every grade。
William Miller had no sympathy with those influences that led to fanaticism。
He declared； with Luther； that every spirit should be tested by the word of
God。 〃The devil；〃 said Miller； 〃has great power over the minds of some at
the
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present day。 And how shall we know what manner of spirit they are of？ The
Bible answers： 'By their fruits ye shall know them。'。 。 。 There are many
spirits gone out into the world； and we are commanded to try the spirits。
The spirit that does not cause us to live soberly； righteously； and godly；
in this present world； is not the Spirit of Christ。 I am more and more
convinced that Satan has much to do in these wild movements。 。 。 。 Many
among us who pretend to be wholly sanctified； are following the traditions
of men； and apparently are as ignorant of truth as others who make no such
pretensions。〃Bliss； pages 236； 237。 〃The spirit of error will lead us from
the truth； and the Spirit of God will lead us into truth。 But； say you； a
man may be in an error； and think he has the truth。 What then？ We answer；
The Spirit and word agree。 If a man judges himself by the word of God； and
finds a perfect harmony through the whole word； then he must believe he has
the truth； but if he finds the spirit by which he is led does not harmonize
with the whole tenor of God's law or Book； then let him walk carefully； lest
he be caught in the snare of the devil。〃The Advent Herald and Signs of the
Times Reporter； vol。 8； No。 23 （Jan。 15； 1845）。 〃I have often obtained more
evidence of inward piety from a kindling eye； a wet cheek； and a choked
utterance； than from all the noise of Christendom。〃Bliss； page 282。
In the days of the Reformation its enemies charged all the evils of
fanaticism upon the very ones who were laboring most earnestly against it。 A
similar course was pursued by the opposers of the advent movement。 And not
content with misrepresenting and exaggerating the errors of extremists and
fanatics； they circulated unfavorable reports that had not the slightest
semblance of truth。 These persons were actuated by prejudice and hatred。
Their peace was disturbed by the proclamation of Christ at the door。 They
feared it might be true； yet hoped it was not； and this was the secret of
their warfare against Adventists and their faith。
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The fact that a few fanatics worked their way into the ranks of Adventists
is no more reason to decide that the movement was not of God than was the
presence of fanatics and deceivers in the church in Paul's or Luther's day a
sufficient excuse for condemning their work。 Let the people of God arouse
out of sleep and begin in earnest the work of repentance and reformation；
let them search the Scriptures to learn the truth as it is in Jesus； let
them make an entire consecration to God； and evidence will not be wanting
that Satan is still active and vigilant。 With all possible deception he will
manifest his power； calling to his aid all the fallen angels of his realm。
It was not the proclamation of the second advent that caused fanaticism and
division。 These appeared in the summer of 1844； when Adventists were in a
state of doubt and perplexity concerning their real position。 The preaching
of the first angel's message and of the 〃midnight cry〃 tended directly to
repress fanaticism and dissension。 Those who participated in these solemn
movements were in harmony； their hearts were filled with love for one
another and for Jesus； whom they expected soon to see。 The one faith； the
one blessed hope； lifted them above the control of any human influence； and
proved a shield against the assaults of Satan。
〃While the bridegroom tarried； they all slumbered and slept。 And at midnight
there was a cry made； Behold； the bridegroom cometh； go ye out to meet him。
Then all those virgins arose； and trimmed their lamps。〃 Matthew 25：5…7。 In
the summer of 1844； midway between the time when it had been first thought
that the 2300 days would end； and the autumn of the same year； to which it
was afterward found that they extended； the message was proclaimed in the
very words of Scripture： 〃Behold； the Bridegroom cometh！〃
That which led to this movement was the discovery that the decree of
Artaxerxes for the restoration of Jerusalem； which formed the starting point
for the period of the 2300 days； went into effect in the autumn of the year
457 B。C。； and
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not at the beginning of the year； as had been formerly believed。 Reckoning
from the autumn of 457； the 2300 years terminate in the autumn of 1844。 （See
Appendix note for page 329。）
Arguments drawn from the Old Testament types also pointed to the autumn as
the time when the event represented by the 〃cleansing of the sanctuary〃 must
take place。 This was made very clear as attention was given to the manner in
which the types relating to the first advent of Christ had been fulfilled。
The slaying of the Passover lamb was a shadow of the death of Christ。 Says
Paul： 〃Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us。〃 1 Corinthians 5：7。 The
sheaf of first fruits； which at the time of the Passover was waved before
the Lord； was typical of the resurrection of Christ。 Paul says； in speaking
of the resurrection of the Lord and of all His people： 〃Christ the first
fruits； afterward they that are Christ's at His coming。〃
1 Corinthians 15：23。 Like the wave sheaf； which was the first
ripe grain gathered before the harvest； Christ is the first fruits of that
immortal harvest of redeemed ones that at the future resurrection shall be
gathered into the garner of God。
These types were fulfilled； not only as to the event； but as to the time。
One of the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month； the very day and month
on which for fifteen long centuries the Passover lamb had been slain；
Christ； having eaten the Passover with His disciples； instituted that feast
which was to commemorate His own death as 〃the Lamb of God； which taketh
away the sin of the world。〃 That same night He was taken by wicked hands to
be crucified and slain。 And as the antitype of the wave sheaf our Lord was
raised from the dead on the third day； 〃the first fruits of them that
slept；〃 a sample of all the resurrected just； whose 〃vile body〃 shall be
changed； and 〃fashioned like unto His glorious body。〃 Verse
20； Philippians 3：21。
In like manner the types which relate to the second advent must be fulfilled
at the time pointed out in the symbolic
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service。 Under the Mosaic system the cleansing of the sanctuary； or the
great Day of Atonement； occurred on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish
month （Leviticus 16：29…34）； when the high priest； having made an atonement
for all Israel； and thus removed their sins from the sanctuary； came forth
and blessed the people。 So it was believed that Christ； our great High
Priest； would appear to purify the earth by the destruction of sin and
sinners； and to bless His waiting people with immortality。 The tenth day of
the seventh month； the great Day of Atonement； the time of the cleansing of
the sanctuary； which in the year 1844 fell upon the twenty…second of
October； was regarded as the time of the Lord's coming。 This was in harmony
with the proofs already presented that the
2300 days would terminate in the autumn； and the
conclusion seemed irresistible。
In the parable of Matthew 25 the time of waiting and slumber is followed by
the coming of the bridegroom。 This was in accordance with the arguments just
presented； both from prophecy and from the types。 They carried strong
conviction of their truthfulness； and the 〃midnight cry〃 was heralded by
thousands of believers。
Like a tidal wave the movement swept over the land。 From city to city； from
village to village； and into remote country places it went； until the
waiting people of God were fully aroused。 Fanaticism disappeared before this
proclamation like early frost before the rising sun。 Believers saw their
doubt and perplexity removed； and hope and courage animated their hearts。
The work was free from those extremes which are ever manifested when there
is human excitement without the controlling influence of the word and Spirit
of God。 It was similar in character to those seasons of humiliation and
returning unto the Lord which among ancient Israel followed messages of
reproof from His servants。 It bore the characteristics that mark the work of
God in every age。 There was little ecstatic joy； but rather deep searching
of heart； confession of sin； and forsaking of the world。 A
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preparation to meet the Lord was the burden of agonizing spirits。 There was
persevering prayer and unreserved consecration to God。
Said Miller in describing that work： 〃There is no great expression of joy：
that is； as it were； suppressed for a future occasion； when all heaven and
earth will rejoice together with joy unspeakable and full of glory。 There is
no shouting： that； too； is reserved for the shout from heaven。 The singers
are silent： they are waiting to join the angelic h