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# The Book of Daniel - Number Fifty-Eight

Wisdom Unsealed: Exploring the Threefold Union and the Riddle of 666 in Prophecy

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

January 22, 2024

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Key Takeaways

- Rome’s role in history and prophecy, particularly in the Millerite movement, is discussed.
- The article mentions the First and Great Disappointments in Millerite history and how they led to an improved understanding of the twenty-three hundred days prophecy.
- The revelation of the sanctuary and its significance in explaining the Great Disappointment is highlighted.
- The need for earnestly studying prophecy, especially regarding the sanctuary, is emphasized.
- The article connects the disappointment of the disciples at the crucifixion with the Millerite experience and the role of John the Baptist and Apostle Paul in identifying the transition from literal Israel to spiritual Israel.
- The prophetic riddle of Rome being “the eighth, but is of the seven” is mentioned, and its relevance to a disappointment on July 18, 2020.
- The Millerite perspective on Rome as the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy and its recognition of the United States as the next kingdom are discussed.

It has been established upon several witnesses that in history and in prophecy Rome always comes up eighth and is of the seven. The prophetic riddle of this symbol is part of what the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals just before the close of probation. Christ never changes, and in the First and Great Disappointments of Millerite history, He revealed a truth which explained the mystery of the disappointment.

After the First Disappointment in Millerite history, He removed His hand from a mistake in some of the figures represented upon the 1843 chart. The mistake represented the prophetic misunderstanding that produced the Disappointment. The Millerites were ultimately led to a series of understandings, which firmly established the starting date of the twenty-three hundred days. With a firm starting point, that was primarily based upon the date of the cross, they then saw the same prophetic evidence that they had been employing to identify 1843, actually identified not only 1844, but the very day of October 22, 1844.

After the second and Great Disappointment, the Lord once again revealed a truth which answered all the prophetic dilemmas created by their incorrect proclamation that October 22, 1844 was the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord opened the subject of the Sanctuary, and its connected truths, and the Great Disappointment was explained.

> “As a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. This subject sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us unmistakable proof that God has led us in our past experience. It explains our disappointment in 1844, showing us that the sanctuary to be cleansed was not the earth, as we had supposed, but that Christ then entered into the most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and is there performing the closing work of his priestly office, in fulfillment of the words of the angel to the prophet Daniel, ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’

> “Our faith in reference to the messages of the first, second, and third angels was correct. The great way-marks we have passed are immovable. Although the hosts of hell may try to tear them from their foundation, and triumph in the thought that they have succeeded, yet they do not succeed. These pillars of truth stand firm as the eternal hills, unmoved by all the efforts of men combined with those of Satan and his host. We can learn much, and should be constantly searching the Scriptures to see if these things are so. God’s people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where the final ministration of our great High Priest in the work of the judgment is going forward,—where he is interceding for his people.” Review and Herald, November 27, 1883.

The disappointment of the disciples at the crucifixion was based upon an incorrect understanding of the kingdom which Christ was to establish at the cross. John the Baptist and the apostle Paul’s ministries included the work of identifying that the dispensation of literal Israel and the literal earthly sanctuary had transitioned unto spiritual Israel and the spiritual heavenly sanctuary. The Lion of the tribe of Judah always explains the disappointment to the “wise.” The explanation of the prophetic riddle of Rome being “the eighth, but is of the seven”, is part of the work the Lion of Judah is accomplishing to explain the disappointment of July 18, 2020.

The Millerites saw Rome as the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy, and they saw the distinction between paganism and papalism, but could not see papal Rome as the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy. Shortly after 1844, the pioneers saw that the United States was the next kingdom of Bible prophecy.

That recognition is represented upon the 1850 pioneer chart, but their ability to recognize the full illustration of the kingdoms of Bible prophecy, as represented in Revelation chapter seventeen, was beyond their ability to comprehend, for they began to wander in the wilderness of Laodicea after their rejection of the “seven times” in 1863.

> “The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body. God led His people in the advent movement, even as He led the children of Israel from Egypt. In the great disappointment their faith was tested as was that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Had they still trusted to the guiding hand that had been with them in their past experience, they would have seen the salvation of God. If all who had labored unitedly in the work in 1844, had received the third angel’s message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the world. Years ago the inhabitants of the earth would have been warned, the closing work completed, and Christ would have come for the redemption of His people.

> “It was not the will of God that Israel should wander forty years in the wilderness; He desired to lead them directly to the land of Canaan and establish them there, a holy, happy people. But ‘they could not enter in because of unbelief.’ Hebrews 3:19. Because of their backsliding and apostasy they perished in the desert, and others were raised up to enter the Promised Land. In like manner, it was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be so long delayed and His people should remain so many years in this world of sin and sorrow. But unbelief separated them from God. As they refused to do the work which He had appointed them, others were raised up to proclaim the message. In mercy to the world, Jesus delays His coming, that sinners may have an opportunity to hear the warning and find in Him a shelter before the wrath of God shall be poured out.” The Great Controversy, 458.

James and Ellen White both identified that the movement had transitioned into the movement of Laodicea in 1856, and in the previous passage she identifies that “if all who had labored unitedly in the work in 1844, had received the third angel’s message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts.” Then she says, “In like manner,” the “backsliding and apostasy” that ancient Israel manifested, caused ancient Israel to “perish in the desert.” The passage is identifying that Laodicean Adventism began to wander in the wilderness in the time period when those who had proclaimed the message of the Midnight Cry were still alive.

Today the theologians (the learned) identify various applications for Revelation chapter seventeen, that are either derived from the methodology of futurism that was invented by the Jesuits, or the corrupted theological practices of apostate Protestantism. The symbols of Revelation seventeen, are very simple. We have identified the necessary symbols, so we will return to the kingdoms represented there and align them with the kingdoms of Daniel chapter two, for Jesus always illustrates the end of a thing, with the beginning of a thing.

> And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Revelation 17:10–12.

In verse three, John was spiritually conveyed to 1798. At that vantage point in history, he was told that there were five kingdoms that had already fallen. Those kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, pagan Rome and papal Rome. William Miller could not unravel this passage in chapter seventeen, for he could not recognize that papal Rome was a distinct kingdom from pagan Rome. Yet the sequence is addressed in chapters twelve and thirteen of Revelation, for the dragon in chapter twelve represented pagan Rome, the beast that came from the sea in chapter thirteen was the papacy and the earth beast is the United States. Sister White identifies all three of these beasts as the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. In providing her testimony she identifies the sequence of the kingdoms, and the sequence agrees with the application we are making of Revelation seventeen.

> “Under the symbols of a great red dragon, a leopard-like beast, and a beast with lamblike horns, the earthly governments which would especially engage in trampling upon God’s law and persecuting His people, were presented to John. The war is carried on till the close of time. The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they ‘which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

> “Through paganism, and then through the Papacy, Satan exerted his power for many centuries in an effort to blot from the earth God’s faithful witnesses. Pagans and papists were actuated by the same dragon spirit. They differed only in that the Papacy, making a pretense of serving God, was the more dangerous and cruel foe. Through the agency of Romanism, Satan took the world captive. The professed church of God was swept into the ranks of this delusion, and for more than a thousand years the people of God suffered under the dragon’s ire. And when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon’s voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, was symbolized by a beast with lamblike horns.

> “But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’ Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and that “he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Thus Protestantism follows in the steps of the Papacy.” Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

In the first paragraph of the last passage, Sister White identifies pagan Rome, papal Rome and the United States as “earthly governments.” In the second paragraph she identifies that the governments were sequential when she says, “through paganism, and then through the Papacy,” and “when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon’s voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work.” She does not stop there though, for in the third paragraph she identifies that the United States was to force another kingdom upon the entire world. She says, “The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’ Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast.”

Revelation chapters twelve and thirteen, identify pagan Rome, papal Rome, the United States and the world image of the beast, that is set up by the United States. The definition of the “image of the beast” is the combination of Church and State, and for the entire world to set up an image of the beast, by definition it identifies that in the last days, a one-world government will be forced upon the entire earth. The kingdom will consist of a State and a Church, with the Church ruling over the relationship. Revelation chapters twelve and thirteen, identify four sequential kingdoms, and those same kingdoms are represented in chapter seventeen, and also in Daniel chapter two.

In 1798, John saw the first five kingdoms of Bible prophecy had already fallen, and that in 1798, one kingdom then existed. The kingdom of Bible prophecy that began in 1798, was the earth beast of Revelation thirteen, that began as a lamb, but ends up speaking as a dragon. The United States is the two-horned sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy, that follows the fifth kingdom of spiritual Babylon that had received a deadly wound. The fifth kingdom was spiritual Babylon, who had been typified by the first kingdom of literal Babylon. The sixth kingdom with two horns had been typified by the two arms of silver.

In 1798, there was to be a kingdom that was yet in the future, for in 1798, “the other is not yet come.” When that seventh kingdom came into history, it would only “continue a short space.” The fifth kingdom received a deadly wound, the sixth kingdom had two horns and the seventh kingdom only continues for a brief period of time. The context of the passage identified that the seventh kingdom is represented by the “ten kings”, for when the “ten kings” become a kingdom, they only rule for “one hour,” and one “hour” is a short “space.” When the “ten kings” do reign, they rule together for the “one hour” with the beast.

> And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Revelation 17:12.

The “ten horns” are the seventh kingdom, but they rule together with the beast for “one hour”. The “one hour” is the period of the Sunday law crisis that begins at the soon-coming Sunday law in the United States. They agree to rule with the beast, for they are forced to do so by the primary king, which is the United States. Sister White in the passage we just cited, identifies that the last power to persecute God’s people is the earth beast.

> “John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon’s voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, was symbolized by a beast with lamblike horns.” Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

The last kingdom of Bible prophecy is brought about through the deception accomplished by the United States, as the False Prophet. The kingdom began as a lamb in 1798, but in the last days it forces the world to accept the worldwide image of the beast, which is by definition the combination of a Church and a State with the Church in control of the relationship. That kingdom is also identified as a three-fold union.

> “The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” The Great Controversy, 588.

The threefold union is the union of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, which in Revelation sixteen go forth to the kings of the earth and lead the world to Armageddon.

> And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:13, 14.

The “Roman power” is the papacy, the beast and the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy that received a deadly wound. The “Protestants” represent the United States, the false prophet, the sixth and final kingdom of Bible prophecy. “Spiritualism” is the United Nations, the dragon and the kingdom that agrees to rule for one hour with the beast. The threefold union is accomplished during the “one hour” that is the “hour” of the “great earthquake” in Revelation eleven, which is the soon-coming Sunday law.

> “By the decree enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” Testimonies, volume 5, 451.

In Daniel chapter two, Babylon, the first kingdom of Bible prophecy represented by the head of gold, typifies spiritual Babylon, the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy. The twofold kingdom of the Medes and Persians, the shoulders and arms of silver, the second kingdom of Bible prophecy in Daniel two, represents the two-horned earth beast, the United States, the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy. The brass of the image of Daniel two, representing Greece, the third kingdom of Bible prophecy, represents the United Nations, the seventh head that continues for “one hour”, and that agrees to accept a position in the threefold union of the dragon, the beast and false prophet.

The iron kingdom of Daniel chapter two, the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy, represents the eighth kingdom, that is of the seven. Literal pagan Rome, the fourth kingdom, represents modern Rome, which is a kingdom that is structured with the combination of Church and State, with the Church ruling over the relationship. That kingdom is threefold in nature, for the premier king of the “ten kings” is the sixth kingdom which is the earth beast. The sixth kingdom is Ahab, who was married to Jezebel. The sixth kingdom when represented in its threefold union is modern Rome, that was preceded by the fifth kingdom that was papal Rome, which was preceded by the fourth kingdom of pagan Rome.

The Millerites only saw Rome as the fourth and final kingdom. They recognized it was twofold in nature, but could see no other following earthly kingdom. The fourth kingdom was pagan Rome, which preceded papal Rome the fifth kingdom, that is followed by modern Rome the sixth kingdom. The sixth kingdom is the third of three Roman manifestations.

The threefold union of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet is both modern Rome and also Babylon the Great, whose deadly wound is healed. The United States, the United Nations and the whore of Tyre represent the eighth and final kingdom, but they are all three allies in the threefold union of the sixth kingdom, which is the last power “to wage war against the church and the law of God.”

The United States is one-third of the sixth kingdom. The United Nations, as part of the threefold union, is also one-third of the sixth kingdom, and the papacy is also one-third of the sixth kingdom. At this level the number for the United States is SIX, and the number for the United Nations is SIX and the number of the papacy is SIX. The threefold union represents the number of a man, the “man of sin”, and his number is SIX-SIX-SIX.

> Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:18.

The sixth and final separate kingdom is the United States, but it deceives the world, for it is the False Prophet.

> And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Revelation 13:12–14.

The “power of the first beast before him,” represents the power that was given to the papacy by the kings of Europe, beginning with Clovis in the year 496. The United States uses its military might, accompanied by its economic might to deceive and coerce the world. The United States forces the world to worship the papacy, through the enforcement of Sunday worship. The United States performs great wonders by making fire, (a symbol of a message) to come down out of heaven, that is to be accomplished by the Information Super-Highway, that represents the full development of brainwashing and propaganda, that is the modern manifestation of hypnosis. Because of the escalating crisis brought upon the earth by Islam, as they fulfill their role in angering the nations, the world is deceived to accept the worldwide system of the combination of Church and State that consists of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.

When verse eighteen of Revelation thirteen says count the number of the beast, the number is the three powers that come together to make up the sixth and final kingdom. When that kingdom of 666, is put in place, it will be the fulfillment of the prophetic riddle that the eighth king is of the seven. That prophetic riddle is part of the truth that is unsealed when the Lion of the tribe of Judah, unseals the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

For this reason the riddle of the final kingdom that is the threefold sixth kingdom, that is also spiritual Babylon that was forgotten for seventy symbolic years, and who is modern Rome, and who is also the worldwide image of the beast, who was typified by the first kingdom of Babylon, and the fourth kingdom of pagan Rome, is twice witnessed to by the identification that it is the “wise” that will understand this truth, for the enigma of 666, is premised upon those who have wisdom, as is the enigma of the eighth king being of the seven.

> Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:18.

> And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Revelation 17:9.

The unsealing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is understood by the “wise,” not by the wicked. Both references of wisdom in the book of Revelation are about those who have “understanding,” and what the “wise” understand is the “increase of knowledge”. The “increase of knowledge” that is the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the revelation that the eighth kingdom, which is the threefold kingdom of 666, is also represented in Daniel chapter two, for the jewels of Miller’s dream are to shine ten times brighter in the last days.

We will continue this study in the next article.

> “In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God. The very name given to its inspired pages, ‘the Revelation,’ contradicts the statement that this is a sealed book. A revelation is something revealed. The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book, and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all. Its truths are addressed to those living in the last days of this earth’s history, as well as to those living in the days of John. Some of the scenes depicted in this prophecy are in the past, some are now taking place; some bring to view the close of the great conflict between the powers of darkness and the Prince of heaven, and some reveal the triumphs and joys of the redeemed in the earth made new.

> “Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who ‘hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’

> “In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.’ Daniel 12:4.” Acts of the Apostles, 584, 585.

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