Final Answer:
Some Adventists relate John's bittersweet experience with the little scroll to the Great Disappointment of 1844. This event marked the end of the Millerite movement's expectation of the Second Coming of Christ on October 22, 1844.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adventists connect John's experience with the little scroll to the Great Disappointment of 1844 due to thematic parallels and prophetic interpretations. In Revelation 10, John eats a sweet but bitter scroll, symbolizing the mixed emotions of receiving divine truth. Similarly, the Millerites, influenced by William Miller's prophecies, anticipated the Second Coming in 1844. The bitter disappointment ensued when Christ did not return as expected on October 22, 1844. The juxtaposition of sweetness and bitterness aligns with the emotional rollercoaster experienced by both John and the Millerites.
Furthermore, the timeframe of the Great Disappointment aligns with the prophetic timeline derived from the interpretation of the 2,300 days in Daniel 8:14. Millerites believed that these days spanned from 457 BCE to 1844 CE, anticipating the cleansing of the sanctuary and the Second Coming. The connection between John's consumption of the little scroll and the Millerite movement's anticipation of a pivotal event underscores the symbolic resonance for Adventists.
In summary, the parallel between John's encounter with the little scroll and the Great Disappointment centers on the mixture of sweetness and bitterness in both cases. Adventists find a poignant connection between the biblical narrative and the historical event of 1844, emphasizing the complex interplay of anticipation, revelation, and the subsequent emotional turmoil experienced by those expecting the imminent return of Christ.