1806–1882
Hiram Edson, was a farmer of Ontario County, N.Y. Edson's first wife died in 1839, leaving him to care for three children. He soon remarried in Por Gibson, New York. At the time, Edson was a steward of the Methodist church who had embraced the Millerite expectation of the Advent in the spring of 1843. His home in Port Gibson soon became a home church for the believers of the region.
The Millerite message came to Rochester, New York, in 1843 and soon spread to Port Gibson. The message was based on the preaching of William Miller and predicted that Christ would return about the year 1843, which was later moved to October 22, 1844. This belief was based on the day-year principle and an interpretation of the 2300 days mentioned in Daniel 8:14 which predicted that "the sanctuary would be cleansed". The Millerites understood this verse to point to Christ's return to "cleanse" the earth.
Edson spent October 22, 1844 with friends waiting for the event, and was heart-broken when Jesus did not return as expected.
He suggested that he and some friends visit some nearby Millerites to encourage them. On the morning of October 23, 1844 they walked through Edson's cornfield to avoid the mocking of the neighbors who had refused to believe the Advent message. It was in this cornfield that Edson claimed to have seen a vision. In this vision, Edson came to understand that "the cleansing of the sanctuary" meant that Jesus was moving from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Edson shared what he saw with many of the local Millerites, who were greatly encouraged by his account.
A paper that they made, explained how there was a sanctuary in Heaven, that Christ, the High Priest in Heaven, was to cleanse the Most Holy Place. This distinctive Seventh-day Adventist belief is now known as the investigative judgement.
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 --If we have a High Priest in Heaven, who is Jesus Christ. Then there must be a Sanctuary in Heaven.
At the close of a revival in 1855, Edson was ordained as a local church elder. For many years after the "Great Disappointment" when Jesus did not come as expected, he continued as a lay preacher, working with Joseph Bates, J. N. Andrews, and J. N. Loughborough. He continued to farm in the summer to pay his expenses. In 1850 Edson sold his Port Gibson farm to help support the Sabbatarian movement, and sold a second farm two years later in Port Byron, NY so that James White could purchase a printing press in Rochester. The Sabbatarian Adventist movement was formally organized as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863. Edson was credentialed as a minister in 1870.
The Millerite message came to Rochester, New York, in 1843 and soon spread to Port Gibson. The message was based on the preaching of William Miller and predicted that Christ would return about the year 1843, which was later moved to October 22, 1844. This belief was based on the day-year principle and an interpretation of the 2300 days mentioned in Daniel 8:14 which predicted that "the sanctuary would be cleansed". The Millerites understood this verse to point to Christ's return to "cleanse" the earth.
Edson spent October 22, 1844 with friends waiting for the event, and was heart-broken when Jesus did not return as expected.
He suggested that he and some friends visit some nearby Millerites to encourage them. On the morning of October 23, 1844 they walked through Edson's cornfield to avoid the mocking of the neighbors who had refused to believe the Advent message. It was in this cornfield that Edson claimed to have seen a vision. In this vision, Edson came to understand that "the cleansing of the sanctuary" meant that Jesus was moving from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Edson shared what he saw with many of the local Millerites, who were greatly encouraged by his account.
A paper that they made, explained how there was a sanctuary in Heaven, that Christ, the High Priest in Heaven, was to cleanse the Most Holy Place. This distinctive Seventh-day Adventist belief is now known as the investigative judgement.
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 --If we have a High Priest in Heaven, who is Jesus Christ. Then there must be a Sanctuary in Heaven.
At the close of a revival in 1855, Edson was ordained as a local church elder. For many years after the "Great Disappointment" when Jesus did not come as expected, he continued as a lay preacher, working with Joseph Bates, J. N. Andrews, and J. N. Loughborough. He continued to farm in the summer to pay his expenses. In 1850 Edson sold his Port Gibson farm to help support the Sabbatarian movement, and sold a second farm two years later in Port Byron, NY so that James White could purchase a printing press in Rochester. The Sabbatarian Adventist movement was formally organized as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863. Edson was credentialed as a minister in 1870.