The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

V. Bickersteth-Shifts Focal Point by Double Dating

EDWARD BICKERSTETH (1786-1850), evangelical rector of Watton, Herts, and from 1816 to 1830 secretary of the Church Missionary Society, was another of the most popular writers on prophecy of his day. His works fill sixteen volumes, some having from eight to twenty-five editions. Back in 1800 he received an appointment in the general post office, and began the study of law in 1806. In the meantime he came under strong religious impressions, laying down strict rules for his conduct. His interest now lay largely in spiritual matters, though he was diligent in his daily duties and active in religious and charitable organizations. In 1812 he entered into partnership in his brother-in-law’s law office at Norwich. ⁵⁴ During this three-year period he wrote Help to the Study of the Scriptures (1815), which was enlarged as A Scripture Help (1816), passing through twenty-one editions. PFF3 647.4

In 1815 he abandoned the practice of law and studied for the ministry. Upon ordination he served for a short time as assistant minister of the Episcopal Chapel at Spitalfields, but. soon arranged to go to Africa in the service of the Church Missionary Society, to inspect and report on the society’s work. Although Bickersteth resigned his secretaryship on accepting the rectorship of Watton in 1830, he continued to travel for the Church Missionary Society. He also served as a deputy for a Society for the Conversion of the Jews. In 1832 he edited the Christian’s Family Library-republications of various works. About this time Bickersteth was awakened concerning the soon coming of Christ and underwent a change of view on the prophecies, upon which he now began to preach and to write. ⁵⁵ PFF3 648.1

Bickersteth was a strong Protestant and an ardent pre-millennialist. He wrote on the Mystery of Iniquity, the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, and the Apocalyptic Babylon. ⁵⁶ He was active in opposing the Oxford Tractarian Movement ⁵⁷ and Unitarian activities. He was also one of the founders of the Parker Society in 1840, for reprinting the chief works of the English Reformers, ⁵⁸ and he encouraged the Irish Church Missions. His writings, in their various editions, occupy ten columns in the British Museum catalogue. Mispractical Guide to the Prophecies, which was issued as Remarks, on the Prophecies in 1824, ran through nine editions the fourth edition in 1835 taking on new stature. In 1833, having read a copy of Cuninghame’s Dissertations, he had the author spend several days with him, and his mind was directed more than ever to the imminent second coming of Christ. ⁵⁹ PFF3 648.2

The titles of some of Bickersteth’s other writings reveal his emphasis: Remarks on the Progress of Popery (1836), Tracts for the Times (1836), Come Out, of Rome (a sermon, 1840), The Divine Warning to the Church (1842), the preface to and one of the sermons, “The Kingdom of Christ,” in The Second Coming, the Judgment and the Kingdom of Christ (one of the collections of Bloomsbury ⁶⁰ lectures, 1843), The Signs of the Times in the East (1845), “The Kingly Power of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” in Good Things to Come (Bloomsbury lectures, 1847), “The Destruction of Babylon” in Lectures on Subjects Connected With the Second Coming (Bloomsbury lectures, 1848). Such writings, with others of a more general character, comprise the six teen volumes of his Works, issued in 1853. PFF3 649.1

1. COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY FROM PREMILLENNIAL VIEW POINT

Dealing comprehensively with the principles of literal interpretation of prophecy and their application, Bickersteth discusses the first advent as the foundation, and from this leads to the period of Christ’s second coming. Holding firmly to the return of the Jews, he deals in detail with the Christian church and the opposing Antichrist. ⁶¹ In considering the several “chronological prophecies” and the varied interpretations cur rent, Bickersteth comes to the judgments connected with the coming of Christ, the harvest of the church, the millennium and first resurrection, and finally the kingdom of Christ. He is a firm pre-millennialist. ⁶² PFF3 649.2

2. ROME: MAN OF SIN AND BABYLON

Bickersteth holds consistently that “Rome is the Man of Sin and Babylon of Revelation,” basing his opinion upon the common consent of a great galaxy of English and Continental Reformation writers, and their successors-naming some thirty well-known churchmen. ⁶³ Reaching back into the Middle Ages, he cites the strong earlier declarations of Arnulph, Bernard of Clairvaux, Joachim, Dante, and Petrarch. ⁶⁴ He then adds the supporting witness of the historic Protestant creeds, confessions, homilies, and articles. ⁶⁵ PFF3 650.1

3. SEVENTY WEEKS CUT OFF OF 2300

Stressing the “common principle” of year-day application to all time prophecy, Bickersteth, in his early editions, dates the seventy weeks from 458 B.C. to A.D. 33, and the seventy weeks cut off of the 2300 years: PFF3 650.2

“Of the whole period of 2300 years, 70 weeks of years were determined or cut off, from the restoration of the daily sacrifice to the completing of the perfect sacrifice of Christ, when the spiritual temple was raised up, (John 2:19-21,) and the most Holy was anointed. Hebrews 1:9, 9:24. We have here then the ecclesiastical period of 70 weeks or 490 years distinct and perfect.” ⁶⁶ PFF3 650.3

He takes passing note of De Cheseaux’s astronomical cycles of 1260 and 2300 years, and the difference between them of 1040, as the most perfect cycle known, ⁶⁷ and bearing upon the year-day question. PFF3 650.4

4. TIME PROPHECY DATES TABULATED

A bird’s-eye view of Bickersteth’s concept of the outline prophecies is afforded by several pages of Scripture chronology date tables, tabulating the various events from the centuries before Christ up to A.D. 1822. Thus the names of the four prophetic empires appear at the date of their respective beginnings, in 606, 536, 331, 168 B.C.; the joint beginning of the seventy weeks and the 2300 years is here placed at 457 B.C., and the crucifixion and the close of the seventy weeks appear opposite A.D. 34. ⁶⁸ The “10 days’ tribulation” in the Smyrna church period is placed at 303-13. The dating of the seals and the trumpets appears scattered over the centuries- the 150 years of the Saracenic woe ending in 786, and the 390 years of the Turkish woe terminating in 1453, at the fall of Constantinople. ⁶⁹ PFF3 650.5

The fall of. the tenth part of the city (France) is dated 1789, with the seven vials beginning in 1792, along with the close of the 1260 years. The end of the 1290 years-which Bickersteth begins synchronously with the 1260-is placed at 1822, and the preaching of the second advent for the new era is noted for this date, along with the wasting away of the Turkish Empire. ⁷⁰ PFF3 651.1

5. REGRETTABLE EFFECT OF FUTURIST IMPACT

The impact of Futurism was not without some effect upon Bickersteth, as appears in the suggestion of an “additional week” at the close of the “times of the Gentiles,” when the “people of Israel are again taken into covenant.” The first half is for the Jews, for “rebuilding the temple,” with the second half “under the terror of the infidel Antichrist,” and at the close the “destruction of that Antichrist.” ⁷¹ However, the “seven times,” or 2520 years, are set as from 677 B.C. to A.D. 1843. ⁷² And while Bickersteth chooses 533 to 1792 for the 1260 years, he notes Brown’s proposal of 584-1844 and other suggestions. ⁷³ PFF3 651.2

6. DOUBLE DATING CONFUSES 2300 YEARS

A second regrettable departure from the Historical School of interpretation is the introduction of second starting and ending points for the 2300 years, as part of the progressive or “continuationist” scheme. The year 1843 is spoken of as “the beginning of the sacrifice restored.” ⁷⁴ Here is Bickersteth’s complete statement: PFF3 651.3

“There is a second commencement of this period from Nehemiah’s decree. His commission was in 446, B.C., which effected a complete cleansing in 433. This would bring us to 1867-8 for the completed restoration of Israel. If this 2,300 years be taken from Ezra’s decree, 457 years before Christ, it will bring us to 1843, the beginning of the cleansing of the sanctuary, and of the restoration of the Jews, and of the approach of the on great tribulation. If taken from Nehemiah’s completed cleansing in 433-4. it will bring us to 1867-8, the completed Jewish restoration.” ⁷⁵ PFF3 651.4

7. 1867-68 BECOMES NEW FOCAL POINT

Similarly, the 1260 years are terminated about 1793, the 1290 end thirty years later, or in 1822-23, and the 1335 come to a close forty-five years beyond that, in 1868-the year 1793 marking “when popery began to fall”; and 1868, its “final fall.” ⁷⁶ Thus the way was being prepared for the passing by of 1843-44 as of minor interestor consequence, and for 1867-68 as the real focal point. PFF3 652.1

8. COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF PROPHETIC WRITERS

Bickersteth’s Practical Guide closes with about thirty pages of “Principal Books on Prophecy.” Tin’s comprehensive list runs all the way from the early church Fathers, Jewish writers, and Reformers, to his own day. Page after page of authors, titles, and dates, with often an evaluating note, evidences his familiarity with the field. General works are followed by those clustered under special topics, as Second Coming of Christ, Antichrist, Millennium, Kingdom of God, Daniel, Revelation.” ⁷⁷ PFF3 652.2