prophetic interpretation – B I B L E – ONLY

Daniel 11: Who is this “Unknown Power” that will rule the world?

Tony — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study is to establish where the “Unknown Power” begins and ends in the book of Daniel chapter 11:

Method used:

By concentrating on the grammatical pronouns in the Hebrew language, from Dan 11:45 at the end of the chapter, and working verse by verse proceeding backwards to verse Dan 11:16, one comes to the conclusion that we are talking about one power only. The position taken here is, that the Little Horn power mentioned in Dan 7: and Dan 8: is referred to in greater detail with pronouns in Dan 11: Even more, these pronouns in Dan 11: reveal that this power is referring to the Roman Catholic church system of worship governed by the papacy, and does not refer to the King of the North or the King of the South according to this study.

Dan 11:45 “he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.”

This is the end of the Little Horn power taking place at the Second Coming.

All Adventist and Protestant theologians would agree on the interpretation at this point. that this power comes to an end in verse 45.

Dan 11:45 “He shall plant his tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain.”

The Little Horn power which is a symbol of Roman Christianity, has planted her system of worship between the seas of wicked nations, peoples (Isaiah 57:20) around the world and the glorious holy mountain which is a symbol of the heavenly sanctuary. (Heb 8:1. Psalms 76:2). Roman Christianity has obscured the work of Jesus Christ in the heavenly sanctuary by their system of forgiveness and worship through the priests and popes[1].

Dan 11:44 “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.”

The Little Horn power will try to destroy many referring to all those who do not accept the Roman Catholic system of worship. East and the North refers to the enemies of God´s people in the Old Testament (See my study on Rev 16:12). The following nations came from the East and the North of Israel to battle against the Israelite’s: Assyrian, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece and Rome.

Dan 11:43 “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver.”

Gold and silver are symbols of belief. Rev 3:18 Rev 18:9.10.

There will come a time when Roman Christianity will have power over all those who accept her system of worship.

Dan 11:42 “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.”

The land of Egypt from the Old Testament is a symbol of atheism: like Pharaoh who did not recognize the power of God at work through the 10 plagues on Egypt.

Dan 11:41 “He shall also enter the Glorious Land.”

The glorious land is a symbol of Gods kingdom her on earth. There will come a time when the Roman Catholic Church (The Little Horn Power) will enter the protestant kingdom of believers including the Adventist church. Matt 24:24. For false Christ’s and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Many shall be overcome and some will escape. According to the book of Revelation 16:13, the false prophet here would refer to Protestants especially from the USA who have stopped protesting against the Roman Catholic system of worship.

Dan 11:40 has given many problems to our leading theologians in the church. Why? Because they are not using a correct exegesis. They resort to the quick find method like Google on the internet and Bible Commentaries. When you do not do your own exegesis, then you rely on someone doing it for you. That is a great weakness amongst theologians. When relying on other Bible Commentaries, how do you know that they are right?

Let me explain Dan 11:40. “And at the time of the end shall the king of Negev push at him: and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”

Referring to theologians in the Adventist church who take the position that the Little Horn is the King of the North from let´s say verse 22, this gives us a problem. When using the pronouns and nouns for the King of the North right down to verse 39, then you come to verse 40, this same king of the North meets another King of the North. You cannot have two kings of the North. It cannot be his twin brother either. This gives a problem. Not many theologians mention this problem.

The problem is solved if one takes the view that all the pronouns going backwards from verse 45 to verse 16 refer to the Little Horn power only. Hence, the King of the North is another power which we will deal with in another study.

Dan 11:40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him.”

The king of the south will be dealt with in another study. However, this King attacks the little Horn power. Dan 11:40 “And the king of the north shall come against him.” This king also attacks the Little Horn power. So we have two kings attacking the little horn power in verse 40. Actually in the Hebrew it is the Little Horn power who attacks the king of the north and the king of the south. It is not the two powers who do the attacking. See my study on Dan 11:40.

The Little Horn power is referred to as the pronoun “he” and nothing else.

Dan 11:39 The pronoun “he” is used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:38 The pronouns “him” and “he” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:37 The pronouns “him,” “he” and “himself” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:36 The pronouns “he,” “him” and “himself” are used for the Little Horn power.

The noun “King” is also used for the Little Horn power in this verse.

Dan 11:35 No pronouns are used her.

Dan 11:34 No pronouns are used her.

Dan 11:33 No pronouns are used her.

Dan 11:32 The pronoun “he” is used her for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:31 The pronoun “him” is used her for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:30 The pronouns “him” and “he” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:29 The pronoun “he” is used her for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:28 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:27 No pronouns are used her.

Dan 11:26 The pronouns “him” and “he” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:25 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:24 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:23 The pronouns “him” and “he” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:22 The pronoun “him” is used her for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:21 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:20 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:19 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:18 The pronouns “he” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:17 The pronouns “him” and “he” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:16 The pronouns “he,” “his” and “him” are used for the Little Horn power.

Dan 11:16. It seems like the pronouns “he,” “his” and “him” stop here and the preceding verses describe the fight between the king of the North and the King of the South.

Dan 11:16. “But he who comes against him.” “He” refers to the little horn power and “him” refers to the preceding verse power which is the King of the North being the subject of verse 15.

Now if Dan 11:16 is the beginning of the little horn power then there should be some indication from the preceding verses of the other three horns which were trodden down by the little horn as it came to power, as mentioned in Dan 7:8 and Dan 7: 24.

Such a verse implying the three horns is Dan 11:14. www.scripture4all.org “And in those times, there shall be many who stand up against the king of the Negev: also the sons of the robbers of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.”

What does robber mean?

As opposed to the thief on the cross, who comes quietly in the night and steals valuables; the robber comes in broad daylight like the robbers in the parable of the Good Samaritan and uses force to take goods and valuables from a person.

Who is the angel talking to in verse Dan 11:16?

It is Daniel the prophet. Dan 10:1 “In the third year of Cyrus the king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel.”

Who are the robbers of Daniels people during the time the angel was talking to him?

Dan 10:1 the Persians.

Who were the robbers before the Persians?

The Babylonians. Ezek 7:22

From these texts, we can see a picture evolving of the statue of different empires as in Dan 2.

Firstly the Babylonians. Secondly the Medo-Persians. Thirdly the Greeks and fourthly Rome.

What did they rob from Daniels people the Israelites?

Their homeland, Israel and Judah. They were deported from Israel to Babylon during the Babylonian captivity during 586 B.C. and before. When some returned from their captivity, they were subject to these powers by the paying of taxes.

According to Dan 2:40, and Dan 7:7.19, the power following Greece is Rome. Rome was a robber of Daniels people. However, the text says in Daniel 11:14 “sons” of the robbers of your people. They were not actually robbers but “sons” of them. This is the subject of the verse and not “robbers” as many theologians have concluded. So we have to find “sons” in the plural which came after Rome and who have fulfilled the vision. Which vision? The vision as a whole previously given in Dan 7: Dan 8: and Dan 9.

Where do we find a plural of powers which came after Rome and fell?

The ten tribes, which were the foundation of Europe are in the plural, but they did not all fall. There were only three tribes that fell, according to the vision. Dan 7:7.8. Dan 7:20.21.

Dan 7:23.24. These are the three kings Visigoths AD 508, Vandals AD 534, and Ostrogoths AD 538. These are the “sons” of the robbers coming after Rome. Therefore Dan 11:14 is referring to the starting point of the Little Horn power after subduing the three tribes: the “sons” of the robbers. This is also the starting point for the pronouns used for the Little Horn such as “he,” and “him” right through to verse 45.

Conclusion:

From this study, we can say that the little horn power is not mentioned as the king of the north, nor is it referring to the king of the south. The Little Horn has no name or symbol. The Little Horn power is referred to as only in the grammatical pronouns such as “he” and “him.” Why? It may be the same reason why the Roman Catholic Church system or the papacy is not mentioned by name in Rev 13:1-10.

[1] C. Mervyn Maxwell, God Cares, Vol. 1 (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub., 1981), 297.

Revelation 13:18 What does 666 mean?

Tony — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Rev 13:18. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

What does the number 666 mean from the Bible, and the Bible only?

I have read and studied many interpretations of this text, for example 666 means it is the pope’s tiara that sits on his head. The numerical letters in Latin “Vicarius Filii Dei” on the pope´s tiara add up to 666. The Latin words interpreted mean the vicar of the son of God. I have also seen Ellen G. Whites name from my own church denomination to be interpreted to mean 666. But all these explanations do not come from the Bible and Bible only interpretation. They are only speculation or eisegesis.

We really do not need the number, because when we study Rev 13:1-10 we know already that the beast from the sea is the Roman Catholic Church system or organization. When we study Rev 13:1-18 we can also see the subject of the chapter is worship. Who shall we worship? Which church denomination shall we worship God through in the New World Order? Here is a summary of the chapter involving worship:

Rev 13:3. All the world marveled and followed the beast.

Rev 13:4. The dragon gave authority to the beast and they worshiped the beast.

Rev 13:5. He was given authority for 42 months (1260 prophetical days=1260 years=538-1798 A.D. during the Middle Ages).

Rev 13:6. The beast blasphemed God, his name and his tabernacle in heaven.

Rev 13:7. The beast made war with the saints.

Rev 13:8. All who would dwell on the earth will worship the beast whose names have not been written in the book of life.

Rev 13:12. The second beast (protestant USA) causes those who dwell on the earth to worship the first beast (Roman Catholic Church system).

Rev 13:14. The first beast deceives those who dwell on the earth – – – telling them to make an image to the beast (the sea beast).

Rev 13:15. And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Rev 13:16. He causes, both small and great – – – to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.

Rev 13:17. No one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or name of the beast or the number of his name.

OK! So what does the number 666 mean from the Bible?

When using the method “let the Bible itself interpret the Bible,” we find the only other text in the whole of the Bible that states the numerical figures 666, is in the Old Testament: 1 Kings 10:14. The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold.

King Solomon

How much is one talent of gold worth?

The Hebrew talent in conformity with the Canaanite talent consisted of only 3,000 shekels. Its weight was 34.2 kilograms or 75.39 lbs[1].

How many kilograms or lbs. of gold did Solomon receive each year?

666 x 34.2 kilograms =22,777 kilograms

666 x 75.39 lbs. = 50,209 lbs, or 22,415 tons of gold.

Gold price average is $1,225 an oz.

50,209 lbs. x 16 oz. = 803,344 oz.

Total is: 803,344 x $1,225 = $984,096,400 tax free each year.

In 1 kings 11:42 it says that Solomon reigned for 40 years.

40 years x 22,415 tons of gold = 896,600 tons of gold. This is what King Solomon received in his lifetime.

My point with these calculations is, king Solomon was the most richest religious man in the then known world at his time.

When transferring this data over to this present age of 2016 and after, we can ask ourselves, which religious institution is the most wealthiest or richest in the world? The answer is the Roman Catholic Church system. They have a yearly income of $14,000,000,000 tax-free.

The Roman Catholic Church system has 60,350 tons of gold in their vaults around the world. No one knows exactly how much gold the Roman Catholic Church system has stored in its Vatican vaults and other vaults around the world over the many years since it has existed. However, Avro Manhattan who is an expert on the knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church, says that this church is the wealthiest, richest and most powerful institution in the world. ((2))

Nazi gold

The Roman Catholic Church plundered gold from Europe through the Nazis during the II World War. This is a claim made by Alberto Rivera an ex-Jesuit priest from the Roman Catholic church:

https://www.chick.com/bc/2000/riverasclaims.asp

The Roman Catholic Church system has investments in the world’s largest banks and concerns like companies on Wall Street. They have relations with the Mafia and drug barons all over the world[3]. It is not the Federal Reserve Bank who controls the interest rates around the world, but it is the Roman Catholic Church system who controls the Federal Reserve bank, because they have the most gold invested in that bank and the greatest “say so” in what should be done with the global economy. ((4))

Having said all this, what is my point? What relationship is the Roman Catholic Church system to King Solomon? My point is this, that there is a large striking parallel between the two.

1 Kings 10:14. The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was 666 talents of gold. (King Solomon was the most wealthiest religious king in the then known world of his time. 1 Kings 10:23).

1 Kgs 8:54. And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. (King Solomon was deeply religious and had a personal faith in God).

1 Kgs 9:1-9. The Lord appeared to Solomon. Solomon was a prophet like his father King David. Solomon wrote “The Book of Proverbs” and “The Book of Ecclesiastes.”

1 Kgs 11:1-10. King Solomon had seven hundred foreign wives that turned his heart from God and he ended up worshipping other gods. Solomon stopped worshipping the creator God and keeping his commandments for many years of his reign.

Like King Solomon, the Roman Catholic Church began with a strong belief and faith in God and his commandments. Paul writes in Rom 1:7. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God called to be saints. The church in Rome began with true Christians and sincere believers in Christ. However, over the years this church has accepted many other gods and beliefs in false doctrines, which are not Biblical.

These are some of the doctrines the Roman Catholic church have incorporated into their beliefs.

The papacy have changed God´s ten commandments from the original.
The papacy have changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
The papacy worship statues and saints.
The papacy installed the sale of indulgences.
The papacy believe in purgatory.
The papacy believe in the doctrine of Hell.
The papacy installed the practice of priests and prelates can only forgive sins.
The pope receives homage and worship which is due to God alone.

All these doctrines go against the teachings of the Bible and Bible only.

The pope’s position states that he is vice regent on earth and the only mediator between God and man. On top of all this, the papacy has killed over 50 million men, women and children members of their church during the Middle Ages.

Why? Because they refused to believe in the papacy and they protested against the pope and became protestant believers. They believed in the Bible and Bible only for their faith.

Rev 13:18. The number of the beast is the number of a man. (That “man” is from the Bible and is King Solomon. So there is a parallel between the life of King Solomon and the history of the Roman Catholic Church which we cannot ignore).

The number 666 means in prophecy that this institution is the most wealthiest and richest in the world. The Roman Catholic papal system with all its wealth, will TRY TO control all the worlds financial and banking systems, with the aim of establishing the Holy Roman Empire throughout the world. This will be the New World Order with the pope at the head of it. This is what the numbers 666 mean in Rev 13:18.

The question arises, how can a Protestant nation like the USA unite with the papacy or the Roman Catholic Church system in the future?

Amschel Rothschild’s famous quote states: “Give me control of a nation’s money supply, and I care not who makes its laws.” www.trade2win.com

The Federal Bank is situated in the USA? Every time the Federal Reserve Bank ups the interest rates, the banks of the world follow suit and the world’s population will head for an economic recession. When the Federal Reserve Bank decreases interest rates, then the banks of the world follow suit and the world’s population are headed for good times with more prospects for jobs and a better economy.

This process of increasing and decreasing interest rates, only increases the Federal Reserve and the world banks income. They buy stocks and shares when interest rates are at their lowest and sell them when they are at their highest. This process occurs on a 5-10 year cycle and takes advantage of the poor living in the world. This is capitalism at its best, which most countries use worldwide.

Who is one of the chief investors in the Federal Reserve Bank? The papacy, at the Vatican, representing the Roman Catholic Church system. In addition to this, at the present time of writing July 2016, the USA is in serious debt up to a figure of around 19 trillion American dollars. And no president can control this debt. A few have tried like the Kennedy brothers: John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. They tried to stop loans from the Federal Reserve Bank to the US nation. How? By changing the dollar standard from paper money from the Federal Reserve bank to silver. John F. Kennedy wrote a decree on the 4 June, 1963, No. 11110 to stop all loans from the Federal Reserve Bank in the USA. Kennedy also issued his own dollar bills. As a result John F. Kennedy was assassinated or murdered on the 22 Nov, 1963. ((5)) This link is one of the few remaining because the Federal Reserve have made sure these links are deleted.

Who assassinated John F. Kennedy and why?

If one has access to www.youtube.com, write down the assassination of John F. Kennedy and see the news film clip of the shooting. One can see with your own eyes, without a doubt, that the head of the protection police or bodyguards is waiving to the other body guards to stay back, where as they should have been surrounding the presidents car. This is definitely a sign that the head of the bodyguards and group of bodyguards knew what was going to happen. After a few seconds went by, John F. Kennedy was shot in the head.

This is no conspiracy theory friends. This is a news clip which was shown on every television throughout the world. This was planned murder by the Jesuits in the Roman Catholic Church system. And John F. Kennedy was a member of the Roman Catholic Church at that. It seems that no one can stand in the way of the Jesuits in the Roman Catholic Church system, who want complete control of the US Federal Reserve Bank, US dollar standard and influence over the world´s financial system. So the Bible is right in the prophecy of Rev 13:18 that the Roman Catholic Church system is the most wealthiest religious organization in the world. And no one can change that, only God.

When John F. Kennedy´s brother Robert Kennedy was elected president, he tried to do the same and change the dollar standard into silver. He was also assassinated and murdered.

Who did Abraham Lincoln say, was responsible for the American civil war?

It is true what president Abraham Lincoln said before he was assassinated. This quotation is taken from the book “Fifty Years in the Church of Rome” by Charles Chinquy and is cited in http://mygospelworkers.org/mgwministry/i-see-a-very-dark-cloud-on-our-horizon-an

This quotation is referring to the American civil war between north and south over slave trading.

“The common people see and hear the big, noisy wheels of the Southern Confederacy´s cars; they call Jeff Davies, Lee, Toombs, Beauregard, Semmes, etc., and they honestly think that they are the motive power, the first cause of troubles. But this is a mistake. The true motive power is secreted behind the thick walls of the Vatican, the colleges and schools of the Jesuits, the converts of the nuns, and the confessional boxes of Rome. There is a fact which is too much ignored by the American people, and which I am acquainted only since I became president, it is that the best, the leading families of the South have received their education in great part, if not whole, from the Jesuits and the nuns. Hence, those degrading principles of slavery, pride, cruelty, which are as second nature among so many of those people. – – -.

You do not ignore that the first settlers of Louisiana, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, South California and Missouri were Roman Catholics and that their first teacher were Jesuits. – – -. Unfortunately, the Jesuits and the nuns have in great part remained the teachers of those people since. They have continued in a silent, but most efficacious way, to spread their hatred against our institutions, our laws, our schools, our rights and our liberties in such a way that this terrible conflict became unavoidable between the North and the South. As I told you before, it is popery that we owe this terrible civil war.”

“I do not pretend to be a prophet. But though not a prophet, I see a very dark cloud on our horizon. And that dark cloud is coming from Rome. It is filled with tears of blood. It will rise and increase until its flanks will be torn by a flash of lightening, followed by a fearful peal of thunder. Then a cyclone such as the world has never seen, will pass over this country, spreading ruin and desolation from north to south. After it is over, there will long days of peace and prosperity: for popery, with its Jesuits and merciless Inquisition, will have been for ever swept away from our country.”

When will popery and the Jesuits finally be eliminated? This will occur at Christ´s Second Coming according to the book of Daniel.

According to Abraham Lincoln, the Jesuits were not a fictitious group operating within the bounds of the Vatican trying to overtake the world in some conspiracy theory. They were and are an active political force trying to undermine the USA and the world.

[1] Francis D. Nichol, Edit., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, Vol. 8 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., 1979), 1087.

(2) http://www.zubeidajaffer.co.za/the-catholic-church-is-the-biggest-financial-power-on-earth/

[3] David Yallop, In God´s Name (Great Britain: Jonathan Cape Ltd., 1986), 474.

(4) http://www.zubeidajaffer.co.za/the-catholic-church-is-the-biggest-financial-power-on-earth/

(5) https://www.orwelltoday.com/jfkdollaramerican.shtml

Revelation 16:12-14 Where will the battle of Armageddon take place?

Tony — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Rev 16:12. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its waters was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

Looking at the traditional Adventist interpretation of the drying up of the river Euphrates: the waters on which Babylon sits on and when it dries up, means the finances to the city of Babylon have dried up, hence there is no longer any support to the city and therefore Babylon collapses.

The term Kings from the East is generally defined as Christ´s Second Coming.

Questions to the above interpretation.

Does the River Euphrates mean many waters on which Babylon sits on?

Does the drying up of the river Euphrates mean drying up of financial support?

What is the Biblical meaning of Kings from the East?

Does the River Euphrates mean many waters on which Babylon sits on?

The text used to support this view, is taken from Rev. 17:15.The waters which you saw, were the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. This text is referring to Rev 17:1. Come I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.

What do many waters mean in the book of Revelation?

Rev 1:15. His voice as the sound of many waters. (Refers to the voice of Christ in heaven).

Rev 14:2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. (Refers to the 144,000 voices in heaven singing a new song verse 3).

Rev 17:1. Come I will show the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.

Rev 17:15. The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. (These people are related to one voice of praise and worship to the fallen church worldwide, which is opposite to the voices of the 144,000 who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ Rev 14:12).

Rev 19:6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.

Conclusion

Many waters are related to the voice of Christ up in heaven and the 144,000 up in heaven. Many waters are also related to the 144,000 singing a new song and the voice of the great multitude praising God in heaven. They also keep the Ten Commandments of God and the true faith of Jesus Christ. These commandments include the Sabbath day which is on a Saturday.

As regards to the harlot sitting on many waters, this represents the worldwide fallen church singing and praising God through false worship and teachings they have received from the scarlet beast. These teachings represent the wine of her fornication in Rev 17:2.3. These teachings are opposite to the Ten Commandments of God and the true faith in Jesus Christ. i.e. the sabbath day which is on a Sunday.

As for rivers meaning populated parts of the earth is just speculation and reading into the text what is not there. Rivers in prophecy refer to life giving waters like the river of life but certainly not many peoples.

Does the drying up of the river Euphrates mean the drying up of financial support?

There is no Biblical text to support this view.

Now we shall analysis of the text Rev 16:12-16.

Rev 16:12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

Where is the river Euphrates?

It lies on the border between Gods people the Israelites, and their enemies. The border lies on the river flowing from the north and east of Israel. The enemies of Israel who lived on the other side of the border where Fx. Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persian etc.

What does it mean when the river Euphrates dries up?

It means that when the water has disappeared, there is no border between Israel and their enemies. Hence, their enemies have direct access to attacking Israel.

What does the term mean “kings from the east?”

I have read many different commentaries and different interpretations of this text. Most are speculative also from the Adventist traditional approach. The traditional approach states that the kings from the east refer to Christ at his Second Coming from the east. Math 24:27 “For as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” But this interpretation gives a problem with the grammar in Rev 16:12-16. The word kings is written in the plural and not singular. That means there is more than one king. Some theologians have tried to get around the text by saying that the Second Coming involves the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit making three kings. In addition, Christ is coming from the east and he will meet his people who are the priesthood of all believers and kings with him. Rev 5:10. Again, these interpretations do not agree with the context of the passage and the rest of the Bible.

Kings from the east is an indirect expression used in the Old Testament. It was an expression used for the enemies of Israel, who lived just over the river Jordan or the other side of the river Euphrates, who came from the east of Israel. Fx. the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Assyrians and Babylonians. When the river Euphrates and river Jordan dried up in parts, mainly in the summer, then the enemies of Israel marched over the river, which was now dry ground and this made it easier for the enemy to attack the Israelites. The enemy, were referred to as the Kings (Jos 11:2) of the Cannanites, Amorite, Hitite, Perizite, Jebusite, Hivite (Jos 11:3). When all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. Jos 11:4. So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude. Jos 11:6. But the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. So it is God who does the fighting for his people in this text.

Jos 12:1 These are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun (the east, anatolé in Greek, means from the rising of the sun), from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain.

Jos 12:2 One king was Sihon king of the Amorites.

Jos 12:4 Another king was Og king of Bashan.

Furthermore, the east or rising of the sun refers to Northern Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. This was the area where the Magi or Wise men came from, before visiting the child Jesus with their gifts in Bethlehem. Mat 2:1. Thus, Haran was in the land of the people of the east Gen 29:1.4. The king of Moab later brought Balaam from Aram (that is Syria), out of the mountains of the east (Num 23:7. 22:5). Isaiah spoke of Cyrus, the Persian, as the righteous man from the east (Isa 41:2).

What does the text Rev 16:12-14 mean for us today?

It means there will come a time in the future when the border between believers in Christ and non-believers will be removed. There will be a worldwide law condemning Christians to death who believe in the Bible and Bible only. The enemies of Christ thereafter will have access to destroying and exterminating all Christians who obey the ten commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev 12:17. When the border of security and protection is removed from true Christians, then the wicked will go in for the attack, and the last world war Armageddon will take place. This will happen just before the Second Coming of Christ literally, from the heavens, and every eye will see him. Rev 1:7.

What else happens at that time according to Rev 16:13?

Rev 16:13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the dragon, out of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

OK! We are talking about Bible prophecy here in the text.

Who does the Dragon represent in Bible prophecy?

Rev 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Who does sea the beast represent in Bible prophecy?

Rev 13:1-10. Rev 17:1-8. 2 Thess 2:1-12. Dan 7:7.8.19-25. Dan 8:9-12. Dan 11:16-45. The Roman Catholic organization and system of worship.

Who does the false prophet represent in Bible prophecy?

Rev 19:20. Rev 13:11-13. First and foremost the Protestant church in the USA, which has stopped protesting against the Roman Catholic Church; it also refers to all the Protestant churches all over the world who follow in the footsteps of the Protestant Church in the USA.

Rev 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

The false prophet who worked signs and deceived those who received the mark of the beast, is confirmed in Rev 13:14 And he (Protestants in the USA) deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast.

“Through two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome trampling on the rights of conscience.” ((1))

“It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise – – -. Even in its present form, so far from being more worthy of toleration than formerly, it is really more dangerous, because a more subtle, deception. While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, His denunciation of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter.” ((2))

Many of these signs of modern day spiritualism are revealed in the Charismatic movement in many churches all over the world. Wikipedia states that Charismatic Christian beliefs are not defined by a particular doctrine. They believe in miracles, signs and wonders. They also believe in the gift of prophecy, healing, super natural occurrences and the speaking of tongues.

This speaking of tongues is not the Biblical speaking of tongues, which were only languages. The Charismatic speaking in tongues is a gibberish utterance from the mouth, followed by many times with a rolling on the floor. These speaking in tongues is not Biblical and we find no indication that the disciples practiced this kind of phenomena.

Rev 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God almighty.

It is the spirits of demons working through the Charismatic movement, who gather the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants throughout the whole world, together. On top of that, these demons are working extra hard, because they go out to all the kings of the earth to convince them, that those who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ, are the enemies of God and therefore should be destroyed.

Notice “Kings” is in the plural just as kings from the East (rising of the sun) is in the plural in Rev 16:12. When the river Euphrates is dried up; the border of security and protection of Gods people on earth is removed by civil authorities; then the kings of the earth together with all the wicked go in for the attack against Gods people at the war of Armageddon.

Should Gods people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus be afraid?

What did God say to Joshua when the kings from the east, the enemies of Gods people were preparing for an attack on the Israelites?

Jos 11:4-6. So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with many horses and chariots. When all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. But the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel”.

So it is God who does the fighting for his people in this text. It is the God of the whole universe, who wins the war of Armageddon.

This Armageddon war happens when the sea beast in Rev 13:1-10 unites with the beast from the earth Rev 13:11-18, having two horns like a lamb, will speak like a dragon and act like a dragon. The dragon represents Satan in the book of Revelation. The sea beast represents the Roman Catholic Church system and the beast from the earth represents Protestants in the USA. This is all in the future.

Ellen G. White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 588.
Ibid., 557. 558.

Introduction to Revelation 17: One of the greatest errors in prophetic interpretation

Tony — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:00:00 +0000

One of the greatest errors in prophetic interpretation by many Protestant theologians is the interpretation of heads and beasts in Rev 17:3.7.9-11. What they are saying is, a head represents a beast and a beast represents a head in prophetic interpretation. Therefore, a head is a symbol for a political empire. This is absolutely nonsense and goes against all interpretations of prophetical symbols. This is pure speculation and has nothing to do with Biblical exegesis. What they are doing is eisegesis: reading into the text what is not there, and then they reinforce each other’s argument by quoting from each other’s comments on Revelation. What they are saying is 1 + 1 = 3, and because they are professors of theology many people believe them.

Revelation of Jesus Christ by Ranko Stefanovic

The following is a quote from one of the most prominent theologians in the Seventh-day Adventist church on the book of Revelation: the right honorable Ranko Stefanovic.

Ranco Stefanovic

Stefanovic writes in his commentary “Revelation of Jesus Christ[1].” Several modern commentators interpret the seven kings as Roman Emperors: five have fallen (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero), one ruled in John´s time (Vespasian), and the seventh, Titus, would be the one to come. The eighth one that was not yet would be Domitian as the returned Nero.

On page 521, he states, “This commentary argues that the sixth head/king, which “is,” must be understood from John´s viewpoint at the time of the writing of Revelation, in other words, the angel identified the heads/kings to John, and it must have had meaning for John when he wrote. Thus, the five that have fallen can be listed as follows: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The kingdom that ruled the world and oppressed the church during the time of John was Imperial Rome (the sixth kingdom). The seventh kingdom to come from John´s perspective referred to medieval ecclesiastical Christianity represented in the sea beast that was mortally wounded in Revelation 13:1-10.” (The sea beast who he is writing about is the Roman Catholic Church).

The reason for this error of prophetic interpretation of heads and beasts is, that the scarlet beast which is Satan, is the eighth head and part of the seventh. Therefore, many Protestant theologians conclude that a head in prophetic interpretation represents a beast and a beast represents a head. This is one of the greatest mistakes in prophetic interpretation.

A beast does not represent a head and a head does not represent a beast in prophetic interpretation, with the exception of the scarlet beast in Rev 17:3 and the sea beast in Rev 13:1-10. Why this exception? Because these beasts represent spiritual empires, and they are the heads of spiritual empires, in the present and in the future.

In the English language this picture is the whole beast

In the English language this picture is the head of a beast

Stefanovic is not doing an exegesis on the symbol of heads but eisegesis: reading into the text what is not there. This is pure speculation in what he says, and then he backs it up with other theologians who have the same interpretation. He is a most respected Seventh-day Adventist theologian, and Adventist theologians and ministers are usually at the forefront of prophetic interpretation. None can replicate their studies in the studies of the books of Daniel and Revelation. However, when we have a theologian that tries to agree with other Protestant theologians, so that he can sell a book, then I draw the line, and we are on our way going downhill with the understanding of prophetic interpretation.

You can see my study, from the Bible and Bible only, on what heads mean in Rev 17:9-11.

[1] Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ (Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 2009), 520.

Revelation 17:14 Events leading up to Armageddon

Tony — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000

Rev 17:14. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with him are called, chosen and faithful.

When does this war happen?

It is in the future, during the sixth plague on the earth, and before the Second Coming of Christ. I have decided to put a resume of Rev 16:12-16, Rev 12: Rev 13:1-10, and Rev 13:11-18 into the events leading up to this war, which is the last war on earth, Armageddon. This resume is listed under Rev 16:12-16 on my webpage. The reason I have done this is because, to give a clear perspective of who is involved in this great war in the future.

Revelation 17:15 What do many waters mean in prophecy?

Tony — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 06:00:00 +0000

Rev 17:15. Then he said to me,”The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues.”

What do many waters mean in the book of Revelation?

Rev 1:15. His voice as the sound of many waters. (Refers to the voice of Christ in heaven).

Rev 17:1. Come I will show the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.

Rev 19:6. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.

Conclusion