1844 and the
Movement of Destiny
Lanz Cameron Khrystoffer D. Ege
Bible Teacher
Mindanao Mission Academy
We have learned that the 2,300day prophecy of Daniel 8 ended
in the year 1844
Since then, we have been living in “The Time of the End”
(Dan. 8:17) or the time just before the Second Coming of
Christ.
We have learned that in 1844, Christ
cleanses the sanctuary in heaven –
doing the work of the high priest during
the Day of Atonement.
However, as we have learned in our previous lessons
there are two Sanctuaries – one on earth, one in heaven.
If Christ is cleansing the Sanctuary in
heaven in 1844, there must be a work
of cleansing, and restoration of the
truths of the “everlasting gospel.”
(Rev. 14:6)
For the purpose of preparing a people fit to
meet the Lord in the air when He comes!
The Book of Revelation speaks about God’s lastday church
Let’s travel back to the
world of the 1840’s
The world after 1798 and especially during the
1840’s was a period of change and optimism
In the events of 1798 and the French Revolution, people thought
it would be the end of religion and the rise of liberal ideas and
atheism
The United States of America came to existence and promised a
government without a king and a church without a pope –
freedom to worship and the separation between church and
state.
Philosophers such as Nietszche, Kant, Mill, and Marx
further promoted secular, humanistic, atheistic ideas –
dismissing the existence of God
In 1844, Charles Darwin finished the first draft of his book
– the Origin of Species and introduced the idea of
evolution in the world of science
The Seminaries during this time was mute on the idea of the
Second Coming of Christ and started to introduce a liberal or
“progressive” way of understanding the Bible
Around this time, the Fox Sisters claimed to have communicated
with spirits of the dead and introduced what is now called Modern
Spiritualism.
In July 1844, the Mormon “prophet” and founder Joseph Smith
was killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.
Our world today is largely
affected by the events that
happened during the 1840’s
If the Lord was indeed going to do something around this time to prepare a
people for His coming, it seems as though the Devil also introduced ideas
and people to divert people’s attention from the Bible.
But God has
other plans. . .
Around this time, there was also the Second Great Awakening happening in America
during this time. Millions were led to a more serious devotional life and a genuine
relationship with the Lord. Millions were converted during this time period
Around this time, people were beginning to study the prophecies found in
Daniel and the Revelation exactly as predicted in Dan. 12:4 and Rev. 10: 511.
The Advent Revival led by William Miller, a revival that focused on the
books of Daniel and Revelation united people from different churches to
prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.
Miller’s study of Daniel 8:14 amongst others, led him to conclude
that something was about to happen in 1844!
However, Miller thought that the sanctuary that was to be
cleansed was the earth and concluded that Jesus was coming to
earth on October 22, 1844.
“Of all the great religious movements since the days of the apostles, none
have been more free from human imperfection and the wiles of Satan
than was that of the autumn of 1844. Even now, after the lapse of many
years, all who shared in that movement and who have stood firm upon the
platform of truth still feel the holy influence of that blessed work and bear
witness that it was of God.” (The Great Controversy, p. 401)
“The preaching of definite time called forth great opposition from all
classes, from the minister in the pulpit down to the most reckless, heavendaring sinner. “No man knoweth the day nor the hour,” was heard from the
hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. Neither would be instructed and
corrected by those who were pointing to the year when they believed the
prophetic periods would run out, and to the signs which showed Christ near,
even at the doors. . .
God's all-seeing eye read their hearts. They did not love Jesus near. They
knew that their unchristian lives would not stand the test, for they were
not walking in the humble path marked out by Him. These false shepherds
stood in the way of the work of God. The truth spoken in its convincing
power aroused the people, and like the jailer, they began to inquire, “What
must I do to be saved?” But these shepherds stepped in between the truth
and the people, and preached smooth things to lead them from the truth.
They united with Satan and his angels. . .
Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from heaven and to
persecute William Miller and those who united with him in the work.
Falsehoods were circulated to injure his influence; and at different times
after he had plainly declared the counsel of God, applying cutting truths to
the hearts of his hearers, great rage was kindled against him, and as he left
the place of meeting, some waylaid him in order to take his life. But angels
of God were sent to protect him, and they led him safely away from the
angry mob. His work was not yet finished.” (Early Writings, p. 233-234)
As October 22 came nearer, the early Adventists sold their homes, property,
and gave away resources to spread the message and prepare for His coming.
But October 22 came and went, and Jesus did not return -- a Great
Disappointment
“Our fondest hopes and
expectations were blasted,”
“and such a spirit of weeping
came over us as I never
experienced before. It
seemed that the loss of all
earthly friends could have
been no comparison. We
wept, and wept, till the day
dawn.” – Hiram Edson
As Hiram Edson was walking, he felt as if a hand was laid on his shoulder
and he seemed to have a vision of the heavenly sanctuary where he saw
that Jesus had that very day entered into the Most Holy Place of the
Heavenly Sanctuary to begin the work of judgment.
“The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of
the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth,
connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the great
advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the
position and work of His people.
. . .Light from the sanctuary illumined the past, the present, and the
future. They knew that God had led them by His unerring providence.
Though, like the first disciples, they themselves had failed to understand the
message which they bore, yet it had been in every respect correct.” (Great
Controversy, p. 423)
The remaining Adventists who saw the light of the heavenly
sanctuary, studied their Bibles again and prayed for further light.
In their Bible studies, they came to understand that while the date was
correct, the event they thought of was wrong – Jesus was now beginning
the work of the Day of Atonement in 1844. A work of cleansing the
sanctuary in heaven, and the pre-advent judgment.
In their Bible studies, they came to understand the unchanging nature of
the Law of God and the eternal significance of the seventh day Sabbath.
In their Bible studies, they came to realize that the world was now entering
the “time of the end,” and should be warned to prepare for the imminent
Second Coming of Christ.
And in December of 1844, during one of their bible and prayer meetings, a
17-year old girl by the name of Ellen Harmon received a vision from the
Lord confirming their past experiences and the teachings that they have
rediscovered from the Bible.
In December 1844, 17-year-old Ellen received a vision from God. It was the
first of some 2,000 prophetic dreams and visions that would span the next
70 years of her life and form the basis for her personal testimonies,
sermons, articles, and books.
In an age of hopelessness,
God raised up a people in
1844 with a message of
hope
Jesus is coming again!
In an age of lawlessness, God
raised up a people in 1844 with a
message of obedience to the
Law of God.
In an age of
meaninglessness, God
raised up a people in 1844 to
emphasize Creation
Life has meaning and purpose
In an age of
restlessness, God
raised up a people in
1844 to emphasize the
rest we find in Christ.
The seventh day Sabbath
In an age where people are
dying because of lifestyle
diseases, God raised up a
people in 1844 to
emphasize the body as the
temple of God
That’s why we take care of it by
following God’s laws on health
In an age where people are
confused, God raised up a
people in 1844 to emphasize
the Bible and the Bible only as
the source of faith and practice
In 1844, God raised up
a Movement of
Destiny to prepare the
world for soon Coming
Savior!
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to
make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ” (Rev. 12:17)