Here are some examples of the Triple Application of Prophecy, and the number three, as it relates to Rome.
1. Revelation 16: Modern Rome is divided into three.
2. Revelation 18: The fall of Nimrod's Babylon + the fall of Belshazzar's Babylon = The characteristics of the fall of Modern . Babylon.
3. Modern Rome: Pagan Rome + Papal Rome =Modern Rome.
4. Three Elijahs: Elijah + John the Baptist = The third Elijah (The Seventh Day Adventist Church).
5. Three Abominations of Desolation: It is here where I will be centering this article, in relation to getting out of the cities. You will see clearly why in a moment......
The Three Abominations of Desolation
The pioneers had the correct understanding that the 'Abomination of Desolation', is the Papacy. In Matthew 24:15 (which is not just Jesus' sermon about the destruction of Jerusalem, but also the end of the world), He points out a book in the Bible: the book of Daniel, and a specific topic in Daniel, which Jesus wanted the Jews and His people at the end of the world to understand.
The Great Controversy's Account of the Fulfillment of Matthew 24:15
And the Saviour warned His followers: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matthew 24:15, 16; Luke 21:20, 21. When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight.
{The Great Controversy 25.4}
If you paid close attention to what the quote just said, and to what I stated just prior regarding the pioneers, you will be seeing some apparent discrepancy here. I started out by explaining that the Abomination of Desolation, is the Papacy, then went onto share that Ellen G White calls it in Matthew 24:15, Pagan Rome. How do we understand this?
Jesus is but speaking in agreement with the prominent theme in the books of Daniel and Revelation: The Two Phases of Rome. Rome had two phases: both Pagan, and Papal, and Daniel and John, often used one symbol to represent these two phases (see Daniel 7:19: the Fourth Beast- Pagan Rome, 'diverse'. Daniel 7:25: the Little Horn- Papal Rome, 'diverse'. Daniel 8:9: the Little Horn- Pagan and Papal Rome. Revelation 12:3: 'Seven heads and ten horns'- Pagan Rome. Revelation 13:1: 'Seven heads and ten horns'- Papal Rome). Likewise, in Matthew 24:15, Jesus uses the term the 'Abomination of Desolation', to point to both phases of Rome, because both Pagan and Papal Rome would fulfill this prophecy:
Pagan Rome: Matthew 24:15
The Characteristics
1. When the idolatrous standards, which was the mark of Rome's authority, was placed in the sacred precincts, then that was the sign for the Christians to flee.
2. After the sign was placed, they mysteriously withdrew.
3. To not obey the sign was certain death.
Papal Rome: Matthew 24:15/Mark 13:14: '.... standing where it ought not'.
The Characteristics
2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4: '... that man of sin... who opposteth 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.'
Revelation 11: 2, 3: '.... and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months... and I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.' (God places the history of the destruction of Jerusalem in the history of the 1,260 years of the Papacy's reign, because this is the seconds fulfillment of Matthew 24:15.)
1. When the mark of Rome's authority (the combination of Paganism and Christianity) was placed in the sacred precincts (where it ought not, in the temple of God) at the beginning of the 1,260 years of Papal rule, then that was the sign for the Christians to flee:
In the sixth century the papacy had become firmly established. Its seat of power was fixed in the imperial city, and the bishop of Rome was declared to be the head over the entire church. Paganism had given place to the papacy. The dragon had given to the beast “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Revelation 13:2. And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5-7.... For hundreds of years the church of Christ found refuge in seclusion and obscurity. Thus says the prophet: “The woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three-score days.” Revelation 12:6.'
{The Great Controversy, 54}
2. To not obey the sign, was to be martyred or lost through absorbing the corrupt atmosphere going on in the church.
Out of the Cities Now?
REMEMBER: Matthew 24:15, is Jesus' sermon of the end of the world. Matthew 24:15, is NOW:
'The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains' {5T 464}
When Sister White used the term, 'the time is not far distant', she was speaking of something future from her time; way after the time of the first and second fulfillment of Matthew 24:15. She tells us that some time in the near future (she wrote this in 1885) God's people will receive a sign, just like the early disciples received a sign to flee the cities. Our sign, which is but the antitype of the Roman armies besieging Jerusalem, is WHEN THE SUNDAY LAW DECREE ENTERS THE USA.
Some read the previous quote and get a false sense of security because they think that when the final Sunday Law is passed then they will leave the cities. However, to such thinkers, I say this:
In A.D 66, when the Roman armies set up their idolatrous standards in the sacred precincts of the temple, and the Christians were on the verge of surrender, what happened? Cestius and his army mysteriously withdrew the siege, and the Jews in Jerusalem chased after them and fought them. This left the city vacant for a favorable opportunity for the Christians to flee. They recognized this to be the sign, and they fled to the mountains. When Rome returned and resumed the attack, those who did not take heed to the sign, but waited on God for deliverance were destroyed!
OUR SIGN FOR FLIGHT HAS COME!!!!!
Pay close attention to the DATES that the following statements were written by Sister White:
'The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains' {5T 464} (1885)
In 1885 Sister White said that there will soon come a time when our signal to leave the cities will come. If the sign came in Sister White's time, then we should expect to hear her crying out for us to leave the cities as fast as possible, right? She wouldn't be sign the time will come, but the time has come!
The time has come, when, as God opens the way, families should move out of the cities. The children should be taken into the country. The parents should get as suitable a place as their means will allow. Though the dwelling may be small, yet there should be land in connection with it, that may be cultivated.—Manuscript 50 (1903)
In 1903 Sister White raised the cry that the signal has come! So some time between the years 1885 and 1903, our signal to flee the cities should have arrived. That signal being, the SUNDAY LAW DECREE ENTERING THE USA. Did it arrive, and mysteriously withdraw? If so, people, then when it returns, it will be TOO LATE TO LEAVE!
What happened between the dates 1885 and 1903?
It's an historical fact that in the year of 1888, Senator H.W. Blair introduced Sunday Legislation in the United States of America. However, due to the tireless efforts of such people as A.T. Jones, who spoke to the members of Congress, the law was not enforced. In other words, Rome, again, 'mysteriously withdrew'. It was ready to happen:
'The Sunday law issue, now becoming prominent because of the Blair Sunday bill, [For many years sunday legislation had been on the statute books of several states. Early in 1888, senator H. W. Blair, of New Hampshire, introduced into the united states congress a bill that, if passed, would have enforced in all federal territories the observance of sunday as a day of worship. An amendment to the constitution to that effect had also been proposed. For several years national sunday legislation threatened religious freedom in the United States.] was discussed. Plans were laid for a mass move in securing signatures opposing such legislation by the Congress of the United States.' {3BIO 376.4}
Remember, Sister White said that the papal sabbath in the USA, is a repeat of the Romans besieging Jerusalem:
'As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us.' {5T 464}
Sister White doesn't say when the decree is ENFORCED, she is not speaking of the action, but the details of the decree: what will be the details of the Sunday Law? The same it was in 1888: the ENFORCING OF A SUNDAY LAW.
'When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay. Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed. He who chanced to be upon the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save his most valued treasures. Those who were working in the fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction.' {GC 25.4}
In Closing
It can't get more clear than this: The Protestant world have set up an idol Sabbath in the place where God’s Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.—Letter 90, (1897). {CL 21.1}
' “Out of the cities! out of the cities!”—this has been my message for years. {CH 231.2}
