In the book of Ezekiel, the ‘siege’ of Jerusalem is the ‘sign’ that is the test by which our eternal destiny will be decided, for it marks the formation of the image of the beast.
Katika kitabu cha Ezekieli, ‘mazingira ya kuzingirwa’ ya Yerusalemu ndiyo ‘ishara’ ambayo ni jaribu ambalo kwa hilo hatima yetu ya milele itaamuliwa, kwa maana inaashiria kuundwa kwa sanamu ya mnyama.
“The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided. …
“Bwana amenionyesha waziwazi kwamba sanamu ya mnyama itafanywa kabla ya muda wa rehema kufungwa; kwa maana huo ndio utakaokuwa mtihani mkuu kwa watu wa Mungu, ambao kwa huo hatima yao ya milele itaamuliwa. …”
“This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who proved their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast.” Manuscript Releases, volume 15, 15.
“Hili ndilo jaribu ambalo watu wa Mungu wanapaswa kulipitia kabla hawajatiwa muhuri. Wote waliothibitisha uaminifu wao kwa Mungu kwa kuitii sheria Yake, na kukataa kuipokea sabato ya uongo, watahesabiwa chini ya bendera ya Bwana Mungu Yehova, nao watapokea muhuri wa Mungu aliye hai. Wale wanaoisaliti kweli yenye asili ya mbinguni na kuikubali sabato ya Jumapili, watapokea chapa ya mnyama.” Manuscript Releases, juzuu ya 15, 15.
The Christians that fled Jerusalem at the ‘sign’ of Cestius, did so because they had been forewarned and recognized the ‘sign’ when it arrived. Recognizing the formation of the image of the beast is to recognize the “events,” “preparations” and “movements” that lead to the Sunday law. The prophetic elements that make up the ‘sign’ must be understood in advance of the sign. When Cestius began the siege it was too late to learn what the sign was.
Wakristo waliokimbia Yerusalemu kwa “ishara” ya Cestius, walifanya hivyo kwa sababu walikuwa wameonywa mapema na waliitambua “ishara” hiyo ilipowadia. Kuutambua kuundwa kwa sanamu ya mnyama ni kutambua “matukio,” “maandalizi” na “mienendo” inayoelekea kwenye sheria ya Jumapili. Vipengele vya kinabii vinavyounda “ishara” hiyo ni lazima vifahamike kabla ya ishara yenyewe. Cestius alipoanza mazingiwa, ilikuwa imechelewa mno kujifunza ishara hiyo ilikuwa nini.
“Already preparations are advancing, and movements are in progress, which will result in making an image to the beast. Events will be brought about in the earth’s history that will fulfill the predictions of prophecy for these last days.” Review and Herald, April 23, 1889.
“Tayari maandalizi yanaendelea kusonga mbele, na harakati zinaendelea, ambazo zitasababisha kufanywa kwa sanamu ya mnyama. Matukio yataletwa katika historia ya dunia yatakayotimiza unabii wa unabii kwa ajili ya siku hizi za mwisho.” Review and Herald, Aprili 23, 1889.
Preparations, Movements and Events
Maandalizi, Mienendo na Matukio
The “preparations,” “movements” and “events” must be recognized in advance of the test.
“Maandalizi,” “mienendo,” na “matukio” lazima yatambuliwe mapema kabla ya jaribu.
“All that God has in prophetic history specified to be fulfilled in the past has been, and all that is yet to come in its order will be. Daniel, God’s prophet, stands in his place. John stands in his place. In the Revelation the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the students of prophecy the book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment.
“Yote ambayo Mungu, katika historia ya unabii, ameelekeza itimizwe zamani, imetimizwa; na yote ambayo bado yanakuja kwa mpangilio wake yatatimizwa. Danieli, nabii wa Mungu, amesimama mahali pake. Yohana amesimama mahali pake. Katika Ufunuo, Simba wa kabila la Yuda amewafunulia wanafunzi wa unabii kitabu cha Danieli, na hivyo Danieli anasimama mahali pake. Yeye anashuhudia ushuhuda wake, yaani, yale ambayo Bwana alimfunulia katika maono kuhusu matukio makuu na ya kutisha ambayo ni lazima tuyajue tunaposimama kwenye kizingiti chenyewe cha kutimizwa kwake.
“In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated.” Selected Messages, book 2, 109.
“Katika historia na unabii Neno la Mungu linaonyesha pambano la muda mrefu lililoendelea kati ya kweli na kosa. Pambano hilo bado linaendelea. Mambo yale yaliyokuwapo, yatarudiwa.” Selected Messages, kitabu cha 2, 109.
We “must know” “the great and solemn events as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment.” The threshold identifies our need to understand the events in advance of their fulfilment.
Ni lazima “tujue” “matukio makuu na ya kutisha tunaposimama katika kizingiti chenyewe cha utimilifu wake.” Kizingiti hicho hutambulisha hitaji letu la kuelewa matukio hayo kabla ya kutimia kwake.
“But the stern tracings of the prophetic pencil reveal a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamb-like horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’ The spirit of persecution manifested by paganism and the papacy is again to be revealed. Prophecy declares that this power will say ‘to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.’ [Revelation 13:14.] The image is made to the first or leopard-like beast, which is the one brought to view in the third angel’s message. By this first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The image to the beast represents another religious body clothed with similar power. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the papacy. When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, then will Protestant America have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy. Then the true church will be assailed by persecution, as were God’s ancient people. Almost every century furnishes examples of what bigotry and malice can do under a plea of serving God by protecting the rights of Church and State. Protestant churches that have followed in the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience. In the seventeenth century thousands of non-conformist ministers suffered under the rule of the Church of England. Persecution always follows religious favoritism on the part of secular governments.” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 4, 277.
“Lakini mistari mikali ya kalamu ya kinabii hufunua badiliko katika mandhari hii ya amani. Mnyama mwenye pembe zinazofanana na za mwana-kondoo hunena kwa sauti ya joka, naye ‘hutumia uwezo wote wa yule mnyama wa kwanza mbele yake.’ Roho ya mateso iliyodhihirishwa na upagani na upapa itafunuliwa tena. Unabii watangaza kwamba mamlaka hii itawaambia ‘hao wakaao juu ya nchi, kwamba wamfanyie yule mnyama sanamu.’ [Ufunuo 13:14.] Sanamu hiyo hufanywa kwa ajili ya yule mnyama wa kwanza au yule afananaye na chui, ambaye ndiye aletwaye wazi katika ujumbe wa malaika wa tatu. Kwa mnyama huyu wa kwanza huwakilishwa Kanisa la Rumi, chombo cha kikanisa kilichovikwa mamlaka ya kiraia, chenye uwezo wa kuwaadhibu wote wanaokataa kulingana nalo. Sanamu ya mnyama huwakilisha chombo kingine cha kidini kilichovikwa mamlaka inayofanana. Kuumbwa kwa sanamu hii ni kazi ya yule mnyama ambaye kupanda kwake kwa amani na madai yake ya upole humfanya kuwa ishara ya kushangaza sana ya Marekani. Hapa ndipo panapopatikana sanamu ya upapa. Makanisa ya nchi yetu, yatakapoungana juu ya mambo ya imani ambayo huyashikilia kwa pamoja, yataishawishi Serikali kutekeleza maagizo yao na kuyategemeza taasisi zao; hapo ndipo Amerika ya Kiprotestanti itakuwa imeunda sanamu ya utawala wa kiaskofu wa Kirumi. Ndipo kanisa la kweli litashambuliwa kwa mateso, kama walivyoshambuliwa watu wa kale wa Mungu. Karibu kila karne hutoa mifano ya yale ambayo ushupavu wa kidini na uovu wa nia vinaweza kufanya kwa kisingizio cha kumtumikia Mungu kwa kulinda haki za Kanisa na Serikali. Makanisa ya Kiprotestanti ambayo yamefuata katika hatua za Rumi kwa kufanya muungano na mamlaka za kidunia yamedhihirisha tamaa inayofanana ya kuzuia uhuru wa dhamiri. Katika karne ya kumi na saba maelfu ya wahudumu wasiofuatana na kanuni zilizowekwa waliteswa chini ya utawala wa Kanisa la Uingereza. Mateso hufuata daima upendeleo wa kidini kwa upande wa serikali za kiraia.” Spirit of Prophecy, juzuu ya 4, 277.
The formation of the image of the beast is accomplished first in the United States, and thereafter in the world.
Kuundwa kwa sanamu ya mnyama kunatimizwa kwanza nchini Marekani, na baada ya hapo ulimwenguni.
“Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.” Testimonies, volume 6, 395.
“Mataifa ya kigeni yatafuata mfano wa Marekani. Ijapokuwa yeye ndiye anayeongoza, hata hivyo msukosuko uo huo utawapata watu wetu katika sehemu zote za ulimwengu.” Testimonies, volume 6, 395.
The Edict of Milan in 313 represents the starting of the formation, and also identifies the closed door for Seventh-day Adventists. Constantine of the west and Licinius of the east attached a treaty marriage to the Edict, when Constantine gave his half-sister Constantia to Licinius in the fourth treaty marriage represented in a prophetic line of the six treaty marriages within the prophetic history of Daniel eleven. The first two were associated with wars between the north and south, the next two were civil wars between east and west and the last two are symbolic marriages of the papal church power and state power.
Amri ya Milano ya mwaka 313 inawakilisha mwanzo wa kufanyizwa kwa kitu fulani, na pia inatambulisha mlango uliofungwa kwa Waadventista Wasabato. Konstantino wa magharibi na Licinio wa mashariki waliambatanisha ndoa ya agano na Amri hiyo, wakati Konstantino alipomtoa dada yake wa kambo, Constantia, kwa Licinio katika ndoa ya nne ya agano inayowakilishwa katika mstari wa kinabii wa ndoa sita za maagano ndani ya historia ya kinabii ya Danieli kumi na moja. Ndoa mbili za kwanza zilihusishwa na vita kati ya kaskazini na kusini, mbili zilizofuata zilikuwa vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe kati ya mashariki na magharibi, na mbili za mwisho ni ndoa za mfano za mamlaka ya kanisa la kipapa na mamlaka ya dola.
Antiochus II Theos set aside his wife Laodice I to marry the Ptolemaic princess Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II) around 252 BC. The treaty marriages of the Seleucid Empire were accomplished between the king of the north and the king of the south, whereas; the treaty marriage of 313 was between the emperor of the east and the emperor of the west.
Antioko II Theos alimweka kando mkewe Laodike I ili amwoe binti mfalme wa nasaba ya Ptolemaio, Berenike (binti ya Ptolemaio II) mnamo mwaka 252 KK hivi. Ndoa za maagano za Milki ya Seleuko zilikamilishwa kati ya mfalme wa kaskazini na mfalme wa kusini, ilhali; ndoa ya agano ya mwaka 313 ilikuwa kati ya mfalme wa mashariki na mfalme wa magharibi.
The treaty marriage of Antiochus II Theos in 252 BC, represented the beginning of the Seleucid Empire that reached its conclusion as an empire in the history represented in verses ten through sixteen of Daniel eleven. In the final history of the Seleucid empire another treaty marriage was accomplished by Antiochus III the Great, when he gave his daughter Cleopatra I Syra, (the very first Cleopatra of prophetic history) to Ptolemy V in 193 BC. At the time Ptolemy V was about 16 and Cleopatra I Syra about 10 years old. Their marriage was a diplomatic settlement after the fifth Syrian war. The alpha treaty marriage between the king of the north and south in Daniel eleven had marked the end of the second Syrian war.
Ndoa ya agano ya Antioko II Theos mwaka 252 KK, iliwakilisha mwanzo wa Dola ya Seleuki iliyofikia hitimisho lake kama dola katika historia inayowakilishwa katika aya ya kumi hadi ya kumi na sita ya Danieli kumi na moja. Katika historia ya mwisho ya dola ya Seleuki, ndoa nyingine ya agano ilitimizwa na Antioko III Mkuu, alipomtoa binti yake Cleopatra I Syra, (Cleopatra wa kwanza kabisa wa historia ya kiunabii) kwa Ptolemy V mwaka 193 KK. Wakati huo Ptolemy V alikuwa na umri wa takriban miaka 16 na Cleopatra I Syra takriban miaka 10. Ndoa yao ilikuwa suluhisho la kidiplomasia baada ya vita vya tano vya Shamu. Ndoa ya agano ya alpha kati ya mfalme wa kaskazini na wa kusini katika Danieli kumi na moja ilikuwa imeashiria mwisho wa vita vya pili vya Shamu.
The last Cleopatra of prophetic history interacted with both Julius Caesar and thereafter with Mark Antony. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC the second Triumvirate was formed in 43 BC. Three men made up the triumvirate and after one of those three, Marcus Lepidus was forced out of the threefold union by Octavian, a power struggle between Mark Antony of the east and Octavian of the west ensued. At Brundisium, in 40 BC a treaty between the two eastern and western rivals was made. The treaty included the marriage between Octavian’s sister Octavia and Mark Antony. The treaty and accompanying marriage did not hold, and after Mark Antony became involved with Cleopatra, he divorced Octavia in 32 BC. At the battle of Actium in 31 BC, the empires of east and west were consolidated into one power, and Octavian thereafter became Augustus Caesar, the symbol of the height of Roman glory and power.
Kleopatra wa mwisho wa historia ya kiunabii aliingiliana na Yulio Kaisari na baadaye na Marko Antoni. Baada ya kuuawa kwa Yulio Kaisari mwaka 44 KK, Triumvirati ya pili iliundwa mwaka 43 KK. Watu watatu waliunda triumvirati hiyo, na baada ya mmoja wa hao watatu, Marcus Lepidus, kulazimishwa kutoka katika muungano huo wa watu watatu na Oktaviani, mapambano ya madaraka kati ya Marko Antoni wa mashariki na Oktaviani wa magharibi yakatokea. Huko Brundisium, mwaka 40 KK, mkataba kati ya wapinzani hao wawili wa mashariki na magharibi ulifanywa. Mkataba huo ulijumuisha ndoa kati ya Octavia, dada yake Oktaviani, na Marko Antoni. Mkataba huo pamoja na ndoa iliyoandamana nao havikudumu, na baada ya Marko Antoni kuhusika na Kleopatra, alimpa Octavia talaka mwaka 32 KK. Katika vita vya Actium mwaka 31 KK, falme za mashariki na magharibi ziliunganishwa kuwa mamlaka moja, na baadaye Oktaviani akawa Augusto Kaisari, ishara ya kilele cha utukufu na mamlaka ya Warumi.
Prophetically the first treaty marriage of Daniel eleven was between the kings of the north and south in an attempt to end hostilities between the two combatants who were struggling to re-establish the empire of Alexander the Great. That first treaty marriage between the Seleucids and the Ptolemy’s of Egypt was the alpha treaty marriage of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms, which typified the omega treaty marriage between the same two powers. In the last or omega treaty marriage, the very first or alpha Cleopatra of Egyptian history became the prophetic link to the last, or omega Cleopatra; whose relationship with Mark Antony became the point of reference for the divorce of Octavia and Mark Antony. The divorce marked the renewed hostilities between Mark Antony of the east and Octavian of the west which ended at the battle of Actium in 31 BC.
Kwa mtazamo wa kinabii, ndoa ya kwanza ya agano katika Danieli kumi na moja ilikuwa kati ya wafalme wa kaskazini na kusini katika jaribio la kukomesha uadui kati ya pande hizo mbili zilizokuwa zikipigana huku zikijitahidi kuisimamisha upya himaya ya Aleksanda Mkuu. Ndoa hiyo ya kwanza ya agano kati ya Waseleuki na Waptolemy wa Misri ilikuwa ndoa ya agano ya alfa ya falme za Kiseleuki na Kiptolemaia, ambayo ilifananisha ndoa ya agano ya omega kati ya mamlaka hizo hizo mbili. Katika ndoa ya mwisho, au ya omega, ya agano, Cleopatra wa kwanza kabisa, au wa alfa, katika historia ya Misri alikua kiungo cha kinabii kumwelekea Cleopatra wa mwisho, au wa omega; ambaye uhusiano wake na Marko Antoni ukawa rejea ya talaka ya Oktavia na Marko Antoni. Talaka hiyo iliashiria kufufuka upya kwa uadui kati ya Marko Antoni wa mashariki na Oktaviani wa magharibi, ambao ulifikia mwisho wake katika vita vya Actium mwaka 31 KK.
The treaty marriage of Brundisium in 40 BC was the alpha treaty marriage of the struggle between east and west, just as the treaty marriage of Laodice and Antiochus II Theo was the alpha of the struggle between north and south. The treaty marriage of 313 was the omega to the alpha treaty marriage of Mark Antony and Octavia, just as the treaty marriage between Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I Syra was the omega treaty marriage of the northern and southern kingdoms. The three treaty marriages that led to the omega treaty marriage of 313 all align, and provide three witnesses to the prophetic characteristics associated with the Edict of Milan. Together the four literal treaty marriages of east, west, north and south align with the two symbolic treaty marriages of the papacy.
Ndoa ya mkataba ya Brundisium mwaka 40 KK ilikuwa ndoa ya mkataba ya alfa ya pambano kati ya mashariki na magharibi, kama vile ndoa ya mkataba ya Laodike na Antiochus II Theo ilivyokuwa alfa ya pambano kati ya kaskazini na kusini. Ndoa ya mkataba ya mwaka 313 ilikuwa omega kwa ndoa ya mkataba ya alfa ya Mark Antony na Octavia, kama vile ndoa ya mkataba kati ya Ptolemy V na Cleopatra I Syra ilivyokuwa ndoa ya mkataba ya omega ya falme za kaskazini na kusini. Ndoa tatu za mkataba zilizoongoza kwenye ndoa ya mkataba ya omega ya mwaka 313 zote zinalingana, na hutoa mashahidi watatu kwa sifa za kinabii zinazohusishwa na Amri ya Milan. Kwa pamoja ndoa nne halisi za mkataba za mashariki, magharibi, kaskazini na kusini zinalingana na ndoa mbili za mfano za upapa.
In 496, Clovis the king of the Franks was married to Clotilda. Clotilda was a Burgundian princess, the daughter of King Chilperic II of Burgundy. After her father and mother were murdered in a family power struggle, she lived under the protection of her uncle before being given in marriage to Clovis I, king of the Franks, in 493. She was a Catholic, that is, she held the Nicene/orthodox faith of the Roman Church. This set her apart from many other Germanic royal families of the time, who were Arian Christians. Her mother Caretena had been Catholic, and Clotilda was raised in that faith. She is remembered for persistently urging Clovis to abandon paganism and accept Catholic baptism, and thereafter his conversion in 496 is one of the most important events in the early history of France and of Western so-called Christianity.
Mnamo mwaka 496, Clovis mfalme wa Wafranki alikuwa ameoa Clotilda. Clotilda alikuwa binti mfalme wa Burgundia, binti wa Mfalme Chilperic II wa Burgundia. Baada ya baba na mama yake kuuawa katika mapambano ya kifamilia ya kuwania madaraka, aliishi chini ya ulinzi wa mjomba wake kabla ya kutolewa katika ndoa kwa Clovis I, mfalme wa Wafranki, mwaka 493. Alikuwa Mkatoliki, yaani, alishikilia imani ya Nikea/kiorthodoksi ya Kanisa la Roma. Jambo hili lilimtenganisha na familia nyingine nyingi za kifalme za Kijerumani za wakati huo, ambazo zilikuwa Wakristo wa Kiariani. Mama yake, Caretena, alikuwa Mkatoliki, naye Clotilda alilelewa katika imani hiyo. Anakumbukwa kwa kusihi kwa uvumilivu kwamba Clovis aache upagani na akubali ubatizo wa Kikatoliki, na baada ya hayo kuongoka kwake mwaka 496 ni mojawapo ya matukio muhimu sana katika historia ya awali ya Ufaransa na ya kile kiitwacho Ukristo wa Magharibi.
Clovis vowed that if he won the battle of Tolbiac he would convert to Clotilda’s Catholic faith and be baptized. The Alemanni king was killed, their army broke, and the Franks won. After the victory Clotilda arranged for Bishop Remigius of Reims to instruct Clovis, and he was baptized (traditionally on Christmas Day 496), along with several thousand of his warriors.
Clovis aliweka nadhiri kwamba ikiwa angeshinda vita vya Tolbiac angeongoka na kuingia katika imani ya Kikatoliki ya Clotilda na kubatizwa. Mfalme wa Alemanni aliuawa, jeshi lao likavunjika, na Wafaranki wakashinda. Baada ya ushindi huo Clotilda akafanya mpango kwa Askofu Remigius wa Reims amfundishe Clovis, naye akabatizwa (kwa mapokeo siku ya Krismasi ya mwaka 496), pamoja na maelfu kadhaa ya mashujaa wake.
Clovis was the king of the Franks, which in modern terms is the king of France. He became the first of the kings of Europe who would ultimately surrender their pagan religion and turn to Catholicism. For this reason, Clovis is considered the “eldest son of the Catholic church,” and France is called, “the eldest daughter of the Catholic church.” In 1980, when pope John Paul II visited France he asked, “France, eldest daughter of the Church, are you faithful to your baptism?”
Clovis alikuwa mfalme wa Wafranki, ambao kwa istilahi za kisasa ni mfalme wa Ufaransa. Alikuwa wa kwanza miongoni mwa wafalme wa Ulaya ambao hatimaye wangeiacha dini yao ya kipagani na kugeukia Ukatoliki. Kwa sababu hii, Clovis huhesabiwa kuwa “mwana mzaliwa wa kwanza wa Kanisa Katoliki,” na Ufaransa huitwa, “binti mzaliwa wa kwanza wa Kanisa Katoliki.” Mwaka 1980, papa Yohane Paulo II alipoitembelea Ufaransa aliuliza, “Ufaransa, binti mzaliwa wa kwanza wa Kanisa, je, wewe ni mwaminifu kwa ubatizo wako?”
Clovis' conversion to Nicene Catholicism identifies the start of a symbolic marriage procession that would lead to the symbolic treaty marriage of 538. The symbolic treaty marriage between Clovis and the whore who commits fornication with the kings of the earth was typified by the four previous treaty marriages in Daniel eleven. Clovis was the first European king to provide military and economic support for the Roman church and Clovis is therefore represented within the history in Daniel eleven.
Kugeuka kwa Clovis kwenda katika Ukatoliki wa Nikea kunaonyesha mwanzo wa msafara wa mfano wa ndoa ambao ungeongoza hadi ndoa ya mfano ya agano ya mwaka 538. Ndoa hiyo ya mfano ya agano kati ya Clovis na yule kahaba afanyaye uasherati pamoja na wafalme wa dunia ilifananishwa na ndoa nne za awali za maagano katika Danieli kumi na moja. Clovis alikuwa mfalme wa kwanza wa Ulaya kutoa msaada wa kijeshi na wa kiuchumi kwa kanisa la Roma, na kwa hiyo Clovis anawakilishwa ndani ya historia katika Danieli kumi na moja.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Daniel 11:31.
Na vikosi vitasimama upande wake, navyo vitapatia unajisi patakatifu pa nguvu, navyo vitaiondoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa ya daima, nao wataweka chukizo lile lifanyalo ukiwa. Danieli 11:31.
Clovis in 496 marks the beginning of the European political structures to “stand up” to aid the papacy as it rose to power. It marks the beginning of a symbolic marriage procession. The “arms” of the verse would also pollute the “sanctuary of strength,” which for both pagan and papal Rome is the city of Rome.
Clovis katika mwaka 496 huashiria mwanzo wa miundo ya kisiasa ya Ulaya “kusimama” kuisaidia upapa ulipokuwa ukipanda madarakani. Hilo huashiria mwanzo wa msafara wa mfano wa ndoa. “Mikono” ya aya hiyo pia ingeichafua “patakatifu pa nguvu,” ambacho kwa Roma ya kipagani na ya kipapa ni mji wa Roma.
Two Sanctuary's
Patakatifu Mbili
There are two different Hebrew words in the book of Daniel that are translated as “sanctuary.” The Hebrew words ‘miqdash’ and ‘qodesh’ are both translated as “sanctuary,” but qodesh can only represent a holy entity, whereas miqdash can represent either a holy or unholy sanctuary—as determined by context.
Kuna maneno mawili tofauti ya Kiebrania katika kitabu cha Danieli ambayo yametafsiriwa kuwa “patakatifu.” Maneno ya Kiebrania ‘miqdash’ na ‘qodesh’ yote mawili yametafsiriwa kuwa “patakatifu,” lakini qodesh inaweza kuwakilisha tu kitu kitakatifu, ilhali miqdash inaweza kuwakilisha patakatifu pawe patakatifu au si patakatifu—kama muktadha unavyoamua.
The “sanctuary of strength” in verse thirty-one is ‘miqdash’ and represents the sanctuary of Rome’s strength, which for both pagan and papal Rome was the city of Rome. From the battle of Actium, when Octavian united the empire, pagan Rome was invincible for three hundred and sixty years (a time) in fulfilment of verse twenty-four of Daniel eleven.
“patakatifu pa nguvu” katika aya ya thelathini na moja ni ‘miqdash’ na linaonyesha patakatifu pa nguvu za Roma, ambalo kwa Roma ya kipagani na ya kipapa lilikuwa mji wa Roma. Tangu vita vya Actium, wakati Oktaviano alipounganisha himaya, Roma ya kipagani haikushindika kwa muda wa miaka mia tatu sitini (wakati mmoja) katika utimilifu wa aya ya ishirini na nne ya Danieli kumi na moja.
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. Daniel 11:24.
Ataingia kwa amani hata katika sehemu zenye neema nyingi za jimbo; naye atafanya mambo ambayo baba zake hawakuyafanya, wala baba za baba zake; atawatawanya miongoni mwao mawindo, na nyara, na mali: naam, atapanga hila zake juu ya ngome zenye nguvu, hata kwa muda. Danieli 11:24.
When pagan Rome ruled from the city of Rome it was invincible, but when Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople in 330, the “time” of verse twenty-four was fulfilled. When the last of the three horns (the Goths) of Daniel seven were driven out of the city, papal Rome prophetically took the throne as the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy in 538. The Goths had besieged Rome, but ultimately retreated as Belsarius, general for Justinian secured the city. The Roman church then ruled supremely for twelve hundred and sixty years until Napoleon had the pope removed and put in exile in 1798.
Wakati Roma ya kipagani ilipotawala kutoka mji wa Roma ilikuwa isiyoshindika, lakini Konstantino alipohamisha mji mkuu kwenda Konstantinopoli mwaka 330, “wakati” wa aya ya ishirini na nne ulitimia. Wakati wa mwisho wa zile pembe tatu (Wagothi) za Danieli saba kufukuzwa kutoka mjini, Roma ya kipapa kwa namna ya kinabii ilitwaa kiti cha enzi kama ufalme wa tano wa unabii wa Biblia mwaka 538. Wagothi walikuwa wameizingira Roma, lakini hatimaye walirudi nyuma wakati Belisario, jemadari wa Yustiniani, alipoikomboa na kuithibitishia mji huo usalama. Ndipo kanisa la Roma likatawala kwa ukuu mkuu kwa miaka elfu moja mia mbili na sitini mpaka Napoleon alipomwondoa papa na kumpeleka uhamishoni mwaka 1798.
Rome, “the sanctuary of strength” was “polluted,” (polluted, meaning ‘wounded or dissolved’), through the “arms” from the ongoing warfare against the city, represented primarily by the first four trumpets of Revelation chapter eight.
Roma, “patakatifu pa nguvu” palikuwa “pamenajisiwa” (pamenajisiwa, maana yake ‘pamejeruhiwa au kuvunjwa’), kwa njia ya “majeshi” yaliyotokana na vita vinavyoendelea dhidi ya mji huo, vikioneshwa hasa na tarumbeta nne za kwanza za Ufunuo sura ya nane.
The history that ensued from 496 onward would see the city of Rome polluted as it changed from the power and glory of the Roman empire unto the power and glory of the Roman Catholic empire. Those arms would take away the religion of paganism, represented by the word “daily” in the passage, as they accepted the religion of Nicene Catholicism.
Historia iliyofuata tangu mwaka 496 na kuendelea ingeushuhudia mji wa Roma ukichafuliwa ulipobadilika kutoka katika mamlaka na utukufu wa milki ya Kirumi hadi katika mamlaka na utukufu wa milki ya Kikatoliki ya Kirumi. Mikono hiyo ingeiondoa dini ya upagani, inayowakilishwa na neno “ya daima” katika kifungu hicho, walipoukubali dini ya Ukatoliki wa Nikea.
At the battle of Vouillé, Clovis defeated the Arian Visigoths under Alaric II and took Aquitaine. In the aftermath of the victory, in 508, the Eastern emperor Anastasius I (in Constantinople) honored Clovis for his victory over the Visigoths. Gregory of Tours says that Anastasius sent Clovis' official papers making him consul. At Tours, in Saint Martin’s church, Clovis put on a purple tunic and cloak, set a diadem on his head, rode out, and scattered gold and silver to the crowd. Gregory says that from that day he was hailed as consul and recognized by the Roman emperor that Clovis was a legitimate Christian king in the west. He was rewarded for breaking the Arian Visigoths, whom Constantinople also opposed. 508 is the year the emperor in the East publicly honored the Catholic Frankish king—church, victory, and Roman legitimacy in one scene. 508 is the year the Frankish Catholic kingdom stood as the dominant Catholic power in Gaul after breaking Arian Visigoth’s rule. Clovis is the first major barbarian king to fight for Nicene Catholicism against Arian kingdoms, and thus the prototype of the French role as “eldest daughter of the Church.” Clovis represents the period of 496 unto 508 and is the alpha symbol of the symbolic marriage treaty. The thirty years from 508 unto 538 are represented by Justinian who is the omega symbol of the procession.
Katika vita vya Vouillé, Clovis aliwashinda Wavisigothi wa Kiariani chini ya Alaric II na kuiteka Aquitaine. Baada ya ushindi huo, mwaka 508, mfalme wa Mashariki Anastasius I (huko Konstantinopoli) alimpa Clovis heshima kwa ushindi wake dhidi ya Wavisigothi. Gregory wa Tours asema kwamba Anastasius alimtumia Clovis hati zake rasmi zilizomfanya kuwa konsuli. Huko Tours, katika kanisa la Mtakatifu Martin, Clovis alivaa kanzu ya rangi ya zambarau na joho, akajivika taji kichwani, akapanda farasi, na kuwatawanya watu dhahabu na fedha. Gregory asema kwamba tangu siku hiyo alisifiwa kuwa konsuli na akatambuliwa na mfalme wa Kirumi kwamba Clovis alikuwa mfalme wa Kikristo halali katika magharibi. Alituzwa kwa kuwavunja Wavisigothi wa Kiariani, ambao Konstantinopoli pia iliwapinga. Mwaka 508 ndiyo mwaka ambao mfalme wa Mashariki alimpa hadharani heshima mfalme Mfranki Mkatoliki—kanisa, ushindi, na uhalali wa Kirumi katika tukio moja. Mwaka 508 ndiyo mwaka ambao ufalme wa Kikatoliki wa Wafranki ulisimama kama nguvu kuu ya Kikatoliki katika Galia baada ya kuvunja utawala wa Wavisigothi wa Kiariani. Clovis ndiye mfalme mkuu wa kwanza wa kibarbaria kupigania Ukatoliki wa Nikea dhidi ya falme za Kiariani, na hivyo ndiye mfano wa kwanza wa nafasi ya Ufaransa kama “binti mkubwa wa Kanisa.” Clovis anawakilisha kipindi cha mwaka 496 hadi 508 na ndiye ishara ya alfa ya mkataba wa ndoa wa kiishara. Miaka thelathini kutoka 508 hadi 538 inawakilishwa na Justinian, ambaye ndiye ishara ya omega ya msafara.
In 538, the “arms” placed the papal power on the throne of the earth for 1260 years. It was then that the symbolic treaty marriage was consummated at the conclusion of the marriage procession that had begun in 496. In 1798, the treaty marriage that had begun between the pope of Rome and Clovis of France, was disannulled when Napoleon of France divorced the papal power by having his general take the pope captive.
Mwaka 538, “mikono” ilikiweka mamlaka ya upapa juu ya kiti cha enzi cha dunia kwa muda wa miaka 1260. Hapo ndipo ndoa ya mfano ya agano ilipokamilishwa mwishoni mwa msafara wa ndoa uliokuwa umeanza mwaka 496. Mwaka 1798, ndoa ya agano iliyokuwa imeanza kati ya papa wa Roma na Clovis wa Ufaransa ilibatilishwa wakati Napoleon wa Ufaransa alipoitaliki mamlaka ya upapa kwa kumwagiza jenerali wake amchukue papa mateka.
The alpha symbolic papal treaty marriage, which had begun its marriage procession in 496, was consummated at the Sunday law in 538, and it was thereafter disannulled in 1798, just as was every other treaty marriage of Daniel eleven. Revelation adds to the papal marital relationship between the kings of Europe and popes of Catholicism, for the dragon of Revelation twelve is both Satan and pagan Rome’s kings.
Ndoa ya mkataba ya kipapa ya kiishara ya alfa, iliyokuwa imeanza msafara wake wa ndoa mwaka 496, ilikamilishwa katika sheria ya Jumapili mwaka 538, na baadaye ikabatilishwa mwaka 1798, kama ilivyokuwa kwa kila ndoa nyingine ya mkataba ya Danieli kumi na moja. Ufunuo unaongeza juu ya uhusiano wa kindoa wa kipapa kati ya wafalme wa Ulaya na mapapa wa Ukatoliki, kwa maana yule joka wa Ufunuo kumi na mbili ni Shetani na pia wafalme wa Rumi ya kipagani.
“Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome.” The Great Controversy, 439.
“Hivyo, ingawa yule joka, kimsingi, humwakilisha Shetani, kwa maana ya pili, ni ishara ya Roma ya kipagani.” Pambano Kuu, 439.
In Revelation John informs us of three things the kings (the dragon) gave to the sea beast of Catholicism.
Katika Ufunuo Yohana anatufahamisha kuhusu mambo matatu ambayo wafalme (joka) walimpa mnyama wa baharini wa Ukatoliki.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Revelation 13:2.
Na yule mnyama niliyemwona alikuwa mfano wa chui, na miguu yake ilikuwa kama miguu ya dubu, na kinywa chake kama kinywa cha simba; naye yule joka akampa nguvu zake, na kiti chake cha enzi, na mamlaka kuu. Ufunuo 13:2.
In 496, the kings of Europe began providing the papal beast their “power” as represented by their military might and economic support. They had moved the capital of their empire to Constantinople in 330, leaving the city of Rome as the “seat” of the papal authority. The “arms” thereafter identified the papal church as the head of all churches in 533 with the decree of Justinian. The decree included the use of their military might to persecute those who the papacy identified as heretics, thus placing their civil “authority” into the hands of the popes.
Mnamo mwaka 496, wafalme wa Ulaya walianza kumpatia yule mnyama wa kipapa “uweza” wao kama ulivyowakilishwa na nguvu zao za kijeshi na msaada wao wa kiuchumi. Walikuwa wamehamisha mji mkuu wa milki yao kwenda Konstantinopoli mwaka 330, wakiuacha mji wa Roma kuwa “kiti” cha mamlaka ya kipapa. “Mikono” baadaye ililitambua kanisa la kipapa kuwa kichwa cha makanisa yote mwaka 533 kwa amri ya Justiniani. Amri hiyo ilijumuisha matumizi ya nguvu zao za kijeshi kuwatesa wale ambao upapa uliwatambua kuwa wazushi, hivyo kuiweka “mamlaka” yao ya kiraia mikononi mwa mapapa.
The alpha treaty marriage between the papacy and the kings of Europe began with Clovis in 496. By 508, paganism, the legal religion of the realm was set aside for the religion of Nicene Catholicism. In 533, Justinian identified the papacy as the head of all churches, and surrendered the legal authority of their respective thrones unto the papal power.
Ndoa ya agano ya alfa kati ya upapa na wafalme wa Ulaya ilianza na Clovis mwaka 496. Kufikia mwaka 508, upagani, ambao ulikuwa dini ya kisheria ya ufalme, uliwekwa kando kwa ajili ya dini ya Ukatoliki wa Nikea. Mwaka 533, Justinian aliutambua upapa kuwa kichwa cha makanisa yote, na akasalimisha mamlaka ya kisheria ya viti vyao vya enzi husika kwa nguvu ya kipapa.
The Alpha and Omega Seat
Kiti cha Alfa na Omega
In 330, the city of Rome was left in the hands of the Roman church where she would be seated until she is destroyed in the lake of fire at Christ’s second coming. In 538, she was officially seated again upon the papal throne, thus identifying the history of 330 unto 538 as a prophetic period that begins with an alpha seat and ends with an omega seat. The period represents the ending of the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy (Pergamos) as a progressive demise beginning in 330 and ending in 538 with the arrival of Thyatira. Both western and eastern Rome continued the slow dissolution beyond 538, but the period began with giving the seat, representing the city of Rome to the papacy in 330, until the seat became not simply a throne over the city, but over the kingdom represented by the city in 538.
Mnamo mwaka 330, mji wa Rumi uliachwa mikononi mwa kanisa la Kirumi, ambamo angeketi humo hata aangamizwe katika ziwa la moto wakati wa kuja kwa Kristo mara ya pili. Mnamo mwaka 538, aliketishwa rasmi tena juu ya kiti cha enzi cha upapa, hivyo kutambulisha historia ya 330 hadi 538 kuwa kipindi cha kinabii kinachoanza kwa kiti cha alpha na kumalizika kwa kiti cha omega. Kipindi hicho kinawakilisha mwisho wa ufalme wa nne wa unabii wa Biblia (Pergamo) kama kuangamia kwa hatua kwa hatua kuanzako mwaka 330 na kuishia mwaka 538 kwa kuwasili kwa Thiatira. Rumi ya magharibi na ya mashariki zote mbili ziliendelea na kufutika huko kwa polepole baada ya mwaka 538, lakini kipindi hicho kilianza kwa kutolewa kwa kiti, kikimwakilisha mji wa Rumi kupewa upapa mwaka 330, mpaka kiti hicho kikawa si tu kiti cha enzi juu ya mji, bali juu ya ufalme uliowakilishwa na mji huo mwaka 538.
330 to 538 is a specific prophetic period that defines the ‘eight’ waymarks of the papacy’s empowerment. Those eight steps are repeated in the healing of the papacy’s deadly wound at the soon-coming Sunday law.
Miaka 330 hadi 538 ni kipindi maalumu cha kinabii kinachofafanua alama za njia ‘nane’ za kutiwa nguvu kwa upapa. Hatua hizo nane zinarudiwa katika kuponywa kwa jeraha la mauti la upapa katika sheria ya Jumapili inayokuja upesi.
The first of the eight steps was the giving of the city of Rome to the papal power, and the eighth step was the giving of the city as the throne of the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy. This identifies 538 as the seat, and as ‘the eighth step, that is of the previous seven steps.’ The first step was the giving of the seat and the eighth step was the giving of the seat; thus, the first step in 330 is the alpha and 538 is the omega. Two seats, three horns removed, the daily taken away, Clovis’ conversion and Justinian’s decree equal eight total steps that identify the marriage procession, and ultimately the marriage.
Ya kwanza kati ya hatua nane ilikuwa ni kukabidhiwa kwa mji wa Roma kwa mamlaka ya upapa, na hatua ya nane ilikuwa ni kukabidhiwa kwa mji huo kama kiti cha enzi cha ufalme wa tano wa unabii wa Biblia. Hili linaitambulisha 538 kama kiti, na kama “hatua ya nane, iliyo ya hatua saba zilizotangulia.” Hatua ya kwanza ilikuwa ni kukabidhiwa kwa kiti na hatua ya nane ilikuwa ni kukabidhiwa kwa kiti; hivyo, hatua ya kwanza katika 330 ndiyo alfa na 538 ndiyo omega. Viti viwili, pembe tatu zilizoondolewa, cha daima kuondolewa, kuongoka kwa Clovis na amri ya Justinian ni sawa na jumla ya hatua nane zinazoitambulisha maandamano ya arusi, na hatimaye arusi yenyewe.
In 1798, France, the power who had represented the ten European kings, who placed the papacy on the throne in 538, removed the papacy from that very throne. The alpha treaty marriage represented in the history of 538 unto 1798 typifies the omega treaty marriage of the papal power with the ten kings of Revelation seventeen. The marriage procession from 496 unto 538 typifies eight steps that align with the last eight presidents of the United States. Clovis and France are symbols of the ten European kings. They represent the United States who will become the premier king of Revelation seventeen’s ten kings at the soon-coming Sunday law.
Mnamo mwaka 1798, Ufaransa, ile nguvu iliyokuwa imewawakilisha wafalme kumi wa Ulaya, ambayo iliupandisha upapa kwenye kiti cha enzi mwaka 538, iliuondoa upapa kutoka kwenye kiti hicho hicho cha enzi. Ndoa ya agano ya alfa iliyowakilishwa katika historia ya 538 hadi 1798 ni mfano wa ndoa ya agano ya omega ya mamlaka ya kipapa na wafalme kumi wa Ufunuo kumi na saba. Maandamano ya ndoa kuanzia 496 hadi 538 ni mfano wa hatua nane zinazolingana na marais wanane wa mwisho wa Marekani. Clovis na Ufaransa ni alama za wafalme kumi wa Ulaya. Vinawakilisha Marekani ambayo itakuwa mfalme mkuu wa kwanza wa wafalme kumi wa Ufunuo kumi na saba katika sheria ya Jumapili inayokaribia upesi.
The five previous treaty marriages of Daniel eleven align with the sixth and final treaty marriage of the latter days. The alpha and omega treaty marriages of north and south identify the bride from the south as the alpha and the omega is a bride from the north. In the treaty marriages of pagan Rome, the alpha bride from the east was given to the west, and the omega of 313 was a bride from the west. Those four marriages are prophetically linked together by Cleopatra the first and Cleopatra the last. The symbolic treaty marriage of papal Rome represented the groom as the premier king of a prophetic confederacy of ten kings joining with their bride—the scarlet woman of Rome. The divorce was carried out by the premier king of the ten kings in 1798.
Ndoa tano za awali za maagano za Danieli kumi na moja zinapatana na ndoa ya sita na ya mwisho ya agano ya siku za mwisho. Ndoa za maagano za alfa na omega za kaskazini na kusini zinamtambulisha bibi-arusi kutoka kusini kuwa ndiye alfa, na omega ni bibi-arusi kutoka kaskazini. Katika ndoa za maagano za Rumi ya kipagani, bibi-arusi wa alfa kutoka mashariki alitolewa kwa magharibi, na omega ya mwaka 313 ilikuwa bibi-arusi kutoka magharibi. Ndoa hizo nne zimeunganishwa pamoja kinabii kupitia Kleopatra wa kwanza na Kleopatra wa mwisho. Ndoa ya agano ya kiishara ya Rumi ya kipapa ilimwakilisha bwana-arusi kuwa mfalme mkuu wa shirikisho la kinabii la wafalme kumi, akiungana na bibi-arusi wao—yule mwanamke mwekundu sana wa Rumi. Talaka ilitekelezwa na mfalme mkuu wa wale wafalme kumi mwaka 1798.
The treaty marriage of 313 represents the final treaty marriage of the papal power with the United States—the premier king of Revelation seventeen’s ten kings; a two horned power that is typified by the two horned power of France. The history that began with Clovis in 496 and ultimately led to the decree of Justinian in 533 and the enthronement of the papacy in 538, represents the history of 1989 unto the Sunday law.
Ndoa ya agano ya 313 inawakilisha ndoa ya agano ya mwisho ya mamlaka ya upapa pamoja na Marekani—mfalme mkuu wa kwanza wa wafalme kumi wa Ufunuo kumi na saba; mamlaka yenye pembe mbili ambayo inafananishwa kwa kivuli na mamlaka yenye pembe mbili ya Ufaransa. Historia iliyoanza na Clovis mwaka 496 na hatimaye ikaongoza hadi kwenye amri ya Justinian mwaka 533 na kutawazwa kwa upapa mwaka 538, inawakilisha historia ya 1989 hadi sheria ya Jumapili.
We will continue these things in the next article.
Tutaendelea na mambo haya katika makala inayofuata.