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Love for Christ’s Coming
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tribe of Dan, ... who expect, with the children of Rechab, the speedy
arrival of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven.
A similar belief was found by another missionary in Tatary. A
Tatar priest put the question as to when Christ would come the
second time. When the missionary answered that he knew nothing
about it, the priest seemed surprised at such ignorance in a Bible
teacher, and stated his own belief, founded on prophecy, that Christ
would come about 1844.
The Advent Message in England
As early as 1826 the advent message began to be preached in
England. The exact time of the advent was not generally taught, but
the truth of Christ’s soon coming in power and glory was extensively
proclaimed. An English writer states that about 700 ministers of the
Church of England were engaged in preaching “this gospel of the
kingdom.”
The message pointing to 1844 as the time of the Lord’s com-
ing was also given in Great Britain. Advent publications from the
United States were widely circulated. In 1842 Robert Winter, an
Englishman who had received the advent faith in America, returned
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to his native country to herald the coming of the Lord. Many united
with him in the work in various parts of England.
In South America, Lacunza, a Spaniard and a Jesuit, received
the truth of Christ’s speedy return. Desiring to escape the censure of
Rome, he published his version under the assumed name of Rabbi
Ben-Ezra, representing himself as a converted Jew. About 1825 his
book was translated into English. It served to deepen the interest
already awakening in England.
Revelation Unfolds to Bengel
In Germany the doctrine had been taught by Bengel, a Lutheran
minister and a biblical scholar. While preparing a sermon from
Revelation 21
, the light of Christ’s second coming broke in upon
his mind. The prophecies of the Revelation unfolded to his under-
standing. Overwhelmed with the importance and glory of the scenes
5
Journal of the Rev. Joseph Wolff, pp. 377, 389.