From Clear Fulfillment to Complex Prophecy: the History of the Adventist Interpretation of

245 Pages·2017·1.85 MB·English

by  Jon Hjorleifur Stefansson

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Master's Theses Graduate Research
2013
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Jon Hjorleifur Stefansson
Andrews University, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses
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Stefansson, Jon Hjorleifur, "From Clear Fulfillment to Complex Prophecy: the History of the Adventist
Interpretation of Revelation 9, from 1833 to 1957" (2013). Master's Theses. 54.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/54
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ABSTRACT

FROM CLEAR FULFILLMENT TO COMPLEX PROPHECY:
THE HISTORY OF THE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION
OF REVELATION 9, FROM 1833 TO 1957

by
Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson

Adviser: Jerry Moon
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
Thesis
Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Title: FROM CLEAR FULFILLMENT TO COMPLEX PROPHECY: THE HISTORY
OF THE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION OF REVELATION 9, FROM 1833
TO 1957
Name of the researcher: Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson
Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jerry Moon, Ph.D.

Date completed: June 2013
Seventh-day Adventists originally agreed on the meaning of Rev 9 and regarded it
as a very important prophecy, whereas today there is no consensus on this prophecy,
which is regarded as both complex and non-vital.
This thesis seeks to explain why this change occurred by tracing the history of the
development of the interpretation of the fifth and sixth trumpets from 1833 to 1957, both
in published and unpublished primary sources.
Critics of the traditional interpretation found fault with its exegesis and historical
application. Traditionalists never answered their questions comprehensively and this is
the main reason why consensus was lost. It seems that there are answers to all of the
critiques raised.
Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

FROM CLEAR FULFILLMENT TO COMPLEX PROPHECY:
THE HISTORY OF THE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION
OF REVELATION 9, FROM 1833 TO 1957

A Thesis
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Arts

by
Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson
2013
© Copyright by Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson 2013
All Rights Reserved
FROM CLEAR FULFILLMENT TO COMPLEX PROPHECY:
THE HISTORY OF THE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION
OF REVELATION 9, FROM 1833 TO 1957

A thesis
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Master of Arts

by
Jón Hjörleifur Stefánsson

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE:

_______________________________
Jerry Moon, PhD, Adviser

_______________________________
P. Gerard Damsteegt, PhD, MPH

_______________________________
Merlin D. Burt, PhD

_______________________________ _________________
Ron du Preez, DMin, ThD Date approved
Senior Pastor, East Salem SDA Church
Salem, Oregon
Superficiality is the bane of scholarship.
Truth has nothing to fear from thorough
investigation. It thrives on scrutiny.
Its very nature courts the light.
—LeRoy E. Froom
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………………………………………………….. v
Chapter
I. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………. 1
Statement of the Problem …………………………………………… 2
Purpose ……………………………………………………………… 2
Review of Literature ………………………………………………… 2
Methodology and Sources …………………………………………… 9
Design of the Study…………………………………………………. 10
Definitions of Terms ………………………………………………… 10
Limitations of the Study……………………………………………... 11

II. FORMATION OF THE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION
(1832-1911) ……………………………………………………………… 13

William Miller ………………………………………………………. 14
Miller’s Lectures (1833-1836) …………………………………….. 15
The Two Prophetic Periods Contiguous ………………………… 16
Miller’s Contribution ……………………………………………… 19
Josiah Litch ………………………………………………………….. 20
The Probability of the Second Coming (1838) ……………………. 20
Two Phases of the Fifth Trumpet ...……………………………… 21
Dates for the Prophetic Periods Adjusted………………………... 22
Starting Point: July 27, 1299…………………………………… 23
Juncture: 1449…………………………………………………. 23
Terminus: August, 1840………………………………………... 25
Summary of Probability…………………………………………. 25
Address to the Public and Articles in the Signs of the Times
(1840-1841) ……………………………………………………… 26
Terminus Predicted to Be August 11 1840……………………… 27
Verifying the Fulfillment………………………………………… 30
Summary of Address……………………………………………... 34
Prophetic Expositions (1842)……………………………………… 35
Prominent Sources: Alexander Keith and Edward Gibbon……… 35
The Opening of the Abyss……………………………………….. 38
Deciding the Two Phases of the Fifth Trumpet…………………. 39
The Command………………………………………………….... 39
The Commencement of the Five Months Defined More
Precisely……………………………………………………….. 41
Summary of Expositions………………………………………… 41
iv
Litch’s Contribution……………………………………………….. 42
Uriah Smith………………………………………………………….. 43
Daniel and the Revelation (1857-1897)…………………………… 44
The Abyss………………………………………………………... 46
The Seal of God…………………………………………………. 46
Smith’s Contribution………………………………………………. 48
Ellen G. White……………………..………………………………… 48
The Great Controversy (1888, 1911)……………………………… 49
White’s Contribution……………………………………………… 51
Other Works…………………………………………………………. 51
Conclusion of Chapter II…………………………………………….. 55
III. CONSENSUS GIVES WAY TO VARIOUS VIEWS (1911-1957)…….. 58
The End-Time Interpretation………………………………………… 59
Books and Unpublished Papers……………………………………. 60
Summary of the End-Time Interpretation and Its Critique………… 68
The Protestant Interpretation…………………………………………. 69
W. W. Prescott and the 1911 Edition of The Great Controversy….. 71
The Review and Herald Research Committee of 1914……………. 73
Exegetical Corrections…………………………………………… 76
The Fifth and the Sixth Trumpets Represent Two Distinct
Powers………………………………………………………. 77
Correct Application of the Year-Day Principle………………... 77
The Killing Symbolizes Agression, Not Supremacy………….. 78
Historical Corrections……………………………………………. 79
July 27, 1299 Discredited……………………………………… 79
1449 Discredited………………………………………………. 80
August 11, 1840 Discredited…………………………………… 83
The Influence of the Committee………………………………… 86
College Textbooks…………………………………………………. 87
Books………………………………………………………………. 91
Theses……………………………………………………………… 94
Ronald David Drayson (1945)…………………………………… 94
Robert Lee Mole (1957)…………………………………………. 96
The Arabs Nearly Conquered the Byzantine Empire (612-762). 97
July 27, 1299 Discredited……………………………………… 97
1449 Discredited……………………………………………….. 97
August 11, 1840 Discredited…………………………………… 99
Exegetical Considerations on the Terminus…………………… 100
Summary of Theses……………………………………………….101
Summary of the Protestant Interpretation and Its Critique………… 101
The Symbolical Interpretation……………………………………….. 103
The Traditional Interpretation………………………………………... 104
College Textbooks, Books and Articles…….………………………105
The Research Committee (1938-1940s)…………………………… 113
The Ministry Articles (1944)…………………………………….. 113
v