The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

I. King Recognizes and Proclaims End of 1260 Years (1798)

EDWARD KING, F.R.S., F.S.A. (1735-1807), was educated at Cambridge, and in 1763 admitted to the bar. He wrote extensively from 1767 onward. A wealthy uncle made him financially independent. He contributed several papers to the “Archaeologia,” and became a fellow of the Antiquarian Society. Tenacious in his views on prophecy, he wrote Morsels of Criticism in 1788 and Remarks on the Signs of the Times in 1798. PFF2 765.2

1. CLEAREST RECOGNITION OF TERMINUS OF PAPAL PERIOD

King is perhaps the most explicit of all expositors of prophecy in recognition of the momentous ending of the 1260 years, which he declares had just terminated. This appears in his Remarks on the Signs of the Times, ¹ published shortly after the captivity of the pope and the overthrow of the papal government in February, 1798. The author’s first attempt in the field of exposition, his Morsels of Criticism, made little impression. He there alludes to the “1260 years,” ² and later discusses the 2300 years, noting the divergent Septuagint rendering of 2400. ³ PFF2 765.3

2. 2300 DAYS ARE YEARS FROM PERSIA

To King the number 2300 “seems to afford us an uncommon degree of light and information.” Allowing these days to be “prophetical days, and to denote years, consistently with the interpretation of so many other parts of prophecy,” King computes them from “the time of the full establishment of the power of the Ram, (i.e. of the Medo-Persian Empire, by the conquest of Babylon in the year538 A.C.).” He believes they reach to 1762, or possibly from 525 A.C. to A.D. 1775, with the diminution of the Mohammed an power, that “for so many ages has been the cause of the desolation, and of the long subversion of truth.” ⁴ PFF2 766.1

3. PROPHECIES COVER INTERVAL BETWEEN ADVENTS

In the preface of his Remarks on the Signs of the Times, King begins with the statement that for many years he had made the Holy Scriptures his “constant study,” and that he has reached the full conviction of the truth of divine prophecy. Being “fully persuaded that we were rapidly advancing to one of the most interesting periods of the world,” he seeks to “awaken the attention of mankind, to the approaching scene of things.” He endeavors to show that apocalyptic prophecy is “an account, in chronological order of the great over ruling events” that lie between the first and second advents. ⁵ He stresses the Saracenic and Turkish woes upon the Eastern Church. ⁶ In common with many others, he believes that the seven vials are in process of fulfillment. He exclaims, “With what awful astonishment must we behold the Events of the present day!” ⁷ PFF2 766.2

4. 1260 DAYS HAVE ENDED “THIS YEAR,” 1798

Contending that “Great Babylon, undoubtedly meant Rome; the Proud City on seven hills; so long deemed Mistress of the world,” King refers to the wrath and vengeance being visited upon her, how she is scourged, torn to pieces, and consumed with fire, violence, and anger, and then makes this impressive declaration of the currently accomplished ending of the 1260 years: PFF2 766.3

“Is not the Papal power, at Rome, which was once so terrible, and so domineering, at an end? PFF2 767.1

“But let us pause a little. Was not this End, in other parts of the Holy Prophecies, foretold to be, at the END of 1260 years?—and was it not foretold by Daniel, to be at the END of a time, times, and half a time? which computation amounts to the same period. And now let us see;—hear;—and understand. THIS IS THE YEAR 1798.—And just 1260 years ago, in the very beginning of the year 538, Belisarius put an end to the Empire, and Dominion of the Goths, at Rome. PFF2 767.2

“He had entered the City on the 10th of the preceding December, in triumph, in the name of Justinian, Emperor of the East: and had soon after made it tributary to him: leaving thenceforward from A.D. 538, No POWER in Rome, that could be said to rule over the earth,—excepting the EC CLESIASTICAL PONTIFICAL POWER.” ⁸ (Facsimile reproduction on page 768.) PFF2 767.3

5. TEMPORARY LOSSES Do NOT AFFECT PROPHECY

Due cognizance is taken of Rome’s later brief recapture, after 538, as without bearing on the prophecy, in these words: PFF2 767.4

“It is true; that after this entry of Belisarius, Rome was twice re taken by Totila, and the Goths. But instead of setting up any Empire there, he, the first time, carried away all the Senate, and drove out all the in habitants; and, the second time, he was himself soon defeated, and killed; and Rome was recovered for Justinian by Narses. PFF2 767.5

“Still, however, no Dominion, No Power ruling over the World, ever had any seat there, any more, except the Papal.” ⁹ PFF2 767.6

6. ENDING OF 1260 YEARS ESTABLISHES BEGINNING

Then conies King’s impressive conclusion, and reasoning, on the historical terminus of the 1260 years, in relation to coming events. PFF2 767.7

“We have reason to apprehend then, that the 1260 years are now completed.—And that we may venture to date the commencement of that period, not, as most Commentators have hitherto done, either from Pepin’s giving the Pope Ravenna; or from Charlemagne’s determining, and ad judging the Pope to be God’s Vicar on earth; but from the End of the Gothic Power at Rome. Because both those other circumstances were only (like subsequent gifts, or acquisitions of territory, and revenue,) mere augmentations of splendour, and confirmations of that state of Ecclesiastical Supremacy, in which the Papal Power had been left, at Rome by Belisarius, on his driving out the Goths, and ruining their kingdom. PFF2 767.8

Picture 1: END OF 1260 YEARS IN 1798 ATTESTED BY MANY
Sample of contemporary British heralding of ending of prophetic papal period (left); Edward king designates dethroning of pope as marking end of erophetical 1260-Years epoch (center); Richard Valpy recognizes 538 and 1798 as constituting the end years of the prophetic period. The same recognition was noted in Germany and America
Page 769

“And if these things are so;—then truly that Great City Babylon is fallen,—is fallen;—is thrown down; and shall be found no more at all. And nothing remains, but for us to wait, with awful apprehensions, for the End. Even for the completion of the further closing events, which are, in the emblematical language, of Holy Prophecy, described as being at hand.” ¹⁰ PFF2 769.1

7. TIME OF TROUBLE PRECEDES CRUSHING OF IRON ANDCLAY

So impressive were these words that four decades later the Millerite Signs of the Times quoted two full columns, urging its readers to “weigh every word.” ¹¹ Connecting the “tremendous events of the times” with preparation for the second advent, the establishment of the everlasting kingdom, and the imminent smiting of the emblematic feet of iron and clay by the stone, King adds: PFF2 769.2

“And we are expressly told, that this was an intimation; that the Great Empires of the World, the remains of the Roman Empire, should be broken in pieces, by certain Instruments of God’s Wrath. Whilst it is more over added, that, in the latter days, there should be a Time of Trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.” ¹² PFF2 769.3

8. WRITES UNDER SENSE OF SOBERING RESPONSIBILITY

But one more excerpt will be noted: PFF2 769.4

“We approach unto the latter days!—I tremble whilst I write! God forbid I should mislead any.—But if I do apprehend aright; I must—I ought to speak, and write with circumspection, that which I apprehend. PFF2 769.5

“I am no rash enthusiast.—I desire to be exceedingly guarded against error; and I have not the least presumptuous idea of intending to prophecy.—The word of Prophecy is sealed for ever. PFF2 769.6

“I desire only to apprehend what is written.” ¹³ PFF2 769.7

9. 1260-YEAR ENDING NOT NULLIFIED BY NEW POPE’S ELECTION

In footnotes to the 1800 edition of Morsels of Criticism, King takes particular note of the re-election of a pope in 1800, with these words: PFF2 769.8

“Another Pope has indeed been elected at Venice in this year 1800;—but without any possession of Rome; or of its territories;—without the Ecclesiastical Revenue;—without Dominion;—without Power;—a Shadow, and not a Substance;—and with regard to any continuance of Papal Do minion at Rome,—a flighler, and more feeble continuance of the appearance of Roman Papal Power, than even Augustulus was of the continuance of the Power of the Western Roman Emperours. PFF2 769.9

“Unless therefore the Pope be restored to his Territorial Possessions, and Dominion, and Residence in Rome; there is an end of Roman Pontifical Greatness; and the 1260 years are ended, which were named, in Holy Prophecy, for the continuance of the usurped Ecclesiastical Empire of the City on seven hills, and of the little horn of the furious emblematical Monster.” ¹⁴ PFF2 770.1