The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IV. Geveren Translated; Eberhard Cited

In 1577 Thomas Rogers, chaplain to Archbishop Bancroft, made a translation “from the Latin of S. a G.” (Sheltco a Geveren) which was published as a tract with the English title Of the Ende of This World, and Second Comming of Christ, a Comfortable and Necessary Discourse, for These Miserable and Daungerous Dayes. After referring to Christ’s own prophecy of His second advent, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, and the prophecies of His first advent, this unknown author tells of Daniel’s prophecy of the course of empires, calling him “the great historiographer,” ³⁷ with references to Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, and 11. PFF2 404.3

1. EVERLASTING KINGDOM TO BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH ADVENT

Definite reference is made to the future eternal kingdom to be established by Christ when He shall put all kingdoms of the world under His feet, and “shall hew them like a stone, which is cut from the mountain.” And similarly with the four monarchies and the Antichrist of Daniel 7, climaxing with “an everlasting and perpetual kingdom, which al the Saincts of God after judgment shal possesse world without end.” ³⁸ PFF2 404.4

2. ACQUAINTANCE WITH EBERHARD’S EXPOSITION OF HORN

A succeeding section deals with the historical aspect. It cites Tertullian, Jerome, and Lactantius on Rome as the “hinderer,” restraining the coming of Antichrist; then it recites Archbishop Eberhard’s remarkable speech of 1240, identifying the Papacy as the Little Horn emerging in the midst of the ten divisions of Rome and sitting down in the temple of God. ³⁹ The frequent citation of Eberhard’s exposition by different men, and in different countries, indicates the general acquaintance of the Reformation writers with the key expositors of the past. This is significant. PFF2 405.1