A.D. 1844: The Close of the 2300 Years
By R. F. Cottrell
AROUND this date cluster many important events which are noted in prophecy; so much so, that it forms a new era in prophetic fulfillment. The believing student of prophecy and its fulfillment can see that a great change took place there, and that momentous predicted events hinge upon, and radiate from, this date. Here terminated the great prophetic period of 2300 years. Of this there can be no doubt in the mind of any one who has thoroughly investigated the subject. “To seal up the vision and prophecy,”—to make it certain beyond the possibility of mistake—the gauge of seventy weeks or 490 years is given. This seventy weeks is cut off from the 2300 years, and consequently begins with, and gives date to, the whole. Examining this gauge or measuring rod, we find at its commencement the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Passing along seven weeks, or forty nine years, we find a spur in the gauge indicating the end of the work of rebuilding. At the end of “threescore and two weeks” more, that is, sixty-nine weeks or 483 years from the first date, another spur points out the commencement of the personal ministry of “Messiah the Prince;” three years and a half further on, in the midst of the seventieth and last week, another points to the crucifixion; and still three and a half years onward, at the end of the confirmation of the gospel covenant especially with the Jewish people and the turning to the Gentiles, we find the last spur of the gauge. Laying this gauge upon the period of 2300 years, supposing it to commence in the fall of the year, 457 before Christ, we find each spur pointing to the exact time of the several events indicated. Forty-nine years from this date the restoring and building of Jerusalem is complete; 434 years more, or 483 from the first date, and we find the Messiah proclaiming to Israel, “The time is fulfilled; repent and believe the gospel;” three and a half years more, in the spring of A. D. 31, Messiah is “cut off in the midst of the week;” and three and a half more, and the special work for the Jews is done, bringing us to the fall of A. D. 34. Here is complete harmony throughout. But supposing the 2300 years to commence at any other date besides 457 before Christ, and every spur or point in the measuring rod given by the angel will be out of place—they will not point the place of one of the events we have named—and hence we are shut up to the conclusion that the beginning date is B. C. 457, and hence the 2300 days end in A. D. 1844. Besides the chronological and historical proof that the period began in B. C. 457, we have several events confirmatory of the view that they did actually terminate in 1844. 1. As we drew near to that point of time the predicted proclamation of Rev. 14: 6, 7, was raised. “Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come,” was indeed proclaimed with a loud voice. 2. A general spirit of awakening and revival prevailed, and thousands sought the Lord, as the fruit of the advent proclamation. 3. But before reaching the fall of 1844, a general spirit of opposition to the Advent doctrine was manifest with the leading religionists of the time, so much so that earnest Christians were rejected from churches for no other reason than that they cherished and rejoiced in the hope that Jesus was soon coming; and living and acting as though they believed it, and were anxious that themselves and others should be prepared to pass the searching test of the Judgment. 4. Here the cry was raised, as predicted in Rev. 14: 8, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen;” and when the point of time was reached, the Adventists stood out by themselves, disappointed, and exposed to the scoffs and jeers of those who had rejected them and despised their hope. 5. Here a “dead calm ensues, and Heaven no breezes gives.” Those who loved the Lord were using the “oar of prayer,” while their exulting foes were made to feel that they themselves had been forsaken by the Spirit of God, and that, instead of a spirit of revival, a “great spiritual dearth” was everywhere prevalent. During this calm, which lasted till about 1848 (a date remarkable for its startling events), the way was preparing for future action. 6. Here Spiritualism was let loose upon a spiritless church, and the scripture had a striking fulfillment which says, “They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Truth had been rejected and despised, and Satan is permitted to come in with a flood of infidelity. Of the wonderful and unprecedented “progress” of this delusion I need not speak. This did not come without a cause. Satan was as ready to work before; but he was not permitted till a certain point in apostasy had been reached. 7. Here, too, that spirit of revival came into those meetings called “Union”—a mere conglomeration of heterogeneous and discordant materials—which would not tolerate a prayer for the oppressed and downtrodden slave. Since that a military conversion on this subject has been experienced. 8. Here too the anger of the nations begins which will not be appeased till it is crushed out in the “battle of the great day,” when God shall make “wars to cease unto the end of the earth,” by breaking the bow, cutting the spear in sunder, and burning the chariots in the fire. Witness the revolutions in Europe of 1848, and the unceasing preparations for war throughout the world ever since. 9. And last, but, though apparently small, not the least, in my estimation, the light of the last message of mercy, Rev. 14: 9-12, was seen arising like the dawn of the morning. Amid the noisy croakings of unclean spirits and the premonitory throbs of political, as well as physical, earthquakes, it is doing its solemn and fearful work. Other movements look great compared with this, but this is great, because it is of God. His right hand will get the victory. Truly 1844 is a remarkable date.