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The Last Judgement by Michelangelo, detail [1541] (Public domain Image)

Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ

by William Miller

[1842]


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This is a collection of lectures by William Miller (1782-1849), a 19th century preacher who managed to convince himself and thousands of others that Jesus would return in 1844. Born a Baptist, he became a Deist and Freemason. After he fought in the war of 1812, he had a spiritual epiphany, and was called back to Baptism. After much study, Miller became convinced that Biblical chronology pointed to the immiment end of the world, and in 1832, was confident enough to publicize his beliefs.

As the deadline approached, his followers grew into a huge movement. The calculations were refined by his disciples, and October 22, 1844 was determined to be the day. As that date approached, Millerites sold their homes and business, and flocked to the hills to await the last judgement. Of course, nothing out of the ordinary occurred, and most of Miller's followers melted away as quickly as they had joined. This became known as 'the Great Disappointment.' However, the concept of the imminent return of Jesus has been a major component of evangelical Christian thought for the past century. Few have been so bold as to set an actual date certain for the end of the world. Most millennialists today simply point to various signs and portents to suggest that the end is near.

The source for this electronic text was downloaded from the Early SDA website.


Title Page
Introduction
Index
Lecture I. The Second Appearing of Christ
Lecture II. The First Resurrection
Lecture III. The Two Thousand Three Hundred Days
Lecture IV. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people...
Lecture V. Pagan Rome Numbered
Lecture VI. Daniel's Vision of the Latter Days
Lecture VII. Daniel's 1260, 1290, and 1335 Days Explained
Lecture VIII. The Three Woe Trumpets
Lecture IX. The Epistles to the Seven Churches of Asia, Considered as Applying to Seven Periods of the Gospel Church, Part I.
Lecture X. The Epistles to the Seven Churches of Asia, Considered as Applying to Seven Periods of the Gospel Church, Part II
Lecture XI. The New Song
Lecture XII. The Seven Seals, as Representing Events to the End of Time
Lecture XIII. The Two Witnesses, as Having Been Slain in the French Revolution
Lecture XIV. The Woman in the Wilderness
Lecture XV. The Seven Last Plagues, or Seven Vials
Lecture XVI. The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Lecture XVII. On the Punishment of the People of God Seven Times for their Sins
Lecture XVIII. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?
Lecture XIX. Signs of the Present Times
Supplement