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Here are two questions that are important to many people. Where do we get faith? Scripture answers: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17; NKJV)
And the second question is: how do we know the Word of God is truly the Word of God, unlike any other reputedly holy writings in the world? The answer may be found in the following claim: "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';" (Isaiah 46:9, 19; NASB) And: "Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7; NKJV)
We also see Jesus Himself, when He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His Resurrection, He did not show His hands and say, “Look, it’s Me, I’ve risen from the dead.” Instead, the two disciples were caused by some means not to recognize Him, and “…beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) Not until they reached their home and Jesus blessed their food, did they recognize Him. Jesus felt that the faith of His believers needed to be founded on the Bible and Bible prophecy, and that was more important even than the evidence of their senses.
When we see the Bible prophecies inspired by the Spirit of God, that have been and continue to be fulfilled in history, we have evidence that cannot be counterfeited, evidence that is more reliable than our own senses--which can be deceived.
Here are four strong examples. A proper study of Bible prophecy usually begins with Daniel chapter 2. There, in the dream first given to the pagan king of Babylon, but which only Daniel could recall to the king’s mind and interpret, was a great statue of a man. His head was of gold, his chest and arms were silver, his belly and thighs were brass, his legs were iron, and his toes were a mixture of iron and clay. Daniel told the king the head was himself, and his empire of Babylon—unsurpassed in wealth and learning in all the earth. But after him, taking Babylon’s place, would be an empire that was inferior, as silver is inferior to gold. Next would come an even more inferior kingdom represented by the brass. Then would come an empire that would be stronger than any others, and last longer, though still inferior in many other ways. It would not be supplanted by yet another empire, but would be broken up and divided permanently into many parts, like the ten toes. Some would be strong, some weak, like iron mixed with clay.
When we compare history, we see that the Medo-Persian empire supplanted the Babylonian empire. Then after a few centuries the Grecian empire defeated the Medo-Persian empire, and took its place, ruling the Mideast and Mediterranean countries. The Grecian empire eventually gave way to the Roman empire, which lasted over a millennium—interestingly enough, in two forms, the Pagan Roman empire, followed by the Papal Roman empire—led by a church that had been hijacked by paganism and become a religious tyranny corrupted by politics.
For several centuries, at least both ruled, with the Papacy ruling the western empire, and the Byzantine emperor ruling the eastern empire. Then the Roman empire was defeated by multiple barbarian tribes, most of whom then settled down to become the modern nations of Europe. Some strong, some weak. Daniel observed in Dan. 2:43: “As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.” (NKJV) In history, the nations of Europe thought to unify themselves and put an end to the continual strife and bickering by marrying all the members of their royal families to each other. But all this really accomplished was introducing genetic deficiencies when the inbreeding became too pronounced. And they still kept fighting wars against each other, even so.
Charlemagne thought to unite Europe. He failed. Napoleon thought to unite Europe. He failed. Hitler tried to unite Europe. He failed. One can only wonder how long the European Common Market will hold together, and how long the Euro will last. Of course, those are not parts of an empire. But any kind of European unity would seem to be on shaky ground.
Perhaps it would take too long for me to go through the parallel outline of world history given in Daniel 7, which gives far more detail. Let me just note that it speaks of ten horns growing out of the terrible, unnamed beast (most artists picture it as a Tyrannosaur), just as the ten toes grew out of Rome in Daniel 2. But the prophecy in Daniel 7 adds something interesting. It describes a “little horn” that comes up, and supplants three horns. Three of the barbarian tribes that conquered Rome did not support the corrupted Papal tyranny. The Papacy got the other tribes—particularly the Franks, led by Charles Martel—to conquer those three, so they were in effect uprooted.
Is the Papacy what is represented by the little horn? Notice what it says in verse 25 about the little horn power—it would “think to change times and laws.” The Papacy proudly to this day claims that Protestants are being inconsistent to keep Sunday and not acknowledge the Papacy as supreme, because it was the Papacy which changed popular observance of the Sabbath to Sunday by its own authority, with no warrant for it in the Bible.
Also, in any Roman Catholic catechism, you can see that the commandment not to make or bow down to graven images is omitted—it is still quoted in the Catholic translations of the Bible, but the catechisms summarize and abbreviate things so the third commandment is left out completely. Then to preserve the number ten—since the Bible says there are ten commandments (see Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4)—they divided up the last commandment, so that “Do not covet thy neighbor’s wife” is a separate commandment from “Do not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.” Thus we see how indeed the “little horn” power has thought “to change times and laws.”
The Papacy, by the way, hates this interpretation, and honors two 16th century Jesuit scholars, Francisco Ribera and Luis de Alcazar, for coming up with Futurism and Praetorism, respectively, one which puts the fulfillment of the most embarrassing prophecies way off in the far future, and the other way back in the distant past, before Christ. Even though seemingly contradictory, both are honored and promoted. As long as the Historicist interpretation—the straightforward one which applies the prophecies the way the Bible text SAYS they are to be applied (see Dan. 8:19-23 especially)—is avoided.
Likewise we see this in the third parallel outline of world history given in Daniel 8. Let me quote verses 20-22: “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” Note that the empires to come are named. The first king of the Grecian empire is emphasized, Alexander. And after his untimely death, his empire was divided into four parts, among his four generals. Just as the prophecy predicted.
I could also point to the almost blow-by-blow predictions of what would transpire from the time of the Medo-Persian empire to the Roman empire given in Daniel 11. The details are so fantastically precise that detractors are forced to suggest that the book of Daniel must have been written at a later time. The only evidence put forth in support of this is linguistic—claiming that the names of certain musical instruments in Daniel 4 were not in use in 600 B.C., when Daniel is supposed to have been written, but in the second century, B.C. However, further scholarship into Aramaic, Chaldean, and Hebrew has shown that the terms were in fact in use in 600 B.C., and NOT in the second century B.C.
Furthermore, even if Daniel were written in the second century B.C, that does not explain how the portions of the prophecy that apply after the second century B.C., and on up past the time of Christ, have been fulfilled as well (such as the long duration of the Roman Empire, and its division into the ten toes of Europe). And if you accept the straightforward, Historicist interpretation of the little horn of Daniel 7, you have specific predictions being fulfilled beginning in the sixth century A.D., when the Papacy consolidated its power.
Of great importance to Christians is the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, which indicates that 483 years after the commandment would be published throughout the land of Judea to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple, the Messiah would be anointed. Ezra brought King Artaxerxes’ document to Judea and published it in the fall of 457 B.C. And (remembering there was no year zero, 1 B.C. was followed by 1 A.D.), Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan and anointed by the Holy Spirit in 27 A.D. Then “in the midst of the week” (Dan. 9:27) or three and one-half years later, He was crucified, or “cut off but not for Himself.” (Dan. 9:26) Jews and some others try to dismiss this prophecy by arbitrarily adding punctuation that was not in the original, so they can try to change the number to something other than 483 years after the going forth of the commandment.
There is not unanimous agreement even among Historicist interpreters of Bible prophecy on how the prophecies of Revelation should be applied. This is probably because too many have come to rely upon church tradition, and have forgotten the Biblical methods of prophetic interpretation once followed with Daniel 2-9. I have written and published a book detailing my own conclusions concerning Rev. 4-11, titled: “Genuine New Light from Revelation and Daniel,” available from www.Amazon.com. I see many things there that apply to very recent history, to the present time, and to our near future. Thus Bible prophecy is not something far distant from us in past time or far future, but close to us in present time.
There is pretty much agreement on the meaning of Revelation 12. After the war in heaven, and Satan tries to break Christ who is born as the Son of man, before He can accomplish His mission, but Christ ascends to heaven in victory, Satan then turns his wrath on those left on earth who worship Christ (the woman and her remaining seed). The woman (at this point representing the church) flees into the wilderness. When compromise with paganism was being brought into the church by the agents of the corrupted Papal church in league with secular government, those who refused to compromise were driven into the Piedmont Mountain valleys of northern Italy, to be nourished spiritually there for the 1260 years of Papal supremacy. (1260 is the “time, times, and half a time” of Rev. 12:14. “Time”=1 year on the sacred calendar=360 days/years, “Times”=2 years, 720 days/years, and “Half a time”=1/2 year=180 days/years. That this is the type of year used in Bible prophecy can be seen by comparing Rev. 11:2 with verse 3.) Later they became known as the Waldenses.
When Satan tried to overwhelm the faithful with a flood of people, and majority churches everywhere (not just Papal) were persecuting minorities, the New World was opened, and America provided a haven for those seeking religious liberty. (“And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” –- Rev. 12:16.)
In Matthew 24, we have prophecies with a dual application. This is because Jesus’ disciples asked Him a dual question, what would happen when the Temple is destroyed, and the end of the world comes? His disciples thought these would be one and the same event. So He answered with prophecies that largely applied to both events. Let me just focus on what He said about the time of the destruction of the Temple. He instructed them: “"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days! But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.” (Matthew 24:15-20; NASB) With this we should add Luke’s similar account of what Jesus said: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city.” (Luke 21:20, 21; NASB)
Jerusalem was surrounded by virtually the entire military might of the Roman Empire in 70 A.D., led by Vespasian. But then, hearing of tumult back in Rome, Vespasian withdrew the Roman legions and returned to Rome, where he became emperor. Then he sent his Son, Titus, to renew the siege against Jerusalem. At the moment when the Roman legions were withdrawn from Jerusalem, armed Jews sallied forth in a great mob, seeking to attack the Romans as they left. At this time, Christians saw the opportunity Jesus had promised they would have, and they left Jerusalem and kept on going. It is claimed that not one Christian died in the siege of Jerusalem, because they heeded Jesus’ prediction and warning.
Notice also Jesus’ warning not to enter the city. The Roman legions, hoping to increase the starvation pressure on the Jews, allowed pilgrims to enter the city during the siege, but would not let them leave.
Also notice Jesus said to pray their flight would not be in winter or on the Sabbath. They were able to flee during the summer. And apparently the Sabbath would still matter to Christians in 70 A.D. Some say this warning about the Sabbath was only because the gates of Jerusalem were kept locked during the Sabbath. But the gates surely would have been unlocked when the great armed mob went charging out to harry the retreating Roman legions.
The Apostle Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians by that time seems to understand that the Second Coming of Christ will not be for some time yet. He says: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [“the day of the Lord”—v. 2] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4; NASB)
A. H. Guinness, Secretary of the Protestant Alliance in 1896 wrote in rebuttal to a Roman Catholic’s disclaimer that Catholics had never called the Pope “Lord God the Pope”:
“And first as to the words "Dominus Deus noster Pap"--"Our Lord God the Pope." "To believe that Our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he has decreed, is to be deemed heretical." These words appeared in the Roman Canon Law in the Gloss on the "Extravagantes" of Pope John XXII.* "Cum inter," Tit. xiv, cap. iv., ad Callem. Sexti Decretalium, Paris 1685. On this important subject I prefer to quote from Roman Catholic authority. I refer to "Tentativa Theologia," a Treatise on Episcopal Rights, &c., by Father A. Pereira, Priest and Doctor of Lisbon; English translation by Mr. Landon, London, 1847. Pereira, in page 180, tells us:--"It is quite certain that Popes have never reproved or rejected this title 'Lord God the Pope' for the passage in the Gloss referred to appears in the edition of the Canon Law published in Rome in 1580 by Gregory XIII. The Index Expurgatorious of Pius V., which orders the erasure of other passages, yet leaves this one."
It is important to note that to Pope Gregory's edition is appended his Bull in these terms:--"We decree, sanction, and ordain, that it shall not be permitted to any one . . . . to add to or take from, to alter or transpose, or to add any interpretation to the book of Canon Law as revised, corrected and expurgated by our command, &c." Thus leaving the words "Dominus Deus noster Papa," confirmed by his Ex-Cathedra and infallible Bull.
Many have wondered why God gave Daniel four prophecies of world events that were parallel in the times covered. Let us consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were given.
The circumstances of the Jewish nation when Daniel was given his prophecies were these:
(1) The Jews had lost their kingdom.
(2) The Jews had lost their king.
(3) The Jews had lost their sanctuary.
(4) The Jewish people had lost their freedom and been carried away into captivity.
The prophecy of Daniel 2 shows the prophetic fulfillment of the true kingdom: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Dan. 11:44; NKJV)
The prophecy of Daniel 7 shows the prophetic fulfillment of the true King: “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” (Dan, 7:13, 14; NASB)
The prophecy of Daniel 8-9 shows the prophetic fulfillment of the true Sanctuary: “And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’” (Daniel 8:14; NKJV)
The prophecy of Daniel 10-12 shows the true prophetic fulfillment of the Jewish people: “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future." (Daniel 10:14; NASB)
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