The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

VI. Kentucky College President Expects End in 1843-1847

President JAMES SHANNON, of Bacon College, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, was still another president of a small college who was an avowed premillennialist, and who looked for the end of the 2300 days (and of the world) in 1843 or 1847. In a published letter he declares, “There will be no Millennium (if the Bible be true) till the Lord comes.” Then he continues: PFF4 376.1

“It is so easy to demonstrate this, and to show the many absurdities involved in its denial, that by beginning to build on this foundation, you can with great facility stop the mouths of gainsayers, and open the eyes of the honest, but deluded, to see that they have been taught by sectarian priests to believe dogmas directly opposite to the uniform teaching of Jesus Christ and of the Apostles and Prophets.” ²⁷ PFF4 376.2

In answer to an inquiry in the Harrodsburg Christian Journal, Shannon explained the 70 weeks and the 2300 years: If Christ was cut off at the end of the 70th week, the 2300 years will end in 1843; if in the midst, the period will extend to 1846 or 1847. Therefore, he implores the reader—“to act as though it were absolutely certain, that 1843 will close the grand drama of this world’s history. Nothing can possibly be lost by so doing, even admitting that the calculations leading to this conclusion should be erroneous. But, on the contrary, by neglecting to act thus, my very soul shudders at the thought of the wretched doom which my friends and fellow-citizens may bring upon themselves in an hour they think not of.” ²⁸ PFF4 377.1