, United States (USA) (American Colonies)
1844 - This second date, predicted by the Millerites for the Second Coming of Jesus, leads to the Great Disappointment.

In 1844, the Millerite movement, a religious revival led by preacher William Miller, experienced what came to be known as the “Great Disappointment.” Miller, a Baptist preacher in upstate New York, had spent the early 1840s interpreting biblical prophecy and concluded that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would occur between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. His message spread rapidly, attracting tens of thousands of followers who sold possessions, left jobs, and prepared themselves for the imminent end of the world.

When March 1844 passed without incident, Miller revised his prediction, ultimately setting the new date for October 22, 1844. On that day, the long-anticipated event again failed to materialize. The emotional and spiritual shock for Miller’s followers was profound, giving rise to what historians have called the “Great Disappointment.” Many left the movement in despair, while others sought explanations and reinterpretations of prophecy.

Out of the turmoil, however, new religious communities emerged. The most prominent was the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which reframed Miller’s apocalyptic expectations into a broader theological system emphasizing the Sabbath, healthful living, and ongoing anticipation of Christ’s return. The Great Disappointment illustrates both the fervor of 19th-century American millennialism and the enduring capacity of religious movements to adapt and survive even after a dramatic prophetic failure.

October 22, 1844

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