The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

IX. Cottrell-Writes on “Mark” and “Rappings”

ROSWELL F. COTTRELL (1814-1892), ⁵¹ of western New York State, was a descendant of the French Albigenses. His ancestors were among the founders of the first Seventh Day Baptist colony in Rhode Island. He was, in fact, brought up a Seventh Day Baptist, keeping the Sabbath all of his life. He was converted to the advent faith by Bates and Rhodes in 1851, at Washington, New Hampshire. He was a poet, especially noted as a hymn writer. His earliest contribution, soon after his accession, was his ironic poem on the Sabbath, “It’s Jewish!” He is better known for such hymns as “The Wonders of Redeeming Love,” and was an effective force as a writer and counselor. In 1851 he too was stressing the mark of the Beast as the counterfeit sabbath of Rome. ⁵² And in 1853 he asserted that the current spirit rappings were of demonic origin, predicted in Revelation 16. ⁵³ PFF4 1090.1

Soon after the founding of the Youth’s Instructor, Cottrell wrote a series of Sabbath school lessons on the law of God (August, 1854-January, 1855), and then on the faith of Jesus. The latter includes the precursors of the second advent, such as the dark day of 1780 and the falling stars of 1833, along with national troubles, widespread perplexities, war talk, and mounting anger of the nations (June, 1855). In July the 2300 years are discussed, and the series ends with the three messages of Revelation 14. The first was Miller’s judgment-hour proclamation at the end of the 2300 years; and the second message, against the ascendancy of apostasy, and the form of godliness without the power, was given in 1844. And the third message is a “separating message” involving the commandments of the Beast versus the commandments of God. These three messages are to bring out the remnant people onto the apostolic platform—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. PFF4 1090.2

Picture 2: HISTORICAL EXPODITORS OF THE 2 BEASTS OF Revelation 13, AND THE 3ANGELS OF Revelation 14 FROM EARLIEST KNOWN REFERENCES TO MID NINETEENTH CENTURY
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