The end of the world for the Old Believers in Russia was slated for 1669. As a result, between 1669 and 1690, a panicked 20,000 people burned themselves to death in an effort to protect themselves from the Antichrist. In this article, you will also encounter the predictions of a British theologian and Christian prophetess who incorrectly named the Antichrist.
1689
Predictions of the end of the world taking place in 1689was delivered by Benjamin Keach, a 17th century Baptist, who suffered punishment for his religious teachings , pilloried for writing a catechism. Keach’s Catechisms were comprised of a collection of basic questions and answers from scripture meant to instruct readers on the basics of the Reformed Baptist faith. It was basically an explanation of the Christian faith originating from a Baptist perspective.
1736 , October 13
British theologian and mathematician William Whitson predicted a devastating flood comparable to Noah’s Ark that he believed would take place on October 13.
1792
Some followers of the Shaker movement calculated the end of the world as taking place in 1792.
1794
One of the founders of Methodism (Charles Wesley) was convinced that Doomsday would occur in 1794.
1830
A Christian prophetess named Margaret McDonald predicted that Robert Owen would turn out to be the Antichrist. Instead of destroying the world, Owen played an instrumental role in establishing New Harmony, IN.
~1832
The founder of the Church of Christ, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), which now includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormons, claimed that he heard a voice during a session of prayer. He wrote in section 130 of Doctrines and Covenants:
14: “I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:”
15: “Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.”
16: “I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face.”
17: “I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.”
The year of this event was not recorded, but one commentator suggests that it took place 1832 or earlier. In later years, Smith was noted as saying: “I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written–the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am eighty-five years old.”
During 1890, Smith would have been 85 years old, but that same year, he had already been dead for nearly 50 years , losing his life to a mob that successfully assassinated the religious leader. Depending on whom you speak to, Smith’s prophecy can be taken in many different ways. Does it mean that in 1890, the year would come and pass without the return of Jesus or 1890 was supposed to be the year when Jesus would return? When anti-Mormons wish to shed a negative light on Smith’s prophecy by only quoting verse 14 and 15 of the above passage to point out the fact that Smith failed in his prediction.