The world had been looking on； expecting that if the time passed and Christ
did not appear； the whole system of Adventism would be given up。 But while
many； under strong temptation； yielded their faith； there were some who
stood firm。 The fruits of the advent movement； the spirit of humility and
heart searching； of renouncing of the world and reformation of life； which
had attended the work； testified that it was of God。 They dared not deny
that the power of the Holy Spirit had witnessed to the preaching of the
second advent； and they could detect no error in their reckoning of the
prophetic periods。 The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in
overthrowing their system of prophetic interpretation。 They could not
consent； without Bible evidence； to renounce positions which had been
reached through earnest； prayerful study of the Scriptures； by minds
enlightened
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by the Spirit of God and hearts burning with its living power； positions
which had withstood the most searching criticisms and the most bitter
opposition of popular religious teachers and worldly…wise men； and which had
stood firm against the combined forces of learning and eloquence； and the
taunts and revilings alike of the honorable and the base。
True； there had been a failure as to the expected event； but even this could
not shake their faith in the word of God。 When Jonah proclaimed in the
streets of Nineveh that within forty days the city would be overthrown； the
Lord accepted the humiliation of the Ninevites and extended their period of
probation； yet the message of Jonah was sent of God； and Nineveh was tested
according to His will。 Adventists believed that in like manner God had led
them to give the warning of the judgment。 〃It has；〃 they declared； 〃tested
the hearts of all who heard it； and awakened a love for the Lord's
appearing； or it has called forth a hatred； more or less perceivable； but
known to God； of His coming。 It has drawn a line； 。 。 。 so that those who
will examine their own hearts； may know on which side of it they would have
been found； had the Lord then comewhether they would have exclaimed； 'Lo！
this is our God； we have waited for Him； and He will save us；' or whether
they would have called to the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide
them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne； and from the wrath of
the Lamb。 God thus； as we believe； has tested His people； has tried their
faith； has proved them； and seen whether they would shrink； in the hour of
trial； from the position in which He might see fit to place them； and
whether they would relinquish this world and rely with implicit confidence
in the word of God。〃The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter；
vol。 8； No。 14 （Nov 13； 1844）。
The feelings of those who still believed that God had led them in their past
experience are expressed in the words of William Miller： 〃Were I to live my
life over again； with the
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same evidence that I then had； to be honest with God and man I should have
to do as I have done。〃 〃I hope that I have cleansed my garments from the
blood of souls。 I feel that； as far as it was in my power； I have freed
myself from all guilt in their condemnation。〃 〃Although I have been twice
disappointed；〃 wrote this man of God； 〃I am not yet cast down or
discouraged。 。 。 。 My hope in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever。 I
have done only what； after years of solemn consideration； I felt it my
solemn duty to do。 If I have erred； it has been on the side of charity； love
to my fellow men； and conviction of duty to God。〃 〃One thing I do know； I
have preached nothing but what I believed； and God has been with me； His
power has been manifested in the work； and much good has been effected。〃
〃Many thousands； to all human appearance； have been made to study the
Scriptures by the preaching of the time； and by that means； through faith
and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ； have been reconciled to God。〃
Bliss； pages 256； 255； 277； 280； 281。 〃I have never courted the smiles of
the proud； nor quailed when the world frowned。 I shall not now purchase
their favor； nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate。 I shall never
seek my life at their hands； nor shrink； I hope； from losing it； if God in
His good providence so orders。〃 J。 White； Life of Wm。 Miller； page 315。
God did not forsake His people； His Spirit still abode with those who did
not rashly deny the light which they had received； and denounce the advent
movement。 In the Epistle to the Hebrews are words of encouragement and
warning for the tried； waiting ones at this crisis： 〃Cast not away therefore
your confidence； which hath great recompense of reward。 For ye have need of
patience； that； after ye have done the will of God； ye might receive the
promise。 For yet a little while； and He that shall come will come； and will
not tarry。 Now the just shall live by faith： but if any man draw back； My
soul shall have no pleasure in him。 But we are not of them
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who draw back unto perdition； but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul。〃 Hebrews 10：35…39。
That this admonition is addressed to the church in the last days is evident
from the words pointing to the nearness of the Lord's coming： 〃For yet a
little while； and He that shall come will come and will not tarry。〃 And it
is plainly implied that there would be a seeming delay and that the Lord
would appear to tarry。 The instruction here given is especially adapted to
the experience of Adventists at this time。 The people here addressed were in
danger of making shipwreck of faith。 They had done the will of God in
following the guidance of His Spirit and His word； yet they could not
understand His purpose in their past experience； nor could they discern the
pathway before them； and they were tempted to doubt whether God had indeed
been leading them。 At this time the words were applicable： 〃Now the just
shall live by faith。〃 As the bright light of the 〃midnight cry〃 had shone
upon their pathway； and they had seen the prophecies unsealed and the
rapidly fulfilling signs telling that the coming of Christ was near； they
had walked； as it were； by sight。 But now； bowed down by disappointed hopes；
they could stand only by faith in God and in His word。 The scoffing world
were saying： 〃You have been deceived。 Give up your faith； and say that the
advent movement was of Satan。〃 But God's word declared： 〃If any man draw
back； My soul shall have no pleasure in him。〃 To renounce their faith now；
and deny the power of the Holy Spirit which had attended the message； would
be drawing back toward perdition。 They were encouraged to steadfastness by
the words of Paul： 〃Cast not away therefore your confidence；〃 〃ye have need
of patience；〃 〃for yet a little while； and He that shall come will come； and
will not tarry。〃 Their only safe course was to cherish the light which they
had already received of God； hold fast to His promises； and continue to
search the Scriptures； and patiently wait and watch to receive further
light。
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Chapter 23
What is the Sanctuary？
The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the
central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration： 〃Unto two thousand
and three hundred days； then shall the sanctuary be cleansed。〃 Daniel 8：14。
These had been familiar words to all believers in the Lord's soon coming。 By
the lips of thousands was this prophecy repeated as the watchword of their
faith。 All felt that upon the events therein foretold depended their
brightest expectations and most cherished hopes。 These prophetic days had
been shown to terminate in the autumn of 1844。 In common with the rest of
the Christian world； Adventists then held that the earth； or some portion of
it； was the sanctuary。 They understood that the cleansing of the sanctuary
was the purification of the earth by the fires of the last great day； and
that this would take place at the second advent。 Hence the conclusion that
Christ would return to the earth in 1844。
But the appointed time had passed； and the Lord had not appeared。 The
believers knew that God's word could not fail； their interpretation of the
prophecy must be at fault； but where was the mistake？ Many rashly cut the
knot of difficulty by denying that the 2300 days ended in 1844。 No reason
could be given for this except that Christ had not come at the time they
expected Him。 They argued that if the prophetic days had ended in 1844；
Christ would then have returned to
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cleanse the sanctuary by the purification of the earth by fire； and that
since He had not come； the days could not have ended。
To accept this conclusion was to renounce the former reckoning of the
prophetic periods。 The 2300 days had been found to begin when the
commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went
into effect； in the autumn of 457 B。C。 Taking this as the starting point；
there was perfect harmony in the application of all the even