Apocalyptic letter to a leader of the “lost tribes” - 1835
Harriet Livermore, apocalyptic evangelist.
Introduction
Harriet Livermore was a nineteenth-century American preacher and a missionary to American Indians, whom she believed to be the lost tribes of Israel. Her hymn singing was considered excellent and her sermons so eloquent that she was invited to preach in the United States Capitol building three times. At the start of her ministry she preached a traditional salvation message, but later came under the influence of adventists (those who emphasized the Second Coming) and taught that Christ would return to the Mount of Olives in 1847. Convinced that his coming was impending, she made several trips to Israel. She prepared a collection of hymns for use of Cherokee Indians, and prefaced it with an apocalyptic letter to Elias Boudinot, a Cherokee leader, dated from Philadelphia this day 5 October 1835.
Quote
“The present state of things, I view as preparative to a sudden and universal Resolution through the whole extent of this spacious globe, which becomes necessary to the support of the Name above every Name, and of the throne of grace-to man! Worlds invisible, that is, the spiritual worlds, have host of agents on both sides the question, truth-and the LIE. And I believe they are approaching to the conflict, named in Holy Scripture, ‘the battle of that Great Day of GOD Almighty,’ in which victory is given to Jesus Christ, his elect angels and people….
“I entreat of you (I would say the same to every Indian upon the earth if I could) to rejoice in your tribulations; for depend on this word, they are a distinguished branch of ‘Jacob’s trouble,’ yea, an important hour of that time of his woes, out of which he shall be saved. …
“The red men are not alone, in the regions of trouble, at this eventful period. We can hear of no nation of people, on the face of the whole earth, that are at ease. Revolutions are increasing, bringing forth wind and tempest, effecting no permanent deliverance from evil; but merely changing the shape thereof….
“Let us watch and pray—let us remember Calvary! Oh! Calvary! We will not cease to celebrate thy victory, though the sun retired and left thee dark as night; yet our Redeemer cried, ‘It is finished;’ and the veil was rent-the saints awoke, the rocks gave way, and hell was in despair!
“My own experience is entirely on the side of Calvary! …. I cling to the name of Jesus; and Antichrist must strike me there or not at all….”
Livermore, Harriet. The Harp of Israel, to Meet the Loud Echo in the Wilds of America. Philadelphia: Printed for the Authoress, by J. Rakestraw, 1835. Harriet Livermore.