Changes

===Reinterpreting 1844===

===Reinterpreting 1844===

After the failed prediction of October 22, 1844, a solution was provided for the problem by an Adventist named Hiram Edson. He argued that Miller misunderstood the nature of the predicted event, that it was not Christ's return to earth, but His entering in the holy of holies of the Heavenly temple, marking the beginning of the second phase of Christ's atoning work. This teaching was what would later become the SDA doctrine of Investigative Judgment, for which Heb. 9 in invoked, in which Seventh Day Adventism holds that Jesus began determining who among the forgiven was redeemed. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:19) The chief proponent of this idea was Mrs. Ellen G. White. White, a woman of little education who reported she received prophetic visions and teachings from God, is considered to be the real founder.  At that time, most Christians were opposed to women holding positions of church leadership.

After the failed prediction of October 22, 1844, many of Millers followers returned to their original congregations, though some would join the [[Shaker]] cult.

 

Those who remained found a solution in the work of [[Hiram Edson]]. He argued that Miller misunderstood the nature of the predicted event: October 22, 1844, was not the date of Christ's return to earth, but His entering into the Holy of Holies of the Heavenly Temple, marking the beginning of the second phase of Christ's atoning work. This teaching was what would later become SDA's Doctrine of Investigative Judgment, for which Hebrews 9 was invoked, in which Seventh Day Adventism holds that Jesus began determining who among the forgiven was redeemed. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:19) The chief proponent of this idea was Mrs. Ellen G. White. White, a woman of little education who reported she received prophetic visions and teachings from God, is considered to be the real founder.  At that time, most Christians were opposed to women holding positions of church leadership.

Those who did not abandon Millerite Adventism concluded that God had indeed purged the heavenly sanctuary but did not appear on earth due to the sinfulness of humankind. The years of the Great Disappointment, 1843 and again in 1844, might have been the end of the Adventism movement. Instead, it was the beginning. True, Miller lost his audience but many believers soon found a new leadership in [[Ellen G. White]] (1827–1915). By 1863, this group had a new headquarters (Battle Creek, Michigan) and an official new name: Seventh-day Adventists.  The national headquarters was later moved to Maryland.

Those who did not abandon Millerite Adventism concluded that God had indeed purged the heavenly sanctuary but did not appear on earth due to the sinfulness of humankind. The years of the Great Disappointment, 1843 and again in 1844, might have been the end of the Adventism movement. Instead, it was the beginning. True, Miller lost his audience but many believers soon found a new leadership in [[Ellen G. White]] (1827–1915). By 1863, this group had a new headquarters (Battle Creek, Michigan) and an official new name: Seventh-day Adventists.  The national headquarters was later moved to Maryland.