In the previous article we identified that the Millerites could not see Rome as more than pagan and papal Rome, though they did address the distinctions between those two powers. For the Millerites the distinctions between pagan and papal Rome did not lead them to recognize that papal Rome was the fifth kingdom that followed the fourth kingdom of pagan Rome. After the disappointment in 1844, Sister White identified the three powers of Revelation twelve and thirteen as the dragon in chapter twelve, then the papacy, as the beast that came from the sea in chapter thirteen that was followed by the United States as the beast that came out of the earth. After the foundation was laid, the Lord opened the light upon the three-fold union of the dragon, the beast and false prophet that in chapter sixteen of Revelation leads the world to Armageddon.
Mata-dureen barruu darbani keessatti, warri Millarotaa Roomaa akka Roomaa heethenii fi Roomaa paappaasii qofatti malee caalaatti ilaaluu hin dandeenye adda baafnee turre; haa ta’u malee, garaagarummaa humnoota lamaan sana gidduu jiru isaan tuqanii turan. Warra Millarotaatiif garaagarummaan Roomaa heethenii fi Roomaa paappaasii gidduu jiru, Roomaan paappaasii mootummaa shanaffaa mootummaa afraffaa Roomaa heethenii booddee dhufu ta’uu isaanii akka hubatan hin geessine. Gammachuu-dhabuu bara 1844 booddee, Obboleettiin White humnoota sadii Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha lamaa fi kudha sadii keessatti ibsaman adda baaftee, isa boqonnaa kudha lamaan keessa jiru akka jawwee, sana booda paappaasii akka bineensa galaana keessaa ba’eetti boqonnaa kudha sadii keessatti, isa kana booddees Ameerikaa Tokkummaa akka bineensa lafaa keessaa ba’eetti ibsite. Bu’uuri erga kaa’amee booddee, Gooftaan ifa isaa walitti dhufeenya sadii-jabaa jawwee, bineensaa fi raajii sobaa irratti bane; kan inni boqonnaa kudha jaha Mul’ataa keessatti addunyaa gara Armagedoonitti geessu dha.
“The line of prophecy in which these symbols are found begins with Revelation 12, with the dragon that sought to destroy Christ at His birth. The dragon is said to be Satan (Revelation 12:9); he it was that moved upon Herod to put the Saviour to death. But the chief agent of Satan in making war upon Christ and His people during the first centuries of the Christian Era was the Roman Empire, in which paganism was the prevailing religion. Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome.
Sararri raajii mallattoowwan kun keessatti argaman Mul’ata 12 irraa jalqaba; achittis jawween yeroo inni dhalateetti Kiristoosiin balleessuuf yaale mul’ata. Jawween kun Seexana jedhamee ibsameera (Mul’ata 12:9); inniyyuu Heroodisiin Fayyisaa ajjeesuuf kakaase. Garuu waggoota jalqabaa Bara Kiristiyaanummaa keessatti Kiristoosii fi saba Isaa irratti waraana banuu keessatti bakka bu’aan Seexanaa inni guddaan mootummaa Roomaa ture; mootummaa sana keessattis amantaan mooraa waaqeffannaa mootummaa amantaa ol’aanaa ture. Kanaafuu jawween kun, hiika duraa keessatti, Seexana kan agarsiisu ta’us, hiika lammaffaa keessatti garuu Roomaa waaqeffannaa mootummaa hordoftuuf mallattoo dha.
“In chapter 13 ( verses 1–10) is described another beast, ‘like unto a leopard,’ to which the dragon gave ‘his power, and his seat, and great authority.’ This symbol, as most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once held by the ancient Roman empire. Of the leopardlike beast it is declared: ‘There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.’ This prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7, unquestionably points to the papacy.
Boqonnaa 13ffaa keessatti (lakkoofsota 1–10) bineensi biraa, “kan qeerensaa fakkaatu” tokko ibsameera; bineensa kanaafis jawween “humna isaa, teessoo isaa, fi aangoo guddaa” kenne. Mallattoon kun, akka Pirootestaantonni baayʼeen amananitti, paaphaasummaa bakka buʼa; isheenis humna, teessoo, fi aangoo yeroo mootummaa Roomaa durii qabamaa ture sana bakka buutee itti fufte. Waaʼee bineensa qeerensaa fakkaatu sanaa akkana jechuun labsameera: “Afaan waan guddaa dubbatuu fi arrabsoo dubbatu tokko isaaf kenname…. Innis afaan isaa Waaqayyoon arrabsuuf bane; maqaa Isaa, godoo Isaa, fi warra mootummaa waaqaa keessa jiraatan arrabsuuf. Qulqulloota wajjinis waraana akka godhatuu fi akka isaan moʼatu isaaf kennameera; qomoo hundumaa, afaanota, fi saboota hundumaa irrattis aangoon isaaf kennameera.” Raajii kun, isa ibsa gaanfa xinnaa Daaniʼel 7 keessa jiru wajjin jechuun ni dandaʼama wal fakkaatu, shakkii tokko malee paaphaasummatti akeeka.
“‘Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.’ And, says the prophet, ‘I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.’ And again: ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.’ The forty and two months are the same as the ‘time and times and the dividing of time,’ three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7—the time during which the papal power was to oppress God’s people. This period, as stated in preceding chapters, began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity.’
“Innii afurtamii fi lama itti fufuuf aangoon isaaf kenname.” Raajichi immoo, “Ani mataa isaa keessaa tokko akka du’atti madaa’e nan arge” jedha. Ammas: “Inni booji’amuutti nama geessu booji’amuutti in deema; inni goraadeedhaan nama ajjeesu goraadeedhaan ajjeefamuu qaba” jedha. Ji’oonni afurtamii fi lamaan kun “yeroo tokkoo, yeroo lamaa, fi walakkaa yeroo,” jechuunis waggaa sadii fi walakkaa, yookaan guyyoota 1260, kan Daani’el 7 keessatti ibsaman sana qofa—yeroo aangoon paaphaasummaa saba Waaqayyoo cunqursuuf ture dha. Yeroon kun, akkuma boqonnaawwan dura keessatti ibsame, olaantummaa paaphaasummaa bara Dhaloota Kiristoos 538 jalqabe, bara 1798 immoo xumurame. Yeroo sanatti paappaan raayyaa Faransaayiitiin booji’ame; aangoon paaphaasummaa madaa isaa du’a keessaa fudhate; raawwiin raajichaas, “Inni booji’amuutti nama geessu booji’amuutti in deema” jedhu, guutame.
“At this point another symbol is introduced. Says the prophet: ‘I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb.’ Verse 11. Both the appearance of this beast and the manner of its rise indicate that the nation which it represents is unlike those presented under the preceding symbols. The great kingdoms that have ruled the world were presented to the prophet Daniel as beasts of prey, rising when ‘the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.’ Daniel 7:2. In Revelation 17 an angel explained that waters represent ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.’ Revelation 17:15. Winds are a symbol of strife. The four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution by which kingdoms have attained to power.
ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଆଉ ଗୋଟିଏ ପ୍ରତୀକ ଉପସ୍ଥାପିତ ହୋଇଛି। ଭବିଷ୍ୟଦ୍ଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟା କହନ୍ତି: “ମୁଁ ପୃଥିବୀରୁ ଉଠୁଥିବା ଆଉ ଗୋଟିଏ ପଶୁକୁ ଦେଖିଲି; ଏବଂ ତାହାର ମେଷଶାବକ ପରି ଦୁଇଟି ଶିଙ୍ଗ ଥିଲା।” ପଦ 11। ଏହି ପଶୁର ଆକୃତି ଓ ତାହାର ଉଦୟର ପ୍ରକାର—ଉଭୟେ ଏହା ସୂଚିତ କରେ ଯେ, ଯେ ଜାତିକୁ ଏହା ପ୍ରତିନିଧିତ୍ୱ କରୁଛି, ସେହି ଜାତି ପୂର୍ବବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ପ୍ରତୀକମାନଙ୍କ ଅଧୀନରେ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ ଜାତିମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଭିନ୍ନ। ଯେ ସମସ୍ତ ମହାନ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଜଗତକୁ ଶାସନ କରିଛନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଭବିଷ୍ୟଦ୍ଦ୍ରଷ୍ଟା ଦାନିୟେଲଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ହିଂସ୍ର ପଶୁମାନଙ୍କ ରୂପରେ ଉପସ୍ଥାପିତ କରାଯାଇଥିଲା, ଯେତେବେଳେ “ଆକାଶର ଚାରି ପବନ ବିଶାଳ ସମୁଦ୍ର ଉପରେ ତୁମୁଳ ସଂଘର୍ଷ କରୁଥିଲେ।” ଦାନିୟେଲ 7:2। ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ବାକ୍ୟ 17 ଅଧ୍ୟାୟରେ ଜଣେ ଦୂତ ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କଲେ ଯେ, ଜଳ “ଲୋକମାନେ, ଜନସମୂହମାନେ, ଜାତିମାନେ ଓ ଭାଷାମାନେ”ଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରତୀକିତ କରେ। ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ବାକ୍ୟ 17:15। ପବନ କଳହର ଏକ ପ୍ରତୀକ। ବିଶାଳ ସମୁଦ୍ର ଉପରେ ସଂଘର୍ଷରତ ଆକାଶର ଚାରି ପବନ, ସେହି ଭୟାନକ ବିଜୟଯାତ୍ରା ଓ ବିପ୍ଲବର ଦୃଶ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରତିନିଧିତ୍ୱ କରେ, ଯାହା ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ରାଜ୍ୟମାନେ ଶକ୍ତିରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଛନ୍ତି।
“But the beast with lamblike horns was seen ‘coming up out of the earth.’ Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World—that turbulent sea of ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.’ It must be sought in the Western Continent.
“Garuu bineensi gaanfa hoolaa fakkaatan qabu sun ‘lafa keessaa ol baʼaa’ jechuun mulʼate. Inni of dhaabuuf aangoo biroo garagalchuu mannaa, saba akkasitti bakka buufame sun biyya duraan namni hin qubannes keessatti kaʼuu fi suuta suuta akkasumas nagaadhaan guddataa deemuu qaba. Kanaafuu, inni saboota Addunyaa Moofaa keessatti walitti cufamanii fi wal dorgoman gidduutti kaʼuu hin dandaʼu—galaana jeeqamaa kan ‘saba, fi tuuta hedduu, fi qomoo, fi afaanota’ jedhu sana keessa. Inni kanaaf Ardii Dhihaa keessatti barbaadamuu qaba.”
“What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America. Again and again the thought, almost the exact words, of the sacred writer has been unconsciously employed by the orator and the historian in describing the rise and growth of this nation. The beast was seen ‘coming up out of the earth;’ and, according to the translators, the word here rendered ‘coming up’ literally signifies ‘to grow or spring up as a plant.’ And, as we have seen, the nation must arise in territory previously unoccupied. A prominent writer, describing the rise of the United States, speaks of ‘the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy,’ and says: ‘Like a silent seed we grew into empire.’—G. A. Townsend, The New World Compared With the Old, page 462. A European journal in 1850 spoke of the United States as a wonderful empire, which was ‘emerging,’ and ‘amid the silence of the earth daily adding to its power and pride.’—The Dublin Nation. Edward Everett, in an oration on the Pilgrim founders of this nation, said: ‘Did they look for a retired spot, inoffensive for its obscurity, and safe in its remoteness, where the little church of Leyden might enjoy the freedom of conscience? Behold the mighty regions over which, in peaceful conquest, … they have borne the banners of the cross!’—Speech delivered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, Dec. 22, 1824, page 11.
“Biyyoonni Addunyaa Haaraa keessaa kamtu bara 1798 keessatti humna keessa ol ba’aa, jabinaa fi guddina abdachiisaa, akkasumas xiyyeeffannaa addunyaa harkisaa ture? Hiikni mallattoo kanaa gaaffii hin qabu. Biyyoonni tokko, tokko qofa, ibsa raajii kanaa guutuu ni danda’a; inni shakkii tokko malee Garaagaraa Ameerikaa Tokkoomanii agarsiisa. Yaadni barreessaa qulqulluu sanaa, jechoota isaa jechuun wal fakkaatan illee, yeroo baay’ee osoo hin beekamin afaan dubbataa fi seenaa barreessaa biratti ka’uumsa fi guddina biyya kanaa ibsuuf tajaajilameera. Bineensichi ‘lafa keessaa ol ba’aa’ jechuun mul’ate; akkasumas, akka hiiktoonni ibsanitti, jechi asitti ‘ol ba’aa’ jedhamee hiikame hiika isaa dhugaa keessatti ‘akka biqiltuu tokkootti guddataa ykn biqiluu’ jechuudha. Akkuma nuti argine, biyyichi lafa duraan namni keessa hin qubannetti ka’uu qaba. Barreessaan beekamaan tokko, ka’uumsa Ameerikaa Tokkoomanii ibsaa, ‘iccitii ishee duwwaa keessaa mul’achuuti’ jedhee dubbata; akkasumas, ‘Akka sanyii callisaa tokkootti mootummaa guddaa taanee guddanne’ jedha.”—G. A. Townsend, The New World Compared With the Old, fuula 462. Gaazexaan Awurooppaa tokko bara 1850 keessatti Ameerikaa Tokkooman akka mootummaa guddaa dinqisiisaa, kan ‘mul’achaa jiru’ fi ‘callisa lafaa gidduutti guyyaa guyyaan humnaa fi ulfina ofiitti dabalaa jiru’tti ibseera.”—The Dublin Nation. Edward Everett, hundeessitoota Pilgrim biyya kanaa irratti haasaa taasisetti, “Iddoo fagoo tokko, dukkana maqaa-dhabuu isaatiin nama hin mufachiisne, fageenya isaatiin immoo nageenya qabu, bakka waldoon xiqqaan Leyden bilisummaa yaadaa itti argachuu dandeessu barbaadanii turanii? Kunoo, naannolee gurguddoo isaan injifannoo nagaa keessatti … faajjii fannoo baatanii irra deddeebi’anii turan ilaalaa!” jedheera.”—Speech delivered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, Dec. 22, 1824, fuula 11.
“‘And he had two horns like a lamb.’ The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as ‘coming up’ in 1798. Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence, which sets forth the great truth that ‘all men are created equal’ and endowed with the inalienable right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity. The oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth.
“‘Inni gaanfa lama akka hoolaa qaba ture.’ Gaanfawwan hoolaa fakkaatan kun dargaggummaa, qulqullummaa, fi laafina agarsiisu; kunis yeroo bara 1798 keessatti akka ‘ol ba’u’tti raajichaaf dhihaatetti amala Ameerikaa Gamtoomanii sirriitti bakka bu’a. Baqattoota Kiristaanaa warra jalqaba Ameerikaatti baqatan, cunqursaa mootummaa fi obsaan-dhabuu lubootaa jalaa kooluu-galummaa barbaadan keessaa, namoonni baay’een mootummaa bilisummaa mootummaa fi amantii irratti hundaa’e bal’inaan dhaabuuf murteessan. Yaadni isaanii Barsiisummaa Walabummaa keessatti iddoo argate; isheenis dhugaa guddaa jechuun, ‘namoonni hundinuu walqixa ta’anii uumaman’ akkasumas mirga hin mulqamne kan ‘jireenya, bilisummaa, fi gammachuu barbaaduu’ kennamaniiru jedhee ibsa. Heerri mootummaa immoo mirga ofiin of bulchuu uummataaf wabii kenna; bakka-buutonni sagalee uummataatiin filataman seera akka baasanii fi raawwatan ni tumas. Bilisummaan amantii amantaas ni kenname; namni hundinuu akka qajeelfama sammuu isaa irratti hundaa’ee Waaqayyoon waaqeffatu ni eyyamameef. Sirni mootummaa uummataa fi Pirootestaantummaan prinsipiloota bu’uuraa sabichaa ta’an. Prinsipiloonni kun iccitii humnaa fi badhaadhina isaa ti. Warri cunqurfamanii fi gad-deebifaman guutummaa Kiristaanummaa keessatti argaman lafa kana garaan isaanii itti hawwamee fi abdii qabanitti ilaalaa turan. Miliyoononni hedduun qarqara ishee barbaadanii dhufan; Ameerikaan Gamtoomaniis saba keessaa lafa tokko gara saboota addunyaa humna qabeeyyii keessaa tokkootti ol kaate.”
“But the beast with lamblike horns ‘spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed; … saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.’ Revelation 13:11–14.” The Great Controversy, 438–441.
“Garuu bineensi gaanfa hoolaa fakkaatan qabu sun, ‘akka jawwee dubbate. Innis humna bineensa isa jalqabaa hunda isa duratti hojjeta; warri lafa irra jiraatanis bineensa isa jalqabaa, isa madaan du’aa isaa fayye sana akka sagadan godha; … warra lafa irra jiraatanittis, bineensa isa goraadeedhaan madaa’e, garuu jiraate sanaaf fakkeenya akka hojjetan jedhee dubbata.’ Mul’ata Yohaannis 13:11–14.” Waldhabdee Guddaa, 438–441.
The passage identifies that chapters twelve and thirteen are identifying the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, the three powers in Revelation sixteen that lead the world to Armageddon. Those three powers each have their own special chapters that covers the identical prophetic history. The last six verses of Daniel eleven begin with the words, “And at the time of the end,” which was 1798. Then the six verses identify the final movements of the papacy until in verse one of Daniel twelve Michael stands up and human probation closes and ushers in the seven last plagues. In verse forty-four of chapter eleven the message of the hour that enrages the papacy and initiates the blood bath that takes place just before probation closes is represented as “tidings out of the east and out of the north.”
Kutaan kun boqonnaawwan kudha lamaan fi kudha sadii ajajaa bifa hamaa sanaa, bineensicha, fi raajii sobaa adda baasu; isaanis Mul’ata kudha jaha keessatti humnoota sadii addunyaa gara Armaagedoonitti geessan dha. Humnoonni sadan sun tokkoon tokkoon isaanii boqonnaa addaa ofii isaanii qabu; boqonnaawwan sunis seenaa raajii wal-fakkaataa sana ni uwwisu. Lakkoofsiwwan jahan dhumaa Daani’el kudha tokko “Yeroo dhumaa irrattis” jedhuun jalqabu; kunis bara 1798 ture. Ergasii lakkoofsiwwan jahan sun sochiiwwan dhumaa abbaa qabeenyaa popeessummaa sanaa adda baasu; hamma lakkoofsa tokko Daani’el kudha lama keessatti Miikaa’el ka’ee tursiifamni namaaf kenname cufamuutti, balaawwan torba isa dhumaa immoo ni seensisa. Lakkoofsa afurtamii afur keessatti boqonnaa kudha tokko, ergaan yeroo sanaa kan popeessummaa aarsuu fi dhangala’aan dhiigaa yeroo gabaabaa tursiifamni cufamuuf jedhu keessatti raawwatamu jalqabsisu akka “oduu bahaa irraa fi kaabaa irraa”tti bakka buufameera.
The message east and north represents the final warning message, for it is proclaimed just before Michael stands up. It is the third angel’s message that is proclaimed during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Daniel represented the message as two-fold. The message of the “north” that enrages the papacy is the message identifying the “king of the north” as the papal power, and the message of the “east” is the message of the children of the east, which is Islam. Of course, it has other important meanings as well, but east is a symbol of Islam and the antichrist is the counterfeit of the true King of the North. The message of the third angel that warns against receiving the mark of the king of the north (the mark of the beast) also warns that Islam will strike at the point that the cup of iniquity is full for the United States, and the United States fills its cup of iniquity at the Sunday law.
Ergaa bahaa fi kaabaa irraas dhufu sun ergaa akeekkachiisa isa dhumaa bakka bu’a; sababiin isaa, inni yeroo Miikaa’el ka’utti jedhu sana duratti lallabama. Inni ergaa ergamaa sadaffaati; ergaan kun yeroo Hafuura Qulqulluun dhangalaafamutti lallabama. Daani’el ergaa sana akka lama-ta’etti bakka bu’e. Ergaan “kaabaa” isa papaasummaa aarsu sun, “mootii kaabaa” humna papaasummaa ta’uu isaa adda baasuu dha; ergaan “bahaa” immoo ergaa ilmaan bahaa ti; kunis Islaama. Dhuguma, hiika barbaachisaa kan biroo illee qaba; garuu bahaan mallattoo Islaamaa ti, mormituun Kiristoos immoo fakkeessituu Mootii Kaabaa isa dhugaa ti. Ergaan ergamaa sadaffaa kan mallattoo mootii kaabaa—mallattoo bineensichaa—akka hin fudhanne akeekkachiisu, akkasumas yeroo xoofoon cubbuu guutamu sanatti Ameerikaa irratti Islaamni rukuta akka itti godhu akeekkachiisa; Ameerikaanis xoofoo cubbuu ishee seera Dilbataa irratti guutti.
Revelation thirteen beginning with verse eleven and then onward identifies the very same prophetic history, and it also begins at the time of the end in 1798.
Mulʼata boqonnaa kudha sadii lakkoofsa kudha tokko irraa eegalee itti fufuun seenaa raajii isauma sana ifatti agarsiisa; innis akkasuma yeroo dhumaa bara 1798tti jalqaba.
“What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America.” The Great Controversy, 440.
“Mootummaan Addunyaa Haaraa keessaa kamtu bara 1798 humnaatti ol-ka’aa ture, abdii jabinaa fi guddinaa kennaa, xiyyeeffannaa addunyaa immoo ofitti harkisaa ture? Fakkeenyi sun irratti hojiirra ooluun isaa gaaffii tokko illee hin qabu. Mootummaan tokko, tokko qofa, ibsa raajii kanaa guuta; innis ifatti Ameerikaa Gamtoomtootaatti akeeka.” The Great Controversy, 440.
The same prophetic history is covered in Revelation thirteen verses eleven through eighteen as is covered in Daniel eleven verse forty through forty-five. As with the verses in Daniel the story of the role of the United States ends with the close of probation as the United States forces the world to accept the mark of the beast. Then as in Daniel eleven the message of the hour is presented in chapter fourteen. It is the identical structure in both passages, with the exception that Daniel’s verses are describing the papal activities and Revelation thirteen is identifying the role of the United States. With those two lines we find that chapter seventeen of Revelation covers the same history, but emphasizes the role of the dragon, represented as ten kings, who are the United Nations. The three chapters considered line upon line identify the role of the dragon, the beast and false prophet which in chapter sixteen lead the world to Armageddon, so it is of significance that John informs us that when chapter seventeen begins it is one of the angels that had poured out the seven last plagues that comes to tell John of the judgment of the whore of Rome.
Seenaa raajii wal fakkaataa kan Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha sadii lakkoobsa kudha tokkoo hamma kudha saddeetiitti ibsame, isa Daani’el boqonnaa kudha tokko lakkoobsa afurtamaa hamma afurtamii shaniitti ibsame sana dha. Akkuma lakkoobsoota Daani’el keessatti, seenaa gahee Ameerikaan taphattu yeroo carraan araaraa cufamutti xumurama; yeroo sanattis Ameerikaan addunyaan mallattoo bineensichaa akka fudhatu dirqisiisti. Sana booddees, akkuma Daani’el boqonnaa kudha tokko keessatti, ergaan yeroo sanaa boqonnaa kudha afur keessatti dhihaata. Caasaan isaa iddoo lameen keessatti guutummaatti tokko dha; garuu garaagarummaan isaa, lakkoobsoonni Daani’el hojiiwwan paaphaasummaa ibsu, Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha sadii immoo gahee Ameerikaa adda baasa. Sararoota lamaan sanaan, Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha torbaas seenaa wal fakkaataa sana akka hammatu argina; garuu inni gahee jawwee irratti xiyyeeffata; jawween kun mootota kudhanitti fakkeeffamee dhihaata; isaanis Mootummoota Gamtooman dha. Boqonnaawwan sadan walitti qabamanii, sarara irratti sararaan, gahee jawwee, bineensichaa fi raajii sobaa adda baasu; isaanis boqonnaa kudha jaha keessatti addunyaa gara Armaagedoonitti geessu. Kanaafuu, yeroo Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha torba jalqabamu keessaa, ergamoota torban dhangalaasa torban isa dhumaa keessaa tokko akka dhufee firdii sagaagaltittii Roomaa Yohaannisitti himu Yohaannis nutti beeksisuu isaa hiika guddaa qaba.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Revelation 17:1, 2.
Ergasii torban keessaa tokko, kan torban cooqumoota qabuu, dhufee na waliin dubbate; akkanas naan jedhe, “As koottu; ani murtii sagaagaltittii guddittii bishaanota baayʼee irra teessoo qabdu sitti nan argisiisa; ishee wajjin mootonni lafaa sagaagalummaa raawwataniiru, jiraattonnis lafaa daadhii sagaagalummaa isheetiin machaaʼaniiru.” Mul’ata 17:1, 2.
With the Millerites it was about pagan Rome and papal Rome, but at the end it is about the three-fold union. As with her identification of those three powers in chapters twelve and thirteen, she clearly identifies the woman of chapter seventeen as the papacy.
Milleritoota biratti waaʼee Roomaa buttaa fi Roomaa paaphaasii ture; garuu dhuma irratti waaʼee gamtaa dachaa-sadii ti. Akkuma isheen boqonnaawwan kudha lamaa fi kudha sadi keessatti humnoota sadii sana ifatti adda baafte, akkasuma dubartittii boqonnaa kudha torbaa keessatti argamtu paaphaasii taʼuu ishee ifatti adda baafti.
“The woman [Babylon] of Revelation 17 is described as ‘arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness:…and upon her forehead was a name written, ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots.’ Says the prophet: ‘I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’ Babylon is further declared to be ‘that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.’ Revelation 17:4–6, 18. The power that for so many centuries maintained despotic sway over the monarchs of Christendom is Rome.” The Great Controversy, 382.
“Dubartittiin [Baabilon] Mul’ata 17 keessatti akkana jechuun ibsamte: ‘uffata mootummaa diimaa keessaa fi diimaa bifa guddaa qabu uffattee, warqee, dhagaa gatii qaalii, fi luullee ittiin miidhagfatte; harka ishee keessattis xoofoo warqee kan xuraa’ummaa fi wantoota jibbisiisoo guutame qabdi; …mataa ishee irratti maqaan tokko barreeffamee ture, “Dhoksaa, Baabilon Guddittii, haadha sagaagaltotaa.”’ Raajiin akkana jedha: ‘Dubartittii sana dhiiga qulqullootaatiin, dhiiga wareegamtoota Yesuusiinis machooftuu taatee nan arge.’ Baabilon dabalataanis ‘magaalaa guddoo sana, mootota lafaa irratti mootummaa gootu’ jedhamee ibsameera. Mul’ata 17:4–6, 18. Humni jaarraa hedduudhaaf mootummaa Kiristaanummaa keessaa mootota irratti aangoo cunqursaa guutuu tikfatee ture Room dha.” The Great Controversy, 382.
So, when does the prophetic history represented in chapter seventeen begin?
Kanaaf, seenaa raajii boqonnaa kudha torbaffaa keessatti bakka buufame yoom jalqaba?
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: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. Revelation 17:3–6.
Kanaaf inni Hafuuraan gara lafa onaatti na geesse; anis dubartiin bineensa diimaa irratti teesse nan arge; bineensi sun maqaa arrabsoo guutuu kan taʼe, mataa torbaa fi gaanfa kudhan qabu ture. Dubartiin sunis wayyaa mootummaa halluu diimaa-buluugaa fi diimaa uffatte, warqee, dhagaa gatii guddaa qaban, fi luuliiwwaniin miidhagfamtee turte; xoofoo warqee, wantoota jibbisiisoo fi xuraaʼummaa ejja ishee irraa guutame, harka ishee keessatti qabattee turte. Adda ishee irrattis maqaan tokko barreeffamee ture: ICITII, BAABILOON ISHEE GUDDOO, HAADHA SAGALTUUWWANII FI WANTOOTA LAFARRA JIBBISIISOO. Anis dubartittiin dhiiga qulqullootaatiin, dhiiga warra Yesuusiif wareegamaniitiinis machooftuu taatee nan arge; yeroon ishee argetti, dinqii guddaadhaan raajeffadhe. Mulʼata 17:3–6.
In order for John to see the woman he is prophetically carried into the wilderness which John himself has already identified with two witnesses as the twelve hundred and sixty years of papal rule in chapter twelve.
Ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ⲛⲧⲉ Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲛⲁⲩ ϯⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ, ⲁϥϭⲓⲧϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉϫⲉⲛ ϯⲉⲣⲏⲙⲟⲥ, ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲁ Ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁϥⲥⲟⲩⲱⲛⲥ ⲛⲁⲛ ϩⲏⲇⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲃⲓⲱⲕ ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲙⲉⲑⲣⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ⲛⲓϣⲁ ϫⲛⲟⲩⲥⲓ ⲉϥⲱⲙⲥ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲕⲟⲥⲓⲁ ⲙⲙⲁϩ ⲥⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲙⲡⲓⲡⲁⲡⲁ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲕⲉϥⲁⲗⲉⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲁϩ ⲓⲃ.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. . . . And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Revelation 12:6, 14.
Dubartittiin sun gara lafa onaa baqatte; achittis iddoo Waaqayyo isheedhaaf qopheesse qabdi; akka achitti guyyoota kuma tokkoo fi dhibba lamaa fi jaatamaaf ishee sooran.... Dubartittiidhaaf baallee lama risaa guddaa kenname; akka isheen gara lafa onaa, gara iddoo ishee sanaatti balaliituuf; achittis isheen yeroo tokko, yeroo lama, fi walakkaa yeroo, fuula bofa sanaa irraa fagaattee ni sooromti. Mul’ata Yohaannis 12:6, 14.
John was prophetically transported into the wilderness time period, but verse three and onward specifies exactly where in the twelve hundred and sixty years John was taken to, for the woman had already become drunk with the blood of persecution, and she was already the “mother of harlots.” John was taken to the end of the wilderness period for the woman had already drunk of the blood of persecution and the Protestant churches were already returning to her fold and becoming her daughters, for she was identified in that period of time as the “mother of harlots.” She already had daughters. John’s testimony in chapter seventeen begins in 1798 as did the same prophetic history which represented the beast in Daniel eleven and the false prophet in Revelation thirteen.
Yohaannis raajii macaafa keessatti gara yeroo lafa onaa sanaatti karaa raajii geeffame; garuu lakkoofsi sadaffaa irraa jalqabee, waggoota dhibba tokkoo fi jaatamii jaha sana keessatti Yohaannis eessa akka geeffame sirriitti ibsa; dubartittiin duraanuu dhiiga ari’atamaa dhuguudhaan machooftuu taatee turte, akkasumas duraanuu “haadha sagaagaltootaa” turte. Yohaannis gara dhuma yeroo lafa onaa sanaatti geeffame; sababiin isaas dubartittiin duraanuu dhiiga ari’atamaa dhugdee turte, waldoonni Pirootestaantii immoo duraanuu gara marfata isheetti deebi’anii intaloota ishee ta’aa turan; yeroo sana keessatti isheen “haadha sagaagaltootaa” jechuun mootummaa turte. Isheen duraanuu intaloota qabdi turte. Dhugaan ba’umsi Yohaannis boqonnaa kudha torbaffaa keessatti bara 1798 irraa jalqaba; akkuma seenaa raajii isuma sanaa, kan bineensa Daani’el boqonnaa kudha tokko keessatti fi raajicha sobaa Mul’ata Yohaannis boqonnaa kudha sadii keessatti bakka bu’ee turee.
Just as with the other two lines, when chapter seventeen concludes, chapter eighteen then identifies the message of the hour. Three prophetic lines, one for each of the three-fold union. They are all illustrated upon the same historical structure beginning in 1798 and continuing until the close of probation, and all three emphasize the final warning message.
Akkuma sarara raajii lamaan kaanii wajjin taʼetti, yeroo boqonnaan kudha torba xumuramu, boqonnaan kudha saddeet ergaa saʼaatii sanaa ni ibsa. Sararoonni raajii sadii, tokkoon tokkoon isaanii tokkummaa harka sadiif. Isaan hundinuu caasaa seenaa tokko irratti kan agarsiifaman yoo taʼu, inniis bara 1798 irraa jalqabee hamma cufamuu carraa qormaataatti itti fufa; akkasumas hundinuu ergaa akeekkachiisa isa dhumaa irratti cimanii hubachiisu.
Habakkuk’s Tables addresses the subject of Revelation seventeen in much greater detail, so I will now jump to the riddle that is represented in the chapter that sets forth eight kingdoms of Bible prophecy.
Gabateen Habaquuq dhimma Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha torbaa bal’inaan guddaadhaan ilaala; kanaaf ani amma gara hiika fakkeenyaa boqonnaa raajii Macaafa Qulqulluu keessatti mootummaa saddeet ibsu sanaatti nan ce’a.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Revelation 17:9–11.
Kunoo yaadni kan ogummaa qabu asii dha. Mataan torban sun tulluu torban, kan dubartiin irra teesse dha. Mootota torbas jiru; shanan isaanii kufaniiru, tokko amma jira, inni kaan immoo amma iyyuu hin dhufne; yeroo inni dhufus yeroo gabaabaadhaaf turuu qaba. Bineensi inni turee amma hin jirre sun mataan isaa saddeettaffaa dha; inni torban keessaa ti, gara badiisaattis deema. Mul’ata 17:9–11.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, “Thou art this head of gold.”
Daaniʼel Nebukadnezaariin, “Ati mataa warqee kana” jedhe.
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. Daniel 2:38.
Ilmaan namootaa eessuma jiraatan hundatti, bineensota dirree fi simbirroota samii harka keetti kenneera; isaan hundumaa irrattis si bulchaa taasiseera. Ati mataa warqee kana. Daani'el 2:38.
Daniel also told Nebuchadnezzar, “Thou, O king, art a king of kings.”
Daaniyel immoo Nebukadnezaariin, “Ati yaa mootii, mootiiwwan hundumaa irra mootii dha” jedhe.
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. Daniel 2:37.
Yaa mootii, ati mootota mootii dha; Waaqni samii mootummaa, humna, jabina, ulfinas siif kenneera. Daani’el 2:37.
Nebuchadnezzar was the “head” and he was a king, and he was a king of kings for he represented the first of the kingdoms represented in the image. Nebuchadnezzar was the king represented by gold, and other kingdoms and kings would be represented by the other metals in the image, but Nebuchadnezzar was first and therefore the king of the kings. Another level which we will not address right now is that the kingdom of Babylon represents the kingdom that seeks to counterfeit Christ, who is the true King of kings.
Nebukadnezaar “mataa” ture; inni mootii ture; akkasumas inni mootota keessaa Mootii ture, sababni isaas inni mootummaa fakkii sana keessatti bakka bu’aman keessaa isa jalqabaa bakka bu’a ture. Nebukadnezaar mootii warqeedhaan bakka bu’ame ture; mootummaa fi moototni biroos sibiilota fakkii sana keessatti argaman kaaniin bakka bu’amu turan; garuu Nebukadnezaar isa jalqabaa waan tureef, inni mootota keessaa Mootii ture. Sadarkaan biraa, isa ammaaf hin ilaalle, mootummaa Baabilon mootummaa Kiristoosin, isa dhugumaan Mootota keessaa Mootii ta’e, fakkeessuudhaan bakka bu’uuf barbaadu akka bakka bu’utti dha.
In the beginning of Isaiah’s testimony of the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecies (Leviticus twenty-six’s seven times) Isaiah identifies kings as heads.
Jalqaba raga Iyaasuun raajii waggoota kumaatamaa shan dhibba lamaa fi digdamaa lamaa (Lewwota 26 keessatti “yeroo torba” jedhamee ibsame) irratti kennetti, mootota akka mataatti adda baasa.
For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. Isaiah 7:7, 8.
Mataan Sooriyaa Damaasqoo dha; mataan Damaasqoo immoo Reziin dha; waggaa jahaatamii shan keessatti immoo Efreem akka saba hin taanetti ni caccaba. Mataan Efreemis Samaariyaa dha; mataan Samaariyaa immoo ilma Remaliyaa dha. Isin yoo hin amanne, dhuguma hin jabaattani. Isaayyaas 7:7, 8.
Isaiah is just setting forth the starting point for the two twenty-five hundred and twenty year time periods against the northern kingdom of Samaria and the southern kingdom of Judah and as he does so he includes two witnesses that the capitol city of a nation is its head, and that the king is the head of the capitol city. A “head” is a king and a kingdom. In the Revelation the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel.
Isaayaas mootummaa kaabaa Samaariyaa fi mootummaa kibbaa Yihudaa irratti yeroo waggaa kuma lama dhibba shan fi digdama lama ta’an lamaaniif ka’umsa qofa kaa’aa jira; akkuma kana godhus, magaalaan mootummaa guddaan mataa saba tokkoo akka taate, mootichis mataa magaalaa mootummaa guddaa sanaa akka ta’e dhugaa-baatota lama ni dabalata. “Mataan” jechuun mootummaa fi mootii dha. Mul’ata keessatti sararri raajii kun akkuma Daani’eel keessatti turetti irra deebi’amee fudhatama.
Therefore, when John is taken to 1798 and presented with the riddle that identifies that there are seven “heads,” he is identifying that there are seven kingdoms. He is then told that five of the heads or kingdoms have fallen. In 1798 the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy had just fallen as it received a deadly wound that would eventually be healed.
Kanaafuu, yeroo Yohaannis gara bara 1798tti geeffamee fi rakkina hiikkaa qabu kan “mataa” torba akka jiran adda baasu isaaf dhihaatutti, inni mootummoonni torba akka jiran adda baasa. Sana booda mataawwan ykn mootummoota keessaa shanan kufanii akka jiran itti himama. Bara 1798tti mootummaa shanaffaan raajii Macaafa Qulqulluu yeroo sana qofa kufee ture; madaa du’aa geessisu kan dhuma irratti fayyu fudhatee ture.
John who is standing in the history of the time of the end in 1798, is also told that one of the heads “is.” The sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy began in 1798, so when John was prophetically conveyed to 1798, the kingdom that then was, is the United States, and he was further informed that the seventh kingdom was still future to 1798, for it had not yet come. The seventh kingdom that was still future to 1798, is the United Nations who are represented by ten kings, and are the subject of Revelation seventeen. But there is also an eighth, who is of the seven. Rome always comes up eighth and is of the seven.
Yohaannis inni bara xumuraa kan waggaa 1798 keessatti seenaa yeroo sanaa keessa dhaabate sanaafis, mataawwan keessaa tokko “jira” jedhamuun himameera. Mootummaan raajii Macaafa Qulqulluu keessaa isa ja’affaan waggaa 1798 keessatti jalqabe; kanaaf yeroo Yohaannis raajii keessatti gara 1798tti geeffametti, mootummaan yeroo sana ture Ameerikaa Dhaabbata Tokko ta’a; akkasumas mootummaan torbaffaan ammallee 1798 boodatti fuuldura akka ture isaaf ibsame, sababiin isaas inni amma iyyuu hin dhufne ture. Mootummaan torbaffaan kan ammallee 1798 boodatti fuuldura ture, Mootummoota Gamtoomanii dha; isaanis mootota kudhaniin bakka buufamu, mata duree Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha torbaa ta’u. Garuu inni saddeettaffaanis jira; innis torban keessaa dha. Roomaan yeroo hunda saddeettaffaa taatee kaati; torban keessaa dha.
There is much to say about the contents of chapter seventeen, but we are simply identifying the eight kingdoms of Bible prophecy represented in chapter seventeen in order to see how the Millerite understanding of four kingdoms squares up with the eight kingdoms of Revelation seventeen.
Waaʼee baayʼee dubbachuu dandaʼamu waaʼee qabiyyee boqonnaa kudha torbaa, garuu nuti salphaatti mootummaa saddeetii raajii Macaafa Qulqulluu keessatti boqonnaa kudha torbatti bakka buʼan adda baasuu qofa goona, akka hubannoon Millerite ee mootummaa afurii mootummaa saddeetii Mulʼata kudha torbaa wajjin akkamitti wal simatu ilaalluuf.
We will address this in the next article.
Kana irratti barruu itti aanu keessatti ni mari'anna.