The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

V. Tennessean Jurist Holds to Basic Prophetic Views

In 1819, under the pseudonym, “A Tennessean,” JOHN HAVWOOD, ⁶² noted Southern jurist, published a book entitled The—Christian Advocate (that is, Attorney)—a rather wordy, rambling discussion of prophecy. But points of interest and agreement with others are scattered over its pages, and it forms part of the Southern angle of a larger picture. Haywood was of strong mind and positive convictions, and seemed especially intrigued by the prophetic minutiae in Daniel and in Revelation—particularly the 1260 years, with the added 30 and 45 years, respectively, of the 1290 and 1335 year periods, which he ends in 1874 and 1919. ⁶³ PFF4 176.8

Haywood holds to the year-day principle for some time prophecies, including, the 1260 days of Revelation, and the 70 weeks of Daniel 9, but he calls a “time” a week of days, years, or centuries, as the case may be, and curiously makes the time of Daniel 12:11, 12 equal to 31/2 x 700 years, or 2450 years! The French Revolution is likewise stressed as “an indispensable preliminary to the successful progress of gospel light, and to the general conversion of the world,” spreading the knowledge of the rights of men, despite its entanglement with “political fanaticism and infidelity.” Thus has “providence brought good out of evil, and wisdom from the extravagances of insanity.” PFF4 177.1

He mentions Rome as the fourth “beast”—the first three being Babylonia, “Medea,” and Grecia—the ten kingdoms dominated by the papal Little Horn, with its allotted duration, and then its overthrow prior to “the universal prevalence of the Christian religion.” The first six trumpets are six periods of the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, during which the Papacy, Mohammedanism, and paganism—the three unclean spirits—have “corrupted the fountains of religion.” The five months of the Mohammedan fifth trumpet are 150 years. And the hour, day, month, and year of Revelation 9:15, of the Turkish sixth trumpet, are recognized as 391 years, possibly ending in 1777, with the raising of the siege of Vienna. The seventh trumpet follows, with the great Sabbath rest, preceded, however, by dreadful carnage, and the end of Mohammedanism and the Papacy. ⁶⁴ So prophecy was studied by jurist, educator, and minister alike—varying in detail but harmonious PFF4 177.2

on great essentials. Prophecy was the common denominator in the study life of men in all walks of life. PFF4 177.3

It should be added, parenthetically, that the dating of the 70 “weeks of years” from 457 B.C., as the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia, was widespread, as in the Protestant Episcopal catechism of Doctor FREDERICK DALCHO, ⁶⁵ of Charleston, South Carolina. This date was regarded as established and fixed. PFF4 178.1