Millerites

Definition

The Millerites were a religious movement in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s, led by William Miller, who predicted the second coming of Christ and the end of the world would occur in 1844. This movement was a significant part of the religious awakening and individualism seen in the early 19th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. William Miller, a Baptist preacher, began preaching his belief that Christ would return to Earth in 1844, based on his interpretation of the biblical prophecies.
2. The Millerites gained a large following, with thousands of people selling their possessions and waiting for the prophesied second coming of Christ.
3. When Christ did not return in 1844, as Miller had predicted, the event became known as the 'Great Disappointment,' leading to a crisis of faith for many Millerites.
4. Despite the failure of Miller's predictions, the Millerite movement laid the foundation for the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Adventist denominations.
5. The Millerite movement was a significant part of the Second Great Awakening, reflecting the religious individualism and fervor of the time, as well as the growing interest in apocalyptic and millennial beliefs.

Review Questions

• Explain the core beliefs and teachings of the Millerite movement and how they were connected to the religious awakening and individualism of the early 19th century.
  • The Millerites, led by William Miller, believed that the second coming of Christ and the end of the world would occur in 1844, based on their interpretation of biblical prophecies. This apocalyptic belief was a significant part of the religious awakening and individualism seen during the Second Great Awakening, as the Millerites represented a movement of religious fervor, personal interpretation of scripture, and the growing interest in millennial and apocalyptic ideas. The Millerite movement's focus on the imminent return of Christ and the establishment of a new, divine order reflected the religious individualism and spiritual renewal that characterized this period of American history.
• Describe the impact of the 'Great Disappointment' on the Millerite movement and its connection to the development of new Adventist denominations.
  • When Christ did not return in 1844 as Miller had predicted, it led to a crisis of faith for many Millerites, an event known as the 'Great Disappointment.' This failure of Miller's prophecy did not completely dismantle the movement, however, as it laid the foundation for the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Adventist denominations. The Millerite movement's focus on the second coming of Christ and apocalyptic beliefs continued to influence these new religious groups, which sought to reinterpret and build upon the Millerite teachings, reflecting the individualism and religious fervor of the Second Great Awakening.
• Analyze how the Millerite movement's beliefs and the 'Great Disappointment' event contributed to the broader religious and social changes taking place in the United States during the early 19th century.
  • The Millerite movement, with its focus on the imminent second coming of Christ and the end of the world, was a significant part of the religious awakening and individualism seen during the Second Great Awakening. The movement's apocalyptic beliefs and the subsequent 'Great Disappointment' when Christ did not return in 1844 as predicted, contributed to broader religious and social changes in the United States. The crisis of faith experienced by many Millerites led to the development of new Adventist denominations, reflecting the individualism and spiritual fervor of the time. Additionally, the Millerite movement's emphasis on personal interpretation of scripture and the establishment of a new, divine order aligned with the growing religious pluralism and social reform movements that characterized the early 19th century in America.

Related terms

Second Great Awakening:

A period of religious revival and spiritual renewal that swept across the United States in the early 19th century, leading to the formation of new denominations and the rise of social reform movements.

Adventism: A Christian movement focused on the belief in the imminent second coming of Christ, or the 'advent,' which was a central tenet of the Millerite movement.

Apocalypticism: The belief in the imminent end of the world and the establishment of a new, divine order, which was a core belief of the Millerites and other apocalyptic movements.