What is the significance of the year 1843 in the church's history?

The year 1843 holds great significance in the history of the church primarily due to the occurrence of the Great Disappointment. This event was marked by the anticipation of the Second Advent of Christ, as promoted by William Miller and his followers, who predicted that Jesus would return in that year based on their interpretation of biblical prophecies. When the anticipated date of Christ’s return arrived and no such event occurred, it led to a profound sense of disillusionment among the believers, known as the Great Disappointment.

This moment was pivotal as it shaped the direction of subsequent religious movements, including the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Although many followers left the movement after this disappointment, others recalibrated their understanding of scripture, which eventually contributed to the formulation of key doctrines within the Seventh-day Adventist faith. Thus, 1843 is a foundational year that deeply influenced the church’s development and theological evolution.