The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IX. Storrs Holds to Standard Outlines of Daniel

Storrs wrote a small book, in question and answer form, also called the Bible Examiner—a verse-by-verse exposition of the leading chapters of Daniel and of Revelation, together with Isaiah 55, Zechariah 14, and Matthew 24. The heart of Daniel 2 he held to be the imminent smiting of the image upon the feet-after the division of the Roman Empire, the fourth in the series of world powers. The ten partitions listed are drawn from Machiavelli, Faber, and Scott. This stone kingdom is not the inward kingdom of grace, he insisted, but the outward kingdom of glory, soon to be established. We have lived 1,400 years among the feet and toes of divided Rome, he said. The stone strikes the image on the feet, and we are now in the feet. This smiting by the stone is therefore the next act of prophecy. ⁵⁰ PFF4 808.1

Divine revelation is not only progressive but repeats again and again to enforce and amplify. Thus the four beasts of Daniel 7 parallel the four metals of Daniel 2-Babylonia, Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Then, after the great judgment scene, comes God’s kingdom forever. The Little Horn is the high point in chapter 7-and is the same as Paul’s Man of Sin, and the Beast of John’s visions. It follows the division of Rome, and three kingdoms fall before it—the Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Vandals. PFF4 808.2

Justinian’s imperial letter of A.D. 533, recognizing the pope as the head of all the churches, is quoted from Croly. Thus the pagan Roman dragon gave the Papacy “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Revelation 13:12.) It was to continue in this dominant position for 1260 years, which it did. Then the stroke by the sword was given under French Marshal Berthier, continued Storrs. The pope no longer has power to depose kings and put the saints to death as of yore. So in the outline of Daniel 7 we have already passed the lion, bear, leopard, and dreadful fourth beast, the ten horns, and the 1260 years. We are nearly forty-five years beyond. The awesome judgment scene comes next, followed by the everlasting kingdom, which cannot be far off. ⁵¹ PFF4 808.3

Then, in Daniel 8 the Medo-Persian ram and the Grecian goat are followed by the “exceeding great” and fierce pagan, then papal, Roman horn. This horn continues until the “last end of the indignation.” The sanctuary and the host were to be trodden underfoot for 2300 year-days. Rome will be destroyed when it is broken without hand. Both the church and the earth are called sanctuaries. But, he at first feels, it is obviously the earth that is to be cleansed by fire. (2 Peter 3.) And this is to be at the end of the age and the close of the 2300 years. The explanation is given in Daniel 9, through the interrelated 70 weeks to the Messiah, “cut off” from the 2300 years. Their joint beginning is in 457 B.C., and the grand terminus of the longer period would be A.D. “1843,” later revised to “1844.” PFF4 809.1

And as the year of Christ’s death is limited to a narrow circle of four or five years at most, so the end of the longer period is likewise limited to four or five years. And “1843” is evidently 1810 years from the crucifixion, the cross constituting the confirming seal of the vision. Daniel will stand in his lot and receive his inheritance; the end is near. ⁵² So said Storrs. More will be heard from him shortly. PFF4 809.2