The Shakers believed in the “dual” nature of life and as a result, thought the Second Coming of Christ would involve Jesus in female form (Setzer and Shefferman, 221). This is why apocalypticism arose in the United Society of Believers, and when a young woman named Ann Lee started to receive visions in 1770, they thought she was the coming Messiah. They believed in the idea of a cyclic nature of history, and thought that once the “culminating point of Spiritualism has been reached,” a new “Church of God” forms for that cycle of time (four of these periods were said to have occurred) (Evans, 222). The Shaker church is the result of the spiritual part of the fourth and final cycle, characterized by the “restitution of all things” and the Second Coming. The formation of Shaker societies arises from a “general agitation of spiritual elements” and a subsequent “movement of the religious elements in man” (Evans, 223). The spiritual faculties in man have been “aroused” and spiritualism has laid the groundwork for the joining of the natural and spiritual worlds (Evans, 223). They called for people to be saved in proclaiming the second appearance of Christ, and just like the Mullerites, claimed the apocalypse was happening, and a new society would be created. The Shakers believed themselves to be fulfilling all of world history, and connected their movement with historical cycles including the rise of a new church. They cite “proper historical data” that confirms their place in the spiritual and historical history of the world (Evans, 223). While they don’t give any solid evidence (Deists would be appalled), the Shakers position their church as the natural extension of spiritual order.

William Miller, a former Baptist, believed scriptural prophecy was knowable and actually happened/happens. His method of biblical interpretation led him to conclude that 1843 was the year the return of Christ, restoration of Jerusalem, and the kingdom of God would all take place. He believed all of the prophecies in scripture can be attributed to different authors writing in different time periods and geographical areas, but all agree and confirm each other (Miller, 227). He states that the biblical student should bring all relevant pieces of scripture together and “let every word have its own Scripture meaning;” if one does this, his/hers theory is correct (Miller, 228). Miller posits that all prophecy centers on the first and second coming of Christ. He concludes that Christ will come in 1843, the conclusion of a 2300 year period, evidence for which Miller pieced together from scripture. He encourages his audience to study scripture, set aside their prejudices, and believe in God so they may be saved and gain admittance into the New Jerusalem.

Ellen White, the founder of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, concurred with Miller, but only went as far as saying the process of the apocalypse had only begun in 1844. She too advocated for biblical study, and claimed the Bible is the ultimate tool (“Book of books”) for understanding the world, from moral instruction to universal wonders to God himself; it is the ultimate source of truth (White, 230). She says that when people disregard the Bible, Satan springs up and does evil things, taking advantage of the situation to strip people away from God. She even goes as far as saying that God simply does not accept those who “[belittle] his powers” and only composes Heaven with “spiritualized” people (White, 230). Those who “cherish pride” and “[contemplate] sin” are “unfitted for moral advancement” and cannot fully understand the truth (White, 231). If one studies the Bible, they are blessed by God and “may enter in through the gates” into Heaven (White, 231).

The Shakers, Miller, and White all supported rigorous spiritual study, which they believed led believers to the truth and into Heaven. Likewise, all of these parties envisioned themselves as part of the immediate, apocalyptic fulfillment of scripture and coming of the new heavenly society.