add to our faith virtue and to irtue …...ous and pure principles, and thus cleanse the mind and...

Future News August, 2006 1

Future NEWSVolume 10, No. 8 August, 2006

ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE: AND TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE

“‘His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life andgodliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.’ 2Peter 1:3

“After receiving the faith of the gospel, our first work is to seek to add virtu-ous and pure principles, and thus cleanse the mind and heart for the reception oftrue knowledge.

“The apostle has presented before us the importance of making continual ad-vancement in the Christian life. There is no excuse for our lack of spiritual under-standing.

“Faith is the first round in the ladder of advancement. Without faith it is im-possible to please God. But many stop on this round and never ascend higher. Theyseem to think that when they have professed Christ, when their names are on thechurch record, their work is completed. Faith is essential; but the Inspired Wordsays, ‘Add to your faith, virtue.’ Those who are seeking for eternal life and a homein the kingdom of God must lay for their character building the foundation ofvirtue. Jesus must be the chief cornerstone. The things that defile the soul must bebanished from the mind and life. When temptations are presented, they must beresisted in the strength of Christ. The virtue of the spotless Lamb of God must bewoven into the character till the soul can stand in its integrity. Joseph is an exampleof how the youth may stand unspotted, amid the evil of the world, and add to theirfaith, virtue.

“Every moment of our lives is intensely real, and charged with solemn respon-sibilities. Ignorance will be no excuse for lack of spiritual understanding and at-tainment; for we are exhorted to add to virtue, knowledge. The uncultured fisher-men became men of refinement and ability; and the lessons that they were privi-leged to learn are written for our admonition and instruction. We are invited tobecome learners in the school of Christ. We need to acquire all the knowledgepossible.” My Life Today, 96.

2 August, 2006 Future News

The ministry of Future for Americais to proclaim the final warning message ofRevelation 14 as identified within the prophe-cies of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.The end-time fulfillment of Bible prophecy isno longer future—for it is taking place beforeour eyes. The historic, prophetic understand-ing of Seventh-day Adventism is now presenttruth. We are the final generation. Our em-phasis on the prophetic word includes all thecounsel of God’s Word. To know what liesahead is useless if we do not possess theexperience to stand during these solemn times.Through obedience to God’s law, and faith inthe promises of God’s Word, we are to re-ceive that experience.

Coupled with the prophetic message,Future for America emphasizes all aspects ofthe medical missionary work. The “enteringwedge”—medical missionary work—must bepracticed by those who are to finish God’s workin these final hours.

During this time period, country livingbecomes more essential with each passingmoment. Future for America upholds andpromotes this end-time truth. God’s people mustprepare for the coming storm, and thatpreparation includes the experience of learninghow to survive in a simple fashion, away fromthe great centers of population.

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Future for America produces and mails out amonthly newsletter and audio presentation inEnglish and Spanish. For information you maycontact the following brethren who are affiliatedwith this work:

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A proof reader of the following article onthe Sabbath School Quarterly for the thirdquarter sent back this article to BudAlavezos—who penned the following article.

Dear Bud: Interesting article, however, Arthuris a mythological character who may or maynot have existed. He probably was based on areal person. The earliest mention of Arthur wasby British monks who have him dying in or around537/538 (although several historians have thebattle where he was supposed to have beenkilled around 515). Also, I am not aware of Arthurever succumbing to the rule of Rome (pagan orChristian). The tail has many elements ofspiritualism and paganism with one version havinghim as the descendant of Jesus, but the mainfocus was his attempt to prevent the Englishfrom falling into the Dark Ages brought on bythe Saxons. It was not until the 1200s, or later,that the Holy Grail became a part of the Arthurianlegend. Lastly, even if Arthur was accredited withprotecting Christianity it cannot be necessarilyassociated with Papal Rome as Britain was somedistance and at the fringe of its’ influence—further, the death of Arthur resulted in anextended period of paganism in England with therule of the Saxons. I just thought I would putthis part in because I was reading your commenton Arthur. Signed, ____

Jeff, I received this from ____ and thought Ishould check it out. Where did you get theinformation about King Arthur being the last ofthe seven Pagan horns to come to the aid ofthe Papacy? Lastly, I came across a statementfrom Andrews something like; when you canharmonize all texts concerning a subject andthere is no disagreement, then you have truth.I’ll look it up. I would like to insert it in the article.Bud Alavezos

Brother Bud: Miller had similar thinkingas Andrews.

“RULE I—Every word must have itsproper bearing on the subject presented in theBible. . . . RULE IV—To understand doctrine,bring all the scriptures together on the subjectyou wish to know, then let every word have itsproper influence, and if you can form yourtheory without a contradiction, you cannot be

in an error. . . . RULE XI—How to know whena word is used figuratively. If it makes goodsense as it stands, and does no violence to thesimple laws of nature, then it must beunderstood literally, if not, figuratively . . . .The divinity taught in our schools is alwaysfounded on some sectarian creed. It may doto take a blank mind and impress it with thiskind, but it will always end in bigotry. A freemind will never be satisfied with the views ofothers. Were I a teacher of youth in divinity, Iwould first learn their capacity and mind. Ifthese were good, I would make them study theBible for themselves, and send them out freeto do the world good. But if they had no mind,I would stamp them with another’s mind, writebigot on their forehead, and send them out asslaves.” Miller’s Works, volume 1.

I did not have time to respond to the emailabout Arthur before I left. I did tell Kathy Ithought Arthur is in Smith’s Daniel and theRevelation. Since I arrived in Europe I didconfirm that Arthur is identified by Smith. Jeff

“In England, Arthur, the first Christian king,founded the Christian worship on the ruins ofthe pagan. (Rapin, book 2, p. 124), who claimsto be exact in the chronology of events, statesthat he was elected monarch of Britain in 508.”Uriah Smith, Thoughts on Daniel and theRevelation, 284.

From the Review and Herald, January 28,1858, in the 12th article of a series titled,Synopsis of the Present Truth, we find articlenumber 12 is titled, The 1290 and 1335 Days.Therein we find the identical paragraph thatwe just recorded from Uriah Smith. The editors,no doubt included James White. From anotherReview and Herald edition we find the pioneerOtis Nichols stating:

“The sanctuary and the host, were firsttrodden down by the Pagans. After Paganismwas restrained, Papacy came into power andmade the Church of Christ desolate. Paganismhindered the establishment of the Church ofRome, as long as its governments continued:but it no longer stood in their way, after


England, the last of the ten Pagan kingdomswas christianized. Arthur put an end toPaganism among the Britons. He was crowneda Christian monarch of the Britons, by a CatholicBishop in A. D. 508.” Otis Nichols, Review andHerald, December 9, 1852.

Jeff: Here’s the article with Arthur omitted toavoid argument. The thought is the same. AlsoI included a statement from J. N. Andrews whichwas excellent. May the Lord bless your efforts,Bud Alavezos.

“Paganism” or “Christ’s work in thesanctuary”?

“Many of our people do not realize howfirmly the foundation of our faith has beenlaid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Fa-ther Pierce, Elder Edson, and others whowere keen, noble, and true, were amongthose who, after the passing of the time in1844, searched for the truth as for hiddentreasure. I met with them, and we studiedand prayed earnestly. Often we remainedtogether until late at night, and sometimesthrough the entire night, praying for lightand studying the word. Again and againthese brethren came together to study theBible, in order that they might know itsmeaning, and be prepared to teach it withpower. When they came to the point in theirstudy where they said, ‘We can do nothingmore,’ the Spirit of the Lord would comeupon me, I would be taken off in vision, anda clear explanation of the passages we hadbeen studying would be given me, with in-struction as to how we were to labor andteach effectively. Thus light was given thathelped us to understand the scriptures inregard to Christ, His mission, and Hispriesthood. A line of truth extending fromthat time to the time when we shall enterthe city of God, was made plain to me, andI gave to others the instruction that theLord had given me.” Selected Messages,book 1, 206.

The Lord never denies His Word“We are in conflict with the errors and

delusions that have to be swept away fromthe minds of those who have not acted uponthe light they already have. Bible truth isour only safety. I know and understand thatwe are to be established in the faith, in thelight of the truth given us in our early ex-perience. At that time one error after an-other pressed in upon us, and ministers anddoctors brought in new doctrines. We wouldsearch the Scriptures with much prayerand the Holy Spirit would bring the truthto our minds. Sometimes whole nightswould be devoted to searching the Scrip-tures and earnestly asking God for guid-ance. Companies of earnest, devoted menand women assembled for this purpose. Thepower of God would come upon me and Iwas enabled clearly to define what is truthand what is error.

“As the points of our faith were thus es-tablished, our feet were placed upon a solidfoundation. We accepted the truth point bypoint under the demonstration of the HolySpirit. I would be taken off in vision andexplanations would be given me. I wasgiven illustrations of heavenly things andof the sanctuary, so that we were placedwhere light was shining on us in clear, dis-tinct rays. All these truths are immortal-ized in my writings. The Lord never deniesHis Word. Men may get up scheme afterscheme, and the enemy will seek to seducesouls from the truth, but all who believethat the Lord has spoken through SisterWhite, and has given her a message, willbe safe from the many delusions that willcome in these last days.” Manuscript Re-lease, 760.

Until the close of this earth’s history“I am instructed that the Lord, by His

infinite power, has preserved the right handof His messenger for more than half a cen-tury, in order that the truth may be writ-ten out as He bids me write it for publica-


tion, in periodicals and books, Why?—Be-cause if it were not thus written out, whenthe pioneers in the faith shall die, therewould be many, new in the faith, who wouldsometimes accept as messages of truthteachings that contain erroneous senti-ments and dangerous fallacies. Sometimesthat which men teach as ‘special light’ is inreality specious error, which, as tares sownamong the wheat, will spring up and pro-duce a baleful harvest. And errors of thissort will be entertained by some until theclose of this earth’s history.” This Day WithGod, 126.

The passages above contain a number ofissues which directly relate to a discussion ofthe most recent Sabbath school quarterly. Tobe more specific, the authors of the quarterlyhave taken a position on the “daily” in the bookof Daniel that cannot be sustained by scripture,and a position that is in complete opposition toboth the pioneers and Ellen White. J. N.Andrews wrote a statement in an article entitledThe Commandment to Restore and to BuildJerusalem in which he writes on pages 7 and8: “We have the truth concerning any doctrineof the Bible when we are able to present adivine harmony of all the scripture testimonypertaining to that subject.” This seems to bea very good rule for us today and is especiallyapplicable to the subject at hand.

As can be seen from the abovestatements, the foundation of our faith wassound. With this in mind let us consider thepioneer understanding of Daniel, chapter 8.William Miller recognized that there were twodesolating powers addressed in Daniel 8:13.After much prayer and study, he concludedthat the “daily” in the passage representedPaganism. In his own words, “I read on, andcould find no other case in which it [the daily]was found but in Daniel. I then [by the aid ofthe concordance] took those words whichstood in connection with it, ‘take away;’ ‘heshall take away the daily;’ ‘from the time thatthe daily shall be taken away’. I read on andthought I would find no light on the text. FinallyI came to 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8, For themystery of iniquity does already work; only he

who now letteth will let, until he be taken outof the way, and then shall that wicked berevealed. And when I had come to that text,O how clear and glorious the truth appearedThere it is! That is the daily! Well, now, whatdoes Paul mean by ‘he who now letteth’ orhindereth? By ‘the man of sin,’ and ‘the wicked,’Popery is meant. Well what is it that hindersPopery from being revealed? Why it isPaganism. Well, then, ‘the daily’ must meanpaganism.” Review and Herald, January, 1858.

Acknowledged on all handsJosiah Litch writes:“The daily sacrifice is the present reading

of the text; but no such thing as sacrifice isfound in the original. This is acknowledged onall hands. It is a gloss or construction put uponit by the translators. The true reading is, “thedaily and the transgression of desolation;” dailyand transgression being connected togetherby “and;” the daily and the transgression ofdesolation. They are two desolating powerswhich were to desolate the Sanctuary and thehost.” Review and Herald, January, 1858.

Some Pioneers who not only believed thatthe “daily” represented Paganism, but alsopreserved this truth in writings include: WilliamMiller, Josiah Litch, Sylvester Bliss, JosephBates, J. N. Andrews, Hiram Edson who theWhites named one of their sons after, JamesWhite who was compared to Moses in relationto Adventism in terms of biblical doctrine, UriahSmith whose book Daniel and the Revelation iscalled “God’s helping hand”, Steven Haskell,O. A. Johnson, J. G. Matson, F. C. Gilbert theHebrew scholar, L. A. Smith, Washerg andLoughborough.

Second and more importantly God upheldthe right arm of His prophet to the Laodiceanchurch, so she could immortalize the truth inher writings, for God knew that when she andthe pioneers died, “some would come in withgrievous errors.” Please note the abovestatement that those who believe that the Lordhas spoken through Sister White will be safefrom these delusions. Our only safety is intaking heed of God’s word and His prophets.

Regarding the “daily” in Daniel 8, EllenWhite, in agreement with the pioneers, believed


that “the daily” was Paganism. In EarlyWritings she states:

“Then I saw in relation to the ‘daily’(Daniel 8:12) that the word ‘sacrifice’ wassupplied by man’s wisdom, and does notbelong to the text, and that the Lord gavethe correct view of it to those who gave thejudgment hour cry. When union existed,before 1844, nearly all were united on thecorrect view of the ‘daily’; but in the confu-sion since 1844, other views have beenembraced, and darkness and confusionhave followed. Time has not been a testsince 1844, and it will never again be atest.” Early Writings, 74.

Here the statement “does not belong tothe text” suggests, I would say demands, thatthere should be no connection between thedaily in Daniel 8:12 and the typical dailysacrifices. Thus the view that the daily is atype for Christ ’s work in the heavenlysanctuary is inconsistent with the abovestatement. In addition—those who gave thejudgment hour cry were nearly all united onthe “correct view” of the daily. Lastly shestates that other views have brought in“darkness and confusion.” This we can seetoday.

The statement would seem to be aconclusive argument that the pioneers werecorrect in their understanding of the daily,however there are in addition—some veryconvincing arguments from a study of thebook of Daniel itself. This leads us to the thirdissue. Bible truth is our only safety. We needto begin with a definition of the word daily.

The word that Daniel uses that istranslated as daily is tamiyd (Strong’s 8548)which means continual, perpetual or daily. Thisword is used often in the Old Testament inconnection with “the daily sacrifice.” As canbe readily seen, in the context of the dailysacrifice this word is used as an adjective.Daniel does not use it as an adjective. Heuses it as a noun.

He is speaking of a power that has beencontinually or perpetually warring against God’speople. It was Paganism at the Tower of Babel,it was Paganism through out Babylon, MedoPersia, Greece and Pagan Rome; and it will be

Paganism (spiritualism) that will be a part ofthe makeup of Modern Rome in the final battleagainst God’s people. There is a directconnection between Paganism and the nounthat Daniel uses as daily. Paganism hascontinually or perpetually warred against God’sPeople and will continue to do so until the closeof this world’s history. The word tamiyd, whichDaniel uses as a noun, applies perfectly toPaganism.

Hiram Edson, the man God chose to revealthe true meaning of the sanctuary on October23, 1844, at the request of James White, wrotea series of articles for the Review and Herald.The articles were titled, The Time of the Gentiles.The articles recognized that there were twodesolating powers spoken of in Daniel 8:13, andthen went on to explain that they were directlyrelated to a prophetic time-period of 2520 years(7 times of Leviticus 26), when ancient Israelwas under the indignation of God.

Edson pointed to Daniel’s prayer in chapter9:11, where Daniel recognized that Israel wasunder God’s curse “the oath that was writtenin the Law of Moses” for breaking thecovenant. He concluded that there were 1260years of Pagan rule (treading down God’speople) followed by 1260 years of Papal rule.His starting point was the year 723 BC, thedate Israel went into Assyrian captivity, whichwould terminate Pagan rule in the year 538,at which time Papal oppression began it’s 1260years of rule, ending with the deadly wound in1798. Edson associated this treading down ofJerusalem with Luke 21:24—calling it the “timesof the gentiles” or “the scattering time.”

Our pioneers understood the little horn ofDaniel 8 to be both Pagan and Papal Rome.In the time since they have been laid to rest,their thoughts along with their writings havebeen forgotten and the result has beenconfusion. This confusion results partially fromnot understanding which Rome is beingaddressed, specifically in verses 8–12. Here,it can be very helpful to recognize that Danieluses a literary tool which can easily be seen inthe Hebrew language, however is more difficultin English.

Verse 9 and 11 use the masculine gender,whereas; verses 10 and 12 are written in thefeminine. The translators of the King James


Bible, in recognizing this fact, used “he” inverses 9 and 11 and “it” in verses 10 and 12.To me i t is helpful to remember that“MYSTERY, BABYLON” of Revelation 17, isthe false church, and is prophetically theimpure woman—connecting directly to thefeminine gender.

Using the above premise, let’s construct ascr iptural approach to the pioneerunderstanding of these verses. Verse 9presents very little problems.

VERSE 9And out of one of them came

forth a little horn, which waxedexceeding great, toward thesouth, and toward the east, andtoward the pleasant land.

Here the little horn, being Pagan Rome(masculine), comes forth from one of the fourwinds (points of the compass) and not one ofthe four divisions of Greece. This is historicallycorrect since Rome does not come fromGreece, but was diverse from the kingdomsbefore it, according to Daniel 7. In support ofthis historical fact, please note verse 23, where“in the latter time (end) of their kingdom(Greece) when the transgressors are cometo the full, a king of fierce countenance(Rome), and understanding dark sentences,shall stand up”. This is a direct reference toDeuteronomy 28:49–57 which predicts that thedesolation of the Jews and Jerusalem wouldbe accomplished by Rome. In verse nine, thethree areas of Rome’s enthronement as theking of the north were the south (Egypt), theeast (Syria), and the pleasant land (Palestine).These three areas are also identified a secondtime in Daniel 11:16, 17.

VERSE 10And it waxed great, even to

the hostþ of heaven; and it castdown some of the host and ofthe stars to the ground, andstamped upon them.

Now we see Papal Rome (feminine)attacking God directly as foretold in Daniel 7:25by speaking great words against the Most High(calling himself God on earth and claiming to

have power to forgive sin) and thinking tochange times and laws (second and fourthcommandments). This power is seen ascasting down some of the host and the starsto the ground and trampling on them (God’speople during the Dark Ages).

Verses 11 and 12 seem to be the verseswhere more difficulties arise.

VERSE 11Yea, he magnified himself

even to the prince of the host,and by him the daily sacrificewas taken away, and the placeof his sanctuary was cast down.

In this verse Pagan Rome “masculine”being the subject of the verse, warred againstthe prince of the host as he took the life ofGod’s only begotten Son. At this point we needto have a better understanding of the phrase“taken away”. This is cr i t ica l to theunderstanding of the second half of this verse.

Take AwayDaniel uses two different words which the

translators of the King James Bible havetranslated as “taken away”.

In verse 11 the word used is “ruwm”(Strong’s 7311) which, rather than suggestingtaking away, actually means exalted or liftedup. According to Strong’s concordance, Danielused this word in chapter 5 verse 20, speakingof Nebuchadnezzar’s heart being lifted up(ruwm) and then again in verse 23, whereBelshazzar lifted up (ruwm) his heart againstGod. Also in Daniel 11:36, speaking of the kingof the north “he shall exalt (ruwm) himselfand magnify himself above every god” and inDaniel 12:7, speaking of the man clothed inlinen when he “held up (ruwm) his right handand his left hand unto heaven”. It is clearfrom Daniel’s use of the word ruwm thatwhatever the term daily is, in verse 11—it wasexalted or lifted up.

This is a very important issue since neitherPagan nor Papal Rome lifted up or exaltedwhat is considered the new view of the daily(Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary),whereas Paganism (the pioneer view) wasexalted by Pagan Rome.


In contrast to chapter 8 verse 11, in chapter11 verse 31, Daniel uses the word “suwr”(Strong’s 5493 meaning to take away), in whichthe daily is actually taken away in order toplace the abomination that maketh desolate.Also in chapter 12 verse 11, the year 508begins the 1290 year prophecy, for in 508 thelast of the 7 barbaric tribes came into a church-state relationship with the Papacy, thus markingwhen Paganism was taken away. The 1290years end in 1798—when the pope was takencaptive. It is evident that the daily (paganism)was taken away and removed in 508, but notso in chapter 8 verse11, for in this versePaganism was to be exalted. How did thishappen?

How was Paganism exalted by Rome? AsRome conquered the surrounding nations shewould bring those conquered nations ‘gods’back to Rome, and then place them in thePantheon Temple to be worshiped. In thissense Rome exalted Paganism: Rome acceptedPaganism’s various forms, creeds and godsand then Rome lifted up and exalted them byplacing them into their own special room in thetemple of the gods, which is once again, thePantheon Temple.

At this point it would be well to note thatDaniel used two different Hebrew words thatare translated into English as sanctuary. InDaniel 8:11 he uses the word “miqdash”(Strong’s 4720) which can refer to either God’ssanctuary or to a heathen sanctuary. Twoverses later, in verse 13, and also in verse14,he uses the word “qodesh”, which can onlyrefer to God’s sanctuary. The question arises;why did he use two different words in suchclose proximity? Is he being careless? I thinknot.

In addition to the distinction between twodifferent words that are both translated assanctuary, the verse states that it was the“place” of his sanctuary that was cast down.Heaven is the place of God’s sanctuary andno earthly power can cast down heaven.Applying the pioneer understanding that thesanctuary of this verse represents thePantheon Temple, this verse then parallels thetime prophecy in Daniel 11:24.

In verse 24, Pagan Rome forecasts herdevices against (Strong’s 5921 which can alsomean from) the strongholds for a time or for360 years. In the year 31 BC Rome conqueredEgypt and began to rule the world supremely.360 years later Constantine left Rome andrelocated the capita l of his empire toConstantinople in the year 330. Historians cansee no earthly reason why he would removehis capital to such a remote area, however ithad been foretold by God, in Daniel 8:11 aswell as Daniel 11:24 and in Revelation 13:2. Asa result of this move the “place” (the city ofRome) of his “sanctuary” (the PantheonTemple) was cast down, and his seat (the cityof Rome) was given to Papal Rome. Ezekiel28:18 lends support to the suggestion that“miqdash” can refer to a Pagan sanctuary asit states that Satan has defiled his “sanctuaries”(miqdash).

In contrast “qodesh” (Strong’s 6944) canonly refer to God’s sanctuary. There is littlecontroversy throughout mainstream Adventismthat the sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:13,14 refer to God’s heavenly sanctuary.

VERSE 12And an host was given him

against the daily sacrifice byreason of transgression, and itcast down the truth to theground; and it practised, andprospered.

Here, the armies of the seven kings (anhost) came to the aid of the Papacy,conquering and destroying until the Ostrogoths,the last of the three horns (Daniel 7:8, 20),were finally driven from Rome. From this pointin time “it” (feminine, Papal Rome) cast truthto the ground, practiced and prospered as the1260 years of Papal cruelty began. The term“transgression of desolation found in Daniel8:13”, is suggesting an unlawful relationship, acombinat ion of church and state, a“transgression.” In 533, Justinian decreed thebishop of Rome to be the head of all thechurches and the corrector of heretics. Thisdecree gave Rome power over the consciencesof men and was enforced by the power of thestate. This combination of church and statewas a “transgression of desolation”.


The question asked in verse 13 brings evenmore light as does also an understanding ofthe word vision. “Then I heard one saintspeaking, and another saint said unto thatcertain saint which spake, How long shall bethe vision concerning the daily sacrifice, andthe transgression of desolation, to give boththe sanctuary and the host to be troddenunder foot?” To paraphrase, the question is:“How long will the daily and the transgressionof desolation tread down both God’s peopleand his sanctuary?” Here the pioneer positionof the “daily” is sound and the new view doesnot make sense. Let me explain.

Two words “chazown” (Strong’s 2377 whichmeans the entire vision) and “mar’eh” (Strong’s4758 meaning an appearance or snapshot) areboth translated by the King James translatorsinto English as vision, and therein lays theproblem.

The question in verse 13 is: “How longshall be the entire (Chazown) vision concerningthe daily and the transgression of desolationto tread down both the (heavenly) sanctuaryand the host (God’s people)? The questionconcerns the entire vision. It includes all ofPaganism, beginning with Babylon, (thoughBabylon is prophet ical ly impl ied andacknowledged), then Medo-Persia, then Greecefollowed by Pagan Rome—only to be thenfollowed by the Papal Rome. The idea that thedaily is Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuaryis not consistent with the fact that Christ didnot enter the heavenly sanctuary until afterhis ascension. Again the question is not “when”but “how long” and the answer is that bothPaganism and the Papacy would tread downGod’s sanctuary and His people.

This brings us to “mareh” the second wordtranslated as vis ion. The Hebrew word“mar’eh” meaning appearance or snapshot isused in Daniel 8:16. To summarize verses 15and 16, after Daniel had seen the entire(chazown, verse 15) vision, he heard a voicetell Gabriel to make him understand thesnapshot (mareh) vision. Presumably there wassomething that Daniel didn’t understand aboutthe vision. Some small portion of the vision,some snapshot, some “mareh”. Verse 17 bringsillumination, where Gabriel states; “Understand,

O son of man: for at the time of the end shallbe the (mareh, snapshot) vision.”

Daniel saw something at the very end ofthe vis ion that he did not understand.Subsequently Gabriel begins at the verybeginning of the vision, specifically naming thekingdoms of Medo-Persia and Greece. Afterthis Gabriel tells Daniel about a nation who woulddestroy many. This was done by both Paganand Papal Rome. This vision in Daniel 8portrayed two false systems of religion warringagainst God’s people and His sanctuary, firstPagan Rome and finally those who wereprofessing to be followers of the Son of God(Papal Rome). Note that throughout this visionthere is a repeat and enlarging of the visionsof Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. Daniel was heartsickat the destruction he saw of God’s people andHis sanctuary. Verse 27 states that he faintedand was sick certain days. In verse 26 Gabrielstates that the (mareh, snapshot) vision ofthe evening and morning which was told is true.In other words he saw a picture of the eveningand morning. What would this be? It mustobviously be related to the sanctuary and itssacrifices. I would suggest that he saw apicture of the sanctuary in 1844 with Christ asour High Priest as He moved from the HolyPlace into the Most Holy Place to begin thework of judgment and the blotting out of sins.A quote from The Great Controversy seemsto lend support for this proposal:

“The coming of Christ as our high priestto the most holy place, for the cleansing ofthe sanctuary, brought to view in Dan. 8:14;the coming of the Son of man to the Ancientof days, as presented in Dan. 7:13; and thecoming of the Lord to his temple, foretoldby Malachi, are descriptions of the sameevent; and this is also represented by thecoming of the bridegroom to the marriage,described by Christ in the parable of theten virgins, of Matthew 25.” The Great Con-troversy, 426.

Again using the rule of “repeat and enlarge”you can see that in Daniel 7:13, Daniel sawJesus going to His Father. In Daniel 8:14 hesaw that Jesus was not only God’s Son, butthat he was our High Priest as well and


personally involved in the work of the blottingout of sin.

Daniel was told in the last half of verse 26,to shut up the (chazown, complete, entire)vision for it shall be for many days (2300 years).In verse 27, Daniel explains that he wasastonished at the (snapshot, mareh) vision butnone understood.

Daniel 11:31 also speaks of the daily;however the word (suwr) used here actuallymeans to take away.

DANIEL 11:31And arms shall stand on his

part, and they shall pollute thesanctuary of strength, and shalltake away the daily sacrifice,and they shall place theabomination that makethdesolate.

Here the subject of the verse is the arms(seven kings of Daniel 7). These seven kingspolluted the sanctuary (miqdash) of strengthoften, in that the city of Rome was the sceneof many military battles. Not only did theseseven kings individually renounce Paganism, asthey accepted Catholicism, they also came tothe aid of the Papacy. The process which beganwhen Clovis of France in 496, declared himselfto be Catholic, ended as England the last ofthese seven tribes accepted the Catholic faithin the year 508. Again, the word “suwr” literallymeans to take away and that is exactly whathappened to the daily (Paganism). Being inalliance with the Papacy, they warred againstthe three tribes that had accepted the Arianform of Christianity. By the year 538 theOstrogoths, the last of these remaining tribes,was decimated and driven from the city ofRome. Rome no longer had any rivals and theabomination that maketh desolate was placedor set up.

Again the pioneer position is sound andconsistent whereas; the new view is inconsistentwith the answer given in verse 14. The questionwas; how long is the entire vision? The answerwas 2300 days (years) and then the sanctuaryshall be cleansed. Accepting the new view thatthe daily is Christ’s work in the heavenlysanctuary presents a problem with the 2300

days. Beginning at the year 100, being theearliest date that the mystery of iniquity wasat work to take away Christ’s work in thesanctuary, and adding 2300 years, one wouldarrive at the year 2400. This would result inthe sanctuary being cleansed at approximately2400. Obviously this view not only destroysthe 1844 movement, but cannot be reconciledwith either Daniel 9:25 (the starting date ofthe 2300 years prophecy) nor Daniel 12:11,12,which sets forth the 1290 and 1335 yearprophecies.

DANIEL 12:11–12And from the time that the

daily sacrifice shall be takenaway, and the abomination thatmaketh desolate set up, thereshall be a thousand two hundredand ninety days. Blessed is hethat waiteth, and cometh to thethousand three hundred and fiveand thirty days.

Upon using the marginal reading, the versestates that from the time the daily is takenaway “to set up” the abomination that makethdesolate there shall be a thousand two hundredand ninety days. Verse 10 speaks of the timeperiod when God’s people would be made white,purified, and tried. This prophecy must bespeaking of that period of Papal rule duringthe Dark Ages which began in 538. Thirty yearsearlier, in the year 508 Paganism had beentaken away. Adding 1290 years to 508 takesus to the year 1798—the very year that thedeadly wound was inflicted. This position makesperfect sense and all the dates have historicalsignificance. The new view is again notconsistent with the historic facts.

In addition, verse 12 pronounces a blessingon those who come to the 1335 days. Again,beginning at 508 as the starting point andadding 1335 years (Year-day principle), youcome to the year 1843. This blessing is directlyrelated to the first and second angels’ messageand is also mentioned in Revelation 14:13. Inthe context of the third angels’ messages, Johnwrites:


Blessed are the dead whichdie in the Lord from henceforth:Yea, saith the Spirit, that theymay rest from their labours; andtheir works do follow them.

There was a special blessing pronouncedupon those who came to this time period. Herewe are speaking of the very pioneers who withEllen White brought us truth in its purity andwent in by faith into the Most Holy, throughthe open door of Revelation 3:7, given to thechurch of Philadelphia.

In closing I could ask this question; whyexpend so much energy in order to opposesuch a seemingly trivial issue? Is the daily atrivial issue? The Pioneer view is that it isPaganism, the work of Satan. The new view isthat it is Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary.These views are diametrically opposed to oneanother. Both views cannot be correct. It mustbe one or the other. The pioneers are inagreement with Sister White’s statement inEarly Writings page 74, quoted at the beginningof this article. Advocates of the new viewsuggest that that statement dealt mainly withtime setting. Can we take this to suggest thatthe statement; that “nearly all were united inthe ‘correct’ view of the daily” is unimportant?God forbid! If so, where do we pick and chooseas to what is truth or what is error? Anotherissue, 1 Corinthians 14:32–33 states:

And the spirit of the prophetsare subject to the prophets. ForGod is not the author ofconfusion, but of peace, as inall churches of the saints.

In this article we have shown that there isno disagreement between the pioneers, EllenWhite or Daniel.

One final thought in support of the pioneerposition. In Daniel 8:19 Gabriel tells Daniel thathe will make Daniel know what shall be in the“last end” of the indignation. This suggeststhat there is a “first end” of the indignation.Does it not?

William Miller saw the end of the indignationas the fulfillment of 2520 years of God’sindignation against His people for their breakingof the covenant, as set forth in Leviticus 26.

Miller started the time prophecy in 677BC, whenManassas, king of the two tribes that madeup the southern kingdom—was carried toBabylon by the Assyrians.

Hiram Edson agreed with Miller in the sensethat he too, recognized the “seven times” ofLeviticus 26 as the time of God’s indignationagainst His people because of their rejectionof the covenant. Edson however, identifies thestarting date as 723BC, when Israel, thenorthern 10 tribes—went into captivity by theAssyrians. As stated earlier, 1260 years ofPagan oppression added to the 1260 years ofPapal oppression takes you to 1798, which wasthe year that the Papacy received the deadlywound. The point is that there are two partsof the indignation. This lends support to thepioneer position on Daniel 8:13.

Often when discussing the daily, the newview advocates wi l l use El len White ’sstatements that we should not get intoarguments concerning the daily. I agree! Weshould avoid arguments, or disagreements atall cost, unless we are being directed by theLord to do so. However, there has been a majorchange of position. At the time period whenSister White commented upon the argumentthat was taking place about the daily in thebook of Daniel—nearly all were united on thecorrect view of the daily and she was veryconcerned about God’s people having a unitedfront. Consistently when dealing with this issue,she would use the statement; “at this time”,or “in this present situation” and other similarqualifiers. It seems to me that times havechanged. Presently nearly all the leaders areunited in a false understanding of the daily inregards to these verses. Yes, the Papacy hastrampled down truth to the ground. It hasdirectly assaulted both God’s people and Hissanctuary. Yes, he has spoken great wordsagainst the Most High, but as can be seen inthis article, the new view is inconsistent withthe book of Daniel; specifically in Daniel 8 verses11 and 13 as well as Daniel 11:31 and Daniel12:11. Its inconsistent with Leviticus 26. A faultyexegesis of these verses as a basis for oursanctuary message can only weaken ourmessage.

Where are the watchmen on the walls ofZion?


Why do I believe the third woe began onSeptember 11, 2001?

Part One

By Jeff Pippenger

There are many points of truth that mustbe established before we arrive at the pointwhere we specifically address the third woe.

In past issues of our monthly newsletterswe have set forth certain prophetic principles.Though we acknowledge that very few peoplehave read these magazines, I intend to refer tosome of those previously identified principlesin ‘a matter of fact’ style. If you are new toour prophetic discussions, and wish to catchup, our previous newsletters are on theministry website at future-news.org.

The pioneers were correct on theirunderstanding of the seven trumpets, the sevenseals and the seven churches. Their basicapproach to the churches, seals and trumpetsis most certainly part of the foundationalunderstandings that Sister White warns willcome under attack in the final controversy.

Those who would unsettle theThose who would unsettle theThose who would unsettle theThose who would unsettle theThose who would unsettle theestablished faithestablished faithestablished faithestablished faithestablished faith

“I saw a company who stood well guardedand firm, giving no countenance to thosewho would unsettle the established faith ofthe body. God looked upon them with ap-probation. I was shown three steps—thefirst, second, and third angels’ messages.Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to himwho shall move a block or stir a pin of thesemessages. The true understanding of thesemessages is of vital importance. The des-The des-The des-The des-The des-tiny of souls hangs upon the mannertiny of souls hangs upon the mannertiny of souls hangs upon the mannertiny of souls hangs upon the mannertiny of souls hangs upon the mannerin which they are receivedin which they are receivedin which they are receivedin which they are receivedin which they are received.’

“I was again brought down throughthese messages, and saw how dearly thepeople of God had purchased their experi-ence. It had been obtained through muchsuffering and severe conflict. God had ledthem along step by step, until He had

placed them upon a solid, immovablea solid, immovablea solid, immovablea solid, immovablea solid, immovableplatformplatformplatformplatformplatform. I saw individuals approach theplatform and examine the foundation.Some with rejoicing immediately steppedupon it. Others commenced to find fault withthe foundation. They wished improvementsmade, and then the platform would be moreperfect, and the people much happier. Somestepped off the platform to examine it anddeclared it to be laid wrong. But I saw thatnearly all stood firm upon the platform andexhorted those who had stepped off to ceasetheir complaints; for God was the MasterBuilder, and they were fighting againstHim. They recounted the wonderful workof God, which had led them to the firm plat-form, and in union raised their eyes toheaven and with a loud voice glorified God.This affected some of those who had com-plained and left the platform, and they withhumble look again stepped upon it.

“I was pointed back to the proclamationof the first advent of Christ. John was sentin the spirit and power of Elijah to preparethe way of Jesus. Those who rejected thetestimony of John were not benefited by theteachings of Jesus. Their opposition to themessage that foretold His coming placedthem where they could not readily receivethe strongest evidence that He was theMessiah. Satan led on those who rejectedthe message of John to go still farther, toreject and crucify Christ. In doing this theyplaced themselves where they could notreceive the blessing on the day of Pente-cost, which would have taught them theway into the heavenly sanctuary. The rend-ing of the veil of the temple showed thatthe Jewish sacrifices and ordinances wouldno longer be received. The great Sacrificehad been offered and had been accepted,and the Holy Spirit which descended on theday of Pentecost carried the minds of thedisciples from the earthly sanctuary to theheavenly, where Jesus had entered by Hisown blood, to shed upon His disciples thebenefits of His atonement. But the Jews


were left in total darkness. They lost all thelight which they might have had upon theplan of salvation, and still trusted in theiruseless sacrifices and offerings. The heav-enly sanctuary had taken the place of theearthly, yet they had no knowledge of thechange. Therefore they could not be ben-efited by the mediation of Christ in the holyplace.

“Many look with horror at the course ofthe Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ;and as they read the history of His shame-ful abuse, they think they love Him, andwould not have denied Him as did Peter, orcrucified Him as did the Jews. But God whoreads the hearts of all, has brought to thetest that love for Jesus which they professedto feel. All heaven watched with the deep-est interest the reception of the first angel’smessage. But many who professed to loveJesus, and who shed tears as they read thestory of the cross, derided the good news ofHis coming. Instead of receiving the mes-sage with gladness, they declared it to be adelusion. They hated those who loved Hisappearing and shut them out of thechurches. Those who rejected the first mes-sage could not be benefited by the second;neither were they benefited by the mid-night cry, which was to prepare them toenter with Jesus by faith into the most holyplace of the heavenly sanctuary. And byrejecting the two former messages, theyhave so darkened their understanding thatthey can see no light in the third angel’smessage, which shows the way into the mostholy place. I saw that as the Jews crucifiedJesus, so the nominal churches had cruci-fied these messages, and therefore theyhave no knowledge of the way into the mostholy, and they cannot be benefited by theintercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews,who offered their useless sacrifices, theyoffer up their useless prayers to the apart-ment which Jesus has left; and Satan,pleased with the deception, assumes a reli-gious character, and leads the minds of

these professed Christians to himself, work-ing with his power, his signs and lying won-ders, to fasten them in his snare. Some hedeceives in one way, and some in another.He has different delusions prepared to af-fect different minds. Some look with horrorupon one deception, while they readily re-ceive another. Satan deceives some withSpiritualism. He also comes as an angel oflight and spreads his influence over theland by means of false reformations. Thechurches are elated, and consider that Godis working marvelously for them, when itis the work of another spirit. The excite-ment will die away and leave the world andthe church in a worse condition than be-fore.

“I saw that God has honest childrenamong the nominal Adventists and thefallen churches, and before the plaguesshall be poured out, ministers and peoplewill be called out from these churches andwill gladly receive the truth. Satan knowsthis; and before the loud cry of the thirdangel is given, he raises an excitement inthese religious bodies, that those who haverejected the truth may think that God iswith them. He hopes to deceive the honestand lead them to think that God is stillworking for the churches. But the light willshine, and all who are honest will leave thefallen churches, and take their stand withthe remnant.” Early Writings, 259–261.

Sister White not only raises a warningabout an attack upon the foundations, but shecompares the Millerite time-period, when thefoundations were established, to the time-period when Christ walked among men. Sheemphasizes that in both the days representedby John the Baptist through Pentecost and thedays represented by William Miller throughthe disappointment of 1844, we see apurification process brought upon God’sfollowers that is used among other things togather a remnant of people together as God’sdispensation changes.


In the days of Christ the dispensation waschanging from the earthly sanctuary to theheavenly. In the days of Miller and hisassociates the dispensation was changing fromChrist’s holy place ministry unto the MostHoly Place ministry. We are now approachinga time-period when the dispensation ofjudgment changes from the judgment of thedead unto the judgment of the living. Both thehistory of the Millerites, and of the historyof the days when Christ walked among menillustrate that a purification process takesplace in connection with a change ofdispensations.

The stories of Moses and Noah are alsohistories when a dispensation was changed.Noah served when the focus of worship wasthe gates of the Garden of Eden, and Noahserved in a time when the focus of worshipwas changed to altars. Moses served whenworship changed from altars unto the earthlysanctuary. In both stories, we find that apurification of God’s people took place duringthe change of dispensations. Upon thetestimony of two, a thing is established; andwe have just considered that the time of Noah,Moses, John the Baptist and William Millerwere times which identified a purificationprocess that is brought upon God’s peopleduring a change of dispensations. This is thetestimony of four, not simply two.

That being stated, we are still attemptingto discuss the pioneer understandings of theseals, trumpets and churches in the book ofRevelation. The pioneer understanding of thetrumpets, seals and churches was built uponlong-held and well-recognized rules ofprophecy that were considered to be accurateby a good part of the Protestant world—and itwas ‘the Protestant world’ in a time-periodwhen ‘the Protestant world’ still rememberedwhat the distinctions between Protestant andCatholic are. Plus: the pioneers had William

Miller’s rules of interpretation, and Miller’srules are still valid. They are still easilydefendable. They have also been endorsed byinspiration.

Angels of heaven were guiding hisAngels of heaven were guiding hisAngels of heaven were guiding hisAngels of heaven were guiding hisAngels of heaven were guiding hismindmindmindmindmind

“Endeavoring to lay aside all precon-ceived opinions, and dispensing with com-mentaries, he [Miller] compared scripturewith scripture by the aid of the marginalreferences and the concordance. He pur-sued his study in a regular and methodicalmanner; beginning with Genesis, and read-ing verse by verse, he proceeded no fasterthan the meaning of the several passagesso unfolded as to leave him free from allembarrassment. When he found anythingobscure, it was his custom to compare it withevery other text which seemed to have anyreference to the matter under consider-ation. Every word was permitted to haveits proper bearing upon the subject of thetext, and if his view of it harmonized withevery collateral passage, it ceased to be adifficulty. Thus whenever he met with apassage hard to be understood he found anexplanation in some other portion of theScriptures. As he studied with earnestprayer for divine enlightenment, thatwhich had before appeared dark to his un-derstanding was made clear. He experi-enced the truth of the psalmist’s words: ‘Theentrance of Thy words giveth light; it givethunderstanding unto the simple.’ Psalm119:130.

“With intense interest he studied thebooks of Daniel and the Revelation, employ-ing the same principles of interpretation asin the other scriptures, and found, to hisgreat joy, that the prophetic symbols couldbe understood. He saw that the prophecies,so far as they had been fulfilled, had beenfulfilled literally; that all the various fig-ures, metaphors, parables, similitudes, etc.,were either explained in their immediateconnection, or the terms in which they were


expressed were defined in other scriptures,and when thus explained, were to be liter-ally understood. ‘I was thus satisfied,’ hesays, ‘that the Bible is a system of revealedtruths, so clearly and simply given that thewayfaring man, though a fool, need not errtherein.’—Bliss, page 70. Link after link ofthe chain of truth rewarded his efforts, asstep by step he traced down the great linesof prophecy. Angels of heaven wereAngels of heaven wereAngels of heaven wereAngels of heaven wereAngels of heaven wereguiding his mind and opening theguiding his mind and opening theguiding his mind and opening theguiding his mind and opening theguiding his mind and opening theScriptures to his understandingScriptures to his understandingScriptures to his understandingScriptures to his understandingScriptures to his understanding.” TheGreat Controversy, 320.

The pioneers reasoned that the sixth andseventh church represented their day-and-age.They believed that the sixth seal began justprior to “the time of end,” which they definedas beginning in 1798. They also recognizedthat sixth seal concluded at the second comingof Christ. It is easily established in God’sprophetic word that the sixth seal begins inthe mid-nineteenth century and concludeswhen Jesus returns. The pioneer position onthe sixth seal is still sound. The falling of thestars in the sixth seal is the same event thatJoel spoke about, and that Jesus spoke aboutwhen He was paraphrasing Joel.

And it shall come to passafterward, that I will pour outmy spirit upon all flesh; andyour sons and your daughtersshall prophesy, your old menshall dream dreams, your youngmen shall see visions: And alsoupon the servants and upon thehandmaids in those days will Ipour out my spirit.

And I will show wonders inthe heavens and in the earth,blood, and fire, and pillarsof smoke. The sun shall beturned into darkness, and themoon into blood, before the

great and the terrible dayof the Lord come.

And it shall come to pass,that whosoever shall call on thename of the Lord shall bedelivered: for in mount Zion andin Jerusalem shall bedeliverance, as the Lord hathsaid, and in the remnant whomthe Lord shall call.

For, behold, in those days,and in that time, when I shallbring again the captivity ofJudah and Jerusalem, I willalso gather all nations, and willbring them down into the valleyof Jehoshaphat, and will pleadwith them there for my peopleand for my heritage Israel, whomthey have scattered among thenations, and parted my land.

And they have cast lots formy people; and have given a boyfor an harlot, and sold a girlfor wine, that they mightdrink.Yea, and what have ye todo with me, O Tyre, and Zidon,and all the coasts of Palestine?will ye render me a recompense?and if ye recompense me, swiftlyand speedily will I return yourrecompense upon your own head;Because ye have taken my silverand my gold, and have carriedinto your temples my goodlypleasant things: The childrenalso of Judah and the childrenof Jerusalem have ye sold untothe Grecians, that ye mightremove them far from their


border. Behold, I will raise themout of the place whither ye havesold them, and will return yourrecompense upon your own head:And I will sell your sons andyour daughters into the hand ofthe children of Judah, and theyshall sell them to the Sabeans,to a people far off: for theLord hath spoken it.

Proclaim ye this among theGentiles; Prepare war, wake upthe mighty men, let all the menof war draw near; let them comeup: Beat your plowshares intoswords, and your pruninghooksinto spears: let the weak say,I am strong. Assembleyourselves, and come, all yeheathen, and gather yourselvestogether round about: thithercause thy mighty ones to comedown, O Lord. Let the heathenbe wakened, and come up to thevalley of Jehoshaphat: for therewill I sit to judge all theheathen round about. Put ye inthe sickle, for the harvest isripe: come, get you down; forthe press is full, the vatsoverflow; for their wickednessis great.

Multitudes, multitudes in thevalley of decision: for the dayof the Lord is near in the valleyof decision.

The sun and the moon shall bedarkened, and the stars shallwithdraw their shining.

The Lord also shall roar outof Zion, and utter his voicefrom Jerusalem; and the heavensand the earth shall shake: butthe Lord will be the hope ofhis people, and the strength ofthe children of Israel.

So shall ye know that I amthe Lord your God dwelling inZion, my holy mountain: thenshall Jerusalem be holy, andthere shall no strangers passthrough her any more.

And it shall come to pass inthat day, that the mountainsshall drop down new wine, andthe hills shall flow with milk,and all the rivers of Judahshall flow with waters, and afountain shall come forth of thehouse of the Lord, and shallwater the valley of Shittim.

Egypt shall be a desolation,and Edom shall be a desolatewilderness, for the violenceagainst the children of Judah,because they have shed innocentblood in their land.

But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem fromgeneration to generation. For Iwill cleanse their blood that Ihave not cleansed: for the Lorddwelleth in Zion. Joel 2:28-3:21.

This is some of what Jesus paraphrases ofthese previous verses:

Immediately after thetribulation of those daysshall the sun be darkened, and


the moon shall not give herlight, and the stars shall fallfrom heaven, and the powers ofthe heavens shall be shaken.Matthew 24:29.

And then John states in the sixth seal:

And I beheld when he hadopened the sixth seal, and, lo,there was a great earthquake;and the sun became black assackcloth of hair, and the moonbecame as blood; And the starsof heaven fell unto the earth,even as a fig tree casteth heruntimely figs, when she is shakenof a mighty wind. Revelation6:12-13.

Sister White ties all of these propheciesconcerning ‘the falling of the stars’ to theevent that took place in 1833. To reject thepioneer position on the sixth seal requires anexplanation of why the pioneers and SisterWhite so firmly identified that the falling starsin the sixth seal was fulfilled in 1833.

The pioneers made their conclusion of thesixth seal in agreement with the first five seals.The history associated with the first five sealsis what allows you to establish that the fallingstars, in the sixth seal was fulfilled in 1833.The pioneers place the first seal, “behold awhite horse”—in the time period of theEphesian Church. John the Revelator was thehistorical figure associated with the historyrepresented by the white horse that went forthto conquer. During this history the gospel wascarried unto the entire earth. Notice that thefirst seal repeats and enlarges upon the firstchurch.

The pioneers reasoned that just as thechurch of Smyrna represented the persecutionthat roughly took place from the year 100

through the year 321, so too the second seal,the other “horse that was red” repeated andenlarged upon the history represented by thechurch of Smyrna.

The third church of Pergamos paralleledthe third seal and “a black horse” ofcompromise, representing the history ofcompromise as illustrated by Constantine andthe aftermath of his work of introducingpaganism into Christianity. The church ofThyatira is the Dark Ages of papal rule. Thishistory is repeated and enlarged upon in thefourth seal with “a pale horse” of death anddarkness.

Before we continue the preceding thought,take note that the structure of the sevenchurches, seals, and trumpets tie all threehistories together. With the seals, the first fourseals are represented by a horse. The last threeseals are not. With the trumpets the first fourtrumpets are trumpets, but the last threetrumpets are woes. Upon the testimony of twoa thing is established. There must be someprophetic distinction between the first fourand the last three churches. There is of coursea valid understanding of this distinction, butwe will leave that off for now.

The churches, seals and trumpets are tiedtogether internally within the book ofRevelation. The churches, seals, and trumpetsare prophetically one unit. They all reach theirconclusion in the seventh church, seal, ortrumpet, and they each have the first foursymbols distinguished differently from thelast three symbols. The three symbolic linesof history progress in a fashion that preparesthe student to understand each of the followingsymbols.

The first seal represents the historybeginning at the cross, until the year 100. Fromthat point the second seal sets forth thepersecution time-period from 100 to 321. Thethird seal takes the history from the church


of compromise in 321, until the fruits of thecompromise established the papacy on thethrone of the earth in 538. The fourth sealidentifies 538 through 1798, and then thereis a break in continuity.

There are no more horses, and in the fifthseal we see a question raised that highlightsthe role of 144,000 at the end of the world.The fifth seal repeats and enlarges upon thehistory of the fourth seal, in the sense that itidentifies the cry of the martyrs that took placein the Dark Ages of the fourth seal. This is apurposeful connection by Inspiration. Butalthough the fifth seal is repeating andenlarging upon the fourth seal, it is moreimportantly developing the truth that the sixthand seventh seal address so specifically. Thattruth being: the development of the 144,000.

The fifth seal asks “When God’s justicewill be executed against the wicked?” it asks,“When will God’s justice be executed againstthe wicked who have persecuted God’speople?” The answer introduces the reader tothe fact that there would be one more bloodbath against God’s people at the end of theworld.

That blood bath takes place in the historyof the development of the 144,000. Thepioneer argument about the sixth sealrepresenting the Millerite time-period isbased upon their analysis of the first five seals.The pioneer understanding of the historiesrepresented in the seals is supported by actualhistory and by the historians, as is the historyrepresented by the seven churches and thehistory represented by the seven the trumpets.The history of the churches is repeated andenlarged upon in the seals, and it is repeatedand enlarged upon in the trumpets.

God’s prophetic word is illustrated andestablished through the employment of severalspecific rules. One of those rules is called“repeat and enlarge”. The rule of repeat and

enlarge informs us that one line of prophetictestimony is to build upon other lines ofprophetic testimony—line upon line, here alittle, there a little.

I have also spoken by theprophets, and I have multipliedvisions, and used similitudes,by the ministry of the prophets.Hosea 12:10.

The principle of repeat and large goes onto teach that when a prophetic line of historyis set forth by inspiration, that the followinglines of prophetic truth are not only to bebrought together with other similar lines, butthe rule also identifies that when the propheticline is repeated, it enlarges the informationassociated with the overall prophetic line ofhistory that is being built upon.

The thing that hath been, itis that which shall be; and thatwhich is done is that which shallbe done: and there is no newthing under the sun. Is thereany thing whereof it may be said,See, this is new? it hath beenalready of old time, which wasbefore us. Ecclesiastes 1:9,10.

Now all these things happenedunto them for ensamples: and theyare written for our admonition,upon whom the ends of the worldare come. 1 Corinthians 10:11.

Prophetic lines repeat previous propheticlines, and all the while they enlarge the lightconnected with that particular line of history.The seals need to be approached with a goodunderstanding of repeat and enlarge, or amongother things, we may develop an understandingof the seals that destroys the foundationalpioneer positions.


Correct application of the lines ofprophecy when using the principle of repeatand enlarge always produces a clear and easilyrecognized truth. When you bring theprophet’s testimonies together they alwaysproduce unity, and never confusion.

And the spirits of theprophets are subject to theprophets. For God is not theauthor of confusion, but ofpeace, as in all churches ofthe saints. 1 Corinthians14:32,33.

“RULE IV—To understand doctrine, bringall the scriptures together on the subject youwish to know, then let every word have itsproper influence, and if you can form yourtheory without a contradiction, you cannot bein an error.

“RULE VI—God has revealed things tocome, by visions, in figures and parables, andin this way the same things are often timerevealed again and again, by different visions,or in different figures, and parables. If youwish to understand them, you must combinethem all in one.” Miller’s Works, volume 1.

It can be shown that the historyrepresented by the sixth seal is the samehistory represented in the seventh seal. Theseventh seal repeats and enlarges the sixthseal.

All that is identified in Inspiration, aboutour responsibility to defend the foundationserected by the pioneers, requires that whensomeone in Adventism suggests their own ideaabout what the seals, the churches, or thetrumpets represent, they must first identify andexplain conclusively why they believe thepioneers were and are incorrect.

To simply present a message about thesesubjects that disagrees with the foundationalposition, while making no comment about thepioneer understanding is unacceptable.Teachers of new ideas should always explain

their so-called new light in terms of itsrelationship with old light. Always.

No aftersuppositionsNo aftersuppositionsNo aftersuppositionsNo aftersuppositionsNo aftersuppositions“When the power of God testifies as to

what is truth, that truth is to stand foreveras the truth. No aftersuppositions, con-No aftersuppositions, con-No aftersuppositions, con-No aftersuppositions, con-No aftersuppositions, con-trary to the light God has given aretrary to the light God has given aretrary to the light God has given aretrary to the light God has given aretrary to the light God has given areto be entertained. to be entertained. to be entertained. to be entertained. to be entertained. Men will arise withinterpretations of Scripture which are tothem truth, but which are not truth. Thetruth for this time, God has given us asGod has given us asGod has given us asGod has given us asGod has given us asa foundation for our faith.a foundation for our faith.a foundation for our faith.a foundation for our faith.a foundation for our faith. He Himselfhas taught us what is truth. One will arise,and still another, with new light which con-tradicts the light that God has given un-der the demonstration of His Holy Spirit.

“A few are still alive who passed throughthe experience gained in the establishmentof this truth. God has graciously sparedtheir lives to repeat and repeat till the closeof their lives, the experience through whichthey passed even as did John the apostletill the very close of his life. And the stan-dard-bearers who have fallen in death, areto speak through the reprinting of theirwritings. I am instructed that thus theirtheirtheirtheirtheirvoices are to be heard.voices are to be heard.voices are to be heard.voices are to be heard.voices are to be heard. They are toThey are toThey are toThey are toThey are tobear their testimony as to what con-bear their testimony as to what con-bear their testimony as to what con-bear their testimony as to what con-bear their testimony as to what con-stitutes the truth for this time.stitutes the truth for this time.stitutes the truth for this time.stitutes the truth for this time.stitutes the truth for this time.

“We are not to receive the words of thosewho come with a message that contradictsthe special points of our faith. They gathertogether a mass of Scripture, and pile it asproof around their asserted theories. Thishas been done over and over again duringthe past fifty years. And while the Scrip-And while the Scrip-And while the Scrip-And while the Scrip-And while the Scrip-tures are God’tures are God’tures are God’tures are God’tures are God’s word, and are to bes word, and are to bes word, and are to bes word, and are to bes word, and are to berespected, the application of them, ifrespected, the application of them, ifrespected, the application of them, ifrespected, the application of them, ifrespected, the application of them, ifsuch application moves one pillar fromsuch application moves one pillar fromsuch application moves one pillar fromsuch application moves one pillar fromsuch application moves one pillar fromthe foundation that God has sustainedthe foundation that God has sustainedthe foundation that God has sustainedthe foundation that God has sustainedthe foundation that God has sustainedthese fifty years, is a great mistake.these fifty years, is a great mistake.these fifty years, is a great mistake.these fifty years, is a great mistake.these fifty years, is a great mistake.He who makes such an application knowsnot the wonderful demonstration of theHoly Spirit that gave power and force to thepast messages that have come to the peopleof God.” Coumsels to Writers and Editors,32.


It is the foolish virgins who Christ isaddressing in Luke 24:25:

Then he said unto them, Ofools, and slow of heart tobelieve all that the prophetshave spoken. Luke 24:25.

Christ is essentially saying, O foolishvirgins of Adventism: Your problem is that youare “slow of heart to believe all that theprophets have spoken”. Luke 24:25.

One thing that makes a foolish-virginfoolish—is that they are slow of heart toaccept Bible prophecy. We are to fill our mindwith the prophecies:

FOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELLFOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELLFOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELLFOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELLFOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELLASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUEASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUEASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUEASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUEASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUE

This second epistle, beloved,I now write unto you; in bothwhich I stir up your pure mindsby way of remembrance: That yemay be mindful of the wordswhich were spoken before bythe holy prophets, and of thecommandment of us the apostlesof the Lord and Saviour:

Knowing this first, that thereshall come in the last daysscoffers, walking after theirown lusts, And saying, Where isthe promise of his coming? forsince the fathers fell asleep,all things continue as they werefrom the beginning of thecreation. For this theywillingly are ignorant of, thatby the word of God the heavenswere of old, and the earthstanding out of the water andin the water: Whereby the worldthat then was, being overflowed

with water, perished: But theheavens and the earth, which arenow, by the same word are keptin store, reserved unto fireagainst the day of judgment andperdition of ungodly men. 2Peter 3:1-7.

We are to accept prophecy with a readytrained mind—a ‘mind-full’ of the prophecies,as Peter suggests above. The reason why weshould have our mind-full of the prophecies,according to Peter is that we will have acontroversy over present truth concerning thereturn of Christ; and that the point of thatcontroversy will be the application of the ruleof Bible prophecy called repeat and enlarge!

Peter here teaches that the scoffers whoargue against the final present truth messagewill refuse to accept the correct understandingwhich demonstrates that histories in God’sword illustrate the end of the world. Thescoffers are willingly ignorant of the fact thatGod’s creative word never fails. Peter hereidentifies this truth by employing God’s wordto use the flood of Noah to represent theSecond Coming of Christ. As Peter lifts upthe Bible as the stumbling block that thescoffers reject at the end of the world, he alsoteaches that the principle of repeat and enlargeoperating within God’s word is part of what ismissed by those who are labeled as “scoffers”in our day.

Whom shall he teach knowledge?and whom shall he make tounderstand doctrine? them thatare weaned from the milk, anddrawn from the breasts.

For precept must be uponprecept, precept upon precept;line upon line, line upon line;


here a little, and there alittle:

For with stammering lips andanother tongue will he speak tothis people. To whom he said,This is the rest wherewith yemay cause the weary to rest;and this is the refreshing:yet they would not hear.

But the word of the Lord wasunto them precept upon precept,precept upon precept; line uponline, line upon line; here alittle, and there a little; thatthey might go, and fallbackward, and be broken, andsnared, and taken.

Wherefore hear the word ofthe Lord, ye scornful men, thatrule this people which is inJerusalem. Because ye have said,We have made a covenant withdeath, and with hell are we atagreement; when the overflowingscourge shall pass through, itshall not come unto us: for wehave made lies our refuge, andunder falsehood have we hidourselves: Therefore thus saiththe Lord God, Behold, I lay inZion for a foundation a stone,a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: hethat believeth shall not makehaste. Isaiah 28:9-16.

That passage is a classic in God’s word foremphasizing and identifying the rule of repeatand enlarge. Notice that not only is this ruleaddressed, but there are two groups of people

addressed in the passage: One is the “scornfulmen” that rule over the “people” in“Jerusalem”—and the other are those whowould allow themselves to receive“knowledge” from the Lord. Once again thereare two groups of Adventists here at the endof the world when this passage is fulfilled.

One group will not hear the rule ofprophecy that teaches about repeat and enlarge,“here a little, there a little”, and another groupwho do accept and employ this rule. Noticethat this controversy takes place during the“refreshing” which Sister White clearlyupholds as the latter rain time period. Thepassage is teaching that when Adventism ispurified at the Sunday law, there will be twogroups, the wise and the foolish, those withmark of the beast, those with the seal of God—or: one group who understood and employedthe rule of repeat and enlarge, and one groupwho refuses to accept and apply the rule of—repeat and enlarge.

“You must nevernevernevernevernever, nevernevernevernevernever seek to lift onepin, remove one landmark, that the Lordhas given to his people as truth.

“There is to be no change in the featuresof our work. It is to stand as clear and dis-tinct as prophecy has made it. We are toenter into no confederacy with the world,supposing that by so doing we could do morework.

“WWWWWe have nothing to fear for the fu-e have nothing to fear for the fu-e have nothing to fear for the fu-e have nothing to fear for the fu-e have nothing to fear for the fu-ture, except as we shall forget the wayture, except as we shall forget the wayture, except as we shall forget the wayture, except as we shall forget the wayture, except as we shall forget the waythe Lord has led us, and his teachingthe Lord has led us, and his teachingthe Lord has led us, and his teachingthe Lord has led us, and his teachingthe Lord has led us, and his teachingin our past historyin our past historyin our past historyin our past historyin our past history..... We are now a strongpeople, if we will put our trust in the Lord;for we are handling the mighty truths ofthe word of God. We have everything to bethankful for. If we walk in the light as itshines upon us from the living oracles ofGod, we shall have large responsibilities,corresponding to the great light given usof God. We have many duties to perform,because we have been made the depositar-


ies of sacred truth to be given to the worldin all its beauty and glory. We are debtorsto God to use every advantage he has en-trusted to us to beautify the truth of holi-ness of character, and to send the messageof warning and of comfort, of hope and oflove, to those who are in the darkness oferror and sin.” General Conference DailyBulletin, February 20, 1899.

We have nothing to fear except we forgetthe experience and history of how Godestablished His covenant people at the end ofthe world in the Millerite time-period, or ifwe forget the teachings that He established inthat very history. Or we might say, “We haveeverything to fear of the future if we forgetthe history of the Millerite period and thefoundational truths which the Lord thenestablished.” The work of the Millerites hasbeen lined up with the work of restoration thattook place from the first unto the third decree.It was in the time of the first decree that thefoundations of the temple were laid. TheMillerites are prefigured by Zerubbabel layingthe foundation stone. The 144,000 areprefigured by Zerubbabel placing the capstoneupon the literal temple in the prophetic historyillustrated by Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel,Haggai, Joshua and Zechariah.

The obvious reason that it is dangerous toforget the Millerite history is that it prefiguresour day and age—but you will only recognizethis if you choose to believe that God repeatsand enlarges His many various prophetic lines.We may understand the history of theMillerites, but if we choose not to employ thathistory in order to shine light upon our currenthistory, then we will parallel the experienceof the foolish virgins in the Millerite time-period.

Food for the flockFood for the flockFood for the flockFood for the flockFood for the flock“‘Study to show thyself approved unto

God, a workman that needeth not to beashamed, rightly dividing the word oftruth.’ Learn to take the truths thatLearn to take the truths thatLearn to take the truths thatLearn to take the truths thatLearn to take the truths thathave been revealed, and to handlehave been revealed, and to handlehave been revealed, and to handlehave been revealed, and to handlehave been revealed, and to handlethem in such a way that they will bethem in such a way that they will bethem in such a way that they will bethem in such a way that they will bethem in such a way that they will befood for the flock of God.food for the flock of God.food for the flock of God.food for the flock of God.food for the flock of God.

“We shall meet those who allow theirminds to wander into idle speculationsabout things of which nothing is said in theword of God. God has spoken in the plain-est language upon every subject that af-fects the salvation of the soul. But He de-sires us to avoid all day-dreaming, and Hesays, Go work today in my vineyard. Thenight cometh wherein no man can work.Cease all idle curiosity; watch, and work,and pray. Study the truths that have beenrevealed. Christ desires to break up all va-cant reveries, and He points us to the fieldsripe for the harvest. Unless we work ear-nestly, eternity will overwhelm us with itsburden of responsibility. . . .

“In the days of the apostles the most fool-ish heresies were presented as truth. His-His-His-His-His-tory has been and will be repeatedtory has been and will be repeatedtory has been and will be repeatedtory has been and will be repeatedtory has been and will be repeated.There will always be those who, thoughapparently conscientious, will grasp at theshadow, preferring it to the substance. Theytake error in the place of truth, becauseerror is clothed with a new garment, whichthey think covers something wonderful.But let the covering be removed, and noth-ingness appears.” Notebook Leaflets, vol-ume 2, 158.

Ye shall in no wise believeYe shall in no wise believeYe shall in no wise believeYe shall in no wise believeYe shall in no wise believe

Beware therefore, lest thatcome upon you, which is spokenof in the prophets; Behold, yedespisers, and wonder, andperish: for I work a work inyour days, a work which ye shall


in no wise believe, though aman declare it unto you.Acts:13:40-41.

Notice that Acts here states that there is atime-period at the end of the world when the“despisers” will “wonder” and “perish”. Thereason suggested for those despisersperishing is that God would do a work in theirlifetime that would create two groups withinHis people. The group that perishes is thegroup that refuses to listen to men “declare”“unto” them that there would be “a work” thattakes place “in your days”. The group thatperishes will refuse to recognize the repetitionof history, even though there were men‘declaring’ this very principle “unto” them.This principle is once again: the rule of repeatand enlarge.

In the passage the despisers who perish will“in no wise believe” a message that appliesthe rule of repeat and enlarge. The passage isidentifying our day and age, and we are eitherwise or foolish virgins, so the group that “inno wise believes” the principle that portraysthe end from the beginning, are the unwisebelievers who also are the foolish virgins inthe parable of Matthew 25. What comes uponthe despisers of the message at the end of theworld has been spoken about many timeswithin the prophetic testimonies. That is whatLuke is saying when he states: “Bewaretherefore, lest that come upon you, which isspoken of in the prophets”. There is a specialpunishment for Seventh-day Adventists at theend of the world, and many of the prophetsspeak about this fact.

Readers’ Response

Dear Brother Jeff,May God richly bless you and your ministry as

you continue to proclaim the Three Angel’sMessage to the world. My mom in Mexico andmany brethren greet you and still thank you foryour visit 7 years ago. Use this gift as best youmay need.K.G.—ID

Greetings from Oregon,About 4 months ago I started listening to your

series of tapes (The Overflowing Scourge andThe Purification of the Church). Then I orderedthe Bible school tapes. I have been so blessedto hear our precious historical truth beingproclaimed. I’ve been an SDA for 33 years andI love Jesus, I read daily and I love andappreciated His ways and standards. He is soprecious and reasonable. I’ve been growingcloser to my dear Lord through these tapes.Until now, prophecy and history were so boringand perplexing. Now it is coming alive with muchmeaning and understanding.I write this in hopes of encouraging you to be

strong and of a good courage. Joshua 1. Weare on the threshold of eternity. Oh to see Hisface. What a blessed glorious hope we have.Kathy has been so pleasant and kind to mewhen I call. “Look to Him and be ye saved.”Maranatha.C.H.—OR

Dear Jeff Pippenger,I have been much blessed by your series of

studies dealing with Daniel 10-12. I am 26 andwas raised an Adventist. I never took the timeto study the prophecies. I always held the ideathat they were too hard to understand. BesidesI knew the basic events that would transpirebefore the Lord comes.I have been amazed as I have begun to dig

into some of the prophecies. Not only do theygive much detail, but they also give a firmfoundation to stand on. As I study my mind ibeginning to clear of some misconceptions I held.Thank you for taking the time to write out so

many studies. Your studies along with the Bible,encyclopedia, and other literature on prophecyhave blessed me this past month. I hope youwill be able to use this gift in your ministry.


Maybe you could help me answer a question. In the past I have pulled back from any long termcommitment because I believe the Lord is coming soon. I am now considering taking some medicalmissionary training. I would have to commit at least 6 months, maybe a year. I struggle know whatto do. I don’t want to live my life as if the Lord, as well as the end time events, will not be happeningfor a long time, and yet I have come to a place of decision in my life. Is there anything in the Bibleor Spirit of Prophecy that will shed light? Please send me whatever you can think of.

B.M.—TN

Dear Phyllis (Future News Canada),Thank you for the regular sending of the Newsletters & tapes which I listen to & learn from during

the months.Since the June 2004 change of life situation because ‘Rest accorded to my wife Joy’, I find myself

quite alone in this property & sometimes think of leaving it or sharing it with a young family who needa country living arrangement.I read of the possibility to announce in Future News so here is my small notice:

Country Living CanadaVery Tranquil small new (1993 build) home.Small 28’x 26’ 2 bedrooms, basement all finished.Electronique heat controls & firewood stove included.Property Completely Landscaped with grass & added 3 dozens trees (oak, cedars, maples, pines,

elms, poplars, roses on 4 corners), many flowers and a vegetable garden also.200’x 200’ self contained with its own well & septic system good for a 3 bedroom living accommodation.

A row of rocks to serve as erosion support all along the lake edge.In the south-eastern part of the Province of Quebec about 1 hour to Maine, New Hampshire,

Vermont & New York border crossings and 3 hours to Montreal international airport. Some folks maywant to arrive or depart directly from the lake itself in a small hydroplane. There are only 6 yearround residents on the lake and about 10 seasonal (late spring to September first weekend). Thereare no noisy outboard motors because the lake is not deep enough & is only 3 miles long & not verydeep. I would sell $155000. Canadian: Previously approved mortgage necessary.I would also consider sharing with a faithful young family, if deemed convenient, who could take

over eventually when I am put to rest myself.My home phone is 1-819-549-2816; my email is [email protected] Prayerfully In The Blessed Hope,Reynald Mc Kibbin

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While supplies last we are offering a thumb index E.G. White study Bible covered in blackleather. We will not be ordering any more of these and only 8 copies remain. They are available ona first come first serve basis for the price of $40.00. Call 1-888-278-7744 to order your copy.

For those of you who have access to the internet you can find our current monthly newsletterand all back issues in adobe PDF format at future-news.org. Included on the website is JeffPippenger’s speaking itinerary, an updated Future for America sales list, and a question and answerforum. The question and answer forum is now featuring an open discussion over Daniel chaptertwo. Please join us in searching the scriptures online. We’ll see you there!

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