The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

II. Advent Heralds on the Continent and Beyond

The heavy tension in Europe preceding the outbreak of World War II made research work increasingly difficult, and curtailed our investigation of the Continental nineteenth-century witness on the revival of prophetic study. ⁸² This section is therefore incomplete and should have further study when conditions again become favorable. A few names and facts taken from notes during travels in 1938-but often with out the customarily full investigation and documentation- must suffice for now and be supplemented later. However, even these help to round out the Continental picture. Various Continental writers recognized that the terrible judgments upon the Papacy during the French Revolution were evidence of the closing of the 1260 years, and of the approaching glorious deliverance of the church. But this transcendent event involved the proclamation of the last warning message of the everlasting gospel. PFF3 297.2

1. BENGEL’S FOLLOWERS HERALD IMMINENT ADVENT

The large group of admirers and followers of Johann Bengel, ⁸³ both in Germany and in other lands to which German colonists emigrated, perpetuated his expectation of the grand climax about 1836, on the supposition that the number 666 marked the years of papal supremacy. Tin’s is reflected in the writings of a number of men between 1820 and 1835, such as Lindl, Lilienstern, Leutwein, Stilling, Norke, Rohrborn, and Wurm. A speech by the Hessian Landgrave Charles, before the Schles-wig-Holstein Bible Society in 1829, stresses the advent as very near, as indicated by the prophecies, when the resurrection should occur and the millennium begin. ⁸⁴ PFF3 297.3

A little earlier, Ignaz Lindl, who wrote Leitfaden zur ein-fachen Erklarung der Apokalypse (A Clue to a Simple Exposition of the Apocalypse) (1826), ⁸⁵ began to expound the prophecies in Bavaria and Austria, thousands flocking to hear him in 1812-13. ⁸⁶ Then Lindl, driven out of Bavaria, was called to St. Petersburg by the czar, and became leader of the Pietists in southern Russia. In 1820 Grossner of Düsseldorf as well as other Protestants, was similarly called by Prince Galitzin of the Ministry of Cults. But pressure was soon brought to bear by Prince Metternich of Austria, and both Lindl and Grossner had to leave, and the newly formed Russian Bible Society was dissolved. However, thousands of German believers in the near advent had sought shelter there ere the great storm should burst. Grossner’s efforts proved to be a forerunner of the Stundist movement, with its “stunden,” or hours for prayer and Bible study, where the flame of the advent hope was nourished among Germans and Russians. PFF3 298.1

Others, such as Pastor J. F. E. Sander, in Versuch einer Erklarung der Offenbarung (Attempt to Explain the Revelation of John) (1829), changed from Bengel’s 1836 date over to 1843, or possibly 1847. ⁸⁷ Such men were admittedly influenced by British writers on prophecy. In his preface Sander mentions help he had received not only from Zobel and Lindl but from recent books and pamphlets by English authors such as Irving, Drummond, and Noel. He then refers to current political and religious upheavals as evidence that “the last time is at the door,” and that the kingdoms of this world were soon to become the kingdoms of Christ. ⁸⁸ PFF3 298.2

On the other hand, C. T. Rohrborn in 1832, in Hochst wichtige Weissagungen (Most Important Prophecies), and Professor f. F. Wurm, of Stuttgart, ⁸⁹ both held tentatively to Bengel’s 1836 as the time of Christ’s probable appearance. There was considerable acquaintance in Germany with cur rent English writers on the prophecies and the advent. Lewis Way’s Thoughts on Scripture Expectations was translated into the German in 1830. ⁹⁰ W. A. HOLMES (1782-1843), of England, Chancellor of Cashel, in The Time of the End, as late as 1833 was almost the only British supporter of Bengel’s 1836 date as the terminus of the 2300 years. PFF3 299.1

2. APPROACHING END OF 2300 YEARS AGITATED

In 1805 and 1817 L. H. Kelber, Bavarian schoolmaster, issued Vernunftige und schrift gemasse Gedanken iiber die Schopfnng und Dauerder Welt, ⁹¹ in two parts, in which he counted the 2300 days as years, but ended them in his early expositions in 1793 when “the hour of temptation began,” and hoped for the millennium of rest about 1836. But when, in 1835, he published a continuation of Das Ende kommt (The End Is Coming) he stated that Bengel missed his goal by seven years-that it should be 1843, not 1836. He based his work on Petri, who, just before the French Revolution, asserted that. Christ’s advent would not tarry beyond 1847. ⁹² As a result of conflict with the Lutherans over Antichrist, he wrote Der Antichrist (The Antichrist). PFF3 299.2

Heinrich Richter, missionary secretary of the Rhenish society, was likewise influenced by Petri’s calculations. His Introduction to Daniel takes the position that the 2300 year-days begin with the seventy weeks, and terminate “1817 years after the 30th year of Christ or 1847 years after Christ’s birth.” ⁹³ And in volume 6 he plainly dates it as 1843. ⁹⁴ PFF3 299.3

In Holland, H. Heintzpeter wrote two pamphlets, in 1819 and 1822, on De groote Wereldgebeurtenissen, or The Great World Events (1842), endorsing Petri’s calculation of the 2300 years as from 453 to 1847. ⁹⁵ In Sweden many of the Pietists were called “laesare,” or readers, because of their diligent reading of the prophecies. And because they raised their voices in warning they were also called “ropare” (criers). Some were imprisoned at Örebro. And children gave expositions of prophecy and exhorted to repentance in view of the soon-coming Saviour and the hour of judgment, as will be duly noted in a later chapter. PFF3 300.1

In Switzerland, Nicole, a lawyer near Nyon, and Professor Louis Gaussen, of Geneva, gave the same warning message, based on the prophecies. Nicole’s tract of 1829 is quoted in the Morning Watch. ⁹⁶ Assuming that the 2300 years, starting with the seventy weeks, began in 454 B.C., they believed the period would end by 1846-47, at the cleansing of the sanctuary. When Gaussen was removed from his pulpit by the rationalist professors, he became the center of a prophetic study circle in Geneva. ⁹⁷ Visiting Rome, he felt certain that Antichrist was reigning there. He was called to a professorship in the newly opened theological seminary at Geneva, where he gave his chief attention to prophecy, and his lessons on the book of Daniel were presented. PFF3 300.2

3. WITNESSES PENETRATE ASIA AND AFRICA

These advent witnesses, along with many others-such as Joseph Wolff in Asia, Daniel Wilson in India, Samuel Gobat in Abyssinia- sounding out over the Continent and penetrating Asia and Africa, afford a fleeting glimpse of the advent emphasis, and its ever-attendant prophetic exposition. The Old World Advent Awakening was more extensive and more intensive than many have been wont to realize. Its significance will grow upon us as we summon the individual and group witnesses. And the general emphasis upon the approaching end of the 2300 years will become increasingly impressive. PFF3 300.3