Habakkuk's Two Tables #78
CONCLUSION
Presented by Jeff Pippenger
Invocation by Brother Jeff Pippenger: Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning, we want to thank you for a good night's rest and ask that as we begin our study of your Word, you once again would grant us the presence of your Holy Spirit, that you would open our understanding to these truths that are so important here at the end of the world. We are trying to come to grips with the Daily and the Book of Daily at this point in this study, and we would ask that you would give us wisdom and discernment in this regard. We want the Latter Rain poured out upon us through a revelation from your Word. We ask that you would do that, and we would ask that you would take control of my thoughts and overrule my ideas, and let the words that are conveyed here be from your Throne Room and not from a human being. We ask that you prepare the hearts of not only the Brothers and Sisters in this room but those that are listening on LiveStream and thereafter on DVD. We thank you for the privilege of serving you in this capacity at this time of Earth's history and ask a blessing upon what we are attempting to do for you this day. In Jesus's name, amen.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The first page [of your notes] is a long quote, really a nice quote. It does not really have anything to do with our presentation this morning, but I referred to it yesterday; so, I thought I would at least give you opportunity to read it for yourself.
From Kress Collection, pages 105 – 106, it reads,
"Instead of becoming like the world, we are to become more and more distinct from the world. Satan has combined and will continue to combine with the churches in making a masterly effort against the truth of God. Everything that is done by God's people to make inroads upon the world will call forth determined opposition from the powers of darkness. The enemy's last great conflict will be a most determined one. It will be the last battle between the powers of darkness and the powers of light. Every true child of God will fight bravely on the side of Christ. Those who in this great crisis allow themselves to be more on the side of the world than of God, will eventually place themselves wholly on the side of the world."—
And if you would, notice in the first paragraph, the bold face, it says,
—"Those who become confused in their understanding of the word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist."—
So, when you come to verse 14 of Daniel 11 and it is Rome that establishes the vision (the châzôn vision), the fact that the Protestants in the Millerite History tried to corrupt that view, among other things it does not just simply destroy the vision, it shows that they do not understand who the antichrist is and they will ultimately end up on the side of antichrist; and, that this controversy was of such a magnitude in the Millerite History that it is portrayed here on this [1843] Chart right here ["164," midway on the Chart], referring to the counterfeit for Rome (Antiochus Epiphanes). So, it is a subject that is even placed upon this Chart that was directed by the hand of the Lord and should not be altered.
And then at the bottom of that paragraph, it is a kind of different subject but a very relevant thought to understand when you are dealing with prophecy.
—"There is no time now for us to assimilate with the world. Daniel is standing in his lot and in his place. The prophecies of Daniel and of John are to be understood. They interpret each other. They give to the world truths which everyone should understand. These prophecies are to be witness in the world."—
Speaking of prophecy at the end of the world, Ellen White says,
—"By their fulfillment in these last days, they will explain themselves."—
It is a very nice principle. You know, sometimes people accuse us of being time setters. It is a ridiculous charge; but, the fact that we are identifying 9/11/2001 as a fulfillment of prophecy, they twist what time setting is. Time setting is predicting something that is going to happen in the future, based upon prophetic time. But, looking back at a prophetic fulfillment to say that it took place on a certain day is not time setting; it is time identification.
But, on 9/11 when that took place, once men and women began to look back at what took place on 9/11, they realized that the characteristics that had been fulfilled on 9/11 demonstrated that it was a fulfillment of prophecy.
And that is what Sister White is saying: By the fulfillment of these specific prophecies in the last days, they will explain themselves.
—"The Lord is about to punish the world for its iniquity. He is about to punish religious bodies for their rejection of the light and truth which has been given them. The great message, combining the first, second, and third angel's messages, is to be given to the world. This is to be the burden of our work. Those who truly believe in Christ will openly conform to the law of Jehovah. The Sabbath is the sign between God and His people, and we are to make visible our conformity to the law of God by observing the Sabbath. It is to be the mark of distinction between God's chosen people and the world. It means much to be true to God. This embraces health reform. It means that our diet must be simple, that we must be temperate in all things. The many varieties of food so often seen on tables is not necessary, but highly injurious. Mind and body are to be preserved in the best condition of health. Only those who have been trained in the knowledge and fear of God should be chosen to take responsibilities. Those who have been long in the truth, yet who cannot distinguish between the pure principles of righteousness and the principles of evil, whose understanding in regard to justice, mercy, and the love of God is beclouded, should be relieved of responsibility.
"God has important lessons for his people to learn. Had these lessons been learned before, his cause would not be where it is today. One thing must be done. The truth is not to be withheld from ministers or men in positions of responsibility for fear of incurring their displeasure. There are to be connected with our institutions men who with meekness and in wisdom will declare the whole counsel of God. God's wrath is kindled against those who in carnal security and price have shown contempt for his management. They are endangering the prosperity of the cause.
"Every false way is a deception, and if sustained, will in the end bring destruction. Thus the Lord permits those who maintain false plans to be destroyed. At the very time when praise and adulation is heard, sudden destruction comes. There are those who, notwithstanding they know of the reproof received by others, because of unfaithfulness, turn away from admonition. These are doubly guilty. They knew the Lord's will and did it not. Their punishment will be proportionate to their guilt. They would not take heed to the word of the Lord." Kress Collection, 105–106.
On other quote is one that I referenced yesterday from Selected Messages, book 2, page 102, that I put in here so you could see it for yourself.
"There are those now living who, in studying the prophecies of Daniel and John, received great light from God as they passed over the ground where special prophecies were in process of fulfillment in their order. They bore the message of time to the people. The truth shone out clearly as the sun at noonday. Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history."—
I was saying that when Daniel 11:14 says that "the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves, but they shall fall and establish the vision" that Sister White agrees with that when she says in the middle of this paragraph (the bold face),
—"The scenes connected with the working of the man of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this earth's history. The people now have a special message to give to the world, the third angel's message. Those who, in their experience, have passed over the ground, and acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, are not so liable to be led into false paths as are those who have not had an experimental knowledge of the people of God." Selected Messages, book 2, 102.
So, Sister White is saying the final scenes of prophecy at the end of the world have to do with Rome, the man of sin. So, she is in agreement with Daniel.
So, those are just a couple of references from yesterday.
The Daily
And I have a few pages here from Uriah Smith. We read yesterday that Uriah Smith's book, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, is God's helping hand; but, we also read that not everything that Uriah Smith says is correct because he was simply a human being, subject to human imperfection.
But, I am still looking at Daniel 11:14 in relation to Daniel 8 and 9, because we are going through Daniel 8.
And Daniel 11:14 is introducing where Rome comes into the prophetic history in Daniel 11 (Pagan Rome).
"14And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they hall fall." Daniel 11:14 (KJV).
And, by verses 14, 15, and 16 of Daniel 11, Rome has conquered the world. And in those verses Rome conquers three geographical areas.
And in Daniel 8 and 9, Rome once again conquers the same geographical areas; so, I am still looking at Daniel 11:14 in connection with drawing some of the truths out of that passage, to feed them back into Daniel 8, verses 9, 10, 11, and 12.
So, what you have on five or so pages in your notes are quotes from Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith [herewith included in this transcript]; and, I will tell you what parts of these quotes that I am going to dissect out of his passage, and it is right there in the bold face of your notes.
Uriah Smith is going to tell us that in fulfillment of Daniel 11, verse 23, that the Jews and the Romans formed a political alliance. You will see that in your notes, an alliance with the Jews.
ALLIANCE WITH THE JEWS—B.C. 161 OR 162; B.C. 65 SYRIA;
B.C. 63 JUDEA; B.C. 51–47
GUARDIANSHIP OF EGYPT; B.C. 31 EGYPT AND THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM
"'VERSE 16. [Verse sixteen quoted.]
"Although Egypt could not stand before Antiochus, the king of the north, Antiochus could not stand before the Romans, who now came against him. No kingdoms were longer able to resist this rising power. Syria was conquered, and added to the Roman Empire, when Pompey, B.C.65, deprived Antiochus Asiaticus of his possessions, and reduced Syria to a Roman province.
"The same power was also to stand in the Holy Land, and consume it. Rome became connected with the people of God, the Jews, by alliance, B.C.162, from which date it holds a prominent place in the prophetic calendar. It did not, however, acquire jurisdiction over Judea by actual conquest till B.C.63; and then in the following manner.
"On Pompey's return from his expedition against Mithridates, king of Pontus, two competitors, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, were struggling for the crown of Judea. Their cause came before Pompey, who soon perceived the injustice of the claims of Aristobulus, but wished to defer decision in the matter till after his long-desired expedition into Arabia, promising then to return, and settle their affairs as should seem just and proper. Aristobulus, fathoming Pompey's real sentiments, hastened back to Judea, armed his subjects, and prepared for a vigorous defense, determined, at all hazards, to keep the crown, which he foresaw would be adjudicated to another. Pompey closely followed the fugitive. As he approached Jerusalem, Aristobulus, beginning to repent of his course, came out to meet him, and endeavored to accommodate matters by promising entire submission and large sums of money. Pompey, accepting this offer, sent Gabinius, at the head of a detachment of soldiers, to receive the money. But when that lieutenant-general arrived at Jerusalem, he found the gates shut against him, and was told from the top of the walls that the city would not stand to the agreement.
"Pompey, not to be deceived in this way with impunity, put Aristobulus, whom he had retained with him, in irons, and immediately marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. The partisans of Aristobulus were for defending the place; those of Hyrcanus, for opening the gates. The latter being in the majority, and prevailing, Pompey was given free entrance into the city. Whereupon the adherents of Aristobulus retired to the mountain of the temple, as fully determined to defend that place as Pompey was to reduce it. At the end of three months a breach was made in the wall sufficient for an assault, and the place was carried at the point of the sword. In the terrible slaughter that ensued, twelve thousand persons were slain. It was an affecting sight, observes the historian, to see the priests, engaged at the time in divine service, with calm hand and steady purpose pursue their accustomed work, apparently unconscious of the wild tumult, though all around them their friends were given to the slaughter, and though often their own blood mingled with that of their sacrifices.
Having put an end to the war, Pompey demolished the walls of Jerusalem, transferred several cities from the jurisdiction of Judea to that of Syria, and imposed tribute on the Jews. Thus for the first time was Jerusalem placed by conquest in the hands of that power which was to hold the 'glorious land' in its iron grasp till it had utterly consumed it.
"'VERSE 17. [Verse seventeen quoted.]
"Bishop Newton furnishes another reading for this verse, which seems more clearly to express the sense, as follows: 'He shall also set his face to enter by force the whole kingdom.' Verse 16 brought us down to the conquest of Syria and Judea by the Romans. Rome had previously conquered Macedon and Thrace. Egypt was now all that remained of the 'whole kingdom' of Alexander, not brought into subjection to the Roman power, which power now set its face to enter by force into that country.
"Ptolemy Auletes died B.C.51. He left the crown and kingdom of Egypt to his eldest son and daughter, Ptolemy and Cleopatra. It was provided in his will that they should marry together, and reign jointly; and because they were young, they were placed under the guardianship of the Romans. The Roman people accepted the charge, and appointed Pompey as guardian of the young heirs of Egypt.
"A quarrel having not long after broken out between Pompey and Caesar, the famous battle of Pharsalia was fought between the two generals. Pompey, being defeated, fled into Egypt. Caesar immediately followed him thither; but before his arrival, Pompey was basely murdered by Ptolemy, whose guardian he had been appointed. Caesar therefore assumed the appointment which had been given to Pompey, as guardian of Ptolemy and Cleopatra. He found Egypt in commotion from internal disturbances, Ptolemy and Cleopatra having become hostile to each other, and she being deprived of her share in the government. Notwithstanding this, he did not hesitate to land at Alexandria with his small force, 800 horse and 3200 foot, take cognizance of the quarrel, and undertake its settlement. The troubles daily increasing, Caesar found his small force insufficient to maintain his position, and being unable to leave Egypt on account of the north wind which blew at that season, he sent into Asia, ordering all the troops he had in that quarter to come to his assistance as soon as possible.
"In the most haughty manner he decreed that Ptolemy and Cleopatra should disband their armies, appear before him for a settlement of their differences, and abide by his decision. Egypt being an independent kingdom, this haughty decree was considered an affront to its royal dignity, at which the Egyptians, highly incensed, flew to arms. Caesar replied that he acted by virtue of the will of their father, Auletes, who had put his children under the guardianship of the senate and people of Rome, the whole authority of which was now vested in his person as consul; and that, as guardian, he had the right to arbitrate between them.
"The matter was finally brought before him, and advocates appointed to plead the cause of the respective parties. Cleopatra, aware of the foible of the great Roman conqueror, judged that the beauty of her presence would be more effectual in securing judgment in her favor than any advocate she could employ. To reach his presence undetected, she had recourse to the following stratagem: Laying herself at full length in a bundle of clothes, Apollodorus, her Sicilian servant, wrapped it up in a cloth, tied it with a thong, and raising it upon his Herculean shoulders, sought the apartments of Caesar. Claiming to have a present for the Roman general, he was admitted through the gate of the citadel, entered into the presence of Caesar, and deposited the burden at his feet. When Caesar had unbound this animated bundle, lo! the beautiful Cleopatra stood before him. He was far from being displeased with the stratagem, and being of a character described in 2 Peter 2:14, the first sight of so beautiful a person, says Rollin, had all the effect upon him she had desired.
"Caesar at length decreed that the brother and sister should occupy the throne jointly, according to the intent of the will. Pothinus, the chief minister of state, having been principally instrumental in expelling Cleopatra from the throne, feared the result of her restoration. He therefore began to excite jealousy and hostility against Caesar, by insinuating among the populace that he designed eventually to give Cleopatra the sole power. Open sedition soon followed. Achillas, at the head of 20,000 men, advanced to drive Caesar from Alexandria. Skillfully disposing his small body of men in the streets and alleys of the city, Caesar found no difficulty in repelling the attack. The Egyptians undertook to destroy his fleet. He retorted by burning theirs. Some of the burning vessels being driven near the quay, several of the buildings of the city took fire, and the famous Alexandrian library, containing nearly 400,000 volumes, was destroyed.
"The war growing more threatening, Caesar sent into all the neighboring countries for help. A large fleet came from Asia Minor to his assistance. Mithridates set out for Egypt with an army raised in Syria and Cilicia. Antipater the Idumean joined him with 3,000 Jews. The Jews, who held the passes into Egypt, permitted the army to pass on without interruption. Without this co-operation on their part, the whole plan must have failed. The arrival of this army decided the contest. A decisive battle was fought near the Nile, resulting in a complete victory for Caesar. Ptolemy, attempting to escape, was drowned in the river. Alexandria and all Egypt then submitted to the victor. Rome had now entered into and absorbed the whole of the original kingdom of Alexander.
"By the 'upright ones' of the text are doubtless meant the Jews, who gave him the assistance already mentioned. Without this, he must have failed; with it, he completely subdued Egypt to his power, B.C.47." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 258–262.
31BC, 161BC
"By verses 23 and 24 we are brought down this side of the league between the Jews and the Romans, B.C. 161, to the time when Rome had acquired universal dominion. The verse now before us brings to view a vigorous campaign against the king of the south, Egypt, and the occurrence of a notable battle between great and mighty armies. Did such events as these transpire in the history of Rome about this time?—They did. This was the war between Egypt and Rome; and the battle was the battle of Actium. Let us take a brief view of the circumstances that led to this conflict. . . .
"The battle was fought September 2, B.C.31, at the mouth of the gulf of Ambracia, near the city of Actium. The world was the stake for which these stern warriors, Antony and Caesar, now played. The contest, long doubtful, was at length decided by the course which Cleopatra pursued; for she, frightened at the din of battle, took to flight when there was no danger, and drew after her the whole Egyptian fleet. Antony, beholding this movement, and lost to everything but his blind passion for her, precipitately followed, and yielded a victory to Caesar, which, had his Egyptian forces proved true to him, and had he proved true to his own manhood, he might have gained.
"This battle doubtless marks the commencement of the 'time' mentioned in verse 24. And as during this 'time' devices were to be forecast from the stronghold, or Rome, we should conclude that at the end of that period western supremacy would cease, or such a change take place in the empire that the city would no longer be considered the seat of government. From B.C.31, a prophetic time, or 360 years, would bring us to A.D.330. And it hence becomes a noteworthy fact that the seat of empire was removed from Rome to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in that very year. (See Encyclopedia Americana, art. Constantinople.)" Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 273–275.
"'VERSE 9. [Verses nine through twelve quoted.]
"A third power is here introduced into the prophecy. In the explanation which the angel gave to Daniel of these symbols, this one is not described in language so definite as that concerning Medo–Persia and Grecia. Hence a flood of wild conjecture is at once let loose. Had not the angel, in language which cannot be misunderstood, stated that Medo–Persia and Grecia were denoted by the ram and the he-goat, it is impossible to tell what applications men would have given us of those symbols. Probably they would have applied them to anything and everything but the right objects. Leave men a moment to their own judgment in the interpretation of prophecy, and we immediately have the most sublime exhibitions of human fancy.
"There are two leading applications of the symbol now under consideration, which are all that need be noticed in these brief thoughts. The first is that the 'little horn' here introduced denotes the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes; the second, that it denotes the Roman power. It is an easy matter to test the claims of these two positions." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 172.
SOUTH, EAST, AND PLEASANT LAND
65BC, 63BC
"4. The little horn waxed great toward the east. This also was true of Rome. Rome conquered Syria B.C.65, and made it a province.
"5. The little horn waxed great toward the pleasant land. So did Rome. Judea is called the pleasant land in many scriptures. The Romans made it a province of their empire, B.C.63, and eventually destroyed the city and the temple, and scattered the Jews over the face of the whole earth." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 176.
"The battle was fought September 2, B.C.31, at the mouth of the gulf of Ambracia, near the city of Actium. Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 275.
And you will notice—and I do not know if it is a typo on the CD-ROM or a typo in Uriah Smith's actual book, or if there is a legitimate reason for marking two dates—but in this passage (and I have noticed this for years) you are going to see in the second paragraph down where you see bold face "B.C.162," where Uriah Smith marks the alliance between Rome and the Jews as 162. But, if you read down further when he mentions it again, he marks it "B.C.161," I do not know if he has a reason for saying the alliance was formed in 162BC and then there was something more significant that happened the next year, or if it is a typo, or if it was simply a typo when it was put in the CD-ROM; but, it is not germane to what we are studying anyway. Daniel 11:23 is marking an alliance between God's people (the Jews) and Rome.13 That is in these comments by Uriah Smith.
Also in these comments is the fact that Rome conquered Syria in "B.C.65." The point about that, that I want you to see, is when you are in Daniel 11 the power that controls Egypt is the King of the South; the power that controls Syria—and Syria in that time period of history included Babylon—the power that controls Syria is the King of the North. So, when Pagan Rome conquers Syria in "B.C.65," it becomes the King of the North, in the sequence of those verses.
And then in "B.C.63," Pagan Rome conquers the pleasant land, and it conquers Palestine, and it conquers Judah (God's people).
And then it is sometimes missed but it is important to see, you are going to see Uriah Smith's commentary on the fact that in "B.C.51" the head of Egypt died and he left the rulership of Egypt to his son and his daughter. Ptolemy was his son, Cleopatra was his daughter; but, they were young.
So, the Romans came in and took guardianship over Egypt, to watch over Egypt until these two children grew up and they were supposed to get married to one another. But, within a few years, Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy started fighting with one another.
So, Caesar comes in and attempts to calm things down, and all he does is create a revolution against them, a riot; and he is in big-time trouble because he has few of his army there and the Egyptians are revolting against them; but, Rome has already been placed as the protector over Egypt.
And there are at least a couple of things that you need to note about this, is that at this point Rome is not just really militarily conquering Egypt; it has been given the guardianship of Egypt. So, technically, based upon the Biblical rule of whoever you are overcome by becomes your master, at this point Egypt ceases to be the King of the South; because, if you are going to be a king, you are going to have to be ruling your own country. And when they surrender their country into the guardianship of Rome, they change from being the King of the South to just simply Egypt. Okay? I want you to see that.
And then the other thing is that in here Uriah Smith will tell you that in this revolt that Caesar was dealing with when he went in there and tried to calm down the civil war between Ptolemy and his sister Cleopatra and this revolt is on his hand, that historians say that he would not have prevailed in subduing that revolt if he had not previously had an alliance with the Jews which, therefore, the Jews allowed armies to come across their country, unhindered, to Egypt, to give him backup in this revolt. If the Jews had not been in an alliance and they would have put up a resistance to these armies coming to Egypt to protect him, then they would not have gotten there in time and he would have lost that battle.
So, the point about that is, is this history is repeated at the end of time. In Daniel 10:14, Gabriel comes—let us look at Daniel 10:14—Gabriel comes to Daniel and tells him the purpose of this vision of Daniel 10, 11, and 12 is to show what happens to God's people at the end of the world.
If you go to Daniel 10, verse 14, Gabriel says this to Daniel,
"14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision"—and this is the châzôn vision—"for yet the vision is for many days." Daniel 10:14 (KJV).
So, Daniel 10, 11, and 12 is the same vision. There are no two visions or three visions in there. The chapter breaks are arbitrary by the translators. So, Gabriel's purpose in Daniel's last vision is to illustrate what happens to God's people in the last days, and that is illustrated in Daniel 11:40-45.
And in the next chapter, in Daniel 11, verse 14, Daniel is instructed that it is "the robbers of thy people" that exalt themselves and that fall that establishes the vision. That is Rome establishing the vision, and this is the châzôn vision again and the vision is about what happens to God's people in the latter days. So, you know from this that verses 14, 15, and 16, when Pagan Rome is taking control of the world that this is an illustration of the end of the world, because that is the purpose of this vision, is to illustrate what happens to God's people in the last days.
Do you follow me? Because, all the prophets are speaking about the last days.
So, the things that you will see in Uriah Smith's commentary over these pages, (1) there is a league formed between the Jews and Rome; and, (2) Rome becomes the King of the North when it conquers Syria in "B.C.65," It conquers the pleasant land in "B.C.63." It becomes the guardian of Egypt from "51 to B.C.47."
And then, once Antony, as a Roman protector of Egypt goes to Egypt thereafter and falls in love with Cleopatra and foments a revolt against the Roman Empire that the Roman Empire has to come and quell, this battle, the Battle of Actium in 31BC, is when Rome fully through military strength takes control of Egypt.
And I say "takes control of Egypt" purposely; because, when they became guardians of Egypt, before that time Ptolemy, the father that died, he was the King of the South, but he dies and he leaves Egypt under the guardianship of Pagan Rome. At that point, if they have a guardian over or a governor over or a protector over them, they are no longer the king. They cease to be the King of the South and become simply Egypt. But then years later, in 31BC with the story of Antony and Cleopatra, you have the Battle of Actium.
So, what I am saying is, if this is illustrating the end of the world (and it is), then in Daniel 11:40-45, you find the King of the North in verse 40 conquering the King of the South; but, in verse 42, the King of the North is conquering Egypt. Okay?
So, in this history here in [verses] 14, 15, and 16, you have the history where the Pagan Rome King of the North, it conquered the King of the South and, thereafter, it conquered Egypt.
And history tells us, when the Soviet Union (and the modern King of the South) was swept away in 1989 that the only way that the King of the North (the Papacy) could accomplish this sweeping away of the Soviet Union was with participation from the United States.
The United States is the glorious land.
So, in this history of [verses] 14, 15, and 16, Uriah Smith will tell you, as you read through this, that the only way that Caesar could prevail in the battle with the King of the South, when he was taking guardianship over it, was that there had previously been an alliance between Rome and the glorious land, and that the glorious land participated in that rebellion and, had they not participated in that rebellion, Rome could not have swept away the King of the South.
So, this is a history that is pointing forward to the Alliance between Ronald Reagan and the Papacy at the end of the world; and, I want you to see that parallel history.
So, everything that I am claiming about these dates and this history is found in your notes.
So in your notes, beneath Uriah Smith's words, you will see the summation of Uriah Smith's comments, and it says,
Alliance With The Jews: Daniel 11:23—B.C. 161 or 162
B.C. 65 Syria—King of the North
Pagan Rome becomes the King of the North.
B.C. 63 Judea—The Glorious Land
Pagan Rome conquers the glorious land (the pleasant land).
B.C. 51–47 Guardianship of Egypt—The King of the South
Pagan Rome becomes the guardian of Egypt between "B.C.51 and 47. The King of the South is swept away.
2 Peter 2:19
And you can look at 2 Peter 2:19—let us look at 2 Peter 2:19, if you are not familiar with this principle.
My daughter is three years older than my son; and, I can remember when they were young, very young, my daughter used to pin him down and make him say, "Uncle," before she would let him get up. And now he is almost 6 foot, 5 inches, and that could not happen! All right?
But, the person that controls the struggles is the King. All right? Even if you had been the king before that person walks in the room, when he walks in the room and pins you to the floor and makes you say, "Uncle," you are no longer the king. That is the principle that I am wanting you to see.
Verse 19—I suppose my son and my daughter will like that story being on tape—of chapter 2 of 2 Peter.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Laughter.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: "19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19 (KJV).
Okay. So, it may not have been initially a struggle when Ptolemy died and left Egypt to Rome, but over the next four years or so it turned into a struggle and Egypt ceased to be the King of the South.
B.C. 31 Egypt and the Battle of Actium—Egypt
Egypt was then under the guardianship of Pagan Rome; but, they still were going to be militarily defeated when the rebellion of Antony and Cleopatra arose in 31BC.
Three Obstacles—Pagan, Papal, and Modern
Daniel 8:9; 11:14-16; Daniel 7:7, 8, 24; Daniel 11:40-42
So, in this history, if you go back to Daniel 11, verses 14 through 16, you will find that in verse 14 is the first introduction of Pagan Rome into this history.
"14And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 15So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand."—
And verse 15 is still talking about Syria, who has plans for conquering Egypt. But, then in verse 16, Pagan Rome comes back into the narrative and now it is accomplishing its work of taking control of the world. And it says,
"16But he that cometh against him"—
He that comes against Syria (Pagan Rome is going to come against Syria).
—"16But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him:"—
This is the rise of Pagan Rome into history.
—"and none shall stand before him, for he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed." Daniel 11:14-16 (KJV).
FROM THE AUDIENCE: And it is 161BC.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Yeah, I know.
I am getting from the background someone saying that it is 161BC. Yes, I am not arguing that. I am just pointing out that in the passages from Uriah Smith that I am giving you, that he says both; and, I am telling you out front, I do not know if it is a typo in his book or a typo in the CD-ROM. But, we are not arguing that date here at this point.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: I have checked the Rasmussen in German from 1907 and it says 161.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Both places? Because, it says 161 in here, but it also says 162.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It does say 162 here.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. So, the German translation—and I do not have a whole lot of confidence in the German translations, but it says 161 consistently. All right?
There are places, particularly in Uriah Smith's book, the original translation of Uriah Smith's book into German when it is dealing with the passages that address the Daily that are bad.
But, that is not even germane to what we are discussing here. All right? I am not arguing any date here. I am arguing what took place in these histories of verses 14 and on.
So, on to verse 17,
"17He shall also"—this is Pagan Rome—"set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom,"—
And the "whole kingdom" is referencing the whole kingdom of Alexander the Great, the whole world. He is going to go into Egypt and conquer Egypt now.
—"and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him." Daniel 11:17 (KJV).
So, in this passage, from verse 14 through verse 17, actually, when he conquers Egypt, we have a parallel to Daniel 8, verse 9.
So, if you will go to Daniel 8, verse 9, you have a second witness there. In verse 9, remember because the theologians that had accepted this corrupt view of interpreting the Bible in the 1930s, when they realized where these corrupt ideas were heading when Desmond Ford started articulating them in the 1970s, then they had to scramble to try to defend against the conclusion that Desmond Ford was drawing that sweeps away everything of Adventism. So, they did their homework and showed that from the Hebrew this little horn does not come from one of the four horns of Alexander the Great; it comes from one of the Four Winds.
So, in verse 9, it says,
"9And out of one of them"—
Out of one of the Four Winds.
—"came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great,"—
There is the gâdal which we have discussed before.
—"toward the south,"—
There is Pagan Rome conquering Egypt, the South.
—"and toward the east,"—
There is Pagan Rome conquering Syria.
—"and toward the pleasant land." Daniel 8:9 KJV).
There is Pagan Rome conquering Israel.
So, you have two witnesses in Daniel 8:9, and Daniel 11:14 through 16, that in order for Pagan Rome to take control of the world, it had to conquer three obstacles.
But, the point here in verse 14 of Daniel 11 is that Rome establishes the vision, and the vision, according to Daniel 10:14, illustrates what is going to befall God's people in the latter days.
And what is going to befall God's people in the latter days in the vision of Daniel 11 is that the King of the North (the modern Papacy) is also going to have to conquer three obstacles: the King of the South, "the glorious land," and Egypt. That is Daniel 11:40, Daniel 11:41, and Daniel 11:42.
So, we are finding that Rome establishes the vision; because, what goes on in Daniel 11:14-17, and Daniel 8:9 is, it is illustrating that when Rome takes control of the world, it has to overcome three obstacles.
And this is also the case with Papal Rome.
If you will, go to Daniel 7, verse 8 and verse 24 of Daniel 7.
Pagan Rome is Daniel 7:7:
"7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." Daniel 7:7 (KJV).
And Pagan Rome divides into ten horns in verse 7 of Daniel 7.
And then in verse 8 [of Daniel 7], it says,
"8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. . . ."—
And if you go to verse 24 [of Daniel], it says,
—"24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. . . ." Daniel 7:24 (KJV).
Daniel 11:40-42
So, when Papal Rome takes control of the world, it also has to overcome three kingdoms: the Heruli, the Ostrogoths, and the Vandals.
When Pagan Rome took control of the world, it had to overcome three kingdoms: the East, the South, and "the pleasant land."
And both of these witnesses (Pagan Rome and Papal Rome) are pointing forward to modern Rome that has to overcome three obstacles: the King of the South, "the glorious land," and Egypt in Daniel 11:40, 41, and 42.
"40And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries [people] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape." Daniel 11:40-42 (KJV).
So, what we are saying is that in Daniel 11, verse 14, it is Rome that establishes the vision; and, the vision that is being established is what befalls God's people in the latter days.
History Repeated
So, we are talking here about a symbol, of Rome establishing the vision; but, also, we can see that we are talking about the repetition of history.
If the place where we are told that Rome establishes the vision—
And by the way, my Brother came in and he was looking this morning in the bookcase for Ballantine's book about W. W. Prescott; and, of course, this book puts W. W. Prescott in a wonderful light when there is not any light there associated with W. W. Prescott. In that book he will document from the wrong reasoning, from the wrong logic that as Prescott was pushing the false view of the Daily, he also began to publish The Protestant Magazine. And Ballantine will document that although Prescott never mentions in any of the publications of The Protestant Magazine during this history that he believed the Daily was Christ's Sanctuary ministry, he documents that The Protestant Magazine, the whole purpose of it was, is to put the background arguments to prove that the Daily represented Christ's Sanctuary ministry. So, he never said it openly, but he cloaked it in The Protestant Magazine. That was the purpose of that magazine. That was the work that W. W. Prescott was doing.
And my Brother was looking for that book to—I do not know what he wanted to review in it; for his presentations today, I suppose.
But, the point is, what Prescott did, what he wanted to do whether he was doing it purposely or just because he was being led in a direction that he was not understanding, is he took Rome out of the vision. Okay? He presented an Adventist message that was totally emphasizing Christ, as he saw it; but, it took Rome out of the equation. And the Bible, Sister White has a quote where she says it was the voice of Christ from the days of Adam to the closing scenes of time that spoke through Patriarchs and Prophets.
So, when we are talking about Daniel 11:14, it is the voice of Christ that is saying that, and Christ is saying that it is Rome that establishes the vision. So, if I invent a theology, as Prescott did, that is all about Christ but it purposely removes Rome from that vision, then it is a false Christ. It is a false Christ; it is a counterfeit.
So, that is the thing that we need to get settled into about Daniel 11, verse 14, is that if you remove Rome from the châzôn vision, Proverbs tells us where there is no vision, the people perish, no matter how much emphasis you put upon Christ and the love of God.
So, dealing with the fact that this is the symbol that establishes the châzôn vision, and therefore the principle that these histories that illustrate Rome in the Bible are illustrating what befalls God's people in the latter days, we have a very important quote from Sister White that ties these two concepts together.
In Manuscript Releases, number 13, page 394, it says,
"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel"—[to be continued]
The prophecy where?
You really need to think. This is one of the most important passages in the Spirit of Prophecy for the prophetic understanding. And you may not be aware of it, but you will get all kinds of convoluted human interpretations of what Sister White is saying in this quote. So, we will walk through it a little bit, carefully.
—"The prophecy"—in what?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The 11th of Daniel.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The 11th of Daniel. So, she is talking about Daniel, chapter 11.
—"The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment."—
In The Great Controversy, page 356, Ellen White says the Time of the End is 1798; and, Ellen White became a prophet in 1844. So, 1798 came before 1844. So, when Sister White says, "the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment," she knows that 1798 was the Time of the End, and she knows that Daniel 11, verse 40, says, "And at the time of the end." So, she is saying that she understands that the first 39 verses of Daniel 11 are past history. So, when she says, "the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment," the fulfillment she is pointing forward to is verses 40 through 45. They are the ones that are still in the future to her. I mean, Daniel 11:40 begins in 1798; but, the verse itself projects all the way to the next verse, and the next verse is The Sunday Law.
So, Sister White is talking about the fulfillment of Daniel 11 beginning in verse 40.
—"The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated."—
And we have been dealing today and yesterday with the history of Daniel 11, verse 14; and, she is saying, much of the history that has taken place in this chapter will be repeated. And I hope you will see that verses 14 through 17 are definitely one of those histories; because, we see Rome conquering three geographical areas, and sure enough Papal Rome did the very same thing. And we can see three obstacles in verses 40 through 45 that the King of the North (Rome) has to conquer. So, that history is included in this statement.
But, then she says,
—"In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that 'shall be grieved, [Daniel 11:30–36 quoted.]"—
Daniel 11:30-36
And Sister White quotes Daniel 11:30 to 36.
Go to Daniel 11, verse 30.
"30For the ships of Chittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved,"—
And that is right where she cuts in and she quotes all the way through verse 36.
—"30For the ships of Chittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done." Daniel 11:30-36 (KJV).
So, she is telling us that the principle that will illustrate the final fulfillment of Daniel 11 is the principle that the histories that are referenced in the previous verses of Daniel 11 (verses 1 through 39) will be repeated in the final verses of Daniel 11. That is what she is teaching us here.
But, after she says much of these histories will be repeated, then she isolates verses 30 to 36. These are the ones that she really wants us to see because she takes the time to quote this history. And after she quotes verses 30 to 36, she says,
—"Conclusion of MR, no. 13, 394 Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place." Manuscript Releases, number 13, 394.
So, she is nailing down that verses 30 to 36 are an illustration of Daniel 11:40 through 45.
And so we are not going to take time with this, but I want to make a point here right off the bat.
Verse 31 says,
"31And arms shall stand on his part,"—
Okay. This is part of the history that is going to be repeated at the end of the world; and, if you grammatically break down verse 31, these arms that stand up for the Papacy, they are going to do three things in this verse, four if you count their standing up. First, they are going to stand up for the Papacy. It says,
—"31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,"—
Okay. That is one of the things they are going to do. They are going to pollute the sanctuary of strength.
—"and shall take away the daily sacrifice,"—
They are going to take away the daily sacrifice.
And the third thing that they are going to do is,
—"and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 11:31 (KJV).
Now, Brothers and Sisters, right there Sister White is telling you that when the final verses of Daniel 11 begin to unfold in history, that the correct understanding of the Daily becomes Present Truth.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Amen!
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay?
Verse 40 was fulfilled in 1989; and, before that time period, perhaps you could argue that the Daily was simply truth. But, once verse 40 of Daniel 11 was fulfilled with the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the King of the North sweeps away the King of the South in 1989 in fulfillment of Daniel 11, verse 40, then this passage of verses 30 to 36 becomes Present Truth; and, part of this passage she says, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place." Part of this passage is identifying the history of the Daily; so, how you understand the Daily now after 1989 (is it the Paganism, or is it Christ's Sanctuary ministry?), it becomes important because the whole purpose of Daniel 11, of Daniel's last vision (chapters 10, 11, and 12), according to Gabriel, is to illustrate what will befall God's people in the latter days.
So, if you take a history that has been specifically marked by Inspiration to illustrate what befalls God's people in the last days and you controvert one of those symbols, you are controverting your pattern to understand what befalls God's people in the last days.
And if you do not think it is important to understand what befalls God's people in the last days, then you need to wrap your mind around Daniel, chapter 10; because, Daniel wanted to understand this thing. He was fasting and praying for three weeks; and, finally Gabriel comes to him.
Gabriel came to Daniel and said, "I would have been here the very first prayer that you gave, but I was in a struggle with the prince and the king of the Medes and the Persians. And, this struggle was so important that Michael (Christ) had to come and intercede."
And why does Christ come and intercedes? Well, for one reason, so that Cyrus would go ahead and let the Jews return and rebuild Jerusalem; but, for another reason, it is because he wanted Gabriel to tell Daniel what was going to befall God's people in the latter days. This was important enough that Satan struggled to stop it!
So, if you do not think it is important, you need to wrap your mind around Daniel, chapter 10. What is going to befall God's people in the latter days is important, and what establishes that truth is Rome. So, we have to seek to understand all of the symbols that are given in this sequence of history correctly.
So, we are going to go through some of these characteristics.
Grieved—Trumpets
Sister White begins by saying Rome is grieved.
And once again, you can read in your notes under "Grieved-Trumpets," the ships of Chittim are representing Carthage; and, there was a warfare that was launched from Carthage that began to bring the Roman Empire to its knees, thus grieving it. And Uriah Smith tells you who was this warfare represented by, and it was the Vandals.
And the Vandals were the Second Trumpet.
"The prophetic narrative still has reference to the power which has been the subject of the prophecy from the sixteenth verse; namely, Rome. What were the ships of Chittim that came against this power, and when was this movement made? What country or power is meant by Chittim? Dr. A. Clarke, on Isaiah 23:1, has this note: 'From the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. The news of the destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar is said to be brought to them from Chittim, the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean; for the Tyrians, says Jerome, on verse 6, when they saw they had no other means of escape, fled in their ships, and took refuge in Carthage, and in the islands of the Ionian and AEgean Seas. So also Jochri on the same place.' Kitto gives the same locality to Chittim; namely, the coast and islands of the Mediterranean; and the mind is carried by the testimony of Jerome to a definite and celebrated city situated in that land; that is, Carthage.
"Was ever a naval warfare with Carthage as a base of operations, waged against the Roman Empire? We have but to think of the terrible onslaught of the Vandals upon Rome under the fierce Genseric, to answer readily in the affirmative. Sallying every spring from the port of Carthage at the head of his numerous and well-disciplined naval forces, he spread consternation through all the Maritime Provinces of the empire. That this is the work brought to view is further evident when we consider that we are brought down in the prophecy to this very time. In verse 29, the transfer of empire to Constantinople we understood to be mentioned. Following in due course of time, as the next remarkable revolution, came the irruptions of the barbarians of the North, prominent among which was the Vandal war already mentioned. The years A.D.428–468 mark the career of Genseric." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 281.
So, in this history that Sister White points to, Pagan Rome, its kingdom is falling apart. And when she introduces verses 30 to 36 and says, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place," when the last six verses of Daniel 11 are illustrated and fulfilled, she cuts in to the point where the Second Trumpet is attacking the Empire, and thus lets us know that part of the history that takes place when we understand what is going to befall God's people in the last days is that a Trumpet power is going to be bringing the Empire to its knees. In that day and age it was the Roman Empire, but that history is illustrating the end of the world; and, thus it is saying, when the last six verses of Daniel 11 are fulfilled, a Trumpet power will be bringing the whole world to its knees. Okay?
Revelation, chapters 8 and 9
So, this ties in this reference to it being grieved and to it being the Vandals being the Second Trumpet. What it does is it pulls Revelation 8 and 9 into this history, line upon line. Okay?
"Chapter 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
"Chapter 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." Revelation 8 and 9 (KJV).
So, just from the one expression, "he shall be grieved," you can pull in two chapters out of the Book of Revelation to add to this story. Okay?
Why am I saying that? I am saying that because as we go through these characteristics of verses 30 to 36, I am going to want you to see, if you will, that Rome is what establishes the vision. This is all about Rome and the dynamics of Rome. And if you do not see that, then you have no vision and you perish.
And the purpose of this is to familiarize us with this Roman history as we go through Daniel 8 more carefully, but also to emphasize how important it is to be clear about the symbols that represent Rome in God's Word.
Arms—AD496 (Clovis)
Revelation 13:2; Daniel 8:12
Okay. Another thing the arms are going to do, they are going to stand up.
Go to Revelation 13:2.
ARMS means military might, economic might. You have to have money to finance an army; so, it is military might, but it is coming from countries that have the economic power to have a military.
In Revelation 13:2, it says,
"2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon"—
And Sister White plainly tells us this beast is the Papacy.
—"and the dragon"—
And if you go back into chapter 12 of Revelation and you look closely, Revelation, chapters 12 and 13 are not separate, isolated visions. They are the same vision. They are sequentially identifying the role of the dragon, which in The Great Controversy Sister White is saying the dragon in Revelation 12 is Satan, but in a secondary sense it is Pagan Rome. And then it goes into chapter 13 which tells us about the Papacy and the United States. So, Revelation 12 and 13 is telling us about the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet, the three powers in Revelation 16 that lead the world to Armageddon.
And, when it is going to give us some information in verse 2 of Revelation 13 about the Papal power, about the beast, it says the dragon (Pagan Rome in this sense) gave three things to the Papacy. It says,
—"and the dragon gave him his power,"—
And the power that the dragon gave him was his military power, beginning with Clovis in AD496.
So, this is a parallel passage to Daniel 11, verse 31, where it says, "And arms shall stand on his part, . . . " This is the dragon (Pagan Rome) giving military strength to the Papacy.
—"and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:2 (KJV).
Okay. The other thing that Pagan Rome (the dragon) is going to give to the Papacy is his seat—that is when Constantine moved the Empire to Constantinople in the year AD330—and great authority, and that is its civil authority that was given to the Papacy in AD533 by Justinian in the Decree of Justinian.
And Jesus illustrates the end from the beginning.
And I meant to add this, but it is not in there. If you would go really quickly to Revelation 17:17 just for a point of reference, the civil authority was given to the Papacy by Pagan Rome in AD533 by Justinian, and that history is prefiguring when the civil authority of Planet Earth is going to be given into the hands of the Papacy at the end of the world.
And in Revelation 17:17, these Ten Kings represent the civil authority at the end of the world, and it says,
"17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." Revelation 17:17 (KJV).
So, when Justinian is giving his civil authority to the Papacy in AD533, he is prefiguring when the United Nations turns over its civil authority to the Pope of Rome in fulfillment of Revelation 17:17 in the very near future; because, Jesus illustrates the end from the beginning.
So, when we look at Daniel 11:31 and we see arms standing on his part, we are seeing an illustration of the relationship between two Romes (Pagan Rome and Papal Rome), and that the power that is going to place the Papacy on the throne of the Earth is going to bring his military strength into the issue of placing the Papacy on the throne of the Earth; thus, prefiguring, of course, the role of the United States at the end of the world; and, Clovis, beginning in AD496, is prefiguring the work of Ronald Reagan when he formed a secret alliance with the Vatican in order to sweep away the King of the South in 1989.
Go back to Daniel 8:12.
What we are looking at—and if I am giving you too much information in too quick of a fashion, we are looking at Daniel 11:30 to 36, because Sister White says, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place," in the final fulfillment of Daniel 11. Scenes similar to verses 30 to 36 will take place in the last six verses of Daniel 11.
We are looking at this for a secondary reason: to identify that it is Rome that establishes the vision. The illustration of Rome is what puts the prophetic message in place.
In Daniel 8:12—we have not yet marched through our study of verses 9, 10, 11, and 12 yet, but we have put in the record that this little horn is a corrupt little horn, because it is a cross-dresser. Sometimes it dresses as a woman, and sometimes it dresses as a man; and, in the Bible, that is an abomination. It may be a Sanctuary symbol because it is a horn, but it is a corrupted symbol.
And in verse 12 you will see that it is "it," which is its feminine manifestation, which means it is Papal Rome in verse 12.
And in verse 12 it says,
"12And an host [an army] was given him"—
And notice that word him is italicized, meaning it is not in the original.
"12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered." Daniel 8:12 (KJV).
So, an army is given to the Papacy. Verse 31 of Daniel 11 says, "And arms shall stand on his part," and this military strength then will do three things.
And we are going to explain more about Daniel 8, verse 12, as we proceed; but, I just want you to see that this is a parallel passage to verse 31 of Daniel 11 and Revelation 13:2.
Is everyone with me? Is this too fast for this early in the morning?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Uh-huh.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay.
The Sanctuary of Strength—AD395 - 538
The other thing they are going to do is they are going to pollute the sanctuary of strength; and, you will see that Uriah Smith plainly tells you that the sanctuary of strength in verse 31—go back to verse 31 of Daniel 11—it says,
"31And arms shall stand on his part,"—
They stand up for the Papacy: Clovis in AD496.
—"and they [the arms] shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, . . ."
And Uriah Smith will tell you within page 282 of Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, he quotes from this verse and he says,
"'And they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,' or Rome."—
This word sanctuary is miqdâsh. It is not qôdesh. The Hebrew word that is translated as sanctuary that is miqdâsh can be God's Sanctuary or it can be a Pagan sanctuary; and, the City of Rome definitely is not God's Sanctuary.
If it was the Hebrew word qôdesh—and, in fact, I am not even sure this word sanctuary is miqdâsh. That needs to be checked, but it is not qôdesh.
—"'And they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,' or Rome. If this applies to the barbarians, it was literally fulfilled; for Rome was sacked by the Goths and Vandals, and the imperial power of the West ceased through the conquest of Rome by Odoacer. Or if it refers to those rulers of the empire who were working in behalf of the papacy against the pagan and all other opposing religions, it would signify the removal of the seat of empire from Rome to Constantinople, which contributed its measure of influence to the downfall of Rome. The passage would then be parallel to Daniel 8:11 and Revelation 13:2." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 282.
It is not God's Sanctuary. The sanctuary of strength is Rome.
Now, you need to see this, because, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place."
31BC AD330
PAGAN ROME
SANCTUARY OF STRENGTH = CITY OF ROME
(MOVED TO CONSTANTINOPLE IN AD330)
Reigned supremely for 360 yrs = T I M E
AD538 1798
PAPAL ROME
SANCTUARY OF STRENGTH = CITY OF ROME
Reigned supremely for 1260 yrs
Figure No. 151.
We are marching through a study here right now where we are going to show you, the Lord willing, that there was a time prophecy for how long Pagan Rome would rule the world, and it began when the third obstacle was conquered at the Battle of Actium in 31BC, and it ends when Constantine divides the kingdom in two, in AD330. And this is 360 years; and, the Biblical expression would call this 360 years TIME. We will see this in verse 24 of Daniel 11, that Pagan Rome would rule the world supremely for a TIME. It begins in 31BC; it ends 360 years later, a TIME when the Empire is divided in two.
And in conjunction with this, the Papacy, when the third horn was removed in AD538, it ruled the world supremely for 1260 years. And in AD1798, it's TIME to rule ended.
And what I want you to see here is that Uriah Smith tells us that the sanctuary of strength in verse 31 [of Daniel 11] is the City of Rome. What makes Rome strong (and Rome establishes the vision) is the City of Rome; so, we want to understand why this is so.
And from 31BC, Pagan Rome ruled the world; it was invincible. But, when it moved its capitol to Constantinople in the Year AD330, it began to fall apart.
So, when Rome was invincible was when it was ruling from the City of Rome. That was its sanctuary of strength.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It is miqdâsh [responding to Brother Pippenger's earlier statement his need to verify the term he used].
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. It is miqdâsh.
But here [BC31], the ruling began when they conquered the third obstacle at the Battle of Actium (Egypt), the battle with Antony and Cleopatra.
Here the third horn is removed in AD538 when the Goths are driven out of the City of Rome; and, once the Goths are driven out of the City of Rome, the Papacy is controlling the City of Rome and begins to rule for 1260 years.
And what happens in AD1798? The Papacy is taken out of the City of Rome. He is taken captive.
So, when Pagan Rome is ruling supremely is when it is ruling from the City of Rome; and, when Papal Rome is ruling supremely, it is when they are controlling the City of Rome. And for in this sense the sanctuary of strength is the City of Rome, for Rome.
Get it? Do you see it?
Why do you have to see that? Because, Pagan Rome is the power that placed the Papacy on the throne of the world, and they are prefiguring the United States; and, therefore, there is going to be a sanctuary of strength for the United States.
AD1787 The Sunday Law
UNITED STATES
SANCTUARY OF STRENGTH = CONSTITUTION
Figure No. 152.
The United States is going to have a sanctuary of strength, and it is going to rule supremely, so to speak, until that sanctuary of strength is gone.
So, what is the sanctuary of strength for the United States?
What came in, in 1787? The Constitution.
When the Constitution is intact, the United States is in place; but, at The Sunday Law, the Constitution is destroyed and it [the United States] no longer rules supremely.
FROM THE AUDIENCE: I thought it was in 1776.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: That was the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
Okay. So, you have to know what the sanctuary of strength is, because the sanctuary of strength for Rome is prefiguring what the sanctuary of strength for the United States is.
And why am I saying that? Why am I saying that? Because, Rome establishes the vision.
So, if you want some secondary texts, you go to where we have already been. In Revelation 13, the dragon gave him his power and his seat.
The Dragon moved his seat and his authority to Constantinople in the Year AD330, thus leaving a vacuum in the City of Rome that the Papacy gobbled up. Pagan Rome moved to Constantinople and gave its seat of its Empire, the City of Rome, to the Papacy.
Now, they are not established in it until AD538; but, another parallel passage to that is Daniel 8:11.
Go to Daniel 8:11. We are dealing with the sanctuary of strength here.
And Daniel 8:11, this is the "boy" horn. It says,
"11Yea, he [Pagan Rome] magnified himself to the prince of the host [to Christ],"—
And Pagan Rome magnified himself to Christ at His birth when they tried to murder Him and he fled into Egypt (when Joseph and Mary fled into Egypt), and Pagan Rome magnified himself to Christ at the crucifixion. So, we can see that Pagan Rome did magnify itself to the Prince of the host.
—"and by him [by Pagan Rome] the daily sacrifice was taken away,"—
We do not want to deal with that right now, because this "taken away" is different than the "taken away" in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11.
—"and the place of his sanctuary was cast down." Daniel 8:11 (KJV).
The place of Rome's sanctuary is the City of Rome; because, in the City of Rome the premier temple of Paganism in that history is the Pantheon Temple. So, the place where the temple is, is the City of Rome.
It does not say his TEMPLE was cast down. It says the PLACE of his sanctuary was cast down; and, the place of his sanctuary that was cast down is the capitol of the Empire in the year AD330.
So, what I am saying is, in Daniel 11:31 when it says,
"31And arms shall sand on his part,"—
Clovis's military might comes to the aid of the Papacy.
—"and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,"—
Okay. From AD330 onward, the City of Rome is the subject of warfare because the Trumpet powers begin to decimate the Rome Empire, and the City of Rome gets polluted with this ongoing warfare.
But, Pagan Rome is also going to take away the Daily.
—"and shall take away the daily sacrifice, . . ." Daniel 11:31, in part (KJV).
But, we have to deal with the against first. We will deal with the Daily in just a moment.
Against
Daniel 11:24, 27, 29
In Daniel 11:24—go there. We have referred to this already, briefly. It says,
"24He shall"—
And this is Pagan Rome, and Uriah Smith is going to confirm that for you if you are not familiar with it.
—"24He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." Daniel 11:24 (KJV).
Notice this word against: ". . . he shall forecast," Pagan Rome shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time."
What I am saying is, this is the TIME [see Figure 151, Pagan Rome, 360 years = TIME.].
And what Uriah Smith is going to tell you is that this is the TIME.
What is being said here is that Pagan Rome is going to rule the world supremely from the City of Rome for 360 years.
Uriah Smith says this in his Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, page 273:
"To the latter portion of this verse, Bishop Newton gives the idea of forecasting devices from strongholds,"—
You see, this Hebrew word here that is translated as against can also be translated as from.
And the stronghold for Pagan Rome was the City of Rome. It is saying that he shall control the world from the City of Rome, not against the City of Rome.
—"Bishop Newton gives the idea of forecasting devices from strongholds, instead of against them. This the Romans did from the strong fortress of their seven-hilled city. 'Even for a time;' doubtless a prophetic time, 360 years. From what point are these years to be dated? Probably from the event brought to view in the following verse." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 273.
And then he goes in to describe the Battle of Actium in 31BC.
So, Smith is teaching you, even if you were unaware of it, that this time in verse 24 of Daniel 11 is the 360 years from 31BC in the Battle of Actium, to the year AD330, when Constantine moved the capitol.
But, I want you to see this Hebrew word that is translated as against can also be understood as from.
If you go into your Strong's Concordance, it says that this word that is translated as against in verse 24 can also be translated as from.
AGAINST: Strong's Concordance, H5921—Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications: - above, according to (-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through (-out), to, touching, X with.
From Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, page 478, for more commentary on this TIME:
"The first sore and heavy judgment which fell on Western Rome in its downward course, was the war with the Goths under Alaric, who opened the way for later inroads. The death of Theodosius, the Roman emperor, occurred in January, 395, and before the end of the winter the Goths under Alaric were in arms against the empire.
"The first invasion under Alaric ravaged Thrace, Macedonia, Attica, and the Peloponnesus, but did not reach the city of Rome. On his second invasion, however, the Gothic chieftain crossed the Alps and the Apennines and appeared before the walls of the 'eternal city,' which soon fell a prey to the fury of the barbarians." Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, 478.
I will show you the references that go along with this.
Go to verse 27 of Daniel 11.
"27And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed." Daniel 11:27 (KJV).
Uriah Smith will tell you that this "time appointed" is the year AD330, in reference to this "time" in verse 24, this 360 years.
Uriah Smith is telling us that this 360-year time prophecy that is set forth in verse 24, the end of it is being marked in verse 27; and, the end of it is being marked in verse 29.
Notice verse 29.
"29At the time appointed"—
That is the year AD330.
—"he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter." Daniel 11:29 (KJV).
So, in Daniel 11, verse 31, it says, "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength,"—the sanctuary of strength is the City of Rome. And from the year AD330 onward, until AD538, you have first here in the year AD330, what happens to the kingdom? It is divided into East and West, right then and there.
Then what happens? When Constantine moves to Constantinople, what does he do? He further divides the kingdom among his three sons, into three parts.
KINGDOM OF PAGAN ROME
EAST & WEST
31BC 330 538
AD321 395 476 508
507
Reigned supremely for 360 yrs = T I M E 10 Nations (1290 yrs & 1335 yrs)
Kingdom Time Prophecies
divided into
3 parts
Figure No. 153.
And what I want you to see here is that the kingdom from AD330 on begins to crumble. When he is ruling from the City of Rome, it is invincible; but, it begins to crumble.
But, right here in this history, we have already referenced what begins to happen? The Trumpets of Revelation 8 begin to blow. The Barbarians out of the North and the Vandals begin to take the kingdom apart.
Whereby, in the year AD476, what has happened? By AD476, what has happened? Pagan Rome has turned into ten nations.
Why did this happen? Why did this happen?
Because, in AD321 Constantine did what?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Passed a Sunday Law.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: He passed a Sunday Law.
And what is the principle connected with the Sunday Law? National apostasy is followed by national ruin.
The first Sunday Law, AD321; AD330, the kingdom is divided into East and West; then, Constantine divides it among his three sons.
Then, in AD395, the First of the Seven Trumpets begin to blow, taking the kingdom apart, piece by piece, until by AD476, it has turned into ten nations.
In this history here [between AD330 and 538], the Barbarians and the Vandals, what are they after?
Are they trying to conquer China?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: No.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Are they trying to conquer Alaska?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: [No audible response.]
BROTHER PIPPENGER: They are trying to conquer the City of Rome.
So, in this history [from AD330 to 538] the City of Rome is polluted. The sanctuary of strength is sacked over and over again by these Barbarians. In verse 31 [of Daniel 11] it says, 'And arms shall stand on his part, military strength shall pollute the City of Rome (the sanctuary of strength), and shall take away the daily . . . ."
Take Away the Daily
Daniel 11:31; 12:11
In Daniel 11:31, the Hebrew word that is translated as take away is sur; whereas, in Daniel 8:11, the Hebrew word that is translated as take way is rum. We will deal with this. Modern theologians do not like dealing with this, but we will deal with this later on.
But, in Daniel 11:31, it is identifying that in AD508—and actually in AD507—Clovis defeated the Visigoths, and that removed the last of any Pagan resistance to the rise of the Papacy. By AD508, there was no longer any Pagan resistance to the rise of the Papacy.
"31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 11:31 (KJV).
And what took away the resistance was the arms, the military strength, of these Pagan kings, beginning with Clovis, that had come into a church/state relationship with the Papacy.
So, arms stand on the Papacy's part; and, the warfare they bring, they are going to destroy the City of Rome over and over again. But these arms, this military strength, is also going to defeat any of the resistance to the rise of the Papacy to power; and, the last resistance was removed in the Battle of Visigoths, AD507-508.
And, therefore, when you go to Daniel 12:11, and it says,
"11And from the time that the daily sacrifice, shall be taken away,"—
Here in AD508, because of understanding this history correctly, we have a time prophecy that projects out 1290 years, and also 1335 years.
—"and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." Daniel 12:11 (KJV).
Place the Abomination that Maketh Desolate
Daniel 12:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-8; Zechariah 5:5 -1114; Isaiah 23
So, Sister White says, "Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place," and the arms are also going to place the abomination that maketh desolate.
This is part of what is being described in Daniel 12:11 [referring to 1290 years and 1335 years] that in AD508, from the time that the Daily is removed and the abomination of desolation set up—it was set up in AD538. There was a 30-year period in setting it up—the Papacy is placed upon the throne of the Earth (verse 31) in AD538.
2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses 2 through 8, go there. We are talking now about the third thing that Pagan Rome (the arms for the Papacy) does in verse 31 of Daniel 31. They are going to place the abomination that maketh desolate, and the abomination that maketh desolate is the Papacy.
And in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 2, it says—let us begin at verse 3:
"3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"—
What is the "falling away first," that the man of sin might be revealed?
Who is the man of sin (the son of perdition)? Who is it?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. The Papacy is revealed right here [AD538]. Prophetically, it is revealed right here.
But, before it is revealed, there has to be a falling away. Who is the symbol of the falling away?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: That is the church; but, the symbol of it is Constantine [referring to AD330]. Here in the history of Constantine, Constantine begins to bring Paganism into Christianity, and this creates the "falling away first."
So, 2 Thessalonians 2 is talking about this very same history, is it not, in order to place the man of sin upon the throne of the Earth.
Verse 4 says,
—"4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."—
When was he placed in the temple of God? AD538.
2 Thessalonians is talking about this history.
Verse 5:
—"5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."—
Who is going to be revealed in his time?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: What is his time?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: AD538.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: AD538; he is going to be revealed in his time. He is going to be revealed in AD538, but now you know what withholdeth (prevents him) that he might be revealed. Who is it? Pagan Rome.
Okay. Pagan Rome is withholding the Papacy from being revealed in AD538.
Verse 7:
—"7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth"—
And that word [letteth] is better translated restraineth.
—"only he who now letteth [the power that restraineth the Papacy from being revealed in AD538] will let [will continue to be restrained], until he be"—
What?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Taken away.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: —"taken out of the way."—
And he was taken away (Paganism, the resistance to the rise of the Papacy, was taken away) in AD508.
—"8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." 2 Thessalonians 2:2-8 (KJV).
Okay. So, what am I saying? I am saying that Rome establishes the vision. This is about Rome. You take Rome out of this scenario, if you say that the Daily is not representing Pagan Rome, you are destroying so much of the prophetic record that it is just amazing!
Zechariah 5:5-11
Go to Zechariah 5:5-11. We are looking at the fact that the arms are going to place the Papacy, and we are trying to show you that this is a subject throughout God's Word.
Zechariah 5, beginning at verse 5 through 11. Zechariah 5, verse 5, says,
"5Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth."—
What is an ephah?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: A basket.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: A basket. Okay? He sees a basket that is going forth.
—"He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth."—
Whatever the basket is, it has manifested itself all over the Earth.
—"7And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah."—
What is a woman?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: A church.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay.
So, this basket holds a woman; and, the next verse says,
—"8And he said, This is wickedness."—
Now, if you go look at William Miller's explanation of 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, he says this "Wicked"—and he says who this "Wicked" is. We should know who the Wicked one is in the Scriptures. Who is it?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Papacy.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The Papacy. This is wickedness.
So, this woman in the basket is the Papacy.
—"And he cast it [her] into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof."—
Was there a time in history when the Papacy was restrained, that had a lead put over its lid? Well, yeah. That was 1798, right here [see Figure No. 151, Papal Rome]. Okay? So, this is a story about the Papacy here; but, it is also a story about when the Papacy is placed upon the throne of the Earth; because it says in verse 9,
—"9Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings;"—
What does that mean? They are fast: "Final movements will be rapid ones."
—"for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven."—
So, this ephah, that has had a lead put over the top of it, is ultimately going to get lifted up for the whole world to see. The whole word is going to wonder after this ephah.
And verse 10 says,
—"10Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar:"—
What is "the land of Shinar"?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Babylon.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Babylon.
—"and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base." Zechariah 5:5-11 (KJV).
Okay. So, this is an illustration of when the Papacy is placed upon the throne of the Earth at the end of the world; but, that history is the same as when she was placed upon the throne of the Earth here [AD538].
And what I am saying is, it is Rome that establishes the vision.
Isaiah 23
If we would go to Isaiah 23 now, we will bind this off.
And we did not get through all of our material. We will continue this on tomorrow.
But, in Isaiah 23, we see the story of the lead weight being put on the basket.
Isaiah 23 says,
"1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them."—
What is "the land of Chittim"?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Carthage.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Carthage.
That is a reference to what?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Trumpets.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Trumpet powers.
There is something about this chapter that is understood when you understand it in reference with the Trumpets' power.
—"2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. 3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. 4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. 5 As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. 6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. 7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. 8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? 9 The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. 10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. 11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. 12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. 13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. 14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste."—
Who is Tyre?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Islam.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. If you will drop down to verse 15—of course, this passage here is about Islam, but it is also going to tell us who Tyre is. And it says,
—"15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot."—
Who is it in Bible prophecy that sings as a harlot? The Papacy.
—"16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
"17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire,"—
She has been hired to do something.
—"and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. 18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing." Isaiah 23 (KJV).
This is the Papacy.
So, in Zechariah 5, in 1798, the Papacy has a hunk of lead put over the ephah. Okay?
1798 THE SUNDAY LAW
70 YEARS
DAYS OF ONE KING
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BELSHAZZAR IS SLAIN BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR BY MEDES & PERSIANS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (modern Babylon)
NEBUCHADNEZZAR (Babylon)
Figure No. 154.
And here in Isaiah 23—how does it say it?—that she will be forgotten 70 years, as the days of one king. But, at the end of these 70 years (and this is the days of one king), she is going to sing as an harlot. This is The Sunday Law.
Okay. The "one king" that rules from 1798 to The Sunday Law is who?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: The United States.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The United States of America.
Has this been prefigured?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Yes.
When Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, it began 70 years of captivity.
And, those 70 years ended when? When the Medes and Persians came under the gates and slew Belshazzar.
See, Babylon ruled from the destruction of Jerusalem, until the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and the Persian—not the destruction, necessarily—but, it was for 70 years, and it was the days of one king in Isaiah 23.
For Ancient Israel, Babylon ruled for this time period, the days of one king (70 years), prefiguring that modern Babylon is going to be captive for 70 years, the days of one king (the United States), until she [the Papacy] is hired once again to sing to the world her harlot's songs.
We will take up the last part of this tomorrow, but let us go to Ezekiel to close this out.
Ezekiel 29; notice beginning at verse 19.
"19Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar 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." Ezekiel 29:19-20 (KJV).
Babylon is given Egypt as payment for the work that they do. Do you see that?
That is why the King of the North conquers Egypt in Daniel 11, verse 42. He is getting Egypt for the work that the King of the North does.
So, go back to Isaiah 23 so you can see this point, verse 17.
"17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre,"—
This is the Papacy: this is modern Babylon.
The Lord is going to visit Tyre after this 70 years' captivity while she is stuck in the ephah.
—"and she shall turn to her hire,"—
He is going to hire her again.
And what is its payment?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: Egypt.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: Egypt.
What is Egypt?
FROM THE AUDIENCE: It's the whole world.
BROTHER PIPPENGER: The whole world.
—"and [she] shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth." Isaiah 23:17 (KJV).
Now, each one of these little tidbits here could probably be a sermon all in itself. What I am wanting you to see—and we will finish this off tomorrow, the Lord willing—is that it is Rome that establishes the vision. If you remove this history of Rome (and what we are focusing on particularly is the Daily), you may end up with a really lovely sounding crystal logical message about the Love of God and the Faith of Jesus; but, you are going to perish. Because, where there is no vision, the people perish.
Shall we pray?
Benediction: Heavenly Father, we sometimes do not understand why the enemy of God would be the symbol that puts the prophetic message in place for us at the end; but, we trust your wisdom that it is this light that prepares us to see that modern Rome is about to take the world captive once again, and that if we do not have Christ abiding in our experience in an ongoing fashion that we will not be able to stand this testing process that is just ahead of us. We do not want just a message that is simply about Christ; we want the message of Christ that includes His prophetic Word. We would ask that you would make us understand the significance of the role of Rome in Bible prophecy and the significance of the attacks that Satan has made to prevent God's people from seeing this truth from the days of the Millerites to the present time, that we might be benefited by these controversies that have taken place throughout the history of Adventism. In Jesus's name, amen.