The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IV. Himes’s Composite Chart of Daniel’s Visions

A well-devised composite chart, in color, called “A Pictorial Chart of Daniel’s Visions,” was issued prior to 1843 by J. V. Himes, ¹⁰ and widely distributed. It was arranged in three paralleling horizontal sections, or lines, likewise marked off by centuries. The upper, or third line, presents an effective arrangement of the anatomical parts of the metallic man of Daniel 2. At the left stands the full image of the man, in color, with the stone hurtling through the air to smite the image on the feet and toes. A curved, dotted line, labeled the “seven times, or 2520 years,” starting from 677 B.C., sweeps in the entire series, from the golden head on to “1843.” Then, progressively, from the left, appear the sections of the head of gold (Babylonia, lasting 139 years), starting from 677 B.C.; next, second on the line, comes the breast and arms of silver (Medo-Persia, for 207 years); then, the waist and thighs of brass (Grecia, for 173 years); the legs of iron (“Rome imperial,” for “666” years, or from 158 B.C.); and finally the feet and toes of iron and clay (Rome divided for 1335 years, from A.D. 508)-likewise leading to “1843.” PFF4 726.2

The middle section, or line, gives the paralleling four successive empire-beasts of Daniel 7—the lion (Babylonia), the bear (Persia), the leopard (Grecia); then the fourth beast (pagan Rome, and papal Rome for 1260 years, 538-1798)—with a dotted-line arc sweeping them all in, from 600 B.C. to A.D. 1843, for the “49 Jubilees or 2450 years.” PFF4 727.1

The lower line starts with the Persian ram (as Babylonia had passed by this time); then comes the Grecian goat, followed by pagan Rome as the exceeding great horn (666 years, from 158 B.C. to A.D. 508); and finally papal Rome (1260 years, from A.D. 538 to 1798). From Persia, the great arching circle of 2300 years spreads from 457 B.C. to A.D. 1843, with the lesser “seventy weeks” arc beginning synchronously with the 2300 years in 457 B.C., and ending at the cross in A.D. 33. Then, pagan Rome’s “666” years extend from 158 B.C. to A.D. 508, from which point another 1335—year arc runs to 1843, and under it the 1260 years of “Papal Rome” are from 538 to 1798. PFF4 727.2

So, in prophetic teaching this chart is essentially—and quite naturally—a replica of Miller’s early positions on the time periods as well as the symbols. In connection with Miller’s “666 years” of pagan Rome, in the lower section, Himes has “Pagan Rome, the Continual or Daily,” from 158 B.C. to A.D. 508. Then, at A.D. 508 stands a smoking altar with its pagan priest in color, and the words, “Paganism taken away”; and at A.D. 538 is a cross—surmounted Catholic altar, before which stands a Catholic priest with his smoking censer, and the expression, “Papacy began.” This feature, however, soon disappears in the large “1843 Chart,” which becomes the standard, used subsequently by all the Millerite ministers both before and during the actual year “1843.” PFF4 727.3