May 1 – The End of the World
There were quite a few religious leaders in the 1800s who declared that Christ would soon return or even that he had returned.
William Miller grew up in New York and after having been a Freemason, a captain in the infantry during the War of 1812, and a Deist, was challenged to define his faith as he explored the Baptist denomination. He began with Genesis and studied the scripture until he discovered Daniel and began focusing on prophecy of the end times. He studied the dates in Daniel and knew unequivocally that Christ would return on March 21, 1844. He began publishing this information in 1840 and soon became quite famous for his preaching and teaching. When the date came and went, he went back to his notes and announced that April 18, 1844 was the actual date. Again, the date came and went. Miller publicly confessed his error, but stated that he believed the return of the Lord was near.
In August, another man announced that the date would come on October 22, 1844. Miller’s followers – the Millerites prepared for this date. But, one more time, dawn came on October 23 bringing what was soon to be called the Great Disappointment.
Many of Miller’s followers dropped away, but some were inspired by Ellen White who told them that the reason Christ hadn’t returned was because Christians weren’t obeying the Law of the Old Testament. Those that followed her would become known as “Seventh Day Adventists.”
Charles Taze Russell began as a Bible Study teacher and published numerous books and tracts – among them “Zion’s Watch Tower” and the “Herald of Christ’s Presence.” He was associated with many of the Millerites who questioned the common practices of Christianity. As they looked forward to the return of Christ and the rapture of their followers, Russell sold all that he had and invested in publishing companies that supported his writings. When Jesus did not come as planned in 1874, Russell explained that He had returned spiritually in 1872.
Charles Russell’s followers would later become known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science was another teacher that got caught up in the fervor surrounding Christ’s return and proclaimed that He actually did return around 1875.
She had grown up in a Congregationalist home with strong religious teaching, much of which she rejected. As a child she suffered from chronic illness and because of this focused much of her biblical study on teaching regarding healings. She believed that she had the power to heal and while there are varying reports, many of her friends claimed to have seen her heal animals and people.
Christian Science is based on her study of healing in scripture and her belief that it is a scientific fact.
There were quite a few religious leaders in the 1800s who declared that Christ would soon return or even that he had returned.
William Miller grew up in New York and after having been a Freemason, a captain in the infantry during the War of 1812, and a Deist, was challenged to define his faith as he explored the Baptist denomination. He began with Genesis and studied the scripture until he discovered Daniel and began focusing on prophecy of the end times. He studied the dates in Daniel and knew unequivocally that Christ would return on March 21, 1844. He began publishing this information in 1840 and soon became quite famous for his preaching and teaching. When the date came and went, he went back to his notes and announced that April 18, 1844 was the actual date. Again, the date came and went. Miller publicly confessed his error, but stated that he believed the return of the Lord was near.
In August, another man announced that the date would come on October 22, 1844. Miller’s followers – the Millerites prepared for this date. But, one more time, dawn came on October 23 bringing what was soon to be called the Great Disappointment.
Many of Miller’s followers dropped away, but some were inspired by Ellen White who told them that the reason Christ hadn’t returned was because Christians weren’t obeying the Law of the Old Testament. Those that followed her would become known as “Seventh Day Adventists.”
Charles Taze Russell began as a Bible Study teacher and published numerous books and tracts – among them “Zion’s Watch Tower” and the “Herald of Christ’s Presence.” He was associated with many of the Millerites who questioned the common practices of Christianity. As they looked forward to the return of Christ and the rapture of their followers, Russell sold all that he had and invested in publishing companies that supported his writings. When Jesus did not come as planned in 1874, Russell explained that He had returned spiritually in 1872.
Charles Russell’s followers would later become known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science was another teacher that got caught up in the fervor surrounding Christ’s return and proclaimed that He actually did return around 1875.
She had grown up in a Congregationalist home with strong religious teaching, much of which she rejected. As a child she suffered from chronic illness and because of this focused much of her biblical study on teaching regarding healings. She believed that she had the power to heal and while there are varying reports, many of her friends claimed to have seen her heal animals and people.
Christian Science is based on her study of healing in scripture and her belief that it is a scientific fact.
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