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)
