The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3
V. Architect Habershon-1843 Focal Point of 2300 Years
MATTHEW HABERSHON (1789-1852), noted church architect and able lay writer on prophecy, designed churches at various places in Derbyshire. In 1806 he connected with Atkinson, the architect, and was an occasional exhibitor at the Royal Academy between 1807 and 1827. Soon after this he became deeply interested in prophecy. In 1842 he visited Jerusalem in behalf of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews-an object which also greatly interested him -to arrange for the erection of the Anglican Cathedral and other buildings connected with the mission. On his way home in 1843 the king of Prussia conferred on him the great gold medal for achievement in science and literature. 97 PFF3 632.2
Habershon appeared as a new and able defender of the 2300-year interpretation. A sober-minded writer, building on the solid terra firma of historical and chronological fact, he stressed the continual fulfillment of prophecy before the eyes of men. His chart of Scripture prophecy was most comprehensive. He made 1843-44 the focal point of the 2300 years, and of the 391 as well, but had the 1335 years extend seventy-five years beyond. PFF3 632.3
Habershon was author of seven books on prophecy, and was widely quoted by others, such as Pym and Bickersteth. The titles indicate the scope: A Dissertation on the Prophetic Scriptures (1834), A Guide to the Study of Chronological Prophecy (1835), Premillennial Hymns (1836), An Epitome of Prophetic Truth (1841), An Historical Exposition of Prophecies of the Revelation of St; John, shewing their connection with Those of Daniel (1841), Two Remarkable Signs of the Times (1842), The Shadows of the Evening: or the Signs of the Lord’s Speedy Return (1845). He also wrote a memoir of the author and a preface to Charles Daubuz’s Symbolical Dictionary (1842). PFF3 633.1
1. 2300 YEARS DATED FROM 457 B.C. TO A.D. 1843
In his Historical Dissertation on the Prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament, Habershon deals in “Period VI” with the 2300 years, charting them “from 457 B.C. TO A.D. 1843,” and beginning them with the “Edict of the seventh year of Artaxerxes, 457.” 98 Noting the antecedent decrees of Cyrus and Darius, Habershon says: PFF3 633.2
“I have no hesitation in giving it the preference on this occasion; and therefore consider the edict given to Ezra, as that from which the com mencement of these 2300 years ought to be dated.” 99 PFF3 633.3
2. ENDS SEVEN TIMES OF GENTILES IN 1843
Habershonties in the seven times (or 2520 years) with the 2300 years by beginning the longer period in 677 B.C.: PFF3 633.4
“The final termination of the ‘seven times’ was proved to correspond exactly to this year-that is, 2520 years, reckoned from 677 B.C. the date of Israel’s final ruin; and 2300 years, reckoned from Ezra’s commission in 457 B.C.. both terminate in the year 1843.” 100 PFF3 633.5
Observing that this leads to the “time of the end,” he concludes: PFF3 633.6
“The mere probability of such great events being now so near, should excite us all to increasing watchfulness, and an anxiety to possess an interest in that only ark of safety which is to be found in the Gospel.” 101 PFF3 633.7
3. PLACES 1260 YEARS FROM 533 TO 1793
“Period VII, “the “great period of 1260 years,” Habershon puts “from A.D. 533 to 1793.” 102 After noting four possible starting points, he records his choice of 533, citing Cuninghame and Croly. PFF3 634.1
“In choosing between these two I feel no hesitation, with the great majority of modern commentators, in giving a preference to the one of the Emperor Justinian, rather than that of Phocas; and assigning the date of his edict, which was March 533, as the true and proper commencement of this period, and the time when the saints were delivered or ‘given’ into the hands of the Pope.” 103 PFF3 634.2
4. TABULAR DATING OF KEY PROPHETIC EVENTS
In a table of key dates at the close of his work, Habershon lists among other dates, 677-76 B.C. (“Esarhaddon carries away the small remnant of Israel ... and thus totally and finally destroys the kingdom of Israel from being a nation”), as “the commencement of ‘the times of the Gentiles,’” or 2520 years. 104 Later on comes 457-56 B.C. (“celebrated decree of Artaxerxes Longimanusking of Persia to Ezra”). Under this Habershon lists: PFF3 634.3
“1. The commencement of the ‘Fourth Period,’ or the 490 years’ prophecy of Daniel, to the death of Christ. PFF3 634.4
“2. The commencement of the ‘Sixth Period,’ or the 2300 years, to the restoration of the Jews and cleansing of the sanctuary.” 105 PFF3 634.5
Under A.D. 33-34 (“The Death of Christ”) he writes, “This great event forms the termination of the ‘Fourth Period,’ or the 190 years of Daniel.” 106 PFF3 634.6
Then, following the years 396, 433, 439, and 476 for the first four trumpets, 107 the date 533 (“the edict of the Emperor Justinian constituting the Pope head of all the holy churches; thus giving the ‘saints into his hands’”) is given as the “commence ment of the Great Period of 1260 years.” 108 The year 1453 (the capture of Constantinople) is noted as the time of the “sounding of the Sixth Trumpet.” 109 PFF3 634.7
The year 1793 (“the full maturity of the French Revolution,” the Reign of Terror) is given as the termination of the 1260 years, 110 and 1843-44 (termination of the 2300 years) is noted as “the fall of the ‘little horn’ of Mohammedanism-the cleansing of the Jewish Sanctuary.” 111 PFF3 634.8
5. SUPPLEMENTAL DATES ARE LISTED
In the second, or 1840, edition, the chapter arrangement is perfected and the statements amplified, but the arguments and the datings remain the same. With the 1260 years there is also a tabulation of 1260 years from the formation of the ten papal kingdoms “to their common destruction,” as from 583-84 to 1843-44. Chapter 10, which is devoted to detailed and conclusive evidence for the 533 beginning of the 1260 years of the papal era, cites many of the ablest past and contemporary expositors. 112 Various tabulations, such as Ptolemy’s king list, and that of the Eastern and Western Roman emperors, are helpful. 113 A comprehensive chart plots the relationship of the “times of the Gentiles,” the 2300 years, as well as the seventy weeks beginning synchronously with the 2300 years, the fifth and sixth woe periods, and the 1260 years. As with others, Habershon extends the 1290-and the 1335-year periods beyond the synchronous close of the 1260-, 2300-, and 391-year periods, suggesting possible dates. 114 PFF3 635.1
6. BACKGROUND FOR TRUMPETS IN Daniel 7 and 8
In his Historical Exposition of the Prophecies of the Revelation of St. John, Habershon confines himself largely to the seals and the trumpets. In the Introduction he alludes to Rome as the fourth empire, the ten divisions, the springing up of the “little papal Horn” in the midst of the ten, in Daniel 7, and of the “Mohammedan little horn” of Daniel 8. 115 The French Revolution is included under the “present signs of the Times,” along with the breaking of the Mohammedan little horn “without hand.” 116 PFF3 635.2
7. SEVEN SEALS DEPICT APOSTASY IN CHURCH
Coming to the seals, Habershon depicts them as “showing the gradual progress of the frightful apostasy of the church of Christ,” 117 and therefore covering the Christian Era. First, the triumph of Christianity, and then the corruption of the church, in the first four seals. 118 Then, under the fifth and sixth seals, the “partial recovery of the church at the Reformation,” followed by “the actings of infidelity as exhibited in the consequences of the French Revolution.” 119 The seventh seal creates- PFF3 635.3
“a solemn pause-the nations awaiting in anxious and tremulous suspense the blow that is to cause their extinction, the extinction of the ten-kingdomed Roman empire-and with that, that of the great image of Daniel, the last of the Gentile monarchies of the world!” 120 PFF3 636.1
8. EARLY TRUMPETS BARBARIAN INVASION OF ROME
Habershon defines the seven trumpets as “the judgments of God upon the [Western] Roman empire” by the “terrible invasions of the Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other Barbarians.” 121 Con tending that the trumpet is a “signal of hostile invasion,” he gives the customary exposition of the first four trumpets as involving Alaric and his Goths, Attila and the Huns, Genseric and his Vandals, and Odoacer and the Heruli. 122 PFF3 636.2
9. FIFTH TRUMPET Is SARACENIC WOE (612-762)
The fifth trumpet is portrayed as the “judgments of God upon the[Eastern] Roman Empire, by the Saracens, or the rise of Mahomet.” 123 This first of the woe trumpets, which were to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of the earth, “plainly intimates that the calamities of the remaining trumpets shall he greater and more terrible, and refer to events of yet higher importance, than the former ones.” 124 Citing the testimony of Gibbon, “decided enemy of Christianity,” he quotes: “Mahomet, with the sword in one hand and the Koran in the other, erected his throne on the ruins of Christianity and of Rome.” 125 After expounding the various characteristics, Habershon times their “five months,” or 150 years, from 612 to 762. 126 PFF3 636.3
10. SIXTH TRUMPET OSMANLI TURKS (1453-1844)
The sixth trumpet, or second woe, Habershon expounds as “the rise and establishment of the Turks, or Ottomans.” 127 Later he adds, “It may indeed be said, that there is no one part of the Revelation in which there exists so unanimous an agreement as that the Turks were the second woe.” f 128 The “restraint caused by the crusades” being removed, the Ottoman Empire arose in the latter part of the thirteenth century, and Habershon notes Gibbon’s famous date of July 27, 1299, for Othman’s invasion of Nicomedia. 129 After the defeat of the Latins and the Tartars, the fall of Constantinople was accomplished in 1453. 130 (tm) Habershon comments on the “precision and minuteness” with which the period of its continuance is made. The very omission of a week in the formula “shews design,” and he states: PFF3 636.4
“The usual mode ot prophetic computation, which has already been explained and applied, is still to be adhered to. This will bring the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to 391 prophetic days, which are consequently to be considered as years.” 131 PFF3 637.1
11. HOUR, DAY, MONTH, AND YEAR Is 391 YEARS
After ex pounding the various symbolic expressions, Habershon says of the appointed duration: PFF3 637.2
“It is not extravagant to believe, that that fall may take place at the termination of the period, as set forth in this prophecy; and which termination, reckoning 391 years (‘the hour, and the day, and the month, and the year,’) from the fall of Constantinople on the 29th May 1453, will happen in June 1844.” 132 PFF3 637.3
Habershon then brings the fall of the Papacy into connection with “the ceasing of the sixth trumpet; and with the opening of the seventh seal.” 133 He applies the “time shall be no longer” to the close of the prophetic period of the 1260 years. 134 PFF3 637.4
12. ALL EVIDENCES POINT TO 1844
The great revolution, as the tenth part of the city falls, discloses “the events of the French Revolution.” 135 Habershon now awaits the close of the 391 years, as dated from 1453. “No period of time,” he avers, “appears to be more clearly marked.” 136 PFF3 637.5
“There appears to be no presumption in the attempt to direct the anxious mind to the chronological periods which God has given, and to in quire how far they support these anticipations. I have done so, as have likewise almost all that have gone before me in these studies; and the results of my inquiries, as they run throughout the whole of this work and as they appear in the chronological chart in my former work, must. by this time, be familiar to the reader. It will be perceived they all point to a very early period, the year 1844; and although it is fashionable to object to the fixing of dales, yet so long as it is said, ‘things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever,’ I see not on what sufficient ground.” 137 PFF3 638.1
In support he quotes Charles Buck in his Theological Dictionary, published more than thirty years before: PFF3 638.2
“The late Rev. Charles Buck, in his valuable Theological Dictionary, published above thirty years ago, seems to have seen it aright; and I mention it more especially, as being the opinion of a Dissenting minister of high consideration. ‘The four angels were loosed, says the prediction, verse 18th, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. This period, in the language of prophecy, makes 391 years, which being added to the year when the four angels were loosed, (prepared) will bring us down to 1844, or thereabouts for the final destruction of the Mahometan empire.’” 138 PFF3 638.3
13. DANIEL INVOLVED IN CLOSING SCENES
Habershon concludes by discussing the third woe as involving “the last solemn judgment on the Western nations,” as well as the first resurrection-then the establishment of the kingdom of Christ.” 139 In this connection he introduces the closing scenes of Daniel 11, 140 and the last great struggle of Revelation 19. 141 PFF3 638.4
14. ENDS TURKISH 391 YEARS IN 1844,
In the introduction to Pre-Millennial Hymns (1841), “An Epitome of Prophetic Truth” Habershon refers to the prophecies as having “latterly occupied the solemn consideration of many among us,” and as having attracted “the deep attention of the church at the present time, under a persuasion that the accomplishment of judgments predicted is nigh at hand, and will be witnessed by the existing generation.” 142 Alluding to his own day as within the “time of the end,” and the close of the 2300 years in 1844, he again adverts to the 391 years of the Turkish woe. 143 This he once more dales from the fall of Constantinople in 1453, with the 391 years extending to 1844. 144 PFF3 638.5
15. FINAL EVENTS OK PROPHECY IMPEND
Habershon then observes: PFF3 639.1
“Taking for granted that such calculation is correct, the time will then have arrived when ‘the second woe will be past,’ and the moment of which it is emphatically said, ‘Behold, the third woe cometh quickly.’” 145 PFF3 639.2
The last woe will bring with it the fall of the papal kingdom, at the same general time as the fall of the Ottoman power. This being true,” ‘the great Tribulation’ must be very near its commencement!” 146 PFF3 639.3
The revealing titles of the hymns include “The Word of Prophecy,” “The two Witnesses,” “The Sealing of the People of God,” “The Kingdom of the ‘Beast,’” “The Doom of the ‘Beast,’” “The ‘Man of Sin,’” “The Church in the Wilderness,” “The Lord is at Hand,” “The Bridegroom cometh,” “Babylon the Great,” “The Fall of Babylon,” “The Battle of Armaged don,” “Christ the King of Glory,” and “The New Jerusalem.” Surely, this was a unique hymnal, supporting the spoken and written advent message. This, be it remembered, was the witness of an architect. PFF3 639.4