The "sanctuary" and the "daily" of Daniel's chapter 8 and 11 visions

J_____ and M_____, I’ve copy/pasted Daniel 8:10-14 and 23-26 for your convenience to analyze. I want to look at Daniel 8:11 for 1) whether the “sanctuary” was a refuge for pagan Rome or for the Christian’s faith and hope, and 2) whether the “daily” was the continual Gentile persecution (specifically pagan Rome) or the propitiation of Christ at the cross and then in the heavenly sanctuary before His Father. Then, based on “sanctuary” defined as a spiritual refuge for the Christian, and “daily” defined as papal corruption of Christ’s propitiation and of His church, we will go on to give some ideas on the king of the north in Daniel 11.

Daniel 8:10-14 with and without Strong’s numbers.

“And it waxed great,^H1431 even to^H5704 the host^H6635 of heaven;^H8064 and it cast down^H5307 some of^H4480 the host^H6635 and of^H4480 the stars^H3556 to the ground,^H776 and stamped upon^H7429 them.

Yea, he magnified^H1431 himself even to^H5704 the prince^H8269 of the host,^H6635 and by^H4480 him the daily^H8548 [sacrifice] was taken away,^H7311 and the place^H4349 of his sanctuary^H4720 was cast down.^H7993

And an host^H6635 was given^H5414 him against^H5921 the daily^H8548 [sacrifice] by reason of transgression,^H6588 and it cast down^H7993 the truth^H571 to the ground;^H776 and it practised,^H6213 and prospered.^H6743

Then I heard^H8085 one^H259 saint^H6918 speaking,^H1696 and another^H259 saint^H6918 said^H559 unto that certain^H6422 saint which spake,^H1696 How long^{H5704 H4970} shall be the vision^H2377 concerning the daily^H8548 [sacrifice], and the transgression^H6588 of desolation,^H8074 to give^H5414 both the sanctuary^H6944 and the host^H6635 to be trodden under foot?^H4823

And he said^H559 unto^H413 me, Unto^H5704 two thousand^H505 and three^H7969 hundred^H3967 days;^{H6153 H1242} then shall the sanctuary^H6944 be cleansed.^H6663” (Dan. 8:10-14).

[I’m using e-Sword for its concordance and definitions of Hebrew and Greek. e-Sword has been accurate the many years I’ve used it.]

“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Dan. 8:10-14).

Daniel 8:23-26 with and without Strong’s numbers.

“And in the latter time^H319 of their kingdom,^H4438 when the transgressors^H6586 are come to the full,^H8552 a king^H4428 of fierce^H5794 countenance,^H6440 and understanding^H995 dark sentences,^H2420 shall stand up.^H5975

And his power^H3581 shall be mighty,^H6105 but not^H3808 by his own power:^H3581 and he shall destroy^H7843 wonderfully,^H6381 and shall prosper,^H6743 and practise,^H6213 and shall destroy^H7843 the mighty^H6099 and the holy^H6918 people.^H5971

And through^H5921 his policy^H7922 also he shall cause craft^H4820 to prosper^H6743 in his hand;^H3027 and he shall magnify^H1431 himself in his heart,^H3824 and by peace^H7962 shall destroy^H7843 many:^H7227 he shall also stand up^H5975 against^H5921 the Prince^H8269 of princes;^H8269 but he shall be broken^H7665 without^H657 hand.^H3027

And the visionH⁴⁷⁵⁸ of the evening^H6153 and the morning^H1242 which^H834 was told^H559 is true:^H571 wherefore shut thou up^{H859 H5640} the vision;^H2377 for^H3588 it shall be for many^H7227 days.^H3117” (Dan. 8:23-26).

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.” (Dan. 8:23-26).

“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary^H4720 was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary^H6944 and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary^H6944 be cleansed.” (Dan. 8:10-14).

In Daniel 8:11 “sanctuary” is Strong’s H4720, while in Daniel 8:13, 14 “sanctuary” is Strong’s H6944.

“H4720 miqdâsh From H6942; a consecrated thing or place, especially a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum: - chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary.

H6944 qôdesh From H6842; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstractly sanctity: -consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.” Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

I looked at the references for “sanctuary” that use H4720 miqdâsh and H6944 qôdesh and found that “sanctuary” is not the most common translation of miqdâsh and qôdesh. Can we say then that the question from the angel in Daniel 8:13 is the focus of the previous vision of the little horn? Therefore, we should let the angel’s question indicate the meaning of the previous context, verses 9-12. As we said the other night, Daniel 8:9 must represent pagan Rome at the start of the little horn symbolism, even though that is not explicit. Nevertheless, verse 9 is not the main focus of this vision. Rather, verses 10-14 are the focus that concerns the little horn’s work to cast down Christ and “the mighty and the holy people” (vs. 24).

What we see is the great controversy played out in the new covenant church, with ancient Israel as the model. The northern kingdom’s hearts had been won over to the destroyer’s appeal to the flesh and then they were marched out of Jehovah’s holy land, much to the distress of the southern kingdom of Jews. The Jews would never again see their brethren, the other half of their people. Daniel was still mourning this in Daniel 9:7, 11, and 15. Many other Jews, who also were spiritual, saw a great loss of power for the sanctification of the Gentiles. And now all during Daniel’s lifetime the Jews themselves had fallen to the temptations of the destroyer and were in what seemed a perpetual Babylonian captivity, forgotten of God, without the voice of His prophets, and without hope.

Maybe Daniel didn’t understand that a new covenant Gentile church would be the fulfillment and receive the warfare of his chapter 8 vision. Rather, in the vision he only saw his people Israel having a very long, arduous, and dangerous path to tread—without a temple resting place for the Lord to dwell among them. Regardless of Daniel’s fears, the vision’s holy people and daily sacrifice were the church and the new redemption offered to the world through the church. By letting the angel’s question indicate the meaning of verses 9-12, we see that the overriding issue here is the distressing news of a destroyed heavenly temple of the Most High and Christ’s work in it. The major theme concerning the temple in Daniel 8 and 11 compares with Revelation 11 and 12.

Since the Daniel 8 vision is about Satan’s subtle war against Lord’s power to save the soul, we should question bringing into the vision secular, worldly events (such as the fall of the Roman Empire and other barbarian military campaigns), which would diminish the true concern, especially since they would happen during Christ’s new dispensation era, heavenly work officiating His redeeming sacrifice and sending His Spirit of His Father for our salvation. That spiritual focus would also include a freedom from sin greater than the world could have had in the old covenant.

Hebrews chapters 7-9 describe this new, better salvation. And all the denominations claim to have it. But, they don’t really have it because it was trampled by the little horn/king of the north/beast power of the Dark Ages. The apostolic better salvation has yet to be restored to the church of Christ, which began in 1844, but won’t fully return until the Latter Rain.

So, it’s clear to me that Daniel 8:11 reveals the papal subjugation of Christianity, which would begin to be cleansed in the church of Christ at the end of the 2300 day prophecy. Is there a problem to interpret Daniel 8:11 that way, to include in the heavenly sanctuary message a cleansing of it due to the ravaging, satanic papal influence? Adventism has said that Daniel 8:14 is about the great controversy Day of Atonement heavenly sanctuary’s cleansing of all sin. We’ve said that its cleansing prepares God’s sealed people to stand through Jacob’s trouble when “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” (Rev. 15:8). And that interpretation is correct. But, Ellen White included a second facet of the sanctuary cleansing:

While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. The Great Controversy, p. 425.

The [Millerite] people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Ibid, p. 424.

Based on the above statements from Ellen White, I don’t see a problem connecting the Daniel 8:14 cleansing to both 1) ridding the church on earth of the ravages of the little horn papal falsehoods and usurpation, as well as 2) a heavenly Day of Atonement cleansing the heavenly sanctuary of our sins. I have heard of Adventists who Desmond Ford made to worry about our Adventist founding fathers’ interpretations of Daniel 8:14, the founders using Daniel 8:14 only for the heavenly sanctuary cleansing. Dr. Ford convinced them by his Evangelical/anti-Adventist attempt to force an Antiochus Epiphanes construct into the issues of the Daniel 8 little horn pollutions. Dr. Ford made some Adventists greatly fear of a prophetic mistake in interpretation by our Adventist fathers. Many Adventists must have not looked at the context of Daniel 8:14. But, Dr. Ford’s controversy was actually a blessing in disguise.

The fact that there is no controversy or agitation among God’s people, should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is reason to fear that they may not be clearly discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 39.

The cleansing of sins from the heavenly sanctuary is not the only issue of Daniel 8:14. As we know, by 1844 many idolatrous corruptions and falsehoods, which were brought into Christ’s church by the little horn, were still rooted in the minds of Protestantism. Doctrinal errors were a second result of the little horn casting down the Prince and His sanctuary. It was these errors that caused the apostolic church to apostatize into pagan sacraments and to fall under that subjugation into transgression. Christ ceased to be a Saviour from sin. Satan let Him be a Saviour in the minds of the church, so long as the church didn’t know Him personally, and His plan and power to vanquish sin from their hearts. Our first distinctive doctrines cleared some of the falsehoods, and Ellen White’s continuous exhortations also helped clear up God’s expectations of His people. 1888 General Conference revelations cleared up more. And there is more clearing up to come. “This scripture [Revelation 18:1,2,4] points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844.” Great Controversy, p. 603. Therefore, throughout the time of the end, the idolatrous imposter, Christ look-alike Azazel has been slowly growing more distinct from the sacrificed Goat that taketh away the sin of the finally sealed.

What I wrote in the above paragraph is surely not new to you. But, it says that the issues of Daniel 8:10-14 were of a heavenly nature and should not involve the fall of pagan Rome. It says that the usurpation of Christ’s propitiation for us is the central event of Daniel 8 and the real event of Daniel 8:11’s “daily [sacrifice]” and “sanctuary”. Notice, too, that the vision couples the daily and the sanctuary together, as it also couples them in the angel’s question. But, in the question, the sanctuary is certainly the heavenly. So why then should not the daily also be of a heavenly character? Such a literary structure must leave us seeing both the “sanctuary” and the “daily” prophetic items as heavenly and spiritual events. And if they are both heavenly/spiritual in verse 13, then they must be both heavenly/spiritual in verse 11.

Also, the symbolic “daily [sacrifice]…taken away, and the place of his sanctuary…cast down” throw so much light on the machinations of the great deceiver against Christ, His sacrifice, and the Spirit of God during the falling away of the apostolic church. Without the insight from Daniel 8:11 and 11:31 our protest against Rome would be founded upon an assumption. But, instead of human rationale we have this vision for guidance. Where else in scripture, except the visions of Daniel, do such details of this major blasphemy show up? Without Daniel 8:11 and 11:31 to reveal the corruptions of the new covenant, all we would be left with are the somewhat veiled warnings of Paul and the testimonies of Reformers. But, even though the Reformers were eye-witnesses of the little horn’s corruptions, the spiritual authority from the word of God is the only thing that can make effective war against the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet by their spiritual insinuations into the great science of salvation through faith in Christ.

In Daniel 8:9-14, as a whole, we see a work of stamping the truth into the ground, as we also saw in Daniel 7:7-13. In that vision, the same little horn in Daniel 7:8 did a work of destruction worse than the 4th beast as pagan Rome in verse 7. In its judgment scene we saw in Daniel 7:11 that its blasphemy against God and His kingdom was judged; its trampling and wearing out the saints on earth did not yet come up for judgment then. Daniel 7 prepares the prophecy student for the vision of chapter 8. Satan’s warfare against the angelic saints of heaven (and against the faith of the Lord’s earthly children who sat in heavenly places by faith) constituted the highest insult to God. We also see this in Revelation 11:1,2.

 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” (Rev. 11:1,2). To measure is to judge, to examine. What was judged? The heavenly temple and heavenly saints (angelic and redeemed earthly).

Also, there is no reason to interpret Daniel 8 or 11 as Antiochus Epiphanes. He doesn’t fit without forcing him in like a misplaced puzzle piece. Therefore, to revisit the “daily” for re-interpretation need not be worrisome with respect to Antiochus Epiphanes. To call the “daily” the papacy may make some people worry about Antiochus Epiphanes, but for Adventists who look closely at scripture and history, there is no danger of getting derailed by the Antiochus error. To me that concern is unnecessary.

I am sold on the concept of the “daily” being the papacy. The Church of Rome has always been the focus of Daniel and Revelation. Since the days of the apostles, she has always been the mother of abominations, and the real danger to the Messiah’s salvation. Satan has always used the one true religion to hide in during the old covenant era; and in the new covenant of better promises he has hidden better than the old covenant promises. The efforts by Uriah Smith to call the king of the north the Turks (or Muslims) received a strong rebuke from the Whites, who told him that we had always seen Rome as the last day enemy of God. Elder Smith was losing his hold on the truth because he didn’t have the constant witness of the Spirit. His heart’s real loyalty was exposed in 1888, and now at the end he could not abide in the truth. Likewise, his placing the fall of pagan Rome into the little horn vision was also a distraction from the real focus, which was the Church versus Christ’s atonement. Many Adventists revered Uriah Smith, and Sr. White realized the church’s strong attachments to him. Therefore, she followed the biblical counsel to “rebuke not an elder” publically. She promoted his book, Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation, but remained deathly silent on his perpetuation of the Millerite 7 trumpets interpretation. She also promoted the Millerite charts yet remained silent on the 2520 aspect of the charts. She didn’t believe in the 2520 misinterpretation of scripture, but she saw that the illustrative use of charts was an excellent idea for rapid spreading of the three angels’ messages. She saw the same in Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation, but that shouldn’t assume that she agreed with everything in it.

Saturday night I said that Daniel 8 and 11 overlay each other using 3 points to help orient Daniel 11. 1) The Prince of the host (8:11), of princes (8:25), of the covenant (11:22), who is also “the Messiah the Prince” from Daniel 9:25; 2) the placing of the abomination of desolation (8:12,13; 11:31); and, 3) destroying by peace (8:25; 11:21-23).

In Daniel 8:9-14 point 1 reads: “he magnified himself even to the prince of the host” (8:11). Point 2 reads, “An host was given him...by reason of transgression.... How long shall be the vision concerning...the transgression of desolation...?” (8:12,13). Point 3 isn’t readily apparent in this introductory vision, “it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered” (8:12), unless it is understood by Gabriel’s later explanation, as in verse 25: “he shall cause craft^H4820 to prosper”.

“H4820 mirmâh From H7411 in the sense of deceiving; fraud; -craft, deceit (-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.)” Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

In Daniel 8:23-25 point 1 reads: “the Prince of princes” (8:25). Point 2 doesn’t show up. Point 3 reads, “he shall destroy wonderfully” (8:24), “by peace [he] shall destroy many” (8:25).

And—as I see it—in Daniel 11:20-45 point 1 reads: “the prince of the covenant” (vs. 22). Point 2 reads, “they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” (11:31). Point 3 reads, “After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches….” (11:23,24). “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries.” (11:32).

By overlaying these three common components of the two visions, plus Gabriel’s explanation at the end of Daniel 8, we can understand Daniel 11 better. The “vile” king of the north that appeared after the “raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom” is who we need to keep our eye on, beginning in 11:21. He was not Tiberius in verse 21 as everyone believes, but the little Christian movement with its carnal leadership who would work quietly obtaining the empire by flatteries until they could assume all the pagan human philosophy and pagan lusted-for worldliness, and surprise everyone by overthrowing the pagan control of the people and the empire. The blending of Christianity and the world brought learned and ambitious men to the top leadership because of all their “wisdom”, which God called foolishness. “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer…that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish.” (Isa. 44:24,25). “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?... Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Cor. 1:20,25). The vile church lusting after the prince of this world was repeating Israel’s vile, abhorrent departure, as the Lord described it.

“Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.

How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman.” (Eze. 16:25-30).

A fourth point to overlay could also be “the host”. That is, the host that joined the papacy. The “host” in Daniel 8 is described in Daniel 11 as “arms”, as in a regular army. But, look at how the “arms” join the papacy, as described in Daniel 8. “…an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression” (8:12). Doesn’t “was given him” sound like Paul’s words? “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves…. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature…. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Rom. 1: 24,26,28). (By this I believe Paul was referring to the Gentile world generally, and to the ten tribes of Israel specifically.)

This may change your mind about what the “daily” was. Daniel 8:12 appears to mean that the “host” or “arms” (military hosts) were actually God’s church when it was apostatizing. It was a repeat of Baalpeor. “Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.” (Num. 25:1-3).

In Daniel 11, again the Baalpeor apostasy can be seen as the “vile” king of the north “happy” [asherah] Ashtoreth wooed God’s people away from His Law by her antinomian, promiscuous niceties and non-convicting flattery of their conscience. “…he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.” (Dan. 8:24). It was the great falling away of the apostolic church. The once “chosen generation,…royal priesthood,…holy nation” that had conquered the gates of hell became the backsliding army that defected to persecute the saints of the Most High for Christian gnosticism and Baal. They had lost their first love and forsook “the holy covenant.” (Dan. 11:30). “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice.” (Dan. 11:31). Over time, the hosts who worshiped a “God” (John 16:2) who wasn’t the only true God, and transformed into “they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations” (Rev. 11:9), “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev. 17:15), “many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” (Rev. 10:11), “all the world” (Rev. 13:3).

“Sanctuary of strength^H4581” (Dan. 11:31), “from H5810; a fortified place; figuratively a defence: - force, fort (tress), rock, strength (-en), (X most) strong (hold). Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

The polluting of this “sanctuary” easily falls into the Daniel 8:11-14 scenario of the heavenly sanctuary, if you agreed with me when I covered that above. It refers to a strong sanctuary because it was foreseen, provided for by God, dedicated by Christ’s sacrifice, and run by Christ and not by man.

“We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” (Heb. 8:1,2). “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man… whose heart departeth from the LORD…. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” (Jer. 17:5,7).

 The heavenly throne is our rock, as God is our Rock.

“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.” (Ps. 20:1,2).

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.” (Ps. 150:1).

“Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.” (Ex. 15:17).

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.

Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.” (Ps. 63:1).

“And He brought them to the border of His sanctuary, even to this mountain, which His right hand had purchased.” (Ps. 78:54).

 “They have seen Thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” (Ps. 68:24).

“Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” (Ps. 77:13).

 “For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth.” (Ps. 102:19).

“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.” (Ps. 134:2,3).

 “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” (Jer. 17:12).

“Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” (Isa. 27:5).

 “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” (Ps. 22:21).

“And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.” (1Ki. 1:50).

In eternity the power of God will be seen from the sanctuary. “The Strength of Israel” will be the temple.

“One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory: ‘He had bright beams coming out of His side: and there was the hiding of His power.’ Habakkuk 3:4, margin. That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to God—there is the Saviour’s glory, there ‘the hiding of His power.’ ‘Mighty to save,’ through the sacrifice of redemption, He was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy. And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power. 

“‘O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.’” Great Controversy, p. 674.

Is not our High Priest Jesus and His sanctuary the source of His Spirit and His righteousness and His power to save? The throne of God has been the very center of operations for the plan of redemption. It is the one and only sanctuary of strength, and our one and only hope.

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 6:17-20).

 

Let’s also be careful how we treat the interpretations of William Miller. Some of his understanding came, or was derived, from earlier Protestant Bible prophecy students. Truth is always unfolding and being developed by human minds. God meant His word to perpetually unfold, for our blessing. But, we are part of that train of prophecy students, and His blessing upon us will enable us to look deeply into the truths hidden in God’s word and understand it for ourselves. This doesn’t mean to blanket sweep away previous interpretations, but it does mean that we should approach the word of God as an unsearchable mine of gems, and that if we do then new truth will continually be revealed to all who will keep studying.

NASA’s Hubble Ultra-Deep Field astronomical photograph teaches us that lesson. For decades a dark spot in the heavens was overlooked by normal telescope photography. But, one day NASA astronomers decided to look at that spot for a million seconds, and the longer the lens exposed the darkness, the more truth came out of the darkness. Every source of light in that picture, with exception of the one star that has the X effect at the lower right, are all galaxies. Thousands of galaxies, behind and before and next to each other, all deeply set in space.

Hubble Ultra-Deep Field

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NASA-HS201427a-HubbleUltraDeepField2014-20140603.jpg

Let’s remember that we are Adventists, not Millerites, and not bound to everything taught in Millerite prophetic interpretation. William Miller created the foundation for Adventism, but not the whole structure. I learned this lesson when I was studying Revelation and got to chapter 8 and its 7 trumpets. I thought I would go find Uriah Smith’s book on that subject, but the Lord told me, “No. Let Revelation speak for itself.” As I continued reading I saw that the first 4 trumpets represented the falling away and cutting off of the apostate Protestant churches, and the fifth trumpet to be a long prophecy representing the sealing and marking of the Adventists and Protestants. The fifth trumpet also sheds much light on the 3rd angel’s message, as the language of the 3rd angel’s message comes from the fifth and sixth trumpets.

In other words, the trumpets are not about pagan military campaigns that have little to do with giving the everlasting gospel and warning us against the mark of the beast. They don’t warn us away from Satan’s strong delusions and spiritualism, his Christian spiritualism through the Mass and the Eucharist, and his Protestant spiritualism through Spiritual Formation (including the Adventist variant).

Historical military events have their place in sacred and secular history, but only as markers to give veracity and reputability to the Lord’s spiritual events in the world. True, great changes always take place from wars and conquests, which the spiritual forces for heaven and hell make use of for their advantages. We do need to know that both spiritual forces use earthly wars to facilitate their rapid movements against each other, and for the ownership of the soul of man. But, after we have noted the verity of scripture through common chronology, “let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of” (Heb. 6:1) secular history. Let us go further to investigate the great spiritual event.

Because some Adventists cling to only the past events of Adventism, misconceptions are coming into Adventism. For example, some are following the 2520 year prophecy because it was on the Millerite chart and on the earliest Adventist chart also. Another example of clinging to the past is keeping the feast days. Just because Jesus accepted a practice or idea in the past doesn’t make it present truth. A constant weighing and putting into practice the truth that we’ve been given will keep us abreast of present truth and open up more truth as the Lord’s timing unveils it to us by His Spirit.

J_____ and M_____, I hope I was convincing enough on the daily and sanctuary of Daniel 8:11 and 11:31 to help you better see the work of Jesus and of the devil. Take care and maybe we can study this together soon.

A reply to a friend in Uganda

Thank you, brother. I wrote another post on seeing Jesus through His holy people who were justified and sanctified by faith. If you read it Friday when I had just posted it, it might have sounded confusing. I just edited it again for clarity. I hope you can follow it. It is an idea I had in mind for the past year or two, but didn’t have an illustration to help explain what I was trying to say. Now I found a photo mosaic that I needed. Let me know what you think.

I am glad that you are a student of justification by faith. Justification is still the foundation of the gospel. And even though new horizons have been opened to prepare us for Christ’s return and the sealing, justification will always play a big part. The big problem we’ve had in the Advent movement during the past century and more has been staying busy getting ourselves sanctified when we weren’t justified. But, Paul’s whole Romans 8 freedom in Christ was based on being made exceedingly guilty before God and having every mouth stopped (Rom. 3:19), as in the case of Job. If a church member has never felt like he committed the unpardonable sin, then he has never needed a real Saviour in the only begotten Son of God. All throughout heaven there is more rejoicing over 1% of the church members who feared they were lost and then repented, than over 99% of the church who never felt the need to repent and be found. The 99% can try all they want to be sanctified, but all their offerings to God are defiled. They can stack up all the good works they want, He has never known them. He only knows the formerly lost 1% who recognized their lost-ness. Out in the world it is no different, except to substitute good works for ethical works. They are still trying to use some kind of spiritual alchemy to create good from evil, and light from darkness. Their hearts are evil and they cannot change them.

They are all alive before the commandment can convict them. If they will go to the commandment and let it convict them, then their sin will revive, and their self-sufficiency will die (see Rom. 7:9). The Law is given to each individual conscience so that offense might abound. If we never allow God to offend us and scourge us, then He can never receive us (Heb. 12:6-8; Rom. 8:9). We are none of His no matter how holy we look and sound.

Before the next revival for the final sealing, there must be another John the Baptist movement that will reset the Adventists and Protestants to the original foundation of the Reformers―justification by faith, conviction of sin, repentance, conversion. All of these were unacceptable to the religious leadership in John’s day because by their excellent spirituality they discerned that none of the Jews needed to repent and be cleansed; it was the wicked, cruel, carnal, pagan, occult Romans and Greeks and Barbarians that should repent and be baptized. But, God was sending John to call Israel to repent and be baptized. And who was baptized among all the other wicked and carnal sinners that listened to John? The Saviour of them all!

David

Grace and Law; and lawless grace

“Make the heart of this people fat^H8082 [‘spoiled with grease’], and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” (Isa. 6:10).

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross^G3975 [‘callous, stupefied’], and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt. 13:15).

If the Lord is commanding to make His people’s heart ruined and blind and deafened, then who was He commanding to ruin them? Isn’t it the same scenario as the vision of Micaiah? There the Lord permitted the deceiver to do what he always wants to do—destroy.

“He said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” (1Ki. 22:19-23).

The end of the strong delusion sent to King Ahab was death, because the wages of sin is death.

“And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.” (1Ki. 22:34,35).

Ahab had not cared about the Law of his fathers’ God; and he married a heathen idolater of Ashtoreth, Queen of heaven and Mother of all the gods. In the end, early death was the result for both the king and his queen. But, death is not what the Lord of life really desires. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4). Death is His strange act.

But, even though Christ loves to give us life, the life from Christ must come by His Father’s method, under His Father’s approved conditions. The Son of God is ready and willing to give us grace and peace; however, He will never skirt the truth component of love required of His Father. Grace + Truth = Divine love.

But, will the children of Adam submit to the truth? Or, will they fail of Christ’s grace that comes combined with the truth that He must speak. Then will they discard the whole truth and grace because the stark truth component is all they see in Christ’s dealings with sinners? Have they closed their eyes to the grace component that David always saw in Jesus? And therefore, have they thus opened the way for Satan to cut them off from the Lord of grace and truth? Will they cut themselves off from the Lord of divine love, Jehovah and His begotten Son both of whom are “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin”, but “will by no means clear the guilty” (Ex. 34:6,7)?

Ahab, Jezebel, and almost everyone in Israel preferred to leave the eternal love of Jehovah because they couldn’t stomach the truth component of divine love that He lived and loved and required His people to live. They didn’t want His love if they had to have His truth. They preferred the selfishness and self-indulgence promoted by Jezebel’s Baal and Ashtoreth devils. They preferred empty lust over the fullness of being infinitely loved, which is the greatest need naturally within everyone made in God’s image.

Being loved was David’s chief need, first from his earthly father, and later from God and from everyone around him. David would endure the truth from the God of love, if that meant he could remain in the love of Christ, “my Lord” (Ps. 110:1). In the end he could say, “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Ps. 119:97). “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Ps. 23:3).

Paul was the same way. He simply could not cut off the God of truth if that meant losing God’s approval and losing the love of Christ, “our Lord” (Rom. 7:25). Paul’s need for divine acceptance drove him to endure the throes and trauma from the guilt and shame brought on him by the divine Law. And in the end Paul was surrendered to the reality of his personal wretchedness and natural filthiness, and he settled in justification and in his heavenly Parents’ love and acceptance (see Romans 7:25).

As love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, so do grace and truth, mercy and justice go together.

God and His only begotten Son cannot separate these two polar opposites. Grace and truth, mercy and justice are opposites; yet they cannot be separated in the Godhead’s mind. Justice always being dealt with mercy; mercy always being dealt with justice. Truth always dealt with grace; grace always dealt with truth. It’s easy to accept justice with mercy mingled. But mercy mingled with justice? The blinding light of mercy mingled with justice makes the natural heart cry, “No. Please no!” It’s easy to accept truth with grace; but, it’s not so easy to accept grace with truth. Will we suffer long under the blinding ramifications before we surrender to this divine structure of love?

What does it mean to give grace without truth? It means to never require obedience to what is right before giving grace. It means that grace will come, uninhibited forever, whether or not the one receiving grace wants to treat others good. It means that justice will never come for wrong choices, but is all that will ever mercy. Therefore, grace and mercy are not predicated on any conditions. The heart that receives such unconditional “grace” and “mercy” is permitted to presume upon its gracious benefactor, whether the benefactor is a man or God Himself. If the police gives me a warning citation for speeding instead of handing me the ticket that I deserve, then grace without truth means I can immediately forget the warning and go right back to speeding again. “Oh, happy day!” exults the natural man inside our rebellious hearts. But, then the Spirit helps us realize that if everyone could thus treat that govern the highways, then the highways would no longer be safe for anyone. Truth must prevail, justice must remain in force.

Grace without truth, mercy without justice, equals lawlessness, also known as, “perdition” (2Thess. 2:3). It means that there does not exist any punishment for sin. It means everyone can hurt others with impunity; they can do whatever is right in their own eyes. No fear of God, no fear of Judgment Day. It ends with a world where everyone gets away with every injustice because they have no fear of getting caught and being brought to justice for any act of wrong-doing, whether criminal or civil. This has been the environment that the false prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth have always created.

“I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.” (Jer. 23:14,15).

And this is the very world that is coming soon when this Protestant nation will sign the peace treaty with the Church of Rome, and accept the proposals of Catholicism and its Ashtoreth Mary, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God, and Mediatrix of God.

The Protestant denominations have rejected their holy Bible and their hearts have been made fat and hardened. Therefore, God has sent this strong delusion. The Protestants may seem ever so righteous, and ever so sincere and humble to return their love to the Beast of the Dark Ages. But, it only reveals that, along with their hardened hearts, their eyes are blinded and their ears are uncircumcised. They are unconverted. They have become hardened against the truth of God’s word, and they cannot receive any if His grace. Secretly, “none doth return from his wickedness”; therefore is “profaneness gone forth into all the land.” The Protestant Evangelicalism has cast off the Law and justice and truth of God, and He has cut them off from His grace. He has given them over to the machinations of Satan and into the hands of their persecutors from the Dark Ages.

“Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be [judged] who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2Thess. 2:8-12).

Will we join the world in its lawlessness? Or, will we surrender to the high standard of the Spirit of Prophecy and be justified and sanctified by the truth and grace of Jesus?

An email response from 2005

Hello everyone,

   My name is David.  I am grateful to reply on the subject of the church and state relationship.  An internet roundtable would be a wonderful thing if anyone wants to email back to me. And if you want to forward this to anyone, even better.  “In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses every word may be established.” (Matt. 18:16).  And “in multitude of counselors, there is safety.” (Prov. 24:6). Communication is the key to any successful family, organization, or free society.

   I have been a United States Navy sailor.  I am glad to have served my country.  I have been a Christian since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.  I love God and know He loves me.  I pray to the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit.  I teach and lead out in my local church.  I helped construct our little church building.  I hope these credentials qualify me to speak in defense of the separation of church and state.

   I read the speech of the high school principal, and she misunderstands something.  It’s understandable that she misunderstands.  But unfortunate that she does.  I embrace her concern that our society is taking a downturn.  It seems we are hanging ten at the edge of a precipice which has no bottom.  Each generation has lost more capability or interest in holding up the moral standard.

   Materialism has done its evil work.  It’s the same thing that has happened all through the eons.  A people become strong in hardship.  They get a break and push to the top, where they begin to enjoy the luxuries and pleasures of the good life.  Once they have tasted of it, they become ravenous for more.  The world’s wealth pours in, and they use it all for themselves, rather than being the stewards of it to the world.  The convenience and ease, long having displaced honesty and hardship, give way to corruption, self-serving, self-indulgence; and the empire is left enervated and effeminate, ready to fall.  And they convince themselves that, although this condition caused all the previous empires to fall, it won’t happen to them!

   This definition of materialism, labeled idolatry (or covetousness) in the Bible (Col. 3:5), really pegs us all, inside the church and outside of it.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  None of us, even in the church, can live without our modern conveniences.  It seems we can’t ever go back to the pioneer days of our colonial fathers and mothers who camped their whole lives. Modern Jeshurun has grown fat and kicked his Maker.  (Deut. 32:15).

   Our Constitution was based on self-government.  That is what has made our country great.  This could only happen because our revolutionary forefathers were the progeny of the Protestant Reformation.  Protestantism also is based on self-government. Everyone stands or falls in judgment because of himself, not because of a priest or a pope.  Along with that premise, no holy man can: 1) take my place in talking to God; 2) interpret the Bible for me; or 3) require good behavior from me in order for me to approach God, for all that God requires and all that I can do is come to Christ just as I am.  Those last three statements summed up the Reformation.  All three tenets can do nothing but develop courage and integrity, the stuff of self-government, in the privileged people to whom they are offered and who accept them.

    But although the United States Constitution was born out of the same principles as was the Reformation, this does not presuppose that we have a Protestant Constitution or a Christian Constitution.  Our Constitution is designed for civil government.  Protestantism is designed for spiritual or moral government.  Our Constitution isn’t even a moral document, but a civil one.  Morality comes from the heart.  It is borne out from our intents, and desires, our love for God.  Civil laws have no way of enforcing morality because they cannot detect an infraction in spirituality and they have no love to “restore such an one.” (Gal. 6:1).  I would hate to see the mess that would tie up the court system by trying to monitor and regulate the issues of the heart.

   Rather, ours is a civil government; one in which our forefathers saw wisdom in keeping its hands off the business that is God’s only.  Due to their experience with the Church of England and the overbearing monarchy, they knew first hand what happens when the church is in cahoots with the government.  All through Europe this cozy relationship was forcing an impossibly wide chasm between the wealth of the aristocracy and the impoverished working class, and brought persecution on anyone who wanted to worship or understand God, or even to think differently than did the established church.  Not many generations previous to them, people had burned at the stake, were drowned, or other unspeakable horrors, for their desire to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.

   So when James Madison drafted the first amendment of the Bill of Rights, he separated church and state.  “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Madison was apparently the most Christian of any of the forefathers.  He had a genuine desire to protect religion.  He also loved his new country for which he had suffered so much.  Knowing the dangers of the current union of religion and government, he realized that only by keeping religion and government separate entities would they both stay free from overbearing persecution.  Neither antagonistic nor friendly, they could coexist peacefully if detached completely.

   It’s not the church’s business to enforce or hamper the laws of any civil government.  The church’s kingdom is not of this world.  Similarly, it’s not the business of any civil government to enforce or hamper the work of the church.  In fact, it has absolutely no power to do that, not for the true church. Because the true followers of Christ and His cross will obey Him, even against all the armies of a civil government that trespasses on God’s ground and assumes the authority of God by legislating for Him.

   I applaud our government for keeping its hands off the business of the church, to the extent that it has.  But lately we’ve seen an insidious move by our government to go back on its hands-off promise, as built into its Constitution.  We’ve seen it fund the reconstruction of churches and church schools.  We’ve seen “faith-based initiatives” funded by tax dollars.  We’ve seen Congressional, Senatorial, Presidential candidates agree to pander to certain sectors of the church if they get elected and then when elected, due to the large religious voting machines, they feel it only right to abide by their agreements which they unconstitutionally made.

   Why shouldn’t good, upstanding citizens demand laws that will curtail any obvious dissolution of our society?  They should work to curtail anything dangerous to the nation! Alone or in a large civic group.  But when pastors are organizing thousands of churches to mass-email threats of no-further-votes to an elected official that they “put in office,” this is completely an altogether different matter.  This is getting dangerously close to a union of church and state. Yet multitudes of religious leaders see no danger here toward our government or defilement of the church.

   Government politics aren’t the best example of self-sacrifice and purity.  Therefore government politics is not the place for church pastors. In fact, our great first president George Washington strongly saw the need for a forceful sovereign government based solely upon self-interest.  And that is the direction he encouraged and pushed the new American government when he could.  Yet self-interest is 100% contrary to the Gospel.  How long will the church stay pure while it involves itself in politics?  Not many weeks ago, Ralph Reed, famed leader of the religious right, got mixed up in a scandal with a politician who was playing both sides of an issue while stopping the passage of an anti-gambling bill. Whether or not Mr. Reed knew he was accepting laundered money for funding his mass mailing operation, is another issue.  My question is, Why was he there in the first place?  That should be a warning shot over the church’s bow.  Will she learn from this the lesson that government is no place for the church if she wants to remain pure?  Will she back away from her own bottomless pit?  No, she has determined to go her own way. Now its power that she wants.

    Civil government is tasked to keep peace externally, using external measures.  It is the minister of God to execute vengeance, and it “beareth not the sword in vain.” (Rom. 13:4).  Kudos to our government, local, state and federal.  They’ve done a pretty good job keeping us and it straight.  The church is tasked by God to keep peace internally, using internal measure, “as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3).  How has the church done?  Where is the self-sacrifice seen during the Dark Ages in Europe?  What is the moral condition of her field of labor in the world?  What fruit has she brought forth?  She gets a failing grade across the board.  I say this as one of them and party to their short-comings.  It’s State-1, Church-0.  When will we be sorry enough to repent?

   But the church cries out, “If it weren’t for the government getting in our way, we would be better at the task given us.  It’s that Supreme Court… or that Congress…or that White House.  They are the enemy!  We could clean up America if they weren’t such an obstacle.  We can’t compete!  No sooner do we clean part of the house, then they dirty it up again!  But we have a plan.  Our people will be in the Supreme Court and Congress and the White House.  Prayer will be in schools, commandments will be in courthouses, people will be in churches on Sundays.”

   It must be asked, Did the church of apostolic days ever work together with the government to clean up the messy society? What Would Jesus Do?  What did Jesus do?  At every opportunity, He put down any hopes that He would have anything to do with the Roman government.  He didn’t even have dealings with the Sanhedrin, because their kingdom was of this world, and His was not.  Obviously, the uniting of the kingdom of this world and God’s kingdom has been Satan’s effort from the beginning; and his often success.

   The pure apostolic church requested no worldly support.  She looked to God and His providences for the advancement of God’s kingdom.  Faith and prayer were her only weapons of war and the gates of hell could not prevail against her.  Why won’t the modern church use the same weapons?  If the churchs need worldly support, what does that say about their faith?  Jesus said, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith in the earth?”  (Lk. 18:8).  “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12).  It’s not the government pushing to rape the church, but it’s the church approaching the government for an illicit affair.  How much longer will God keep Himself from divorcing His bride and putting her away?  Unless she turns away from her efforts to a so-called “moral” union with the state rather than to the Husband she covenanted with, she will become what the Bible calls, “the mother of harlots and abominations in the earth.” (Rev. 17:5).

   Now, as one Christian to another, please consider what I’ve said.  Please reconsider the attempt to criticize the government or even the ACLU.  I’m not saying this because I am a member of the ACLU, but because the scriptures say it.  “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”  (Titus 3:1,2).  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1Tim. 2:1-3).

    Let’s go back to using prayer and faith.  Just a mustard grain amount will turn the world upside down, in God’s own time.  “Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.”  (Lk 18:7, 8).

The inspiration of Archbishop Gaspare Ricciulli at the Council of Trent

To those who don't know the story behind the failure of the Reformation against the Church of Rome I have copy/pasted from the website listed below. This says something about Revelation 13:3,

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed."

Today we are seeing the final developments of that council far flung in space and time, in the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this coming October 31st. Soon afterward we will see the end of the above verse, "...and all the world wondered after the beast."

http://biblelight.net/bssb-1443-1444.htm

Archbishop of Reggio's Sermonto the Council of Trent on the Power of the Church:
By Our Authority The Sabbath Was Changed To Sunday!

---

THE JESUITS CAPTURE THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

    This Society of Jesus proposed to subordinate the Holy Scriptures and in their place substitute the interpretations of the Bible by the ecclesiastical writers of the first centuries whom they called the “fathers.” All the errors and vagaries of the allegorizers who confused and darkened the first three centuries were selected. The first great papal council which assembled after the Reformation, the Council of Trent (A. D. 1545-1563), was dominated by the Jesuits. This assembly laid down the law, and no papal authority has dared since to dispute it.
    In assembling this church council, Emperor Charles V gave the order that only the abuses in the church, not doctrine, should be considered. He was distracted to behold his realm divided between two contending churches, and it mattered little to him which creed prevailed. He only wished some general assembly to remedy conditions. The emperor desired Lutherans and Catholics to sit together in a general council, and he fondly believed Europe again would be united.
    The influence of the Jesuits was immediately seen when the pope ignored the imperial command to notify the Reformers. Weeks passed, and finally the council organized itself and accepted the following as its first four decrees: (1) The Vulgate was the true Bible and not the Received Text which the Reformers followed and which had been the Bible of the Greek Church, the Church of the east, and the true churches of the West through the centuries; (2) tradition was of equal authority with the Sacred Scriptures; (3) the five disputed books found in the Catholic Bible, but rejected by Protestant scholars, were declared canonical; (4) the priests only, and not the laity, were capable of rightly interpreting the Scriptures.⁷
    When the emperor learned that the Protestants had not been called to the council, he was enraged. Uttering severe threats, he demanded that his original plan be executed. Though the pope reluctantly and with long delay obeyed, the decrees already passed irrevocably compromised the situation. The Lutherans refused to accept the insulting notifications. In the meantime the pope had died and his successor advocated Jesuit policies. The deliberations proceeded as they had begun. Decree after decree was proclaimed; doctrine after doctrine was settled. Repeatedly the emperor was misled until he expressed his anger strongly to the Roman pontiff over the deceitful maneuvering.
    How were the church prelates to defend these doctrines which had no scriptural authority?
    Hours, weeks, and months; yes, many sessions went by with this anxious question in their hearts. Then, one morning, January 18, 1562, the archbishop of Rheggio hurried from his room and appeared before his confreres to proclaim that he had the answer. Protestants, he urgently reasoned, never could defend Sunday sacredness,⁸ If they continued to offer as their authority “the Bible and the Bible only,” it was clear that they had no Bible command for the first day of the week. According to Pallavicini, papal champion of the council, the archbishop said, “It is then evident that the church has power to change the commandments,” because by its power alone and not by the preaching of Jesus it had transferred the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.⁹ Tradition, they concluded, was not antiquity, but continuous inspiration. None could continue to fight the acceptance of tradition when the only authority for Sunday sacredness in the church was tradition. This discovery nerved the council to go forward with its work.
    All the doctrines against which the Reformers had protested were thus again formulated and strengthened by Rome. All the rites and practices which the Church in the Wilderness had straggled to escape were incorporated more strongly than ever into papal tradition by the twenty-five sessions of the council between 1545 and 1563.
    Henceforth, the Papacy was to have only one mission in the world, namely, to command nations and men everywhere to submit to the Council of Trent. The new slogan now invented, which must go reverberating throughout the earth, was, “The Council of Trent, the Council of Trent, the Council of Trent.”
⁷ Froude, The Council of Trent, pp. 174, 175; Muir, The Arrested Reformation, pages 152, 153; also M'Clintock and Strong, Cyclopedia, art. "The Council of Trent."
⁸ Holtzman, Kanon und Tradition, page 263. (see 1444 below)
⁹ Pallavicini, Histoire du Concile de Trent, vol. 2, cols. 1031, 1032.

Source: Truth Triumphant, the Church in the Wilderness, By Benjamin George Wilkinson, Pacific Press, 1944, reprints 1994, Teach Services, Inc., ISBN 0-945383-85-1, pgs. 317-318, and 2004, Hartland Publications, ISBN 0-923309-32-2, pgs. 308-310.

---

1443. Sabbath, Change of, Cited as Proof That Tradition Is Above Scripture

Source: Gaspare [Ricciulli] de Fosso (Archbishop of Reggio), Address in the 17th session of the Council of Trent, Jan. 18*, 1562, in Mansi SC, Vol. 33, cols. 529, 530. Latin.  [ Gian Domenico Mansi,''Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio"]

[col. 529] Such is the condition of the heretics of this age that on nothing do they rely more than that, under the pretense of the word of God, they overthrow the authority of the church; as though the church, His body, could be opposed to the word of Christ, or the head to the body. On the contrary, the authority of the church, then, is illustrated most clearly by the Scriptures; for while on the one hand she recommends them, declares them to be divine, [col. 530] offers them to us to be read, in doubtful matters explains them faithfully, and condemns whatever is contrary to them; on the other hand, the legal precepts in the Scriptures taught by the Lord have ceased by virtue of the same authority. The Sabbath, the most glorious day in the law, has been changed into the Lord’s day. Circumcision, enjoined upon Abraham and his seed under such threatening that he who had not been circumcised would be destroyed from among his people, has been so abrogated that the apostle asserts: "If ye be circumcised, ye have fallen from grace, and Christ shall profit you nothing." These and other similar matters have not ceased by virtue of Christ’s teaching (for He says He has come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it), but they have been changed by the authority of the church. Indeed, if she should be removed (since there must be heresies), who would set forth truth, and confound the obstinacy of heretics? All things will be confused, and soon heresies condemned by her authority will spring up again. [See No. 1444.]

---

Sed tempus est, ut ad illius auctoritatem (unde digressi sumus) revertamur : & in ea insistendum est; talis enim est hujus ævi hæreticorum conditio, ut in nullam rem magis incumbant, quam ut sub prætextu verbi Dei ecclesiæ auctoritatem evertant : ac si verbo Christi corpus ejus ecclesia, vel corpori caput posset adversari; quinimo auctoritas ecclesiæ tunc a scripturis maxime illustratur, dum eas commendat, divinas esse [530] declarat, nobis legendas exhibet, in dubiis fideliter exponit, & eis contraria condemnat, dum legalia in scripturispræcepta a domino eadem auctoritate cessarunt. Dies sabbati in lege celeberrimus transiit in Dominicam : circumcisio Abrahæ & semini ejus ea sub comminatione ordinata, ut cujus præputii caro circumcisa non fuerit, deleretur de populo suo : sic sublata est, ut apostolus obtestetur, si circumcidamini, excidistis a gratia, & Christus nihil vobis prodest. Hæc, & his similia non Christi prædicatione cessarunt (ait enim se venisse implere legem, non solvere) sed auctoritate ecclesiæ mutata sunt : etenim si ea tolleretur (cum oporteat hæreses esse ) quis ostendet veritatem, & hæreticorum confundet pertinaciam ? erunt confusa omnia, redeuntibus mox hæresibus illius auctoritate damnatis.

---

* As noted in the decree issued the first day of the 17th session of the Council of Trent, January 18 was the Catholic festival of the chair of St Peter at Rome (Cathedrae Romanae S. Petri). Pope Paul IV had in 1558, in the midst of the Reformation, and the Council of Trent convened to deal with it, established this feast day to celebrate the power and authority of the Bishop of Rome and the Holy See; particularly his magisterial authority in proclaiming doctrine ex cathedra, (from the chair of Peter), which is to say with infallibility. In 1962 Pope John XXIII moved the feast to February 22, combining it and the feast of the chair of Peter at Antioch, though some traditionalist Catholics continue to observe separate feasts. At the Vatican, on the feast of the chair of St. Peter, now Feb. 22, and the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul on June 29, the enthroned bronze statue of Peter near the altar of St. Peter's basilica is customarily dressed in vestments and a papal triple tiara placed on its head in celebration of the authority of the papacy.
The full Latin text of de Fosso's sermon, given at St. Vigilio Cathedral on Sunday, Jan. 18, 1562, to the Council of Trent, is also found online in:
Monumentorum Ad Historiam Concilii Tridentini Potissimum Illustrandam Spectantium Amplissima Collectio: Complectens Conciones, Volume 1, Josse Le Plat, 1781.pgs. 309-318.

---

1444. Sabbath, Change of—Cited in Council of Trent as Proof that Tradition Is Above Scripture

Source: Heinrich Julius Holtzmann, Kanon und Tradition ("Canon and Tradition") (Ludwigsburg: Druck and Verlag von Ferd. Riehm, 1859), p. 263. German.

The Council [of Trent] agreed fully with Ambrosius Pelargus, that under no condition should the Protestants be allowed to triumph by saying that the council had condemned the doctrine of the ancient church. But this practice caused untold difficulty without being able to guarantee certainty. For this business, indeed, ‘well-nigh divine prudence’ was requisite—which the Spanish ambassador acknowledged as belonging to the council on the sixteenth of March, 1562. Indeed, thus far they had not been able to orient themselves to the interchanging, crisscrossing, labyrinthine, twisting passages of an older and newer concept of tradition. But even in this they were to succeed. Finally, at the last opening [see editors’ note] on the eighteenth of January, 1562, all hesitation was set aside: [Gaspar de Fosso] the Archbishop of Reggio made a speech [see No. 1443] in which he openly declared that tradition stood above Scripture. The authority of the church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the church had changed circumcision into baptism, Sabbath into Sunday, not by the command of Christ, but by its own authority. With this, to be sure, the last illusion was destroyed, and it was declared that tradition does not signify antiquity, but continual inspiration.

[Editors’ note: This "last opening" of the Council of Trent was not the last day, but the opening of the 17th session, the first meeting of the last series of sessions that was opened, after a lapse of time, under a new pope. The council was in session for longer or shorter periods over a series of years.]

Source for entries 1443, 1444: Neufeld, Don F.,  Seventh-day Adventist Bible Student’s Source Book, Don F. Neufeld and Julia Neuffer.—Washington, D.C., Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1962, pgs. 887-888.

---

Adonque conforme alla presa deliberazione, venuto il di diciotta, si fece la Processione di tutto 'l Clero della città, de' Theologi, & Prelati, che, oltrei Cardinali, erano cento dodici mitrati, accompagnati dalle famiglie loro, & guardati da molti paesani armati, caminando dalla Chiesa di San Pietro alla Catedrale; dove il Cardinale di Mantoua cantò la Messa dello Spirito Santo: & Gasparo dal Fosso, Arcivescovo di Reggio, fece l'orazione: Hebbe per soggetto trattar dell'autorità della Chiesa, del Primato del Papa, & della potestà de' concilii; disse l'autorità della Chiesa non esser minore di quella della parola di Dio; che la Chiesa ha mutato il Sabbato, da Dio già ordinato, nella Domenica, & levata la Circoncisione, già strettamente dalla Maestà divina commandata; che questi precetti, non per la predicazione di Cristo, ma per autorità della Chiesa sono mutati. Rivoltosi anco a' Padri, gli conforto ad adoperarsi constantmete contra i Protestanti, con certezza che, si come lo Spirito Santo non puo errare, cosi eglino non possono ingannarsi.
Therefore in conformity with the resolution, when the eighteenth day was come, a procession was made of the whole clergy of the city of the divines and prelates, who besides the cardinals were one hundred and twelve that wore the mitre, accompanied by their families and guarded by many of the country people armed, going from St. Peter's Church to the Cathedral; where the Cardinal of Mantoua sang the Mass of the Holy Ghost and Gasparo dal Fosso, Archbishop of Reggio, made the sermon: His subject was the authority of the Church, the primacy of the Pope, and the power of Councils: he said that the Church had as much authority as the word of God and that the Church had changed the sabbath ordained by God into Sunday, taking away the Circumcision formerly commanded by the divine Majesty, and that the precepts are changed, not by the preaching of Christ, but by the authority of the Church. Turning himself unto the fathers, he exhorted them to labour constantly against the Protestants, being assured, that, as the Holy Ghost could not err, so neither could they be deceived.

Source: Historia del Concilio Tridentino, Second Edition, Book 6, 1629, by Paolo Sarpi (Pietro Soave Polano), pgs. 479 - 480.
Another 1629 printing online at Google Books.
An 1858 printing.

The great falling away, twice told

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves… having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (2Tim. 3:1,2,5).

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1Tim. 4:1,2).

As in ages past, the introduction of pagan doctrines into the chosen people is again on the upsurge and soon to overcome those who have held the truth in righteousness. The Trinity has no foundation in scriptures, according to the SDA-publication, The Trinity, Understanding God’s love, His plan of salvation, and Christian relationships. “While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact….” The Trinity. And the Vatican states that the Trinity is the foundation for all other “Christian” dogma.

“The holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth…. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them.” (Rev. 11:2-4,7).

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days…. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:6,17).

“   Thousands were imprisoned and slain, but others sprang up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ and accounted of Him as conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer. Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness for the truth; and where least expected, the subjects of Satan were leaving his service and enlisting under the banner of Christ. 

     Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God by planting his banner in the Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived and led to displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy prey. 

     The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection, but they had no conviction of sin and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart. With some concessions on their part they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ. 

     Now the church was in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise. Others were in favor of yielding or modifying some features of their faith and uniting with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, urging that this might be the means of their full conversion. That was a time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith and turn their minds from the word of truth. 

     Most of the Christians at last consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism. Although the worshipers of idols professed to be converted, and united with the church, they still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their worship to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints. The foul leaven of idolatry, thus brought into the church, continued its baleful work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were incorporated into her faith and worship. As the followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted, and the church lost her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth and worshiped God alone. 

     There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Saviour’s life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors. Even in her best estate the church was not composed wholly of the true, pure, and sincere. Our Saviour taught that those who willfully indulge in sin are not to be received into the church; yet He connected with Himself men who were faulty in character, and granted them the benefits of His teachings and example, that they might have an opportunity to see their errors and correct them. Among the twelve apostles was a traitor. Judas was accepted, not because of his defects of character, but notwithstanding them. He was connected with the disciples, that, through the instruction and example of Christ, he might learn what constitutes Christian character, and thus be led to see his errors, to repent, and, by the aid of divine grace, to purify his soul ‘in obeying the truth.’ But Judas did not walk in the light so graciously permitted to shine upon him. By indulgence in sin he invited the temptations of Satan. His evil traits of character became predominant. He yielded his mind to the control of the powers of darkness, he became angry when his faults were reproved, and thus he was led to commit the fearful crime of betraying his Master. So do all who cherish evil under a profession of godliness hate those who disturb their peace by condemning their course of sin. When a favorable opportunity is presented, they will, like Judas, betray those who for their good have sought to reprove them. 

     The apostles encountered those in the church who professed godliness while they were secretly cherishing iniquity. Ananias and Sapphira acted the part of deceivers, pretending to make an entire sacrifice for God, when they were covetously withholding a portion for themselves. The Spirit of truth revealed to the apostles the real character of these pretenders, and the judgments of God rid the church of this foul blot upon its purity. This signal evidence of the discerning Spirit of Christ in the church was a terror to hypocrites and evildoers. They could not long remain in connection with those who were, in habit and disposition, constant representatives of Christ; and as trials and persecution came upon His followers, those only who were willing to forsake all for the truth’s sake desired to become His disciples. Thus, as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure. But as it ceased, converts were added who were less sincere and devoted, and the way was open for Satan to obtain a foothold. 

     But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led further and further from the truth. Satan exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number of the followers of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more fully upon these, and inspired them to persecute those who remained true to God. None understood so well how to oppose the true Christian faith as did those who had once been its defenders; and these apostate Christians, uniting with their half-pagan companions, directed their warfare against the most essential features of the doctrines of Christ. 

     It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and abominations which were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church. The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated and proscribed. 

     After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. 

     Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people. There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion is gaining ground, that, after all, these are not of vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ.” Great Controversy, p. 42-46.