The Law

     There are two laws- God’s law and Satan’s law. God’s law is called the circuit of beneficence. This law reveals the true character of God by showing the proper relationship between the Creator and the creatures. In the circuit of beneficence God gives us life and receives our love through joyous praise and worship. Then at the same time we give him our lives and receive his love through the same way. It is through Christ, God’s son that this connection is made. Satan’s law is called the broken circuit because it is all about self worship.

Romans 1 starting in verse 22 talks about what happens when worshipping the Creator is exchanged for worshipping the creature. Basically it starts with the fact that God can’t put up with this and He let them go to their vile passions. In verses 26 and 27 it talks about men being interested in each other and women likewise. Finally in verse 28 it says that because they did not retain any knowledge of God that he gave them over to their debased mind and verse 29-32 tell about all the different traits. Creature worship has this debasing influence because it is all about self and what we want is what we can have.

Christ demonstrates the circuit of beneficence by representing God’s character and His self-sacrificing love.

You see the broken circuit in action in religious services because services in a lot of  mainstream churches and even in some of our own churches is all about bringing in the young people and to do this they are bringing in things that the young people liked when they were in the world. Churches should try to bring in young people but in a way that does not bring creature worship in.

The advantages of the circuit of beneficence are that it draws the mind closer to Christ and not farther away and we will be less likely to sin if we keep connected to Christ through prayer. The broken circuit will just lead you away from Christ and cause you to sin.

The difference between the spiritualistic concept and Christianity is that spiritualism teaches that self is not sinful and that at the judgment there is a standard of perfection which is a God with a desire for self-exaltation. Christianity teaches that we need to put away self which must be done each and every day. The standard of perfection is God at the judgment and it is a God who has no desires for self-exaltation.

The Removal of the Spots, Wrinkles, and Blemishes

     The sanctuary shows the whole salvation plan. It starts in the outside with sinful man who then receives Christ and enters the sanctuary or the way of God. This is called conversion where you receive a change of desires but this change is not complete. The outer court is where this takes place and your sins still remain on the record. Next is progressive conversion which is where you build your character and have victory over sin. Your words and actions help to build your character. Then you have the investigative judgment where your actions are judged and  you are prepared for the marriage in the last step where you have a perfection of character. The marriage comes after the judgment and is the blotting out of your sins.

Mediation

     The need for mediation started at the begging when man ate the forbidden fruit (OHC pg.52 and 1 BC. 1085). Mediation ends at the close of probation because that is when sin is finished and Christ leaves his work in the sanctuary. After man sinned we started having sinful desires. These led us to become a channel of corruption meaning we became sinners in need of mediation so that we could be children of God.

The Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit working through them along with their works and that by their good works they are perfect and have no need of a mediator. Whereas the Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit works on them and they do their good works but that does not make them sinless so they still need Christ to mediate for them. The papacy in their doctrines takes away the need of mediation because they believe that you are born with sin and then when you are sprinkled as an infant you are cleansed from past sins and all you need to do is do good works and confess your sins to the priest. Adventists believe that you can’t be saved by only your own works but by both works and righteousness. This is a work of a lifetime because we are converted and then we start working on our character with Christ’s help. Then comes the judgment and marriage where we are justified. Basically spiritual teachings are what the Catholics believe which is that man does not need a mediator because once you are baptized at birth you are saved.

 

Dan. 7:14

 

 

“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:14

There are two kingdoms in God’s kingdom- the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory. The one that is referred to here is the kingdom of grace. This kingdom was instituted at the fall of man (Gen3:15), instituted at the cross(Mk. 1:14,15), and is finished at the investigative judgment. This kingdom is spiritual and is in us when we have a Christ-like character which we begin to receive when we are converted and is worked on and developed throughout our lives. The symbol of this kingdom is a seed. The seed is represented in Christ at the cross(Gal.3:16; John 12:24). The former rain germinates the seed symbolizing conversion and helps it to grow. Then the latter rain ripens the grain and prepares it for harvest. The latter rain finishes the kingdom of grace(James 5:7) and the completed kingdom is symbolized by ripened grain. Christ receives this kingdom after the judgment. The kingdom of glory is set up at the second coming

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The Comparison between Dan. 2, Rev. 12:3, and Dan. 12

     In Revelation12:3 it talks about a red dragon having 7 heads and 7 crowns. The first four heads are the four kingdoms in Dan. 2 which are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and finally Pagan Rome. The fifth head is papal Rome because pagan Rome gave his power and authority to them. Papal Rome came to an end when the 1260 prophetic days, mentioned in Dan. 12, were up and he got a deadly wound which happened in 1798. Then the U.S. came in to power which is the lamb-like beast mentioned in Rev. 13:11 and is the sixth head. Next the deadly wound was healed (Rev.13:3, 12) and he came back in power.  In the end both heads 5 and 7 are connected and are the same entity – Papacy. The last 3 heads are related to Dan. 2 because it says that the iron was mixed with clay which means that pagan Rome was divided and goes into the above. Head number 7 will bring 1260 literal days of persecution because there is no more prophetic time after 1844(Rev. 12:14). This is connected to the feet of iron and clay in Dan. 2 because iron and clay represent the mixing of church and state which brings persecution for those who don’t follow the teaching of the papacy.

 

 

Dan. 11:23-45

11:23   And after the league [made] with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 

 

The league was made by Satan with pagan Rome and this league was to destroy the Christians, not by persecution, but by allurements of prosperity and worldly honour. This is how he works deceitfully. The small people are the true Christians which can prevail and be strong against Satan with God’s help.

 

  11:24   He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: [yea], and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.  

 

Satan is not following the methods used by other conquering nations. They just destroyed and plundered the countries that they were overtaking. Satan is not using force like previous kingdoms had, he is mingling truth with error in the church so that the true Christian doctrines are twisted and in the end completely wrong.  The error part comes from pagan Rome mixing paganism with Christianity.

 

  11:25   And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. 

 

This verse is talking about the king of the south and how he represents paganism. The king of the south realized that should the gospel win out they would be destroyed. So they summoned up their forces and fought against Christianity. The part that talks about he shall not stand is talking about Constantine, the Roman Emperor and his nominal conversion.

 

  11:26   Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

 

  The feed of the portion of his meat is the study of pagan philosophies and its tenats. They were out to destroy Constantine by converting him to a Christianity that is conformed and compromised to Paganism. Overflow in Hebrew Strongs means to cleanse, rinse, thoroughly wash away and this refers to Constantine’s army getting baptized by being marched through the river. And the last part means a spiritual death.  

 

  11:27   And both these kings’ hearts [shall be] to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end [shall be] at the time appointed.

 

The kings’ hearts are to do evil, which in reality means to create a “man of sin” (2 Thess.2:3, 4). The next part talks about the compromise between Christianity and paganism (GC. Pg. 50).

 

  11:28   Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [exploits], and return to his own land. 

 

The great riches were indulgences which allowed Rome to get richer and Rome also went against the heavenly covenant because he wanted to sit in the temple of God which shows that he really wanted to be God.

 

  11:29   At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

 

Refers to the papacy becoming more pagan (vs.25) and later in verse 42, paganism becomes aligned with papacy.

 

  11:30   For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

 

  Chittim is the name of the descendents of one of Noah’s sons and the emphasis on the name became that these people were known as invaders and destroyers. The ships of Chittim are a symbol of God’s people and him represents the papacy. Them that forsake the holy covenant are everyone and the holy covenant is the law of God. Them that have intelligence are the papacy mixing with spiritualism or apostate Protestantism. (GC pg.588)

 

  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.

 

  Arms stand for power or army. The abomination is talking about the bringing in of worship on Sunday instead of Saturday which happened in 1798. It also took away from the people’s mind the need of Christ as their intercessor because the pope was.

 

  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].

 

This verse is talking about the reformation and the Dark Ages (GC 143).

 

  11:33   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.

 

This verse is referring to the persecution of the Dark Ages.

 

  11:34   Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 

 

When the reformers would fall they would be helped by their fellow reformers.

 

  11:35   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. 

 

Because of the persecution to reformers it caused others to join the cause and to make the others stronger. I believe that the time of the end refers to the end of the main persecution which happened in 1798.

  11:36   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.

 

This verse is talking about the papacy and the fact that the pope is given the very titles of Deity (GC 50). 

 

  11:37   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. 

 

This verse continues talking about the various parts of the papacy.

 

  11:38   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.

 

This verse is talking about the papacy and how it used force to try to make people follow their religion.

 

 11:39   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. 

 

Basically this verse is talking about the compromise between paganism and Christianity. Then the last section talks about the papal domination over earthly rulers.

 

  11:40   And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 

 

Basically this verse is talking about the end time which started in 1798 and the influences of both spiritualistic and papacy throughout the world.

 

  11:41   He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 

 

In this verse the glorious land is referring to the Christian Church and how the papacy enters the Christian church through Protestantism and accepting papal errors and is in the context of the time of the end.

 

  11:42   He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 

 

Basically the whole world gets aligned to the papacy’s plan to re-establish her power.

 

  11:43   But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps. 

This verse refers to the power the papacy has over money.

  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. 

 

Basically this verse is talking about the message of the second coming which is the tidings from the east. The last part of the verse talks about the final warning which angers the king of the North who then starts to persecutes the Sabbath keepers.

 

  11:45   And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

 

This verse is talking about the papacy setting up his dwelling place in the Christian church and the glorious mountain is the Christian church so when it says between the seas it means in Jerusalem which is the symbol of the Christian church.

Daniel 2:40-43

 

2:40   And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

  2:41   And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 

  2:42   And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 

  2:43   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. 

 

The iron is connected to the “they” in vs.43 because “they” represents pagan Rome which is also represented by iron. The clay is connected to the “seed” because clay represents truth (Isa. 64:8; Jer.18:4, 6) and seed represents Christ (Gal.3:16). The iron mixed with miry clay; but iron is not able to be mixed with clay. This basically states that truth and error can’t be mixed.

Toes

Clay represents Christianity (Isa.64:8, Jer.18:4, 6).

So the mixture of clay and iron in the toes is the compromise between paganism and Christianity and this resulted in the beginning of the papacy. This is represented in the feet but in the toes it is a different variation of idolatry that is compromised with Christianity. This idolatry is a devotion to the things of the world. So this mixing of Christianity and the world results in apostate Protentism. The mixing of iron and clay leads to three problems: first it causes apostasy in church, which leads to the mixing of state and church which then leads to persecution and intolerance.

Both the ten toes that came out of the feet and the ten horns that came out of the leopard like beast in Rev.13, 17 represents pagan Rome. The reason for the toes and horns in Revelation 13, 17 being related is that they both come out of the papacy. Rev 13, 17 give more details about the toes of Dan. 2. The 10 horns in Dan. 7 represent the breaking of pagan Rome so therefore if we are living in the toes, this chapter cannot be connected to the toes and the other horns. We are living in the toes now (1T pg, 360).

Daniel 2

Daniel Chapter 2

The image represents the future degradation of both the kingdoms on the earth,  in religion and morality(4BC 1168). Gold represented Babylon (see Daniel 2:38), which was in power of the known world from 605-539 BC.  We know this from both the Bible and history. According to history,  Babylon tended  to use gold in abundance,  especially in their main city. Silver represents Medo-Persia,  because in 539 BC Cyrus overtook Babylon and reigned over most of the then known world till 331 BC.  (see Dan 2:39 and cross reference to Dan. 5:25-30)  He was prophesied somewhere in Ezra and Isaiah. Brass represented Greece. In 331 BC Alexander the Great took over the same territory and more. Then Rome took over after Alexander died. The Roman empire fell apart and became divided into 10 different  kingdoms. (see Dan.7) Then the stone was cut out of the mountain,  and it broke the whole image,  so that there was nothing left of it. This shows the end of the world and all earthly kingdoms and the coming of heaven.