The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VII. Musculus-World’s End Within Few Hundred Years

ANDREAS MUSCULUS (1514-1581), professor of theology at Frankfurt an der Oder, general superintendent of Brandenburg, and spiritual adviser to the elector, was a fervent Lutheran. By his holy but passionate zeal he often got mixed in bitter theological disputes, but on the other hand, he helped the needy wherever he could; poor students especially found in him their great benefactor. The favorite themes of his sermons were the last days, death, resurrection and judgment, and the works of the devil and his destruction. He wrote a number of tracts, among them “About the Last Days,” “About the Tyranny of the Devil in the Last Days,” and “Consider the End.” ⁴⁵ In these he discussed the coming judgment day and the signs of the approaching end-signs of the second advent, with the attendant resurrection to life or to damnation. These signs include the falling stars, the preaching of the gospel to all the world, and the breaking of the Papacy without hand. Believing the Papacy to be the “Antichrist of the Occident,” and the Turk the “Antichrist of the Orient,” Musculus wrote: PFF2 322.1

“But according to the explanation of this picture [Daniel 2] the world has now the last flap in its hands and that will soon slip away from it, as can be proved by the word of Elias, that the world will not stand longer than 6,000 years. It has continued already for 5556 years and should have some other 500 years to go on, according to Elias’ prophecy. But the image being set on feet of mud [clay] is therefore destined to sink down; the days will be shortened. Else, because of the overwhelming iniquity, even the other worlds are in danger.... And by many unprecedented signs, our Lord Christ has given us to understand that He has already the knife in His hand to cut the thread and to shorten the days.... [Among the signs] when this gospel shall be preached in all the world, then shall the end come.... And today we see and hear how the precious word has taken its course straight towards midnight and how it shall reach further and further till it comes to the very last hamlet of this world.... [On Matthew 24:9 they shall deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you] Whereas this was first fulfilled under the persecution of the emperors ... now since 800 years the pope of Rome from the beginning of his Antichristian kingdom has started to slay, to kill, and to destroy. Many a learned man, many pious Christians who have comprehended this abomination, protested against it, and refused to worship the Bride of Babylon, were put to death by him and exterminated.” ⁴⁶ PFF2 322.2