Habakkuk's Two Tables #76
CONCLUSION
Presented by Jeff Pippenger
Invocation by Brother Jeff Pippenger: Heavenly Father, we thank you for a good night's sleep, another day of life. We ask that as we open your Word this morning that you would grant us the presence of your Holy Spirit, that you continue to pour out your Latter Rain upon us and your people around the world, that our understanding of your Word would become so complete that we can give the Loud Cry Message in the near future when The Sunday Law crisis hits. We pray for the work that we are doing in recording the DVDs, and the work that is going on in LiveStreaming this information. And as we have a busy month ahead of us with other speakers coming to participate in this work, we ask especially that you give Marco traveling mercies, so that he will arrive tomorrow safely. As we open your Word, we would ask that you would take control of my thinking process, that you would overrule any preconceived ideas that I may have, and that the message given would be one that has been touched with a coal from the altar that it is purified and empowered to have an impact upon your people. We ask, also, that your people would be fully surrendered to you. And we ask forgiveness of sins, if there are any transgressions that we have that are preventing us from being ready to hear, that you would forgive us. And we thank you that we can come together and study these things in such a time as this. In Jesus's name, amen.
The Daily
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. As we go into the Book of Daniel, this first quotation seems very important to me; because, there are some issues in the Book of Daniel that seem minor or small, but those issues actually become a turning point between truth and error. And because we are going to emphasize some of those issues that may seem small to those people that are not seeing things correctly, we want to make sure that we identify that it is okay in God's Word to make an issue out of apparently small things. One word in God's Word can mean life or death.
When Jesus told Mary, "Go and sin no more," if you take the word no out of that statement, it says, "Go and sin more." One word; her salvation can be boiled down to that one word; and. there are many, many illustrations in God's Word of that.
And in the Book of Daniel, in this sacred study, we will put emphasis on things that may seem small, but they have eternal value in them.
So, in Education, page 123, in order to uphold the premise of placing emphasis upon that, we turn to this passage (there are others).
"The Bible contains all the principles that men need to understand in order to be fitted either for this life or for the life to come. And these principles may be understood by all. No one with a spirit to appreciate its teaching can read a single passage from the Bible without gaining from it some helpful thought. But the most valuable teaching of the Bible is not to be gained by occasional or disconnected study. Its great system of truth is not so presented as to be discerned by the hasty or careless reader. Many of its treasures lie far beneath the surface, and can be obtained only by diligent research and continuous effort. The truths that go to make up the great whole must be searched out and gathered up, 'here a little, and there a little.' Isaiah 28:10.
"When thus searched out and brought together, they will be found to be perfectly fitted to one another. Each Gospel is a supplement to the others, every prophecy an explanation of another, every truth a development of some other truth. The types of the Jewish economy are made plain by the gospel. Every principle in the word of God has its place, every fact its bearing. And the complete structure, in design and execution, bears testimony to its Author. Such a structure no mind but that of the Infinite could conceive or fashion." Education, 123.
Every fact in God's Word has its bearing.
So, as we begin to look at the Daily in terms of upholding the Pioneer position that the Daily in the Book of Daniel represents Paganism, we are going to put a few principles in place before we go into the Book of Daniel; because, that is where we are going to take it up.
Church and State
Isaiah 14:12-14
And we want to turn to Isaiah 14 to start this consideration. Isaiah 14, beginning at verse 12, says,
"12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also"—
Now, there is one word that we want to put an emphasis on: that word also.
—"I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:12-14 (KJV).
There are two places here that Satan is going to seat himself—desires to seat himself. And just on that you can do a large study in God's Word. We are going to take one aspect out of it.
He wants to sit upon God's Throne, and he also wants sit up on the Mount of the Congregation. And the Throne represents God's Political Kingdom; the Sides of the North is Jerusalem, it is God's Church. Satan wants to rule over both God's political realm and His religious realm. So, in the rebellion of Lucifer in Heaven, one of the themes that is found consistently through God's Word is this issue of church and state.
And if you do not understand that the issue of church and state is one of the themes of Bible prophecy, then you will find it difficult to understand what the Daily in the Book of Daniel is.
Okay. We want to show you this upon the testimony of more than one; but, here we see that Lucifer's rebellion included his desire to sit upon God's political authority, upon his throne, (upon the state); and, upon his religion authority, the sides of the north (His church): church and state.
Babel
Genesis 11:4
In Genesis 11:4, we see Nimrod building a kingdom; and, his kingdom is also, once again, a kingdom that consists of church and state.
Verse 4 says,
"4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven: and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:4 (KJV).
Tower is a Church
A tower represents the church; a city represents the political kingdom. When Nimrod was going to build his kingdom, it was a kingdom that consisted of church and state, just as Satan's desire is to take over God's political and religious domain.
In The Desire of Ages, page 597, it says,
"In the parable the householder represented God, the vineyard the Jewish nation, and the hedge the divine law which was their protection. The tower was a symbol of the temple." The Desire of Ages, 597.
So, when Nimrod wanted to build a tower, he wanted to build a church.
City is a Kingdom
Revelation 11:8; 14:8; 16:19; 17:18; 18:10, 16, 18, 19, 21; 21:10
And in terms of building a kingdom, you can look at—you have it in your notes. Revelation 11:8, the great city; in Revelation 11, verse 8, is the kingdom of France.
"8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." Revelation 11:8 (KJV).
And then in Revelation 14:8; and Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:18; Revelation 18:10, 16, 18, 19, 21, you will see references to the Kingdom of Babylon that is represented by a city. A city represents a kingdom.
"8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Revelation 14:8 (KJV).
"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 win of the fierceness of his wrath." Revelation 16:19 (KJV).
"18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." Revelation 17:18 (KJV).
"10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. . . . 16And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! . . . 18And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great City! 19And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. . . . 21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." Revelation 18:10, 16, 18-19, 21 (KJV).
And then in Revelation 21:10 you will see the City of Jerusalem representing God's Kingdom.
"10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." Revelation 21:10 (KJV).
So, just in the Book of Revelation you have 10 proofs that a city in the Scriptures represents a kingdom. So, when Nimrod was going to build a city, that is a political kingdom; that is the state. And when he was going to build a tower, that is the church. That is the second witness that the satanic kingdom at the end of the world (because all the prophets are speaking about the end of the world) is going to be consist of church and state.
Daniel Two
Iron and Clay
In Daniel 2 we see the iron and clay down here in this part of the image [refers to the feet and toes of the image portrayed on the 1843 Chart].
Sister White, from The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 4, page 1168, says,
"We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. . . . The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves." The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 4, 1168.
So, here in Daniel 2, we see this kingdom down here at the end of the world (because she says, "We have come to a time") is represented as iron and clay; and, Sister White says that is churchcraft and statecraft. And you can go into the Scriptures and find that iron represents the Roman kingdom, and the Roman kingdom represents statecraft; and, you can go into the Scriptures and find that clay, that God is the potter, we are the clay. Clary represents religion. Church and state, so . . . .
The Image to the Beast
Revelation 13:11, 14
So, a third reference in the Scriptures, one of the themes in Bible prophecy is church and state. In Revelation 13, verses 11 and 14—we can turn there, Revelation 13, verses 11 and 14. We see the image to the beast set up.
Now, you may not see the image of the beast set up in verse 11 of Revelation 13, but it is. In verse 11 of Revelation 13, 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. . . ." Revelation 13:11 (KJV).
Speaking
In your notes, if you drop down to almost the bottom of the page where the subtitle says, "Speaking," Sister White says in The Great Controversy, page 442,
"The 'speaking' of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities." The Great Controversy, 442.
The Image to the Beast (Continued)
Revelation 13:11, 14 (Continued)
And she is saying this in reference to Revelation 13:11. If you read in that area of The Great Controversy or other places, when the United States legislates The Sunday Law, it speaks. Okay? And when it speaks, it will have formed an image of the beast.
So, I do not argue that you do not find the expression, "the image of the beast," in verse 11; but, by context it is there. When the United States speaks as the dragon, it has formed an image of the beast.
And then in verse 14 [of Revelation 13], still speaking of the United States, it says,
—"Revelation 13 continued, verse 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, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:14 (KJV).
So, most people do not realize it—and this is not the focus of our subject here today—but, in Revelation 13 there are two images of the beast. There is the one that is set up in the United States at The Sunday Law time period. It is fully developed when they pass this Sunday Law. And then in verse 14 the United States commands the world to set up an image of the beast. There are two images of the beast: one in the United States; one in the world. And, Sister White only has one definition of what the image of the beast is.
I received an email I think from Africa yesterday, and I am not so sure that these emails are even valid. I am getting so many emails from people around the world that want to have just simple, basic questions asked; and, I am thinking, maybe the enemy is going this, to keep your time focused on answering questions that people should already know, rather than doing what is the higher priority. But, this email is asking, you know: "Is there a difference between the mark of the beast and the image of the beast?"
Notice The Great Controversy, page 445, in your notes.
"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.
Sister White clearly is saying that the mark of the beast and the image of the beast are two different things, and the image of the beast is what is formed when the church and state come together, and the church employs the civil power to accomplish its own ends.
Notice the next quote. She is going to define that for us. This is what the image of the beast is, and the reason that we are looking at this is because the image of the beast is the combination of church and state, which is the iron and clay in the feet, which is Nimrod's tower and city, which is Satan wanting to sit upon God's Throne and upon the Sides of the North.
She says in 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. 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."—
What is the beast?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: 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.' 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.
So, the image of the beast represents the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship. And prophetically, this image is fully developed at The Sunday Law in the United States.
When the Protestant Churches in the United States have the ability to use the Government of the United States to pass a Sunday Law, then the image of the beast has reached its full maturity in the United States. And this is marked when Revelation 13:11 says that the United States will speak as a dragon, because the "speaking" of a nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. So, when The Sunday Law is passed, that is the mark of the beast; but, it is not the image of the beast. When The Sunday Law is passed, it is simultaneously demonstrating that church and state have come together fully in the United States and the church is now controlling the civil structure of the United States.
Beginning on page 448 of The Great Controversy, Sister White says,
"The enforcement of Sundaykeeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy—of the beast."—
Who is the beast?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Papacy.
—"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. 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.
So, what I am saying is, in Revelation 13:11 when the United States speaks as a dragon, then the image of the beast is in place in the United States. And fully disconnected from righteousness, the United States then goes out to the world and says, "You must set up an image of the beast."
And what is the image of the beast? It is the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship. So, in verse 14 of Revelation 13, you have evidence of a One World Government. In order for the United States to command the whole world to set up an image of the beast, it means the whole world has to come under the authority of a church that is controlling a civil structure over the entire world.
And if you do not think this is so, then read verse 15 of Revelation 13; because, in verse 15, still speaking of the United States, it says,
"15And he [the United States] had power to give life unto the image of the beast,"—
This is the image of the beast of verse 14. Go back to verse 14, "14And [the United States] 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, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he [the United States] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, . . . ."
The only definition of the image of the beast is the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship. The United States is now telling the world, "Set up a One World Government, with the church in control of the relationship."
And it further says, "
—"that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Revelation 13:15 (KJV).
And we already read the speaking of a nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities; therefore, the world's image of the beast has to have a judicial and a legislative body. And it does. The judicial body is in Holland; the legislative body is in New York City: it is the United Nations. It has both of those.
And it is not speaking yet, but the United States is going to force the world to accept the United Nations, and it will begin to "speak" in the world Sunday Laws. But, before that happens, there will be a Sunday Law in the United States, and the image of the beast in the United States will be fully formed.
So, all we are saying here is that one of the themes of Bible prophecy is the combination of church and state, because all the prophets are speaking about the end of the world.
And, at the end of the world, one of the stories is this image of the beast. All right? And you can trace it back to Daniel 2; you can trace it to Nimrod; and, you can trace it to Satan.
Do you follow the logic?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)
The Ten Kings and the Beast
Revelation 17:17
BROTHER PIPPENGER: In Revelation 17:17, which we have looked at in Habakkuk's Tables, in Revelation 17:17 it says,
"17For God hath put in their hearts"—
These Ten Kings; and these Ten Kings, they are the 10 toes of Daniel 2. They are the 10 enemies of Psalm 83. They are the 10 nations which Ahab represents in his relationship to Jezebel. Over and over again these Ten Kings have been prefigured in prophecy.
Testimonies to Ministers, page 38, speaking of the end of the world, it says,
"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.
These Ten Kings are the dragon power.
So, in Revelation 17:17, it says,
"Revelation 17:17 continued For God hath put in their hearts"—these Ten Kings, the dragon power—"to fulfill his will,"—the dragon power—"and to agree, and give their kingdom"—their political kingdom—"unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." Revelation 17:17 (KJV).
Who is the beast?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Papacy. Okay? John is not going to disagree with himself.
So, we see here these Ten Kings that are the civil structure of the United Nations, they agree to give themselves into the hands of the Papacy here at the end of the world; and, that is what is playing out in the daily newspapers, as we speak. This process is about to take place.
We are not dealing with that at this point. We are dealing with just a theme.
One of the subjects in Bible prophecy is the combination of church and state; and, if you are going to understand the Daily as Paganism, then you need to understand the Daily in Daniel, chapter 8. But, in order to understand Daniel, chapter 8, you have to understand that one of the themes of Bible prophecy is the combination of church and state.
So, we are dealing with this theme, to have it in place for when we go into Daniel, chapter 8.
Okay. That plank is put in place.
The Great Controversy
Isaiah 14:12-14; Philippians 2:5-8
We are going to switch now to "The Great Controversy."
Manuscript Releases, volume 2, page 330:
"If Satan can get us to enshroud ourselves in garments of self-righteousness, then we will not wear the robe of Christ's righteousness. Self-exaltation and pride of position and self-importance were the sins of Satan in heaven. True religion dies out of the heart when these take possession and are developed in the character." Manuscript Releases, volume 21, 330.
Isaiah 14:12-14
Go back to Isaiah 14, where we started with the combination of church and state. Verse 12 of Isaiah 14 says,
"12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"—
And, now, instead of looking for church and state, we are going to look at this self-exaltation that is the symbol of Satan's kingdom. All right?
Verse 13,
—"13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend"—
Okay. He will ascend. What does it mean to ascend?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Lifted up.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Lift himself up. Okay? This is the primary principle of Satan's kingdom, to lift yourself up, to ascend.
—"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars"—
Okay. He is going to lift up and exalt himself. Do you see that? "Lift up and exalt," write that down in your memory bank; because, there is a word that Daniel uses six times in his book called rum that means lifted up and exalt.
—"13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:12-14 (KJV).
So, when it comes to the basic root of Satan's kingdom in the Great Controversy, it is this lifting up and self-exaltation. That is what I am saying; whereas, in the Great Controversy, it is—what is the full title to The Great Controversy? The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Okay? So, Satan's kingdom is this kingdom that is going to lift up and exalt itself.
Philippians 2:5-8
And if you go to Philippians 2, we see what Christ's Kingdom is, in contrast with Satan's kingdom. Philippians 2, beginning at verse 5, it says,
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV).
So, these kingdoms in the Great Controversy, Satan's kingdom is lifting himself up and exalting himself; whereas, Christ in this Great Controversy struggle, He is taking Himself into the lowest point of humility: two contrasting kingdoms.
Michael: Who is Like God
Revelation 12:7-9; Jude 1:9; Daniel 10:12-21
Another place that you can see the Great Controversy in the Book of Daniel, and a couple of other places in the Scriptures, is in the MICHAEL (Who is like unto God).
And we see Michael referenced—and we are dealing with the Great Controversy now. We have put in place the two philosophies that govern these two kingdoms; but, we are going to look a little more closely at the struggle now.
Revelation 12, verses 7 through 9, tells us that this is a war that is going on. It is a literal war.
Verse 7 says,
"7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:7‑9 (KJV).
So, here we see Michael; and, every time we find Michael in the Scriptures, He is in a conflict, a direct conflict with Satan.
MICHAEL itself, just the name MICHAEL is emphasizing the Great Controversy. And, here in Revelation 12, it is emphasizing that this war began in Heaven, and that it is a literal battle.
Jude 1:9
Go to Jude, the book right before the Book of Revelation. This is the second place where we will find Michael in conflict with Satan.
In verse 9, it says,
"9Yet Michael the archangel,"—
What does archangel mean?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Head Angel.
—"9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 1:9 (KJV).
So, here the conflict, the war between Michael and Satan that began in Heaven, it is down on Planet Earth now, and now Satan is arguing about whether Christ (Michael) has the spiritual authority to resurrect those that have sinned. That is what Satan's argument was, "You can't resurrect Moses. He struck the rock."
Jesus did not argue with him. He said, "The Lord rebuke thee," and resurrected Moses.
So, now we see the Controversy is about Christ's spiritual authority and Satan's jealousy over that.
Daniel 10:12-21
Go to Daniel, chapter 10; the Book of Daniel. I am going to emphasize this Great Controversy struggle for a reference when we get into the study of the Daily.
In Daniel 10, beginning at verse 12, we see another illustration of the Great Controversy.
"12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia."—
This word prince, there are several words in God's Word that are translated as prince; but, this word prince is sar, and it means a military commander. So, now we are seeing Christ, the chief of princes, being portrayed as a military commander in conflict with the prince of Persia, a military commander. This is the Great Controversy once again, because it is "Michael, your prince." This is the struggle between Christ and Satan.
And who is there in Persia? In that verse, who is referenced in Persia? ". . . the prince of the kingdom of Persia," but, who did Gabriel remain with? The kings of Persia.
The kings of Persia are the human kings of Persia; but, Sister White informs us that the prince of Persia was none other than Satan himself.
Now, in your notes, from Seventh-day Adventists Bible Commentary, volume 4, page 1173, it says after she quotes this passage in Daniel 10,
"By this we see that heavenly agencies have to contend with hindrances before the purpose of God is fulfilled in its time. The king of Persia was controlled by the highest of all evil angels. He refused, as did Pharaoh, to obey the word of the Lord. Gabriel declared, He withstood me twenty-one days by his representations against the Jews. But Michael came to his help, and then he remained with the kings of Persia, holding the powers in check, giving right counsel against evil counsel. Good and evil angels are taking a part in the planning of God in His earthly kingdom. It is God's purpose to carry forward His work in correct lines, in ways that will advance His glory. But Satan is ever trying to counterwork God's purpose. Only by humbling themselves before God can God's servants advance His work. Never are they to depend on their own efforts or on outward display for success." Seventh-day Adventists Bible Commentary, volume 4, 1173.
Who is the highest of all evil angels?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Satan.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Satan.
The prince of Persia here is Satan. The king of Persia is the king of Persia. And, once again, we see that when Michael is referenced, the Great Controversy is emphasized in the story.
And in this struggle, what is it—among other things, not only is Satan trying to prevent Cyrus from allowing the Jews to come back and rebuild Jerusalem in this story, because that is what is going on, but in the struggle Satan at least has a secondary (maybe a primary) purpose of preventing Gabriel from accomplishing his work to Daniel. And what is the work that he is going to accomplish to Daniel that he is trying to prevent by having this Great Controversy struggle here in chapter 10? Well, it is verse 14.
—"Daniel 10 continued, verse 14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."—
Gabriel's purpose was to come and explain to Daniel what happens to God's people in the latter days, and it was being hindered by a struggle that he was having with the kings and prince of Persia, and only Michael could intercede to move things forward.
And what is it that Gabriel ultimately identifies that is going to happen in the latter days to God's people? Well, Daniel 11:40-45: it is the Foundational Message of our history that is directly connected with the struggle of the Great Controversy.
—"15And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16And behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 19And said, O man greatly beloved, feat not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak: for thou hast strengthened me. 20Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." Daniel 10:12-21 (KJV).
So, what we have put in place now at this point before we begin to look at Daniel 8 is that one of the themes (and every fact has its bearing) in Bible prophecy is the combination of church and state. Another one is the Great Controversy struggle between Christ and Satan in that there are two different kingdoms here represented: the kingdom that wants to lift itself up and exalt itself, versus Christ's Kingdom of self-sacrificing love.
Progression
We want to add another thought into this, and I have it titled for you as "Progression."
Daniel 2
We see this progression here in Daniel 2. And, we are going to look at the progression in Daniel 2 and Revelation 17: Gold; silver; brass; iron; iron and clay. So, we see a progression in here [referring to the image of kingdoms as reflected on the 1843 and 1850 Charts]. We have two witnesses of it.
The gold is more valuable than the silver, which is more valuable than the brass, which is more valuable than the iron, which is more valuable than iron and clay.
But, we also see the progression at another level. Gold is softer than silver, which is softer than brass, which is softer than iron.
And, Sister White comments on this progression.
If you have your Ellen White Study Bible, under Daniel, chapter 2, they quote this, but they cut it off. They cut it off; and, so, I am going to go a little bit further with it because there is something very important that they cut off—not that they did it on purpose, but in my mind.
If you have your Study Bible, it will cut off like at the fourth paragraph. We are going to read beyond this. This is a rather long—it is the longest quote we have, and it was something that she wrote for a publication called, the Youth Instructor. So, in terms of Methuselah, I guess everyone in this room is a youth; but, in terms of who is in this room, I guess this is primarily for Austin and Autumn. But, we are going to glean the prophetic message out of it.
Youth Instructor, September 22, 1903.
"'Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.'"—
And what we are looking for is a progression that is illustrated in Daniel 2, and she is going to comment on this image. She says,
—"The image revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, while representing the deterioration of the kingdoms of the earth in power and glory, also fitly represents the deterioration of religion and morality among the people of these kingdoms. As nations forget God, in like proportion they become weak morally.
"Babylon passed away because in her prosperity she forgot God, and ascribed the glory of her prosperity to human achievement."—
This [the head of the image] is Babylon.
—"The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of heaven because in this kingdom God's law was trampled underfoot. The fear of the Lord found no place in the hearts of the people. The prevailing influences in Medo-Persia were wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption.
"The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt. They deteriorated because they cast off their allegiance to God. As they forgot him, they sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral value."—
Now, that is where it ends in the comments of the Study Bible.
She says, "The kingdoms that followed," and that is good enough. In that sense you can take it all the way to the end of the world.
But, if you go to the next paragraph, it says—she is giving a specific sequence of kingdoms. She then says,
—"The vast empire of Rome"—
That is here [the legs of the image].
—"The vast empire of Rome crumbled to pieces, and from its ruins rose that mighty power, the Roman Catholic Church."—
That is down in here [the two feet of the image, the kingdom of Rome divided]. She is going all the way to the end of the world with this one.
—"This church boasts of her infallibility and her hereditary religion."—
She still boasts of her infallibility, even though the current Pope stepped aside, among other things, because of the corruption that he had participated in. I mean, I thought he was infallible!
—"But this religion is a horror to all who are acquainted with the secrets of the mystery of iniquity. The priests of this church maintain their ascendency"—
This church is known for its ascendency.
And who wanted to ascend into Heaven?
—"The priests of this church maintain their ascendency by keeping the people in ignorance of God's will, as revealed in the Scriptures."—
So, what we are seeing here, she is walking down this history (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, and Papal Rome [reflected by the image].
—"It is sin that is ruining nations today."—
Ah, now she is in our time period.
—"Even many leaders in the religious world have not a good conscience toward God. Many of those who claim to be Protestants—
What kingdom is the Protestant kingdom? That is the United States.
So, she has moved right passed the fifth kingdom (the Papacy), on to the United States of America (the sixth kingdom).
—"Many of those who claim to be Protestants have not the faith in God's word that Luther had in the early days of the Reformation. They have left the old landmarks, and depend on ceremony and formal display to make up for their lack of the purity and piety, the meekness and lowliness, found in obedience to God.
"There is no real standard of righteousness apart from God's law. By obedience to this law the intellect is strengthened, and the conscience is enlightened and made sensitive. The youth need to gain a clear understanding of God's law. They are not left to follow blindly the guidance of men. The great prophetic waymarks which God himself has set up show the path of obedience to be the only path that can be followed with certainty.
"Those who love and obey the law of God will meet with trials and temptations; but if they hope and pray, and trust his word, they will be able to say, with Paul, 'I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
"My dear young friends, have you wholly given yourselves up to God, to do his will? Are you transformed by the grace of Christ? Some claim to be one with Christ, while their special work is to make void the law of God. Will you accept their assertions? How will you distinguish God's true servants from the false prophets that Christ said would arise to deceive many? There is only one test of character,—God's holy law.
"We are living in a momentous period of this earth's history. The final conflict is just before us. We see the world corrupted under the inhabitants thereof. Satanic agencies have made the earth a stage for horrors that no language can describe. War and bloodshed are carried on by nations claiming to be Christian. A disregard for God's law has brought the sure result.
"'We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.' 'Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.'
"There will be a sharp conflict between those who are loyal to God and those who cast scorn upon his law. The church has joined hands with the world."—
What church?
—"The church has joined hands with the world. Reverence for God's law has been subverted. The religious leaders have taught for doctrine the commandments of men. As it was in the days of Noah, so it is in this age. But shall the prevalence of disloyalty and transgression cause those who have reverenced God's law to have less respect for it,"—
". . . those who have reverenced God's law . . . ."
—"or to unite with the powers of earth in attempting to make it void?
"The test comes to everyone. There are only two sides. Dear young reader, on which side are you standing?" Youth Instructor, September 22, 1903.
So, the reason I put that in there, because I have always emphasized in this part of the presentation that we do here that based upon that quote that stops pretty much at the Medes and Persians, and says, "and the kingdoms that follow," that this progression here [referring to the image on the Charts] takes you all the way to the end of the world.
But, she [Ellen White] takes it all the way to the end of the world. In fact, she takes it right down to the very last people that profess to be Protestants the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She goes to the United States, and then she brings it home to us.
So, what I am saying is, one of the themes of Bible prophecy is the combination of church and state. And you cannot really wrap your mind around Bible prophecy unless you put it in the context of the Great Controversy.
But, when it comes to the kingdoms of Bible prophecy, then you need to understand that there is a specific progression that is emphasized in Bible prophecy. We have given you one witness of that so far. That is Daniel, chapter 2.
We will give you a second.
Revelation 17
Revelation 17:3, 9, 10; 2:12-13
Revelation 17:3, 9, 10
Now, go to Revelation 17. Revelation 17, verse 3, says,
"3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." Revelation 17:3 (KJV).
So, he sees a woman sitting "upon a scarlet coloured beast, . . . having seven heads and ten horns."11 And what I want you to look at is the woman and the beast here. She is sitting upon this beast.
And then go to verse 9 of the same chapter.
"9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." Revelation 17:9 (KJV).
If you go to William Miller's Rules of Prophetic Interpretation, when he gives his 14 rules, he will give a rule and then he will give Bible references to support or illustrate his rule; and, in one of the rules—I do not remember which one right now he identifies in order to show the rule—he identifies what mountains represent in the Scriptures.
What do mountains represent?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Kingdoms.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Kingdoms. Okay.
And verse 9,
"9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are [seven kingdoms] seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." Revelation 17:9 (KJV).
Now, in verse 3, the woman is sitting upon a beast with seven heads and ten horns, but now we realize that when she is sitting upon this beast, she is sitting upon seven kingdoms.
Do you follow me?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: And in verse 10, it says,
"10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space." Revelation 17:10 (KJV).
And the Books of Daniel and Revelation are the same book, so they are not going to disagree with one another.
I had a friend from Tennessee email me last week. He gave me two articles that he had come across. He wanted to know what I thought about both articles. I was familiar with both of them. I forget what the one was, but the other one was the typical Adventist explanation of verse 10 of Revelation 17; and, the typical Adventist explanation of verse 10 is that these kingdoms represent the kingdoms of history. And the typical Adventist approach to the kingdoms of history (if you bust out your theology books from Seventh-day Adventists), they will say these seven heads are the kingdoms of history, beginning with Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and then Pagan Rome. Okay? And, they will say that John is seeing this in the time period when five have fallen and one is. Pagan Rome was in existence when John was in the Isle of Patmos. It was Pagan Rome that was persecuting him. Okay? So, this is the typical Adventist understanding.
But, it also shows the typical Adventist position, and the typical Adventist position is they have no respect for the authority of the Spirit of Prophecy. In the book of Education, Sister White says the kingdoms of history are Assyria, Egypt, Israel, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece. So, you cannot really say that John was on Patmos during the time period of Greece, can you? So, that kind of falls apart, totally falls apart. It is called demonstrating the lack of reverence of the truth found in the Spirit of Prophecy.
But, we understand that the Books of Daniel and Revelation are the same book; they have to agree with one another. And, the subjects are not the kingdoms of history; it is the kingdoms of Bible prophecy. And the kingdoms of Bible prophecy are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome. And then what did Sister White say in the quote [Youth Instructor, September 22, 1903] we just read followed Pagan Rome? Papal Rome.
Five have fallen, one is (and the kingdom that followed Papal Rome in the passage from Sister White was what? It was the Protestant kingdom.
What is the Protestant kingdom? The United States.
And one is yet to come. What is the one that is yet to come? Well, it is the United Nations.
So, as John sees this woman, she is riding upon the beast with seven heads and ten horns; and, in connection with riding upon this beast in verse 9, it says the woman sits upon these seven heads.
Revelation 2:12-13
Go to chapter 2 of Revelation—just one quick reference, but this is fairly easy to see. Verse 12 says,
"12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath he sharp sword with two edges; 13I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: . . . "—
I am not really a tourist. When we travelled around this world with this message, there are many times when you have some days off and the brethren generally want to take you sightseeing. I have had that happen to me a couple of times; but, I generally have had enough travelling that once you are there you do not want to go travelling in your off time.
But, one of the times was one of the best times. They got us to go to the Berlin Museum. I like the Berlin Museum because they tore down the walls of Babylon and they reassembled the walls of Babylon. They are right in this museum building, and we walked through some gates from the walls of Babylon that we know that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar had to have walked through those very same gates back in that history. So, that was kind of cool.
But, they also had a portion in that museum where on scale they rebuilt Pergamos; and, in Pergamos they built the Temple of Pergamos that was in Pergamos, and it is a satanic monument. Okay?
What happened in history is when Babylon fell, the religious elite of Babylon (the Chaldeans), they fled to Pergamos and they set up their spiritual empire there in Pergamos; and, that is what verse 13 is telling us about Pergamos.
And you can go see the Pergamos Temple, rebuilt, in the Berlin Museum.
Verse 13 says,
—"13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth." Revelation 2:12-13 (KJV).
Satan had been ruling from Babylon. When Babylon fell, he moved to Pergamos and set up shop. So, in the Bible, where a power is seated is where they are ruling from.
So, if you go back to Revelation 17, verse 9, it says, "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are [seven kingdoms] seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."
What does it mean that she is sitting upon them?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: She's ruling.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: She is ruling them. Okay?
And how many of those kingdoms does she sit upon?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: All of them.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: All of them.
So, the story in Revelation 17 is how this MYSTERY BABYLON Woman ruled over the kingdom of Babylon, and then changed and ruled over the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, and then was ruling over Greece, Pagan Rome, Papal Rome; and, she is now ruling—and I can say this with spiritual authority—that she is now ruling over the Protestants. Because, it is very clear that in 1842 the Protestants rejected the message of the hour; and, by the time they got to 1844, they were sending their prayers to the Holy Place. And who were answering their prayers?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Satan.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Satan.
Okay. So, there is a progression in Revelation 17 that shows that MYSTERY BABYLON goes down through these kingdoms and rules every one of them.
Do you follow me? You need to see that progression to get into Daniel 8, which is where we are going now.
Repeat and Enlarge
I looked for a quote by James White. I do not think it is in the CD-ROM. I think I got that quote from Louis F. Were. But, basically, the James White quote is in response to an argument that he was having with Uriah Smith, an argument that lasted about ten years. Okay? Uriah Smith gave a sermon on why he believed the King of the North in Daniel 11 was Turkey; and, as soon as he did, James White got up on the pulpit and gave a sermon on why he believed the King of the North in Daniel 11 was the Papacy. And they had this ongoing argument between The Signs of the Times and the Review and Herald for about ten years.
And in one of those interactions, James White used an argument against Uriah Smith that emphasizes the rule that we call "repeat and enlarge," and he says that if the last power in Daniel 2 is Rome, and that the last power in Daniel 7 is Rome, and the last power in Daniel 8 is Rome, then the last power to come to its end in Daniel 11 is Rome. And what he is doing, he is arguing with Uriah Smith saying, "The last power in Daniel 11 can't be Turkey," because you have three witnesses in the Book of Daniel alone that the last power is Rome. But what he is doing is he is identifying the rule of repeat and enlarge.
Daniel 7 repeats and enlarges upon Daniel 2; and Daniel 8 enlarges upon Daniel 2 and 7; and Daniel 11 enlarges upon Daniel 2, 7, and 8.
And then you can get into Revelation and just keep repeating and enlarging upon all these lines of prophecy.
So, as we begin to look at the Daily, look at Daniel 8. We are now starting to uphold the Pioneer position that the Daily is Paganism just from the Scriptures, not from the fact that Sister White plainly says that the Millerites had the correct view of the Daily, and the view of the Daily being Christ's Sanctuary ministry came from angels that were expelled from Heaven. We will set that aside and take it just from the Scriptures.
In Daniel 8:1, it says,
"1In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar"—
Of king who?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Belshazzar.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Belshazzar.
—"a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first." Daniel 8:1 (KJV).
Okay. So, he had a vision that came after that which appeared unto him at the first. So, Daniel is connecting this vision, at least grammatically, saying, "This vision [gesturing to his right] came after this one [gesturing to his left]."
So, if you go back to Daniel 7:1, it says,
"1In the first year of"—
Of who?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Belshazzar.
—"Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters." Daniel 7:1 (KJV).
BROTHER PIPPENGER: So, Daniel 8:1 says in the third year of king Belshazzar. Daniel 8 says that; and, in Daniel 7 it says in the first year of Belshazzar.
And Daniel says in Daniel 8 that he received a vision after the one "at the first." And it could be the first year of Belshazzar, or it could be that he got the first vision here in Daniel, chapter 7: take your choice. Do you see what I am saying?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Amen.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: In Daniel 8:1, where he says, ". . . a vision appeared to me . . . after that which appeared unto me at the first," he could be saying because he just referenced the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, he could be saying "after that which appeared unto me in the first year of king Belshazzar"; because, in Daniel 7:1, it says, "In the first year of king Belshazzar." Or, he could just be saying in the first year of king Belshazzar, he received a vision, a dream, a vision in his head, and that in chapter 8 he was receiving a follow-up vision.
But, my point here is that Daniel is purposely tying Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 together: "Every fact has its bearing [paraphrasing Miller's Rules of Prophetic Interpretation, No. 1]."
So, when Daniel is saying to us here at the end of the world, "When you are going to study Daniel, chapter 8, you must study it in context with Daniel, chapter 7." That is what he is saying, if you are going to study it correctly.
And Daniel, chapter 7, is the kingdoms of Bible prophecy—right here [points to the image on the 1843 Chart in the upper left-hand corner]—and Daniel, chapter 8, is the kingdoms of Bible prophecy; but, Daniel, chapter 7, very simply, it is these beasts that represent political kingdoms. Okay?
So, what is one of the themes in Bible prophecy? It is the combination of church and state; and, Daniel, chapter 7, is setting forth the kingdoms of Bible prophecy in their political manifestations.
And Daniel, chapter 8, is repeating and enlarging upon that testimony [in Daniel, chapter 7], only it is not portraying the kingdoms in their political manifestations; it is portraying those kingdoms in their religious manifestations.
And how do we know this? How do we know this?
And, Brothers and Sisters, you may think this is a very small point, but it is a life-or-death point; because, if you understand this, you will be weaned from accepting the false presentation of the Daily that is rampant in Adventism.
How do we know that Daniel, chapter 8, is illustrating the kingdoms of Bible prophecy in their religious manifestation? We know so, because Daniel uses symbols from the sanctuary to portray these kingdoms. Okay?
Here [using the 1843 Chart in reference] is a ram. Is a ram a sanctuary offering?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Yes.
Is a he-goat a sanctuary offering? Yes.
Are there any horns in the sanctuary?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Yes.
So, these kingdoms that are represented in Daniel 8 are represented by religious relics from God's sanctuary; BUT, they are not acceptable in God's sanctuary. They are all corrupted, they are all corrupted!
So, Daniel is saying, "These kingdoms of Bible prophecy—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome—I am now telling you in Daniel, chapter 8, what their religious manifestations were, because you need to know what their religious manifestations were, because Bible prophecy is based upon the combination of church and state. And when you combine Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, you have the political and religious manifestations of the kingdoms of Bible prophecy."
So, Daniel is making sure we understand that the religious manifestations of these kingdoms are a counterfeit manifestation; because, though he uses sanctuary terminology and sanctuary symbols, they are all corrupt.
Leviticus 1:3, 10; Deuteronomy 22:5
Leviticus 1:3, 10
And I am passing to the very bottom of your notes now, and I will go back to another issue in a moment. Go to Leviticus 1, verses 3 and 10. There are several verses in the Scriptures that can uphold this next point; but, it is very easy to see this.
Verse 3 of Leviticus 1 says,
"3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: . . ." Leviticus 1:3, in part (KJV).
Without what?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Blemish.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: If you were going to offer an offering in the sanctuary, it had to be perfect.
Go to verse 10. Verse 10 says,
"10And if his offering be of the flocks, namely of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish." Leviticus 1:10 (KJV).
So, go to Daniel 8. As Daniel is using sanctuary symbolism to describe the kingdoms of Bible prophecy, he is telling us that this is their religious manifestation; but, he is telling us this is a counterfeit religion because these are not perfect offerings.
Notice in verse 3, and this is the Medes and Persians. It says,
"3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last." Daniel 8:3 (KJV).
What is that [". . . and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, . . .]?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It is not perfect.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: It is not perfect, cannot be used in the sanctuary.
So, this is the religious manifestation of the Medes and Persians, but this is a counterfeit religion.
Go to verse 5, [of Daniel 8] and we will look at Greece, the he-goat.
"5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had"—had a what?—"a notable horn between his eyes." Daniel 8:5 (KJV).
Could you use that goat in the sanctuary service?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: No.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: No. He was corrupted. It was not perfect.
But then we get to verses 8 and 9. This is the introduction of Rome.
In verse 8,
"8Therefore the he goat"—Greece, Alexander the Great—"Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."—
Now, this is really an imperfect offering.
And then in verse 9 we are going to see Rome introduced into the narrative:
"9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land [toward the West]." Daniel 8:8-9 (KJV).
Now, verses 9, 10, 11, and 12, the subject of those four verses is this little horn. Okay?
Deuteronomy 22:5
Now, you have to get into the Hebrew to test what I am going to say, but none of the theologians that argue against what I teach in Adventism will tell you this is not true. They all know this is true. But, this little horn, it oscillates; it goes back and forth as it goes through verses 9, 10, 11, and 12.
What do I mean it oscillates? The little horn in verse 9 is masculine; but, when the little horn in verse 10 is referred to, it is feminine. But, when it gets to verse 11, that little horn goes back to masculine, and then when it gets to verse 12 it goes back to feminine. That is what I mean by oscillating.
And is a horn part of the sanctuary service? Yes. So, this little horn, it is once again saying, "These kingdoms of Bible prophecy, beginning with the Medes and the Persians, and Greece, and now Rome, that this is representing their religious manifestations; but, it is counterfeit.
How do you know it is counterfeit? Go to Deuteronomy 22:5.
"5The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5 (KJV).
You see, this little horn is both a boy and a girl. It cannot be a genuine sanctuary horn because it is an abomination to manifest both man and woman in the same issue. So, this little horn is teaching the same lesson as the he-goat and the ram. They are sanctuary terms, but they are corrupt; so, they are representing a counterfeit religious manifestation in the kingdoms of Bible prophecy.
Go back to Daniel 8 now.
Just right there, Brothers and Sisters, right there. These men that have taken the view of the Daily that came from apostate Protestantism, that the Daily represents Christ's Sanctuary ministry, right there is enough information to tell you, "Hey, this can't be right!" Because, they are saying the Daily here in Daniel, chapter 8, is Christ's Sanctuary ministry, and you have just seen upon the testimony of three items coming down through this history (the ram, the he-goat, and the horn) that all these sanctuary terms are corrupt; therefore, they claim, "This to me, this translated as Daily here, it comes from the sanctuary." Well, if it does, you need to relate to it as a corrupt symbol.
Are you trying to tell me that this corrupt symbol in this flow of corrupt symbols would represent Christ's Sanctuary ministry?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: No.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: No, I do not think so. It cannot. It is out of context.
But, that is not what we are dealing with here.
In Daniel 8, in verse 9—you need to get to the Hebrew to test what I am saying, but you really do not if you look at it in an enlightened fashion.
The subject of verses 9, 10, 11, and 12 is the little horn. And the little horn in verse 9 is in the masculine sense; and, then in verse 10 it says "it waxed great." Okay? The "it" there is the little horn, because it is the subject all the way through.
And then in verse 11, "Yea, he magnified himself," that is the little horn again. That is the subject all the way through.
Verse 12, "And an host was given him against," so, it is the little horn all the way through.
But, when it is in its feminine tense, the translators of the King James Bible made sure not to call it "he." They call it, "it." Okay?
Look at verse 10:
"10And it"—
The little horn, it is there "it" because it is feminine,
"10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them."—
And then in verse 11 it says,
"11Yea, he"—
Now it is not "it." It does not say, "Yea, it"; it says, "Yea, he." There is the masculine little horn.
—"11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down."—
Verse 12,
—"12And an host was given him"—
What is that: "And a host was given him," what is that "him" there?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It is italicized.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: It is italicized. Okay? If it was not italicized, it would be telling you the little horn there was the masculine sense. But, it says,
—"12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and"—what?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: —"it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered." Daniel 8:10-12 (KJV).
That is the feminine.
So, you see this transgender little horn go down through this narrative. He is the man in verse 9. He is the woman in verse 10. He is the man in verse 11. He is the woman in verse 12.
Now, Brothers and Sisters, based upon today's presentation, that alone is telling you something. What is it telling you?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (No response.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: It is telling you something, based upon today's presentation. What is it telling you? The little horn represents a man and a woman in this passage.
I will make it easy: What is a woman in Bible prophecy?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: A church.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: What is a man?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: A state.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: A state.
Okay. So, you have two manifestations of this little horn in this history. One is the Rome that represents statecraft (Pagan Rome). The other is the Rome that represents churchcraft (Papal Rome). Okay?
And every fact has its bearing, Brothers and Sisters; so, this is very easy to see here.
Now, we want to put one thing in the record before we close: Daniel 2, Revelation 17, and Daniel 8 illustrate a progression. The progression needs to be marked, because "every fact has its bearing." And this progression is important.
Great—GÂDAL
The word that is translated as great in Daniel 8 is the Hebrew word gâdal, and you will see the definition.
GÂDAL: Strong's Concordance, H1431—A primitive root; properly to twist, that is, to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride): - advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be (-come, do, give, make, wax), great (-er, come to . . estate, + things), grow (up), increase, lift up, magnify (-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly [spoken], tower.
And towards the end of the definition, it means, to grow (up), to increase, to lift up, to magnify, to proudly speak.
Now, who is it that wants to lift up and exalt himself?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The pride of Satan.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Now, this is adding a layer now in Daniel, chapter 8, that these kingdoms of Bible prophecy in Daniel, chapter 8, are the religious manifestation as contrasted with their political manifestation in Daniel, chapter 7. And we know it is their religious manifestation because Daniel is using sanctuary terms when he illustrates Daniel, chapter 8; but, we know that it is a counterfeit religion because all the sanctuary terms are corrupted. But, now along with this, we see a progression in Daniel 2 and Daniel 17 that we are going to factor in to Daniel 8, and we are going to see this progression as illustrated in the word gâdal, which means lift up and exalt.
The ram—verse 4
The he-goat—verse 8
The masculine little horn—verse 9
The feminine little horn—verse 10
So, when we come to the first kingdom, the ram (the Medes and the Persians) in verse 4, it says,
"4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great." Daniel 8:4 (KJV).
He became gâdal; he lifted up himself; he exalted himself, this first kingdom here.
But, then in verse 8, when we are dealing with Greece, it says,
"8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: . . ." Daniel 8:8, in part (KJV).
The same word, gâdal.
The he-goat here [indicating Greece]—he [indicating the Medes and the Persians] was great; he was self-exalted—but, Alexander the Great and the Greeks, they even outdid the Medes and the Persians.
And then the little horn in verse 9—and this is a masculine [symbol]; this is Pagan Rome—it says,
"9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, . . ." Daniel 8:9, in part (KJV).
Pagan Rome, now; Pagan Rome is going to have to out-do the Greeks, who out-did the Medes and the Persians.
Do you see the progression?
And what is progressing? This self-exaltation.
And what is this self-exaltation? This is the root of Satan's religion. This is what began in Heaven, and he is passing down to the kingdoms of Bible prophecy and we see that it is getting greater and greater.
And you see in verse 9 that Pagan Rome, it is going against earthly powers as it gets exceeding great.
But, look at verse 10.
"10And it"—
Who is that? That is the Woman. That is Papal Rome.
"10And it [Papal Rome] waxed great, even to the host of heaven; . . ." Daniel 8:10, in part (KJV).
Pagan Rome exalted to the world; but, Papal Rome even went farther, it exalted to Heaven itself.
So, we see in Daniel 8 a progression that corresponds with the progression of Daniel 2 of self-exaltation, which is the very essence of this counterfeit kingdom. And what does that tell us?
Well, it tells us that after the Papacy exalts itself to the very Heaven, what is the next kingdom? The Protestants. The Protestants, they are going to out-exalt the Papists; and, then when the Protestants go to the world and say the whole world has to come under the umbrella of a One World Government in Revelation 17:17, when the kings of the Earth are going to agree to give their kingdom unto the Papacy, the exaltation of that final kingdom will be the height of this counterfeit religion.
So, we are closing it there. We are going to deal with the Daily in Daniel, chapter 8; but, we have put in place (I hope you see) that Daniel, chapter 8 is a story of the religious manifestations of the kingdoms of Bible prophecy, and that it is a counterfeit religion. It is the same religion from beginning to end. It is Satan's religion.
And going back in your notes, I left off one quote. It popped into my mind. We will close with this one.
The Woman in Revelation 17, she goes to this kingdom (Babylon), to this kingdom (Medo-Persia), to this kingdom (Greece), to this kingdom (Rome), all the way through. And this Woman, she is the church, the MYSTERY BABYLON Church, whose religion is the religion of Satan and his rebellion in Heaven; his self-exalting religion, in contrast with Christ's humbling Himself into the dust, even to the death at the cross.
And from Review and Herald, December 4, 1900, it says,
"Christ speaks of the church over which Satan presides as the synagogue of Satan. Its members are the children of disobedience. They are those who choose to sin, who labor to make void the holy law of God. It is Satan's work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the good, whose members will not willingly tolerate wrong-doing, but will expel it from the heart and life." Review and Herald, December 4, 1900.
When you see Daniel 8 in the context of Satan's counterfeit kingdom, of his synagogue of Satan, then you have the proper context to begin to consider what the word Daily means in God's Word.
Shall we pray?
Benediction: Heavenly Father, we appreciate the fact that you have shown us that there are two kingdoms that are in controversy here on Planet Earth, and that it is a physical and a spiritual battle between these two kingdoms. And as we proceed in our study in the following presentation to demonstrate that the Daily of Daniel is the symbol of this self-exaltation, the root of Satan's religion, we appreciate that upon Habakkuk's Tables that you have marked that the Daily is taken away right there at the foot of the cross. And we know that we all have this self-exalting root within us that needs to be subdued, removed, through the power of your Holy Spirit, but that this can only be accomplished as we also come to the foot of the cross. We ask that you would let this truth sink into our experience, that we would fulfill the conditions of the Gospel and allow you to remove the Daily from our experience, as we understand what the Daily is in the doctrine of the Bible. We thank you for this in Jesus's name. Amen.