The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Página 261

The European Union in Prophecy
of the 2300 days. The seventy weeks--490 days-having been cut off from the 2300,
there were 1810 days remaining. After the end of 490 days, the 1810 days were still
to be fulfilled. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently the 2300 days
of Daniel 8:14 terminate in 1844. At the expiration of this great prophetic period, upon
the testimony of the angel of God, "the sanctuary shall be cleansed." Thus the time of
the cleansing of the sanctuary--which was almost universally believed to take place
at the second advent--was definitely pointed out.
Miller and his associates at first believed that the 2300 days would terminate in
the spring of 1844, whereas the prophecy points to the autumn of that year. (See
Appendix.) 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."--Bliss, pages 76, 77.
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