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of understanding stars falling to mean falling stars； 。 。 。 in the only
sense in which it is possible to be literally true。〃
Thus was displayed the last of those signs of His coming； concerning which
Jesus bade His disciples： 〃When ye shall see all these things； know that it
is near； even at the doors。〃 Matthew 24：33。 After these signs； John beheld；
as the great event next impending； the heavens departing as a scroll； while
the earth quaked； mountains and islands removed out of their places； and the
wicked in terror sought to flee from the presence of the Son of man。
Revelation 6：12…17。
Many who witnessed the falling of the stars； looked upon it as a herald of
the coming judgment； 〃an awful type； a sure forerunner； a merciful sign； of
that great and dreadful day。〃 〃The Old Countryman；〃 in Portland Evening
Advertiser； Nov。 26； 1833。 Thus the attention of the people was directed to
the fulfillment of prophecy； and many were led to give heed to the warning
of the second advent。
In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited
widespread interest。 Two years before； Josiah Litch； one of the leading
ministers preaching the second advent； published an exposition of Revelation
9； predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire。 According to his calculations；
this power was to be overthrown 〃in A。D。 1840； sometime in the month of
August；〃 and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote：
〃Allowing the first period； 150 years； to have been exactly fulfilled before
Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks； and that the 391
years； fifteen days； commenced at the close of the first period； it will end
on the 11th of August； 1840； when the Ottoman power
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in Constantinople may be expected to be broken。 And this； I believe； will be
found to be the case。〃Josiah Litch； in Signs of the Times； and Expositor
of Prophecy； Aug。 1； 1840。
At the very time specified； Turkey； through her ambassadors； accepted the
protection of the allied powers of Europe； and thus placed herself under the
control of Christian nations。 The event exactly fulfilled the prediction。
（See Appendix。） When it became known； multitudes were convinced of the
correctness of the principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller
and his associates； and a wonderful impetus was given to the advent
movement。 Men of learning and position united with Miller； both in preaching
and in publishing his views； and from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly
extended。
William Miller possessed strong mental powers； disciplined by thought and
study； and he added to these the wisdom of heaven by connecting himself with
the Source of wisdom。 He was a man of sterling worth； who could not but
command respect and esteem wherever integrity of character and moral
excellence were valued。 Uniting true kindness of heart with Christian
humility and the power of self…control； he was attentive and affable to all；
ready to listen to the opinions of others and to weigh their arguments。
Without passion or excitement he tested all theories and doctrines by the
word of God； and his sound reasoning and thorough knowledge of the
Scriptures enabled him to refute error and expose falsehood。
Yet he did not prosecute his work without bitter opposition。 As with earlier
Reformers； the truths which he presented were not received with favor by
popular religious teachers。 As these could not maintain their position by
the Scriptures； they were driven to resort to the sayings and doctrines of
men； to the traditions of the Fathers。 But the word of God was the only
testimony accepted by the preachers of the advent truth。 〃The Bible； and the
Bible only；〃 was their watchword。 The lack of Scripture argument on the part
of their opponents was supplied by ridicule and scoffing。 Time； means； and
talents were employed in maligning those whose
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only offense was that they looked with joy for the return of their Lord and
were striving to live holy lives and to exhort others to prepare for His
appearing。
Earnest were the efforts put forth to draw away the minds of the people from
the subject of the second advent。 It was made to appear a sin； something of
which men should be ashamed； to study the prophecies which relate to the
coming of Christ and the end of the world。 Thus the popular ministry
undermined faith in the word of God。 Their teaching made men infidels； and
many took license to walk after their own ungodly lusts。 Then the authors of
the evil charged it all upon Adventists。
While drawing crowded houses of intelligent and attentive hearers； Miller's
name was seldom mentioned by the religious press except by way of ridicule
or denunciation。 The careless and ungodly emboldened by the position of
religious teachers； resorted to opprobrious epithets； to base and
blasphemous witticisms； in their efforts to heap contumely upon him and his
work。 The gray…headed man who had left a comfortable home to travel at his
own expense from city to city； from town to town； toiling unceasingly to
bear to the world the solemn warning of the judgment near； was sneeringly
denounced as a fanatic； a liar； a speculating knave。
The ridicule； falsehood； and abuse heaped upon him called forth indignant
remonstrance； even from the secular press。 〃To treat a subject of such
overwhelming majesty and fearful consequences；〃 with lightness and ribaldry
was declared by worldly men to be 〃not merely to sport with the feelings of
its propagators and advocates；〃 but 〃to make a jest of the day of judgment；
to scoff at the Deity Himself； and contemn the terrors of His judgment
bar。〃Bliss； page 183。
The instigator of all evil sought not only to counteract the effect of the
advent message； but to destroy the messenger himself。 Miller made a
practical application of Scripture truth to the hearts of his hearers；
reproving their sins and
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disturbing their self…satisfaction； and his plain and cutting words aroused
their enmity。 The opposition manifested by church members toward his message
emboldened the baser classes to go to greater lengths； and enemies plotted
to take his life as he should leave the place of meeting。 But holy angels
were in the throng； and one of these； in the form of a man； took the arm of
this servant of the Lord and led him in safety from the angry mob。 His work
was not yet done； and Satan and his emissaries were disappointed in their
purpose。
Despite all opposition； the interest in the advent movement had continued to
increase。 From scores and hundreds； the congregations had grown to as many
thousands。 Large accessions had been made to the various churches； but after
a time the spirit of opposition was manifested even against these converts；
and the churches began to take disciplinary steps with those who had
embraced Miller's views。 This action called forth a response from his pen；
in an address to Christians of all denominations； urging that if his
doctrines were false； he should be shown his error from the Scriptures。
〃What have we believed；〃 he said； 〃that we have not been commanded to
believe by the word of God； which you yourselves allow is the rule； and only
rule； of our faith and practice？ What have we done that should call down
such virulent denunciations against us from pulpit and press； and give you
just cause to exclude us ＇Adventists＇ from your churches and fellowship？〃
〃If we are wrong； pray show us wherein consists our wrong。 Show us from the
word of God that we are in error； we have had ridicule enough； that can
never convince us that we are in the wrong； the word of God alone can change
our views。 Our conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully； as
we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures。〃Ibid。； pages 250； 252。
From age to age the warnings which God has sent to the world by His servants
have been received with like incredulity and unbelief。 When the iniquity of
the antediluvians
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moved Him to bring a flood of waters upon the earth； He first made known to
them His purpose； that they might have opportunity to turn from their evil
ways。 For a hundred and twenty years was sounded in their ears the warning
to repent； lest the wrath of God be manifested in their destruction。 But the
message seemed to them an idle tale； and they believed it not。 Emboldened in
their wickedness they mocked the messenger of God； made light of his
entreaties； and even accused him of presumption。 How dare one man stand up
against all the great men of the earth？ If Noah's message were true； why did
not all the world see it and believe it？ One man's assertion against the
wisdom of thousands！ They would not credit the warning； nor would they seek
shelter in the ark。
Scoffers pointed to the things of nature；to the unvarying succession of
the seasons； to the blue skies that had never poured out rain； to the green
fields refreshed by the soft dews of night；and they cried out： 〃Doth he
not speak parables？〃 In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness
to be a wild enthusiast； and they went on； more