PROPHECY

An Explanation of the 1850 Prophetic Chart

A fulfillment of Bible prophecy

The 1850 Prophetic chart was published by Ottis Nickols in Dorchester, Mass., in 1850. The first thing to notice in this chart is that none of the major truths of the 1843 chart have been removed, and the chart has reprinted the vital points of faith and added the understanding of what happened in 1844.

This chart is also a fulfillment of the vision of Habakkuk 2 where the prophet was told to write the vision on tables. The two tables of Habakkuk represented the 1843 and the 1850 charts. While the first chart represented the First and Second Angel’s Messages, the second chart was a reason for many to accept the truth through the Third Angel’s Message. Therefore, the 1843 and 1850 charts represent the complete message of the First, Second, and Third angels of Revelation 14. We cannot preach the three messages if we do not understand their location in time when they came about and what they teach.

A comparison of the images of Daniel 2, 7, and 8

If we briefly look at the 1850 chart, once again (as in the 1843 chart) we see the image of Daniel 2 – Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the ten kingdoms that the Roman Empire was divided into. Once more we see Daniel 7 with the bear, the leopard, pagan Rome, and papal Rome (the little horn power). All these things are repeated. Again we see that the time prophecies start with 677 BC and include the seven times of Leviticus 26. So the prophecies that started in 677 BC and 457 BC respectively would end in 1844. The central column is also the same, up to the cross of Christ. Then we are given the midst of the week, and that the 70 weeks end in 34 AD. The next column is also the same – the whole information has been repeated.

Then there is a description of Daniel 8. On both charts, we have the power of the little horn – pagan and papal Rome. Take note of the picture of the little horn that waxes strong (in the right part of the chart, the horn reaches downward to the very last (the seventh) trumpet). Notice how wisely and prophetically the pioneers wrote that the Roman power (both pagan and papal) would last until the time when the image of the papacy would be established. Very interesting! Up until the very end of time, the people of God shall have to deal with Rome (in one phase or another).

Illustrations of Rome of Revelation 12, 13, and 17

In the central part of the chart, on both sides of the column, we have again pagan Rome from Rev. 12 and papal Rome from Rev. 13, with the body of a leopard, the mouth of a lion, and the feet of a bear, to whom the dragon gave his power and who was to rule for 42 months.

Under the image of papal Rome, we have the second beast of Rev. 13 (the US) – the right column of the chart – who was to come out of the earth and make an image of the papacy. This is very interesting.

The image of the papacy is described as having two horns like a lamb. We read: “The two lamb-like horns (REPUBLICANISM AND PROTESTANTISM) whose names number 666, become united in action, speak like a DRAGON, and control the civil legislature, and cause it to make the CHURCH the IMAGE of the papacy which received a deadly wound and was healed.”

Then Rev. 17 is quoted, referring to the five kings that had fallen by the time of John, and the sixth “now is” (in the 1st century), and the kingdom which had not yet come. The seven heads of Rev. 17 represent the different forms of government in pagan and papal Rome through which Satan would persecute the people of God.

The three “woes”

Furthermore, we have the three “woes”: 1) Islam in prophecy – the Mohammedans; 2) Ottoman supremacy; their rule ended in 1840; 3) the 7th angel sounded his trumpet on October 22, 1844 (the third “woe”).

And according to Rev. 10, the Bible teaches that when the seventh trumpet would sound, the mystery of God would be finished, that God had declared unto His servants, the prophets. The mystery of God was to be fulfilled during the sounding of the seventh trumpet that started in 1844. In Col. 2 we read that the mystery of God is to have “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27) – to have Jesus Christ living in our hearts, to overcome sin, to have the seal of God, to reflect the image of Jesus. This was to be manifested in a more powerful, pointed, and peculiar way when he would enter into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, to blot the sins of those who would believe.

We would like to note that by the autumn of 1844, all the time prophecies of the Bible were fulfilled. This means that all the prophetic periods – the 2520 days and the 2300 days, the 1335, 1290, and 1260 days – had ended, and there is no time prophecy that we can expect to be fulfilled in the future.

In Rev. 10:6, the Bible says that “there should be time no longer”. These are the words of the mighty angel who came down from heaven. If you notice, there is a time that is cut off – 1844 is a time that is set apart for the beginning of a new age.

The Three Angels Messages

In 1844 the First and Second Angel’s Messages entered history. This is of great significance. The pioneers placed the year 1837 in the chart, for the proclamation of the First Angel’s Message. We find this interesting because history tells us that there was something that happened in 1837 that woke the American people to a deeper study of the prophecies. You may say: “What exactly happened in 1837? The Starfall was in 1833.” Yes, this is true. Wm. Miller began to preach before the public in 1831. Then why is 1837 pointed as the starting date? Why not 1840 when the Ottoman supremacy ended? Because in 1831 when Wm. Miller began preaching, at first he preached to small audiences. In 1833 the starfall caused many people to awake. But in 1837 the stock market in America crashed and by that time America was in a depression that led people to search the Word to gain an understanding of Bible prophecy.

Why is this important for us today? Because a financial crisis begins again in the US in our days, and again we have a message – that we are to fear God and to give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come (Rev. 14:6-7).

The Heavenly Judgment

Now we are living at the time of the Investigative Judgment in heaven. Why? Because in the Sunday-Law crisis – when the image of the beast will have already been made and the worship to the papacy on Sunday will have been enforced by law – the gospel is to reach the inhabitants of the whole earth, to prepare them for the final crisis when the nations shall be angry, when the wrath of God shall be poured out and God would revenge for His servants, the prophets, for the saints and for all those who fear His name.

The heavenly judgment of those who slept in Christ from all generations has been going on since 1844. Now, because we are very close to the final crisis, there must be a Judgment of the living (of this generation) in our day, in preparation for the soon coming of Jesus. In Revelation 22 Jesus says:

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12.

The Judgment shall end before the coming of Jesus. Though the preaching of the Second Angel’s Message started in 1842, when in 1843 the churches began to close their doors to the Millerites, with the passing of time the importance of the events of opposition grew stronger and the Second Angel’s Message declared: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen…” Then, in 1844, at the time when the seventh trumpet began to sound, the Third Angel’s Message came in, which speaks of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and warns people against the beast, his image, and his mark.

We have to note that the Third Angel’s Message is placed on a level with the Most Holy Place where Christ entered in 1844, and with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. All these things are placed on one plane with a common line (the line on the chart that is under 1844 AD and the Ottoman horseman). During the same time period, the image of the papacy also arose.

Christ’s Ministration in the heavenly sanctuary

Christ’s ministry in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary for redeeming the wrongs of Israel and cleansing the sanctuary, based on the Day of Atonement, began in 1844. See Lev. 16:30-33; Heb. 9:7.

Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14.

There is also a model of the sanctuary (in the lower left part of the chart). The outer court is depicted, with the altar of incense and the brazen laver before the door, and everything is explained. The articles of furniture in the sanctuary are all enumerated and described in the column to the right. The ark of the covenant is described there, with the small cherubim that cover the Shekinah glory on the Mercy seat, the large cherubim in Solomon’s Temple, the golden censor with the high priest, the altar of incense, the Table of Showbread and the seven-branched candlestick.

The altar of sacrifice symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus; the laver symbolizes the pouring out of his Spirit on Pentecost. Then in 31 AD, after His ascension, Christ entered into the Holy Place and he ministered there from 31 AD to 1844 AD. Then, in 1844 he entered within the second veil which represents his blood, to sprinkle the Mercy seat with His blood, where he will blot out the sins of those who would align themselves to the Law of God that is contained in the Ark of the Covenant. Thus the Third Angel’s Message proclaims the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus because God’s Commandments are placed in the Most Holy Place.

The Second Coming of Jesus

The next event that is illustrated is the coming of Jesus.

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Rev. 14:14.

When Christ comes, probation will have closed, because he and the angels will have gone out from the temple.

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.” Rev. 14:17.

This angel is told: “Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Rev. 14:18.

We know what happens after that: “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” Rev. 14:19.

These verses are soon to be fulfilled. When the Third Angel’s Message ceases to sound when Christ finishes His ministry in the Most Holy Place, he will come again a second time – this time not as Man of sorrows and despised by men, but as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then the wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked and they will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming.

The 2300 days

In the upper part of the chart (the second column) there is given the introduction – the years 677 BC and 457 BC that were mentioned in Daniel 8.

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:13, 14.

The 2300 days began with the 7 weeks when the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild and restore Jerusalem was issued. According to Ezra 8:36, this decree came into effect in 457 BC when Ezra gave the king’s commands to the local governors.

As we examine the verses from Daniel 8 that are quoted, we see that there are in fact two desolating powers – the “Daily” (paganism) and the “abomination of desolation” (the papacy). Until when was this to continue? We know that the sanctuary was to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days. To the question of how long God’s people were to be trodden underfoot, the answer is given in the lower right corner, where the explanation of the time prophecies is. If you notice, the chart states that 1 prophetic year (or one “time”) equals 360 days and that “seven times” is 7 times 360, or 2520 years. There we have a calculation of all the time prophecies in the book of Daniel and the Revelation.

Notice that the time when the Hebrew nation was to be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles was not 2300 days, but it started in 677 BC. We see that the answer to the question as to how long the two desolating powers were to tread the people of God is “seven times”, starting from 677 BC. The period of the continuation of the “Daily” (or paganism) of Daniel 8:13 is from 457 BC to 508 AD. Then the taking away of the “Daily” (or the transition from paganism to papacy) was from 508 to 538. Then from 538 to 1798, there are the 1260 years during which the papacy had supreme power. The 2300 days (or prophetic years) were to end in 1844. The chart gives the Millerite understanding by adding those years, and we can see their logic which is valuable for us when looking back.

Historical significance of the experience of Gideon’s band

We would like to conclude our study by giving a quick parallel that will explain to us how important and life-changing these truths were for the early Millerite preachers and teachers.

The prophetic history of Gideon represents in summary the history of the Millerite movement. Why, you would ask. Just look at a brief comparison and you will be able to draw the conclusion for yourself. In a time of war, Gideon went out with a large army and it was reduced to a particular number and then reduced again until it numbered only 300 men. Under God’s guidance, they were able to win the battle, against all odds, and give glory to their God. If we look at the history of the 1843 chart, we will see that at first there were 300 copies that were published. The reason was that there were 300 Millerite preachers – exactly the same number of people as those who comprised Gideon’s band.

What is interesting in regard to the 1850 chart, according to information from the Department of Archives and Special Collections of the Loma Linda University, is that there were exactly 300 copies of it that were published. On a reprint of the chart made in 1995, we read that Ottis Nickols, an Adventist lithographer from Dorchester, Mass., published 300 copies. The original has a height of 44 inches and a width of 31 inches. In January 1851, the hand-colored version was sold for 2 dollars. The purpose of the chart – according to James White – was to help those who travel and preach the present truth.  

In 1842, there were 300 charts printed (what we know as the 1843 Chart), and in 1850 there were also 300 charts printed. Only these two charts can fulfill the prophecy of Habakkuk and be a part of Gideon’s band.

A worldwide message

The tables of Habakkuk were made clear in the form of charts so that the swift messengers of the present truth could read them quickly. Just as in the days of Miller the charts were widely circulated and sent to the whole world, even in letters, so today they help the messengers of truth present to the world the Three Angel’s Messages of Revelation 14 – the last messages of mercy to a perishing world.

We hope that those who read this article will be led to study the prophetic charts of 1843 and 1850, that they will understand them, and see where we are in the line of time and where we are going.

Soon Christ’s ministry in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary shall be finished and Christ shall come a second time. May God help us align our lives to the work that is now being done in the Most Holy Place and our sins be blotted out so that we would be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus!

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