The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Volume 1

Abbreviations

Illustrations and Charts

INTRODUCTION: From the Author to the Reader

1. BEARING OF PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION ON CHURCH HISTORY

2. IMPELLING MOTIVE BACK OF THIS SEARCH

3. DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN THE QUEST

4. MATCHES FINDINGS OF ARCHAEOLOGIST’S SPADE

5. THE SAFEGUARDS OF GROUP ENDEAVOR

6. THE AUTHOR’S VIEWPOINT SET FORTH

7. GOD’S WITNESSES TO RECOGNIZED FULFILLMENTS

8. MANKIND NEEDS THE LIGHT OF PROPHECY

CHAPTER ONE: The Scope and Purpose of Inspired Prophecy

I. The Torch of Prophecy Illuminates the Centuries

II. Prophetism—Its Nature, Scope, and Method

III. The Scope of This Treatise

IV. Definition of Prophetic Terms Employed

CHAPTER TWO: The Book of Daniel and the Old Testament Canon

I. Daniel—Unique Statesman—Prophet, and His Times

II. Historical Background of Daniel’s Prophetic Symbolism

III. The Symbolism of the Great Mountain and the Wind

IV. Symbolism of the Prophetic Beasts of Daniel 7

V. The Character of the Book of Daniel

VI. Relation of Book of Daniel to Old Testament Canon

CHAPTER THREE: The Relationship of Daniel to the Apocrypha

I. The Interim between the Two Testaments

II. Much Apocryphal Literature Produced

III. Crept in Through Medium of the Greek

IV. Generally Rejected Prior to Trent

CHAPTER FOUR: The Book of Revelation and the New Testament Canon

I. The Book of Revelation—Its Writing and Its Original Recipients

II. The Prophetic Character of the Book

III. The Revelation and the New Testament Canon

CHAPTER FIVE: Foundation Laid in the Old Testament

I. The Long-Range View of Bible Prophecy

II. Eschatological Emphasis of Old Testament Prophets

III. Daniel Projects Principles of Prophetic Interpretation

CHAPTER SIX: Prophetic Peak Reached in Apostolic Age

I. Christ the Fountainhead of Inspired Prophecy

II. Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God

III. Jesus on the Resurrection of the Dead

IV. Jesus’ Teaching on the Second Advent

V. Jesus’ Great Prophecy Spans Christian Era

VI. Jesus Enunciates the Guiding Principle

VII. Christ’s Relationship to the Book of Daniel

VIII. Pentecost Unveils “the Times and the Seasons”

IX. Paul Outlines Present Restraint and Coming Apostasy

X. The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

XI. John’s Contribution the Climax of Prophecy

XII. Relationship of Daniel and the Apocalypse

XIII. Revealings of Prophecy Are Progressive

XIV. Uplifted Gaze of the Apostolic Church

XV. Full-rounded Prophetic Foundation Summarized

CHAPTER SEVEN: Pre-Christian Interpretations of Daniel

1. Tradition Connects Alexander With Daniel’s Prophecy

II. Paraphrastic Septuagint Translation of Daniel

III. Variations Injected in Daniel 9

IV. Four Vital Interpretative Principles Injected

V. Authenticity of “2300” of Daniel 8:14 Indisputably Established

CHAPTER EIGHT: The Bridge to the Christian Era

I. Apocalyptic Literature of Pre-Christian Time

II. “Ethiopic Enoch” Reveals Pre-Christian Jewish Thinking

III. Testimony of “Jubilees,” “Patriarchs,” and “Assumption”

IV. “Slavonic Enoch”—7,000-Year Theory and Immortality

V. Josephus Rehearses Prophetic Interpretation Principles

VI. Rabbis Expect Messiah’s Kingdom Following Rome

VII. Summary of Pre-New-Testament Jewish Exposition of Prophecy

CHAPTER NINE: Second-Century Witness of Apostolic Fathers

I. Background and Setting of Their Writings

II. The Testimony of the Epistles of Clement

III. The Witness of the Epistles of Ignatius

IV. The Testimony of the Epistle of Barnabas

V. Testimony of the Shepherd of Hermas

VI. The Testimony of the Epistle of Polycarp

VII. The Testimony of Papias

VIII. Summary of Witness of Apostolic Fathers

CHAPTER TEN: The Period of the Apologists

I. Historical Setting of Ante-Nicene Period

II. Gnostic Controversy Complicates Early Church Situation

III. The Leading Spokesmen the Reflecting Witnesses

IV. Justin Martyr—Earliest Christian Apologist

V. Ptolemy’s Unwitting Testimony to the Prophetic Outline

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Irenaeus of Gaul and Tertullian of Africa

I. Time Foreshortened to Early Expositors

II. Irenaeus—Stresses Antichrist, Resurrections, and Millennium

III. Tertullian Expounds Order of Last Events

IV. Clement of Alexandria’s Chronology of Seventy Weeks

CHAPTER TWELVE: Hippolytus and Julius Africanus

I. Hippolytus First Systematic Expositor

II. Julius Africanus—Terminates Seventy Weeks With Christ

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Non-Christian Influences on Christian Interpretation

I. Messianic Speculations of Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch

II. Second Esdras (or Fourth Ezra) Attempts to Parallel Fourth Beast

III. The Pseudo-Sibylline Oracles

IV. Extra-Biblical Influences on the Antichrist Concept

V. Extra-Biblical Influences on Early Christian Chiliasm

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Attacks on the Advent Hope and on Prophecy

I. Origen, Allegorizing Philosopher and Scholar

II. Origen’s Allegorical Treatment of Scripture

III. Direct Attack on Twin Citadels of Prophecy

I. Cyprian—Without Outline—Prophecy Perspective

II. Victorinus—Earliest Systematic Commentary on Apocalypse

III. Methodius—Contender for Resurrection and Restoration

IV. Inspiring Motive of the Early Church

V. Summary of Prophetic Understanding in Martyr Period

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Cyprian, Victorinus, and Methodius

I. Lactantius-Millenarian Spokesman in Transition Hour

II. Eusebius-Early Positions, Later To Be Reversed 

III. Pre-Nicene Exposition Of Outline Prophecies

IV. Nicene Council Record On the Advent

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: The Transition Hour of the Church

I. Elevation of Church Produces Fundamental Changes

II. Eusebius’ New Prophetic Interpretation

III. Athanasius and the Arian Controversy

IV. Interpretation Revolutionized by Church’s Establishment

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Post-Nicene Reversal on Prophetic Interpretation

I. Aphrahat-Persian Witness on Rome, Resurrection, and Kingdom

II. Ephraim-Awaits Antichrist’s Emergence After Rome’s End

III. Growing Apprehension Over Imminent Antichrist

IV. Hilary First to Link Priesthood With Antichrist

V. CYRIL-STRESSES PRESENT FALLING AWAY AND IMPENDING ANTICHRIST

VI. Powerful Influence of Ambrose of Milan

VII. Chrysostom-Rome the Restrainer of Universal Antichrist

VIII. Polychronius-Follower of Porphyry’s “Antiochus” Theory

IX. Isidore-Holds to Rome as Fourth Kingdom

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Varying Voices in Different Places

I. Contemporary Recognition of Progressive Fulfillment

II. Sulpicius Severus-Herald of Clay Mingled With Iron

III. Jerome-Last Comprehensive Witness Before the Eclipse

IV. Theodoret-Herald of Kingdom at the Advent

V. Sundry Voices Round Out the Period

VI. Summary of Early Church Teachings on Prophecies

CHAPTER NINETEEN: Heralds of the New Fulfillment

I. Tichonius’ Rules Mold Interpretation for Centuries

II. Augustine, Reviser of the Millennial Position

III. The Earlier Advent Hope Largely Forgotten

CHAPTER TWENTY: Revolutionary Concept of the Millennium Introduced

I. Worldly Advance Matched by Spiritual Decline

II. Leo I Attempts to Materialize Augustine’s Kingdom Claims

III. Legal Sanctions for Roman Primacy Obtained

IV. Justinian-Legalizer of Ecclesiastical Supremacy of Pope

V. Establishing Mandate Embodied Permanently in Code

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Gradual Emergence of the Papal Power

I. Gregory I-Proclaimer of Antichrist’s Imminence

II. Effects of the Saracen Menace

III. Forged “Donation” Used to Justify Temporal Dominion

IV. Charlemagne Attempts Christian Theocracy on Augustinian Pattern

V. FORGED “DECRETAL EPISTLES” AFFORDS SUPREMACY OVER KINGS

VI. Antichrist Seen on Papal Throne

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Antichristian Principle Denounced by Churchmen

I. Writers of Early Middle Ages Follow Tichonius

II. Haymo Pursues Accepted Line of Exposition

III. School of Laon Popularizes Glossa Type of Exposition

IV. Bruno-Assumes Back-to-the-Bible Attitude

V. Anselm-Prepares Ground for Repudiation of Tichonianism

VI. Rupert of Deutz Introduces Different Exposition

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: Gradual Reversal of Tichonius Tradition

I. Andreas of Caesarea-Strongly Historical

II. Arethas-Largely Follows Andreas

III. Moslem Belief in Christ and the Judgment

IV. “Sargis d’Aberga”-the Four Empires and Seventy Weeks

V. Beatus’ Illustrated Commentary on Apocalypse

VI. Berengaud-Geographical Allocation of “Ten Horns”

VII. Far-reaching Influence of Pseudo-Methodius

VIII. Adso-Depicts Career of Coming Antichrist

IX. The Play of Antichrist

X. A. D. 1000 Expectancy of End of World

XI. The Illustrated Bamberg Apocalypse

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Antichrist Colors Medieval Thinking

I. The Beginnings of Christianity in Britain

II. Augustine’s Attempt to Romanize Britain

III. Romanism Triumphs at Whitby in 664

IV. The Venerable Bede Enters the Field of Interpretation

V. Cynewulf’s “Doomsday” a Star in the Night

VI. Gerard of York, Precursor of English Reformation

VII. Robert Grosseteste-Repeatedly Identifies Papacy as Antichrist

VIII. Matthew Paris-Likens Roman Court to “Strumpet”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: British Expositors Exhibit Greater Independence

I. Medieval Monasticism Becomes the Predominant Force

II. Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercians-Hierarchy the Ministers of Antichrist

ANF,	The Ante-Nicene Fathers.
MBVP,	Maxima Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum.
MGH,	Monumenta Gerrnaniae Historica.
NPNF,	A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers.
PG,	Patrologia Graeca (Migne).
PL,	Patrologia Latina (Migne).

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Abbreviations