But the time of expectation passed. This was the first close test brought to bear upon those who believed and hoped that Jesus would come in the clouds of heaven. The disappointment of God’s waiting people was great. The scoffers were triumphant and won the weak and cowardly to their ranks. Some who had appeared to possess true faith seemed to have been influenced only by fear; and now their courage returned with the passing of the time, and they boldly united with the scoffers, declaring they had never been duped to really believe the doctrine of Miller, who was a mad fanatic. Others, naturally yielding or vacillating, quietly deserted the cause. I thought, If Christ had surely come, what would have become of those weak and changing ones? They professed to love and long for the coming of Jesus; but when He failed to appear, they seemed greatly relieved, and went back to a state of carelessness and disregard of true religion. {1T 51.3}

Men forventningens tid gik. Dette var den første strenge prøve, som de, der troede og håbede på, at Jesus ville komme i himmelens skyer, blev udsat for. Guds ventende folks skuffelse var stor. Spotterne triumferede og vandt de svage og feje over på deres side. Nogle, som havde set ud til at besidde sand tro, syntes kun at have været påvirket af frygt; og nu vendte deres mod tilbage, da tiden var forbi, og frimodigt forenede de sig med spotterne og erklærede, at de aldrig havde været bedraget til virkelig at tro Millers lære, som var en vanvittig fanatiker. Andre, som var eftergivende eller vaklende af natur, forlod stille sagen. Jeg tænkte: Hvis Kristus virkelig var kommet, hvad ville der så være blevet af de svage og vaklende? De hævdede at elske og længes efter Jesu komme; men da han (52) undlod at vise sig, så de ud til at være meget lettede og vendte tilbage til en tilstand af ligegyldighed og tilsidesættelse af sand religion.