TILL THE TIME OF THE END - PART ONE
BY Pastor Mike Taylor
Daniel 12:8-10 “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
Understanding that the Bible is 25% prophecy, and that to understand the whole of the bible, one must come to learn the meaning of the books of the Bible that deal with prophecy and it's fulfillment. The Bible has been and will be 100% accurate in its predictions of things to come. No other books give the reader so much difficulty than the Book of Daniel and the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Each have symbols and passages that speak of things to come. Things that have been completed as prophesied and things yet to occur. In this message we will deal with the Prophecy noted in the title found in Daniel and then later, jump to Revelation and show their connection to the time of the end.
ANGEL GABRIEL REVEALS THE FUTURE TO DANIEL
In Daniel, the prophet had a vision that started in chapter 10 and goes through unbroken till the end of the book in chapter 12. Even though there are chapter breaks in our bible, they were not there in the original manuscripts and proceed with one vision that Daniel had been given to him by the angel Gabriel.
In this vision, Daniel is given a details that tells of the coming future events, long before they had even happened. Many of these verses in Daniel lay out historical events starting with the kingdom of Babylon and goes forward through the kings of Persia, Alexander the Great, the split of Alexander's kingdom into four regions by four of his generals, and proceeds to give details of each struggle of each ruler and king that sought power in the region of the Middle East, even unto the coming of the Roman Empire with it's Caesars ruling during the time of Jesus Christ and the subjugation of Jerusalem and Judea by it's forces.
Rome became the most powerful nation on earth during the time of this vision prophesied and would remain a regional power up until the time of Constantine, when things began to disintegrate. This implosion of the Roman Empire began in the year 330 A.D. It was in this year that Rome ceased to be the city from where all ruling was done and the base of the kingdom. It was at this time that Emperor Constantine moved the seat of power to Byzantium, later called Constantinople, in the west. Then Rome was to rise up and have indignation against the holy covenant, or the true Gospel or those who hold fast the true profession of faith. But how did they do this?
THE RISE OF THE “HOLY” ROMAN EMPIRE
The Emperors of Rome began to be united with the Bishops of Rome who had departed from the true Gospel as they had turned to worshiping angels, saints, and martyrs. Superstitious ceremonies were woven into everyday life. Wakes and banquets for the dead were celebrated; the relics of the saints were collected and adored, and they pushed aside the council of Christ by uniting church and state Matthew 22:21. . This move, of uniting the church with the state, was done to increase the stability and power of the state. “Thus the state within the state was abolished; the strongest political force then existent, to wit, the church, was made the cornerstone of the state. Both parties, the emperor and bishops, were equally well pleased.” (Historians History of the World pgs 639, 640, 642.)
This all began with Constantine, who had “converted” to Christianity, or the form that was evident during his reign that brought him more power. Christianity no longer was persecuted within the empire. It proceeded so to exterminate the heresy of Arianism held by the three powers that overran the “Eternal City” namely the Heruli, Goths and Vandals, Emperor Justinian decreed in 533 A.D that the Bishop of Rome would be the head of the entire “church” and rid the church/state of heresies. Many faithful were scattered abroad through the crumbling Roman Empire that refused to bow the knee to the newly created head of the “church”, the Bishop of Rome. Thus began the transition of the Paganism of Rome into the Papal Rome.
Notice to the reader: I make no inflammatory remarks against any religion, but let history speak for itself and confirmed by bible prophecy. Sadly, one religion that is present on this earth has fulfilled the prophecy spoken of in Daniel and it begins and ends with the Catholic Church. So I must use their name.
Daniel 11:31 “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
History shows us that in 496 A.D. Clovis, King of the Franks converts to Catholicism, recognizing the Bishop of Rome as head over all the church, corrector of heretics and vicar of God on earth. Thus he places his armies at the disposal of the Pope to defend the faith, expand her borders and correct the heresies currently so popular in the Western Empire. Between 496 and 508 A.D., Clovis used his military forces to convert idolaters to Romanism, through alliances, capitulations, and conquests, the Arborici, the Roman garrisons in the West, Brittany, the Burgundians, and the Visigoths, were brought into subjection. They gave up their pagan attachments, but only to perpetuate its abomination in another form called Christianity. The Christianity of the Catholic Church was and still is only baptized paganism.
Many in the failing empire of Rome refused to submit to the Bishop of Rome, meaning the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Heruli, all avowed Arians, refused to acknowledge the Bishop of Rome as head over the churches and opposed the Catholic Emperor. Justinian sent his army with General Belisaris to take care of the opposition. After defeating the Vandals, and the Heruli only the Ostrogoths remained. The Goths retreated and allowed Belisaris to enter Rome unopposed. They then in a better season laid siege to the city: which they held for over a year. However, the siege that included the entire nation in its attempt was a bitter failure and that remnant of Goths that remained abandoned the city to Belisaris and disappeared from history. Thus by the year 538 A.D. there remained no opposition to the Pope of Rome to take the seat of the Empire to himself.
Daniel 11:32 “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” IN this verse we see a connection with Daniel 8:11-14,
“Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
v. 12. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
v. 13. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
i. v. 14. And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 8:11-14)
Even during this time, called the Dark Ages, there were many that would not submit and did heroic deeds for the cause of the Gospel with self sacrifice who kept the pure Word of the Gospel alive. These were the Waldenses, Albigenses and Hugenots. Papal Rome would hunt down these groups and destroy them by whatever means available by sword, torture, fire, or being thrown off a cliff to their destruction.
Daniel 11:33-35 “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”
Highlighting the words in the above passage, “and by spoil, many days” refers to the many days to the much repeated 1260 years of Papal Supremacy over Europe. There would be war between the Protestant governments and the Papal Governments until those who would escape the persecution fled to a fledging country just discovered, the newly founded government of the United States of America. The end of papal supremacy was ended in 1798 when Pope was taken prisoner by Berthier of the French army, and to all intents and purposes the power that had fueled the inquisition and the persecution of heretics was stopped. Although such persecution has existed and still does exist today in many places, the scope and control of such persecution is extremely limited in contrast to its jurisdiction under the Dark Ages.
Papal Rome has never regained the power she once had, up to modern times. But make no mistake, she lusts after regaining her former power and glory and works behind the scenes by mixing the religious affairs of the Papal state with the politics of the secular world. But mark this word, she will rise again.
Daniel 11:36-39 “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.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.”
Who on earth would this describe, even in our modern era? You say the Pope in Rome and you would be right. The king of the north described here is the Pope in Rome, as she had conquered through various armies all the land surrounding papal Rome. As Daniel, when discussing the issue of Pagan Rome, outlined secular events involved in the rise of this power and then retraced the time and outlined specific characteristics of Pagan Rome, so in discussing Papal Rome here he outlined the rise of the power in Daniel verses 30-35 and then retraces his steps and outlines the characteristics of the Papacy in verses 36-39.
The Papacy had total control over the king and queens of Europe and on threat of excommunication, enforced their will on secular governments. This is true to the point of death, that no other god could be acknowledged, but the Pope in Rome. So in Daniel 8:25, 11, we see that the Papacy would magnify himself in his heart and also to Jesus Christ the Prince of the host, for he claims to be the Vicar of Christ, or God on earth. This man blasphemed God by taking attributes that are Divine and belong to solely to God in Heaven (John 10:30-31) and claiming to have the right to forgive sins. (Mark 2:5-7) This is an affront to the God of Heaven to do so. Further, the “church in Rome” decided to change the Sabbath to Sunday worship based on pagan practices of sun worship to lead men away from the Creator to the false god, the Pope in Rome and their sole power and supremacy. God has allowed this indignation to be accomplished and when it is fulfilled, the end will come.
NEITHER SHALL HE WORSHIP THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS.
This is attributed to the French Atheistic Revolution but in context references that “he magnifies himself above all other gods”, even the God he claims to represent. His fathers worshiped the God of the scriptures, the God of heaven, however, the papacy regarded the gods of the pagans under a “Christian” garb. Also it claimed that the wafer was actually God and thus it is worshiped as though it is God, carried about as any pagan deity might be in celebrations and processions, and ultimately eaten that the devotee might possess it for their “salvation”. This is but one of many of their rituals and doctrines that lead men away from God and to Rome.
The above verse speak of the desire of women which could mean several things. I've heard that the coming Anti-Christ, which the Papal Roman church could be a forerunner of such a system or the even the real deal, will be a homosexual. Hmmm, could be. Other interpretations is that during the time of Christ, that women dreamed of being the mother of the Messiah, so the man doesn't desire the Messiah produced by a virgin according to scripture. In other words, he doesn't truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or desire to follow Him in spirit and in truth. Another interpretations, is the celibacy of the Catholic priesthood, if you can find one that is actually celibate to his calling and not found pleasure in little boys, or Catholic nuns.
Further, the subsequent popes have elevated saints, and the worship of Mary. Even in places where there seemed no desire to follow the pagan practices of Catholicism had Mary worship developed and taken hold. In fact, in the religion of the American Indians, the Tibetan Dalai Lama and even the Hindus are the prophecies of a woman who is to come and bring peace to the world. Thus the world was being prepared in the most unexpected places to accept Catholicism as the world spiritual leaders. I'm sure the virgin Mary, should she be alive today would never have envisioned being elevated to the same level as the Messiah she brought into the world. Popes in Rome have made edicts and papal bulls to make Mary in an exalted position of Co-mediatrix, co-redemptrix with Christ.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven (Jesus Christ) given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).
To elevate any other mortal on earth, no matter their station in life or the righteousness imparted to them by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, is blasphemy against a Holy God.
THE FINAL ANALYSIS OF THE DOWNFALL OF THE “HOLY” ROMAN CHURCH
“In 1798 the king of the south, France began an ongoing war against the king of the north, Catholicism. Atheism continued to develop its ideology and reached another stage of growth at the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Communism continued the war against Catholicism attempting to bring the former empire of Papal Rome into its grasp, but in time, Catholicism mounted an overwhelming counterattack. The king of the north swept away the entire structure of the king of the south/communism, entering into all the countries of the former Soviet Union and her tributary states. This overwhelming attack came with the military and economic assistance of the United States of America. This alliance repeats the history of Clovis, when “arms shall stand on his part.” It points to Revelation 13, teaching that soon the United States of America will speak as a dragon, and then force the world to also form an image to the beast. Daniel 11:40 is the first historical manifestation of this end-time unholy alliance.” (Taken from The Final Rise and Fall of the King of the North by Jeff Pippinger.)
This quote plays back to my prior assertion that an unholy trinity will develop between Papal Rome and the United States of America and the coming Anti-Christ. Who the man is can only be speculation on anyone's part, I believe the man will not be fully revealed until the church is removed from this earth. He/She could be the POTUS, or the Pope in Rome, or some unidentified monarch/dictator of Middle Eastern descent.
But Paul warned that apostasy will come in the last days:
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, (apostasy) and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
i. v4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The Papacy will enter into God’s church. This is done through the doctrines of Catholicism coming in and being accepted into the Remnant Church. That is, apostasy from the truth of God. Just as during the initial rise of the Papacy in the dark ages, those who were against the holy covenant united with the false church to promote its agenda. (This could also be applied to the inculcating of the false doctrines of Catholicism into Protestantism.)
Many shall be overthrown and many shall be taken in by the false doctrines that are coming in amongst them. These false doctrines that permeate the Catholic Church will be enforced by the alliance of the Papacy and the United States of America is my belief.
Egypt shall not escape -
Daniel 11:42 “He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.”
Egypt is both a reference to Atheism, and also to symbolize the secular world. Thus this reference is to state that after a Sunday law is enforced all the religions of the world will unite to accept it. Even secular countries, or non-Christian countries will come under the Papal decree enforced through her alliance with the United States of America. Papal Rome will wield power over the whole earth, as the verse speaks of power over silver, gold and precious things of Egypt (the atheistic world). This is referring to economic power. The Papacy will control all trade etc. in the world, through such laws as the prohibition to buy or sell without the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:16-17)
Daniel 11:44 “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
Daniel is being told that the papacy will be frustrated because of the witness of many saved individuals that believe the Gospel message, either by the 144,000 Hebrew evangelists, the two witnesses at the Temple Mount, or those saved because of their message. This is the Loud Cry of the fourth angel of Revelation 18, which comes against the Papacy’s attempt to control the entire world and bring it under its false teachings. This group who are giving the Loud Cry are the only ones who stand in the way of full control for the Papacy. Thus their strong Biblical message under the power of the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit (See Revelation 18) causes much consternation and frustration for the Papacy. As seen before many will accept this message and “escape” from under its tyranny.
ISRAEL THE DOOR, JERUSALEM THE KEY TO END OF DAYS
“8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:8-10)
The prophet Daniel did not understand, and was not given to him to understand, because the time of the end was far into the future. No one has understood this prophecy until one thing happened in our modern age. What happened is that Israel became a nation again, and the fig tree put forth her leaves. Jesus said:
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:32-35 KJV)
When Israel became a nation again, those that were alive to see its birth or born in that generation, that generation will still be alive when all things are completed. That tells me that Jesus will be reigning and ruling on this earth, and I may even be alive to see His coming. Why do I say that? Because the bible tells us that man is appointed 70 years, 80 years by strength. Not making any predictions or assuming a date or year of the return of our Lord Jesus, simple addition tells me the general area of the completion of this prophecy. In the last almost now, 70 years, Israel has become a stumbling block to all the world. Not a day goes by that Israel is not in the news in the negative and the world powers trying to force a peace treaty between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel.
We see politics and threats of yet another war on the world stage daily. The so called POTUS trying to force Israel into a date with death, and world powers at the UN demonizing this small country and ignoring all the human rights violations of other countries that blatantly torture and kill Christians and Jews. We see the present papal office sticking their self righteous nose into the affairs of the secular world and bringing doctrines that fly in the face of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. It all centers around Israel, because Jerusalem is the center of God's world here on earth. Satan hates Israel, hates God and hates anyone connected to them by biology or spiritual awakening to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who as we know was a Jew Himself while here on earth.
Remember in the first parts of this message that I spoke that Rome lusts to regain the power she lost during the 18th century in 1798 when the Pope was imprisoned? How will that be accomplished, if at all?
THE MERGING OF THE STATE AND THE PAPAL CHURCH
What I'm about to discuss here is not all my own thoughts, but the thoughts and beliefs of a brother I converse with in South America. When asked how this will be accomplished, the friend of mine had an interesting theory...Mind you, it is only conjecture on anyone's part how the coming of the Anti-Christ will come upon the earth, but his analogy leaves one wondering and scratching their head.
Let me tantalize you for a moment with a preview of what is coming in our next message on the Beast of Revelation and my friend's theory:
“And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” (Revelation 17:10-11)
Based on this passage, this is my friend's theory and it's most interesting:
“Most of Pre-millennial Protestants have nowadays a better and clearer sight than our brothers in the third century. We ought to be all expecting the Rapture of the Church, i.e. of the elect converted to Christ. Most believers deem that it will happen after the Apostasy which shall take place just before the appearing of the eschatological Antichrist. But thanks to God there is diversity of opinions and some are getting aware that Apostasy is here today, and has infected at least 90 % of the local churches, and that a pope may be the eschatological Antichrist as our fathers of Reformation were wont to teach dogmatically. I will talk about pope Number 5, because he is the one who prepares the way for pope Number 6: the eschatological Antichrist. Number 5 is actually molding the proper profile that is convenient for Number 6 when he be ready to take control over the EU; the new Roman Empire which shall be the head of the New World Order. But before we go any further let us remind our readers the reason why I call Francis I the pope Number 5. We find it in Revelation 17:
9 “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 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.”
This is a mysterious passage, isn’t it? However there is a clue to that mystery which unfolds it and makes it crystal clear to anyone. I have this clue, and although I cannot say that it is for sure the right interpretation, nevertheless it is the most simple, literal and contemporary one you can find among the multitude of available interpretations. This is at least good hint! Time will tell after Francis I burial whether the Holy Spirit showed me the truth about the 7 kings or whether I was mistaken as many others…”””
THE KINGS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
“According to verse 10 these 7 heads are also 7 kings. Now who are the kings of Rome? Everybody knows that for more than 15 centuries the real kings of Rome have been the popes, wherefore I do assume that these 7 kings are 7 popes. The angel says to John at the precise moment he gives him this vision that 5 kings are fallen.
What kind of fall can be deemed if we compare these 5 popes with the long list of the rest of them? The answer is easy: it is a fall from their traditional arrogance, it is a fall from their pretenses, and it is a (temporary and seemingly) doctrinal fall. As a matter of fact all popes before the ecumenical council of Vatican 2 proclaimed openly and dogmatically their absolute supremacy above all religions. They were the only and exclusive Church of Jesus Christ whose popes were the vicars whereof. They used to say and teach that without submission to the pope there was no salvation.
Protestants were just a bunch of heretics they had to fight, and the Bible societies were just devilish organizations. Since Pope Nicolas I (858-867) started to use the crown as a king founding his pretenses upon a forged document called “The donations of Constantine” which claimed that the emperor Constantine had made the popes heir to the entire Roman Empire, since then the Caesars in religious costumes had pulled it off. Till Vatican 2 the aim was to subdue all secular powers, all nations, and all kingdoms. They also increased at the same time their spiritual pretenses so as to fulfill their arrogance in issuing the dogma of papal infallibility in 1870.
Nevertheless after WW II when their puppet (Hitler) fell. (Bear in mind that Hitler and his entire clique were all Roman Catholics who were never ever excommunicated). So when Hitler passed away they had to change their politics and profile. Until Pius XII (Hitler and Mussolini’s friend), Rome thought she could re-establish her dominion by her dogmatic pretensions and the Jesuits cunning craftiness, but the victory of the Allies, the shame of the Nazi Holocaust and the new born Hebrew State in 1948 supported by the USA put an end to any public and dogmatic arrogance. They had to make a sudden cosmetic change so as to turn the Roman wolf into a harmless lamb; they definitely fell! So they descended from their clouds of arrogance and presumptions and since John XXIII they have been making a big show of humility and brotherly love.
Remember that according to the Roman canonical laws no priest loses his “holy unction” as long as he lives, even if he gives up his functions and does not minister sacraments any longer. That is why pope # 6 will step down for a while as the chief of the Roman Catholic Church so as to comply with the EU regulations, and this will entail new elections in Rome so as to replace # 6 by # 7. I believe that Number 7 will be the false prophet of Rev. 16: 13 et 19:20, if the 7 kings are the last 7 popes… In effect pope # 7 will exalt with all kind of signs and wonders former pope # 6, so that the entire world will be lulled into following the devilish agenda of the Antichrist.
Once Pope# 6 has full sway of the EU, he will become instead of president, the new Caesar. Then # 7 will step down and give him back his functions as a new pope: pope # 8. Then will come to pass what was the common to all emperors of the former empire: the Caesar was chief of the State and a god to be worshiped. But this pope after a short time as # 8 will claim to be the only true God and not only the Vicar of the Son of God. At that time he will break the covenant he had done 3 1/2 years before with the Jews, allowing them to rebuild the temple and perform their sacrifices and holocausts in it, and he will come in the temple and set up a TV broadcast inside the holiest demanding the whole world to worship him in front of their TV sets (the image of the beast: Rev. 13:15, 14: 11). So the ministry of # 7 will be short; it will last until # 6 becomes the supreme leader of the EU and of the ecumenical Roman church which will have absorbed all religions.
Therefore it is written: “the beast that was, and is not, even is the eighth, and is of the seven”, which simply means that the Caesar who existed during the former Roman Empire, does not exist when pope # 6 becomes the president of the EU (the new Roman Empire), but he makes part of the seven latter popes and become in fact the eighth because he retakes his functions after # 7 when he gets a total control of the new Roman Empire. This last Caesar will not only demand worship but he will also eagerly looking forward to get the people chipped in their right hand and forehead promoting the mark of the beast for economical transactions.”””
Are you still with me? Troubling is it not? This present Pope is nothing but a forerunner of the coming man of lawlessness, using his Jesuit training to usher in the foundation of a New World Order and a One World Religion...Remember the UN with it's Agenda 21 that was discussed by many authors on this site, including myself? But how can you protect yourself from falling prey to this imp of Satan? By arming yourself with the truth of God's Word..by believing and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life”...(John 3:16)
Nex time we explore how Daniel and Revelation connect to each other in prophecy...
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying for you. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, then email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net. Or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. God bless you all,
THE TIME OF THE END, PART TWO
by Pastor Mike Taylor
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
v. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. “ (Daniel 2:43-44)
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
v. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
v. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. “ “Daniel 12:11-13)
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
v. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
v. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
v. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Revelation 17:5-8)
As we studied the end of Daniel's book in chapter 10-12 in our last message, we explored the possible rise again of the “Holy” Roman Empire after it's defeat in 1798 and the Pope was imprisoned coinciding with the Catholic Church's influence over the whole earth dwindling and she changed her leopard spots and instead of a wolf, began to project the image of being harmless as a lamb. But times are changing in these final days of man's rule upon the earth and I believe the connection between Daniel and Revelation points to a resurgence of the political power wielded by Rome during the Dark Ages.
In Daniel chapter 2, Daniel is given the interpretation of King Nebachadnezzer's dream of a golden idol and the true God in heaven reveals the kingdoms that will arise after Babylon is replaced as the world power. Then at the end of the book, Gabriel the ark angel reveals the future of these kingdoms, their rise and their fall. Daniel was astonished and said “ And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? “ (Daniel 12:8). It was not for Daniel to know, as the future was forward some 500+ years before part of the vision was fulfilled, but another 2000 years to come to our time...our time of the end, when the prophecy is set to be completed.
The two books of prophecy in Daniel and Revelation have given many scholars trouble understanding and the average Joe on the street steers clear of prophecy to his detriment, as “ the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10b)
Let us now examine certain aspects of Daniel and the book of Revelation to show how they are forever connected with one another, as they speak of the same events in different ways.
In Daniel 2:43, the Word of God says that the seed of men will mingle:
“And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.”
The great obscurity of this verse is partially cleared by a reference to Jeremiah 31:27. Daniel appears to be contrasting what man is endeavouring to accomplish by his own efforts with that which the God of heaven (Daniel 2:44) will carry out. Man will form his plans for uniting the discordant parts of this empire, by encouraging marriages between the royal families that rule the various component kingdoms. The allusion in this verse is to matrimonial alliances contracted between the Ptolemies and the Seleucidae (Daniel 11:6; Daniel 11:17), which did not, however, succeed in producing permanent harmony or union between them. Each kingdom fell until the Roman Empire became the strongest, “like iron that breaks” until they imploded from within and the kingdom was given over the Papal rule instead of pagan rule, which is a contradiction in terms, as both were just the flip side of the same coin. We discussed this in our last message, but let us move on when the truth is revealed in Revelation when is was obscure in Daniel's time.
REVELATION, A REVEALING OF PROPHECY IN JESUS CHRIST
The testimony of Christ, a testimony of the most solemn character, is to be borne to the world. All through the book of Revelation there are the most precious, elevating promises, and there are also warnings of the most fearfully solemn import. Will not those who profess to have a knowledge of the truth read the testimony given to John by Christ? Here is no guesswork, no scientific deception. Here are the truths that concern our present and future welfare.
Revelation 1:1-3 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
Beginning with chapter 1 of Revelation with the description of the One who stood among the seven golden candle sticks, with seven stars in His hand that represented the seven Asian Churches at the time, and the future which represents the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ. Thus there are three applications that can be made. The first is the literal letter to the literal Church, the second is the application showing the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ, and lastly certain aspects we find in these messages apply to the condition of our own Christian experience. This is a vision that was given to John by Jesus Christ Himself, as He spoke to John as the sound of a trumpet. Each successive period of church history shows that down through the ages, the church of Jesus Christ has had 7 periods in church history that Jesus reveals to John with the last being the church of the end times, the Laodecian Church of luke warm believers that have fallen into apostasy.
COME UP HITHER
The book of Revelation makes a defined shift after chapter 3 leading into chapter 4, as John is called by the sound of trumpet calling:
Revelation 4:1-3 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.”
This is a different vision given to John and they run concurrently, as God reveals the opening of the 7 seals of judgment upon the earth. Notice one of the first thing John sees after the description of “One who sat upon the throne” is 24 elders sitting on their respective thrones. Many people have tried to imply and to interpret who these elders are. First let us look at their descriptions:
Revelation 4:4 “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.”
Note that they are clothed in white raiment which stands for righteousness. So they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and a crown of victory. They have been in warfare with sin and overcome. (sin is only upon this earth) They are seen in heaven before the sequence of the seals begins and have been redeemed from among men. They have crowns of gold on their heads, which represents rewards for service. This is none other than the crown of life or righteousness that the Lord gives to those that have endured temptation and have fought the good fight of faith, finishing their course and have overcome. Since they can't be angels, as angels are in service to those of the redeemed, the Church. The vision shows redeemed mortal men saved by the blood of the Lamb. They have received rewards, they are seated, as they have received victory over their struggles with evil. The rewards of service to God Almighty comes only in one time period..the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards for things done for Christ in this life. They are a multiple of the number 12, as the number 12 is the divine sign of government. The only explanation is that this is the Church, redeemed from the earth and taken to heaven just before the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth.
Remember what Jesus said in chapter 3 of this book:
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)
Beginning in chapter 6 of this Revelation, it is reveals the plagues that come upon the earth, starting with the four horseman of the Apocalypse.
As Daniel saw in vision the rise of a great beast out of the sea and described in terrible ferocity, so too does Revelation speak of this beast that comes, but first God describes him as a rider on a white horse, with a bow in his hands.
Revelation 6:2 “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”
The man has a bow, but no arrows. He rides a white horse, which is a false sign of purity and righteousness. He goes to conquer, but with words of flattery, words of deceit, and political power given to him by other nations as their supreme leader. He has a crown, but unlike the King of kings, his crown is a crown of conquest and victory, much like the victor's crown of leaves given to Roman athletes in the Colosseum.
We are reintroduced to this man in chapter 17 noted in the opening verses of this message:
“v. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
v. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
i. v.8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Revelation 17:5-8)
I've spoken of this in past messages, that the woman is a harlot. In scripture, the sign of a harlot woman is a sign of a religious organization that has prostituted itself to false gods, and doctrines of demons and devils. Greek porne - Meaning “prostitute,” “harlot.” Porne probably goes back to a word meaning “to sell” or “to export for sale” such things as slaves. In Greece prostitutes were usually purchased slaves. The Old Testament prophets often compare apostate Israel, which repeatedly went “a whoring” after heathen gods, (Ezekiel 23:30; Isaiah 23:17; Ezekiel 16:15) with an adulterous woman. Concerning mystical Babylon as a harlot (Revelation 19:2) For Old Testament passages whose thought or wording is similar to that of chapter 17, see Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 25:12; 50:1; Ezekiel 26:13.
She has slain millions upon million of the innocent down through the ages and is drunk with their blood.
She has a sign of her habitation of sitteth upon many waters. Exercising power over many “peoples” and “nations.” (see verse 15) The form of the verb in Greek presents the “great whore” as in power at the time and as continuing to exercise power. As the ancient city of Babylon was situated upon the literal waters of the Euphrates (see Jeremiah 50:12, 38) and dwelt figuratively “upon many waters” or peoples, (Jeremiah 51:12-13; cf. Isaiah 8:7-8; 14:6; Jeremiah 50:23) so modern Babylon is represented as sitting upon or oppressing the peoples of earth. (Revelation 16:12) This whore in but a metamorphosis of ancient Babylon who received power from the imploding Roman Empire and instead of Caesar became the leader of a pagan religion. But look again at the end of verse 8 of the above passage in chapter 17: “the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
Who have we revealed as the persecutor and tormentor of millions of non-compliant Christians and Jews throughout the Dark Ages? Who has robes of scarlet and purple, pearls and costly jewels? Who was defeated in 1798 by France and “that was, and is not, yet is” ? There is only one institution that fulfills every aspect of this description that seeks a return of their former glory and sadly, my Catholic friends, it is the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy headed by the Pope of Rome. I take no pleasure in warning of this “religion”, as much as I would warn of Islam and it's “religion”, because people follow a creation, and institution, a man-made parallel to worshiping God in vain and both, if a person is not careful, will lead those people to hell. Both proclaim a different way to God instead of the true way through Jesus Christ.
Jesus calls this institution, “a beast” which represents kingdoms or political powers. (Daniel 7:3-7, 17; 8:3, 5, 20-21; cf. Revelation 12:3; 13:1) The color of this beast no doubt representing a sinful kingdom, not just sinful but one that thought to change the law of God. (Daniel 7:25) The names of blasphemy with which it is covered indicate that it stands in opposition to God. Accordingly, the beast itself may be identified as Satan working through those political agencies in all ages that have submitted to her control.
In certain respects this beast resembles the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3, and in others the leopard like beast of Revelation 13:1-2 . The context makes the latter relationship appear to be closer. The chief difference between the beast of chapter 13 and that of chapter 17 is that in the former, which is identified with the papacy, no distinction is made between the religious and the political aspects of Papal power, whereas in the latter the two are distinct. The beast representing political power and the woman a religious power.
ONE WORLD GOVENMENT AND ONE WORLD RELIGION
I have covered this before, but for this message, I will briefly touch on it again. The United Nations coupled with the USA and the rest of the world are pushing for a complete and total control of every aspect of human life and endeavor by the year 2030. Agenda 21 introduced in the 1990's has morphed into 'SUBSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” and their aim is a one world government. Stage right, the pope in Rome advocating the implementation of this nefarious scheme for complete control of planet earth. Some will scoff, but coupled with the foolish notion of “climate change” the earth dwellers are being primed for tyranny and a one world government. What better way to unite the world, than to unite them in the same religious authority. “Which was, and is not, but is” and will rise again. She has inherited and proclaimed the abominations of ancient Babylon:
1. Seduction. By seducing the kings of the earth into illicit union with her, in order to further her own sinister designs.
2. Oppressive despotism. By sitting upon “many waters” and oppressing the people of earth. '
3. Contributing to human delinquency. By making the people of earth except for the saints, drunk with the wine of her political policy thus causing them to become her accomplices in her evil plot. By her fornication, she “did corrupt the earth” (Revelation 19:2)
4. Drunkeness. By being “drunken with the blood of the saint, who had offended her by refusing to drink of her evil potion of error or to submit to her ambition to rule the earth.
5. Murder and attempted murder. By plotting the murder of God's people, the “woman” of chapter 12.
Note in the verses, that she rides the beast and controls him reluctantly. She guides it's policy. The beast representing political power and the “harlot woman” the spiritual power of the last days found in the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. But who controls this beast of Revelation...the Catholic church is but a tool of the supreme deceiver who will arise out of the bottomless pit.
When the beast exists again as “the eighth,” “they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast.” Remember the analogy of the sixth pope stepping down to take the helm of the European Union and then taking it up again from the seventh who will become the false prophet, until the beast “will burn her with fire and eat her flesh”. (For a refresher course, if you have not read part 1. then see my website and read how the 8th pope comes into existence.)
A very similar statement is made in Revelation 13:3, 8 (verse 4) on the world's attitude toward the beast of that chapter when its deadly wound is healed: “All the world wondered after the beast … And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” If chapter 13 refers to the same event as Revelation 17:8, it means the statement “his deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3) is equivalent to the expression “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit.” (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:3, 7) In a similar way the words “did live” (Revelation 13:14) would be equivalent to the expressions “yet is” and “he is the eight.” (Revelation 17:8, 11) The wounding of the head, (Revelation 13:3) the going “into captivity” and “the wound by a sword” (Revelation 13:10, 14) would have their counterpart in the implied descent of the “beast” into the “bottomless pit.” (Revelation 17:8) And “death” (Revelation 13:3) would be equivalent to the “bottomless pit” phase of the experience of the beast. The similarities noted here tend to identify the seventh head of the beast as the Papal head.
My reader, the book of Daniel was a prophecy of what was to come upon the earth, but history has proven it to be correct. Daniel was not given the details of how this would come to pass, so it was hidden from view until the events actually happened.
Revelation in comparison is written to “reveal” what Daniel wrote when that prophecy was given to him by the angel Gabriel from our Father God in heaven. Jesus came to flesh out the events and they are not obscure if you study them closely and compare them to other prophets in your bible...History is fast becoming completed in our modern times and all we wait for it the signs that point to the coming of a one world government and the installing of it's one world religion...already, the world is promoting a cashless society in different parts of the world into digital cash to monitor every transaction on earth. For one reason, and one reason only is control of the masses of the earth. That is what the coming Anti-Christ will demand, utter and complete control.
I'm a firm proponent that the church, the true Church of Jesus Christ, washed in His precious blood which is not an institution, a building, but members of His own body as individuals one at a time upon receiving grace and mercy through faith in the atonement paid for on Calvary's cross, will never see the actual in the flesh Anti-Christ, but if we see the stage being set for his revealing, how much closer is the Lord Jesus coming for His people, the Bride of Christ? That much closer everyday.
I pray for family members who have been seduced into this false religion who have come full circle from a Christian home, into atheism, then the occult, Wiccan, and finally becoming an agnostic only to succumb to the Satanic lie disguised as the “rock that Jesus would build His Church on”...that Rock is Christ, not some religious organization, but try telling that to a convinced and converted Catholic. (the strongest kind that are blindly convinced of their piety by being members of this cult). If you have come out of this harlot church, then praise God for His mercy. If you see yourself in any of this, or still being influenced by the idolatrous doctrines spewed by your priest, your bishop, or even this pope or any pope, then I pray you will look behind the curtain that hides their abominations by looking at their history and their hypocrisy...I pray for my family members daily that their lives are sold out to the real Jesus, not the Catholic Jesus who they insult with their false doctrines and blasphemy.
Remember my friend, the Catholic church is not the way of salvation....Jesus is the way:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by Me..” (John 14:6)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you escape the apostasy that will fill the earth in the coming Tribulation. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. God bless you all.
TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET
