The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VIII. Selnecker-Stresses Unity of Belief on Prophecies

NIKOLAUS SELNECKER (1530-1592), theologian and hymnist, was born near Niirnberg. Educated at Wittenberg, he studied theology under Melanchthon after completing a law course. In his temperament and attitude he resembled Melanchthon, but in his theological views he inclined toward strict Lutheranism. He became court preacher at Dresden in 1557, but had to resign in 1561 because the controlling power was antagonistic toward Lutheranism. Obtaining a professorship at Jena, the stronghold of ultra-Lutheranism, he was soon discharged because of his mild views. In 1568 he was made a professor at Leipzig and pastor of the Thomaskirche. In 1570 he was charged with heading the Reformation at Brunswick, and helped to found the University of Helmstedt. ⁴⁷ He was a voluminous though not an original writer, and largely echoed the prophetic teachings of Luther. PFF2 323.1

1. WORLD OF ONE OPINION ON FOUR EMPIRES

Selnecker was a firm believer in the return of Christ, on the basis of the prophecies. ⁴⁸ His volume, Die Propheten (The Prophets), stresses the significant universality of belief in the four world powers of prophecy: PFF2 323.2

“The first kingdom, Babylon, the second, Medo-Persia, the third, the great kingdom of Alexander the Greek, the fourth, the Romans. In this all the world is of one opinion.... The mountain from which the stone was cut off without hands may well signify the whole Jewish nation out of which Jesus came.” ⁴⁹ PFF2 324.1

2. CONSIDERED LITTLE HORN TO BE TURK

The four beasts of Daniel 7 symbolized the same, but Selnecker thought the Turk was the Little Horn appearing among the ten horns: PFF2 324.2

“The fourth has ten horns. These are: Syria, Egypt, Asia, Greece, Africa, Spain, Gallia, Italy, Germania, and Anglia, but the little horn is Mohammed or the Turk who has now conquered Egypt, Asia and Greece. This little horn shall destroy God’s people and blaspheme the name of Christ. This all happens in these our days.” ⁵⁰ PFF2 324.3

3. ALL TEACHERS AGREE SEVENTY WEEKS ARE YEAR-WEEKS.

The seventy weeks of years he dated from the second year of Artaxerxes Longimanus: PFF2 324.4

The seventy weeks, as all teachers agree, are year-weeks, and not day-weeks, 490 years.... Our opinion is, that the seventy weeks should begin with the second year of Darius [Artaxerxes] Longimanus, as the prophets Haggi and Zechariah plainly state.” ⁵¹ PFF2 324.5

4. Daniel 11 GIVES “PICTURE OF THE POPE”

According to Selnecker, Antichrist is plainly pictured in the latter part of Daniel 11. He states his accord with Luther’s belief that it is a “picture of the pope.” PFF2 324.6

“In the eleventh chapter, Daniel gives to his people, the Jews, practically the same prophecy as he did in the eighth chapter. He speaks of the great Alexander and of the two kingdoms, Syria and Egypt, mostly for the sake of Antiochus, who would torment the Jews. But he pictures Antiochus in such a manner, that he describes in him the Antichrist and therewith just hits our last time, the days before the end. For all expounders of Scripture agree that this prophecy on Antiochus points to the Antichrist.” ⁵² PFF2 324.7

The essential unity of the various writers is impressive, and grows as the list of expositors lengthens. PFF2 324.8