The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

VIII. Lee—Believed Living Near Beginning of “Happy Time”

SAMUEL LEE (1625-1691), the learned minister of New Bristol, Rhode Island, was born in London and educated at Oxford, receiving an M.A. in 1648. He became proctor of the University of Oxford in 1656. In 1677 he was serving as minister to the nonconformist congregation at Holborn, and subsequently in two other churches. By 1686 he had emigrated to New England, settling in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he was ordained. Lee was one of the most learned men of his day, there being scarcely any department of knowledge into which he had not penetrated. PFF3 112.1

He wrote much on future events and the last day. He held the thousand years and the new-earth state were still future. He constantly cited Justin Martyr, and computed the prophetic periods, fixing on 1811 or 1812 for the probable beginning of the “Happy Time.” He was author of several books, including a sermon in 1687, A Summons or Warning to the Great Day of Judgment (1692), ⁶⁴ with an introduction by Cotton Mather. His earlier Contemplation of Mortality (1669) ⁶⁵ also pertained to the glories of the resurrection and the second advent. PFF3 112.2

In his Antichristi Excidium (The Cutting Off of Antichrist), Lee maintains that the Roman Pontiff is the Antichrist of prophecy, and the time of his tyranny 1260 year-days, or forty-two months. ⁶⁶ PFF3 112.3

“Convenit inter omnes Ecclesiae Evangelicae fautores Pontificem Romanum esse Antichristum, ejusque tyrannidem in 1260 dies propheticos (id est annos). [It is agreed among all maintainers of the Evangelical Church that the Roman Pontiff is Antichrist, and his tyranny in 1260 prophetic days (that is, years).]” ⁶⁷ PFF3 112.4

There is a lengthy discussion of the ten kingdoms rising out of the fourth, or Roman, empire, ⁶⁸ and the Little Horn in their midst. Lee lists the ten kingdoms as the Alamanni, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Huns, Britons, and Saxons, Suevi, Alans, Vandals, Burgundians, and Franks.” ⁶⁹ PFF3 112.5

Lee then discusses the various calculations of the 1260 years current in his day, such as dating them 259-1519 or 410-1670. ⁷⁰ But he seems to prefer 476-1736. ⁷¹ He places the destruction of Antichrist at the close of the 1260 years, with the interval between that event and “that most blessed millennium of the septenary age” (Beatissirnum illud septeni saeculi millennium) as perhaps embracing the destruction of the Turkish Empire, the conversion of the Jews, and the fullness of the Gentiles. He expects that if the golden age of the church comes before the end of the sixth thousand years, then at the end of the seventh thousand years will come the war of Magog, followed later by the last universal day oi judgment. ⁷² PFF3 113.1

Lee determined to return to England, but was captured by French privateers, who detained him in France. Like Wycliffe, who was made a martyr after his death, he died and was buried outside the city as a heretic. ⁷³ Lee’s library of 1,100 titles- voluminous for those days-was offered for sale at his death. ⁷⁴ Largely in Latin, it includes many works on prophecy, and many on history and chronology. The expositions on prophecy are from such authors as Fox, Goodwin, Brightman, Jewell, Durham, Mede, Napier, Broughton, and Cotton, his viewpoints largely concurring with theirs. PFF3 113.2

1. MIDNIGHT CRY AND WORLD’S END

Discoursing on the parable of the midnight cry, and “the Suddenness of our Lord’s Advent, and the Stupidity and Security of the World with reference thereto,” ⁷⁵ Lee asserts: PFF3 113.3

“Midnight, is the End of the World, before the morning of the Resurrection. The Cry is an Angelical Voice: as soon as the clock strikes Twelve, then the Angel sets his Trumpet to his mouth, and proclameth so.” ⁷⁶ PFF3 113.4

2. RESURRECTED SAINTS ENTER NEW JERUSALEM

Then, at the resurrection, earth and sea “shall yield their Dead.” Next, the “Saints are then led unto the Nuptuals in the New Jerusalem.” ⁷⁷ Lee closes with an appeal not to follow the fatal indifference and slumber of the time of the Flood. PFF3 114.1