October 22

William Miller was an American Baptist preacher active in the middle of the 19th century. Miller considered himself a bit of a scholar, and through intensive study was convinced that he had figured out the exact date that Jesus would make His Second Coming. That date, determined by meticulous research, was October 22, 1844. It was a sure thing; no doubt about it; Miller and his many followers referred to that date as The Great Anticipation and made every preparation possible for Christ’s return and the end of the world. Well, Miller got it partly right because the sun, not the Son, did rise on the 22nd and on the 23rd as well. Miller’s followers would henceforth know October 23rd as The Great Disappointment.