The Final Rise and Fall of the King of the North- 

PART 2

4- TERRITORIES, HORNS, AND WALLS

As sister White counsels us to look for a repetition of "much of the history" of "the eleventh chapter of Daniel," we find another parallel which adds insight into the final six verses.

The Territories-and Pagan Rome

In describing the conquest of the world by pagan Rome, Daniel identified three territories which were to be subdued by pagan Rome as it brought the world under its dominion:

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.  Daniel 8:9.

The Horns-and Papal Rome

In Daniel 7:8, 20, Daniel identifies three horns which were to be removed before papal Rome brought the world under its dominion:

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things....

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

The Walls-and Modern Babylon

As we proceed to address Daniel 11:40-45, we will find that the first three verses in this sequence identify three areas of conquest which are subdued as the king of the north takes control of the world.  These three areas are the former Soviet Union, the United States, and finally the entire world.  These three areas have symbolic walls associated with themselves, which are removed as the Papacy rises to its final position as the head of the world.

The first symbolic wall was the former 'iron curtain,' represented by the literal Berlin Wall, the destruction of which was a milestone in the rapid disintegration of the Soviet Empire.

Before the Papacy enters the United States through the passage of a national Sunday law, the symbolic 'wall of separation of church and state' will have to be removed.  It will be accomplished by the politicians and justices of this land, as a result of the pressure brought upon them by the Protestant and Catholic voters of this country.  The pressure is already mounting and can easily be verified through the testimony given within the secular presses.  This second wall of attack for the Papacy is already being threatened.

The third wall which the Papacy will bring down in order to take control of the entire world is the symbolic 'wall of national sovereignty.' The likely, structure which will be used to control the world is the United Nations.  Already within the laws which have been developed by the United Nations, we find the legal principles designed to remove national sovereignty.  This organization has already written and passed laws which supersede the national laws of individual countries.  In fact, many of these countries-including the United States-have already signed these agreements, Placing the laws of the individual nations in subjection to the laws of the world government.

Similar Scenes

The three territories which pagan Rome conquered as it rose to power were brought into subjection by the military conquests of the Roman armies.  The three horns which were removed to place the Papacy on the throne of the world were also conquered by military forces.  These military forces, although not Rome's, had dedicated Serves to fight for the Papacy.

In the rise to power of modem Babylon, we see three walls brought down to prepare the way for the pope to rule again.  This time, a spiritual takeover is described.  However, as is always the case, when Rome finally has secured her seat of authority-persecution will begin:

God's Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare.  She is silently growing into power.  Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men.  She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated.  Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike.  All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her.  We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is.  Whoever shall believe and obey the Word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.  The Great Controversy, 581.

The Impregnable Wall

The first of the three walls has already fallen, and the two remaining walls are now being removed.  Prophecy points out that all of these walls will come down in the final, rapid movements of earth's history.  These walls symbolize the obstacles which the Papacy must overcome to completely heal its deadly wound.  There is, though, another wall of separation, which will come under attack during this march of the king of the north.  This wall is the identifying issue of the attack upon all three of the symbolic walls.  This wall will stand firm, even though the entire world will unite to tear it down:

I saw that if God had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, He would have changed the writing of the Sabbath commandment, written on the tables of stone, which are now in the ark in the Most Holy Place of the temple in heaven; and it would read thus: The first day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.  But I saw that it read the same as when written on the tables of stone by the finger of God, and delivered to Moses on Sinai.  "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God." Exodus 20:10.  I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints.  Early Writings, 33.

5- THE NORTHERN KING

WHO is the "king of the north?" Although I believe it is clear who this king is, this subject has been under discussion in Adventism for years.  Many of the pioneers viewed him as the Papacy:

When men come in who would move one pin or pillar from the foundation which God has established by His Holy Spirit, let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals.  Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 55.

God has given me light regarding our periodicals.  What is it?-He has said that the dead are to speak.  How?-Their works shall follow them.  We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work.  They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God.  One by one these pioneers are passing away.  The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced. Counsels to Writers and Editors, 28.

It is true that there are prophecies yet to be fulfilled.  But very erroneous work has been done again and again, and will continue to be done by those who seek to find new light in the prophecies, and who begin by turning away from the light that God has already given.  The messages of Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they are the everlasting gospel, and are to be sounded everywhere.  But the Lord does not lay upon those who have not had an experience in His work the burden of making a new exposition of those prophecies which He has, by His Holy Spirit, moved upon His chosen servants to explain.  Selected Messages, book 2, 111-112.

Pioneer Position

Two early pioneers give their view of this last power in Daniel 11:

Michael is to stand up at the time that the last power in [Daniel] chapter 11, comes to his end, and none to help him.  This power is the last that treads down the true church of God: and as the true church is still trodden down, and cast out by all Christendom, it follows that the last oppressive power has not "come to his end;" and Michael has not stood up.  This last power that treads down the saints is brought to view in Revelation 13:11-18.  His number is 666.  James White, A Word to the Little Flock, 8-9.

Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history. The scenes connected with the working of the man of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this earth's history. Selected Messages, book 2, 102.

We are in error if we seek to interpret prophecy in a way which is inconsistent with correct prophetic interpretations of the past.  The last clear views of prophecy concern the Papacy; the pioneers proclaimed the power "that comes to his end and none shall help him," as being the Papacy.  We are told that prophecy is a "figurative delineation of events" fulfilled by historical events.  Events in our recent history have fulfilled verse 40:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1: 1 9-2 1.

Daniel Defines Daniel

The second reason we can conclude that the king of the north is the Papacy, is the Bible rule that later prophecies amplify, expand, and confirm former prophecies.  Within the book of Daniel itself one must conclude that the last power standing against God and His people at the time probation closes is Rome.

In the book of Daniel there are four prophecies set forth which Jesus commands us to understand.  "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.)" Matthew 24:15.  Within the four prophecies of Daniel is found the strongest evidence possible that the king of the north is, in fact, the Papacy.

The first prophecy of Daniel, found in chapter 2; describes four powers-namely, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.  These are followed by the final kingdom-the stone which is cut out of the mountain "without hands," which destroys all the other kingdoms, and which fills the whole earth.

The second prophecy of Daniel, found in chapter 7, describes the same four kingdoms that are found in chapter 2- but, as is true throughout Bible prophecy, it adds more information to that previous picture.  It also shows that the fourth kingdom, (Rome) exists until the final judgment, and until Christ sets up His eternal kingdom.

The third prophecy of Daniel found in chapter 8, covers essentially the same ground, once again adding more information, but this time not concerning the first kingdom (Babylon), as it was about to give way to the Medes and Persians.  However, the last kingdom, which is very clearly Rome as it was to stand up against the Prince of princes, was to be "broken without hands."

In the vision of Daniel, chapters 10-12, once again the first kingdom of Babylon is not spoken of, as it had already left the scene of history.  The prophecy begins with the Medes and Persians, followed by Greece.  Are there some who would say that the final kingdom is not Rome?

All three of the previous prophecies of Daniel place papal Rome at the end of the world where she receives her punishment.  Two of these refer to her judgment as supernatural punishment, "without hands" and "broken without hands." Likewise this last power in chapter 11 "comes to his end, and none shall help him." This indicates the inability of human strength to prevent his final end.

It would be out of context to look at these four prophecies and not to view them as composite prophecies which complement and build on one another.  These prophecies portray the complete picture of the message that Daniel was to seal up.  Each one builds on the previous prophecy and enlarges upon it, but never does it contradict the previous presentation. 

Overlapping Symbols

Babylon is the head of gold-the lion.

Medo-Persia is the breast and arms of silver-the bear, and the ram.

Greece is the thighs of brass-the leopard, the he goat, and the mighty king.

Rome is the legs of iron and the feet of iron and clay-the ten-horned beast, the little horn.  Moreover, without contradiction the king of the north is also Rome.

CONTINUE - PART 3