Have you heard that the inaugural The Metro Show may be the last? Not because it won’t be a roaring success (and it will!), but because some believe 2012 will be our last, and that the world will go through cataclysmic change or destruction on December 21, as predicted by the Mayans and Nostradamus.

Some things never change. William Miller, leader of the 19^th century religious group, the Millerites, first proposed the end of the world (or the equivalent - the second coming of Jesus Christ) around the year 1843. Miller started off as a rather successful but staid New York state farmer. After years of intense study of the prophecies of Daniel, Miller became convinced of Christ’s imminent second coming and began to lecture and write about his eschatological beliefs. When the world didn’t come to an end in 1843 a new date was chosen – April 18, 1844. Hundreds of thousands of people gave up their possessions in anticipation of the Coming. When the world was stubbornly normal on April 19, 1844 it was referred to as “ The Great Disappointment."  The Millerites split into various religious groups, including the Advent Christian Church and the 7^th Day Adventists

Hill Gallery (booth 305) will have on display a very rare, actual chart from that period depicting the end of the world and illustrating the Millerite concepts. The banner, which measures 6' x 9', was made 10 years after the Great Disappointment, but appears to be lively enough, despite it subject. Personally I find the serpent on the lower right corner particularly unthreatening - with his friendly smile of pointy teeth.

This is yet another item I am looking forward to seeing in person at the fair!