after october 22, 1844, like many other millerites, bates sought meaning out of the great disappointment. during the spring of 1845, bates accepted the seventh-day sabbath after reading a pamphlet by t. m. preble. bates soon became known as the "apostle of the sabbath" and wrote several booklets on the topic. one of the first, published in 1846, was entitled "the seventh day sabbath, a perpetual sign". one of bates' most significant contributions was his ability to connect theologically the sabbath with a unique understanding of the heavenly sanctuary. this apocalyptic understanding of theology would become known as the great controversy theme.