A 85-page study of the scriptures for and against the notion of a
One World Government. Using Dan Ch 2 & 7 to 12; then Rev 12, 13 and 17
The One World
Government
Commenced 20201122
Published 20210829 -:- Revised
20250923
I
am dyslexic so please bear with me. Scriptures are from Modern King James
(MKJV) unless noted otherwise.
Contents
How
To Find A Reference. 4
General
Abbreviations, References & Equipment 5
PAPAL
Abbreviations, References & Links. 5
Ferris:
Abbreviations, References & Links. 5
The Search For The
One World Government In Scripture. 6
Introduction. 6
Aim.. 6
Different
Interpretations. 6
The Futurist Interpretation Viewpoint 7
A Brief On The
Futurist View. 7
A One-World
Government In Scriptures. 7
Horns In
Scripture. 7
The Little Horn In Dan Chapter 8. 7
The Ten Toes, Horns Or Kings. 8
God’s ‘Time-Line’ Dan 2. 8
Points. 9
The Ten Horns: Dan 7. 9
Points. 9
Revelation. 9
Daniels’ Seventieth Week. 10
The Red Dragon With Ten Horns: Rev 12. 10
Points. 11
The Beast With Ten Horns: Rev 13. 11
Points. 12
The Great Prostitute Riding The Beast Rev 17. 13
Rebuilding The Temple. 14
Points. 15
The Little Horn Dan 7. 15
Daniels’ Vision of the Four Beasts Dan 7. 15
Apostasy?. 16
Change Times And Laws. 17
Time, Times And One-Half Time. 17
Points. 17
The King Of Fierce Countenance Daniel 8. 17
Seventy Weeks Daniel 9. 18
Points. 19
The Vile Person Dan 11:21. 19
Antichrist or Antiochus?. 20
The Willful King Dan 11:36. 20
The Time of the End. 21
Points. 22
The Red Dragon Rev 12. 22
The Ten Horned Beast Rev 13. 22
Antichrist Meaning?. 23
The Two Horned Beast Rev. 13. 24
Points. 25
The Great Prostitute Rev 17. 25
Points. 27
The Fall of Babylon Rev 18. 27
Points. 28
End of the ‘One World Government’ Rev 19. 28
Gathering Points From The Futurist View Study 28
Summing Up Points. 28
Conclusion From
The Futurist Point Of View. 29
The Historical View - One World Government 30
Introduction. 30
The Historical commentaries I will be referring to
from ‘e-Sword’ are: - 30
Aim.. 30
Abbreviations, References & Equipment 30
Let’s Begin. 30
A Brief On The
Historicist View. 30
Why Do
Historicists Thinks That Way?. 31
There is no Rapture! 31
The Revelation Has Already Started! 32
Prophetic Time Periods Aren’t Literal 32
Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. 33
The Seven Times Punishment 34
The Antichrist Is Not A Single Individual 34
Who Is The Antichrist?. 35
What Was Stopping The Antichrist?. 35
The Whole Earth?. 36
He Sits In The Temple Of God. 36
Points. 37
Historical View- The “Ten, Toes, Horns, Kings” 37
Horns And Dynasties. 41
Mingling With The Seed Of Men. 41
The Kingdom Shall Be Divided! 42
Historical View - The Stone Cut Out Without Hand -
Dan 2. 42
God’s ‘Time-Line’ Dan 2. 42
Points. 44
Historical View- The Beast Of Daniel 7. 44
Points. 45
Historical View- [9] Characteristics of The
Little Horn Daniel 7. 45
1: - There Came Up Among Them Another Little Horn. 45
2: - Three Of The First Horns Were Uprooted. 46
2b: -Before Whom Or He Shall 47
3: - Eyes Like The Eyes Of Man. 48
4: - A Mouth Speaking Great Things. 48
5: - Different From The First 48
6: - Speak Words Against The Most High. 48
7: - Wear Out The Saints Of The Most High. 50
8: - Plot To Change Times And Laws. 51
9: - They Shall Be Given Into His Hand Until
A Time Times -Half Time. 52
Who Are The Saints Who Topple The Antichrist?. 53
Points. 54
Historical View-
Daniel 8. 54
Historical View-
Daniel 9. 55
Historical View-
Daniel 10-12. 55
The Time of the
End Daniel 12. 57
Chart Showing The 1260, 1290 and 1335 Days: Dan 12. 58
Points: 59
Historical View-
The Revelation. 59
Historical View-
The Woman: Rev 12. 61
Points: 62
Historical View-
The Red Dragon: Rev 12. 63
Points: 66
Historical View-
The Ten Horned Beast of Rev 13. 66
To Continue
Forty-Two Months. 67
To War With The
Saints And Overcome Them.. 67
Points: 68
Historical View-
The Two Horned Beast of Rev 13. 68
Wonders and Fire. 68
Make An Image To The Beast 69
No.666 The Beast Number And Name. 70
Points: 71
Historical View-
The Harlot Astride The Beast Rev 17. 71
The Woman Astride The Beast 72
The ‘Ten Horns’ 74
The
Rise And Fall Of Gentile Kingdoms. 75
The Ten Kings Hate The Harlot 78
Points: 78
Historical View-
The Fall of Babylon Rev 18. 78
Babylon’s’ Destruction. 78
The Merchants Bewail 79
Points: 79
Historical View -
Heaven Rejoicing - Marriage Supper - Rider On White Horse Rev 19. 79
Rejoicing in Heaven. 79
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 79
The Rider on a White Horse. 80
Points: 80
Historical View-
1000 Years - Satan Defeated -White Throne Judgment Rev 20. 80
The Thousand Years. 80
The Defeat of Satan. 81
Judgment Before the Great White Throne. 81
Points: 81
Gathering Points
From The Historical View Study 81
Summing Up Points. 81
Conclusion From
The Historical Point Of View. 82
Conclusion The
Non-Compatibility Of The Futurist And Historical Views. 83
Other Topics I
Have Covered. 83
NB:
Quotations from old references might be in ‘Ye
old English’. For example History
of The Christian Church was published in 1882. And Matthew Henry’s
commentaries go back to 1708. So quotations from the ‘old’ references might be
in somewhat unfamiliar phraseology! But by quoting them verbatim, you can use
various phrases, particularly those I have underlined, copy the
phrase, then past the phrases into the search option in e-Sword or the
website. Then search for the exact phrases. The search should
take you to the reference I have given you. For the same reason, I have even
left the spelling mistakes, or ‘old’ spelling, as they were, rather than change
the wording!
References in ‘e-Sword’,
I have used the following method of abbreviation. For example to find a map I
have given the reference in the following way; [Ref e-Sword/Graphics View/Historical/ 34. The Germanic
Kingdoms and the East Roman Empire in 486]. Which is short for saying: - Go to e-Sword/
Open the Graphics Viewer window which has a symbol of a small mountain with the
sun above it, in the top of the page/ Then choose the Historical maps
section/ Then on the right of the page, use the dropdown box to find map
34; which is called, “The Germanic
Kingdoms and the East Roman Empire in 486”.
NB:
I strongly suggest you download e-Sword to make full
use of the references I have given you. The download link is shown below in the
Abbreviations table.
ACCH -Adams
Synchronized Chronological Chart of History, by Sebastian Adams.
CN -Commentary
Notes via e-Sword. Given as: - ‘Name on Bible Ref Book CH:
Vrs’ e.g. [Ref CN Clark on Dan 7:7].
Britanica -Encyclopædia Britannica via the
Internet, or my hard copy 1999 Edition CD-Rom
e-Sword -The FREE Bible on line. e-Sword
downloads
FoxBM -Foxe’s Book of
Martyrs – all references via
e-Sword.
HCC -History
of The Christian Church (by Philip
Schaff), via e-Sword. [Phrases underlined for easy
reference.]
HYY -History
Year by Year (by Dorling Kindersley Ltd)
JUssher
-The Annals of the World by James Ussher
Slide# -Television/Projector
for presentations, e.g. “Slide#No, etc”
Wiki -Wikipedia
ref, example: “Ref Wiki link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint”
NAdvent -New Advent Catholic Encyclopaedia,
with reference link, e.g. [Ref NAdvent link Popes, List of]
No.666 -A web site entitled ‘666, The Number of the Beast’
by Michael Scheifler from Bible Light.
PClaims -A web link entitled ‘Papal
Claims to Authority’ by Michael Scheifler from Bible Light.
Pope-L -A web link entitled ‘List
of Popes’, a hand chronology that is also available
within ‘NAdvent’.
AT-Pope
-A web link entitled ‘About the Pope’ from
‘The True Church of GOD Website’, with historical records.
AJFerris -The Book of Revelation by A. J. Ferris.
– Publisher, “The Clarendon” (3rd Edition 1941)
AJF-D11 - From My Copy FROM
The Second Advent - How: When: Where? Daniel Chapter 11 - By A.J.Ferris
AJF-Rv2 - The
Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris
How would you like a dollar
for every time you’ve heard that phrase, “One World Government”? It’s so often
mentioned amongst Christian groups, and it’s also a common subject in the
secular world. So if everyone were so sure that a One World Government is
inevitable, then surely God would have given us a ‘heads-up’ with appropriate
scriptures! But what does the bible actually say about it?
I
would like you to join me in a lengthy study of the scriptures, to
verify the validity of this argument, that, “a One World Government is about to
come into existence!” This is going to take some time to unfold the various
scriptures etc. so please bear with me, (bring a cut lunch).
If
we know anything about the bible and eschatology, (the study of end time stuff),
we all know that there are numerous different interpretations. For a concise
description regarding this I suggest you refer to the following, [Ref ‘e-Sword/
Reference Library/ HCC Vol. 1, Ch. 12, Par101], under the heading, ‘Interpretation’.
Here is a very brief coverage of Philip
Schaff’s description of the three main interpretations.
[I
believe there should be a correction in Part 3 below, a 'typo', the “31
times, I think should read 3½ times]
“The different interpretations are reduced by English writers to three systems
according as the fulfilment of the prophecy is found in the past, present, or
future.
1. The
Preterist system applies the Revelation to the destruction of Jerusalem and
heathen Rome.
2. The
Continuous (or Historical) system: The Apocalypse is a prophetic compend of
church history and covers all Christian centuries to the final consummation. It
speaks of things past, present, and future; some of its prophecies are
fulfilled, some are now being fulfilled, and others await fulfillment in the
yet unknown future. Here belong the great majority of orthodox Protestant
commentators and polemics who apply the beast and the mystic Babylon and the
mother of harlots drunken with the blood of saints to the church of Rome,
either exclusively or chiefly. But they differ widely among themselves in
chronology and the application of details. Luther, Bullinger, Collado, Pareus,
Brightman, Mede, Robert Fleming, Whiston, Vitringa, Bengel, Isaac Newton,
Bishop Newton, Faber, Woodhouse, Elliott, Birks, Gaussen, Auberlen,
Hengstenberg, Alford, Wordsworth, Lee.
3. The
Futurist system: The events of the Apocalypse from Rev 4:1-11 to the close lie
beyond the second advent of Christ. This scheme usually adopts a
literal interpretation of Israel, the Temple, and the numbers (the 31 times,
42 months, 1260 days, 3 1/2 years). so Ribera (a Jesuit, 1592), Lacunza (another
Jesuit, who wrote under the name of Ben-Ezra “On the coming of Messiah in glory
and majesty,” and taught the premillennial advent, the literal restoration of
the ancient Zion, and the future apostasy of the clergy of the Roman church to
the camp of Antichrist), S. R. Maitland, De Burgh, Todd, Isaac Williams, W.
Kelly….
…Another important division of historical interpreters is into
Post-Millennarians and Pre-Millennarians”
“lie beyond the second advent
of Christ”? This sounds wrong! If
you consider the Second Advent is the physical return of Christ. But it makes
sense if Schaff is referring to the Rapture as the Second Advent.
With
this in mind in the first part of this talk I will try to explain each passage
from the Futurist viewpoint, using commentaries mostly from Futurist believers.
Some you can readily obtain via “e-Sword’’. They are David Guzik,
John Darby, Chuck Smith,
C.I.
Scofield, and E.W. Bullinger,
who although he is listed above by Schaff as an Historical believer, he is more
inclined towards the Futurist line of thinking. I will try to present the possible
future on the bases of a logical, literal and realistic
interpretation of the prophecies. Then in the second part of this talk I
will explain each passage from the Historical viewpoint, using commentaries
mostly from historical believers. But I won’t be looking into The Preterist
System; you can use this link to check that out yourself.
In
a ‘nutshell’ what do most Futurists believe? Let’s put it down in a bullet
point format, so that you can come back to this page every so often to take a
breather and get your bearings again so to speak. The Futurists believe the
following: -
1. World powers already
control ‘world government, religion and currency’
2. Next thing to happen
must be the Rapture! The church is taken up to heaven
3. Some say the Holy Spirit
is take out of the world at the same time.
4. The Old Roman Empire
will be revived, forming the “One World Government”.
5. A charismatic antichrist
will come to power.
6. He ‘makes a covenant
with many’, namely the Jews!
7. The temple in Jerusalem
must be rebuilt.
8. The Jews restart Blood
sacrifices in the temple!
9. Then The Mark of The
Beast is brought in!
10. The antichrist sets
himself up as God in the temple
11. After 3½ years
the antichrist breaks his covenant with the Jews.
12. The 3½ years of
The Great Tribulation starts
13. Antichrist will ‘wear
out the saints for ‘3 ½ years’
14. The two witnesses will
be dead 3½ days then rise to life.
15. Antichrist ruthlessly
controls the whole planet for 3½ years
16. Then the Lord returns
and destroys the antichrist!
Now
whether you believe the Futurist interpretation or not, I believe you must use
that interpretation in order to produce the idea of a coming
One-World Government. The scriptures that are mainly used for this are found in
Daniel and Revelation. There is often the reference to “Ten toes, ten horns or
ten kings”. Also if you are a Futurist believer there are these following ideas
put forward:
·
The ‘Ten kings’ are
still in our modern day future. That is they are yet to appear in history.
·
Following them comes
‘The Antichrist’, also called ‘the little horn’, ‘the man of sin’ or ‘the son
of perdition’ etc.
So,
let’s briefly look at the meaning of a ‘horn’ in scripture. Then later we can
look at the meaning of ‘the little horn’.
A
horn is a symbol of strength or a dynasty. Take for example Psalms
132:17 “There
I will make the horn of David to bud…”, which is speaking of Christ ‘the bud’ from
David’s royal line or his dynasty, [Ref CN by Albert Barnes or John Gill on
Psa. 132:17]. Or in Job 16:15 “I
have sewed sackcloth on my skin and thrust my horn in the dust.” Where Job is really having a ‘bad day’; all his
sons are dead and buried in the dust. You can also [Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Dan 8:3], which we will cover in
this next paragraph
Just
to explain the difference. Daniel chapter 8 verses 3 to 25 refer to the rise of
the Greek Empire and the fall of the Media-Persia Empire, and a different
‘little horn’ is mentioned. The interpretation is given in verses 20 to 25.
Basically Daniels sees a ‘ram’ with two horns, representing the kingdoms of
Media and Persia. Then he sees a ‘he-goat’ with “one outstanding horn”,
representing Alexander The Great of the Greek Empire. The ‘he-goat’ attacks and
defeats the ‘ram’. We know all this from history, and the fact that Alexander
died young and his kingdom was divided into four, (four horns), as seen in the
vision, Dan 8:8 “ ..the
great horn was broken. And in its place came up four outstanding ones”. In verse 9 Daniel sees a little horn rise
from one of the four horns. The key point is this little horn stems
from the Greek Empire. Where as “the little horn” in
Daniel chapter 7 stems from the Roman Empire. You may like
to refer to some commentaries notes to get some ideas from the scholars. Some
of them mention that the ‘little horn' in Dan 8 is a ‘type and shadow’
of the coming Antichrist. [Ref CN on Daniel 8:9 by John
Gill; Albert Barnes; David Guzik; John Wesley; C.I. Scofield and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown.]
Just
to give you a brief list of references to the ‘ten toes, horns or kings’. Most
of them prophetically represent the Ten Kings that all ‘stem from the Roman
Empire’. [If you’re a Futurist, they are yet to appear]. They can be found in
the following scriptures: -
Dan
2:41 ..the feet and toes,
part of potters' clay and part of iron
Dan
2:42 ..as the toes
..were part of iron and part of clay ..the kingdom shall be part
strong and part brittle
Dan
2:43-44 ..they
shall not cling to one another ..in the days of these kings, the
God ..shall set up a kingdom
Dan
7:7 ..a fourth beast,
frightening and terrifying, and very strong. ..had great iron teeth; ..and it
had ten horns
Dan
7:8 ..thinking about the
horns ..came up ..another little horn ..three ..horns
..uprooted ..this horn had eyes
Dan
7:20 ..the ten horns
..in his head, and ..of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking very
great things
Dan
7:24 ..the ten horns
..of this kingdom are ten kings ..another (horn) shall arise ..he
shall humble three kings
Rev
12:3 ..behold a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns
on his heads!
Rev
13:1 ..a beast coming up
out of the sea, having seven heads ..ten horns. ..on its horns were ten crowns
Rev
17:3 ..I saw a woman sitting
on a scarlet-coloured beast …having seven heads and ten horns
Rev
17:7 ..I will tell you
the mystery of the woman ..the beast that carries her, ..has ..seven heads
and ten horns
Rev
17:12 ..ten horns
..are ten kings ..received no kingdom yet, but will receive
authority ..one hour with the beast
Rev
17:16 ..the ten
horns ..will hate the harlot ..will make her desolate ..naked, ..will
eat her flesh and burn her
Daniel
chapter 2 is very useful for understanding God’s ‘time line’ and the fulfilment
of many prophecies. If we read and condense the whole chapter, we find Daniel
was explaining to Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, the unfolding of future
events. Daniel said there would be four Gentile kingdoms or ‘Empires’. And
history proves Daniel’s prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a great statue;
Daniel explained it to the king as follows. Dan 2:32 “…head was of fine gold; his breast
and his arms were of silver; his belly and his thighs
were of bronze .. :33 his legs were of iron;
his feet were part of iron and part of clay.” History has shown us that these Empires were
Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece then Rome. Media-Persia was a composite kingdom
hence the two arms. We see this also in Dan 7:5 with the bear up on one
side, meaning one side was stronger than the other, [Ref CN John Wesley on Dan 7:5]. And again in Dan 8 above we
saw ‘a ram with two horns’. As to was Greece the bronze composite
kingdom. Refer Dan 7:6 “a
leopard ..four wings ..four heads”; Greece divided into four kingdoms. [Ref CN by John Wesley on Daniel 7:6]. And the two thighs
represented Ptolemy of Egypt, and Seleucus of Syria, the strongest two kingdoms
of the four. Rome also became a composite kingdom, the two legs of iron
representing the Eastern and Western Roman Empire
Then
the Roman Empire divided into ten kingdoms Dan 2:41-42. “feet and toes, part of
potters' clay and part of iron”. Partly Iron! So they stem from
the ‘legs of iron’, which represented Rome. ‘Ten Toes, Horns or Kings’! All
still in the future. [Ref CN by David Guzik on Dan2:1-49 par 3,d,i] “Since Roman history provides no fulfillment
of this federation of kings (which seems to number ten, because of the number
of toes, and passages like Dan 7:24 and Rev 17:12) this prophecy must still
be future.” So these ‘Ten’
play an important part in the understanding of a coming ‘One world Government’.
Therefore if the ‘Ten’ kings are in the future, then every thing that happens
to them in prophecy is still in the future and is very useful for understanding
the end times.
The
‘Ten Toes', part of ‘potters clay’ and part iron? I have been thinking
this over for months, wondering if God is showing me something here? And it’s
just a thought I could be wrong! Daniel sees into our future, present
day, and these ‘ten toes’ are in our future, consisting of iron
& clay? How would Daniel describe concrete? If the ‘potters
clay’ is concrete, then iron and concrete is exactly what we use to build our
modern-day fortifications. also some commentaries speak of the change from Gold
through to Iron as representing a change of the quality or characteristics of
the gentile empires, or even the fighting metals used. Iron defeats bronze! But
these days we use concrete barriers to defeat Iron tanks. Who
knows? I did say it was just a thought.
So,
what happens to these ‘Ten’ kings in the future? Daniel then told the King, Dan
2:34-35 “You
watched until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image upon
its feet which were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 35 Then
the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces
together. And they became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. And
the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. And the
stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole
earth.” Daniel then gives the
interpretation…etc. till Dan 2:44 “And in the days of these kings, the God of Heaven shall
set up a kingdom.. 45And the dream is certain, and its meaning is
sure.” Many futurists and
some Historic believers see the stone representing Christ, who on His return
shall destroy the antichrist and the ‘Ten kings'.
So,
there we have God’s ‘Time-Line’ for the past 2600 years. But up to this point
in prophecy, apart from Isaiah 14:12-14 with Lucifers’ five “I wills”, God has
not revealed any information about a future coming antichrist.
So,
for the futurist what have we discovered from Daniel chapter 2 about the ‘Ten’
kings
1.
God gives us a Time Line
for the past 2600 years
2.
The Roman Empire or
Roman world must still be in existence!
3.
The ‘Ten’ kings must
arise from the Old Roman world.
4.
The ‘Ten’ kings are
still yet to arrive in world history!
5.
Some time after these
kings appear, Christ, ‘The Stone’, returns to destroy them and set up His
kingdom.
Daniel
chapters 7 to 12 and Revelation chapters 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19 then give us a
better understanding of the future Roman period of history. When we look into
these chapters we find Daniel and Revelation go together like ‘hand in
glove’. Both books refer to a “dreadful
beast and/or dragon, with seven heads and ten horns” etc. Let’s look at each
chapter and examine the references and character of the ‘Ten Horns or Kings’ in
order to piece together the jigsaw of these ‘Ten’.
Let’s
first look at the Ten Horns and what this chapter tells us about them. Dan 7:7,
Daniel sees the beast, it is frightening and terrifying, it subdues all the
other empires. But in Daniel 7:20 you will find that this beast has only one
head, Why? Our futurist commentators accept this beast as representing the
revived Roman Empire, and it had ten horns. As in Daniel chapter
2 this clearly shows us that the Ten Horns stem from the Roman Empire. Back in
Dan 7:16, Daniel asked one of the angels standing by, for an explanation of the
vision and he was told in Dan 7: 23-26. “..The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which
shall be different from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth,
and shall trample it and crush it. 24And the ten horns out of
this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.” We know these ten kings are yet to appear.
so this would mean we are still in the fourth kingdom period, subdued somewhat,
but we are still in the ‘Roman world’. For many futurists, any passage speaking
of ‘The Whole Earth’ is interpreted as the modern-day whole planet earth.
By believing this, the ‘ten kings’, are often expected to arise from many parts
of today’s modern world, rather than solely from the European Roman world. Possible
but I will just stay with the concept that they rise from the European or Roman
World.
As
we read on in Daniel 7, we find more information. Daniel sees in Dan 7:8 “..there came up among them another little
horn, …three of the first horns were uprooted… 9..thrones
were set in place …the Ancient of Days … etc.” so the ‘Little Horn’, (Also, referred to as the man
of sin or the son of perdition, refer 2Th 2:3), he comes up after,
but amongst, the ‘Ten’ horns. so he must also ‘come up’ out of the Roman
world. He then destroys three kingdoms. [Ref CN by C.I.
Scofield on Dan7: 8] “who subdues three of the ten kings so
completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is destroyed.”. This is also repeated in the angel’s
explanation in Dan 7:24 “And
the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise. And another
shall arise after them. And he shall be different from the
first, and he shall humble three kings.” We will cover this ‘Little Horn’ in more
detail later.
So,
what else have we discovered from Daniel chapter 7 about the ‘Ten’ kings.
6.
Refer Dan 7:20 the beast
has only one head, Why? Maybe it was all Daniel needed to know at the
time?
7.
The ‘Ten kings’ shall
rise from the Roman world, and presumedly take over the modern-day Roman
Europe.
8.
Very soon after the
‘Ten’ kings arrive in history, another king shall appear amongst the ‘Ten
Kings’ of Europe.
9.
He shall be
different. Many think this is a
reference that ‘he’ will be charismatic, appealing to all.
10. This 11th King ‘shall humble, or
uproot three kings’. Obliterate them! (Maybe by nuclear strike?)
Rev
1:1 “A Revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave to Him to declare to His servants things which must
shortly come to pass. And He signified it by sending His angel to His servant
John.” John received the
Revelation some 650 years after the time of Daniel. They were in different
worlds. Daniel was given enough information so that people in John’s day could
understand where they were in God’s ‘Time Line’. For example, because of
Daniels’ prophecy of ‘the seventy weeks’ and other prophecies, people at the
time of Christ realised those prophecies should have been fulfilled and
therefore were expecting the Messiah to appear! John was given more detailed
information so that we can understand God’s plan for our time and the end of
the age. But first refer back to Philip
Schaff’s description above. [HCC Vol. 1, Ch. 12, Par101] “The different interpretations are reduced..
The Futurist system: The events of the Apocalypse from Rev 4:1-11 to the
close lie beyond the second advent of Christ.”
So
what does this mean? Well Revelation consists of; Chap. 1, the introduction;
Chap 2 & 3, letters to the churches; and Chap. 4, John sees the throne in
heaven. But chapter 4 starts with this; Rev 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door was opened
in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you
what must occur after these things.”
For
the Futurist this ‘door in heaven’ is a symbol of the ‘Rapture’, and John
represents the church ‘caught-up’ to heaven. Then John, from the position of
heaven, sees the rest of the Revelation unfold. You can find this in some
commentaries: -
[Ref
CH by C.I. Scofield on Rev 4:1] “Come up hither. This call seems clearly to indicate the
fulfilment of 1Th 4:14-17. The word "church" does not again occur in
the Revelation till all is fulfilled”.
[Ref
CN by Chuck Smith
on Rev4:1] “So, I believe that the church is to be
raptured. And I believe that the point of the rapture in the book of Revelation
is in here in chapter Rev 4:1”.
Also,
[Ref CN by John Darby Rev 4:1]
It
could be said that John was also transported in time to a point after the
Rapture. Then that from heaven John sees the ‘Great Tribulation’. That is
interpreted as meaning; the church is up in heaven so she is ‘not in
the ‘Great Tribulation’. And since we have not been caught-up in the
Rapture as yet, that would mean everything from Revelation chapter 6:1 onward,
is still in the future. This puts a completely different view between the
Futurist and the Historical interpretation of Revelation. Therefore the
Futurist sees Revelation from chapter 6 onward, briefly in the following
sequence of events. And we can call this, Daniels’ Seventieth Week, it
is a literal 7 years under the antichrist’s domination. It is a more detailed
version of the earlier list, ‘A Brief On The Futurist View’. [Ref CN by C.I.
Scofield on Dan 9:24, then CN by David Guzik, John Darby, Chuck Smith
and E.W. Bullinger on Dan 9:27].
I
will explain Daniels’ Seventieth Week in more detail later when we come to
study ‘The Little Horn’.
· The world runs as normal. Mat 24:37 But as the
days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the son of Man.
· The Rapture. 1Th 5:2 Lord comes like a thief
in ..night. 1Th 4:17 we ..alive ..caught up ..meet the Lord in the air.
· The Church is taken out of the world! One will be
taken, and the other left. Mat 24:40-41 & Luk 17:34-36
· Some say the Holy Spirit is take out of the
world. 2Th 2:7 ..he is now holding
back until it comes out of the midst.
· Daniel’s 70th week starts. Antichrist
makes covenant ..one week ‘with many’! Maybe Jews and Muslims. Dan 9:27
· The temple in Jerusalem must by this time be
rebuilt. Rumours are that it is already in a prefab state ready to go.
· The antichrist will charismatically reveal himself,
2Thes 2:3 the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition
· Mark of The Beast! Rev 13:16-17 all …receive a
mark on ..right hand ..foreheads Rev 14:9-11; 16:2 & 19:20
· The antichrist exalts himself above ..God …sits as
God in ..temple of God, setting himself forth …he is God. 2Th 2:4
· Then in the midst of Daniels 70th week
the antichrist breaks the covenant. Dan 9:27
· The whole world enters the Three and a half year
Great Tribulation. Refer to the following: -
· Dan 7:25 he ..speak words against the Most
High ..wear out the saints for 3 ½ times ..change times and laws.
· Rev 11:3 …My two witnesses …they will prophesy
1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
· Rev 13:5 ..a mouth speaking great things…and
blasphemies. And authority was given to it to continue 42 months.
· Then The Lord returns 2 Pe 3:10 heavens ..pass
away ..noise ..elements ..melt ..heat. And the earth ..will be burned up.
But through all that we
know that God is in charge! If we now keep that sequence in mind, let’s now
look at Revelation chapters 12, 13, 17 and 18 to see what else happens to the
‘Ten’ kings during the 7 years of the tribulation.
Refer
Revelation Chapter 12:3 “And another sign was seen
in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads
and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads!” [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 12:1-17 under B. The Dragon,
par B.i.] “From
the similar description given in 13:1 and the parallel references in Dan 7:7-8; Dan 7:2, it is clear
that the revived Roman Empire is in view . . . The seven heads
and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by
the little horn of Dan 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the
great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.
(Walvoord
From
Rev 12:9 we see that the dragon represents Satan and he is directly managing
the resurrection of the Roman Emperor. so this revived Roman Empire, must rise
again in our modern day future. It has regal power denoted by the ‘seven
crowns on his heads’. Yet at this point in time, the ‘Ten’ horns or
kings do not have crowns. S this must indicate the states-quo of the
antichrists rulership at the very start of the 7 years of Daniel’s Seventieth
Week. Currently the EEC, (European Economic Community), is the closest thing to
a revived Roman Empire at present. It would seem that after the rapture there
would have to be seven major leaders, or ‘heads’ that would rise from the EEC
in order to regain world stability after the chaos caused by the rapture.
But
consider the following. I asked Google, “How many Christians are there in the
world?” As of 2021 I found the following answer in wiki/Christianity
by country, ‘As
of the year 2015, Christianity had approximately 2.4 billion adherents out of a worldwide population
of about 7.5 billion people.’
That’s
almost one third of the world’s population. Imagine if only half, 1.2 billion,
Christians of the world were worthy of being ‘caught-up’ in the Rapture? Let’s
presume say 1 billion Christians, mainly from Europe and the USA were to
vanish! This could leave a huge void in the leadership and administration
throughout the Christian world. Newly elected “heads” of world
powers would try to restore order in a panicked world. Is it possible that
this passage is a reference to ‘seven heads’ that would come to power in
Europe immediately after the Rapture? NB: these ‘heads’ stem from
the dragon, and it represents the Roman world. so as we saw in Daniel chapters
2 and 7, these leaders or heads must rise from within the Roman or European
world.
The
‘Ten horns’? Well there are numerous references to them as being ‘Ten’
kings’. But let’s be realistic, between the time of Napoleon and WWII nearly
all the monarchies of Europe have been killed or permanently displaced. so it
is highly unlikely that Europe would revert back to ‘Ten’ monarchies. The ‘Ten
Horns or Kings’ could be a reference to ‘Ten’ military leaders appointed, and
given marshal law, to restore world order. For example if we go back to Dan 8
above, when Alexander The Great died, ‘4 horns’ rose up. These horns
represented the four generals of Alexander’s army. so ‘Seven’ new political
European leaders, ‘heads’, and emergence powers given to ‘Ten’ generals, is a
plausible scenario!
This
all seems harmless enough, a world trying to recover from the Rapture. But if
you study Rev 12, start to finish, there are some other interesting things
happening. You see in verses 1-6, a woman births a man-child; the dragon tries
to kill him. The child is caught-up to God. Then verses 13-17 "the dragon
turns on the woman; she is then protected. You can check various commentaries
about these, all very interesting. But that has very little to do with the ‘Ten
kings’ that we are studying at the moment.
The key point is, starting in verses 7 “there was war
in heaven. ..:9 And the great dragon was cast out, the
old serpent called Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was
cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. .:12 …Woe
to the inhabitants of the earth and in the sea! For the Devil came down to you,
having great wrath, knowing that he has but a little time.” Satan is now stuck on earth, he’s infuriated,
time is short and he can no longer stand face to face with God in heaven,
accusing the brethren. This happens some time immediately after the Rapture.
some say that at this point Satan will be roaming the earth seeking someone to
possess, and this person would become the antichrist, the Little Horn,
the leader of the ‘Ten kings’.
So, what else have we
discovered from Revelation chapter 12 about the ‘Ten’ kings.
11. The ‘great red dragon’ representing the
revived Roman Empire rises up presumably in Europe.
12. There are ‘seven crowned heads’, presumably
political leaders with regal power from the Old Roman Europe.
13. There are ‘ten horns’ maybe military leaders
with NO regal power, appointed to restore control in Europe.
14. There was War in Heaven’; Satan will be expelled from heaven.
15. Immediately after the Rapture Satan will be roaming
earth to possess someone, to become the ‘Little Horn’.
This
passage gives us more information about the antichrist, this time known as the
‘healed head’ and/or the beast itself. It also introduces the ‘Two Horned’
beast. But we will group together all the info about them later. Let’s first
look at Rev 13:1-2 “And I stood on the sand of
the sea, and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns. And on its horns were
ten crowns, and on its heads was the name of blasphemy. 2
And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet
like ..a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion.
And the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority.”
·
[Ref CN by John Darby on
Rev 13:1-18] “In
Chapter 13 we have the clear and full development of Satan's instruments of
evil. They are two — the ten-horned and the two-horned beasts. To the
first the dragon, who swept with his tail a third part of the stars to earth,
Satan under the form of the Roman Empire, gave his throne and much authority.
[15] The second not only wielded the first power administratively before him,
but was the active power of evil to lead men to recognize the first, and
therein the dragon. The beast is the original Roman Empire, but largely
modified and in a new character. It has perfect completeness in its forms of
government or heads but is composed of ten kingdoms.”
·
[Ref CN by C.I. Scofield
on Rev 13:1] “Daniel’s
fourth beast, (See Scofield on Dan 7:26), The "ten horns" are
explained in Dan 7:24; Rev 17:12 to be ten kings, and the whole vision
is of the last form of Gentile world-power, a confederated
ten-kingdom empire covering the sphere of authority of ancient Rome. Rev
13:1-3 refers to the ten-kingdom empire; vs. Rev 13:4-10 to the emperor,
who is emphatically "the Beast."
This
new beast came up out of the sea. Refer Rev 17:15 “..The waters which you saw ..are peoples and multitudes and nations.” I think this beast represents a broader
coverage of the antichrists power over the modern-day populous of the
whole planet. It is a composite of the leopard the bear and the lion. If you
refer back to Dan 7:3-6 we find the same animals representing the empires of
Greece, Media-Persia and Babylon. so it stands to reason that after the shock
of the Rapture the New World order, (the beast), which starts in Europe,
would have to then encompass a greater coverage of planet earth if it wishes to
maintain control. You can also refer to the rest of the commentaries above,
[Ref CN by C.I. Scofield and John Darby on Rev13] and [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev13: 1-18]. They all make
reference to the leopard, bear and lion, as being an indication of a change of
the characteristics of the beast. Very interesting should you care to read
them. Equally it’s also logical that the beast should change in character to
incorporate other nations. Then verse 2 continues, ‘the dragon gave the beast his power and his seat and great
authority’. Now Satan appears to
be controlling more of the earthly governments, but still seated
in Rom
But consider this, when God uses animals to represent nations, He uses
animals that are recognised at the time the prophecy is to be revealed. For
example in Daniel 7 He used a leopard to represent Greece, which indicated the
speed at which Greece would conquer the world. But in the very next chapter,
Daniel 8 God uses the ‘he-goat’ to represent Greece, why? [Ref CN by
Adam Clarke on Rev 12:3] “
God has represented the kingdom of the Greeks by a he-goat, for no
other apparent reason than this, that it was the national military standard of
the Grecian monarchy.” so if the
Revelation is meant to be understood in our generation, what would we
understand the ‘leopard the bear and the lion’ to represent now? Refer
à[Slide#1] Here is an old ‘Punch’ cartoon, in
reference to the Crimean War. In 1854 Russia, (the Bear) was harassing Turkey,
so Britain, (the Lion) came to her aid. In these days we understand the Lion
is the British Commonwealth, the Bear is Russia or the USSR. But what
could the Leopard represent? It could be interpreted today as the
African continent. Also we know from Rev 13:8 “And all dwelling on the earth will worship “the
beast”. What better way could
represent the spread of the beasts’ power, than using that kind of analogy in
the prophecy, to indicate the beast has covered a much greater area than the
Old Roman World.
Remember in Rev 13: 1 “And on its ‘Ten horns’ there were Ten crowns!”
This is a distinct change for the ‘Ten’, because they now have regal power.
Earlier I did talk about the possible reinstatement of ‘ten’ of the old
monarchies as unlikely. But do you remember Napoleon, ‘corporal
Napoleon’; he eventually crowned himself as Emperor of Europe. so who’s to say
that as I suggested, ‘Ten’ military generals, appointed by the antichrist, are
not later crowned as kings. Or it could also mean they are appointed as
military dictators. What ever you choose to believe these ‘Ten’ are now much
more powerful. Then the antichrist uses them to ‘reap the whirlwind’
during the last three and a half years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. This period
of time is often referred to as the 1260 days or 42 months or 3½ times
etc. as in: - Rev 13:5 “..And authority was given
to it, (the antichrist), to continue forty-two months.”
And Rev 13:7 “And it was given to it
to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was
given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation.” Also in Dan 7:25 “..shall wear out the saints ..they shall be given into his hand until
a time and times and one-half time.” We will cover how the
antichrist can achieve this under the heading, “The Little Horn”.
So, what else have we
discovered from Revelation chapter 13 about the ‘Ten’ kings.
16. A different beast having ‘seven heads’.
Possibly a restructured Old Rome, still has seven political leaders.
17. The dragon (Satan) ‘gave the (new) beast his power
and his seat and great authority’.
18. It has ‘ten horns’. And ‘ten crowns’.
Regal power is now bestowed in the ten ‘military’ leaders.
19. The new beast has characteristics of a ‘leopard,
bear, and lion’. also maybe meaning greater world coverage
20. And all dwelling on the earth will worship
the beast.
21. ‘Authority was given to it over every
tribe and tongue and nation’.
22. The ‘Ten kings’ ‘will give their power
and authority to the beast’ Rev 13:5.
23. Authority ‘was given to it, (the New
beast), to war with the saints and to overcome them’.
This
chapter is virtually the culmination of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. so where do
the ‘Ten Kings’ fit in? Briefly in Rev 17:1-6 the angel takes Daniel to, ‘see
behind the curtains’, so to speak, as to what the ‘religious harlot’ is
doing, riding on a beast and what will happen to her at the end of the
Seventieth Week. Rev 17:1 “And one of the seven
angels…talked with me, saying ..Come
here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot sitting on
many waters, 2 with whom the (Ten) kings of
the earth committed fornication, and became drunk with the wine of her
fornication, those inhabiting the earth.” Firstly who is the harlot? Often in bible studies
you will hear or read, “a woman in prophecy represents a church”. In this case
it is the antichrist’s church of which the antichrist is the head of the false
religious church. Committed Fornication? [Ref CN by David Guzik on Rev 17], “The idea of fornication often has strong associations
throughout the Bible with idolatry”.
Ref also to John Darby, John Wesley and others. The (Ten) kings and those
inhabiting the earth have committed fornication with her! This is
clearly saying that the whole world will be swept up into an
idolatrous one-world religion. Remember from above regarding the Futurist
System; “Ribera …taught…the future apostasy of the clergy of the Roman church
to the camp of Antichrist”. Now [Ref CN by John Darby on Rev 17] “a character plain enough to mark the Roman or Papal system…
a woman, a religious system, sitting on an imperial beast full of names of
blasphemy, having the form which marked it Roman.” so after the rapture the Church of Rome
becomes an apostate system with the antichrist as its head, supported by the
‘Ten Kings’.
That means that a
future union of church and state would eventuate. Now [Ref CN by E.W.
Bullinger on Rev 17:5], please
read his whole commentary for that verse. But note; Bullinger died in 1913 just before WWI. He speaks
of the ‘League of Nations’, which was the forerunner
of the UN. Bullinger said, “The "Reunion of the Churches" of
Christendom and the "League of Nations" are two of the most
arresting signs of the times. Now
we have the EEC. And if we liken the UN to ‘a school playground’, then the EEC
could end up being like, “the biggest bully in the playground”. To the right,
Referà [Slide#2]. Now [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 17:12-15] “There is little doubt of the credentials of
the EEC to claim itself a successor to the ancient Roman Empire. The EEC
started in 1957, when six European nations met to talk about combining their
nuclear, coal, and economic resources. They met together in Rome, and signed
the treaty of Rome - the beginnings of the present EEC. In many
places in Europe, the EEC flag is just as prominent as any national flag. In
the spiritual dynamic of things, it’s no accident that on the back of the
Eurodollar coin is a woman riding a multi-headed beast”. This is the closest ‘Euro coin I could find via
the ‘net’. [Ref link 1st
Anniversary of the Signing of the 4th REICH COIN],
Then
in Rev 17:7 “And the angel said to me,
Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman
and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads
and ten horns.” Most of this
chapter we will talk about under the heading, ‘The Little Horn’. But as for the
‘Ten Horns’ we will cover them now. The key scriptures that support the ‘One
World Government’ theory are usually found in this chapter. Let’s consolidate
the various passages we need regarding the ‘Ten’.
Rev
17:12-17 “And the ten horns
which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom yet, but
will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. 13These, (the ten kings), have one mind, ..they will give their power and
authority to the beast. 14These, (the ten kings), will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them .. 16 and the ten horns…will hate the
harlot ..make her desolate ..naked…they will eat her flesh and burn
her with fire. .17For God gave into their hearts to do His mind, and to act
with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words
of God will be fulfilled.”
The
‘Ten’ kings have 'received no kingdom as yet'! This point is usually
interpreted as, we are reading the prophecy now, and as of now
they have not received their kingdoms yet. Of course that makes sense, because
the ‘Ten’ kings are still in the future! Then when the antichrist, (the beast),
comes to power then the kings will receive their authority. The tricky bit is
the phrase “one hour with the beast”. If we go to some commentary notes
it might shed some light on that, and I’ll give you quite a few of them.
[Ref
CN by John Darby, Chuck Smith, John
Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson and Adam Clarke on Rev 17:12]. some of their comments are
briefly listed here as: - “one
hour; namely, that at one and the same hour or season he came to his supreme
authority”, “short duration”, “cannot be taken literally…meaning a brief…time”
or “at the same time, or for the same length of time”; “with the beast”;
“receive the same kind of a power as a king”.
We
can also look at the word numbers and their meanings from Strong’s or Thayer’s,
“oneG3391 hourG5610 with the beast.” Let’s first look at the word,
“oneG3391”. It can also
mean, “a (certain), + agree, first”. Now refer to verse 17 as above, “to
act with one mind, and to give their kingdom”, then cross-reference to
KJV it reads, ‘to agree,G4160 G3391 G1106 and give their kingdom.’ so instead of the word “oneG3391”, we could also use the word, ‘agree’. Now let’s look at the word, “hourG5610”. From Strong’s it can be interpreted as, “day,
hour, instant, season, X short, [even-] tide, (high) time.”
so for the phrase, ‘one hour with the beast’, we could rephrase it to read, “agree
for a time with the beast. That’s much the same as the
commentaries above.
Verse
13 “These have one mind, ..they will give
their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will
make war with the Lamb” The
Lamb is Christ the head of the Church, therefore the ‘Ten kings’ are fighting
against the true Church, this is much the same as above in Rev 13:7 “And it was given to it to war with the saints and to
overcome them.” [Ref CN in
Popular New Testament on Rev 17:14] “
..the last half of the verse is not that of the Authorised Version, that the
Lamb shall overcome because they that are with Him are called and chosen and
faithful, but that they that are with him, called, and chosen, and faithful, shall
be partakers of the victory.”
It
is the most horrid time under the antichrist rule. Satan knows ‘his time is
short’, and in his vengeance for being exiled from heaven he is trying to
destroy God’s creation on earth. But hallelujah there is a massive change. Rev
17:16 “and the ten horns which you saw on
the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her
desolate and naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with
fire. :17 For God gave into their hearts to do His
mind, and to act with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast
until the Words of God will be fulfilled.”
It
would appear the ‘Ten’ kings submit to the antichrist’s rule. Then in the
middle of ‘the week’ as in point 9 above the antichrist as described in,
2Th 2:4 “ ..exalts himself above ..God, ..he sits as
God in the temple of God, setting himself forth ..he is God..” He then ramps up the bloodshed and slaughter. As
in verse 14 “These, (the
Ten with the antichrist), will make war with the
Lamb,” Then right at the
end of Daniels’ Seventieth Week, the ‘Ten kings’, as above in verse
17 “For God gave into their hearts to do His
mind”. It is a capital ‘H’,
His, Gods’ mind! God has put into the hearts and minds of the ‘Ten’ kings to
submit to the antichrist’s rule until it seems they can no longer stand the
degradation they have come to. They rebel!
They
turn against the ‘harlot’. [Ref CN by C.I. Scofield on Rev 18:2]
“Two "Babylons"
are to be distinguished in the Revelation: ecclesiastical Babylon, which is
apostate Christendom, headed up under the Papacy; and political Babylon, which
is the Beast’s confederated empire, the last form of Gentile world-dominion.
Ecclesiastical Babylon is "the great whore" Rev 17:1 and is destroyed
by political Babylon”. They “make her desolate and naked”, in other words strip her
of all her accumulated wealth. Then ‘eat her flesh and burn her with fire’.
This is an interesting Old Testament parallel. [Ref CN by John
Gill on Rev 17:16] “(4) Shall burn
her utterly with fire. The language is most probably taken from the Old
Testament, in which to be so burned is the punishment of fornication on the
part of a priest’s daughter (Lev 21:9). The whole is a picture of complete
destruction.” You should also Refer CN on Rev 17 from Summarized Bible, Robertson Word Picture, John Darby and others. They are
all quite interesting.
But
the antichrist must still have a ‘trump card’ up his sleave, because he
continues to exist until the return of Christ. 2Th 2:8 “And then the lawless one, (the antichrist), will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath
of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:G3952 ”, From Strong’s,
“G3918 ..advent ..return; specifically of Christ to punish
Jerusalem, or finally the wicked”.
so Christ destroys the antichrist, not when He comes at the rapture, but at the
Second Advent. But as I have said we
will talk about that when we get to ‘The Little Horn’, we’re nearly there.
Just
a quick ‘side note’: Remember above under the heading, Daniel’s Seventieth
Week, I mentioned in point 6 ‘The
temple in Jerusalem must by this time be rebuilt’. Well I recently found an article on the net
entitled, Misunderstandings
About Jerusalem's Temple Mount – 2011, “While it has not been widely published, it assuredly has been
known for more than 40 years that the 45-acre, well-fortified place that has
been mistakenly called the “Temple Mount” was really the
Roman fortress—the Antonia—that Herod built. .. The area is called the Haram Al-Sharif in
Arabic.” I saw this originally on ‘You-Tube’. And YES
there are a lot of critics that will try to pull this theory apart. But if it
is correct it would appear that the actual site of the temple mount
is in an area, about 200m south and completely separate of ‘The Dome of the
Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque’. So if the Jewish world could ultimately be convinced
of this, then the Temple could be rebuilt. It would be completely separate of
the Muslim sacred site and theoretically nobody would be offended.
Why
wouldn’t it be possible that after all these centuries we have had the location
of the temple in the wrong spot? Consider this, if you go to the back of nearly
every bible these days to find a map showing Mt Sinai, you will find it
somewhere in the middle of the Sinai peninsular! Where as Paul tells you in Gal
4:25 “For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia”. so why do we keep looking for Mt Sinai in the
peninsular, instead of looking for it in Saudi Arabia? You can look for
Mt Sinai yourself, but try looking for it as the Saudi’s call it, Jebel
el Lawz. Roughly in English that is, ‘Mount of the Laws’. Another
thing to consider about the temple is Jesus said, in Mat 24:2 and Mar
13:2 “There shall not be one stone left on
another that shall not be thrown down”. so how come the foundation wall of the temple is
supposedly still intact? It should have bee pulled down as well! It just
doesn’t add up! Mt Sinai is not in the right spot, and I believe nor is the
temple mount.
So,
what key points have we picked up from Revelation 17 regarding the ‘Ten kings’,
and the Temple?
24. A ‘religious harlot’, an idolatrous
one-world religion will develop, most likely with the antichrist at its head.
25. The ‘ten kings, have received no kingdom yet’,
presumably this is the transfer of regal power to the ‘Ten kings’
26. ‘The (Ten) kings of the earth committed
fornication’ with the (religious harlot), the idolatrous one-world
religion
27. The ‘Ten kings’ ‘will give their power
and authority to the beast’
28. The Temple could easily be rebuilt any day now
presumably without disturbing the fragile peace in Jerusalem
29. The ‘Ten kings’ will turn against the false
religious system, plunder it then utterly destroy it
30. But through all of this the antichrist will survive
to live another day, until Christ returns and destroys him
We
now get to that long awaited subject and Dan 7 is the first time we hear of
‘The Little Horn’. In this chapter Daniel virtually explains the vision three
times over. so each time we gain a bit more information. Let’s now pick out the
key verses about ‘The Little Horn’. Dan 7:8 “I was
thinking about the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom three of the first horns were uprooted. And
behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a
mouth speaking great things.”
Throughout the bible this evil character has had numerous names or titles. Now
out of the 32 commentaries I could find in e-Sword, Bullinger has the most
concise list of these other names.
[Ref
CN by E.W. Bullinger on Dan 7:8] “little
horn = a horn of small beginnings. This identifies this vision with those
of Ch. Dan 8:9, Dan 8:11, Dan 8:12. See App-90. The first of twelve
titles given to the power commonly known as "the Antichrist":
it is used again in Dan 8:9. Compare Dan 11:21-30. Note the other titles:
"the king of Babylon" (Isa 14:4); "the Assyrian"
(Isa 14:25); "Lucifer, son of the morning", in opposition to
"the bright and morning star" (Isa 14:12); "the Prince that
shall come" (Dan 9:26); "the king of fierce countenance"
(Dan 8:23); "the vile person" (Dan 11:21); "the wilful
king" (Dan 11:36); "the man of sin" (2Th 2:3); "the
son of perdition" (2Th 2:3); "that wicked (or lawless) one"
(2Th 2:8. Rev 13:18); "the beast with ten horns" (Rev 13:1).”
No
doubt there must be a few other names you can recall. I can think of a few, “the
King of Tyre” in Ezekiel. God says of him, in Ezek 28:13 “You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone
was your covering, etc. 14 You were the anointed cherub
that covers,…15..until iniquity was found in you.” This is no mere human this is ‘Lucifer,
son of the morning’ from Isaiah 14:12. also in Genesis 3:1
there is “the serpent”, that was also Lucifer in disguise. And
Lucifer has been working for thousands of years through these many characters
and titles to disrupt and frustrate God’s plans if possible. And ‘The Little
Horn’ is one of the last characters he uses in history. so let’s backtrack
through Daniel and Revelation to see what we can find out about him in the last
days. We can also draw more information from the writings of Paul, Peter and
others. We can skip Daniel chapter 2 because we know it only speaks of the ‘Ten
toes’, which are the ten post Rapture kings and in Dan 2 there is no mention of
‘The Little Horn’ in any form. We can look for each characteristic as we
continue.
We
know from above this fourth beast is Rome but in Daniel 7:20 you will find that
this beast has only one head. But let’s start at Dan 7:7 ‘..it had ten horns.’ Then after
them in verse: 8 “..there came up among them
another little horn, before whom three of the first horns were uprooted”. This is interesting because this is only passage
that says three horns will be uprooted. In Revelation there is always ten horns,
but none of the futurist commentaries shed any light on any reason why that is
so. I would love to hear from you if you can answer that for me, on the bases
of the futurist interpretation that is. But it is obvious that the antichrist
rises up after the ‘Ten’! He would then destroy three kings, and then perhaps
raise three new kings who will obey him, so that the total is again ‘Ten’.
Maybe!
Continuing
in verse: 8 “And behold, in this horn
were eyes like the eyes of man”. Numerous commentaries speak of this as indicating that the
antichrist will have the following attributes. [Ref CN by Keil & Delitzsch
on Dan 7:8] ‘insight,
circumspection, prudence, wisdom’. [Ref CN by Joseph Benson on Dan 7:8] ‘perspicacity, foresight, and cunning of this power’. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Dan 7:8]
‘The wheel rims full of eyes Eze 1:18,
as symbolic of intelligence’.
But nearly all these traits can be attributed to any human king. But consider
these. [Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Dan 7:8] “Eyes…So, (Gen 3:5) the serpent’s promise
was, man’s “eyes should be opened,” if he would but rebel against God.” Antichrist shall consummate the
self-apotheosis, begun at the fall, high intellectual culture, independent of
God.’ And then we have this about the
Lamb of God in Rev 5:6 “a Lamb ..slain, having seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Is ‘the little horn’ with eyes likely to signify
some kind of evil spiritual insight? Perhaps Satanic possession?
Continuing
in verse: 8, then we have, ‘a mouth speaking great
things’. ‘Great things’, means
what? God gave Paul a marvellous insight in to this. 2Th 2: “Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him …3 Let not
anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first
comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the
son of perdition, :4 who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he
sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.” This clearly is blasphemy. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Dan 7:8] “The mouth: “and a mouth speaking great things.” A
mouth indicating pride and arrogance. This is explained in Dan 7:25,
as meaning that he to whom it refers would “speak great words against the Most
High;” that is, would be guilty of blasphemy. There would be such arrogance,
and such claims set up, and such a spirit evinced, that it would be in fact a speaking
against God. We naturally look for the fulfilment of this to some haughty
and blaspheming power; some power that would really blaspheme religion,
and that would be opposed to its progress and prosperity in the world.” Numerous other
commentaries speak the same regarding the antichrist’s blasphemous mouth.
Paul gives us quite a lot of information here, “For that Day shall not
come”. What day? He is
speaking of, “the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him”. He is telling us that before the Lord comes, in
verse 3 “there first comes a falling away,
and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition”. so here we have our first ‘heads up’ glimpse of
information. something to look for that happens before the Rapture.
There ‘first comes a falling away’. What is “a falling awayG646”?
From Strong’s we get: - G646 “apostasia ap-os-tas-ee'-ah. Feminine
of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): - falling away, forsake.”
So
what is an apostasy these days you might ask? Well the falling away is not
a drifting away from the church as most people think. It means the truth
is not preached in the pulpit! It could mean that the church numbers are
growing astronomically, simple because the people love the “happy
feel good preaching”, the great band, the black stage and the disco-tech
lights. And the worship is so good; you can’t even hear the person next to you
“praising the Lord”. Anyway they don’t sing, (worship), cause
they just come to listen to the band! Also the sound desk team will gladly
handout earplugs, so that you won’t get an earache or headache. And if you ask
the pastor for a list of what s/he preaches, you might get this answer: “We
don’t talk about repentance, forgiveness or sin, people leave the church
if we preach on those topics!” Do you know a church like that? so is Paul
correct, have we, the church, already “fallen away” into the Apostasy? so the
next thing to look for would have to be The Rapture, which is on
the lips of every Christian these days. When that happens, then there is the
coming of “the man of sin”! And when he comes what do the scriptures say
he will do?
Now
back to Daniel 7:20…‘that horn ..whose appearance was greater than
his fellows’. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Dan 7:20] ‘Whose look was more stout than his fellows - …This
would clearly denote that the kingdom or the authority referred to by this
eleventh horn would be more distinct and prominent than either of the others -
would become so conspicuous and important as in fact to concentrate and embody
all the power of the beast.’
So he will appear as the most famous person throughout the whole world! Dan
7:21 ‘that horn made
war with the saints and overcame them’. So when the antichrist comes to his full power,
in the ‘midst of the week’, he will declare “open season” on the saints of God.
We find in Revelation these persecuted people are the ones who refuse to take
‘The Mark Of The Beast’. Dan 7:25 “And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall
wear out the saints of the Most High”, as above it will be war against the saints.
Continuing
with verse 25, the antichrist will, ‘plot to change times and laws’.
[Ref CN by David Guzik on Dan 7, par 4, e] ‘Shall intend to change times and law: This “little horn” will
intend to change times and law perhaps as at the French Revolution, where
radicals wanted to institute a ten-day work week, and declared 1792 (the year
of the Revolution) as “year 1.” ‘Seventh-Day Adventists have historically
taught that it was the Papacy which “changed the times and law” by moving the
Lord’s Day from Saturday to Sunday. Many Seventh-Day Adventists therefore
regard Sunday worship as the sign of the Antichrist.’ Years ago my dad told me about the ten-day working
week. He used to read a lot of biblical history, and he had a great memory for
dates. He recalled the French dropped the ten-day week because everyone was
getting sick? Was it an act of God maybe? Or [Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Daniel 7:25] ‘change times — the prerogative of God alone
(Dan 2:21); blasphemously assumed by Antichrist. The “times and laws” here
meant are those of religious ordinance; stated times of feasts [Maurer].
Perhaps there are included the times assigned by God to the duration of
kingdoms. He shall set Himself above all that is called God (2Th 2:4), putting
his own “will” above God’s times and laws (Dan 11:36, Dan 11:37). But the
“times” of His willfulness are limited for the elect’s sake (Mat 24:22)’.
Continuing
with verse 25, ‘And they shall be given into his hand until a time and
times and one-half time’. I have covered this in another talk
entitled, The Day For A Year Conundrum,
under the heading, “Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, Seasons, Time And Times” you
will find in my work: - “TIME and TIMES. The phrase ‘Times’ in Hebrew
plural means twice Time. Also [Ref CN John
Gill on Dan 7:25 para 5]. “by
"a time" is meant a year, the longest part of time; by
"times", two years; and "the dividing of time", half a
year; in all three years and a half, which is the same with 1260 days,
or forty two months”. Then
comes the best part, its like going to the end of the book to see ‘who dun
it’! Dan 7:9 “I watched until the thrones
were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat ..:10 ..The judgment was set,
and the books were opened. :11 because of ..the great words
which the horn spoke. I watched ..the beast was slain, ..his body
was destroyed and given to the burning flame.” The Ancient of Days, which is God, passes judgement
on the antichrist, who is also the beast; refer to E.W.
Bullinger above, also called
"the beast with ten horns" of (Rev 13:1). He was then, as in
Revelation 20:10 “And the Devil who deceived
them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast
and the false prophet were. And he will be tormented day and night forever and
ever.” Praise The LORD, the
beast, the antichrist, man of sin or what ever you want to call him; he is
finally dune away with.
So,
what are the key points we have picked up from Daniel 7 and Thessalonians
regarding the ‘Antichrist’?
31. Daniel chapter 7 is the first occasion we hear of
‘The Little Horn’
32. Bullinger and others tell us of more than a dozen
other names, which ‘The Little Horn’ has had in the past
33. The Apostasy.
The very first thing to look for is the church will go into an apostasy, if
we aren’t already there!
34. The Rapture
happens, “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to
Him”, 2Th 2:1-3 above
35. Immediately after the Rapture one ‘Little Horn’
rises with ‘Ten kings’, (or military leaders), to assist him
36. The ‘Ten kings’ establish themselves to control the
panicked world
37. The Antichrist, ‘shall humble, or uproot three
kings’. In modern terms obliterate them! (Maybe by nuclear strike?)
38. He will be more ‘stout’ more prominent or more
publicly acclaimed throughout the whole world. Charismatic!
39. The little horn will have eyes, is this
likely to signify some kind of evil spiritual insight? Satanic possession?
40. Will have a ‘mouth speaking great things’
‘opposes ..exalts himself above all that is God, or that is worshiped’
41. He will sit as God in the temple of God, setting
himself forth, that he is God. Blatant Blasphemy
42. For this to happen the Temple must be
rebuilt, as mentioned above
43. He will plot to change times and laws! We
can only assume they are God’s ordinances he tries to change
44. He will make war with the saints and overcame them
45. For 3 ½ years he will have control
over the saints. Scriptures refer to this as 1260 days or 42 months etc
46. End of Antichrist, ‘the beast slain, his body
destroyed and given to flames’. This happens at the Second Advent
I
know earlier I said that ‘the little horn’ of Dan 8 represented a king that rose
up from the Grecian Empire, namely Antiochus Epiphanes. And most scholars agree
on that. But there are aspects of ‘this little horn’ of Dan 8, that are as we
could say a ‘type and shadow’ of the other “little horn” of Dan 7 who we
recognise as the antichrist. Just to show there are some differences of opinion
amongst the Futurist scholars, you can look at commentaries from David Guzik, John Darby, E.W. Bullinger and Cambridge
Bible. But I will leave you with these
two commentaries to ponder over.
[Ref
CN by Chuck Smith on Daniel 8:1-27] “And the latter time of their kingdom,
when the transgressions are come to a full, a king of fierce countenance,
and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty
(Dan 8:23-24),’ And this, of course, is referring now to the
antichrist. but not by his own power (Dan 8:24): We read in Rev 13:1-18
that this beast that rises out of the sea that Satan gives unto him his
authority and his power. …All of the power of Satan will be given unto man,
this man. "His power will be mighty, but not by his own power.”
[Ref
CN by C.I. Scofield on Daniel 8:9] “The "little horn" here is a prophecy
fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175, who profaned the temple and
terribly persecuted the Jews. He is not to be confounded with the "little
horn" of Daniel 7… concerning "The Beast" .. But Antiochus is a
remarkable type of the Beast, the terrible "little horn"
of the last days. Dan 8:24-25 go beyond Antiochus and evidently refer to
the "little horn" of Daniel 7.”
There
is also in Dan 8:13 two angels speaking about, “Until when
shall the vision last, concerning the daily sacrifice”. And the answer was in Dan 8:14, “And he said to me, For two thousand, three hundred evenings and
mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be vindicated.” So these 2300 days must have some
significance, and there are numerous scholars to which you can refer, try these
commentaries for a start. Joseph Benson, John Darby, David Guzik
and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown. They all have slightly different ideas and
they are all quite interesting.
In
Dan 9: 1-3 we find out why Daniel has come before the Lord, “with fasting, and
sackcloth, and ashes”. He ‘understood’ from Jeremiah’s writings that God would
“accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem”. So Daniel wants to
know what is God’s next big plan? And this is where we get the ‘Seventy
WeeksH7620’ prophecy, and the info
about the last week, the ‘Seventieth Week’ of Daniel chapter 9. Remember
above in my talk entitled, The Day For A Year Conundrum.
In that talk I also mentioned ‘a Week’ in prophecy. Lets look at Strong’s and Brown-Driver-Briggs for word H7620.
Strong’s H7620 “shâbûa‛/ shâbûa‛/ shebû‛âh.
shaw-boo'-ah, shaw-boo'-ah, sheb-oo-aw'.
Properly passive participle of H7650 as a denominative of H7651; literally sevened, that is, a week (specifically of years):
- seven, week.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Definition: 1) seven, period of seven (days or years),
heptad, week ..1a) period of seven days, a week ..1a1) Feast of Weeks ..1b)
heptad, seven (of years).”
Therefore using the definition of a week is ‘seven
years’ you can basically apply the rule of, “a-day-for-a-year”. Therefore ‘a Week’ in prophecy is ‘7
prophetic days’, at ‘a-day-for-a-year’, that equals, 7
literal years. So the ‘Seventy Weeks’ prophecy equals 70 x 7 prophetic
days = 490 prophetic days, which = 490 literal years. And using the same
method, the 69 weeks = 69 x 7 prophetic days, which equals 483 prophetic days,
which is therefore 483 literal years. I have tried to spell it out for you step
by step so that you can see that’s how the scholars work out the time span from
Daniel to Christ. And when you think about it, it probably wasn’t meant to be
too hard work out because at the time of the birth of Christ many people seem
to be expecting the Messiah to appear.
Verses
20 to 27 Gabriel arrives and tells Daniel, Dan 9:24 “Seventy weeks are decreed as to your people and as to your holy
city…” Gabriel continues with
all the glorious things Messiah will do and the restoration planed for
Jerusalem. Dan 9:25 “Know ..that from ..the
command to restore ..Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks,
and sixty-two weeks”. Gabriel means a
total of 69 weeks, (it’s a Gabriel thing). Dan 9:26 “And after sixty-two weeks, (in other words the total
of 69 weeks is finished, 483 literal years), Messiah
shall be cut off, but not for Himself.”
That brings us to the crucifixion of Christ, the ‘Messiah shall be cut off’!
That ends the 69 weeks, (483 years), of Daniels’ prophecy in chapter 9.
With
the 69 weeks finished that means the Futurist believes the Seventieth Week, ( a
period of 7 literal years), is still all in the future! Now Gabriel continues
with the Seventieth Week, and the additional bits of info for our day
regarding, “the Prince that shall come” (Dan 9:26). Now the rest
of verse 26, “And the people of the ruler who
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…” The KJV says “the prince that shall come”
The Futurist interprets this ‘prince’ as referring to the antichrist, ‘who
shall come’. The next verse tells you what he will do. Dan 9:27 “And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one
week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice
and the offering to cease, and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations,
even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the
desolator.”
·
[Ref CN by E.W.
Bullinger on Daniel 9:27] “he shall confirm the covenant = make a
firm covenant: i.e. the little horn will do this at the beginning of the last
seven years. See note below on "one week". It may even be the
beginning of the 2,300 days of Dan 8:14. Compare Dan 11:21-24”.
·
[Ref CN by John Darby on Daniel 9:1-27] “The prince that shall come confirms a
covenant with the mass of the Jews. This is the first thing that characterises
the week; the Jews form an alliance with the head, at that day, of the people
who had formerly overthrown their city and their sanctuary. They form an
alliance with the head of the Roman Empire”.
·
[Ref CN by C.I.
Scofield on Daniel 9:27] “abominations (Cf) Mat 24:15. The expression
occurs three times in Daniel. In; Dan 9:27; Dan 12:11 the reference is to the
"Beast," "man of sin"; 2Th 2:3; 2Th 2:4 and is identical
with Mat 24:15”.
·
[Ref CN by David Guzik
on Daniel 9:1-27] “Yet the events promised in the first 69
weeks are fulfilled, indicated that there is a lengthy “pause” in the 70 Weeks,
between the 69th week and the 70th week. The 70th week will begin when the
coming prince shall confirm a covenant with the Jewish people”.
So,
what are the key points we have picked up from Daniel chapter 8 and 9
regarding the ‘Antichrist’?
47. We looked at the king of fierce countenance
of Dan 8:23 representing a ‘type and shadow’ of the antichrist
48. We learnt about the ‘Seventieth
Week’ of Daniel 9, (7 literal years in the future), and what will happen,
such as:
49. The antichrist, ‘he shall confirm a covenant
with many for one week’, make a covenant with the Jews
50. In the ‘midst of the week he shall’
deceitfully change his mind, break the covenant he made with the Jews
51. He ‘shall cause the sacrifice and the offering
to cease’. He shall put a stop to the Jewish worship
52. He will set up a desolating abomination in
the temple. Idolatry; in that ‘he seats himself as God in the
temple’?
Daniel
chapters 10, 11 and 12 are one long confusing read. It starts with a time mark.
“In the third year of
Cyrus”. Then in mid chapter
10 this massive angel arrived, many presume it was Gabriel. Bullinger tells us
Daniel is 89 years young! So it’s quite a shock for the old boy. After
introductions the angel says in Dan 10:14 “Now I have
come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the
latter days. For the vision is yet for many days”. Daniel is still ‘shaken but not stirred’.
The angel then leads into chapter 11 then continues into chapter 12, and very
briefly covers the rise and fall of various kingdoms. It’s a great story, kings
of North and south, skulduggery, intrigue etc. You can look at numerous
commentaries; they all generally see them as past history, but not necessarily
agreeing on who's who. The two characters that are of interest to us are, "the vile person" (Dan 11:21 KJV) and "the wilful king" (Dan 11:36 KJV).
Many
tend to agree that the ‘vile person’ was Antiochus who is a ‘type and shadow’
of the antichrist. The various things that he did in relation to the Jews and
Jerusalem are believed to be a foreshadowing of the future coming antichrist.
But here is an example of the differences of opinion between the scholars?
[Ref
CN by E.W. Bullinger on Daniel 11:21] “a vile person. One of the twelve titles given to the
antichrist. See note on Dan 7:8. The prophecy concerning him is continuous
to the end of the chapter. It is parallel with Dan 7:8, &c.; Dan
8:9, &c.; and Dan 9:26, Dan 9:27. He is not another successional king of
the north, but a totally different and unique personage, still future.
He comes in by "flatteries", and in Dan 11:40 he is attacked by both
a "king of the south" and a "king of the north".” Bullinger said, ‘Continuous to the end of the
chapter’! So Bullinger sees "the vile person" and "the
wilful king", as the same physical person in the future and he will be
the antichrist.
Where
as David Guzik
interprets the, “the vile person”,
simply as Antiochus. [Ref CN by David Guzik on (Dan 11:21) “The vile person comes to power. And in his place shall arise a
vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come
in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. b. This was fulfilled
in the successor of Seleucis III, who was named Antiochus IV.”
Then
on the other hand you have others who see “the vile person” fulfilling both the
historical character and the forerunner of the future antichrist. [Ref CN in Preacher's
Homiletical on Daniel 11:21-35] “HOMILETICS, SECTION XXXIX.—ANTIOCHUS
EPIPHANES; OR, THE VILE PERSON. (Chaps. Dan 11:21-35.) The next part of the
prophecy is occupied with a person who has been already the subject of divine
revelation as the Little Horn of the Third or Grecian Empire (chap. Dan 8:9-12;
Dan 8:23-25). This is Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes, or the Illustrious. The
present prediction concerning him is a considerable enlargement of the former
one. The prominence given to this Syrian king arises in the first instance from
his being the great enemy and persecutor of the Jewish people; and secondly,
from his being made the type of another persecuting power to arise under the
New Testament dispensation, and to continue in one form or other to the
time of the end. [309] The prophecy regarding him would seem to make way
for and to melt into predictions concerning that other power or powers of which
he was to be the forerunner and type.”
To
work through this could seem quite daunting! If we take Bullinger’s point of
view, ‘the vile person and the wilful king’, are one and the same
person, a “unique personage, still future”, then the rest
of Daniel chapter 11 is theoretically talking about the antichrist. So let’s
look at the prophecy starting from Dan 11:21 to see what those verses could
possibly suggest the antichrist could feasibly get up to in the
future? I am going to ‘skim’ through the verses and just pick the ‘main
points’. I will add short ‘hints’ at times, show like this à [Hints
in square bracket bold], to give some clear reference as to what the verse
is possibly indicating regarding the antichrist’s future activity. I
will base my hints mainly on Bullinger’s commentary notes. So can you please
get your own bible out and ready to go. Then first read the verse that I have
reduced in size. Then read ‘[the hints that I suggest the verse could
mean in the future]’
Dan
11:21 “ ..a despised one, (the
vile person in KJV), shall stand up ..and seize the kingdom .. :22
..Also, the ruler of a covenant”. [he will seize the Jewish leader?] :23 “ ..after they join him, he will practice deceit ..” [the Jews will join him, possibly refers to Dan
9:27 ‘And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.’]
:24 “ ..He shall plunder, ..and scatter goods among them. :25
..he shall stir ..his heart against the
king of the south” [a major
world Conflict?] :26 “ ..many shall fall ..:27
..both ..kings' ..shall
..speak lies at one table. :28 ..his ..shall be against the holy covenant.” [he will turn against the Jews] :29 “ ..he shall return ..against
the south. :30 ..ships of Kittim shall come against him.” [Bullinger says ‘Chittim = Cyprus, or some
European power.’] “ ..he shall ..have fury against the holy covenant. ..he shall
..give heed to those who forsake the holy covenant.” [he will break the covenant and support those
who hate the Jews] :31 “ ..forces ..stand from him, and they will profane
the sanctuary, ..and shall remove
the daily sacrifice, ..place
the desolating abomination.”
[a reference to 2Thes 2:3-4, he will stop Jewish worship and set himself up
as God in the temple]. :32 “ ..he will ruin by flattery
those who do evil against the covenant.” [promote those who hat the Jews]. But “ ..people who know their God will be strong :33 ..those who
understand ..shall teach many;” [true believers will survive] “yet ..shall fall by ..sword,
..flame ..exile, ..spoil,” [many true believers will be persecution] :34 “..many will join them, with hypocrisy. :35 ..many ..shall stumble, to refine ..purge
..make white, to ..the end …” [many will pretend to join the true believers,
this could refer to the start of the Tribulation, the last 3 ½ years of the
seventieth week].
Dan
11:36 “ (the wilful king KJV) ..shall do according to his will ..he shall exalt and magnify himself
above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and
shall prosper” [a clear
reference 2 Thes 2:4] ..:37 “ ..He will not regard the God of his fathers, nor
the desire of women, nor regard any god. For he shall magnify himself above
all.” ……Have a break here;
this is too big to be called a ‘hint’! The two phrases above, ‘not regard the God of his fathers’
and ‘nor the desire of women’, [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Dan 11] “2. (Dan 11:37-39) The character and authority
of the “willful king.” a. Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the
Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a
homosexual”.
Dan
11:38 “ ..he shall honour the god of forces; ..a god
..his fathers did not know, he shall honour with gold ..silver,
..precious stones ..desirable
things.” [he is
superstitious, though in public he exalts himself above all gods.] ..:39 “ ..he shall
act ..with a strange god, ..He shall multiply in glory, ..rule over many ..divide the land for a price.” [he will reward those who worship him] :40 “ ..at the end-time,” [then
Conflict with kings of North and south again]
Dan
11:41 “ ..He shall
..enter ..the glorious land, ..many shall ..stumbled”, [a battle to
take Jerusalem] “ ..these shall escape ..Edom
..Moab ..Ammon. :42
..Egypt shall not escape. :43 ..he shall have power over ..the treasures ..gold ..silver ..precious things of Egypt…Libyans and the
Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”,
[he will control and tax those countries] :44 “But news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble
him.” [There was no word
for northeast in Hebrew, so this could mean northeast of Jerusalem which is
from Russia; shall trouble him]. “Then he will go out ..to destroy, and ..many to destruction.”,
[a major battle] :45 “ ..he shall plant his
palace tents between the seas.”, [between Mediterranean and Dead Sea],
“in the glorious holy mountain.”, [Jerusalem] “Yet he shall
come to his end,” (Continues with
the start of Chapter 12).
I
did say it was one long confusing read! And because of that not many people
would bother to try to ‘plough’ through all that. Thanks very much for your
perseverance. You can see that it actual gives more in depth detail than many
other passages. And I hope it has shown you where some of the other
characteristics of the antichrist can be found.
We
now come to ‘the wilful king’, which is interpreted by many as the
antichrist. In the passage above from verse 36 onward we have already
covered the self-exaltations and skulduggery of the antichrist according to E.W.
Bullinger. Here below is David Guzik’s commentary about him. We can then continue with
Daniel chapter 12 for the conclusion of the prophecy. We also find there are
some interesting periods of days!
[Ref
CN by David Guzik
on Daniel 11] “The
Antichrist: the “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.” (Dan 11:36) “The
willful king”: a shift to a future fulfillment. ‘Then the king shall do
according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god,
shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the
wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done’…Here
we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be
fulfilled in the Antichrist, the
final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Dan 10:14), and Dan 11:36 begins to look more towards this final
world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”…We know that everything
about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus
Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the real abomination of desolation was
still in the future (Mat 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Dan 11:36 in
reference to the coming Antichrist: Let
no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling
away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped,
so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God, (2Th 2:3-4)”.
Daniel
12 verses 1 to 4 give the conclusion of the prophecy, which started at Dan
11:1. It is a brief coverage of what could be referring to Armageddon,
the resurrection, who’s in the book of life and the end of the
world. Again, I am going to ‘skim’ through the verses and just pick the
‘main points’. Again, I will give short ‘[Hints in bold]’ at times to
give some clearer possible meaning. As before, I will base my hints mainly
on E.W. Bullinger’s commentary notes. You can read the rest that I
have left out. Let’s start with the last verse of Dan 11.
Dan
11:45 “ ..he shall plant his palace tents between
the seas in the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end,”
Dan 12:1 ..“at that time Michael shall stand up,” [what time? When the antichrist “shall come to
his end”], “there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; until that
time,” [maybe the end of
the Tribulation or Maybe a reference to Eze chapters 38-39] “ ..at that time your people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book. :2 ..those who
sleep in the dust ..shall awake ..Some to everlasting life ..Some to shame..” [the Great White Throne judgement, the final
resurrection] :3 “ ..those who are wise
shall shine ..as the stars forever
and ever.” [the reward for the
righteous] :4 “ ..But you, ..Daniel,
..seal the book, even to the time of the end.” [the book of Daniel will not be fully
understood until these days]. “Many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased.”
In
reference to, ‘run to and fro’, [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Dan 12:1-13] “has more the idea of searching after
knowledge than rapid transportation” “ii. “The idea is that people would run
about trying to find answers to important questions, especially in reference to
future events.” (Wood). iii. “The correct sense is that ‘many shall search it
through and through,’ and that as a consequence ‘knowledge of the book
itself shall be increased.’” (Newell)”.
I
tend to see it this way; If Daniel could see into the future and see a final
world war in this day and age, what would he see? Jet aircraft, aircraft
carries, tanks rushing across the battlefield, men with jet-backpacks,
hovercraft, parachutes, rocket launchers, intercontinental ballistic missiles,
ballistic satellite stations and computer technology. Defiantly he would be saying, ‘Many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased.’
In
the rest of Daniel chapter 12 he hears a dialogue between three angels one on
each side of the river and one standing ON the river. (Whom do we know
who can stand on water?) One asks the angel on the water, Dan 12:6 “Until when shall be the end of these wonders?” the angel standing on the water answers; Dan
12:7 “ ..it shall be for a time, times, and
a half ..when they have made
an end of scattering the power of the holy people, all these things shall
be finished.” This is the famous
time span in prophecy, ‘time, times, and a half’. Or ‘time, times, and
the dividing of time’. All equal to (1260 days) or 42 months, which is a
clear reference to the last 3½ years of the antichrist’s rule. But then
we are given these numbers.
Then
Daniel joins in and says; Dan 12:8 “ ..I don’t understand ..Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” The
angel tells him, Dan 12:9 “ ..Go, Daniel!
..the words are closed up and sealed until the end-time. :10
Many shall be ..made white ..tried…none of the wicked shall
understand ..the wise shall
understand.” Then Daniel
hears these marvellous verses. Dan 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall
be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred
and ninety days shall occur.”
(1290 days) :12 “Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and
thirty-five days.” (1335 days) :13 “But you go on to the end,
for you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days.” So what do these different sets or groups of days
mean? Let’s go to David Guzik’s commentary.
[Ref
CN by David Guzik
on Daniel 12:1-13] “And from the time that the daily sacrifice
is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one
thousand two hundred and ninety days: This is an amazingly specific
prophecy. Daniel says that from the time of the abomination of desolation,
you can simply start marking off your calendar to the final consummation of all
things, 1,290 days later. This is why Jesus pointed to Daniel’s prophecy of
the abomination of desolation as the sign that would mark the immediacy of His
return (Mat 24:15). Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand
three hundred and thirty-five days: What is the relation between three
and one-half years (1,260 days, mentioned specifically in Rev 11:3
and Rev 12:6), the 1,290 days mentioned here, and the 1,335 days
mentioned here? It is difficult to be certain. We could say that at the end of
the 1,260 days Jesus returns. At the end of the 1,290 days,
Jesus’ government is officially installed. At the end of the 1,335 days
the nations are judged (Mat 25:31-46).”
So, what are the key
points we have picked up from Daniel chapters 10 to 12 regarding the
‘Antichrist’? Well I got this list from Guzik. [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Daniel 12:1-13], regarding the
prophecy we have just covered. I think we can just add them into our list of
points.
53. A world ruler, utterly opposed to God
54. A world religion, based on the abomination
of desolation
55. A world war, which defeats the ruler
56. A time of great tribulation for Israel lasting
three and one-half years
57. Deliverance
for the people of God after the tribulation
58. Resurrection
and judgment
59. The reward of the righteous
We
have covered a lot of this chapter before when we studied the ‘Ten Horns’.
Remember from Rev 12 earlier. [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 12:1-17 under B. The Dragon,
par B.i.] “it is clear that the
revived Roman Empire is in view . . .” (Walvoord)” .. Now let’s focus on ‘The Little Horn’, but in
actual fact there is no mention of any ‘Little Horn’ in this chapter. There is
the familiar structure of the revived Roman Empire in the form of a
beast. Rev 12:3 “ ..red dragon,
seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns
on his heads!” The dragon
is the symbol of Rome. The seven heads are most probably political leaders,
with ‘crowns’, or presidential power. The ten horns, not crowned,
a symbol of ten subordinate rulers, probably military leaders. As I said
earlier this is probably the status-quo of the revived Roman Empire immediately
after the rapture. But there is NO ‘Little Horn’ as yet? Stay with me.
Remember
when we were studying the ‘Ten Horns’, what happened during Rev 12:7-13? Let’s
‘skim’ through it again verse 7 “ ..war in Heaven. Michael.
defeats the dragon ..:9 the
dragon ..cast out to earth, and his
angels ..”. Verses 10 to 12
is rejoicing in heaven etc. Verse :12 “ ..Woe to
the inhabitants of the earth
..Devil came down ..having great
wrath, knowing ..he has ..little time.:13 And ..he persecuted the woman ..” This woman represents the ‘true’ church; the devil
is then confined to earth with evil plans to persecute the ‘true’ church. How
does he do it? By possessing one of the seven heads? That sounds logical and it
will make sense later when we get to Revelation 13.
So,
at this point, immediately after the rapture, ‘The Little Horn’ has presumably
not been revealed. 2Th 2:3 “ ..there first comes a
falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of
perdition”. Once he has been
revealed then follows this passage. 2Th 2:4 “who opposes
and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped,
so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that
he is God.” So imagine the
world after the rapture, people would be in a panic, there is most likely to be
mass looting and disorder. That happens now in a world disaster, and people are
not likely to change! So they are not likely to flock to some charismatic
leader unless he appears to have something miraculous about him!
So let’s see what happens next chapter.
Rev
13:1 “ ..I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,” [a restructuring of the beast of Rev 12], “having seven heads and ten horns
..on its horns were ten crowns
..:2 ..the beast ..was
like a leopard ..a bear .. a lion ..the dragon gave him its power and its seat
and great authority.” And we discussed
the apparent restructuring of the beast to encompass greater world coverage.
And there are now crowns on each of the ‘Ten Horns’. But this next verse is
amazing. Rev 13:3 “And I saw one of its heads
as having been slain to death, and its deadly wound was healed.
And all the earth marvelled after the beast”. If one of the heads would be representing a key political leader of
the revived Roman Empire, and they are assassinated, then
consider the following story. (Although verse 15 says, he was wounded by a
sword, what follows is still a great story).
‘Its
head had a deadly wound which was healed!’ Well I remember seeing
this real life police chase story, live on the TV news the day it happened. You
can find it on this link: - The-Real-Story-Behind-Tim-Atahan-One-Of-Australias-Most-Successful-Bank-Robbers.
The story reads roughly as follows. “Tim Atahan had robed numerous banks around
Sydney NSW. ‘On a stinking hot January 31, 1984’ after robbing two banks,
he had escaped in a vehicle and surrounded himself with hostages. The police
had blocked his movement near the Spit Bridge. Detective Senior Constable Steve
Canellis got close enough to the car to stick his head in the window and talk
to Tim. Steve was then ‘shot point blank between the eyes’. Perhaps the
luckiest man in the world, Steve survived and recounts the drama to Murder Lies & Alibis.”
I remember that Constable Steve was in the news for the next few weeks or so:
Hailed the Hero! And the medical report on him showed the travel path of the bullet.
It entered between the eyes on the upper bridge of his nose. It passed under
the brain and ricocheted off the inside of his skull. Then it travelled down
through his throat and lodged in his upper chest! I remember seeing his fist
news interview, he calmly said something like, “all I remember is I woke up
with a real bad sore throat”. I am sure you could find dozens of other
miraculous survival stories.
But
put that event in the context of that scripture, Rev 13:3. Just imagine if one
of the ‘political heads’ of the beast is starting to make a name for himself,
becoming popular and striving to unit the world after the rapture. Then he is
assassinated with a bullet in the forehead, live on CNN worldwide.
Everyone would think, ‘Oh crumbs he’s dead!’ But he’s alive! A miracle! And
then he comes back to the political arena only days later. How do you think the
world would react to that miraculous person? The world would think he
could do no wrong! It would be exactly the same as Hitler’s reaction,
after the long list of assassination attempts on him. [Ref link List
Of Assassination Attempts On Adolf Hitler]. The last and 22nd
attempt was at the Wolf's Lair, 1944 July 20. In Hitler’s mind he thought he
had ‘a lucky star’, he could not be killed because he believed he had a divine
destiny! And the populous of Germany from 1933 to the 40’s, followed him whole-heartedly!
Just like this next verse, Rev 13:4 “And they
worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped
the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with it?” Satan could possess that political leader,
‘head’, and then Satan would have just the tool he needs to do his dirty work
to fulfil the position of the antichrist. Satan would be the one who engineers
the deadly wound, and for him to survive.
The
antichrist could then sweep the world off its feet easily fulfilling these
following passages. Rev 13:5 “And a mouth speaking great
things ..and blasphemies. And authority was given to it to continue
forty-two months.” This authority
to continue 42 months? That is the famous 3½ years. But
consider this, for most democratic world leaders their term of office is
usually 4 years. So if the leader was already elected, then assassinated six
months into his term, but miraculous survives! Of cause they would continue
another 3½ years. Then in verse :6 “ ..it opened
its mouth in blasphemy toward God
..blaspheme His name ..His
tabernacle, and those dwelling in Heaven”. This is now treading on very shaky ground! And only the saints of God
would see the error in those blasphemous speeches, and the saints would speak
out against him! They would exclaim, “He’s the antichrist!” so what
would the antichrist do then? Verse :7 “ ..it was
given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority
was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation. :8 And all
dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have
not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the
foundation of the world”. It is not
difficult to see how the antichrist could rise to power, to have power over every
tribe tongue and nation. The other ‘6 heads’ are either scared stiff of
the blasphemous leader, and/or they are completely in alliance with him. It’s
the same as Hitler after the last attempt to assassinate him. All his top
generals had to swear allegiance to him face-to-face. If not? The next two
verses 9 and 10 are a reassurance to the believers ‘Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints’.
When
it’s all set and done, ‘anti’ as in antichrist, does not necessarily mean
against Christ! It can also means ‘in place of’ Christ. Refer KJV 2Jn
1:7 “
..This is a deceiverG4108 and an antichrist.G500”. From Strong we find, “G4108 ..that is, (by implication) an impostor
or misleader: - deceiver, seducing.”
Then we have G500 = “From G473 and G5547; etc.” But word G473, = “anti; an-tee'; A primary particle; opposite,
that is, instead or because of (rarely in addition to): - for, in
the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast,
requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.” Then word number G5547
= ‘From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of
Jesus: - Christ”. So antichristG500 is in effect the combination of the two words, G473 ‘is instead of, or substitute for’ and G5547, ‘the Messiah, Christ’! In other word a
‘substitute for Christ’, an antichrist! So the antichrist is setting himself up
in place of Christ. Exactly the meaning of, 2Th 2:4 “ ..exalts himself above all that is called God ..” For another example of the use of the word ‘anti’,
as ‘instead of’, if you attend a royal function, you and the rest of the guests
would assemble in an anteroom, also spelt, “anti-room”. Then when the
dignitaries arrive you would all then move into the main function room.
Then
we have, Rev 13:11 “And I saw another beast
coming up out of the earth. And it had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like
a dragon.” This in most
commentaries and in other scriptures is recognized as ‘the false prophet’.
This brings into effect what is known as the ‘anti-trinity’. [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 13:11] “With the dragon, the beast rising from the
sea, and the beast rising from the land we have an unholy trinity.
The dragon is the anti-Father, the beast rising from the sea is the
anti-Christ, and the beast rising from the land is the anti-Holy Spirit.” Numerous similar references can be found in: - CN
in Pulpit
on Rev 14:1-20 “the trinity of enemies”; CN in Biblical Illustrator on Rev 13:11
“infernal
trinity”; and Rev 13:18 “a trinity of evil”; CN in Expositor's
Bible on Rev 19:1-21 “realm of evil a personal trinity”. Again Satan tries to mimic God by forming
an ‘anti-trinity’.
All
sounds very good but what could this new beast physically be in the future? A
beast in prophecy has often represented an empire or kings. Refer Dan
7:17 “These four great beasts are four kings”. And two horns represent dominions or leaders.
Consider this, Hitler came to power only because of his secret police, the
‘Gestapo’ and the ‘SS’! His proper gander minister Joseph Goebbels
spouted off all the Nasi policies! And Hitler’s ‘Two Horned’ secret
police, (the ‘Gestapo’ and the ‘SS’), enforced the policies. Could this ‘beast
with two horns like a lamb’ be any different? Rev 13:12 “And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before him, and causes
the earth and those dwelling in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed.” That sounds like
a proper gander minister and his secret police force to me. And with Satan as
the driving force behind it, what could possibly stop it? Also in this verse is
this phrase, ‘the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed’.
So the assassinated head is now referred to as ‘the first beast’, that
explains why there was no mention of him as a ’little horn’, he has now taken
over the total control of the multi-headed beast.
Then
we hear more of what the ‘Two Horned Beast’, (the false prophet), gets up to.
And your imagination can run wild with all the futuristic scientific features
already available in the world now, which could be implemented to fulfil this
prophecy. Rev 13:13 “And it does great wonders,
so that it makes fire come down from the heaven onto the earth in the sight of
men .. 14 And it deceives those dwelling on the earth, because of
the miracles which were given to it to do before the beast.” Some commentaries suggest this is Satan’s effort
to copy the miracles of the two witnesses in Rev 11:5 “And if anyone will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and
devours their enemies.” By this stage of
Satan’s game of world domination, anything God can do, Satan will also try to
do. Go back to Exodus 7:10 Moses rod became a snake and Pharaoh’s sorcerers, “did the same with their secret arts”. But in a practical world of modern technology,
who’s to say what this fire from heaven could actually be? It could well be
beams of lazar light fired down from a satellite in space. Sighting,
pinpointing, then destroying the hiding places of the saints of God.
Continuing
Rev 13:14 “ ..saying to those dwelling on the earth
that they should make an image to the beast who had the wound by a sword and
lived.” Does that sound like
cloning to you? Or could it be as we’ve seen in ‘Star Wars’ a hologram? Have
you seen the hologram like the whale?
Or alternatively could this ‘image of the beast’ be a cyborg?
Perhaps something like the Terminator,
in the identical image of the assassinated, miraculous leader.
Or they make thousands of them! Now that fits the next verse. Rev
13:15 “And there was given to it to give a
spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast
might both speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the
image of the beast to be killed.” To give it a spirit! It lives and speaks and interacts with
people! If you let you futuristic imagination go wild, that verse could very
well mean an army of clones or cyborgs, made in the exact ‘image of the
assassinated leader’, looking identical to him and roaming the world. Each with
the primary objective to kill anyone who doesn’t worship it! Remember the verse
does say ‘worship the image’. So if one of the images, a clone of the
beast walks up to you, you would have to bow down to it, or it would kill you
on the spot! A frighting thought!
But
what happens to the saints, those who don’t want to worship the beast or its
image? Rev 13:16 “ ..it causes all ..small ..great, rich ..poor, free ..bond,
to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads, 17
..that not any might buy or sell except those having the mark, or the name of
the beast, or the number of its name.”
For years we have had our beloved pets ‘chipped’ with a silicon ID chip for
identification. So when your dog gets up to mischief, then the pound tracks you
down and you get the fine. So imagine the whole world could be convinced to
receive a silicon ID chip, in your right hand or your forehead, ‘for
security reasons’ they would say.
Or
as we already hear of now, and you can find it on Facebook etc., that the
latest VACCINE may have a DNA tracking aspect about it. Do your own
research and you will find hundreds of websites ‘debunking’ that
idea! But remember; “Where There’s Smoke There’s FIRE!” CHECK THIS WEBSITE
BEFORE IT GETS REMOVED!!
https://www.bitchute.com/video/HORRIFIC
FINDINGS IN THE BLOOD OF THE VACCINATED. Have a look at that link at the
‘6.20 minute’ mark. It speaks of “blood clotting”, people being “magnetic”, and
graphene-oxide,
(which is a poison), being introduced into you blood if you take the vaccine.
And
if a tracking device could be implemented in the future, (if not already), then
your movements could be tracked all over the world. Rev 13:18 “Here is the wisdom. Let him having reason count the number of the
beast, for it is the number of a man. And its number is six hundred and
sixty-six”. 666, The
Number of the Beast. There is so much speculation about this
subject that I won’t go into it in this talk. May I suggest you go to the
commentary notes in e-Sword, or the ‘link’ shown above and ponder over that
subject at your leisure? I know some of the ideas I have put forward seem a bit
far-fetched or too much like science fiction. But the technology is already
here, and as you can see a lot of what I have said is plausible. As I said at
the start, ‘I will try to present the possible future on the bases of a logical
and realistic interpretation of the prophecy’
So,
what are the key points we have picked up from Revelation chapters 12 & 13
regarding the ‘Antichrist’?
60. The ‘Little Horn’ does not seem to immediately
appear
61. He appears only as one of the world’s seven heads.
Possibly as a president
62. Satan is cast out of heaven with plans to persecute
the church
63. To achieve this Satan needs to possess one of the
seven heads
64. Revelation 13 shows a restructuring of the beast of
Rev 12, possibly a greater spread over the world
65. One of the political heads had a deadly wound which
was healed, a miraculous sign so all will follow him
66. Satan possesses one of the seven heads, the one
that was healed
67. The masses worshiped the dragon and the beast,
saying, ‘Who is like the beast?’ so the beast wins over the masses
68. The beast was given authority to continue 42
months. That is also known as 3 ½ years or 1260 days
69. It opened its mouth in blasphemy toward God, His
name, His tabernacle, and those in Heaven!
70. The saints of God would see the error in those
blasphemous speeches, and would speak out against the antichrist.
71. It makes war with the saints in order to overcome
them.
72. It gains authority over every tribe and tongue and
nation of the whole planet
73. And all dwelling on the earth will worship it,
except those whose names are in the Book of Life (i.e. the saved).
74. Another beast appears with 'Two Horns’, possibly
two forces to assist in implementing the first beast’s policies
75. This forms the ‘anti-trinity’ or the unholy
trinity, which is a counterfeit of God’s Holy Trinity
76. It does great wonders, makes fire come down from
heaven, and it deceives all on earth.
77. They make an image of the beast that had the wound,
possibly a human, speaking, clone, or make thousands of them!
78. All have to worship the image or be killed
79. Everyone must receive a mark on their right hand,
or their forehead, without it you can not buy or sell.
80. The mark has some significance with the number 666!
And the study of that has been given to you as ‘home work’
We
have already looked at the ‘Ten Horns’ in this passage, now let’s look for ‘The
Little Horn’. But there is no mention of the antichrist by that name in this
chapter either. When studying Daniel 7 E.W. Bullinger gave us twelve other names for the antichrist, some
are: - “the man of sin" (2Th 2:3); "the son of perdition"
(2Th 2:3); "that wicked (or lawless) one" (2Th 2:8. Rev
13:18); "the beast with ten horns" (Rev 13:1).” So he
has already told us ‘the beast’ is the antichrist. So if we do a bit of
cross-referencing we should find the character of the antichrist or ‘The Little
Horn’ in this passage somewhere. I will give you a hint; he is still to be
found amongst the heads. First let’s look at the structure of the beast; and
the changes that happened from Revelation 12, 13 to now, presumably through the
seven years of antichrist’s rule. The structure is basically the same, seven
heads and ten horns. The crowns go from the heads to the ten horns to finally
in this chapter, no crowns?
Rev
17:1 “ ..one of the ..angels ..came ..saying to me, Come ..I will show you the judgment of the great harlot”. The harlot represents the idolatrous religion, so
the religious system is not the antichrist. But we do know this from 2Th 2:3 “the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of
perdition, :4 ..he sits as God in the temple of God ..that he is God”. Therefore the antichrist is the head of the
idolatrous religious system. Verse 3 “ ..And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, filled with names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns”.
Take note, it is a scarlet beast, gone back in colour similar to the red
dragon. Does this mean that Satan is fully in charge again? We know that
the antichrist rises up as an additional horn amongst the ‘ten’. So the ‘Ten
Horns’ are not the antichrist! He then sets himself up in the temple as God, as
in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
And
Revelation 17 verses 1 to 7 are all basically a description of the harlot. Rev
17:1 “ ..the great harlot sitting on many
waters, :2 ..the kings
..drunk with ..wine of her
fornication .. :3 ..a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, .with names
of blasphemy .. :4 ..woman
..arrayed in purple ..scarlet ..gold
..precious stones ..pearls
..golden cup ..of
abominations ..filthiness of her
fornication. :5 ..on her forehead
..Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Of The
Abominations Of The Earth. 7:6 ..woman drunk with ..blood of ..saints and ..martyrs of Jesus”. Not the kind of girl you would choose to take
home to introduce to mum.
I
said the antichrist had something to do with the heads! Remember this in, Rev
13:3 “And I saw one of its heads as having
been slain to death, and its deadly wound was healed. And all the
earth marveled after the beast :4 And they worshiped the
dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped
the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war
with it?” Why does the whole
world transfer their enthusiasm from a ‘miraculously healed head’ to worshiping
the beast? It’s because the ‘miraculously healed head’, the antichrist,
is now the controlling head of the beast! And he has Satan’s authority past on
from the dragon. This all falls into place in the next few verses.
The
angel says to John In verse 7, “I will tell you the
mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven
heads and ten horns”, and the angel
continues through to verse 18. By the end of this John should be able to
understand the mystery of it all! And so should we! Why? Because the angel is
going to explain it to him and in turn, through the leading of the Holy Spirit,
to us! But the various commentaries I have looked through regarding this
passage have either not covered these verses, or they are so vague with
completely different interpretations it’s bewildering; here is an example.
[Ref
CN by John Darby on Rev 17:1-18] says nothing about the
heads.
[Ref
CN by Cambridge
Bible on Rev 17:10] this
commentary seems to be OFF track, but check it out yourself.
[Ref
CN by E.W. Bullinger on Rev 17:10], he scarcely makes any comment.
[Ref
CN in Expositor's
Bible on Rev 17] he says, “chapters ..17th and 18th
..one of the most difficult, portions of his book”.
[Ref
CN by David Guzik
on Rev 17:10] he says, “This is one of the more difficult
passages in the Book of Revelation”.
But
I will give you Chuck Smith
commentary in full; he
seems to do it well. I am not sure what bible version he uses but it’s pretty
close to the MKJV, and I’ve moved his reference to the start of each verse, the
way I do it.
[Ref
CN by Chuck Smith
on Rev 17] “(Rev 17:8-9) ‘The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall
ascend out of the bottomless pit [or abusSo, in the Greek], and go into
perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were
not written in the book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they
behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Now here is the mind which
hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits’. Or
the city of Rome, the city of seven hills. (Rev 17:10): ‘And there are seven
kings’. Seven emperors that have reigned over the Roman Empire. (continuing
verse:10), ‘five are fallen’, Or are already dead at the time that John is
writing. ‘one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must
continue for a short space. (Rev 17: 11) And the beast that was, and is not,
even he is the eighth, and is of the seven’.”
[Continuing
with Chuck Smith’s commentary], “So,, the beast is according to this, is one of the five previous Roman
emperors prior to the writing of the book of Revelation by John. At the time
that John was writing, he was no longer alive. He was in the abusSo,. He
ascends out of the abusSo,. But the world will wonder at this man who once
lived and was dead and is now alive again. Of the seven of the major Roman
emperors, and of course the one that comes closest to fitting the description
is none other than Caesar Nero whose name numerically in Hebrew totals to
six hundred and sixty-six”.
“Caesar Nero was called by the early church the beast.
That was the common name, because he wrecked so much havoc among the church.
Quite apparent that he was possessed by demonic spirits. The things that he did
could only be done by a mind perverted by Satan. The horrible atrocities that
this man brought against the Christian church could only be done by a mind that
was totally deranged by demonic forces. (Rev 17:11) “And so the beast that was
and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and he is heading
towards perdition [Gehenna]”.
End of Chuck Smith’s commentary.
Remember
at the start under the heading, “Interpretations”, I mentioned ‘The Preterist
System’. In that theory “Most interpretations identify Nero as the Beast”,
or the antichrist. And “the Olivet discourse had come to pass by AD 70” [Ref Wiki link The Preterist System].
Verses
12 to 17 we have covered these verses under the heading ‘The Ten Horns’, just a
quick ‘skim’. Rev 17:12 “ ..the ten horns ..are ten
kings ..received no kingdom yet. :13 These ..give their power ..to the
beast .. :14 These ..war with the Lamb
..Lamb overcome them. :15 ..The waters ..where the harlot sits are peoples ..multitudes ..nations
and tongues, :16 ..the ten horns ..hate the harlot
..and burn her with fire. :17 For God gave into their
hearts to do His mind, until the Words of God will be fulfilled.” So the ‘harlot’, the antichrist’s church, gets torn
to pieces by the ‘Ten Kings’.
Rev
17:18 “And the woman whom you saw is the great city
which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth”. As above in Chuck Smith’s notes on Rev 17:8-9 ‘this is Rome of Old’. And in the Tribulation it will be the
revived Roman Empire’s capital. [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 17:18] “That great city: In John’s day, there was
no doubt which city reigns over the kings of the earth. Rome was the political,
economic, and religious centre of the world in John’s day”.
So, what are the key
points we have picked up from Revelation chapters 17 regarding the
‘Antichrist’?
81. We see a harlot riding or controlling a
scarlet beast with seven heads, ten horns but no crowns.
82. She represents the future idolatrous religion
headed by the antichrist
83. The antichrist has taken over the beast to such an
extent that the antichrist and the beast are one
84. She sits on ‘many waters’ representing ‘peoples,
multitudes, nations and tongues’
85. She is arrayed in purple, scarlet, gold, precious
stones and pearls etc.
86. She has a golden cup of abominations and filthiness
of her fornication'
87. She is drunk with the wine of her fornications and
on her forehead is her name
88. Her name is Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother
Of Harlots And Of The Abominations Of The Earth
89. She is drunk with the blood of the saints and the
martyrs of Jesus
90. The head of the beast was, is not; and shall ascend
out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. Means: -
91. Seven kings; five fallen, one is, the other not yet
come. And when he comes, he continue a short time, totalling 7
92. In the future one of the 7 dead emperors ascends
out of the pit becomes the eighth and goes into perdition
93. The one likely to rise from the dead is Caesar Nero
who’s name numerically in Hebrew totals to 666
94. We recapped activity of the ‘Ten Horns’; they
received kingdoms, fight the Lamb then turn against the harlot
95. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the
woman sits. A symbol of Rome
96. The woman you saw is the great city,
which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth. A symbol of Rome
If
you do a word search for ‘Babylon’ in your bible you will get some 261
references, with a mix of literal and allegorical or
prophetic meanings. Some of the prophets and the psalms prophetically speak of
the demise of Babylon in 338BC. But all the references in Revelation,
because they are future, most Futurist commentators believe they are all prophetically Rome. So we will stick with that idea for this study.
Now let’s ‘skim’ through the rest of Revelation chapters 18 and 19 to see how
God’s wrath is poured out on the ‘anti-trinity’. We can also try to construct a
feasible picture of what happens to the ‘One World Government’ in the final
innings.
Revelation
18:1-11 “ ..after
..I saw another angel ..the
earth was lighted up from his glory. :2 ..he cried ..Babylon the great has fallen,
has fallen! ..has become the
dwelling-place of demons etc. :3 because of ..her fornication which
..the nations have drunk. And the kings of the earth ..committed fornication with her. ..the merchants of the earth became rich
from ..her .. :4 ..another voice ..saying, Come out of her, My people, ..that you may not receive of her
plagues. :5 For ..God has
remembered her unjust deeds. :6 Reward her as she has rewarded you, ..In the cup which she mixed, mix double
to her. :7 ..For she says
..I sit as a queen, ..I am not a
widow .. :8 ..her plagues will come in one day, death ..mourning
..famine. ..consumed with fire,
..:9 ..the kings of the earth ..will weep for her ..when they see the smoke of her
burning; :10 standing afar off for fear ..saying, Woe! Woe to the great city,
Babylon, ..in one hour
your judgment came. :11
..merchants ..weep ..for no one buys their cargo any more”.
This
is prophetic ‘Babylon’; it’s Rome at the end of the Seventieth Week and the
capitol of the ‘One World Government’. And it sounds very much like a volcanic
eruption, ‘the hand of God’ perhaps because they ‘standing afar off for
fear’. In verse 1 we have, “another angel ..the earth was lighted up from his
glory”. It would seem this is
a reference to Christ. Then we have in verse 4 “..another
voice ..saying, Come out of
her, My people”. It’s a separate
voice? Perhaps the voice of God from heaven, the same as what happened at the
baptism of Christ? Refer Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5. Mar 9:7 and Luk 9:35 “ ..This is My
Son, the Beloved, hear Him.”
Then
verses 12-14 speak of the merchants and there is a great list of all the goods
they sold to ‘Babylon’, which made them rich. Gold, silver, stones, pearls,
silk, ivory, wood, bronze, iron, marble, and the list goes on. But the key
commodity is the one at the end of verse 13, ‘the souls of men’.
here are a few commentaries for you to ponder over. [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 18:13] “This idea has many applications, none less
so than today’s widespread prostitution and pornography”. [Ref CN by MHCC on Rev 18:9-19] “The spiritual merchandise is here alluded to”. [Ref CN by Popular New Testament on
Rev 18] “it meant a
spiritual traffic”. [Ref CN by Chuck Smith
on Rev 17] “And the false religious system, which traps the souls of men”. Then verses 15-16 are a repeat of verses
8-10. Then we see what the ship captains think.
Rev
18:17 “ ..every ship-pilot ..stood afar off. :18 ..they
cried ..seeing the smoke of her burning
.. :19 ..saying, Woe! Woe to the great city, ..which all who had ships ..were rich out of her costliness! ..in one hour she was ruined. :20
Rejoice over her, Heaven, ..since God judged
your judgment on her. :21 And one strong angel took ..like a great millstone ..threw it into the sea, saying, ..the great city, Babylon, will
be thrown down and not
..found any more. :22 ..voice of harpers, ..musicians. ..flutists, .trumpeters
..craftsman ..Sound of a mill ..
:23 ..light of a lamp ..voice of
the bridegroom ..bride will never
more be heard at all in you.
..your merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by your
sorceries all nations were deceived. :24 And in her was found the
blood of prophets, ..saints,
and ..all ..who were slain on the earth”. Take note in verse 21 the ‘strong angle’ said, “Babylon,
will be thrown down”. Future tense!
So,
what are the key points we have picked up from Revelation chapters 18 regarding
the ‘Fall of Babylon’?
97. ‘Babylon ..has fallen’ is like a prelude because in
verse 21 it says the great city, Babylon, will be thrown down.
98. Again ‘kings of the earth committed fornication
with her and the merchants of the earth became rich from her’.
99. A voice saying, ‘Come out of her, My people’,
so the saints are not in her when the wrath of God is poured out
100. ‘In one day/hour your
judgment came, she will be thrown down and not found any more’. Sounds
permanent!
101. ‘Consumed with fire,
they stand far off for fear’. sound like a volcanic eruption, but the next
verse says;
102. Verse 23 ‘never
be heard in you’, sounds more like Chernobyl or Hiroshima, could indicate a radioactive
issue.
103. She is guilty of
trafficking in ‘the souls of men’, maybe prostitution, but I think selling
souls is the false religion.
It
seems that by the end of chapter 18 Christ still has not put an end to the
antichrist or the ‘Ten Kings’ nor the ‘One World Government’. And Christ has
not appeared as yet. That happens next in chapter 19 were we will see the end
of the harlot the beast and the false prophet. Rev 19:2 “He has judged the great harlot.. :3 ..And her smoke rose up
forever and ever”. But consider
this scenario. This phrase in Rev 18:23 ‘never be heard
in you any more’, is now
beginning to sound more like the long lasting effects of a nuclear blast. Could
it be that the ‘Ten’ kings are so feed up with the antichrist and any form of
religion that they decide to end it all with a nuclear bomb on the antichrist
and his capital? If that is the case, then we know that the antichrist must
still escape! Because he can only be destroyed by Christ! 2Th 2:8 “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom
the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy
with the brightness of His coming”! So hear is a blood curdling thought for you. The
‘Ten’ kings drop a nuclear bomb on the antichrist, ‘DIRECT HIT!’ But out of the
radioactive carnage the antichrist, fully possessed by Satan simply walks out! He
is revealed! And it’s live on CNN
worldwide. This is not just a man who’s survived a deadly wound. This is
defiantly satanic and the whole world will know it. And they can’t get rid of
him!
Then
imagine what happens if Christ returns at the advent and destroys him? Then you
would see the fulfilment of Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and
of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Then in chapter 20 we see Satan bound for a
thousand years and cast into the abyss. Then in Rev 20:5 we see ‘the first
resurrection’, and the start of the thousand years reign of Christ on
earth. It is the end of Satan’s One World Government, and the start of the
“New One World Government”, a Theocracy under Christ. By all means read
chapters 19 to 22, it’s a great read! Like I said before, go to the end of the
book, this time to see who wins!
If
we now just scan through and summarise the ‘points’ we have discovered in the
scriptures, we should be able to get a reasonable picture of the issues that
will develop into the One World Government.
So,
from this study and the 103 points above, we have discovered we now know the
following: -
1. First and foremost the
church goes into an, ‘Apostasy’, in which there is a vast spread of false teaching.
2. This all happens before,
2Th 2:1 “..the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering ..to Him”. That’s The Rapture!
3. Then ‘the man of sin
shall be revealed’; the antichrist must appear immediately after the
Rapture.
4. In the post Rapture
chaos the EEC would be the only likely candidate to establish some form of
world order.
5. It would seem that seven
leaders (heads) would become the controlling members of the EEC.
6. It’s likely Satan is
already subtly using the EEC to build a network of laws ready for a new ‘One
World Government’.
7. From David Guzik’s CN
the EEC has already minted a Eurodollar coin with a woman riding a multi-headed
beast
8. The seven leaders
appoint ‘10 Horns’, military marshals or generals from the EEC to maintain
order in the chaos.
9. One of the leaders is
wounded to death in the head! But miraculously comes back to life, possibly
with satanic help.
10. It’s Satan’s chance to raise one of the old Roman
emperors from the dead. “the beast was, is not, and now is”
11. This miraculous leader charismatically wins over
both Jews and Muslims in some 7-year agreement, (covenant).
12. He or the Jews rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and
restate blood sacrifice and drink offerings to God.
13. There seems to be constant chaos, three generals
are annihilated, maybe others reinstated but control is fragile.
14. Consequently there is a restructuring of the world
order, finally into a ‘One World Government’
15. The whole world, ‘every tribe tongue and nation’ is
swept up and whole-heartedly follow the charismatic leader.
16. Satan eventually possesses the charismatic leader;
he becomes the antichrist with Satan’s power and authority.
17. The 10 generals are given regal or dictatorship
power.
18. Antichrist exalts himself above God, sits in the
temple setting himself forth, that he is God, demanding worship!
19. The Jews and the saints see the blasphemy and
rebel, so antichrist brakes the convenient after only 3½ years.
20. He’ll cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease
and then try to change times and laws.
21. He will introduce the Mark on the right hand or the
forehead; it is a number and is referred to as 666!
22. He will make war with the saints and overcame them.
23. Antichrist will raise a ‘Two Horned’ beast, a false
prophet to enforce his authority.
24. The false prophet will order an image of the beast,
(the antichrist), to be made, who will also demand worship.
25. For 3½ years he will have control
over the saints. Scriptures refer to this as 1260 days or 42 months etc.
26. The one world religion, the harlot represents the
future idolatrous religion headed by the antichrist
27. The harlot gathers world wealth through trade,
slavery, prostitution and ‘the souls of men’
28. The ‘Ten kings’ will turn against the false
religious system, plunder it then utterly destroy it.
29. It appears to be massive world chaos the harlot is
drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus
30. God says, ‘Come out of her, My people’, so that the
saints are not in Rome when His wrath is poured out upon it.
31. In one day/hour judgment falls on Rome with
destruction so permanent it’s like a nuclear reactor disaster.
32. So permanent is the destruction that people ‘stand
far off for fear’.
33. Then Christ returns to set up his millennial
kingdom.
I
hope that hasn’t been too daunting. I have tried to present the fulfilment of
the scriptures with some form of a plausible future outcome, which could appear
in the near future. But if the Rapture is still not in our near future, then
the world situation could obviously change over a mere few years. And this
would perhaps put a slightly different interpretation on some of the
scriptures. But I think you could agree with me that the apostasy of church is
already here! Therefore which one of the EEC members is a possible candidate
for the antichrist?
Now
we can have a look at the alternative view.
A
little gem of wisdom for you before we start: [Ref CN by Joseph
Benson on Daniel 7:25] “But, as Irenæus says in a like case, it is surer and safer to
wait for the completion of
the prophecy than to conjecture and divine about it. When the end shall come,
then we shall know better whence to date the beginning.” — Bishop Newton”
Please stay with me,
First and foremost we
will be trying to find anything in the Historical interpretation, which
indicates any possible formation of a ‘One World Government’. If you’re a
Futurist believer I’m not trying to change your beliefs! I would just like to
show you an alternative view. So could you please stay with me for the rest of
this talk? I promise to show you some very interesting biblical interpretations
of historical events. I propose to tackle this later half in a different way.
There’s no need to chew through the same scriptures again in such detail. Both
the Historical and Futurist believers accept that Daniel and Revelation
describe the rise of nations through to the early Roman Empire. It’s after that
point in history they differ. So we can brief through the passages, pick out
the key issues, examine them, and look at the Historical points of view.
Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson, Adam Clarke, John
Gill, Robert Hawker,
Matthew Henry, B.W.
Johnson, Alexander MacLaren,
F.B. Meyer, Robertson Word Picture, John Wesley, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown,
Keil & Delitzsch, Biblical Illustrator, Cambridge
Bible, Expositor's
Bible, Great
Texts, Geneva, Popular New Testament, Preacher's
Homiletical, Pulpit
Commentary, Sermon Bible, Summarized Bible, Treasury of David, TSK
Cross References and Vincent's
Word Studies
In
this latter half of the talk I will study ALL the same passages that were
covered in the Futurist View section. But this time around we will look at them
from the Historical point of view. By covering all the same passages, I will
not be able to pick and choose only the convenient verses.
These
have all been listed at the start of the Futurist View Section.
We
now do a complete turn around and look at the Apocalypse as Historically
fulfilled. Let’s recap what Philip Schaff said about the Historical System. “The Apocalypse is a prophetic compendof church history and covers all
Christian centuries to the final consummation. It speaks of things
past, present, and future”. But the
Futurist Systems accepts; “The
events of the Apocalypse from Rev 4:1-11 to the close lie beyond the Second
Advent, with a literal 3½ years etc”. In short, the Futurist thinks everything from Rev
4 onward happens in one future 7-year period. But the Historicist thinks
the Revelation has been unfolding over the past 2000 years and is still
continuing to reveal God's plan. With this in mind, in the second part of this
talk I will try to explain each passage using commentaries mostly from those
listed above. As I said you can obtain them via “e-Sword’’. Plus another
I particularly like is A. J. Ferris
who wrote from 1933 to 56, you could readily download his books and
commentaries via ‘Trove’.
In
a ‘nutshell’ what do most Historicists believe? Let’s put it down in a bullet point
format, so that you can come back to this page every so often to get your
bearings again so to speak. The Historicists believe the following: -
· There is No pre
tribulation Rapture, when Christ returns next, it will be at the Second Advent.
· The Revelation has been
revealing its prophetic events over the past 2000 years and is still doing so.
· Prophetic time periods
aren’t literal. 1260 days equals 1260 literal years, based on,
‘A-Day-for-A-Year’.
· Daniel’s seventy weeks
has been fully completed, all 490 years are now finished.
· The Seven Times
Punishment of Lev. 26, is also based on, ‘A-Day-for-A-Year’, so it is a literal
2520 years
· The antichrist is not a
single individual; he is an ongoing principality.
· The phrase ‘whole earth’
does not necessarily mean the whole planet.
· ‘He sits as God in the
temple of God’, does not refer to a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
Why Do Historicists Thinks That Way?
Well
let’s work through these points above and see how the Historical believers come
to their conclusions.
Christ’s
next return will be at His Second Advent. There is no gathering up of
the church prior to some presumed seven-year great tribulation. To prove this
for yourself, download e-Sword to your PC,
or download MySword to your
mobile phone. For your PC you need to download the “KJV+”, (King James
Version with Strong’s Numbers). For your phone, the same thing is simply called
“KJV”. Then you can do a search for the words, ‘come or coming’, in
relation to the Lords return, and check the Strong’s or Thayer’s definitions.
You will most often find that each word has one of these respective meanings,
from Thayer Definition: -
ComeG2064,
ἔρχομαι, erchomai,
1) to come
1a) of persons
1a1) to come from one
place to another, and used both of persons arriving
1a2) to appear,
make one’s appearance, come before the public
2) metaphorically
2a) to come into
being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence
2b) be established,
become known, to come (fall) into or unto
3) to go, to follow one
ComingG3952, παρουσία, parousia.
1) presence
2) the coming,
arrival, advent
2a) the future visible
return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment,
and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God
Now
you can do a search yourself for all the well-known passages. Like, 1Co
4:5 “..until the Lord comes G2064”. Or 1Co 11:26 “the Lord's death until He shall come G2064”. Or 1Thes 4:15 “..we who are alive and remain until the coming G3952 of the Lord..” and 2Th
2:1 “..with regard to the coming G3952 of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him”. And you will find they all refer to the second
advent of Christ! Try this mix of KJV and MKJV of Rev 22:20 “He who testifies these things says, Surely I
comeG2064 quickly. Amen. Even so, come,G2064 Lord Jesus”. If there is a Rapture, why would the Lord use the word, comeG2064,
as in a ‘physical appearance’? So the words that the writers used have a clear
meaning, and that is that Christ will next return physically and appear for all
to see. So there is NO Rapture! (But if you can find any passages
that clearly tell you that there is a pre-tribulation rapture, then by all
means sent me an email.)
If
you are still not convinced, try to think this through. What
is a good scripture we have about the Rapture? 1Thes 4:16 “ ..And the dead in Christ
shall rise first. :17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord..” So that is
the FIRST Resurrection of the dead and us all caught up with them to meet the
Lord, correct? Then have a look at
these two verses and try to work why the Rapture doesn’t fit in. Rev
20:4 “
..And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of
Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the
beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their
foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand
years.” Now these people must have missed out on the First
Resurrection and where ‘left behind’ and they went through the Great
Tribulation. Some were beheaded and some had to resist the Mark of the beast,
correct? Now read the very next verse. Rev 20:5 “But the rest of the dead
did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the
first resurrection.” How can they possibly be
in the First Resurrection? The only answer to this is that there is No Rapture!
Therefore 1Thess 4: 16-17 can only be speaking of the Second Advent! So THERE
IS NO RAPTURE!
REALY?
Let’s go to Rev. chapters 1 and 22. Rev 1:1 “A Revelation
of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to declare to His servants things which
must shortlyG1722 G5034 come to passG1096. And He
signified it by sending His angel to His servant John…:3 Blessed
is the one who reads and hears the Words of this prophecy, and the ones
keeping the things written in it, for the time is near, (KJV at hand.G1451 )” Then Rev 22:6 “And he said
to me, These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy
prophets sent His angel to show to His servants the things which must shortly G1722 G5034 be done G1096.” Rev 22:10 “And he said to me, Do not seal the Words of
the prophecy of this Book; for the time is at hand G1451”.
The
key to understanding the Historicist view of Revelation, is the interpretation
of the meaning of these words shown above.
Strong
Definition: G5034
..a brief space (of time), …(with G1722 prefixed) in haste: - quickly, shortly,
speedily.
Thayer
Definition: G1096, 1) to become, to come into existence,
begin to be, receive being, 2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen,
2a) of events, 3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the
stage, 3a) of men appearing in public, …
Thayer
Definition: at hand ‘G1451, 2) of time, 2a) of times imminent
and soon to come pass’
So
putting them together we have the phrase; “the things which must, (quickly,
shortly, speedily), (come into existence, to arise, appear in history).” And
what about the timing as to when this is to happen? It is ‘imminent
and soon to come pass’. [Ref CN by John Wesley Rev 22:6] “Here begins the conclusion of the book,
exactly agreeing with the introduction, (particularly Rev 22:6-7, Rev 22:10,
with Rev 1:1, Rev 1:3,) The things which must be done shortly - Which will
begin to be performed immediately”.
Go to the commentaries listed above and do a search regarding those verses, or
using this phrase, ‘shortly come to pass’, and you will get much the
same as what John Wesley
said. That’s how the Historicists interpret those passages. But the Futurists
commentaries seem to say VERY LITTLE on any of these verses. Most Futurists
interpret it this way; ‘when it happens it will happen in a short space of
time!’ That’s not the same as saying; in a short space of time it’s going
to start to happen. The Futurist thinks John is telling the reader of
Revelation the following: - ‘It will happen in some 2000 years
from John’s time, after the Rapture, in the last 7 years before
Christ returns!’ It is almost like this analogy. ‘You go to a five-star
restaurant, the waiter escorts you to your table, then presents you with the
menu and says, “I will be back SHORTLY to take you order”. Does
that mean the waiter will come back some 20 hours later, and you
have 7 seconds to place you order!’ Of cause not, that would be a
ridiculous interpretation of what the waiter said. So why interpret Revelation
that way? I have also covered this subject in more detail in one of my talks
entitled The-Book-Of-Revelation-Started-2000-Years-Ago.
Can I leave you with these two commentaries?
[Ref CN from Popular New Testament on Rev 1]
“is at hand (comp.
Rev 1:1). And it was at hand, though 1800 years have passed since the
words were spoken. We shall see, as we proceed, that the book deals with
principles which have been exhibiting themselves throughout the whole period of
the Church’s history. Thus the things written in it were ‘at hand’ in the days
of the Apostle; they have always been ‘at hand’ to cheer the saints
of God in the midst of their pilgrimage and warfare; they are ‘at hand’
now; for the words have never ceased to be fulfilled, ‘Lo, I am with you
alway;’ ‘In the world ye have tribulation; but be of good cheer,
I have overcome the world.’”
[Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Rev] “The
Futurist school is open to this great objection: it would leave the Church of
Christ unprovided with prophetical guidance or support under her fiery trials
for 1700 or 1800 years. Now God has said, “Surely He will do nothing, but He
revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets” (Amo 3:7). The Jews
had a succession of prophets who guided them with the light of prophecy: what
their prophets were to them, that the apocalyptic Scriptures have been, and
are, to us.”
The
next thing the Historicists see differently is the prophetic periods of time.
For example the old favourite time period that everyone knows, ‘Time, Times
Half A Time’ is equal to 1260 prophetic days. But what is a prophetic
day you might ask? Well consider these two passages. Num 14:34 “According to the number of the days in which you searched the land, forty days, each day
for a year you shall bear your iniquities, forty years;…”. Then the other one is in Eze
4:4 “Also
lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on
it; according to the number of days that you shall lie on it, you
shall bear their iniquity. :5 For I have laid on you the
years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days,
three hundred and ninety days. ..:6 “And when you have fulfilled them, lie
again on your right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of
Judah forty days; a day for a year; a day for a year, I have set for you”.
So
God has quite clearly explained His ‘system of accounting’ to Moses and
again to Ezekiel. Does He need to explain it to use every single time? Of cause
not, His ‘system’ is ‘a-day-for-a-year’, and
I have covered this topic in one of my previous talks entitled, ‘The Day For A Year Conundrum’.
So the 1260 prophetic days is equal to 1260
literal years. There are numerous prophecies where God uses periods of time in
which we need to apply His ‘system’. And if we don’t we can get some very weird
short prophecies, some we’ll talk about later. He uses terms like, hours, days,
weeks, months and seasons. The gist of it is, you reduce the prophecies to the total number of prophetic days, and then apply ‘a-day-for-a-year’. So the total number of days becomes the literal
number of years of time to be fulfilled.
That means you could replace the word ‘days’ with
the word “years”, so the prophecies automatically then tells use the
literal number of years to be fulfilled. Therefore some of the old favourites
would read as follows: -
Dan 12:11 “..from
..the daily sacrifice ..taken away ..1290 days H3117 shall occur. - - - - - - - - - - - -Equals 1290 years
Dan 12:12 Blessed
is he who waits and comes to 1335 days H3117. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Equals
1335 years
Rev 11:3 ..My
two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1260 days G2250. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Equals
1260 years
Rev 11:9 many
..will see (two witnesses) dead bodies three daysG2250 and a half. - - - - - - - - - - - -Equals 3 ½ years
Rev 12:6 ..the
woman fled into wilderness, where ..God ..nourish her 1260 days G2250. - - - - - - - - - - -Equals
1260 years
Dan 8:14 Is a funny one? Of the 36 translations I
have vie e-Sword, half of them use the phrase ‘evenings and mornings’, but
others use ‘days'. But in the, ‘Apostolic Bible Polyglot with Strong’, and I
got this interpretation, and I got the word number.
Dan 8:14 “
..he said ..Unto evening and morning [3daysG2250 1two
thousand 2three hundred]..”. - - - - - - - Equals 2300 years
Also
if we check the meaning of the words, ‘days’ H3117.
and ‘days’ G2250,
we get the following meanings: -
· Strong H3117, יוֹם, yôm,
yome, [there’s a lengthy list but right at the end, one of them is],
“(full)..........year”!
· Or go to, Brown-Driver-Briggs
H3117, יום, yôm, 1) “day, time, year, …1d) time, period
(general),..........year”!
· Strong G2250, ἡμέρα, hēmera, hay-mer'-ah, [again a lengthy
list of meanings but the last one is],.........“years”!
So
in all those passages above in which the word, ‘days’ is used, you could legitimately
substitute the word ‘years’?
If
you do a search in the KJV Old Testament for the word, “weeks”, you will find
13 references. All with the same word number, “weeks H7620”, meaning a literal 7 days”? So with 52
weeks in one year, 70 weeks comes to 16 months and 10 days. Yet in the ‘Seventy
Weeks H7620’ prophecy of Daniel 9, as everyone knows
we must use the alternative meaning, which we can get from Brown-Driver-Briggs,
“seven, period of seven (days
or years), heptad, week”.
Which is still using God’s system of, ‘a-day-for-a-year’ as explained by Matthew Henry
below. So what’s the trick to understanding it all? It is simply this; you
interpret the words according to the context. If you read the
whole of Daniel chapter 9, in particular the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the
temple, which would take ‘years’, you would know it Can Not be taken as
literal weeks! But again according to the context, if a prophecy is
spoken regarding an individual person, then the period of time is generally
literal, because it has to fit into their life span! As in 2 Samuel, where
David had sinned by numbering Israel, and God gave him a choice of three
punishments. 2Sa 24:13 “And Gad came to David, and
told him, and said to him, Shall seven yearsH8141 of famine come upon you and on your land? Or will you flee three
months H2320 before your enemies while they pursue you? Or shall there be three
days' H3117 plague in your land? And advise, and see what answer I shall return to
Him who sent me.”
The other difference with the Historicist view of ‘the seventy weeks’ is they see
it as the whole prophecy is now completed. There is NO ‘Seventieth Week’
still awaiting fulfilment in the future! [Ref CN by John Wesley on Daniel
9:27] “He shall confirm -
Christ confirmed the new covenant, By the testimony of angels, of John Baptist,
of the wise men, of the saints then living, of Moses and Elias. By his
preaching. By signs and wonders. By his holy life. By his resurrection and
ascension. By his death and blood shedding. Shall cause the sacrifice to cease
- All the Jewish rites, and Levitical worship. By his death he abrogated,
and put an end to this laborious service, for ever”. The Futurist interprets that verse as; the
antichrist will confirm the covenant for one week! Which is some, ‘week of
years’, in a future 7-year period. So the Futurist thinks there has to be one
week of the prophecy remaining, still off in the future.
[Ref
CN by Matthew Henry on Daniel 9:20-27] “We have, in Dan 9:24-27, one of the most remarkable prophecies
of Christ, of his coming and his salvation. It shows that the Jews are guilty
of most obstinate unbelief, in expecting another Messiah, so long after the
time expressly fixed for his coming. The seventy weeks mean a day for a
year, or 490 years. About the end of this period a sacrifice would be
offered, making full atonement for sin, and bringing in everlasting
righteousness for the complete justification of every believer. ..He must
confirm the covenant with many. He shall introduce a new covenant
between God and man, a covenant of grace, since it had become
impossible for us to be saved by a covenant of innocence. This covenant
he shall confirm by his doctrine and miracles, by his death
and resurrection, by the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's
supper, which are the seals of the New Testament, assuring us that God is
willing to accept us upon gospel-terms. …He confirmed it to the many,
to the common people; the poor were evangelized, when the rulers and Pharisees
believed not on him. Or, he confirmed it with many, with the Gentile
world. The New Testament was not (like the Old) confined to the Jewish
church, but was committed to all nations”.
Also
in Dan 4:16 “Let his heart be changed
from man's, and let the heart of an animal be given to him. And let sevenH7655 timesH5732 pass over him”. And we all know
what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, he went ‘mad’ for 7 literal years and
ate grass. But if the prophecy is in regards to a nation, then generally a
longer period is meant, as in the “Seven timesH7651”
punishment in Lev 26:18-28. It’s a different word. From Strong’s, H7651, ‘by implication a week; by extension an
indefinite number’. So the seven
times punishment means that Israel would be cast out of her land for a period seven
times. So a “Time” = 360 prophetic days. Therefore 360 x 7 =2520 prophetic
days = 2520 literal years. [Ref CN by Pulpit on Leviticus 26:1-46] “(2) The longer term of
"seven times" thrice repeated (verses 21, 24, 28) is also notable.
These are the "times of the Gentiles," during which Jerusalem is to
be trodden down of them (Luk 21:24).”
Let’s go to that passage to see what Jesus said. Luke 21:24 “And they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be led away captive
into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until
the times of the nations is fulfilled.”
So
the seven times punishment is a set period of time! God made a promise to,
“Abraham and his seed” to give his descendants the land forever! God cannot
break His promise! Nor simply cast Israel out of the land forever! But He has
punished the nation for a protracted period, and then He will
restore them. And we have seen that over many years bible scholars have
calculated from prophecies that the Jews should be starting to return to their
‘promised land’. How do they ‘fudge-up’ those calculations? By using this
prophecy and ‘a-day-for-a-year’. Therefore in most
long prophetic periods of time, the Historicist usually applies ‘a-day-for-a-year’. Please refer to
my talk The Day For A Year Conundrum,
it will also explain a lot regarding literal time used in prophecies.
This
passage in Daniel 7 will give you something to think about! If you apply the
Futurist view, one part of the prophecy makes no senses. But if you apply the
Historicist view it does fit well in both verses. Daniel sees in verse 3, ‘..four great beasts came up from the sea,’ a Lion, bear, and a leopard, then a frightening
beast ..and it has ten horns. Then the little horn rises up and we hear
of him in verse 25. Dan 7:25 “And he shall ..wear out the
saints ..And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and
one-half time”. The famous 3½
years! The Futurist would say that this prophetic 3½ years
is a literal 3½ years. But in the same chapter, if you go back to Dan
7:12 you will find this obscure often-neglected passage. Dan 7:12 “And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away.
Yet their lives were made longer for a season and time”. Like I said often-neglected, because few people
know how to interpret it. Because for the Futurist, a season and time,
is 90 days plus 360 days which equals 450 literal days, which works out
to be only 21 literal months? Why on earth would God bother to tell
Daniel that these three other empires would only continue to exist for a mere
21 months? That does not compute! But if you apply ‘a day for a year’ to this
verse you get the following interpretation. 90 days plus 360 days, totalling 450
prophetic days, at ‘a day for a year’ this comes to 450 literal
years!
[Ref
CN by John
Gill on Daniel 7:12] “these
monarchies did not at once become extinct, as the fourth beast or monarchy
will, but by degrees; and the kingdoms of which they consisted are still in
being, though in another form of government, and in different hands”. [Ref CN by Cambridge
Bible on Daniel 7:12] “the Gentile powers, represented by the
beasts, were to survive for a while as nations, though deprived of empire”. Also refer to a booklet by A. J. Ferris:
- From My Copy “FROM
The Second Advent - How: When: Where? Daniel Chapter 11 - By A.J.Ferris”, from page 59, second paragraph, “The fall of the Imperial Roman Empire also
allowed the nations of the Near East to rise into power once again. As
foretold in Dan 7-12, ‘their lives were prolonged for a season and a time’.
Thus Dan 11-40 to 45, describe during the period of Papal dominion, the rise
again of the two Gentile Empires corresponding to the Kings of the North and
south of pre-Roman days”.
So
what happened in these three regions of the old Babylon, Media-Persian
and Grecian empires? They didn’t just cease to exist or become completely
devoid of people after 21 months! The Greek region rose again
under Constantine and it became the Eastern Roman Empire also called the Byzantine
Empire. Then the Media-Persian region rose again and became the Saracen
Empire. Later the Babylon region rose again and became the Turkish
Empire. Neither of them gained world ‘dominion’ as the
prophecy said. But they squabbled amongst each other for the next 450
plus years, as the prophecy said. Now logically you cannot apply ‘a day
for a year’ to one part of the prophecy, then try to apply a literal interpretation
to the other part in Dan 7:25 “And he shall ..wear out the
saints ..until a time and times and one-half time”? What does this mean then? Verse 25 should then
also be interpreted on the bases of, ‘a day for a year’. So the ‘Little Horn’
will have authority to ‘wear out the saints’ for 1260 literal years!
That means the antichrist will not rise up for a mere 7-year
‘flash-in-the-pan’. Therefore he couldn’t possible be a single
individual. And there are other scriptures I will show you later that prove
the antichrist is not a single individual.
The
other issue we need to clear up is that the Historicist believes the antichrist
is already here! And if they think the antichrist exists for some 1260 plus
years, then who or what is he? To answer this we need to go to some of the
verses from Jesus, John and Paul. Jesus said in Mat 24:24 “For false Christs and false
prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders; so much so
that, if it were possible, they would deceive even the elect”. A false Christ is a pretender of Christ, an antichrist.
Remember what I said earlier about the meaning of, ‘Anti-christ’. And Jesus
said, ‘Christs’, (plural), so there’s going to be many of them,
and if it were possible, they, (plural), would deceive even
the elect. John’s letters says the same thing that there will be many
antichrists.
Now
lets look at John’s letters, which some say were written after 70 AD. Which
puts a slight influence on the meaning of the phrase ‘The last time’.
1Jn 2:18 “Little children, it is the
last time. And just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even
now many antichrists have risen up, from which we know that it is the
last hour. :19 They went out from us, but they
were not of us; for if they were of us, they would
have continued with us. But they went out so that it might be
revealed that they were not all of us”. The last time or hour
is a reference to Isaiah 2:2 “And it shall be, in the
last days…” But John goes on
to say ‘many antichrists have risen’, and ‘They went out from
us’. So there were in John’s day many antichrists, and from this we
can see that the antichrist is NOT a NON Christian, because he
has come from within the church. Therefore the antichrist will be like a
Christian, ‘gone rouge’ so to speak. That puts a stop to the idea that the
antichrist will be an infidel.
Then
in 1Jn 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe
every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world. :2 By this you know the Spirit
of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is
of God; :3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is theG3588 antichrist you heard is coming,
and even now is already in the world”. From Thayer Definition: “G3588, ho/ hē/ to, the definite
article, “the”. This passage is telling us that “the
antichrist”, the same character Paul talks about in 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2, is already in the world at the time John is writing this letter. So
why didn’t the antichrist prominently appear in history at the time of John?
Well Paul tells us why in this following passage. But remember the antichrist
is not a single individual, but a regime that was starting to set itself up in
opposition to the preaching of the apostles. Paul speaks about that in some of
his letters. Philippians 1: 16, Galatians 1: 6-9 and below in 2Thess 2: 7.
2Th
2:1 “Now we beseech.. :2 ..you should not
be ..troubled ..as if the Day of Christ is at hand. :3 ..that Day
shall not come unless ..first ..a falling away, and the man of sin shall be
revealed.. 2Th 2:4 who ..exalts himself …in the temple of God,
.. :5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was
still with you?” So there was
something Paul told them, (in privet), in a previous visit. 2Th
2:6 “And now you know what holds back, for
him to be revealed in his own time”. But this is the key verse, 2Th 2:7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already working,
only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. :8
And then the lawless one will be revealed…” So Paul is also telling us that the antichrist is
there and active at the time of his writing! But for some reason the
antichrist is held back from becoming a predominant character in world history.
From
Paul’s letter we pick up so much more about the fact that the antichrist is
already in existence in many characters. But there is some ‘entity’
holding back the antichrist. It is referred to in 2Th 2:7 as he
and it! So it must be a person and a power!
B.W.
Johnson gives us a simple
explanation on this. [Ref CN by B.W.
Johnson on
2 Thes2: 6-10] “Only he who now letteth. He that hindereth must first be
taken out of the way. There was no room for an arrogant spiritual power in Rome
as long as imperial Rome continued to persecute the church. A persecuted church
cannot be a haughty church. Two things were needful before the papal power
could be developed; viz., the overthrow of paganism, and the removal of the
capital of the Empire from Rome. When these things were done, it, (the
antichrist power), was free to seize the old Roman sceptre”. In short, the removal
of the Emperor, which was, the ‘he’; and the removal of the
Empire or the pagan religion and it’s capital which was the ‘it’.
Let’s Do The Maths About The Antichrist!
· So the
antichrist is in existence at the time of John and Paul’s letters! Let’s say
roughly around 70 to 90 AD.
· Then from 2 Thes 2, the antichrist is
withheld until the Empire and Emperor are removed! That was in 476 AD.
· That’s about 400 years!
That means the antichrist CAN NOT BE a single individual.
· So the
antichrist must come to power after 476 AD and continue 1260 years until some
time after 1736?
· Finally, ‘Who Is The Antichrist?’ Refer to the commentaries;
he is the papal power, not the individual pope.
Ask
Matthew Henry 1662 – 1714 and John Wesley 1703 –1791; two
well-respected scholars.
[Ref CN by Matthew Henry on 2 Thes 2:3-12] “(2.) As God, he sits in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God. As God was in the temple of old, and worshipped there, and is
in and with his church now, so the antichrist here mentioned is some usurper of
God's authority in the Christian church, who claims divine
honours; and to whom can this better apply than to the bishops of Rome, to whom
the most blasphemous titles have been given, as Dominus Deus noster papa - Our
Lord God the pope; Deus alter in terrâ - Another God on earth;
Idem est dominium Dei et papae - The dominion of God and the pope is the
same? 3. His rise is mentioned, 2Th 2:6, 2Th 2:7. Concerning this we
are to observe two things: - (1.) There was something that hindered or
withheld, or let, until it was taken away. This is supposed to be the power of
the Roman empire, which the apostle did not think fit to mention more
plainly at that time; and it is notorious that, while this power continued,
it prevented the advances of the bishops of Rome to that height of tyranny to
which soon afterwards they arrived”.
[Ref
CN by John Wesley on 2
Thes 2:7] “He will surely be
revealed; for the mystery - The deep, secret power of iniquity, just opposite
to the power of godliness, already worketh. It began with the love of honour,
and the desire of power; and is completed in the entire subversion of the
gospel of Christ. This mystery of iniquity is not wholly confined to the Romish
church, but extends itself to others also. It seems to consist of, Human
inventions added to the written word. Mere outside performances put in the room
of faith and love. Other mediators besides the man Christ Jesus. The two last
branches, together with idolatry and bloodshed, are the direct consequences of
the former; namely, the adding to the word of God. Already worketh - In the
church. Only he that restraineth - That is, the potentate who successively has
Rome in his power. The emperors, heathen or Christian; the kings, Goths or
Lombards; the Carolingian or German emperors”.
Dan
7:23 ‘and shall devour the whole earth’! Can we just clear up this ‘whole earth’ issue. You
could go to numerous commentaries and get an endless list of different
arguments, and you would still be bamboozled.
But the scriptures give us enough information to clear this up. Sometimes it is
a prophecy about what God will do in “the whole earth”. In that case,
yes it must be the whole planet, as in the flood etc. But in other passages,
the context clearly tells you it means, “the then known world”! For example
these passages are clearly not talking about the whole planet! Jer 50:23 ‘How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder’. Jer 51:41 ‘..how is the
praise of the whole earth surprised!’ and Luk 2:1 ‘..a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed’. I very much doubt that Caesar Augustus was
getting taxes from the American Indians, the Chines, the Japanese or the
Zulu's? So the Roman beast will, “devour the whole earth”, means the ‘then known world’, the region
of the world under Roman domination. Or as in earlier passages, the 'then know
world’ at the time of the then reigning Empire.
Here
is a list of some other verses that speak of, ‘the world’. And from the context
you can see that they couldn’t be referring to the whole planet, also some could
not be the case at the time it was written. Look them up at your leisure.
· Act 11:28 “the ..great
famine over the world (which also happened in the days of
Claudius Caesar)”.
· Act 19:27 “the great goddess
Artemis will be counted for nothing, whom all Asia and the world
worships”.
· Rom 10:18 “Yes indeed, their voice
went out into all the earth, and their words to the end of the
world”.
· 1Co 7:33 “But the one who is married
cares for the things of the world, how to please his wife”.
· 1Co 7:34 “But she who is married
cares for the things of the world, how she may please her
husband”.
· 1Ti 3:16 “God was manifested in the
flesh, justified ..seen ..preached .. believed on in the world.”.
· 1Jn 4:1 “because many false
prophets have gone out into the world”.
· 1Jn 4:3 “And this is the antichrist
you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world”.
2Th
2:4 “he sits as God in the temple of God,” This is a curly one for a futurist believer. They
automatically think the temple in Jerusalem has to first be rebuilt, so that
this scripture can eventually be fulfilled. Here is an example from Chuck Smith,
and bear in mind he is a futurist believer! [Ref CN by Chuck Smith
on 2 Thess 2:1-17] “But here is the anti-christ
doing the same thing, exalting himself above all that is called God or that is
worshiped, so that he as God will sit in the temple of God showing himself that
he is God. In other words, after three and a half years, after the temple
has been rebuilt, he will return to Jerusalem, he will sit in the
Holy of Holies of the rebuilt temple and declare, "I am
God," and will demand to be worshiped as God.”
Now
I have covered this in another talk entitled, “Rebuilding The Temple Of Jerusalem”.
And I look at the question, ‘would God really want the temple rebuilt?’
And let’s think logically here. It is God speaking in 2Th 2:4! The Holy Spirit
is dictating to Paul, and God refers to it as, “the templeG3485 of God”! And the futurists all say either the antichrist or the Jews will
rebuild the temple. But for what purpose? To restart blood sacrifice? REALLY!
Would God want that, and He surly wouldn’t want anything to do with a temple
built for that purpose! It would be like spitting in the face of Christ and His
once-and-for-all sacrifice on the Cross! So why on earth would God refer
to that building as His temple? The Futurist is basically saying
that the antichrist will build the temple and then God happily
calls it, His temple! That is obviously the wrong interpretation!
I’ll give you a hint, who wrote Thessalonians? It was Paul, and how many times
did he refer to the body of believers as “the TempleG3485”? There are five other passages where he speaks
that way. So isn’t it reasonable that Paul is speaking the same way in 2
Thessalonians. He is saying, ‘the antichrist will stand up in the body of
believers’, and declaring himself to be God! That is exactly what Matthew Henry said
above. And the pope has well and truly fulfilled that, ‘job description’
of the antichrist!
You
can also refer to commentaries by John
Gill,
Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson and Adam
Clarke,
they all support Matthew Henry and John
Wesley’s appraisal.
What are the key points
that the Historicists believe that are different to the Futurist?
1. The Revelation has been
an ongoing continuous prophecy of world and church events.
2. Prophetic times are not
literal, but are estimated on the basis of, ‘A Day For A Year’ , as in
Num 14:34 and Eze 4:6
3. The Seventy Weeks
prophecy is finished, all 490 years. There is NO ‘Seventieth Week’ still to
come!
4. The Seven Times
Punishment is a literal 2520 years
5. The Antichrist has
already been in the world as of the time of John and Paul’s writings.
6. The Antichrist was
restrained from coming into public view until after the Empire was removed!
Post 476 AD
7. The Antichrist is NOT
the individual pope, but the papal power, the blasphemous seat of
Peter!
8. The phrase ‘the whole
earth’ can also mean the ‘then known world’
9. In the passage, ‘He sits
in the temple if God’, the temple is interpreted as the body of believers, the
body of Christ.
Wow! We’re in new territory and a new way of
thinking! Now we have ‘a handle’ on how the Historicist thinks! So let’s go
back through those key prophecies of Daniel and Revelation to see how the
Historicist interprets those passages.
When
we first looked at the ‘Ten’ Toes, do you remember this comment? [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Dan2:1-49 par 3,d,i] “Since Roman history provides no fulfillment
of this federation of kings (which seems to number ten, because of the number
of toes, and passages like Dan 7:24 and Rev 17:12) this prophecy must
still be future.” I hate to say this,
but that is a ridiculous statement! Any kid in junior high school who has
studied the Roman Empire or Early European history would know that was not
true. In 476 AD the Western Roman Empire collapsed, and ‘Ten’ kingdoms rose up
in Europe to replace Roman Imperial rule. These days we can search the web for
literally thousands of maps, informative articles and movies like, ‘The
Fall of the Roman Empire’, and all sorts of information on the
‘internet’ about the rise of Medieval Europe. Come with me and we will now look
at the, “Ten, Toes, Horns and Kings” again. And we will find that they were
actually fulfilled by the “Ten” kingdoms of medieval Europe
Surly
you would have heard of secular books like this on Roman history.
Referà[Slide#3]
‘The Fall of the Roman Empire:’ A New History
of Rome and the Barbarians by Peter Heather. “A leading authority on the late Roman
Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how
Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every
possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart. He shows first how the Huns
overturned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers
to force the Goths and others to seek refuge inside the empire. This
prompted two generations of struggle, during which new barbarian coalitions,
formed in response to Roman hostility, brought the Roman west to its knees. The
Goths first destroyed a Roman army at the battle of Hadrianople in 378 and went
on to sack Rome in 410. The Vandals spread devastation in Gaul and Spain
before conquering North Africa, the breadbasket of the western empire, in 439.
We then meet Attila the Hun, whose reign of terror swept from Constantinople
to Paris, but whose death in 453 ironically precipitated a final desperate
phase of Roman collapse, culminating in the Vandals' defeat of the
massive Byzantine Armada, the west's last change for survival. Peter Heather
convincingly argues that the Roman Empire was not on the brink of social or
moral collapse. What brought it to an end were the barbarians.” [And there are numerous other books under similar
titles].
Please
read through these two commentaries by Albert Barnes. The second is quite lengthy,
but he makes reference to numerous others scholars. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 2:42] “It has been commonly supposed (comp. Newton “on the
Prophecies”), that the ten toes on the feet refer to the ten kingdoms into
which the Roman empire was ultimately broken up, corresponding with the ten
horns seen in the vision of Daniel, in Dan 7:7. In regard to the fact that the
Roman empire was ultimately broken up into ten such kingdoms, see the extended
notes at Dan 7:24”.
[Ref
CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 7:28] “To see that there is no difficulty in making out the number
ten, or that some such distribution and breaking up of the one power is
naturally suggested, I cast my eye on the historical chart of Lyman, and found the following kingdoms or
sovereignties specified as occupying the same territory which was possessed by
the Roman empire, and springing from that - namely, the Vandals, Alans,
Suevi, Heruli, Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Lombards, Britains.
The Roman empire as such had ceased, and the power was distributed into a large
number of comparatively petty sovereignties - well represented at this period
by the ten horns on the head of the beast. Even the Romanists themselves
admit that the Roman empire was, by means of the incursions of the northern
nations, dismembered into ten kingdoms (Calmet on Rev 13:1; and he refers likewise to Berengaud,
Bossuet,
and Dupin.
See Newton, p. 209); and Machiaveli
(Hist. of Flor. 1. i.), with no design of furnishing an illustration of
this prophecy, and probably with no recollection of it, has mentioned these
names: Refer below à[Slide#4]
“Compare also Duffield on the
Prophecies, pp. 279, 280. For other arrangements constituting the number ten,
as embracing the ancient power of the Roman empire, see Newton on the Prophecies, pp. 209, 210. There is
some slight variation in the arrangements proposed by Mr. Mede,
Bishop
Lloyd, and Sir Isaac Newton ; but still it is remarkable that it is easy
to make out that number with so good a degree of certainty, and particularly so
that it should have been suggested by a Romanist himself. Even if it is not
practicable to make out the number with strict exactness, or if all writers do
not agree in regard to the dynasties constituting the number ten, we should
bear in remembrance the fact that these powers arose in the midst of great
confusion; that one kingdom arose and another fell in rapid succession; and
that there was not that entire certainty of location and boundary which there
is in old and established states. One thing is certain, that there never has
been a case in which an empire of vast power has been broken up into small
sovereignties, to which this description would so well apply as to the rise of
the numerous dynasties in the breaking up of the vast Roman power; and another thing
is equally certain, that if we were now to seek an appropriate symbol of the
mighty Roman power - of its conquests, and of the extent of its dominion, and
of the condition of that empire, about the time that the Papacy arose, we could
not find a more striking or appropriate symbol than that of the terrible fourth
beast with iron teeth and brazen claws - stamping the earth beneath his feet,
and with ten horns springing out of his head”.
Can
I leave you with these two maps, showing the situation in Western Europe from
476 to 486 AD? The first map can be obtained via the link shown. The second can
be obtained from e-Sword via the
reference shown. Each map shows us roughly the same ten territories, ‘Ten Toes,
Horns Kings’, that rose up after the fall of Rome. The date, ‘476 AD’, gives
you a starting point from which to Google back, to find the height of the
Western Roman Empire and the territory she covered.
Like
I said it was ridiculous of Guzik to say, [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Dan2] “Roman history provides no fulfillment of this federation of
kings …this prophecy must still be future”. Because it is quite clear from history that the
Western Roman Empire was divided into ‘Ten’ kingdoms some time after 476 AD.
Matthew Henry says that when Rome was in its glory before 476AD it already consisted of ‘Ten kingdoms’ under her rule. [Ref CN by Matthew Henry on Dan 7:7] “The learned are not
agreed concerning this anonymous beast; some make it to be the Roman empire,
which, when it was in its glory, comprehended ten kingdoms,
Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain, Sarmatia, Pannonia, Asia, Greece, and
Egypt;”
Remember
at the start I talked about what a horn represents in scripture. [Ref CN from Treasury of David on Psa 132:17] “There will I
make the horn of David to bud.” In Zion David's dynasty shall
develop power and glory”. This passage is
speaking of Christ ‘the bud’ from David’s horn, in other
words from his royal line or his dynasty. This verse clearly
shows that a horn does not necessarily represent a single person.
Remember in Daniel chapter 8 ‘the he-goat rushed at the ram, defeated it, then
the great horn broke off, in its place came up four notable horns’. These horns
represented the four generals of Alexander’s army, who divided the Greek empire
into four parts. And their dynasties continued from 323BC to as late as
30 BC, some 293 years. [Ref ACCH,
under the heading, “Egypt under the 13 Ptolemies”], so each of the four
horns represented an ongoing dynasty.
[Ref
CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 8:8] “The author of the books of Maccabees (1
Macc. 1:7-9) says: “So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died. And
his servants bare rule every one in his place. And after his death, they all
put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years;
and evils were multiplied in the earth.” Alexander died 323 b.c.; Antipater
succeeded Perdiccas, 321 b.c.; Ptolemy Lagus the same year took possession
of Egypt; Cassander assumed the government of Macedon, 317 b.c.; Seleucus
Nicator took possession of Syria, 311 b.c.; in 305 b.c. the successors of
Alexander took the title of kings, and in 301 b.c. there occurred the battle of
Ipsus, in which Antigonus, who reigned in Asia Minor, was killed, and then
followed in that year a formal division of Alexander’s empire between the four
victorious princes, Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and
Lysimachus”. The point being
is that in the prophecy of Dan 8 they were represented as “four single
horns”, which rose out of the head of the he-goat. Thus proving that a horn
does not necessarily represent a single individual.
We
have the same issue with this verse, Dan 7:17 “These four
great beasts are four kings,H4430 they shall
arise out of the earth”. But we know that each of these beasts
represented an empire. And each empire had a dynasty of several kings. So the Historicist sees that a horn in most
cases, (but not all), represents a succession of kings, and the context and history should show us
this. This is the case with the ‘Ten’ horns; they are not ten individual
kings who are yet to appear in the future. And as for the ‘little horn’,
we have already talked about the fact that he’s been around for some hundreds
of years. So the antichrist is not a single individual in the future. Nor are
the ‘Ten’ kings single individuals in the future.
Remember
this passage Dan 2:41 “…you saw: the feet and
toes, part ..clay ..part ..iron; the kingdom shall be divided”. Then Daniel says this in Dan 2:43 “And as you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mix themselves
with the seed of men. But they shall not cling to one another,
even as iron is not mixed with clay”. What
do you think this verse is referring to? The kings are trying to make a union
for strength? And in the years from say AD 500 to 1900, what was a common way
to make an alliance with a neighbouring kingdom? Inter marriage of cause!
Crikey it’s in all the fairy-tails! So in this verse, the phrase ‘they shall
mix themselves with the seed of men’ is a clear reference to inter marriage
between kingdoms. ‘But they shall not cling to
one another’; and we know from
history that what ever alliance’s where made between kingdoms in medieval Europe,
they often fell apart after a generation or two.
Now
when I was studying this from the Futurist point of view, I tried to find some
reference to the phrase, ‘mingling with the seed of men’. I
checked the five commentaries from, Darby, Bullinger, Guzik, Scofield and Chuck
Smith. Not one of them made reference to it! Why? (And if you can find
something about, ‘mingling with seeds of men’, in their commentaries, please
send me an email! I would love to hear your comment.) So I wondered why they
would say nothing about it! The logical answer is the Futurist thinks the ‘Ten’
kings rise up in a short 7-year period, after the rapture. So inter
marriage between the ‘Ten’ kingdoms in a short 7-year span wouldn’t make any
sense. The Futurist would then have to admit, the ‘Ten’ kings would have to be
in existence for far more than 7 years. And that wouldn’t fit their theory!
These commentaries below each speak of inter marriage. But each of them has a
slightly different viewpoint, or they add some additional interesting insight.
[Ref
CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Daniel 2:41-43] “Newton, who understands
the Roman empire to be parted into the ten kingdoms already (whereas Tregelles
makes them future), explains the “clay” mixture as the blending of barbarous
nations with Rome by intermarriages and alliances, in which there was no stable
amalgamation, though the ten kingdoms retained much of Rome’s strength. The “mingling
with the seed of men” (Dan 2:44) seems to refer to Gen 6:2, where the
marriages of the seed of godly Seth with the daughters of ungodly Cain are
described in similar words. The reference, therefore, seems to be to the
blending of the Christianized Roman empire with the pagan nations, a
deterioration being the result. Efforts have been often made to reunite the
parts into one great empire, as by Charlemagne and Napoleon, but in vain.
Christ alone shall effect that”.
[Ref
CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 2:43] “Prof. Stuart interprets this of matrimonial
alliances, and supposes that the idea expressed is, that, “while the object of
such alliances was union, or at least a design to bring about a peaceable state
of things, that object was, in a peculiar manner, defeated.” The word rendered
“men” (אנשׁא 'ănâshâ')
is employed in Hebrew and in Chaldee to denote men of an inferior class - the
lower orders, the common herd - in contradistinction from the more elevated and
noble classes, represented by the word אישׁ 'ı̂ysh.
See Isa 2:9; Isa 5:15; Pro 8:4”.
[Ref
CN by Joseph Benson
on Daniel 2:40-43] “As
Tacitus observes,
“Dominandi cupido cunctis affectibus flagrantior erit:” The lust of ruling will
be more powerful than all the affections. “It is especially observable,” says
Wintle, “that in the declining state of the Roman empire, intermarriages with
the barbarians were frequent and distinguished, as may be learned from the
histories of the times; but yet the cement would not hold so as to form any
great kingdom, or even to prevent the impending fate of the empire.”
[Ref
CN by Adam Clarke on
Daniel 2:45] “Thus,
as the Lagidae and Seleucidae arose out of the wreck of the Grecian empire; so
the Roman empire arose out of their ruin. But the empire became weakened by its
conquests; and although, by mingling themselves with the seed of men,
that is, by strong leagues, and matrimonial alliances, as mentioned
above they endeavoured to secure a perpetual sovereignty, yet they did not
cleave to each other, and they also were swallowed up by the barbarous northern
nations; and thus terminated those four most powerful monarchies”.
[Ref
CN by John
Gill on Daniel 2:43] “they
shall mingle themselves with the seed of men’; the Romans shall mix with
people of other and many nations that shall come in among them, and unite in
setting up kingdoms; or these kingdoms set up shall intermarry with each
other, in order to strengthen their alliances, and support their interests:
thus France, Spain, Portugal, and other nations; those of the royal families
marry with each other, with such views”.
[Ref
CN by Keil & Delitzsch on
Dan 2:42-43] “If,
then, the “mixing themselves with the seed of men” points to marriages,
it is only of the mixing of different tribes brought together by external force
in the kingdom by marriages as a means of amalgamating the diversified
nationalities. But the expression is not to be limited to this, although הִתְעָרֵב, Ezr 9:2, occurs of the mixing of the holy
nation with the heathen by marriage”.
[Ref
CN by Alexander
MacLaren on Daniel 2:36-49] “The
fact to which it points is the artificial unity into which the great conquering
empires of old crushed their unfortunate subject peoples, who were hammered,
not fused, together. ‘They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men’
(Dan 2:43), may either refer to the attempts to bring about unity by marriages
among different races, or to other vain efforts to the same end. To obliterate
nationalities has always been the conquering despot’s effort, from
Nebuchadnezzar to the Czar of Russia, and it always fails.”
Quoting
from above that’s from Dan 2:41 “…part ..clay ..part ..iron;
the kingdom shall be divided”. Then in Dan 2:43 “…But they shall not
cling to one another,”. What is this
passage telling us? Clearly God is saying that the ‘Ten’ kings, “WILL
NOT UNIT INTO A ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT!” Yet this very chapter of Daniel is
one of the key scriptures the Futurists use for the ‘One World Government’
theory, along with the corresponding chapters, which speak of ‘Ten Horns’ in
Daniel and Revelation. So how on earth do they come up with that idea? All I
can think of is they do not read the whole passage, they only pick and chose
the odd verses that fit their theory. In other words don’t take verses out of
context. With this in mind, when we get to looking at other passages in Daniel
and Revelation we should also find some indication that the ‘Ten’ kings don’t
work together as one.
This
is the Key to understanding the chronology of the kingdoms of the world right
through to the end of the age! And it’s right here at your fingertips in Daniel
chapter 2. It can’t be that hard to understand because Daniel explained it to
King Nebuchadnezzar who knew nothing of the history of
the dreams and interpretations of the people of Israel. We have talked about it in the Futurist View but the
Historical View sees it a bit differently towards the end of the prophecy. The
kingdoms are still the same, with the same aspects of being composite kingdoms
etc. right up to the Roman Empire. But the Futurist believes we are still in
the Roman Empire? Also the Futurist cannot seem to see that the ‘Ten Toes’ have
already arrived in history as explained above. What I have not yet talked about
is ‘The Stone Cut Out Without Hand’.
It
is an extremely convoluted subject so I will just teas you with some ideas. I
will give you my opinion them you can go to the commentaries and pull my ideas
apart. Lets check the scriptures: -
Dan
2:34 “You watched until a stone was cut out
without hands, ..struck the image upon its feet ..and broke them to
pieces. :35 Then the iron ..clay ..bronze ..silver, and ..gold
were broken to pieces ..they became like ..chaff ..And the wind carried
them away ..And the stone ..became a great mountain and filled the whole
earth. :36 This is the dream. And we will tell its meaning.” (You can read verses 37-42, then Daniel
continues). Dan 2:43 “ ..as you saw iron
mixed with ..clay, they shall mix themselves with the seed of men. But
they shall not cling to one another.. :44 And in the days of these
kings, ..God ..shall set up a kingdom which shall never be
destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other peoples, but it
shall crush and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. :45 ..the
great God has made known to the king what shall occur after this.”
Now let’s focus in the
‘Stone’: -
· 1/- The ‘Stone’ first struck the image upon its feet, so it must act against the ‘Ten Kings’ first.
Refer verse 34
· 2/- When did it appear? “in the days of these kings, God ..shall
set up a kingdom!” Verse 44
· 3/- Again confirming The Stone Kingdom appears at about the same time as
the ‘Ten Kings’ are in existence.
· 4/- It is a kingdom not a person!
Refer verse 44. Some commentaries say because of this must be the church
· 5/- It won’t be destroyed and won’t be left
to other people, because it will stand forever. Refer verse 44.
· 6/- It will became a great mountain and filled the
whole earth. Verse 44.
· 7/- But the best bit of all; it shall crush and
destroy all these other kingdoms!
Now
what is this ‘Stone’? Most people think it is Christ, “the stone the builders rejected” etc. etc. But that cannot fit and I’ll tell you why! Firstly the stone
acted on the feet first, and Christ appeared in the time of the Romans, which
were the legs of iron. Secondly God said in Psalms 110:1 “..Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I place
Your enemies as Your footstool.”
It’s quoted again in Mat 22:44, Mar 12:36, Luk 20:42, Act 2:34 and
Heb 1:13. So it’s out of character for Christ to have to appear and do ‘all
this crushing and grinding of all the kingdoms’? Then is the ‘Stone Kingdom’
found in the church? But I think not because again the church started in the
time of the Romans, which was before the time of the ‘Ten Kings’. Again I think
not because the Catholic Church has been a militant church for centuries and it
has dune more worse than good. So it isn’t Christ; and it isn’t the Church or a
Church; but it must be a kingdom that God can use and it ultimately becomes a
great Mountain Kingdom? But it doesn’t really start till the ‘Ten kingdoms’ start?
So
who will God use to do all this crushing and grinding to dust? I believe it is
‘Jacob’ who will ultimately stand up to that roll. And Jacob is another name
God uses to refer to the House of Israel, also known as the Northern Kingdom or
the Lost Ten Tribes. Remember above I talked about the ‘Seven Times
Punishment’, consisting of 2520 years. Well Israel, the ‘Northern Kingdom’,
were taken captive to, “the cities of the Medes”, 2Ki 17:6 & 2Ki 18:11. They were taken in
various waves until the last lot were carried away between the years 745-721BC.
If you add 2520 years to those dates, all Israel should finally come out of
their time of punishment, by the years 1776 to 1800. So starting from the year
1776 to 1800 there would have to be a ‘Kingdom’, which started to fight the
‘Ten’ kingdoms and start the grinding. Does 1776 ring a bell for you Americans?
(KJV)
Jer 51:19 “The portion of Jacob
is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the
rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name. :20 Thou art my
battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces
the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; :21 And with
thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will
I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; 22 With thee also
will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in
pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man
and the maid; :23 I will also break in pieces with thee the
shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the
husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces
captains and rulers.”
NB: This is an Unconditional Promise! God is
saying He will use ‘Jacob’ regardless of whether he is righteous or not.
I’m
not the only one who believes this Stone Kingdom has already started: - [Ref CN
by Preacher's
Homiletical On Daniel 2:31-35] “SECT. VIII.—THE DREAM (Chap. Dan 2:31-35) “..That stone
should itself become an empire, and as such should fill the whole earth. A
fifth monarchy, totally unlike its predecessors, should take their place,
and last for ever. Thus the history of the world to the end of time was
summarily comprehended in that dream. It is accordingly receiving its
fulfilment at the present moment. Most of it has already been
accomplished. The image has long ago been smitten, though not
entirely destroyed. A little while and the whole shall be fulfilled. The
stone is enlarging and will soon fill the earth. The time not distant
when the predicted cry shall be heard in heaven, “The kingdoms of this world
are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15).”
You
can go to e-Sword, using Dan 2
v:34-35 and v:44-45, then do a search through the ‘Preacher's
Homiletical and Biblical Illustrator, using the word ‘stone’. And you will find short
quotes from numerous writers like: - E. Irving, Birks, Calvin, Dr. Pusey, Sir Isaac Newton and others,
each with an interesting interpretation. You can also refer to commentaries by Alexander MacLaren,
Pulpit, Albert Barnes and Matthew Henry.
Throughout
the rest of this talk I will try to clarify the identity of this ‘Stone
Kingdom’. Always remember this that God said He would cast Israel out for a
‘Seven Times Punishment’. And once the punishment has finished, doesn’t God say
He will restore them and bless them?
How
does the Historicist believer interpret the ‘Ten’ Toes and ‘The Stone’ of Daniel chapter 2?
10. After 476AD the Western
Roman Empire divided into ‘Ten’ kingdoms, represented as ‘Ten Toes’.
11. Historical maps and
history clearly show us that the Western Roman Empire definitely divided into
Ten kingdoms.
12. The ‘Ten’ horns and the
‘little horn’ do not represent single individual kings.
13. Mingling with the seed
of men’, denotes inter marriage between kingdoms for alliances.
14. The kingdom, under the
‘Ten” kings, shall be divided! So there cannot form a ‘One World
Government’!
15. The ‘Stone Kingdom’
appears amongst the ‘Ten Kings’ some time after 500AD
16. Therefore the Stone
Kingdom cannot be Christ, as He appeared in 33AD.
17. This ‘Stone Kingdom’
begins the serious destruction of all the gentile kingdoms presumably by late
1700’s
You
must know it off by heart by now! Daniel sees four beasts, the forth being
Rome, Dan 7:7, the beast is
“frightening and terrifying”, it subdues the other three ‘beasts’,
(empires), and in Dan 7:20 it has only one head, and ten horns. One head? I
still don’t know why as yet. Maybe it was all Daniel needed to know? Consider
this, in Daniel 7:6 he, “saw …a leopard, which …had
four heads; and rulership was given to it”. And we know that represented the Greek Empire, which divided into
four, ‘heads’, four separate governments, each a part of the original
Greek Empire. My thought is, the beast is the Roman Empire and the single
head represents the ruling seat of power, which was undivided and based in
Rome, (hence one head)?
Question:
‘Did the ‘Ten’ horns rise up out of the head of the beast of Daniel 7, or were
they already there in the head?’ This is of interest because the prophecies of
Daniel 7 and Revelation 12,13 and 17 etc. all talk about ‘the beast’ with ‘one
head’ or ‘seven heads’, then ‘ten horns’, and sometimes three removed. And
there are no crowns mentioned, then there are crowns and they move from the
heads to the horns. Then we have the “little horn”, or no little horn etc. it’s
a mix? The simple reason is each prophecy is talking about a different period
of time in the history of the Roman Empire. Daniel was shown enough in prophecy
for the people at the time of Christ to recognize that the ‘Beast with ten
horns’ represented Rome. And why was that so easy to recognize you might ask?
Consider
this, Rome was founded in 753 BC, but between 167 BC and 30 BC, (just before
Christ appeared in history), Rome started to gather in other nation by
conquest. [Ref ACCH]
and [Ref JUssher], between
those two dates, James Ussher’s work would verify the conquests of Rome through
that period. It just so happened that during that period there were ‘Ten’
nations gathered in by Rome. [Ref CN by Matthew Henry on Dan 7:7] “The learned are not
agreed concerning this anonymous beast; some make it to be the Roman empire,
which, when it was in its glory, comprehended ten kingdoms,
Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain, Sarmatia, Pannonia, Asia, Greece, and
Egypt; and then the little horn which rose by the fall of three of the other
horns (Dan 7:8)”. ‘When it was in its glory’,
that means before its fall in 476AD.
In
my humble opinion the Ten Horns of Daniel 7 represented those ten kingdoms
gathered in by Rome between 167 BC and 30 BC. Why? As the Horns did not have
crowns they to did not have regal power, the power was within the head of the
Beast. (Although the head didn’t have a crown, but nor did the heads of the
other beasts of Daniel 7). When Rome conquered a nation, she would, where
possible, set up the conquered king as a puppet king, subject to Rome, as was
Herod a puppet king over Judah. I believe these ten horns represent those ten
conquered kingdoms. As I said above the ‘Ten’ kings “stem” from the Roman
Empire, and it was the nature of the Roman Empire to MAKE the world Roman!
These ‘Ten’ horns (kings) had been absorbed into Rome. So the ‘Ten’ horns were
effectively part of Rome. As I said, each prophecy is talking about a different
period of time in the history of the Roman Empire. And as I said, at the time
of Christ there was enough info in Dan 7 to show it represented Rome, the
beast, and the ‘Ten’ horns as subordinate kingdoms subject to Rome.
The
prophecy of Daniel 7 starts with the kingdoms of Babylon, Media-Persia and
Greece then overlaps the prophecies of Revelation. Dan 7 shows the end of the
Roman Empire, (the forth beast), culminates with Dan 7:27 “And the kingdom and rulership, and the greatness of the kingdom under
all the heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most
High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall
serve and obey Him.” Which
brings us to the beginning of the rise of the everlasting kingdom under Christ.
What an amassing gift of God to give Daniel such a far-reaching vision into the
future. In just 10 verses, from when the angel starts in verse 17, “These four great beasts..” through to verse 27, Daniel views from 600BC
through more than 2600 years of our history. When we get to the Revelation we
find it is a far more detailed step-by-step view through the latter half of
Daniel’s vision.
How
does the Historicist believer interpret The Beast of Daniel 7?
18. ‘The one head’ represents the singular ruling seat
of Rome under the one Emperor.
19. Ten horns pre 476AD are, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain, Sarmatia, Pannonia, Asia,
Greece, and Egypt.
20. These ‘Ten Horns’, were ‘Ten’ puppet kings ruling
as governors subject to the Roman Emperor.
21. Daniel ultimately sees the everlasting kingdom
given to the people of the saints of the Most High
As
we read on in Daniel 7, we find more information. Daniel sees in Dan 7:8 “..there came up among them another little horn, …three
of the first horns were uprooted. And behold, in this horn were eyes
like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” So the ‘Little Horn’, (Also referred
to as the man of sin or the son of perdition, refer 2Th 2:3), he
comes up after, but amongst, the ‘Ten’ horns, from within the Roman world. He
then destroys three kingdoms. [Ref CN by C.I. Scofield on
Dan7: 8] “who subdues three
of the ten kings so completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is
destroyed.”. This is also repeated
in the angel’s explanation in Dan 7:24 “…And another
shall arise after them. And he shall be different from the first,
and he shall humble three kings.” Continuing
in the next verse, Dan 7:25 “And he shall speak
words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the
Most High, and plot to change times and laws. And they
shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one-half time”. Let’s examine the development of the little
horn step by step. Here you have underlined, [9] characteristics
about the ‘Little Horn’, which can help you identify the little horn and show
you quite clearly who he is today! Let’s study these [9]
key characteristics. Each section is quite detailed; it’s going to take a
while, maybe you should get a cuppa?
In
which period of history did the Little Horn rise up? The historicists believe
the ‘little horn’, also known as the antichrist, is the pope. If he is the
pope, then how did he come to power? He couldn’t have risen to power before
476AD, because the Western Roman Emperor was still ‘top dog’ in charge seated
in Rome. We have also seen from the historical maps that after 476, ‘Ten’
kingdoms rose up to take control of Europe. So if the ‘little horn’ rises up
after the ‘Ten’ kings, he would have to have ‘come up’ after 476AD. So from
476 onward there must have been some significant change in the ecclesiastical
power of the ‘humble’ bishop of Rome, for him to become the all powerful pope
and head of ALL the churches. To answer this we need to look through some
history books. Can I refer you to one of my earlier talks entitled, CHURCH HISTORY Part 1 -:- [From Christ to The
Pope]. In that talk I have extensively referred to, ‘HCC’
i.e. “History of The Christian Church by Philip
Schaff”, to build up a very brief history of the church. I’ll give
you a quick brief of what I discovered along with some additional references I
have found. Let’s now look at the major event dates. Key phrases are
underlined to help you find the reference.
.
313 [Ref HCC vol.2 ch.2 p.025] “The Edicts of Toleration.
a.d. 311-313”. “Constantine
met at Milan with his co-regent and brother-in-law, Licinius, and issued a new
edict of toleration (313), to which Maximin also shortly before his suicide
(313), was compelled to give his consent at Nicomedia. The second edict went
beyond the first of 311; it was a decisive step from hostile neutrality to
friendly neutrality and protection, and prepared the way for the legal
recognition of Christianity, as the religion of the empire.”
.
380 [Ref Wiki De fide catholica]
“The edict "De fide catholica"
(Edictum de fide catholica issued by Emperor Theodosius on
27 February 380, establishing Catholic Christianity
as the official religion of the empire”.
The following is a lengthy quote of the ‘strong handed’ ruling.
[Ref HCC vol.3 ch.3
p.027] “At
last Theodosius the Great, the first emperor who was baptized in the Nicene
faith, put an end to the Arian interregnum, proclaimed the exclusive authority
of the Nicene creed, and at the same time enacted the first rigid
penalties not only against the pagan idolatry, the
practice of which was thenceforth a capital crime in the empire, but also
against all Christian heresies and sects. The ruling principle of his
public life was the unity of the empire and of the orthodox church. Soon after
his baptism, in 380, he issued, in connection with his weak
coëmperors, Gratian and Valentinian II., to the inhabitants of Constantinople,
then the chief seat of Arianism, the following edict: “We, the three emperors, will,
that all our subjects steadfastly adhere to the religion which was
taught by St. Peter to the Romans, which has been faithfully preserved by
tradition, and which is now professed by the Pontiff
Damasus, of Rome, and Peter, bishop of Alexandria, a man of
apostolic holiness. According to the institution of the apostles and the
doctrine of the gospel, let us believe in the one Godhead of the Father, the
son, and the Holy Ghost, of equal majesty in the holy Trinity. We order
that the adherents of this faith be called Catholic Christians; we
brand all the senseless followers of other religions with the infamous name of
heretics, and forbid their conventicles assuming the name of churches.
Besides the condemnation of divine justice, they must expect the heavy
penalties which our authority, guided by heavenly wisdom, shall think proper to
inflict.” In the course of fifteen years this emperor issued at least
fifteen penal laws against heretics, by which he gradually deprived
them of all right to the exercise of their religion, excluded them from all
civil offices, and threatened them with fines, confiscation, banishment, and in
some cases, as the Manichaeans, the Audians, and even the Quartodecimanians, with
death”.
NB: The pope could
use these penal laws against the reformers because they were also called heretics!
.
496 [ref HCC vol.3
ch.5 p.064] “Gelasius
I. (492-496) clearly announced the principle, that the priestly power is above
the kingly and the imperial, and that from the decisions of the chair of
Peter there is no appeal.”
.
529 [Ref HCC vol.2
ch.12 p.137] “At
this second council the Emperor “Theodosius the Great enforced uniformity of
belief by legal penalties in fifteen edicts between 381 and 394. Honorius
(408), Arcadius, the younger Theodosius, and Justinian (529) followed in the
same path. By these imperial enactments heretics, i.e. open dissenters from the
imperial state-religion,” (Orthodox Christianity), “were deprived of all public
offices, of the right of public worship, of receiving or bequeathing
properly, of making binding contracts; they were
subjected to fines, banishment, corporeal punishment, and even death.” This is starting to sound like you “Cant Not
Buy Or Sell”!
.
533 The Decrees of
Justinian. [Ref Wiki link] The Decrees of Justinian
Declaring John, Bishop of Rome to be Chief Bishop of All the Churches [AD 533].
A short extract from the last lines of the article is shown below: -
“Smith quotes the following from Justinian's Code in the edicts
of the "Novellae;" in the preamble of the ninth it states:
"that the elder Rome was the founder of the laws; so
was it not to be questioned that in her was the supremacy of the pontificate."
In the 131st; chap. II, on the ecclesiastical titles and privileges it states:
"We therefore decree that the most holy Pope of the elder Rome is
the first of all the priesthood, and that the most blessed Archbishop
of Constantinople, the new Rome, shall hold the second rank after the holy
Apostolic chair of the elder Rome."5”
.
538 [Ref Wiki Papal Selection
Before 1059]. It gives you an interesting brief account of how the
bishop of Rome was elected through to the year 537. Also when he was first
called ‘pope’. The clergy and the laity generally decided the election of the
pope. But in 537-538 the pope was placed on the seat of Peter by the sole
authority of the Eastern Roman Emperor! [Ref HCC vol.3 ch.5 p.064] “Vigilius, a pliant creature of
Theodora, ascended the papal chair under the military protection of
Belisarius” (538-554) “Pope Silverius … was deposed … and banished to the
island of Pandataria and in 540 he died”.
So in the year 538 we now have the bishop of Rome politically NOT secularly
appointed. He is now called Pontiff, and he has risen to
considerable power amongst the ‘Ten’ kingdoms of Europe,
fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 :8.
.
606 “Universal Bishop” [Ref Wiki Link Apostate church organization: 588 - 606 AD:],
a short extract is shown below: -
“606 AD
Sabinian, the bishop of Rome dies and is replaced by Boniface III. Phocas
writes to the new bishop of Rome, Boniface III and through imperial decree
of the Roman government, proclaims Boniface III, as the "Head of all
the Churches" and "Universal Bishop". Phocas
transfers the title from Constantinople to Rome. Boniface III, Bishop of Rome
takes title: "universal Bishop": Catholicism is formally born in its
final evolved form but the east never accepts Rome's claims and finally split fellowship
with Rome in 1054 AD.” [Also Ref HCC, use “Universal
Bishop” in vols. 2,3,4,5 & 7 to find other references]. 606 AD is
the second conformation that the bishop of Rome is the ‘Head of all the
Churches’ and his power is now absolute, (Universal)! So ‘there came up among them another little
horn’, now you can see how the pope achieved it.
Antichrist
Shall Humble Three Kings. Some say this was the action of the bishop of Rome!
He rose up to seize the sceptre of Rome and ultimately gained regal power, to
become the pope, ‘a living God on earth’. Some say this gave him the power and
authority to uproot or subdue three kings? When
did the antichrist do this? And this is one reason why the Futurists don’t
accept the pope is the antichrist. I suppose the simple reason is that most
Futurists don’t study history! So they have no knowledge of the destruction of
the three kingdoms!
Now
if we go to the KJV and find the two relevant verses you can see there are two
completely different meanings!
KJV
Dan 7:8 .. before whom ..were three of the first horns
plucked up by the roots H6132
KJV
Dan 7:24 ..and another shall rise ..he shall subdue H8214 three kings.
You
can do your own study on the two words but the difference is quite obvious.
Verse 8 ‘by the roots H6132’ infers complete and utter destruction, as pointed
out by C.I. Scofield
above. But verse 24, says, ‘he shall subdue H8214 or humble three kings’. It doesn’t say the little
horn destroyed the three kingdoms? Let’s look at each phrase.
These
are two interesting phrases. ‘Before whom’, seems to indicate that the
little horn had nothing personally to do with, plucking them up by the roots!
Where as ‘he shall subdue three kings’, is a clear indication that the
little horn is involved in the humbling or the subduing of the three
kingdoms. So we need to look at some history books for some details on this.
The reason I suggest this double issue is because the historians also look at
this from two different opinions. I suggest that both opinions are acceptable.
First
opinion: - Four of the ‘Ten’ kingdoms that rose up after the fall of Rome
adopted an Arian form of Christianity. [Ref HCC Vol4 ch.2 p.021] “Arianism spread with great rapidity among
the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, and Vandals”. The Burgundians were converted to Catholicism.
The other three did not convert, and so they were completely destroyed by other
kingdoms at the behest of various powers, such as the Arabs and Moors and the
Eastern Roman or Byzantine Emperors. Which seems to comply with the concept
that the pope had nothing to do with the destruction of the three kingdoms; “before whom ..were three of the first horns plucked up
by the roots”. In other word ‘before
the little horn came onto the seen’, the three kingdoms were already plucked up
by other world powers. Some suggest names of the kingdoms that were destroyed
are the Heruli, Vandals, Lombards or the Ostrogoths. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 7:28] “the three kings or kingdoms here referred to were the Heruli,
the Ostrogoths, and the Lombards.”
Or [Ref CN by Preacher's
Homiletical on Daniel 7 :8] “According
to Mr. Birks, the three horns were the kingdom of the Heruli under
Odoacer, that of the Ostrogoths under Theodoric, who at
the instigation of the Pope overthrew the former, and took possession of that
part of Italy forming the Exarchate of Ravenna, which again, at the
Pope’s instance, was overthrown by Belisarius and Narses, lieutenants of the
Emperor Justinian; the third power overthrown being that of the Lombards.”
Others suggest the
following: -
The Vandals:
[Ref HCC Vol4 ch02 par021] “The Vandals …Their
kingdom was destroyed under Justinian (534)”
The Ostrogoths:
[Ref HYY page 103] “The Later Part Of Justinian’s Reign …In Italy the
Ostrogoths made rapid advances after the departure of Belisarius”, (there
were numerus other wars mentioned until), “Justinian sent two huge armies
under Artabanes and Narses to finish off the Goths,”
The Visigoths:
[Ref HYY page 112] “In 710 The Visigothic Kingdom Of Spain had descended
into civil war ..in 711 an Islamic army crossed the Straits of Gibraltar then
the Arabs and Moors achieved the conquest of Spain”. Also [Ref HCC Vol4
ch02 par021] “The Visigoths in Spain, through their king, Reccared the
Catholic, subscribed an orthodox creed at the third Council of Toledo, a.d.
589, but the last of the Gothic kings, Roderic, was conquered by the Saracens,
breaking into Spain from Africa, in the bloody battle of Xeres de la Frontera,
a.d. 711”. [Ref HCC Vol4 ch02 par022] “St. Remigius even advised the war
of conquest against the Visigoths, because they were Arians”.
Second
opinion: - [Ref CN by John
Gill on Daniel 7:8] “before
whom, there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; before whom
three kings or kingdoms fell, and were subdued as in Dan 7:20 which, according
to Mr. Mede (m), were the
kingdoms of the Greeks, of the Longobards, and of the Franks; but, according to
Sir Isaac Newton (n),
they were the Exarchate of Ravenna,
the kingdom of the
Lombards, and the senate and dukedom of Rome;
or, according to the present bishop of Clogher (o), the Campagnia of Rome the exarchate of Ravenna, and the region of
Pentapolis, which were plucked up by Pipin and Charlemagne, kings of
France, and given to the pope; and were confirmed to him by their successor
Lewis the pious, and is what is called the Patrimony of
Saint Peter; in memory of which a piece of Mosaic work was made
and put up in the pope's palace, representing St. Peter with three keys in
his lap; signifying the three keys of the three parts of his patrimony;
and to show his sovereignty over them, the pope to this day wears a triple
crown”. When these three
kingdoms were given to pope this made him a temporal power. He was now a
sovereign over most of Italy!
So
there are numerous arguments as to who were the three kingdoms that were
destroyed. But remember this comment from above; [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 7:28] “Even if it is not practicable to make out
the number, with strict exactness, or if all writers do not agree in regard to
the dynasties constituting the number ten, we should bear in remembrance the
fact that these powers arose in the midst of great confusion; that one kingdom
arose and another fell in rapid succession;” As I said above, ‘before whom or he
shall’, and was the pope directly involved or not. And the scriptures could be
taken both ways that three kingdoms were destroyed before the
pope came onto the seen, and also three kingdoms were humbled because he
was involved.
I
have covered this before in the ‘Futurist View’, heres a recap: - “the
antichrist will have the following attributes. [Ref CN by Keil & Delitzsch on
Dan 7:8] ‘insight,
circumspection, prudence, wisdom’.
[Ref CN by Joseph Benson
on Dan 7:8] ‘perspicacity,
foresight, and cunning of this power’.
[Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Dan 7:8] ‘The wheel rims full of eyes Eze 1:18, as
symbolic of intelligence’. But nearly all
these traits can be attributed to any human king. But consider these. [Ref CN
by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Dan 7:8] ‘eyes
of a man…so (Gen 3:5) the serpent’s promise was, man’s “eyes should be
opened,” if he would but rebel against God. Antichrist shall consummate the
self-apotheosis, begun at the fall, high intellectual culture, independent of
God.’ And then we have this about the Lamb of God
in Rev 5:6 “a Lamb ..slain, ..having seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Is ‘the little horn’ with eyes likely to signify
some kind of evil spiritual insight? Satanic possession? But consider this, a
king usually inherited his throne so he didn’t necessarily need an extensive
education. But it would be handy in order to govern his kingdom well. But the
pope is usually always elected. So he would have to have shrewd political
skills in order to lobby the support to be elected by the clergy. This I
think is an additional aspect in reference to the ‘eyes of a man’.
Most
of this aspect is covered under the next heading, ‘speaking words against the
most high’. That section speaks of papal blasphemies. But some of the things the
popes have said in the past are not just blasphemies, but just outrageous
statements and political manipulation. [Ref CN by Adam Clarke on Daniel 7:8]
“And a mouth speaking
great things - Full of boasting; pretending to unlimited jurisdiction; binding
and loosing at pleasure; promising to absolve from all sins, present, past, and
future; and threatening to send to everlasting destruction all kings, kingdoms,
and individuals, who would dare to dispute his power and authority.” Also [Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Daniel 7:28] “This is properly the beginning of that
mighty domination which the Pope wielded over Europe - a beginning, which, however
small at first, ultimately became so powerful and so arrogant as to claim
jurisdiction over all the kingdoms of the earth, and the right to absolve
subjects from their allegiance, to lay kingdoms under interdict, to dispose of
crowns, to order the succession of princes, to tax all people, and to dispose
of all newly-discovered countries.”
An example of such an outlandish claim is, [Ref HYY page 176] “In 1494 Pope Alexander drew a line north to
south down the map of the Americas, gave the west to Spain and the east to
Portugal.”
We can
now see the fulfilment of the prophecy of Dan 7:8, “..there came up
among them another little horn”, and Dan 7:24 “…And another shall arise
after them. And he shall be different from the first.” The pope
did rise to power amongst the other ‘Ten’ kings of Europe. He came to power
after the ‘Ten’ kings were established. We find out later that he was also the
sovereign of a large estate, a kingdom. So he was different, because he was both
a religious and a secular ‘king’.
[Ref
CN from Preacher's
Homiletical on Daniel 7:19-25] “THE
LITTLE HORN. III. Its identification. ..The question is, has such a power
already appeared, or are we still to look for it? The latter unlikely,
as the fourth beast, from which it springs, has confessedly appeared two
thousand years ago, and the ten kingdoms, among and behind which it was to
rise, have probably been in existence about fourteen centuries. Has, then,
any power appeared during that period to which the description is at all
applicable, and to which it has been applied? There is a well-known power
to which the description has appeared so applicable, that for more than three
hundred years the description has been actually and unhesitatingly applied
to it by almost all who have studied this passage, with the exception, of
course, of those who are in any way connected with the power itself;
although it is probable that the horn may not even yet have fully developed
itself [167]. That power is the Papacy, with the Bishop of Rome as its
head and representative [168]; for nearly thirteen centuries a
temporal power, like the other horns, though now no longer
such [169]; but so diverse from them as to be at the same time a
spiritual power, while the rest were only secular ones.”
I
have covered this in much more detail in another talk entitled, “He
Shall Speak Words Against The Most High”. That talk is a collection
of blasphemous papal claim from multiple sources. As I have said this is a very
delicate issue! And I’ve no wish to upset anyone’s faith or beliefs, so I’ve
used quotations to verify the papal claims. The claims STILL exist! And because
the pope is Infallible, and always has been, he can’t rescind the dozens of
blasphemous claims on public record from previous “infallible” popes.
But what is Blaspheme? Jesus was accused of blaspheme. Refer Mat
26:63-65, the high priest challenged Jesus, and in verse 65 ..the
high priest ..saying, He has spoken blasphemy!” also in John 10:36.
Jesus said, “I am the son of God”! But He is the Son of God! So He is
not guilty of blasphemy right? But what if someone else says they are God,
or they are equal to God, or they claim the prerogatives of
God? They would be guilty of blasphemy, correct?
So
Blasphemy is a key characteristic by which we MUST defiantly be able
recognise the antichrist! Most of the characteristic blasphemies of the
‘Little Horn’ are listed in these scriptures. We have Rev 13:5- “a mouth speaking great things ..and blasphemies
..blasphemy toward God ..blaspheme His name ..His
tabernacle ..those dwelling in Heaven”. Also we have in 2Th 2:4 “ ..who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God
..that is worshiped ..he sits as God in the temple of God
..setting himself forth, that he is God”. This gives us a list of 10 distinct forms of blasphemy
we can look for in history. See if you can find them in the outrageous claims
below. Any of the references I’ve given you, may I suggest you read them
through completely. They are mind-boggling to say the least! I have tried to
show, ‘the date’, ‘the reference’ and ‘the claim’. I have underlined key
phrases, which you can copy, then paste into the link to easily find
the claims. Let’s start with the multiple claims. If I couldn’t find the date,
then I tried to find the pope who made the claim, and his term of office.
1073 [Ref HCC vol.5 ch.2 p.011] Hildebrand known as
pope St. Gregory VII “Hildebrand was convinced that, however
unworthy personally, he was, in his official character, the successor of
Peter, and as such the vicar of Christ in the militant
Church. He entirely identified himself with Peter as the head of the
apostolic college, and the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven; …He constantly appealed to the famous words of Christ, Mat
16:18, Mat 16:19, as if they were said to himself. The pope inherits the
lofty position of Peter. He is the Rock of the Church. He
is the universal bishop, a title against which the first Gregory
protested as an anti-Christian presumption. He is intrusted with the care
of all Christendom (including the Greek Church, which never
acknowledged him). He has absolute and final jurisdiction, and is
responsible only to God, and to no earthly tribunal. He
alone can depose and reinstate bishops, and his legates take
precedence of all bishops. He is the supreme arbiter in questions of
right and wrong in the whole Christian world. He is above all
earthly sovereigns. He can wear the imperial insignia. He
can depose kings and emperors, and absolve subjects from their oath of
allegiance to unworthy sovereigns.”
1198+ [Ref link AT-Pope] “Those
whom the Pope of Rome doth separate, it is not a man that separates them but
God. For the Pope holdeth place on earth, not simply of a man but of the
true God...dissolves, not by human but rather by divine authority...I
am in all and above all, so that God Himself and I, the vicar of God, hath both
one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do..wherefore,
if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, what
do you make of me but God? Again, if prelates of the Church be
called of Constantine for gods, I then being above all prelates, seem by
this reason to be above all gods." Decretales Domini
Gregori ix Translatione Episcoporum, (on the Transference of Bishops),
title 7, chapter 3; Corpus Juris Canonice (2nd Leipzig ed., 1881), col. 99;
(Paris, 1612), tom. 2, Decretales, col. 205 (while Innocent III was Pope).
1858? [Ref link
AT-Pope] "The Pope alone is called most holy..
"The pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is
not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God..
"Hence the Pope is crowned with a triple crown,
as king of heaven and of earth and of hell.
"Moreover the superiority and the power of the Roman
Pontiff by no means pertains only to heavenly things, but also earthly
things, and to things under the earth, and even over the angels,
whom he his greater than.
"So that if it were possible that the angels might
err in the faith, or might think contrary to the faith, they
could be judged and excommunicated by the Pope... (NB: ‘whom he his
greater than’; is actually a ‘typo’ in the original)
1303? [Ref HCC vol.6 ch.10] The most extravagant claims of the papacy still had defenders.
Augustus Triumphus and Alvarus Pelayo declared there could be no appeal
from the pope to God, because the pope and God were in agreement.
He who looks upon the pope with intent and trusting eye, looks upon
Christ, and wherever the pope is, there is the Church.
Yea, the pope is above canon law. [Ref link Alvarus
Pelayo 1530+] [Ref also “ there is the
Church in AT-Pope]
249+ [Ref HCC vol.2 ch.4 p.053] “The Scriptural principle “Out of Christ
there is no salvation,” was contracted and restricted to the
Cyprianic principle: “Out of the (visible) church there is no salvation;”
and from this there was only one step to the fundamental error of Romanism:
“Out of the Roman Church there is no salvation.” [Ref Wiki Cyprian]
1895 [Ref link AT-Pope] “The
Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, he is Jesus Christ
himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.” Catholic National, July,
1895.
???? [Ref link
AT-Pope] “The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on
earth
..by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each
and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire
church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler,
the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal
ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and
earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God
himself on earth." Quoted in the New York Catechism.
And
the most resent one is…
1994 [Ref to PClaims]
“Pope John Paul II claims
to take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth. From "Crossing The Threshold
of Hope", by Pope John Paul II, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.,
copyright 1994 by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, ISBN 0-679-76561-1, First
Chapter, "The Pope": A Scandal and a Mystery:
The Pope is considered the man on earth who represents the Son
of God, who "takes the place" of the Second Person of the
omnipotent God of the Trinity. [pg. 3]. The Pope is not the only one who holds this
title. With regard to the Church entrusted to him, each bishop is Vicarius
Christi. [pg. 13]”
QUESTION: How many blasphemous claims did you find in that
very short list?
It
is not hard to find information about the papal persecutions of protestant
Christians, (the saints of the Most High). You can go to the library, or Google
Foxe’s Book of
Martyrs. Or you can find ‘Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’ book via e-Sword,
[Ref e-Sword/Reference Library/Foxe’s Book of Martyrs]. Then just search for
phrases or words such as “burnt stake”, “antichrist” or “inquisition”.
That will give you hundreds of references that will open your eyes about the
papal persecutions. You can also go to, “History of The Christian Church (by Philip
Schaff)”. The Spanish Inquisition started in 1478, but the
persecution started well before that. Remember above where I talked about how
the pope came to power, under the heading, “1/:- There Came Up Among Them Another Little Horn”. In 380AD “Emperor Theodosius establishing Catholic Christianity
as the official religion of the Empire.” And do you remember the harsh
penalties that followed? Then in 533 AD The Decrees of Justinian gave the pope
the headship over the whole catholic world. So keep those thoughts in mind when
you read the following articles.
1010
[Ref HCC vol.5 ch.10 p.079] “From Pope Gregory the Great about 590 to nearly
1010AD “For nearly five hundred
years heresy had been unknown in Western Europe. When Gregory the Great
converted the Arians of Spain and Lombardy in the latter part of the
sixth century, it was supposed that the last sparks of heresy were extinguished.
In the second half of the eleventh century here and there, …little flames
of heresy shot forth; but they were quickly put out and
the Church went on its way again in peace.” And you can imagine what was
meant by the phrases, “sparks of heresy were extinguished or but
they were quickly put out”. If you go to that reference and have a good
read, is speaks of the rise of the dozens of different ‘anti catholic’ sects.
Here are some highlights from around that reference.
1163 The
Albigensian Crusade: [ref
HCC vol.5 ch.10 p.058-086] “The
synod of Tours, 1163 ..forbid ..Catholics from mingling with the
Albigenses and from having commercial dealings with them ..Princes
..instructed to imprison ..and confiscate their goods. The Third Lateran, 1179,
extended the punishments to the defenders of heretics and their friends. It
gave permission ..to reduce heretics to slavery and shortened ..penance by two
years for those taking up arms against them.” “In 1244, ..Montségur was
taken, the last refuge of the Albigenses. Two hundred of the Perfect were
burned.”
Did you pick up on that
one? from having commercial dealings with them. Question if you
were an Albigensian; how could you buy or sell anything from someone other than
an Albigensian? …YOU CAN NOT BUY OR SELL!
1179 The Third Lateran Council – 1179 A.D. [Ref link Papalencyclicals.Net/Councils/Ecum11.htm].
Go down to the 27th article, at about the fifth line, speaking of
how to handle heretics. “we
declare that they and their defenders and those who receive them are
under anathema, and we forbid under pain of anathema that anyone should keep or
support them in their houses or lands or should trade with them.” …YOU CAN NOT BUY OR SELL!
1238 [Ref HCC vol.5 ch.10 p.079] “The most elaborate list is given in
the code of Frederick II. 1238, and enumerates nineteen different
sects, among which the most familiar are Cathari, Patarenes, Beguines,
Arnoldists, and Waldenses. …And in fact the list is not exhaustive, for it does
not include the respectable group of Northern Italy known as the Humiliati, or
the Ortlibenses of Strassburg, or the Apostolicals of Belgium. One document
speaks of no less …one hundred and thirty different sects. The council of
Verona, 1183, condemned, ..the Cathari and Patarenes ..Also the Passagini,
Josephini, and Arnoldists, whom we put under perpetual Anathema.” ..these
names, some of which were taken from localities or towns and did not indicate
any differences of belief or practice from other sectaries. ..Innocent
pronounced the number of heretics in southern France innumerable. ..Neumeister,
a heretical bishop who was burnt, the number of Waldensian heretics in Austria
about 1300 was eighty thousand. The writer, ..about 1315, said there was
scarcely a land in which the Waldenses had not spread. The Cathari in
southern France mustered large armies and were massacred by the thousands.
Of all these sects, the only one which has survived is the very honourable
body, still known as the Waldenses.”
1572
Here is a lengthy quote but it speaks of a few
well-known massacres. [Ref HCC vol.7 ch.1 p.011] “Thomas Aquinas, ..proved, to the satisfaction of the Middle
Ages, that the rites of idolaters, Jews, and infidels ought not to be
tolerated, and that heretics or corruptors of the Christian faith, being worse
criminals than debasers of money, ought (after due admonition) not only
to be excommunicated by the church, but also be put to death by the state.
…The persecution of heretics reached its height in the papal crusades
against the Albigenses under Innocent III., one of the best of popes;
in the dark deeds of the Spanish Inquisition; and in the unspeakable atrocities
of the Duke of Alva against the Protestants in the Netherlands
during his short reign (1567-1573). The horrible massacre of St.
Bartholomew (Aug. 24, 1572) was sanctioned by Pope Gregory XIII., who
celebrated it by public thanksgivings, and with a medal bearing his image, an
avenging angel and the inscription, Ugonottorum strages.” Shown to the right Referà[Slide#7]
1655
[Ref HCC vol.7 ch.1 p.011] “The most cruel of the many
persecutions of the innocent Waldenses in the valleys of Piedmont took
place in 1655, and shocked by its boundless violence the whole Protestant
world, calling forth the vigorous protest of Cromwell and inspiring the famous
sonnet of Milton, his foreign
secretary: ..The Roman church has never repented of her complicity with
these unchristian acts. On the contrary, she still holds the principle
of persecution in connection with her doctrine that there is no salvation
outside of her bosom. ..Leo XIII., a great admirer of the theology of St.
Thomas Aquinas, in his Encyclical of Nov. 1, 1885, “concerning the
Christian constitution of states,” wisely moderates, but reaffirms, in
substance, the political principles of his predecessor. A revocation
would be fatal to the Vatican dogma of papal infallibility. The
practice of persecution is a question of power and expediency; and although
isolated cases still occur from time to time, the revival of mediaeval
intolerance is an impossibility, and would be condemned by intelligent and
liberal Roman Catholics as a folly and a crime.”
1873
I’ll just give you some final dates
as to when the Inquisition seems to come to an end in various countries. Which
would also be ‘the end of the wearing Out The Saints’. We have the
following reference: [Ref HCC vol.4 ch.6 p.80] “80. The Torture ..I. “The whole system of the
Inquisition,” says Lea (p. 331), “was such as to render the resort
to torture inevitable. Its proceedings were secret; the prisoner was
carefully kept in ignorance of the exact charges against him, and of the
evidence upon which they were based. He was presumed to be guilty, and his
judges bent all their energies to force him to confess. To accomplish this, no
means were too base or too cruel. ..The torture was abolished in
England after 1640, in Prussia 1740, in Tuscany 1786, in France 1789, in Russia
1801, in various German states partly earlier, partly later (between 1740 and
1831), in Japan 1873…Exceptional cases of judicial torture
occurred in the nineteenth century in Naples, Palermo, Roumania (1868), and Zug
(1869)”
I will give you a few
commentaries to think over, but most of them infer or give reference to the
prerogatives of God, as given in Dan 2:21 “And He changes the times and the seasons; He
removes kings and sets up kings.” etc. But there are other
aspects that the antichrist thinks he has the right to change. Such as
celibacy, abstinence from meats and setting up additional holy days etc. they
are best summed up by Bishop Newton.
[Ref CN by Joseph Benson
on Daniel 7:25] “He shall think to change times and laws - Appointing
fasts and feasts, canonizing saints, granting pardons and indulgences for sins,
instituting new modes of worship, imposing new articles of faith, enjoining
new rules of practice, and reversing at pleasure the laws of God and man.” - Bishop Newton.”
[Ref
CN by John
Gill on Daniel 7:25] “And
think to change times and laws: to alter the forms and constitutions of
kingdoms, and the customs and usages of them; yea, to set up and pull down
kings at pleasure; see Dan 2:21, or to change the use of times and seasons,
by setting apart days as holy for canonized saints; and appointing
such days in a week, and such a season in the year, for abstinence from meats;
and even to change the laws of God and man, by dispensing with both, and making
new ones of his own:”
[Ref
CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Daniel 7:25] “change
times - the prerogative of God alone (Dan 2:21); blasphemously assumed by
Antichrist. The “times and laws” here meant are those of religious ordinance;
stated times of feasts [Maurer]. Perhaps there are included the times
assigned by God to the duration of kingdoms. He shall set Himself above all
that is called God (2Th 2:4), putting his own “will” above God’s times and laws
(Dan 11:36, Dan 11:37). But the “times” of His wilfulness are limited for the
elect’s sake (Mat 24:22).”
[Ref
CN by Keil & Delitzsch on
Daniel 7:15-28] “The
sin of the king in placing himself with God, therefore, as Kliefoth
rightly remarks, “consists in this, that in these ordinances he does not
regard the fundamental conditions given by God, but so changes the laws of
human life that he puts his own pleasure in the place of the divine
arrangements.” Thus shall he do with the ordinances of life, not only
of God's people, but of all men. “But it is to be confessed that the people of
God are most affected thereby, because they hold their ordinances of life most
according to the divine plan; and therefore the otherwise general passage
stands between two expressions affecting the conduct of the horn in its
relation to the people of God.”
[Ref
CN from Preacher's
Homiletical on Daniel 7:19-25] “[178] A decretal of Callixtus II. says, “We entirely interdict
priests, deacons, sub-deacons, and monks from contracting marriages; we
decide also that, according to the sacred canons, the marriages
contracted by persons of this kind be dissolved, and the persons
brought to penance.” This Pope, as well as Pope Agatho, writes that the
decretal epistles of the Roman Pontiff are to be received among the Scriptures,
though they are not embodied in the code of canons, just as the Old and New
Testaments are so received, “because a judgment of holy Pope Innocent seems to
be published” for doing so. [179] In regard to the use of the cup,
Pope Gregory VII. thus wrote to Wratislaus, king of Bohemia, “What your people
ignorantly require can in no wise be conceded to them; and we now forbid it by
the power of God and His holy Apostle Peter.” [180] Gregory III. convened an
assembly of 93 bishops in 732, and with their assent published a general
excommunication against all who were opposed to the worship of images.
The same Pope wrote to the Emperor Leo, “Do you cease to persecute images and
all will be quiet.”
We
need to look into this carefully, because it definitely does not mean that the
saints are given over to total destruction at the hands of the antichrist all
the way through to the Second Advent. That is a misconception from the Futurist
theory. Let’s work through it. Most of Dan 7:21-27 is talking about the “saints
of the Most High” verses 21, 21, 25 & 27. Also referring to them as,
‘they’, and their interaction with the red dragon beast; which is also an
indirect reference to the antichrist. So verse 25, “they” are
those who are given into the hand of the antichrist until a time and
times and one-half time. That is also known as 1260 “prophetic days”,
at ‘a-day-for-a-year’
that is 1260 calendar years. But
verse 26, ‘they’ are also those who shall take away his
rulership, to cut off and to destroy until the end.
And ‘the end’ is in reference to the return of Christ. So to destroy
the antichrist until the end indicates that the saints of the Most High
ultimately topple the rule of the antichrist starting sometime before Christ
returns.
There
are two things to look into her. The second point is the saints shall take
away, or topple the antichrists’ rulership, and we will cover that later. But
the First point is the antichrist has a time limit of 1260 years, we will cover
that now. I’ll give you this lengthy section from A. J. Ferris.
Remember we have talked about the years 533 and 606,
they were the years the pope was given the title of “head of all the churches”.
Also the year 538; [Ref HCC Vol. 3, Ch. 05, p.064] “Vigilius, a pliant creature of Theodora, “ascended
the papal chair” under the military protection of Belisarius
(538-554)”. And 1260
years later the pope was “removed from the papal chair” by the
French military general Berthier
in 1798.
[Ref
wiki Berthier]
“Berthier accompanied Napoleon
throughout the campaign of 1796, and was left in charge of the army after
the Treaty of Campo Formio. He was in this post in 1798
when he entered Italy, invaded the Vatican, organized the Roman Republic, and took Pope Pius VI prisoner. Berthier
supervised the Pope’s relocation to Valence, where, after a tortuous journey,
Pius died. The death of the Pope dealt a major blow to the Vatican's political
power which, however, did not prove as ephemeral as that of the First French
Empire.” So
1798 less 538 = 1260 years! Wow how about that!
[Ref
CN by A. J. Ferris
from “The
Second Advent How: When: Where?” page 14] He first quotes scriptures
from KJV. “Dan 7:25 ..And the saints shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. :26
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion,
to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”
Dan
7:9-11 “I beheld till the thrones
were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit ..the judgment was set ..I
beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body was destroyed and given to
the burning flame.”
“If we date the rise of the Papacy from 533-606
A.D., then we should expect to see its loss of political dominion 1260
years later, in 1793-1866. As to the actual dates the year 1793
was the central year of the French Revolution when France, who had been the
eldest son of the church for 1000 years, threw off the yoke of the Papacy. The
revolutionaries turned 40000 churches into stables, massacred 24,000 Priests,
exiled another 40000, and guillotined thousands of Roman Catholics, including
their Roman Catholic Royal family. In the next twenty years revolution and war
overtured the thrones of the Roman Catholic world and drenched the Latin
nations in blood and fire. In 1798 the Pope was dethroned and led
away captive by Napoleon’s soldiers; the Papal States and Rome were conquered;
the Vatican Palaces and Convents were robbed and despoiled of their fabulous
wealth; and a blow given to the Papacy from which it never recovered.”
“One hundred years before, in 1701, a Robert Fleming had
published a book entitled ‘The Rise and fall of the Papacy’, in which he
foretold from Dan 7 the fall of Papal power in 1794, 1848 and 1866. The
extraordinary fulfilment of his forecast on these very dates caused special
re-editions of his book to appear. Fleming arrived at the date 1848 by Counting
1260 calendar years (each of 360 days) from 606 AD. It is remarkable that as
soon as the year 1848 dawned all Roman Catholic Europe suddenly burst into
violent revolution. Roman catholic dynasties were smitten and fell like trees
before a tornado. On November 24th the Pope lost his kingdom and fled from Rome
to an asylum in Gaeta. Italy proclaimed itself a republic.”
[Ref
CN from TSK Cross References on Daniel
7:25] “a time: That is, three
years and a half, or, reckoning thirty days to a month, 1,260 days,
equal to the same number of years in prophetic language; which, dated from the
decree of Phocas constituting him the supreme head of the church, A.D. 606,
terminated in 1866. Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32, Dan 12:7, Dan 12:11-12; Rev
11:2-3, Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14, Rev 13:5, Rev 13:7.”
Also
I found this ‘
1866’ newspaper article, it was like reading something
that happened only last year! It was from The South Australian Weekly Chronicle
[Ref link
Trove.Nla.Gov.Au/Newspaper/Article/94741386],
it is dated Saturday,
December 29, 1866. From the article entitled,
“The Temporal Power Of The Pope.’ It reads;
at the bottom of this clipping; ‘It might hence appear that the downfall of
the Pontifical Government must be imminent, especially as it is absolutely
certain that all French troops will have left the Eternal City before the New
Year dawns upon us.” Refer to the
right à[Slide#8]Are
those dates just a coincidence or is it that when God says, “Time Times Half A
Time”, He means exactly that!
Remember
we talked about ‘Ten Toes’ would NOT cleave one to another, indicating the
‘Ten’ kingdoms Would NOT Form A One World Government! This is another
clear indication that the ‘Ten Kings’ turn against the antichrist. And you may
well ask, “How do the saint of the Most High topple the antichrist rule and
possess the kingdom?” Well this brings us to another subject altogether! This
subject is misunderstood, misquoted, so ridiculed and laughed at, that these
days nobody even bothers to look into it. But just bear with me please! I am
not trying to preach on this subject! But I find it’s the only way to make
sense of ‘God’s Big Picture’. It’s the study of Anglo-Saxon-Israel, also known
as British Israelism,
“With roots in the
16th century”. When this
teaching first came out it was quite sound and scripturally correct. People
will brand it with, ‘It’s Racist’, or ‘It’s A Replacement Theory!’
Which it is not! The Anglo-Saxon people DO NOT replace the Jews. Nor
does the Church replace the Jews!
But
try this; ask an Orthodox Rabbi, “What happened to the lost 10 tribes?”
99% of the time you’ll get a resounding, “We don’t know!” To verify this
go to, [Ref link Jewish Virtual Library],
which is a wonderful collection of articles by reputable Jewish scholars. Then
do a search for topics like, ‘Lost 10 tribes’, ‘Northern Kingdom’ or ‘The House
of Israel’, and you will get the same answers, ‘they don’t know where they
are!’ So where are the Lost 10 tribes? But 99% of Christian preachers will
adamantly tell you, “But ALL Israel came back after Babylon!” (How come
Christians know more about Israel’s heritage that the Jews?) But the bible
clearly tells us the opposite. Refer Ezra 2:1 “the children ..of the captivity .. came again unto Jerusalem and
Judah, every one unto his city”. If all Israel came back; then they would have come back to all the
other cities of the Northern Kingdom, but they didn’t! Only the Jews came
back! But we do know from prophecies that God has a glorious future for the
‘House of Israel’. And God says He will bless them long before the return of
Christ, ref to one of my talks entitled, British Israel - The Unconditional Promises.
So if the Anglo-Saxon people are not the fulfilment of those prophesies, then
who is? For a very simple eye-opener on this subject may I suggest you go
to another one of my talks entitled: - British Israel - 1.01 [For Beginners].
So
back to the question, ‘How did the saints of the Most High topple the
antichrist rule?’ Well it’s basically this, the Anglo-Saxon people, (the
Britains), where the foot hold of the reformers. Every time the antichrist
launched an army against them God pushed them back. (Whether he was the ‘Little
Horn’ or some other despot lead of the devil). The devil has attacked the
Anglo-Saxon people over the centuries with, the Spanish Armada or the Communist
French under Napoleon or The Nazi’s or the Japanese at Pearl Harbour.
God has had other plans, so He has used Anglo-Saxon-Israel, (Jacob), as His
battle-axe! ‘Jacob’, is another name by which God refers to the 10 Tribes.
I
prefer KJV cause it sounds more gutsy! Jer 51:19 “The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the
former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of
hosts is his name. :20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of
war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations,
and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; :21 And with
thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with
thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; :22
With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with
thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I
break in pieces the young man and the maid; :23 I will also
break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with
thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with
thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.”
Read
that passage again, it is an unconditional promise! God says nothing
about Jacob has to be righteous! He simply says He is going to use Jacob to
clean up the world. You can’t hope to apply this to modern day Israel. No
offence meant to our Jewish cousins. But this has been fulfilled through the
Anglo-Saxon people, and is still in the process. Also Jacob has on his side the
power of the Holy Spirit filled believers in the body of Christ. The Christians
are ‘peppered’ throughout the Anglo-Saxon people, just like the Levitical
priesthood of old was spread throughout ancient Israel. And here is a project
for you; Do a study of the different revivals and the ‘days of national
prayer’, particularly around the times of various wars. Here is one coincidence
for you. The Anglo-Zulu
War at
the Battle of Rorke's Drift. On Jan 1879,
4000 Zulus descended on a Welsh-British regiment of only 150 men, the
Welsh regiment held! Combine that with this, [Ref wiki Welsh Revival]
“Between 1859 and 1904,
there were local revivals in Cwmafan
(1866), Rhondda (1879), Carmarthen and Blaenau Ffestiniog (1887), Dowlais (1890) and
Pontnewydd
(1892).” I don’t think those
dates are just a coincidence! There would be Christian families back home in
Wales knowing, from what they read in the newspapers, that their men folk were
facing a savage confrontation with a massive overwhelming Zulu army. What would
their gut reaction be? They would be interceding before God for their men in
South Africa, and God answers prayer! Eph 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His
great love with which He loved us :5 (even when we were dead in sins)
has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are
saved), :6 and has raised us up together and made us sit together in
the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,” The
Anglo-Saxon Christians of the world have been in spiritual warfare for centuries
praying and interceding, and in so doing “Topple The Antichrist”.
How
does the Historicist believer interpret The Little Horn Of Daniel 7?
22. We found [9] characteristics to identify the Little Horn.
23. He came up amongst the other ‘Ten’ kingdoms, after 476AD and gained
power by edicts curtesy of the Emperors.
24. For centuries from 496AD he spouted multiple blasphemous claims and the
kings of the world believed him.
25. Three kingdoms were uprooted before the pope
came to power. Either by papal influence or imperial forces.
26. ‘The eyes of a man’ could refer to the pope’s
diplomatic cunning and/or his spiritual darkness.
27. Speaks Great Things; the pope is so boastful
claiming authority over all kingdoms among other arrogant claims.
28. Different from the first ‘Ten’ kings because the
Little Horn was both a sovereign king and ecclesiastical king.
29. Speaks words against the Most High; the pope has
spouted some of the most blasphemous claims against God.
30. Wear out the saints; we have seen a micro shot of
horrendous persecutions launched by the pope on Christians.
31. Plot to change times and laws. Such as celibacy,
abstinence from meats and setting up additional holy days etc.
32. Saints under his hand for 3½ times. We’ve
seen that 1260 literal years brought the end of antichrist’s rule.
33.
The saints of the Most
High are the people who have and ultimately will topple the power of the
antichrist.
I
will be very brief on this chapter! Daniel chapter 8 has nothing to do with
the One World Government. Most of the commentaries are divided along two
separate lines regarding the 2300 days. Some choose the day-for-a-year
reasoning, as does Adam
Clarke, F.B. Meyer
and others. [Ref CN by TSK Cross
References on Daniel 8:14] “That is, 2,300
years, which reckoned from the time Alexander invaded Asia, B.C. 334,
will be A.D. 1966.” Which is only one year before the Six-Day War so that
doesn’t really quite fit with the idea that after the 2300 ‘days’, “then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” But others side with a literal 2300 days. [Ref CN
By Geneva on Daniel 8:14],
also [Ref CN by Matthew
Henry on Daniel 8:1-14] “..2300
days make six years and three months, and about eighteen days;” Personally I usually tend to side with
‘a-day-for-a-year’ principle, but I think John
Gill is correct.
John
Gill calculates using 2300 literal day to come to two different significant
days. Which I think would be the most appropriate for God to reassure the Jews
that Antiochus’ reign of tyranny would be short lived. [Ref CN by John
Gill on Daniel 8:14] “and
which make six years, three months, and eighteen days; and reckoning
from the fifteenth day of the month Cisleu, in the year 145 of the Selucidae,
in which Antiochus set up the abomination of desolation upon the
altar, to the victory obtained over Nicanor by Judas, on the thirteenth day
of the month Adar, Anno 151, are just 2300 days; which day the Jews kept
as an annual feast, in commemoration of that victory.” And his second
option; “though Antiochus did not enter on his impieties till the following
year; and, reckoning from the sixth day of the sixth month in that year, to the
twenty fifth day of Cisleu in the year 148, when the Jews offered the
daily sacrifice on the new altar of burnt offerings, were just six
years, three months, and eighteen days: and so it follows,”
I
have already talked about the 70 weeks of Daniel chapter 9. And seeing as the
historical view sees the whole seventy weeks as now completed, there is no
future fulfilment left in that prophecy. Also from the historical view the
antichrist does not appear during those 70 weeks. Therefore Daniel 9 has
nothing to do with the idea of a “one World Government”!
Firstly,
I am not trying to do a critique on Daniel. The Historical view of Daniel
chapters 10 to 12 have little or no indication of a ‘One World Government’
headed by the antichrist. It does have the famous passage in, Dan 11:31 “abomination of desolation” quoted by Jesus in Mat 24:15 and Mar
13:14. And it does speak of the antichrist in verses 36 – 40; ‘the king who will do according to his will’. I will only be speaking on those verses. So you
could skip this section altogether if you wish. As we’ve seen in the Futurist
view of Daniel chapter 10, Gabriel greats him with; Dan 10:14 “Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your
people in the latterH319 days. For the vision is yet for
many days. The key thing Gabriel said was, “…what shall happen to
your people”. So the prophecy
is pertaining to the region of the world surrounding Israel, i.e. the history
of the Near East. Hence the terms ‘king of the North and king of the South’ are
referring to the kingdoms or regions North and South of the land of Israel.
Also the kingdoms change hands over the centuries, but they are still North or
South of Israel.
I
read a gem of wisdom in one of the commentators, and I wish I copied and saved
it. It was along these lines, ‘prophecy
is meant to both hide and to reveal Gods plans, and as we come
closer to the time of fulfilment, more of the prophecy becomes revealed’. And you notice this when you study the old
historicists scholars, who wrote from say the 1600’s to the early 1800’s. Some
of them had an accurate interpretation up to a certain point in the prophecy.
But the rest of the prophecy, which WAS future for them, they just seemed to
‘flounder’. Others who have written within the past hundred years have more
history to help them with the prophetic Jig-Saw. That’s why I like A. J. Ferris
who wrote between 1933-56; he has much more unfolded history, which helps prove
the fulfilment of prophecy almost up to present day. But Ferris doesn’t quite
get it all right. I have condensed one of his booklets, entitled [Ref CN by AJFDn11
- “From My Copy FROM
The Second Advent - How: When: Where? Daniel Chapter 11 - By A.J.Ferris”]. So I would like
to give you a very brief view of Daniel using Ferris and other historical
believers just to show the general consensus of them all.
What
are the “LatterH319 Days”
that Gabriel speaks of? This is often confused with the idea this refers to a
short period of time, just before Christ appears. Not so! Let’s look at Strong’s
definition, H319 “From
H310; the last or end, hence the future;
also posterity: - etc..”
Then refer Oxford, ‘Posterity meaning; all future
generations of people’. Also you have
this other passage in Daniel 2:28 “But there is a God ..who ..makes known
..what shall be in the latter days”. Daniel then goes on to
speak of the Great statue with, ‘head of gold, feet of iron-clay etc.’ Then he
interprets it as a period of history extending from Nebuchadnezzar's life
to some 2600 years later, and he refers
to all that long period of history as ‘the latter days’. Again we
have the same issue with Peter on the day of Pentecost; he is speaking of the
glorious out poring of the Holy Spirit. In Act 2:17, and he quotes Joe 2:28
“And it shall be in the last days,
says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh”. And since the day of Pentecost through to our
present day the Holy Spirit is still being “poured out upon all flesh”! So the
phrase, “the latter or last days”, is speaking of the time from
Daniel to our present day!
Gabriel
finally punctuates his delivery with, ‘For the
vision is yet for many days.’ The word many is a grammatical add
in, it’s in italics, meaning it was not in the original. It’s not in every
translation, but it is in the LXX, The Brenton Septuagint. So the meaning seems
to verify the term ‘Latter Days’, meaning that the vision will cover a long
period of history, many days. And when we analyse the
characters portrayed in the prophecy, that all makes sense! The prophecy starts
in Dan 11:2, from four kings of Persia before Alexander The Great, about pre
425BC. Then it continues through history to about 1917 and the fall of the
Ottoman Turkish Empire, the latest King of the North. So it sure is a very long
period of history.
We
now know what characters to look for, so let’s skim through history. You can
also [Ref ACCH,
look at around the ‘300BC’ mark], you will find on that chart, Alexander in
a red narrow vertical band. Branching to the right of him are the two key
players. “Egypt under the
13 Ptolemies”, we know as the start
of the King of the South. Then “Syria
under the Saleucidae”, we know as the
start of the King of the North. [Ref CN AJFDn11
page 57] “Verses 6 to 30
then foretold the history of those two powers from 323 B.C. to 62 B.C.,
calling them by the names of the “King of the North” and the “King of the
South”. Bishop Newton,
the well-known writer on prophecy, stated that Daniel's forecast
of the careers of those kings of Syria and Egypt was really more perfect than
any history”. You can verify this
with these commentaries, they all agree up to chapter 30 matching this sequence
of history. [Ref CN by Albert Barnes, John
Gill, John Wesley, Adam
Clarke, Joseph Benson, Keil & Delitzsch, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, TSK Cross References and Pulpit]. I never knew much about Antiochus and the Greek
period of history and the affect on Judah, until I have just recently read
these commentaries. It would be worth your while to read through a few of them.
The reason is as follows.
We
now get to Dan 11:31 “And
forces will stand from him, and they will profane the sanctuary,
the fortress, and shall remove the daily sacrifice, and they
shall place the desolating abomination.” This passage is one of the issues I wanted to learn
about. It would appear that this “desolating abomination”, has happened three times in history. The following commentary by Barnes is the first occasion in 167BC. The second is when
Jesus referred to this verse, and He said it was still future, and many
believed He was speaking of 70AD. Also many don’t! But if you check Matt
24:2-15; then Mark 13:2-14, they both use the phrase, “abomination of desolation”. But Luke 21:6-20 is
telling the exact same story about what Jesus told them, and he uses the
phrase, “when you see
Jerusalem compassed with armies”. So Luke is telling us that, "the
abomination of desolation", IS refers to 70AD! The third fulfilment was in 638AD. [Ref CN AJFDn11
bottom of page 72] “Mohammed
…In 629, he led his army from Mecca to conquer Arabia In 637, his
successor the Caliph Omar attacked Palestine, and early in 638 entered
Jerusalem. Gibbon tells us in his history Vol. 9, p. 473, how at that time the
Christian patriarch of Jerusalem testified that the abomination of desolation
(of DAN. 12-II) is in the holy place." In 643, on the very site of
Solomon’s Temple, Omar commenced building a Mosque which became a physical
symbol of the Mohammedan desolation of Eastern Christendom.” And if you still believe that some antichrist is
yet to appear, then he will complete a forth “desolating
abomination”?
Now
this quote from Barnes, it is really
worth reading please! [Ref CN by Albert Barnes
on Daniel 11:31] “When
it is said that they would “pollute the sanctuary of strength,” the reference
is to what was done by Apollonius, at the command of Antiochus, to profane
the temple, and to put an end to the sacrifices and worship there.
Compare 1 Macc. 1:29, 37-49; Jos. “Ant.” b. xii. ch. v. Section 4. The account
in the book of Maccabees is as follows:” Thus they shed innocent blood on
every side of the sanctuary and defiled it, insomuch that the inhabitants
of Jerusalem fled because of them, wherefore the city was made a habitation of
strangers, and became strange to those who were born in her, and her own
children left her. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a
wilderness, and her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into
reproach, her honor into contempt. As had been her glory, so was her dishonor
increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning. Moreover, king Antiochus
wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and every one
should leave his laws; so all the pagan agreed, according to the
commandment of the king.
Yea, many Israelites consented to his religion, and
sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the Sabbath. For the king had sent
letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they
should follow the strange laws of the land, and forbid burnt-offerings, and
sacrifices, and drink-offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane
the sabbaths and festival days, and pollute the sanctuary and holy people; set
up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh and
unclean beasts; that they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and
make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation, to
the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.”And
shall take away the daily sacrifice - That is, shall forbid
it, and so pollute the temple and the altar as to prevent its
being offered. See the quotation above. This occurred in the
month of June, 167 b.c. See Jahn, “Heb. Commonwealth,” p. 267.”
Consider:
if verse 31 has double or triple fulfilment, then we also know it refers to
70AD. If so then verses 31 to 35 refer to the period of persecution of the
Christian martyrs under pagan Roman. Following this we know that as of about
538AD the pope came to power and ruled supreme until 1798. The following verses
fit the period from 538 to 1798 quite adequately and they speak of the
blasphemous boastings of the pope. You can go to the commentary notes by some
of those above. [Ref CN on Dan 11:36 by AJFDn11,
Albert Barnes, John
Gill and Adam Clarke]. Dan 11:36
“And the king shall ..exalt himself above
every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods,
and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished.” Overlapping with this period, in the Near East, we
have the rise of the Saracen Empire, which is the re-emergence of the ‘King of
the South’, and the First Crusade
starting in 1096. This is followed by the rise of the Ottoman Turkish Empire,
which is the re-emergence of the ‘King of the North’. The person referred to as
him is referring to the “the king” of verse 36,
which is the pope! Dan 11:40 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the South push at him: and the king of the north shall come
against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with
horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall
overflow and pass over.” Which brings us
to the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Verses
41 to 45 now speak of the exploits and down fall of the Ottoman Turkish Empire,
the ‘King of the North’ also referred to in these verses as he. Turkey
eventually found herself embroiled in ongoing conflict with Russia, which is
described as “out of the east and out of the north”. As there was no word for
North-East in Hebrew, that was the term Daniel used.
[Ref
CN by AJFDn11
middle of page 65] Dan 11:44 “But news out of
the east and out of the north shall trouble him. Then he
will go out with great fury to destroy, and to devote many to
destruction. :45 And he shall plant his palace tents
between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come
to his end, and none shall help him”. [Ref CN by AJFDn11
middle of page 66] Verse 45 he (Turkey) “shall plant his palace tents, (military head quarters), between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.” That has to be speaking of Jerusalem. You can check
WWI military history, the Turkish army was based in Jerusalem and in 1917 the
Turks were driven out of the Holy Land. [Ref CN by John
Gill, Preacher's
Homiletical and Adam Clarke]. Then
with the Balfour Declaration
in 1917, after which the Jews started to pour into Israel, wave after wave for
decades and still are. Ferris gives you an excellent assessment, from those
verses of the Turkish downfall.
So
as I said at the start of this, from the historical point of view, Daniel 11
has nothing to do with a future ‘One World Government’ theory! But the Historical
Interpretation of the bible does give you an interesting insight into history.
Firstly
remember we are looking for anything in this chapter that may refers to a ‘One
World Government’. And again we can’t find any indication of it here. So we can
skim through this chapter; and it speaks of the battle of Armageddon, the end
of the age, the first resurrection and the second resurrection; then some
interesting numbers. Let’s check the first few verses. Dan 12:1 “And at that time Michael shall stand up,
the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a
time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; until that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found
written in the book.” What is meant
by, ‘At that time’? Well Gabriel is still talking about the
historical events to come and he reaches the events describing the Fall of
Turkey around 1917. So logically he means a point in time that is
very close to our present day. And what’s going to happen then? Michael
the great ruler of our people shall stand up for us. Now many scholars suggest
Michael is Christ. But that can't be so because Michael does have a specific
role in the army of God. He is ‘nicknamed’, ‘The War Angel’. Ref. Rev
12:7 “And there was war in Heaven. Michael and his
angels warring against the dragon…”
also you can refer to my talk entitled, Who is Jesus - Is He Michael Archangel?
So when the prophecy is ready to roll, Christ will call out with the shout of
the archangel, and Michael will be at the head of the army of God’s myriads of
angels’ ready to carry out the commands of Christ. And thank God we haven’t
reached “at that time” as yet.
The
next thing is there will be, ‘a time of trouble, such as never
was since there was a nation; until that time.’ We have a similar
expression in Mat 24:21 Jesus said: - “for then
shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the
beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.” I believe these passages, Dan 12:1 and Mat 24:21, are talking
about two different events. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking of a ‘great tribulation’ as in 70AD. In Daniel it is referring to ‘a time of trouble’, which I believe is Armageddon. And I believe the key is in
understanding the words, ‘until that time’. Take for example the
siege of 70AD, up until that time Israel had never experienced
anything like it. As we go further along in history we come to more great
horrendous world event. Till right near the end of the latter days, we have had
“The Great War”, the war to end all wars! And it was the worst
war, until that time! Then only 21 years later we get really
clever and had another war. And WWII was a far worse war, until that time!
So what is Armageddon all about, well read Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. It will
be a fast war, with airborne equipment and troops by the millions, with
parachutes and aircraft blotting out the sun. And it will be the worse war, until
that time! And we know who wins that war! I’ve read the end of the
book!
Then
we have the first and second resurrections described in one sentence? Verse
:2 “And many of those who sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Which is quite strange because when we read
Revelation 20:4 “..And I saw the
souls of those who had been beheaded ..who had not worshiped the beast ..nor
had ..his mark ..And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. :5 But
the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection.” So there is a gap of 1000 years between the two
resurrections. Gabriel then continues with the rewards for the righteous. Verse
:3 “And those who are wise shall shine as the
brightness of the sky; and those who turn many to righteousness shall
shine as the stars forever and ever.” (Please Lord I want to be amongst that lot). Then Gabriel gives Daniel
the wind up, ‘your
job is done Daniel, seal the book and put it away’. Verse :4 “But you, 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.”
From
this point onward Daniel hears some interesting numbers. Which we don’t need to
go into in this talk, because it has nothing to do with the One World
Government. I will refer you to A. J. Ferris’s
work below. Dan 12:7 “..for a time, times,
and a half. ..:10 none of the wicked shall understand, but the
wise shall understand. :11 ..from the time that the daily sacrifice
shall be taken away, ..a thousand two hundred and ninety days shall
occur. :12 Blessed is he who ..comes to the thousand three hundred
and thirty-five days. :13 But you go on to the end, for you
shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days.” A. J. Ferris
has a lengthy in-depth coverage of these numbers. I think he explains them
quite well. [Ref CN AJFDn11
page 69-72], ‘find this heading’, “(6) Daniel's Time-periods of
the Mohammedan Desolation..”, starting from his page 69. I believe his
interpretation of the prophetic days is remarkable. Based on the day-for-a-year
he shows us the fulfilment of the 3½ times, i.e. 1260 days, the 1290
days, the 1335 days and the 2520 days. He also incorporates the Mohammedan lunar calendar using those unique numbers. He gives you
far more than I can fit into this paper without adding another 10 pages! It is
well worth going to that brief that I produce of Ferris’s work.
Below is a chart taken FROM The Second Advent - How: When: Where? Daniel Chapter 11 - By A.J.Ferris. Showing the amazing fulfilments of the numbers 1260, 1290 and 1335 days, by using the lunar calendar. Refer below à[Slide#9].
Also
Meyer compared to Ferris, gives a relatively concise explanation. [Ref CN by F.B. Meyer on Daniel 12:1-13] “RESURRECTION
AND JUDGMENT, Michael was the guardian spirit of the Jewish
people.
When the time of trouble has reached its climax, whether in national or
individual life, help is near. The hope of resurrection, of the life beyond the
darkness of their times, animated the hearts of the Chosen People. In the same
way the Apostle Paul refers to it, 1Co 15:58. The national resurrection
of Israel is without doubt included but the resurrection at the last, when that
of the just shall precede that of the unjust by the millennium, is clearly the
topic of these wonderful words. Daniel’s prophecies were to be sealed, because
their entire fulfillment was not to take place for many days. Three and a
half probably stands for three and a half prophetic years, which, on the
year-day system, gives 1260 days or years, and is therefore equivalent
to the forty-two months of Rev 11:2; Rev 13:5. This
is the time of the world-power, half the perfect number seven. The
supremacy of the Gentile kingdoms is 2,500 years, of which the
latter half has nearly expired, and the Chosen People will not much longer be
scattered. It is an interesting fact that, calculated on the lunar
measure, these concluding dates have-according to the calculations of the late
Dr. Grattan Guinness-just expired. Let us go our way, watch and pray,
and at last stand in our lot.”
And
as I said Daniel chapter 12 has nothing to do with a ‘One World Government’!
Also if the prophecy
of Dan 11 is as A. J. Ferris
and F.B. Meyer have both said, has come into
completion; and Dan 12 is speaking of Armageddon then where are we in God’s
time line? The only thing I can conclude is based on the common phrase of these
days: - “We are a microwave generation and God prefers to do a sloooow cook!” So the
prophecy of Daniel 11 seems to have come to its end by about the 1940’s. So
from then in Gods’ timing there could still be another mere 100 or 150 years
before we see the start of Armageddon.
Therefore it could dawn as early as 2040 to 2090. But I believe that the
trigger for Armageddon will be the demand for oil. My father was a member of
The Australia Institute Of Engineers.
And in about the late 1970’s, he went to a lecture and the guest speaker said
this. “The world knows
that the USSR oil fields have only 20 years of oil reserves left!” I asked
dad about that some years later in about the 1990’s, in relation to what could
trigger Armageddon. He explained that during those 20 years, in the same way as
the Yanks have done, the Russians have discovered more oil fields, and that
could reduce their urgency for oil in the short term. But we know that the
world is running out of oil, all this push for “Green Energy” is not just for a
yuppie presentation. So we sit and watch the fuel tank slowly run dry, then see
what happens!
How
does the Historicist believer interpret Daniel chapters 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12?
34. Daniel 8, 9, 10, 11
& 12 have nothing to do with the One World Government.
35. Dan 8; the 2300 days is
more likely literal and speaks of Antiochus desecration of the temple in
Jerusalem.
36. Dan 9; the 70 weeks prophecy,
a literal 490 years which was completed 7 years after the start of Christ’s
ministry.
37. Dan 10 is Daniel’s
intersession for his people and Gabriel telling him that a long protracted
prophecy is coming.
38. It speaks of the
kingdoms North and South of Israel, the Near East, and their rule from 323BC to
about 1917.
39. Interlaced with this is
the rise of the papacy, and the start of the Crusades and the fall of
Constantinople.
40. Dan 12 speaks of the
battle of Armageddon, the end of the age, the first resurrection and the second
resurrection.
41. Daniel asks, “how long?”
and he is told these prophetic numbers, 1260 days, 1290 days and 1335 days.
42. Using the Lunar calendar
those prophetic days, including the 2520 days have come into completion.
43. The next BIG question is
what will drive the start of Armageddon, is it the lack of oil?
Have you ever noticed
that the Revelation seems to be in three parts? The letters to the
churches, which many commentaries will tell us, speaks of the character and
history of the church, (or the body of Christ), throughout the ages. Meaning we
are currently in the Laodicean church age now. But have you ever noticed
chapter 11 seems like it comes to the end of the age? [Ref CN by MHCC
on Revelation 11] “(Rev 11:1, Rev 11:2) The state of the church is
represented under the figure of a temple measured. (Rev 11:3-6) Two witnesses
prophesy is sackcloth. (Rev 11:7-13) They are slain, after which they arise and
ascend to heaven. (Rev 11:14-19) Under the seventh trumpet, all antichristian
powers are to be destroyed and there will be a glorious state of Christ's
kingdom upon earth.” Then chapter 12 starts back at the arrival
of Christ, “the man child”. Then the rest of the book continues to the
conclusion of the Revelation? So it seems like it is in three parts? That’s
quite correct; because the Revelation actually is three separate prophecies
covering the same period of 2000 plus years. It’s a biblical principal; Refer
Deu 17:6; Deu 19:15; Mat 18:16 and 2Co 13:1 “..In the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word shall be established.”
So God is telling us in three different ways what He has planed for our future.
In so doing God has given us three prophetic witnesses!
Remember I talked about
the prophecies regarding the beast with one head /seven heads /ten horns /three
removed etc. and that they represent different periods of time in the history
of the Roman Empire. We will look into this in more detail as we work through
revelation 12, 13 and 17 etc. Revelation 12 represents The Pagan Roman Empire,
Revelation 13 represents the papal Roman Empire and revelation 17 onward represents
the decline and fall of the papal Roman Empire. So
those three chapters cover a long period of time in history. Now let’s look at
each chapter to see what was prophesied and if it is an accurate account of
historical events.
Below
is a classic chart from A. J. Ferris and
it has been taken from one of his booklets. [Ref CN by AJFerris on The Book of Revelation Pt 2
Ferris, page 19]. It shows you each Gentile
Empire represented by its “beast” as described in the book of Daniel Chapter 7.
It also shows the progression of each Empires, the area each empire covered and
its time of appearing in history and its duration. It also gives you a good
visual idea of the changing of the beast, from the seven heads and seven crowns
as in Rev 12; to the ten horns with ten crowns as in Rev 13. Refer below, [Slide#10]
(The ‘squiggle notes’ are
a bonus from my dad, playing with the ‘Seven Times’ or 2520 years).
This
prophecy represents the period of history of the pagan Roman Empire from the
time of Christ to around 476AD when the Roman Empire fell to the barbarians.
Let’s first look at the woman and pick out historical marks as we go. Rev
12:1 “And there appeared a great sign in the
heavens, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under
her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head,” How often have you heard this statement? ‘In the
bible a woman represents a church’. Then you are told that this woman represents
the Christian church? And you will find they preach that, “the ‘woman’, the
church was persecuted by the Romans etc”. Let’s stop right there and get
that idea out of your head! If you follow the logic of that analogy, then
you will find that, the woman, the Christian church, produced Christ?
But it should be the other way around! Without Christ the church could not
have come into existence!
Have
you ever heard of these two horrible girls, Oholah and Oholibah? Eze 23:2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one
mother. :3 And they fornicated in Egypt; they whored in their youth,
.. :4 ..And their names: Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem
is Oholibah. :5 And Oholah …lusted after her lovers, to her Assyrian
neighbors, ..:9 Therefore I have given her into the hand of her
lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians on whom she lusted. :11 And her
sister Oholibah saw, she was more corrupt in her lustfulness than she, and her
fornications were greater than her sister's whoredom. :17 And the Babylonians
came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with fornications. And
she was defiled with them, and her mind was alienated from them.” Who are these horrible women? They are
Samaria and Jerusalem, capitol cities of nations, and they go a
whoring after Assyria and Babylon, neighbouring nations, which
had foreign gods. They do not represent churches; they represent the nations of
Israel and Judah. To prove the point here is another one, 2Ki 19:21 “..The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you and
laughed you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.” [Ref CN by John
Wesley
on 2 Kings 19:21] “Virgin - so he calls Zion, or Jerusalem; because
she was pure in good measure from that gross idolatry wherewith other people
were defiled, which is called spiritual whoredom: and to signify, that God
would defend her from the rape which Sennacherib intended to commit upon her
with no less care than parents do their virgin daughters from those who seek to
force and deflower them.” So women in the bible DO
NOT necessarily represent a church!
So
let’s rethink this woman of Rev 12:1 “She was,
clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and a
crown of twelve stars.”
Well the twelve stars should be a give away for you! Let’s go
back to Genesis where Joseph had some dreams. Gen 37:9 “And he dreamed ..and told ..his brothers. ..I have dreamed another
dream. ..the sun and the moon and the eleven
stars bowed down to me. :10 And he told ..his father ..And his
father rebuked him and said ..Shall I, and your mother,
and your brothers ..bow ourselves ..before you?” Jacob interpreted the dream as
representing the family of Israel. Jacob the sun; Rachel the moon; and Joseph’s eleven
brothers, the stars. So
the woman of Revelation 12 must represent the 12-tribe nation of Israel. And
Israel ‘birthed’ Christ the Messiah into the world. Now that the analogy fits!
So what was the rest of it? Rev 12:2 “and having a
babe in womb, ..:4 ..the dragon stood before the woman ..So that when she
bears he might devour her child. :5 And she bore a son, ..who is ..to
rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up
to God and to His throne.”
But it is not speaking of Christ’s physical birth! But as Paul said speaking of
Jesus in Colossians 1:18 “And He is the Head of the
body, the church, ..the First-born from the dead..” And again in Rev 1:5 “even from Jesus Christ the faithful Witness, the First-born from
the dead..” First-born from
the dead is speaking of the resurrection. So in Rev 12, ‘the child that the
woman bears’, can only refer to Christ, so that is a date mark for the
start of the prophecy. So the prophecy is basically starting from the
resurrection of Christ.
Also this is another very
clear indication that the Futurist View is really quite WRONG! Because the
Futurists believe that the Revelation is still all in the future. Therefore
this following passage must still be in the future. Rev 12:5 “And she bore a son, ..who
is ..to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God
and to His throne.” Think about it for a moment… doesn’t that
mean that in the future there will be another boy born into the world
and he will also be caught up to God and to His
throne and he will also rule all nations with a rod of iron?
So who then would be this fourth person of the God Head? I can’t
see how anyone can believe the Futurist theory and not pick up on that one. And
if you’re a Futurist believer and I have interpreted that wrong, please email
me.
Have you ever noticed the
woman seems to be in two separate groups?
We’ll call them Group-A and Group-B.
·
Group-A Rev
12:6 “And the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she had a place prepared by God, so that they might
nourish her there a thousand, two hundred and sixty days.” (Then verses 7 to 12 tell us there was war in
Heaven, the dragon turned on the woman etc. and we’ll talk about that later).
Rev 12:13 “And ..the dragon
..persecuted the woman.. :14 And two wings of a great eagle were given to
the woman, so that she might fly into the wilderness, into her
place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a
time, from the serpent's face. :15 ..the
serpent cast out ..like a flood ..that he might cause her to be carried away..
:16 ..the earth helped the woman ..and swallowed up the river..” Basically the dragon or serpent tries to attack
the woman and fails, so he turns his anger on the other part of the woman;
group B.
·
Group-B :17 "And the
dragon was enraged over the woman, and went to make war with the rest of
her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ”. Does that seem
like two groups to you?
First
let me show you this. Israel at the time of the captivities consisted of two
separate nations. Everyone knows the Daniel stories! They were the Jews, also
called, the Southern Kingdom; the House of Judah, (two tribes, consisting of
Judah and Benjamin plus some Levites). They were carried off to Babylon. But
some 130 years before hand, the Northern Kingdom, the House of Israel,
(and the bible always called them Israel or Jacob and sometimes
Ephraim), they were taken captive to, “the cities
of the Medes” 2Ki 17:6 &
2Ki 18:11, in the year 721BC. Also refer 2Ki 17:23 “So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria until
this day”. [Ref chart ACCH].
After Israel was taken captive, some Eight hundred years later in
70AD, Josephus was writing at about the time of Christ and also during the fall
of Jerusalem. He says ALL Israel remained in Media! [Refer AOTJ
(via e-Sword/
Reference Library/‘Antiquities of The Jews’, book 11 chapter 5 verse 2)]. NB:
Ezra equals Esdras; ‘he had received an epistle from the King.’ And ‘Iomans’
equals Romans.
“So he read the epistle at Babylon to those Jews that were there; but he kept the epistle
itself, and sent
a copy of it to
all those of his own nation (Jews) that were in Media. And when these Jews had understood what piety the king had
towards God, and what kindness he had for Esdras, they were all greatly
pleased; nay, many of them took their effects with them, and came to Babylon,
as very desirous of going down to Jerusalem; but then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country;
wherefore there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Iomans, while the ten tribes are beyond
Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by
numbers.”
So
at the time of Josephus, in 70AD, you clearly have two separate groups within
the 12 tribes. And they are in two different locations! Israel
the Northern Kingdom is well out of the reach of the Romans and I would call
them Group-A. And Group-B is under the thumb of the Romans, 'two tribes in Asia and Europe', and we know that they were the Jews.
Group-A: have the
following features: - 1/ She fled into the wilderness, (from Thayer:
solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited)
place, so it’s not a desert. 2/ She had a
place prepared by God, where she has gone and it’s called “her place”.
3/ A place where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time.
4/ And she is away from the serpent's face. That sounds like God has put
her safely out of reach from the serpent! Consider this, have you ever read
this passage and wondered what is God talking about? 2Sa 7:10 “And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and
will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own,
and move no more. Neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them
any more, as before”. Again this
sounds like God has put Israel the Northern Kingdom safely well out of the
reach of the Romans. As for the “time and times and half a
time”? It is a period of 1260
prophetic days, equal to 1260 years of fulfilled prophecy. May I suggest you go
to one of my other talks entitled: - British Israel - 1.01 [For Beginners].
Group-B: have the
following features: - From Rev 12:17 “they keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” That sounds like Christians to me! But who were
they? From Josephus we can tell that they were the Jews, also called the
Southern Kingdom or the house of Judah, 'two tribes in Asia and Europe subject
to the Romans’. They came back to Judah, as in Ezra 2:1 “the children ..of the captivity .. came again unto Jerusalem and
Judah, every one unto his city”. So that sounds like they are those to whom the dragon “went to make war with the rest of her seed,
who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". Putting all that together, that sounds like they
were the Jews that converted to Christianity under the teaching of Peter and
the disciples. Joining them as Paul said “grafted in’ was a new group: -
Group-C: Paul was reaching out to another group, the
gentiles. So does that help explain the woman of Revelation 12?
How
does the Historicist believer interpret Revelation and the Woman of Rev. 12?
44. The Revelation is three
separate prophecies each covering the past 2000 years, each confirming the
other.
45. Revelation 12 represents
The Pagan Roman Empire.
46. Revelation 13 represents
the papal Roman Empire
47. Revelation 17 onward
represents the fall of the papal Roman Empire
48. The woman of Rev 12
represents the 12 tribes of Israel birthing Christ into the, ‘First born from
the dead’.
49. She’s in two groups;
Israel out of reach of the Romans; and Judah within the realm of the Roman
persecution.
Now
refer Revelation 12:3 “And another sign was seen
in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven
heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his
heads!” Most commentators
recognize the ‘red dragon’ was a symbol of the pagan Roman Empire. [Ref CN by Adam Clarke on Rev 12:3] “But it may be asked why the Spirit of God
should represent the heathen Roman empire as a dragon, …The
answer is as follows; In the eighth chapter of the Prophet Daniel, God has
represented the kingdom of the Greeks by a he-goat, for no other apparent
reason than this, that it was the national military standard of the Grecian
monarchy; we may therefore expect that the pagan Roman empire is
called a Dragon on a similar account. In confirmation of this point it is very
remarkable that the dragon was the principal standard of the Romans
next to the eagle, in the second, third, fourth, and fifth centuries of
the Christian era. Of this we have abundant evidence in the writings of
both heathens and Christians. …The
heathen Roman empire is called a Red dragon; and
accordingly we find from the testimony of ancient writers that the dragon
standards of the Romans were painted red.”
Seven
Heads: Remember in Daniel 7:6
he saw, “a leopard, which ..had four heads..”, and we know this
represented the structure of the Greek Empire divided into four separate
regions. In the history of Rome,
we can see she had seven different forms of government. [Ref CN by Adam
Clarke on Rev 12:3] “Having
seven heads - As the dragon is an emblem of the heathen Roman power, its
heads must denote heathen forms of government. ..These were exactly
seven, and are enumerated by Tacitus (Annal., lib. i., in principio). From this passage it is evident to every
person well acquainted with the Roman history, that the seven forms of
government in the heathen Roman world were: - 1/ The regal power; 2/
The consulate; 3/ The dictatorship; 4/ The decemvirate; 5/
The consular power of the military tribunes; 6/ The triumvirate; and, 7/
The imperial government.” It is singular that commentators in general, in
their citation of this passage, have taken no notice of the triumvirate,
a form of government.”
Also [Ref CN by John
Gill on Rev 12:3], John
Gill mentions ‘seven’ forms of government but he includes ‘popes’. The
analogy from Tacius makes better sense because the seven crowns
were on the ‘the seven heads’, not on the ‘ten horns’, so each of
the heads had regale or imperial power. But during the time of the popes, the
‘Ten Horns’ represented the ten kings of Europe, and those ‘Ten’ had the regale
power
The
Ten Horns: I have spoken about
this earlier under the heading, “Historical View- The Beast Of Daniel 7”.
“Between 167 BC and 30 BC, (just before Christ appeared), Rome gathered in
other nation by conquest. ..[Ref CN by Matthew Henry on Dan 7:7] “the Roman empire, which,
when it was in its glory, comprehended ten kingdoms, Italy, France,
Spain, Germany, Britain, Sarmatia, Pannonia, Asia, Greece, and Egypt”. ‘When it was in its glory’, that means before its fall
in 476AD. So the beast of Rev 12 represents that same period up to 476AD, so the
‘Ten Horns’ represent those ten nations absorbed into the pagan Roman Empire.
Third
Part Of The Stars: Rev 12:4 “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of
heaven, and cast them onto the earth.” There are four points here, they are: - ‘the stars’,
‘cast to earth’, ‘his third’ and ‘the tail’. Let’s first
look at Stars and Cast; they’re obviously not the
literal stars cast down to earth, if so we would be obliterated! [Ref CN by Robert Hawker on Rev 12:1-6] “stars always, when figuratively used in scripture mean, principalities
and powers”. I believe that since
John was observing things in the spirit realm, the stars represent the principalities and powers in the spirit realm. As Paul said in Eph 6:12 “For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.”
Also you have Gabriel’s excuses for being late in, Dan 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and
twenty days..” So logically these
demonic principalities, or stars, rule the
nation that have been ‘given’ to them by Satan, as in Luke 4:6, the
devil said to Jesus “All
this power I will give you”. So if the ‘star’ falls so does the nation it managed. Hence the
expression, ‘cast them onto
the earth’.
Now
the Third and Tail? It would be logical to look for
other passages that use the phrase ‘third’. So here are a couple of
commentaries. [Ref CN by B.W.
Johnson on Rev 12:3-4] “And his tail
drew a third part of the stars. ..We have
found under the, (Revelation), 8th and 9th chapters that the old
Roman world was divided into three parts, that the term third part was
used of these divisions.” also [Ref CN by John
Gill On Revelation 12:4] “the subduing of the
third part of the principalities, states, and kingdoms of the known world,
to the Roman empire, through its great power and strength; which lay in its
tail, in its train of armies which attended it, whereby such a
number of nations were drawn into subjection to it, insomuch that the empire
was called all the world, Luk 2:1;” John
Gill speaks of its tail as a ‘train of
armies’. Look at the history of the four great empires and how they
managed the nations they conquered. The Assyrians,
Babylon’s and the Meds &Persians all seem to conquer and move people
around. Hoping the newly settled people would be grateful, and then peace would
exist. The Greeks tried to expand and incorporate by intermarriage. The Romans
seem to have a belligerent approach and force the conquered to become Roman. So they set up garrison forces from Rome to the frontier to police the
conquered nations. Which is an apt example of a ‘tail’ stretching out behind
them. Rome’s vast army eventually caused it to go bankrupt.
War
In Heaven: Rev 12:7-9 “..there was war in Heaven. Michael and his angels
warring against the dragon. ..the dragon and his angels warred, 8 but
did not prevail. Nor was place found for them in Heaven any more. 9 ..the
..dragon was cast out, the old serpent called Devil, and Satan,
..cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out”.
Question: When do you think this happens, or has it
already happened? Over the years I’ve heard dozens of preachers say something
like, “What a glorious day when Satan eventually gets kicked out of heaven! Why
in future tense? Ferris thinks it references to 476AD when Constantine kicked
out the pagan powers. But think about it, we see here in scripture that Satan
and his angels at some particular time get cast out of Heaven. So
why didn’t God kick him out long ago at the fall, thousands of years ago? In
verse 10, Satan is called the ‘accuser of our brothers’, and we see him in Job
1:6-11, bad mouthing Job, (accusing Job), in front of God. Satan is just like a
District Attorney in the High Court of Heaven. He has all the evidence against
us; telling the final Judge, who is God, we are as guilty as sin! Which we are!
But God still loves us. Rom 5:8 “But God commends His love toward us in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. So why would God put up with him if He CAN
ultimately cast him out? Why wait?
Here’s
a simple example in real life. When you find out that one of your senior
executives is up to no good, what would you do? In my father’s company, at the
senior management level, the General Manager, Sir Elton
Griffin, had a system called ‘the taxi treatment!’ So that there was
no chance of industrial espionage, they would call a taxi. When it arrived, the
GM called the culprit into his office. They were told; “You have 5 minutes
to clear your office and leave the premises!” Dad told me on one occasion,
a taxi arrived, and then someone was called into the Managers office. That
fellow calmly walked out of the Managers office, he gave his secretary some
stuff to type up, and said, “it’s a special occasion for my wife today; she’ll
be here in a few minutes and I am taking her out to celebrate.” So everyone
thought that it wasn’t him who was being dismissed. So the taxi just sat there!
And everyone else in the office went into panic mode, wondering who’s going to
get the sack! The point is you get rid of the villain ASAP.
So
why did God take so long? Well, have you ever read this passage? Rom
11:29 “For the free gifts and calling of God are
without repentance.” God had given
Lucifer an important job. We see this in Eze 28:13-14 “You have been in Eden the garden of God; ..14 You
were the anointed cherub that covers, and I had put you in the
holy height of God where you were.” So God would be going against His own righteousness, to turn around
and take that commission away from Satan. Then we read Rev 12:10 “ ..Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of His Christ.”
It is not until the Messiah turns up with the power and authority to
defeat Satan that there was a change. So my thought is that the war in heaven happened
immediately after Christ had risen from the dead. Michael and his
angels, like a police force with a ‘Warrant Of Arrest’, now had the authority to state the power
of the blood and the testimony of Christ, which Satan
could not refute! Hence Michael and his heavies could round up Satan and his
mob, and BOOT them out of heaven, down to earth! Rev 12:11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because
of the word of their testimony.”
The rest of that verse, “And they did not love their
soul until death”, is in reference
to the earthly Christians who can also claim the “blood and the testimony of
Christ.”
Rev
12:12 "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, ..Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth ..For the Devil came down to you, having great wrath, knowing
that he has but a little time.”
He has but a little time? You might think if he’s been down here for nearly
2000 years, why the term, ‘but a little time? Well, I think from Satan’s
perspective he must have thought he had God over a barrel. All he had to do was
wait till the prophesied Messiah physically appears on earth as a
mere human! Satan can then destroy Him, then things would continue as usual for
eternity! Satan must have thought he knew Gods plans and he knew the
prophecies. But God outwitted him! God sent His own Sinless Son
to willingly die? I don’t think we can possibly imagine the shock and horror
that struck Satan when he realised he now has a dead bloke down in his own back
yard, BUT He is without SIN, Oh NO! I’ve got absolutely nothing against Him to
hold Him down! Now He’s inside my Fortress-Hell and tearing it into tiny little
pieces! Then God plays His ‘Trump-Card’,
and raises The Messiah from the dead! Now The Messiah is not limited as human
nature, but He is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time! So then the rest of
God’s plans are running like a well-oiled machine, unstoppable! He’s been
kicked out of heaven, so Satan must realise that he has, ‘but a little time!’
Let’s
close with the rest of the chapter. Rev 12:13-16 “ ..he persecuted the woman.. 14 ..two wings
of a great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly into the
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and times
and half a time, from the serpent's face. 15 ..the serpent
cast out of his mouth water like a flood after the woman, ..to be carried away
by the river. 16 ..the earth ..swallowed up the river.” What is this ‘two wings of a great eagle’? I have
looked at a few commentaries and they always seem to try to come back to the
idea that the woman represents the church, and how some symbolic wings
divinely protected her during the Pagan Roman persecutions. Which is then a
contradiction with verse 17 “ ..the dragon was enraged
..and went to make war with the rest of her seed." etc. These with the testimony of Jesus are
obviously Christians, and above I called them Group-B. And we know enough from
history about the Persecution
of Christians in the Roman Empire, under the pagan Roman ‘Dragon’.
Christians being feed to the lions, impaling them on post, then setting on fire
to light the streets at night and other such horrors. Also you can find more
info, [Via e-Sword, Ref CN in FoxBM On Chapter 2] “The Ten
Primitive Persecutions: ‘The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67”, and Fox
continues through to the, “The Tenth Persecution, Under Diocletian, A.D. 303” But what about the ‘two wings of a great eagle’?
Two
Wings: Bear with me here please. I have an old book entitled, “The
Post-Captivity Names Of Israel”. By Rev. WM. Pascoe Goard, published
1934. He gives ample proofs that the House of Israel migrated north between the
Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. They were known by different names, one of which
was the Scythians. He
tells you how they got their different names and why, by sighting the Behistun
Rock Inscription, the Rosetta Stone and
the writings of Herodotus etc.
Herodotus visited the region of the Scythians and he describes them as a
nomadic race, living in covered wagons amongst their cattle. Please read these
two commentaries then I’ll give you a short quote from Herodotus and see if it
fits the analogy of, “wings of a great eagle”. [Ref CN by Joseph
Benson On Rev 12:13-17] “As
God said to the children of Israel, (Exo 19:4,) Ye have seen what I did unto
the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings,..” [Ref CN by Albert Barnes On Rev 12:14] “The most
powerful of birds, and among the most rapid in flight. See the notes on Rev 4:7. The meaning here
is, that the woman is represented as prepared for a rapid flight; so
prepared as to be able to outstrip her pursuer, and to reach a place of
safety”.
The
quote from Herodotus: [Ref wiki Scythian
Campaign Of Darius I], for information regarding dates of the
campaign in 513BC. [Ref ACCH],
for a visual of the history. [Ref ‘The
Post-Captivity Names Of Israel’], by Pascoe Goard; starting at the
bottom of page 79. Rev. Goard is quoting from Herodotus: - “Darius was unwise enough to try to overrun
the Scythians. …The Scythians employed their usual tactics. They constantly
outmarched, and retired before Darius and his forces, keeping ever one day’s
march ahead. …At last wearied out, Darius sent messages to the King of the
Scythians, demanding to know why he did not stand and fight, or make peace by
surrender. The Scythian leader replied that such was not his purpose. He did
not retreat because of fear, but to wear out his enemy. But he sent to him an
emissary bearing a bird, a mouse, a frog, a bunch of arrows. This was
interpreted to mean that unless the armies of Darius took to the air like a
bird, tunnelled into the ground like a mouse, or leaped into the water like a
frog, they would never escape the arrows of the Scythians. They had no cities
to defend; no wealth to lose, and no obstacle to a wearing-out conflict, which
would destroy the armies of Darius.”
With
the Scythians being identified as the Group-A of the women Israel, can you now
see the analogy by Barnes of the ‘two wings of a great eagle’, “as prepared for a rapid flight; so prepared
as to be able to outstrip her pursuer.” Also verse 15 “ ..the serpent
cast out of his mouth water like a flood after the woman, ..to be carried away
by the river. :16 ..the earth ..swallowed up the river.” This is true in this case around 513BC, but it is
also true earlier when the Romans tried to expand north and eastward. The
nations between the Roman forces and the Northern Israel-Scythians seem to just
swallow up the Roman forces.
As
regarding the phrase, “where she is nourished
for a time and times and half a time, from the serpent's face.” You need to do a study of things like; ‘the
dispensation period’, ‘the seven times punishment’ of Leviticus 26:18-28’, or
‘the times of the gentiles which is 2520 years’ [Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
on Dan 12:11] “Forty-five years more end in 1867, the end of “the times of the
Gentiles.” See
Lev 26:24, “seven times,”
that is, 7 X 360, or 2520 years”. Or [Ref CN by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Rev 11:2] “The world power’s times never reach the sacred fullness of seven
times three hundred sixty, that is, 2520, though they approach to it in 2300 (Dan 8:14).” Or [Ref CN by Preacher's
Homiletical on Daniel 7:8] “Some students of prophecy see in the term
“times,” &c, the half of the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and
insanity, symbolical of
the time (2520
years) during which the covenant people should be under
the dominion of the Gentile monarchies as the chastisement of their unfaithfulness.”
My thought is, and you can find this in, [Ref CN by
A. J. Ferris in The
Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris page 13] 10-Tribe-Israel was
migrating across northern Europe and found their way into the British Isles by
about 530AD. That was about half way through their Seven-Times punishment. From
that time on they were well protected from Roman and barbarian conflicts. She
was then nourished for a time and times and half a time. Also [Ref ACCH], find ‘721BC’, which
is the date of the last of three deportations of the Israel to Assyria. Add
2520 years brings us to 1800, which was the end of the seven times punishment,
also when the nourishing time should finish. Israel should then start to ‘spread
her wing’; so to speak and come into the blessings that God
had promised them. In accordance with the Crossed Hand Blessing of Gen 48:14-19
“Manasseh to be a great peoples, the USA; and Ephraim's to become a multitude
of nations, the British Commonwealth.”
You can do your own study
as to where when you think the, ‘time of the nourishing’ fits. I believe it is
the Anglo-Saxon people tucked away in Britain for centuries! Because if you
refer to 2 Sam 7:10 KJV “Moreover I will appoint a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of
their own, and move no more; neither shall the
children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime.” If you think
‘Israel’ in that passage is referring to the Jews, then God has failed
dismally! They have been kicked from ‘pilar to post’ for centuries. They have
never had a place of their own till very recently. And they are constantly
afflicted. I don’t think you can apply that to any other location than the
British Isles and the USA. But if you can come up with a better explanation by
all means send me an email.
How
does the Historicist believer interpret The Red Dragon: Rev 12
50. It is called the Red
Dragon because the Roman Army used the painted Red Dragon as their military
standard.
51. Seven Heads represented
the seven forms of government over the history of the Empire.
52. Ten Horns (un-crowned)
represent the 'Ten' kingdoms subject to Rome before 476AD.
53. The Near East represents
the third part of the world that Rome would eventually cover.
54. The stars represent the ruling
powers of those conquered regions.
55. The tail represents the
trail of the Roman resupply and garrisoned forces she set up along her wake.
56. War in Heaven, I believe
Satan was cast out of Heaven immediately after the resurrection.
57. We examined the Two groups
of the Woman in more detail.
58. The First group escaped
the dragon/serpent to a safe place for 3½ times. [They’re possibly the
early Britains]
59. The Second group,
obviously Christians received the anger of the serpent who persecuted them.
NB: The ‘One World Government’ should show up
in this chapter, because we have the antichrist and the ‘Ten Kings’ all
together at the same time! Revelation 13 represents the period of history from
the fall of Imperial Rome, through the rise of the papal Roman Empire to its
peak in 1866. How do we identify in history the start point of this scripture?
Let’s look at Revelation 13:1 “And I stood on the sand of
the sea, and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns. And on its horns were ten crowns,
and on its heads was the name of blasphemy.” It’s a new beast, it comes up out of the sea, and some scholars say
the interpretation is it has risen from amongst the ‘sea’ of people, after
conflict. The clear change is the ‘crowns’, they have moved from the
heads to the horns! So what does that represent in the natural world? The heads
represented the various forms of the Roman government that ruled the empire
over the centuries. Rome’s rulers were, kings, emperors, tribunes, dictators
and so forth, but always based in Rome. But from 476AD onward, as we have seen
from the historical maps the ‘Ten Kings’ of Europe grabbed and divided the
rulership of the western empire. They now had the ‘crowns’ and they now had the
rule. So we can agree that Rev 13 historically starts from about 476AD.
This
is a different beast but a very similar structure so it must still represent
the Roman World. But it is a conglomerate of three; it’s a ‘mixed beasts’?
Rev 13:2 “And the beast which I saw was like
a leopard, and its feet like ..a bear, and its mouth
like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him its power
and its seat and great authority.” [Ref CN by Popular New Testament on Rev 13:2] “..The three animals, the leopard,
the bear, and the lion, some of whose parts it possessed, are the first three
‘great beasts’ of Dan 7:4-6, although they are here introduced in a
different order, and are combined into one. The qualities represented are
the most offensive of their kind, the swift cruel spring of the leopard,
the brutish relentlessness of the bear, and the devouring power of the lion.” The beasts were also
given to Daniel to represent the three powers that were to rule the world in
succession, namely Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece. But also bear in mind that
the Roman Empire by the year 476AD covered those same three regions, so
incorporating those three beasts. I find that quite significant. Then the
dragon gives the ‘mixed beasts’ his power his seat and great authority? We will
get to how that was historical achieved later.
What
indicates the transition from pagan to papal Rome, namely the rise of the papal
power? Rev 13:3 “And I saw one of its heads
as having been slain to death, and its deadly wound was healed.
And all the earth marveled after the beast.” What happened in history to fulfil this verse? You can Google, “the
last Roman Emperor” and you will find he was, “Romulus Augustulus”.
On 4 Sep. 476 he was deposed by Odoacer and exiled from Rome. That
represents the Head, “having been slain to death”; it represented the
final end of the imperial Roman system in the west. The symbolism is that the
governmental head was ‘Lopped off’. Immediately following this we have, ‘and its deadly wound was healed. And all the earth marveled
after the beast.’ What does that
represent? It just so happened only 57 years later we reach the year 533AD.
Earlier we covered what happened that year under the heading, ‘1: -
There Came Up Among Them Another Little Horn’. Let’s recap: - 533
The Decrees of Justinian. A short extract: - "that the elder Rome was the founder
of the laws; so was it not to be questioned that in her was the supremacy
of the pontificate." In the 131st; chap. II, on the ecclesiastical
titles and privileges it states: "We therefore decree that the most
holy Pope of the elder Rome is the first of all the priesthood.”
This
act by Emperor Justinian in the East fulfilled four things. And remember
the pagan Roman Empire was in two parts, the Eastern and Western Empires. The
west collapsed in 476, but the Eastern, the Imperial dragon, was now Christian
but still the old dragon Empire structure, it still existed under Justinian.
Also remember the bit I said I would get back to; verse 2 “..And the dragon
gave him its power and its seat and great authority.”
The deadly wound of the beast of Rev 13 was healed! The west now had a
new figurehead, ‘The POPE”, the head of all the churches. And
this new head received its power, its seat and its authority
directly from the old Eastern “dragon”. The power of the “New Head”
of the beast, the pope, soon became so powerful that the following was
inevitable! It’s no wonder as in verse 2 the western world proclaimed, “..And all the earth marvelled after the beast. :4 “And they
worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they
worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able
to make war with it?”
Worship of the
dragon and the beast means what? The dragon, the old Roman system originally
worshiped false deities. So what would this passage signify as happening in the
western Christian world? [Ref HCC Vol. 3. Ch. 07. p 087] “The first clear traces of the worship
of relics appear in the second century in the church of Antioch, where
the bones of the bishop and martyr Ignatius († 107) were preserved as a
priceless treasure; and in Smyrna, where the half-burnt bones of Polycarp
(† 167) were considered “more precious than the richest jewels and more
tried than gold.” Also [Ref HCC
Vol. 4 Ch. 10 p. 96] “The
Worship of Saints, handed down from the Nicene age, (which stated 325),
was a Christian substitute for heathen idolatry and hero-worship,
and well suited to the taste and antecedents of the barbarian races, but was
equally popular among the cultivated Greeks.” Both the western and the eastern ‘Christian’ empires very quickly
reverted back to false gods, using relics and saints as mediators to reach God.
And we’ve seen earlier from the blasphemous claims of the pope, the western or
Latin Empire soon worshiped the pope. “They indirectly worshiped the dragon!
And they worshiped the beast.”
If
there were a possibility of a ‘One World Government’ in the
Historical interpretation, it would have to be in this period of time in
history. Verse 4 “ …Who is able to make war with it, (the beast)?” The
pope’s eventually had such great
authority and power over the ‘Ten Kings’ of Europe that none in Europe would
dear to challenge him much less think of making war against him. If you as king
didn’t bow to the pope, he would simply tell the inhabitants of your realm, “don’t
pay taxes to your ungodly king!” The reformers tried to stand up to him,
and were horribly manicured, [Ref FoxBM].
Rev 13:5-10 are virtually a recap of what we extensively covered above in, ‘The
Little Horn Dan 7’. So I will just skim through these verses so that it will
jog your memory. Rev 13:5 “..mouth speaking great
things ..and blasphemies ..authority ..to continue forty-two
months. :6 ..blasphemy toward God ..His name ..His tabernacle ..those
dwelling in Heaven. :7 ..given ..to war with the saints ..overcome them
..authority ..over every tribe ..tongue ..nation. :8 ..all ..on ..earth
..worship it, ..not ..written in the Book of Life.. Rev 13:9 If anyone has
an ear, let him hear. :10 He who leads into captivity will go into
captivity. If anyone will kill with the sword, he must be killed by a sword.
Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” As you can see this blasphemous career of the
popes was covered in Daniel chapter 7.
How
should we interpret this? I believe it comes under the category of God
determines the length of time that kingdoms rule. So the antichrist or the
beast, (and they seem to be one and the same now), will rule for a limited time
which is forty- two months or 3½ times or 1260 prophetic days which at ‘a-day-for-a-year’
is 1260 years of fulfilled prophecy. So
when did it start? We covered this earlier under the heading, “9: -They Shall
Be Given Into His Hand Until A Time Times -Half Time.” In that section we
looked at three dates. 533, 538 and 606. And we then looked at the commentary
by A. J. Ferris.
And he showed us that when you add 1260 years to each of those dates you get
some coincidently unique dates! They are: -
· 533 + 1260 = 1793 was start of the French
revolution and the pope lost his greatest supporter, the King of France.
· 538 + 1260 = 1798 was when the French military
general Berthier
took the pope into military custody.
· 606 + 1260 = 1866 was when the pope finally lost
his temporal power, as seen in the Australian News Article.
So
the antichrist reign is limited to 1260 literal years. After 1866 he no longer
has power over the saints of God.
This
I will cover later when we get to Revelation 17. It is a fact of history as we
can see from FoxBM,
that the papal kingdoms at the behest of the popes waged war on various groups,
whom the popes branded as heretics, such as the Hussites, Waldensian,
Huguenots, Albigenses and a host of other poor souls.
How does the Historicist
believer interpret The Ten Horned Beast of Rev 13?
60. Rev 13 represents the
period of history from about 476AD to the end of the papal power in 1866.
61. This new ‘mixed beast’
incorporates the regions of the previous three Empires and their worst
characters.
62. The ‘Lopped’ head and
the new, shows the change from the old Imperial to the new papal head.
63. Emperor Justinian in the
East gave the pope the authority the seat and the power of old Western Rome.
64. They Worshiped the dragon the beast means that both
Empires quickly went back into idolatry.
65. At about this time in
history, 533AD onward is when you could say there was a One World
Government.
66. We found that the papal
power had a limit of 24 months; which seems to have run out as of 1866.
67. The pope makes ‘War With
The Saints And Overcomes Them’, FoxBM
shows ample evidence of this.
We
now have a second beast to think about, this one rises from the earth, not the
sea? Could be some significance, you can check the commentaries yourself if
you’re interested in that. Let’s look at the scriptures. Rev 13:11 “..I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. ..it had two
horns like a lamb ..he spoke like a dragon. :12 ..it
exercises all the authority of the first beast ..causes the
earth ..to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed.” Numerous commentaries
suggest this second beast of Rev 13:11 is also the pope in his
ecclesiastical roll? [Ref CN by Matthew
Henry on Rev 13:11-18] “those that understand the first beast of the secular power of
the papacy take the second to intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers,” I don’t think so, remember this beast is later
called the ‘false prophet’, refer Rev 16:13, Rev 20:10
and Rev 19:20 “And the beast was
taken, and with him the false prophet doing signs before it,” so this second beast is recognized as a separate
being. Refer to Adam Clarke below,
it is very informative.
[Ref CN by Adam Clarke on Rev 13:11] “the beast, here
called another beast, is another Latin empire. This beast is the
spiritual Latin empire, or, in other words, the Romish hierarchy; ..In the time
of Charlemagne the ecclesiastical power was in subjection to the civil, and it
continued to be so for a long time after his death; therefore the beast, whose
deadly wound was healed, ruled over the whole Latin world, both clergy and
laity; these, consequently, constituted but one beast or empire. But the Latin
clergy kept continually gaining more and more influence in the civil affairs of
the empire, and in the tenth century their authority was greatly increased.
In the subsequent centuries the power of the Romish hierarchy ascended even
above that of the emperors, and led into captivity the kings of the whole Latin
world, ..Thus the Romish hierarchy was at length entirely exempted from the
civil power, and constituted another beast, as it became entirely
independent of the secular Latin empire. And this beast ..raised their
authority against that of the secular powers, and in process of time wrested
the superintendence of ecclesiastical affairs from the secular princes.”
Also you can refer to A. J. Ferris and the link to his booklet entitled The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris,
from pages 27-32. He gives you far more detail than I can hope to present to
you here. So this new beast is ‘the army’ of the catholic priesthood. Millions
of them, one in every little hamlet; each gathering information via the
confessional and filtering it back to ‘headquarters’. It was said that
during the Cold War the intelligence network of the Catholic Church far
outstripped that of the CIA. And as for the “two horns like a lamb”,
[Ref CN by A. J. Ferris
from the link above, page 28] “
..since Pope Gregory (598AD) the Archbishops and Bishops of Rome on taking
their vows of implicit obedience to the Papacy have been invested with a pallium
made out of specially blessed lambs wool as the evidence of
their authority. It is remarkable that the Bishop’s mitre used to be cleft from
front to back so that it looked like “two horns” and even still
has that appearance.” You could also
look at the two horns of the new beast, as being two distinct militant
forces within the catholic priesthood. My thought is that the ‘Jesuits’
and ‘the Inquisition priests’ represented the two horns. They were the
driving force behind the will of the pope.
We
now have to figure out fact from fiction, what really happened or what these
verses imply. The superstitious records of the Dark Ages are full
of so called miracles achieved by the ‘false prophet’, the catholic priesthood.
Rev 13:13 “..it does great wonders
..makes fire come down ..:14 ..it deceives those ..on the
earth ..that they should make an image to the beast who had
the wound.” [Ref
The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris
page 28 p2] “Many faked miracles preformed by the priests ..such as
winking, crying and bleeding images of Mary and numerous saints. The priests
were thus looked upon with such awe and reverence that their ex-communications
..were regarded as “fire from heaven” itself.” I hunted through some commentaries for you below
and they are quite enlightening.
[Ref CN by Adam Clarke on Revelation 13:13] “the fire ..the false prophet bringeth ..is
the fiery indignation ..of the Latin empire upon ..those ..who rebel against
his authority. All this has been fulfilled in the Romish hierarchy; the Latin
clergy have denominated ..those that oppose their authority heretics, they
..instituted tribunals to try ..heresy, ..those that would not submit to their
idolatry they ..condemned to ..tortures and deaths. It is said ..he bringeth
fire ..upon the earth; that is to say, he will only try the cause of heresy,
and pass the sentence ..he will not ..execute ..sentence..; the destroying fire
..the ..secular princes and magistrates must execute the sentence of death
upon all that are capitally condemned by the spiritual power.”
[Ref CN by Albert Barnes on Revelation 13:13] “Amidst the multitudes of pretended miracles of the
papacy, it would probably not be difficult to find instances in which the very
thing here described was attempted, in which various devices of pyrotechnics
were shown off as miracles.”
[Ref CN by Joseph Benson on Revelation 13:13-17] “Now miracles,
visions, and revelations, are the mighty boast of the Church of Rome; ..Even fire is pretended to come down from heaven, as in
the case of St Anthony's Fire,
and other instances, cited by Brightman and other writers on the Revelation:
and in solemn excommunications, which are called the thunders of the church, and are performed with the ceremony of casting down burning
torches from on high, as symbols and emblems of fire from heaven. Miracles are thought so necessary, that they are reckoned among the notes
of the Catholic Church. But if these miracles were all real, we learn from
hence what opinion we ought to frame of them; and what then shall we say, if
they are all fictions and counterfeits? They are indeed so far from being any
proofs of the true church, that they are rather a proof of a false one; and, as
we see, the distinguishing mark of antichrist.”
[Ref CN by John
Gill on Revelation 13:13] “this may be understood mystically, of the
pretensions of the Papacy ..of fire, coming down from heaven; or of their
anathemas, curses, and excommunications, at which time burning torches and
candles are cast up, and fall down, as emblems of divine wrath, which
is called cursing men with bell, book, and
candle; or else of the fire of persecution: "from heaven"
..or this may be understood literally; so they tell us, that Pope Zachary, once
on a journey to Ravenna, had in the daytime a cloud to protect him from the
heat, and in the night time armies of fire appeared in the clouds to go
before him; and as Pope Innocent was at Mass, a golden crown was seen,
..on it a dove ..under it a smoking censer ..by them two burning firebrands:
and ..reported of Pope Hildebrand, that ..he could shake his sleeves, and
sparks of fire would come out .. other instances, are taken notice of
by Napier, Brightman, and other writers: ..so ..this is ..done "in the
sight of men" ..seemingly, in their view.”
Let’s
first think about what that means. Let’s look at the scripture. Rev 13:14 “ ..saying to those dwelling on the earth that they should make an
image to the beast who had the wound by a sword and lived.” So he is speaking of the ‘Ten Horn’ beast of Rev
13, the one that had the wound. Some of the scholars say this image refers to
the pope. Symbolically speaking the pope only represented the replacement
‘head’, not the whole beast, (maybe? ..because the pope, or the antichrist, is
later referred to as the beast). The pope’s may have over the years had statues
of themselves made, but none of the statues TALKED as in verse 15! Let’s get
off the idea of a physical statue! But what did the beast represent? The beast
was a spiritual symbol of the Roman government, which functioned around the
Roman senate, with representative from all over the Roman world. You can refer
to the commentaries to see the different views they have. A. J. Ferris,
(Ref The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris),
agrees with that concept that the image represented the ecumenical councils. Albert Barnes is close to this
idea. Joseph Benson
claims it is the pope. Others seem to flounder.
Consider:
What was the Roman Empire like before 476AD. There was a Roman senate and there
were ‘Ten kingdoms’ under Roman jurisdiction as we have seen above. What happened
after the fall of Rome in 476? There
were ‘Ten’ independent kingdoms with no ‘Head’ to control or lead them, so it
was a mass of infighting and land grabs. Once the pope steps in, as ‘Head’
of the churches there was then someone the ‘Ten’ kings could appeal to as an
arbitrator. You can browse through History
of The Christian Church by Philip
Schaff, available in e-Sword; and you will
find many incidence where the pope stepped in to ‘save the day’. The kings of
those days, even if they were Arian Christians, still seem to hold the ‘bishop
of Rome’ in awe! So let’s say the ecumenical or Latin councils represented the
‘image’. Then if you go to ACCH
you will find the various councils are marked with a circle. There was only one
recognised, as happening pre Constantine in 50AD, and it is not referred to as
the ‘First’ council. After Constantine they were a common occurrence; 325, 381,
431 and 451. After the fall in 476, the councils continued, and through these
councils the ‘Beast’ regained her ‘spirit’, by being given the
ability to both, ‘speak and dictate laws’. The next
verses tell you how.
Rev
13:15 “And there was given to it to give a
spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might
both speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the
image of the beast to be killed. :16 And it causes all, both
small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their
right hand, or in their foreheads, :17 even that not
any might buy or sell except those having the mark, or the name
of the beast, or the number of its name.” What is this ‘Mark’ in the right or in the forehead? My darling wife
and I had talked this over, on and off for years. Some time back she went to a
ladies meeting, and that question came up. And mind you this group of
ladies were all Futurist believing ladies. And she said, “Well this mark of the
beast happens in Revelation 13! But before that happens, in Revelation 7:3 God
puts a mark in the forehead of all the Christians! So why bother
looking for the ‘mark of the beast’ now? We should wait until we see all the
Christians with a mark in the forehead first?” The ladies shook their heads in
disbelief, they checked the scriptures, and they all unanimously
agreed, ‘well God’s mark can’t be a physical mark! So why expect the mark
of the beast to be a physical mark?’
Some
people think ‘the Mark’ is a physical mark, a silicon chip or a barcode. And
these days with all the ‘Hoo-Har’ about,
· The ‘Covid-19’
vaccination is used as a delivery for some tracking device or,
· The vaccination changes
your DNA so you are no longer ‘made in the image of God’!
And
because of those and other weird reasons your pastor tells you, “DON’T TAKE THE
VACCINE!” Come on now get real! If the government wants to keep track of you;
then you already have a mobile phone, bankcards and maybe a passport
they can use! And in China they already has a ‘public facial recognition
system’ to scan and monitor the populus. Have you never watched the Jason Bourne
movies? There are many ways you can be tracked. And if you could change your
DNA with a simple injection, the criminal world would have found that out years
ago! So please check the following from Matthew Henry.
[Ref CN by Matthew Henry on Revelation 13:11-18] “It is probable that the mark, the name, and the number of the beast, may all signify the same thing - that they make an open profession
of their subjection and obedience to the papacy, which is receiving
the mark in their forehead, and that they oblige themselves to use
all their interest, power, and endeavour, to promote the papal authority, which
is receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that pope Martin
V. in his bull, added to the council of Constance, prohibits Roman Catholics
from suffering any heretics to dwell in their countries, or to make any
bargains, use any trades, or bear any civil offices, which is a very
clear interpretation of this prophecy.” [Pope Martin V. reigned 1417-31]. But much earlier in
1177 the Third Lateran
Council passed a law, article 27, which meant for those not in
the Church of Rome, You Can Not Buy Or Sell
Ref a copy of ‘The Third Lateran Council,’
article, “27. As St. Leo says, though the discipline of the church should be
satisfied with the judgment of the priest and should not cause the shedding of
blood, yet it is helped by the laws of catholic princes so that people often
seek a salutary remedy when they fear that a corporal punishment will overtake
them. For this reason, since in Gascony and the regions of Albi and Toulouse
and in other places the loathsome heresy of those whom some call
the Cathars, others the Patarenes, others the Publicani, and
others by different names, has grown so strong that they no longer practise
their wickedness in secret, as others do, but proclaim their error publicly and
draw the simple and weak to join them, we declare that they and their
defenders and those who receive them are under anathema, and we forbid under
pain of anathema that anyone should keep or support them in their houses or
lands or should trade with them.” So what does that mean to you
if you don’t believe the sales pitch of the Catholic Church? In other words
they call you a heretic! Therefore; “You cannot go to the town
market, and You Can Not Buy Or Sell”
No.666 The
Beast Number And Name
Rev
13:17 “even that not any might buy or sell except
those having the mark, or the name of the beast, or
the number of its name :18 Here is the wisdom.
Let him having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the
number of a man. And its number is six hundred and sixty-six.” The trick is it’s not meant to be hard to work out
if we ask God to help us. John 16:13 “He will guide
you into all truth.” Rev 13:18 “Here
is the wisdom. Let him having reason”. “Wisdom and
reason” simply put is common senses; it doesn’t meant you need some spiritual
insight. So were do we start? Well Jesus said in Rev 1:8 “I
am the Alpha and Omega”, so He was using the
Greek alphabet. Therefore maybe we should use the Greek alphabet? (But it is
surprising that we can use other languages to do the calculations). Next it is
a ‘mans name’ we should be looking for. John
Gill goes through a list of names then finally came to this. [Ref CN by John
Gill on Revelation 13:18] “but the name "Lateinos"
bids as fair as any, which is mentioned by so ancient a writer as Irenaeus, who
was a hearer of Polycarp, a disciple of John, the writer of this book; now the
numeral value of the letters of this word makes up exactly 666,
thus; λ 30. α 1. τ 300. ε 5. ι 10. ν 50. ο 70. ς 200. in all
666; and it is well known that the church of Rome is called the Latin
Church and the pope of Rome the head of the Latin church, and
his seat is in the Latin empire, and the service of the beast
is in the Latin tongue, and the Bible is kept in that language,
from the reading of the common people:” Lateinos in Greek
is spelt, “ λ α τ ε ι ν ο ς” May I refer you to the link, No.666, you will find a wealth of amazing information on
the subject.
You
can also refer to A. J. Ferris
he says much the same, [Ref The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris
pages 29-31] He says “..while
Western Rome , for contrast, became known as the Latin World, the Latin
nations, and are still so called. Then Pope Vitallian issued a decree
commanding the exclusive use of Latin in all the services of the church,
its prayers and sacraments etc. ..Everything was Latinised in the church so
that, at the lead of the priests, every inhabitant of Western Europe as a
member of the church used Latin and thus willingly received the
characteristic “mark” of the “beast” or Latin world. It is also
significant that Pope Vitallian’s Latinising decree was made exactly 666
years after the birth of Christ.” Ferris then goes on to talk about the Third Lateran Council
as I mentioned above. Also he says, “pope
Alexander III, (1184) passed a law forbidding people to exercise commerce with
the Waldenses and Albigenses in “selling or buying”, and likewise at the
Constance Council, 1414.”
Others have come to the same conclusion! Refer Albert Barnes, Joseph Benson, Adam Clarke and [Ref CN by B.W.
Johnson on Revelation 13:18] “Let us try the latter method: 30=L, 1=a, 300-t,
5=e, 10=i, 50=n, 70=o, 200=s. 666=Lateinos. And what is this name? The number
of a man; the Greek method of spelling the name of Latinus, the reputed founder
of the Latin race. The Romans were a Latin race and spoke the Latin
language. The Romish Church is continually officially called the Latin
Church, to distinguish it from the Greek Church, the other branch of the
great ancient schism; the Catholic sacred books are written in the Latin
tongue; the worship is conducted in every country in the Latin alone,
and when a Catholic council convenes, all its conferences are conducted in the
tongue of the ancient Latins. There is, then, a Latin Church,
whose official and sacred speech is the Latin language, which has for
its seat the ancient Latin capital. That Church is the great Apostate
Church, upon whose head the names of blasphemy have been written, which has
claimed universal dominion upon the earth, and has slain the saints of the Most
High. Its name is the number of the beast, and that name, Lateinos, the
name or number of a man, is 666. It does not destroy the force of this
that these numerals and letters can be so combined as to spell out other names.
This name is one that at once points to a power which has displayed every
mark which is assigned to the beast.”
How does the Historicist
believer interpret The Two Horned Beast of Rev 13?
68. It would seem it is a
separate beast from the Ten Horned beast, some say it is the Catholic
priesthood.
69. It is said to be like a
lamb with two horns, catholic priests have lamb’s wool ‘palliums’ and a two
horned hat!
70. It could also be a
reference to the two lethal arms of the church, the Jesuits and the
Inquisition.
71. Wonders and Fire; there
are many examples of false miracles, and man-made fire is often part of them.
72. An ‘image’, would be
insignificant if it were a statue; it most accurately fits the form of the
Latin councils.
73. The 666 must be
associated with a man’s name, Lateinos in Greek fits the bill very well.
74. They must have Mark in
forehead/right hand. Not a Physical mark, likely a symbolic of belief or
acceptance.
75. Lateinos, or Latin is the ‘Trade Mark’ of the Latin
Church, Empire, Tongue, papal seat, and everything about it!
Revelation
chapter 17 covers the same period as ch.13 with the extension showing the final
downfall of the Latin Empire. How do we work out the start point? In Rev 17:8 John
see the beast representing the Roman or Latin Empire, and this verse sets the
time in John’s vision with these words. The beast that you saw ‘was’,
past tense, ‘is not’, present tense, ‘is about to’,
future tense. So the period of history this prophecy is talking about must
start just after 476 AD. Because at that time in history, the Western Roman
Empire had been in existence; then in post 476AD it is not
in existence; then later it is about to come into existence as
the papal or Latin Empire. Now lets find the finish date. We have in Rev 17:16
these words, which sets the time mark, which we should understand in our time
and generation. Rev 17:16 “The
ten kings attack the harlot and burn her”. Which we can see has happened
in our resent history. The ‘Ten’ kingdoms of Europe turned against the Catholic
Church and destroyed her, starting in the year 1789 Bastille
Day, to as late as 1945, the end of World War II. So we are
basically looking at the history of the Latin Empire through to the decline and
final downfall of the Latin Empire. The angel said much the same thing to John
in a very concise verse 1, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the
great harlot sitting on many waters,”
We’ve
covered this in the Futurist view; let’s just do a quick recap. Rev 17:3 “..I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, filled with
names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. :4
..the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet. And she was gilded
with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a
golden cup ..full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. :5
..on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. :6 ..I saw the
woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the
martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling.” In other translations it says John’s reaction was;
‘wonder, admiration, amazement, surprise, astonished, but not horrified. It’s
more like; Wow what is this? He doesn’t comprehend it! So please don’t feel like you’re the only one
who can’t understand it. The angel could see John’s reaction with the vision so
he explains it for him (and to us). Rev
17:7 “..Why did you marvel? I will tell you the
mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, that has the
seven heads and ten horns.” So it is a Mystery!
And the angel goes through it all again and explains it to him. So in turn we
can work through it step by step.
First
what is the symbolism in that? Remember this comment above in the Futurist
View, [Ref CN by David Guzik
on Rev 17:12-15] “There
is little doubt of the credentials of the EEC to claim itself a successor to
the ancient Roman Empire. In the spiritual dynamic of things, it’s no
accident that on the back of the Eurodollar coin is a woman riding a
multi-headed beast”. Did you notice
that the earlier coin I found, (with all the added notes supplied by someone
else), was not a “multi-headed beast”? Now I hope the rest
doesn’t seem like a coin catalogue. But coins are a unique way of capturing
history.
Well, I searched
the Internet on and off for weeks, looking for “a Euro coin” as
described by Guzik, with a woman riding a “multi-headed”
beast. I couldn’t find any Euro coin of that description. (If you can find
such a Euro coin please email me). What you can find is the typical, ‘woman
riding a bull’. And why is that logo so typical you might ask? [Ref
link Europa
And The Bull], also [Ref Britannica] “Where-Does-The-Name-Europe-Come-From”,
“In the best-known
version of the Europa myth, Europa—the daughter either of Phoenix or
of Agenor, king of Phoenicia—was
abducted by Zeus, who had disguised himself as a white bull. Zeus
spirited her away from Phoenicia to Crete, where she bore him
three sons: Minos,
Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon.
No one knows for sure the origin of Europe’s name, but it certainly stuck.” Above is the: -
Greece
2 euros 2003 - Europa abducted by Zeus, Refer aboveà[Slide#11]
I
also found the Italian commemorative coin the, 
COSTITUZIONE
EUROPEA, to the right; Referà[Slide#12].
“Feature: 1st
anniversary of the signing of the European Constitution. Description: The
centre of the coin features Europa and the bull, with Europa
holding a pen and the text of the European Constitution. To the upper left
..the mintmark ‘R’. ..initials of engraver ..‘MCC’, ..lower left edge ..The
year ..top right ..the monogram of the Italian Republic, ‘RI’. The words ‘COSTITUZIONE
EUROPEA’ ..twelve stars are depicted on ..the outer ring. - Issuing volume: 18
million coins -Issuing date: October 2005”. But it’s just a coin! You have to have a
wild imagination to think something ominous about this design! So the image of
a woman riding a bull is a well know symbol used as a
mythological reference to Europe.
But what I did find was this remarkable piece of
history. There is a coin depicting “a woman riding a “multi-headed”
beast”, and it is recognised in the world of ‘Numismatics’, (coin
collecting), as ‘The Whore of Babylon’ Referà[Slide#13] Refer ‘Ernst of
Holstein-Schaumburg 1601-1622’. I wont go into to much of the description,
briefly: - “The Whore of
Babylon, Triton XXI, Lot: 1056. Estimate $20000. GERMANY,
Schaumburg-Pinneberg (Grafschaft). Ernst. 1601-1622. ..Struck
1618-1620. ..the Whore of Babylon seated right, holding raised chalice, on
seven headed beast with one head severed, standing on city gate..etc.” “The Whore Of Babylon - religious tolerance
prior to the thirty years war. Image care of ‘cionsweekly.”
[Ref
link Triton XXI, Lot: 1056. GERMANY, Schaumburg-Pinneberg
(Grafschaft). Ernst. 1601-1622] “The
Thirty Years' War” was one of the longest and most destructive of
European conflicts and involved most of the states of continental Europe. A
religious war, it divided the continent between Roman Catholic
and Protestant, with both sides viewing the conflict in specifically
religious terms. Such views were widely represented on the coinage of the
time, thereby conveying the sense of apocalypse felt by the inhabitants.
These images became a convenient shorthand for villifying the opposition
and, in this case, the Whore of Babylon was meant to represent the Papacy.
The image on this halbtaler derives from Revelation 17:3-4, “and I saw a
woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven
heads and ten horns. And the woman was 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 of her fornication” Can you imagine fighting a war for 30 years.
We seem to have conveniently forgotten the history of the share hatred between
Roman Catholics and Protestants!
So
the ‘Whore of Babylon’ coin is telling us quite clearly that the
Protestants of the 1600’s knew exactly where they were in biblical history.
Remember earlier, under the heading, ‘The Red Dragon: Rev 12’. I quoted from,
[Ref CN by Adam Clarke on Rev
12:3], and he talked about, that in Daniel chapter 8, God used the he-goat,
probably because it was the military standard of the Grecian monarchy. Then he
says that the Red Dragon was the principal standard of the Roman Army.
So what does a woman riding a beast represent in the world of mythology?
It is recognised as Europe. So isn’t God clever to use an existing symbol, of a
woman riding a beast, with a few added ‘tweaks’ like seven heads and ‘Ten’
horns to represent the Latin World? With which we can clearly see, it refers to
Europe.
For
the apparel of the whore we go to verse 4, which clearly shows you the gaudy
extravagant paraphernalia associated with this whore. The woman is decked with “purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold
and precious stones and pearls having a golden cup in her hand”. All of which are well know as the mark of the
papacy and the upper entourage of the Catholic Church. We see the purple and
scarlet robes of the clergy of Rome, the gold and precious stones used to
decorate the many ornaments of the church and statues of Mary etc. But the cup
is a spiritual reference. The cup was full of the abominations and
filthiness of her fornication. We’ve said before that fornication is
associated with idolatry. The name on her forehead is a great study but you can
look into that yourself, (NB: see the note below from AJFerris).
But again the name on her forehead, typifies the Church of Rome. And in
reference to her atrocities committed on the true Christian reformers; “..I saw
the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jesus.” But the total number of Christians martyred under
catholic persecution would be nothing short of a “wild guess”.
[Ref
CN by AJFerris
on The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris,
page 36] “It is also interesting to note that the Council of Trent (1545)
required all Catholic priests to acknowledge as a profession of faith that “The
Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church is the MOTHER and mistress of all
churches” also on the same page; “What other organization does history
record EXCEPT the Church of Rome that has to its shame been the direct cause of
the martyrdom of 50,000,000 Christians saints because they would not conform to
her idolatry and unscriptural doctrines?” NB: This number is only
speaking of martyrs under the Catholic Church. I have heard figures like 50 to
150 million. And that doesn’t include the millions slaughtered under communist
USSR and Chine. And the number is just going upward. If we jump to the bottom
of the chapter we see more features about the woman; Rev 17:15 “ ..The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits are peoples and
multitudes and nations and tongues, …:18 And the woman whom you saw
is the great city which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.” Another indication she is the Church of Rome, Rome
was “the great city that ruled over the kings of the earth” and every nation
and tongue.
Back
to the angels description, this time he is talking about “the Beast”.
Rev 17:8 “The beast that you saw was,
and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss
and go into perdition.”
We covered this at the start; the beast of Rev. 17 is the Latin Roman Empire.
In the various prophecies, “the Beast or Dragon” has always appeared in
a similar arrangement with seven heads and ten horns. As in Dan 7:5-23, Rev
11:7, Rev 12:3-17, Rev 13:1-18 and here in Rev 17. Also seen in Rev 14, 15, 16,
17, 19 and 20. It always represents the Roman Empire either pagan or Latin. Now
John is observing this vision in about 90AD. But it seems as though the angel
is speaking from the perspective of around 476AD onward? Because he says that
the ‘beast’ was a powerful empire. But from the angel’s time
frame, as of 476AD Rome is not a major city or power any more
after the barbarian incursions, which decimated Rome and expelled the Emperor. But
he is telling John, that the beast, Rome, is about to ascend and rise to power
again. Then it will ultimately go into perdition G684, meaning in Strong’s, “ruin or loss
(physical, spiritual or eternal):” And in the later
chapters, Rome seems to be totally and physically obliterated. The rest of the
verse shows the whole world will marvel at the rise of Rome to its former
glory. Rev 17:8 “And those dwelling on the earth will
marvel, those whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the
foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was,
and is not, and yet is.”
Now
in these verses the angel gives us a mind-teasing riddle, but he is always
talking about “the Heads”. Rev 17:9 “And here is
the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains, on which the woman sits. :10 And there are seven
kings; five have fallen, and one is, and the
other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a
short time. :11 And the beast that was, and is not,
even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into
perdition.” The seven heads
are symbolised in the following way. As we have said before the seven heads
represent seven forms of the Roman government, and they were always based in
Rome. Rome was know in ancient poetry etc. as “the city on seven hills”
or mountains. And the seven mountains is where “the woman sits”, meaning she is
seated in Rome. Five have fallen? If we go to history and the
commentaries we can try to make sense of this. Some use the analogy that the
five fallen refers to “Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, Persia, and
Greece”. This makes little sense because their own unique beasts, lion, bear,
leopard etc. represented each of these empires. And the “Beast or Dragon” is
Rome, so how can the heads represent those previous empires? Others try to find
seven individual kings? That again makes little sense because the Roman Beast
in all the visions, is depicted, as having seven heads over it’s whole history
not seven individual kings.
There
are other ideas but I think the closest analogy is from John Gill and Joseph Benson. [Ref CN by Joseph Benson on Revelation 17:8-14] “Five of these forms of government
are already past; and one is — The sixth is now subsisting. The five fallen
are kings,
and consuls, and dictators, and decemvirs,
and military tribunes with consular authority; as they
are enumerated and distinguished by the two greatest Roman historians, Livy and
Tacitus. The sixth is the power of the Cesars
or emperors, which was subsisting at the time of the vision.”
But they go off track and miss the seventh form of government. I
believe A. J. Ferris
has the best analogy. [Ref CN by AJFerris on The Book of Revelation Pt 2
Ferris, page 40] “It is easy to locate
the seventh “head” in Roman history since in 284 A.D., DIOCLETIAN as a DESPOTIC
emperor introduced an entirely new form of government in which the Senate,
etc., were ignored. Also Diocletian created three other rulers who along with
himself ruled over the Empire in four divisions, a unique government. Another
point which proves conclusively that Diocletian and his associates from 284 to
313, constituted the seventh and last “head” of Pagan Rome, is that Diocletian
was the last emperor to be deified, …We note that this seventh head thus ruled
only 29 years, a “short space,” at the end of which it
received a deadly wound as we saw foretold in Rev. 13-3,” This unique form
of government was called a Tetrarchy or a Triumvirate, and not mentioned by
Gill or Benson.
The rest of the riddle;
[Ref CN by AJFerris on The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris,
page 40] “Thus in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D., the Roman earth
became “the beast that is not.” However, the deadly wound was to be
healed and the seventh head grow again to rule the ten kingdoms of the “beast”
of Rev. 13. thus we read in Rev 17:11 “the beast that was, and is not, is
become the EIGHTH (head), and is of the seven, and goes into
perdition.” In other words the restored head of the ten-horned beast of
Rev. 13 would be the eighth succeeding government over the Roman earth, or from
another point of view the seventh head grown again.” Another key issue to
take note is that the idolatrous Roman Empire was represented as the beast with
the heads. When Constantine came to power in 313AD the empire ceased to be
idolatrous, it became truly Christian for a short time. So
during the time of the Christian Emperors the beast could be described as, “is
not in existence” The eighth head, the eighth form of government, that rose up
was the papacy, which dragged the Latin Empire back into idolatry.
Now
let’s look at the ‘Ten’ European Kings. Rev 17:12 “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no
kingdom yet, but will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.” Remember the time frame from which the angel is
speaking! Around 476AD the ‘Ten’ kings have received no kingdom yet,
because in 476AD they have not appeared in history as yet. And we have
talked about they receive authority for “one hour” meaning one
and the same time or during the same time with the beast.
Historically we know the power the pope had over the kings of Europe. He reserved
the right to depose or raise kings at his whim! Rev 17:13 “These have one mind ..they will give their power and authority
to the beast. :14 These will make war with the Lamb
..Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those
with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones.” History will show us that at the popes biding wars
were waged for any number of reasons. The Thirty Year War mentioned above is
just one example. “War with the Lamb”; the papal armies did overcome the
reformers, (the Lamb), on the continent and effectively wiped out all
resistance to papal authority by the year 1514. But I have cover this in
another talk entitled, CHURCH HISTORY Part 3 -:- [Who Were The
Reformers], under the heading, “1517 THE TWO WITNESSES”, you
will find it an interesting read. In short during the
Fifth Lateran Council in 1514, Rome concluded she had stoped all heresy! Only
to find 3½ “days” (i.e. years), later in 1517 Martin Luther came on the seen and the Reformation fired up
earnest again, and it was the turning point in history when the “lambs forces”
began to overcome the papal kingdoms.
The
Lamb will overcome them! This sounds
great but where does it fit into history? Remember I said that Britain was the
‘safe house’ for the reformers? Britain broke away from the Church of Rome at
the time of King Henry VIII, and in 1534 he was excommunicated from the Church
of Rome. After his death Queen “Bloody Mary” came to power and she ruthlessly
tried to drag England back to the “bosom of the Pope”. This only served to
alienate the people of England from the Church of Rome. After a short reign
Mary died and Elizabeth came to power. Then some political ‘checks and
balances’ were slowly imbedded into the English constitution to lock in a guaranteed
Protestant monarchy. This became a thorn in the side for the papacy. So
throughout history the pope tried to topple the English thrown several times.
We have the Spanish Armada,
in which the Lord blew with His wind and dashed the armada against the coasts
of Britain and pushed the fleet anticlockwise all the way around Britain and
back to Spain. Then the English civil war lead by Oliver Cromwell,
against Charles I, who being married to a catholic, which raised
possible suspicion in relation to the pope. We also have the Anglo-Span Wars and Anglo-French Wars.
Then you could say finally we have the British and French battles ending in
1815 with the Battle
of Waterloo. But 1789 France was no longer listening to the pope by that
time.
It is better to describe it this way; just try this
idea please. Look at Daniel chapter 2 and try to think of the Stone
is Anglo-Saxon-Israel, lets call them [Israel]. She went into
her captivity in three waves. They came out of their 7 times punishment in
waves. With Manasseh first in 1776 (America), followed by Ephraim (Britain) in
1800 when she expanded her Empire. The Stone [Israel] hit the
statue on the feet first, hitting the ‘Ten Toes’, (the kingdoms of Europe),
starting roughly in 1534 when Henry VIII broke away from idolatrous catholic
rule. Ever since [Israel] has been fighting the ‘Ten Toes’ and
the rest of the statue! She has over the last few centuries fort the Spanish
and the French. Then in WWI Germany; and Italy the (legs of Iron) in WWII. She
has expanded across to the east, fighting in the Sudan, (the Arms of Silver),
in the late 1800’s. Until she has in the past few decades been fighting in the
area of Bagdad (The Head of Gold). It fits to my way of thinking! And as I said
God calls [Israel] His ‘Battle-Axe’ in Jer 51:19, and
it is an unconditional promise, whether [Israel] is righteous or
not. And what is God employing [Israel] to achieve? He is trying to bring in
righteous governments around the world. First getting rid of dictators and
terrorists, and trying to set up democratic elections in which the people of
liberated countries can hopefully have a better life. And we [Israel]
sometimes get it wrong. But ultimately ‘the Lamb has or is overcoming them’.
The following chart entitled, ‘The
Rise And Fall Of Gentile Kingdoms’, Refer [Slide#14], should shed some light on my theory for you. A.
J. Ferris produced numerous
versions of this type of chart. He often tried to extrapolate into the future,
and over the years some of his work has proven to be quite fruitless. I am not
trying to predict the future as he did. But when you look at Israel and Judah,
it is uncanny how the 2520 years has paned out in history for them. Here is a
spine chilling correlation for you. Dan 3:16 Shadrach,
Meshach, Abednego and the fiery furnace story. In my old KJV it has a centre
reference collum with the date at the top of the collum. The start of chapter 3
has the centre date of 580BC! What happens if we add 2520 years to 580BC? An
easy way to workout these dates is like this. Remember there is ‘no year zero’!
So when working forward, BC to AD (increasing), you add one year. Working
backwards AD to BC (decreasing), you subtract one year. So BC to AD, you can
add 1 to 2520 for a start. Then do the maths like so, 2521-580=1941. What
happened in 1941?
This really is a strange
coincident of numbers. [Ref wiki Final Solution -
cite], “In 1941, wrote Raul Hilberg,
in the first phase of the mass murder of Jews, the mobile killing units began to
pursue their victims across occupied eastern territories". Then under
the heading, ‘Historiographic debate’ you will find, “..Hilberg
gives an estimate of 5.1 million as the total number of Jews killed. He
breaks this figure down into three categories: Ghettoization and general
privation: over 800,000; open-air shootings: over 1,300,000; extermination
camps: up to 3,000,000.[26]”.
Now compare that with the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego story, “3” lads
went into the ‘fiery furnace’, then add the Seven Times, that is 2520 years
later we have 3,000.000. Jews incinerated! WOW!
To help you make sense of this, I have given you
the chart below, also with a list of references to verify the dates.
975BC
[Ref JUssher] Jeroboam took Israel into idolatry 1Ki 12:28.
“In 1547 the 9 year old King Edward VI broke from catholic idolatry.
‘The Book of Common Prayer’, made English the language of the English Church”
[HYY page 188]
740-722BC[Ref
JUssher]
& [Ref wiki
Assyrian Captivity] The House of Israel, (Nth Kingdom); The
captivities began in approximately 740 BCE,
(1 Ch 5:26), (2 Ki 15:29). In 722
BCE, Samaria, was finally taken by Sargon II after
a 3-year siege
1781
[Ref wiki American
Revolution] “was between 1765 and 1783. The Americans defeated the British in
the American
Revolutionary War (1775–1783), gaining independence from
the British Crown establishing
the United States of
America. -740+2521=1781 [Ref
HYY page 270] “General Lord Cornwallis surrenders to Gorge Washington” (Manasseh)
Freed
1800
[Ref Acts of Union
1800] ‘The Acts of Union 1800 create the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
-722+2521=1799
[Ref HYY page 284] in 1800 the bill “The Act of Union” start of British
Commonwealth (Ephraim) Freed
605-571BC [Ref
Babylonian
Captivity] “After the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, which led to
another siege with exile to Babylonia of King Jeconiah, and many others; a
later deportation .. dated to 597 BCE for the first, others at 587/586
BCE, and 582/581 BCE”.
Also 571BC [Ref JUssher].
-605+2521=1916. 1917
was the Balfour
Declaration. [Ref History
of Israel], then search for the word ‘return’, to see the huge immigration
numbers between 1917 and 1950.
-571+2521=1950. Then
Israel passed the Law of Return in 1950 so
any Jew can return to Israel.
533 & 606AD.
We have already discussed the power given to the pope on those dates. And his
reign of 1260 years.
533+1260=1798
[Ref Napoleon
and the Catholic Church] “General Berthier marched to
Rome, entered it unopposed on 10 February 1798 and,
proclaiming a Roman Republic, demanded of the Pope the renunciation
of his temporal power.
606+1260=1866 and we have seen the news article about
the popes loss of Temporal
1917
Was also a major turning point for Islam. The Turks lost Jerusalem and
continued down hill for the next 20 years. Refer above under the heading, ‘Chart Showing The 1260, 1290 and
1335 Days: Dan 12’. Refer above to [Slide#9]
Rev
17:16 “and the ten horns which you saw on
the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and
naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. :17 For
God gave into their hearts to do His mind, and to act with one mind, and
to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words of God will be fulfilled.” We now come to the point in history where the
Catholic kingdoms suddenly do a back flip and turn against the church. As I
said at the start of this chapter, that started to happen in 1789 on Bastille
Day. And it has been ongoing for over one hundred years. The
catholic monarchies of Europe have been crumbling dew to bankruptcy, corruption
or wars. And the Church of Rome has received a bloody nose throughout the whole
affair. Have you ever heard the phrase, “A disgruntled catholic make the best
communist”. For a brief coverage of the latter day destruction of the Catholic
Church, [Ref CN by AJFerris
on The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris,
pages 80-85]. And we know what Nazi Germany did to the Churches in throughout
Europe during WWII, with particular note of what happened in Poland and the
Netherlands etc. And that brings you to the end of Revelation chapter 17. It
wasn’t that hard to follow after all was it now?
How does the Historicist believer interpret The
Harlot and the Beast Rev 17?
76.
We established the
prophecy starts post 476AD and finishes about post 1945
77. We acknowledged the
gaudy trappings of the whore are symbolic.
78. We found a real ‘Whore
Of Babylon’ coin. Minted 1618+ referring to the 30 year war. So coins tell
history.
79. We saw the legend of
‘Europa & The Bull’ was a close match to the ‘Whore On The Multi-Headed
Beast’
80. She was drunk with the
vast history of bloody persecutions of the saints
81. We discovered the number
of martyrs is as high as 50,000,000, but modern figures must be much higher.
82. We studied the ‘was/is
not/about to’, meaning the pope fills the position of the eighth head and is of
the seven.
83. ‘The Lamb’, the true
church under God has been a driving force to bring fight the ‘Ten kingdoms’
84. The Ten horns turn
against the whore happened as of 1789 and continued through to present day.
Babylon
is the latest name for the Church of Rome. Here is an interesting thought for
you. From the historical point of view Revelation chapters 18 onward are all
still basically in the future. Also the Futurist view thinks the rapture is
about to take us any day now. And when it does they think the Church of Rome
will go into the “Great Apostasy”. So the two views, the Futurist and the
Historical views would tend to happily agree with each other’s interpretation
from here onward. Simply because both views see these chapters as still in the
future. But we can have a quick look at them for you anyway. Revelation 18
starts with, “And after these things I
saw…”. This gives you a
very rough estimate of the start date of the prophecy. It is after the ‘Ten’
kingdoms of Europe have been devouring the harlot, (the Church of Rome). So it
could still be present day! In that catholic Spain in the 1930’s turned
her vengeance on the Church of Rome, which could double. Currently ‘Babylon’
or Rome is still in tact, but the pope has no power in comparison to his
earlier years. And he will never get that back because his prophesied reign of
42 months is finished as of 1866. John then continues with the rest.
Rev
18:1 “ ..I saw another angel come down from
Heaven, having great authority ..earth was lighted ..from his glory. :2
..he cried ..saying, Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen!
..it has become ..place of demons ..prison of every unclean spirit ..every
unclean bird :3 because of the wine ..of her fornication ..all ..nations
have drunk ..the kings ..committed fornication with her. ..merchants ..became
rich from ..her luxury.” Did you notice
the wording? ‘Has fallen’ sounds like the angel is speaking
past tense, but from what perspective of time, for us in our time? We know
that the later devastation described here in this chapter has not come as yet
so it must still be in the future for us. Rev 18:4 “ ..I heard
another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people,
that you may not be partakers of her sins, and that you may not
receive of her plagues.”
I would say this calling from God has been going on for centuries since, even
before the Reformation in the 1500’s. Also with latter day revivals one after
the other reaching out to those caught in the web of the Catholic Church
calling them to come out of her. The pope often had to go to the old
predominantly catholic nations to try to stem the rot in the Catholic Church
that is happen because people are being evangelised and “coming out of her”.
Some
of this could be in our past hundred years. As I said above; “For a
brief coverage of the latter day destruction of the Catholic Church, [Ref CN by
AJFerris
on The Book of Revelation Pt 2 Ferris,
pages 80-85]” Ferris describes a lot of the destruction of the catholic nations
in this same manure, “pay her double for what she has done to the reformers and
the true church”. Rev 18:5 “..her sins joined together,
even up to Heaven ..God ..remembered her unjust deeds. :6 Reward
her as she has rewarded you ..double to her ..according to
her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix double to her. :7
As much as she has glorified herself ..lived in luxury, so much torment and
sorrow give her. ..she says ..I sit as a queen ..I am not a widow ..do not
see mourning.. :8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day,
death and mourning and famine. ..she will be consumed with fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is strong.” One interesting line was, “Reward her as she has rewarded you”?
Who is doing the rewarding? It sounds like the saints of God are being given a
chance at payback? Which could well be interpreted as the outcome of WWII and
the vast destruction of Europe. The rest sounds like instantaneous devastation,
it will come in one day and she will be consumed with fire. In
the Futurist view I said it sounds like an atomic blast. And in the scheme of
things in the politics of Europe, if Islam is starting to progressively take
holed of Europe, it could be that to put a stop to the pope and Christianity,
that some Muslim extremists simply drop a bomb on the pope while he is sitting
comfortably at home in the Vatican?
We
can brief this down considerably, but you should have a read of the whole
chapter to get a fuller understanding of the wealth of Babylon and her
punishment. Rev 18:9 “ ..the kings of the
earth who ..committed fornication ..lived in luxury with her
..weep ..and ..wail over her when they see ..her
burning :10 standing afar off for fear of her torment ..For
in one hour your judgment came.” Again
it sounds like a possible atomic blast. Then verses 11-14 gives a long list of
the good that Babylon traded in to make her rich. And she is now no more!
Rev
18:15 “The merchants of these things ..stand
afar off because of the fear of her torment, weeping and
mourning :16 ..saying, Woe! Woe ..the great city..:17 ..in
one hour such great riches was desolated ..as many as work the sea, stood
afar off. :18 ..they cried out.. :19 ..For in one
hour she was ruined. :20 Rejoice over her, Heaven, and
the holy apostles, and the prophets, since God judged your judgment on her. :21 one
strong angel took up a ..great millstone ..threw it into the sea, saying ..Babylon,
will be thrown down and not at all will be found any more. :22 ..no
more ..not ..any more ..never more :23 ..never more ..never more .. For
your merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by your sorceries
all nations were deceived. :24 And in her was found the blood
of prophets, and of saints, and of all those who were slain
on the earth.”
How does the Historicist believer interpret The
Fall of Babylon Rev 18?
85. The beast is now known
by a new name Babylon, a reflection of ancient Babylon
86. The start date could be
the early 1800’s or 1940’s WWII. And the finish date is still future.
87. The Length of the
prophecy seems short and he angel speaks in past tense, “Has fallen”
88. A strong warning “Come
out of her, My people”, a call that has been ringing out for hundreds
of years!
89. The destruction is
described in much detail, but it seems to happen very quickly.
90. The lost wealth and
riches are described, and the merchants weep and wail over her.
91. Often a description of
standing afar of from fear of getting to close. Is it nuclear or volcanic
destruction?
This entire chapter is
defiantly still in our future! It is pretty much self-explanatory. But it is of
interest to see the final out come of the Beast, the false prophet and the
‘Ten’ kings. Like I said before it’s great to read the end of the book first.
The chapter is in three parts, ‘Rejoicing in Heaven’, ‘The Marriage Supper of
the Lamb’ and ‘The Rider on a White Horse’, who is Christ at his Second Advent
coming to destroy the wicked at the battle of Armageddon.
Rev
19:1 “ ..I heard a great sound ..in Heaven ..Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and honor and the power to the Lord our God! :2 ..He
has judged the great harlot who defiled the earth with her fornication,
and He has avenged the blood of His servants out of her hand. :3 ..her
smoke rose up forever and ever. :4 ..the twenty-four elders
..the four living creatures ..worshiped God ..saying, Amen!
Hallelujah! :5 ..a voice ..saying, Praise our God, all His servants
..the small and great.”
Rev
19:6 “ ..I heard ..the sound ..a ..multitude ..saying,
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns! :7 ..the marriage of
the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. :8 ..to her was
granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine
linen is the righteousness of the saints. :9 ..Blessed are those who
have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. :10 ..he said to me
..Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Interesting thought for you here. Is the “wife”
Israel or the church? I always thought that Israel was the ‘wife’ of Jehovah.
And God eventually reinstates her as his ‘wife’. But the church is the bride of
Christ! So is this a double wedding? You can look into that yourself; I think
you will find it an interesting study.
Rev
19:11 “ ..Heaven opened ..behold, a white horse! And He
sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and
makes war. :12 ..His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head
many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except
Himself. :13 ..clothed in a garment dipped in blood ..His name is
called The Word of God. :14 ..the armies in Heaven followed Him :15
..He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty
God. :16 ..on His garment, and on His thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. :17 ..I saw one angel ..he cried with a
great voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come and gather
together to the supper of the great God, :18 so that you may
eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of strong
ones, and the flesh of horses, and those sitting on them, and the flesh of all,
both free and slave, both small and great. :19 ..I saw the
beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, being gathered to make war
against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army. :20 ..the
beast was taken, and with him the false prophet .. and those who had
worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire burning
with brimstone. :21 ..the rest were slain by the sword of Him
who sat on the horse ..And all the birds were filled from their flesh.” I have a feeling this feast for all the birds of
the air, is the ‘marriage supper’. You could do a comparison with Ezekiel and
Joel
How does the Historicist
interpret – Rejoicing in Heaven – Supper of the Lamb - Rider On White Horse Rev
19?
92. Rejoicing in Heaven,
Salvation glory honour and power to the Lord our God
93. Judgment on the harlot
is final and her smoke rose up forever and ever.
94. Marriage Supper of Lamb
she’s in fine linen, the righteousness of the saints? Does
this represent the saints?
95. The Rider on White Horse
is the Lord, who comes into the final battle
96. Gather together to the
supper ..So that you may eat the flesh of kings etc.
Yes,
of course, this is future but there are some odd points, which I believe, help
to prove the Futurist view has flaws in its basic theory. This chapter is in
three parts, ‘The Thousand Years’, ‘The Defeat of Satan’ and ‘The Judgment
Before the Great White Throne’.
Rev
20:1 “ ..I saw an angel ..having the key of the abyss
and a great chain :2 he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. :3 ..he
cast him into the abyss ..shut him up ..set a seal on him, that he should
deceive the nations no more until the thousand years should be fulfilled.”
These
next two verses are very significant, read them carefully, then try to work out
how can there possibly be a Rapture!
Rev
20:4 “ ..And I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had
received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” QUESTION: Who are these people? They
have all been through the Great Tribulation wouldn’t you say? Because it
says they have not received the MARK! But what does the next verse say? Rev
20:5 “But the rest of the dead did not live again until
the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
WHAT!
Isn’t the Rapture the first resurrection? So how come these people have gone
through the Great Tribulation BUT they are in the first resurrection? The only
way you can make sense of this is that there is obviously no Rapture!
Then Rev 20:6 “Blessed ..is he ..in the
first resurrection ..they ..reign with Him a thousand years.”
Rev
20:7 “ ..when the thousand years have expired,
Satan will be loosed out of his prison. :8 ..he will go ..deceive
the nations ..in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
..to battle. The number of them is as the sand of the sea. :9 ..they
..circled around the camp of the saints, and the beloved city ..fire
came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them. :10 ..the
Devil ..was cast into the Lake of Fire ..where the beast and the false
prophet were . And he will be tormented day and night forever and
ever.” Take note ‘where
the beast and false prophet WERE! They are presumably not
there any more, why? Maybe because they have been destroyed and exist no
more! That would sound like there is no eternal punishment for the wicked once
they have been cast into the lake of fire. They are destroyed then they exist
no more! I have never sat happy with the idea that the souls in hell are in
torment forever.
Rev
20:11 “ ..I saw a great white throne ..:12 ..I saw the
dead ..small and the great ..before God ..books were opened ..another book
..opened ..the Book of Life ..the dead were judged out of those ..books,
according to their works. :13 ..the sea gave up the dead ..hell
delivered up the dead ..each ..of them was judged.. :14 ..death and
hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. :15 ..if
anyone was not found ..in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.”
How does the Historicist
interpret 1000 Years - Satan Defeat - White Throne Judgment Rev 20?
97. Satan is bound for a 1000 years, he should deceive the nations no
more, so is he in a sound proof pit?
98. Verse 24 “they ..reigned
with Christ a 1000 years”! The ONLY True One World Government a Theocracy
under Christ!
99. Verse 24 shows those who went through the
tribulation! But v:25 says that they are also in the first resurrection?
100. How come? Conclusion is “There Is NO Rapture!”
101. Satan loosed he gathers an army; so after the 1000
years, there must be Millions who still won’t serve God?
102. Satan’s army gathers around the camp of the saints,
and then ZAP they are gone
103. Devil cast into Lake of Fire where beast and false
prophet were? Devil tormented day and night forever n ever
104. Maybe the lake of fire is a permanent destruction
for all except Satan who is tormented in it forever n ever
105. The Great White Throne Judgement, if you’re not in
the book, you’re in the fire
If
we now just scan through the ‘points’ we have discovered in the scriptures, we
should be able to summarise the list, then get a reasonable picture of how the
historicist views the scriptures and how they have dove tailed them into
history.
1. Differences with
Historical View: Revelation
started 2000 years ago a prophecy of world and church events.
2. Prophetic times are not
literal, we calculate them on the basis of, a
day for a year, as in Num
14:34 and Eze 4:6
3. The Seventy Weeks
prophecy of Dan 9 is finished, all 490 years. There is NO ‘Seventieth Week’
still to come!
4. The Seven Times
Punishment is a literal 2520 years
5. Antichrist has been in
the world since Paul’s writings, he’s NOT an individual but the papal power,
the seat of Peter
6. Antichrist was
restrained until post 476, with blasphemous and imperial decrees he gaining
full power in 606AD
7. The phrase ‘the whole
earth’ can also mean only the ‘then known world’
8. 2 Thes 2 ‘He sits in the
temple of God’, the temple is interpreted as the body of believers, the body of
Christ.
9. Dan 2 History shows in 476AD the Western Roman Empire
fell to the ‘Ten’ kingdoms, (the Toes, horns and Kings).
10. The ‘Ten’ horns and the ‘little horn’ are not
single individual kings. As iron & clay, they shall not cling one to
another.
11. The ‘Stone Kingdom’ appears during the ‘Ten Kings’
about 500AD so it can’t be Christ who appears in 33AD
12. This ‘Stone Kingdom’ begins the serious destruction
of all the gentile kingdoms by about the 1700’s
13. Dan 7
10 horns pre 476AD are, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain,
Sarmatia, Pannonia, Asia, Greece, and Egypt.
14. These ‘Ten Horns’, were puppet kings ruling as
governors subject to the ‘one head’, the Roman Emperor.
15. [9] Characteristics to identify
the Little Horn. Different
because he is both a sovereign king and ecclesiastical king.
16. Blasphemies against God, humbled 3 kings, eyes
of diplomatic cunning, arrogant,
change times and laws, celibacy etc.
17. Saints under his hand for 1260 years, he wear
out the saints, saints ultimately will topple the power of the
antichrist
18. Daniel 8 to 12 say nothing of the One World Government. The 2300
days is possibly literal and speaks of Antiochus
19. Dan 11
speaks of the kingdoms North and South of Israel, the Near East, and their rule
from 323BC to about 1917
20. Dan 11 shows the rise of the papacy, the Crusades,
the fall of Constantinople and the fall of the Turks Empire.
21. Dan 12
speaks of the battle of Armageddon, the end of the age, the first resurrection
and second resurrection
22. Daniel hears the numbers, 1260, 1290 and 1335 days.
[Ref AJF-D11],
Ferris explains them using the Lunar
calendar.
23. The Revelation is three separate prophecies each covering the same past 2000 years,
each confirming the other.
24. Rev 12
represents the Pagan Roman, Rev 13 the papal Roman, Rev 17 the fall of the
papal Roman Empire
25. The woman
of Rev 12 represents the 12 tribes of Israel birthing Christ into the, ‘First
born from the dead’.
26. She’s in two groups; Israel out of reach of the Romans; and Judah
within the realm of the Roman persecution.
27. The Red Dragon, the standard of the Roman Army had Seven Heads representing the seven
forms of government
28. War in Heaven must have happened immediately after the resurrection Satan was cast
out of Heaven.
29. The Woman; First group escaped the
dragon/serpent to ‘a safe place for 3½ times’. [Possibly the British
Isles]
30. The Woman; Second group, obviously
Christians received the anger of the serpent who persecuted them.
31. Rev 13
The ‘Lopped’ head and the new Head, shows the change from the old Imperial to
the new papal head.
32. Emperor Justinian in the East, (the Old Dragon),
gave the pope the authority, seat and power of old Western Rome
33. A One World Government could be considered from 533AD onward. Worship in bother Empires reverted to idolatry.
34. War With The Saints is when the pope overcomes them; FoxBM
shows proof of this. Yet his power is limit to 24 month
35. The Two Horn Beast some say it is the Catholic priesthood. Or could
be a reference to the Jesuits and the Inquisition.
36. Wonders and Fire is examples of false miracles, man-made fire is often part of them.
Also a reference to papal bulls.
37. An ‘Image to the Beast’ accurately fits the form of
the Latin councils, from which the pope gained power and laws.
38. The 666
Mark, associated with a man’s name is found in ‘Lateinos’ which in Greek adds up to 666, Latin a perfect fit
39. The Mark in forehead etc. Is Not a Physical
mark, a symbol of belief and acceptance of Latin tongue and writing?
40. Rev 17
The Whore. Spans post 476AD to about post 1945; the gaudy trappings are
symbolic of papal Rome.
41. We found the real ‘Whore Of Babylon’ coin. The
‘Europa & Bull’ legend is a close symbol to the ‘Whore On The Beast’.
42. She is Drunk With The Blood of centuries of
persecution of the saints, amounting to over 50,000,000 martyrs.
43. We studied the ‘Was - Is Not - About To’,
meaning the pope fills the position of the eighth head and is of the seven.
44. ‘The Lamb’, the true church of saints lead by God
has been the driving force to begin to fight the ‘Ten kingdoms’
45. The Ten Horns Hate the Harlot happened as of
1789 and continued through to present day.
46. Rev 18
The start date could be 1940’s WWII, because it seems the saint, ‘pay her
double’. And finish date still future.
47. Babylon,
a reflection of ancient Babylon the new name for The Beast, the angel speaks in
past tense, “Has fallen”?
48. Come out of her, My people, a call that has been ringing out for hundreds of
years! Possible referring to the reformation.
49. The Destruction given in much detail seems
to happen quickly. With much lose of wealth and riches are described
50. Merchants’ Weep and standing afar for fear. Is it volcanic destruction, or a Muslim
anti-Catholic nuclear strike?
51. Rev 19
is in three parts, ‘Rejoicing in Heaven’, ‘The Marriage Supper of
the Lamb’ and ‘The Rider on a White Horse’
52. Judgment
on the harlot is final and her smoke rose up forever and ever.
53. Marriage Supper of Lamb, His wife in fine linen, the righteousness of the saints? Does
this represent the saints?
54. The Rider on White Horse is the Lord, who comes into the final battle
55. Gather together to the supper, ‘So that you may eat
the flesh of kings’ etc. this could be the meaning of the supper.
56. Rev
20, Satan is bound for a 1000 years, he should deceive the nations no
more, so is he in a sound proof pit?
57. Rev 20:4 “they ..reigned with Christ a 1000
years”! The ONLY True One World Government a Theocracy under Christ!
58. There’s
NO Rapture! Rev 20:4, is those who were in the tribulation!
But verse 5 says they are the first resurrection?
59. Satan
loosed after the 1000 years, gathers his army of millions
around the saints; Fire from heaven, they’re gone!
60. Devil
cast into Lake of Fire, tormented forever! Beast and
false prophet were? The lake of fire is permanent destruction?
61. The
Great White Throne Judgement, if you’re not in the book, you’re in the fire
I
have tried to find passages that could show some possible formation of a One
World Government. Yet we must bear in mind that the only time that could happen
is when the antichrist and the 'Ten kingdoms' were simultaneously united. Since
the antichrist, (the pope), did not come to power until after the Western Roman
Empire fell; the pope could not appear in power until after 476AD. Therefore
the only period in history that the One World Government could have feasibly
been considered is between post 476 and the year 1789, which was the year the
French began the destruction of the papal kingdom. Also we need to consider the
action of the 'saints of the Most High’. They also took part in the final
destruction of the papal kingdom. Dan 7:18 “But the saints of the Most High shall
take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever”. Also we have scriptures that show the, ‘Ten kings’
as iron will not mix with clay, so to the kingdoms shall be divided! So the
whole idea of a One World Government, before Christ returns, is in reality non
existent.
But we do have in
Revelation 20:4-6 The ONLY True One World Government, a Theocracy under Christ!
Rev 20:4 “And I saw ..the souls of
those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus ..nor had received his
mark ..And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. :5 But
the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection. :6 Blessed and holy
is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no
authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and
will reign with Him a thousand years”. I don’t think any of us
contemplate reaching the ripe old age of 100 years! But can you possible
imagine living for 1000 years and being an ambassador, a priest of God
and of Christ. And He could send you anywhere in the world as His
representative because you reign with Him!
We
have seen quite clearly that the two groups of thought are really polls apart.
The futurist sees it as all to be a future fulfilment. The Historicist sees it
through the eyes of the Old prophets; it needs interpretation before the
prophecy makes intelligent reading. For example: - Rev 12:4 “ ..his
tail drew the third part of the stars, and cast them onto the
earth." We
all know that one third of the whole universe cannot fall to the earth?
Yet both groups see various natural phenomenon’s and try to interpret
those events as being foretold in the bible. So both groups fall back onto
interpretation as a tool to understand the prophecies of Daniel, Revelation and
others. Often the interpretation of scripture is open to personal opinion. But
remember; 2Pe 1:20 “knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation”. So
scripture should interpret itself. Also we have the principal of ‘two or three
witnesses’ to verify itself.
The Rapture is a major
stumbling block! It seems everyone believes there will be a Rapture any day,
and they site these verses. 2Th 2:1 “Now we beseech you ..with regard ..the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” Yet Paul is stressing
that before “THAT DAY” happens the following must happen. 2Th 2:3 ..For
that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and
the man of sin shall be revealed”. So regardless of what each of us
believes the scripture clearly tells us; we must see: - Firstly the falling
away (the Apostasy, false teaching); and Secondly The Man of Sin
(the antichrist). So the next time someone tries to tell you "the Rapture
is just around the corner", ask them, well who is the antichrist? Because
he must appear before the Rapture happens!
Personally I believe the
Historic interpretation. The more I study the Word the more I discover. Over
the many years I have found it shows
every generation that God truly has given them a marvellous blessing. Rev1:3 “Blessed
is the one who reads and hears the Words of this prophecy, and the ones
keeping the things written in it, for the time is near". If it
was all meant to be future, how would it make any sense to someone hundreds of
years ago? It would still be as unintelligible to them as it is to the Futurist
today! By understanding the Historic view, as many did in the past, they discovered where they were in the pages
of the Revelation and the assurance of what is to come.
The
two groups will never come to termes with each other! There are always
stumbling blocks within each view. And the supporters of each view cannot
adequately explain those issues to the enthusiasts of the other view. The
Historicist can’t convincingly explain to the Futurist, things like, Rev 13:13 “fire come down from heaven”. And the Futurist can't convincingly explain to the
Historicist; why in Rev 20:4 “the souls of those who had
not received his mark”. YET in verse :5 They are in the first resurrection”.
May
I suggest that you “not try”, not try to be tolerant, but be
tolerant; and hear each other through.
I
hope you have enjoyed this talk
GBY ..(God Bless Ya!) Yours Adrian
2/ British
Israel - National Promises
This is a more in-depth
study of some of the passages referred to in the talk, British Israel - 1.01 [For Beginners].
In this talk I do refer to some non-biblical writings, such as Herodotus, the
Apocrypha and Josephus.
4/ The Lies In The Bible
This looks at the basic
teaching usually presented by ‘the church’! Then ‘tongue-in-cheek’ compares
‘teaching’ with scriptures to show that the scriptures could only be
interpreted as a lie? The prepose being is to get the reader to rethink more
deeply about the promises.
5/ When Did Jesus Become The Messiah
This question when
answered will shed considerable light on Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy. An in
depth study of Daniel chapter 9. Showing why the whole prophecy should have
been concluded by about 38A.D.
8/ Rebuilding The Temple Of Jerusalem
We look at how God
instructed Israel as to how to worship him. The transition from the Tabernacle
to the Temple. Then the destruction of the Temple. Then the question would God
really want the temple rebuilt?
17/ CHURCH HISTORY Part 1 -:- [From Christ to The
Pope]
The aim of this talk is to give the listener a
general knowledge of church history from the time of Christ to about 1000AD
22/ The ‘Futurist Interpretation’ Automobile
This is simply meant to
be a good laugh!
30/ Did
God Forsake Jesus On The Cross
This posses the question if God did forsake his
beloved son; then why wouldn’t He forsake you?
28/ The
ORIGAMI Cross
