Customer Reviews

Millennial Fever and the End of the World: A Study of Millerite Adventism

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First after reading around the historical bookshelves on the 1844 Advent Movement I stumbled into "Millennial Fever" by George R. Knight. This book is simply great. Apparently, Millennial Fever arises out of an academic environment, perhaps a PhD dissertation (it doesn's say so in the preface). The historical material has that sound, intellectual feel, and quality of research like "Burned-Over District" by Whitney Cross. Knight is an extremely effective story teller. He will keep your interest once you begin reading right up to the end of the book. This might be a shallow concern. But I noticed it is printed by a church press, and thereby some parts of the story possibly controlled since the book does cover the origin of the Seventh-day Adventist. Church presses don't tolerate historical issues that make their "story" murky. But Knight certainly doesn't appear to cover up or distort the facts with the usual restrictions to stay the "course of truth." Knight presents the historical facts and issues so well you end up with a solid understanding why things are today in evangelical christianity. For the narrow time band of historical coverage this book measures up to Whitney Cross' burned-over district in detail and impact. It is comparable quality of research.

This book is essential for those interested in the Millerite Movement and the development of the Adventist denominations: primarily (but not exclusively) the Advent Christian Church and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. George Knight, an Adventist himself, writes very clearly, and in an entertaining style. The work draws heavily on primary sources, and often reads like a screenplay! I especially appreciated the extensive footnoting, which allowed me to check and retrace Knight's historical work. Knight does an excellent job of portraying the Millerites not as heretics or lunatics, but as Christians passionately devoted to the "Blessed Hope," their belief in the immanent return of Jesus Christ. Knight's one weakness lies in his treatment of the recent history and current state of the Advent Christian denomination. Overall, this is an invaluable resource!