.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
After the Millerite disciple Jonathan Cummings's chart Explanation of the Prophetic Chart, and the Application of the Truth, published in 1854, the present painted banner is a captivating work likely used in religious teachings. William Miller, born in 1782, gained a following after preaching his interpretations of the book of Daniel, which he understood as key to prophetic events, including the return of Christ and the Rapture. His followers were called Millerites and believed the Second Coming would arrive by March 21, 1844. The day came and went without event, and was embarassingly dubbed the ‘Great Disappointment’. Jonathan Cummings, a Millerite preacher, reworked Miller’s calculation and determined the correct timing of the Second Coming to be between 1854-55. As an appendage, Cummings created a revised prophetic chart which was printed large-scale on linen. He also published a 248-page essay that explained the new chart and the pictured prophecies in detail. The present painted banner is directly based on the revised chart (see an example in the Jenks Collection of Adventual Materials, Prophetic Charts, no. 2, Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois).
These charts were made on a large scale to command attention. Preachers would bring the charts on their travels, often hanging them in public to attract a large crowd. Their startling and fantastical imagery is not only visually captivating, but communicates foundational information of the Millerism faith. The large man, seen here at left, is segmented into four sections with corresponding names and animals representing the great civilizations in history. Beginning with Babylon, each succeeding government falls and is understood as a degradation of that which came before, until these failures lead to the Second Coming. The figures depicted below reference passages from the Book of Revelation. The red, seven-headed dragon represents Satan (Rev. 12), the woman holding a cup of “abominations” is the Whore of Babylon (Rev. 17 & 18), and the seven angels with trumpets are the “Woe” angels (Rev. 8) who brought apocalyptic events to earth.
These charts were made on a large scale to command attention. Preachers would bring the charts on their travels, often hanging them in public to attract a large crowd. Their startling and fantastical imagery is not only visually captivating, but communicates foundational information of the Millerism faith. The large man, seen here at left, is segmented into four sections with corresponding names and animals representing the great civilizations in history. Beginning with Babylon, each succeeding government falls and is understood as a degradation of that which came before, until these failures lead to the Second Coming. The figures depicted below reference passages from the Book of Revelation. The red, seven-headed dragon represents Satan (Rev. 12), the woman holding a cup of “abominations” is the Whore of Babylon (Rev. 17 & 18), and the seven angels with trumpets are the “Woe” angels (Rev. 8) who brought apocalyptic events to earth.