The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

II. Resume of Eighteenth-Century Prophetic Exposition

Thirty-four late colonial and early national expositors of prophecy who have left written works in the eighteenth century have been examined. Among them all we find continuance of the same undeviating position on the Papacy-that it is indeed the prophesied Antichrist, disclosed under various symbols. The Preterist concept of Antichrist, introduced in the eighteenth century by Grotius among certain Protestants in Europe, was flatly rejected in America during this century. PFF3 251.1

A second prevailing belief was the year-day principle for all time prophecy. This was constantly invoked for the 1260 years of the Little Horn, along with an increasing effort to determine their true chronological placement. The 2300 days were also assuredly years, but the timing was still hazy-though a Persian dating for the beginning is noted by several. That the seventy weeks reach to the cross is axiomatic. The 150 years of the Saracen and the 391 years of the Turkish woe are periodically mentioned. PFF3 251.2

For many, the advent hope loomed larger and nearer than ever, with the new-earth state imminent. Babylon’s fall and the Turk’s destruction were awaited, along with the ending of the prophetic outlines of Daniel 2 and 7. The symbolic stone was soon to fill the earth. France was stressed as the “tenth part” of the “city” and the approaching end of the papal period. The prophesied signs of the times-first the Lisbon earthquake, and then the 1780 darkening of the sun and moon-now for the first time had come into the historical picture of fulfillment. PFF3 251.3

Picture 1: LEADING VIEWS OF THE PRINCIPAL AMERICAN WRITERS ON PROPHECY (17th and 18th Centuries)
This comprehensive chart presents at a glance the key positions held by America’s leading prophetic expositors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The names are arranged in chronological sequence in (he vertical column at the left, and their expositions follow logically and progressively, from left to right. Each expositor is followed by the page, in Volume 3 of Prophetic Faith, on which the detailed record of this individual’s exposition begins. Next appears the principal date of the preaching or publishing of his interpretation. Then come the essential features of each major prophecy interpreted, from Daniel 2 to Daniel 12. A similar procedure follows, after the separating column for 2 Thessalonians 2, for the leading prophecies in the book of Revelation from the seven seals on through to the millennium.
Both the outline prophecies and the time features are noted. The frequency and the similarity or dissimilarity of exposition on a given feature can easily be ascertained by scanning the vertical columns. And thus the preponderant testimony on a given line or major point can easily be deduced. On the other hand, the over-all position of any given expositor on these prophecies is likewise easily obtained by following progressively through the horizontal lines, which cover all the leading features of the prophecies. Thus we have at once a simplified and co-ordinated visual index of essentials.
The abbreviations are simple and easily understood. “B-P-G-R” means Babylon, Persia, Grecia, and Rome; “Standard,” in the same column, means that these four accepted or standard kingdoms are taught; “Kgdm.” stands for kingdom; “Yrs.” for years; “Jdgt.” for judgment; “Fr. Rev.” for French Revolution; “Pagan R.” for Pagan Rome; “Pre-M.” for premillennialist; and “Post-M.” for postmillenmalist. Certain fundamental positions, that scarcely follow the usual progression, are placed in parentheses, stretching across several columns, such as “(1755 Lisbon Earthquake—Harbinger),” or (“Dark Day—May 19, 1780—Fulfilled).”
The predominant view of American writers on prophecy as a whole, prior to the nineteenth century, can be logically deduced from this tabular chart, and a balanced understanding obtained. For example, the Historical School view of the four progressive empires of prophecy and the tenfold division of the Roman fourth was virtually universal. Futurism was as yet unknown among Protestants. The Papacy as the prophesied Antichrist—the Little Horn of Daniel, the Man of Sin of Paul, and the Beast and Babylon of John the revelator—was likewise the practically universal view.
The year-day principle for all time periods, including even the 391 (or 396) years of the sixth trumpet, allocated to the Mohammedan Turks, was the common understanding. Even France as the “tenth part” of the Babylonian “city” of Europe, with the “earthquake” as the French Revolution upheaval, was the view set forth whenever mentioned. And premillennialism was predominant up until the nineteenth century, when many departures developed in popular American interpretation. Postmillennialism was largely unknown until the middle of the eighteenth century, and even then was rarely mentioned in writings on prophecy.
While the prophetic aspect of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake was clearly noted in England, it was similarly stressed in America. On the contrary, the 1780 darkening of the sun was noted only here in North America, where this celestial phenomenon was observed.
Other comparative surveys of these various lines may profitably be made by the interested investigator, or similar tabulations developed that will give the over-all picture.
A similar tabulation for Part II appears on pages 742, 743, dealing in similar fashion with sixty-two Old World Nineteenth-Century Advent Awakening writers. These two tabulations therefore summarize and visualize the over-all body of evidence for both Part I and Part II of Volume 3 of Prophetic Faith of Our fathers.
page 254

Then began the encroachments on the clear premillennial advent teaching of the seventeenth century. First there was wholesome opposition to the Whitbyan postmillennial postulate. Then a gradual acceptance was spearheaded by Jonathan Edwards, who otherwise held to many orthodox positions but put the coming of Christ over to the end of the millennium. This deviation was destined to grow to formidable proportions in the early decades of the nineteenth century. It then came to be the focal point of fundamental clash and cleavage. PFF3 254.1

Along with the waning interest in prophecy which marked the latter half of the eighteenth century, must be placed the increasing skepticism that began to infiltrate the populace. And to these must be added the disruption caused by the Revolutionary War, with its serious curtailment of printing. The number of treatises on prophecy decreased, and those issued were now largely from clergymen. Most religious writings were of a more general character. It was like the greater stillness and the deeper darkness before the dawn. PFF3 254.2

Pens were largely silent on the prophetic theme, save for that narrower line of expositors who wrote with increasing clarity of understanding in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Interpreters were more conspicuous because less common. Postmillennialism was slowly on the gain, and gradually muffling the voice of pre-millennialism. Such was the setting for the nineteenth-century revival of interest in prophecy stimulated by the violent earthquake-upheaval of the French Revolution in obvious fulfillment of prophecy. PFF3 254.3

With the outbreak of the French Revolution, the “tenth part” of the city was declared by various writers actually to be falling, and the 1260 years in process of ending about that time. The plagues were believed to have begun, and to be already touching the Papacy and the Turk. The era of the last things was thought by many to be at hand. In this there was entire harmony with many European writers. ¹ PFF3 254.4

Then appears Spalding, “daystar” of the returning pre-millennial hope, stressing Babylon’s fall, the celestial signs, the impending seventh trump, the falling away of France, Armageddon prior to the millennium, the 1335 year-days ex tending to the first resurrection, with New Jerusalem to be on earth. And he is followed by similar though isolated voices on the finale of prophecy, the last events, and the impending destruction of Antichrist. And the climax was reached with the witness of Timothy Dwight of Yale. PFF3 255.1