Summary:
William Miller's introduction to his lecture is about the study of Biblical prophecy, and the coming of Judgement day. According to Miller, the world is on the precipice of the return of Christ. Miller said that the sections of the Bible that are prophetic, are linguistically different from the other portions of the Bible. However, despite these differences, Miller says that the Bible's prophecies have a consistency to them throughout that gives them more credence. “...yet God in his wisdom has do interwoven the several prophecies that the events for told are not all told by one prophet, and although they lived and prophesied in different ages of the world, yet they tell us the same things; so you take away one and a link is missing.”(227). In addition to this, he also says that this will be self evident to any one that reads the scripture. The harmony of the Bible according to Miller, demonstrates it's greatness. He then goes on to predict the second coming of Jesus and judgement day as prophesied in the Bible, closing with a plea for people to study the Bible, lest they not be saved.
The section from The Book of Books by Ellen White, is a document that stresses the importance of the Bible and its use in the curriculum for teaching kids. She opens by saying that reading the Bible will give you “strength of intellect”. According to White the ideas contained within the Bible, if woven into your day to day life, will raise you up to a more spiritual and good place. (230). To White is is incredibly important for students to read the bible as part of their education to help resist the temptations of Satan. (230)
Analysis:
The tie that seems to bind Miller and White together is the assumption of the Bible's perfection. They even use similar terms to describe the book, Miller calls it “a great storehouse full of precious commodities”(228), while white calls it “a treasury containing jewels of precious value.” (230) Both Miller and White predicted the second coming of Christ. Miller's approach to reading the prophetic sections of the bible is to compare them with other prophetic portions of the bible and create what to him seems like an obvious through story. The interpretive method that he employs in his reading of the bible is a literal one, though he does allow for the “highly figurative”(227) nature of prophetic visions.
White's understanding of the bible is very similar to Millers in it's nature. According to White the practical consequence of bible study is an elevated spiritual and moral life. To her, the Bible is the ultimate book for both practical and spiritual study. I think that people are attracted to apocalyptic teachings because there is something incredibly comforting about being certain about the end of all things. The unknown is scary, and having less or no doubts is ultimately an amazing way to put your mind at ease.