The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: Child Preachers of Sweden Warn of Judgment

I. Setting and Occasion of Their Remarkable Witness

The nineteenth-century Advent Awakening penetrated Scandinavia in the early forties, but by a means markedly different from that employed in any other country of the Old World or the New. In Sweden, preaching contrary to that of the established church was forbidden. The clergy of the state church opposed emphasis upon the soon coming of Christ. Their refusal to speak was in et by the amazing spectacle of children and youth in the homes of humble cottagers-some of whom had not yet learned to rend proclaiming the impending judgment hour and imminent advent, and giving expositions of prophecy. This movement took place chiefly in southern Sweden, where many of the people were Pictists. A remarkable work was accomplished, the populare being profoundly stirred. PFF3 671.1

These were normal children, just like others, except when moved upon by a power outside themselves. Then their tone and manner changed, and they were impelled to proclaim a message calling for repentance and reformation of life. They condemned sin and apostasy, lifted up the Standard of righteousness, and urged all to flee from the wrath to come. Men trembled and forsook their evil ways, searching the Scriptures anew. The intemperate and godless were transformed, and even a bishop and a physician were constrained to admit that it was not Satan but God who impelled these child preachers. PFF3 671.2

1. USE OF CHILDREN NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT

This use of children was not without precedent. At the first advent God put His Spirit upon little children, moving them to proclaim Jesus as the promised Son of David, as they waved their palm branches in the temple courts. Jesus had entered Jerusalem accompanied by the happy shouts of the multitudes. When the jealous Pharisees demanded that He silence them, Christ declared that their acclamations were in fulfillment of prophecy, and that if they should hold their peace, the very stones would cry out. The message must be given. So, when through fear of priests and rulers the adults became silent, these children caught up the refrain that had been dropped, waving their palm branches and crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” When the angered Pharisees called Christ’s attention to their testimony, He answered by saying, “Yea; and have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise ¹ just “as God wrought through children at the time of Christ’s first advent, so He wrought through them in giving the message of His second advent ² PFF3 672.1

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND CLARIFIES THE SITUATION

A retrospective glance over Swedish history will illuminate the picture. The Protestant Reformation had long before penetrated Sweden. Two brothers, Olaus (Olof or Olaf) and Laurentius (often given as Lars, or Lawrence) Petri (Latinized; sometimes spelled Petersen or Peterson), were educated at the University of Wittenberg under Luther and Melanchthon and embraced the doctrines of the Reformation. Returning to Sweden, they became its powerful advocates. On several occasions mobs inspired by the priests assailed them. But they wereaided by the king, Gustavus Vasa I, who determined upon are formation in botli church and state. PFF3 672.2

Olaus became the professor of theology of Upsala, while Laurentius was appointed preacher in the cathedral at Stockholm, later becoming Archbishop of Sweden, in 1531. The two brothers translated the Bible into Swedish, and illustrated the prophetic symbols of Daniel and the Apocalypse by the classic woodcuts of Luther’s Bible ³ the four beasts of Daniel labeled with their respective names, the beast of Revelation surmounted by a triple crown, and the like. The Bible alone was their plat form of faith. A monument in Orebro, now to be the scene of some of these later manifestations, commemorates the memory of these two eminent men ⁴ PFF3 673.1

As Protestantism became the state religion, the clergy grew intolerant and oppressive. Preaching that was considered dangerous to the state church was forbidden. Thus on January 12, 1726, a royal decree from Stockholm prohibited the gathering of people in private homes for religious purposes, with penalties for disobedience ⁵ his mandate remained in effect for a century and a quarter, until modified by Royal Regulation No. 90, on October 26, 1858, and completely removed a decade later ⁶ It was therefore during the period of this enforcement that these child-preaching episodes took place. PFF3 673.2

3. INTENSE OPPOSITION TO CHILD WITNESSES

In the 1840’s the advent message began to be preached by several laymen, called ropare, or “criers,” who proclaimed the impending hour of God’s judgment ⁷ Large numbers gathered to hear them, often in private homes or out in the woods. A real revival and reformation began. But frenzied attempts were made to stop them. They were declared insane or afflicted with some dread disease, and some were severely punished. Two young preachers -Ole Boqvist and Erik Walbom-still in their teens were arrested and accused in the parish of Karlskoga, in Orebro province. When tried, they defended their faith and conduct from the Scriptures. In later life Boqvist stated: PFF3 673.3

“When we were brought before the governor for examination, he demanded by what authority we were sent to preach. We referred him to Joel 2 and Revelation 14:6-8, and told him further that the Spirit of God came upon us with such power that we could not resist it ⁸ PFF3 674.1

After being beaten they were taken to the hospital for mental examination by physicians. Their heads were shaved, with the exception of two strips of hair left in the form of a cross. Then they were imprisoned and tortured by powerful streams of cold water. Finally they were released, only to keep on preaching until 1844. PFF3 674.2

When in Sweden in 1885, Ellen G. White, who inquired into these episodes, declared that the children thus affected were unconscious of what was going on around them. They had all the characteristics of those in vision from God and spoke with convincing power that carried great influence. They lost their childish demeanor and spoke with all the force and power of full-grown men and women. Many who saw and heard them firmly believed God was using them to utter prophetically the message then due. An eyewitness account of one assembly in a cottager’s house, addressed by a girl preacher, is cited: PFF3 674.3

“When the last [of the people] had arrived, her manner changed entirely, both in boldness and movements, clearly indicating that she was moved by an invisible power, and not by her own natural gifts. When she commenced speaking, her voice also changed. She said, ‘Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of His judgment is come.’ She reproved sins, such as drinking, theft, adultery, swearing, and backbiting, and also reproved churchgoers for attending church with worldly business in view, instead of listening to God’s word and conforming their lives to it. Her voice and words were impressive. Many were weeping and sighing. They were told that time was given them to repent, but they must do it immediately, and not put it off ⁹ PFF3 674.4

Let us now examine contemporary Swedish newspaper accounts, which constitute our primary sources. PFF3 675.1