TIME OF THE END!

3- History in Transition

By Jeff Pippenger

IN the first two articles of this series we presented evidence which demonstrates that God has counseled us to understand history. In past ages, God's people have been destroyed because of a lack of knowledge.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6.

At least part of the knowledge which will protect us as we approach these final hours of earth's history, is a knowledge of the past. In the second article we focused on the history which transpired during the first and second angels' messages of 1843-44. We identified this experience as prefiguring the final revival of the latter rain.

In this article we will look at a time in history which has also been identified as necessary for our understanding. This history is directly associated with the primary focus of our study-the final six verses of Daniel 11. In preparation for this article, we closed the previous article with the following passage:

"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that 'shall be grieved.' [Daniel 11:30-36 quoted.]

"Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken of: [Daniel 12:1-4 quoted.]" Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 394. All emphasis supplied unless otherwise stated.

Sister White identifies the historical fulfillment of Daniel 11 as something which we should expect to see repeated as the "complete fulfillment" of Daniel 11 unfolds. She especially highlights Daniel 11:30-36.

The pioneers and Sister White understood that Daniel 11 was fulfilled from verse 1 through the first phrase of verse 40, which brings us up to 1798-"the time of the end." Therefore, when Sister White speaks of the complete fulfillment of Daniel 11, she is speaking of verses 40-45. Directing us to "scenes" and "history" which will be repeated, she isolates the history of these verses further by quoting Daniel 12:1-4. Sister White clearly recognized the standing up of Michael in Daniel 12:1 as being the close of probation. The complete fulfillment of verses 40-45 takes us from 1798 to the battle of Armageddon. During the events described in these verses, Michael stands up, closing His meditorial work and human probation:

" 'And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.' Daniel 12:1. When this time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon His people. This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May God help His people now, for what can they then do in such a fearful conflict without His assistance!" Testimonies, vol. 5, 212-213.

It is within the time frame from 1798 to beyond the close of probation that we should expect to see repeated "scenes similar" and "much of the history" prophesied to take place in Daniel 11, especially the scenes and history associated with Daniel 11:30-36. Let us briefly review the historical fulfillment of Daniel 11:

The vision of Daniel 11 begins with the kingdom of Medo-Persia being defeated by Alexander the Great. In verse four we see Alexander's kingdom divided into four parts for his four generals. From verse 5 onward, only two of his generals are mentioned. These two kings were Seleucus and Ptolemy. Their interaction begins a story of the ongoing struggle for world dominion recorded throughout the rest of Daniel 11. This power struggle is prophetically portrayed as the battle between the kings of the north and south.

One important point of this story is how the Scriptures identify the kings of the north and south. By comparing recorded history with the testimony of Daniel 11, historians and pioneers discovered that the king of the north was the kingdom which controlled the geographical area of Babylon. They discovered also that the king of the south was the kingdom which controlled the geographical area of Egypt. This principle in Daniel 11 brings together the testimony of Scripture with the record of history. This geographical key is the rule which we will apply to Daniel 11:40-45 as we begin to identify who are the kings of the north and south. This historical truth is, no doubt, one of the clues, which the Spirit of Prophecy intended to direct us to at the time when this prophecy was to come to its "complete fulfillment."

Through the first 13 verses, we find the ebb and flow of history described, as different kingdoms rose and fell. In verse 14, we see the primary subject of all Daniel 11 identified for the first time in the vision by the phrase, "robbers of thy people." This verse states that these "robbers," will "establish the vision." Uriah Smith addresses this phrase in verse 14 with the following observation:

" 'To establish the vision.' The Romans more than any other people are the subject of Daniel's prophecy. Their first interference in the affairs of these kingdoms is here referred to as being the establishment, or demonstration, of the truth of the vision which predicted the existence of such a power." Daniel and the Revelation, 244.

From this point on, the vision portrays the history of either pagan or papal Rome. In verse 20 we find pagan Rome summons Joseph to pay taxes in Bethlehem. In verse 22 pagan Rome breaks "the prince of the covenant," by crucifying Christ.

In verse 24 we see pagan Rome's time of dominion set forth within a biblical time prophecy. The last phrase of this verse sets forth 360 years as the time when pagan Rome would rule the world by the words, "even for a time." Uriah Smith concurs with other pioneers and historians on the starting and ending point for this time prophecy:

"The battle was fought September 2, 31 B.C., at the mouth of the gulf of Ambracia, near the city of Actium. The world was at stake. . . .

"This battle doubtless marks the beginning of the 'time' mentioned in verse 24. As during this 'time,' devices were to be forecast from the stronghold, or Rome, we should conclude that at the end of that period western supremacy would cease, or such a change would take place in the empire that that city would no longer be considered the seat of government. From 31 B.C., a prophetic 'time,' or 360 years, would bring us to a.d. 330. Hence it becomes a noteworthy fact that the seat of empire was removed from Rome to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in that very year." Ibid., 262-264; see also Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Vol. VII, 3, art., "Constantinople."

Pagan Rome's 360 years to rule the world had its counterpart with papal Rome's 1260-year time prophecy. More important to our study though, is that the dominance of pagan Rome comes to its end just as the verses especially highlighted by Sister White begin. Verses 30-36 deal with the history covering the transition from pagan to papal Rome. We will find that the scenes and events within that transition period, parallel the sequence of events found in verses 40-45. As we begin to look at verses 30-36, we again refer to Uriah Smith as he addresses Daniel 11:29:

"The time appointed is probably the prophetic time of verse 24, which has been previously mentioned. It closed, as already shown, in a.d. 330. . . . The removal of the seat of empire to Constantinople was the signal for the downfall of the empire. Rome then lost its prestige...."

Continuing, but now dealing with verse 30: "What were the ships of Chittim that came against this power, and when was this movement made? ...Carthage.

"Was a naval warfare with Carthage as a base of operations ever waged against the Roman Empire? We think of the terrible onslaught of the Vandals upon Rome under the fierce Genseric, and answer easily in the affirmative." Ibid., 266-267.

Using Daniel 11:30-36 as a historical outline identified by the Spirit of Prophecy, we note that this past history was a transition time for Rome. Pagan Rome was about to leave the scene of action as the ruler of the earth, and papal Rome was about to step into the vacuum. Daniel 7 addresses this very same transition:

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 and 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, three horns, or three kingdoms, had to be removed 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 conquer three 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.

In Daniel 11:30-36 we see that pagan Rome is waning 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 kingdoms 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," Sister 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. Uriah Smith describes their understanding:

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.

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 of all time.

In a.d. 508 the powers of Europe began to wage war against countries represented by the "three horns," and by 538 the last of the three horns met defeat, and the Papacy ascended to the throne of the world. Then "the abomination that maketh desolate," symbolic of the Papacy, was set up.

In verses 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-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.

Sister White combines both Daniel's king which does "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, 50.

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 show that France wore the crown of the king of the south in 1798, but that in 1917 that crown was passed to its successor-the Soviet Union. We will demonstrate that the king of the north in 1798 was the Papacy and that the Papacy is still wearing that prophetic crown.

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 is 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.

We have considered the three geographical areas which pagan Rome conquered as it came to the throne of the world. We compared it to 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 in our next 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 implementing 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. The glorious land of this verse is none other than the second beast of Revelation 13, which has already entered into an unholy alliance with the Vatican in order to bring about 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 is given in verse 42 in which the world, as prophetically represented by Egypt, 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.

Verse 44 speaks of the latter rain and the persecution of 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.

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.

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