The Book of Daniel – Number Ten

Change Language... Afrikaans العربية հայերեն Azərbaycan dili беларуская мова Bosanski Български Català 中文 吴语 Hrvatski Čeština Dansk Nederlands Eesti keel Suomi Français Galego Deutsch Ελληνικά עברית हिन्दी Magyar Íslenska Bahasa Indonesia Italiano 日本語 ಕನ್ನಡ Қазақ тілі 한국어 Latviešu valoda Lietuvių kalba Македонски Bahasa Melayu Te Reo Māori मराठी नेपाली Norsk فارسی Polski Português Română Русский Српски Slovenčina Slovenščina Español Kiswahili Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Cymraeg

 

The Process

 

Key Takeaways

• Daniel was taken into captivity for seventy years, as prophesied by Jeremiah.
• Daniel’s captivity continued until the first year of Cyrus.
• The seventy years of captivity symbolize the testing and purification period of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.
• September 11, 2001 marked the beginning of the third Woe of Islam, recognized by those who accept Adventism’s foundational truths.
• The first and second Woes in Revelation were correctly identified as Islam by the pioneers.
• Islam is symbolized as the fifth and sixth Trumpets on the 1843 and 1850 pioneer charts.
• The last three Trumpets are Woe Trumpets.
• The four angels restraining the four winds in Revelation symbolize Islam’s restraint.
• Islam is released to bring “death and destruction” as it seeks to break loose.
• The king of Islam is identified as Abaddon (Hebrew) and Apollyon (Greek), both meaning “death and destruction.”
• The purpose of Islam in Bible prophecy is to unite nations against it and then against Sabbath keepers.
• The testing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand began on September 11, 2001.
• The sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is part of the testing and purification process.
• The seventy years of Daniel’s captivity symbolize the “seven times” of Leviticus 26.
• The “end of the days” represents the conclusion of the symbolic seventy years and “seven times.”
• Daniel’s role at the “end of the days” signifies increased knowledge of Christ and prophecy.
• The sealing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is associated with the “end of the days.”
• Repentance and pardon are emphasized in the work of those who accept the message.
• Daniel chapter two will be discussed in the next article.

 

In Daniel chapter one, Daniel was carried into the captivity of seventy years prophesied by Jeremiah, and continued until the first year of Cyrus.

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. Daniel 1:21.

 

Thus, Daniel lived through the entire history of the seventy years of captivity, until the decree that allowed the return of ancient Israel to rebuild and restore Jerusalem.

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying. Ezra 1:1.

 

Daniel therefore is the symbol of the testing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand that began on September 11, 2001, and continues until the “decree,” which marks the call out of Babylon.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Revelation 18:4, 5.

 

The seventy years of captivity is the testing and purification period of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. On September 11, 2001 the third Woe of Islam arrived. This is only recognized by those who accept the foundational truths of Adventism. The first Woe and the second Woe were both correctly identified as Islam by the pioneers. On both the 1843 and the 1850 pioneer charts, which Ellen White endorsed, and which are identified as a fulfillment of Habakkuk chapter two, Islam is identified as the fifth and sixth Trumpets. The last three Trumpets are Woe Trumpets.

And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! Revelation 8:13.

 

If there are three Woe Trumpets, and the first and second Woe Trumpets are Islam, it is pretty simple to recognize that the third Woe Trumpet is also Islam. An element of the symbol of Islam as Woe Trumpets, is their restraint, and then when they’re released. Sister White identifies the four winds of Revelation seven, as an “angry horse,” seeking to “break loose” and “bring death and destruction” in its wake.

“Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path.

 “Shall we sleep on the very verge of the eternal world? Shall we be dull and cold and dead? Oh, that we might have in our churches the Spirit and breath of God breathed into His people, that they might stand upon their feet and live. We need to see that the way is narrow, and the gate strait. But as we pass through the strait gate, its wideness is without limit.” Manuscript Releases, volume 20, 217.

 

The four angels who are restraining the four winds are restraining the “angry horse” of Bible prophecy that produces death and destruction. In Revelation chapter nine, where the first and second Woe Trumpet are identified, there is a king that is identified. He is identified in Revelation “nine-eleven”.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.   as being over them. Revelation 9:11.

 

The name, and therefore the character of the king of Islam is Abaddon in the Hebrew and Apollyon in the Greek. In both the Old and New Testaments, represented by the Hebrew and the Greek, the character of Islam is found in the definition of the two names. In both words the definition is “death and destruction.” Sister White says the “angry horse” that the four angels are restraining while the one hundred and forty-four thousand are being sealed is seeking to break loose and bring “death and destruction” in its path.

The first reference in the Scriptures to Islam is Ishmael, the father of those who uphold the religion of Islam. In that first reference he is identified as a wild man, and the word translated as “wild” means “the wild Arabian ass”. The first prophetic reference to Islam, is a symbol of the horse family, and a horse is how the pioneers illustrated Islam of the first and second Woes on the two sacred charts. The four winds of Revelation chapter seven, are held in check, or “restrained”, until God seals His people. The sealing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is also the testing process and purification process.

All these prophetic illustrations are represented by Daniel’s captivity for seventy years, beginning with Jehoiakim, the symbol of the empowerment of the first message, until the “decree” that calls men and women out of Babylon. The restraining and then the releasing of Islam is a prophetic characteristic of Islam as a symbol of biblical prophecy.

When they are referred to as the “four winds”, they are held in check while God’s servants are sealed. At the beginning of the second Woe, in the time prophecy of three hundred and ninety-one years and fifteen days that was fulfilled on August 11, 1840, four angels, representing Islam of the second Woe, were “loosed.” At the end of the prophecy, they were “restrained”.

Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. Revelation 9:14, 15.

 

On September 11, 2001, the first message in the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand was empowered, when Islam of the third Woe was “loosed.” But it was immediately “restrained”. Sister White explains why this happened, but first we should remember that the purpose of Islam in its first biblical reference was to anger the nations, for Ishmael’s hand would be against every man, and every man’s hand would be against Islam.

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. Genesis 16:11, 12.

 

The purpose of Islam in Bible prophecy is to unite all nations against Islam, in advance of those United Nations turning their wrath upon Sabbath keepers.  On September 11, 2001 everyone who understands 9/11 as marking the beginning of the repeat of the sequence of the Millerite events has become as “Daniel” when he was taken to Babylon for seventy years. Jehoiakim identifies the starting of that testing process, and Islam of the third Woe was then released, but immediately held in check, so God could seal His people.

“This view was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was of sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and unbelievers. Now the fulfillment of that view is beginning to be seen. ‘The commencement of that time of trouble,’ here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the ‘latter rain,’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” Early Writings, 85.

 

Daniel’s seventy years began on September 11, 2001 when Islam was released and angered the nations by suddenly and unexpectedly striking the earth beast of Revelation thirteen. Islam was then restrained, so the work of the third angel can be finished. The work of the third angel is the sealing of God’s people, and when that work began on September 11, 2001 the Latter Rain began to “sprinkle”. Daniel chapter one is illustrating the testing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, beginning on September 11, 2001, and continuing until the second “voice” of Revelation eighteen calls God’s other flock out of Babylon. Daniel therefore represents a people who are now in spiritual captivity, until the very conclusion of the testing process. The conclusion of the testing period in Daniel chapter one is identified as the “end of the days.”

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. Daniel 1:18–20.

 

The third test, which represents a prophetic litmus test for Daniel and the three worthies, was when they were judged by Nebuchadnezzar, and found to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” The third test is represented by judgment, and the judgment occurred at “the end of the days.” In the book of Daniel, the “end of the days,” is where Daniel stands in his lot.

“‘Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand…. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou (Daniel) thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.’

“The time has come for Daniel to stand in his lot. The time has come for the light given him to go to the world as never before. If those for whom the Lord has done so much will walk in the light, their knowledge of Christ and the prophecies relating to Him will be greatly increased as they near the close of this earth’s history.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible commentary, volume 4, 1174.

 

Sister White identifies the “end of the days” in association with the purification process of verse ten of Daniel chapter twelve. She often employs verse ten, with verse thirteen’s, “end of the days.”

“‘Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand…. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou (Daniel) thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.’

“Daniel is today standing in his lot, and we are to give him place to speak to the people. Our message is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. ‘At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.’

“These words present the work that we are to do in these last days. We are not one-half awake. We have not the power that is essential to the doing of the work that must be done. We must come into life, come into union. Now, just now, we must stand in that position where repentance and pardon shall be the striking features of our work. There must be no quarrelling. It is too late to engage with Satan in his work of blinding eyes. It is too late to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

“I am instructed to say that when the Holy Spirit gives tongue and utterance, we shall see a work done similar to that done on the day of Pentecost. The representatives of Christ will work intelligently. There will not be found one man here and another there seeking to tear down and destroy.

“‘Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you, seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.’” Australian Union Conference Record, March 11, 1907.

 

The sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand that is represented by the seventy years of Daniel’s captivity in Babylon, is represented in Daniel chapter twelve, and verse ten. The verse possesses the signature of “truth” for it identifies the three-steps that are the characteristics of the Hebrew word “truth.” Many shall be purified, made white and then tried. Daniel and the three worthies were purified by the fear of God in chapter one, for they determined not to eat the Babylonian diet. They then demonstrated a countenance that was made fairer and fatter than those who ate the Babylonian food. Their countenance was the righteousness of Christ which is the white garments. They then were tried when they went into the judgment of Nebuchadnezzar, at the end of the days.

At “the end of the days,” when Daniel stands “in his lot”, “knowledge of Christ and the prophecies relating to Him will be greatly increased” for God’s people. Nebuchadnezzar noted that in “all matters of wisdom and understanding,” Daniel and the three worthies were “found” to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

Daniel chapter one is illustrating the experience of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who go through a three-step testing process. Commenting on that process, Sister White says, “These words present the work that we are to do in these last days. We are not one-half awake. We have not the power that is essential to the doing of the work that must be done. We must come into life, come into union. Now, just now, we must stand in that position where repentance and pardon shall be the striking features of our work. There must be no quarrelling.”

The testing process that leads to the “end of the days,” leads to the resurrection of the two witnesses in Revelation chapter eleven. The work we are to do now is to accept the message of September 11, 2001 and wake up, as represented by the dead dry bones. “We must come to life, come into union.” When we do this, the striking features of our work will be our “repentance and pardon.” The striking feature of our work is represented by Daniel in chapter nine, when he prays the Leviticus twenty-six prayer, asking for forgiveness of his sins, and the sins of his fathers, while also acknowledging that he had been walking contrary to God ever since the disappointment that marked the beginning of the tarrying time on July 18, 2020. He must also acknowledge that God had been walking contrary to him during that same period. Daniel represents those that have gone through a captivity of “seventy years” ever since July 18, 2020.

The seventy years is a symbol of the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. The book of Chronicles informs us that the seventy years was the period that the land would “enjoy” the sabbaths which she was not allowed to enjoy due to ancient Israel’s rebellion against the covenant of Leviticus twenty-five.

To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2 Chronicles 36:21.

 

As a symbol of a prophetic “wilderness,” the “three and a half days” that the two witnesses of Revelation eleven were dead in the street after July 18, 2020 is a symbol of the “seventy years”, and also a symbol of the “seven times”. At the “end of the days,” is a symbol of the end of the prophetic days that were sealed up in the book of Daniel.

In 1798, the book of Daniel was unsealed and Daniel stood in his lot, ready to fulfill his purpose.

“When God gives a man a special work to do, he is to stand in his lot and place as did Daniel, ready to answer the call of God, ready to fulfill His purpose.” Manuscript Releases, volume 6, 108.

 

On October 22, 1844, in fulfillment of Daniel chapter eight, and verse fourteen, the book of Daniel once again stood in its lot. 1798, and 1844, are the conclusion of the first and second indignations, and therefore mark the end of “seven times.” The “end of the days” in the book of Daniel is a symbol of the conclusion of a captivity that is represented by the “seven times.” In Daniel chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar lived as a beast while “seven times” passed over him. At “the end of the days,” his kingdom and reason was restored to him.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Daniel 4:34–36.

 

The end of the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is represented as the “end of the days,” and therefore represents the symbolic conclusion of the “seventy years” and also of the “seven times.” At that time, “repentance and pardon” will be the features that represent the work of those who were previously dead in the street that runs through the valley of dead dry bones.

The visible feature of the work of repentance of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is represented in Ezekiel chapter nine, as “signing and crying.” When God’s people confess and put away their personal sins, when they acknowledge that they have repeated the same sins of their fathers, when they set aside their pride of opinion and admit that they have been walking contrary to God, and also that He has been walking contrary to them since the tarrying time arrived on July 18, 2020, they will then be found to have “ten times” more prophetic power than all the other professed wise men in the kingdom.

The sealing process began with the loosing and then the restraining of Islam. That process ends as it began, when Islam is once again released. It is released at the end of the days of the sealing time, which for Daniel was the decree of Cyrus that called men out of Babylon. It is there, at the end of the days of purification, at the judgment of the Sunday law “decree” in the United States, that the faithful will be found to possess “ten times more” prophetic power.

“You are getting the coming of the Lord too far off. I saw the latter rain was coming as [suddenly as] the midnight cry, and with ten times the power.” Spalding and Magan, 5.

 

We will begin the consideration of Daniel chapter two in the next article.

“This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel’s message. Angels were sent from heaven to arouse the discouraged saints and prepare them for the great work before them. The most talented men were not the first to receive this message. Angels were sent to the humble, devoted ones, and constrained them to raise the cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!’ Those entrusted with the cry made haste, and in the power of the Holy Spirit sounded the message, and aroused their discouraged brethren. This work did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power of God, and His saints who heard the cry could not resist it. The most spiritual received this message first, and those who had formerly led in the work were the last to receive and help swell the cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!’” Early Writings, 238.