ATSS: Don Casebolt on “Father Miller’s Daughter”
15 February 2023 |
The crisis in Adventist eschatology is due to its reliance on Millerism’s faulty methodology and falsified prophetic predictions.
Ellen White taught that Father Miller’s sole authority was Scripture and a concordance, that his interpretations were literal commonsense, and, most importantly, that God had originated his date-setting conclusions by repeated angelic guidance. She said that Miller was typological of John the Baptist, that Miller was a forerunner to Christ’s second advent as the Baptist was to his first.
In this class the author will discuss his book Father Miller’s Daughter, which documents how these three misconceptions are falsified by primary sources from roughly 1835 to 1851.
Miller was highly dependent on disconfirmed, centuries-old, historicist speculations; his interpretations were allegorical and arbitrary, not literal; his falsified proofs were obviously not of angelic origin. For example, Miller initially predicted the parousia and fall of the Ottoman Empire for 1839. White also endorsed Snow, Joseph Turner, and Crozier, whom, she said, God had given “true light.” Post-disappointment, these men continued using Miller’s allegorical-typological-historicist methods, and Ellen Harmon learned from these men.
About two centuries after “The Midnight Cry” and the “end-times” signs of 1755, 1780, and 1833, the Seventh-day Adventist church’s tenacious reliance on Millerite proofs makes its eschatology increasingly implausible.
Location:
If you’re in the Loma Linda area, join ATSS in person to meet our speaker live at CC3208 in Loma Linda University’s Centennial Complex (24760 Stewart St, Loma Linda).
Teacher:
Donald Casebolt graduated from Andrews University in 1972 with a B.A. degree. He was enrolled in the Andrews University Master of Divinity program for two years. In the 1976-77 school year he studied at the University of Tübingen in Germany. In 1977-79 he was enrolled in a doctoral program in Semitic Philology at the University of Chicago. He has published several articles on Ellen White’s eschatology.
Moderator:
Jim Walters is an emeritus professor of ethics from the Loma Linda School of Religion.
How to join:
One-click link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85770423463?pwd=WXgyR0crNGcveTVlaVBFdDRvbEp3QT09
Passcode: 848972
ATSS starting time depends on where you are. If you’re on the west coast of the United States, it’ll be 10:30 AM. On the east coast, 1:30 PM. Please double-check the correct time where you live.
Times around the world:
-
- Reykjavík: 6:30 PM
- College Place: 10:30 AM
- Lincoln: 12:30 PM
- Denver: 11:30 AM
- Bracknell: 6:30 PM
- Berrien Springs: 1:30 PM
- Loma Linda: 10:30 AM
- Nairobi: 9:30 PM
- Gackle: 12:30 PM
- Hosur: 11:00 PM
- Waco: 12:30 PM
- Keene: 12:30 PM
- Helsinki: 8:30 PM
- Stockholm: 7:30 PM
- Hamburg: 7:30 PM
- Cape Town: 9:30 PM
- Madrid: 7:30 PM
- Paris: 7:30 PM
- Honolulu: 7:30 AM
- India (all): 12:00 PM (Sunday)
- Cooranbong: 5:30 AM (Sunday)
- Perth: 2:30 AM (Sunday)
The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum. We discuss and ask questions politely. We don’t accuse, get angry, put people down, or judge the state of their salvation.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand—under the “reactions” button.
- Please use your name when you sign in! Not your phone number, not your initials. This will help us differentiate you from unwelcome guests who want to disrupt us. You can set your name after signing on by clicking on the 3 dots next to your picture, which drops down a menu.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
Coming up:
- Daniel Duda
- Bill Cork
