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evidence that the end of all things was at hand。 In different lands there
were isolated bodies of Christians who； solely by the study of the
Scriptures； arrived at the belief that the Saviour's advent was near。
In 1821； three years after Miller had arrived at his exposition of the
prophecies pointing to the time of the judgment； Dr。 Joseph Wolff； 〃the
missionary to the world；〃 began to proclaim the Lord's soon coming。 Wolff
was born in Germany； of Hebrew parentage； his father being a Jewish rabbi。
While very young he was convinced of the truth of the Christian religion。 Of
an active； inquiring mind； he had been an eager listener to the
conversations that took place in his father's house as devout Hebrews daily
assembled to recount the hopes and anticipations of their people； the glory
of the coming Messiah； and the restoration of Israel。 One day hearing Jesus
of Nazareth mentioned； the boy inquired who He was。 〃A Jew of the greatest
talent；〃 was the answer； 〃but as He pretended to be the Messiah； the Jewish
tribunal sentenced Him to death。〃 〃Why；〃 rejoined the questioner； 〃is
Jerusalem destroyed； and why are we in captivity？〃 〃Alas； alas！〃 answered
his father； 〃because the Jews murdered the prophets。〃 The thought was at
once suggested to the child： 〃Perhaps Jesus was also a prophet； and the Jews
killed Him when He was innocent。〃Travels and Adventures 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
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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
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advent as 〃a Man of Sorrows； and acquainted with grief；〃 he saw that the
prophecies bring to view with equal clearness His second advent with power
and glory。 And while he sought to lead his people to Jesus of Nazareth as
the Promised One； and to point them to His first coming in humiliation as a
sacrifice for the sins of men； he taught them also of His second coming as a
king and deliverer。
〃Jesus of Nazareth； the true Messiah；〃 he said； 〃whose hands and feet were
pierced； who was brought like a lamb to the slaughter； who was the Man of
Sorrows and acquainted with grief； who after the scepter was taken from
Judah； and the legislative power from between his feet； came the first time；
shall come the second time in the clouds of heaven； and with the trump of
the Archangel〃 （Joseph Wolff； Researches and Missionary Labors； page 62）
〃and shall stand upon the Mount of Olives； and that dominion； once consigned
to Adam over the creation； and forfeited by him （Genesis 1：26； 3：17）； shall
be given to Jesus。 He shall be king over all the earth。 The groanings and
lamentations of the creation shall cease； but songs of praises and
thanksgivings shall be heard。 。。。 When Jesus comes in the glory of His
Father； with the holy angels；。。。 the dead believers shall rise first。 1
Thessalonians 4：16； 1 Corinthians 15：32。 This is what we Christians call the
first resurrection。 Then the animal kingdom shall change its nature （Isaiah
11：6…9）； and be subdued unto Jesus。 Psalm 8。 Universal peace shall
prevail。〃Journal of the Rev。 Joseph Wolff； pages 378； 379。 〃The Lord again
shall look down upon the earth； and say； 'Behold； it is very good。'〃
Ibid。； page 294。
Wolff believed the coming of the Lord to be at hand； his interpretation of
the prophetic periods placing the great consummation within a very few years
of the time pointed out by Miller。 To those who urged from the scripture；
〃Of that day and hour knoweth no man；〃 that men are to know nothing
concerning the nearness of the advent； Wolff replied： 〃Did our Lord say that
that day and hour should never be known？ Did He not give us signs of the
times； in order
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that we may know at least the approach of His coming； as one knows the
approach of the summer by the fig tree putting forth its leaves？ Matthew
24：32。 Are we never to know that period； whilst He Himself exhorteth us not
only to read Daniel the prophet； but to understand it？ and in that very
Daniel； where it is said that the words were shut up to the time of the end
（which was the case in his time）； and that 'many shall run to and fro' （a
Hebrew expression for observing and thinking upon the time）； 'and knowledge'
（regarding that time） 'shall be increased。' Daniel 12：4。 Besides this； our
Lord does not intend to say by this； that the approach of the time shall not
be known； but that the exact 'day and hour knoweth no man。' Enough； He does
say； shall be known by the signs of the times； to induce us to prepare for
His coming； as Noah prepared the ark。〃Wolff； Researches and Missionary
Labors； pages 404； 405。
Concerning the popular system of interpreting； or misinterpreting； the
Scriptures； Wolff wrote： 〃The greater part of the Christian church have
swerved from the plain sense of Scripture； and have turned to the
phantomizing system of the Buddhists； who believe that the future happiness
of mankind will consist in moving about in the air； and suppose that when
they are reading Jews they must understand Gentiles； and when they read
Jerusalem； they must understand the church； and if it is said earth； it
means sky； and for coming of the Lord they must understand the progress of
the missionary societies； and going up to the mountain of the Lord's house；
signifies a grand class meeting of Methodists。〃 Journal of the Rev。 Joseph
Wolff； page 96。
During the twenty…four years from 1821 to 1845； Wolff traveled extensively：
in Africa； visiting Egypt and Abyssinia； in Asia； traversing Palestine；
Syria； Persia； Bokhara； and India。 He also visited the United States； on the
journey thither preaching on the island of Saint Helena。 He arrived in New
York in August； 1837； and； after speaking in that city； he preached in
Philadelphia and Baltimore； and finally proceeded to Washington。 Here； he
says； 〃on a motion brought
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forward by the ex…President； John Quincy Adams； in one of the houses of
Congress； the House unanimously granted to me the use of the Congress Hall
for a lecture； which I delivered on a Saturday； honored with the presence of
all the members of Congress； and also of the bishop of Virginia； and of the
clergy and citizens of Washington。 The same honor was granted to me by the
members of the government of New Jersey and Pennsylvania； in whose presence
I delivered lectures on my researches in Asia； and also on the personal
reign of Jesus Christ。〃Ibid。； pages 398； 399。
Dr。 Wolff traveled in the most barbarous countries without the protection of
any European authority； enduring many hardships and surrounded with
countless perils。 He was bastinadoed and starved； sold as a slave； and three
times condemned to death。 He was beset