The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 285

The European Union in Prophecy
of the Rev. Joseph Wolff, vol. 1, p. 6. So strong was this feeling that, though forbidden
to enter a Christian church, he would often linger outside to listen to the preaching.
When only seven years old he was boasting to an aged Christian neighbor of the
future triumph of Israel at the advent of the Messiah, when the old man said kindly:
"Dear boy, I will tell you who the real Messiah was: He was Jesus of Nazareth, . . .
whom your ancestors have crucified, as they did the prophets of old. Go home and
read the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and you will be convinced that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God."-- Ibid., vol. 1, p. 7. Conviction at once fastened upon him. He went
home and read the scripture, wondering to see how perfectly it had been fulfilled in
Jesus of Nazareth. Were the words of the Christian true? The boy asked of his father
an explanation of the prophecy, but was met with a silence so stern that he never
again dared to refer to the subject. This, however, only increased his desire to know
more of the Christian religion.
The knowledge he sought was studiously kept from him in his Jewish home; but,
when only eleven years old, he left his father's house and went out into the world to
gain for himself an education, to choose his religion and his lifework. He found a home
for a time with kinsmen, but was soon driven from them as an apostate, and alone
and penniless he had to make his own way among strangers. He went from place to
place, studying diligently and maintaining himself by teaching Hebrew. Through the
influence of a Catholic instructor he was led to accept the Romish faith and formed
the purpose of becoming a missionary to his own people. With this object he went, a
few years later, to pursue his studies in the College of the Propaganda at Rome. Here
his habit of independent thought and candid speech brought upon him the imputation
of heresy. He openly attacked the abuses of the church and urged the necessity of
reform. Though at first treated with special favor by the papal dignitaries, he was
after a time removed from Rome.
Under the surveillance of the church he went from place to place, until it became
evident that he could never be brought to submit to the bondage of Romanism. He was
declared to be incorrigible and was left at liberty to go where he pleased. He now made
his way to England and, professing the Protestant faith, united with the English
Church. After two years' study he set out, in 1821, upon his mission. While Wolff
accepted the great truth of Christ's first advent as "a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted
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