William Miller was a farmer in the early 1800s who gave his
life to God and began intensely studying his Bible.
William Miller was an American religious leader who gained
fame for his interpretation of biblical prophecies, particularly those in the
Book of Daniel, leading to his prediction of the Second Coming of Christ in
1843. This belief sparked the Millerite movement, a significant religious
phenomenon in 19th-century North America.
Ellen White has written positively about Miller in The Great
Controversy and elsewhere. She heard him preach, and accepted his teachings,
going through the disappointment at age 16. She believed that his preaching
fulfilled the prophecies of Scripture, and saw him being guided by the Lord.
Miller never accepted advancing understanding of the
disappointment. Ellen White wrote: "I saw that William Miller erred as he
was soon to enter the heavenly Canaan, in suffering his influence to go against
the truth. Others led him to this; others must account for it. But angels watch
the precious dust of this servant of God, and he will come forth at the sound
of the last trump."--Early Writings, p. 258.
William Miller's rules for Bible interpretation emphasize a
literal, context-aware approach, seeking to understand scripture as its own
expositor, and relying on consistent application of its teachings. Key aspects
include interpreting figures and parables, recognizing visions, and
prioritizing a faith that requires sacrifice. He also stressed the importance
of comparing scripture to scripture to understand doctrine and finding the true
historical fulfillment of prophecies.
Here are Miller’s rules in his own words*