The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

VII. Premillennial Position of the “American Millenarian”

Another Protestant journal, launched in New York City in 1842 and edited by ISAAC P. LABAGH, ⁸⁰ aggressively presses the Literalist view of prophecy. Its name reveals its scope American Millenarian and Prophetic Review. It carried extensive editorials, and quoted American expositors like Edward Winthrop (Episcopalian), of Cincinnati, George Duffield (Presbyterian), of Princeton, and Stephen Tyng (Episcopalian), of Philadelphia. But it leaned heavily on British Advent Awakening writers like Bickersteth, Brooks, Cox, Begg, Pym, Irving, Anderson, White, and Charlotte Elizabeth, several of whose productions had just been reprinted by Orrin Rogers of Philadelphia, in his Literalist. ⁸¹ PFF4 327.1

Labagh, having at first fraternized with the Millerites, now opposed them. But he deplored the bitter animosity of some toward them, and deprecated the trial and expulsion of certain clergymen because of holding the “millenarian” faith. ⁸² This journal maintained that we are in the latter days, when the premillennial second advent is near. Moreover, it cited Brooks, of England, on the angel with the everlasting gospel now flying, with emphasis on its message of the judgment hour as now come. ⁸³ PFF4 327.2

True to its name, the Millenarian undertakes to discuss the three theories of the millennium (1) the Augustinian Catholic theory of a past millennium popularized for Protestants by Grotius and Hammond; (2) the spiritual millennium (the Whitbyan postmillennial theory); and (3) the “millenarian” (premillennial) position of the early church, revived in post-Reformation times, and still held against a rising opposition by a great many in Europe and America unaffiliated with the Millerites. ⁸⁴ PFF4 327.3

In various articles we find the outline prophecies portrayed, with Rome as the fourth world empire broken up into ten kingdoms, and the millennial reign of Christ to be established in the latter time of these divided kingdoms, and after the reign of the Antichristian (evidently papal) Little Horn of Daniel 7, and after Armageddon, and the destruction of the Beast and false prophet. ⁸⁵ The signs of the times show that transcendent event to be drawing nigh; the “times of the Gentiles” are running out equated with the “definite time” of Daniel 8:14 at the end of which comes the approaching cleansing of the sanctuary connected by Labagh with the restoration of Israel and Judah to their own land. The 1260 years, the 42 months, and the 3i/L times are “the same in point of time,” and constitute the “time of the power of the papacy,” or the oppression by the twofold papal and infidel Antichrist. Ecclesiastical signs, the increase of knowledge of prophecy, and apostasy in the church are emphasized. PFF4 328.1

The 1290 years are supposed by many to end in 1823, and the 1335 in 1868. (In consequence, the 1260 years must be dated by them as ending in 1793, and so evidently beginning in 533.) The latter events, they hold, of Daniel 11 are fast fulfilling, the vials are being poured out the third, fourth, and fifth already having been poured by Napoleon on the papal nations and the sixth in progress, soon to dry up the river Euphrates or Turkish power. On the other hand, the gospel is going to ail nations through missionary and Bible societies. So the end of this dispensation, they believe, is not far distant.” ⁸⁶ PFF4 328.2

The first resurrection, Labagh maintains, is literal, that of all the righteous at the second advent, when the righteous living will be translated and caught up to meet their Lord in the air, thence to reign with Christ a thousand years. Then follows the full argument on the restoration of the Jews, of the Temple, and even of the sanctuary sacrifices at Jerusalem. ⁸⁷ The new heavens and the new earth only partly restored to paradisaical conditions during the millennium will be completely renovated at the end, after the loosing of Satan for a little season, the last resurrection, and the final judgment. ⁸⁸ PFF4 328.3