Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy [Himes], vol. 2
August 16, 1841
VOLUME II.—NO. 10. BOSTON, WHOLE NO. 34
Joshua V. Himes
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
AND EXPOSITOR OF PROPHECY.
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Evidence from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ about the year 1843, and of his personal reign of 1000 years, first published in 1833. By WM. Miller. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.1
CHAPTER V
The three Last Trumpets and the Three Woes. Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire
We will now examine the ninth chapter of Revelations, and see what we learn by the last three trumpets, and the three woes. The 1st and 2nd verses describe the Mahometan religion, which is represented as coming from the bottomless pit, and is compared to the smoke of a great furnace; “And the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.” That is, the gospel and its doctrines, became dark in the minds of men; by reason of the Mahometan errors. “And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth; “that is, there arose a nation out of the Mahometan nations, which should be a heavy judgment to the Roman government, here called “Earth,” the locusts denoting the Ottoman or present Turkish power. This nation was first formed by the union of soldiers, or mercenaries, that had served in the armies of contending princes, and united under one leader Ottoman, composed of four different nations, as Saracens, Turks, Arabs, and Tartars, afterwards in this chapter called the four angels, or messengers of God, to punish the anti-christian beast. This power was first established in Bythynia, near, or on the head-waters of the Euphrates, in the year A. D. 1298, where it was confined, or made but little progress in subjecting the anti-christian kingdom, for five months, or 150 years, until it conquered Constantinople A. D. 1453, which ended the eastern empire. “And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men that have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” It is a fact, here worthy of notice, that the Turks did not persecute the church of Christ, to that degree that the Romish church did; which gave rise to a saying among the eastern Christians, “That they would rather see the Turkish turban on the throne of Constantinople, than the Pope’s tiara.” By grass and green things, I understand the children of God; and by those men who have not the seal of God, I understand Papists. “And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months; “which is 150 years, or 5 times 30, Daniel’s mode of reckoning time, whom John has followed. From the 7th to the 11th verses inclusive, John has described the Turkish army, their manner of fighting, together with the qualities and name of their leader. “One woe is past; and behold there cometh two woes more hereafter.” In A. D. 1448, these four angels were let loose, and the fifth trumpet, and the first woe is ended, and the sixth trumpet, and the second woe began. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.2
“And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the river Euphrates.” By waters we are to understand people; see Revelation 17:15. By the river Euphrates, I therefore understand the same Turkish power, which power rose up in the countries bordering upon this river. The four angels, are the four different nations of which the Ottomans were composed. Their armies were let loose, or sent out as a scourge upon the earth, or anti-christian church, and with great propriety called angels let loose, because they had been bound not to kill, (not to destroy) but to torment them five months; but were now about to destroy the eastern empire. “And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” That the time here given, must mean some definite time is very evident, or why has the prophet given so many different periods, and all combined, when one number would have answered for an indefinite period? For an hour, 15 days, and a day, one year, and a month, 30 years, and a year, 360 years,; making in all 361 years 15 days; which added to A. D. 1248 20 the year that the Turks sent out a large army to subdue Constantinople, will bring us down to 1839, when the sixth trumpet will cease to sound, and the second woe be completed. “And the number of the army of horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard the number of them.” This army is equivalent to the four angels, when they were let loose, and two hundred thousand thousand, is 200,000 twice told or repeated; making 400,000. This agrees with the history of the taking of Constantinople. “After a long siege Mahomet II took Constantinople in 1453,” having an army of 400,000 and almost all of them horsemen. “And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone.” We are in this passage informed that their army would consist of horses principally, and their weapons of warfare would be fire-arms, guns and gunpowder being exactly described. And it is a well authenticated fact, that gunpowder was invented but a short time before the taking of Constantinople, cannon having been first used in the siege and capture of that place. See Dr. Gill, on this passage, who says, “that one cannon was used at the siege of Constantinople that employed 70 yoke of oxen to draw it. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.3
The 18th and 19th verses are a further description of the mode of warfare. The 20th and 21st verses show on whom these plagues were sent, viz. those who “worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither could see, nor hear, nor walk. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” This description applies exactly to the anti-christian church or papal Rome; for they worship the things mentioned in the above texts, they being also the men which were one third to be slain, under this trumpet and woe, for it is supposed that the Ottoman power conquered one third of the Roman government, when the eastern empire fell into their hands. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.4
Then if this explanation be correct, the sixth trumpet will cease sounding in the year A. D. 1839, and the seventh trumpet will begin to sound. “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath delivered to his servants the prophets.” “And the second woe is past: and behold the third woe cometh quickly.” Revelation 11:14, 15. “And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” The 16th and 17th verses represent the four and twenty elders worshipping God, and giving thanks, because he had taken to himself his great power, and had reigned. The 18th verse of the 11th chapter, describes what shall be done when the seventh trumpet shall begin to sound. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them who fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.” The reader will now see that he is again brought down, when the seventh trumpet begins to sound, to the finishing of the mystery of God; to the fulfilment of all the prophecies; to the time when our Lord and his Christ should take the kingdom, and reign forever and ever; to the great day of his wrath; to the resurrection of the dead, their judgement, the rewards of the prophets, saints and all those who fear the name of the Lord, both small and great; and the final destruction of the wicked from the earth. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.5
To be Continued.
LETTER FROM MR. MILLER
His sickness—Notice of the Conference—Notice of S. of the Christian Herald.—Review of M. Meredeth. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.6
Dear Bro. Himes:—Your letter of June 10th has been received. My health has improved some for a few days past. I have not been able to write a line before this in five weeks; and even now I am in great pain. The swelling upon my knee has finally terminated in large sores; which are now healing up. I can truly say, that reflection on the near approach of the dear Savior has soothed the extreme anguish which my flesh has been made to suffer. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.7
I rejoice to learn that you had a good Conference at Lowell; and that there were some choice spirits there, who were not ashamed of the cross of Christ. Why are our clergy so backward in owning the truth? There must be some fault somewhere. True, Brother S. says he has preached the second advent of Christ twenty years, and that it was at the door, not three years off. Is it so? What sleepy hearers he must have had!! For three years since, it was not known that there was one person who believed in the manner, any more than in the time, in your vicinity. If this is true why do we not hear of him in the Conference? The manner of his coming, and the possibility that it may come immediately, like a thief upon us, would, if really believed, and so preached, wake up the slumbering virgins, I am sure. But if a man preaches one thing, and acts another, no one will believe what he saith. I have thought if it is true that brother S. has preached this doctrine, his hearers did not suppose him in earnest: for this doctrine meets with as much opposition as the time, from the clergy generally. See what the N. C. Recorder and Watchman saith, “It seems to us, nonsensical theory.” What is a nonsensical theory? R. & W. answers. “So that in a little more than two years from the present period, according to the aforesaid theory, The elements shall be melted with fervent heat, 21 The righteous, both living and dead, shall be caught up in the air, 22 The bodies of the wicked shall be burnt to ashes, 24 The day of gospel grace shall finally close—and the Messiah shall commence a personal reign on earth which is never to end.” This is what the editor of the Recorder and Watchman calls a “nonsensical theory.” What a watchman would such a man make? Every word proved by Bible. And what would the Recorder and Watchman say to this? Perhaps he would say, it was the time only he was ridiculing. Ask him when he was expecting these things would take place, and what would be his answer? Would he say he was expecting it every hour? No. Why? Because he ridicules the idea of a man’s looking for it this year, or 1843. And just so with brother S. He is looking for it this year. Yet he thinks it wrong in Miller to look for it in 1843. Strange consistency this. I hope there is no hypocrisy in such a faith as is manifested thus. HST August 16, 1841, page 73.8
But the Editor of the Recorder and Watchman, says he has been called upon repeatedly to give his views of the “Signs of the Times.” HST August 16, 1841, page 74.1
“Having been repeatedly called on of late to give our views of ‘his print, and having learned, in the meantime, that our agent in South Carolina is zealously employed in its circulation, we have thought that it might not be amiss, perhaps, to state briefly what we know of the matter. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.2
“The Signs of the Times is a small bi-weekly concern, devoted mainly to the propagation of the views of a certain Mr. Miller, of Massachusetts, respecting the Second Coming of Christ, and the end of the world. This Mr. Miller has discovered, it seems, by dint of calculation, that the Savior will appear personally on the earth—that the righteous dead shall be raised and judged—that the living wicked shall be destroyed—that the earth shall be “cleansed with fire,” etc,—and all this in the year 1843!! According to the first calculation of this unraveller of mysteries, it was announced that all the above wonderful events were to take place in 1841; but as that period began to come on without the necessary indications of the predicted consummation, it was ascertained that a figure had been missed in the aforesaid calculation, and that what had been announced for 1841, would take place in 1843!! So that in a little more than two years from the present period, according to the aforesaid theory, the elements shall be melted with fervent heat—the righteous, both living and dead, shall be caught up into the air,—the bodies of the wicked shall be burned to ashes—the day of gospel grace shall finally close—and the Messiah shall commence a personal reign on earth which is never to end! And this is the theory, which it is the great end of the aforesaid Signs of the Times to propagate and support.” HST August 16, 1841, page 74.3
In this paragraph he has made but two false assertions, one is in saying “Mr. Miller of Massachusetts,” which is not true, and shows how little he has read the paper, he has so solemnly been called upon to review. And ought to teach our southern brethren what a poor Watchman they have employed. The next is, “According to the first calculation of this unraveller of mysteries, it was announced that all the above wonderful events were to take place in 1841.” This assertion is equally untrue, and upon this false hypothesis he has built all his antipathies against the Signs of the Times. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.4
“We shall of course make no attempt to refute this, as it seems to us, nonsensical theory. That Mr. Miller has been made wise above all the rest of mankind, and that he has discovered what it was plainly the design of the Creator should not be known until disclosed by “the fullness of time,” we shall believe when we see the proof. But for this end we must have some thing somewhat more conclusive than a few arbitrary calculations, founded on a few arbitrary rules of prophetical interpretation. To speak plainly, we think Mr. Miller and his patrons ought to have more sense than to hope to impose such nonsense on the present generation; and better employment than to try to fill the land with new occasion for agitation, discord and fanaticism. Our good opinion of the propagators of this new fangled scheme, has not been materially heightened by hearing of the lame contrivance for shifting the grand result from 1841 to 1843. On the same principle we may expect to hear soon of some other miss of a figure which will protract the catrastrophe to ‘45 or ‘47.” HST August 16, 1841, page 74.5
In this paragraph the editor shows his want of reading, and a knowledge of the Bible. What has Mr. Miller done more than every writer on prophecy, or commentator on the Bible that we have any knowledge of? He has fixed the time for the end of the world. Very well, so did Gill, Henry, Newton, Faber, Scott, Clark, and the compilers of the Cottage Bible, Comprehensive Commentary, etc. I would advise the editor to read and understand men and things a little better, before he sets himself up to be a reviewer of any periodical. Again, he makes another assertion which is equally untrue. “That Mr. Miller has been made wise above all the rest of mankind.” Scores of writers and preachers have come to the same conclusions that never heard of Mr. Miller, some in every Christian nation on our globe. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.6
“There is something worse in all this, however, than the mere waste of time. It does positive mischief, by creating an impression among men, that the Scriptures are unworthy of general confidence. Mr. Miller is not the first man who has made such calculations and such announcements. Various periods have been fixed on for the end of the world. The progress of time has indeed demostrated the folly and presumption of those thus arrogating to themselves superior intelligence; but never without a loss of credit, to a greater or less degree, on the part of the sacred writings. Men are ever ready to take occasion for unbelief. If one man may be so grossly deceived, touching matters of revelation, they are apt to say, who can tell but all may be deceived? And if men can be mistaken with regard to so important a point as the time of the coming of the Son of God, and the end of the world, what certainty can there be that such an event will take place at any time?” HST August 16, 1841, page 74.7
In this passage he again shows his ignorance of men, and of the effects of Mr. Miller’s preaching. If his argument was sound, there never could be any preaching, until men could be so perfect as not to be grossly deceived Does he not know that men disagree on almost every point in theology? All cannot be right, and if men can be mistaken on so important a point as the word of God, what certainty can there be that there is any word of God? Poor logic this. Let me tell you, Mr. Editor, “The children of this world are wiser,” than our editor at any rate. No one will ever use an argument so silly—“If one man can be deceived, who can tell but all may be deceived?” Sure enough, who can tell? What an all powerful question? Why, Sir, if I believed in nullification I should think the whole word of God was nullified by this question. Who dare preach or believe any thing after this? Alas, poor frail man. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.8
“And this is not all. Men are ever ready to grasp at the shadow, and let go the substance. Speculations, especially when such come recommended by the charms of novelty, are apt to usurp the place of the more substantial though more common place lessons of truth. And it is even wonderful to see how such speculations often times involving the grossest absurdities, will engross the attention, and captivate the imaginations of men. Without going further back, we may mention, as examples of this, the delusion of the infatuated followers of Matthews, a few years ago in the city of New York, and the present surprising increase and prosperity of the Mormons in the West. Whatever has a tendency thus to captivate the minds of men, and to fill them with the idle speculations of theorists and enthusiasts, to the exclusion of the weighter matters of reason and religion, must, in our opinion, do harm,“ HST August 16, 1841, page 74.9
If the editor, in this paragraph, meant to apply his remarks to the writings of Mr. Miller or others in the Signs of the Times, on the second coming of Christ, we ask him to come out boldly and confute our theory by Bible, or take to himself the passage in 2 Peter 3:3-5. Matthew 24:48-51. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.10
“Besides, this is emphatically an age of innovation, division, and partisan strife. It is true, we have not so much of this at the South, as they have at the North. We have here neither Abolitionists, nor Anti-governmentists, nor; Mormons, nor Millerites, at least so far as we know; and we certainly want none of either. It is, therefore, our impression, that we cannot be greatly indebted to those who may labor to propagate any of these new fangled systems or theories among us.” HST August 16, 1841, page 74.11
True, Mr. Editor, you have not so much liberty of thinking, or of acting, in the South as we have in the North. And there are good reasons why it is so. Here every man can set under his own vine and fig-tree, and none to molest or make him afraid. There, he is under the proscription of the ‘lords over God’s heritage’ as it is evident in the case of our editor and his agent. If our editor is satisfied with his ignorance of our theories in the North, it is my impression that if he had been a man of good manners, he would have treated the subject with more candor, and not have stated false facts, and then made his sarcastic and foolish remarks. If this editor is a sample of southern piety, or eve gentility, I must confess I have been deceived in the character of our baptist brethren in the South. HST August 16, 1841, page 74.12
“After having said this much, however, we are entirely willing that the aforesaid Signs of the Times should stand on its own merits. We enter no proscription against it. If our people shall consider it worthy of their patronage let them support and circulate it. But it is no part of our arrangements that any agent of ours, and especially such as may be in our exclusive employ, shall be occupied in its circulation.” HST August 16, 1841, page 75.1
“We enter no proscription against it.” How merciful, how kind! What, spare us after all—this little “bi-weekly concern,” is not proscribed gracious man, we thank thee. What benevolence? Who can doubt the magninimity of the Editor of the Raleigh N. C. Recorder and Watchman now? “Enter no proscription.” What think you now, ye brethren of the North? Here is mercy in abundance. Why looked you upon us as devoted to destruction, by a bull from the Vatican of Raleigh N. C. We are spared—we are spared—“no proscription.” Wonder if he will spare his agent, poor man! Oh be merciful to him, kind Sir, he may yet teach you the way of the Lord more perfectly. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.2
THEORY OF TYPES, No. 4
Harmony of Church Chronology.—Continued
Brother Himes—According to my theory, the consummation, or resurrection of saints, must be in the year 1846, answering to A. M. 5957, which lacks 43 years of 6000. In other words, there must be 6000 years from an era 43 years before Adam to the year 1846. The main object of the present number, will be, to offer some of the principal arguments in support of the position, that from the beginning of the creation of the world to the creation of Adam, there must have been 43 years. In pursuance of this object, I shall have recourse, partly to the doctrine of types, partly to the harmony of Chronology, and partly to arguments drawn from other sources. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.3
Of these 43 years, 42 can certainly be obtained, analogically: that is, by supposing each of the six days of creation to have been 7 years, and by assuming, in agreement with Scripture, that Adam was created at the end of the sixth day. It has been the opinion of many theologians and philosophers, that the seven days of the week of creation might have been years, or even hundreds or thousands of years. The week of days can as easily be deduced from the Jubilee, or 7 sabbatisms, of 7 years each, as the 7 sabbatisms can be deduced from the week of days. For there is no more difficulty in deriving the week of seven years from the week of seven times seven years, or in deriving the week of 7 days from the week of seven years, than there is in the contrary process. If “one day with the Lord is as a thousand years,” one day with the Lord may be also as seven years. In the 70 weeks of Daniel, every day was a year; and in the Jubilee of 49 years, seven years were a day. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.4
In order, however, to complete the 43 years, one year must be added to the 42. And here it may be remarked, that this one year, during which, by hypothesis, “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,” may correspond to the period of divine conception; concerning which it was said to Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” But, according to my theory, the beginning of the 6 days’ work of creation was a type of the begiuning of the second temple. For, between these two events there were 49 generations of years. And as the Jews began to build the second temple about eleven months, or almost 1 year after the proclamation of Cyrus, B. C. 537; and as, according to this doctrine of types, every generation, from the time of this proclamation to the birth of Christ, was about 48, or was almost 50 years; it follows, that this almost one year, both in its duration, and as a preparation for building the temple, was the anti-type of the one year before the beginning of the six days. This one year might therefore have been the period “when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” The argument from the doctrine of types will be further developed in my selection of calculated anti-types. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.5
My next argument is drawn from the harmony of chronology. In order to complete this argument, I have, with much labor, examined the links, or all the divisions, of about 500 chains or periods, extending from one leading event to another, in the ancient, the Jewish, and the christian churches. And the result is found to be, that there is indeed a chronological harmony. Let it be understood, that by a chronological harmony, I mean an harmony consisting in the relatively frequent occurrence of certain numbers, as links of chains, connecting the most important events. For example—I consider the number 7 to be harmonic; because, among other reasons, so many more of the above chains or periods are multiples of 7, than are multiples of 6 or 8. It is an obvious, and a striking evidence of a chronological harmony, that the period of 40 years is found so often in the Scriptures; and that more than half the ages of the 21 patriarchs from Adam to Isaac inclusive, are multiples of the number 5. If it was not by mere chance, that Saul, David, and Solomon—three kings in immediate succession—reigned each of them 40 years; why should there not be other harmonious periods? (25 Granting the reality of a chronological harmony, our natural expectation would be, to find it constituted, at least in part, by the number 7, on account of its frequent occurrence in the Scriptures; and especially, by reason of its occurring in the week of days, the week of years, the Jubilee, and the week of creation. And this expectation is discovered, by trial, to be well founded. Admitting, likewise, the number to be harmonic—in other words, supposing it not owing to chance, that so many periods are multiples of 7; analogy would lead us to conclude, that there must be other harmonic numbers—such, especially, as 4—2,—49, and 50. Accordingly, these three other numbers, with several more—of which I shall here notice, in particular, none but the number 43—are found to be indeed harmonic. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.6
In order to prove that 7, 4, 2, 43, 49 and 50, are actually harmonic numbers, I have examined the links of 290 chains, connecting leading events and eras in the churches, from an epoch 43 years before Adam, to the birth of Christ. The following are these events and eras, and their dates: HST August 16, 1841, page 75.7
The three first eras are those of the creation of Adam, and the beginning of the 42 and 43 years before that event. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.8
| Supposed end of the week of creation, A. M. | 7 |
| Birth of Seth, | 130 |
| Translation of Enoch, | 987 |
| Beginning of the flood, | 1656 |
| End of the flood, | 1657 |
| Birth of Nahor, 26 | 1849 |
| Calling of Abram, | 2082 |
| Birth of Isaac, | 2107 |
| Exodus, | 2512 |
| Erection of the Tabernacle, | 2513 |
| Entering into Canaan, | 2552 |
| Beginning of Soloman’s Temple, | 3100 |
| Completion of Solomon’s Temple, | 3108 |
| Beginning of Babylonish captivity, | 3505 |
| Proclamation for building the 2nd Temple, | 3575 |
| Beginning of Daniel’s 70 weeks, | 3654 |
| Birth of Christ, | 4107 |
The period between every two eras in the above list, I consider to be a chain, connecting those two eras; so that the whole number of chains is 190. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.9
The number 7 forms the links of 42 of these chains. In other words, 42 of the 190 chains are multiples of 7, or divisible by 7, without a remainder; and this proves the number 7 to be truly harmonic. For as the 7th part of this 190 is but 27; it follows, that, according to the doctrine of chances—were there no chronological harmony,—the number 7 would form the links of only about 27, instead of 42 of these chains. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.10
Of the 190 chains, 90 are multiples of 2:58 are multiples of 3;39, of 4;50, of 5;28, of 6;42, of 7;20, of 8;18, of 9;24, of 10;11, of 11;12, of 12;13, of 9; and 24 chains are multiples of 14. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.11
As the 43rd part of 190 is between 4 and 5; were there no chronological harmony, the number 43 might be expected to compose the links of only about 4 or 5 chains. But this number 43 is proved to be harmonic, by in fact composing the links of as many as 11 different chains, all of which are multiples of 43. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.12
The numbers 42, 49, and 59, must likewise be harmonic. For 10 chains are multiples of 42;6 are multiples of 49; and 12 are multiples of 50. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.13
Of the 190 chains, 3 are multiples of 36;6, of 37;2, of 38;5, of 30;4, of 40;3, of 11;10, of 42;11, of 43;4, of 44;4, of 45:3, of 46;2, of 47;2, of 48;6, of 49; and 12 are multiples of 50. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.14
Some of my readers will, perhaps, attribute this apparent harmony, or this frequent recurrence of the Numbers 7:42, 43, 49, and 50 to my own hypothetical dates, or periods. In reply to such an objection, I have only room to say, that I am satisfied, from examination, that after all reasonable abatement, on account of these hypothetical dates and periods;—not less than 38 chains would be multiples of 7;10, of 42;9, of 43;4, of 49; and not less than 9 would be multiples of 50: so that the Numbers 7:42, 43, and 50, would still be strikingly harmonic. The harmony which would remain after this abatement, is therefore a strong argument in favor of the correctness of these hypothetical dates and periods; which, in proportion as they are actually correct, can require no abatement in the harmony whatever. HST August 16, 1841, page 75.15
Having thus proved, that there is a chronological harmony, the chief question is—how can this harmony be rendered available, for determining, with greater certainty the time of the birth of Christ, and the dates of some of the most important events, happening before the Christian era? I answer, HST August 16, 1841, page 76.1
1. One proof, as already intimated, that the dates of these events are correctly assigned in my chronology, is, that according to this chronology, so many of the periods are multiples of 7, 42, 43, 49, and 50. And here, in support of my position, that there were, in fact, 43 years before Adam, it is worthy of special notice, that the numbers 7, 42, 43, 49, and 50, are not only all of them harmonic, but are all of them naturally derived from the 50 years between the beginning of creation and the end of the seventh day. Thus: the 7th day of the week of creation was 7 years; the 6 days of creation were 42 years; previous to Adam, there were 43 years; the 7 days of the week of creation were 49 years; and the sum of the 43 years, and the 7 years of the 7th day, is 50 years. 27 But as further evidence, that in the different chains which are multiples of 43, this link must be derived from 43 years previous to Adam; I shall show, in my next communication—in which I shall exhibit some results of an examination of 285 chains, connecting leading events in the Christian church—that in such of these chains as are multiples of the number 37, which is found to be strikingly harmonic—this link, or 37 years is naturally derived from the period of our Savior’s life, or 37 years, previous to his death. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.2
2. I conceive, that in general, the dates of leading events and eras can be determined with still more certainty, by the meeting together of two, three, or more harmonious chains, in the same point of time. This concurrence of chains may be exemplified as follows: HST August 16, 1841, page 76.3
The birth of Isaac, instead of A. M. “2108,” must have been A. M. 2107; because, allowing this to have been the case, there must not only have been 43 times 49 years from the creation of Adam to the birth of Isaac, and 43 times 50 years between his birth and an era 43 years before Adam—but from the end of the flood to the birth of Isaac, there must have been 9 times 50 years. Again, the birth of Christ—which, independently of any chronological harmony, may be shown to have been, at least probably, about A. M. 4107—must have been A. M. 4107; because, admitting this to have been the fact, our Savior must have been born 2000 [or 40 times 50] years later than Isaac—49 times 50 years after the end of the flood—57 times 43 years after the beginning of the flood—and 3 times 37 times 37 years from the creation of Adam. Lastly, I would invite the special attention of the reader to the circumstance, that by a similar argument we can establish my three hypothetical eras, respectively coinciding with the beginning of the 43 years, and the beginning and the end of the week of creation. This I have, in fact, already done, in my published article on the Jubilees and. Sabbatical years; from which communication it appears, that there are 5 chains meeting in the first of these three eras—28 3 meeting in the second—29 and 5, in the third. Of the present argument, the following is the amount;—that this meeting of two, three, or more chains, whose links are evidently harmonic numbers, cannot be the result of chance; or that two, three, or more of such chains, would be very unlikely to meet each other in a merely imaginary, or falsely dated era. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.4
After my next, or concluding number on chronology, it is my intention to offer a selection of calculated anti-types, which will probably occupy not less than two numbers more. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.5
Yours for the truth,
E. B. K.
Note. Since the above article was written, I have concluded to date the beginning of the Babylonish captivity, “B. C. 607,” instead of “B. C. 606;” and, consequently, to date the proclamation of Cyrus,, (at the end of the captivity,) B. C. 537, instead of “B. C. 536.” By this alteration of dates, there will be—as in one of Mr. Miller’s chronological tables—49 times 50 years from the beginning of the Babylonish captivity, to the second coming of Christ in 1843; also, there will be 13 times 49 years from the beginning of the Babylonish captivity to the first coming of Christ, A. D. 30: and in addition to brother Miller’s 49 times 50 years, I shall still have 49 times 50 years from the end of the flood to the birth of Christ. I have concluded, likewise, to add another leading era to those connected by the 190 chains: viz. the prophetic era at which Jerusalem was finished, “B. C. 457.” HST August 16, 1841, page 76.6
In consequence of these alterations, I have now 210, instead of 190 chains. And of these 210 chains or periods, 52 are multiples of 7; 13, of 42; 10 or 11, of 43; 7, of 49; and 13 are multiples of 50. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.7
Yours in the hope of the gospel,
E. B. K.
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINE
What is necessary in order to meet the Lord in Peace?
I—Luke 21:36, instructs the believer in Jesus to
1. Watch and
2. Pray always:
That ye may be
(1) accounted worthy to escape, and to
(2) Stand before the Son of Man.
1. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love,
(1) one toward another, and
(2) toward all men.
To the end he may
2. Stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness.
III. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.8
1. Rejoice evermore.
2. Pray without ceasing.
3. In every thing give thanks.
4. Quench not the Spirit.
5. Despise not prophesyings.
6. Prove all things.
7. Hold fast that which is good.
8. Abstain from all appearances of evil.
To the end ye be
(1) Sanctified wholly, and your whole
(a) Spirit, and
(b) Soul, and
(c) Body, be
(2) Preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
IV. Titus 2:11-13.
1. The grace of God which
(1) bringeth salvation to all men
(2) hath appeared:
Teaching us that, denying
(1) ungodliness, and
(2) worldly lusts, we should
3. Live
(1) soberly,
(2) righteously, and
(3) godly, in the present world,
4. Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
V. 1 John 2:28, 29; 3:1-3.
1. Abide in Christ; that, when he shall appear we may have
(1) Confidence, and
(2) Not be ashamed before him,
2. Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
3. Behold what manner of love in being called sons of God.
4. The world knoweth us not.
5. Now the sons of God
6. Not appearing what we shall be,
7. But knowing that when he shall appear, we shall be
(1) like him, and
(2) see him as he is.
8. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.
VI. 2 Peter 3:10-14
1. Seeing all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be
(1) In all holy conversation and
(2) Godliness.
2. Looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.
3. Looking according to the promise of God, for new heavens and a new earth.
4. Seeing ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye maybe
(1) found of him in peace
(2) without spot, and
(3) blameless.
IDOLATRY OF POPERY
At the late anniversary of the British “Reformation” Society, the Report stated that in one place the committee record the names of nine individuals rescued from the Papacy and brought to Jesus; in another, two; in another, six; and stated the case of a French lady who renounced Popery, after reading their report of a sermon preached for the Society last year. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.9
In the proceedings of this Society one of the speakers made a powerful exposure of the corruptions of the Church of Rome, drawing from Cardinal Bonaventura’s Psalter an appalling picture of the idolatry of that fallen church, and showing how, in that celebrated work of this canonized saint, in every instance throughout the Book of Psalms, the name of God had been expunged, and that of Mary substituted for it. And this work was not obsolete, for the tenth edition of a book of devotion, printed at Rome only four years ago, contained thirty of these identical Psalms translated into Italian, and sold and circulated at Rome for the use of the Roman Catholics. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.10
Rev. E. Bickersteth, in the course of his speech, said that he had the most perfect conviction that Popery was the predicted apostacy, and that the Pope was “the Man of Sin,” and that he was no true churchman who denied that the Pope was the anti-christ of Scripture. Ridley had asserted the same conviction before he died and he (Mr. B.) did not wonder at the Papists denouncing, as they did, and depreciating our Reformers and our Latimers, and rejecting our Homilies, in which the name of anti-christ is also given to the Pope. He did not say that Popery might not for a time put on the mask—Judas did the same; but at last he unmasked himself, and appeared in all his natural deformity, and sold his master for what he considered an adequate bribe; and he had no doubt whatever that Popery would eventually appear openly as anti-christ, when they would see the Lord in the fulness of his glory destroy him, and put him down. Again, the open idolatry of Rome showed that they ought to sympathize with the truth. They saw Romanism bow down before an image with open idolatry; and if the beloved monarch of these realms was obliged in her coronation oath, to call Popery idolatry, why, you would ask, should they mince the matter? He would call Popery, then, an idolatrous creed.—N. Y. Obs. HST August 16, 1841, page 76.11
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
BOSTON, AUG. 16, 1841.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
This phrase has been so variously interpreted by modern commentators and theologians, that it is at present completely enveloped in thick darkness, in the minds of the great mass of the community. We are sometimes told it means one thing, sometimes another, but yet there are scarcely two places where it occurs that have a uniform interpretation. Sometimes it is said to mean the spiritual reign of Christ in the believer’s heart: again, that it is the gospel dispensation beginning with John the Baptist, or the day of Pentecost; or yet, that it means a thousand years of the universal spiritual reign of Christ on earth, for a thousand years, before his final coming. And, finally, we are told, it is the kingdom of God’s glory in heaven where saints and angels behold his face and do his pleasure. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.1
But it can hardly be possible that a term on which the inspired penmen have been accustomed to lay so much stress, can admit of such a variety of signification; it must have a determinate and uniform meaning. But is there any means by which the true import of the term can be learned, or any rule by which it may be uniformly interpreted in accordance with that import? This we will attempt to establish. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.2
1. The true import of the term “Kingdom of God.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.3
Luke 9:27 and onward. “But I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shall not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God.” This promise is perfectly clear and strong; and if Christ’s promise was fulfilled it took place even so. But when did it take place? The Evangelist goes on to tell us, “about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took Peter, John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray; and as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was changed, and his raiment was white and glistening.” This was an exhibition of the King in his beauty and glory. He had put on his robes of glory and immortality, for the occasion to present to the three witnessess a sight of it, nor can he ever be more glorious than then. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.4
But in a kingdom, there is not only a king, but there must be subjects also. So here, “there appeared” with the glorious king “two men, which were Moses and Elias,” not in their mortal bodies, but they “appeared in glory,” like their glorified king, as will all the saints at the appearing of Christ. Moses was from the dead, the representative of those who sleep in Jesus, and shall at the voice of the arch-angel come forth and put on immortality and glory. The other was Elias, who never tasted death, but was borne away from a world of sin, in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind to the Paradise of God: the representative of those who shall not sleep, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the appearing of Christ, and be caught up with the risen saints to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall they ever be with the Lord. Such, then, are to be the subjects of the kingdom of God, glorified saints, both dead and living, when Christ appears in glory. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.5
A kingdom also implies a place of state or pomp, and splendor as the abode of the king and his nobles, and especially where he holds his court. So on this occasion, “a bright cloud overshadowed them, and they feared as they entered into the cloud.” This cloud, Peter informs us, 2 Epis. 1st chapter, was “excellent glory,” “heaven” In this cloud of excellent glory, the whole company were enveloped. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.6
Again the King was honored; “For he received from God the Father honor and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.7
Finally; Peter testifies, “We were eye-witnesses of his majesty.” Majesty pertains to kings and kingly authority and glory. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.8
This exhibition of the kingdom of God promised by Christ to some of his disciples before death, was not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, nor yet at the destruction of Jerusalem; it was neither the kingdom of Christ in the believer’s heart, nor yet the gospel dispensation in whole, or in part, but Christ’s glorified reign over his saints, “at his appearing and his kingdom.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.9
If we ever mean to inherit this kingdom we must be converted and become as little children, or we can in no case enter into that kingdom. Let men lay this to heart, and try their hopes and examine their foundation on which they build. With out holiness no man shall see the Lord. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.10
The subject will be continued in our next. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.11
Will The Doctrine of the Kingdom of God at hand be generally believed before it comes? This question is often asked. The Bible seems to teach that the servants of God will understand it; but that the world will not. “None of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.12
But according to our Lord’s teaching, only one half of the virgins, professed children of God, will be of that character, “Wise.” The fate of the foolish is dreadful: when they at last awake and go to buy oil, the Lord comes, they that are ready go in, and the door is shut. Then the foolish virgins knock in vain for admittance. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.13
It will not meet the case to say, although I do not trouble myself about Christ’s return, yet I mean to be ready wheneer he does come. How shall we determine whether we are of that character, who will go in except by scripture rules? The wise only will go in. But the Bible declares absolutely, “the wise SHALL understand.” Without understanding, then, what certainty can we have that we are or shall be ready? Reader, search the scriptures, for they testify of these things. Trim your lamp and supply yourself with oil. Watch, that when he cometh you may open to him immediately. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.14
Prayer. We fear there is altogether a lack in this duty. “Watch ye and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things, & stand before the Son of man.” But who lays this injunction of the Savior to heart as they should? What a small proportion of the professed children of God come up to this duty in the spirit of this direction! Instead of an habitual spirit of watchfulness, how much worldly-mindedness fills the church! What eagerness for worldly glory and sensual enjoyments! The mind suffered to rove, and light on every subject but the near coming of Christ to judgment. And where is that holy breathing out of the same to God which the Scriptures enjoin so often and earnestly, and which is so necessary to the maintaining vital godliness in the soul. And yet what duty so delightful and refreshing as communion with God. O Christian, pray, pray, PRAY. Like Jacob, wrestle with God and you shall prevail and be called “Israel.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.15
“The Exciting Subject!! This is the caption of an article by Eld. Elijah Shaw, (seinor editor of the Christian Herald) contained in the Herald of Aug. 5. Several articles have preceded it on the same “exciting subject;” and we understand several more are to be inflicted. We merely advertise the fact now, for the purpose of saying to the readers of the “Signs of the Times,” that they will be made acquainted in due time with the results of Bro. Shaw’s excitement, arising from the progress of the doctine of the near approach of the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are glad that he has at length come out with his real sentiments. They are nothing new to us. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.16
45 YEARS AGO. AN OLD WORK, on the advent near; by Joshua Spaulding, Salem. We became acquainted with this work two years since; and some time since resolved to publish it as soon as a perfect copy could be obtained. Through the kindness of a friend, we have now obtained one, and shall put it to press forthwith. It cannot fail to produce an awakening influence among the slumbering virgins. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.17
Our friend who procured the copy, by request, gives the following notice from a hasty perusal; which we think very just. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.18
“Lectures”—On the “coming and kingdom of Christ. By Joshua Spaulding, minister of the Gospel at the Tabernacle in Salem, Mass, printed Salem. 1796.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.19
This book, though 45 years old, and the very thing I have desired to see for several years, has now for the first time, just fallen into my hands for a perusal. Of course, I have read it through at once, and almost without intermission or taking my eyes from the page, though they were debilitated and poorly able to serve me so long, without a recess. I found it uncommonly edifying and instructive, rational and exceedingly Scriptural on the several particulars of the subject brought under discussion, viz. 1. “The coming of Christ. 2. Last Trumpet. 3. First Resurrection. 4. Battle of the great day. 5. Kingdom of Christ. 6. Restitution of all things. 7. New heavens and new earth 8. New Jerusalem. 9. Gog and Magog.” HST August 16, 1841, page 77.20
The writer proves most clearly, by very many of the Old and New Testament parallel prophecies, that these several momentous events are yet future, and to be witnessed together (except the last,) when the “Lord himself shall descend from heaven” to earth with his whole kingdom, or “Jerusalem which is above,” at the consummation, or end of the world. Without setting a time, he considers all these things to be actually “at hand; “and proves them to be quite too near to admit of any millennium, or “spiritual” reign of Christ on earth a thousand years, in this old world first. HST August 16, 1841, page 77.21
Though his theory includes the removal of the natural Jews to Palestine before Christ’s coming; and also the resurrection and judgment of the wicked or “Gog and Magog,” a thousand years after that of the righteous, which is different from my own understanding of these points; the discrepancy as he handles it, appears of minor importance, and not to be seriously controverted. It is said by those yet alive, who personally knew this author, who has long rested from his labors, that he was eminently spiritual, in a daily life of “all holy conversation and godliness,” corresponding with his faithful preaching of “Jesus and the resurrection” “at hand.” HST August 16, 1841, page 78.1
Having providentially just found another copy of this book, apparently overlooked in the “gross darkness” of near half a century, I am led to the conclusion, that probably there are hundreds more of the same book scattered in the community equally under darkness and unknown, which if now looked up and examined, would do much in raising the foretold “midnight cry;” and in satisfying the many and increasing number of inquiries on this subject, that the late common theory of a millennium without Christ personally to reign in it, and without the saint’s resurrection, is a human tradition, and of modern popularity, which will in no wise prevent the now speedy coming of the Son of man himself and his kingdom to reign on earth, (there to be renewed and glorious,) forever with all his saints and they with him, with their enemies finally cast out, etc, where “their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched.” HST August 16, 1841, page 78.2
Jones.
New York, Aug. 9, 1841.
AN APPEAL
To the Friends of the Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.3
Dear Brethren,— HST August 16, 1841, page 78.4
The “Signs of the Times,” has now reached the 10th No. of Vol. II., and may be considered as permanently established for as long a period as it may be needed. Thus far it has been sustained beyond even the most sanguine expectations of the originators of the enterprise; so much so, that the question may be considered as fairly settled, that the public demand such a publication. And we have daily evidence that the paper is appreciated and read with interest and profit. We learn, also, that very many who would be glad to read on the subject, have no knowledge of its existence. We have therefore thought it advisable to make an effort to spread the fact before the public of the existence of such a paper, that those who wish to do so, may have the benefit of it. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.5
Will you, dear brethren, lend us your aid in this work? will you have the kindness to give the information to your friends, of the existence of such a periodical, when and where it is published, and also the conditions? and if it will not be asking too much of you, we would respectfully request you to act as agent for us, in obtaining subscribers and recieving and forwarding the payment. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.6
We assure you, that you need have no fears for the evangelical character of the paper: It will be sound to the core. It has not been started as a competitor of any paper in existence, nor yet for the purpose of assailing any of the institutions of the Christian Church. We have one work before us; that work is to make men wiser and better; we aim at doing this by a plain and faithful presentation and illustration of some of the most thrilling, and soul stiring truths of the Holy Scriptures. Our sheet is devoted mainly to the illustration of Scripture prophecy, and to chronicling the leading movements of the world which seem to have a bearing on the fulfillment of prophecy. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.7
We believe the fulfillment of Prophecy and signs of the present times indicate the speedy return of the Lord Jesus Christ to our world. It is on this point especially we endeavor to obtain and disseminate light. At the same time we wish the whole tenor of the paper to be of a practical and soul-awakening and saving character. To gain this end, we pledgd ourselves as the servants of Christ and his Church, to labor, study and pray, that we may be able to give to every one a portion in due season. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.8
In doing this we have no sectarian purposes to subserve, although we are not destitute of our own peculiar denominational opinions. Yet, in view of the great and solemn doctrines we believe and advocate, sectarian feelings dwindle away into insignificance. We have no time to spend in fostering and keeping them alive. It shall, by the grace of God, be our one object, to the extent of our influence, to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. If we obtain this point, it is enough. We believe it to be of infinite importance that the world should be aroused from their lethargy to a preparation to meet God in judgment. No consideration has a more powerfully awakening influence than the thought that judgment is near. We wish the world to hear the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him,” Let the people read for themselves, and understand. Will you not assist us in our work? We should be happy, had we the means of doing so, to supply you, as well as the clergy generally, gratuitously with our little sheet; but these means we have not at present. We therefore make the following proposition:—For four paying subscribers, with the pay in advance, you shall have the fifth copy gratis for the present year, and we will allow you twenty cents on each subscriber above that number. If you cannot obtain that number, send on what you can obtain. Back numbers will be furnished to make the volume complete. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.9
We are, dear brother,
Your humble servants,
in the Gospel,
JOSHUA V. HIMES,
JOSIAH LITCH, Editors.
Boston, Aug. 15, 1841. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.10
Books for Subscribers and Donors. The committee of publication have established a depository of publications on the second advent, 130 Court St. William Clark has the care of them. Subscribers may send, or call and get the amount of their subscriptions, or they will signify their wish, where they will have their publications circulated; and the committee will be happy to comply with their wishes. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.11
The Second Report is not yet out. It will be ready for delivery the first of Sept. Price 20 cents to subscribers. On sale to others 25 cents. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.12
READ THIS
Idiots in New Jersey. We learn, with regret, that in New Jersey the silly and contemptible humbug, Mormonism, has obtained a strong foot-hold. Some clergymen are said to have embraced it; but they are probably of the same calibre, as one ‘Rev.’ J. V. Himes who once embraced the fooleries of the mountebank prophet, Miller, in this State, men without brains or education.—Boston Daily Times, Aug. 10, 1841. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.13
‘Justice’ is informed that we have nothing to take back in regard to the person to whom he refers. The fellow Miller, was a knave or ass, and any Christian minister who could muster effrontery to give him countenance, or to endorse his pretended belief, in our opinion is not entitled to any degree of courtesy or respect. If the friends of ‘Rev.’ Mr. H. contend that that person believed the prophecies of the charlatan, so much the worse. If he has such a melancholy lack of intellect, he is unfit for any office in the church. Mormonism is much more creditable and respectable than Millerism.—Ib. Aug. 11, 1841. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.14
AND THIS
12. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption: HST August 16, 1841, page 78.15
13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.16
14. Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practises: cursed children: HST August 16, 1841, page 78.17
15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; HST August 16, 1841, page 78.18
16. But was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb ass, speaking with man’s voice, forbade the madness of the prophet. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.19
CORRESPONDENCE
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A. D. SNOW
Dear Bro. Himes:—Although personally a stranger, I crave the permission to address you under the courtesy of that liberal rule which originated in the highest authority and wisdom, without the tedious formalities of introduction. Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 2:11. HST August 16, 1841, page 78.20
I bless God for calling the attention of any of his people, “in these last days,” to the important subject of the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I congratulate, especially, all the lovers of his “glorious appearing,” on the high and holy prospects that lie before them—and now, that the blessings promised at the time of the consummation—yea, the consummation itself, is “near, even at the doors.” That this event, so big with importance to every human being, will take place, is as abundantly proved by the Bible, as the fact that he did come once, “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself,” it is infidelity to deny. Deny?—who wants to deny it, but an infidel? Does the Christian? O no! He prays with all his soul, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.” O! I pity that man, who, instead of loving and “looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,” is the victim of “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries”! Titus 2:13. Hebrews 10:27. What a doleful contrast! Truly may w exclaim with Daniel, on another occasion, “O my Lord, what shall be the end of these wonders?” HST August 16, 1841, page 78.21
The manner, object and consequences at least of the two advents, are equally obvious. And why not the time? True, we do not all agree in making it mathemathically definite. But our glorious Leader and Lord has given us certain definite “signs of the times,” whereby we ma] know that it is near, “even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33. [By the way I rejoice in the establishment of such an echo of those prelusive events, as your paper, “The Signs of the Times,” constitutes, and pray, that grace and wisdom from above may be given, you for the discharge of the duties which its publication involves.] Again “And when these things begin to come to pass then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28. O, alas, alas! for our high hopes, and glorious anticipations—as Christians—of “entering into that rest”—of being regaled with cheering draughts from the “pure river of water of life,” “the tree of life,” “the hidden manna”—of enjoying the society of an “innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and church of the first born which are written in heaven, and the spirits of just men made perfect”—of rising beyond the reach of “pain, sorrow, crying and persecution—nay, of beholding “the King in his beauty; “alas for all these, if redemption was completed at the destruction of old Jerusalem! Alas for “that blessed hope!” Alas for all human prospect of good or glory, in time or eternity! Alas for the honor of God and his Word and moral attributes! Ah! we have “a more sure word of prophecy.” Hear it: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Thank God, that promise is beyond the malice of the devil. The prospect is, that it will soon be fulfilled. The signs are abundant. The elements of the moral and political world are in deep commotion. The waters of strife are troubled. And sometimes it seems as though I could almost hear the distant mutterings of that “horrible tempest of hail, snares, fire and brimstone, which shall be the portion of the cup of the wicked; “but which is the harbinger of “glory, honor, peace and immortality to every man that worketh good, to to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.” HST August 16, 1841, page 79.1
Your duty is plain, my dear brother. While the “dumb dogs” of” watchman” around you, are “sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber,” you are to cry—“cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet.” Isaiah 58:1. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand! May God be with you, and “account us worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection of the dead.” Luke 20:35. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.2
Low Hampton July 2. 1841.
LETTER FROM S. P. GILBERT
“A Nation shall be born in a Day.”
When we look upon the rapid increase of population in the world, and then upon the increase of religion and its effects upon the mass of mind in general, we would almost give up in despair were it not for the promise that “A nation shall be born in a day.” In view of the difficulties in the way of the conversion of the world, whose heart would not faint within him, were the work depending on the efficacy and success of human means? Who would not give up the enterprise in despair? Even the hinderances to the conversion of a single soul are immense. What must they be in the regeneration of a world? We are not to look, simply, at a mass of depravity, however dark and appalling. There are systems of error and iniquity each fortified and consolidated by their appropriate defences. It is, as if the spirits of darkness had each assigned to them, a specific, a particular work, in which, with horrid rivalry, they had exhausted their mighty intellect of evil. What multitudes of men, in Christian nations, are spending their days in forming, and maturing characters, and by their example teaching others that which is at variance with the known requsition of God’s law. How deep and how dreadful are those clouds of error which rests on the minds of a majority of educated and well refined men, in reference to moral and religious subjects. How deep and how dreadful the thick darkness, the gross darkness, that rests upon those who profess to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection. Nought but the Sun of Righteousness, in the morning of the resurrection, can chase away this impenetrable gloom, which now hangs on Zion’s hill. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.3
How few of the nations of the earth are governed by the holy principles of the gospel of Christ. How few statesmen prefer the good of the whole human race, to the glory and good of their own country. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.4
But we must not despair. He that sitteth upon the throne is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” There is a mighty agency at work in the world which we do not see with our eyes. We cannot discern any form thereof, we can see no image, but tae same energy, which operates in the world of matter, operates as surely in the world of mind, He who formed mind and matter can change them both in the twinkling of an eye, when the trump shall sound and the dead in Christ shall be raised. He can then scatter the thick mists of prejudice, and the unbelief of “belivers” and reveal to the soul the perfect beauty of truth and prophecy. He the Lion to the tribe of Judah, can and will unseal the book; open the two leaved gates, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. He is with kings on their thrones—can turn their hearts as he will. The systems of heathenism, idolatry, and papacy: though grown up to heaven, “He will consume with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming.” Through all the abominations in Christian countries, He, the well spring of Life, can send forth its healing waters. The world that now liveth in wickedness under the power and dominion of satan and fallen angels, must be brought back to its original purity. It is folly to suppose that the Almighty God will compromise with Lucifer in this matter by gradually gaining ascendency and dominion over the human family. He will not make use of such cunning craftiness, but He will take unto himself dominion and power and a kingdom in a day—the day of his great power—with shortness of work will he do it. As in the days of Noe, so shall that day be. With the vividness of lighting, with the thunders of his power, and in the clouds of heaven will he come with great glory. So come Lord Jesus. Come quickly. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.5
S. P, G.
Bro. Calvin French’s letter in our next. His address is Dover, Mass. Books from Bro. Fitzwilliam are received—greatly obliged. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.6
WILLIAM H. CARTER
This individual is now passing from place to place through New England, professedly giving an account of the Shakers. But not satisfied with this work done, he has appended to it a professed refutation of Miller. Having recently heard him, on board a steamboat, we are prepared to say that he is grossly ignorant of the matter he undertakes to refute. As a sample, he informed his hearers at the outset, that Miller based his whole calculation of time on a period called 2300 days in the sixth chapter of Daniel. When told in a private interview of his mistake, he was surprised, but could not correct it, but said it was somewhere in Daniel. This is but one of the smallest of his blunders, which he made in the few minutes he spoke. He denies the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and says Christ was not raised. He admits that Christ did endeavor to make his disciples believe he was really risen, but that he deceived them, and intended so to do, We heartily concur with the following from the Puritan. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.7
ONE WAY TO GET MONEY
An individual in Shaker dress, is now about our towns, giving an account of the origin and customs of the people called Shakers. He says he lived with them five years, and left them on good terms, and now he resides in Lowell. His name he calls William H. Carter. What account the Shakers might give of him, is not known in this quarter. He does not accuse them of any improper conduct, but if his exhibition of them is true, his own standard of morals must be very low, and his views of what is “improper conduct,” exceedingly questionable. Now although the writer of this has no high opinion of the religious views of the Shakers, yet for the order and industrious habits of the several families of them in New England, he has a great respect; and to obtain money by pretending to give; an account of their views, and thereby bring them into ridicule, is certainly not very commendable. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.8
But he has another appendage to his account of the Shakers, which I think is still more exceptionable. He makes some pretence to overthrowing Mr. Miller’s views of the millennium-And he does it by throwing together a mass of figures, pretending to be calculations, in answer to Mr. Miller’s views, and in a very rapid manner repeating them, interspersed with low expressions and vulgar witticisms, producing the greatest farago of nonsense and impurity, that the public has been deceived with for many years. And under the garb of a sect of very peculiar notions, poisoning the minds of the young especially, with infidelity; and taking care of the main chance with him apparently, to fleece them of their money. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.9
Although I have no respect for Mr. Miller’s views, I have less for this man’s refutation of them; and I regard his operations as a public nuisance. Such a man, in the Shaker’s garb, abusing the Shakers, make us think of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Zeppo. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.10
FOREIGN NEWS
TURKISH EMPIRE
Latest Intelligence from the East. Extract from the British Queen of July 3, 1841. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.11
The intelligence brought us from Constantinople by private letters, state the Sultan’s health to be severely attacked. His malady is an aneurism, or determination of blood to the heart, the most unfavorable symptoms of which disease have declared themselves, and the physicians of his Highness give as their opinion, that his state is alarming, and that the most serious consequences must be expected. HST August 16, 1841, page 79.12
The present aspect of Eastern affairs renders incalculable what results might follow the death of the Sultan. Such an event may be proximate, or it may not—we are incompetent judges of such a case—but in the possibility of its taking place, we may be allowed to affirm, that Eastern affairs would be seriously influenced thereby, for we cannot suppose that so favorable an opportunity of throwing off his allegiance to the Porte would be neglected by the Pacha of Egypt, whose cause cannot but be favored by the insurrecion now almost general throughout the Ottoman empire. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.1
The same letters state that fresh forces, with artillery and ammunition, had been sent to Tahir Pacha, who hoped to crush the insurgents; but, notwithstanding his bravado, he had not as yet obtained any decisive advantage over them. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.2
Every body is aware of the proposed determination of the Powers not to take part, either way, in the quarrel between the Turks and the Greeks; but would not the death of the Sultan strengthen the cause of the liberty-longing Greeks?—an enemy the less, and that enemy, supreme, is certainly an advantage; the only question is whether they would profit by it—we think they would. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.3
As regards the relative situation at Constantinople of the Powers, the actual presence of the great armed force in the immediate vicinity would be of decided service, either for the assertion of latent claims, or for the strengthening of present plans by the continued occupation of our conquests in Syria, or by the extension of them. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.4
Extract from a correspondent of the N. Y. Observer. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.5
In the East, all is in a state of insurrection. Macedonia, Thessaly, Bulgaria, the island of Candia are in arms against the Sultan of Constantinople. The Christian population, crushed for so many ages under an iron yoke, view the moment favorable to regain their independence. The Turkish empire is becoming decomposed, and is but a mere corpse. The Divan tries indeed to escape from this ignominious political death by establishing a constitution borrowed from Christian legislation. But it is a vain and useless attempt. All the lovers of religion and liberty must wish success to the Christian population of the East. It is time that they were no longer subjected, like beasts, to the brute tyranny of the followers of Mahomet. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.6
Some political writers have expressed the desire that Palestine might become a free and independent state, and that the city of Jerusalem should be placed under the protection of the great powers of Europe. This idea has something interesting; it would realize in an honorable and permanent manner the great thought of the Crusades of the middle ages. The country where God placed his people, the country where Jesus Christ preached his doctrine, performed his miracles, and expiated by his death the sins of the world, would no longer belong to the followers of the false prophet. Christians would be masters in the holy city; they would not see a stupid and ferocious janissary treading under foot the place consecrated by the agony of the Lord. But this plan is yet only the Utopia of some political writers; if it should grow to any thing, I will recur to it in a future letter. X. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.7
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
BOSTON, AUG. 16, 1841.
THE NEXT CONFERENCE, October 2, 1841
Will be held in Maine. The place and arrangements will be left with Eld. Bridges, of Dexter, and his associates, who will give notice in our next paper. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.8
ANOTHER SESSION
Will be held in Low Hampton, in the Baptist Church, commencing Nov.12, 1841. Due notice will be given hereafter. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.9
LITERARY NOTICE
Address to the Public, and especially the Clergy, on the near approach of the glorious, everlasting kingdom of God on earth: as indicated by the word of God, the history of the world and the signs of the present times. By Rev. J. Litch, author of “Review of Miller,” “Christ’s Second Coming about A. D. 1843,” etc. 107 Hanover St. Boston. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.10
The above work is a new and enlarged edition Of the Address to the Clergy, etc. published last year, and already favorably known to the Christian public. The author takes the same view with Mr. Miller on all the leading points of his theory, agreeing with him in his views of the meaning and fulfilment of prophetic periods, and the nature of the events of futurity. Yet, notwithstanding this agreement in doctrine and views, he has adopted such a course of reasoning, and presents such facts, as to render the work both deeply interesting and instructive to those even, who have read all the works of Mr. Miller. The work is designed as a condensed and consecutive view of the whole theory of the kingdom of God on earth, the time of its coming, and the principal arguments by which those points are sustained. The work has now been before the public more than a year, and has been read by thousands with profit, and few have arisen from the candid perusal of this book without being prepared to acknowledge that it is written with great candor, fairness and strength of argument: and very many have been entirely convinced of the unsoundness of their former views of the prophecies, the anticipated restoration of the Jews, and the spiritual reign of Christ on earth for a thousand years. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.11
The work possesses one peculiar excellence; it is short, perspicuous and comprehensive. There are few persons who may not find means to obtain, and time to read the book. Those who feel interested in the spread of the doctrine cannot do better than to circulate this little work among their friends. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.12
The article on the Ottomon empire is not in the works of any other auther: this work contains the substance of the original calculation on the time of the fall of the Ottoman empire, and the present edition presents the evidence of the exact fulfilment of the calculation on the 11th of August, 1840. This one article is worth the whole price of the book. It will be seen by the following notices in what estimation the work is held by several clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.13
Extract of a Letter from Rev. John A. Sillick, of the N. Y. Conference. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.14
To Rev. J. Litch.—“Since last year I have been a subscriber to the Literalist, which I have read with great interest, and from which I have received much interesting light and information. The idea of the personal appearance and reign of Christ with all his saints upon this earth was new and enrapturing. I was convinced, from a fair investigation of the subject, that my former views had been traditional rather than scriptural. Though I was much pleased with the general views set forth in the Literalist, yet there were many things which I could not subscribe too. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.15
Your little work gave me a more clear, and, I think, scriptural view of the subject. I think it must strike the mind of every candid reader with the force of truth. Whether you are correct in fixing the dates of the prophetic time, will soon be determined. At any rate, if the general theory is correct, the time is near, even at the door; and it becomes us to sound the midnight cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh. The more I examine the prophecies and compare these prophetic periods with history, the more I am convinced that you are not far out of the way.” HST August 16, 1841, page 80.16
LIGHT! LIGHT!! LIGHT!!!
Books on the Second Advent.
Friends at a distance who are anxious to read these works, but heretofore have found it difficult to obtain them, are hereby informed that Books and publications, of all kinds, have been deposited in the following places. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.17
Maine.
East Corinth, John Ewer, Agent.
Bangor, R. Tylor, Agent.
Portland, John Pierson, Agent.
Wolwich, Samuel Fulerton, Agent.
East St. Albans, Charles B. Smith, Agent.
HST August 16, 1841, page 80.18
New Hampshire.
Exeter, A. R. Brown, Agent.
Portsmouth, T. F. Barry, Agent.
HST August 16, 1841, page 80.19
New York.
Low Hampton, Wm. S. Miller, Agent. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.20
Canada.
Dr. James Lull’ Agent. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.21
Agents in other places will be noticed in out next. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.22
New Work. A view on a literal construction of the Prophecies of the kingdom of our Lord and his saints now about to be revealed. By a Student of Prophecy. The sentiments of the English Literalists are advocated in this work. Price 25 cents. For sale at this office. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.23
The subscriptions and donations are now wanted, to purchase paper, etc. Will the friends be so kind as to forward their money without delay. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.24
An account of the distribution of publications in this, and other lands, since the Conference, will be given in our next. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.25
RECEPTS FOR REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS
| Brought over, | 235,54 |
| C. Kilton, | 7,00 |
| Henry Jones, | 10,00 |
| P. Newhall, | 5,00 |
| A Friend, | 25,00 |
| Stephen Goodhue, | 20,00 |
| T. F. Barry, | 5,00 |
| L. White, | 25,00 |
| 332,54 |
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Is published on the 1st and 15th of each month, at the Bookstore of MOSES A, DOW, 107 Hanover st. next door to Hancock School Home. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.26
Joshua V. Himes, Josiah Litch, Editors. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.27
Terms.—One Dollar a year, payable in advance. 6 copies for five dollars, 13 copies for ten dollars. All communications should be directed to the Editor, post paid. HST August 16, 1841, page 80.28