Revelation 13

Introduction
'The Revelation of Jesus Christ...' Don't you just love that beginning to this book which for so long has been called a sealed book by so many people. There's nothing sealed about it, for the very first line refutes that argument, when it states that this book of prophecy is the revelation of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Good news, reader, it's an open book! However, it's not just any open book in the Bible, but the book which unveils the character of Jesus Christ, which is but the glory of the Father.

Why am I going there? I'm going there because God's Word states that His lovingkindness is that which will draw us to Him (Jeremiah 31:13), and the Bible also tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). In other words, the one word which sums up all of the character traits of God, is LOVE. Isn't that beautiful? So when Revelation chapter one says that this book is 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ...', and that when you have seen Jesus you have seen the Father, Whose character is LOVE, what exactly is the book of Revelation, a revelation of? With this understanding being applied to verse one, it would correctly read:

'The Revelation of the Father's love....'

It is because God loves us that He at times uses strong language to wake us up out of our death like stupor to the reality that He is coming soon, but we are not ready! Reader, He wants everyone of us to make it to Heaven; He wants none of us to be deceived by the powers that be, which are consolidating and combining their forces for the great and final conflict that will involve you and I. It is love for you, why He has wrapped up this solemn message in types and symbols, so that you will dig deep to find the Truth, and so will love and appreciate it as gold; for only the service of love is of value in Heaven.

Therefore today, God wants you and I to know that what we are about to study in the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation, was not written to scare us, or to create harsh preachers out of us. It was written, so that we shall not perish, but receive everlasting life at last!

God Bless you as we study this very present truth chapter....

Verse One

The very first thing that we see introduced is a beast. We know it is symbolic, because firstly, at the beginning of this book, we are told that the revelation was 'sent and signified..', which means to put in symbols. When God uses the term 'beast' in Bible prophecy, it is used to represent a king/kingdom:

'These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth.' {Daniel 7:17}

'Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom...' {Daniel 7:23}

This stately power is seen rising up out of the sea. In Revelation 17, the sea represents a multitude of people of different languages:

'And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.' {Revelation 17:15}

God is describing a kingdom when it began to rise into power. We're looking at the beginnings of this government, and we are told that it arose out of an area which contained a multitude of people of varied nations. Let's go on little further.

This beast has seven heads. What are the seven heads?

'And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 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.' {Revelation 17:9, 10}

'And there are...' does not exist in the original text, as we read in 'Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith'. So the seven heads that are on the beast, are the same seven heads found in chapter seventeen. The seven ruling powers in Bible prophecy, are:

Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, Papal Rome, U.S.A, and the N.W.O (These kingdoms are introduced in a summary fashion, in Daniel chapter two; and elaborated on in greater detail in the rest of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation 13 and 17.

It also has ten horns, which in the Bible represents kings too. Once again, Revelation 17 has much to say on who they are and how they impact the world just before the second coming of Christ. However, I only want to identify them in this post:

'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}

These ten kings do not have ten kingdoms, but a kingdom (singular), but it will be a co-reign with the beast of Revelation 13. What we see described in Revelation 17:12, is the kings of the earth (which so happens to rule the ten areas of the world, that the United Nations have divided) forming an alliance with this beastly power in a one world kingdom.

It's here where I would like to share with you who this beast is, so that I can explain its relation to the seven heads and ten horns.

Let's re-cap the characteristics of this kingdom. We are looking for a power that:

1. Began by arising out of a populated area that contained different nations.

2. It carries the seven great powers of Bible prophecy, including the one which is yet to come, the United Nations.

I will submit to you that Papal Rome, as better known as the Papacy, is the beast of Revelation 13. It was situated in Italy, on the continent of Europe, which contains a multitude of people of different nations. It began rising into power from 508-538, as it plucked up the three barbaric tribes of Europe: the Vandals, Heruli, and the Ostrogoths.

The spirit of Papal Rome is Paganism, but in a Christian garb (as we read the blood-soaked history of how Paganism 'converted' to Christianity). It's pagan system of the worship of idols and spiritualistic practices, ran as a common thread through the kingdoms of Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. We know that even though the U.S.A, is infamously known to be a Protestant nation, founded upon protestant principles, with it's ammendment to the constitution of the separation of church and state, so as to never have a repeat of the Roman reign, we see those Christian principles rapidly crumbling since 1984, when it appointed an ambassador to the Vatican. The line in the sand when the U.S.A joined hand in hand with the Papacy, was in 1989, when President Ronald Reagan surrendered America's military and econimic support to Rome, in order to pluck up the atheistic Russia, the Soviet Union. Since then, we see the U.S.A, and Rome walking side by side, in agreement; no longer protesting Rome (Protestant).

Bible prophecy also teaches us that the spirit of Paganism, which is found in the Papacy, will not just stop with the U.S.A, but also the seventh head, which is elaborated upon, and identified in much clearer tones in Revelation 17, as the ten kings (ten horns). These shall give their power to the Papacy, for the sake of bringing peace back into the world, due to the threat of terrorism, and the manifold, back to back natural disasters that are coming upon the earth (Conversion to Catholicism).

Note, the Bible could have just said that the beast had seven heads, but God repeated the seventh head, by calling it 'ten horns', because this one will take place in our day, and God in His great love wherewith He loves us, wants us to recognise it clearly, as we see its movements on the news.

What about the 'name of blasphemy'? How does the Bible define this word?

'The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest thyself God.' {John 10:33}

'Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?' {Mark 2:7}

It is when a human being claims to be God, and when they claim that they have the power to forgive sins, as God does. Now we need to ask ourselves, does the Vatican claim the power to forgive sins and does the Pope claim to be God? Let the following articles answer for us:

'As the Vatican's highest court, the tribunal deals with confessions considered so grave only the Pope himself has the authority to absolve them.' [Canada.com, National Post]

The priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given him by Jesus Christ." [Joseph DeHarbe, Catechism of the Catholic Religion, New York; W. H. Sadler, Inc. 1924, p. 279.]

"Thou art another God on earth."[Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512) in Mans, S. C., Vol 32, Col 761 (Latin).]

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." [Catholic National, July, 1895.]

Need I say more?

Now, let's remember that God is speaking of a system and not of the millions of innocent people who follow this religious system. God is warning us of a power that will ultimately pass a law that will trample on the rights and consciences of Christians, and will seek to destroy those who choose to remain loyal to the Bible and the Bible alone [as will be seen in the verses following]. Yes, the papacy is a power not to be followed at all, for its aims and purposes are deceptive, and will rob you of your right to eternal life.

Verse Two

This beast is a composite beast, in that it contains the characteristics of the kingdoms found in the book of Daniel:

It has the body of a leopard. We find in Daniel 7:6, that the leopard is the third kingdom of Bible prophecy, which was Greece. We know that it only took a short amountof time for the Grecian king to gain control of the world. The same is seen in the history of Papal Rome when it plucked up the three barbaric tribes in earnest, from the year 508 through to 538.

It has the feet of a bear. We find in Daniel 7:5, that the bear is the second kingdom, which was Medo-Persia. This power was known for it's cruelty in persecution, I mean just look at how the Bible describes it:

'And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.' {Daniel 7:5}

Why feet? It is because it is to denote Rome's persecuting policies:

'After 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..' {Daniel 7:7}

It has the mouth of a lion. The lion is the first kingdom, Babylon. This power was known to claim worship as God, as we see in such stories as the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. We have just seen from the Catholic sources, that Rome claims the position of God, and boasts great things about herself, just as Babylon the great did:

'...And a mouth that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows.' {Daniel 7:20}

'And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies...' {Revelation 13:5}

Papal Rome receives its position from the dragon. So, who is the dragon?

In Revelation 12, the dragon is primarily Satan, and secondarily Pagan Rome. Now, Revelation 13, is but a continuation of Revelation 12, because the latter is speaking about the history of Pagan Rome, and chapter 13, continues on the history with the next head in the Bible, which is Papal Rome. Therefore, because it's a continuation of thought, the dragon in this chapter, is either Satan alone, or Pagan Rome. I will submit to you that it is both. This is because Pagan Rome is the power noted down in history, for giving the Papacy its Power, its Seat, and its Authority. Which also means that the devil was using Pagan Rome to do so, because Paganism is the religion of the devil.

Power (Strong's Concordance: might; strength; ability; miraculous power. My note:it’s miraculous because it was given by Satan).

From 496-508, the seven nations of Pagan Rome surrendered their military support to Rome, beginning with Clovis, who was the king of France, and ending with the king of England, King Arthur. It's interesting to note that as they were offering their support to the Papacy, in order to pull down the three Arian powers, that they also surrendered their national legal religion, which was Paganism, and converted to Catholicism.

Seat (Strong's: Stately throne)

In the year 330, Constantine moved the seat of his empire from the City of Rome to Constantinople. In doing this, it brought on the end of Pagan Rome's reign, and opened up the way for the barbaric tribes to enter and tear down the Roman Empire. This chaotic state of affairs, left the kingdom in ruins, to the point that in the year of 533, in order to save his kingdom from further demolition, Emperor Justinian, wrote a decree for the bishop of Rome, to be the head of all the churches and the corrector of heretics. So what I am saying is that Constantine, in moving the capital of his empire to Constantinople, created the environment which ended up seating the Papacy on its throne in the year 538.

Authority (Strong's: Delegated influence, meaning an influence that was handed down to the Papacy, by Pagan Rome)

This history of the giving of the authority, I mentioned in the above paragraph, when in 533 Emperor Justinian, wrote the decree for Papal Rome to wield its power.

It received a deadly wound when in 1798, General Berthier during the French Revolution, took the Pope prisoner, which marked the end of the Papacy's civil soverignty over the earth. However, the Bible states that there'll come a point in time when this 'deadly wound' is healed. For a wound to be healed, it means that it returns to its former condition. So when the Papacy is reinstated, we can expect that she will rule this earth as she did in the past, where she had the power to persecute any and every onw who would not surrender to her power. This has not happened as yet, but the news surely reveal that this wound is healing and about to be cured completely.

Another reason why we know it is not healed, is because the history of Pagan Rome, combined with Papal Rome gives us the events that will transpire in the time of Modern Rome. This Biblical principle, is called the Triple Application of Prophecy. We see this principle often in God' Word in such stories as the Three Elijah's (Elijah, John the Baptist and the SDA Church), the Three Woes, etcetera.

Even Daniel 11:16, tells us that Rome establishes the vision of Daniel 11. So if we want to understand how Modern Rome, in Daniel 11 is going to work in these last days, then all we have to do is study the history of Pagan and Papal Rome.

When Pagan Rome was rising into power, it had three geographical obstacles, and it wasn't until it conquered its third obstacle that it began to rule the world supremely. The same with Papal Rome, and so when Rome rises to the throne of the earth for the final time.

Rome's three obstacles are found in Daniel 11:40-45:

1. The stronghold of atheism

2. The separation of Church and State in the U.S.A

3. The world

The deadly wound will not be healed any time prior to when Rome has the whole world under her sway. When this happens, all the world will wonder after this power. In fact, the Hebrew for the word 'healed' is translated as 'worship', 'adore'. God is trying to tell us that when the Papacy returns to the throne of this earth, she is going to gain the worship and adoration of the whole world. We see it already happening, but it's going to happen on an even greater scale than what we now witness.

Revelation 17:8, repeats this fact that when the beast is resurrected, it will be worshipped. This is the main issue with Rome, friends, it seeks your worship. Now, who does this sound like?

'How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.' {Isaiah 14:12-15}

Verse four

It is clear to see why we read here that the Papal system has not one shred of Christianity in it, because all who worship her, are actually worshipping the dragon: PAGANISM, SATAN. Revelation 17 is in agreement with this when it says that this power ascends out of the bottomless pit.

Verse 5

Out of Rome's mouth, we have read the great blasphemies that it speaks of herself. The claim for worship is clearly documented during the history of the 'forty and two months'.

In Bible prophecy, it is understood that a day equals a year (see Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6). So forty and two months would add up to 1,260 days/years. Sure enough from the year 538-1798: 1260 years, Rome ruled this earth, and it was a bloody reign. The records of Rome is stained with the blood of Christian martyrs who chose to follow the Word of God above the dictates of the Roman Pontiff (see Revelation 13:7; 17:6; Daniel 7:25).

Verse 8

The Roman system is so dangerous that all who worship it will have their names blotted out of the Book of Life, which contains all the names of those who have ever given their lives to Jesus.

Now, you may be wondering, "What has this got to do with me? I don't even worship the Papal religion. I'm a Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist.." etcetera.

Well, let's look briefly at the next set of verses, and we will see that chapter 13 involves everyone of us regardless of our denomination or current religious persuasion.

In verse 10, the power which led many into captivity during the 1,260 years of its reign, ends up ging into captivity in 1798, and its civil power uprooted. Then in verse 11, another power at that time, 1798, is seen arising not out of the sea (multitudes of people speaking different languages), but this time out of the earth (the complete opposite, out of an uncultivated, uninhabited area). This superpower which arose in 1798, and expanded rapidly as it occupied began to occupy what we now to be the fifty states of America, is the U.S.A.

The two lamblike horns, are the two ruling powers in this nation which had the identity of a lamb (Christ): Republianism and Protestantism. These Christian principles, alongside its unprecedented geographical expansion and the Industrial Revolution, during the 19th century, gave promise to thousands who flocked there from all over the world.

This 'land flowing with milk and honey', which promised freedom and equality, will soon speak like a dragon (Rome), and will apply its power to force the whole world to worship the first beast, by restricting buying and selling to those who are willing to receive the MARK OF THE BEAST.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST??

Don't be duped into what the media tells you is the mark of the beast. Let the Word of God be our interpreter, and we will not go wrong.

Another word for 'MARK', is 'SEAL', 'SIGN'.

'Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them.' {Ezekiel 20:12}

The seventh day Sabbath which was given to man in Genesis, and then written on tables of stone, known as the Ten Commandments, is the mark, sign, seal of God. It was given to us as a reminder that God's power is what can make us and keep us in His image. God knew that we would forget, so that is why He placed at the beginning of the Fourth Commandment to 'REMEMBER'. However, it's more than jut observing the seventh day, Saturday:

'For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired [it] for His habitation. This [is] My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.' {Psalms 132:13, 14}

The Sabbath Rest is about God dwelling in Zion. What is Zion?

'Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.' {Psalm 48:1, 2}

Zion is the place which is also called, the 'mountain', and the 'sides of the north'.

'..Zion, Thou [art] My people.' {Isaiah 51:16}

Okay, so the Sabbath Rest is the Day that God has given to us to remind us of God's desire to dwell in the hearts and minds of His people, in order to sanctify us. When we keep that Day holy, we are acknowledging that He is our Creator and Redeemer, and our Lord.

Now that we have esatblished what the mark, sign, seal of God is, let's see what the mark of the beast is. Please bear in mind that to everything that God has, Satan has a counterfeit. Also remember that Satan desires the worship of mankind. He hates the Day that God has set apart as a sign of God's right to our worship. The whole issue is one of worship. He wants to st on God's throne:

'How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.' {Isaiah 14:12-15}

The devil seeks to sit in the vey place where our Creator desires to be seated: In our hearts. In other words, Satan desires his sabbath too! What other day is treated as a sabbath by many in Christendom? SUNDAY.

The very one (Satan) who seeks worship, claims a day too! (Isaiah 14:12-15)

The very one (Papacy) who seeks worship, claims a day too! (Revelation 13)

Sunday (the day of the worship of the sun-god) is the day that Rome holds as sacred, and it will be the day that the U.S.A will force everyone on this planet to follow, when it exercises the power of Rome.

Sunday sacredness is the mark of the beast.

We have reached a point in earth's history, where laws are being put in place, since 9/11, in the name of safety, restricting our rights, invading our privacies, all in the name of safety. I would have you to know that the attacks of Islam upon this earth is but a trojan horse to usher in the new world order, in the name of safety. However, friend, there is no safety in transgressing the law of God. In the times of ignorance, God winks, and has mercy upon the millions who are innocently under the Roman system, for many do not know any better. That is why in strains of love, God warns us that those who receive the mark of the beast will end up losing their soul's salvation. And those of us who outwardly observe the seventh day Sabbath, let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that because our names are upon the church books, that automatically means that they will remain in the Lamb's book of Life. Know we not, that to keep the Sabbath as God intended us to, means to keep Commandments one through ten, seven days a week.

Do not be duped by the changes in the governement in the name of safety, for:

'For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.' {1 Thessalonians 5:3-6}

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Is Justification at the Cross Enough?

In Christendom there are some varied views concerning the completion of the work of redemption. Some argue that the cross is the stopping point of the Christian’s experience; while others believe that the Christian’s walk goes further than being justified through the death of Christ. In other words, the work of sanctification (being made righteous) needs to be accomplished in our hearts before the Second Coming of Christ, in addition to being justified (being declared righteous) at the cross. There needs to be an ‘at-one-ment’ between us and our Saviour while on earth. For this to be accomplished, anything between our soul and our God, namely sin, must be removed, cleansed from the soul; thus the reason for the antitypical Day of Atonement.

Is there any Biblical evidence to support the latter view? This is the purpose of this blog post. I pray that by the end of this study, you will not have just gained interesting ‘knowledge’, but also learn how to become a partaker of the Divine nature before the door of your probation closes. God’s way is in the Sanctuary………

The Sanctuary on Earth

When the children of Israel were dwelling in tents in the wilderness, after being miraculously delivered out of Egyptian bondage, God made them the depositaries of His law, and then gave Moses the following instruction:

‘And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.’ {Exodus 25:8}

The purpose of the Sanctuary and its services was to teach them in visual format, the plan of redemption that would be accomplished. Their minds had been so defiled by the corrupt and abominable practices of their heathen neighbours, that they now needed the true worship of Jehovah to be broken down to them in bite sized pieces. They needed to understand practically: Justification and Sanctification.

For this, God gave implicit instructions on how every part of the Sanctuary and its furnishings were to be made. The pattern that Moses was to follow was the pattern of the Heavenly Sanctuary:

‘According to all that I show thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make [it].’ {Exodus 25:9}

There were two apartments in the Sanctuary: The Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The outer court was where the sacrifices of the animals would be performed, and their bodies burned. Daily the congregation of Israel would bring their lamb or goat to the Priest, and there would they confess all their sins upon that animal. The Priest would then kill it and the blood of all the animals of that day would be taken into the first apartment of the Sanctuary (Holy Place), and would sprinkle the blood therein; thus symbolising the SINS OF THE PEOPLE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE SANCTUARY.

Throughout the year this round of service would happen evening and morning. The priests would assist one another in this work. However, once a year a day was appointed where only the High Priest would enter into the Most Holy Place and make an ATONEMENT FOR GOD’S PEOPLE BY CLEANSING THE SANCTUARY OF ALL THE SINS THAT WERE IN TYPE TRANSFERRED THERE.. This day, was called, The Day of Atonement.

[For a Biblical and more detailed description on what took place on this day, please read Leviticus 23:27-30; Leviticus 16:4-28; Numbers 29:7-11]

The Need for Cleansing of the Temple

When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, the awesome prophecy of Genesis 3:15, was fulfilled:

‘And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.’

Indeed, the deadly power of sin lost its power and hold over mankind when Jesus was crucified! Sin does not have to have dominion over us! Yes that is great news for anyone who longs to be delivered from their deep rooted habits and lifestyle of sin. However, even though it has been accomplished at the cross, the power of God’s grace needs to be now administered into the heart, mind and life:

‘For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.’ {Romans 5:10, 11}

You may ask, ‘The Atonement? Are you saying that we need to set up another Sanctuary on earth, and perform the same service that our forefathers did back in the Old Testament?’

No, that is not what I am saying, for that would be totally contradictory to God’s Word:

‘And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease..’ {Daniel 9:27}

The ‘midst of the week’, is speaking about A.D.31 when Christ was crucified, and the sacrifices of the Sanctuary, with all the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross.

‘Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.’ {Daniel 9:24}

The Hebrew for the word ‘sins’, is translated as sin and sin offering. This Hebrew word is also used in Leviticus when speaking about the daily offerings. So when Jesus yielded up His life, sin offerings, the Sanctuary services, as well as sin, were put to an end.

However, what I am saying is this:

‘For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but THE HEAVENLY THINGS themselves with better sacrifices than these.’ {Hebrews 9:19-23}

When Christ ascended into Heaven, He entered into the first apartment of the Sanctuary above to begin His work as our Great High Priest: to offer His forgiveness through His blood, every time man would confess and repent. But there came a point in time when Christ moved into the second apartment, just as it was done in the earthly service, to begin His work of cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary.

It sounds strange to hear that something which is in Heaven, in perfection, needed to be cleansed. Let us bear in mind that in the typical daily service, the sins of God’s people were daily confessed upon the animal; the animal was then slain; then the blood was brought into the Holy Place and sprinkled therein. Symbolising the sins of the people being transferred to the temple.

So while Christ was officiating in the Holy Place, immediately after His ascension, the sins of the people of God, was transferred to the Sanctuary.

God ‘remembers our sins no more’, this is true. This means that when you confess your sins and repent, He looks at you, and treats you as if you never committed that sin; but it is recorded. This is because, if you are lost, and your loved ones realise that you didn’t make it to Heaven, they will see for themselves that it was your own sin that blocked you from the kingdom, and not any fault on God’s part. God’s character will be vindicated as just and true in all of His ways. Amen!

‘[It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but THE HEAVENLY THINGS themselves with better sacrifices than these.’ {Hebrews 9:19-23}

Just as it was necessary to cleanse the earthly Sanctuary (‘patterns of things in the heavens’) because of the sins of the people that were in type transferred there, it was likewise needful for the Heavenly Sanctuary to be cleansed. Not with the blood of animals, but ‘with better sacrifices than these.’ {Hebrews 9:23}

Upon the testimony of at least two, shall a thing be established. So I’ll just share with you a few more other places in the Bible, that teaches the truth that the Day of Atonement, is repeated in Heaven: [The following comparisons, are taken directly from Steven Haskell’s book: ‘The Cross and Its Shadow’, p. 218-219]

Type
Leviticus 16:29, 30- On the tenth day of the seventh month the sanctuary was cleansed.

Anti-type
Daniel 8:14- “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed.”

Type
Lev 16:15-19- The sanctuary was cleansed, and sins removed by the blood of the Lord’s goat, at the end of the year’s service.

Anti-type
Acts 3:19, 20- Sins will be blotted from the heavenly records near the end of Christ’s work as high priest.

Type
Lev 16:2- God’s presence was in the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.

Anti-type
Daniel 7:9, 10- The Father enters the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary before the opening of the judgment.

Type
Lev 16:4-6- The high priest made special preparation to enter the Most Holy Place apartment.

Anti-type
Daniel 7:13, 14- Christ is borne into the most holy apartment by the angels of Heaven.

Type
Ezekiel 28:9-21- The high priest bore the names of Israel over his heart and his shoulders when he entered the Most Holy Place.

Anti-type
Revelation 3:5- Christ knows each name, and confesses the names of the overcomers before the Father and the angels.

Type
Lev 16:20- When the High Priest came out of the sanctuary, he had “made an end of reconciling.”

Anti-type
Rev 22:11, 12- When Christ comes out from the heavenly sanctuary, He announces the eternal destiny of every soul.

Type
Lev 16:21- The sins were all laid upon the scapegoat.

Anti-type
Psalm 7:16- Sin will return upon the head of the originator of sin.

Type
Lev 16:22- The goat shall bears the sins into a land not inhabited, a land of separation.

Anti-type

Rev 20:1-3- Satan will be left on the desolate earth for one thousand years.

Type
Lev 16:23- The high priest left the robe he wore while officiating in the Most Holy Place in the sanctuary, and put on other garments.

Anti-type
Rev 19:11-16- Christ lays aside His priestly robes, and comes to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Type
Lev 16:27- The bodies of the sacrifices were taken without the camp and burned, and nothing but ashes remained as a reminder of sin.

Anti-type
Matthew 13:41-43; Mal 4:1-3- Christ will “gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity,” and they will be burned in the fires of the last day. Only ashes will remain.’

When did Christ begin the work of Atonement?

When did Christ move from the Holy to the Most Holy Place, to begin the cleansing of the Sanctuary?

Daniel 8:14- “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed.”

This time prophecy, which included the period of probation granted to the Jews to fill up their cup of iniquity; the time of Christ; the giving of the Gospel to the Gentiles; the Dark Ages; the Millerite history; would begin in the year 457 B.C, and would terminate on October 22nd, 1844. We calculate this, by using the Biblical principle of prophecy, that a day equals a year in prophecy. So it would be 2300 years.

And sure enough, at the expiration of the 2300 years, October 22nd, 1844, Christ moved into the second apartment, to administer the cleansing of the Sanctuary, for all the sins that were transferred there. Not just the cleansing of the heavenly, but also of the soul’s temple: our hearts.

Revelation 22:11-12 ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward [is] with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’

When Jesus comes the second time, His reward is with Him. You can’t be rewarded for something if you didn’t go through an examination first, correct? The reward will be given according to our work. You are rewarded for your works, because your works weren’t examined prior to the giving of the reward. So from the above verse, we can only come to one conclusion, and that is the fact that THERE MUST BE A PRE-ADVENT JUDGMENT. So the anti-typical Day of Atonement did not just occur on October 22nd, 1844, but continues on up until the close of human probation, as the above verse states.

The Bible describes this event

Daniel 7:9-14 ‘I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened… I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.’


Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Our Duty

We are in the period of time when our sins need to be sent up to judgment to be removed, cleansed from our hearts, and the word 'pardon' written next to our names. This involves our earnest co-operation, just like it did for ancient Israel. We are too far in the day to trifle with the soul’s interest; to be happy with the idea of being justified, alone. What is our responsibility during this time?

‘So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. "Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?" 1 Peter 4:17.

'The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment….'

'The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Jesus bade His disciples: "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20. Paul speaks of his faithful fellow workers, "whose names are in the book of life." Philippians 4:3. Daniel, looking down to "a time of trouble, such as never was," declares that God's people shall be delivered, "everyone that shall be found written in the book." And the revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names "are written in the Lamb's book of life." Daniel 12:1; Revelation 21:27.'

‘"A book of remembrance" is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of "them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Malachi 3:16. Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in heaven. Nehemiah refers to this when he says: "Remember me, O my God, . . . and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God." Nehemiah 13:14. In the book of God's remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. Says the psalmist: "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?" Psalm 56:8.’

‘There is a record also of the sins of men. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Says the Saviour: "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37. The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." I Corinthians 4:5. "Behold, it is written before Me, . . . your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord." Isaiah 65:6, 7.’

‘Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record…’

‘As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on the polished plate of the artist, so the character is faithfully delineated in the books above…’

‘In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized…What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? God has made us the depositaries of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto salvation?…’

‘The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven. There is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellow men…There they will see how often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ…’

‘The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill…’

‘We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart…’

{Great Controversy, 480-489}





‘For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement.’ {Romans 5:10, 11}

Literal Jerusalem not a subject of Bible Prophecy

This note is a studied response that I put together in reply to the false teaching that literal Jerusalem is a subject of Bible prophecy. It is important that the professed people of God rightly divide the warnings, instructions, and prophecies in Holy Writ regarding Jerusalem; for the history of this denominated group of people, is but the type of God's denominated people at the end of the world. I hope and pray that at the end of this study, through testing these things if they be so, that we will realise our responsibility is to restore the walls of Modern Israel; and not literal Israel.

Note these statements From the Inspired pen:

'The city of Jerusalem is NO LONGER A SACRED PLACE. The curse of God is upon it because of the rejection and crucifixion of Christ.'{RH,July 30, 1901}

'In our largest CHURCHES the greatest evils exist, because these have had the greatest light..They have forfeited the terms of peace; there is reason for an alarm to be sounded in all 'MY HOLY MOUNTAIN'. The sinners in ZION should be afraid..'{RH, Dec23,1890}

God has shown me about some trying to get a substitute after the time has passed, some would get Jesus upon the great white cloud, OTHERS WOULD BE LOOKING TO OLD JERUSALEM, OR AS THEY CALLED IT THE AGE-TO-COME.'{4MR, 404}

'We should be gathering up every ray of divine light, NOT LOOKING to OLD JERUSALEM where Christ was once, but to the NEW JERUSALEM where He is now.'{The Paulson Collection,138-139}

The Glorious Holy Mountain, in the Bible: Glorious= Goodly; in sense of prominence.

GLORIOUS MOUNTAIN= CANAAN:

'I pray thee,let me go over,& see the good land that is beyond Jordan,that GOODLY MOUNTAIN,& Lebanon.'{Deut 3:25}

HOLY MOUNTAIN=God's Temple/Church:Isa 56:7;Ezek 20:40;Dan 9:16,20;Psalm 48:1,2;Isaiah 51:16;Joel 2:1;Joel 3:17;Zech 8:3.

There is a rule in Bible prophecy, that before the time period of the cross of Christ, prophecy is to be seen it's LITERAL application; and after this time period, it's to be seen in its SPIRITUAL application. Daniel 11:45, is during the time that the Papacy is being rocketed to supreme power over the earth, just before Michael stands up in Daniel 12:1. We're living in those final moments; and those moments are definitely after the crucifixion of Christ, so therefore the Glorious Holy Mountain, is to be applied in its SPIRITUAL fashion.

When did the HOLY MOUNTAIN become SPIRITUAL ISRAEL?

Matthew 24:3 '..what shall be the SIGN of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?'(This verse I have dealt with it at length in my earlier note: The SIGN(SINGULAR). So I will just summarize here:

The disciples were seeking for a SINGULAR event, which would tell them that CHRIST WAS ABOUT TO COME. The Answer:

Mark 13:28 'Now learn a parable of the FIG TREE; WHEN HER branch is yet TENDER, and putteth forth leaves, ye KNOW that SUMMER IS NEAR.'

Luke 21:29 'And He spake to them a parable; Behold the FIG TREE, AND ALL THE TREES; WHEN they[FIG TREE] now SHOOT forth, ye see and KNOW of your own selves that SUMMER IS NOW NIGH AT HAND.'

THE FIG TREE:

Proverbs 27:18 'Whoso keepeth the FIG TREE shall eat the fruit thereof: SO HE THAT WAITETH ON HIS MASTER shall be honoured.'

Someone waiting for the Master is an Advent believer.

Hosea 9:10 'I found ISRAEL like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the FIG TREE...'

Israel is the FIG TREE.

So who are the 'other trees'?

Answer: The Gentiles.

What does Shoot means ?

Answer: Sprout; Bud; The BEGINNINGS of the GROWTH of Israel. But this is NOT talking about the FIRST TIME ISRAEL WAS GATHERED AS A PEOPLE. The context is given in the verse:

'..WHEN her branch is yet TENDER, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that SUMMER is near.'{Mark 13:28}

The context is the END OF THE WORLD. So there'll come a point in time when God, for the SECOND TIME will gather an 'Israel' to Himself, at the END OF THE WORLD. This will be a time, according to Luke 21:29, when there will be a CLEAR DISTINCTION being made between ISRAEL and 'all the trees'- the Gentiles.

WHEN did God for the SECOND TIME gather an 'Israel' to Himself, where there was a DISTINCTION between ISRAEL and the GENTILE world?

Luke 21:24 '..and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED.'

So at the TERMINATION of the TRAMPLING DOWN of Jerusalem, THAT is the TIME when the 'TIMES OF THE GENTILES' will be FULFILLED, FINISHED.

Rev 11:2 'But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and THE HOLY CITY SHALL THEY TREAD UNDER FOOT FORTY AND TWO MONTHS.'

The TRAMPLING DOWN of Jerusalem(HOLY CITY) TERMINATED in 1798(Rev 11:2).

Jerusalem being trodden down, is NOT the LITERAL Jerusalem being spoken of in Luke. It's SPIRITUAL JERUSALEM(God's people).

At 1798, is when the 'TIMES OF THE GENTILES'CEASED. At 1798, God began to grow an 'Israel' unto Himself for the SECOND TIME; and it wasn't literal Israel, but spiritual Israel. This 'Gathering Time' extended until October 22nd, 1844,when God DENOMINATED a people; MARRIED a people and gave the LAW to His people.

The Millerite history gets REPEATED to THE VERY LETTER. So when we see 1798 repeated, you can be SURE that God has begun to gather a people unto Himself for the harvest. Not a new denomination, but the development of the REMNANT. This is the SIGN of the coming of Christ.

It took forty-six years to build the temple; and sure enough, from 1798 to 1844, is forty- six years! God was rearing up the spiritual temple: SPIRITUAL ISRAEL!

What it Means to be a Seventh-Day Adventist

'And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the SIGN of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?' {Matthew 24:3}



This question by the disciples to Jesus, is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. They're phrased a little different, but they are all asking the same question. Two questions were being asked:





1.Tell us, when shall these things be?{Matt 24:3}This is regarding the destruction of Jerusalem





2.What shall be the SIGN of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?{ibid}





Jesus answered the first question by explaining all the events that would lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem. In doing so, He was also showing what would lead to the end of the world. Then He addressed the second question: 'What shall be the SIGN of thy coming, and of the end of the world?'





Here is His answer: 'Behold the FIG TREE, AND ALL THE TREES; WHEN they SHOOT forth, ye see and KNOW of your own selves that SUMMER is NOW NIGH at HAND.'{Luke 21:29}

'Now learn a parable of the FIG TREE; WHEN HER branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye KNOW THAT SUMMER IS NEAR.' {Mark 13:28}




Jesus deals with a SINGULAR event to show when SUMMER is near:





Summer=Harvest


Proverbs 6:8; Proverbs 10:5; Jeremiah 8:20





Harvest=End of the world


Matthew 13:39;30





THE SHOOTING/BUDDING/SPROUTING of the FIG TREE IS THE SIGN!





What is the FIG TREE?





'Whoso keepeth FIG TREE shall eat the fruit thereof: SO HE THAT WAITETH ON HIS MASTER shall be honoured.'{Proverbs 27:18}





It is someone who WAITS FOR THEIR MASTER-An Advent believer.





'I found ISRAEL like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the FIG TREE..'{Hosea 9:10}





So the FIG TREE represents God's people Israel, who at some point were waiting on their Master to return.





So who are the 'other trees'? They are the Non-Jews; the Gentiles.





The shooting forth, is not in regards to the other trees. It's the FIG TREE that Jesus was seeking for fruit to be borne. So the SIGN is when there will be a DISTINCTION made between Israel and the Gentile world; and this distinction will ONLY be evident when the Fig Tree is budding. This is a time when the BEGINNINGS(budding, sprouting, shooting)of Israel takes place. It is when God BEGINS TO GROW a denominated people.





But this is not in the context of when God FIRST gathered to Himself a denominated people at Mount Sinai. The context is at SUMMER, the END OF THE WORLD.





Luke 21, is telling us that there will come a time when God will gather together a people, who will be once again called Israel. A time when there will be a MARKED LINE OF DISTINCTION between Israel and the Gentile world. At the END OF THE WORLD.


'And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and SHALL CHOOSE JERUSALEM AGAIN.' {Zechariah 2:12}





When did this take place?





'..and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of Gentiles, UNTIL the TIMES OF THE GENTILES BE FULFILLED.'{Luke 21:24}





The 'times of the Gentiles' is when Israel was no longer the chosen people to be the depositaries of God's sacred oracles. The promulgation of the Gospel was given to whoever willed. But there came a point in history when that era would close, fulfilled. That time was the termination date of Jerusalem being trodden down by the heathen. When was that?





'But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles...and the HOLY CITY shall they TREAD UNDER FOOT FORTY AND TWO MONTHS.'{Rev 11:2}

The 'FORTY AND TWO MONTHS' is 1260 years. The 'HOLY CITY' that was trodden down during the 1260 years of Papal persecution, were GOD'S PEOPLE. This ended in 1798. So the fulfillment of the 'times of the Gentiles', when Israel was no longer a people, was at the END OF JERUSALEM (GOD'S PEOPLE) BEING TRODDEN DOWN: 1798.

1798 is when 'the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled', but notice that the verse doesn't say the 'time' (singular), rather the 'times' (plural). What I am getting at is that there is more than one date which can be rightfully called, 'the times of the Gentiles'. We can see this clearly, when we understand the 2,520 year prophecy (Leviticus 26), that deals with the curse that came upon Jerusalem for breaking the covenant that was given to them on Mount Sinai. Please bear in mind that Jerusalem was made up of two tribes; both broke the covenant, so both did the time.



The Northern Kingdom(Israel) had 2,520 years of being TRODDEN DOWN in an enemy's land: 728-1798.





The Southern Kingdom(Judah) had 2,520 years of being TRODDEN DOWN: 677-1844.





Literal and Spiritual Jerusalem was trampled down until 1798 AND 1844. God began to grow Israel again from 1798 all the way through 1844. That's forty six years; the same length of time it took to re-build the temple.



1844 was the year that the time of the Gentiles was COMPLETED. The Advent believers officially became Spiritual Israel, a Denominated People.




The experience of ancient Israel on Mount Sinai, when they received the Law and was married to God, was repeated on October 22nd, 1844:





Mount Sinai


'And all the ppl saw the THUNDERINGS, and the LIGHTNINGS..'{Exodus 20:18}





Mount Sinai experience on October 22nd, 1844


'And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple THE ARK OF HIS TESTAMENT(THE LAW): and there were LIGHTNINGS, and voices, and THUNDERINGS..'{Rev 11:19}





THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN ISRAEL IS THE SIGN!

Now, what has THAT got to do with the END OF THE WORLD? In other words, how is 1798-1844 (the history of the Adventist Church being formed, present truth?)

'I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel's message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.'{RH, August 19, 1890 par. 3}


When we arrive at the repeat of what took place during 1798-1844, you can be sure that summer is nigh at hand. However, that's not sufficient for me to know that okay, the events of that history is being repeated. No, not enough. The burning question of my heart, is: 'Lord, what was the relationship that You had with Your people during that time which caused them to have such ardent love for their Saviour? To lead them to labour tirelessley for the salvation of their family and friends, and everyone else in between? To strengthen them to face the mockery of those who rejected them and spoke evil of them? And to give them such a readiness of heart and mind that if You at that time, they would have been prepared to meet You?' For whatever their experience was with Christ during that time of gathering, is also to be repeated in this time of gathering before the harvest is past. What an exciting day it will be, when we finally meet face to face the Man Whom we have grown in love with. It's so worth getting ready for. I want what the Millerites had with Jesus, but even more. The question that we need to ask ourselves is, have we come to that point in time when the repeat of this sacred history has arrived?

What happened in 1798, to cause the gathering?


'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...How long shall it be to the END OF THESE WONDERS?...it shall be for a TIME,TIMES, and AN HALF; AND WHEN He shall have ACCOMPLISHED to SCATTER the power of the HOLY PEOPLE...the words are closed up and SEALED TILL THE TIME OF THE END. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly & none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.'{Dan 12:4,6,7,9,10}

Okay, let's rap this up in these few moments remaining:

The book of Daniel will be sealed UNTIL:


1.Time, times, and a half=1260 years of Papal supremacy, ending in 1798.





2. When He shall have ACCOMPLISHED TO SCATTER the power of the HOLY PEOPLE. The Scattering terminated on October 22nd, 1844.

There was an unsealing of knowledge, an INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PROPHECIES FOUND IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL, beginning in the year 1798.

We also see:

1.The COLLAPSE of a power from the bottomless pit.



In the Bible there are only three religious manifestations of satanic power:


Catholicism


Islam


Atheism





In 1798, the civil power of Roman Catholicism, aka the Papacy, came down.





2. We see three powers involved:


The King of the North(Papacy)


The King of the South(Atheism,in the form of France)


The U.S.A





3. Rome rises in the garb of the birth of Apostate Protestantism.





4. The prophecy pointing to the fulfilment of the vision of Daniel 8:14, began to get unsealed.

The beginning of the repeat, in 1989 we see:





*The COLLAPSE of a power from the bottomless pit: Atheism, in form of Soviet Russia. The STRONGHOLD of atheism.


*The same three powers involved:King of the North: Papacy; King of the South: Atheism; U.S.A.


*Rome rises as her first obstacle is uprooted (Daniel 11:40).


*The prophecy pointing to the vision of Daniel 11 (the Sunday Law) began to get unsealed.

The remaining events of the 1800's, you will can read about in my blog study on history repeating. Yes it's beautiful to see the events match exactly, but that won't amount to a hill of beans if my relationsip with Jesus on a moment by moment basis, doesn't line up, and exceed what the early Advent believers had.

Oh how Jesus wants to come!

No New Thing under the Sun

The work of God in the earth presents, from age to age, a striking similarity in every great reformation or religious movement. The principles of God's dealing with men are ever the same.The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the past.{Great Controversy, 343}

Why is this vital for us to understand?

'God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grown more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children.'{1 Selected Messages, 127}

So the fact that this revival and reformation is salvational, it behooves us to find out how God wants to accomplish this. Well the answer is in the very first quote of this article. We need to study how God brought about a great reformation among His people in the past.

Why? Because how God brings about this work in His Church, will be the same as He did in times past:

'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See this is new? it hath been already of old time which was before us.'

{Ecclesiastes 1:9,10}

But whats more, is that the way that God will bring about the present revival and reformation, will run parallel with how He accomplished it in history. What does it mean for something to be parallel? It means when atleast two things line up. In other words, when you place them one on top of the other, they will flow in the exact order.

'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.'{James 1:17}

'Remember the former things of old: for I AM GOD, and there is none like Me declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand...I will also bring it to pass.'{Isaiah 46:9-11}

God's counsel, His principle that history will repeat, will stand. In other words, it is sure. This is what makes prophecy a more sure Word of prophecy. You can be sure of what is to come, because of how it happened in the past.

'We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.'{CET, 204}

'That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.'{Eccl 3:15}

But sad to say God's people don't even know about our past history! So how will we recognise the workings of God in the Church today? How will we experience this revival and reformation?

'There is no rememberance of former things..'{Eccl 1:11}

There are a few dangers that I am going to list, of what happens when we don't study our past history:

1. We will not recognise the great awakening which God is doing in His Church today.We will end up attributing the work of the Holy Spirit, to the workings of Satan!

'There is to be in the [Seventh-day Adventist]churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God..In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. ''Why,''they say,''should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?''

{Last Day Events, 209}

'The third angel's message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light,by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.'

{Last Day Events, 210}

What does it mean to resist the workings of the Holy Spirit; to attribute the workings of the Holy Spirit to Satan?

'He tells His hearers that all manner of sin and blasphemy may be forgiven if done in ignorance..But when the power and Spirit of God rested upon His messengers, they were on holy ground. To ignore the Spirit of God, to charge it with being the spirit of the devil, placed them in a position where God had no power to reach their souls. To speak against Christ, charging His work to satanic agencies, and attributing the manifestations of the Spirit fanaticism, is not of itself a damning sin, but the spirit that leads men to make these assertions places them in a position of stubborn resistance, wher they cannot see spiritual light.'{5 Bible Commentary, 1092}

2. Another danger of not studying the great reformatory movements in the past, is that we will end up misapplying the final events before the close of human probation. Here's an example:

We are told in Inspiration that prior to the plagues falling upon the earth, true Seventh-day Adventists, will be called out from the nominal Adventist gatherings [Read Early Writings, 261]. But some have applied this statement to mean that that time is now. When we understand the order of events in the past reformations, all will be clear.

1840-1844:

I'm just going to list 3 main characteristics/waymarks, that we will find in each great awakening of God's Church.

Waymark 1. The First Angel's Message, was worldwide in its nature, and it was a message of REFORM.[see Rev 10:1,2;14:6,7;1Cor 10:31]

Waymark 2. The Second Angel's Message, was local in its nature (applied to the churches in the USA). We also see a physical separation of two classes amongst the Church.

'That message was first proclaimed by the servants of God in the summer of 1844. As a result, many left the fallen churches.' {CET, 50}

Waymark 3. We see judgment. On October 22nd, 1844, we see the investigative judgment begin.

The Three Decrees:

Waymark 1. Under the First Decree, we see that it went to all the kingdom of Cyrus-which happened to be worldwide:

'Now in the first year of Cyrus...he made a proclamation. throughout all his kingdom..The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth'.{Ezra 1:1,2}

Those who experienced the revival of the Spirit, and reform followed [see Ezra 1:5;3]

Waymark 2. They celebrated the Passover. At the first passover, when the angel of death was to destroy all the firstborn among the Egyptians, God gave to His people clear instruction to separate them and their children from the Egyptians, lest they receive of that plague too. So it isn't coincidental that the Passover which involved a separation, was celebrated at the second decree. Also God used Zechariah to call His people out of Babylon.[see Zechariah 2:6,7]

Waymark 3. Sure enough judgment was pronounced upon the Jews by Ahasuerus.

Moses' Ministry:

Waymark 1. At the beginning of Moses'work in delivering Israel out of Egypt, He sought to bring about a reformation. What was that reformation? It was to do with Sabbath reform:

'In their bondage the Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of God's law, and they had departed from its precepts. The Sabbath had been generally disregarded, and the exactions of their taskmasters made its observance apparently impossible. But Moses had shown his people that obedience to God was the firts condition of deliverance and the efforts made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of their oppressors.'{Patriarchs and Prophets, 258}

We don't see worldwide, here. But that's Ok. Prophecy deals with repeating that which God wants to repeat, and enlarging that which God wants to enlarge.

Waymark 2. Prior to the final plague upon the Egyptians, God's people separated themselves from the environment of the Egyptians. It is no accident that at the second decree, Israel kept the Passover.

Waymark 3. Then we see judgment upon the first born. Please bear in mind that I am only barely touching the surface regarding these histories. There is so much more to say about them. But I just am introducing this subject for those who may never have even heard these truths before. It was a serious eye opener to me. There are plenty other histories in the Bible where we can see the same workings of God in bringing about a revival and reformation.

On the testimony of at least two, a thing is ESTABLISHED. So lets look at the antitype of those histories:

Daniel 11:40-45:

Waymark 1. Verse 40, has two parts to it.

Part (a)is the history before the colon-the history beginning at 1798 all the way through to October 22nd 1844.I n this history, we find the events that transpired under the first, second and third angel's messages.

The history after the colon, part (b), is the history beginning at 1989 and ending at Daniel 12:1, when human probation closes. Part (b), is simply the repeat of history part (a).

The events in part (b), will therefore repeat the workings of God, under the first, second, and third angel's messages. So in Daniel 11:40 (b) through to verse 45, we should expect to see:

Waymark 1 repeated.

Waymark 2 repeated.

Waymark 3 repeated.

And we do!

1. At the First Angel's Message, on August 11th, 1840, the present truth message for that time (the first angels message)was empowered by the 6th trumpet-Islam. Before that date, Josiah Litch, predicted that the Ottoman Empire would collapse (the close of the 6th trumpet/2nd woe) on that very date. To come to this conclusion, he used the day for a year principle in the Bible. The rest of the Millerites also used this principle to predict that Jesus was going to return to the earth in the year of 1843. They used the day for a year principle too. The world laughed them all to scorn, until on that very date August 11th 1840, the prediction proclaimed by Josiah Litch, came to fruition. And all of a sudden,t he world stopped laughing at these preachers, and they were convinced of the day/year principle. They also reasoned in their minds that if the day/year principle was correct in predicting the close of the 6th trumpet, therefore they also must be correct in saying that Jesus was to come in 1843! Immediately a great impetus was added to the First Angel's Message, and it went rapidly worldwide.

So, I've said all that to say this:

On September 11th, 2001(which belongs to the history of part b,beginning 1989), the 7th trumpet re-emerged(being as it began in 1844,but because the virgins weren't ready,there was

a break in continuity). Once again Islam came into present day history, repeating what it did during the 5th and 6th trumpet(study Daniel and Revelation, by Uriah Smith). 1840 began to get repeated. It contained the same characteristics of what transpired during 1840. Friends, the present truth message, which is the third angel's message, was empowered by the 7th trumpet-Islam. We could have known that 9/11 was to take place, according to Testimonies volume 9 and studying the 5th and 6th trumpet. Not the date, just the event. But we are not Philadelphians, we are Laodiceans, and so its taken much longer to wake us up out of our death like stupor.

2001 was worldwide. It was a powerful opportunity to have convinced the world that the the coming of the Lord is at the door, because the sealing was finishing. If only we proclaimed it prior to that event.

2. Verse 41, we see the separation of the two classes existing among the professed people of God.

3. Daniel 12:1, we see judgment. Michael stands up and the plagues fall.

NOTE:There is NO PHYSICAL SEPARATION,BEFORE the SECOND WAYMARK!

ARE YOU READY TO STAND FAITHFUL TO GOD IN THE SUNDAY LAW CRISIS THAT IS ABOUT TO BURST UPON THIS WORLD AS AN OVERWHELMING SURPRISE?

Identifying The 144,000

Of the 144,000,we are told: 'These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins...'{Revelation 14:4}

Whoever these people are,we know that they are 'virgins' because they have not defiled themselves with 'women'.Now, are we dealing with literal women and virgins, or are these symbolic terminologies for something else? Well let's investigate.

There is a rule in Bible prophecy, which, when used will always lead you to the correct interpretation of prophecy:

When you come across a word or a phrase in the Bible,that is questionable, the first thing you find out is if that Bible author uses that term in his books.

So let's ask ourselves this question: Does John speak of women in his writings? And if so, what does he mean?

Revelation 2:20- Jezebel

Revelation 12:1-A pure woman

Revelation 17:3-7-A defiled woman

So what does he mean by these women in these chapters? Here lies the foundation for all the prophecies in the book of Revelation:

'The Revelation of Jesus Christ,which God gave unto him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and SIGNIFIED it..'{Rev 1:1}

The introduction of the book tells us how to correctly interpret the prophecies found therein. To signify,means to put information in the form of signs, symbols. So straight off, we can settle in our minds that the women in Revelation 14, are SYMBOLIC.

We need not guess what God uses a woman to represent in the Bible:

Jeremiah 6:2; Ephesians 5:23-28; 2Cor 11:2; Isa 37:22:GOD'S PEOPLE.

A defiled woman, is when God's people become corrupted:

Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3; Ezekiel 16:28.

Please take special notice of Ezekiel 16:28. God doesn't just tell us that a defiled woman represents a defiled church, but explains how His people become corrupted:

'Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians..'

The Assyrians,were the BABYLONIANS.

Do we see these two types of women in the book of Revelation?

Revelation 2:20 'Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.'

In chapter 2,the woman under discussion was not the literal Jezebel, who was alive during the time of Elijah. She was dead and gone by the time John wrote this. The era he was dealing with,was the Dark Ages when God's servants were being defiled with the false doctrines of ROMAN CATHOLICISM.

Revelation 12:1: 'And there appeared a great wonder[SIGN]in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.' A pure Church.

Revelation 17:1-7-{The great whore}. A defiled church.

The 144,000 are a people who have been redeemed from the earth-translated. In other words, these are a people who are alive and pass through the Time of Trouble without seeing death. They are around when Rome(according to Bible prophecy), is defiling the inhabitants of the earth with her false corrupted doctrines. But the 144,000, though they pass through all of this, THEY ARE NOT DEFILED WITH 'WOMEN'. What 'women'?

According to Revelation 17, Rome is the Mother of Harlots...

She has DAUGHTERS. The daughters are those who came out from her during the Reformation; but didn't let go off of all her false teachings.

That is why the 144,000 are virgins:Because they have NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH ROME AND HER DAUGHTERS during the Time of Trouble.

There are two groups of people who will make it to heaven at the end:

1.The 144,000 who will not see death.

2.The great multitude who will be put to sleep during that time.

The 144,000 have no guile in their mouth...The same for the great multitude.

The 144,000 are without fault before God...The same for the great multitude.

The 144,000 are virgins...The same for the great multitude.

I'm saying this, because someone can make the argument that if I'm saying that the 144,000 represent those having a pure religion;then by default I am saying that the great multitude have not a pure religion. But that logic can't work. As I said, they are without guile, so am I by default saying that the great multitude have guile? No! They are just two groups going through different experiences.

Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand (The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905)