The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

VII. Lieutenant Wood-Living in Last Segment of Time

LIEUTENANT G. H. WOOD, ⁸¹ another military man, wrote The Believer’s Guide to the Study of Unfulfilled Prophecy in 1829, dealing with the great “Gentile apostasy,” the second advent, and Christ’s millennial reign. The “result of a long and diligent study,” it seeks to bring “into one connected view” the prophetic evidence. PFF3 615.3

A glance over its twenty-four chapters reveals its scope- the great apostasy, the second coming, the destruction of the wicked, the saving of the elect, the resurrection of the righteous dead, the change of the living saints, and the certainty of the near approach of the advent. Then follow the ascension and preservation from the fiery judgments, the millennial reign of the saints, the present earth reduced by fire becoming the new earth wherein the righteous dwell, the loosing of Satan for a short season at the end of the millennium, the general resurrection of the dead, the last judgment, and finally the everlasting kingdom established on this earth. ⁸² PFF3 615.4

1. GREAT APOSTASY FOLLOWED BY “TIME OF END

The great apostasy, taking place during the “times of the Gentiles,” leads into the “time of the end,” the last time, the last days, or end of the world as variously called. Numerous scriptures are cited in support. ⁸³ The signs of the second advent are numerous, he avers, and are to be studied and understood, and he cites the admonitions of Christ, Paul, and Peter. PFF3 615.5

2. 1260 YEARS, PAPAL POWER; 2300 YEARS, JEWISH OP PRESSION

As to the time periods, the “1260 days of years “are “the time of the power of the papacy,” or “oppression of the Christian Church by antichrist.” ⁸⁴ The 2300 days of years, of Daniel 8:14, are set forth as involving the “treading down of the Jews, and their restoration with that of the elect remnant of the Christian church, after the destruction of their enemies.” ⁸⁵ No dates are suggested, but familiarity with the positions of others is evidenced, and agreement with them is obvious. And along with the Antichristian apostasy, the Mohammedan oppression is mentioned. ⁸⁶ PFF3 616.1

3. IN LAST SEGMENT OF PROPHETIC TIME

Allusion is also made to the view of some that the 1290 years ended in 1823, and the last period, the 1335, is “supposed to end A.D. 1868,” when the millennial blessedness shall have begun. The events of the latter part of Daniel, Wood holds, have been in part fulfilled by the French Revolution, and we now stand at the point of Revelation 16:13, when the unclean spirits are to go out of the mouth of the pagan dragon, the infidel beast, and the papal false prophet. The vials are already being poured out, and the second advent will occur immediately after the drying up of the Euphrates, or the “total destruction of the Ottoman power and empire.” ⁸⁷ PFF3 616.2

4. RESURRECTION AND TRANSLATION ACCOMPANY ADVENT.

Wood held clearly to the literal resurrection of the body at the second advent, and to living with Christ on the renewed earth during the millennium. He was also clear on the changing and immortalizing of the bodies of the living saints at the second advent, citing many texts. In an appendix he marshals the supporting testimony of the Fathers of the primitive church, the reformers, and the pastors of the Church of England. PFF3 616.3