DRAMA OF THE AGES !
24. A WOUND AND A YOUNG NATION
1798 was the time foretold that the persecuting power of Rome was to receive a deadly wound and go into captivity. Precisely on that year Berthier a general of Napoleon, marched into Rome, took the Pope captive and he died in exile. For a brief period the papacy was gone. A new pope was soon elected but the political clout was gone, she still operated as a church but the beast-power that used the State to do her bidding was broken. The head had its deadly wound.
At this same period in history, just as foretold in Revelation 13, a new power was rising, not in crowded Europe, (waters) but out of the 'earth', an area sparsely populated. What New nation was arising at this time? The USA. Almost as soon as the 'new world' was discovered, it became a refuge for people fleeing the persecution of their homelands by the Papacy and similar State churches. Some set up colonies in the New World that are still there today.
25. MYSTERY TIMELINE ENDS
26. TIME OF THE END
The 'Time of the End' as spoken about in Daniel 12 and elsewhere, refers to the ending of these long time prophecies. The 1260 years ended in 1798-- and sure enough, where was the terrible power of the medieval church? 'Wounded to death'. But there was another prophecy scheduled to end, the 2300 day/year prophecy was to end in 1844.
Simultaneously all over the world toward the end of the 1700s and the early 1800s, people began to turn their attention to the prophecies of the book of Daniel, they began to 'run to and fro' in the scriptures, comparing text with text and prophecy with prophecy. Soon a powerful message began to go forth. Sometime in the 1840s, the time prophecy indicated a great event. Most students thought it was to be the 2nd coming of Christ to the Earth.
A huge religious awakening occurred that was not in any one denomination but swept the world. Soon many were sure from scripture that the event would happen on October 22, 1844. People prepared their hearts as if to meet their Lord and they waited. But it seemed nothing happened. We call this the Great Disappointment. None of us who have not lived through this can imagine the heartbreak of these dear ones who truly expected to see the Lord return and did not.
Most abandoned their faith, but a tiny group said "No! We know the prophecy is correct, we must study until we learn what event it DID point to." Soon through much prayer and Bible searching the light came to those persistent ones. The Event foretold was the beginning of the 'Investigative Judgment' , the time when the judgment of all who had professed to serve God and believe in the Savior would start. Jesus had begun a new phase of His heavenly Ministry for His people.
Each name would be examined to see if the person had taken hold of the power made available and lived an obedient life, turning away from the rebellion. If so, their sins would be blotted out and their names kept in the Book of Life. If not, if they had really continued in rebellion while professing to serve God, the name would be blotted out of the Book. This investigation began with the dead and will continue until it reaches the living and then probationary time will end and Jesus return for His faithful ones.
27. A CHANGE OF HEART
The Prophecy of Revelation 13 makes it clear that the USA, shown as a lamb-like Beast power, will later undergo a dramatic change. It will start to 'Speak as a Dragon'. To "Speak" in prophecy means to pass laws and issue decrees. The USA would change from the Protestant Principles of separation of Church and State, and would start sounding like the DRAGON or Satan and Spiritualism.
We are seeing this today as people are being harassed and even punished or fined for sharing their faith, praying or reading the Bible in public in the USA. We are told this Dragon talk will lead to an image of the persecuting Papal beast and exaltation of that power by the USA. A hundred years ago people said this could never happen, in fact when a plaque was sent to Washington by the Papacy, people came at night and threw it in the bay! But now we have a 'Little Vatican' set up right in Washington, and the Pope is welcome in the White house!
The Lamb-beast has surely began to change his character!
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