1. BEARING OF PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION ON CHURCH HISTORY

Even the best of historians and biographers have usually overlooked, or at least underrated, the influence of prophetic interpretation in the religious thinking of past centuries. There is customarily an extensive treatment of dogmatic and organizational problems in church history. These issues were often highly disturbing, and have left their marks—and often their scars—upon both church and state, as well as upon the records of the times.PFF1 9.2

But this oft—forgotten element of Biblical prophecy has frequently exerted an even greater influence than some of the commonly emphasized factors, not only upon the leaders of the people, but also upon the masses as well. It has often arrested the attention and gripped the imagination of men. And not infrequently it has stirred whole groups to important action. It has at times shaped the very course of empire, and materially affected the welfare of the church. This recital, then, is in a sense a phase of church history, and proffers a key that will unlock scores of otherwise baffling mysteries in the record of the years. It is therefore a valid and vital field of study.PFF1 9.3

The interpretation of prophecy has not been simply a by—product of Bible study. It has been not merely an occasional interest but a remarkably constant one over long periods of time. Nor has it been attempted chiefly by obscure and ignorant men. Instead, the expositors of the years have usually been men of prominence, learning, and influence, whose lives and teachings not only have molded their own generation, but often have lived on, influencing other generations to come. Very frequently these expositors were the key men of their times. They were fearless men, many going to the stake for their faith. And they represented all walks of life—churchmen, statesmen, teachers, historians, scientists, mathematicians, physicians, philosophers, discoverers. They included Jewish rabbis, Catholic clerics, Christian ministers, dissentients, prominent laymen, and even monarchs on the throne. They constituted a remarkable cross section of humanity, and were usually the intellectual leaders of their day. These facts have necessitated a study of the men themselves, that the character of their exposition might be evaluated—hence, the biographical approach and emphasis that has been followed.PFF1 10.1