In the Advent movement thus far we have met with three steps that were taken on three different occasions, each by a different leader, and each involving different consequences. These three steps were: (1) Miller set March 21, 1844, as the end of the twenty-three hundred days of Dan. 8: 14 and the time when Christ should come; (2) S. S. Snow, about July of that year, announced the “seventh-month movement” and set October 22 as the day when the Lord would come; and (3) Edson and Crozier, immediately after October 22, began to formulate the theories regarding the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.
But Adventists expected the Lord to come at any moment. William Miller:
“The time, as I have calculated it, is now filled up; and I expect every moment to see the Savior descend from heaven.” (“Life of Miller,” page 279.)
They believed that the world had reached the antitypical day of atonement of this dispensation and that intercession had ceased.
In Lev. 16: 17 they read that there was no man in the tabernacle of the congregation on the day of atonement in the typical system; and from Rev. 15: 8 they learned that when the seven last plagues are poured out the temple will be filled with smoke, and that none will be permitted to enter until the plagues are over. They had reached this stage in the world’s history, their theories told them, and they believed the door of mercy had been closed.
Putting these passages together, it was easy to arrive at the conclusion that the world had reached the day when the sanctuary in heaven was shut; that the high priest was ministering in the most holy; that no one was allowed to enter; hence, that there was no intercession possible. From this it followed that sinners had no possible room for repentance, as there was no one to hear their cries. The day of mercy had passed.
Mrs. E. G. White, in the Old Edition of the “Great Controversy,” page 268, brings out the following points:
- ”The work of Christ as man’s intercessor before God had ceased.”
- ”They felt that their work for the world was done.”
- ”They lost their burden of soul for the salvation of sinners.”
- They believed that “the Spirit of God had been drawn from the rejectors of his mercy.”
- They believed that “the door of mercy was shut.”
They compared their experience at that time with the ten virgins in Matt. 25. Some had gone in with the bridegroom and some were left out to knock for admittance against a door that had been shut.
J. N. Loughborough, the Advent historian, has this:
“As the door of utterance appeared to be completely closed, and the Advent people saw that there was a shut door in the parable applying to their experience, it can be readily seen how they arrived at the conclusion that there was no more mercy for sinners, or, as they expressed it, that ‘the door of mercy was closed.'” (“Great Second Advent Movement,” page 220.)
David Arnold, an Advent writer of 1844, penned this:
“The professed conversions through the instrumentality of the different sects are also urged as positive proof that the door is not shut. . . . ‘They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children.'” (knock for admittance against a door that had been shut.
This is from a paper that was published by the Adventists. Elder James White, husband of Mrs. Ellen G. White, was editor of The Present Truth, and in an issue of the same year we have this from his pen:
“Many may point to one who is said to be converted for positive proof that the door is not shut, thus yielding the word of God for the feelings of the individual.”
Mrs. White, in The Present Truth for March, 1850, has this:
“The excitement and false reformations of these days do not move us, for we know that the Master of the house rose up in 1844 and shut the door of the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and now we certainly expect that they will ‘go with their flocks’ to seek the Lord, but they shall not find him. He hath withdrawn himself (within the second veil) from them. The Lord has shown me that the power that is with them is a mere human influence, and not the power of God.”
In the August issue of the same paper she has this :
“Some appeared to have been really converted, so as to deceive God’s people; but if their hearts could be seen, they would appear as black as ever. My accompanying angel bade me look for the travail of soul for sinners as used to be. I looked, but could not see it, for the time for their salvation is passed.”
Hear Mrs. White again:
“As has been stated, Adventists were for a short time united in the belief that the door of mercy was shut. This position was soon abandoned.” (“Great Controversy,” Old Edition, page 271.)
The Revised Edition of the “Great Controversy” states the matter thus:
“After the passing of the time when the Savior was expected, they still believed his coming to be very near. They held that they had reached an important crisis, and that the work of Christ as man’s intercessor before God HAD CEASED.” (Page 429.)
“They arrived at the conclusion that there was no more mercy for sinners, or, as they expressed it, that the door of mercy was closed.” (“Great Second Advent Movement,” page 220.)
This is the history of the shut door. Such a theory was taught for a few years after the passing of Snow’s date—October 22, 1844. Mrs. White and her husband were among those who believed and taught that the door of mercy had been closed.
- VI. Mrs. White and Her Visions. - October 1, 2026
- V. The Shut Door. - October 1, 2026
- IV. Crozier’s Sanctuary Question Considered. - September 24, 2026