The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

I. The Investigator-Reviewer of Prophetic Study; Herald of Advent

Another prophetic journal, The Investigator, or Monthly Expositor and Register, on Prophecy, edited by Joshua W. Brooks, was published from 1831 to 1836. One of the ablest of the various prophetic journals, in addition to its articles on prophecy and book reviews of current prophetic works, it gave news notes on current developments. Among the contributors are many of the most aggressive current expositors, though often of differing views, such as Begg, Cuninghame, Frere, Maitland, Birks, and Wolff. Here are noted Haldane and Drummond’s Continental Society, and the Reformation Society. And Way’s Paris Watchman, as well as weekly meetings for the study of prophecy in the French capital, are chronicled. There is discussion of the anticipated revival of the gifts of the Spirit before the advent, and announcement of the appearance of The Morning Watch. There are also periodic discussions of the 2300 years. And the last volume closes with an invaluable Dictionary of Writers on the Prophecies, compiled by Brooks, the editor. PFF3 599.2

One of the earliest articles, “On the Duty of Prophetical Investigation and Discussion,” asserts: PFF3 600.1

“The times are such as men of all parties and all opinions allow to be awfully portentous, and to bespeak some crisis to be impending; and all Christians will confess, that prophecy alone is the only source from which we are likely to obtain light as to the result.” ¹ PFF3 600.2

1. VARIOUS MEETINGS FOR STUDY OF PROPHECY

“Meetings for the discussion of prophecy” are reported for Birmingham, Leicester, with eighteen clergymen present, with word that “similar meetings, though on a smaller scale, have come to our knowledge in various places.” ² Lewis Way’s monthly periodical, The Watchman, “chiefly devoted to the subject of Prophecy,” is noted for Paris, where weekly meetings for the study of prophecy are in progress. A citation concerns the views of the Jansenists, a Catholic sect, which holds “sentiments which approximate to evangelical Protestantism” on Christ’s second coming. ³ Then there is a terse answer to an inquiry on the question of 2300 or 2400 as the editor replies: PFF3 600.3

“There is not a single manuscript known to be extant, whether Hebrew or Greek, that sanctions the reading of 2400 days. It rests entirely upon a manifest typographical error of the Vatican Edition, taken from the Vatican manuscript.” ⁴ PFF3 600.4

2. CLEANSING OF SANCTUARY IN 1843 In volume 2 (1833)

of The Investigator the editor discusses the “Progress of Prophetical Inquiry,” from the time of Origen to his own day. He remarks that some are deterred “from its contemplation” by the “obloquy and odium” created by the law. ⁵ In the June issue of 1833, “C.S.” writes on the anticipated time of the commencement of the millennium. One of the most important factors mentioned is the cleansing of the sanctuary, which he takes to be Jerusalem or Palestine, thus involving the fact and place of Mohammedanism. He conceives the 2300-year time period to begin in 456 B.C., with the seventy weeks as the first part. ⁶ Thus it will end in 1843. PFF3 600.5

In volume 3 (1833), there is further discussion of the 2300 years, whether it involves the actions of the Western Antichrist or the Eastern, or Mohammedan, power. ⁷ PFF3 601.1

3. FRANCE Is TENTH PART OF CITY

The fulfillment of the fall of the “tenth part of the city,” by France in the French Revolution, is presented by Editor Brooks. He shows that this was the opinion of Cocceius in 1655, Goodwin in 1683, Cressener in 1690, then Whiston, Willison, and Taylor between 1745 and 1770, as well as of Bishop Newton. For the position that France was the “street of the city,” he cites Vitringa, Jurieu, and John Bird in 1747, as well as Towers later. And for the earthquake as the French Revolution, Brooks cites Mede, More, Vitringa, and Fleming in 1700. ⁸ PFF3 601.2

4. JUDGMENT-HOUR MESSAGE SOUNDING

In volume 4(1834) appears a book review of WILLIAM ANTHONY HOLMES’ The Time of the End (1833). Holmes places the end in 1836 on the basis of Bengel’s calculation, followed by Wesley, at which point he terminates the 2300 years as well as other periods. ⁹ PFF3 601.3

“Nemo” discusses Revelation 12-14, holding the Papacy to be the second beast, from the earth, with the two horns representing civil and ecclesiastical power. The judgment-hour message of Revelation 14:6, 7, draws forth this significant comment: “A small voice has already been heard foretelling approaching judgments, but a loud voice will soon resound we trust from many pulpits in this privileged land.” ¹⁰ PFF3 601.4

5. CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN EXPOSITORS INCREASE

Several editorial book reviews appear, approving Cuninghame’s writings and pointing out fundamental weakness in Frere’s and Irving’s works. ¹¹ One of the serious challenges was on the 2400-versus the 2300-year contention, though Wolff’s claims of sup porting Hebrew manuscripts are noted. ¹² Brooks expresses concern over the increasing controversies between writers on prophecy and their acrimony, and over developments among the Irvingites. ¹³ PFF3 602.1

6. 1836 STIMULATES EXPECTATIONS OF CRISIS.-Because of

Bengel’s former expectation for the year 1836, in which date he-had been followed by many, including John Wesley and W. A. Holmes,” ¹⁴ volume 5 (for 1836) brings forth editorial comment about that, as well as the expectation for that year found among the dervishes of Persia by Joseph Wolff. ¹⁵ This, together with the approaching end of the 6,000 years, had stimulated the “general expectation of some great crisis being at hand,” in respective of difference of detail or of the precise year.” ¹⁶ PFF3 602.2

A review of John Henry Browne’s The Time of the End quotes him as contending that mankind had entered that fateful period. The evidence cited included increase of prophetic knowledge or understanding (Daniel 12:4), the deepening last-day apostasy, the proclamation of the judgment-hour message (Revelation 14:6, 7)-the very existence of which was a “sign of the times”-and the drying up of the Euphrates. ¹⁷ PFF3 602.3

7. CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON 1817 AND 1843

Reviewing Joseph Wolff’s Researches and Missionary Labours (1831), Brooks asserts: PFF3 603.1

“No individual has perhaps given greater publicity to the doctrine of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, than has this well known Missionary to the world. Wheresoever he goes, he proclaims the approaching advent of the Messiah in glory, together with various other circum stances of the prophetic word, which he conceives will be the accompaniments or the immediate precursors of the day of God.” ¹⁸ PFF3 603.2

He notes especially Wolff’s stressing of 1847 in his discussions springing up in his travels, as the year of the approaching advent.” ¹⁹ Brooks also reviews Habershon on the chronological prophecies, who boldly presses 1843 as the grand terminus not only of the 2300 years (457 B.C. to A.D. 1843) but of the “seven times” (2520 years) from 677 B.C. to A.D. 1843. The 1260 years are placed from 533 to 1793, with the 1290 and 1335 extending beyond. ²⁰ Then the editor announces the sudden but unavoidable termination of The Investigator, but not without a parting appeal for preparation for “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ²¹ But let us seek a closer view of Brooks. PFF3 603.3