The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

II. “Christian Observer” Forum for Prophetic Discussion

The Boston Christian Observer was unique in that it was an American edition of the staid London monthly of the same name, paralleling it from the first issue in 1802 onward, and running largely article for article, without adaptation to American interests ³ It was issued by clergymen of the Anglican Church, and from its very first volume dealt frequently with prophecy. It was often the medium for the introduction of advanced positions, and constituted an aggressive forum for free discussion of varying viewpoints. It was a pioneer, in a sense, widely read throughout New England and somewhat in other sections. Chapter 16 of Volume III of Prophetic Faith deals at length with the discussion of prophecy in the London edition and its influence upon the British Advent Awakening of the early nineteenth century. We here summarize the leading expositions presented and their impress on American thought. PFF4 140.2

1. TURKEY’S PLACE IN PROPHECY COMMONLY ACCEPTED.—

These Observer articles were written for the most part under pseudonyms and initials, and by British expositors. Yet it was an American edition, and widely read over here. One early writer sets forth the principle of 391 prophetical years for the symbolic time period of the sixth trumpet of Revelation 9:15, as the time of Turkish supremacy ⁴ Another contributor says he is awaiting the end of Turkey’s dominion, as presented in Daniel 11:42-45, after the Turk plants himself in the glorious holy mountain, in Palestine, between the seas ⁵ PFF4 141.1

2. 1260 YEARS FROM JUSTINIAN TO FRENCH REVOLUTION.

“Talib” (William Cuninghame), writing in 1807 and onward, holds that the 1260 years of the papal Little Horn are already expired. These he dates from Justinian to the French Revolution, and then dates the 2300 years from the time of the vision of Daniel. In 1808 he asserts the “exceeding great” horn of Daniel 8 to be Rome, not Mohammedanism, since the Mohammedan power did not take away the “daily sacrifice. “In the January, 1810, issue, Cuninghame gives further reasons why the 1260 years obviously begin with Justinian, in connection with the emperor’s recognition of the pope as head of all the holy churches ⁶ PFF4 141.2

3. FRENCH REVOLUTION AND TURKISH TRUMPET PERIODS.

Then “Philo” identifies the “earthquake” of Revelation 11 Cuninghame Was Author of Many Works on Prophecy as the French Revolution, and the “tenth part of the city” as France, and the time periods of the fifth and sixth trumpets as the 150 years from 612-762, with the 391 years from 1281-1672 ⁷ PFF4 141.3

Picture 1: SCOTTISH INTERPRETER WILLIAM CUNINGHAME AND RESIDENCE
The substantial character of this early (1813) old world expositor is evidenced by such a home, its picturesque gate and gateman’s lodge. (right) marble bust of William Cuninghame in congregational church at stewarton, of which he was pastor. His portrait hangs in the parish presbyterian church at lainshaw, ayreshire, his finger pointing interestingly to the book of revelation, which he ably expounded
Page 142

4. CUNINGHAME GIVES DOCUMENTATION FOR DATING 1260 YEARS

In April, Cuninghame offers further documentary evidence for A.D. 533, under Justinian, as against A.D. 606, under Phocas, for the beginning date of the 1260 years ⁸ And the question of the integrity of the number 2300, as against the 2400 of the printed Septuagint and the 2200 of the Jerome copies, is likewise discussed ⁹ PFF4 142.1

Cuninghame later firmly adopted the 457 B.C. beginning, and the corresponding A.D. 1843 close, of the 2300 years, to which position he held consistently thereafter. He was one of Britain’s leading expositors, beginning to expound the prophecies while still a layman. And he continued such interpretation throughout his 22-year pastorate of the Stewarton (Scotland) Congregational Church. The foregoing illustrations indicate the substantial character of these expositors of the 2300 years, in their respective communities, and the esteem in which they were held locally. PFF4 142.2

5. J. A. B[ROWN] ENDS 2300 YEARS IN 1843

Then, in the November, 1810, issue, “J. A. B.” (obviously John Aquila Brown) contends for the first time in Britain—and now reprinted in Boston—that the 70 weeks (or 490 years) and the 2300 years began synchronously in 457 B.C., with the command of Artaxerxes to restore and rebuild Jerusalem—the 490 years reaching to the cross and the 2300 years ending in the year 1843 ¹⁰ This seems to be the first time this thought and precise dating were presented in the Old World, and were nearly identical with the position taken three months later by William C. Davis in the United States, in January, 1811 ¹¹ though the findings of Brown and Davis were probably unknown to each other. It was the spark that kindled a great flame of interest and discussion in the Old World, paralleled by an independent but equally animated and wide discussion here in the New World. PFF4 143.1

6. “C. E. S.” ENDS THE 391 AND “2400” YEARS IN 1844.

Next, “C. E. S.” would end both the 391 years of Revelation 9:15 and the supposed 2400 years of Daniel 8:14 (Septuagint misprint) in 1844—the first extending from 1453 to 1844, and the second from 556 B.C. to A.D. 1844, reckoned inclusively ¹² By way of variation, “Senior” dates the 391-year period from 1299 to 1690 ¹³ But the dating of this Turkish period continues to be a point of vigorous discussion in The Christian Observer, on into 1827, 1828, and even 1831. Finally, “J. A. B.” reiterates his previous stand on the 2300 years as beginning with Ezra’s commission, but now expressly terminates them in 1844 ¹⁴ PFF4 143.2

This phenomenon, at that early day, of one journal with two editions—issued 3,500 miles apart on opposite sides of the Atlantic, but presenting identical discussions of prophecy to its readers on two hemispheres—shows how widespread was the interest and how similar the common understanding of the prophetic terms, symbols, and time periods of the books of Daniel and the Revelation in the Old World and the New. Prophetic study knew no geographical boundaries. The same points and problems in prophecy were of common concern in various lands. And the new emphasis on the 2300—year period, with the synchronous beginning of the 70 weeks as the master key to unlock its timing, was significant. But it was simply the beginning of increasingly wide agitation upon this point. Only two men, and they just prior to the French Revolution, had previously enunciated this principle—Petri of Germany and Wood of Ireland ¹⁵ But the concept had taken firm root, and soon scores of men were writing and preaching upon it. PFF4 144.1