V. Tennessean Jurist Holds to Basic Prophetic Views

In 1819, under the pseudonym, “A Tennessean,” JOHN HAVWOOD, ^{62JOHN HAYWOOD (1753?-1826), jurist and historian, was born in North Carolina. After preparing for the bar he became State’s attorney general in 1791, and was considered an outstanding criminal lawyer. Then he was elected to the State Supreme Court bench. In 1807 he left North Carolina for Tennessee, and served as judge on the Supreme Court of Tennessee from 1816 until his death. A man of tireless energy, and of very logical mind, he wrote numerous law books, which became standard, and established the first law school in the Southwest. He also wrote two histories of Tennessee. He has been called “the greatest jurist that has lived in Tennessee.” His was “an accurate and profound general scholarship.”} noted Southern jurist, published a book entitled The—Christian Advocate (that is, Attorney)—a rather wordy, rambling discussion of prophecy. But points of interest and agreement with others are scattered over its pages, and it forms part of the Southern angle of a larger picture. Haywood was of strong mind and positive convictions, and seemed especially intrigued by the prophetic minutiae in Daniel and in Revelation—particularly the 1260 years, with the added 30 and 45 years, respectively, of the 1290 and 1335 year periods, which he ends in 1874 and 1919. ^{63John Haywood, The Christian Advocate, p. 48.}PFF4 176.8

Haywood holds to the year-day principle for some time prophecies, including, the 1260 days of Revelation, and the 70 weeks of Daniel 9, but he calls a “time” a week of days, years, or centuries, as the case may be, and curiously makes the time of Daniel 12:11, 12 equal to 31/2 x 700 years, or 2450 years! The French Revolution is likewise stressed as “an indispensable preliminary to the successful progress of gospel light, and to the general conversion of the world,” spreading the knowledge of the rights of men, despite its entanglement with “political fanaticism and infidelity.” Thus has “providence brought good out of evil, and wisdom from the extravagances of insanity.”PFF4 177.1

He mentions Rome as the fourth “beast”—the first three being Babylonia, “Medea,” and Grecia—the ten kingdoms dominated by the papal Little Horn, with its allotted duration, and then its overthrow prior to “the universal prevalence of the Christian religion.” The first six trumpets are six periods of the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome, during which the Papacy, Mohammedanism, and paganism—the three unclean spirits—have “corrupted the fountains of religion.” The five months of the Mohammedan fifth trumpet are 150 years. And the hour, day, month, and year of Revelation 9:15, of the Turkish sixth trumpet, are recognized as 391 years, possibly ending in 1777, with the raising of the siege of Vienna. The seventh trumpet follows, with the great Sabbath rest, preceded, however, by dreadful carnage, and the end of Mohammedanism and the Papacy. ^{64Ibid. pp. 57, 81, 84-87.} So prophecy was studied by jurist, educator, and minister alike—varying in detail but harmoniousPFF4 177.2

on great essentials. Prophecy was the common denominator in the study life of men in all walks of life.PFF4 177.3

It should be added, parenthetically, that the dating of the 70 “weeks of years” from 457 B.C., as the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia, was widespread, as in the Protestant Episcopal catechism of Doctor FREDERICK DALCHO, ^{65FREDERICK DALCHO, M.D. (1770?-1836), was one of the ministers of St. Michael’s Protestant Episcopal Church at Charleston, South Carolina. In 1820 he produced a closely reasoned “Course in Catechetical Instruction” entitled, The Evidence From Prophecy to the Truth of Christianity, and the Divinity of Christ. Published with the approbation of the bishop of the diocese, it was designed for Sunday schools, following the question and answer plan. Dealing with prophecy as proof of inspiration, the Old Testament prophecies concerning the first advent are first set forth. The 70 weeks for the Jews, up to the death of Christ as an atonement for sin, is extended from the seventh of Artaxerxes, in 457 B.C., to A.D. 33, when Christ died in the month Nisan, “agreeably to the prophecy.” All this is preceded by a recital of the various Old Testament prophetic specifications—His virgin birth, before the scepter departs from Judah, brought forth in Bethlehem, and called out of Egypt. Then follow the predictions of His miracles, atoning death, resurrection, ascension, priestly ministry, and second coming in kingly power.} of Charleston, South Carolina. This date was regarded as established and fixed.PFF4 178.1