1. William Miller, forerunner of the Adventist revival, was:
- a. the son of a Baptist minister, expelled from his church for having visions;
- b. originally Wilhelm Harvischt, a con artist who worked from a big tent;
- c. a New York farmer’s son, valiant U.S. Army officer, later a sheriff and justice of the peace, an unbeliever who became a sacrificial, self-taught gospel preacher.
2. When Miller began preaching in 1831, most U.S. Christian denominations taught:
- a. that Jesus could return at any moment;
- b. that Jesus had returned secretly in 1776;
- c. that Jesus would not return for at least another 1,000 years.
3. Miller’s conviction that the world would end on October 22, 1843 was based on:
- a. television “prophecy” programs on Trinity Broadcasting Network;
- b. his study of Bible prophecy, using commonly-accepted methods of interpretation in his day;
- c. visions he experienced over a period of time.
4. Miller’s preaching resulted in:
- a. his martyrdom;
- b. major revival among most denominations, with thousands turning to the Lord;
- c. a wierd cult that ended in mass suicide.
5. As the hours approached for Jesus’ expected return, Miller and his followers:
- a. paid debts, asked forgiveness for wrongs, and waited in Bible reading and prayer;
- b. made “ascension robes” and waiting on hilltops;
- c. invested heavily in “junk” bonds.
6. The Advent Christian Church:
- a. worships on Saturday and teaches vegetarianism;
- b. only meets during the weeks leading up to Christmas;
- c. worships on Sunday and baptizes adults by immersion.
7. The Seventh-day Adventist Church:
- a. reinterpreted the prophetic significance of 1844 when Jesus did not return as expected;
- b. drew from visions of Ellen G. White, whom it calls “the Spirit of Prophecy”;
- c. both the above.
8. Advent Christians and Seventh-day Adventists alike have championed the biblical truth, overlooked by most other Christians, that:
- a. God graciously chose the saved before they ever chose him, and, although they are once dead in sin, he enables them to repent and to believe the gospel;
- b. God alone possesses immortality, which he will give to the saved at the resurrection, and that the wicked will not receive glory or immortality but will suffer the punishment of everlasting destruction of both body and soul in hell, the Second Death;
- c. God gives spiritual gifts to his people as it pleases him, for their own edification and to build up other believers, to the glory of God and the advancement of his Kingdom.
ANSWERS:
1. William Miller, forerunner of the Adventist revival, was (c.) a New York farmer’s son, valiant U.S. Army officer, later a sheriff and justice of the peace, an unbeliever who became a sacrificial, self-taught gospel preacher.
2. When Miller began preaching in 1831, most U.S. Christian denominations taught (c.) that Jesus would not return for at least another 1,000 years. The Millerite Revival changed that, and most U.S. Christians today believe that Jesus could return at any moment.
3. Miller’s conviction that the world would end on October 22, 1843 was based on (b.) his study of Bible prophecy, using commonly-accepted methods of interpretation in his day. Miller made his calculations from three different sets of biblical prophecies, all leading to the same conclusion. The expected date was later changed to 1844 when one of Miller’s followers pointed out that there was no year “0” between 1 B.C. and A.D. 1, something Miller overlooked in his original calculations.
4. Miller’s preaching resulted in (b.) major revival among most denominations, with thousands turning to the Lord — in the U.S., England and elsewhere.
5. As the hours approached for Jesus’ expected return, Miller and his followers (a.) paid debts, asked forgiveness for wrongs, and waited in Bible reading and prayer. The rumor about white robes and standing on hilltops was started by their opponents in an effort to discredit Miller’s followers.
6. The Advent Christian Church (c.) worships on Sunday and baptizes adults by immersion. For more about this little-known group, see www.edwardfudge.com/gracemails/advent_Christians.html .
7. The Seventh-day Adventist Church (a.) reinterpreted the prophetic significance of 1844 in a unique rationalization when Jesus did not return as expected; (b.) drew from visions of Ellen G. White, whom it calls “the Spirit of Prophecy”; therefore (c.) both the above. Today the Seventh-day Adventist leadership insists that even Ellen White’s teachings be measured by the Bible, and stresses that Christians keep God’s commandments in gratitude for his gracious salvation and not in order to earn or attain his favor and approval.
8. Advent Christians and Seventh-day Adventists alike have championed the biblical truth, overlooked by most other Christians, that (b.) God alone possesses immortality, which he will give to the saved at the resurrection, and that the wicked will not receive glory or immortality but will suffer the punishment of everlasting destruction of both body and soul in hell, the Second Death. For an exhaustive scholarly study of this biblical truth by someone who was never an Adventist, see The Fire That Consumes.