More than 250 Protestant scholars signing pact with the Church of Rome

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 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.” (Dan. 8:9,10).

From https://ktfnews.com/category/briefings/news/

“Over 250 prominent scholars, pastors, and church leaders from around the world released on Tuesday a theological statement affirming the essentials of the Reformation. And its Protestant authors contend that in this 500th anniversary year, the document is a ‘catholic’ statement in its best sense. The Reforming Catholic Confession is a document which outlines the main theological commitments held by a wide breadth of Protestant Christians, including evangelicals, since the Reformation. The purpose of such a statement is to demonstrate the remarkable togetherness that exists throughout the world among Protestants on the core elements of Christianity, said Jerry Walls, an author and professor of philosophy at Houston Baptist University. The Confession showcases the extensive agreement on the substance of the historic Christian faith, Walls said.

The statement’s signatories include a sizable list of biblical heavyweights who hail from a variety of denominations. Over 110 Christian institutions, over 30 of which are international, are represented.…

As for why they decided to call it a “catholic” confession, Walls said he felt it is important to reclaim the word “catholic.” 

‘The Church of Rome simply calls itself, “The Catholic Church.” It is not the Catholic church,’ he emphasized. “It is one part of the holy catholic church.”

‘We want to make clear that ‘catholic’ is a much more expansive reality than the Church of Rome. And we want Protestants to understand that when they are true to their own heritage, and their own roots, they are “catholic” also.’

On October 31, Protestant evangelicals around the world will mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, objecting to corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church, most notably the selling of papal indulgences.

‘A lot of people have been asking the question ‘Is the Reformation over? Was it a mistake?’ said Kevin Vanhoozer, who took charge of the drafting the initial statement. ‘I would say that there is a permanent gain that we shouldn’t lose. The Reformation was not ‘a Pandora’s box that unleashed an interpretive anarchy and schism upon the world,’ he stressed.”

The context of the opening scripture was:

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

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 [the little horn antichrist power] magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him [the little horn power] the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His [the Prince of the host’s] sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him [the little horn power] 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. 8:9-14).

The little horn antichrist from the Roman Beast of Daniel 7 that “waxed great, even to the host of heaven, cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them” in Daniel 8 is the same symbolic woman on top of the Roman Beast in Revelation 17 who drank the blood of the martyrs of Christ, (“it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them”). “She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High.” The Great Controversy, p.  571.

The Great Controversy, chapter entitled, Liberty of Conscience Threatened, written in 1888, says much about the October 31, 2017 peace treaty between Protestant denominations and the Church of Rome. As if written yesterday, its clear understanding of Bible prophecy spoke of this ecclesiastical event as if it came from Sunday’s editorial section of the Washington Post.

“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed!  {GC 563.1} 

     The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned, and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times and plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments.  {GC 563.2} 

     Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for eight hundred years by this haughty power? So far from being relinquished, this claim was affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater positiveness than ever before. As Rome asserts that the ‘church never erred; nor will it, according to the Scriptures, ever err’ (John L. von Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, book 3, century II, part 2, chapter 2, section 9, note 17), how can she renounce the principles which governed her course in past ages?  {GC 564.1} 

     The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All that she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to be right; and would she not repeat the same acts, should the opportunity be presented? Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome be reinstated in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution.  {GC 564.2} 

     A well-known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy as regards freedom of conscience, and of the perils which especially threaten the United States from the success of her policy:  {GC 564.3} 

     ‘There are many who are disposed to attribute any fear of Roman Catholicism in the United States to bigotry or childishness. Such see nothing in the character and attitude of Romanism that is hostile to our free institutions, or find nothing portentous in its growth. Let us, then, first compare some of the fundamental principles of our government with those of the Catholic Church.  {GC 564.4} 

     ‘The Constitution of the United States guarantees liberty of conscience. Nothing is dearer or more fundamental. Pope Pius IX, in his Encyclical Letter of August 15, 1854, said: “The absurd and erroneous doctrines or ravings in defense of liberty of conscience are a most pestilential error--a pest, of all others, most to be dreaded in a state.” The same pope, in his Encyclical Letter of December 8, 1864, anathematized “those who assert the liberty of conscience and of religious worship,” also “all such as maintain that the church may not employ force.”  {GC 564.5} 

     ‘The pacific tone of Rome in the United States does not imply a change of heart. She is tolerant where she is helpless. Says Bishop O'Connor: “Religious liberty is merely endured until the opposite can be carried into effect without peril to the Catholic world.”. . . The archbishop of St. Louis once said: “Heresy and unbelief are crimes; and in Christian countries, as in Italy and Spain, for instance, where all the people are Catholics, and where the Catholic religion is an essential part of the law of the land, they are punished as other crimes.”. . .  {GC 565.1} 

     ‘Every cardinal, archbishop, and bishop in the Catholic Church takes an oath of allegiance to the pope, in which occur the following words: “Heretics, schismatics, and rebels to our said lord (the pope), or his aforesaid successors, I will to my utmost persecute and oppose.”’--Josiah Strong, Our Country, ch. 5, pars. 2-4. [SEE APPENDIX FOR CORRECTED REFERENCES.]  {GC 565.2}

     It is true that there are real Christians in the Roman Catholic communion. Thousands in that church are serving God according to the best light they have. They are not allowed access to His word, and therefore they do not discern the truth. [PUBLISHED IN 1888 AND 1911. SEE APPENDIX.] They have never seen the contrast between a living heart service and a round of mere forms and ceremonies. God looks with pitying tenderness upon these souls, educated as they are in a faith that is delusive and unsatisfying. He will cause rays of light to penetrate the dense darkness that surrounds them. He will reveal to them the truth as it is in Jesus, and many will yet take their position with His people.  {GC 565.3}

     But Romanism as a system is no more in harmony with the gospel of Christ now than at any former period in her history. The Protestant churches are in great darkness, or they would discern the signs of the times. The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done. Catholicism is gaining ground upon every side. See the increasing number of her churches and chapels in Protestant countries. Look at the popularity of her colleges and seminaries in America, so widely patronized by Protestants. Look at the growth of ritualism in England and the frequent defections to the ranks of the Catholics. These things should awaken the anxiety of all who prize the pure principles of the gospel.  {GC 565.4} 

     Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty….  {GC 566.1} 

The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High.  {GC 571.1} 

     The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. It is a part of her policy to assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose; but beneath the variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of the serpent. ‘Faith ought not to be kept with heretics, nor persons suspected of heresy’ (Lenfant, volume 1, page 516), she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?  {GC 571.2} 

     It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the Reformers.  {GC 571.3} 

     As the Protestant churches have been seeking the favor of the world, false charity has blinded their eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil, and as the inevitable result they will finally believe evil of all good. Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry.  {GC 571.4}

     A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor, apprehend little danger from her power and influence. Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God's Holy Word, light from heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert and reject it.  {GC 572.1} 

     A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world--those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power.  {GC 572.2} 

     A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of the papacy. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success. In past ages, when men were without God's word and without the knowledge of the truth, their eyes were blindfolded, and thousands were ensnared, not seeing the net spread for their feet. In this generation there are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations, "science falsely so called;" they discern not the net, and walk into it as readily as if blindfolded. God designed that man's intellectual powers should be held as a gift from his Maker and should be employed in the service of truth and righteousness; but when pride and ambition are cherished, and men exalt their own theories above the word of God, then intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance. Thus the false science of the present day, which undermines faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages.  {GC 572.3} 

     In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the state, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance--a custom which originated with Rome, and which she claims as the sign of her authority. It is the spirit of the papacy--the spirit of conformity to worldly customs, the veneration for human traditions above the commandments of God--that is permeating the Protestant churches and leading them on to do the same work of Sunday exaltation which the papacy has done before them….

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, students of prophecy in the United States have presented this testimony to the world. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. With Protestant teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for Sundaykeeping, and the same lack of Scriptural evidence, as with the papal leaders who fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command from God. The assertion that God's judgments are visited upon men for their violation of the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning to be urged. And a movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground.  {GC 579.1} 

     Marvelous in her shrewdness and cunning is the Roman Church. She can read what is to be. She bides her time, seeing that the Protestant churches are paying her homage in their acceptance of the false sabbath and that they are preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come to the help of Protestants in this work it is not difficult to conjecture. Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those who are disobedient to the church?  {GC 580.1} 

     The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests.  {GC 580.2} 

     History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. In the year 1204, Pope Innocent III extracted from Peter II, king of Arragon, the following extraordinary oath: ‘I, Peter, king of Arragonians, profess and promise to be ever faithful and obedient to my lord, Pope Innocent, to his Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and faithfully to preserve my kingdom in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith, and persecuting heretical pravity.’ --John Dowling, The History of Romanism, b. 5, ch. 6, sec. 55. This is in harmony with the claims regarding the power of the Roman pontiff ‘that it is lawful for him to depose emperors’ and ‘that he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous rulers.’--Mosheim, b. 3, cent. 11, pt. 2, ch. 2, sec. 9, note 17. (See also Appendix note for page 447.)  {GC 580.3}

     And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.  {GC 581.1} 

     God's word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.” The Great Controversy, p. 563-572,579-581.

Life in this world, especially in Protestant America, is about to become very difficult. What the Vatican couldn’t succeed at with Adolf Hitler during WWII it will accomplish. But this time with the United States as the world’s aggressor. Peace will no longer be known. Already trouble to building in the world, which will spark the final world war that will enslave the human race. Just like the 1929 world market collapse set the stage for a German furor and a Japanese Emperor, likewise another collapse will happen for redistributing the world’s wealth into the hands of the Vatican and her secret societies. When the nations are angry, then the pope will come to the rescue—but at a price. That price: seven billion people to worship him as vice president to Christ in His kingdom on earth.

This can only happen when the “mighty and holy people” (Dan. 8:24) are abused throughout the earth. They must be silenced. No more protesters, no more dissenters. Protestant and civil America will be no more. A new constitution, a new country, will dominate the world. As the papacy’s eldest son of the Church, the United States of Christian America will fight her wars. Every true child of God must die, be tortured into recantation, imprisoned, or worked to death. Every Protestant who loves his Bible must be punished. Everyone who clings to Jesus in His heavenly sanctuary must be punished. Like the Jews during Hitler Germany, all modern antipathy toward the new American regime, all anti-papacy, anti-Catholicism, anti-bishop of Rome sympathizers, will suffer.

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured 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: and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Rev. 17:3-6).

But before that extreme treatment will be a lesser time of trouble. The Holy Roman power will lord over all the world. Her wicked people will be her henchmen. Reduced to servitude, the mighty and holy people will be enslaved. They will suffer severely for every mistake to their masters’ orders, every misunderstood command, every damaged object, every less than perfect service. Their each complaint, each request for rest, food, water, etc. will be met with a modern counterpart for the whip. Angry, crude threatenings will make first time offenders aware of their transgression. The tazer, the pepper spray, the rubber bat, for second time offender. The hidden chambers for torture and death to third time offenders.

And there will be no redress of grievances. Workers’ rights will be no more. Civility will disappear from this planet. Prejudice and intense hate will pour forth from those who promised the nations equality and common wealth, who professed to love peace and brotherhood. Why should we have rights? We deserved to be deceived. We’re the captured enemy. Enemies have no rights. We will be the enemy in our own country. We will be the enemy because of Protestantism and its liberation. Those two powers raised up America above the Papacy and above every other power in the earth. Because of the faith of Christ and His righteousness built into our forefathers’ minds He exalted us among the nations. But, Protestant America failed to do as Jesus commanded when He blessed His people. They were to prepare the world for the end of the great controversy between Satan and Christ. Protestant Americans were supposed to purify themselves for Christ’s second coming in power and in a glory brighter than the sun. “Jesus saith unto him, … Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”(Matt. 26:64).

But, we looked to this world and loved this world. Now the same destruction must fall upon us as it did to Israel of old. “I was wroth with My people, I have polluted Mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.” (Isa. 47:6). No one will receive pity. Sympathy will leave the earth. “And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come.” (Rev. 11:18).

“Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.

Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.

We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!” (Lam. 5:2-16).

“The wicked shall do wickedly.” (Dan. 12:10).

Today Satan is destroying the nations. Darkness is covering the earth, and gross darkness is covering the people. The world is growing very depraved, and the prophecy says to us all, “They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah” (Lam. 5:11). Most often in the Bible the word for “ravished” [Strong’s 6031] was translated “to be afflicted” and “to be humbled”. But two times the Hebrew word was translated, “forced” (Judg. 20:5; 2 Sam. 13:14,32) sexually, and once “defiled” (Gen. 34:2) in the way of prostitution (see Gen. 34:31). In those cases, rape was what the word specifically described. Being raped, “ravished” should not be dismissed in the coming reign of terror. And men, in this age of homosexuality and perversity, let’s not think that we will be exempt from rape. “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, 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…. The beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” (Rev. 17:8,11). Perdition is the condition of lawlessness. Morality will evaporate from the earth. the conscience will no longer be under the control of God’s Spirit.

You will get one chance to hear your master’s instructions, and any confusion or misunderstanding that ends in non-compliance will require the master’s terrorizing punishment. Impatience and wrath will accompany every demand of this rising power. “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.” (Hab. 1:6). There will be no relationship between masters and slaves. All possessions and houses and lands will be taken by the enemies of Protestantism and the God of the Bible.

“So the LORD alone did lead him [Israel], and there was no strange god with him.

He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and He made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger.

They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

And when the LORD saw it, He abhorred them, because of the provoking of His sons, and of His daughters.

And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them.

They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.

I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.” (Deut. 32:12-27).

Let the avenging Vatican remember this last verse. Nevertheless, Protestant America deserves what is coming. They have loved the gifts of God more than the Giver of those gifts. The words from their Bible are an affidavit against them. “Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?” (Jer. 49:4).

“For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among My treasures?

To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

For the LORD shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

And He shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.” (Deut. 32:28-38).

Our homes will be taken and redistributed among the new residents in the land from other countries. And there will be nothing we can do to stop the grand theft, for we will be considered traitors of the state and we will no longer have any rights. The only thing that Protestant homeowners will retain is the mortgage, which they will have no way of paying. They will be doubly punished, while the new dwellers will live freely. And the new house dwellers will worship the pope for his beneficence and political power.

“In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

And they that escape of you shall remember Me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from Me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

So will I stretch out My hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Eze. 6:6-14).

We have trusted in the dove-like peaceful, tones of the popes. The strong delusion of God has come. Soon, very soon, the sweet sound of the Vatican will turn into the roar of a ravenous lion. When it is too late to reclaim our power we will see what are the real motives of the papacy in her smiles and promises of good.

“Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

The just LORD is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

I said, Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:1-9).

We will have to have the scriptures fortifying our minds in order to keep calm and loving toward our mistresses and masters. All who played church and never feared God will have no protection for the mental and physical abuse. The persecution will only serve to reinforce the hatred and vengefulness that still existed in the hearts of the unconverted religionists. Only the honest hearts will admit that they deserve the reign of terror.

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10).

Out of the oppression will awaken an admission of our failure and our mountain of sinfulness. Conviction will take hold of minds, repentance will be forthcoming because the word of God had taken root in honest hearts previous to the desolation that came against America and all the nations of the world.

“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Mal. 3:1-4).

They will confess their unfaithfulness to the Lord who hears repentance. They lived for this world instead of living to spread the gospel everywhere they went in accordance with the Lord’s command, “to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6). He will answer them with His witness of His Spirit. They will be thankful for the oppression, and will let the oppressors purify them and prepare them to stand before the Lord of perfection. They will learn what Ellen White relayed to them about doing their work with “dispatch”, with all their heart. They will do their masters’ and mistresses’ commands with glee and thoroughness. They will remember how Abraham, Rebekah, Elijah, and every other saint—even the cherubim of Ezekiel 1:14 ran to do service. They will become perfect in their sphere even as their Father in heaven is perfect in His. They will become pure as Jesus. “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1Jn. 3:2,3).

This will begin the Loud Cry of the fourth angel of Revelation 18. Nothing less than captivity will turn around the rebellion of the mighty and holy people. Out of the abundance of their repentance their new faith will plead with others and call them to repentance and obedience to the living God of love. To them will come the refreshing from the presence of the Lord Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, the Latter Rain of the Spirit of Christ. He will be close to them again, and their communion and assurance of His presence will empower them to take the gospel to the very last soul. There will be no fear of man in their hearts. Never again will they forget that it is better to obey God than lawless men.

“And when they [the two witnesses, the mighty and holy people] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

And after three days and an half [3 1/2 means “judgment”] the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” (Rev. 11:7-14).

Nothing the devil and his hordes of the earth does will not discourage or eliminate the mighty and holy people. The Adventist and 11th hour Protestants will “sit in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 2:6). They will preach the gospel after their resurrection from unbelief and desolation. The truth they pour forth will cause a world-wide shaking and sealing. The Vatican and all of your soldiers cannot prevent the fulfillment of God’s word by His people.

Tale of two world financial crashes

The restoration of the Catholic Papacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City

In 1870, the Pope’s holdings were left in an uncertain situation when Rome itself was annexed by the Piedmont-led forces which had united the rest of Italy, after a nominal resistance by the papal forces. Between 1861 and 1929 the status of the Pope was referred to as the “Roman Question”. They were undisturbed in their palace, and given certain recognitions by the Law of Guarantees, including the right to send and receive ambassadors. But they did not recognize the Italian king’s right to rule in Rome, and they refused to leave the Vatican compound until the dispute was resolved in 1929. Other states continued to maintain international recognition of the Holy See as a sovereign entity. In practice Italy made no attempt to interfere with the Holy See within the Vatican walls. However, they confiscated church property in many other places, including, perhaps most notably, the Quirinal Palace, formerly the pope’s official residence. Pope Pius IX (1846-1878), the last ruler of the Papal States, claimed that after Rome was annexed he was a “Prisoner in the Vatican”. This situation was resolved on February 11, 1929 between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy.

The treaty was signed by Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III and by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri for Pope Pius XI. The Lateran Treaty and the Concordat established the independent State of the Vatican City and granted Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a new concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain provisions of the earlier treaty, including the position of Catholicism as the Italian state religion.


The Great Depression
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_depression

The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s for different countries. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history, and is used in the 21st century as a benchmark on how far the world’s economy can fall. The Great Depression originated in the United States; historians most often use as a starting date the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. The end of the depression in the U.S. is associated with the onset of the war economy of World War II, beginning around 1939.



Is it a coincidence that the restoration of the Vatican occurred shortly before the stock market crash and Adolf Hitler’s effort to remove any entity that defied the church of Rome? “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4). Who was behind Hitler, supporting him with absolution from guilt and reprisal? –The restored Papacy, the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Today, with the escalation of the church before the whole world; today, when every head of state reverenced John Paul II at his funeral; today, when the Protestant denominations are giving back their allegiance to their “Mother;” today, when the attack against the separation of church and state is well underway; today, we are about to experience another collapsing of the world economy as the Papacy announces its place at the very center of world affairs. Never again will it be shoved aside as unimportant and unnecessary. Never again! “We will make sure of that!” Unrecognized as important and essential, the Papacy has long seethed for world worship, and now is prepared to reclaim its seat of power and great authority.

Their army of Jesuits, dressed in sacredotal robes or common clothing, and holding thousands of offices in every government and in the financial world, await their individual orders to do this or that. “Weaken the economy! Move the people to love this world and to be greedy for more money! Whip the financial world into a fury of moneygetting! Train everyone to think that credit is absolutely necessary for life! Invent new, unethical methods to make a profit from the stock market until their rock-steady economy is in ruins! Destroy the enemies of the Church!”

“Keep up closely with the powerful insiders—no, BE THE INSIDERS!—who know when a stock will be worthless and needs to be unloaded! Never lose in the marketplace; always and ever make a large profit and send that wealth to Vatican coffers! And when you, my army, have stolen all their wealth, then convince the governments to spend all their reserves to keep their failing economies alive! Then push even harder to bring back fear of loss, desire for competition, a feverish hope by greed, and self-preservation in a vengeance so that the nations’ reserves, used to prop up the world economy, is squandered, and all their money is in our banks! Then, they will come crawling to us on their knees, begging for us to save them! Then, after they have suffered awhile, we will condescend to help them—for a price.” Spiritual totalitarianism, devil possession—the Mark in the forehead. Tyrannical religion toward those who do not want to defy us, brutal religion with huge teeth and powerful claws—the Mark in the right hand. A very heavy tribute upon their necks.

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation;...

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Rev. 14:9-11).

An excerpt from my book, The Seven Trumpets and the Investigative Judgment

Chapter 5

Revelation Chapter 8: The Trumpets Begin

Revelation chapter 8 ends the scene of all the future excitement in heaven, the victorious church of chapter 7 upon which John, like Jeremiah, so pleasantly lingered (see Jeremiah 31). With Jeremiah John could say, “Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me” (Jer. 31:26, cf vs. 25). John, like Jeremiah, was viewing the redemption of another humbled Israel. John must, however, leave the triumphant picture of eternity, and revert to the mustering church still earth-bound and marching against Satan. The scene of Revelation 7’s celebration must close in patient hope. The future eternal celebration must cease from John’s sight, for he must review the most solemn period of all Earth’s history, the final examination that decides who will be part of Revelation 7’s joyful, eternal kingdom of God, or who will refuse the war with self in order to gain the everlasting kingdom. Revelation chapter 7 provides the hope and encouragement that would be needed for the reader of The Revelation prior to continuing on to the distressing scenes of the seventh seal’s seven trumpets. Christ’s chapter 7 vision does for the reader what He did for His disciples when He gave them a break from their public labors. “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Now, in chapter 8 the reader must hear His words to move forward in battle. “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward” (Deut. 2:3) to fight for the church’s home in the heavenly land of promise, “in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established” (Ex. 15:17, cf Ps. 77:13; Heb. 8:1, 2).

On October 22, 1844, the seventh seal opens and there is a solemn silence in heaven for about a half hour (one week on earth, see verse 1). This occurs at the close of the 2,300 year prophecy of Daniel, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Dan. 8:14, cf Dan. 9:25; Ezra 7:7). That prophecy began in 457 B.C. in the days of Ezra. The week of silence intentionally divides chapter 7’s eternal celebrations by the victorious church at Jesus’ coming from the next scenes of the church still militant against sin and Satan, which precede Christ’s final redemption and His celebrations (see Isaiah 25). The Revelation chapter 8 silence separates the final reward, seen in chapter 7, from the necessary struggles that culminate in that final reward. The day of reward will cause the redeemed to expel all sin from their heart, cleanse sin from the heavenly sanctuary, condemn Satan and his hosts (see Leviticus 16:12; Daniel 8:9-14, 23-25), and will forever hide every reminiscence of the great controversy (see Leviticus 16:16, 19, 30; Isaiah 65:17). Since the days of Adam, all who sought God’s love and grace, and obtained it, were recorded in the book of life (see Psalm 56:8). However, Jesus tells in His parable that not every soul fights to retain His grace all the way to the very end of life. (See Matthew 13:20-22; Matthew 24:13; Revelation 1:3; 2:25, 26; 16:15; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:6; 6:4-8, 15; Romans 4:17-22; John 8:31.)

Jesus said that most do not strive for the fullest surrender that comes at life’s completion (see Matthew 7:13; Revelation 2:11; Hebrews 10:36, 38). They do not put their whole will and heart toward pleasing God or toward wrestling with His Law for the duration of their lifetime. They become indolent, temptation engulfs them, and they end up with an abrasive heart and character, and a spiritual experience of thorns and briers (see Isaiah 32:13, 16; 33:11-14; Matthew 7:15-17; 12:43-45; 1 Samuel 16:1). They miss the fullness of redemption, not doing like Abraham who continued pressing for the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (see Romans 4:18-22).

Therefore, an investigation by Jesus must ensue (see Ezekiel 34:17; Isaiah 40:10) and be recorded by all the angelic hosts (see Revelation 3:5; 14:6, 10; Luke 15:7, 10, 21; Daniel 4:13, 35). It must judge all whose hearts had confessed the Son of God, from Adam until the end of the judgment. Heaven must examine all who initially surrendered to the condemnation and goodness of God, who trusted in the pouring out of Christ’s soul for them, and ultimately whose candlestick Satan was or was not able to take away (see Revelation 2:5; Matthew 13:38-43; 22:12-14; Revelation 17:14). If their trust and obedience remained to the end, then the heavenly court will not blot out their names from the book of life.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels (Rev. 3:5, cf Heb. 3:6; 10:39).

He that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22).

This infers that Jesus must blot out of His book some people. They will not keep His word and remain surrendered to the will of God; they will not keep setting their love on Jesus, enduring (see John 8:31; 14:21-23; Psalm 91:14-16; Revelation 3:11) until the end in the battle against their exceeding sinfulness. The sanctuary cleansing infers that there will be judgment on those who failed in that investigation (see 1 Corinthians 3:13; 2 Peter 2:18-22; 1 Peter 4:17; Psalm 73:17) by their rejoining Satan’s hosts (see 1 Timothy 5:11-13; 2 Timothy 4:10). But thankfully, the promise means blessing on everyone who, like their Master, patiently held the beginning of their confidence in God to the very last moment of life (see Hebrews 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8). It promises that through His continued, abundant grace from above, many do overcome. The great cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment determine who of the final generation will stand when Jesus returns and who will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 9). When Jesus returns, He delivers those who, after the investigation and “a time of trouble, such as never was” (Dan. 12:1), are still “found written in the book” (Dan. 12:1, cf Rev. 13:8; 17:8).

The Revelation chapter 8 sanctuary scene is a solemn event because it begins the preliminary spiritual judgments upon the world before Christ’s return. The preliminary investigation period must require soul-searching from everyone on earth. “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come” (Rev. 14:7). Is my mind fortified with truth so that I can stand in the day of battle as Paul valiantly fought for the gospel, and I will ultimately stand in the day of destruction? Does the love of God so control my heart that Satan cannot inspire me with hatred toward even one enemy in the persecutions? Can I accept correction? Can I be reproved? Can my appetites survive “the loss of all things”, “to be abased”, to be “hungry”, and “to suffer need” (Phil. 3:8; 4:12) during the time of trouble and Jesus’ return? Am I experiencing the Early Rain’s justification and sanctification by faith so that I can take part in the Latter Rain’s sealing and glorification by faith? Am I reconciling with the work of losing personal idols; do I “count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:8)? Are the heavenly agencies putting in me a love of the truth and giving me the Early Rain’s promised sprinkling from a cursed, evil conscience, giving me relief from the hounding of Satan for my past shame? Am I already washing my robe “white in the blood of the Lamb” and preparing to be the fully ripened fruit of the “great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14)? Am I open to the heavenly agencies’ reproducing the character of Jesus in me (see 1 John 3:1-3), even perfectly reproducing it, as our Father in heaven is perfect (see Matthew 5:48)? Am I being sanctified by the truth that I preach, or am I a castaway? Am I understanding and experiencing the science of salvation, so that I will be among the 144,000 who correctly preach “the everlasting gospel” (Rev. 14:6) “in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matt. 24:14)?

Per the Old Testament atonement guideline, the investigation mandates such self-examination. “Whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day [during the Day of Atonement], he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls” (Lev. 23:29-32). “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23, 24). Therefore, examining our character and conscience in the light of the Law of God demands our special attention today. Yet, trusting in Christ’s redemptive suffering for us to give rest and victory over sin has not become obsolete in this closing period of Earth’s history, which we have called the investigative judgment. Trusting Christ will be a current requirement all the way to the end. This judgment period for investigating our characters should not cause us any misgivings because it motivates us by amplifying our need of the Son (see 1 John 3:3-7). So, the investigative judgment and the sealing are a good thing. The sealing comes by faith in the Son; everyone else lives under the wrath of God (see John 3:36).

John sees a High Priestly Angel standing at a golden altar before God (see Revelation 8:3). This altar can be none other than the altar of incense which guards the “second veil” (Heb. 9:3, cf Heb. 9:4) that had been set up at the entrance to the Most Holy Places of both earthly and heavenly sanctuaries (see Hebrews 8:2, 5). Therefore Christ’s incense goes up to His Father with the “with the prayers” (Rev. 8:3) of His children. There He intercedes before His Father for their heaven-borne requests and communion, giving them groans that they could not of themselves utter (see Romans 8:26; Galatians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:2). This scene of Revelation chapter 8 indicates a preparation to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. The Angel is carrying a censer, officiating at the altar of incense. Thus, He is ready to enter the Most Holy on the Day of Atonement of October 22, 1844. Like ancient Israel crowding around the tent sanctuary in the wilderness, Christ is surrounded by “all saints” (Rev. 8:3, cf Lev. 23:29) ― His Millerite people who are praying for God’s grace to remain firm during that dark time of their desire to see Jesus.

Gary, a Bible student acquaintance, made this seventh seal introduction more concretely connected to the cleansing of the sanctuary and to the investigative judgment period. He showed me the comparison of the Revelation 8:3 over-abundant incense with its type.

Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: and he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail (Lev. 16:11, 12).

The “much” incense of the angelic High Priest in Revelation 8 is the antitype of the two handfuls of incense that Aaron needed both times he entered the earthly Most Holy Place on each annual Day of Atonement. Everything in Revelation 8:3 speaks of the ceremonial, typical events that took place yearly in the great, final seventh month Atonement, and therefore Revelation 8 speaks of the literal, antitypical commencement of the heavenly sanctuary cleansing. The earthly antitype is what Revelation 8 looks back on and uses it to show the antitype’s fulfillment during the last days seventh seal period.

As we saw in Revelation chapter 6, the sixth seal finished with the close of the Millerite movement, which had begun the proclamation of Christ’s return. Next, we saw Revelation 6:17-7:3 pause the seven seal storyline and insert the Revelation 7:4ff tangent. That tangent intimated much trouble ahead of them, but also wonderful hope afterwards. It gave a snapshot of a difficult battle for blotting out the sins of the 144,000, and a glorious victory in their ultimate atonement to the Father as the scene trailed off into a still more glorious eternity with Him and the Lamb (see Revelation 7:14-17).

Now, Revelation 8:1 picks up the seven seal storyline again. And please notice first, that before the Angel begins His cleansing and throws down His censor, the seven angels who will blow the seven trumpets are already involved and are standing by for their great work (see Revelation 8:2) during the seventh seal. Therefore, this scene of angels and their trumpets before and after of the Day of Atonement scene says that the rest of chapter 8 and all of chapter 9 are connected to the high priestly Angel’s work as He prepares to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary.

This says that because Revelation 8 angelic trumpeters are standing by and because this seventh-seal heavenly sanctuary scene are directly connected to the sixth seal that was paused at Revelation 7:3, then the Revelation chapter 8 sanctuary scene and the seven trumpets that follow it all happen during the seventh sequential seal of the mystery book concerning God. Therefore, Revelation 8’s seventh seal, which must naturally pick up the storyline just where the sixth seal left off, must place all seven trumpets after the early American Millerite October 22, 1844 Great Disappointment of Christ’s return shown in the sixth seal.

Like the Exodus Israel hoping for an immediate entrance into “the Sanctuary” (Ex. 15:17) when they were only eleven days away from Canaan, those involved in that sixth seal pronouncement soon will enter into heaven as Jesus promised (see John 14:1-3), but not without a period of training to overcome Satan’s battle against the final pronouncement.

Chapter 7’s thrilling intermission bridges between the sixth and seventh seals, and then its tangent of glory closes in order for the seven seals prophecy to transition back into a somber, even a stern, setting in order for Revelation 8 and 9 to finish the seventh seal trumpet activities. And as we said earlier, both Revelation chapters 6 finished and 7 began at the terrifying end of God’s merciful Judgment Day warning by the Millerite movement and its Great Disappointment of 1844. Therefore, the Revelation 8 scene opens on October 22, 1844 with a period of silence before God. The week of silence sets the heavenly stage with a serious atmosphere for a determined battle between God and Satan during a final investigative judgment.

Judgment Day could have come in 1844 or shortly thereafter. And God had every right to terminate the church dispensation by His appearing, though no one would have been ready for that day of terror. He didn’t return because the human race merited another 170 years of existence in its sins. But, God’s forbearance and grace must overrule His due justice at this time in order to produce a group which will perfectly show His ability to attract humanity away from their lustful idols to the purity and disinterested love of His coming kingdom. Then He can return in power and glory, and reap a great harvest.

So, upon opening the seventh seal Christ, “the angel of his [Father’s] presence” (Isa. 63:9, cf Ex. 23:20) stands before the altar of incense. He is about to enter the Most Holy Place to blot out from the heavenly sanctuary all the sin of the saints since Adam left Eden.

Into the second [compartment of the tabernacle] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people (Heb. 9:7).

But, before our Angel High Priest goes in in order to prepare the world for His return Jesus must first be cleansed of the open shame with which His Protestants have sullied His name. He must offer “for himself” before the Ancient of days. Then He must “make an atonement for … his house” (Lev. 16:11), preparing a body of Protestants for their unprecedented ministry of preparing the world for His second advent. The Mother of all living goes nowhere and does nothing without His family. He moves no faster than His children can keep up with Him. He says, “I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure” (Gen. 33:14). “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion” (Isa. 8:18).

The Old Testament type for the annual Judgment Day showed this in the requirement for Aaron to first cleanse himself and his family prior to cleansing the sanctuary for the nation. (See Leviticus 16:11, 29.) And Aaron’s house included his anointed servants, the Levites.

I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary (Num. 8:19, cf Num. 3:9).

He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness (Mal. 3:3).

This cleansing He can accomplish only by pruning and purifying His Protestant church. First, as in the days of Gideon, He must remove the Protestants who are incurably worldly and spiritualistic, and have no interest in fighting for heaven, but would demoralize the Protestant army fighting in the investigative judgment. Then He can train and lead His holy army, newly sealed and subordinated under Him, to cleanse “the people” (Heb. 9:7), that is, the greater bulk of His righteous church sprinkled throughout the other world religions. Jesus will cleanse the holy and righteous, and discard the incurable unjust and filthy.

Therefore, not the first Most Holy entrance in 1844 by Jesus ― the Most Holy entering first for creating and cleansing a family that would be drawn out from Protestantism ― but the second and great Most Holy Place entrance of Jesus will occur anti-typically at the end of the trumpets period to cleanse the earthly sanctuary for the saints throughout the world and to fully cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. This should grow clearer to the reader as we study the fifth and sixth trumpet events. But, Christ can enter the Most Holy Place the second time to cleanse it only after first cleansing His remnant Adventist and Protestant peoples as Aaron did his children and Levites. The final Adventist generation is God’s special group of children who will demonstrate for Him the true sacrifice of praise (see Revelation 7:10). Then Jesus can enter the second time to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary, give the Latter Rain to the world, and return to take all of His redeemed home. Amen!

Jesus casts down His censer and the first trumpet blows. As He throws down His censer to the heavenly floor, out of the sky on earth fall the coals from His censer, “burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD” (Lev. 16:12), and “his own blood” (Heb. 9:12, cf vs. 7). “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth” (Rev. 8:7).

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity (Isa. 40:22, 23).

A leaflet produced by W.W. Prescott concerning the "daily"

I thought it would be good to have one of our pioneers explain his research and understanding of Daniel 8 in particular the “daily” sacrifice.

DURING the past year two leaflets dealing with the “daily” of the eighth chapter of Daniel have been issued in which an effort has been made to maintain the view that the “daily” is paganism, and that it was taken away in a. d. 508. Against those who entertain a different interpretation of this prophecy, the serious charge is made in both leaflets that in their teaching they are squarely contradicting the plain statements of the spirit of prophecy. {ND WWP, THD 1.1}

These circumstances justify the appearance of this leaflet, the purpose of which is to present some facts bearing upon this question, and to establish the truth of the matter. Every interpretation of a fulfilled prophecy must be in harmony with facts; and questions of difference are to be settled, not by mere assertions or unwarranted claims, but by such evidence as will stand the closest examination. It should be our sincere aim to know and teach the truth, and we should be prepared to do what we are constantly asking others to do, viz., to accept evidence, and to change our views when they are proved to be incorrect. It is no discredit to a sincere man to be found mistaken, but he discredits himself when he refuses to correct a mistake which has been plainly pointed out. It is more important to know the truth than to cling to a traditional teaching. {ND WWP, THD 1.2}

The “Daily” in “Early Writings”

Inasmuch as an appeal has been made to the teaching of the spirit of prophecy as the basis for the claim that the “daily” of Daniel 8 is paganism, and that it was taken away in 508 a. d., it seems necessary to consider what is said in the spirit of prophecy concerning the “daily,” in order that, if possible, the prejudice which has been created by the misinterpretation of a certain quotation may be removed. But instead of quoting one or two sentences out of their connection, and interpreting them in harmony with a preconceived opinion, we will quote more at length the passage in question, as found in “Early Writings” (edition of 1893), page 64 of the first part:- {ND WWP, THD 2.1}

I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as he wanted them; that his hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until his hand was removed. {ND WWP, THD 2.2}

Then I saw in relation to the “daily” (Dan. 8:12) that the word “sacrifice” was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text; and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment-hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the “daily;” but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test. {ND WWP, THD 2.3}

The Lord has showed me that the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, but it must not be hung on time. I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising from preaching time; but the third angel’s message is stronger than time can be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation, and needs not time to strengthen it; and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness. {ND WWP, THD 2.4}

The reading of this extract will make it clear to any unprejudiced mind that the topic under consideration is the question of time. The application of the counsel here given will be understood more clearly by a consideration of the experiences of the Advent believers up to the time when this testimony was given in 1850. The orthodox interpretation of the little horn of the eighth chapter of Daniel was that it was a symbol of Antiochus Epiphanes; that the 2300 days were literal days, commencing with the time when Antiochus polluted the temple at Jerusalem; and that “the daily sacrifice” referred to the daily offerings made according to the ceremonial law. In harmony with this view the translators supplied the word “sacrifice” in the expression “the daily sacrifice.” The Adventists, on the other hand, maintained that the little horn was a symbol of Rome, pagan and papal; that the 2300 days were prophetic days, fulfilled in literal years; and that this period commenced in b. c. 457 and ended in 1844. After the passing of the time in 1844, there was an effort made to readjust this period of 2300 years to some point in the future; and up to 1850 at least six different adjustments had been made, bringing much confusion into the Advent ranks. Then came this counsel through the spirit of prophecy, that the word “sacrifice” should not be supplied, and that, therefore, the interpretation which found in the work of Antiochus the fulfilment of this prophecy was incorrect; that the view entertained previous to 1844, which made the year 1844 the true termination of the prophetic period of 2300 years, was correct; and that a true time message would never again be proclaimed. “Time has never been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test.” {ND WWP, THD 2.5}

This same general statement was made later, and is found on page 107, second part of the same edition of “Early Writings,” being the seventh paragraph of the article entitled “The Advent Movement Illustrated:”- {ND WWP, THD 3.1}

Jesus did not come to earth as the waiting, joyful company expected, to cleanse the sanctuary by purifying the earth by fire. I saw that they were correct in their reckoning of the prophetic periods; prophetic time closed in 1844, and Jesus entered the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary at the ending of the days. Their mistake consisted in not understanding what the sanctuary was and the nature of its cleansing. {ND WWP, THD 3.2}

That this is the right view of this instruction given through the spirit of prophecy, will appear more plainly when we remember that since 1844 there has been until recently no difference of opinion as to what the “daily” was, and that the confusion which arose after 1844 was not on account of a change of interpretation in this respect, but because of the many attempts to readjust the prophetic period of 2300 years and to set new times still in the future for the expiration of this period, and for the appearance of Christ in the clouds of heaven; therefore, it is said; “When union existed before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the ‘daily;’ but in the confusion since 1844 other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed.” The “other views” were with reference to the time, concerning which many different interpretations were brought forward, causing “darkness and confusion,” but during all that period there was no controversy as to what the “daily” represented. {ND WWP, THD 4.1}

In interpreting this prophecy the early Adventists placed the emphasis upon the question, “How long shall be the vision concerning the ‘daily’?” etc., and upon the reply, “Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings.” This period of time and the date which marked its expiration were the subjects which claimed their chief attention, and concerning these matters they had the correct view. {ND WWP, THD 4.2}

Wm. Miller’s Exposition of the “Daily”

That this is the true meaning of this passage in “Early Writings” becomes still more evident when we state some views entertained previous to 1844 in the exposition of the “daily.” An examination of William Miller’s lectures and of the writings of other Advent believers in the publications of that time, shows that the following views were taught:- {ND WWP, THD 4.3}

1. The first beast of Revelation 13 was a symbol of pagan Rome. 2. The two-horned beast of Revelation 13 was a symbol of the Papacy. 3. The six hundred sixty and six (Rev. 13; 18) represented the duration of the life of the pagan Roman beast. 4. The commencement of this period was placed in b. c. 158, when it was declared that the league with the Jews was made. 5. The termination of this period of 666 years was obtained by subtracting 158 from 666, thus giving 508 a. d. {ND WWP, THD 5.1}

It will be seen at once that if the statement in “Early Writings” that “when union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the ‘daily,’“ means that they taught the correct interpretation of this subject, then we have some very serious readjustments to make in our present teaching. Since the rise of this third angel’s message it has been taught that the first beast of Revelation 13 was not pagan Rome, but papal Rome; that the two-horned beast was not the Papacy, but the United States; that the 666 years was not the duration of the life of the pagan beast, but the number of the name of the beast; that the Jewish league was not made in b. c. 158, but rather in b. c. 161. Furthermore, granting every other position to be true, if the 666 years commenced in b. c. 158, they would end in a. d. 509, not in a. d. 508. {ND WWP, THD 5.2}

There are two leading ideas connected with the “daily” in Daniel 8; one is the meaning of the “daily,” the other is the time period connected with the “daily” as indicated by the question, “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily?” etc. It is evident that this passage in “Early Writings” refers to the time period, and testifies that the view which made this period end in 1844 was “the correct view of the ‘daily.’“ Any other interpretation of this instruction involves the most serious difficulties. It will be shown later in this leaflet that any effort to use this passage in “Early Writings” to maintain the view that the “daily” was paganism, and that it was taken away in a. d. 508, arrays the spirit of prophecy squarely against the united testimony of history. {ND WWP, THD 5.3}

Some History Considered

It may be proper here to examine briefly the history which is adduced in support of the claim that paganism was taken away in a. d. 508. In the comments on Dan. 11:31, found in “Thoughts on Daniel,” a quotation is made from the historian Gibbon to prove that “in 508 their [the adherents of the papal party] partisan zeal culminated in a whirlwind of fanaticism and civil war which swept in fire and blood through the streets of the Eastern capital.” The passage reads as follows:- {ND WWP, THD 6.1}

The statues of the emperor were broken, and his person was concealed in a suburb, till, at the end of three days, he dared to implore the mercy of his subjects. Without his diadem, and in the posture of a suppliant, Anastasius appeared on the throne of the Circus. The Catholics, before his face, rehearsed their genuine Trisagion; they exulted in the offer which he proclaimed by the voice of a herald of abdicating the purple; they listened to the admonition that, since all could not reign, they should previously agree in the choice of a sovereign; and they accepted the blood of two unpopular ministers, whom their master, without hesitation, condemned to the lions. These furious but transient seditions were encouraged by the success of Vitalian, who, with an army of Huns and Bulgarians, for the most part idolaters, declared himself the champion of the Catholic faith. In this pious rebellion he depopulated Thrace, besieged Constantinople, exterminated sixty-five thousand of his fellow Christians, till he obtained the recall of the bishops, the satisfaction of the Pope, and the establishment of the council of Chalcedon, an orthodox treaty, reluctantly signed by the dying Anastasius, and more faithfully performed by the uncle of Justinian. And such was the event of the first of the religious wars which have been waged in the name, and by the disciples, of the God of peace.-” Decline and Fall,” Vol. IV, page 526. {ND WWP, THD 6.2}

The following extracts from Milman’s “History of Latin Christianity,” standard edition, book three, chapter one, state clearly the nature of this outbreak in Constantinople, and locate very definitely the time of the event referred to in this extract from Gibbon. The dates are given from the margin of Milman’s work:- {ND WWP, THD 7.1}

a. d. 510. Worse than all, 200 Eastern monks, headed by Severus, were permitted to land in Constantinople; they here found an honorable reception. Other monks of the opposite faction, swarmed from Palestine. The two black-cowled armies watched each other for some months, working in secret on their respective partisans. At length (a. d. 511) they came to a rupture; and in their strife, which he either dared not, or did not care to control, the throne, the liberty, and the life itself of the emperor, were in peril. The Monophysite monks, in the Church of the Archangel, within the palace, broke out after the “Thrice Holy,” with the burden added at Antioch by Peter the Fuller, “who was crucified for us.” The orthodox monks, backed by the rabble of Constantinople, endeavored to expel them from the church. They were not content with hurling curses against each other, sticks and stones began their work. There was a wild fierce fray; the divine presence of the emperor lost its awe; he could not maintain the peace. . . . The emperor was reduced to the humiliation of receiving the Bishop Macedonius, whom he had prohibited from approaching his presence, as his equal, almost his master. {ND WWP, THD 7.2}

a. d. 512. The year after the exile of Macedonius, Constantinople, at the instigation of the clergy and monks, broke out again in religious insurrection. The blue and green factions of the Circus-such is the language of the times-gave place to these more maddening conflicts. The hymn of the angels in heaven was the battle-cry on earth, the signal for human bloodshed. Many palaces of the nobles were set on fire; the officers of the crown insulted; pillage, conflagration, violence reigned throughout the city. A peasant who had turned monk was torn from the palace of the favorite Syrian minister of Anastasius, Marinus (he was accused of having introduced the preface burden of the angelic hymn); his head was struck off, carried on a pole, with shouts, “Behold the enemy of the Trinity!” The hoary emperor appeared in the Circus and commanded the heralds to announce to the people that he was prepared to abdicate the empire, if they could agree in the choice of his successors. The piteous spectacle soothed the fury of the people; they entreated Anastasius to resume the diadem; but the blood of two of his ministers was demanded as a sacrifice to appease their vengeance. {ND WWP, THD 7.3}

It will be seen that these quotations deal with the same subject as does the quotation from Gibbon, made in “Thoughts on Daniel,” and that these events occurred in the years a. d. 510-12. Two things are evident from these quotations: First, that the disturbances referred to by Gibbon, were quarrels between the Monophysite monks and the orthodox monks, two factions in the one church, and not a conflict between the Papacy and paganism. And second, that the particular outbreak referred to in the quotation from Gibbon, as given in “Thoughts on Daniel,” occurred after a. d. 508. {ND WWP, THD 8.1}

The following extract from Neander’s Church History, Clark’s edition, Vol. IV, page 257, deals with the same general subject and fixes the date of the insurrection of Vitalian, which is referred to in the latter part of the quotation from Gibbon, as given in “Thoughts on Daniel:”- {ND WWP, THD 8.2}

As the rumor spread that the emperor favored the addition to the church hymn [the Trisagion), and was prepared to remove the patriarch Macedonius, a violent tumult breaks forth. The houses of many grandees were burned; the monk who was supposed to be the author of the addition was seized by the infuriated populace, murdered, and his head was carried about in triumph, stuck upon a pole. Then appeared the emperor at the Circus, before the assembled people, without his crown. He declared himself willing to lay down the government; but all could not reign at once, one must be sovereign. These words had their effect upon the excited multitude. The people besought the emperor to retain the government. The emperor took advantage of this movement; he caused Macedonius to be removed, and Timotheus, a presbyter, who accepted the Henoticon, was appointed his successor. Meanwhile the emperor saw himself under the necessity, for many reasons, of yielding to the fury of the exasperated party of the Chalcedonian council where this predominated. By this exasperation, aid and comfort were given to the insurrection of the military commander Vitalian, which broke out in the year 514; and Anastasius found himself compelled to enter into conditions of peace, to the joy of the adherents of the Chalcedonian council. {ND WWP, THD 8.3}

From these extracts from Milman and Neander it is plain that the events referred to in the quotation from Gibbon in “Thoughts on Daniel” occurred in the period a. d. 510-14, and it must be clear to all that even though the subject referred to was the taking away of paganism, it would not be historically correct to fix upon the date a. d. 508 as the time when these events occurred. When also the fact is taken into consideration that the history does not deal at all with the overthrow of paganism, but with the settlement of a quarrel between the factions in the church itself, it must be doubly plain that this history can not be used in order to establish the year 508 as the time for the taking away of paganism. {ND WWP, THD 9.1}

In another of our books we find the following statement:- {ND WWP, THD 9.2}

The last contest with paganism was in 508, when the French and Britons accepted Christianity; the “daily” spoken of in Daniel had been taken away. {ND WWP, THD 9.3}

No quotations are made from, or any reference given to, any history as a basis for these statements, and we are, therefore, under the necessity of examining the record for ourselves. If the writer refers to the Franks and their conversion under Clovis, this took place in 496. In 508 Clovis was engaged in his war against the Visigoths. {ND WWP, THD 9.4}

The history of that period shows that in 508 the Britons were engaged in the defense of their country against the inroads of the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes. This war commenced in 449, and was continued into the sixth century. There is absolutely no foundation in history for the assertion that either the Franks or the Britons accepted Christianity in 508. {ND WWP, THD 10.1}

A New Interpretation of the “Daily”

In the second leaflet on this question (the one issued from Nashville), the history which is cited deals with the conversion of Clovis, and the warfare against Arianism under his leadership. This will appear simply by reading the extracts used, and is well stated in one paragraph, which we reproduce:- {ND WWP, THD 10.2}

It is evident from the language of Gregory of Tours that the conflict between the Franks and the Visigoths was regarded by the orthodox party of his own and preceding ages as a religious war, on which, humanly speaking, the prevalence of the Catholic or Arian creed in Western Europe depended. {ND WWP, THD 10.3}

In deciding the value of these extracts in relation to the question of an alleged downfall of paganism in 508, three things should be noted: 1. The campaign of Clovis against the Visigoths was an effort to overthrow Arianism and to establish the orthodox Catholic faith. But the Arianism of that period was not the paganism to which William Miller referred when he attempted to show that paganism was taken away in 508. If, therefore, as the writer of this leaflet emphatically asserts, those who gave the first message had the correct view of the “daily,” viz., that it was the religion of the pagan Roman empire, it is entirely incorrect to bring forward the downfall of Arianism as the taking away of the “daily,” and according to his view, it would be in contradiction of the teaching of the spirit of prophecy. 2. But even granting that the overthrow of the Arian Visigoths was the taking away of the “daily,” the conflict which determined the success of Clovis occurred in 507 “in the decisive battle of Voillé, near Poitiers.” In the following year, 508, “Clovis met with a decisive repulse before Arles, the Visigothic capital.” (See “Library of Universal History,” Vol. IV, page 1200.) It is, therefore, incorrect to declare that the Visigoths were conquered in 508. 3. But more than all this, if the downfall of an Arian power constitutes the taking away of the “daily,” why is the overthrow of the Arian Visigoths selected, and the time fixed for 508, instead of the overthrow of the Arian Vandals in 534? The evident answer must be that the date was selected before the history was read. {ND WWP, THD 10.4}

The claim that the warfare against Arianism fulfilled the prophecy concerning the taking away of the “daily” is a departure from the teaching in our standard publications, and is just as much a “new view” as that which we are presenting. The history cited in “Thoughts on Daniel “is entirely ignored, and passages are quoted to prove that the work of Clovis was the taking away of paganism. This is practically an admission that the argument in “Thoughts on Daniel” is unsound. {ND WWP, THD 11.1}

Christianity in Britain

Another advocate of the view that the “daily” was paganism, and that it was taken away in 508, states the following as the reason alleged by those who gave the judgment-hour cry:- {ND WWP, THD 11.2}

There was no claim made that any one act of the Roman empire set aside paganism for the whole empire, and that in 508, when Britain accepted Christianity as their religion-they being the last to reject paganism,-marked the overthrow of that cult, and was the completion of the “taking away of the ‘daily.’“ {ND WWP, THD 11.3}

In reply to this claim, we will state that such historians as Hume (“History of England,” Vol. I, chap. I, pages 25, 26), Mosheim (“Ecclesiastical History,” Vol. II, part 1, chap. 1, par. 2), Neander (“General Church History,” T. & T. Clark’s edition, Vol. V, page 13), and “The Historian’s History of the World” (Vol. VIII, page 532), all agree that Pope Gregory sent Augustine with forty Benedictine monks to Britain in 506, that they arrived in 597, and that the conversion of Britain to Christianity extended far into the seventh century. This is certainly sufficient to dispose of the unfounded assertion that Britain accepted Christianity in 508. {ND WWP, THD 12.1}

For the information of those interested in this subject, we will give the date of the conversion to the Catholic faith of some of the ten kingdoms. The complete statement may be found in Gieseler’s “Ecclesiastical History,” Vol. II, second period, div. 2, sec. 123. The dates are as follows; The Burgundians, 517; Suevi, 550-569; Visigoths, 589; Anglo-Saxons, after 596. {ND WWP, THD 12.2}

Another “Square Contradiction” Examined

In the last leaflet issued upon this subject a further attempt is made to cast discredit upon the view which we advocate by declaring that the position that paganism was taken away in the fourth century is “a square contradiction” to the spirit of prophecy. In proof of this claim a quotation is made from “Great Controversy,” pages 49, 50, in which these words are found:- {ND WWP, THD 12.3}

The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked in a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church, her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. {ND WWP, THD 12.4}

If this citation can properly be used to prove that paganism was not taken away in the fourth century, it can with equal force be used to show that paganism was not taken away in 508, inasmuch as the “doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions” of paganism continued through the Dark Ages, and have survived even to the present time. It is plain on the face of it that the paganism referred to in this extract is not that paganism which was the official religion of ancient Rome, but instead that it signifies the spirit of that religion which survived long after the downfall of the Roman empire. The use of this quotation for the purpose of forestalling any candid investigation of our teaching does not seem consistent with that spirit of fairness which opens the way for the unprejudiced consideration of Bible truth. {ND WWP, THD 13.1}

The Testimony of History

Inasmuch as the position that paganism, the official religion of ancient Rome, was taken away before 508 is thus denied, it is proper that we should submit a few brief extracts from history bearing upon this question. The subject of chapter 28 of Gibbon’s “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” reads thus: “Final Destruction of Paganism-Introduction of the Worship of Saints and Relics Among Christians.” The time covered by this chapter as given in the table of contents is. a. d. 379-420, and the time covered under the heading “Destruction of the Pagan Religion” is 378-395. The first statement of this chapter is as follows:- {ND WWP, THD 13.2}

The ruin of paganism, in the age of Theodosius, is perhaps the only example of the total extirpation of any ancient and popular superstition; and may therefore deserve to be considered as a singular event in the history of the human mind. {ND WWP, THD 13.3}

From another work we take the following interesting and decisive quotation:- {ND WWP, THD 14.1}

Among the most interesting historic memories associated with the Curia of the imperial period, is a transaction which marks a stage in the struggle between heathenism and Christianity at the national capital, where the results of the contest were so momentous. I have mentioned the altar and image of Victory in the vestibule of the Senate House, sacred to Minerva, before which image every senator had to throw incense on that altar as he passed into the hall of assemblage-an act of political rather than religious significance, but utterly inexcusable in the eyes of the primitive Christians. Altar and image acquired the character of a symbol and standard in the great conflict of principles carried on during the fourth century. The first emperor who removed both from their place in the Curia, about a. d. 357, was Constantius, the second son of Constantine, and sole ruler of the Roman world after the deaths of his two brothers. Both objects were replaced by Julian, his successor, probably in the first year, a. d. 360, of his short reign. Altar and image were again removed, in, or soon after, the year 382, by Theodosius, who was, in fact, through his stringent laws and more decided measures against the old superstition, the actual destroyer of pagan worship and suppressor of its priesthood. . . . Eugenius, a usurper proclaimed emperor by a military faction in Gaul a. d. 372, ordered the altar and image to be replaced during his short sojourn, after his irregular election, at Rome. His feeble effort to revive the ancient superstition was soon crushed by Theodosius, who defeated him in battle (a. d. 304) and sentenced him to death. Again, and for the last time, were the objectionable relics of heathenism set aside-the incense-cloud no more ascended to the Divine Victoria in Rome’s Senate House.-”Historic and Monumental Rome.” Charles Isidore Hemans, pages 244, 245. Published by Williams and Norgate, London, 1874. {ND WWP, THD 14.2}

In Milman’s “History of Christianity,” standard edition, Armstrong & Son, New York, the following quotation is found. The title of chapter 8, book 3, page 63, is “Theodosius. Abolition of Paganism.” The date given is the date printed in the margin of the text. Note the following important statements:- {ND WWP, THD 14.3}

a. d. 392. While this reaction was taking place in the West, perhaps irritated by the intelligence of this formidable conspiracy of paganism, with the usurpation of the throne [by Eugenius], Theodosius published in the East the last and most peremptory of those edicts which, gradually rising in the sternness of their language, proclaimed the ancient worship a treasonable and capital crime. In its minute and searching phrases, this statute seemed eagerly to pursue paganism to its most secret and private lurking-places. Thenceforth no man of any station, rank, or dignity, in any place in any city, was to offer an innocent victim in sacrifice; the more harmless worship of the household gods, which lingered, probably, more deeply in the hearts of the pagans than any other part of their system, was equally forbidden,-not merely the smoke of victims, but even lamps, incense, and garlands. To sacrifice, or to consult the entrails of victims, was constituted high treason, and thereby a capital offense, although with no treasonable intention of calculating the days of the emperor. {ND WWP, THD 15.1}

An indefinite number of quotations, all to the same effect, could easily be supplied if space permitted. Historians are unanimous in their testimony concerning this matter. We, therefore, unhesitatingly affirm that the forced and unnatural interpretation of the spirit of prophecy which attempts to make it teach that paganism was taken away in 508 brings it into direct conflict with the uniform testimony of historians, and that such dealing with the spirit of prophecy, instead of establishing confidence in it, will bring it into discredit, and will confuse the minds of the people concerning its authority. {ND WWP, THD 15.2}

Authorized or Unauthorized Translations

In our exposition of the eighth chapter of Daniel, we have used the text of the American Standard Revised Version, which in substance is the same as the English Revised Version, Leeser’s Jewish Translation, and some of the latest and best foreign translations. These translations are based upon the best modern scholarship, and have commanded the respect of all Biblical scholars. In the effort, however, to maintain that the “daily” means paganism, and that it was taken away in a. d. 508, the writers of these two leaflets have presented special translations made by themselves for the purpose of sustaining their own views, and have attempted to make these translations overthrow our view of this prophecy. We do not deem it necessary to answer at length the arguments based upon these unauthorized translations, and we respectfully submit that we do not have among us Hebrew scholars of such a reputation as warrants us in discrediting the standard translations of the Bible, and in substituting others of quite different meaning, and especially when such translations have been made for the express purpose of sustaining the theological views of the translators. To follow such a course as this would certainly give some ground for the charge that Seventh-day Adventists require a Bible of their own in order to prove their doctrines. We think we are fully warranted in rejecting any such private translations and insisting upon the use of such versions of the Scripture as are based upon accredited scholarship. {ND WWP, THD 16.1}

In view of the fact that there is just as much difference of opinion as to the meaning of the passage quoted from “Early Writings” as there is concerning the meaning of the Scripture text, the question of the correct interpretation of this prophecy can not be settled offhand either by a private translation of the text, or by a private interpretation of an extract from the spirit of prophecy taken out of its proper connection. {ND WWP, THD 16.2}

The Interpretation of the Prophecy

From the facts which we have submitted, we think it is satisfactorily proved that it will not be possible to maintain longer that the “daily” of Daniel 8 refers to paganism, and that it was taken away in 508. The history of that period positively forbids such an interpretation, and there is nothing in the spirit of prophecy which requires it. Furthermore, we regard such an exposition of the prophecy as contrary to the sound principles of Scripture exegesis. To this proposition we now briefly invite attention, and in order that the reader may judge the better for himself, we print herewith the text according to the American Standard Revised Version:- {ND WWP, THD 17.1}

“And out of one of them [the four horns of the goat] came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:9-14. {ND WWP, THD 17.2}

That interpretation of this prophecy which maintains that the “daily” refers to paganism asserts that in this passage there are two different sanctuaries and two different hosts, and that while the little horn is the symbol for Rome, in both the pagan and papal phases of it, yet there are two phrases, viz., “the daily [desolation]” and “the transgression of desolation,” the first of which represents paganism and the second the Papacy; but such a method of interpretation as this does not rest upon a sound basis, and is both arbitrary and confusing. The two expressions, “the daily [desolation]” and “the transgression of desolation,” are in no sense symbols, and there is no precedent for making them represent two great desolating powers. Furthermore, the expression “the transgression of desolation” would more correctly read, as in the Revised Version, “the transgression that maketh desolate” or “the desolating transgression,” because the Hebrew word translated “that maketh desolate” is in form a participle, and in grammatical construction modifies the word “transgression.” To render this participle as a noun, and then to make it into a symbol either of paganism or the Papacy, is altogether unwarranted. Such an arbitrary handling of the scripture opens the way for the unrestrained play of the imagination, and makes possible the most fanciful interpretations of prophecy. {ND WWP, THD 17.3}

The leading idea of this prophecy is found in the inquiry, “How long shall be the vision concerning the continual [mediation], and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” Here the vision is defined as the one relating to “the continual [mediation], and the transgression that maketh desolate,” and this is further explained as including the treading under foot of both the sanctuary and the host. It seems natural and consistent that the sanctuary here mentioned as being the one of the vision should be the same as the sanctuary mentioned in the earlier part of the prophecy, where the vision is fully set forth; and that the host mentioned in this inquiry should be the same as the host spoken of in the body of the vision; but all are agreed that the sanctuary mentioned in this inquiry, is the heavenly sanctuary, and that the host here mentioned refers to the people of God. It, therefore, seems to be an arbitrary and contradictory distinction when the sanctuary as first mentioned is denned to be Rome, while the sanctuary mentioned in the question concerning the vision is declared to be the heavenly sanctuary; and to make the host of one verse the hordes of the barbarians, and in the other case, the people of God. {ND WWP, THD 18.1}

It seems more consistent to us to let the word “sanctuary” in this passage refer in every instance to the heavenly sanctuary, and the “host” to the people of God, and not to interpret certain phrases as representing what is already represented by the leading symbol of the prophecy. The word “continual” includes all the leading features of the priestly mediation typified by the morning and evening sacrifice (Ex. 29:38-42), the incense offering (Ex. 30:1-8, the word “perpetual” in this text being from the same Hebrew word as is elsewhere translated “continual”), and the shewbread. Num. 4:7. (Compare also 2 Chron. 2:4.) These were symbols of the great Mediator. To make this clear, we supply the word “mediation” in the text instead of the word “sacrifice,” and apply the statement to the heavenly sanctuary rather than to the temple at Jerusalem. We, therefore, give to the prophecy, beginning with the tenth verse, the following interpretation:- {ND WWP, THD 19.1}

“And it [the little horn, the Papacy], waxed great, even to the host of heaven [the people of God]; and some of the host [the people of God], and of the stars [their leaders] it [the little horn] cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. Yea, it [the little horn] magnified itself, even to the prince of the host [Christ]; and it [the little horn] took away from him [Christ] the continual [mediation], and the place of his [Christ’s] sanctuary [the heavenly sanctuary] was cast down. And the host [the people of God] was given over to it [the little horn] together with the continual [mediation] through transgression; and it [the little horn] cast down truth to the ground, and it [the little horn] did its pleasure and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual [mediation], and the transgression that maketh desolate [the same transgression as in verse 12], to give both the sanctuary [the heavenly sanctuary] and the host [the peo0ple of God] to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand three Hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary [the heavenly sanctuary] Be cleansed.” {ND WWP, THD 19.2}

What the Papacy Has Taken Away

The brief space at our command will prevent us from giving more than an outline of the many weighty reasons for adopting this interpretation of the prophecy. A more extended treatment of the subject must be deferred until another time, but attention is now invited to the following facts. {ND WWP, THD 20.1}

Christ is the only and exclusive mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5), and to put any man in his place is to take from him his mediatorial work and to cast down the place of his sanctuary. The Papacy has done just this in making the Pope the vicar of God and the vicegerent of Christ. The vital doctrine upon which the whole Roman Catholic system rests is stated by Cardinal Newman (Roman Catholic) in these words:- {ND WWP, THD 20.2}

We observe that the essence of the doctrine that “there is one only Catholic and apostolic church” lies in this-that there is on earth a representative of our absent Lord, or a something divinely interposed between the soul and God, or a visible body with invisible privileges. All its subordinate characteristics flow from this description. {ND WWP, THD 20.3}

Upon this claim to be the vicegerent of God and vicar of Christ is based the authority for the priesthood which derives all its power from the Pope:- {ND WWP, THD 20.4}

All the power of the Western priesthood is summed up in the Pope, who, according to the Roman dogma, by virtue of divine appointment, is head of the collective church, the viceroy of Christ upon earth.-Von Hase. {ND WWP, THD 21.1}

From these claims have been developed the whole system of the priesthood and the sacrificial service of Rome. By thus usurping the mediatorial work of Christ, and establishing upon earth a complete counterfeit of the true sanctuary service, the Papacy has taken away from Christ his continual mediation, and has established another way of access to God. This has been clearly expressed by another writer in the following language:- {ND WWP, THD 21.2}

Few of us have ever grasped the full significance of sacerdotalism as a papal device. It puts the priest between the soul and all else, even God, at every stage of development, in the most ingenious and subtle system ever imagined. . . . From cradle to grave, and even afterward [in masses for the dead], there is always a human mediator to interpose; and this alone accounts for the marvelous power of the priesthood wherever this eternal tribunal holds sway.-Dr. Arthur T. Pierson. {ND WWP, THD 21.3}

That the Papacy has actually accomplished the work described in this prophecy will hardly be denied by any Protestant who is familiar with its history. It has trampled upon the people of God and magnified itself in place of the Son of God. Instead of maintaining the teaching of the Scriptures concerning the heavenly sanctuary, and the mediatorial work of our great High Priest therein, it has established an earthly sanctuary with an earthly altar, an earthly offering, and an earthly priesthood, and claims to be “the medium of all intercourse between Christ and Christian people (the laity)-so that the gate of heaven is open to no one to whom it is not opened by the priest.” All this has been summed up in a remarkably forceful way by that eminent writer on the Papacy, Rev. J. A. Wylie:- {ND WWP, THD 21.4}

Popery has a god of its own-him, even whom the canon law calls the “Lord, our God.” It has a savior of its own-the church, to wit. It has a sacrifice of its own-the mass. It has a mediator of its own-the priesthood. It has a sanctifier of its own-the sacrament. It has a justification of its own-that even of infused righteousness. It has a pardon of its own-the pardon of the confessional. And it has in the heavens an infallible, all-prevailing advocate unknown to the gospel-the “mother of God.” It thus represents to the world a spiritual and saving apparatus for the salvation of men; and yet it neither sanctifies nor saves any one. It looks like a church. It professes to have all that a church ought to have, and yet it is not a church. It is a grand deception-”the all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” {ND WWP, THD 22.1}

By such substitutions as these, the Papacy robbed Christ of his mediatorial function, and shut away from the people the knowledge of his intercession in the heavenly sanctuary, making, in fact, such an office entirely unnecessary by substituting another mediator and another intercessor. Thus did the man of sin sit in the temple of God, and set himself forth as God. {ND WWP, THD 22.2}

What the Third Angel’s Message Restores

After such a work as this had been revealed to the prophet Daniel, he then heard the inquiry as to the limit of this usurpation of the mediatorial work of Christ, and the reply was given, “Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” This period extended to a. d. 1844, immediately after which this great threefold message had its rise. And in view of the facts already stated, it is of great significance that in this movement there was brought back to the people the knowledge of the mediatorial work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. This is in perfect harmony with the prophecy that the Papacy would be allowed to tread down both the host and the sanctuary until the expiration of the period of the 2300 years. When the time came for our great High Priest to enter upon his final work of atonement in cleansing the sanctuary, then the knowledge of his mediatorial work must be restored to his people so that they may co-operate with him. {ND WWP, THD 22.3}

Inasmuch as the leading feature of the third message, which after 1844 would give the distinct character to the threefold movement, is its pronouncement against the worship of the beast and his image, it is certainly an essential part of this work to show clearly that the Papacy has taken from Christ the very means by which he would reconcile man unto God, and has substituted a merely human means of salvation. What the Papacy took away, this message is to restore; and for this reason the everlasting gospel must now be proclaimed in the sanctuary setting, in order that it may do its most effective work both among Roman Catholics and Protestants. Thus Christ is to be proclaimed again as the “minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” This gives a significance to this great movement such as it derives from no other source; and this prophecy in the eighth chapter of Daniel, when correctly interpreted, is a most important means of apprehending an essential feature of the work which we are called upon to do. To rectify a mistake which has been made in the interpretation of the “daily” does not make any change in a fundamental doctrine of the third angel’s message, but rather brings out with greater clearness the importance of that prophecy which has shaped this advent movement-the 2300 days. There is the most convincing evidence, both Biblical and historical, that this period commenced in b. c. 457 and terminated in a. d. 1844, at which time our great High Priest commenced his ministry in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and our interpretation of the “daily” only serves to emphasize the importance of this prophetic period in its relation to our work for this generation. It, therefore, seems a thousand pities that any effort should be made to withhold this knowledge from our people by attempting to maintain an interpretation of this prophecy which is contrary both to history and to sound principles of Scripture interpretation. W. W. Prescott. {ND WWP, THD 23.1}