If we look back to the early Adventists and compare them with Adventists today one of the most striking differences is the fact that the early Adventists took coincidences seriously. I am not simply describing the application of prophecy to history, the coincidences that occur between time periods in the Bible and time periods in history, but their whole awareness of life. When the early pioneers had questions they expected God to answer them, and continually had an attitude of expectancy waiting for those answers. Following the Great Disappointment instead of simply saying "this was a mistake" they expected God to explain to them what had happened, they were watching and waiting for coincidences to appear to point them in the direction of the answer.
When Joseph Bates appeared with the Sabbath truth his arrival was not seen as random chance but an important and significant event. Both as a group and individually no event was seen as random or meaningless, but everything was significant and with purpose.
If we take note of significant events - look for them and expect them - if we consider their meaning and purpose, we can rediscover our destiny and start to follow it. If we ignore or refuse to look for coincidence and meaning we will continue to exist without a path and without purpose.
Seventh-day Adventism in the Third Millennium Part 2
© John Mann 2001
New Perspectives on Seventh-day Adventism
jon.mann@btinternet.com