Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Elder Mark H. Forscutt (RLDS) on Daniel 2

 

In response to an Universalist minister who was affirming the motion that “The Bible teaches that the coming of Christ to judge the world is now past,” Mark. H. Forscutt, a RLDS elder, was recorded as having responded thusly, showing the futurist interpretation of Daniel 2 within the broad (Mormon) “Restorationist” sphere (e.g,. it being a prophecy of the then-future Kingdom of God on earth and other aspects of a pre-millennial eschatology):

 

In the second chapter of Daniel we read of a great image that was presented in dream to king Nebuchadnezzar, and to Daniel. The image had two legs, and two feet, and on the feet ten toes. From the interpretation given by Daniel, we learn that the legs represented the fourth power, which we recognize as the Roman power. The divisions of the Roman empire commenced in about the year 356, and since the time when the Roman empire commenced to be divided, these toes have been forming on the image; gradually forming =, we notice them as we view one kingdom after another split off from the Empire. Thus we see that as the Roman power is represented by Daniel’s fourth beast and the legs and feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s image, so the ten kingdoms are represented alike by the ten horns on the beast, and the ten toes of the image.

 

That part of the prophecy based on Daniel’s vision, which speaks of another little horn arising, before whom three of the ten were plucked up by the roots, was fulfilled without doubt, in my mind, when the Pope obtained temporal power, when he subdued three kings. He was a temporal prince, as well as a spiritual supervisor. All the parts of the two visions synchronize; but to Daniel’s vision, he being a prophet, there was added the representation of an ecclesiasticism, which had no correlevant in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He was a king; and to him was shown only political matters, and the setting up of the Great Kingdom of Christ—the universal kingdom, yet to be established, whose king shall reign in righteousness, and judge with equity.

 

The dream of Nebuchadnezzar was had B.C. 603, and his was the first of the four empires, and he had the head of gold; 2d, the Medes and Persians took Babylon B.C. 438, and under Cyrus represented the breast and arms of silver; 3d, the Mecedonian or Grecian empire established by Alexander the Great invading Persia B.C. 335, represented the belly and thighs of brass; 4th, the Romans reduced Greece into a Roman province, naming it Achaia B.C. 146, Cappadocia in 31, Egypt in 30, and Augustus Caesar was made emperor of Rome 28 B.C., thus establishing the Roman Empire, represented by the legs of the image of iron, and the feet, part of iron and part of clay. If, Sir, this fourth empire was the possess its dominions for time, times, and dividing of time, add to 28 B.C. the period of 1260 years, and where, Sir, is your theory of the coming of Christ over eighteen hundred years ago, at the taking of Jerusalem. Even if your own strange theory were true, that the kingdom had to be set up when the Roman empire was a unit, instead of when divided into ten, inasmuch as there had to be 1260 years of occupancy before the kingdom is possessed by the Son of man, it could not have been then set up. But, Sir, your theory is not true, there had first to be the division of the Roman power into ten governments; secondly, another power had to possess three of these ten; and thirdly, this last power had to occupy1260 years before that can take place; but, glorious hope! then cometh the end, when this mighty image shall be destroyed, the kingdom of heaven fill the whole earth, and peace and righteousness flow as a river. Then, Sir, will be fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 1:25-27, redemption to Zion, and restoration of the seats of the judges of Israel. (Elder Mark H. Forscutt in John L. Shinn, Discussion Between Rev. John L. Shinn, Of the Universalist Church and Elder Mark H. Forscutt of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Held at Rock Creek, Ills., August 10th-13th, 1875, 97)