A Christian sect called “Millerites” believed that Christ would return by Oct. 22, 1844. When that didn’t happen, the “Great Disappointment” caused them to fall into confusion and disband, with some former Millerites reinterpreting their doctrine and forming the Seventh Day Adventists.

Great Disappointment

This article is about religious history. For the AFI song of the same name, see Sing the Sorrow.

Part of a series on

Adventism

William Miller

show

Background

show

History

show

Biographies

show

Theology

show

Denominations

v

t

e

The Great Disappointment in the Millerite movement was the reaction that followed Baptist preacher William Miller’s proclamations that Jesus Christ would return to the Earth by 1844, what he called the Advent. His study of the Daniel 8 prophecy during the Second Great Awakening led him to the conclusion that Daniel’s “cleansing of the sanctuary” was cleansing of the world from sin when Christ would come, and he and many others prepared, but October 22… Continue Reading (11 minute read)