The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Página 290

The European Union in Prophecy
It was while preparing a sermon from Revelation 21 for advent Sunday that the
light of Christ's second coming broke in upon Bengel's mind. The prophecies of the
Revelation unfolded to his understanding as never before. Overwhelmed with a sense
of the stupendous importance and surpassing glory of the scenes presented by the
prophet, he was forced to turn for a time from the contemplation of the subject. In the
pulpit it again presented itself to him with all its vividness and power. From that time
he devoted himself to the study of the prophecies, especially those of the Apocalypse,
and soon arrived at the belief that they pointed to the coming of Christ as near. The
date which he fixed upon as the time of the second advent was within a very few years
of that afterward held by Miller.
Bengel's writings have been spread throughout Christendom. His views of
prophecy were quite generally received in his own state of Wurttemberg, and to some
extent in other parts of Germany. The movement continued after his death, and the
advent message was heard in Germany at the same time that it was attracting
attention in other lands. At an early date some of the believers went to Russia and
there formed colonies, and the faith of Christ's soon coming is still held by the German
churches of that country. The light shone also in France and Switzerland. At Geneva
where Farel and Calvin had spread the truth of the Reformation, Gaussen preached
the message of the second advent.
While a student at school, Gaussen had encountered that spirit of rationalism
which pervaded all Europe during the latter part of the eighteenth and the opening
of the nineteenth century; and when he entered the ministry he was not only ignorant
of true faith, but inclined to skepticism. In his youth he had become interested in the
study of prophecy. After reading Rollin's Ancient History, his attention was called to
the second chapter of Daniel, and he was struck with the wonderful exactness with
which the prophecy had been fulfilled, as seen in the historian's record. Here was a
testimony to the inspiration of the Scriptures, which served as an anchor to him amid
the perils of later years. He could not rest satisfied with the teachings of rationalism,
and in studying the Bible and searching for clearer light he was, after a time, led to a
positive faith.
As he pursued his investigation of the prophecies he arrived at the belief that
the coming of the Lord was at hand. Impressed with the solemnity and importance of
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