JEFF PIPPENGER TIME OF THE END 2

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FUTURE FOR AMERICA

 

 In Daniel 7:23-24 we find that after the “fourth kingdom” arises, “another shall arise.” This is a description of the fall of pagan Rome and then the rise of papal Rome. In the prophecy of Daniel 7 we see that this fifth king “shall subdue three kings,” as he ascends to power. Genseric, king of the Vandals, was one of those three kings. As papal Rome rises to power, it first has to form an alliance in order to uproot three horns, or three kingdoms, to prepare the way. This was in itself a repetition of history, for as pagan Rome came into control of the world, it first had to form an alliance with the Jews in 161 B.C., (See Daniel and the Revelation p258)

 

and then conquer three geographical areas. In Daniel 8:9 we see the “little horn,” symbolizing pagan Rome waxing “toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land,” thus illustrating the directions of conquest taken as Rome brought the world under its control. We especially note this history, for the king of the north in Daniel 11:40-45 would also subdue three entities, before he took control of the world. Daniel 11:30-36 describes pagan Rome wanting in power.

 

When threatened by other powers in the past, Rome prevailed. Not so at this time. As Rome went out to do battle it was “grieved”-by its inability to prevail. At this time period the “three horns,” which were waging war against pagan Rome, were also waging a theological war against Catholicism. The Heruli, the Goths, and the Vandals, symbolized by the three horns, embraced the Arian faith. During this time period Justinian declared the bishop of Rome to be the head of the church, and the corrector of heretics, in an attempt to restrain the Arian faith from dominating Catholic doctrines. Justinian’s efforts to

 

uphold Catholic doctrines against the Arian onslaught opened the door for the Catholic Church to restrict certain books which threatened their manmade doctrines. This restriction included the Bible, for they began to teach that only the church fathers could safely read it. This attack against the Bible was “the indignation against the holy covenant,” and the appointment of the bishop of Rome to the head of the church was the “intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant,” of verse 30. Verse 31 records that “arms shall stand on his part.” As history and prophecy move forward to the next step in the sequence to set papal Rome on the throne of the world, we find that Clovis, the king of France, dedicated his sword and his country to the Papacy. France became the first Catholic nation, the first of seven kingPast Histories Will Be Repeated (Maranatha 30.3)

 

14 doms found in Europe to renounce their pagan beliefs and embrace Catholicism, and also the first to submit the nation to the service of the Papacy. This alliance provided the ways and means to defeat the three Arian horns. Prophecy taught that these three horns would be removed before the Papacy assumed authority over the world. Not only did Clovis and the other horns of Europe bring their finances and arms to bear against the three horns, they also seized (took away) their pagan resistance against Catholicism.

 

This fact is illustrated as they “take away the daily.” Speaking of the “daily,” Ellen White states: “Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’ (Daniel 8:12) that the word ‘sacrifice’ was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the ‘daily,’ but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed.” Early Writings, 74-75. The pioneers viewed the “daily,” as symbolizing the attack against God’s truth through the forces of paganism. William Miller, Uriah Smith and Josiah Linch describe their understanding below. WILLIAM MILLER:

 

“I read on, and could find no other case in which it [the daily] was found but in Daniel. I then [by the aid of an concordance] took those word which stood in connection with it, ‘take away;’ he shall take away the daily; ‘from the time that the daily shall be taken away’ I read on and thought I would find no light on the text. Finally I came to 2Thessalonians 2:7-8, ‘For the mystery of iniquity does already work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked be revealed.’ And when I had come to that text, O how clear and glorious the truth appeared. There it is! That is the daily! Well, now, what does Paul mean by ‘he who now letteth’ or hindereth? By ‘the man of sin,’ and ‘the wicked,’ Popery is meant.

 

Well what is it that hinders Popery from being revealed? Why it is Paganism. Well, then, ‘the daily’ must mean paganism.” Review and Herald, January, 1858. URIAH SMITH The word sacrifice “should be ‘desolation.’ The expression denotes a desolating power, of which the abomination of desolation is but the counterpart, and to which it succeeds in point of time. It seems clear therefore that the ‘daily’ desolation was paganism, and the ‘abomination of desolation’ is the Papacy. . . .

 

In the ninth chapter, Daniel speaks of desolations and abominations in the plural. More than one abomination, therefore, treads down the church; that is, as far as the church is concerned, both paganism and the Papacy are abominations. But as distinguished from each other, the language is restricted. One is the ‘daily’ desolation, and the other is pre-eminently the transgression or ‘abomination’ of desolation. “How was the ‘daily’, or paganism, taken away? . . .

 

The conversion of Clovis [A.D. 496] is said to have been the occasion of bestowing upon the French monarch the titles ‘Most Christian Majesty’ and ‘Eldest Son of the Church.’ Between that time and A.D. 508, [the other horns of Europe] were brought into subjection. “From . . . A.D. 508, the Papacy was triumphant so far as paganism was concerned, . . . When the prominent powers of Europe gave up their attachment to paganism, it was only to perpetuate its abominations in another form; for Christianity as exhibited in the Roman Catholic Church was, and is, only paganism baptized.” Daniel and the Revelation, 270-272. JOSIAH LITCH:

 

“The daily sacrifice is the present reading of the text; but no such thing as sacrifice is found in the original. This is acknowledged on all hands. It is a gloss or construction put upon it by the translators. The true reading is, ‘the daily and the transgression of desolation;’ daily and transgression being connected together by ‘and;’ the daily and the transgression of desolation. They are two desolating powers which were to desolate the Sanctuary and the host.” Review and Herald, January, 1858.

 

The Pioneer view on the Daily The Pioneer view on the Daily 15 The history of Daniel 11:31 is a description of the pagan powers of Europe coming to the aid of the Papacy to set it upon the throne of the world. The removing of the “daily,” and the polluting of the “sanctuary of strength,” is a description of their turning from open paganism, which previously was their confessed religion biblically symbolized as their “sanctuary of strength.”

 

The words “take away” carry a two-fold meaning as they not only teach a removal, but also a secondary definition conveys the idea of-lifting up. When paganism was set aside by the powers of Europe, through their submission to Catholicism, paganism was actually lifted up, for Catholicism is the greatest manifestation of paganism – though clothed in the garb of Christianity. Speaking of the transition of Pagan Rome to Papal Rome, Ellen White writes: “In the twelfth chapter of revelation we have as a symbol a great red dragon. in the ninth verse of that chapter this symbol is explained as follows: “and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world;

 

he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” undoubtedly the dragon primarily represents Satan. But Satan does not appear upon the earth in person; he works through agents. It was in the person of wicked men that he sought to destroy Jesus as soon as he was born. Wherever Satan has been able to control a government so fully that it would carry out his designs, that nation became, for the time, Satan’s representative.

 

This was the case with all the great heathen nations. For instance, see Ezekiel 28, where Satan is represented as actual king of Tyre. This was because he fully controlled that government. in the first centuries of the Christian era, Rome, of all the pagan nations, was Satan’s chief agent in opposing the gospel, and was therefore represented by the dragon. But there came a time when paganism in the Roman Empire fell before the advancing form of Christianity. Then, as is stated on page 54, “paganism had given place to the papacy.

 

The dragon had given to the beast ‘his power, and his seat, and great authority.'” that is, Satan then began to work through the papacy, just as he had formerly worked through paganism. But the papacy is not represented by the dragon, because it is necessary to introduce another symbol in order to show the change in the form of the opposition to God. Previous to the rise of the papacy, all opposition to the law of God had been in the form of paganism,–God had been openly defied; but from that time the opposition was carried on under the guise of professed allegiance to him.

 

The papacy, however, was no less the instrument of Satan than was pagan Rome; for all the power, the seat, and the great authority of the papacy, were given it by the dragon. And so, although the pope professes to be the vicegerent of Christ, he is, in reality, the vicegerent of Satan–he is antichrist. {Great Controversy 1888 p680.1} In this time period, we see the seed of the serpent forming another phase in history. The first persecuting power was open alliance against the Levitical system of worship which was God’s word instructed to Moses on the

 

mount. It was also described as the daily or continuance (see Numbers 29:6, 4:16) as it comes from the same Hebrew word ‘Tamid’ which is the same word used in the book of Daniel when discussing the daily in relation to paganism. Just as Christ taketh away the first to establish the second, Satan also takes away his first system of worship (pagan Rome) to make way for the second abomination that maketh desolate. (Papal Rome). This is the second persecuting power against the seed of the woman which is paganism baptised into Christianity.

 

Continuing on in Daniel 11: 32-35 we see the persecution of the Dark Ages illustrated, with the final phrase of verse 35 pointing to the end of the 1260 years with the words, “even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” This phrase takes us up to verse 40. But before Daniel gets to verse forty, verses 36-39, present the description of the main subject of Daniel which is the Papacy: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” Daniel 11:36.

 

This is clearly the Papacy, and Paul paraphrases this passage in his most potent statement of the Papacy: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. Ellen White combines both Daniel’s king which does 16 “according to his will” and Paul’s “man of sin” in describing the Papacy: “

 

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of ‘the man of sin’ foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan’s power-a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.” The Great Controversy, p50.

 

As we continue the study of Daniel 11:40-45 we will see a historical sequence within these verses which closely parallels the history we have just reviewed. We will set forth evidence to demonstrate that Daniel 11:40 is a description of a spiritual war between the Papacy and atheism which began in 1798. We will also show that verse 40 teaches that initially in the war between the king of the south and the king of the north, the king of the north was grieved in its ability to prevail against the southern kingdom. In fact, the war begins with the king of the north receiving a deadly wound, as his political kingdom was taken away.

 

When writing on Daniel 11:30, Sister White pointed us to a time when Rome was unable to prevail against its enemy. Revelation 13 describes the Papacy as the head which receives a deadly wound. The deadly wound of papal Rome is a repetition of Pagan Rome being grieved over her ability to maintain control of her former empire. See Daniel 11:30.

 

The war and the grieving of the Papacy are described when the king of the south would “push” at the king of the north in Daniel 11:40. But verse 40 teaches that a change would take place. In time, the king of the north would return and, through military and economic power, sweep away the king of the south. We will see that economic and military power were supplied to the king of the north in this war, in the same way that Clovis came to the aid of the Papacy in the past. We will see that in fulfillment of this verse the Soviet Union, the modern-day king of the south, was swept away by the Papacy-the northern king.

 

This sweeping away was accomplished through an alliance with the United States. Not only do these recent scenes parallel the history highlighted by Sister White in Daniel 11:30- 31, but they support the testimony of Revelation 13, which identifies the United States as the beast which comes to the aid of the Papacy at the end of the world. In the next chapter we would demonstrate that after 1798, a second transition was taking place in the seed of the serpent to form the third persecuting power which is the lamb like beast, this is the sixth head that is to carry this mystery religion as described in revelation 17 and not Atheism as many within Adventism teach.

 

We will also look at the Millerite movement and show that the pioneer experience is being repeated and a thorough understanding of their experience will prepare us for when we can expect the latter rain to be revived. We have already considered the alliance with the glorious land in 161 B.C. which allowed pagan Rome to uproot three geographical areas before it came to the throne of the world. We compared it to the alliance with Clovis in A.D. 508 and then the removal of the three horns preceding the Papacy’s ascension to the throne of the world which began the Dark Ages.

 

We will see as we proceed with the article that verse 40 is the first of three steps which modern Babylon takes as she returns to the throne of the world in our day. The first step was alliance with America in 1989 which allowed her to implement the fall of the king of the south, the former Soviet Union, and this step is now past history.

 

The second step is delineated in verse 41, where the king of the north takes control of the glorious land. This is the second obstacle she needs to overthrow as she heads for world dominion. The glorious land of this verse is none other than the second beast of Revelation 13, who has already entered into an unholy alliance with the Vatican in order to bring the demise of the Soviet Union. As Clovis came to the aid of the Papacy by offering military and economic support, along with the acceptance of Catholicism instead of paganism, the United States not only offered military and economic support to bring down the Soviet Union, but the United States also turned away from the definition of Protestantism which, by definition, precludes an alliance with the Papacy.

 

The third step or the third and final obstacle she overthrows is given in verse 42 in which is the world; as prophetically represented by Egypt, it will come into the grip of the iron fist of Rome. Then in verse 43 the economics of the world come under the power of the king of the north. When the economics of the world come under the control of the king of the north, representing the Papacy, then the Papacy has returned to the position of dominance as a geopolitical power. The Papacy lost this standing in 1798.

 

When it returns to this position, its deadly wound will have been fully healed and it will once again rule the whole world. Verse 44 speaks of the latter rain and the persecution of 17 God’s people, while verse 45 describes the division of the world into two classes as we approach Armageddon. We will find many items of interest as we continue through the study of these verses. As we continue on in this series, we will not only defend the premises set forth here in greater detail, but we will continue to compare this sequence with the scenes and histories to which Sister White specifically directed us.

 

It is important for us to recognise that Daniel 11:30-36 is not simply a historical sequence which has been set forth as a pattern to use in order to understand Daniel 11:40-45; it is the very history of the Papacy’s first rise to power at the beginning of the Dark Ages. The Holy Spirit, through Sister White, directs us to the very first time the Papacy came to the throne of the world as the pattern of history to compare against the final rise of the Papacy to the throne of the world. What is just ahead of the church and the world in the healing of the Papacy’s deadly wound?

 

The wound was the loss of the Papacy’s ability to exercise civil power- not its cessation as a church. “The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion is still far from being destroyed. And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. ‘I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.’ Verse 3. The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the Papacy in 1798. . . . Paul states plainly that the ‘man of sin’ will continue until the second advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8. To the very close of time he will carry forward the work of deception. . . .”

 

And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States

 

that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured. God’s Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated.

 

Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the Word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.” The Great Controversy, 579- 581

 

“Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan’s apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now; for through them the truth will reach many minds. Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and the Revelation, and The Great Controversy are needed now as never before. They should be widely circulated because the truths they emphasize will open many blind eyes….

 

Many of our people have been blind to the importance of the very books that were most needed. Had tact and skill then been shown in the sale of these books, the Sundaylaw movement would not be where it is today”.– Colporteur Ministries p123. {Publishing Ministries p356.3} Everything that can be done should be done to circulate Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation. I know of no other book that can take the place of this one. It is God’s helping hand”.– MS 76, 1901. {Publishing Ministry 356.2}

 

www.AdventTimes.com/stopshop.html 18 The Third Persecuting Power The Third Persecuting Power The beast which is a symbol of the papacy is introduced in revelation 13; and following it, in the same line of prophecy, “another beast” is seen “coming up,” [rev. 13:11-14.] which exercises “all the power of the first beast before him,” that is, in his sight. this other beast must therefore be a persecuting power also; and this is shown in that

 

“it spake as a dragon.” the papacy received all its power from Satan, and the two-horned beast exercises the same power; it also becomes the direct agent of Satan. And its satanic character is further shown in that it enforces the worship of the image of the beast, by means of false miracles. “He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do {Great Controversy 1888 680.2}

 

In the last chapter, we demonstrated that the termination of the 1260 day time prophecy is the time of end. In Daniel 11:33-35 the prophet writes: “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Here Daniel is speaking about the papal persecution which lasted for 1260 years. When the time prophecy ended the books were open:

 

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4. It is from this point in history we can locate the starting point for the 1st angels message, the wedding invitations were out and God was preparing His followers to enter into a new experience with himself in the Most Holy Place. We identify 1798 as the year that paves way for the first angel’s message because of the historical pattern the Bible builds upon.

 

If we study the story of Elijah, Elijah predicts that there will be no rain for 3 ½ years due to the national apostasy of the children of Israel. After the 3 ½ years had expired Elijah returned and he calls for a mighty reformation amongst the professed people of God. Sister White commenting on this history writes: “with the slaying of the prophets of Baal, the way was opened for carrying forward a mighty spiritual reformation among the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom. Elijah had set before the people their apostasy; he had called them to humble their hearts and turn to the Lord.” Prophets and Kings p155.

 

So as Elijah returns after the 3 ½ years to bring a reform among the children of Israel so it is after the 3 ½ prophetic years of Papal rule Elijah returns in the personage of the saints to call for a reform among the professed people of God. As in the days of ancient Israel under the rule of Jezebel, Elijah returned after the 3½ years of draught, when God had said there would be no rain. So in the spiritual, Elijah returns at the end of the 3½ prophetic years of spiritual draught under the rule of Jezebel (the papacy) see Rev. 2: 20.

 

William Miller was the man, the Lord raised up to prepare the world for His coming to the Ancient of Days in 1844. It was in 1833 Miller received his credentials to preach and from that time he and his associates began to boldly proclaim the Lord’s soon coming similar to how John the Baptist fearlessly proclaimed the messiah’s first advent. Notice how Ellen White compares the two in the following passage:

 

“Thousands were led to embrace the truth preached by William Miller, and servants of God were raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the message. Like John, the forerunner of Jesus, those who preached this solemn message felt compelled to lay the ax at the root of the tree, and call upon men to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Their testimony was calculated to arouse and powerfully affect the churches and manifest their real character.

 

And as the solemn warning to flee from the wrath to come was sounded, many who were united with the churches received the healing message; 19 they saw their backslidings, and with bitter tears of repentance and deep agony of soul, humbled themselves before God. And as the Spirit of God rested upon them, they helped to sound the cry, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” {Early Writings 233.1} The role of Elijah is to come with a message of reform that is designed to turn the hearts of the professed worshippers back to God after years of apostasy, darkness and a backslidden way of worship. The prophet Malachi writes: “Behold I send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

 

And He shall turn the hearts of the father to the children, and the heart of the children to their father, lest I smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6 Elijah comes with a message of reform and this reform message is the first angel’s message, then follows the second and then the third angel. Not only can the three angel’s message be located after 1844 but inspiration tells us that the three angel’s messages can be located throughout scripture:

 

“The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages has been located by the word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed.” {2Selected Messages 104.2} “God has given the messages of Revelation 14 their place in the line of prophecy and their work is not to cease” Last Day Events 199. In the Millerites line of prophecy, The first angels message was empowered in 1840 after Josiah Litch successfully predicted the fall of Islam:

 

“In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before; Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the Second Advent, published’ an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown ‘in A.D. 1840, sometime in the month of August;’ and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote: ‘

 

Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days, commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the 11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in Constantinople may be expected to be broken.

 

And this, I believe, will be found to be the case… At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors, accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe, and thus placed herself under the control of Christian nations. The event exactly fulfilled the prediction. When it became known, multitudes were convinced of the correctness of the principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and his associates, and a wonderful impetus was given to the Advent movement. Men of learning and position united with Miller, both in preaching and in publishing his views, and from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly extended.”

 

The Great Controversy, 334-335. This event is signified in revelation 10 when the angel comes down with one foot on the sea, the other on the land signifying the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. This mighty angel who was to instruct John was no less a personage than Christ. {7Bible Commentaries 20 971.3} “The angel position with one foot on the sea, the other on the land signifies the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. It will cross to the broad waters and be proclaimed in other countries, even to all the world.” Manuscripts 59, 1900. Ellen White also tells us: “The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest” GC 611. A great religious awakening took place amongst those who proclaimed this message. (Early Writings p232)

 

But just as Christ was sending out His wedding invitations, Satan was also doing the same. Between 1798 to 1844 a second transition was taking place with the seed of the serpent. In the last chapter we saw how the first persecuting power is represented by the Dragon itself which was open alliance against God. We see this power manifested in the first four kingdoms described by Daniel which was Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece and Pagan Rome.

 

In 508, the first dispensation takes place where paganism is baptized into Christianity, which makes way for the fifth kingdom to arise which is Papal Rome. In 1798, the papacy is grieved after it receives a mortal blow to the head and then the third persecuting power arises which is the lamb like beast with two horns as described in Revelation 13:11, or the sixth head or the ‘one is’ as described in Revelation 17:10. In Great Controversy 1888, p680,

 

Ellen White writes: “The first persecuting power is represented by the dragon itself; in heathenism there was open alliance with Satan, and open defiance of God. In the second persecuting power, the dragon is masked; but the spirit of Satan actuates it,–the dragon supplies the motive power. In the third persecuting power, all traces of the dragon are absent, and a lamb-like beast appears; but when it speaks, its dragon voice betrays the satanic power concealed under a fair exterior, and shows it to be of the same family as the two preceding powers. In all the opposition to Christ and his pure religion,

 

“that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan,”–“the god of this world,”–is the moving power; earthly persecuting powers are simply instruments in his hands.” Great Controversy 1888 p680 The Sixth Head not Communism/Atheism There are many today who believe that the next power to carry the mystery religion of the sixth head on the scarlet coloured beast in Revelation 17 is Atheism. But the Bible in conjunction with the spirit of prophecy identifies only three persecuting powers that carry this mystery religion. It was the same year that the pope received a deadly wound, this power was to arise from the earth:

 

“But the beast with lamblike horns was seen “coming up out of the earth.” Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory preciously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World– that turbulent sea of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” It must be sought in the Western Continent. What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world?

 

The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America. Again and again the thought, almost the exact words, of the sacred writer has been unconsciously employed by the orator and the historian in describing the rise and growth of this nation.”

 

Great Controversy p441. The two horns of the lamb like beast represent Republicanism and Protestantism. It advocated the principles of Christ’s word but the beast with lamblike horns “spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed; . . . saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Revelation 13:11-14. The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The “speaking” of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities.

 

By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. {Great Controversy p442.1} Another factor that identifies that communism is not the sixth head, is through a careful study of the history in the Bible. It was two nations; the Medes and the Persians 21 that destroyed literal Babylon by drying up the river Euphrates. Though Medo-Persia carries the mystery religion, it being the 2nd head of revelation 17, or the second beast as described in Daniel 7, it also fulfills another role in Bible Prophecy. The Lord speaking through the prophet Isaiah typifies Cyrus as Christ using two key characteristics that Christ uses to identify himself: “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple,

 

Thy foundation shall be laid. Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus who’s right hand have I holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of Kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not shut”. Isaiah 44:28, 45:1. Now I ask this question; why would the Lord liken Himself to a pagan King that also carries this mystery religion spoken of in Revelation 17? Well it is this portion of history, the Lord expects the diligent student of prophecy to align with the events that took place between 1798 -1844. Though Cyrus was a pagan King, He was used as an instrumental figure to allow the children of Israel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Notice what it says in Ezra 1:1-2;

 

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

 

This first decree, where the foundations were laid (Ezra 3:10-13) figuratively pointed forth to the first angel’s message where Miller and his associates laid the foundations of understanding the prophetic Word. The first decree was then followed by the second decree by Darius and then a third by Artaxerxes King of Persia. It is on the third decree that commenced the beginning of the 2300 day prophecy. “In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. [EZRA 7:12-26.] In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, B. C. 457.

 

But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built “according to the commandment [margin, decree] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” These three kings, in originating, re-affirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years.” Great Controversy p327 This line of prophecy figuratively points forth to the events that transpired from 1798 to 1844. Under the second woe in Revelation 9 and 11 you have Islam spiritually drying up the river Euphrates on the East and atheism drying her up in the west. The power that supported Papal Rome was the armies of Rome. Before the cross everything is literal, after the cross everything is spiritual. In Bible prophecy, water represents, people, multitudes, nations and tongues. (Revelation 17:15) and the river Euphrates typifies the multitudes of people that supported her which was the armies of pagan Rome who converted to Romanism after the conversion of Clovis (See Daniel and the Revelation 271)

 

This is similar to how the river Euphrates literally supported ancient Babylon until Cyrus dried up the waters. But in Revelation 9:14-15, Islam is permitted to slay the Eastern Roman empire for 391 years and 15 days which ended on August 11 1840: “Saying to the sixth angel loose which had the trumpet, loose the four angels which are bound in the river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” Rev 9:14-15 . (Also see p15 to read E.G White’s comments on this time prophecy)

 

Whilst this was taking place with Eastern Rome; on Western Rome we have the atheistic beast that also descends from the Bottomless pit to give the Papacy a deadly wound in 1798 so she ‘is not’. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.” Revelation 13:3.

 

This brings us to the time period of 1798. Atheism is not the beast that carries this mystery religion, they hate the whore and aim to make her desolate. However there is one beast power that is on the arise that carries her agenda and that is America. So called Protestant America was still carrying the harlot woman in their hearts. The Reformation with Luther, Huss, Tindle and many others was not complete—the Woman still lived in her daughters, (apostate Protestantism) who held on to Sunday Worship the mark of the Beast’s Power. She was still there and yet they did not know it.

 

This is why God had to separate a people by the first and second cleansing—that took place in the Millerite movement to prepare a people separated from Rome and complete the reformation. Similar to Cyrus, America is also given a characteristic that symbolises Christ who is the ‘Lamb’. America was the gateway that enabled God to rebuild His church again; Spiritual Israel in the modern day glorious land. The constitution of America was built on the fact the Church and State must remain separate. Ellen White tells us: “The Constitution of the United States guarantees liberty of conscience. Nothing is dearer or more fundamental.” Great Controversy P 565.

 

But the Bible in conjunction with the Spirit of Prophecy tells us that she forms the third persecuting power, of the seed of the serpent. She will persecute the saints of the Most High and will enforce catholic dogma’s. Another parallel that likens America to fulfilling the same role as Medo-Persia is that it took forty six years to build the literal temple. The Jews speaking to Jesus said: 22 Pope Benedict XVI continues his crusade to return “daughter” churches to the fold Pope Benedict does want unity, but this latest document specifically calls it “Catholic unity,” saying that the elements of truth the other groups have tend toward Catholic unity.

 

He isn’t looking to peacefully co-exist with other religions. In his view, the daughter churches can only achieve unity by accepting his authority and converting back to Catholicism. In 1995, Pope John Paul II said drawing the Orthodox churches back into the fold is “the great task which the Catholic Church must accomplish.” Benedict shares that view. In order to achieve any meaningful reconciliation, the other churches will have to accept that the only full means of salvation is through the Catholic Church—and specifically through the authority of the pope. From theTrumpet.com July 12 2007 “Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days” John 2:20. This was also the same time period it took to rebuild spiritual Israel. If you add 46 years to 1798 it brings you to 1844. At the end of the 2300 day prophecy, the third angels message began. (See Early Writings p254)

 

Just as the commencement of the rebuilding of the literal temple began on the third decree, so the 2300 day prophecy ended at the beginning of the third angels message. It was at this time the heavenly sanctuary was cleansed and the Lord married his new church, spiritual Israel in 1844. This is highlighted in the parable of the 10 virgins which was fulfilled in 1844 where there was a separation between the two classes. The Bridegroom went forth to meet his bride (church) and the door was closed to the foolish virgins who were left offering their prayers to the Holy Place where Satan now took his abode. (See Early Writings p55-56)

 

Vantage Ground Vantage Ground “All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.” {GC 581.2} It was in 1844, the papacy through the foolish virgins was able to gain vantage ground similar to how Eastern Rome was able to gain vantage ground against Chosroes [2] the King of Persia in AD 628. History describes how Chosroes was able to besiege Constantinople (Eastern Rome) for the first time and demand an annual tribute or ransom from the Roman Empire.

 

Heraclius who was ruling the Roman Empire described these as ignominious terms; but the time and space which he obtained to collect such treasures from the poverty of the East was industriously employed in the preparation for a bold attack in which he obtained vantage ground over the Persian armies. In the battle of Nineveh, the Persian and the Roman armies exhausted each others strength until Rome had proven triumph. However the Roman Empire was not strengthened by the conquest which he achieved; and a way was prepared for Islam to start attacking the armies of Rome as described under the first woe of the fifth trumpet in Revelation 9. (See Daniel and the Revelation p495 – p496 by

 

Uriah Smith) Similar to how the Roman Empire at first, lost the battle to Persia but was later able to seek vantage ground and overthrow the Persian monarch, so in the spiritual the papacy after receiving a mortal blow from atheistic France sought vantage ground through the foolish virgins so he could push his agenda in America through Protestantism. Hence why Ellen White’s writings describes the churches experiencing a moral fall in 1844 in consequence of their refusal of the light of the Advent message. Great Controversy p390. As the first angel’s message was proclaimed by the Millerites, the organized churches closed their door to the Millerite movement.

 

As this took place, they recognized that the churches had now become Babylon and began to call people out of her. But many refused this warning and never came out of Babylon. As mentioned in the previous section, they held onto doctrines of Rome including Sunday sacredness and the immortality of the soul. They were still tied to Babylon and never fully came out of her that is why the book of revelation describes her as apostate Protestantism, the false prophet and the daughters of Rome. It is through her daughters the papacy was able to gain vantage ground and the dispensation to the third persecuting power began. As a result of this vantage ground, the Sunday churches are still holding onto the teachings of Rome. The papacy continues to hold a strong foothold within these churches, this foothold continue to grow until in 1989 when she formed an alliance with America to overthrow communism.

 

No longer is the protestant nations protesting Rome because it’s impossible to protest Rome if you’re in alliance with her. After Rome through her armies (America) overthrow communism. Islam starts to attack the armies of Rome in 2001 similar to how Islam attacked the armies of Rome after she overthrow Persia in the battle of Nineveh. 23 Pioneer Experience Repeated Pioneer Experience Repeated “I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish.

 

This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel’s message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890. Sister White clearly states that there will be a repetition of the parable of the ten virgins, which, when first fulfilled in the summer of 1844, was the catalyst of the early rain experience during the pioneer movement.

 

She also addresses the parallel between the second and fourth angels’ messages: “I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message.

 

Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’ Revelation 18:2. The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844.

 

The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message. Angels were sent to aid the mighty angel from heaven, and I heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.’ Verses 4-5.

 

This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the Midnight Cry joined the second angel’s message in 1844. The glory of God rested upon the patient, waiting saints, and they fearlessly gave the last solemn warning, proclaiming the fall of Babylon and calling upon God’s people to come out of her that they might escape her fearful doom.” Early Writings, 277-278. The council to prepare for the future through an understanding of the prophecy of the past in connection with the historical fulfilment of the ‘parable of the 10 virgins’ in 1844 time period, identifies that the revival, which our church has been waiting for will parallel the revival of the pioneer movement.