The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

VII. More Sustains Historical School Against Innovation

HENRY MORE (1614-1687), nonconformist educator and philosopher, was born at Grantham, of Calvinist parents, and from childhood took a deep interest in questions of theology. Having studied Greek and Latin at Eton, and having completed his education at Christ’s College, Cambridge, in 1639, with an M.A., he thenceforth lived almost entirely within the walls of Christ’s College. A man of profound learning, he was a distinguished religious leader. PFF2 563.2

More refused all preferments, including the mastership of Christ’s College, the deanery of Christ’s Church, the provostship of Trinity College, Dublin, the deanery of St. Patrick’s, and two bishoprics. He believed he could do God greater service in private than in public station. He loved music, shrank from theological disputes, and was author of numerous works, chief among which were: A Modest Enquiry Into the Mystery of Iniquity (1664); An Exposition of the Seven Epistles to the Seven Churches (1672); Apocalypsis Apocalypseos, or the Revelation of St. John the Divine Unveiled (1680); and A Plain and Continued Exposition of the Several Prophecies or Divine Visions of the Prophet Daniel (1681). Between 1672 and 1675 he trans lated his English works into Latin. PFF2 563.3

1. DENIES PROPHETIC “ABSURDITIES” PERMEATING PROTESTANTISM

More refuted the “follies” and “absurdities” of both Ribera’s Futurist and Grotius’ Preterist interpretations, and sustained Mede and the Historical system with its papal Antichrist and year-day principle on the prophetic periods, a millennium yet future, and a literal resurrection. ¹⁵ Denying that the Little Horn of Daniel 7 is Antiochus, and insisting that it symbolized the Papacy, More said: PFF2 564.1

“These things are so plain that nothing can be plainer. Wherefore the little Horn in the Seventh Chapter is a part of the Roman Empire, a Power there whose Reign cannot be circumscribed within the Compass of Three Years and a half, but these Years must be resolved into 1260 Days, and these 1260 Days into so many Years, or no Sense can be made of the Prophesie. ¹⁶ PFF2 564.2

2. CLEAR ON PAPAL ANTICHRIST AND YEAR-DAY

In his exposition of Daniel he gives the standard historical interpretation of Daniel 2 and 7, with Rome the fourth kingdom divided into ten kingdoms. The Little Horn is the Papacy, with blasphemous claims, which is similarly portrayed in Revelation 13 and 17. ¹⁷ The 490 years of Daniel 9 were “cut out” for the Jews. ¹⁸ And the power of Daniel 11:37, 38 is the same Antichrist that Paul describes in 2 Thessalonians 2, with the Turk indicated in the last few verses as the king of the north coming to his end. ¹⁹ PFF2 564.3