Habakkuk's Two Tables #47

PART SIX: 1989

Presented by Jeff Pippenger

Invocation by Brother Jeff Pippenger: Heavenly Father, we thank you for a good night's rest, and we thank you for bringing us together to study your Word this morning. Some of our group are traveling. We ask for traveling mercies this morning. And as we take up the study of the Word, we ask that you grant us the guidance and presence of your Holy Spirit, that you would watch over the work that we are doing here, that you would prepare our hearts and minds for the light that you have for us this morning, that you would take control of my thinking process that it would be used to glorify you and present the truth and not be corrupted with human thoughts. We know that we are living in the time of the Latter Rain, so we ask that you would pour your Latter Rain out upon us so that we can continue to study the implications of Daniel 11, verse 40. In Jesus's name, amen.

Armageddon

Three Parts

Revelation 16:12-19

BROTHER PIPPENGER: We want to begin this morning with Revelation 16. We are going to deal with Armageddon this morning.

Revelation 16, speaking about the Sixth Vial in verse 12. It says,

"12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." Revelation 16:12-19 (KJV).

The reason why we went to verse 19 is we are wanting to identify that in verse 19 the great city Babylon, modern Babylon, is divided into three parts. Modern Babylon is not simply Babylon that sits on the Euphrates. Modern Babylon is a city, a kingdom. We have already established that a city in Bible prophecy is a kingdom in this worship series.

And by the way, we have pretty much reached the halfway mark in this worship series, and I intend to do a lot less of defending every little point along the way now. There will be some things that we have already established several times, and there will be some things that we have not established but we have established the technique of prophetic interpretation that we are using as we study these things. So, for the critics, the honest critics, these techniques we have identified early on in this worship series. We have used them more than once to establish truths, so I am not going to perpetually repeat these principles and make the defense. We are going to begin to study this information at a different level.

So, what we are saying is, we have already established that a city in Bible prophecy is a kingdom; and, in verse 19 great Babylon, the modern Babylon at the end of the world—and certainly this is modern Babylon at the end of the world—that is going to enter the Seven Last Plagues. We are told in verse 19 that it is divided into three parts. And the three parts that it is divided into are noted in verse 13 as the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet.

Okay. It is not important to this study, but as you go through the Book of Revelation, you will find that every time that the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet are referenced, they are always referenced in that order. The Dragon was the first that came into history, and then the Beast came into history in AD538, and then the False Prophet (the United States) comes in at the end. And when the Revelator mentions these three powers, however he does it, it is always in this order.

So, what we are saying is, is that 1989 is the end of William Miller's dream, and that is when the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals the prophetic testing message for the 144,000 at the end of the world.

At the Time of the End, every Reform Movement is a fulfillment of a prophecy. We are saying that verse 40 of Daniel 11, identifying the collapse of the Soviet Union, is that prophecy that is fulfilled, that marks the Time of the End for the 144,000.

1798 Sunday Law Egypt ARMAGEDDON

VERSES FORTY , FORTY-ONE FORTY-THREE, Dan 11:44 – 12:1

Figure No. 91.

And although we have not proven verse 41 is The Sunday Law yet—we will do that in our next presentation, the Lord willing—we are saying that verse 40 of Daniel 11 begins in 1798 at the Time of the End, and it goes until verse 41, which is The Sunday Law; and, therefore, the history that verse 40 covers is from AD1798 to The Sunday Law in the United States.

And we have taken some time in our previous presentations to identify that in verse 40 there are three powers. There is the King of the North (that is the Papacy); there is the United States (represented by the chariots, ships, and horsemen); and, there is the Dragon power (represented as the King of the South).

So, when you are looking at the Beast, and the Dragon, and the False Prophet and their activities, their roles in leading the world to Armageddon, down here in the Seven Last Plagues, where does that story begin? It begins in Daniel 11, verse 40. Those three powers are in verse 40 of Daniel 11. And the whole structure of the last six verses of Daniel 11 is based upon the interaction of the Beast, the Dragon, and the False Prophet.

So, if you have a desire or are convicted that you need to understand Armageddon, then you need to understand Daniel 11, verse 40.

ARMAGEDDON: Har: "mountain". Megeddon: "assembly", possibly "congregation", "slaughter". Megiddo: The plain of Esdralon at the foot of the Carmel ridge on the northeastern side.

Okay. ARMAGEDDON you have in your notes. It is made up of two words, Har, meaning "mountain," and Megeddon, meaning "assembly," "congregation," or "slaughter": The mountain of the assembly, the mountain of the slaughter.

Yesterday we illustrated on the board that just below the Carmel ridge is Megiddo, and it is just next to the Mediterranean Sea and just above the Sea of Galilee, and just off to the right of the Dead Sea, at least on our map. Megiddo is between the seas and Jerusalem, the glorious holy mountain; and, this is where the King of the North comes to his end with none to help in Daniel 11:44 through Daniel 12:1.

We have mentioned before the fact that John the Revelator calls Megiddo the Mountain of Megiddo, to make sure that the student of prophecy understands that Armageddon is not a literal place, for there is no mountain in Megiddo. So, John the Revelator purposely uses an inconsistency in the geography of that area to make sure the student understands that this is a spiritual war at the end, not a literal war.

A Company Who Have Been Deceived

Notice the next quote, Manuscript Releases, number 17, page 18.

"God has warned His people of the perils before them. John beholds the things which will be in the last days, and he sees a people working counter to God. Read Revelation 12:17; 14:10–13, and chapters 17 and 13."—

Revelation 12:17 talks about Satan being angry with the remnant of her seed.

Revelation 14:10-13 is where the punishment of those that receive the mark of the beast is noted.

Revelation 17 identifies the threefold union of the Beast, the Dragon, and the False Prophet; and, it marks how the Papacy is judged in that history.

And, of course, Revelation 13 describes how the United States is the False Prophet that forces the whole world to accept the image of the beast and receive the mark of the beast.

So, Sister White is focusing in the very message of the Third Angel in this passage.

Back to the beginning, it says,

—"God has warned His people of the perils before them."—

This is emphasizing a warning message.

—"John beholds the things which will be in the last days, and he sees a people working counter to God. Read Revelation 12:17; 14:10–13, and chapters 17 and 13. John sees the company who have been deceived."—

I would submit to you that this all of mankind that is lost; but, the first company to be deceived we have already noted in this study is Adventism which receives strong delusion just prior to The Sunday Law.

Continuing on:

—"He says, 'I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.'" Manuscript Release, number 17, 18.

What I want you to see in this passage, if you will, is Sister White is using Revelation 16 and the story of the Beast, and the Dragon, and the False Prophet to identify a warning message, and she is giving a second testimony to this warning; because, in Revelation 16, verse 15, it says, "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, . . ." So, Sister White is citing this passage in Revelation 16 in saying this is a warning message; and, here in verse 15, it is saying that it is a warning message. It is saying, "Blessed are you that keep your garments," thus implying that there is a possibility for you to lose your garments. But this cannot be so in the time of the Plagues.

When Michael stands up in Daniel 12:1, human probation closes. The garments I am wearing are either the garments of my self-righteousness or the garments of Christ's righteousness. And when He stands up, "he that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and, he that is just, let him be just still." You do not change garments after Michael stands up. And once Michael stands up, then begins the Seven Last Plagues.

And here in the Sixth Vial, the Sixth Plague, in verse 15 there is a warning, "Blessed is he that keepeth his garments," and Sister White is emphasizing the warning of these three powers. So, how is it that the subject of the Beast, and the Dragon, and the False Prophet is a warning message?

Okay. For me, it is a warning message. It is saying that you need to understand how and who, what are the powers that lead the world to Armageddon! And if you are going to understand those powers and the work that is accomplished by those powers as they lead the world to Armageddon—and leading the world to Armageddon means leading the world to a place where two classes are finalized. And in Daniel's terminology, in verse 45 the two classes: the glorious holy mountain, God's Church; and, the seas, the rest of the world. It is this march to Armageddon that divides the world into two classes, with no third class. There is no one else making any decisions. Every decision has been made.

And it is a warning to Seventh-day Adventists before it happens that you need to understand who the Beast, the Dragon, and the False Prophet are and what are their activities in accomplishing this work.

And if this is so—and it is so!—then you need to understand Daniel 11, verse 40; because, in Daniel 11, verse 40, that is where these three powers begin the work of leading the world to Armageddon.

So, when we are saying that in 1989, the Time of the End for the 144,000 was fulfilled and the Dirt Brush Man comes in and begins to remove the traditions and customs that have been handed down in Adventism, preventing people from understanding where we are in the flow of history, verse 40 is the verse that begins to tell the story about how the world ends up in Armageddon. And if you do not understand the beginning of the story, then how can you understand the story at all? Jesus illustrates the end with the beginning.

So, what am I saying? I am saying that verse 40, which identifies the Time of the End, it has got many, many important truths that God's people have to wrap their minds around. And that is why in The Great Controversy, when she says, "The events connected with the close of probation and the need of preparation in the time of trouble have been clearly revealed, but multitudes—my words: in Adventism—do not understand these truths," they do not understand verse 40 is identifying the beginning of the march to Armageddon, among other things.

So, let us look a little at these three powers.

The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet

Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899:

"Under the symbols of a great red dragon, a leopard-like beast, and a beast with lamblike horns,"—

Where do we find these symbols?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Revelation 12 and 13.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Revelation 12 and 13.

But, who are these symbols?

Who is the great red dragon? Well, that is easy. It is the Dragon.

Who is the leopard-like beast? That is the Beast.

And, who is the lamb-like beast? That is the False Prophet.

And do you notice what order they are in? Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet.

No matter how they are illustrated in The Revelation, they are always in that order.

—"Under the symbols of a great red dragon, a leopard-like beast, and a beast with lamblike horns, the earthly governments which would especially engage in trampling upon God's law and persecuting His people, were presented to John."—

What is the great red dragon?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Pagan Rome.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: It is an earthly government. She just said so. The dragon is an earthly government. So is the leopard-like beast, and so is the beast with lamb-like horns.

The dragon is many things; but, I want you to see here that she is identifying it as an earthly government.

—"The war is carried on till the close of time. The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they 'which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.'

"Through paganism, and then through the Papacy, Satan exerted his power for many centuries in an effort to blot from the earth God's faithful witnesses. Pagans and papists were actuated by the same dragon spirit. They differed only in that the Papacy, making a pretense of serving God, was the more dangerous and cruel foe."—

Wow! How can the Papacy be the more cruel foe when you remember the activities of men like Nero and Diocletian. You know, the historians say that after the reign of Diocletian there was a meeting of the Christians that came together of whom—I forget the leader there, the Christian leader's name. It is not important to my point—but of all the people, all the Christians that came to this gathering, there were virtually none of them that were whole: this guy's eyes had been put out; this guy's tongue had been cut out; this guy's legs were gone, and this guy's hands were gone. Okay. That was the cruelty of Pagan Rome; but, Sister White says the Papacy was more cruel.

Okay. What does that tell you? That persecution is progressively worse. The persecution that takes place at the end of the world, it is going to be enhanced by modern techniques of persecution.

Starting over at the second paragraph,

—"Through paganism, and then through the Papacy, Satan exerted his power for many centuries in an effort to blot from the earth God's faithful witnesses. Pagans and papists were actuated by the same dragon spirit. They differed only in that the Papacy, making a pretense of serving God, was the more dangerous and cruel foe. Through the agency of Romanism, Satan took the world captive. The professed church of God was swept into the ranks of this delusion, and for more than a thousand years the people of God suffered under the dragon's ire."—

Now, here is the point of this passage.

—"And when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution,"—

When was the Papacy robbed of its strength? 1798.

—"when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon's voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, was symbolized by a beast with lamblike horns.

"But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and 'exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.'"—

What in the world does that mean?

The next sentence:

—"Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and that "he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Thus Protestantism follows in the steps of the Papacy." Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

There are a few things that I want you to see here.

Sister White just said that John received the vision of Revelation 13 in 1798, which was when the Papacy was robbed of its strength John beheld a new power coming up out of the Earth.

HISTORY OF REVELATION 13:11 (Also the History of the United States)

1798 Sunday Law

Revelation 13:11

Figure No. 92.

So, that new power is marked in Revelation 13:11. It is the lamb-like beast. It is the United States. And ultimately in verse 11, the United States speaks as the dragon, and we have already made the point, and we are going to make it again, that the speaking of the United States as a dragon takes place at The Sunday Law; therefore, it is important to see that the same history of verse 40 is the history of Revelation 13:11. It is the identical history.

You know, some of these people that fight this message, they are saying, "There are over 200 years' history in verse 40. How ridiculous is that?"

Well, it is the same amount of time that is in verse 11 of Revelation 13.

And why is this important? It does not matter if you understand why it is important. You can tell it is important just from the fact that the Lord has given us a second witness to this identical history. That has to mean something.

Okay. It says the United States, when it is speaking about the United States, it is going to exercise the same powers of the beast before it. That is verse 12.

Go to Revelation 13. Verse 11 is the United States of Revelation 13. In verse 12 it says,

"12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, . . ." What is the power of the first beast before him?

I mean, Sister White is taking this quote and emphasizing this aspect of the United States; therefore, it is being identified in Inspiration as a characteristic of the United States that we are to understand. So, what is the power of the first beast?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Persecution.

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Church and state.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Persecution; church and state? Okay, close.

Go to Revelation 13, verse 2.

"2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard,"—

Who is the leopard beast?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy?

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Papacy.

—"and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon"—

Who is the dragon?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Pagan Rome.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Pagan Rome, Pagan Rome.

—"and the dragon gave him power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:2 (KJV)."

And the dragon gave him three things, his what?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: His power.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Hmm. Can he exercise the same power as the beast before him?

What was the power that was exercised before him?

HISTORY OF THE RISE OF THE PAPACY

Clovis

AD330 496 533

Figure No. 93.

Well, the dragon, remember, the dragon gives three things to the Papacy; and, it removes three things from the Papacy. It removes three horns, but it gives three things to the Papacy. It gives him his seat. In the year AD330 Constantine moves the capitol of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, leaving a spiritual vacuum in the City of Rome that the Papacy gobbles up. It gives him his seat to rule from. It did that in AD330.

It gave him his civil authority in 533 when the Emperor Justinian wrote a decree identifying the Pope of Rome as the head of the church and the Corrector of Heretics, and legally and technically from that point on the Pope of Rome can turn to the Emperor of Rome and say, "You are a heretic. Off with your head!" The civil authority has been given to the Papacy in 533.

But, when was it that the power was given to the Papacy by the dragon? 496.

And who gave the power to the Papacy; who is the historical figure?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Clovis.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Clovis, king of France, formed a church-state relationship with the Papacy in 496 and began to use his military strength to place the Papacy on the throne of the Earth.

TIMELINE OF DANIEL 11:40 – 12:1

1798 Sunday Law Egypt ARMAGEDDON

USA (France)

Reagan (Clovis)

POWER

VERSES FORTY , FORTY-ONE FORTY-THREE, Dan 11:44 – 12:1

Figure No. 94.

So, when it says in verse 12 of Revelation 13 that the United States is going to exercise the power of the beast before it, what is the power?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Military.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Military strength.

So, where is it that we can identify in prophecy that the United States begins to exercise its military power to place the Papacy on the throne of the Earth?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: In Daniel 11, verse 40.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: In verse 40 [see Figure No. 93].

(Interruption of electrical power during presentation.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: This must be an important point.

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Yes, it is.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: All right?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Laughter.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: I think it is, but I never realized that it was so important that it would infuriate Satan to this extent.

I have seen people fight this truth that I am going to share with you; so, it may very well be that important.

The power of the United States begins to be exercised for the Papacy by Ronald Reagan in his time period; therefore, who typifies Ronald Reagan?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Clovis.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Clovis.

Therefore, who typifies the United States?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: France.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Who is France part of?

(Restoration of electrical power during presentation.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Who is France a part of?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Ten Kingdoms.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Ten Kingdoms of who? Pagan Rome.

France is part of the dragon power that placed the Papacy on the throne of the Earth.

So, what I want you to see when it comes to the United States, they are going to exercise the same power as the beast before it, and that power, if you are going to be a student of prophecy and you are going to give a second testimony to Revelation 13:12 to where the United States begins to exercise the power to place the Papacy on the throne of the Earth, what do you need to understand? Daniel 11, verse 40.

Okay. Daniel 11, verse 40, is one of the most profound verses in the Bible. Not only does it begin the march to Armageddon but it is your second witness to the work of the United States in placing the Papacy on the throne of the Earth.

And as the second witness to that work, it identifies the same history as Revelation 13:11, which is the history of the United States.

There are just profound and specific connections here!

Chariots, Horsemen, and Ships

The False Prophet—Revelation 13:11-18

Okay. Now go to Revelation 13, if you are not already there.

Speaking of the United States, starting in verse 11 it says,

"11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."—

The speaking of the United States is The Sunday Law. Okay? We are going to show that to you. We have already shown that in this worship service.

After The Sunday Law, therefore, in verse 11, there is going to be further development. And it says,

—"12And he [the United States] 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."—

How is the United States going to force the world to worship the Papacy? It is going to use its military and economic might. It is going to exercise the same power as Clovis, who used his military and economic might.

Verse 13:

—"13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,"—

Who makes fire come down out of heaven, from yesterday's presentation?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Elijah.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Satan. Elijah did, but Satan here at the end.

But, we also read a quote yesterday, if you noticed it, that his representatives are going to perform these miracles, too. The United States is his representative in this.

What are the miracles of the United States?

How does the United States make fire come down out of heaven? You have got military fire power.

What else?

What is the religion of the United States? It is apostate Protestantism. But, apostate Protestantism, it is going to receive strong delusion. Those people in apostate Protestantism that do not come out of Babylon and be the eleventh-hour workers and stand with God's people, they are going to be just as deluded as anyone else that rejects the truth.

And how does Satan capture apostate Protestantism? The Pentecostal Movement.

What is the symbol of the Pentecostal Movement? Speaking in tongues, fire coming down out of heaven.

So, this verse 13, it has a lot of ways that we can see it; but, this is about the United States.

Verse 14:

—"14And deceiveth"—

Who deceiveth? Who deceives here in verse 14? The United States.

—"14And [the United States] deceiveth them that dwell on the earth"—

Does that mean them that dwell in England? Does it mean them that dwell in Africa? The Earth! Sister White says every nation will be involved. The United States is going to deceive the entire world.

—"14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast,"—

Saying to the world, to the world!

—"that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live."—

Now, Brother and Sisters, this means there are two images of the beast in Revelation 13; because, in order for the Protestants of the United States to pass a Sunday Law through the Government of the United States, they first have to form an image of the beast here in the United States because the image of the beast is the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship. And until the Protestants have control of the state, the Government of the United States, they cannot pass a Sunday Law.

But, when they pass The Sunday Law, when the United States speaks as a dragon, it is marking that the image of the beast has been fully developed in the United States,

But this image of the beast is not the image of the beast in the United States. This is the image of the beast in the entire world; and, there is only one definition of the image of the beast. It is the combination of church and state. So, there is going to be a One World Government that is going to consist of church and state.

And in verse 15, it says,

—"15And he [the United States] had power to give life unto the image of the beast,"—to this One World Government—"that the image of the beast should both speak,"—

The speaking of a nation is an action of its legislative and judicial authorities. This One World Government that the United States is going to force the world to set up is going to have a legislative branch which is in New York City, and a judicial branch which is in Holland. It is already here.

—"and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." Revelation 13:11-18 (KJV).

TIMELINE OF DANIEL 11:40 – 12:1

1798 1989 Sunday Law Egypt ARMAGEDDON

USA (France)

Reagan (Clovis)

POWER

VERSES FORTY, FORTY-ONE FORTY-THREE, Dan 11:44 – 12:1

HISTORY OF REVELATION 13:11 (Also the History of the United States)

1798 Sunday Law Church & State

Revelation 13:11

Figure No. 95.

So, what I am saying is, after The Sunday Law in the United States, it goes out to the entire world. And we have not shown it yet, but in Daniel 11, verses 42 and 43, the world is represented by Egypt. It goes out to the world and tells them that they must set up an image of the beast, which is church and state—right?—and it is going to bring this One World Government to life by its power.

And this story in Revelation 13, it is the identical story in the last six verses of Daniel 11 [referencing Figure No. 94]. It is in the same sequence. It is telling the same story, using different symbols.

Declaration of Independence—1776; the Constitution—1787;

the Bill of Rights—1791; National Sovereignty recognized

by the nations of the world—1798

Okay. Let us remember the United States. I have this in your notes.

Sister White says this, The Great Controversy, pages 440 – 442:

"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;"—

And if you are like most Seventh-day Adventists and you have not studied these things because you just did not think you needed to be a student of prophecy, then you probably do not realize that there are all kinds of foolish ideas in Adventism about who the sixth kingdom is in Revelation 17, and it is identified often as other than the United States of America in spite of the fact that in Revelation 13 you have the leopard-like beast of the Papacy followed by the United States. How hard is that one?! But, Sister White here is saying when it comes to the history of 1798, "One nation and one nation only," it seems like to me she is trying to emphasize the fact that you can only mark the United States in 1798.

—"One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy, it points"—vaguely?

Is that what she says?

—"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."—

You will notice that I have the last words of that sentence highlighted. Why do I do that? Why do you think I have that emphasized for you?

Because, you may have not understood it because I never said anything about it. I have said things about it, but not in this regard. The fact that the historians are using the very words from Daniel 11, verse 40, to describe the collapse of the Soviet Union is exactly what Sister White is emphasizing here, that the historians that mark the arrival of the United States in prophecy, they use the same words from Revelation 13 to do so; thus, Sister White is telling us that when the historians record the history that is a fulfillment of prophecy, that even though they may be worldlinga to the fullest extent, the Lord still directs them in choosing words that allows the student of prophecy to make the connection, and that connection is made in the history of the collapse of the Soviet Union as well in the history of the United States.

—"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, December 22, 1824, page 11. 371

"'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."—

Often Seventh-day Adventists emphasize that the pilgrims came to the United States to escape the Papal authority, but sometimes we forget that they were also running away from royal authority. They were running away from a corrupt church and a corrupt state. That is what it is all about: church/state corruption.

—"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."—

What is the secret of the power and prosperity of the United States? Republicanism and Protestantism.

And where is that secret preserved?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: In the Constitution.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Constitution; it is the Constitution that preserves the secret that makes the United States what it is; and, at the end of the world, it no longer is. Its powers at the end of the world are not Republicanism and Protestantism. It is changed. It is military and economic strength; it is chariots and horsemen and ships.

—"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.

"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 lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The 'speaking' of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak 'as a dragon' and exercise 'all the power of the first beast' plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns 'causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast' indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy." The Great Controversy, 440–442.

The Great Controversy, pages 448 – 449:

"The enforcement of Sundaykeeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy—of the beast. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded."—

If you do not understand this, you need to understand these next few thoughts.

—"But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast;"—

So, when they pass The Sunday Law, what have they just formed?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: The image of the beast.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The image of the beast.

So, there are two images of the beasts in Revelation 13, even if people do not want to acknowledge it. Verse 11, when it speaks as a dragon, it is The Sunday Law; and, the image of the beast has been fully developed in the United States. Then it goes to the world and it tells the world in verse 14, "You need to do the same thing that we've just done."

—"But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sundaykeeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image." The Great Controversy, 448–449.

Page 445 of The Great Controversy says,

"The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas. The 'mark of the beast' still remains to be defined." The Great Controversy, 445.

Therefore, the mark of the beast and the image of the beast are two different things. The mark of the beast is Sunday observance. The image of the beast is the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship.

The Great Controversy, page 443:

"But what is the 'image to the beast'? and how is it to be formed? The image is made by the two-horned beast, and is an image to the beast. It is also called an image of the beast."—

It is going to operate the same way the Papacy of the past operated; therefore, it is an image of the Papacy, "it is an image of the beast." But, by making this image, it is bowing down to the beast; so, "it is an image to the beast"; it is an offering to the beast. It is an acknowledgement that "We want to be like you are." It is both.

—"It is also called an image of the beast. Then to learn what the image is like and how it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast itself—the papacy.

"When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of 'heresy.'"—

". . . especially for the punishment of 'heresy." Especially for the punishment of heresy.

In fact, if you read the Catechism, it lays out the various types of worship that the Catholic Church does; and, the Catholic Church in Vatican II, the buzz word for these rituals is called "Celebration." They celebrate this and they celebrate that; they celebrate this.

But, what is the highest form of Celebration that is marked in the Catechism for the Catholic Church?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Indiscernible responses.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The punishment of heretics.

But, is that not the highest form of worship for Paganism, is burning your children at the altar of Molech? It is the highest form of worship, according to the Catechism, is the punishment of heretics.

That is why she says, "especially for the punishment of 'heresy.'"

—"In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends." The Great Controversy, 443.

Okay. I am hoping you are seeing that this history here of verse 11 is the same history of Daniel 11, verse 40. It goes from 1798 to The Sunday Law.

But, this history of verse 40, it is emphasizing the movements of the King of the North, the Papacy. But, this history of Revelation 13:11, it is emphasizing the movements of the False Prophet (the United States). It is a twofold look at the same history.

Then comes The Sunday Law, and the United States is fully disconnected from righteousness, and it is going to go out to the whole world and say, "You need to set up a One World Government that is a combination of church and state with the Pope of Rome in control of the relationship." And that is paralleling verses 42 and 43 of Daniel 11. I have not shown that yet. I cannot show everything at the same time; I do not know how to do it. But, we will get back to that.

Switching gears a little bit here.

All the World

Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897:

"History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan's plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation.

"The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world."—

Not just to the United States but to all the world.

—"In a limited degree, it has already gone forth. In several places the civil power is speaking with the voice of a dragon, just as the heathen king spoke to the Hebrew captives." Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897.

So, notice this next couple of quotes.

First the United States

Testimonies, volume 6, page 18:

"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example." Testimonies, volume 6, 18.

So, where does The Sunday Law begin?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: In the United States.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The United States.

And how many countries follow the example of the United States?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: All.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Every country on the globe.

The next quote, Testimonies, volume 6, page 395.

"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.

She leads out with The Sunday Law in the United States, and then she goes to the world and says, "You must set up an image of the beast." And that image of the beast is the same test. The image of the beast in the world reaches its climax, the full development of itself, when it has the ability to enforce a Sunday Law on all the countries of the globe; and it will do so.

The King of the South

Egypt is the Dragon

Ezekiel 29:2-3

We have been speaking about the False Prophet. Now we are going to switch gears to the Dragon.

We are doing this because we are saying that in Daniel 11, verse 40, we have the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet beginning their activity that leads the world down here to Armageddon. We want to look at the Dragon now.

Ezekiel 29.

Now, the theologians, this will give them heartburn—okay?—because, I am going to take and say the Dragon in Revelation 12, which was written by John in Greek, is also written about in Ezekiel in Hebrew hundreds and hundreds of years apart: "Doesn't this guy understand that this is a different time in history, John and Ezekiel? And doesn't he understand it's two different languages? How can he be saying that they are the same?"

Because, I acknowledge that I am an uneducated, worthless human being and my only chance of salvation is to accept the Word of God simply as It is set forth and believe it. And the Word of God identifies the Dragon in Revelation 12, and it identifies the Dragon in Ezekiel 29. For me, the simple man that I am, it means that it is the same Dragon in both places.

Ezekiel 29, beginning in verse 2:

"2 Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt: 3 Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself." Ezekiel 29:2-3 (KJV).

Egypt is the Dragon in prophecy. Egypt is the Dragon in prophecy.

And maybe you do not think this is important; but, I remember going to this passage in an inquisition that we were involved in, in Germany, where I was presenting the message. And we had the university professors and the well-known pastors, the Germans were there, sitting around in a circle, attempting to reject everything we said. And when you got to here, saying that this is the Dragon, that one professor, man, he just—he was not going to accept that one.

Brother and Sisters, Egypt in Bible prophecy is the Dragon. You may not understand the significance of marking that and believing it; but, the theologians that are fighting this message, they fight this point. So, even if you do not understand it, just duly note that it is something worth fighting for, for those that are on the wrong side of the issue, the Dragon.

The Great Controversy, page 439:

"Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome." The Great Controversy, 439.

The Dragon is Egypt; the Dragon is Satan; the Dragon is Pagan Rome. The Dragon is many things, but Egypt and Pagan Rome?

Did not Pagan Rome, in the time period of Antony and Cleopatra, did not Pagan Rome conquer Egypt? How can they both be the Dragon?

Okay. Do you see my point?

Notice the next quote, Testimonies to Ministers, page 38:

"Kings and rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of antichrist, and are represented as the dragon who goes to make war with the saints—with those who keep the commandments of God and who have the faith of Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers, 38.

FROM THE AUDIENCE: It moves.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Pardon me?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: It moves.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Dragon moves through history.

But this here, the Dragon at the end of the world, is it Pagan Rome?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: No.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Is it Egypt?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: No.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Prophetically it is, but it is not the country of Eqypt. It is kings, governors, and rulers in The Sunday Law crisis, because it says this is The Sunday Law crisis: They go forth to make war with the saints that keep the commandments of God. This is The Sunday Law crisis.

So, the Dragon—and we started with a quote in this study from Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899, where Sister White references the great red dragon, the leopard-like beast, and the beast with lamb-like horns. And what did she say they were? Earthly governments.

The earthly governments that represent the Dragon at the end of the world is the earthly government that is made up of kings and rulers and governors. It is an earthly government that is made up of a group of politicians, which is called the United Nations.

So, what am I saying about the Dragon? I am saying this: When it comes to the Dragon, the characteristics of the Dragon in Bible prophecy is that it moves through history.

And I have a breakdown for you so you can note and where you can mark the Dragon at different points in prophetic history.

HEAVEN - EZEKIEL 28; EDEN - GENESIS 3; SHINAR - GENESIS 11; BABYLON, PERGAMOS - REVELATION 2:13; ROME - DANIEL 8:11; FRANCE - REVELATION 11:8; THE SOVIET UNION - DANIEL 11:40; THE UNITED NATIONS - DANIEL 11:42; THE UNITED NATIONS - REVELATION 20:7–10

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Yes.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: And in Ezekiel 28, you can find that.

And he stays in Babylon all the way through in the time of Belshazzar.

So, the Dragon has moved from Heaven to Eden, to Shinar, to Babylon, to Pergamos.

My point is this, when it comes to the Dragon, he moves through history. He is not in the same geographical location. He moves. If you are unwilling to see this, then you are unwilling to see.

Egypt is given to Babylon (the Dragon is Given to the Beast)

Jeremiah 46:1-2, 13, 20; Ezekiel 29:18-21; Daniel 11:42; Revelation 17:17

When it comes to the Dragon—and I know this is hard. This is hard for a lot of people to conceptualize or to buy into, but it is true. The next point we are going to make is hard; because, when you think of the Dragon, you think of Satan, and you think that Satan is the one that is directing the False Prophet of the United States, and Satan is the one that is directing the Beast of the Papacy, and Satan is the one directing the spiritualism of the United Nations; and, he is. But, Satan is the Dragon, and in Bible prophecy the Dragon is given to the Papacy. You have to see that.

To give you a quick example, in the Church of Thyatira in Revelation, what is the symbol of the Papacy in Thyatira, in Revelation? What symbolizes the Papacy in the Church of Thyatira?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Jezebel.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Jezebel. Okay.

And Jezebel is the church.

Who was Jezebel married to?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Ahab.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Ahab. So, what is Ahab?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: He is the king.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: He is the state.

So, how many states did he have?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Ten.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Ten.

He is the Ten Kings that commit fornication with Jezebel with the Beast at the end of the world. Right?

So, that number 10, how many kingdoms did Pagan Rome disintegrate into?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Ten.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Ten.

The number 10, that is the Dragon power. Ahab is the Dragon power. Ahab is the Dragon power.

Was Jezebel ruling over Ahab, or was Ahab ruling over Jezebel? Okay. The Biblical testimony is that Jezebel is controlling the movements. Egypt is given to (the Dragon is given to) the Papacy.

Now, notice Jeremiah 46. Go to Jeremiah 46.

Why do you need to see this? You need to see this because the King of the North (the Papacy) in Daniel 11, verse 42, is going to conquer Egypt. You want to see that that is always the case in the Scriptures, is that Egypt (the Dragon power) is given into the hands of the Papacy. You want to know that this is so, so that you can be confident in your understanding of the last six verses of Daniel 11.

Jeremiah 46:1-2 says,

"1The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; 2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah." Jeremiah 46:1-2 (KJV).

Who is Nebuchadnezzar?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: King of the North.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: King of the North.

Who did he just defeat?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: The King of the South.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: The King of the South, Egypt.

Okay. Egypt gets defeated by Babylon.

Notice verse 13.

"13The word that the Lord spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt." Jeremiah 46:13 (KJV).

Babylon smites Egypt.

Verse 20:

"20Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north." Jeremiah 46:20 (KJV).

Who is Egypt? Ezekiel 29, verses 2 and 3: It is the Dragon. The Papacy takes control of the Dragon. The Dragon is a state. The image of the beast is a combination of church and state with the church, the woman, in control of the relationship. The state is given to the Papacy.

Back to Ezekiel 29, verses 18 through 21. Ezekiel 29, beginning at verse 18, says,

". . .18Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:"—

What does the Bible say about the laborer?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: He is worth his hire.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. He was using Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish a purpose; so, the Lord is saying, "I'm going to pay the King of the North, I am going to pay the Papacy for the work that he is doing for me."

Verse 19,

—"19Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. 20I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord God."—

And in what day does He give Egypt to the Papacy?

Next verse,

—"21In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth,"—

Ah, this happens in the time period of the Latter Rain.

—"and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 29:18-21 (KJV).

Ah, in this very time period, the Lord is going to raise up a people that are receiving the Latter Rain that are going to present this very truth to the world. He is going to give them an opening of the mouth.

And what are they going to talk about? They are going to talk about the fact, among other things, that in Bible prophecy that Egypt is given to the Papacy. The King of the North takes control of the King of the South. That is Daniel 11:42.

"42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape." Daniel 11:42 (KJV).

Now, Revelation 17:17. We are not dealing with Revelation 17 as of yet; but, just so we can put it in your mind for a future reference, in Daniel 11:42, the King of the North conquers Egypt and the countries. And, in Revelation 17:17, speaking of the Ten Kings—and we are saying the Ten Kings have been represented by the ten toes of Daniel 2—they are represented by Ahab and his ten nations; they are represented by the ten tribes of Psalm 83; they are represented by the ten cities in connection with Nimrod; they are represented by the ten cities in Ezekiel 30 that are the cities of Egypt that are judged by the Lord in Ezekiel 30. These Ten Kings are the Dragon at the end of the world.

And verse 17 says,

"17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom [the kingdom of the Dragon] unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." Revelation 17:17 (KJV).

Because, the King of the North in verse 42 of Daniel 11 is going to conquer Egypt; it is going to conquer the Dragon.

Okay. We have put that in place. We want to put a couple more things in place as we are closing.

Sorry I got a little bit carried away there, time-wise.

The Long War

What we are saying—now, this is a different thought. Okay? I have to pull you back away from some of this—what we have been saying is, is that in verse 40 of Daniel 11, the activities of the King of the North (the Beast), the King of the South (the Dragon), and the False Prophet (the chariots, ships, and horsemen), this is where it begins. This is where you see the activities begin.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the student of prophecy has opened up to them a line of truth that carries them all the way down here [to Armageddon] where the King of the North comes to his end, between the seas and the glorious holy mountain which is Megiddo, Armageddon. That is just one line of truth that is opened up; all kinds of lines of truth are opened up there in verse 40.

The Battle of Carchemish (Egypt and Assyria/Babylon: South/North)

But, in this history, one of the truths in this history, is that in 1798 to 1989, you have a long, protracted war.

In the beginning of this war, Egypt, the King of the South, it attacks the King of the North and it is victorious. It delivers the deadly wound. So, this is a long drawn-out war from 1798 to 1989. And initially, the Dragon delivers the first blow and is victorious. But, at the end, the Dragon loses.

That is part of that verse 40.

But, as you remember, we showed that this history of Daniel 11:40 to down here to Daniel 12:1, what history is that? It is the history of Laodicea.

And the history of Laodicea had how many of the churches repeated?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: All of them.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: All of them, from Ephesus, all the way through. All those histories are repeated in Laodicea; and not only of the Christian Church, but of who else? Ancient Israel.

So, we have already seen the principle that allows us to see that verses 40 to 45, that is the whole Bible is laid over the top. This is the principle that turns the Bible into the Little Book that is in the Angel's hand.

So, what I am saying is, this long drawn-out history in verse 40, people attack this idea. I have already mentioned one attack: "How can you have over 200 years in one verse?" It is a stupid argument, but they give it. But, connected with that kind of false logic is, "Well, a war that begins here [1798] and ends here [The Sunday Law]?" So, we are going to give you a couple of this long drawn-out war, so upon the testimony of two or three we can establish this long drawn-out war.

Josiah's Death

2 Kings 23:28-30 (1798)

2 Kings 23.

And, of course, we are going to deal with this, the Lord willing. You never know what you are going to do from one day to another, right? We are going to deal with this king Josiah before we get out of the typifications of Habakkuk's Tables, because king Josiah, he is one of the key stories in these two Tables [the 1843 and 1850 Charts].

But, this is the story of king Josiah, 2 Kings 23:29-30, and if you back up to verse 28, it says,

"28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29In his days Pharaohnecho"—who?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: King of Egypt.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: —"Pharaohnecho king of Egypt [King of the South] went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates:"—

Who is the king of Assyria?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: King of the North.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: King of the North.

So, the King of the South here is attacking the King of the North. Have you ever seen that anywhere in Scriptures? Right here, right here, 1798.

—"and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 30And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead." 2 Kings 23:28-30 (KJV).

Now, you know that when the King of the South [Pharaohnecho] came to begin this war with the King of the North, that he told Josiah something. You know that story, right?

What did he [Pharaohnecho] tell Josiah? He said, "The Lord sent me in this battle. Stay out of it." [2 Chronicles 35:20-21] Okay?

So, what is that? That is a warning message connected with Daniel 11, verse 40. "Stay out of this battle; or . . ."—where do you end up? Dead in Armageddon.

Do all the prophets speak about the end of the world?

Okay. So, Josiah represents a lay person in Adventism—no, he doesn't represent a lay person, does he? Who does Josiah represent at the end of the world?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Leaders.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is the king that ends up where? Dead at Armageddon.

Why? Because, he rejected the warning of Daniel 11, verse 40.

Do you see it? Well, it is there.

The Fourth Year of Jehoiakim (the First Angel)

Jeremiah 46:1-2, 13, 20 (1989)

Now, go to Jeremiah 46. We have already looked at this, but not from this perspective.

Keep your finger in there, if it is not already too late, in 2 Kings 23. Keep your finger in there for your own reference, if you need to. But, in Jeremiah 46, which we have already looked at—what we just read in 2 Kings 23 was in the time period of who? Josiah.

And chapter 46 of Jeremiah says,

"1The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; 2Against Egypt, against the army of"—who?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Pharaohnecho.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Pharaohnecho. This is the same king, the king of Egypt.

—"Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish,"—

This is the same battle. It was the king of Assyria at the beginning; and, now it is the king of Babylon, Nebuchadrezzar.

—"which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of"—

Josiah? No.

—"the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah." Jeremiah 46:1‑2 (KJV).

So, this is at the end of the battle down here [1989], the fourth year of Jehoiakim.

And who wins there?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Nebuchadnezzar.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Nebuchadnezzar wins here in 1989.

See, this is a war that begins when the King of the South pushes against the King of the North, and initially the King of the South wins; but, at the end the King of the North returns and sweeps away the King of the South.

And in this story you have the story of Josiah, the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that rejects the warning of Daniel 11, verse 40, and ends up at Armageddon a dead man.

One other proof of a long drawn-out war.

2 Chronicles 35:19-25

And you can read—I am running out of time, of course, here. I have been too wordy this morning—my bad. We will not read 2 Chronicles 35:19-25 [into the record]; it is in your notes.

"19In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

"20After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. 21But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 22Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. 24His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations." 2 Chronicles 35:19-25 (KJV).

This tells the story of Pharaohnecho telling Josiah, "Don't go!"

Now, notice. Josiah has been told that because he had done this wonderful revival and reformation that he is going to go to his grave in peace. So, Sister White is going to comment on the fact that he did not go to his grave in peace.

And we have just shown you that he is a symbol of the leadership of Adventism that rejects the message of Daniel 11, verse 40, the message of the war between the King of the South and the King of the North, that it is a long drawn-out war that initially the King of the South wins, but ultimately the King of the North prevails.

And here is what Sister White says about Josiah from The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 2, page 1039:

"Those who will not take God's Word as assurance, need not hope that human wisdom can help them; for human wisdom, aside from God, is like the waves of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed. The word of Christ is, 'He shall guide you into all truth.' Reject not the light given.

"Read the history of Josiah. He had done a good work. During his reign idolatry was put down, and apparently successfully uprooted. The temple was reopened and the sacrificial offerings re-established. His work was done well.

"But at the last he died in battle. Why?—Because he did not heed the warnings given. . . . [2 Chronicles 34:26–33; 35:20–24 quoted.]

"Because Josiah died in battle, who will charge God with denying His word that Josiah should go to his grave in peace? The Lord did not give orders for Josiah to make war on the king of Egypt. When the Lord gave the king of Egypt orders that the time had come to serve Him by warfare, and the ambassadors told Josiah not to make war on Necho, no doubt Josiah congratulated himself that no word from the Lord had come directly to him. To turn back with his army would have been humiliating, so he went on. And because of this, he was killed in battle, a battle that he should not have had anything to do with. The man who had been so greatly honored by the Lord, did not honor the word of God. The Lord had spoken in his favor, predicted good things for him; and Josiah became self-confident, and failed to heed the warning. He went against the word of God, choosing to follow his own way, and God could not shield him from the consequences of his act.

"In this our day men choose to follow their own desires and their own will. Can we be surprised that there is so much spiritual blindness?" The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 2, 1039.

So, what is the story of Josiah about? About rejecting the message, the warning message, of Daniel 11, verse 40.

I am going to end here.

There is another long drawn-out war that is identifying the long drawn-out war of the King of the South and the King of the North in Daniel 11, verse 40, and we will begin with that tomorrow morning. It is the long drawn-out war that marks not that the leadership of Adventism will end up at Armageddon if they reject the message of Daniel 11, verse 40. It marks that immediately after the long drawn-out war, which ended in 1989, that Islam will come into history. So, we will start that tomorrow. And what we are doing is giving two witnesses on top of this history of Daniel 11:40 – 12:1 to show this long drawn-out war is a prophetic waymark.

Shall we pray?

Benediction: Heavenly Father, we are amazed that the amount of information that you can put in one verse; but, we acknowledge that we have but only as human beings scratched the surface in beginning to understand the light that is there. But, nevertheless, the light that is contained in this verse is amazing. We ask that you would allow this truth to change our hearts, change our minds, that we will be about our businesses of running to and fro in your Word that we might fully comprehend this increase of knowledge, that it might work its purpose in us that we can be purified and made white and then tried, and that we might have a message to share with those that we come in contact with. We set before you this day of service and ask for our work to be safely done and that it might be a work that will glorify and honor you. We thank you for the work that you are doing with the LiveStreaming and the DVD recordings. In Jesus's name, amen.