Editing Millerism (section)

==Doctrine==
The Millerites originally had adherents across denominational lines, especially from Baptist, [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], [[Methodism|Methodist]] and [[Campbellite]] churches, forming distinct denominations only after the Great Disappointment. They were united by a belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ—the Second Advent. After the Great Disappointment of October 22, 1844, discussion of beliefs began to fragment the once united Millerites. Dunton points out that there were four main divisive doctrines being discussed by Millerites around the time of the Albany Conference:
#Biblical prophecies relating to the [[Jew]]s. The majority of Millerites believed that these prophecies would find a spiritual rather than a literal fulfilment; however the Age to Come Adventists led by Joseph Marsh believed in a literal, physical Jewish return to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] prior to the Christ's return.
#[[Conditional immortality]] was not discussed at the Albany Conference, but was a source of controversy soon after.
#The doctrine of the [[Biblical Sabbath|Sabbath]] was one of the schismatic issues debated at the Albany Conferences. The [[seventh-day Sabbath]] was rejected by delegates at the Albany Conference, who passed a resolution to have "no fellowship with Jewish fables and commandments of man, that turn from the truth."<ref>"Proceedings of the Mutual Conference of Adventists," (Albany, New York: Joshua Himes, 1845).</ref> Sabbatarianism remained a minority position among the Millerites, but the doctrine received a significant boost when [[Thomas Preble]] published a tract on the topic. The tract, titled, ''A Tract, Showing that the Seventh Day Should Be Observed as the Sabbath, Instead of the First Day; "According to the Commandment"'', was widely read by Miller's followers.
#Following the disappointment of October 22, there was considerable discussion regarding the continuing possibility of the conversion of sinners. The doctrine that excluded this possibility became known as the shut-door. Miller himself believed this for a short time, though he later changed and repudiated it.<ref>Hugh Dunton, "The Millerite Adventists and Other Millenarian Groups in Great Britain, 1830–1860", Ph.D., University of London, 1984, pp. 97–98.</ref>