PROPHECY

An Explanation of the 1843 Prophetic Chart

Historical background and significance

When we look at the composition of the 1843 Chart, in the upper right corner we see its title: “A Chronological Chart of the Visions of Daniel and John, published by J. V. Himes, 14 Devonshire. St.”

Joshua V. Himes was a lithographer in Boston and a believer in the coming of Christ. Himes became one of the biggest and most earnest supporters of Wm. Miller in the early preaching of the message about Christ’s Second Coming and he was the publisher of Signs of the Times in its early days.

In the upper left corner, we notice that the chart is based on the method of “repetition and enlargement”. This means that the image of Daniel 2, from the golden head down to the feet of iron and clay, is put side by side with the beasts of chapter 7, and then with the animals of chapter 8. The reason why the events recorded there were placed in parallel was because this is the way in which God describes Bible prophecy. He makes repetition and enlargement.

The four great empires of Daniel 2

Daniel 2 describes the kingdoms of Bible prophecy. The golden head represents the Babylonian kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar was told: “Thou art this head of gold.” (Dan. 2:38). Then, in verse 39, it says: “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee” – the Medo-Persian Empire. This empire, symbolized by the two hands of silver, represents the Medes and the Persians, who formed a united kingdom (Daniel 5), with the aim of taking down Babylon.

Then we have the belly and thighs of brass, symbolizing the Greek Empire – “another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth”.

The legs represent pagan Rome – “the fourth kingdom” (Dan. 2:40) that “shall be strong as iron”. The two legs may represent the two divisions – the Eastern and the Western Roman Empire.

On the chart, under the image of Daniel 2, we have illustrated the 10 kingdoms. Pagan Rome was divided into 10 parts. Pagan tribes came in and attacked the Western Roman Empire and divided it into ten parts, called “kingdoms” in the Bible. These were the Huns, the Visigoths, the Franks, the Saxons, the Suevi, the Burgundians, the Lombards, the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths.

The beasts of Daniel 7

Later, after Rome was divided into these ten parts, three of them would be plucked up. In Daniel chapter 7 the same scheme was repeated, as in Daniel chapter 2, where Babylon was the head of gold. Here this head is represented by the lion having the wings of an eagle, which also represents Babylon. Later the lion would stand up on its feet and a human heart would be given to him (in the second column on the right, the wings of the lion are missing, which symbolizes the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar or the debasement of his successors).

The bear that raised up itself on one side (Daniel 7:5) represents the fact that one side of the kingdom – the Persians – would prevail and take a more notable place than the other one, the Medes. This is the reason why Cyrus was succeeded by the Persian kings. The three ribs in the mouth of the bear represent the three geographical empires that would be plucked up (or taken by force) by the Persians – Media, Babylon, and Egypt.

After the bear, there was a leopard which had four heads. The leopard symbolizes the Greek empire. The leopard that has four wings of a fowl symbolizes the swiftness in conquering that Alexander the Great manifested, whose father was Philip of Macedon. Alexander conquered the world in about 10 years. In the span of a few years, the then-known world was conquered by him, but his conquests were suddenly put to an end. After his death, his place was taken by the four leading generals who were represented by the four heads of the leopard. These were Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.  

On the chart, the goat’s head under the leopard actually represents the regions of Macedonia, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt. Later Rome came out of one of these geographical areas – not of one of these kingdoms but of one of the directions (Dan. 8:8, 9).

The Little Horn

After this period, there came pagan Rome (illustrated just under the goat that is Greece) which was an exceedingly terrible beast with iron teeth, nails of brass, and ten horns. But if we look at the chart, a little lower, above the triple crown, it is written:

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Dan. 7:8.

Three of these kings (kingdoms) – the Ostrogoths, the Vandals, and the Heruli – were plucked up. They were destroyed by the papal power that was then rising into prominence, which was not only a Roman power but also a church power. Notice how the pioneers illustrated the little horn. It has the eyes of a man, the face of a pope, and a triple crown (in the lower left corner of the chart). This is the pope – Pontifex Maximus, who would speak great words against God, persecute the saints of the Most High, think to change times and laws, and rule for “time, times, and the dividing of time” (1260 days).

“Time” equals 1 year; “times” – two years; and “the dividing of time” – half a year. Therefore, the papacy was to rule for three years and a half. 3 ½ years X 12 months = 42 months. 42 months X 30 days = 1260 days.

Illustrations of Rome of Revelation 13 and 17

There is also illustrated papal Rome of Rev. 13 (under the cross, on the right). They both rule for “time, times, and the dividing of time”. Under it, there is a picture of a woman, riding a beast, and she also represents papal Rome, this time from Rev. 17 – the system of unification of church and state, represented by a harlot riding a red beast. The woman represents a church, and the beast represents a kingdom. Therefore, Revelation 17 describes the unification of civil and religious authority. These are the kingdoms of Bible prophecy.

In Daniel 8 the lion is missing but we again have the Medo-Persian Empire, this time represented by a ram. One horn of the ram is higher, just as in Daniel 7 the bear had raised itself on one side. This raised position points to the higher position of the Persians in the Medo-Persian Empire. In Daniel 8:3, the goat (Greece) had a notable horn between his eyes. According to Daniel 7:17-23, the horn represents a king or a kingdom. This horn would be broken and in its place, four horns would spring up, just like the four heads from the previous chapter.

Thus we see the power of the little horn in Daniel 8 which represents Rome – both pagan and papal, that would set itself against the Prince of princes. Notice what it says in Daniel 8:

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.” Daniel 8:23-26.

Who is this king of fierce countenance? Who is the new power – the little horn – in its first phase in Daniel 8? On the chart, we read that this is Rome – first in its pagan form. Out of all the powers that were named in these visions, none but pagan Rome could stand up against the Prince of princes; and it is the pagan Roman empire that ruled the world during the life of Christ. Therefore, pagan Rome was the one who stood up against the Prince of princes. It is also described in Revelation 12. During the life of Christ, pagan Rome tried to kill the young Child:

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matt. 2:13.

Therefore pagan Rome is the kingdom that would first and foremost stand up against the Prince of princes, as the Romans crucified him in 31 AD. This is important to note because in Daniel 8 we read:

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” Dan. 8:9.

This power – the little horn – that appears for the first time in Daniel 8:9, follows on the heels of the Greek Empire of Daniel 8:8. Only pagan Rome could follow the Greek Empire, because geographically and historically pagan Rome came after it. Therefore, pagan Rome is the little horn in its first application as a king of fierce countenance. In Deuteronomy 28 we read of a people with fierce countenance that was to put a yoke on the Hebrew nation and siege their city and cause so much famine as to drive its inhabitants to eat their own children. With the curse in Deut. 28:49-53 and the mentioning of “a nation of fierce countenance” who “shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck”, Moses precisely foretold the destruction of Jerusalem by pagan Rome in 70 AD.  

The taking away of the Daily

Who is the Prince of Hosts? The Prince of hosts is Jesus Christ. Notice that the cross of Christ takes the central place in the chart. It is because Christ is the center of the gospel. Without Christ, there is no gospel. Look at what happens when “he”, pagan Rome, magnifies himself against the Prince of hosts. The text says: “… by him the daily sacrifice was taken away…” The word “sacrifice” is in Italics which means that it has been added by the translators and does not belong to the text.

The word “taken away” which we see in the King James Version when translated from Aramaic, means “to lift up”, or “to magnify”.

“… and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.” Daniel 8:9-11.

The reason why it is important for us to understand this is that Wm. Miller was the first person in Protestant history to give a correct interpretation of the “Daily” – not as relating to the Hebrew sacrifices and the offerings that pointed forward to the ministry of Christ, but as relating to the pagan sacrifices and representing paganism itself. This is important to understand because when we realize that since pagan Rome stood up against the Prince of princes (Daniel 8:11), this means that it is pagan Rome who did something to the “Daily”.

This means that pagan Rome and the “Daily” are related to one another. Pagan Rome “upheld” (or “magnified”) paganism, when it set its sanctuary (the Pantheon) in the pagan city of Rome. In the end, because of the wickedness and the iniquity of pagan Rome their sanctuary and the city of Rome itself were cast down by pagan tribes. For this reason, on the 1843 chart, there is given the year 490 AD when the division of the Roman Empire into ten kingdoms was fully accomplished.

The division of the Roman Empire

There are several historical references that were made in the chart which substantiate the fact that around the year 490 AD Rome was divided into 10 pagan nations. Nowadays modern historians claim that the fall of Rome took place in 476 AD. There is a certain saying which states that Rome was not built in a day nor fell in a day. In other words, as Rome was established in a period of time, it fell – little by little. Thus in 490 AD the ten geographic kingdoms were fully established.

Actually, the year 476 AD was also put in the chart, it is in the lower part, on the left to the dividing line – Heruli (476). In 476 AD the Heruli came into history as they helped for the defeat of the Western Roman Empire. The Saxons (on the right to the dividing line) – were also noted as relating to 476 AD. Thus we have:

356 AD – Huns – Germany377 AD – Ostrogoths – destroyed
378 AD – Visigoths – Spain
407 AD – Franks – France407 AD – Vandals – destroyed
407 AD – Suevi – Portugal
407 AD – Burgundians – Switzerland476 AD – Heruli – destroyed
476 AD – Saxons – England
483 AD – Lombards – Italy

The dates that are noted in the chart for the three tribes on the right to the dividing line are not the years of their plucking up but the years of their establishment. The Ostrogoths had established themselves in 377 AD, the Vandals in 407 AD, and the Heruli in 476 AD. There was a war in 476 with Odoacer being the leader of the Heruli who removed the Roman Emperor from his throne of the Western Empire and also abolished the consuls and the senate.

In 476 AD Rome fell in its Western part and it was then that the formal division took place. Nevertheless, it was in 490 AD when the division of Rome was fully completed, because Rome did not fall in a day. We know this because the taking away of the “Daily” took place in 508 AD. On the chart it is written: “Taking away of the daily”; and a reference is given to Dan. 12:11, 12. The pioneers understood that the “Daily” was related to paganism.

In several different books (by James White, Uriah Smith, and Stephen Haskell) you can read that 508 marked the last struggle between the papacy and the Brits – the “fortress of paganism” on the Northern islands. 508 AD was the year when the Brits at last submitted to the papacy.

The plucking up of the three horns

In 496 AD, under the influence of his wife, Clovis – the king of the Franks – converted to Catholicism and took an active part in the extermination of the last kingdoms that were opposed to the papal power. The year 508 AD was the last year when history recorded the offering of a pagan sacrifice in the city of Rome.

There are enough historical sources stating that 508 was the last time when paganism could be seen uttering its blasphemies against the God of heaven. However, another power would rise up and speak even more grievous blasphemies against the Most High. This new power – the papacy – established itself within 30 years – from 508 to 538 AD.

Up to 538 the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths had been plucked up. In 508 Clovis defeated the Visigoths. In 534 the Vandals were conquered. In 538 the Ostrogoths were destroyed. This is the prophetic period for the rise of the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8 – in the span of 30 years, the three horns were plucked up. Then appeared the little horn which signifies the rise of the papal power – the beginning of those “time, times, and the dividing of time”, or 1260 years when it was to bear sway, that ended in 1798 AD. Therefore, 538 AD is locked in prophetic history as pointing to the rise and reign of the great Antichrist of Bible prophecy.

The Antichrist

At one time every Protestant reformer believed that the papacy and papal Rome were the great Antichrist of the Bible. The word “Anti” in Greek does not only mean “against” but also “in the place of”. For this reason, the title of the pope, “Vicar of Christ”, literally means “in the place of Christ”. Popes take the place of God’s government on earth and they declare themselves to be gods. There is a famous statement made by Pope Leo XIII who said: “On this earth, we occupy the place of the Most High God.”

Papal Rome however, because of its great wickedness (in Rev. 17 it is described as a woman riding a beast) would make herself drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs. And because of its great iniquity and its spirit of persecution, in the prophecy of Revelation 9, God would allow a scourge to be inflicted on the papal power.

Mohammedanism in Bible prophecy

Revelation 9 is depicted in the lower right part of the chart. Revelation 9:7 is quoted, where the Bible points to the scorpions as having the appearance of horses prepared for battle and having on their heads “crowns like gold”, and having faces “as the faces of men”.

The first Mohammedans in history were the Saracens and later the Turks, in the time periods of the fifth and sixth trumpet (the first and second “woe”). In the periods of 150 years and of 391 years and 15 days those powers would be used by God as a Divine sentence upon the harlot – Rome. For this reason, on the chart, the head of the woman is being trodden underfoot by the horses. Islam was used in order for Rome to be trampled upon. Rome would not only be trodden underfoot but also attacked by pistols – handheld firearms used for the first time on horses by the Turks (see the lower right corner of the chart). This is a well-established fact in history. Those weapons defeated the Eastern Roman Empire and Constantinople in May 1453, as the Mohammedan forces were led by Mehmed II.

In Revelation 9:4, the Bible says that the Turks were not allowed to do any harm to those who had the seal of God. Those who had the seal of God, who kept the Sabbath and upheld the Biblical truths of the Word of God, were actually protected by the Mohammedan empire. This is significant because in Bible prophecy Islam was used to punish and restrain Rome.

Historical references for the fulfillment of prophecy

As we examine this history, in the middle of the chart there is a column that shows the great prophetic dates up to 606 AD – the rise of Mohammedanism. We have 1299 AD – the beginning of the 5 months; 1449 AD – the beginning of the 391 years and 15 days that would end in 1840, then we have Dan. 12:11-12 – the 1290 days, or the taking away of the “Daily”. The two years – 1290 and 1335 – are to be counted from the taking away of the “Daily” in 508 AD. So when we add 1290 years to 508, this brings us to 1798 AD. When we subtract the two numbers (1335 and 1290), we get 45 years, which – added to 1798 AD – brings us to 1843 AD. The 1335 days, in which there was a blessing pronounced to the waiting ones, also start from 508 AD – the taking away of the “Daily”. When we count the 1335 days from their starting point – 508 AD – they bring us to 1843 AD when the sounding of the seventh trumpet (the third woe) was expected to occur. We understand that the sounding of that trumpet did not begin until a year later. Yet the mistake was corrected in the 1850 chart to point to 1844 instead of 1843, and we know that in 1844 the seventh trumpet did begin to sound and Christ entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.

If we go back to the upper part of the chart, we notice that before the crucifixion of Christ, there are several historical dates noted that are also related to the great kingdoms of Bible prophecy – the images of Daniel 2, 7, and 8. The historical order of events relating to Babylon shows the beginning of the events represented in the chart to be in 677 BC (the captivity of Manasseh in Babylon) and the end to be in 583 BC (when Medo-Persia conquered Babylon).

Here 677 BC is assigned to Babylon and the reason is that the Neo-Babylonian empire that was later headed by King Nebuchadnezzar (the head of gold) was still part of the old Assyrian empire. The ancient Assyrian empire was also in essence the Babylonian Empire. We learn that because in 2 Chron. 33:11, when the Hebrew king Manasseh was taken captive in 677 BC, the Bible points out that he was taken into captivity by the Assyrian king and taken to Babylon, as Babylon was still the capital of the Assyrian kingdom. So the time when Babylon got involved in prophecy was not in the days of Nebuchadnezzar but much earlier – in the days of Manasseh. According to 2 Chronicles, in the chapters around the history of Josiah (chap. 34-36), Judah was taken captive in 605 BC because of the sins of Manasseh.

In the history of Josiah, Huldah the prophetess predicted that the Hebrews would be taken captive because of the sins of Manasseh. For this reason, the captivity of Manasseh in Babylon in 677 BC was a prefiguring of the captivity of the Hebrews by Nebuchadnezzar during the reign of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah – three captivities. The year 677 BC is an established fact in history. It is just as sure as 457 BC. In 677 BC Esarhaddon took Manasseh captive.

The “seven times”, or the 2520 years

The seven times (2520 years) were related to Lev. 26:28-34 where there is a prophecy according to which Israel would go into captivity and be scattered because of disobedience. If we understand that the seven times (or 2520 years) start from the year when the official scattering of the Hebrews began (in 677 BC), we get to 1844 – exactly 2520 years, to the very month, but this time there would not be a scattering but a gathering. In every history in the Bible, including Isaiah 7, 8, and 9, predicting the scattering of God’s people because of their backsliding, at the same time a promise is given for their gathering again and the establishment of a new covenant and the giving of a new heart. We understand that this took place in 1844. Why? Because in 1844 God gathered His Israel again. Just as the fulfillment of the vision about the 2,300 days began from the earthly sanctuary and after his ascension Jesus ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, so also literal Israel became spiritual Israel.

The vision began with the decree for the restoration of the earthly temple in 457 BC and ended with Jesus entering the Most Holy Place in 1844. In the same way, the scattering of God’s people in 677 BC was changed to their gathering in 1844 AD. A prophecy of these events – until when the people of God were to be trodden underfoot and when the sanctuary was to be cleansed – was given to Daniel in chapter 8, verses 13-14. As there was a transition from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly sanctuary, so there was also a transition from the scattering of the literal Hebrews to the gathering of the spiritual Hebrews.

In 1844 God gathered his Israel once again. You may ask: Who were they in 1844? The Advent Millerites, who (a little later, through Rachel Preston) accepted the truth about the Sabbath – God’s covenant of the Ten Commandments. The covenant-keeping people of God would be gathered after 2520 years, just on time – in 1844. The prophecy of the 2520 years, together with the prophecy of the 2300 days, based on the day-for-a-year principle, confirms that the Advent people is described specifically in the Bible.

Actually, there are two prophecies of 2520 years each that were understood by Wm. Miller, Hiram Edson, and the other pioneers. They understood that there was a division that took place between Israel and Judah – the Northern and the Southern kingdoms. The Northern division was taken captive in 723 BC when Hosea was taken captive. 2520 years later we get to 1798. When we add 2520 years to 677 BC, they end in 1844. Thus between 1798 and 1844, we have the period of 46 years during which God was rebuilding His temple – just as in the Old Testament (according to John 2) it took 46 years to build the temple. Thus God rebuilt his temple in the period of 46 years – between 1798 and 1844. This is why the prophecy of the seven times of Leviticus is a very important time prophecy. As a matter of fact, Daniel also understood it. In the upper right corner, we have an explanation of the 7 times, multiplied by 12 months, which makes 84 months, and 84 months X 30 days = 2520 days, or “seven times”.  

The 2300 days (or prophetic years) of Daniel 8:14

The next prophecy in the 1843 Chart of which Daniel 8:14 predicts that it would end in 1843, is for the 2300 days. The decree to restore Jerusalem was issued in 457 BC.

Daniel 9:25 says that the giving of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem would mark the beginning of the 7 weeks, related to the 2300 days of Daniel 8 and 9. These prophetic days started in 457 BC. This year is irrefutable in history. It is a fact that (according to Ezda 7) the decree was issued in the 7th year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Based on the ancient canon of Ptolemy and other historical writings, we understand that when Artaxerxes began his reign in 464 BC, in the period of one year there were 20 eclipses of the sun – in just one year. If we add 7 years, we get to 457 BC when, according to Ezra 7, the decree was issued. Based on this year, 2300 years later would reach 1844.

The year 322 BC is noted as the year when Alexander the Great conquered Persia. This statement is based on “Jewish Antiquities” by Josephus Flavius, book 1. Today we understand that in 331 BC the deciding battle of Arbela was fought in which Alexander conquered the Medo-Persian Empire. Yet this does not disprove the fact that in 332 BC he had already conquered the Persians. In 331 BC the battle of Arbela was to a great degree the final reason for the Persians to stop trying to fight against Alexander’s army. Yet up to 332 BC, he had virtually prevailed against the empire. So the years in the 1843 chart are correct, and there are different years for different battles.

Arguments against Preterism

Now we get to the year 164 BC. At the time when the chart was issued, there was a doctrine in the Protestant world that was called “Preterism”. As a matter of fact, this doctrine is still taught today and its influence has not diminished in any way. Preterism is a theory that was formulated on December 13, 1545, at the Council of Trent. Thus the Roman Church fueled the Counter-Reformation, by trying to remove the guilt from herself because Protestants were pointing to her as being the Antichrist from the Bible. Preterism teaches that the Roman church cannot be the Antichrist because it was Antiochus IV Epiphanes who took away the daily sacrifices. Based on Daniel 8, Preterists teach about literal sacrifices. This happened when Epiphanes profaned the temple. But Antiochus Epiphanes died in 164 BC. He desecrated the temple before that, during the Maccabean revolt, as he set up a statue of Zeus in the precincts of the temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar of incense. The Hebrews called this “a great abomination” and there was a need for them to cleanse the temple. On that council in 1545, it was stated that when the Bible speaks about the Antichrist, it describes Antioch. Nevertheless, the Millerites understood that the Antichrist was the Roman Church and that the “Daily” had nothing to do with the Jewish sacrifices but with paganism itself as a system. Therefore they had to discuss this issue by placing the year 164 BC on the chart.

Take note that the year 164 BC signifies the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes who (of course) could not stand against the Prince of Princes because he died more than 150 years before the birth of the Prince of Princes. Therefore Antiochus Epiphanes could not be the Antichrist. He could not be the little horn power, to stand against the Prince of princes.

The League of the Jews

And lastly, in our examination of the 1843 Chart, we have 158 BC. We will explain it in short because today there is a debate about the year when the League between the Jews and the Romans was made. On the chart, we read: “Time of the league, between the Jews and the Romans – 158 BC.” The book of Josephus Flavius is referenced (Jewish Antiquities), as well as Daniel 11:23: “And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully…”

The reason why there is a dispute today is because there are some people who state that the year for this league was 161 BC. Such people conclude that the whole chart is untrustworthy. The truth is that historically there are two leagues that were made between the Jews and the Romans. The first league was made in 161 BC. Yet the chart gives reference to the first book of the Maccabees, chapter 9. The first league between the Jews and the Romans is actually described in 1 Maccabees 6 and 7 when the Jews went to Rome, trying to make peace with the Romans. Nevertheless, the Romans did not begin to abide by this contract immediately. The local Roman governor Bacchides broke the contract and began attacking the Jews again. Judas Maccabeus died in the war with Bacchides. His younger brother Jonathan took the government and the war and helped to expel Bacchides from the region. When Bacchides left, the Jews made another league with the Romans in which they were saying: Please, leave us alone! This happened in 158 BC. It was in 158 BC that the Romans left the Jews to enjoy peace for some time. So the year stated in the 1843 chart is correct. The reason that there may be differences of opinion is that though the first official treaty was signed in 161 BC, it was years later, after the war with Bacchides, that Romans and Jews began to have relative peace.  

The Tarrying Time

In conclusion, we would like to explain why there are two prophecies on the chart that seemed to point to 1843 but in reality, ended in 1844 AD – the prophecy of the 2520 days and the prophecy of the 2300 days. The prophetic chart was led by the hand of the Lord. In His wise Providence, he covered a mistake with His hand so that no one could discern it until he would remove His hand.

The hour of trial for the early Advent believers was the first disappointment of March 21, 1843. Then came the second disappointment – on April 18, 1844, when the Jewish year of 1843 ended. And finally, on October 22, 1844, after the Midnight Cry was given, there was the most widespread disappointment (called “The Great Disappointment of 1844”). Those who were waiting for the return of their Lord were sorely disappointed and most of them left the faith completely, to never return. Then, after a careful studying the Scriptures the faithful few were led by the Lord to discover that they were in a tarrying time. They realized that the prophetic chart had fulfilled the prophecy of Habakkuk. If the correct year – 1844 AD – was written on the chart, it would not have fulfilled the prophecy, because the waiting ones would not have been disappointed and sifted. During this second disappointment – in the spring of 1844 – we are told that angels supported the waiting ones in their time of trial.

We need to remember that the hand of the Lord hid a mistake. The time came when the Lord removed His hand and then the mistake was explained. The believers came to understand that the prophetic periods extended to 1844 and the same evidence that they were employing to show that they would end in 1843, in fact, pointed to their ending in the year 1844. The faith of many of the believers was invigorated again.

When we look at the chart to see what part of it the Lord had hidden by his hand, we see that there are only two prophetic periods that were expected to end in 1843 but would, in fact, end in 1844, and these are the prophecies of the 2520 and the 2300 days.

A standard publication

In conclusion, we would like to share with you a quote that shows how the 1843 chart became a standard and was widely used among the Millerites. The following was written by Josiah Litch in 1842:

“Within the last three years, there have been sent from our office in this city [Boston], second advent publications to nearly all the English and American missionary stations on the earth. They have been sent to China; to Burmah; to Hindostan; to the East Indies; to Persia, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Constantinople; into Africa, the W. India Islands, the Islands of the Pacific” (Josiah Litch. Prophetic Expositions, or a Connected View of the Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Time of Its Establishment, vol. 1, p. 166).

At that time the prophetic charts were sent in letters to all the world. This is being repeated today. This is why we would like to encourage you, if such a chart comes to you in some way, instead of putting it aside remember that it represents the foundation of our faith.

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