Premillennial Faith of James Brookes: Reexamining the Roots of American Dispensationalism

James Brookes played a major role in the history of American premillennialism, dispensationalism, and fundamentalism through his leadership of the Niagra Bible Conference, his writings, and his magazine The Truth. He was also a significant Presbyterian, as seen in his role in the Declaration and Testimony controversy, the Independent Synod of Missouri, and the heresy trial of Charles Briggs. This work examines Brooke’s role in the early history of American dispensationalism, focusing on two basic questions. First, what factors or persons may have influenced Brookes to adopt premillennialism? Second, how did premillennialism affect his views, especially his doctrine of the church and his hermeneutic?