William Miller (1782–1849), a lay Bible student (later a Baptist preacher), predicted that Christ would return to earth some time between 21 March 1843 and 21 March 1844. One of Miller’s followers postponed the date to 22 October 1844. When Christ did not return on that day, however, there was ‘great disappointment’.
Anthony Hoekema, “Seventh-Day Adventism,” in Sinclair B. Ferguson and J.I. Packer ed. New Dictionary of Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 637.
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He is professor emeritus of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California, where he taught for 29 years. He also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007 and the Heidelcast since 2009.
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Yes, but he was sincere and meant well. That’s what really counts, right?
Sounds like these folks fell for the rationalization that while we can’t know the “day or the hour” but we might be able to figure out the year! If we can’t know the one, why attempt the other?