The apostle Paul was the connecting link between ancient Israel and spiritual Israel, for his ministry, his name, his personal circumstances and his prophetic work all testify to this truth. He identified himself as the least of the apostles, for he had persecuted God’s people.

Apostol Pavao bio je povezujuća spona između drevnoga Izraela i duhovnoga Izraela, jer njegova služba, njegovo ime, njegove osobne okolnosti i njegovo proročko djelovanje svi svjedoče o toj istini. On se poistovjetio kao najmanji među apostolima, jer je progonio Božji narod.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:19.

Jer ja sam najmanji među apostolima, nisam dostojan zvati se apostolom, jer sam progonio Crkvu Božju. 1 Korinćanima 15,19.

The name he was given at conversion was Paul, which means small or little, for he was the least of the apostles. Yet his original name was Saul, which means “selected”.

Ime koje mu je dano pri obraćenju bilo je Pavao, što znači malen ili neznatan, jer je bio najmanji među apostolima. Ipak, njegovo izvorno ime bilo je Šaul, što znači „izabran“.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, Acts 9:13–15.

Tada Ananija odgovori: Gospodine, od mnogih sam čuo o tome čovjeku, koliko je zla učinio tvojim svetima u Jeruzalemu; i ovdje ima ovlast od velikih svećenika da sveže sve koji zazivaju tvoje ime. Ali Gospodin mu reče: Idi; jer on mi je izabrano oruđe da nosi moje ime pred pogane, i kraljeve, i sinove Izraelove, Djela apostolska 9,13–15.

Saul was “a chosen vessel” to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, but he had to first be converted and humbled into Paul (small), for he was going to need to be powerful. Paul understood his strength was found in his smallness, or his weakness.

Šaul je bio „izabrano posuđe“ da nosi evanđelje poganima, ali je najprije morao biti obraćen i poniziti se u Pavla (maloga), jer će trebati biti moćan. Pavao je razumio da se njegova snaga nalazi u njegovoj malenosti, odnosno u njegovoj slabosti.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10.

I da ne bih bio uznesen preko mjere zbog obilja objava, dan mi je trn u tijelu, sotonin glasnik da me udara, da ne bih bio uznesen preko mjere. Za to sam triput molio Gospodina da odstupi od mene. I rekao mi je: Dosta ti je moja milost, jer se moja snaga usavršuje u slabosti. Stoga ću se vrlo rado radije hvaliti svojim slabostima, da na meni počiva Kristova sila. Zato uživam u slabostima, u porugama, u oskudicama, u progonstvima, u tjeskobama poradi Krista; jer kad sam slab, tada sam jak. 2 Korinćanima 12:7–10.

Saul was “selected”, but in order for him to be strong he was made small (Paul). He was chosen to take the gospel to the Gentiles, but he had been selected in part because of his knowledge of the Old Testament.

Šaul je bio „izabran“, ali da bi bio snažan, bio je učinjen malenim (Pavao). Bio je odabran da odnese evanđelje poganima, ali je dijelom bio izabran zbog svojega poznavanja Staroga zavjeta.

Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Acts 26:3–5.

Poglavito stoga što znam da si vješt u svim običajima i pitanjima koja su među Židovima; stoga te molim da me strpljivo saslušaš. Moj život od moje mladosti, koji je od početka bio među mojim narodom u Jeruzalemu, znaju svi Židovi; koji me od početka poznaju, ako bi htjeli posvjedočiti, da sam po najstrožoj sljedbi naše vjere živio kao farizej. Djela 26,3–5.

Saul had been trained by Gamaliel, who was considered one of the greatest teachers of the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

Saula je poučavao Gamaliel, koji se smatrao jednim od najvećih učitelja spisâ Staroga zavjeta.

“The request was granted, and ‘Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people.’ The gesture attracted their attention, while his bearing commanded respect. ‘And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you.’ At the sound of the familiar Hebrew words, ‘they kept the more silence,’ and in the universal hush he continued: “‘I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.’ None could deny the apostle’s statements, as the facts that he referred to were well known to many who were still living in Jerusalem.” Acts of the Apostles, 408.

„Zahtjev je bio odobren, i ‘Pavao stade na stube te dade znak rukom narodu.’ Ta je gesta privukla njihovu pozornost, dok je njegovo držanje ulijevalo poštovanje. ‘A kad nasta velika tišina, progovori im na hebrejskom jeziku govoreći: Ljudi, braćo i oci, čujte sada moju obranu pred vama.’ Na zvuk poznatih hebrejskih riječi, ‘oni utoliko više ušutješe’, i u općoj tišini on nastavi: ‘Ja sam doista Židov, rođen u Tarzu, gradu u Ciliciji, ali odgojen u ovome gradu do nogu Gamalielovih, poučen prema najstrožem načinu otačkoga zakona, revan za Boga, kao što ste svi vi danas.’ Nitko nije mogao zanijekati apostolove tvrdnje, jer su činjenice na koje se pozivao bile dobro poznate mnogima koji su još živjeli u Jeruzalemu.“ Djela apostolska, 408.

Saul had not been chosen at random, and one of the specific purposes of Paul’s ministry was to bridge the sacred history of literal Israel with the sacred history of spiritual Israel. In conjunction with this fact, he authored the majority of the New Testament. One chapter of his writings identifies the support for the framework of the first angels’ message and also for the framework of the third angels’ message. The passage is a monument in the history of Adventism that identifies the distinction between the wise and foolish in the beginning and ending of Adventism.

Saul nije bio izabran nasumce, a jedna od posebnih svrha Pavlove službe bila je premostiti svetu povijest doslovnog Izraela sa svetom poviješću duhovnog Izraela. U vezi s tom činjenicom, napisao je većinu Novoga zavjeta. Jedno poglavlje u njegovim spisima utvrđuje potporu za okvir poruke prvoga anđela, a također i za okvir poruke trećega anđela. Taj je odlomak spomenik u povijesti adventizma koji označuje razliku između mudrih i ludih na početku i na svršetku adventizma.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12.

A molimo vas, braćo, dolaskom Gospodina našega Isusa Krista i našim sabiranjem k njemu, da se ne date brzo pokolebati u umu niti uznemiriti, ni duhom, ni riječju, ni poslanicom kao da je od nas, kao da je dan Kristov već nastupio. Neka vas nitko ni na koji način ne zavede, jer taj dan neće doći ako prije ne dođe otpad i ne otkrije se čovjek grijeha, sin propasti; koji se protivi i uzdiže iznad svega što se naziva Bogom ili se štuje, tako da on kao Bog sjedne u hram Božji, pokazujući sebe da je Bog. Ne sjećate li se da sam vam to govorio dok sam još bio s vama? A sada znate što ga zadržava da se otkrije u svoje vrijeme. Jer tajna bezakonja već djeluje; samo onaj koji sada zadržava zadržavat će dok ne bude uklonjen s puta. I tada će se otkriti onaj Bezakonik, kojega će Gospodin uništiti dahom svojih usta i razoriti sjajem svoga dolaska: njega, čiji je dolazak po djelovanju Sotone sa svakom silom i znakovima i lažnim čudesima, i sa svakom prijevarom nepravednosti među onima koji propadaju, zato što nisu primili ljubav istine da bi se spasili. I zato će im Bog poslati silnu zabludu da povjeruju laži, da budu osuđeni svi koji nisu povjerovali istini, nego su uživali u nepravednosti. 2 Solunjanima 2:1–12.

The context of this passage is the consideration of when Christ would return the second time. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he has already answered that concern previously when he stated, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” Paul was attempting to prevent the brethren from being deceived upon the subject of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”

Kontekst ovoga odlomka jest razmatranje pitanja kada će se Krist po drugi put vratiti. Pavao podsjeća Solunjane da je na tu zabrinutost već prethodno odgovorio kada je rekao: „Ne sjećate li se da sam vam, dok sam još bio s vama, govorio o tome?” Pavao je nastojao spriječiti da braća budu zavedena u vezi s pitanjem „dolaska Gospodina našega Isusa Krista i našega sabiranja k njemu”.

The historians identify that half of William Miller’s message was based upon his identification of the twenty-three hundred years of Daniel chapter eight, and verse fourteen. The other half of his message, that is sometimes not recognized, is his work of refuting the false teachings concerning the Second Coming of Christ.

Povjesničari utvrđuju da se polovica poruke Williama Millera temeljila na njegovu prepoznavanju dvije tisuće i tristo godina iz Daniela 8, 14. Druga polovica njegove poruke, koja se katkad ne prepoznaje, jest njegov rad na pobijanju lažnih učenja o Drugom Kristovu dolasku.

Based upon the false Jesuit methodology there was (and still is) a prominent false teaching that William Miller consistently opposed. It was the false teaching that the Lord’s second coming was preceded by a thousand years of peace called the “temporal millennium” which Sister White also opposed.

Na temelju lažne isusovačke metodologije postojalo je (i još uvijek postoji) istaknuto lažno učenje kojemu se William Miller dosljedno protivio. To je bilo lažno učenje da Gospodinovu drugom dolasku prethodi tisuću godina mira nazvanih „vremenski milenij”, kojemu se i sestra White protivila.

Miller’s work was also establishing the truth of the literal return of Christ, in opposition to the various false ideas concerning the millennium that were prevalent in his history. Paul is addressing the Second Coming in 2 Thessalonians, so the passage was part of Miller’s understanding of a literal Second Coming. The chapter was “Present Truth” for Miller.

Millerovo je djelo također utvrđivalo istinu o doslovnom Kristovu povratku, nasuprot raznim pogrešnim shvaćanjima o mileniju koja su bila raširena u njegovo vrijeme. Pavao u 2. Solunjanima govori o Drugom dolasku, stoga je taj odlomak bio dio Millerova razumijevanja doslovnoga Drugog dolaska. To je poglavlje za Millera bilo „sadašnja istina“.

Paul identifies an important sequence of events connected with the Second Coming, and also provides the logic of why the Thessalonians should not expect the return of the Lord in their lifetime. Paul says, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.” The word “beseech” means to interrogate. Paul is reasoning out the elements associated with the Second Coming and leading his audience through a type of interrogation, meant to produce analysis of his logic by his hearers.

Pavao utvrđuje važan slijed događaja povezanih s Drugim dolaskom te također iznosi obrazloženje zašto Solunjani ne bi trebali očekivati Gospodinov povratak za svoga života. Pavao kaže: „A molimo vas, braćo, za dolazak Gospodina našega Isusa Krista i naše okupljanje k njemu.“ Riječ „molimo“ znači ispitivati. Pavao razlaže elemente povezane s Drugim dolaskom i vodi svoje slušateljstvo kroz svojevrsno ispitivanje, koje je namijenjeno tome da u njegovih slušatelja proizvede analizu njegove logike.

The structure of his logic is that before Christ returns a second time, the papacy must be identified and reign, and that before the papacy arrives in history there must be a falling away. The falling away was yet future, so the arrival of the papacy was even beyond that. So how could anyone be deceived into thinking Christ’s return was soon? He uses several symbols of the papacy in order to establish just who that power is that is revealed after the falling away. He calls the papacy the “man of sin,” that “wicked,” “the son of perdition” and the “mystery of iniquity.” Sister White is clear these are all symbols identifying the papacy.

Struktura njegove logike jest ta da prije nego što se Krist vrati drugi put, papinstvo mora biti prepoznato i zavladati, te da prije nego što se papinstvo pojavi u povijesti mora nastupiti otpad. Otpad je tada još bio buduć, pa je dolazak papinstva bio još dalje od toga. Kako bi, dakle, itko mogao biti zaveden da pomisli kako je Kristov povratak blizu? On se služi s nekoliko simbola papinstva kako bi ustanovio upravo koja je to sila koja se otkriva nakon otpada. Papinstvo naziva „čovjekom grijeha“, onim „bezakonikom“, „sinom propasti“ i „tajnom bezakonja“. Sestra White jasno kaže da su sve to simboli koji označuju papinstvo.

“But before the coming of Christ, important developments in the religious world, foretold in prophecy, were to take place. The apostle declared: ‘Be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’

„Ali prije Kristova dolaska trebali su se zbiti važni razvoji u vjerskome svijetu, prorečeni u proroštvu. Apostol je izjavio: ‘Da se ne date brzo pokolebati u svome umu niti uznemiriti ni duhom, ni riječju, ni poslanicom kao da je od nas, kao da je dan Kristov već tu. Neka vas nitko ni na koji način ne zavede; jer taj dan neće doći ako najprije ne dođe otpad i ne otkrije se čovjek grijeha, sin propasti; koji se protivi i uzvisuje iznad svega što se zove Bog ili se štuje, tako da sjeda kao Bog u hram Božji, pokazujući sebe da je Bog.’

“Paul’s words were not to be misinterpreted. It was not to be taught that he, by special revelation, had warned the Thessalonians of the immediate coming of Christ. Such a position would cause confusion of faith; for disappointment often leads to unbelief. The apostle therefore cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from him, and he proceeded to emphasize the fact that the papal power, so clearly described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise and wage war against God’s people. Until this power should have performed its deadly and blasphemous work, it would be in vain for the church to look for the coming of their Lord. ‘Remember ye not,’ Paul inquired, ‘that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?’

„Pavlove riječi nisu se smjele pogrešno tumačiti. Nije se smjelo naučavati da je on, posebnim otkrivenjem, upozorio Solunjane na neposredni Kristov dolazak. Takvo bi stajalište izazvalo pomutnju u vjeri; jer razočaranje često vodi u nevjeru. Stoga je apostol upozorio braću da ne prihvaćaju nikakvu takvu poruku kao da dolazi od njega, te je zatim naglasio činjenicu da papinska vlast, koju je prorok Daniel tako jasno opisao, tek treba ustati i zaratiti protiv Božjega naroda. Dok ta vlast ne izvrši svoje smrtonosno i bogohulno djelo, uzalud bi Crkva očekivala dolazak svojega Gospodina. ‘Ne sjećate li se’, upita Pavao, ‘da sam vam, dok sam još bio s vama, to govorio?’”

“Terrible were the trials that were to beset the true church. Even at the time when the apostle was writing, the ‘mystery of iniquity’ had already begun to work. The developments that were to take place in the future were to be ‘after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.’

„Strašne su bile kušnje koje su trebale snaći pravu Crkvu. Već u vrijeme kad je apostol pisao, ‘tajna bezakonja’ već je počela djelovati. Događaji koji su se trebali zbiti u budućnosti trebali su biti ‘po djelovanju Sotoninu sa svakom silom i znakovima i lažnim čudesima, i sa svakom prijevarom nepravde u onima koji propadaju.’”

“Especially solemn is the apostle’s statement regarding those who should refuse to receive ‘the love of the truth.’ ‘For this cause,’ he declared of all who should deliberately reject the messages of truth, ‘God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’ Men cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love.” Acts of the Apostles, 265, 266.

„Osobito je svečana apostolova izjava o onima koji bi odbili primiti ‘ljubav istine’. ‘Zato će’, izjavio je za sve koji bi namjerno odbacili poruke istine, ‘Bog na njih poslati silnu zabludu da povjeruju laži: da budu osuđeni svi koji nisu vjerovali istini, nego su uživali u nepravdi.’ Ljudi ne mogu nekažnjeno odbacivati opomene koje im Bog u svojoj milosti šalje. Od onih koji ustraju u odvraćanju od tih opomena Bog povlači svojega Duha, prepuštajući ih prijevarama koje ljube.” Djela apostolska, 265, 266.

Although Sister White directly identifies the “man of sin,” that “wicked,” “the son of perdition” and the “mystery of iniquity” from the passage of Paul, and calls it the “papal power,” she says more. She identifies that these symbols employed by Paul to identify the pope of Rome, was established from the book of Daniel, when she stated, “The apostle therefore cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from him, and he proceeded to emphasize the fact that the papal power, so clearly described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise and wage war against God’s people. Until this power should have performed its deadly and blasphemous work, it would be in vain for the church to look for the coming of their Lord.” Paul was basing the portion of the message to the Thessalonians which identified the papacy upon Daniel chapter eleven, and verse thirty-six.

Premda sestra White izravno poistovjećuje „čovjeka grijeha“, „onoga bezakonika“, „sina propasti“ i „tajnu bezakonja“ iz Pavlova odlomka te to naziva „papinskom vlašću“, ona kaže i više od toga. Ona utvrđuje da su ti simboli kojima se Pavao služi kako bi označio rimskoga papu utemeljeni na knjizi proroka Daniela, kada je izjavila: „Apostol je stoga upozorio braću da ne prihvate nikakvu takvu poruku kao da dolazi od njega, te je zatim naglasio činjenicu da papinska vlast, tako jasno opisana od proroka Daniela, tek treba ustati i povesti rat protiv Božjega naroda. Dokle god ta vlast ne izvrši svoje smrtonosno i bogohulno djelo, uzalud bi bilo da Crkva očekuje dolazak svojega Gospodina.“ Pavao je dio poruke Solunjanima koji poistovjećuje papinstvo temeljio na Danielu, jedanaestom poglavlju i trideset i šestom retku.

And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Daniel 11:36.

I kralj će činiti po svojoj volji; i uzvisit će se, i uzdignuti se iznad svakoga boga, i govorit će čudesne stvari protiv Boga nad bogovima, i napredovat će dok se gnjev ne izvrši; jer će se izvršiti ono što je određeno. Daniel 11:36.

When Paul identifies the pope “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God,” Paul was paraphrasing the prophet Daniel’s description of the “king” that did “according to his will,” and exalted “himself and” magnified “himself above every god.” The pope is the king that speaks “marvelous things against the God of gods”, and the pope is the power that would “prosper till the” first “indignation” would “be accomplished” in 1798.

Kad Pavao prepoznaje papu kao onoga „koji se protivi i uzdiže iznad svega što se zove Bog ili se štuje; tako da kao Bog sjedi u hramu Božjemu, pokazujući sebe da je Bog”, Pavao je parafrazirao opis proroka Daniela o „kralju” koji je činio „po svojoj volji” te se „uzvisivao i” veličao „iznad svakoga boga”. Papa je kralj koji govori „čudnovate stvari protiv Boga nad bogovima”, i papa je sila koja će „napredovati dok se” prvo „gnjevanje” ne „navrši” 1798. godine.

Daniel eleven, and verse thirty-six is absolutely essential to understand correctly if the increase of knowledge in 1989 is to be understood correctly. For this reason the false teaching that the king in the verse was France, as introduced by Uriah Smith, was introduced in the first generation of Adventism (1863 to 1888). Smith changed the text of verse thirty-six from “the” king (which is the papacy that was being described in the previous verses) to “a” king (any king) in order to ascribe to atheistic France the characteristics of Rome’s worship style, but that was just a jumping-off point to put forth his pet theory about Turkey being the king of the north in verse forty and onward.

Danijel jedanaest, redak trideset i šest, apsolutno je nužno ispravno razumjeti ako se i porast znanja 1989. godine želi ispravno razumjeti. Zbog toga je lažni nauk da je kralj u tom retku bila Francuska, kako ga je uveo Uriah Smith, bio uveden u prvom naraštaju adventizma (1863. do 1888.). Smith je izmijenio tekst retka trideset i šest iz „taj“ kralj (što je papinstvo koje se opisivalo u prethodnim redcima) u „neki“ kralj (bilo koji kralj) kako bi ateističkoj Francuskoj pripisao obilježja rimskog načina bogoštovlja, no to je bilo tek polazište za iznošenje njegove omiljene teorije da je Turska kralj sjevera u retku četrdeset i nadalje.

Satan began early to obscure the fact that the king in the verse, is the papacy, and it is the apostle Paul who provides Daniel’s testimony with a second witness to this fact. Sister White provided the third witness.

Sotona je rano počeo zamagljivati činjenicu da je kralj u tome retku papinstvo, a apostol Pavao je taj koji Danielovu svjedočanstvu o toj činjenici pruža drugoga svjedoka. Sestra White pružila je trećega svjedoka.

Not only did Satan seek to obscure the truth about the king in the verse being the pope, but by misdirecting the truth contained in the verse, Satan also made obscure the significance of what the “indignation” in the verse represented. The papacy in the verse was to prosper until 1798 when it was delivered its deadly wound. 1798 is the end of the twenty-five hundred and twenty years of God’s indignation that was carried out against the northern kingdom of Israel, beginning in 723 BC.

Sotona nije samo nastojao zamagliti istinu da je kralj u tom retku papa, nego je, pogrešno usmjeravajući istinu sadržanu u tom retku, također učinio nejasnim značenje onoga što je u retku predstavljalo „gnjev“. Papinstvo je u tom retku trebalo napredovati sve do 1798., kada mu je zadana smrtna rana. Godina 1798. označuje kraj dvije tisuće petsto dvadeset godina Božjega gnjeva koji je bio izvršen nad sjevernim kraljevstvom Izraela, počevši od 723. pr. Kr.

If Adventism had defended and upheld the “seven times,” in 1863, it would have been virtually impossible for Uriah Smith to get away with such foolishness about verse thirty-six, for the “indignation” would have been understood as representing God’s first indignation of “seven times,” thus having no connection whatsoever with France. The increase of knowledge in 1989 is supported by Paul in the passage, and for this reason the warning of Paul in the passage concerning those who do not receive the love of the truth, but receive strong delusion, do so through their rejection of the truths Paul presents in the passage. One of those truths is the correct identification of the king of the north in Daniel chapter eleven, verses forty through forty-five.

Da je adventizam 1863. godine branio i održao „sedam vremena“, bilo bi gotovo nemoguće da se Uriah Smith izvuče s takvom ludošću u vezi s trideset i šestim retkom, jer bi se „gnjev“ razumio kao predstavljanje Božjeg prvog gnjeva od „sedam vremena“, te stoga ne bi imao ama baš nikakve veze s Francuskom. Porast znanja 1989. godine podupire Pavao u tom odlomku, i zbog toga se Pavlovo upozorenje u tom odlomku u pogledu onih koji ne primaju ljubav prema istini, nego primaju silnu zabludu, ostvaruje kroz njihovo odbacivanje istina koje Pavao iznosi u tom odlomku. Jedna od tih istina jest ispravno poistovjećivanje kralja sjevera u Danielu, poglavlje jedanaesto, redci četrdeset do četrdeset pet.

In the passage, after Paul identifies the pope of Rome, he identifies a sequence of events at the end of the world leading up to the Second Coming of Christ, which is the subject of the passage. He states, “then shall that Wicked be revealed.” That “wicked” is the pope, “whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” Then Paul says “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” Jesus is the one “whose coming is after the working of Satan.”

U tom odlomku, nakon što Pavao prepozna rimskoga papu, on prepoznaje niz događaja na svršetku svijeta koji vode do Drugoga Kristova dolaska, što je i tema toga odlomka. On izjavljuje: „tada će se otkriti onaj Bezakonik“. Taj „bezakonik“ jest papa, „koga će Gospodin uništiti dahom svojih usta i zatrti sjajem svoga dolaska“. Zatim Pavao kaže: „Njega, čiji je dolazak po djelovanju Sotone sa svom silom, znakovima i lažnim čudesima.“ Isus je onaj „čiji je dolazak po djelovanju Sotone“.

Satan’s miraculous working is the period of time from the soon-coming Sunday Law, until Michael stands up and human probation closes. Satan accomplishes no miracles during the Seven Last Plagues that are poured out from the close of probation until Christ returns.

Sotonino čudotvorno djelovanje jest razdoblje od uskoro nadolazećeg Zakona o nedjelji pa sve dok Mihael ne ustane i ljudsko vrijeme milosti ne završi. Sotona ne čini nikakva čudesa tijekom Sedam posljednjih zala koja se izlijevaju od završetka vremena milosti do Kristova povratka.

“Says Christ, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ If those through whom cures are performed, are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver. He is a transgressor of the moral law, and employs every device that he can master to blind men to its true character. We are warned that in the last days he will work with signs and lying wonders. And he will continue these wonders until the close of probation, that he may point to them as evidence that he is an angel of light and not of darkness.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 7, 911.

„Kaže Krist: ‘Po njihovim ćete ih plodovima prepoznati.’ Ako su oni po kojima se vrše ozdravljenja skloni, zbog tih očitovanja, opravdavati svoje zanemarivanje Božjega zakona i ustrajavati u neposlušnosti, premda imaju moć u bilo kojoj i svakoj mjeri, iz toga ne slijedi da imaju veliku Božju silu. Naprotiv, to je čudotvorna sila velikoga varalice. On je prijestupnik moralnoga zakona i služi se svakim sredstvom kojim može ovladati kako bi zaslijepio ljude za njegov pravi karakter. Upozoreni smo da će u posljednjim danima djelovati sa znakovima i lažnim čudesima. I nastavit će s tim čudesima sve do završetka vremena milosti, kako bi na njih mogao upućivati kao na dokaz da je anđeo svjetla, a ne tame.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 7, 911.

Paul identifies that there would be a falling away that preceded the revealing of the papacy, and that Christ’s Second Coming would take place “after” the marvelous working of Satan. Satan’s marvelous working begins at the Sunday law in the United States, and ends at the arrival of the close of probation and the seven last plagues. Satan’s marvelous working begins at the Sunday law in the United States.

Pavao prepoznaje da će doći do otpada koji će prethoditi razotkrivanju papinstva, te da će se Kristov Drugi dolazak zbiti „nakon“ čudesnoga Sotonina djelovanja. Sotonino čudesno djelovanje započinje nedjeljnim zakonom u Sjedinjenim Državama, a završava nastupanjem svršetka vremena milosti i sedam posljednjih zala. Sotonino čudesno djelovanje započinje nedjeljnim zakonom u Sjedinjenim Državama.

“By the decree enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” Testimonies, volume 5, 451.

„Dekretom kojim se nameće ustanova papinstva, protivno Božjemu zakonu, naš će se narod potpuno odvojiti od pravednosti. Kad protestantizam pruži svoju ruku preko ponora da uhvati ruku rimske vlasti, kad posegne preko bezdana da se rukuje sa spiritizmom, kad se, pod utjecajem toga trostrukog saveza, naša zemlja odrekne svakoga načela svojega Ustava kao protestantske i republikanske vlasti te osigura sredstva za širenje papinskih laži i zabluda, tada možemo znati da je došlo vrijeme za čudesno djelovanje Sotone i da je kraj blizu.“ Testimonies, svezak 5, 451.

The Sunday law is the end of the sixth kingdom, the earth beast of Revelation chapter thirteen. The earth beast began to reign at the end of the twelve hundred and sixty years of papal rule in 1798. The papacy was therefore revealed in the year 538, though her work to take control of the world was already active when Paul penned his words. Before the year 538, there would be a falling away that preceded the revealing of the man of sin, sitting in the temple of God.

Nedjeljni zakon jest kraj šestoga kraljevstva, zemaljske zvijeri iz trinaestoga poglavlja Otkrivenja. Zemaljska je zvijer počela vladati na kraju tisuću dvjesto šezdeset godina papinske vladavine, godine 1798. Papinstvo je stoga bilo otkriveno godine 538., premda je njegovo djelo preuzimanja nadzora nad svijetom već bilo djelatno kada je Pavao zapisao svoje riječi. Prije godine 538. trebao je nastupiti otpad koji je prethodio otkrivanju čovjeka grijeha, koji sjedi u hramu Božjem.

The falling away was represented by the church of Pergamos when the Christian church compromised with the religion of paganism, as symbolized by the emperor Constantine. Paul was identifying the prophetic waymarks that must occur before the Second Coming of Christ. After rehearsing what he had previously taught the Thessalonians, he then asks if they did not remember that he had previously taught them these truths? He then reminds them they should also remember that he taught them that a power would “withholdeth” the papacy “that” the papacy “might be revealed in his time?” The word “witholdeth” means to restrain. The word “withholdeth” is later in the same passage translated as “now letteth.”

Otpad je bio predočen crkvom u Pergamu kada je kršćanska crkva učinila kompromis s religijom poganstva, kako je to simbolizirano carem Konstantinom. Pavao je označavao proročke međaše koji se moraju zbiti prije Drugoga Kristova dolaska. Nakon što je ponovio ono što je prethodno bio poučio Solunjane, tada ih pita ne sjećaju li se da ih je prije poučio tim istinama. Zatim ih podsjeća da bi se također trebali sjetiti kako ih je poučio da će neka sila „zadržavati” papinstvo „da” papinstvo „bude otkriveno u svoje vrijeme”. Riječ „zadržavati” znači obuzdavati. Riječ „zadržavati” kasnije je u istome odlomku prevedena kao „sada priječi”.

The passage is therefore correctly represented as; “And now ye know what restrains the papacy, that the papacy might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity (the papacy) doth already work: only he who now restrains the papacy, will continue to restrain the papacy until he be taken out of the way.” When William Miller recognized this passage in Thessalonians he realized that the power that prevented the papacy from ascending to the throne of the earth in the year 538, was pagan Rome, and that pagan Rome would restrain the rise of the papal power, until pagan Rome was “taken out of the way.”

Stoga je taj odlomak ispravno prikazan ovako: „A sada znate što zadržava papinstvo, da bi se papinstvo otkrilo u svoje vrijeme. Jer otajstvo bezakonja (papinstvo) već djeluje: samo onaj koji sada zadržava papinstvo nastavit će zadržavati papinstvo dok ne bude uklonjen s puta.“ Kada je William Miller prepoznao ovaj odlomak u Poslanici Solunjanima, shvatio je da je sila koja je spriječila papinstvo da se godine 538. uspne na prijestolje zemlje bio poganski Rim, te da će poganski Rim zadržavati uspon papinske sile dok poganski Rim ne bude „uklonjen s puta“.

“During, the twelve years I was a deist, I read all histories I could find; but now I loved the Bible. It taught of Jesus! But still there was a good deal of the Bible that was dark to me. In 1818 or 19, while conversing with a friend! To whom I made a visit, and who had known and heard me talk while I was a deist, he inquired, in rather a significant manner, ‘What do you think of this text, and that?’ referring to the old texts I objected to while a deist. I understood what he was about, and replied—If you will give me time, I will tell you what they mean. ‘How long time do you want?’ I don’t know, but I will tell you, I replied, for I could not believe that God had given a revelation that could not be understood I then resolved to study my Bible, believing I could find out what the Holy Spirit meant. But as soon as I had formed this resolution the thought came to me—‘Suppose you find a passage that you cannot understand, what will you do?’ This mode of studying the Bible then came to my mind:—I will take the words of such passages, and trace them through the Bible, and find out their meaning in this way. I had Cruden’s Concordance, which I think is the best in the world; so I took that and my Bible, and set down to my desk, and read nothing else, except the newspapers a little, for I was determined to know what my Bible meant.

„Tijekom dvanaest godina koliko sam bio deist, čitao sam sve povijesti koje sam mogao naći; ali sada sam ljubio Bibliju. Ona je naučavala o Isusu! No još je uvijek dobar dio Biblije bio taman za mene. Godine 1818. ili 1819., dok sam razgovarao s prijateljem kojemu sam došao u posjet i koji me je poznavao i slušao kako govorim dok sam bio deist, on me upita, na prilično znakovit način: ‘Što misliš o ovom tekstu, i o onom?’ misleći na stare tekstove kojima sam prigovarao dok sam bio deist. Razumio sam kamo cilja i odgovorio: Ako mi daš vremena, reći ću ti što znače. ‘Koliko vremena želiš?’ Ne znam, ali reći ću ti, odgovorio sam, jer nisam mogao vjerovati da je Bog dao objavu koja se ne može razumjeti. Tada sam odlučio proučavati svoju Bibliju, vjerujući da mogu otkriti što je Duh Sveti htio reći. No čim sam donio tu odluku, došla mi je misao: ‘Pretpostavimo da nađeš odlomak koji ne možeš razumjeti; što ćeš učiniti?’ Tada mi je na um došao ovaj način proučavanja Biblije: uzet ću riječi takvih odlomaka, pratiti ih kroz Bibliju i na taj način otkriti njihovo značenje. Imao sam Crudenovu konkordanciju, za koju mislim da je najbolja na svijetu; stoga sam uzeo nju i svoju Bibliju, sjeo za svoj stol i nisam čitao ništa drugo, osim malo novina, jer sam bio odlučan doznati što moja Biblija znači.“

“I began at Genesis, and read on slowly; and when I came to a text that I could not understand, I searched through the Bible to find out what it meant. After I had gone through the Bible in this way, O, how bright and glorious the truth appeared! I found what I have been preaching to you. I was satisfied that the seven times terminated in 1843. Then I came to the 2300 days; they brought me to the same conclusion; but I had no thought of finding out when the Savior was coming, and I could not believe it; but the light struck me so forcibly I did not know what to do. Now, I thought, I must put on spurs and breeching; I will not go faster than the Bible, and I will not fall behind it. Whatever the Bible teaches, I will hold on to it. But still there were some texts that I could not understand.’

„Počeo sam od Postanka i čitao dalje polako; i kada bih došao do teksta koji nisam mogao razumjeti, pretraživao sam Bibliju da doznam što znači. Nakon što sam na taj način prošao kroz Bibliju, o, kako se istina pokazala svijetlom i slavnom! Našao sam ono što sam vam propovijedao. Bio sam uvjeren da se sedam vremena završava 1843. godine. Zatim sam došao do 2300 dana; i oni su me doveli do istoga zaključka; ali nisam ni pomišljao da otkrijem kada Spasitelj dolazi, i nisam mogao u to vjerovati; no svjetlo me pogodilo tako silovito da nisam znao što da činim. Tada sam pomislio: moram staviti mamuze i uzdu; neću ići brže od Biblije, niti ću zaostajati za njom. Što god Biblija naučava, toga ću se držati. Ali ipak je bilo nekih tekstova koje nisam mogao razumjeti.“

“So much for his general mode of studying the Bible. On another occasion he stated his mode of settling the meaning of the text before us—the meaning of ‘the daily.’ ‘I read on,’ said he, ‘and could find no other case in which it was found, but in Daniel. I then took those words which stood in connection with it, ‘take away.’ He shall take away the daily, ‘from the time the daily shall be taken away,’ etc. I read on, and thought I should find no light on the text; finally I came to 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8. ‘For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked be revealed,’ etc. And when I had come to that text, O, how clear and glorious the truth appeared! There it is! that is ‘the daily!’ Well, now, what does Paul mean by ‘he who now letteth,’ or hindereth? By ‘the man of sin,’ and ‘the wicked,’ Popery is meant. Well, what is it which hinders Popery from being revealed? Why, it is Paganism; well, then, ‘the daily’ must mean Paganism.” William Miller, Apollos Hale, The Second Advent Manual, 65, 66.

„Toliko o njegovu općem načinu proučavanja Biblije. Drugom je prilikom iznio svoj način utvrđivanja značenja teksta koji je pred nama — značenja izraza „svagdašnja žrtva“. „Čitao sam dalje“, rekao je, „i nisam mogao naći nijedan drugi slučaj u kojem se taj izraz pojavljuje, osim u Danielu. Tada sam uzeo one riječi koje stoje u vezi s njim, ‘ukloniti’. On će ukloniti svagdašnju žrtvu, ‘od vremena kad svagdašnja žrtva bude uklonjena’ itd. Čitao sam dalje i mislio da neću naći nikakva svjetla o tom tekstu; napokon sam došao do 2. Solunjanima 2:7–8. ‘Jer tajna bezakonja već djeluje, samo dok se ne ukloni onaj koji sada zadržava, i tada će se otkriti onaj bezakonik’ itd. A kad sam došao do toga teksta, o, kako se jasno i slavno pokazala istina! Eto je! to je ‘svagdašnja žrtva’! Dobro, dakle, što Pavao misli pod ‘onim koji sada zadržava’ ili priječi? Pod ‘čovjekom grijeha’ i ‘bezakonikom’ misli se na papstvo. Dobro, što je onda to što priječi da se papstvo otkrije? Pa, to je poganstvo; dobro, onda ‘svagdašnja žrtva’ mora značiti poganstvo.” William Miller, Apollos Hale, The Second Advent Manual, 65, 66.

Without an understanding that “the daily” in the book of Daniel was a symbol of paganism, Miller would have been hard pressed to develop the framework that he assembled his prophetic structure upon. “The daily” is found five times in the book of Daniel, and it is always followed by a symbol of papalism. The evidence that “the daily” in the book of Daniel is paganism is located in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. One of the most severe warnings in God’s Word is located there, for there Paul clearly states that those who do not love the truth will be sent strong delusion. The truth that was purposely located in Thessalonians was the identification of paganism’s connection with papalism, and to reject that truth is to guarantee that strong delusion will be the consequence of that rejection.

Bez razumijevanja da je „svagdašnja“ u knjizi proroka Daniela bila simbol poganstva, Miller bi teško mogao razviti okvir na kojemu je izgradio svoju proročku strukturu. „Svagdašnja“ se pojavljuje pet puta u knjizi proroka Daniela i uvijek je praćena simbolom papinstva. Dokaz da je „svagdašnja“ u knjizi proroka Daniela poganstvo nalazi se u Pavlovoj poslanici Solunjanima. Ondje se nalazi jedno od najozbiljnijih upozorenja u Božjoj Riječi, jer ondje Pavao jasno izjavljuje da će onima koji ne ljube istinu biti poslana snažna zabluda. Istina koja je namjerno smještena u Solunjanima bila je prepoznavanje povezanosti poganstva s papinstvom, a odbaciti tu istinu znači zajamčiti da će snažna zabluda biti posljedica toga odbacivanja.

We will continue this subject in the next article.

Nastavit ćemo ovu temu u sljedećem članku.

Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isaiah 29:9–16.

Zastanite i začudite se; vičite i vapijte: pijani su, ali ne od vina; teturaju, ali ne od žestoka pića. Jer Jahve je izlio na vas duh duboka sna i zatvorio vaše oči; proroke i vaše glavare, vidioce, pokrio je. I sva vam je objava postala kao riječi zapečaćene knjige koju daju onomu koji zna čitati, govoreći: „Čitaj ovo, molim te”; a on kaže: „Ne mogu, jer je zapečaćena.” A knjiga se daje onomu koji ne zna čitati, govoreći: „Čitaj ovo, molim te”; a on kaže: „Ne znam čitati.” Zato Gospod reče: „Budući da mi se ovaj narod približava svojim ustima i časti me svojim usnama, a srce je svoje udaljio od mene, i njihov strah prema meni naučen je po ljudskoj zapovijedi, zato, evo, opet ću učiniti čudesno djelo među ovim narodom, čudesno djelo i čudo; jer će propasti mudrost njihovih mudraca i razboritost njihovih razumnih ljudi bit će skrivena. Jao onima koji duboko nastoje sakriti svoju namjeru od Jahve, čija su djela u tami, pa govore: ‘Tko nas vidi? i tko nas poznaje?’ Doista, vaše izvrćanje svega naglavce bit će smatrano kao lončarska glina. Zar će djelo reći o onome koji ga je načinio: ‘Nije me načinio’? Ili će oblikovano reći o onome koji ga je oblikovao: ‘Nije imao razuma’?” Izaija 29:9–16.