The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

V. Wolff Proclaims Advent Faith to American Congress

One of the most intriguing characters from abroad ever to address the assembled Congress of the United States was JOSEPH WOLFF (1795-1862), world traveler, linguist, and missionary herald of the second advent. ⁷⁰ Of Jewish birth, Catholic education, Protestant Episcopal persuasion, and naturalized British citizenship, he was a student of prophecy and representative of the London Society to Promote Christianity among the Jews. His fame as a missionary for eighteen years on three continents had preceded him, and he spoke to crowded gatherings during his short stay in this country, including addresses to the legislatures of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His was another unique and penetrating voice in the far-flung ministerial chorus of heralds of the approaching second advent of Christ, as based on prophetic time calculations. PFF4 323.4

Along with the standard views of the four world powers of Daniel 2 and 7, with the kingdom of God soon to be established at the destruction of the papal Antichrist, he taught Christ’s second advent in 1847, according to the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 the cleansing of the sanctuary at the close of the 2300 year-days, which period he believed would end in 1847. ⁷¹ Coupled with this, he stressed the signs of the last times. And this he heralded everywhere to Jew, Bedouin, and Christian alike, including his American audiences. PFF4 324.1

Ex-President John Quincy Adams, then in the House of Representatives, upon whose motion the hall was opened to Wolff in 1837, called him “one of the most remarkable men living,” ⁷² and declared an earlier address of Wolff to be one of the most “profound, closely-reasoned, and convincing” to which he had ever listened. ⁷³ PFF4 324.2

“Joseph Wolff, Missionary to all the Nations,” ⁷⁴ as he signed himself, declared his faith not only to Congress and the clergy of Washington, but also in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, proclaiming “the coming glory, and personal reign of Jesus Christ, upon the throne of His father David, ... His humiliation upon Calvary, and His future glory at Jerusalem, when His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives.” ⁷⁵ PFF4 325.1

Joseph Wolff’s colorful life and work received much space in Israel’s Advocate ⁷⁶ as well as in the public press, so his story was well known, and the public had knowledge of his teachings and travels. The full story appears in Volume III. PFF4 325.2