JEFF PIPPENGER TIME OF THE END 3
We should expect increased light on every message we have been proclaiming for over 150 years. “The third angel was seen flying in the midst of heaven, heralding the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The message loses none of its power in its onward flight. John saw the work increasing until the whole earth was filled with the glory of God. With intensified zeal and energy we are to carry forward the work of the L o r d t i l l t h e c l o s e o f time.” {Councils To Parents, Teachers and Students 548.3} 24
The Seven Thunders The Seven Thunders “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: and he had in his hand a little book open and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and he cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and write them not.”
Rev 10:1-4 The seven thunders uttered by the mighty angel in revelation 10:4 is another line of prophetic truth that portrays the history that took place between 1798 – 1844 will be repeated again when another portion from the book of Daniel is about to be fulfilled. We are told: “The special light given to John that was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels’ messages.
It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested. In the order of God most wonderful and advanced truths must be proclaimed. The first and second angels messages must be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work” (Manuscript 59, 1900) If the seven thunders represent the historical events that took place during the first and second angels’ messages then from what we have already studied, they represent the Millerite time period as they lived and proclaimed these messages.
But not only do the seven thunders represent the delineation of events that transpired under the first and second angel’s message. Inspiration directly informs us that the seven thunders represent future events that will be disclosed in their order: “After the seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction came to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: “seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered.
These relate to future events that will be disclosed in their order” (Manuscript 59 1900) Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little must the word of God be studied in order to understand the grand truths of the Bible. If the seven thunders represent the first and second angels messages which transpired from 1798-1844 and they also represent future events that were soon to be disclosed at the time Sister White was writing, then it could only mean that the seven thunders represent events that will happen at a later time in history and will follow in the same order as the events that transpired from 1798 – 1844.
This repetition of history represented by the seven thunders will once again fulfil the parable of the 10 virgins and will posses the identical characteristics represented by the historical arrival of the first and second angel’s messages. Revelation 10 begins at 1840 and ends at 1844. The angel then tells John: “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, nations, and tongues and kings.” It all gets repeated! Towards the end of the world Christ will descend again and unseal a message in the book of Daniel that will empower his people to stand in the latter day.
The seven thunders were sealed to the Millerites because the angel tells John “Seal up those things the seven thunders uttered and write them not.” But later on in the book of revelation we are told these seven thunders will be unsealed just before the close of probation as John is told: “seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev 22:10-11. Notice that the angel tell John: “seal not the sayings of this book”
the only portion of scripture sealed in the book of revelation is the seven thunders and we know this unsealing will take place just before the close of probation because the moment Christ proclaims: “He that is unjust let him be unjust still he that…” it is the time when probation close. So we have an understanding from the word of God that just before the close of probation an unsealing will occur. We don’t have a specific date when this will take place as the Millerites did because the angel declares in Revelation 10:6 “time shall be no longer” indicating that after 1844, there will be no prophecy based on time. Ellen white writes: “… This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with the solemn oath that time should be no longer.
The time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842-1844, there can be no definite tracing of prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn 1844.” 7 Bible Commentaries 971 (1900). {Last Day Events 36.2} 25 After 1844, there will not be another message based on time, because the history of how God has led his people in the past will be repeated.
This final message relating to the second coming of Christ is more powerful than any time setting because it is built on the prophets, it is built on history, history will be fulfilled to the letter. The truths which led the people out from 1840-1844 will be repeated! “There is a work of sacred importance for ministers and people to do. They are to study the history of the cause and people of God. They are not to forget the past dealing of God with His people. They are to revive and recount the truths that have come to seem of little value to those who do not know by personal experience of the power and brightness that accompanied them when they were first seen and understood. In all their original freshness and power these truths are to be given to the world.” Selected Messages, book 1, 157.
“Temptations are being brought in by men who have been long in the truth. The truths that we received in 1841, ‘42, ‘43, and ‘44 are now to be studied and proclaimed. The messages of the first, second, and third angels will in the future be proclaimed with a loud voice. They will be given with earnest determination and in the power of the Spirit.” Manuscript Releases, volume 15, 31 The event that took place in 1798 parallel the events that took place in 1989. In 1798 we have three major powers coming into play, Papal Rome (King of the North), Atheism, (King of the South) and America. [
We will defend the fact that the Papacy is the King of the North and France is the King of the South in 1798 in greater detail in the next chapter.] This was repeated in 1989 where we have the same three powers being brought to view. We have the King of the North returning (Papacy) who uses the arms of America to overthrow the King of the South (communism which was in Russia, the atheistic beast that rose from the bottomless pit.). History clearly identifies with this portion of fulfilled history as it was a group known as the Jacobin club in France who were aristocratic terrorists who spearheaded the French revolution –
Karl Marx also became a member of this group under the name “league of the just’ and wrote what is famously known as ‘the communist manifesto’ This atheistic beast from the bottomless pit spread its poison first in Europe during the French revolution and from there to Russia to start the Bolsheviki revolution: “The first Russian Marxist group was formed in 1883 in the very year of Marx’s death by Lenin, who was a Russian Revolutionary exiled in Switzerland. Between 1900 and 1903 Lenin called his revolutionaries the “Bolsheviki, then later renamed themselves” Communists, after Marx’s term in the Communist Manifesto” {The Communist Manifesto, Randall, p.37} {Also see Illuminati 666 by William J Sutton}
Another important point to remember is that after 1798, Papal Rome is ‘grieved’, she wants her power and dominion back and she can only obtain this through the same way she had obtained world dominion in the past and this is by uprooting three obstacles. This history which was soon to be repeated in our time has already begun its complete fulfilment in 1989 when Rome returns, has intelligence with USA to uproot its first obstacle which was the king of the South, atheistic communism. Immediately we can now locate the first angel’s message, in 1989 clearly paralleling it with 1798 which paved the way for the first angel’s message. Remember that sister White tells us that by an increase of knowledge, a people is to be prepared to stand. This increase of knowledge is in connection to the final rise of the papacy. “In the first angels message, men are called upon to worship the creator., who made the world and all that are therein.
They have paid homage to an institution of the papacy, making no effect the law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on the subject” {2Selected Messages 106.1} The last 6 verses in the book of Daniel are now unsealed and A message of reform and preparation has now already been underway to prepare the professed people of God to make way for the Lords soon appearing but many remain ignorant of these truths: “and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind, and naked”. Rev 3:17 The Catalyst for Prophecy
The Catalyst for Prophecy In the Millerites day, the catalyst for prophecy came when Josiah Litch successfully predicted the full of the Ottoman Empire thus by Islam placing herself under control of the Christian nations. A wonderful impetus was given to the movement. This was highlighted by the angel coming down in Revelation 10. This mighty angel was no less a personage than Jesus Christ {1Manuscript Releases 99.2}
The description of the angel in Revelation 10 is the same description in Daniel Chapter 10. John sees the little book unsealed in relation to the seven thunders, Daniels prophecies then have their place in the first, second and third angels message to be given to the world: “The books of Daniel and the revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries uttered, but He was commanded not to write them.” 7 Bible commentaries.971.6
The purpose of the angel descending with a little book in his hand is to separate the two classes and prepare A people to enter into the Most Holy Experience with Christ. By an increase of knowledge in regards to the time prophecy given in Daniel 8:14 a people were prepared to stand. But as this was taking place, Satan was also preparing his class of people to hinder the process through the foolish virgins causing many to reject this invitation.
Hence why the churches experienced a moral fall in 1844. This history of the Millerites is being fulfilled in our time. Just as 1840 was the catalyst for the Millerite 26 movement so 2001 is the catalyst for our time as we see all Christian nations getting together to decide the fate of Islam. Just as the Roman Emperor sought vantage ground over the Persian army and managed to defeat them in the battle of Nineveh, Islam starts to attack the armies of Rome suddenly and unexpectedly.
We have the same scenario taking place in 1989. After the papacy managed to seek vantage ground in 1844, to strike back against Communism, the atheistic beast in 1989. Islam then starts to attack the armies of Rome similar to how it managed to attack the armies of Rome after the Battle of Nineveh. Now we see all Christian nations getting together to decide the fate of Islam. This event parallels what took place in 1840 where four Christian nations got together to decide the fate of Islam. (See Daniel and the Revelation 517). As Christ came down with a little book open to shed light on the prophecies so in like manner Christ has come down with a portion of the book of Daniel to prepare his waiting saints for his final coming. Note that Sister White describes the time period from 1840—1844 as a Glorious Manifestation of the Power of God. (Great Controversy 611.3)
We are now living in a time period which is a glorious manifestation of the power of God. The only difference between Josiah Litch’s history and now, has to do with the church that we are symbolically members of. The church of Josiah Litch’s day and age was the church of Philadelphia—but we are Laodiceans, w e are asleep! What it is that demonstrates the God of the Bible is the true God lies not only in His creative ability, but also in His ability to portray the end of the word with the beginning of the world.
The Holy Spirit testifying through the prophet Isaiah tells us: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none like me. Declaring the end from beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my council shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9-10 Ishmael was also one of the ancient people and concerning Ishmael and his descendents the Lord prophesied: “And he will be a wild man; and his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him…” Genesis 16:12 .
We see this being fulfilled right down to the close of this earths history. Islam played a role in the Millerites time period and are illustrated in the 1843 pioneer chart as the two white horses. In regards to the 1843 chart, the Lord’s servant tells us: “I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered;” Early Writings p74.
Speaking of the second woe in Revelation 9:13-15 we are told: “And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden alter which is before God saying to the sixth angel, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great 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.” This verse tells us that the angels were loosed for 391 years, this prophetic time period as stated before, ended in 1840. At this time, the angels were held in check in order to allow the sealing of God’s people which was from 1840-1844.
This sealing process is set to typify our sealing process at the end of the world. The seal of God is described as being intellectually and spiritually settled into the truth: “Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads–it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved–just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come.” Maranatha 200
Those who were benefited by the increase of knowledge in 1840, and accepted the arrival of the second angels message were able to receive the midnight cry which Ellen White describes as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which was designed to give power to the second angels message, those who rejected the first two messages could in no wise be benefited by the midnight cry which was to prepare the saints to enter with Jesus into the Most Holy Place.
After the disappointment, which was the shaking testing time for the Millerites, it was only those who had trusted that the Lord had led them in the understanding in the prophecies, 27 and had spiritually settled into these truths could wait on the Lord. They were the ones who were able to understand God work in the most holy apartment. The coming of Christ, as announced by the first angel’s message, was understood to be represented by the coming of the bridegroom.
The widespread reformation under the proclamation of His soon coming, answered to the going forth of the virgins. In this parable, as in that of Matthew 24, two classes are represented. All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the Bridegroom. But while “they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them,” “the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The latter class had received the grace of God, the regenerating, enlightening power of the Holy Spirit, which renders His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. In the fear of God they had studied the Scriptures to learn the truth, and had earnestly sought for purity of heart and life.
These had a personal experience, a faith in God and in His word, which could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay. Others “took their lamps, and took no oil with them.” They had moved from impulse. Their fears had been excited by the solemn message, but they had depended upon the faith of their brethren, satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, without a thorough understanding of the truth or a genuine work of grace in the heart. These had gone forth to meet the Lord, full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward; but they were not prepared for delay and disappointment. When trials came, their faith failed, and their lights burned dim.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” By the tarrying of the bridegroom is represented the passing of the time when the Lord was expected, the disappointment, and the seeming delay. In this time of uncertainty, the interest of the superficial and halfhearted soon began to waver, and their efforts to relax; but those whose faith was based on a personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet, which the waves of disappointment could not wash away.
“They all slumbered and slept;” one class in unconcern and abandonment of their faith, the other class patiently waiting till clearer light should be given. Yet in the night of trial the latter seemed to lose, to some extent, their zeal and devotion. The halfhearted and superficial could no longer lean upon the faith of their brethren. Each must stand or fall for himself. {Great Controversy 393- 394}
Now the Bible in conjunction with the spirit of prophecy informs that just before the close of probation, there will be a time when the nations will be angry but once again held in check in order not to prevent the work of the third angel. As Islam was the power that signified when the sealing, testing process was to begin amongst God’s people in 1840 so it was in 2001. In Early Writings page 36 we are told: I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead were separate and distinct, one following the other, also that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary,
He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out. I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. Early Writings 36 In page 85 of Early Writings which is under the chapter called ‘supplement’ she expounds in greater detail on the passage above: “The commencement of that time of trouble,” here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary.
At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” {Early Writings 85}
This passage identifies that the latter rain arrives when the nations are getting angry, yet held in check in order not to prevent the work of the third angel. The third angel is the sealing angel: “I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” Early Writings 118 I was shown three steps– the first, second, and third angels’ messages. Said my accompanying angel, “Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.” Early Writings 259 28
When the angering of the nations arrives, the latter rain arrives. The angering of the nations takes place during the period of time when “the work of salvation is closing” and “trouble is coming upon the earth”. Again speaking about the angels holding back the four winds she tells us: “I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, . . . saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:2, 3 Four mighty angels are still holding the four winds of the earth. Terrible destruction is forbidden to come in full. The accidents by land and by sea; the loss of life,
steadily increasing, by storm, by tempest, by railroad disaster, by conflagration; the terrible floods, the earthquakes, and the winds will be the stirring up of the nations to one deadly combat, while the angels hold the four winds, forbidding the terrible power of Satan to be exercised in its fury until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. Angels are holding the four winds, which are represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path.” {My Life Today 308} It is interesting to note that she likens the four winds to an “angry horse” We know that it is in the 1843 chart, a horse is used to symbolize Islam.
This chart we are told was directed by the hand of the Lord and should not be altered. Why is this? Why did God not want this chart to be altered? Well events on this chart were to be repeated in the future and to follow in the same order as it did with the Millerites, and through an understand of the history of the Millerites history, we will be able to locate where we are at this point in earth’s history and when we can expect the angel of revelation 18 to join the third angel in the loud cry. This loud cry represents increasing power and importance of the third angel’s message. The truth for this time, the third angel’s message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, meaning with increasing power, as we approach the great final test.
This test must come to the churches in connection with the true medical missionary work, a work that has the great Physician to dictate and preside in all it comprehends. Under the great Head we are to present God’s word requiring obedience to the system of Bible truth, which is a system of authority and power, convicting and converting the conscience. The demand of the word to obedience is a life and death question. The present truth for this time comprises the messages, the third angel’s message succeeding the first and second. The presentation of this message with all it embraces is our work.
We stand as the remnant people in these last days to promulgate the truth and swell the cry of the third angel’s wonderful distinct message, giving the trumpet a certain sound. Eternal truth, which we have ad- 29 hered to from the beginning is to be maintained in all its increasing importance to the close of probation. The trumpet is to give no uncertain sound. We must devise and plan wisely, practicing simplicity and the strictest economy and manifesting Christ’s likeness of character. Faith, eternal faith in the past and in the present truth is to be talked, is to be prayed, is to be presented with pen and voice. The third angel’s message in its clear, definite terms is to be made the prominent warning; all that it comprehends is to be made intelligible to the reasoning minds of today.
While we bind ourselves to the development of the truth in the past angels’ messages, we are announcing the message of the third angel and of the other angels that follow the third, the second time proclaiming the fall of Babylon. 1888 Materials 1710 Notice that the loud cry represents increasing power as we approach the “great final test” This great final test is the Sunday law. As Christ came down in Revelation 10 to empower the message to prepare for His coming to the Ancient of Days in 1844 so Christ has now come in revelation 18 to empower the people for his second coming. Christ has already begun to allow light to shine on this history through his word. Note there are two parts to the angel of Revelation 18. John first sees the angel which is coming down from heaven: “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great power;” Rev 18:1;
The second is when ‘another voice’ is heard calling the people out of Babylon, this call out of Babylon relates to when the Sunday law is fully enacted and when the third angels message is proclaimed more fully. “When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the Temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of His ministry was the second cleansing of the Temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev. 14:8). And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying,
“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” (Rev. 18:4, 5).–The Review and Herald, Dec. 6, 1892. Bear in mind that these angels represent a work that the people of God are doing, if they don’t get proclaimed through you and I, the people don’t hear them: “I have had an experience in the first, second, and third angels’ messages.
The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God, and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” {LS 429.1}
“The third angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, symbolizing the work of those who proclaim the first, second, and third angel’s messages; all are linked together. Selected Messages,” book 3, 405 “The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, uttering a solemn proclamation. Their voices are not heard by the inhabitants of earth, save through the people who carry forward the work as the messengers of God. Those who search the Scriptures understand the messages given by the angels, and take up the cry, proclaiming the warning to the world. The three messages for this time are of most solemn import, and it is of the greatest consequence to those who hear whether or not they act upon the light given.” {RH, July 7, 1891 par. 11}
It is this unfolding of prophetic light that will bring the unfolding of the two groups. When the latter rain begins to fall, one group in Adventism will recognise it, the other group will not. In Christ day, one of the reasons why they crucified Him was because of their misapplication of prophecy and it was the same for those living in the Millerite period. Before the latter rain is poured out without measure, their will be a ‘sprinkling’ to prepare for the full outpouring at the Sunday law which will be the cleansing process for Adventism. “Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain.
When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him.
It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.
It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it” Testimonies to Ministers 507 30 We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. [Isa. 61:11 quoted.]
The whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God (Letter 151, 1897). {7BC 984.5} Before the Sunday law light shining from the word of God will once again fulfil the history of the Millerite experience. This history was a glorious manifestation of the power of God and is now in the process of fulfilment again, but many are unable to recognise it. This portion, that is now open is Daniel 11:40-45, which is the third angels message, a warning against receiving the Mark of the Beast. And Christ is now preparing His Bride, the wise virgins for His final coming and Satan through the foolish virgins is once again preparing many to reject this invitation crucifying Christ in the form of his word.
“There is to be in the [Seventh-day Adventist] churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work.
“Why,” they say, “should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?”–RH Extra, Dec. 23, 1890. {LDE 209.3} Upon the Testimony of Two or Three Upon the Testimony of Two or Three “The work of God in the earth presents, from age to age, a striking similarity in every great reformation or religious movement. The principles of God’s dealing with men are ever the same. The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the past, and the experience of the church in former ages has lessons of great value for our own time.” The Great Controversy, 343. The Bible instructs us that upon the testimony of two or three, a thing is established. In the history of Christ, which was a great reformatory movement
, John the Baptist was raised up with a message. We have seen how Sister White compares Miller with John several times. Just as Miller and John presented a message, there came a time when a divine symbol descended to empower the work. With Miller it was the angel of Revelation 10, with John it was the dove that descended upon Christ at His baptism. After the message was empowered, the activities of those who were fighting against the message are identified. With Miller it was the Protestant churches; with John, the Sanhedrin chose that it was expedient for Christ to die that the whole nation not perish.
This marked the second message for Miller and the second waymark for John. The second message was empowered for Miller at the midnight cry, and Sister White uses the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem to illustrate the midnight cry. When judgment opened in 1844 it paralleled the judgment that was accomplished at the cross. The history of Christ is identical to the history of the Millerites, and therefore identical to the history of the loud cry, but only if you identify the distinction between the two angels of Revelation 18. Moses was a type of Christ, and in the history of the deliverance from Egypt we find another great reformatory movement.
Moses was given the message at the burning bush, and before he returned to Egypt Christ came down and confronted him with the fact that he had not circumcised his sons. When Sister White comments on this she points out that if Moses had allowed his sons to skip circumcision it would have weakened the effectiveness of his work. His message was therefore empowered when Christ came down. Pharaoh ordered the Jews to make more bricks and gather their own straw, thus paralleling the Protestant churches resisting Miller, and the Sanhedrin resisting Christ; and then followed the plagues which paralleled the manifestation of power that was illustrated in the triumphal entry and the midnight cry.
The plagues led into the judgment of the firstborn, just as judgment began in 1844 with Miller, and Satan was judged at the cross. Sister White tells us that which follows the first and second angel’s messages is to run parallel to them. The message is the third angel’s message. It parallels Moses, John and Miller. The third message is empowered when the angel comes down in Revelation 18:1– 3, just as the angel of Revelation 10 came down and empowered the first message in 1840, and just as the dove came down and empowered John’s message, and just as Christ came down and empowered Moses’ message. Verse 4 of Revelation 18 marks the Sunday law, where the call is made to ‘come out of her,
My people’ paralleling the Sanhedrin, Pharaoh, and the Protestants of Miller’s day. Then we see the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit paralleling the midnight cry, the triumphal entry and the plagues. When Michael stands up and judgment ends at the close of the third angel’s message we are paralleling the opening of judgment in 1844, the judgment illustrated at the cross and the judgment of the firstborn. One of the facts that have recorded for God’s end time church was where the latter rain was partially illustrated. when the Lord desired to finish his work in 1888 with the righteousness by faith message with Waggoner and A.T
Jones, one of the facts that was recorded for us here at the end of the world. Is that 31 It is true that Spiritualism is now changing its form, and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise. But its utterances from the platform and the press have been before the public for nearly forty years, and in these its real character stands revealed. These teachings cannot be denied or hidden.
Even in its present form, so far from being more worthy of toleration than formerly, it is really a more dangerous, because a more subtle deception. While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism making little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, his denunciations of sin, the requirements of his holy law, are all kept out of sight.
The people are taught to regard the decalogue as a dead letter. Pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses, and lead men to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith. Christ is as verily denied as before; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the deception is not discerned. {Great Controversy 1888 p558.} when the latter rain finally does arrive, men who should have participated with the message and work of that period will fight against it, for it will not meet their preconceived ideas.
There is nothing new under the sun! As it was with Christ and the Millerites so it will be for this generation. “The Jews refused to receive Christ, because He did not come in accordance with their expectations. The ideas of finite men were held as infallible, because hoary with age. This is the danger to which the church is now exposed- -that the inventions of finite men shall mark out the precise way for the Holy Spirit to come. Though they would not care to acknowledge it, some have already done this. And because the Spirit is to come, not to praise men or to build up their erroneous theories, but to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, many turn away from it. They are not willing to be deprived of the garments of their own selfrighteousness.
They are not willing to exchange their own righteousness, which is unrighteousness, for the righteousness of Christ, which is pure, unadulterated truth. The Holy Spirit flatters no man, neither does it work according to the devising of any man. Finite, sinful men are not to work the Holy Spirit. When it shall come as a reprover, through any human agent whom God shall choose, it is man’s place to hear and obey its voice.” Testimonies to Ministers 64.3 “At Christ’s first advent the angels broke the silence of the night with acclamations of praise, and proclaimed glory to God in the highest peace on earth; good will toward men.
He is soon to come again with power and great glory. Those who are not wedded to the world will realize that the time demands something more than a weak, faint, methodical discourse. They will see that there must be earnestness and power accompanying the word which will arouse the powers of hell to oppose the warnings God designs to come to the people to awaken men out of their carnal security, that they may prepare themselves for the great event right upon us. The promise is,
“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” God will accept no sleepy, tame message at this time. In old time “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” and we may expect such teaching in our day. I know that the Lord has wrought by his own power in Battle Creek. Let no one attempt to deny this; for in so doing they will sin against the Holy Ghost. Because there may be need to warn and caution every one to walk carefully and prayerfully, in order that the deceptive influence of the enemy shall not lead men away from the Bible, let no one suppose that God will not manifest his power among his believing people; for he will work and none can hinder him. His name will be a praise in the earth. “
After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Some souls will see and receive the light; but those who have stood long in resistance of light, because it did not come just in accordance with their ideas, will be in danger of calling light darkness, and darkness light; but the power of God will sweep away the refuge of lies, and his glory will be revealed.
Let not one ray of light be resisted, let no operation of the Spirit of God be interpreted as darkness. God will not leave his people to wrestle with principalities and powers, with the rulers of the darkness of this world, with spiritual wickedness in high places, without the co-operation of heavenly angels. The power of God will be manifested to hold in check the power of the enemy. God will give victory to the truth.” The 1888 Materials, 1254— 1255 32 The Southern and Northern The Southern and Northern Kingdoms Kingdoms “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
In this chapter, we will now with more evidence identify the two kings in Daniel 11:40-45. It was in chapter 2, we briefly reviewed the complete vision of Daniel 11, and we found that prophetically the northern and southern kings were identified in the historical record by locating which earthly power controlled the area of either Egypt or Babylon. The power which controlled Egypt was recognized in the prophecy of Daniel 11 as the king of the south, while the power which ruled Babylon was understood to be the king of the north.
This rule will allow us to identify those kings throughout Daniel 11. In order to apply this rule to Daniel 11:40-45 we will apply two rules of prophecy which impact the identification of these kings from 1798 onward. Louis F. Were was an Adventist author who focused many of his writings on the understanding of prophecy. Though now deceased, his books are still available. We will consider these two rules as set forth in one of his literary works. The first rule is called “Worldwide Symbolized by the Local.” “All the prophets employed the principle of the worldwide symbolized by the local.” Some examples of its use are as follows: ”
‘His [Zephaniah’s] prophecies of impending judgment upon Judah apply with equal force to the judgments that are to fall upon an impenitent world at the time of the second advent of Christ.’ Prophets and Kings, 389. ‘Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world . . . hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God.’ ‘The Saviour’s prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, . . . the doom of a world.’ The Great Controversy, 22, 36.
“Numerous examples could be cited of the use of the local which is employed as a symbol of worldwide occurrences at the end of time–this principle runs throughout the Bible. As stated by Dr. Angus: ‘From the typical character of ancient dispensations arises another peculiarity of prophecy. It not only speaks their language, but it often has a double application.’ Bible Handbook, 285.” Bible Principles of Interpretation, 25. The second important and closely related prophetic rule which we use in order to identify the kings in Daniel 11 is titled,
“The Things of Israel Now Belong to the Church.” This rule draws the dividing line for determining whether we are to understand the names or places of prophecy as literal or symbolic. “This principle is positively fundamental to the understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation–it is the foundational principle of God’s last-day message. The Lord gave Paul the special commission of showing how the church became ‘the Israel of God,’ that the promises to literal Israel were to be fulfilled in the experiences of the church:
” ‘They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.’ Romans 9:8. ‘If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’ Galatians 3:29 . . . ‘We are numbered with Israel. . . . All the promises of blessing through obedience, are for us.’ The Ministry of Healing, 405. ‘I was shown that those who are trying to obey God . . . are God’s chosen people, His modern Israel.’ Testimonies, vol. 2, 109. . . .
The principle that Israel’s history is typical or prophetical of the experiences of the church is continually employed in the Spirit of Prophecy.” Bible Principles of Interpretation, 11-12. We will now apply the rule previously cited to identify the kings of Daniel 11. The king of the north was the power which controlled Babylon. The king of the south was determined by the power which controlled Egypt. As 1798 was well after the cross, it is spiritual Egypt and spiritual Babylon that we must seek to identify. We must also identify the kingdoms which control them.
We will begin with the king of the south. In the Bible the word south comes from a Hebrew word associated with Egypt. The word means “the south.” “south–5045: from an unused root meaning to be parched; the south (from its drought); specifically the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine): south (country, side, -ward).” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Revelation 11:8 figuratively identifies France as “the great city,” and calls it “spiritually,” “Sodom and Egypt.” ” ‘The great city’ in whose streets the witnesses are slain, and where their dead bodies lie, is ‘spiritually’ Egypt.
Of all nations presented in Bible history, Egypt most boldly denied the existence of the living God and resisted His commands. No monarch ever ventured upon more open and highhanded rebellion against the authority of Heaven than did the king of Egypt. When the message was brought him by Moses, in 33 the name of the Lord, Pharaoh proudly answered: ‘Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.’ Exodus 5:2, A.R.V. This is atheism; and the nation represented by Egypt would give voice to a similar denial of the claims of the living God and would manifest a like spirit of unbelief and defiance. ‘
The great city’ is also compared, ‘spiritually,’ to Sodom. The corruption of Sodom in breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness. And this sin was also to be a pre-eminent characteristic of the nation that should fulfill the specifications of this scripture. According to the words of the prophet, then, a little before the year 1798 some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Bible. And in the land where the testimony of God’s two witnesses should thus be silenced, there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the licentiousness of Sodom.
“This prophecy has received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of France. During the Revolution, in 1793, ‘the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.’–
Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17. ‘France is the only nation in the world concerning which the authentic record survives, that as a nation she lifted her hand in open rebellion against the Author of the universe.’ Blackwoods Magazine, November, 1870.” The Great Controversy, 269-270. The identification of the “king of the south” in the prophecy of Daniel
11 is determined by which power controls Egypt. In 1798 the nation which is identified in the Bible as possessing the spiritual characteristics of Egypt is France. France was the king of the south in 1798. Daniel 11:40 states that at the time of the end, the king of the south would push against the king of the north. The word translated push means to war against. “push–5055: to but with the horns; figuratively to war against: gore, push (down, -ing).”
Strong’s. Daniel also uses the word push to describe the military conquests of Medo-Persia. “I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.” Daniel 8:4. In Daniel 11:40, the word push signifies a war which starts at the time of the end–1798. This war would be directed against the king of the north and would be initiated by the king of the south–France. What power controlled the spiritual domain of Babylon in 1798? Just as south is associated with Egypt in the Bible, north is a direction associated with Babylon.
“Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.”
Jeremiah 25:9.
“For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.” Ezekiel 26:7. Sister White identifies which power controls the domain of spiritual Babylon: “The woman (Babylon) of Revelation 17 is described as ‘arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness . . . and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery,
Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.’ Says the prophet ‘I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’ Babylon is further declared to be ‘that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.’ Revelation 17:4-6, 18. The power that for so many centuries maintained despotic sway over the monarchs of Christendom is Rome.” The Great Controversy, 382. The harlot of Rome is the power which controls modern or spiritual Babylon. Therefore, the Papacy is the king of the north.
When depicting France in Revelation 11:8, John identifies France as “the great city.” Babylon is also set forth as “that great city,” in Revelation 17:18. A city in prophecy represents a kingdom. “The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the 34 capital and representative of the kingdom, is called ‘the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ Said the angel to John:
‘Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. . . . He carried me away in the spirit,’ says the prophet, ‘and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.’ Revelation 21:9-10. . . . He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, ‘prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.’ Revelation 21:2. See Daniel 7:14.
Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords.” The Great Controversy, 426-427. In 1798, France, portrayed in Daniel 11:40 as the king of the south, began a war against the Papacy–portrayed as the king of the north. The Papacy received its deadly wound in 1798 when Napoleon, emperor of France, had the pope taken captive. The Papacy ceased to be a kingdom at this point in time, for it was stripped of its civil and political powers. The Papacy, however, did not cease to be a church. She simply lost her power and authority as a kingdom. The wound she received in 1798 will finally be healed when she regains her former position as the dominant geopolitical kingdom. In the book, The Keys of
This Blood, Malachi Martin sets forth his belief that there is a three-way race between the Papacy, the Soviet Union, and the United States to rule the world. He believes that the Papacy will return to the throne of the world by the end of this century. He states that this race is a battle between these three powers to determine who will control the geopolitical structure which will rule the world. He also defines what the Papacy lost in 1798: “The term ‘geopolitics’ is a relatively recent invention. It is composed of two Greek words, meaning ‘earth’ and ‘political system,’ which the ancient Greeks never combined. . . . “
At the close of two thousand years since Paul expressed the worldview of a genuine georeligion, the 263rd successor to the obscure Great Fisherman reigns and governs in Rome as the titular head of that georeligion housed in a genuinely geopolitical structure. For John Paul II is not only the spiritual head of a worldwide corpus of believers but also the chief executive of a sovereign state that is a recognized member of our late-twentieth-century society of states.
With a political goal and structure? Yes, with a geopolitical goal and structure. For, in the final analysis, John Paul II as the claimant Vicar of Christ does claim to be the ultimate court of judgment on the society of states as a society.” The Keys of This Blood, 371, 374-375. The deadly wound will be healed when the world comes into agreement with Malachi Martin’s point of view. Prophecy says it will happen, and the Papacy is simply biding her time . “And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes.