that the 2300 days would
terminate in the _spring_ of 1844, whereas the prophecy points to the
_autumn_ of that year.(547) The misapprehension of this point brought
disappointment and perplexity to those who had fixed upon the earlier date
as the time of the Lord's coming. But this did not in the least affect the
strength of the argument showing that the 2300 days terminated in the year
1844, and that the great event represented by the cleansing of the
sanctuary must then take place.

Entering upon the study of the Scriptures as he had done, in order to
prove that they were a revelation from God, Miller had not, at the outset,
the slightest expectation of reaching the conclusion at which he had now
arrived. He himself could hardly credit the results of his investigation.
But the Scripture evidence was too clear and forcible to be set aside.

He had devoted two years to the study of the Bible, when, in 1818, he
reached the solemn conviction that in about twenty-five years Christ would
appear for the redemption of His people. "I need not speak," says Miller,
"of the joy that filled my heart in view of the delightful prospect, nor
of the ardent longings of my soul for a participation in the joys of the
redeemed. The Bible was now to me a new book. It was indeed a feast of
reason; all that was dark, mystical, or obscure to me in its teachings,
had been dissipated from my mind before the clear light that now dawned
from its sacred pages; and oh, how bright and glorious the truth appeared!
All the contradictions and inconsistencies I had before found in the Word
were gone; and although there were many portions of which I was not
satisfied I had a full understanding, yet so much light had emanated from
it to the illumination of my before darkened mind, that I felt a delight
in studying the Scripture which I had not before supposed could be derived
from its teachings."(548)

"With the solemn conviction that such momentous events were predicted in
the Scriptures to be fulfilled in so short a space of time, the question
came home to me with mighty power regarding my duty to the world, in view
of the evidence that had affected my own mind."(549) He could not but feel
that it was his duty to impart to others the light which he had received.
He expected to encounter opposition from the ungodly, but was confident
that all Christians would rejoice in the hope of meeting the Saviour whom
they professed to love. His only fear was, that