The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

V. Wimbledon’s Sermon on Matthew 24 and Seven Seals

R. wimbledon, another Lollard preacher, delivered a notable sermon at “Pauls-Cross,” in London in 1389, that created considerable stir. Also recorded by Foxe, it shows how the prophecies formed a part of leading Lollard sermons, as well as of writings and defenses. Joachim, twelfth-century projector of the year-day principle, is cited as well, ⁸² as was common with the Lollards. Wimbledon discusses Matthew 24, “and the surrounding Roman armies constituting a token of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem in the first century. So the rising of nation against nation, and famines and pestilences, were among the signs of the coming end of the age. PFF2 91.2

1. 1290 YEAR-DAYS FOR ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

The chief token noted was the “abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place. This was declared to come in the days of Antichrist, who was to appear about 1290 years from the time of Titus and Vespasian. The end of this period was anticipated to be within a few years-on the basis that “a day must be taken for a yeare, both by authority of holy Writ in the same place and in other, and also by reason.” ⁸³ PFF2 91.3

2. SEVEN SEALS, ANTICHRIST’S MANIFESTATION, AND SECOND ADVENT

Turning then to the “seven seales,” Wimbledon declares that these comprehend the state of the church from the time of Christ to the end of the world—from the first advent to “the time of Antichrist and his foregoers.” ⁸⁴ An epitome must suffice. The white horse of the first seal “betokeneth the Preachers of Christes Resurrection and his Ascension.” The second seal shows the state of the church in the time of the early martyrs from Nero to Constantine, who endowed the church, and includes the persecution of Diocletian. The third denotes the church in the time of the heresies. PFF2 92.1

The fourth seal denotes the state of the church “in the time of ypocritis.” This is the last state that shall be, in the church before the clear unveiling and appearing of the great Antichrist. “The opening of the fifth seale telleth the state of the Church that then God shall follow, and desire that lovers of Goddis law shulleth have after the end of this world to be delivered of this woe.” The opening of the sixth seal reveals the state of the church in the time of Antichrist—the devil’s ministers stopping the “foure Gospels to be Preached,” and so hindering the calling upon men for “amendment.” In the seventh seal Jesus Christ shall slay the persecuting “Fiend” with the breath of His mouth. ⁸⁵ Limited and foreshortened in scope, this view nevertheless reveals the dominating place of prophecy. PFF2 92.2