The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

V. Whitaker-Makes Little Contribution; Favors 2400

Passing mention should be made of EDWARD W. Whitaker (1752-1818), Church of England clergyman and historian, who graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, in 1777. He was made rector of St. Johns, Clerkenwell, in 1778, then of St. Mildred’s, London, and All Saints, Canterbury. From 1783 to his death he served as rector of St. Mary-de-Castro, Canterbury. He was founder of the Refuge for the Destitute, fostered a school, and was author of numerous works. ⁴⁹ Among these were his General and Connected View of the Prophecies Relating to the Times of the Gentiles (1795), Commentary on the Revelation of St. John (1802), and The Manual of Prophecy (1808), as well as A Complete System of Universal History (1821). In prophetic interpretation Whitaker made little constructive contribution. He favored the Vatican Septuagint reading of 2400 for Daniel 8:14. He tried vainly to harmonize the 1260 days with this number by halving it. But he is frequently quoted, and his unfortunate emphasis of the 2400 reading exerted quite an influence. PFF3 338.2