VIII. Every Fundamental Sustained by Some Critics

Contending that each “point in our belief” is “sustained by some of your number,” the Address cites examples of the opponents’ support of seven major expositions.PFF4 869.6

1. That the 2300 days are years is sustained by Bush, Hinton, and Jarvis. ^{32Jarvis says that, inasmuch as the antichus theory would be fatal to miller’s calculations it is but natural that it be “eagerly embraced by many of his opponents.” but, he contends, there are “insuperable difficulties in the way of this scheme which makes antiochus Epiphanes the little born.” And he adds, “I make no difficulty, therefore, in admitting the expression Evening-morning to mean a prophetic day.” (Samuel Farmar Jarvis, Two Discourses on Prophecy, p. 46.) Daniel was told to shut up the vision because the fulfillment would be far distant—a strong “collateral reason” for the “days” being prophetic. And the “vision” is obviously the “whole vision of the Ram and He-Goat.” (Ibid., pp. 45-47.)}PFF4 869.7

2. That the 1260, 1290, and 1335 are years is admitted by Morris, Dowling, ^{33Dowling states: “I believe, as Mr. Miller, does, and indeed most Protestant commentators, that the 1260 years denote the duration of the dominion of the Papal Antichrist. After comparing these passages, and the entire prophecies to which they belong, with the history and character of popery, I cannot doubt that this is the mystical Babylon, whose name is written in Revelation 17:5, and that when the 1260 years are accomplished, then ‘shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and SHALL BE FOUND NO MORE AT ALL!’” (Reply to Miller, p. 25. See I. T. Hinton, op. cit., p. 360, for the same point.)} Bush, and Jarvis.PFF4 870.1

3. That the 2300 years begin with the 70 weeks is conceded by Bush and many others.PFF4 870.2

4. That Rome is the fourth empire, symbolized by the legs of iron and the fourth beast, is admitted by Bush, Jarvis, Hinton, ^{34Hinton holds that the prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11 give “four detailed descriptions of the history pf the world from the time of Daniel to the ‘time of the end,’ and the Apocalyptic visions refer to the same period as the latter portion of the prophecies of Daniel.” (I. T. Hinton, op. cit., p. 25.) “The dream of the image is of the greatest importance; it leaves without excuse those who would reduce the remaining prophecies of Daniel to the narrow compass and the little acts of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Nothing can be clearer than that the gold, the silver, the brass, the iron, and the day are designed to cover the history of the world in all its successive ages.” (Ibid., p. 27.)On Daniel 7 he adds: “We think our readers will concur with us, and with the great mass of writers on prophecy, that the ‘ten horns’ on Daniel’s ‘fourth beast,’ and ‘the beast rising up out of _the sea, having seven heads of the Apocalyptic vision, refer to the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided. Of the identity of the ten-horned beasts of Daniel and of John there can be no reasonable doubt.” (Ibid., p. 232.)} and Morris.PFF4 870.3

5. That the Little Horn of Daniel 7 is the Papacy is like wise sustained by Bush, Jarvis, Hinton, ^{35Hinton again explicitly states: “If any other events of history can be set forth and made to fill out all the particulars mentioned by Daniel and John, ... we should be happy to see them stated; till then we shall believe the little horn rising up amidst the ten horns, and having three of them plucked up before it, to refer to the rise of the papacy in the midst of the kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided in the sixth century.” (Ibid., p. 237.)} and Morris.PFF4 870.4

6. That the exceeding great horn of Daniel 8 is Rome is held by Jarvis and Hinton. ^{36This is attributed erroneously to Hinton, who makes this horn the Moslems. (See p. 355.)}PFF4 870.5

7. That the 2300 year-days extend to the resurrection of the dead, and Christ’s advent, and the beginning of God’s ever lasting kingdom, is likewise admitted by Jarvis and Hinton. And Morris asks, “Who cannot see that all things are now ready for the sounding of the seventh angel?” So the Millerite Address then repeats the assertion: “There is not a point that is essential to this question, but some of you admit we have the truth respecting it.” ^{37[Bliss?], “Address to the Opposers of Our Hope,” Supplement, Advent Herald, Dec. 4, 1844, p. 24}PFF4 870.6