The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

CHAPTER NINETEEN: Growing Emphasis on the Last Times

I. Commentator Scott-Expounds Standard Interpretation

Let us, without preliminaries, take the testimony of a number of expositors whose works were less conspicuous. THOMAS SCOTT (1717-1821), well-known Church of England commentator, was born in Lincolnshire. In 1772 he applied for religious orders. Fulfilling the conditions, he was ordained a deacon in 1772 and priest in 1773. He served as chaplain at Lock Hospital, London, and was appointed to several curacies. He studied Hebrew and became an able student of the Scriptures in the original. His life was lighted by an intense flame of piety. After transferring again to London he began the task of writing a commentary, commonly called Scoll’s Bible. PFF3 347.1

Financial difficulties and precarious health made its progress difficult, and in 1801 his health broke. After Tilling several pastoral posts he undertook the training of missionaries in 1807, continuing this endeavor until 181-1, when his health completely gave way. ¹ His writings were many, being collected into five volumes of Works, in 1805-08. Most noted, of course, is his well-known commentary. Scott is unique in that his exposition in this well-known commentary, is commonly accepted as the standard teaching of the time. PFF3 347.2

1. WKKKIY LECTURES ON SIGNS OF TIMES

About the close of the French Revolution, Scott, in one of his sermons on the “Signs and Duties of the Times,” declared it “incumbent” upon ministers to “look about them, to observe what is passing in the world, to mark the signs of the times, and as watchmen to warn the people of approaching danger.” He declared that “the present times wear a most extraordinary appearance” and are “to a degree almost unparalleled in history.” ² This was part of a concerted effort by some of the London ministers for weekly lectures, by rotation in their several churches and chapels, on the signs and duties of the times, the Established Church joining with the nonconformists. ³ Such were among the feeble beginnings of the great awakening on systematic prophetic study and exposition soon to get under way. PFF3 347.3

2. IRON AND CLAY:SECULAR AND ECCLESIASTICAL ELEMENTS

In his popular notes and practical observations on the Bible, Scott presents the standard exposition of Daniel 2, from Daniel’s day to the present time-the four recognized empires of prophecy, the division of Rome into ten, with the alliances and intermarriages, and the intermingled clay andiron representing the secular and ecclesiastical elements. The establishing of the kingdom of God as the “great mountain, “he says, “yet remains to be accomplished.” Then he adds, “We have in this dream a most extraordinary prophetical abstract of the most signal events, which would take place through the succeeding ages, nearly to the consummation of all things.” ⁴ PFF3 348.1

3. PAPACY ARISES FROM ROME’S DIVISIONS

Daniel 7 is presented as covering the same ground. The ten horns were the ten kingdoms. The little horn arising after and among them could not therefore be Antiochus Epiphanes. Rather, it is “the power of the Church and bishop of Rome,” which seized and got possession of three of the kingdoms-the Exarchate of Ravenna, the kingdom of the Lombards, and the state of Rome. ⁵ The climax is “the coming of the Lord to destroy the kingdom of antichrist on earth,” and this “will precede the introduction of the millennium.” ⁶ The Papacy is clearly the little horn and the time of its domination 1260 years, at the end of which it will be “judged, condemned, and consumed.” ⁷ PFF3 348.2

4. END OF 2300 YEARS Nor DISTANT

On Daniel 8, Scott denies the rather common Antiochus Epiphanes application to the little horn, first holding the Romans, and later the Mohammedans, to be the power involved. In the culmination of the prophecy, the Antichristian power forecast shall be finally destroyed. The 2300 days “are put for years.” Scott cites numerous authorities to the effect that the 2300 year-days are drawing toward their close, and concludes that no doubt their end “is not very distant.” ⁸ PFF3 349.1

5. BEGINS SEVENTY WEEKS WITH ARTAXERXES

Of Daniel 9 he writes that we here have “one of the most undeniable prophecies of Christ, and of His coming and salvation, that is found in the whole Old Testament.” Then he adds, “It is universally allowed, that the seventy weeks here mentioned, mean seventy weeks of years, or what would be equivalent to seventy returns of the Sabbatical year: that is, four hundred and ninety years.” ⁹ Referring to the different, edicts-of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes-he fixes upon the possible seventh of Artaxerxes as the time generally regarded from which the “most eminent chronologers” had computed the period.” ¹⁰ PFF3 349.2

6. TURKEY INTRODUCED INTO Daniel 11

In Daniel 11, Scott follows the line of Persian, Grecian, and Roman fulfillments with the apostasy of the Roman Antichrist in verses 36-39. Then an Eastern antichrist, “or Mohammedanism,” is brought in from verse 10 onward, and in verses 44, 45, refers to tidings troubling the Turkish princes, with the “ruin of the eastern antichrist” not “far distant from that of the western: both of which seem to be predicted in this chapter.” ¹¹ PFF3 349.3

7. TURKISH TRUMPET (1281-1672); FRENCH REVOLUTION

In the Apocalypse the first four trumpets relate to the “gradual and complete subversion of the Roman empire,” involving Alaric, Attila, and Genscric.” ¹² The fifth and sixth trumpets were the Saracens and the Turks, with their “391 years and fifteen days,” which he extends from 1281 to 1672 ¹³ Due note is taken of France as the tenth part of the Antichristian city, and one of the ten kingdoms. And the earthquake is the French Revolution. ¹⁴ PFF3 349.4

8. TWO-HORNED BEAST Is ROMAN PAPACY

On Revelation 13 he says, “All interpreters agree, that the Roman Empire, in some form or other, was here intended.” Then he adds. “It is, therefore, absolutely certain, that the Roman power, as professing Christianity, and not that of pagan Rome, is meant.” ¹⁵ The two-horned beast from the earth Scott believed to be “the emblem of the Roman hierarchy,” the two horns probably signifying “the regular and secular clergy,” ¹⁶ which beast is elsewhere called the “false prophet.” PFF3 350.1

9. PAPAL BABYLON or SEVEN HILLS

In Revelation 17 the “woman was the emblem of the church of Rome, and the beast of the temporal power by which it hath been supported.” ¹⁷ This is “Mystery, Babylon the great,” and her religion the mystery of iniquity. The seven hills are also the seven forms of government, and the first six heads are kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, military tribunes, and emperors. The seventh head is papal, and its prescribed reign is 1260 years. Thus Scott was a careful and orthodox reflector of the standard Historical School of Protestant interpretation rather than an originator. PFF3 350.2