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 On October 22, 1844, nearly 100,000 followers of Baptist lay preacher William Miller prepared for the predicted return of Christ.
Miller was born in Massachusetts to a Baptist preacher. After marriage and a move to Vermont, he began a serious study of Voltaire, Hume, and Paine that resulted in his conversion to Deism and Freemasonry.
Several years later he renounced Deism and returned to the Baptist faith, a chastened enthusiast determined to search the Scriptures for the truth. He was fascinated with the prophetic writings and soon became convinced he had unraveled Daniel’s prophesy of the 2,300 days (Daniel 8:14). Jesus would return, he declared, on March 21, 1843 – a mere twenty-five years away.
He did not share his discovery until 1831. Interest built quickly and in 1838 he published Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ, About the Year 1843. The book enabled Miller to hire a publicity agent who equipped him with huge charts and the biggest tent in the country.
His massive crusades to promote his views attracted thousands of people and the attention of the major newspapers of the East Coast.
When Jesus failed to show up on the predicted date, Miller announced that He would return sometime during the Hebrew year of March 21, 1843, to March 21, 1844. When a comet suddenly appeared in the skies in the Northeast, Miller’s crowds increased and eschatological expectations reached their zenith.
Then March 21, 1844, came--and nothing happened. After a month, Miller confessed his error and acknowledged his disappointment. But one of his followers pointed to other verses (Hab. 2:3, Lev. 25:9) and explained there must be a "tarrying time" of seven months and ten days. So October 22, 1844, became the new day of Christ's return.
When October 22, 1844 came and went, his many thousands of followers were shattered. The publicity of the “Great Disappointment” produced a great cynicism toward Bible prophesy and religion in general.
Miller lived five more years and died a discredited man.
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