text 35:43 he is convinced that the Seventh Day Sabbath is correct. 35:47 Now as soon as it warming up at least I don't why I said 35:53 that because I've never seen Father Joseph Bates 35:55 but anyway in the spring later in the spring 35:58 maybe took it little while to look up at the text. 36:00 He decided he wanted to come up here and learn more 36:03 about the Sabbath. Now he apparently knew 36:07 something that we didn't know because even though he had 36:09 read T.M. Prebble's article when he came up here 36:13 and some of you would know the story. 36:14 No he did not go to the Prebble's house, 36:18 where did he gone to. He came to Hillsborough 36:19 not wonder he walked whether he wrote the stage 36:21 coach how he got it we don't know 36:23 he given away most all of his money 36:24 as a Millerite so he may not have stage coach fair 36:27 to walk a 100 miles ------ faced him 36:29 at all, he did much more in that way 36:31 later on, so I gonna face him at all. 36:33 But he came up here got to Hillsborough about 36:36 10'o clock at night, knocked on the door 36:39 you can see a sleepy eye of Fredrick Wheeler 36:41 getting up, wondering who the world is at his door 36:43 at 10'o clock lighting a lamp 36:45 ----- called But whatever candle 36:50 whatever he happened to have going there to the door 36:53 and here is Joseph Bates all that's we say 36:54 bright eye bushy tail here he is already 36:56 he has walk through come there 100 miles and he is ready 37:00 for a Bible study. Fredrick Wheeler was up 37:04 to it, he had his Bible and the two men 37:06 studied about the Sabbath all night, the next day 37:10 they came over here to Sabbath at Farnsworth house 37:11 and in front of the under the two Maple trees 37:15 that stood until 1988 and that blown down in storm. 37:18 They studied some more on Sabbath 37:21 and then Joseph Bates get to back home. 37:24 He found what he came for, 37:26 so 100 miles back and again we don't know 37:28 whether he walk to took the stage or having other 37:30 took the train having back down, 37:32 but he came into the --- and you all 37:35 refer the story how he was walking across that old 37:37 wood frame bridge that used to cross the good steam river. 37:40 He met a friend a very patriotic man 37:43 Janice Madison Monroe now brother hall 37:47 knew he was a neighbor or friend 37:48 of Bates. He knew Bates have been out of town 37:50 and seeing round back in those day everybody knew 37:52 what everybody else was doing in small town and all. 37:54 He knew Bates wasn't around, so when he saw down 37:56 the bridge he hailed him Captain Bates what's the news 38:01 and what was Bates response. The news is Seventh Day 38:03 Sabbath. Come on rest of knew that story. 38:06 The news is the Seventh Day, that' right, 38:09 Sabbath Day is the Sabbath. 38:10 That was the most exciting thing, 38:11 he just come 100 miles 38:12 back there you know, he would thought 38:13 he can proudly said something else because that was most 38:15 exciting that he knew the seventh day is a Sabbath. 38:19 See we need little enthusiastic. 38:20 Miller and Bates also used to say that. 38:21 Now we talk about and we used to say 38:22 ---- bless at hope, but Spicer says that 38:26 Bates had another saying ever Bates used to go around 38:28 and say Oh! How I do love this Sabbath. 38:31 Bates is a Sabbath keeper, but his wife proves is not. 38:38 Proved that Bates does not accept the Sabbath 38:40 until 1850 and she is a beautiful wife. 38:43 Have you seen the picture of Prudence 38:44 before this, there is only one known picture 38:45 that I am aware of may just 38:46 that I remember maybe another one 38:48 and this one around here of proves base he called 38:51 her pretty. Now you know, the famous story 38:54 well, first we got to getting writing his first edition 38:56 of the Sabbath track 1846 he has read Prebble 39:00 he now wants to say more then what Prebble did 39:03 so he brings out a larger track. Somewhere in all these files. 39:09 I have a photocopy of that track 39:12 very rare maybe two or three originals 39:15 in existence so this is the photocopy 39:17 of his 1846 track. He set one of these, 39:20 now he has gone there in Massachusetts. 39:22 He set one of these up to the newly weds 39:24 James and Ellen White got married in Portland Maine 39:26 in August 30, 1846 and they read in sometime 39:29 in September or October anyway early fall, late 39:33 Summer, early fall of 1846 they accepted the Sabbath. 39:35 Not based on vision, --- critics like 39:38 to say that we base all of our doctrines on vision. 39:40 Not based on a vision, based on the text 39:43 in this pamphlet. And they studied out in the scriptures. 39:49 It wasn't until April of 1847 that talk so much she had to 39:52 Halo of glory vision about the Sabbath. 39:56 And seeing there is the -- have been sanctuary. 39:58 Now based well so you're not be going down there 40:02 to fair even, let me just remind you of another story 40:05 about Joseph Bates this man of such think, 40:08 I mean he had incredible faith. Joseph Bates decides 40:15 he needs to write another track in 1847. 40:19 That thing brought up to six or seven 40:21 I forgot which tracks altogether 40:23 in the 1840's. Joseph Bates decides 40:26 to write another track, but he has no money 40:27 and again you know the story, it is just 40:29 quick review. And so he is sitting there on his desk 40:33 thinking and his wife comes in and she says to him. 40:36 Joseph I need to do some baking, 40:39 but I don't have any flour how much flour do you need 40:44 about 4 pounds, she responded 40:47 and so he got up left went down to the store 40:49 and there he bought 4 pounds of flour 40:51 and he came back home and gave to his wife Prudence. 40:56 She exclaimed, she was quite surprised. 40:58 She exclaims why did you bring 4 pounds. 41:00 Now see she was used to her husband went 41:03 he would always buy a barrel of flour. 41:05 Now it is just 4 pounds and so for the first time 41:11 in her life she finds out what their financial 41:13 condition really is. He said for that 4 pounds 41:17 I spend the last money that I had on earth. 41:20 These are one of these things -----. 41:23 Now she says to her husband what we going to do? 41:27 and so I'm on the right track. 41:29 Yeah, what are we going to do, I think 41:30 she probably met. What you're gonna do 41:31 about getting up off, you know, what and going 41:33 to work and get some money he was going to write the track 41:38 How we are gonna live and Joseph Bates 41:42 stock answer from the bottom of his heart 41:46 the Lord will provide. Now let you know all he say 41:49 and she went into have a good cry 41:50 according to the old story. Joseph Bates as you know 41:53 was sitting there on his desk and he had the 41:56 impression that there was a letter for him 41:59 at the post office. No home delivery 42:01 in those days, so he went to post office 42:03 he asked the postmaster if there was any mail for him. 42:08 You picture in your mind the postmaster going to all 42:10 of those slots ---- stock places 42:12 that they used to do pull it out 42:13 you know, look through it yes here's one 42:16 5 cents postage do. Now this is the type of 42:20 letters we have in United States back in those days 42:22 unless you are somebody rich and fancy you just took 42:25 a piece of paper you wrote the letter on the inside 42:27 and then you fold it up and then you addressed 42:30 it on the outside and before the ---- start issuing 42:33 stamps you could send the letter out 42:35 two ways either you could pay the postage 42:37 ahead of time and then the postmaster would 42:40 mark paid on the envelope and that man when you 42:43 went to the post office to pick the mail 42:45 it was already paid you got for free 42:47 but in often letter a lot of letters are set like this 42:50 you just took it out and you dropped it into mailbox. 42:52 Then the person of the other hand 42:54 had to decide whether or not it was worth to 42:56 hear from this person. And if you do want here from 42:58 it wasn't worth not too much. 43:00 You just left with the postmaster 43:02 and it went to that letter box. 43:04 Well, Bates was interested in hearing for this person 43:06 because he had been impressed that there was money in there. 43:08 But, he had no money himself and so he said to 43:11 the postmaster, I think there is money in there 43:14 in the envelope if you open it 43:17 and take out the postage do if there is any money 43:20 then I'll take the balance. and sure enough postmaster 43:24 opened the envelope and there was $10 dollar bill in it. 43:28 It was a lot of money in that time 43:30 and we are talking about 50 cents a day 43:31 was a average wage for any worker 43:33 for common worker in the United States 43:35 would earn. So, it's a pretty good size donation 43:36 already said in wrote letters ----- impressed 43:40 to send you this money to help in your ministry. 43:43 So Bates paid 5 cents, we didn't have nickels 43:45 in those days, but have these things half dollar 43:47 of 1847 of time. So he paid to five cents 43:50 to the postmaster. He took his 9 dollars and 95 cents. 43:53 He goes back to the store. If you don't think these 43:56 pioneers had a sense of humor 43:59 you listen to the rest of the story. 44:00 He went back to the store he brought now a whole 44:02 barrel of flour, he brought some other things 44:04 then he said to the delivery boy 44:06 you take this stuff down he given the address 44:09 and he said now the women in the house 44:11 you see you know your spouse 44:13 you know, how you gonna react 44:14 Joseph Bates knew what is gonna happen 44:15 he said now the women in the house is going to come out 44:17 and she is going to tell you this stuff doesn't 44:19 belong there, but you leave it anyway 44:24 and so then he want to make certain that this whole 44:25 scenario had time to workout, 44:28 so he walked across that same little 44:30 on bridge -- over the --- 44:32 He went over to Mr. Benchman Lenzy 44:34 who was a printer there same printer who had printed 44:36 his first track for Sabbath track 44:39 and he arranged, he brought some paper 44:41 and pen, more ink whatever needed to write 44:45 and then he arranged with Mr. Lenzy 44:48 that he would make some payments on this 44:50 pamphlet until he would paid off 44:53 and in fact who himself now I am sure all the scenario 44:57 you know the delivery boy been there and the wife 44:58 all have been flustered about this and 45:00 now its all fine I can go home. 45:02 So, he walks back innocently of course you know, 45:05 back across the bridge slips in a side door 45:09 sits down as he tells his wife is there 45:12 but it's not true all before she goes back the door 45:13 and she sees her husband sitting at his desk 45:15 and you can imagine what a tizzy she was it. 45:18 She said Joseph, yes what happened while you've gone 45:22 and with this trader face he says you keep 45:24 he said, no I have no idea what do you think 45:27 what, what happened one delivery boy 45:30 came and he brought some flour 45:31 and he brought some other things 45:32 and I tried to tell him it didn't belong here 45:34 and we didn't have any money Joseph said that my dear 45:39 didn't I tell you that the Lord will provide. 45:41 Yes, but how we are going to pay for it 45:44 and he handed her that letter where this person 45:45 sent through post we've find $10 dollars 45:47 I felt impress by God to send you this little 45:51 gift to help with your ministry. 45:53 And the whole story tells us the Prudence shown off 45:55 to have another cry. This time a bit different 45:58 than it was before. The early pioneers 46:01 lived in harder times not only was money 46:04 scares, but the lack of medical knowledge 46:06 made life very painful at times. 46:09 The older Nix took us to the house in Thompson Maine 46:11 where something particularly tragic happen to Ellen White 46:15 one of the cofounders of the church. 46:18 And then James and Ellen White 46:19 rock the boys up here to Thompson 46:22 and they left Henry and Edson the others 46:26 really they left the three boys with the ----- 46:30 while they went traveling to visit churches here 46:34 in Maine and you'll recall that one of the things 46:38 that James White assigned the boys to do 46:41 while they were here was to take these charts. 46:44 Now most of the charts that we printed 46:46 back in those early days were printed right on cloth 46:49 this particular chart was not it was printed on paper 46:51 and then had to be glued to canvas and so James 46:54 White informed the boys that they should glue these 46:57 paper charts down to this canvas backing. 47:01 And they left the whole stock of these things 47:03 that would be done. Now apparently 47:06 as you know the river is right hand, we just crossed the bridge 47:09 so apparently at that time in season they were 47:11 floating logs down the river 47:14 and Henry and Edson would like to go down 47:15 and watch and so they would do that 47:20 in between they are working on these charts. 47:25 Now I am not exactly sure what happened, 47:26 but someway it sticks in my mind I should 47:29 review this, this morning, but it sticks in my mind 47:32 that they would take these charts when they were gluing 47:36 them and they would put piece of damp cloth in between. 47:40 So, that they would dry evenly the whole thing 47:43 anyway after the boys have been down there 47:45 playing along the river and watching these big logs 47:48 at the woods been cutting down and floating 47:50 down the river at the sawmills, while the boys 47:52 came back and apparently Edson laid down to take 47:57 little nap one some of these wet clothes. 47:59 Anyway whatever it was he caught cold, Henry, I'm sorry 48:03 Henry got a cold and eventually it turned into 48:08 pneumonia. Now James and Ellen White were all traveling 48:09 at the churches, no telephones back in those days 48:12 you couldn't call and say there is a problem 48:14 or anything like that, but James White had 48:16 an impression that there was something wrong with the boys 48:18 so he told to Ellen that they needed to get home. 48:21 Get back here to Thompson and so they came 48:24 and the account says that Edson and Henry 48:29 really they were all at the train station 48:30 to meet the parents when they came in, 48:32 everybody seem to be fine maybe Henry had little cough 48:35 but everything seem to be fine 48:37 but within just a very short time 48:38 it was obvious that he was very ill and 48:42 had pneumonia and he died here in this house in 1863. 48:47 Here is a picture of Henry Ellen White 48:48 called her first born her sweat singer 48:52 he was very musically like to play the melodeon 48:54 he sang and this is a picture of Henry White, 48:57 Ellen White first born died at the age of 16. 49:02 He is buried in Battle Creek Michigan 49:05 next to his youngest brother little baby Hoover 49:08 who died in 1860. The funeral was held there 49:12 in Battle Creek and then the next year 49:15 the funeral program live sketch letters that 49:19 were written, letters of condolence that were written 49:21 to James and Ellen White were all printed 49:23 in little book. Paul appeal to the youth 49:26 this is published in 1864 it has you arise 49:29 miss funeral sermon for Henry has an old picture 49:33 of Henry in the cover in the front of the book. 49:37 But this little book is a reminder to us 49:40 again that these people were very, very human 49:44 here and they lost their first born 49:47 they have lost their youngest. 49:48 I was talking one time with Ellen White's 49:50 youngest granddaughter Grace White ---. 49:54 she is still living. She is a 94 years of age. 49:59 and she told me that she was 15 when her 50:01 grandmother died, so she had lot of memories 50:03 of her grandmother, she told me that the only 50:04 time she could recall her grandmother 50:06 every being upset about something 50:09 really agitated about something 50:10 she said one time her grandmother was talking 50:13 to her daughter-in-law that would be Grace's 50:16 mother may Willy second wife remember 50:19 Willy's first wife died in tuberculosis in 1890 50:22 and he married 1895. So Ellen White was talking 50:25 to her daughter-in-law and she said to her 50:27 may if we had known then what we know now 50:32 we could have saved Henry. Typical again what you 50:36 would expect here is a mother 50 years after the death 50:39 of her first born still grieving over the loss 50:42 of her first born son. And Grace said as her 50:46 grandmother was saying this she was ringing her hands 50:48 that she was saying if we knew then what we know 50:50 now we could save Henry. 50:54 The spirit of Evangelism was strong in the hearts 50:56 of those early believers. Ellen White had a twin 50:59 sister that she was anxious to win for Christ. 51:01 In God name other next holders of her way 51:05 that she attempted to reach her sister. 51:08 This is from selected messages book II, 51:09 page 260 as a little influence come forth immortal 51:15 from the dusty beds they immediately wing their way 51:18 to their mother arms. They meet again 51:21 never mortal part, but many of the little ones 51:23 have no mother there. We listen in vein for the 51:26 rapture song of triam from the mother. 51:29 The angels received the motherless infants 51:31 and conduct them to the tree of life. 51:35 Jesus places the golden ring of light 51:37 the crown upon their little heads. 51:40 God grant that the dear mother of Eva 51:42 may be there that her little wings maybe folded upon 51:46 the ---- of her mother. 51:49 Now, if you ever read that quotation 51:50 if you discussed in class the ministers here 51:53 in class of the seminary and wondered exactly 51:56 what theologically that's all about. 52:00 Let's put it now historical respective not theological. 52:03 Okay, Ellen's niece Eva dies, Ellen's sister 52:12 Lizzy is not a Professing Christian 52:17 and a twin appealing as an evangelist 52:22 whatever you else you may think of Ellen White 52:24 she was first and foremost an evangelist. 52:27 She will use anything that she can litigable 52:30 think of to try to influence another person. 52:34 She takes the death of her little six week old niece Eva 52:39 and writes to her sister and says God grant 52:42 that the mother of baby Eva will be here. 52:45 Hoping against hope that maybe that, that hope 52:50 would convince Lizzy to accept Jesus. 52:54 From a human standpoint the sister reaching out 52:58 to a twin trying to find another way 53:01 to get a twin to accept Jesus. 53:06 We also visited the grave side 53:07 of a man who used his tomb stones 53:09 to testify of his faith. It's known as the tomb stone 53:12 of the man who died twice. 53:15 Again here is Jim Nix. Here in the Varney Cemetery 53:19 in Brunswick, Maine is an interesting grave. 53:24 You can see its George Cob it's known locally 53:26 as the grave of the man who died twice 53:28 you look at the wording there born June 10, 1794, 53:31 died November 10, 1843 and then at age 88 years 53:36 he fell asleep May 9, 1882. So you can see why its 53:41 referred to is the grave stone of the man that died twice. 53:45 I have been told it's in Ripley's believe it 53:47 or not, I have never looked at up. 53:48 So I don't know if that's true, but I have heard that. 53:50 George Cobb was James White's foremen 53:53 when he was down cutting stone on the road 53:55 cut just north of Freeport where we were few minutes ago. 53:59 And he apparently became a Millerite, it look like 54:02 there November 10, 1843 that's when he died 54:05 to his whole life. He is died to the life of sin, 54:09 but he fell asleep in Jesus because James White 54:11 converted him to our believes 54:14 and so he fell asleep in Jesus May 9, 1882. 54:17 You notice at the top Even though its almost 54:19 gone out, so faith is the Sabbath commandment 54:22 remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. 54:25 Those pioneers believe when they believed 54:27 they even left money to have their tomb stones 54:30 erected to testify their faith, 54:32 their actions everything they did 54:34 was to testify the faith that they hail so dear. 54:39 Our tour of Adventist history ended at 54:41 William Millers grave near his house 54:43 in Low Hampton, New York. 54:45 Miller died five years after the great disappointment 54:47 of 1844, but still strong in the faith 54:50 that Jesus would return. This famous quotation from 54:55 early writings that you're all familiar with. 54:59 I think is a fitting way to close this is from early 55:01 writings page 258 and talks about 55:04 this pioneer who did not come to some of the 55:09 understandings that we did, but of course died 55:11 as I mentioned fully expecting his best friend 55:14 Jesus to return. God suffered him to fall under the power 55:17 of Satan, Ellen White wrote, the dominion of death, 55:20 and hid him in the grave from those who were 55:22 constantly drawing him from the truth. 55:24 Moses erred as he was about to enter the 55:26 Promised land. So also I saw that William Miller erred 55:29 as he was soon to enter the heavenly Canaan, 55:32 in suffering his influence to go against the truth. 55:35 Others led him to this, others must account for it. 55:39 But angels watch the precious dust of this servant of God, 55:43 and he will come forth at the sound of the last trump. 55:48 As we gathered around the place were 55:51 William Miller rests, awaiting to be raised 55:53 When Christ returns. We thought of the trials 55:55 and joys of the early Adventist had gone through. 55:58 and looked forward to meeting them in person 56:00 at the second coming. As we stood together 56:03 we joined and singing to him lift up the trumpet. 56:08 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring: 56:12 Jesus is coming again! 56:16 Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing: 56:22 Jesus is coming again! 56:26 Coming again, coming again, 56:32 Jesus is coming again! |
Revised 2014-12-17