Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: st0o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Steven Timm) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Millenium? Message-ID: Date: 17 Dec 90 00:45:42 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 40 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Steve Hix writes >Don't know about Russell, but I don't believe that Miller ever claimed >to be a prophet. Went out of his way to disclaim such, actually. Quite correct. >After the 1844 events, was quite clear on the point that he had been >mistaken in his (and other supporters) interpretation of the applicable >parts of Daniel's prophecies. (Also did not accept the doctrine of >Millenialism.) Don't believe that the majority of Adventists today >accept Millenialism...'cause is ain't scriptural. Miller believed that the sanctuary to be cleansed in Daniel 8:14 was the earth, and this meant the second coming of Christ. Both the small Advent Christian Church (direct line from leaders of Millerite movement) and the then-offshoot but now much larger Seventh-day Adventists believe that Christ's coming will be at a time which is soon but unspecified, and that we should live each day in readiness for that time. I don't know what Mr. Hix means by the doctrine of Millenialism. Millenialism falls into two classic streams--postmillenialism which teaches Christ will return after 1000 years of peace on the earth, and premillenialists who teach that Christ's return precedes the 1000 years of peace. Seventh-day Adventists believe that living and reigning with Christ a thousand years will be in heaven, after which Christ will return with his saints to the earth and create "new heavens and a new earth." Thus we attach no particular political significance to the millenium, nor do we attach any religious significance to the current turmoil in the Middle East. Further questions on this topic about particular Adventist beliefs may be directed to SDAnet, the Adventist mailing list, at st0o+SDA@andrew.cmu.edu Steven Timm Physics Department Carnegie Mellon "Shame on you, and shame on you again for converting me into a bullet and shooting me into men's hearts." Richard Harris c 1972