The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IV. Views on Time of the Judgment Day

1. BELIEVED END VERY NEAR76

Luther’s views on the probable length of time to elapse until the great judgment day varied from time to time. It was in his Table Talks, ³⁵ scattered over years, that these varying expressions occur. He believed the end near, and hoped he might see it in his day. In 1538, in commenting on the prevalent godlessness, Luther said, “I hope that day is not far off and we shall still see it.” ³⁶ And on another occasion he added: PFF2 278.1

“I hope the last day will not tarry over 100 years, because God’s Word will be taken away again and a great darkness will come for the scarcity of ministers of the Word.” ³⁷ PFF2 278.2

In 1536, after identifying his own time as that of the fourth state—the white (pale) horse—he had said: PFF2 278.3

“We have reached the time of the white [pale] horse of the Apocalypse. This world will not last any more, if God wills it, than another hundred years.” ³⁸ PFF2 278.4

“The world cannot stand much longer, perhaps a hundred years at the outside.” ³⁹ PFF2 278.5

Besides these aforementioned statements of Luther about the soon coming of Christ, others are sometimes quoted which indicate that he believed that a longer period-200, 300, or 400 years—had to elapse before the last events would set in. ⁴⁰ Though some of these statements are incorporated in translated Table Talk, they are largely taken from the diaries of Luther’s associates. Consequently, not too much certainty can be attached to them. PFF2 278.6

2. CALCULATION BASED ON 6,000-YEAR THEORY

In 1545 Luther wrote that the world was in its sixth and last thousand years, before the eternal Sabbath rest-typified by the six days of creation week—with the Papacy, established by about a.d. 600, dominating in the sixth millennium, along with Mohammedanism. In this period ended the 1290 days (1290 years from the midst of the seventieth week, or about 1327). The end, with the fall of Antichrist, would be shortened because Christ did not stay in the tomb the full three days. The seventieth week, Luther believed, began with the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ in the thirty-fourth year of His life, and the fifth millennium began at the end of the seventieth week (in a.d. 41). ⁴¹ PFF2 279.1