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communion of His joythe joy of 〃bringing many sons unto glory；〃 joy
unspeakable； an 〃eternal weight of glory；〃 to which； says Paul； 〃our light
affliction； which is but for a moment；〃 is 〃not worthy to be compared。〃
The experience of the disciples who preached the 〃gospel of the kingdom〃 at
the first advent of Christ； had its counterpart in the experience of those
who proclaimed the message of His second advent。 As the disciples went out
preaching； 〃The time is fulfilled； the kingdom of God is at hand；〃 so Miller
and his associates proclaimed that the longest and last prophetic period
brought to view in the Bible was about to expire； that the judgment was at
hand； and the everlasting kingdom was to be ushered in。 The preaching of the
disciples in regard to time was based on the seventy weeks of Daniel 9。 The
message given by Miller and his associates announced the termination of the
2300 days of Daniel 8：14； of which the seventy weeks form a part。 The
preaching of each was based upon the fulfillment of a different portion of
the same great prophetic period。
Like the first disciples； William Miller and his associates did not；
themselves； fully comprehend the import of the message which they bore。
Errors that had been long established
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in the church prevented them from arriving at a correct interpretation of an
important point in the prophecy。 Therefore； though they proclaimed the
message which God had committed to them to be given to the world； yet
through a misapprehension of its meaning they suffered disappointment。
In explaining Daniel 8：14； 〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days； then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed；〃 Miller； as has been stated； adopted the
generally received view that the earth is the sanctuary； and he believed
that the cleansing of the sanctuary represented the purification of the
earth by fire at the coming of the Lord。 When； therefore； he found that the
close of the 2300 days was definitely foretold； he concluded that this
revealed the time of the second advent。 His error resulted from accepting
the popular view as to what constitutes the sanctuary。
In the typical system； which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of
Christ； the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the
high priest in the yearly round of ministration。 It was the closing work of
the atonement a removal or putting away of sin from Israel。 It prefigured
the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in heaven； in the
removal or blotting out of the sins of His people； which are registered in
the heavenly records。 This service involves a work of investigation； a work
of judgment； and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory； for when He comes； every case has been
decided。 Says Jesus： 〃My reward is with Me； to give every man according as
his work shall be。〃 Revelation 22：12。 It is this work of judgment；
immediately preceding the second advent； that is announced in the first
angel's message of Revelation 14：7： 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him； for
the hour of His judgment is come。〃
Those who proclaimed this warning gave the right message at the right time。
But as the early disciples declared； 〃The time is fulfilled； and the kingdom
of God is at hand；〃
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based on the prophecy of Daniel 9； while they failed to perceive that the
death of the Messiah was foretold in the same scripture； so Miller and his
associates preached the message based on Daniel 8：14 and Revelation 14：7；
and failed to see that there were still other messages brought to view in
Revelation
14； which were also to be given before the advent of
the Lord。 As the disciples were mistaken in regard to the kingdom to be set
up at the end of the seventy weeks； so Adventists were mistaken in regard to
the event to take place at the expiration of the 2300 days。 In both cases
there was an acceptance of； or rather an adherence to； popular errors that
blinded the mind to the truth。 Both classes fulfilled the will of God in
delivering the message which He desired to be given； and both； through their
own misapprehension of their message； suffered disappointment。
Yet God accomplished His own beneficent purpose in permitting the warning of
the judgment to be given just as it was。 The great day was at hand； and in
His providence the people were brought to the test of a definite time； in
order to reveal to them what was in their hearts。 The message was designed
for the testing and purification of the church。 They were to be led to see
whether their affections were set upon this world or upon Christ and heaven。
They professed to love the Saviour； now they were to prove their love。 Were
they ready to renounce their worldly hopes and ambitions； and welcome with
joy the advent of their Lord？ The message was designed to enable them to
discern their true spiritual state； it was sent in mercy to arouse them to
seek the Lord with repentance and humiliation。
The disappointment also； though the result of their own misapprehension of
the message which they gave； was to be overruled for good。 It would test the
hearts of those who had professed to receive the warning。 In the face of
their disappointment would they rashly give up their experience and cast
away their confidence in God's word？ or would they； in
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prayer and humility； seek to discern where they had failed to comprehend the
significance of the prophecy？ How many had moved from fear； or from impulse
and excitement？ How many were halfhearted and unbelieving？ Multitudes
professed to love the appearing of the Lord。 When called to endure the
scoffs and reproach of the world； and the test of delay and disappointment；
would they renounce the faith？ Because they did not immediately understand
the dealings of God with them； would they cast aside truths sustained by the
clearest testimony of His word？
This test would reveal the strength of those who with real faith had obeyed
what they believed to be the teaching of the word and the Spirit of God。 It
would teach them； as only such an experience could； the danger of accepting
the theories and interpretations of men； instead of making the Bible its own
interpreter。 To the children of faith the perplexity and sorrow resulting
from their error would work the needed correction。 They would be led to a
closer study of the prophetic word。 They would be taught to examine more
carefully the foundation of their faith； and to reject everything； however
widely accepted by the Christian world； that was not founded upon the
Scriptures of truth。
With these believers； as with the first disciples； that which in the hour of
trial seemed dark to their understanding would afterward be made plain。 When
they should see the 〃end of the Lord〃 they would know that； notwithstanding
the trial resulting from their errors； His purposes of love toward them had
been steadily fulfilling。 They would learn by a blessed experience that He
is 〃very pitiful； and of tender mercy；〃 that all His paths 〃are mercy and
truth unto such as keep His covenan