The nineteenth saw a host of diverse readings of prophecy alongside unprecedented societal shifts. From the Millerites to patriotic interpreters who saw America as God’s city on a hill—speculation over an imminent apocalypse was perhaps never more intense. These classic commentaries and studies gather some of the most significant historical examinations of the apocalyptic visions in Daniel and Revelation. These diverse volumes include applications of prophecy to historic events, defenses of the Bible against textual and historical criticism, practical commentaries, and detailed examinations of individual passages.

Reflecting the unique American spirit of the nineteenth century, Joseph F. Berg puts forth America as the fifth kingdom described in Daniel. Berg argues that America is a “political miracle,” and his commentary is a valuable window into the many unique attitudes toward prophetic literature in the nineteenth century.