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# The Book of Daniel - Number One-Hundred and Sixty

Incwadi kaDaniyeli - Ikhulu Namashumi Ayisithupha

The Prophetic Significance of Daniel’s Last Vision: Unveiling Truth for the Last Days

Ukubaluleka Kobuprofethi Bombono Wokugcina KaDaniyeli: Ukwembula Iqiniso Lezinsuku Zokugcina

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

March 26, 2024

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Daniel is identified in chapter ten, as being resurrected from the days of mourning by the three-step process of the everlasting gospel. Gabriel then provides Daniel with the prophetic history of chapter eleven, thus identifying the history of the light of the great River Hiddekel.

Ku-isahluko seshumi uDaniyeli uboniswa njengovusiweyo ezinsukwini zokulila ngenqubo yezigaba ezintathu yevangeli laphakade. Khona-ke uGabriyeli unika uDaniyeli umlando wesiprofetho wesahluko seshumi nanye, ngaleyo ndlela ekhomba umlando wokukhanya koMfula omkhulu iHidekeli.

> “There is need of a much closer study of the Word of God. Especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. We may have less to say in some lines, in regard to the Roman power and the papacy, but we should call attention to what the prophets and the apostles have written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has so shaped matters, both in the giving of the prophecy, and in the events portrayed, as to teach that the human agent is to be kept out of sight, hid in Christ, and the Lord God of heaven and His law are to be exalted.

> “Kunesidingo sokufundwa kweZwi likaNkulunkulu okusondele kakhulu. Ikakhulu uDaniyeli neSambulo kufanele kunakwe ngendlela engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili emlandweni womsebenzi wethu. Singase sibe nokuncane esingakusho kwezinye izigaba mayelana nombuso waseRoma nobupapa, kodwa kufanele siqondise ukunaka kulokho abaprofethi nabaphostoli abakubhalile ngaphansi kokuphefumulelwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu. UMoya oNgcwele uhlele izindaba ngendlela enjalo, kokubili ekunikezweni kwesiprofetho nasezehlakalweni eziveziwe, ukuze kufundiswe ukuthi isikhonzi sobuntu kufanele sigcinwe singabonakali, sifihlwe kuKristu, nokuthi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wezulu nomthetho waYo kufanele baphakanyiswe.”

> “Read the book of Daniel. Call up, point by point, the history of the kingdoms there represented. Behold statesmen, councils, powerful armies, and see how God wrought to abase the pride of men, and lay human glory in the dust. God alone is represented as great. In the vision of the prophet He is seen casting down one mighty ruler and setting up another. He is revealed as the monarch of the universe, about to set up His everlasting kingdom—the Ancient of days, the living God, the Source of all wisdom, the Ruler of the present, the Revealer of the future. Read and understand how poor, how frail, how short-lived, how erring, how guilty, is man in lifting up his soul unto vanity.

> “Funda incwadi kaDaniyeli. Biza engqondweni, iphuzu ngephuzu, umlando wemibuso emelwe lapho. Bheka izikhulu zombuso, imikhandlu, amabutho anamandla, ubone ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenza kanjani ukuze ehlise ukuzidla kwabantu, abeke inkazimulo yomuntu othulini. UNkulunkulu yedwa umelelwe njengomkhulu. Embonweni womprofethi ubonakala ewisela phansi omunye umbusi onamandla, emisa omunye. Uvezwa njengeNkosi yendawo yonke, esezakumisa umbuso waYo waphakade—oMdala Wezinsuku, uNkulunkulu ophilayo, uMthombo wakho konke ukuhlakanipha, uMbusi wamanje, uMambuli wekusasa. Funda, uqonde ukuthi umpofu kangakanani, ubuthakathaka kangakanani, owesikhashana kangakanani, onephutha kangakanani, onecala kangakanani umuntu lapho ephakamisa umphefumulo wakhe awubhekise ebuzeni.”

> “The Holy Spirit through Isaiah points us to God, the living God, as the chief object of attention—to God as revealed in Christ. ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace’ [Isaiah 9:6].

> “UMoya oNgcwele ngo-Isaya usiqondisa kuNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu ophilayo, njengento enkulu okufanele inakwe—kuNkulunkulu njengoba embuliwe kuKristu. ‘Sizalelwe umntwana, siphiwe indodana; nombuso uyakuba phezu kwehlombe layo; igama layo liyakuthiwa uMangaliso, uMeluleki, uNkulunkulu onamandla, uYise ongunaphakade, iNkosi yokuThula’ [Isaya 9:6].”

> “The light that Daniel received direct from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon have come to pass.” Manuscript Releases, volume 16, 333, 334.

> “Ukukhanya uDaniyeli akwamukela ngokuqondile kuNkulunkulu kwanikezwa ngokukhethekile lezi zinsuku zokugcina. Imibono ayibona ngasemifuleni i-Ulai ne-Hidekeli, imifula emikhulu yaseShinari, isiyenzeka manje, futhi zonke izehlakalo ezabikezelwa zizobe sezifezekile maduze.” Manuscript Releases, umqulu 16, 333, 334.

The Holy Spirit “so shaped matters” in the giving of the prophecy “and events” of Daniel’s last vision that the first chapter (ten), represents the experience of God’s people in the latter days, as does the last chapter (twelve). The shaping of those three chapters that make up the light of the Hiddekel River, that “was given especially for these last days,” was designed to bear the three-step definition of “truth.” In the first agreeing with the last, and the middle representing rebellion, we have not only the structure of the Hebrew word “truth,” which was created by the first, thirteenth and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, but we also see the signature of Alpha and Omega.

UMoya oNgcwele “wahlela izinto ngaleyo ndlela” ekwethulweni kwesiprofetho “kanye nezehlakalo” zombono wokugcina kaDaniyeli, kangangokuthi isahluko sokuqala (ishumi) simelela isipiliyoni sabantu bakaNkulunkulu ezinsukwini zokugcina, njengoba kwenza nesahluko sokugcina (ishumi nambili). Ukuhlelwa kwalezo zahluko ezintathu ezakha ukukhanya koMfula iHidekeli, “okwanikezwa ngokukhethekile lezi zinsuku zokugcina,” kwakuhloselwe ukuthwala incazelo yezinyathelo ezintathu “yeqiniso.” Ngokuthi esokuqala sivumelane nesokugcina, kanti esiphakathi simele ukuhlubuka, asinalo nje kuphela isakhiwo segama lesiHeberu elithi “iqiniso,” elakhiwa uhlamvu lokuqala, lweshumi nantathu, nolokugcina lohlamvu lwamagama lwesiHeberu, kodwa futhi sibona nesiginesha sika-Alfa no-Omega.

Daniel chapter ten identifies the one hundred and forty-four thousand who understand both the “chazon” vision of the twenty-five hundred and twenty years, and the “mareh” vision of the twenty-three hundred years. Not only do they understand those two visions, but they possess the experience of justification by faith that is produced by the feminine and causative “marah” vision of “the appearance”.

Isahluko seshumi sikaDaniyeli sikhomba abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane nane abaqonda kokubili umbono we-“chazon” weminyaka eyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amahlanu namashumi amabili, kanye nombono we-“mareh” weminyaka eyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu. Abagcini nje ngokuqonda leyo mibono emibili, kodwa banolwazi lwesipiliyoni sokulungisiswa ngokukholwa esikhiqizwa ngumbono we-“marah” wobulili besifazane nowesimo esibangelayo “wokubonakala”.

> “For the mind and the soul, as well as for the body, it is God’s law that strength is acquired by effort. It is exercise that develops. In harmony with this law, God has provided in His word the means for mental and spiritual development.

> “Engqondweni nasemphefumulweni, kanye nasemzimbeni, kuwumthetho kaNkulunkulu ukuthi amandla atholwa ngomzamo. Yikuzivivinya okuletha ukukhula. Ngokuhambisana nalo mthetho, uNkulunkulu unikeze ezwini laKhe izindlela zokukhula kwengqondo nokomoya.

> “The Bible contains all the principles that men need to understand in order to be fitted either for this life or for the life to come. And these principles may be understood by all. No one with a spirit to appreciate its teaching can read a single passage from the Bible without gaining from it some helpful thought. But the most valuable teaching of the Bible is not to be gained by occasional or disconnected study. Its great system of truth is not so presented as to be discerned by the hasty or careless reader. Many of its treasures lie far beneath the surface, and can be obtained only by diligent research and continuous effort. The truths that go to make up the great whole must be searched out and gathered up, ‘here a little, and there a little.’ Isaiah 28:10.

> “IBhayibheli iqukethe zonke izimiso abantu abazidingayo ukuze baziqonde ukuze balungiselwe noma lokhu kuphila noma ukuphila okuzayo. Futhi lezi zimiso zingaqondwa yibo bonke. Akukho muntu onomoya wokwazisa imfundiso yayo ongafunda ngisho indima eyodwa eBhayibhelini ngaphandle kokuthola kuyo umcabango othile osizayo. Kodwa imfundiso eyigugu kakhulu yeBhayibheli ayitholakali ngokulifunda ngezikhathi ezithile noma ngendlela engahlangene. Uhlelo lwayo olukhulu lweqiniso alwethulwanga ngendlela yokuba lubonakale kumfundi ophuthumayo noma onganakile. Amagugu alo amaningi alele kude ngaphansi kobuso, futhi angatholakala kuphela ngokucwaninga ngokukhuthala nangomzamo oqhubekayo. Amaqiniso akha lobo bukhulu obuphelele kufanele afunwe futhi aqoqwe, ‘lapha kancane, laphaya kancane.’ Isaya 28:10.”

> “When thus searched out and brought together, they will be found to be perfectly fitted to one another. Each Gospel is a supplement to the others, every prophecy an explanation of another, every truth a development of some other truth. The types of the Jewish economy are made plain by the gospel. Every principle in the word of God has its place, every fact its bearing. And the complete structure, in design and execution, bears testimony to its Author. Such a structure no mind but that of the Infinite could conceive or fashion.

> “Lapho seziphenywa ngaleyo ndlela futhi ziqoqwa ndawonye, ziyotholakala zivumelana ngokuphelele omunye nomunye. Ivangeli ngalinye liyisengezo kwamanye, sonke isiprofetho siyincazelo sesinye, lonke iqiniso liyintuthuko yolunye iqiniso. Izinhlobo zesimiso samaJuda zenziwa zicace ngevangeli. Isimiso ngasinye eseZwini likaNkulunkulu sinendawo yaso, iqiniso ngalinye linokubaluleka kwalo. Futhi isakhiwo esiphelele, ekwakhekeni kwaso nasekwenziweni kwaso, sifakazela ngoMlobi waso. Isakhiwo esinjalo akukho ngqondo, ngaphandle kweyoYo Ongenasiphelo, eyayingasicabanga noma isakhe.”

> “In searching out the various parts and studying their relationship, the highest faculties of the human mind are called into intense activity. No one can engage in such study without developing mental power.

> “Ekuphenyeni izingxenye ezehlukene nasekuzifundeni ebudlelwaneni bazo, amandla aphakeme kunawo wonke omqondo womuntu abizelwa ekusebeneni okukhulu kakhulu. Akekho ongangena kulolu cwaningo ngaphandle kokukhulisa amandla engqondo.

> “And not alone in searching out truth and bringing it together does the mental value of Bible study consist. It consists also in the effort required to grasp the themes presented. The mind occupied with commonplace matters only, becomes dwarfed and enfeebled. If never tasked to comprehend grand and far-reaching truths, it after a time loses the power of growth. As a safeguard against this degeneracy, and a stimulus to development, nothing else can equal the study of God’s word. As a means of intellectual training, the Bible is more effective than any other book, or all other books combined. The greatness of its themes, the dignified simplicity of its utterances, the beauty of its imagery, quicken and uplift the thoughts as nothing else can. No other study can impart such mental power as does the effort to grasp the stupendous truths of revelation. The mind thus brought in contact with the thoughts of the Infinite cannot but expand and strengthen.

> “Futhi akusikho ekufuneni iqiniso nasekulihlanganiseni kuphela lapho kutholakala khona ukubaluleka kwengqondo kokutadisha iBhayibheli. Kukhona futhi emzamweni odingekayo ukuze kuqondwe izihloko ezethulwayo. Ingqondo ehlala imatasa ngezinto ezijwayelekile kuphela, iyancipha futhi ibe buthakathaka. Uma ingalokothi inikezwe umsebenzi wokuqonda amaqiniso amakhulu nafika kude ngemiphumela yawo, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ilahlekelwa amandla okukhula. Njengesivikelo kulokhu konakala, nanjengesikhuthazo sentuthuko, akukho okunye okungalingana nokutadisha izwi likaNkulunkulu. Njengendlela yokuqeqesha ingqondo, iBhayibheli lisebenza ngempumelelo kakhulu kunanoma iyiphi enye incwadi, noma zonke ezinye izincwadi zihlanganisiwe. Ubukhulu bezihloko zalo, ubulula obunesithunzi bezinkulumo zalo, nobuhle bezithombe zalo, kuvuselela futhi kuphakamise imicabango ngendlela okungekho okunye okungakwenza. Akukho olunye ucwaningo olunganika amandla engqondo anjalo njengalawo avela emzamweni wokuqonda amaqiniso amangalisayo esambulo. Ingqondo ngaleyo ndlela elethwe ekuxhumaneni nemicabango yoNgunaphakade ngeke ingenzi lutho ngaphandle kokwanda nokuqina.

> “And even greater is the power of the Bible in the development of the spiritual nature. Man, created for fellowship with God, can only in such fellowship find his real life and development. Created to find in God his highest joy, he can find in nothing else that which can quiet the cravings of the heart, can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul. He who with sincere and teachable spirit studies God’s word, seeking to comprehend its truths, will be brought in touch with its Author; and, except by his own choice, there is no limit to the possibilities of his development.

> “Futhi amakhulu kakhulu amandla eBhayibheli ekuthuthukisweni kwemvelo yomoya. Umuntu, owadalelwa ubudlelwane noNkulunkulu, kungaleso sibopho kuphela lapho engathola khona ukuphila kwakhe kwangempela nokukhula kwakhe. Njengoba adalelwa ukuthola kuNkulunkulu intokozo yakhe ephakeme kunakho konke, angeke athole kunoma yini enye lokho okungathulisa ukulangazelela kwenhliziyo, okwanelisa indlala nokoma komphefumulo. Lowo ofunda izwi likaNkulunkulu ngomoya oqotho novumayo ukufundiswa, efuna ukuqonda amaqiniso alo, uyolethwa ekuxhumaneni noMlobi walo; futhi, ngaphandle kokuba kube ngokuzikhethela kwakhe siqu, akukho mingcele emathubeni okukhula kwakhe.”

> “In its wide range of style and subjects the Bible has something to interest every mind and appeal to every heart. In its pages are found history the most ancient; biography the truest to life; principles of government for the control of the state, for the regulation of the household—principles that human wisdom has never equaled. It contains philosophy the most profound, poetry the sweetest and the most sublime, the most impassioned and the most pathetic. Immeasurably superior in value to the productions of any human author are the Bible writings, even when thus considered; but of infinitely wider scope, of infinitely greater value, are they when viewed in their relation to the grand central thought. Viewed in the light of this thought, every topic has a new significance. In the most simply stated truths are involved principles that are as high as heaven and that compass eternity.

> “Ngokwezinhlobonhlobo ezibanzi zesitayela nezihloko zalo, iBhayibheli linokuthile okungavusa intshisekelo kuyo yonke ingqondo futhi lithinte zonke izinhliziyo. Emakhasini alo kutholakala umlando wasendulo kunayo yonke; umlando wokuphila oqotho kakhulu empilweni; izimiso zokubusa zokulawula umbuso, nezokuqondisa ikhaya—izimiso ukuhlakanipha komuntu okungakaze kukulinganise. Liqukethe ifilosofi ejule kunayo yonke, izinkondlo ezimnandi kakhulu neziphakeme kakhulu, ezivuthayo kakhulu ngemizwa nezidabukisa kakhulu. Ngokwenani, imibhalo yeBhayibheli iphakeme ngokungalinganiseki kunemisebenzi yanoma yimuphi umlobi ongumuntu, ngisho noma icatshangwa ngaleyo ndlela; kodwa ebanzi ngokungapheli, inenani elikhulu ngokungapheli, uma ibhekwa maqondana nomcabango omkhulu oyisikhungo. Uma sibhekwa ekukhanyeni kwalowo mcabango, zonke izihloko zithola ukubaluleka okusha. Emaqinisweni ashiwo ngendlela elula kakhulu kuqukethwe izimiso eziphakeme njengezulu futhi ezibandakanya iphakade.”

> “The central theme of the Bible, the theme about which every other in the whole book clusters, is the redemption plan, the restoration in the human soul of the image of God. From the first intimation of hope in the sentence pronounced in Eden to that last glorious promise of the Revelation, ‘They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads’ (Revelation 22:4), the burden of every book and every passage of the Bible is the unfolding of this wondrous theme,—man’s uplifting,—the power of God, ‘which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 15:57.” Education, 123–125.

> “Ingqikithi eyinhloko yeBhayibheli, ingqikithi lapho zonke ezinye kuyo yonke incwadi zihlangana khona, iyicebo lokuhlengwa, ukubuyiselwa emoyeni womuntu komfanekiso kaNkulunkulu. Kusukela ekusikiseleni kokuqala kwethemba esigwebeni esamenyezelwa e-Edene kuze kufike kuleso sithembiso sokugcina esikhazimulayo seSambulo, ‘Bayakubona ubuso Bakhe; negama Lakhe liyakuba semabunzini abo’ (IsAmbulo 22:4), ingqikithi yazo zonke izincwadi nayo yonke imisho yeBhayibheli ingukwambulwa kwalesi sihloko esimangalisayo,—ukuphakanyiswa komuntu,—amandla kaNkulunkulu, ‘asinika ukunqoba ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.’ 1 Korinte 15:57.” Education, 123–125.

In the passage just cited it is identified that the Bible, when considered from any avenue of literature, is by far superior to any human production. Sister White stated, “In its pages are found history the most ancient; biography the truest to life; principles of government for the control of the state, for the regulation of the household—principles that human wisdom has never equaled. It contains philosophy the most profound, poetry the sweetest and the most sublime, the most impassioned and the most pathetic,” and that “such a structure no mind but that of the Infinite could conceive or fashion.”

Kule ndima esanda kucashunwa kukhonjisiwe ukuthi iBhayibheli, uma licatshangelwa nganoma iyiphi indlela yezincwadi, liphakeme kakhulu kunanoma yikuphi okukhiqizwe ngumuntu. USister White wathi, “Emakhasini alo kutholakala umlando wasendulo kunayo yonke; umlando wokuphila oqotho kakhulu empilweni; izimiso zokubusa zokulawula umbuso, zokuhlela umuzi—izimiso ukuhlakanipha komuntu okungakaze kulingane nazo. Liqukethe ifilosofi ejule kunayo yonke, izinkondlo ezimnandi kakhulu neziphakeme kakhulu, ezivutha imizwa kakhulu nezidabukisa kakhulu,” nokuthi “isakhiwo esinjalo akukho ngqondo ngaphandle kweyongaPheli eyayingasicabanga noma isibumbe.”

All the recognized rules of humanity that identify the rules that provide the structure of literature are surpassed by the Bible. The principles that are presented in universities of humanity, which identify the difference between average or lesser literature, all the way to the masterpieces of human literature, are all surpassed by the Bible. With that in mind, it is worth recognizing that the climax, the grand conclusion of the prophetic testimony of the entire Bible, is represented in Daniel’s last vision. It is the capstone of the prophetic testimony, and there is no climax in human literature that comes close to the testimony of Daniel chapter eleven, beginning in verse one and continuing on through chapter twelve verse four.

Yonke imithetho eyamukelekile yesintu ehlonza izimiso ezinikeza imibhalo ukwakheka kwayo iyedluliswa yiBhayibheli. Izimiso ezifundiswa emanyuvesi esintu, ezihlukanisa phakathi kwemibhalo evamile noma ephansi, zize ziyofinyelela emisebenzini yobuciko emikhulu yemibhalo yabantu, nazo zonke ziyedluliswa yiBhayibheli. Lokho kucatshangelwa, kufanele ukuqaphela ukuthi umvuthwandaba, isiphetho esikhulu sobufakazi besiprofetho seBhayibheli lonke, umelelwe embonweni wokugcina kaDaniyeli. Yilo itshe eliyinhloko lobufakazi besiprofetho, futhi akukho mvuthwandaba emibhalweni yabantu oseduze nobufakazi bukaDaniyeli isahluko 11, oqala evesini 1 uqhubeke kuze kuyofika esahlukweni 12 ivesi 4.

In the book of Revelation, all the books of the Bible meet and end, and in the revelation the same lines of prophecy are taken up as in the book of Daniel, but in relation to one-another the book of Daniel is the first mention, and Revelation the last. Everything exists in the first mention, and everything exists in the book of Daniel, and the climax to the book is the vision given by the Hiddekel River. The climax to the events represented in that vision begin in verse forty, and continue until the book is sealed in verse four of chapter twelve. Those verses represent the grand finale of every prophetic truth ever uttered or recorded by the holy men of old, including Sister White.

Encwadini yeSambulo, zonke izincwadi zeBhayibheli zihlangana khona ziphinde ziphethe khona, futhi eSambulweni leyo migqa efanayo yesiprofetho iyaphinde ithathwe njengasencwadini kaDaniyeli; kodwa maqondana nokuhlobana kwazo, incwadi kaDaniyeli iyiyona nkulumo yokuqala, kanti iSambulo siyiyona yokugcina. Konke kukhona ekukhulunyweni kokuqala, futhi konke kukhona encwadini kaDaniyeli, futhi umvuthwandaba waleyo ncwadi ungumbono owanikezwa ngasemfuleni iHidekeli. Umvuthwandaba wezenzakalo ezimelelwe kulowo mbono uqala evesini lamashumi amane, uqhubeke kuze kube yilapho incwadi isivalwa evesini lesine lesahluko seshumi nambili. Lawo mavesi amele isiphetho esikhulu sawo wonke amaqiniso esiprofetho ake akhulunywa noma alotshwa amadoda angcwele asendulo, kuhlanganisa noDade White.

What leads up to that conclusion in chapter eleven are histories within the chapter that provide witnesses to the correct understanding of the last six verses of chapter eleven, where the threefold enemies of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet are now leading the world to the close of human probation. Sister White directly identifies this internal principle.

Okuholela kuleso siphetho esahlukweni seshumi nanye kuyimilando engaphakathi kuleso sahluko enikeza ofakazi bokuqonda okuyikho kwamavesi ayisithupha okugcina esahluko seshumi nanye, lapho izitha ezintathu zikadrako, isilo nomprofethi wamanga, manje sezihola umhlaba ziwuyisa ekuvalweni komusa wokuhlolwa kwesintu. UDade White uqondisa ngqo ekukhombeni lo mgomo ongaphakathi.

> “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 has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that ‘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. 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. 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. 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. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 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. 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.

> “Asisenaso isikhathi sokulahlekelwa. Izikhathi ezinzima ziphambi kwethu. Umhlaba uyanyakaziswa ngumoya wempi. Ngokushesha izigcawu zenkathazo okukhulunywe ngazo eziprofethweni zizokwenzeka. Isiprofetho esisesahlukweni seshumi nanye sikaDaniyeli sesicishe safinyelela ekugcwalisekeni kwaso okuphelele. Okuningi komlando osekwenzekile ekugcwalisekeni kwalesi siprofetho kuyophindwa. Evesini lamashumi amathathu kukhulunywa ngamandla ‘ayakudabuka, abuyele emuva, athukuthelele isivumelwano esingcwele; kanjalo uyokwenza; impela uyobuyela emuva, azwane nalabo abashiya isivumelwano esingcwele. Amabutho ayakuma ngakuye, angcolise indawo engcwele yamandla, asuse umnikelo wemihla ngemihla, abeke into enyanyekayo echithayo. Futhi labo abenza ngokubi ngokumelene nesivumelwano uyobonakalisa ngezinkulumo zokuyenga; kodwa abantu abamaziyo uNkulunkulu wabo bayakuqina, benze izenzo ezinkulu. Nalabo abaqondayo phakathi kwabantu bayakufundisa abaningi; nokho bayakuwa ngenkemba, nangomlilo, nangokuthunjwa, nangokuphangwa, izinsuku eziningi. Manje lapho bewa, bayakusizwa ngosizo oluncane; kodwa abaningi bayakunamathela kubo ngezinkulumo zokuyenga. Futhi abanye balabo abaqondayo bayakuwa, ukuze bavivinywe, bahlanzwe, benziwe mhlophe, kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela: ngokuba kusekho isikhathi esimisiwe. Inkosi iyakwenza ngokwentando yayo; izakuziphakamisa, izenze nkulu ngaphezu kwabo bonke onkulunkulu, ikhulume izinto ezimangalisayo ngokumelene noNkulunkulu wonkulunkulu, iphumelele kuze kuphele ulaka: ngokuba okumisiweyo kuyakwenziwa.’ Daniyeli 11:30–36.”

> “Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken of:

> “Izigameko ezifana nalezo ezichazwe kula mazwi ziyokwenzeka. Sibona ubufakazi bokuthi uSathane ushesha ukuthola ukulawula izingqondo zabantu abangenakho ukumesaba uNkulunkulu phambi kwabo. Bonke mabafunde baqonde iziprofetho zale ncwadi, ngokuba manje sesingena esikhathini sosizi okwakhulunywa ngaso:

> “‘And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ Daniel 12:1–4.” Manuscript Releases, number 13, 394.

> “‘Ngaleso sikhathi uMikayeli uyakusukuma, isikhulu esikhulu esimele abantwana babantu bakho; kuyakuba khona isikhathi sokuhlupheka esingakaze sibe khona selokhu kwaba khona isizwe kwaze kwaba yileso sikhathi; futhi ngaleso sikhathi abantu bakho bayakukhululwa, bonke abayakufunyanwa belotshiwe encwadini. Futhi abaningi balabo abalele othulini lomhlaba bayakuvuka, abanye bavukele ukuphila okuphakade, abanye bavukele ihlazo nokudelelwa okuphakade. Futhi abahlakaniphileyo bayakukhanya njengokukhanya kwesibhakabhaka; nalabo abaphendulela abaningi ekulungeni bayakuba njengezinkanyezi kuze kube phakade naphakade. Kepha wena, Daniyeli, vala la mazwi, unamathisele incwadi uphawu kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela: abaningi bayakugijima lapha nalapha, nolwazi luyakwande.’ Daniyeli 12:1–4.” Manuscript Releases, inombolo 13, 394.

In this passage Sister White first references Daniel chapter eleven and then identifies the principle “that much of the history which has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated.” She then directly quotes verse thirty to thirty-six and follows with the statement that, “scenes similar to those described in these words will take place.” After identifying verse thirty to thirty-six, and saying scenes similar to those verses will take place, she then identifies the close of probation, when Michael stands up in verse one of chapter twelve. In doing so, she is isolating those seven verses, and placing them in the history which immediately precedes Michael standing up.

Kule ndima uDade White uqala ngokubhekisela kuDaniyeli isahluko seshumi nanye, bese echaza isimiso esithi “okuningi komlando osekwenzekile ekugcwalisekeni kwalesi siprofetho kuyophindwa.” Ube esecaphuna ngokuqondile ivesi lamashumi amathathu kuya kwelamashumi amathathu nesithupha, alandele ngenkulumo ethi, “izigameko ezifana nalezo ezichazwe kula mazwi ziyokwenzeka.” Emva kokukhomba ivesi lamashumi amathathu kuya kwelamashumi amathathu nesithupha, nokusho ukuthi izigameko ezifana nalezo zivesi ziyokwenzeka, ube esekhomba ukuphela komnyango womusa, lapho uMikayeli esukuma khona evesini lokuqala lesahluko seshumi nambili. Ngokwenza kanjalo, uhlukanisa lawo mavesi ayisikhombisa, awabeke emlandweni owandulela ngokushesha ukusukuma kukaMikayeli.

More than once we have addressed the history of verses thirty to thirty-six, and how they parallel verses forty to forty-five of Daniel eleven, and we will now begin to consider other periods of prophetic history in chapter eleven that is repeated in those final six verses. However, before we do we will once again present a brief summary of the parallel of verses thirty to thirty-six with verses forty to forty-five.

Kaningi sesike sakhuluma ngomlando wamavesi angamashumi amathathu kuya kwangamashumi amathathu nesithupha, nokuthi ahambisana kanjani namavesi angamashumi amane kuya kwangamashumi amane nanhlanu kaDaniyeli isahluko 11, futhi manje sizoqala ukubheka ezinye izikhathi zomlando wesiprofetho esahlukweni 11 eziphindaphindwa kulawo mavesi okugcina ayisithupha. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba senze lokho, sizophinde sethule kafushane isifinyezo sokuhambisana kwamavesi angamashumi amathathu kuya kwangamashumi amathathu nesithupha namavesi angamashumi amane kuya kwangamashumi amane nanhlanu.

Verse thirty marks the transition from pagan Rome to papal Rome. That transitional history is addressed in a variety of prophetic passages that identify such dates as the years 330, 508, 533 and 538. There are other prophetic markers in the transition from the fourth kingdom to the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy, but in verse thirty-one pagan Rome stands up for the papacy, as represented by Clovis in the year 496. The pagan powers initially represented by Clovis in the verse accomplish the work of removing any pagan resistance (the daily) to the rise of the papacy by the year 508. The warfare of those times brings destruction against the City of Rome during that history as represented by the “sanctuary of strength”, and by the year 538, the pagan powers place the papacy on the throne of the earth, and she then passes a Sunday law at the Council of Orleans.

Ivesi lamashumi amathathu limaka uguquko olusuka eRoma lobuqaba luyiswe eRoma lobupapa. Lowo mlando woguquko ukhulunywa ezindimeni ezihlukahlukene zesiprofetho ezikhomba izinsuku ezinjengeminyaka ka-330, 508, 533 no-538. Kukhona nezinye izimpawu zesiprofetho kulolu guquko olusuka embusweni wesine luye embusweni wesihlanu wesiprofetho seBhayibheli, kodwa evesini lamashumi amathathu nanye iRoma lobuqaba lisukumela ubupapa, njengoba lumelwe nguClovis ngonyaka ka-496. Amandla obuqaba aqale ukumelwa nguClovis kulelo vesi afeza umsebenzi wokususa noma yikuphi ukumelana kobuqaba (okwemihla ngemihla) nokuvuka kobupapa ngonyaka ka-508. Izimpi zalezo zikhathi ziletha ukubhujiswa phezu koMuzi waseRoma phakathi kwalowo mlando njengoba kumelwe “ngendlu engcwele yamandla”, futhi ngonyaka ka-538, amandla obuqaba abeka ubupapa esihlalweni sobukhosi bomhlaba, base budlulisa umthetho weSonto eMkhandlwini wase-Orleans.

Verses thirty-two through thirty-six identify the murderous warfare the papacy then brought against God’s faithful during the twelve hundred and sixty years of the Dark Ages. Ultimately the papacy comes to her end in verse thirty-six. In verse forty, Reagan formed a secret alliance with the antichrist, marking when the resistance of Protestantism had been taken away, as represented by the year 508. Reagan’s commitment of finances and military might had been typified by the “arms” standing up for the papacy in 496. The destruction of pagan Rome’s sanctuary of strength, represented by the city of Rome, typifies the destruction of the US Constitution at the soon coming Sunday law, for the Constitution is the sanctuary of strength for the United States. At the Sunday law the papacy will once again be placed upon the throne of the earth, as represented by the year 538.

Amavesi amashumi amathathu nambili kuya kwangamashumi amathathu nesithupha abonisa impi yokubulala ubuPapa obabe sebuyiletha ngokumelene nabathembekileyo bakaNkulunkulu phakathi neminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha yeNkathi Yobumnyama. Ekugcineni ubuPapa bufika ekupheleni kwabo evesini lamashumi amathathu nesithupha. Evesini lamashumi amane, uReagan wakha umfelandawonye oyimfihlo nomphikukristu, okuphawula isikhathi lapho ukumelana kobuProthestani kwase kususiwe, njengoba kumelwe unyaka ka-508. Ukuzibophezela kukaReagan ngezimali nangamandla ezempi kwakumelwe “yizingalo” ezavukela ukumela ubuPapa ngo-496. Ukubhujiswa kwendawo engcwele yamandla yeRoma yobuqaba, emelwe yidolobha laseRoma, kufanekisa ukubhujiswa koMthethosisekelo wase-United States emthethweni weSonto ozayo maduze, ngokuba uMthethosisekelo uyindawo engcwele yamandla ye-United States. Emthethweni weSonto ubuPapa buyophinde bubekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi bomhlaba, njengoba kumelwe unyaka ka-538.

Then will begin the final period of murderous papal persecution brought against God’s faithful as occurred in the Dark Ages from 538 unto 1798. This will lead to the close of human probation, when Michael stands up, as represented by 1798, when the papacy, who had prospered for twelve hundred and sixty years, received the indignation of the deadly wound.

Khona-ke kuyobe sekuqala inkathi yokugcina yokushushiswa kobupapa okunobudlova bokubulala, okuzokwehlela abathembekile bakaNkulunkulu, njengalokhu kwenzeka eNkathini Yobumnyama kusukela ngowe-538 kuze kube ngowe-1798. Lokhu kuyoholela ekuvalweni kwesikhathi sokuvivinywa kwabantu, lapho uMikayeli esukuma, njengoba kufanekiselwa ngowe-1798, lapho ubupapa, obabuphumelele iminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha, bamukelwa ulaka lwesilonda esibulalayo.

We will continue this study in the next article.

Sizoqhubeka nalesi sifundo esihlokweni esilandelayo.

> “On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify their owners and builders. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves: ‘How can we best glorify God?’ The Lord was not in their thoughts.

> “Ngesinye isikhathi, ngenkathi ngiseNew York City, ngacelwa esikhathini sobusuku ukuba ngibone izakhiwo zikhuphuka, isitezi phezu kwesitezi, zisiya ngasezulwini. Kwakuthiwa lezi zakhiwo azivuthwa umlilo, futhi zazakhiwe ukuze zikhazimulise abanikazi bazo nabazakhayo. Lezi zakhiwo zaqhubeka zikhuphuka ziya phezulu, ziphakeme ngokwengeziwe, futhi kuzo kwasetshenziswa impahla ebiza kakhulu. Labo lezi zakhiwo ezazingezabo babengazibuzi bathi: ‘Singamkhazimulisa kanjani uNkulunkulu ngendlela engcono kakhulu na?’ INkosi yayingekho emicabangweni yabo.”

> “I thought: ‘Oh, that those who are thus investing their means could see their course as God sees it! They are piling up magnificent buildings, but how foolish in the sight of the Ruler of the universe is their planning and devising. They are not studying with all the powers of heart and mind how they may glorify God. They have lost sight of this, the first duty of man.’

> “Ngacabanga ngathi: ‘O, sengathi labo abatshala izimali zabo ngaleyo ndlela bangabona inkambo yabo njengoba uNkulunkulu eyibona! Baqoqela phezulu izakhiwo ezinhle kakhulu, kodwa yeka ukuthi kuwubuwula kanjani emehlweni oMbusi wendawo yonke ukuhlela nokusungula kwabo. Abafundi ngawo wonke amandla enhliziyo nengqondo ukuthi bangamdumisa kanjani uNkulunkulu. Sebekulahlekele ukubona lokhu, okuwumsebenzi wokuqala womuntu.’”

> “As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbors. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah.

> “Ngesikhathi lezi zakhiwo eziphakeme zazakhiwa, abanikazi bazo bajabula ngokuzidla okunesifiso esikhulu, ngokuthi babenemali yokuyisebenzisa ekwaneliseni ubuwena nasekuvuseni umona komakhelwane babo. Iningi lemali ababeyitshala ngaleyo ndlela lalitholwe ngokucindezela, ngokugaya abampofu. Bakhohlwa ukuthi ezulwini kugcinwa umlando wazo zonke izivumelwano zebhizinisi; konke ukuphathana okungelungile, zonke izenzo zokukhwabanisa, kubhalwe khona. Isikhathi siyeza lapho, ngokukhwabanisa kwabo nangokweyisa kwabo, abantu beyofinyelela ezingeni iNkosi engayikubavumela ukuba baliwedlule, futhi bayofunda ukuthi ukubekezela kukaJehova kunomkhawulo.”

> “The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: ‘They are perfectly safe.’ But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.

> “Isigcawu esalandela ukudlula phambi kwami sasiyisixwayiso somlilo. Abantu babheka izakhiwo eziphakeme okwakucatshangwa ukuthi azingenwa umlilo, bathi: ‘Ziphephe ngokuphelele.’ Kodwa lezi zakhiwo zashiswa zaze zaphela sengathi zenziwe ngetiyela. Izimoto zokucisha umlilo azizange zikwazi nhlobo ukumisa ukubhujiswa. Abacimi bomlilo abazange bakwazi ukusebenzisa lezo zimoto.”

> “I am instructed that when the Lord’s time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that had been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God’s appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their disregard of His law and for their selfish ambition.

> “Ngiyalwe ukuthi lapho kufika isikhathi seNkosi, uma kungakaze kube khona uguquko ezinhliziyweni zabantu abazidlayo nabafuna izikhundla, abantu bayothola ukuthi isandla ebesinamandla okusindisa siyoba namandla okubhubhisa. Akukho mandla asemhlabeni angasinqanda isandla sikaNkulunkulu. Akukho nto ebonakalayo engasetshenziswa ekwakhiweni kwezakhiwo ezizozigcina zingabhujiswa lapho kufika isikhathi esimisiwe nguNkulunkulu sokuthumela impindiselo kubantu ngenxa yokudelela kwabo umthetho waKhe nangenxa yesifiso sabo sobugovu.”

> “There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God’s word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them.

> “Ababaningi, ngisho naphakathi kwabafundisi nezikhulu zombuso, abaqondi izimbangela ezisemqoka ezingaphansi kwesimo samanje somphakathi. Labo ababambe izintambo zombuso abakwazi ukuxazulula inkinga yokonakala kokuziphatha, ubumpofu, ubuhlwempu, nobugebengu obandayo. Balokhu bezabalaza ngeze ukuze babeke ukusebenza kwezamabhizinisi esisekelweni esiqinile ngokwengeziwe. Uma abantu benganaka kakhulu ukufundiswa kweZwi likaNkulunkulu, bebeyothola isisombululo sezinkinga ezibaxakayo.”

> “The Scriptures describe the condition of the world just before Christ’s second coming. Of the men who by robbery and extortion are amassing great riches, it is written: ‘Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.’ James 5:3–6.

> “ImiBhalo ichaza isimo somhlaba ngaphambi nje kokubuya kwesibili kukaKristu. Ngabantu abathi ngokuphanga nangokucindezela baqongelele ingcebo enkulu, kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Nizibekelele ingcebo ezinsukwini zokugcina. Bhekani, umholo wabasebenzi abavune amasimu enu, eniwubambe ngokukhohlisa, uyakhala; nokukhala kwabavuni kungene ezindlebeni zeNkosi uSabaoth. Niphile ngokuzitika emhlabeni, naba ngabangenandaba; nikhulisile izinhliziyo zenu, njengangosuku lokuhlaba. Nimlahlile ngecala futhi nambulala olungileyo; akaniphikisi.’ Jakobe 5:3–6.

> “But who reads the warnings given by the fast-fulfilling signs of the times? What impression is made upon worldlings? What change is seen in their attitude? No more than was seen in the attitude of the inhabitants of the Noachian world. Absorbed in worldly business and pleasure, the antediluvians ‘knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away.’ Matthew 24:39. They had heaven-sent warnings, but they refused to listen. And today the world, utterly regardless of the warning voice of God, is hurrying on to eternal ruin.

> “Kodwa ngubani ofunda izixwayiso ezinikezwa yizibonakaliso zezikhathi ezigcwaliseka ngokushesha? Yimuphi umqondo owenziwa phezu kwabantu bezwe? Yiluphi ushintsho olubonakala esimweni sabo sengqondo? Akukho oludlula lolo olwabonakala esimweni sabahlali bezwe likaNowa. Bemuncwe yimisebenzi nezintokozo zomhlaba, abantu bangaphambi kukaZamcolo ‘abazange baqaphele kwaze kwafika uZamcolo, wabakhukhula bonke.’ Mathewu 24:39. Babenazo izixwayiso ezivela ezulwini, kodwa benqaba ukulalela. Kanti nanamuhla izwe, linganaki nakancane izwi lesixwayiso likaNkulunkulu, liphuthuma liye ekubhujisweni okuphakade.

> “The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.” Testimonies, volume 9, 12–14.

> “Izwe linyakaziswa ngumoya wempi. Isiprofetho sesahluko seshumi nanye sikaDaniyeli sesicishe safinyelela ekugcwalisekeni kwaso okuphelele. Maduzane izigcawu zokuhlupheka okukhulunywe ngakho eziprofethweni zizokwenzeka.” Testimonies, volume 9, 12–14.

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