Source library
Read source passages and their interpretations here, or browse the full bibliography for additional works.
395 works with text on Rainbow Watch
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy (letter opening); historical authorship not investigated
The letter comforts people grieving fellow believers. It says that the dead in Christ rise first, then living believers join them to meet the descending Lord.
Text available here
The dead and living meet the Lord →
American Standard Version (1901), eBible HTML
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Michael Baxter
Michael Baxter’s Christian Herald pamphlet, first printed in 1866 and enlarged in 1880, to which he added in June 1887 the dates ending in Passover Week 1901. It names Thursday, 11 April 1901, the last day of Passover Week, as the end of this age.
Text available here
Rev. M. Baxter, 15 Predicted Events from 1892 to 1901 (London: “Christian Herald” Office; New York: Bible House), a pamphlet whose footnote dates the 1901 diagrams and explanations to June 1887; this copy reprints its pages in October 1891 (bracketed note, p. 11). Internet Archive item 15predictedevent00baxt (University of British Columbia Library), BookReader leaf 4, p. [1]: the paragraph from “Passover Week in 1901” through “before Millennial blessedness.” and the footnote “The first edition of this little pamphlet” through “June, 1887.” Transcribed from the page image. Small capitals rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; broken commas after “Thursday” and “1856” read as commas; broken type read as “of” (“of the Holy Land”); whitespace normalized; omissions marked “…”.
p. [1] and footnote
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong’s 1956 booklet for the Radio Church of God, contrasting a technological future planned for 1975 with prophecies of drought, famine and war before Christ’s return. It places the start of the Great Tribulation probably between 1965 and 1972.
Text available here
Armstrong: the Great Tribulation begins with a drought probably between 1965 and 1972 · commentary →
Herbert W. Armstrong, 1975 in Prophecy! (Pasadena: Radio Church of God; “Copyright 1956 • Radio Church of God,” p. 1), 32 pp. The scanned copy lists an Ambassador College address at Bricket Wood, England (p. 32), so it is a later printing of the 1956 text. PDF scan hosted at herbert-armstrong.org, page image of p. 10 inspected; the PDF’s text layer and the HWA Library transcription (which omits “1975—” in the second sentence) were used for comparison. Selected unit: p. 10, second column, from “While modern science and industry” through “of the Great Tribulation!” Italics rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized.
p. 10
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
The 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose history of the work in the United States recalls the expectations attached to 1925 and their outcome.
Text available here
The 1975 Yearbook: “The year 1925 came and went” · commentary →
1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society), “Part 2—United States of America,” p. 146, the first three sentences of the paragraph beginning “The year 1925 came and went.” Watchtower Online Library transcription (yb75 pp. 109–183), retrieved 1 October 2026. Zero-width spaces in the web text removed; HTML removed.
“Part 2—United States of America,” p. 146
Harold Camping
Harold Camping’s 1992 book, published by Vantage Press, which sets the last day and Christ’s return between the Day of Atonement, 15 September 1994, and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, 27 September 1994, and ends the 2,300-day tribulation on 6 September 1994.
Text available here
Harold Camping in 1992: the last day between 15 and 27 September 1994 · commentary →
Harold Camping, 1994? (New York: Vantage Press, first edition, copyright 1992 by Harold Camping; third printing, 1992), ISBN 0-533-10368-1, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 92-90969. Chapter “The Year of Christ’s Return Continues to Unfold,” pp. 520, 521, 525, 526 and 531. Internet Archive lending item 19940000camp; transcribed from page images supplied by the user from their own loan on 5 October 2026. Bold and italics rendered plain; the boxed pull-quote on p. 521 omitted; line-end hyphenation joined; the missing full stop after “September 15, 1994” in item 1 (p. 525) kept as printed; […] marks omissions.
Pp. 520–521, 525–526 and 531
Simon Peter (letter opening); historical authorship not investigated
The passage answers people who mock the promised coming because it seems delayed. It presents divine patience as an opportunity for repentance, describes judgment by fire, and looks toward new heavens and a new earth.
Text available here
Why has the promised coming been delayed? →
American Standard Version (1901), eBible HTML
2 Peter 3:3–13
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy (letter opening); Pauline authorship debated
This New Testament letter addresses expectations about the coming of Jesus. Chapter 2 describes rebellion, the revelation of the lawless one, a restraining force, and the lawless one’s destruction at Jesus’ coming.
Text available here
2 Thessalonians 2: the lawless one and the restrainer →
American Standard Version (1901), eBible transcription
2 Thessalonians 2:3–8
Aaeenaa, Sikh Translations
Aaeenaa’s article on Sikh Translations brings together a future narrative and symbolic explanations of the title 96 Crori.
Text available here
The Khalsa’s “96 Crori” ruler →
Sikh Translations website, signed Aaeenaa
Entire article, Puratan Sau Sakhi narrative and alternative number explanations
William Aspinwall
Fifth Monarchist tract by William Aspinwall (London, 1653) describing the coming kingdom of Christ on earth. Its closing prognostic sets 1673 as the uttermost end of Antichrist’s dominion.
Text available here
Aspinwall: Antichrist’s dominion ends by 1673, the Fifth Monarchy a little before · commentary →
Aspinwall: Antichrist’s dominion ends by 1673, the Fifth Monarchy a little before · commentary →
William Aspinwall, A Brief Description of the Fifth Monarchy, or Kingdome, That Shortly Is to Come into the World (London: M. Simmons for Livewell Chapman, 1653), concluding “Prognostick” on the time, p. 14 to the end. Transcribed from the EEBO-TCP keyed text (CC0; textcreationpartnership GitHub repository A75729). Long s (ſ) rendered s; TCP line-end hyphenation markers joined; page breaks joined; marginal notes and running heads omitted; roman and italic type not distinguished; spelling, capitalization and punctuation otherwise as keyed; omissions marked […]. Checked against the Internet Archive page image (bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-brief-description-of-t_aspinwall-william_1653, leaf n17). Two keying defects corrected from the print: “Chr ſt” read “Christ”; the reference keyed “Dan. 7.11 24.26.” prints with a comma and is given as “Dan. 7.11.24.26,”. The print also has “Kingdomes It” without a stop, retained.
p. 14 to the end
Joanna Southcott
Explains sealing as a conditional petition to become heirs rather than an already possessed guarantee; relates Revelation 7 protection and the tree of life to future redemption and Christ’s coming.
Text available here
What Southcott’s followers signed · commentary →
Scanned historical print; imprint details not fully image-collated
PDF/printed pp. 1–4
William Whiston
William Whiston’s collection of documents he held to be authentic records of the Old and New Testament, translated into English (1727–1728). In Part I a note on the seventh millenary ends the world’s six thousand years at the equinox of 1517, or in 1766 by the Samaritan count.
Text available here
William Whiston, A Collection of Authentick Records Belonging to the Old and New Testament, Part I (London: Printed for the Author, MDCCXXVII [1727]), pp. 462–464, the N.B. from “N. B. Since we have a little above met with” to “Essay on the O. T. pag. 21, 22.” (Internet Archive bim_eighteenth-century_a-collection-of-authenti_1727_1, leaves n465–n467). Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures and marginal notes omitted; spelling, capitalization and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images and checked against the item’s OCR text layer.
pp. 462–464
Joanna Southcott
Challenges Brothers’s reading of Eden and makes conditional threats concerning his access to the promised land. Connects the woman’s seed to Satan’s loss of earthly power; the rival’s views are available here only through Southcott’s polemic.
Text available here
Southcott challenges Brothers on the serpent · commentary →
Scanned historical print; imprint details not fully image-collated
PDF/printed pp. 1–4, 6–8
Richard Reece
An attending physician’s retrospective defense describes believers expecting Shiloh’s birth and resuscitation, followed by his reported autopsy finding no child. His allegations of deliberate deception are separate inferences.
Text available here
Reece’s account of the postmortem examination · commentary →
Scanned historical print; imprint details not fully image-collated
Title and preface; printed pp. 79–92 (PDF 85–98)
J. Buckley
Counters Southcott’s use of the woman’s seed with an account centered on Mary and Christ’s already completed saving work; interprets Abraham’s blessing spiritually rather than as worldly principalities.
Text available here
Buckley places the promise in Christ and Mary · commentary →
IAPSOP historical scan; edition details noted separately
Title and opening covenant argument, PDF/printed pp. 1–4
Thomas Beverley
Thomas Beverley’s 1692 tract counting from the Hegira of 622 that the Kingdom of Christ must enter its succession in 1697 at the farthest, when the 1260 years of the papacy end.
Text available here
Beverley in 1692: the Kingdom of Christ in its succession at the farthest in 1697 · commentary →
T. Beverley, A Demonstrative Scripture-Proof from Mahometan Times: The Kingdom of Christ Must needs be in its Succession, 1697 (London, Printed in the Year, 1692). Title page (leaf n0) and the heading of p. 1 (leaf n2), from “A Demonstrative Proof from the Space of Time run out” to “according to the Line of Time given.” (Internet Archive bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-demonstrative-scriptur_beverley-thomas_1692). Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures and marginal notes omitted; spelling, capitalization and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images and checked against the item’s OCR text layer.
Title page; p. 1
Thomas Beverley
Thomas Beverley’s 1693 tract arguing from the oath of Revelation 10 that the Kingdom of Christ must enter its succession in 1697, the date he says he had “so often fixed”.
Text available here
Beverley in 1693: “what I have so often fixed at 1697” · commentary →
T. Beverley, A Fresh Memorial of the Kingdom of Christ: Demonstrating from that Solemn Oath of Christ, Rev. X. … It must needs enter its Succession 1697 (London: Printed for William Marshal at the Bible in Newgate-Street, and John Salusbury, at the Rising Sun in Corn-hill, 1693). Title page (leaf n0) and pp. 27–28, from “Object. 2d.” to “shall come to pass at 1697.” (Internet Archive bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-fresh-memorial_beverley-thomas_1693, leaves n32–n33). The printed forms “begnn”, “Time ot a former Date” and “beginning at 1597” are kept as printed. Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures and marginal notes omitted; spelling, capitalization and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images and checked against the item’s OCR text layer.
Title page; pp. 27–28
Joseph Davey Cunningham; H. L. O. Garrett, editor of the 1918 edition
Cunningham’s history includes a translated reply attributed to Nanak, accompanied by his criticism of its attribution.
Text available here
Nanak’s reported reply to Karun →
Cunningham questioned the attribution to Nanak · commentary →
Joseph Davey Cunningham, A History of the Sikhs from the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej, edited by H.L.O.Garrett, new and revised edition (Oxford University Press,1918), Appendix XX, item 2, “The Reply of Nānak to Karun, the Lord of Medina,” pp.371–372. Complete historical translation, collated with scan; verse line breaks retained, line wraps joined, spacing normalized. The appendix’s attribution note is separate commentary; its footnote 1 is separately anchored.
Appendix XX item 2, pp.371–372 and attribution note p.370
Moses Lowman
Moses Lowman’s historical commentary on Revelation (first edition 1737; second edition 1745). It counts the 1,260 years of the beast from about 756 to about 2016, after which the millennium follows.
Text available here
Lowman: the antichristian power destroyed about 2016, before the millennium · commentary →
Lowman: the antichristian power destroyed about 2016, before the millennium · commentary →
Moses Lowman, A Paraphrase and Notes on the Revelation of St. John, second edition (London: John Noon, 1745), note (i) to chapter XVI, pp. 204–205 (Internet Archive paraphrasenoteso00lowm, leaves n245–n246). Transcribed from the page images; OCR used only to locate the passage. Long s rendered s; “ct” ligature expanded; spacing before semicolons and colons normalized; line-end hyphenation joined; italics not distinguished; spelling as printed, including “Council” for counsel.
Note (i) to chapter XVI, pp. 204–205
John Napier
John Napier’s commentary on Revelation (Edinburgh, 1593), arranged as numbered propositions. Proposition 14 reasons that the day of judgment should fall between 1688 and 1700.
Text available here
Napier: the day of judgment between 1688 and 1700 · commentary →
Napier: the day of judgment between 1688 and 1700 · commentary →
John Napier, A Plaine Discovery, of the Whole Revelation of Saint Iohn (Edinburgh: Robert Walde-grave, 1593), first treatise, Proposition 14, pp. 16 and 20–22 (Internet Archive NapierJohn.APlaineDiscoveryOfTheWholeRevelationOfSaintJohnSet, two-page spreads at BookReader leaves n15, n17, n18). Proposition heading from p. 16; reckoning from p. 21 (“Therfore, from this yeare of Christ 365.”) to p. 22 (“vtterlie nothing at all.”); the intervening argument on pp. 16–21 omitted and marked […]. Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures, marginal notes and reference asterisks omitted; spelling, capitalization, u/v and i/j usage and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images and checked against the item's OCR text layer. Tilde abbreviation retained in “apparãtly”; “æternallie” and “Irenæus” keep the printed ligature.
Proposition 14, pp. 16, 20–22
Edward Bickersteth
Edward Bickersteth’s guide to interpreting prophecy, reprinted at Philadelphia in 1841 from the enlarged sixth London edition. It ends the 2,300 years of Daniel 8 in 1867–8 with the completed Jewish restoration and the 1335 years of Daniel 12 in 1868 with the full blessedness of the earth.
Text available here
Bickersteth: the 2,300 years end in 1867–8, the 1335 years in 1868 · commentary →
Bickersteth: the 2,300 years end in 1867–8, the 1335 years in 1868 · commentary →
Edward Bickersteth, A Practical Guide to the Prophecies, with Reference to Their Interpretation and Fulfilment, and to Personal Edification, “from the sixth London edition, enlarged” (Philadelphia: Orrin Rogers; E. G. Dorsey, printer, 1841), p. 146: the heading “2,300.—Dan. viii. 13.” and its second paragraph, and the heading “1,290 and 1335.—Dan. xii. 11, 12.” with its three paragraphs. Internet Archive item practicalguideto00bick (Princeton Theological Seminary Library), BookReader leaves 14 (title page) and 159. Transcribed from the page images. Italics rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized; omissions marked “…”.
p. 146
Faxian (Fa-hien), recorder; the forecast is attributed to an unnamed Indian devotee
Records a forecast of Maitreya’s advent, the disappearance of Buddhist teaching, shortening human life, violence, and subsequent moral recovery.
Text available here
The Buddha’s bowl and the coming of Maitreya →
James Legge translation, online under The Travels of Fa-Hien; one whole travel account, not one work per chapter.
Chapter XXXIX, Sermon of a Devotee, from the alms-bowl itinerary through the closing attribution
Richard Brothers
Uses a 2300-year calculation to designate 1798 for the restoration of the Hebrews to Jerusalem and identifies Brothers as the authorized interpreter and future prince. Two books are conservatively one work, not two counts.
Text available here
Richard Brothers predicts restoration in 1798 · commentary →
West Springfield: Edward Gray for Asaph Chilson, 1797; later incomplete web transcription
Book I title, preface and pp. 7–11
Thomas Beverley
Thomas Beverley’s 1698 pamphlet reviewing the events of 1697, with an apology for the falling short of what he had expected from prophecy.
Text available here
Beverley’s apology after 1697 · commentary →
T. Beverley, A Review of What God hath been Pleased to do This Year, According to Prophecy … with A most Humble Apology and Defence concerning the falling short of Events (London: William Marshal and John Marshal, MDCXCVIII [1698]); dedication to the Lord Mayor signed “Tho. Beverley” and dated “Mo. 9. D. 12th. 1697.” Selected unit: section heading and first three paragraphs of p. 1 (Internet Archive bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-review-of-what-god-hat_beverley-thomas_1698, leaf n8). Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures, marginal notes and reference asterisks omitted; spelling, capitalization, u/v and i/j usage and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images and checked against the item's OCR text layer.
p. 1
Thomas Beverley
A four-page tract by Thomas Beverley giving a scheme of prophecy “Beginning this present Year, 1691” and carried on to the succession of the Kingdom of Christ in 1697, assuring the success of the King’s expedition that summer and appealing to the event to confirm his prophetical grounds.
Text available here
[T. Beverley], A Scheme of Prophecy Now to be Fulfilled; Beginning this present Year, 1691 (no imprint; four pages; the author is not named in the tract). The “Catalogue of Late Books By That Reverend Divine Mr. Thomas Beverly” printed at the end of the 1696 second edition of his Catechism of the Kingdom lists “A Scheam of Prophecies now to be Fulfilled” as item 24 (Internet Archive bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_the-catechism-of-the-kin_beverley-thomas_1696, leaves n24 and n26). Pp. [1]–2 (leaves n0–n1), from “A Scheme of Prophecy” to “the Thousand Years Glory.” (Internet Archive bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-scheme-of-prophecy_beverley-thomas_1696, catalogued there under 1696). Long s (ſ) rendered s; ligatures expanded; roman and italic type not distinguished; line-end hyphenation joined; spacing normalized (one space after punctuation, paragraph breaks as blank lines); running heads, catchwords, signatures and marginal notes omitted; spelling, capitalization and punctuation otherwise as printed; omissions inside the selection marked […]. Transcribed from the Internet Archive page images.
Pp. [1]–2