“On April 3rd, 1843 there were scores of believers in the Northeast who were awaiting the end of the world. They all followed a New York evangelist named William Miller. They were called “Millerites.” Journalists had a field day. Reportedly some disciples were on mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in union with their departed loved ones. Some high society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God's holy kingdom amid the common herd. When April 4th dawned as usual, the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart. Their leader had predicted a range of dates for the end -- dates that have also come and gone” (Today in the Word).
Since then, many others have claimed that they knew the day when the world w…