Colin Wilson - World Famous Cults and Fanatics

One Millerite met the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson walking with his friend Theodore Parker, and asked them if they did not realize the world was about to end. That doesnt affect me, said Parker, I live in Boston.

When midnight passed with no sign of Armageddon, the disciples ruefully went home. One farmer had given his farm to his son who was a non-believer, and who now declined to give it back. Most of the others had sold all they had. In this moment of depression, Miller suddenly had an inspiration: his calculations had been based on the Christian year, and no doubt he should have used the Jewish year. That would make the date of Armageddon the following 22 March. On that date, his followers once more gathered for the last Trumpet. Still nothing happened. One man wrote sadly: Still in the cold world! No deliverance the Lord did not come.

Millers 50,000 followers soon dwindled to a small band of true believers. Miller himself was not among them; he admitted sorrowfully that he had made his mistake through pride and fanaticism. Another follower made an even more penetrating comment, which might be regarded as the epitaph of any number of messiahs: We were deluded by mere human influence, which we mistook for the Spirit of God. Miller died five years later, a deeply chastened man, who recognized that he had been wasting his time in his biblical calculations. Few other messiahs have possessed his honesty.

In fact, very few had his opportunity, for a large proportion of them have died ignominiously. In 1172, an unnamed prophet from the Yemen was dragged in front of the Caliph, who demanded proof that he was a messenger from God. That is easy, replied the prophet. Cut off my head and I shall return to life. That would indeed be a sign, said the Caliph, and if you can do as you say, I will become your follower. Whereupon he signalled to his headsman. The head of the prophet rolled on the floor, and predictably the messiah failed to keep his promise.