The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in the United States in 1863.
Its earliest roots sprang from the religious fervor and theology exemplified by William Miller (1782 – 1849), an itinerant Baptist preacher who had served in the War of 1812 and been deeply affected by the deaths he witnessed. This prompted in him a great interest in death and the meaning of life.
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| He was not alone in this belief. There were many millenialists speaking out in the early 1800s. Millennialists base their beliefs on a literal reading of the Book of Revelations. They are adventists because they believe that Jesus is coming again soon to begin a millennial (1,000 year) reign, at the end of which time all righteous people will live with him on earth for ever. Some followers of William Miller determined that the day of Jesus’ return was to be October 22, 1844. Many adherents, in light of what they thought would be the end of the world, gave away their money or let their crops rot in the field, not expecting to need either after that date.
When the world didn’t end, and Jesus didn’t return, there was a period called the Great Disappointment. Many Millerites (followers of Willam Miller) felt betrayed and left the movement. Others turned to further study of the bible to determine what had gone wrong.
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| William Miller |
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