The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

IV. Ashe-Irish Reflector of Standard Prophetic Exposition

ISAAC ASHE (b. 1802) Irish Protestant, who graduated from the University of Dublin in 1825, ⁴² presents an epitome of the “generally received” Protestant exposition in The Book of Revelation (1835). Ashe is obviously one of the hundred clergy men in Ireland mentioned by Leslie” ⁴³ as proclaiming the advent message there in its prophetic setting. His exposition reflects scores of published views of the time. These are: PFF3 646.3

1. EARLY TRUMPETS ARE BARBARIAN IRRUPTIONS

The first four trumpets signify the irruptions of the northern barbarians, which “ended in the dismemberment of the Western Empire.” ⁴⁴ The first referred to Alaric and his Goths, impelled by a preternatural impulse to march on Rome. ⁴⁵ The second was Genseric, tyrant of the sea, and his Vandals. ⁴⁶” The third was Attila and the Huns, falling like a blazing torch upon the empire. ⁴⁷ The fourth brought the extinction of the Western Empire by Odoacer and the Heruli. ⁴⁸ PFF3 647.1

2. SARACENS AND TURKS FOR ALLOTTED PERIODS

The fifth trumpet Ashe applies to the Arabian locusts, for the 150 years, from 612 to 762. ⁴⁹ The sixth is the Mohammedan Turks for the 396 years (365 + 30 + 1), from 1057, the investiture of Togrul, to the capture of Constantinople, in 1453. ⁵⁰ PFF3 647.2

3. SEVEN VIALS BEGAN UNDER FRENCH REVOLUTION

The two beasts of Revelation 13 are secular and spiritual Rome. ⁵¹ The seven vials began to be poured out under the French Revolution in 1789, when “the authority of the pope was judicially is annulled,” with the sixth plague involving the partition of the Ottoman Empire. ⁵² The Babylonian woman of Revelation 17 denotes popery; and her cup, the inflaming and seducing potion to inflame and allure her lovers, with her name labeled on her forehead, in harmony with the ancient practice. ⁵³ PFF3 647.3