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From Here to Forever
presented by the prophet, he was forced to turn for a time from the
subject. In the pulpit it again presented itself to him with vividness.
From that time he devoted himself to the study of the prophecies and
soon arrived at the belief that the coming of Christ was near. The
date which he fixed as the time of the second advent was within a
few years of that afterward held by Miller.
Bengel’s writings spread in his own state of Würtemberg and to
other parts of Germany. The advent message was heard in Germany
at the same time that it was attracting attention in other lands.
At Geneva, Gaussen preached the second advent. When he
entered the ministry he was inclined to skepticism. In his youth he
had become interested in prophecy. After reading Rollin’s Ancient
History, his attention was called to the second chapter of Daniel. He
was struck with the exactness with which the prophecy had been
fulfilled. Here was testimony to the inspiration of the Scriptures. He
could not rest satisfied with rationalism, and, in studying the Bible
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he was led to a positive faith.
He arrived at the belief that the coming of the Lord was at hand.
Impressed with the importance of this truth, he desired to bring
it before the people. But the popular belief that the prophecies
of Daniel cannot be understood was a serious obstacle. He finally
determined—as Farel had done before him in evangelizing Geneva—
to begin with the children, through whom he hoped to interest the
parents. He said, “I gather an audience of children; if the group
enlarges, if it is seen that they listen, are pleased, interested, that
they understand and explain the subject, I am sure to have a second
circle soon, and in their turn, grown people will see that it is worth
their while to sit down and study. When this is done, the cause is
gained.
As he addressed the children, older persons came to listen. The
galleries of his church were filled with hearers, men of rank and
learning, and strangers and foreigners visiting Geneva. Thus the
message was carried to other parts.
Encouraged, Gaussen published his lessons with the hope of
promoting the study of the prophetic books. He afterward became
a teacher in a theological school, while on Sunday he continued
6
L. Gaussen, Daniel the Prophet, vol. 2, preface.