History of the Seventh Day Adventist Church Essay

History of the Seventh Day Adventist Church - Essay Example They stayed awake late into the night, waiting for the Christ and were totally disappointed when the time between sunset and midnight passed and nothing happened. Miller, later in life, realized that miracle is part of spirituality but miracle is not spirituality! This event, since then, is known as the Great Disappointment. Miller served in the American Army in various capacities and later discharged after the war, on June 18, 1815. He, perhaps, had no inkling that more stirring times in the spiritual field awaited him. Miller’s main concern related to question of death and an after-life. Some bitter incidents molded his thinking over this issue. Firstly, his experiences as a soldier; secondly the deaths of his father and sister! What happens to an individual after death?—this bothered him intensely. He concluded two possibilities—annihilation and accountability. â€Å"The inquiring, questioning, restless mind which had begun to reveal itself in early youth was as active as ever. By his own testimony he entered he Army with the hope of find in patriotism one bright spot in a seamy, sinister world. â€Å"But,† he said he, â€Å"two years in service was enough to convince me that I was in error in this thing also. When I left the service I had become completely disgusted wit h man’s public character.†(Nichol, p.9) Miller wobbled between two faiths. Initially, he wished to combine both the faiths, Baptist and Deism. Soon, his involvement in the Baptist church became more intense, and he read sermons during one of the local minister’s frequent absences. During one such religious exercise, on the subject of duties of parents, he happened to relate the topic to the character of a Savior. His emotions led him to the internal search of such a compassionate Being, who has the capacity to save humanity from suffering and penalty of sin. That Being is worth adoration and deserves complete surrender, Miller concluded. But Deism had the upper hand again.