VI. Stewart-Everlasting Gospel Angel Now Flying

JAMES HALDANE STEWART (1776-1854), English theologian and writer, and rector of Limpsfield, Surrey, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, receiving a B.A. in 1806 and an M.A. in 1811. From 1812 to 1830 he served as minister of Percy Chapel, then was vicar of Great Ouseburne and curate of St. Bridget, Liverpool, from 1830 to 1846. ^{67Frederic Boase, Modern English Biography, vol. 6, suppl. 3, col. 623.} He was also chaplain to the Marquis of Bute and the Earl of Breadalbane. Stewart was a participant in the 1826 Albury Park Prophetic Conference, ^{68Joshua W. Brooks, Dictionary of Writers on the Prophecies, p. lxxi; Boase, op. cit..vol. 6, suppl. 3, col. 623.} having written in 1825 A Practical View of the Redeemer’s Advent. His Watchfulness Against the Dangers of the Present Times was based on the former.PFF3 528.1

1. FIVE VIALS OUTPOURED IN FRENCH REVOLUTION

Stew art’s Practical View of the Redeemer’s Advent was originally given as a series of discourses. In one of these, entitled “Reasons for Expecting,” in discussing the seven last plagues, or vials, of wrath, he holds that “five of these vials of the wrath of God were poured out during the late [French] revolutionary war; and that we are now entering upon the sixth vial.” ^{69James Haldane Stewart. A Practical View of the Redeemer’s Advent, p. 158; he cites “Faber, Gauntlett, and others.’’} In support he invites candid comparison of the “striking similarity” of symbolical language of the vials and the dreadful calamities of the period. These he looks upon as “tremendous judgments falling upon the men which had the ‘mark of the beast,’ or upon Papal countries.” ^70Ibid.PFF3 528.2

2. SIXTH VIAL EXHAUSTION OF TURKEY

The “river Euphrates” of the sixth vial, Stewart holds to be “the symbol of the Turks, who are the followers and successors of Mohammed.” In proof he alludes to “the rise of that people, in Revelation 9:14.” ^{71Ibid., p. 159.} The drying up is the “gradual exhaustion of their power,” the symbol being “taken from the literal drying up of the river Euphrates” when Cyrus entered Babylon. And this was to be so the “kings of the East” might be prepared-these being the “remnant of Judah and Israel.” ^72Ibid. Coupled with all this is the gathering of the world to the battle of the great day of God that is to “terminate the contest between God and all his enemies.” ^73Ibid.PFF3 528.3

3. INDICATES DAY OF JUDGMENT IMPENDS

Stewart avers that the gradual exhaustion of Turkey is “at this moment accomplishing,” every year seeing new defections among their tributary governments. Then he adds, “The late movements in Turkey lead many among them to conclude that the Day of Judgment is at hand; and they believe, that, before that day, Mohammedanism will be almost abolished.” ^{74Ibid., p. 162.} The crescent is no longer the appropriate banner, but “a planet in the wane.”PFF3 529.1

4. EVERLASTING GOSPEL ANGEL FLYING

In discussing the flying angel of Revelation 14:7 with the judgment-hour message, Stewart says this “refers to the last times,” though he thinks the “hour of his Judgment,” means “temporal judgments upon His enemies,” not the great day of judgment.” ^{75Ibid., pp. 170, 171.} And these judgments synchronize with the wide and rapid preaching of the gospel, symbolized by the “ftying in the midst of heaven.” The “whole church of Christ is at this time in motion,” whereas thirty years previously (1795) their missionary exertions were confined to two institutions: The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. ^{76Ibid., pp. 171, 172.} Now forty-one societies exist for the single purpose of spreading the gospel of the kingdom.PFF3 529.2

5. 1260 YEARS OF PAPAL OPPRESSION

In this same connection Stewart touches upon the 1260 years of the “papal power” as the “man of sin,” which was to oppress the church of Christ,” ^{77Ibid., pp. 176, 177.} for this long period, but likewise involving the Mohammedan power, which dates its acts from the year of the Hegira.PFF3 529.3