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THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
Part XVII – The Prophetic Sequence
A Study of the Antichrist-Beast, False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast (A Theological Discourse)
By Doug Krieger
The Incarnate Mysteries . . .
THE SON OF MAN . . .
THE SON OF PERDITION . . .
It is with some reservation and trepidation that we approach this most pivotal of all subjects: The “mystery of godliness” and the “mystery of lawlessness” – for it is at the very essence of Christianity – the person of Jesus as the God-Man – is now juxtaposed to the antithesis of godliness: The Son of Perdition, the Antichrist – the Lawless One and his Abomination of Desolation.
There is nothing—absolutely nothing as repulsive, as repugnant to the Divine as the desecration of the Most Holy Place. We dare to explore and illuminate to the sons of light the works of darkness in their most glaring distinction wherein the Sanctuary of the Holy of Holies, reserved for the presence of the Eternal Whose Spirit is Holy, is laid desolate by the Desolator’s abomination.
To fathom the depth of this disgrace – the desecration of the Holy of Holies – we must initiate our search of the incarnate mystery of godliness by illuminating the “power of an endless life” and the image created by “the Spirit of Life that is in Christ” (Romans 8:2) – for in knowing the affirmative purposes of His eternal plan for the ages, we are all the more attentive to the despicable counterfeit which we are loathe to disclose. . .
THE LAST ADAM WAS MADE A LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT
The Scriptures reveal the “mystery” or “hidden truth” of the incarnation of Christ, the Messiah, as the wondrous condescension of the Triune God, through the Son, Who “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation . . . for by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers . . . All things were created through Him and for Him . . . and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:15-17). “In Him was life” (John 1:4a) – and that Life is the creative expression of the Godhead – it is through the Son that all things visible and invisible are created and sustained.
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11) (Spoken to the Lamb upon the throne – Who is the tangible expression, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” . . . indeed, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell . . . for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (i.e., “in bodily form”) (Revelation 4:9-11; Colossians 1:15, 19; 2:9).
Moreover, it is through His resurrection Life that death has no authority, no power over His “new creation” (II Corinthians 5:17) . . . over the “New Man,” (Ephesians 2:15) comprised of all those justified by His Life; and, without controversy, of the Jew and the Gentile who together comprise the “One New Man” (Ephesians 2:11-22). . .
“For if by the one man’s offense (Adam) death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ . . . therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:17-18).
Therefore, it is said of Him:
“And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’ (Gen. 2:7) the last Adam became a LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT” (I Corinthians 15:45).
And, much more – for now, through the “creative Life of the Son,” a new IMAGE is created: THE HEAVENLY MAN!
“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the IMAGE of the HEAVENLY MAN” (I Corinthians 15:47-49).
The “Image of the man of dust” is replaced by the “Image of the Heavenly Man” – created by the second Man, the Lord from heaven.
For those who have been “born from above” (John 3:3) by the “power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:16) “have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the IMAGE of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10); they constitute His New Creation.
Thence is this hidden truth, this mystery revealed . . .
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty . . . but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same IMAGE from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (II Corinthians 3:17-18).
The mystery of godliness – “God was manifest in the flesh” – the Son of God-Son of Man in hypostatic union – distinct natures, divine and human, but in one person . . . and “being found in appearance as a man” (Philippians 2:8a) – this Jesus, in that “It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).
THE WORDS OF JESUS RE: THE END OF THE AGE
Now, the words of Jesus resound with infinite contempt – given the manifold resplendence of His eternal plan and purpose for the ages . . . which cannot be thwarted by the false messiahs and by the vile, blasphemous, defiling abomination of desolation:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand) . . . for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be . . . for false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. . . and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the chosen ones (elect’s) sake those days will be shortened. . . Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken . . . then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory . . . and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His chosen ones (elect) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:15, 21-22, 24, 29-31).
“‘Tell us . . . what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?’ . . . ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” (Matthew 24:3b, 14).
In so far as the timing of these events – and, notwithstanding their immediate AD 70 implications (i.e., the destruction of the Herodian Temple by the Roman Legions under Titus) – their chronological insertion into the prophetic time clock is decisively and indisputable during Daniel’s Seventieth Week; that final week of prophetic unfolding that shall conclude the present age of the Church, and, I hasten to add, Israel’s witness to the Gentile World Powers, prior to the return of Christ and the manifestation of the Messianic kingdom on earth.
The preponderance of forecasts are outside the immediate First Century calamities under Titus forcing the initial dispersion of the Jewish nation (although this “near fulfillment” is precisely mentioned and fulfilled); a dispersion completed as a result of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in AD 135 but actually commenced in BC 722 when the Assyrians led by Shalmaneser V conquered the (Northern) Kingdom of Israel.
In brief:
“In His private teaching to the disciples on the Mount of Olives, Jesus responded to three questions, concerning 1) the destruction of the temple, 2) His Second coming, and 3) the End. These topics are interwomen and sometimes it is difficult to determine which event is being described. This difficulty is partially resolved with the realization that most prophecy is capable of both a near and a remote fulfillment. Jesus uses the tragic events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as a picture of conditions preceding His own return.” (The New Spirit Filled Life Bible, p. 1334)
“The sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?” . . . “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. . . For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be . . . immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened,” etc. – unquestionably, the “tribulation of those days” demands that the “abomination of desolation” has both a “near” and “remote” fulfillment.
Daniel’s eschatological refrain reinforces the “timing” of this despicable act:
“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” (Daniel 12:1).
Immediately, at the close of Jacob’s Trouble, the RESURRECTION is announced – confirming Jesus’ words that “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” . . . there would be the cosmic signs; the “shaking of the heavens” (i.e., the “Wrath of the Lamb”) and “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” . . . when “He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet (the resurrection and rapture of the dead and living), and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31):
“Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life (the first resurrection of the just – Revelation 20:5), some to shame and everlasting contempt” (the “unjust” - Revelation 20:5, 11-15: “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished . . . this is the second death . . . .”) (Daniel 12:1-2).
Furthermore, Paul’s answer to the Thessalonians regarding the “day of Christ” (i.e., “the day of the Lord”) (II Thessalonians 2:2) substantiates the role of the “man of sin” (i.e., “the abomination of desolation”) by decisively placing the event at the conclusion of this age:
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him . . . let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away (Grk. apostasia) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:1, 3-4).
These deliberate allusions to Daniel’s archetype of the Antichrist, are purposeful . . . and concentrate our focus on the final days of human history prior to the Second Coming of Christ – “The Coming of the Son of Man.” Let Daniel catapoult us from Antiochus IV Epiphanes to the “end of days” and the “time, times and half a time” or “forty-two months” of the suffering of the saints in the latter half of the 70th Week of Daniel (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2; 12:14-17).
“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:25-27).
RUNNING THE APOCALYPTIC GAMBIT
With this as our backdrop, and by the wisdom that is from above, may we beseech the Son of Man to illuminate, by His Spirit, those prophetic mountaintops whose range extends from the deceptions of Antichrist, to the wounded head of the Beast from the sea and the despicable act of the abomination of desolation; to the Second Beast with “two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11) – yes, the False Prophet, whose antithetical workmanship is to create an Image to the first Beast – that by his own breath would make that awful reflection come to life, speak, and demand worship (Revelation 13:15); from the insidious possession of the Mark of the Beast and its perfidious chronological triad: 666 – to the death, destruction and destitution perpetuated by this trinity of consummate evil, that denies the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – and the Woman, the Lamb’s Wife! Please, you are hereby enjoined to connect the dots . . .
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . The Prince who is to come . . . the Antichrist . . . the man of sin, the lawless one, the son of perdition . . . whose deadly wound was healed . . . the abomination of desolation . . . so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God . . . a beast rising up out of the sea . . . another beast coming up out of the earth . . . telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast . . . he was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 12:9; Daniel 9:26; I John 4:3; II Thessalonians 2:3, 8; Revelation 13:12; Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; II Thessalonians 2:4b; Revelation 13:1, 11,14b, 15).
Never have I united together in one a more serpentine synopsis of satanic sacrilege in my life. I deign would offer this “crime scene investigation” to an audience yet to be illuminated regarding this deceiver, who until now, has carefully crafted his treacherous route by concealing his ultimate dastardly deed upon the human race!
In doing so – we will compare and contrast; yes, fits, stops, and starts along the pathway – relative to Antichrist, the Beast, the Second Beast-False Prophet, Image of the Beast, and the Mark of the Beast . . . until we can endure no more! Needless to say, our compass will gyrate, at times, all over the place. And, in the main—although it may appear presumptuous of me (and I would bear that badge with little honor)—I may provoke some outrage, just by stripping away a disclosure now and again, as we press toward the Celestial City through the mire of perfunctory opinion, that, although well meaning (for the most part), does injustice to this despicable farce whose devilish desire is to set himself up as God in the temple of God!
MYSTERY BABYLON – THE ROMAN CHURCH – MARY AS IMAGE OF THE BEAST
“Not merely does the beast from the earth
lead the world to worship the first beast, but (v 14) he prevails on them
that dwell on the earth to make ‘an IMAGE to the beast, which had the
wound by a sword, and did live.’ In meditating for many years on what
might be implied in ‘the image of the beast,’ I could never find the least
satisfaction in all the theories that had ever been propounded, till I
fell in with an unpretending but valuable work, which I have noticed
already, entitled An Original Interpretation of the Apocalypse.
That work, evidently the production of a penetrating mind deeply read in
the history of the Papacy, furnished at once the solution of the
difficulty. There the image of the beast is pronounced to be the Virgin
Mother, or the Madonna. This at first sight may appear a very unlikely
solution; but when it is brought into comparison with the religious
history of Chaldea, the unlikelihood entirely disappears. In the old
Babylonian Paganism, there was an image of the Beast from the sea; and
when it is known what that image was, the
This reoccurring disclosure will predominate amongst Protestants who generally adhere to the Historicist eschatological schematic. Again, virtually all brethren whose writings on these aforementioned topics are devoted Christians – so we are, in the main, keeping great company (“stone-raw heathens” will have to endure our patrimony).
The Pope or Papacy as a “system” is seen by Historicists as both Antichrist and the Beast—but as a system, not as the ultimate personification of evil—although such “personification” does perpetuate within the Pope himself as the pinnacle of pontifical deception. We’ve covered this topic extensively in our series entitled: Antichrist is Not the Pope!
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS AND THE TWO-HORNED BEAST
“Here (Revelation 13:11-18) we are plainly told that the two-horned beast (U.S.A., see Great Controversy p. 440) will engineer a world-wide governmental system re-enthroning the principles of the church-state rule of Ecclesiastical Rome which was represented by the Leopard-like beast in its pre-wounded stage.
“History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious Sabbath. This is Satan’s plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation
“The decree enforcing the worship of this day (i.e., Sunday) is to go forth to all the world.” (7 Bible Commentary p. 976, E.G. White Comments)
Seventh-Day Adventists are altogether obsessed with this illuminating notion that the “Mark of the Beast is Sunday” that it overwhelms all their eschatology . . .
“And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘THE MARK OF THE BEAST.’” (Great Controversy pp. 449).
“As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false Sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example” (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 18)
Thence, the Adventists warn of the message of the “Third Angel” of Revelation 14:9-11, if unheeded, and one is found worshiping the beast, his image, or receives his mark on forehead or hand, that soul is marked for annihilation.
PROGRESSIVE SDA’s
Bibleprophecy.net presents a more progressive expression of Seventh-Day Adventist prophetical pursuits.
“You would think that there would be thousands of books written on the topic (i.e., The Abomination of Desolation) about which the most influential Figure of all time said, ‘Understand it.’ My friend, world-class bible scholar Dr. Desmond Ford, and his wife, Gill, set out to look for any scholarly literature about the ‘abomination of desolation’ 26 years ago. Do you know how many books they found devoted to studying this critical issue? None! (Note: The Fords were recently “excused” from formal membership with the Seventh-Day Adventists.)
“There are literally miles of books on shelves about the life and teachings of Jesus. Yet there was not one on the topic of the ‘abomination of desolation’—until Dr. Ford wrote it! Fabled evangelical scholar, the late F.F. Bruce was Ford’s supervisor for his 1972 doctoral thesis The Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Eschatology. Bruce spoke highly of Ford’s scholarship and said of his thesis that it ‘was controlled by the historical-critical method and was based on the primary exegesis of the Biblical text…’
“William Barclay, that wonderful commentator and scholar from Glasgow, Scotland, said nobody knows what the ‘abomination of desolation’ is . . . Dr. Ford’s intensive scholarship for his thesis on the ‘abomination of desolation’ meant about 16 hours of study a day, six to seven days a week, over a period of years. He had studied it for decades before that. With wife Gill’s help, Ford ransacked books in German, French, and Dutch. That’s because they exhausted all English material on the topic in just three months. There were no complete books on the topic, just fragments here and there.” (The Abomination of Desolation, Bibleprophecy.net)
Ford and Bibleprophecy.net concluded, after exhaustive research, that the “total fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy is yet ahead . . . that’s because the whole chapter of Mark 13 and its companion Matthew 24, applies not only to the destruction of ancient Jerusalem—it applies to the final tribulations that this rebellious world will experience.” (Ibid)
Bibleprophecy.net brings out that Jesus was crucified “by a merger of church and state. The religious leaders took false charges to the officials of state so that the state’s legal power could be used against Christ.” (Ibid)
Their ultimate conclusion is as follows:
“So the ultimate fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation will be the formation of a world government which in some way recognizes an official world religion. When this horrible merger is set up—this terrible abomination—it will be the fulfillment of Jesus’ words of warning in Matthew 24:15-19.” (Ibid)
Also, a strong “survivalist message” is announced:
“I would submit that most Christians do not take seriously enough the warning given here. When Jesus says the appearance of this church-state monster indicates a need to ‘flee into the mountains’ this is a literal warning that major convulsions will erupt at this time. There will be major earthquakes, atomic explosions, major disruptions of the superstructure and all business-as-usual. It is a warning to be ready and able to head for remote regions and to be able to sustain life during the tribulations that will characterize Planet Earth in its final period before Christ’s Return.” (Ibid)
REVELATION 17:9-11
“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads (of the Beast) are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”
Certain Adventists, once again, have their interpretation of these beastly passages.
“To unmask the apparent mystery, all that is necessary, is TO COUNT THE PROPHETIC BEASTS REPRESENTING PERIODS and nations (here we have a hint of their Historicist roots of interpretation). Beginning with the first beast as we close with the last, he must be ‘the eighth’ and ‘yet of the seven.’ The LION (Babylon) is the FIRST; the Bear (Medo-Persia) is the SECOND; the four-headed Leopard (Grecia) is the THIRD; the Non-Descript (Rome) is the FOURTH; the Leopard-Like (from the fall of Rome to 1929) is the FIFTH; the one with the Lamb-Like horns (United States) is the SIXTH; the scarlet colored (from 1929 to the end of this present world) is the SEVENTH (later we learn this is communism); the same ‘scarlet colored’ that shall ascend from the bottomless pit and go into perdition (from the resurrection of the wicked to their second death), is the eight (sic. eighth): ‘And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.’ He is the ‘EIGHTH,’ but is ‘of the seven,’ because ‘he was and is not, and yet is.’ That is, the scarlet colored beast appears on the stage of action the SECOND TIME (first, prior to the millennium (was) and second, after the millennium by the second resurrection). Therefore, he is the EIGHTH, but is of the SEVEN.” (The Image of the Beast, The Shepherd’s Rod)
“Now the fact that the horns have no kingdom as yet (Revelation 17:12), while the woman rides the beast, also the fact that the woman rides it, rules it, is evidence enough that the world is next to be ruled by an ECCLESIASTICAL BODY, NOT PURELY BY DEMOCRACY OR BY COMMUNISM . . . That the woman riding the beast symbolizes the world in this day and age is evident from the fact that the TEN HORNS, the civil powers that be during the reign of Babylon, hate the woman, the church. Communism being the only world-wide ruling power since the world began to hate religion, the Church, is itself solid proof that the ten horns are symbolical of COMMUNISM, and that the beast represents a period of time in which communism is about to dominate the world’s seat of government.” (Ibid.)
Adventists become almost nonsensical, and their disparate offshoots more and more bizarre . . .
“As the Protestant churches are represented by the heads, she could not have sat on them before the Reformation . . . the symbol, sitting on the heads, denotes union of churches, for she sits on them. Therefore, when CATHOLICISM, PROTESTANTISM, AND SPIRITUALISM, clasp each other’s hand by the medium of a league (Note: Adventists are death on “leagues” – e.g., labor unions are a “league”), then it can be said, ‘the woman sitteth on the HEADS.’” (Ibid.)
Although Adventists meander through apocalyptic Scriptures, their free use of prophetic days vs. years appears arbitrary, to wit:
“Thus the symbol of the ‘woman’ sitting on the ‘waters,’ REPRESENTS THE PERIOD BEFOR THE REFORMATION. This was true during the period of PAPAL SUPREMACY, for at that time the papacy ruled the Roman world—‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.’ Thus the ‘woman’ sat on the ‘waters’ DURING THE 1,260 PROPHETIC YEARS OF DANIEL 7:25, but she is yet to sit on the ‘heads’ and on the ‘beast.’ Had she sat on the non-descript beast instead of on the ‘waters,’ it would have been an incorrect symbol, for the ‘woman,’ by the tool of Catholicism, did not reign over all the world (beast), but over MANY ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues’ (many waters). Therefore, the symbol, ‘sitting upon the scarlet colored beast,’ denotes AN INTERNATIONAL RELIGIO-POLITICAL SYSTEM.” (Ibid)
So, just in case you’re confused, at this point, let us refocus on what Adventist eschatology is all about:
“A heavenly voice, the Spirit of Truth, is heard calling God’s people out of Babylon after the earth is lightened with the glory of the angel . . . into a PURIFIED, CLEAN CHURCH, and a place that is not in danger of plagues. The Spirit of Prophecy in commenting on this says: ‘As God called the children of Israel out of Egypt, that THEY MIGHT KEEP HIS SABBATH, so He calls His people out of Babylon, that they may NOT WORSHIP THE BEAST OR HIS IMAGE.” (7 Bible Commentary p. 984, E.G. White Comments.)
And, not to bore you to tears – but get one thing straight about Seventh Day Adventists—they’re not called Seventh Day for no reason . . .
“Satan reasons thus: ‘I will make the observance of the seventh day a sign of disloyalty to the authorities of each. Human laws will be made so stringent that men and women will not dare to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. FOR FEAR OF WANTING FOOD AND CLOTHING, they will join with the world in transgressing God’s law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.’” (Prophets and Kings p. 184)
RALPH WOODROW – BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION
“In view of these things, we believe the claim that the pope is the – Vicar of Christ’ is without any basis in fact. As early as the year 1612 it was pointed out, as Andreas Helwig did in his book Roman Antichrist, that the title ‘Vicar of Christ’ has a numerical value of 666. Written as ‘Vicar of the Son of God’ in Latin. Vicarivs Filii Dei, the letters with numerical value are these: I equals 1 (used six times), L equals 50, V equals 5, C equals 100, and D equals 500. When these are all counted up, the total is 666. This number reminds us, of course, of Revelation 13:18: “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation for the Wise, Ed R. Meelhuysen, Chapter 22, The Image of the Beast, and the Mark of the Beast)
Meelhuysen, however, is keen to point out that Alexander Hislop used the original name of Rome (Saturnia or the Chaldee expression: STUR) also adds up to 666 (S was 60, T was 400, U was 6, and R was 200, a total of 666). Furthermore, the names of NERO CAESAR or Lateinos (Latin) by using the Greek alphabet also add up to 666.
Notwithstanding, Meelhuysen’s SDA’s credentials are reaffirmed:
“John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast or his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast.-TM 138 (1898) . . . The mark of the beast is the papal Sabbath.-Evangelism 234 (1899) . . . when the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday. -7 BC 980 (1900) . . . the sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation… The mark of the beast is the opposite of this-the observance of the first day of the week. (ST 117 (1904)).” (Ibid. Meelhuysen)
THE SANITY OF PRE-MILLENARIAN PRE-TRIBULATIONISTS
No doubt there is some truth “somewhere” in the Adventists message – but after suffering these sometimes bizarre interpretations, we thankfully repair to the more sane Premillenarians, even the pretribulationists!
For this, we absorb the prolific writings of Lambert Dolphin, a friend of the late Ray Stedman, Sr. Pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California. Lambert, now retired, runs a vast web site with numerous subjects—many of which center on Bible prophecy – a few of his impressions will allow us a taste of where most “traditional” Premillenarians abide (Taken from the text, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Chapter 10, The Great Tribulation, by Ron Graff and Lambert Dolphin – an e-book):
“According to Revelation 13, Antichrist, who will be energized by the Devil, will be considered so wonderful that many of the people of the earth will voluntarily offer to worship him . . . The False Prophet will set up an image of the Beast in the newly rebuilt temple (rebuilt by the Jews). The image (an idol) must also be worshiped . . . Those who refuse the mark will be forced underground, living with other true believers in out of the way places. If they are caught they will be put to death for treason against Antichrist’s world government (Revelation 13:10; 20:4).
Antichrist is a real person – “energized” by Satan somehow. In the middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (yet future) he will set up an image in the newly rebuilt Third Temple:
“This ‘living image’ will probably be a technological deception; perhaps some marvelous new holographic image, a genetically-engineered clone, or some other bio-tech ‘invention.’ In any case, it is clear that it represents Antichrist, and it must be worshiped.” (Ibid)
Dolphin and Graf see “two beasts” – the first beast is considered as “the political-military leader of the Western Federation of nations – and the second beast is “religious” in nature . . .
“At this point in time these two powerful leaders—one religious, the other political and military—will have arranged world-wide control over buying and selling. The fate of the world will apparently rest solely with them. Computers (Note: Dolphin’s scientific expertise takes hold here . . .) do all kinds of wonderful things, but, because of the way they work, everything they do must be converted to numbers. Every letter on this screen, every colored pixel, every tone produced by the computer (including your favorite music CD) is saved and processed as a number . . . Now that modern technology has reached the stage where it is truly feasible for Antichrist to exert economic dictatorship it is increasingly important for everyone to have a distinctive number.” (Ibid)
Lambert & Graf then go into detail relative to Antichrist’s personal number, 666. This, they affirm, is “the number of his name.” They conjecture that such a mark could be placed on people in a prominent place as a symbol of their allegiance (to the Beast, etc.). Ways are suggested as to how this application could take place: Implanted chips being the foremost.
John MacArthur’s New Testament Commentary substantiates the traditional Premillenarian view of the Image of the Beast as a physical statue.
“There is further proof from history that this will be a statue. This can be understood by knowing the nature of the abomination of desolation done by Antiochus Epiphanes IV to fulfill Daniel 11:31 (only a forerunner fulfillment of the abomination prophesied in Daniel 9:27). See here for why the image of the beast is directly connected with the abomination of desolation. (The “Image of the Beast” Identified, At Last, John MacArthur, End Times Bible Prophecy Made Plain)
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND & IRELAND – and THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
One of the most absurd conjectures pits the Historicist, John Class, in his Story of the Image of the Beast, where he targets the “two horns” of the Second Beast as follows; mixing his insights with those of Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah Witnesses.
“The ‘beast’ with ‘two horns’ was formed during the reign of Henry VIII. He wished to have his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon annulled (etc.) . . . The Church of England and Ireland prospered greatly . . . Yes, the ‘beast’ with ‘two horns’ was able to do all of this in ‘the sight,’ in full view of, the ‘leopard beast,’ the papacy (Revelation 13:14).” (Story of the Image of the Beast, John Class copyright)
So, Class believes the Beast is the Papacy and the False Prophet is the Church of England and Ireland. In so far as the Image of the Beast concerns us: The World Council of Churches!
Class sites “Brother Russell” –
“Bro. Russell mused as to whether the Evangelical Alliance might bring about a fulfillment of a vitalized ‘image.’ He mused that the Church of England might ‘give it apostolic authority to preach (THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, p. ix-xv, a 1912 foreword).
Class somehow sees the United States as the empowerment of the Beast – rather than the Beast itself, since the Beast to this Historicist is the Papacy.
“The ‘man child’ of Revelation 12,” however, “is really nothing more than the incipient beginning of the papal beast. It started out simply as power-seeking bishops who were not recognized by Rome . . . then this class of bishops accepted Constantine’s headship, creating the papal beast.”
That’s a real stretch, since the Man Child (male Child) “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron . . . and her Child was caught up to God and His throne” (Revelation 12:5)—doesn’t sound like the beginnings of the Papacy.
The Beast whose head is wounded, but lived, is the Roman Church:
“The first verses (of Revelation 13) are spent in introducing the papal beast. Then Revelation 13:3 transports us through history to the Reformation period, when the leopard beast has one of its heads wounded. This began in the closing years of the fourth head of Charlemagne’s era, the time of the Reformation which severely wounded the papal power. However, the Reformation did not kill the papal power.
“For three centuries, Protestants identified the papacy as the antichrist because it replaced the Kingdom of God on earth by marrying the kings of the earth and setting up its own Kingdom—without waiting for the second coming of Christ. It also replaced the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ by instituting the celebration of the mass which proposes to sacrifice Christ over and over again.” (Revelation Today, John Class)
This is further substantiated by the 1,260 year reign of the Papacy:
“Daniel talks about a ‘little one [horn]’ coming out of the Fourth Universal empire ‘beast’ which was Rome (Daniel 7:8, 20-26). This little horn persecuted the saints for 1260 symbolic days from 539 A.D. until CE 1799, when Napoleon broke the persecuting power of (the) papacy. In Revelation this little horn is described also as a beast in its own right with ‘a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies’ for the same period of time (42 ‘months’ x 30 = 1260 symbolic days) (Revelation 13:1-7). The 1260 years are already fulfilled! There is only one period of three and one half years.” (Ibid.)
Ezekiel 4:6 (“Then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year”) is normally used by Historicists to extrapolate the 1260 days as years and to insert this configuration into their thesis of the papacy being the Beast—using some historical gymnastics to prove their point. How Ezekiel 4:6 is translated from Ezekiel into Daniel and/or Revelation is quite a fete!
But what of the Jehovah Witnesses? According to Helmut Seeger we have but one place to look to discover who the real “Accomplished Antichrist” truly is:
“Thanks to the early withdrawal of Costa Rica from the League of Nations, we are in a position to limit the ‘year of birth’ of the accomplished antichrist to the period between the formation of the League of Nations (1919) and the withdrawal of Costa Rica (1925).
I realize this is truly bizarre—but you’re getting the prophetic panoply of everything from soup to nuts—and, yes, it’s hard to fathom some of the absurdities relative to these matters . . . but we press on. In spite of Seeger’s specificities relative to the Antichrist-Jehovah’s Witnesses, he, as most, has some insights:
“In this respect the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up for worship is absolutely comparable to the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ set up by Antiochus especially as a ‘terrifying image’ is mentioned in the apocalypse that the ‘accomplished Antichrist’ had made at the end of time threatening (the inhabitants of the earth) with (the) death penalty unless it was worshipped. Although the ‘image of the beast’ that the false prophet had made of the beast with the deadly appearing wound by the sword is an ‘image having spirit and is able to speak,’ there does not exist an apparent analogy to the ‘dumb image of a human being’ in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. As the reference to the ‘number of a human being’ with the ‘number 666’ unmistakably refers to the golden image that measures ‘60’ ells high and ‘6’ ells wide, according to Daniel’s description, and – as we know from today’s interpretation of Daniel’s prophecy – the ‘radiant image of a human being’ in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream embodies in itself five subsequent world kingdoms as well as ‘the sixth,’ the universal organizations. The League of Nations and the United Nations:
1. BABYLON as the ‘golden head,’ 2. MEDO-PERSIA as the ‘chest and arms of silver,’ 3. GREECE as ‘belly of ore (copper),’ 4. ROME (with its four kingdoms) as ‘thigh of iron,’ 5. ANGLO-AMERICA as ‘feet of iron and clay,’ 6. The League of Nations and the United Nations as the ‘toes of the feet.’”
Seeger’s statements on the League of Nations and Germany’s “wounded head” and subsequent admittance to the League, antiquates his attempts at prophetic fulfillment. (Ibid)
HISTORICISTS COME IN ALL SIZES
Keeping up with the Historicists is fascinating, to say the least. Let’s face it; Sir Isaac Newton was no dolt. He and countless others are numbered amongst Historicists who tried to provide rhyme and reason to the prophetic Scriptures down through the ages, making, from time to time, some unnecessary and ridiculous mistakes—mistakes which are acknowledged by the Seventh-Day Adventists themselves (Please see: The End of Historicism? Reflections on the Adventist approach to Biblical apocalyptic—Part One, Jon Paulien, Andrews University, Published in Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 14/2 (Fall, 2003): 15-43.). But, let’s try it again . . .
BRITISH ISRAELISM – SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE – it’s the end of the world as we know it!
Signs Of The End Ministries in South Africa exemplifies these forms of British Israelism and “date setting” which takes place:
“To inform you from the world’s oldest newspaper, the Scriptures, concerning the years ahead and events leading up to ARMAGEDDON (World War II) in 2007, as well as America’s demise the following year (2008), and its aftermath! The message contained by this website is a gift from almighty YAHWH to all the tribes of Israel dispersed throughout the earth . . . the role of the tribes of Issachar and Zebulon together will play in the deliverance of the people of the Most High from the great tribulation in the time of the end!
“Issachar is a strong ass lying between two burdens (Genesis 49:1) (the Boer settlers at the southern tip of Africa were trapped between British imperialism on the one hand and the animosity of the indigenous races on the other . . . And Issachar, to your tents! (descendants of the Boer settlers will lead the way in the antitypical fulfillment of the feast of tabernacles). They (Issachar and Zebulon together) call peoples to the mountain, there they bring offerings of righteousness (before the time of trouble commences, the other tribes of Israel will be called upon to migrate to the secret place of the Most High here at the southern tip of Africa) they draw from the riches of the seas, and treasures hidden in the sand (a clue that the secret place of the Most High is situated in the Northern Cape, the province where diamonds are mined on a large scale from the sea and the desert sand). (Deuteronomy 33:18)” (Our Directive . . . Our Legacy, Signs Of The End Ministries South Africa)
Again, Historicists are almost universal in their designation of the “Beast from the sea” . . .
“It is our belief that the Beast from the Sea itself (referred to as the eighth power – Revelation 17:11) - represents the papacy (also Vatican or Roman Catholic Church). The seven heads represent the seven successive world powers preceding it (from Egyptian Empire, 1700 BCE – 1290 BCE, to the Eastern Roman empire or Byzantium Empire, 313 CE/AD -0 565 CE/AD). They were all incited by Satan to defy Almighty YAHWH’s authority, suppress His truth and persecute His people. The ten horns of the first beast represent the 10 Catholic nations of present-day Europe that will eventually constitute its military arm: the Euro-Force or Rapid reaction Force.” (Ibid)
Reinforcement of the 1260 years/days theme is recurrent throughout these offshoots of Millerism/Adventism/British Israelism. Note the specificity of dates set for the past and future.
“The designated time for the beast from the sea to do its evil work is 42 prophetic months or 1260 prophetic days. The first beast (Papal Rome) ruled Europe for 1260 years (538 CE/AD to 1798 CE/AD) before the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte inflicted it with a deadly wound . . . but it is predicted that its deadly wound would heal. Therefore, the beast will regain its power, but this time, in accordance with our Messiah’s words that in the end time “the days would be shortened,” for only 1260 literal days or 3 ½ years (2009 to 2012).” (Ibid)
“The identity of the Second Beast in review: We can deduce from the symbols ‘sea’ and ‘land’ in the prophecy that the two beasts would be geographically detached from each other. This presents us with another vital clue concerning the identity of the beast from the earth. Which notable power, geographically detached from the first, came into prominence around the time the first received its deadly wound in 1798? Is it not the United States of America? The Beast from the earth has two horns like a lamb (a symbol of Messiah/Christ in prophecy), indicating America will be controlled mainly by two Christian powers: Protestantism and Catholicism . . . While in control of the West, it will make fire come down from heaven. America is the only country to have dropped atomic bombs on another . . . This beast will cause all to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. By taking the lead in biometric development and deployment, America has identified itself beyond question as the beast from the earth.” (Ibid)
And, in conclusion – awaiting World War III . . .
“The fact that the United States of America has begun withdrawing its troops from Europe proves that its prophetic mission there is accomplished. At this very moment evil, sadistic and murderous forces are lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportune moment to implement their satanic agenda. All that is now needed for the Vatican (Antichrist/Roman Catholic Church / papacy / Beast / Son of Perdition) to snatch up this replica of the United States of America, this United States of Europe, is a major crisis like World War III (Armageddon) in 2007.” (Ibid)
Of some fascination to this author is the use of Ezekiel 4:3-6 and the 40 days/years theories – hold your breath, this is why World War III starts in 2007:
“Ezekiel 4 renders the time component for our eschatological model. In this prophecy it is predicted that in the last days the Jews would possess Old Jerusalem for 40 years. It states emphatically in verse 3 that it’s meant to be a sign to all Israel (both houses: Judah (Benjamin and Judah) and Ephraim (the ten northern tribes). Beleaguered by Muslim jihadist, the Jews shall eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dismay throughout these 40 years (verses 6 & 16). The prophetic clock started ticking in 1967 with the capturing of Old Jerusalem by the Jews. There is now less than 3 years left (article apparently written in 2004). Zero hour for the Zionist State of Israel is thus unequivocally 2007! It is sad to see how few Bible scholars today realize how important the year 2007 is destined to be.” (Ibid)
THE SECOND BEAST IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Some variations deviate among the Historicists as one gets closer to “home” (i.e. the USA). Here we find overt references to the Beast as the American New World Order System; however, the papacy is always the first beast—but for now, America is the Second Beast.
“Only one other time since the Bible was
written, and that was by the papal power in the middle ages. Ironically,
in the days following September 11, President Bush repeatedly used the
word ‘crusade’ to describe the upcoming ‘war on terror,’ and ‘barbarians’
as the presumed target of our revenge. These words have overtones
reminiscent of the Catholic crusades of medieval times when the pope sent
crusaders to wipe out the Muslim infidel in the holy land.
The “healing of the wound” of the first beast is reinforced in conjunction with the revival of Rome, at the expense of the United States:
“This power was the ‘first beast,’ who received a ‘deadly wound’ when Napoleon took the pope prisoner in 1798. This ‘deadly wound’ was healed when the U.S. regime assumed the spirit of the papacy in its dealing with the nations – becoming a reflected image of the first beast. In his speech before Congress, Mr. Bush accused Osama bin Laden’s organization, Al Qaeda, as having an international agenda. ‘. . . its goal is remaking the world – and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere,’ he said.” (Ibid)
. . . our journey is by no means ended . . . bear with us . . . the Celestial City is up ahead; for we have seen it beneath His cross, where our burdensome weight was taken. Yes, the vision we can see afar, but we know the Builder of this City must be God, and God alone, for no falsehood, no fabricator among men or angels, could construct such a sight for our feeble eyes!
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