millennialism

501 Pages·1991·13.8 MB·English

MERCHANTS OF DESPAIR AND HOPE
WILLIAM MILLER JOHN NELSON DARBY
The traditional devices for constructing a
comprehensive view of history and for retracing the past
as a patient and continuous development must be
systematically dismantled. Necessarily, we must dismiss
those tendencies that encourage the consoling play of
recognitions. Knowledge even under the banner of
history, does not depend on “rediscovery,” and it
emphatically excludes the “rediscovery of ourselves.”
History becomes “effective” to the degree that it
introduces discontinuity into our very being — as it
divides our emotions, dramatizes our instincts,
multiplies our body and sets it against itself.
Effective history deprives the self of the reassuring
stability of life and nature, and it will not permit
itself to be transported by a voiceless obstinacy toward
a millennial ending. It will uproot traditional
foundations and relentlessly disrupt its pretended
continuity. This is because knowledge is not made for
understanding; it is made for cutting.
— Michel Foucault, HOMMAGE A JEAN HYPPOLITE, 1971
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
Henry Thoreau wrote in “LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE” that he wouldn’t run
round a corner to see the world blow up. In order to unpack that
remark, in this file I have detailed the agendas of two preachers
of his period, one in England and the other in America, for whom
the end of the world was the meat and substance of just
everything. In order to contextualize the activities of these
two preachers, the Reverend Darby in England and the Reverend
Miller in America, I have laid in background detail having to
do with any number of predictions of the “End Times”: parousia,
passion, apocalypse, whatever.
During the War of 1812 Captain William Miller had fallen from a
wagon, unfortunately landing upon his head. The uncharitable
might suspect that such an accident would cause delusions.
The charitable would, however, allow that these delusions would
arise later and out of a too-close familiarity with the 7th
through the 12th chapters of the BOOK OF DANIEL.
During the winter of 1826/1827, the Reverend John Nelson Darby
had fallen off his horse, unfortunately striking his head upon
a doorjamb. The charitable would, however, allow that his
delusions would arise during his convalescence and out of a too-
close familiarity with the 32d chapter of the BOOK OF ISAIAH.
Mundi terminum ruinis crescentibus appropinquantem
1
indicia certa manifestant.
How novel and original must be each new man’s view
of the universe—for though the world is so old—& so
many books have been written—each object appears
wholly undescribed to our experience—each field
of thought wholly unexplored.... The end of the
world is not yet.2
1.Markulf, a French monk, shortly before 1000 CE: “World end ruins multiply announce signs testify clearly,”
which is to say, “Clear signs announce the end of the world; the ruins multiply.”
2.Henry Thoreau, JOURNAL, April 2,1852
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
2,800 BCE
In Erech, a dynasty was founded by Meskiaggasher, which would come to rival the city of Kish in Sumer.
An Assyrian clay tablet dating to approximately this year bears the words “Our earth is degenerate in these
latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common.”
After a “Great Flood” –presumably mythical– Etana of Kish united the Sumerian city-states. (Andre Parrot in
his 1954 book “The Flood and Noah’s Ark” indicates significant flood deposits at Kish, Shuurupak, Uruk, and
Lagash, centering on and about this timeframe.)
HERE COME DA JUDGE!
ESSENCE IS BLUR. SPECIFICITY,
THE OPPOSITE OF ESSENCE,
IS OF THE NATURE OF TRUTH.
Future Worship “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
1,482 BCE
The most famous “Battle of Armageddon” was fought in this year in the vicinity of the Mount of Megiddo, a
fortifiable hill between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, between the forces of pharaoh Thutmose III of Egypt and local
Canaanites. Thutmose, of course, won, and was able to go on and subdue Syria and some of Mesopotamia.
This locale would be designated in REVELATION 16:16 as the scene of the final battle between the kings of the
earth at the end of the world.
(The Reverend Jerry Falwell has visited this site in 1967.)
MILLENNIALISM
Thutmose III and his brother Thutmose II were the sons of Thutmose I (Thothmes), himself the successor to
Amenhotep I in the XVIII Dynasty of Egypt. Thutmose I also had a daughter, Hatshepsut, who became the
wife of Thutmose III. Thutmose III had deposed his father in 1501 BCE; Thutmose II had a brief reign; and
Hatshepsut ruled as “king” the longest of all. Thutmose IV was the son and successor to Amenhotep II, and
would reign circa 1420-1411 BCE.
ESSENCES ARE FUZZY, GENERIC, CONCEPTUAL;
ARISTOTLE WAS RIGHT WHEN HE INSISTED THAT ALL TRUTH IS
SPECIFIC AND PARTICULAR (AND WRONG WHEN HE CHARACTERIZED
TRUTH AS A GENERALIZATION).
Future Worship “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
634 BCE
According to Damian Thompson’s THE END OF TIME (Hanover, New Hampshire: UP of New England, 1996,
page 19), apocalyptic thinking gripped many ancient cultures including that of the Romans. Early in Rome’s
history, many citizens feared that their city was going to be destroyed in the 120th year of its founding. There
was a myth that 12 eagles had revealed to Romulus a mystical number representing the lifetime of Rome, and
some early Romans had hypothesized that each of these eagles had represented a decade. (TheRoman calendar
began with the founding of Rome, “1 Ab Urbe Condita” equating to “753 BCE.” Thus “634 BCE” equated to
“120 AUC” since it equated to 12 times 10.)
HERE COME DA JUDGE!
“HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE” BEING A VIEW FROM A PARTICULAR
POINT IN TIME (JUST AS THE PERSPECTIVE IN A PAINTING IS A VIEW
FROM A PARTICULAR POINT IN SPACE), TO “LOOK AT THE COURSE OF
HISTORY MORE GENERALLY” WOULD BE TO SACRIFICE PERSPECTIVE
ALTOGETHER. THIS IS FANTASY-LAND, YOU’RE FOOLING YOURSELF.
THERE CANNOT BE ANY SUCH THINGIE, AS SUCH A PERSPECTIVE.
Future Worship “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
630 BCE
The Persian prophet Zarathushtra Spitama founded the 1st huge religion (cf.“Huge Religion”):
Zoroastrianism. According to its sacred book, the Zend Avesta, he was born in Azerbaijan (northern Persia)
and had a vision from Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), who appointed him to preach the truth.
Zoroaster began telling his message of cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (God of Light) and Ahriman
(principle of evil). According to the Zoroastrian prophecy, man has the power to choose between these
personified forces of good and evil. The end of the world will come when the forces of light triumph, and saved
souls rejoice in victory. This dualism evolved religion from polytheism (many gods) towards monotheism
(onegod) in the Middle East. Zoroaster’s preaching became the guiding light of Persian civilization.
OnceAlexander the Great conquered Persia Zoroastrianism faded in its home country, but survived in India
as the basis of the Parsi religion, which is active today.
A WEEK: The anecdotes of modern astronomy affect me in the same PEOPLE OF
way as do those faint revelations of the Real which are vouchsafed A WEEK
to men from time to time, or rather from eternity to eternity.
When I remember the history of that faint light in our firmament,
which we call Venus, which ancient men regarded, and which most
modern men still regard, as a bright spark attached to a hollow
sphere revolving about our earth, but which we have discovered to
be another world, in itself, — how Copernicus, reasoning long and
patiently about the matter, predicted confidently concerning it,
before yet the telescope had been invented, that if ever men came
to see it more clearly than they did then, they would discover
that it had phases like our moon, and that within a century after
his death the telescope was invented, and that prediction
verified, by Galileo, — I am not without hope that we may, even
here and now obtain some accurate information concerning that
OTHER WORLD which the instinct of mankind has so long predicted.
Indeed, all that we call science, as well as all that we call
poetry, is a particle of such information, accurate as far as it
goes, though it be but to the confines of the truth. If we can
reason so accurately, and with such wonderful confirmation of our
reasoning, respecting so-called material objects and events
infinitely removed beyond the range of our natural vision, so that
the mind hesitates to trust its calculations even when they are
confirmed by observation, why may not our speculations penetrate
as far into the immaterial starry system, of which the former is
but the outward and visible type? Surely, we are provided with
senses as well fitted to penetrate the spaces of the real, the
substantial, the eternal, as these outward are to penetrate the
material universe. Veias, Menu, Zoroaster, Socrates, Christ, ZOROASTER
Shakespeare, Swedenborg, — these are some of our astronomers.
ASTRONOMY
NICOLAS COPERNICUS
GALILEO GALILEI
VENUS
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
The sacred book Zend-Avesta of Zoroaster contains a description of TB, and instructions for its treatment with
pine oil and rose oil.
It seems to be Zoroastrianism that, historically, originated the supremely dangerous weapon of religiosity,
purity, according to which those who can think of themselves as “pure” may privilege themselves over those
who can in one manner or other be seen to be “impure” — and destroy them relentlessly and ruthlessly. Again
and again we deploy this useful weapon.
ZOROASTER
MILLENNIALISM
“HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE” BEING A VIEW FROM A PARTICULAR
POINT IN TIME (JUST AS THE PERSPECTIVE IN A PAINTING IS A VIEW
FROM A PARTICULAR POINT IN SPACE), TO “LOOK AT THE COURSE OF
HISTORY MORE GENERALLY” WOULD BE TO SACRIFICE PERSPECTIVE
ALTOGETHER. THIS IS FANTASY-LAND, YOU’RE FOOLING YOURSELF.
THERE CANNOT BE ANY SUCH THINGIE, AS SUCH A PERSPECTIVE.
The People of A Week “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
389 BCE
Some Romans figured that the mystical number revealed to Romulus in his dream of a dozen eagles
represented the number of days in a year (the Great Year concept), so they expected Rome to be destroyed
around this year, 365 years after its formation in 753 BCE, namely 365 AUC (Ab Urbe Condita). (Thompson,
Damian. THE END OF TIME. Hanover NH: UP of New England, 1996, page 19)
HERE COME DA JUDGE!
YOUR GARDEN-VARIETY ACADEMIC HISTORIAN INVITES YOU TO CLIMB
ABOARD A HOVERING TIME MACHINE TO SKIM IN METATIME BACK
ACROSS THE GEOLOGY OF OUR PAST TIMESLICES, WHILE OFFERING UP
A GARDEN VARIETY OF COGENT ASSESSMENTS OF OUR PROGRESSION.
WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP! YOU SHOULD REFUSE THIS HELICOPTERISH
OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL PAST, FOR IN THE REAL WORLD THINGS
HAPPEN ONLY AS THEY HAPPEN. WHAT THIS SORT WRITES AMOUNTS,
LIKE MERE “SCIENCE FICTION,” MERELY TO “HISTORY FICTION”:
IT’S NOT WORTH YOUR ATTENTION.
Future Worship “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project
HDT WHAT? INDEX
FUTURE WORSHIP FUTURE WORSHIP
27 CE
At roughly this point in time, Yehoshua bar Yusef, Messiah claimant #6, having succeeded in living a life of
compassion and nonviolence, wasbeing remanded back and forth between the Romans under Pontius Pilate
and the Jews under Herod Antipas in Jerusalem. After some torture, it seems, at the dump Golgotha outside
Jerusalem, he was executed in the usual exemplary manner.
Following the death of Jesus Christ there was a period
of readjustment that lasted for approximately one
million years.
–Kurt Vonnegut, THE SIRENS OF TITAN