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   From: semaun@aol.com   
      
   THE "SHUT DOOR" DOCUMENTS   
   Statements Relating to the "Shut Door,"   
   the Door of Mercy, and the Salvation of Souls   
   by Ellen G. White and Other Early Adventists   
   Arranged in a Chronological Setting from 1844 to 1851   
   Compiled, with Occasional Commentary, by   
   Robert W. Olson   
   Ellen G. White Estate   
   Washington D. C.   
   April 11, 1982   
      
   [p. 2]   
      
   1. October 22, 1844--After the Great Disappointment the Belief was   
   Widespread That Probation had Closed on October 22, 1844.   
      
   In 1868 James White wrote:   
      
     And a general impression remained upon the minds of believers for some   
   time after the disappointment, that the seventh-month movement was in the   
   direct providence of God, and that those who had been engaged in this work   
   had done his will.   
      
     And according to the best light they then had, there was a general   
   agreement that the seventh-month movement was the last great test, that the   
   harvest of the earth was ripe for the sickle of the Son of man, and that the   
   door was shut. That the salvation of the soul, or perdition, hung upon the   
   manner in which those who heard treated that solemn message, I doubt not.   
   And this is especially clear in the case of the disappointed believers after   
   the time passed. In holding fast and believing, there was salvation; in   
   drawing back, the result would be perdition. The view, however, that the   
   harvest of the earth was ripe, and that the door was shut, was soon   
   abandoned. But although all, long since, gave up this position as incorrect,   
   I fail to see why they should be censured for taking it upon the passing of   
   the time. In fact, the conclusion seems very natural, and I hardly see how   
   they could have come to any other. I will here mention some of the reasons   
   why such conclusion was reasonable, if not unavoidable.   
      
     1. William Miller and others had taught that the door would be shut, and   
   that probation would close a short time before the second advent. In a   
   letter to Elder J. V. Himes, October 6, 1844, he said: "I am strong in the   
   opinion that the next will be the last Lord's day sinners will ever have in   
   probation. And within ten or fifteen days from thence, they will see Him   
   whom they have hated and despised, to their shame and everlasting contempt."   
      
     2. And, certainly, that probation will close prior to the second advent is   
   plainly taught in the following emphatic testimony from Rev. xxii, 11, 12:   
   "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him   
   be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and   
   he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold I come quickly." I will   
   only add, that the order of events here given is, first, the final decision   
   of all men living at the close of probation, and, second, then follows the   
   advent of Him who says, "And behold I come quickly."   
      
     3. All true believers expected that probation would close as soon as the   
   tenth day of the seventh month. And as the time of expectation drew near,   
   their burdened spirits felt more and still more heavily the weight and   
   responsibility of doing every duty to others. But as the point of   
   expectation was finally reached, all this burden at once fell off. This was   
   as true of the isolated brother or sister, in some distant part of the   
   country, as with those in the crowded city mingling with hundreds of like   
   faith. It was true of all. All felt that their work in warning sinners was   
   done. No one can have a just idea of this great change, only those who   
   participated in the movement, and came up to the time of expectation with   
   the burden of the solemn work upon them. Jesus had not come as they   
   expected, and why this great change had come over all was a matter of proper   
   inquiry. And how natural the conclusion, to say the least, that probation   
   was ended.   
      
     4. The change that had suddenly come over the ungodly seemed to strengthen   
   the conviction that the door was shut. Although the passing of the time,   
   removing their fears, may now be regarded as a sufficient cause for the   
   change in them, yet at that time the fiend-like conduct of many after the   
   tenth day passed, who but a few hours or days before had appeared penitent,   
   gave the idea that the restraining influence of the Spirit of God had   
   forever left them.   
      
     In view of these things it should not be a matter of surprise to any, that   
   Adventists were agreed that the midnight cry was the last great test, that   
   the work for the world was finished, and that the door was shut. (Emphasis   
   supplied.) --Life Incidents (1868), pp. 184-186. See also E. G. White,   
   Spirit of Prophecy, vol. IV, p. 268; The Great Controversy, p. 429.   
      
   [p. 3]   
      
   2. November 18, 1844--William Miller Believed His Work Was Done and the Door   
   Was Shut.   
      
     We have done our work in warning sinners, and in trying to awake a formal   
   church. God, in his providence has shut the door; we can only stir one   
   another up to be patient; and be diligent to make our calling and election   
   sure. We are now living in the time specified by Malachi 3:18, also Daniel   
   12:10, Rev. 22:10-12. In this passage we cannot help but see that a little   
   while before Christ should come, there would be a separation between the   
   just and unjust, the righteous and wicked, between those who love his   
   appearing, and those who hate it.--William Miller Letter of Nov. 18, 1844,   
   quoted in The Advent Herald, Dec. 11, 1844, p. 142.   
      
   3. October 22-November, 1844--In Common With Most of the Millerites, Ellen   
   Harmon Also Believed for a Time that the Door of Mercy was Shut on October   
   22, 1844.   
      
     For a time after the disappointment in 1844, I did hold, in common with   
   the advent body, that the door of mercy was then forever closed to the   
   world.--Ellen G. White Ms. 4, 1883; Selected Messages, book 1, p. 63.   
      
   4. November-December, 1844--Ellen Harmon Gave Up Her View That the Door Was   
   Shut.   
      
     At the time I had the vision of the midnight cry I had given it up in the   
   past and thought it future, as also most of the band had.--Ellen G. White   
   Letter 3, 1847, written July 13, 1847 to Joseph Bates.   
      
   The "midnight cry" (Matt. 25:6) was the powerful proclamation of Christ's   
   imminent return made by the Millerites from August 12 to October 22, 1844.   
   When Christ did not return on October 22, as anticipated, the Millerites at   
   first thought that human probation had closed on that date. Christ's   
   glorious second advent was expected in a few weeks' time at the most.   
      
   However, when time continued into the month of December, most of the advent   
   "band" in Portland, Maine, where Ellen Harmon lived, gave up their   
   confidence in the Millerite interpretation of Daniel 8:14, Matthew 25:6, and   
   related texts. Apparently for several weeks late in November and early in   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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