William Miller's Understanding

William Miller was the first person in modern times to have discovered the 2520, below are some of his thoughts on the subject:

"I WILL NOW BRING FORWARD SOME PROPHECIES WHICH REMAIN TO BE FULFILLED, OR WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

"1.) Moses' prophecy of the scattering of the people of God among all nations "seven times;" see Lev.xxvi.14-46. It is evident that these "seven times" were a succession of years, for their land was to lie desolate as long as they were in their enemies' land. And the people of God have been scattered, and are now a scattered and a peeled people. These "seven times" are not yet accomplished, for Daniel says, "When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished." The resurrection and judgment will take place. Dan.xii.6,7: "And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half: and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."

"What did the angel mean by time, times, and a half? I answer, he meant three years and a half prophetic, or forty-two months, as in Rev.xi.2, and xiii.5; or 1260 prophetic days, as in Rev.xi.3, and xii.6 and 14. He meant the one half of "seven times." Daniel saw the same thing as Moses, only to Daniel the time was divided. He was informed that the little horn would "speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time, times, and the dividing of time." This makes Moses' seven times, for twice three and a half are seven, and twice 1260 are 2520 common years. But you may inquire, are not these two things the same in Daniel? I answer, no. For their work is different, and their time of existence is at different periods. The one scatters the holy people; the other wears out the saints. The one means the kingdoms which Daniel and John saw; the other means Papacy, which is called the little horn, which had not come up when the people of God were scattered by Babylon and the Romans. The first means literal Babylon or the kings of the earth, the other means mystical Babylon or Papacy. And both together would scatter the holy people and wear out the saints "seven times," or 2520 years.

"Moses tells us the cause of their being scattered. Lev.xxvi.21: "And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me." Jeremiah tells us when this time commenced. Jer.xv.4 to 7: "And I will cause them to be removed (scattered) into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. For thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward; therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee. I am weary with repenting. And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways." We have the same cause assigned by Jeremiah as was given by Moses, and the same judgments denounced against his people, and the time is here clearly specified when these judgments began, "in the days of Manasseh." And we find in 2Chron.xxxiii.9-11, that for this same crime they were scattered. "Wherefore the Lord spake to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the kings of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon." Here then began the "power (their king) of the holy people to be scattered." This year, also, the ten tribes were carried away by Esarhaddon, king of Babylon, and Isaiah's sixty-five years were fulfilled when Ephraim was broken. This was in the year B.C. 677. The seven times are 2520; take 677 from which, and it leaves 1843 after Christ, when "all these things will be finished." You may wish to know how the "time, times, and a half" are divided.

"I answer, the Babylonians bear rule over Israel and Judah 140 years, Medes and Persians 205 years, the Grecians 174 years, and the Romans before the rise of Papacy 696 years; making in all of the four kingdoms 1215 years that the people of God were in bondage to the kings or rulers of these kingdoms. Then Papacy began her time, times and a half, which lasted until 1798, being a period of 1260 years; which added to the 1215 years of the kings, before mentioned, make 2475 years; wanting 45 years to complete the "seven times." And then the kings of the earth must consume the papal power and reign 45 years to complete the "seven times;" which added to 1798, when the last of the ten kings broke loose from the power of Papacy, and again exercised their kingly power, (see the holy alliance, Rev.xvii.16 to 18. Dan.vii.12,) ends 1843. Dan.xii.7 to 13. Thus this 45 years accomplishes the "time, times, and a half," which the kingdoms of the earth were to exercise their authority in, "scattering the power of the holy people," being 1260 years. And Papacy, or mystical Babylon, accomplished her "time, times, and the dividing of time," being 1260 years, between A.D. 538 and 1798, in "wearing out the saints of the Most High and thinking to change times and laws." And both together make 2520 years, beginning before Christ 677, which taken out of 2520, leaves 1843 after Christ, when captive Zion will go free from all bondage, even from death, and the last enemy conquered, the remnant out of all nations saved, the New Jerusalem completed, the saints glorified."  Miller's Works. Volume 1. Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology
pages 43 - 46

By 1818, William Miller's study of the prophecies (Dan. 8:14 and others) lead him to conclude that Jesus would return "about 1843."  This is seen in the above material where Miller uses the 2520 to prove that the end of this world's history was about to take place.  The initial expectation of Miller and the Advent believers was disappointed when the spring of 1844 passed without Christ's return. The seventh-month movement discovered by other Advent believers the following summer revived expectation with a focus on October 22 of that year. Miller accepted the validity of that date shortly before it came. But with this "passing of the time" the faith of all was sorely tested. Miller responded, "Although I have been twice disappointed, I am not yet cast down or discouraged. Although surrounded with enemies and scoffers, yet my mind is perfectly calm, and my hope in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever"

Did William Miller find both 2520s?

"It could not be revoked, notwithstanding their repentance and partial reformation. Jeremiah xv.4, - "And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem," - tells us of the same thing, that Judah as well as Israel must be made captives. Israel began to be carried away in the days of Hoshea, 722 B. C., and from that time to 1798 after Christ, is exactly 2520 years, or the seven prophetic years. How remarkable, that when the seven years ended, God began to deliver his church from her bondage, which for ages had been made subject to the kings of the earth. In 1798 the church came out of the wilderness, and began to be delivered from her captivity. But the completion of her slavery to the kingdoms of the earth, is reserved for another period. Beginning B. C., 677 years, seven prophetic years, or 2520 common years, would end in A. D. 1843. Therefore, beginning at the captivity of Manasseh and the final dispersion of the ten tribes of Israel, where God has fixed the time for the dispersion of the people of God and the scattering of the holy people, until the year 1843, will be the end of the seven years, when the acceptable year of the LORD will commence; and, in my humble opinion, the children of God will be delivered from all the evils enumerated by Moses in Leviticus xxvi., and Jeremiah xv.; from war or the sword, from pestilence and famine, from captivity and spoil, from death and corruption; and all will be comforted, and all tears be wiped from off all faces; sighs and sorrows shall cease forever, and there shall be no more curse, for the throne of the Lamb shall be there, and he shall dwell with them, and be their God, and they shall be his people. This will take place in the acceptable year of the Lord, the antitypical year of release." 1842 A Lecture on the Typical Sabbaths and Great Jubilee