This will be a series on salvation to the uttermost. The concept of salvation is simple, but both dynamic and progressive. We will see that being saved to the uttermost is more than a trip down the aisle and being baptized. It moves on from there to include the complete rescue from sin. The 4 P’s of salvation will be explored. The person who receives Christ is saved from the PENALTY of sin. But sin will continue to pull and tempt us. Through a daily walking in the Spirit and not the flesh we are strengthened to overcome the POWER of sin in our lives. This can be a struggle because our carnal nature still exists. When the Lord comes again, He will rescue us from the, PRESENCE of sin. Then God will eliminate the father of sin (Satan) and change our bodies at the resurrection. Next, He takes us where He now. The Propensity to sin will be no more as we enjoy the new heaven and new earth. But, before we get into those topics, let’s look at the lost Bible teaching of Sanctification.
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Sanctification is a Bible Doctrine
Erroneous theories of sanctification… have a prominent place in the religious movements of the day. These theories are both false in doctrine and dangerous in practical results, and the fact that they are so generally finding favor renders it doubly essential that all have a clear understanding of what the Scriptures teach upon this point.
First of all, true sanctification is a Bible doctrine. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonian church, declares:
“This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” And he prays: “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23.
Secondly, the Bible clearly teaches what sanctification is and how it is to be attained. The Saviour prayed for His disciples:
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is the truth.”
John 17:17
And Paul teaches believers are to be:
“sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:16.
What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus told His disciples:
“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:13.
And the psalmist says:
“Thy law is the truth.”
Psalm 119:42
By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law. And since the law of God is
“holy, and just, and good,”
Romans 7:12
a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He says:
“I have kept My Father’s commandments.” “I do always those things that please Him.”
John 15:10; 8:29.
The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible sanctification.
This work can be accomplished only through faith in Christ, by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. Paul admonishes believers:
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.
The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, but he will maintain a constant warfare against it. Here is where Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith exclaims:
“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57.
Thirdly, sanctification is progressive. The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to
“go on unto perfection;”
Hebrews 6:1
to grow up “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13
Says the apostle Paul:
“This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13, 14.
And Peter sets before us the steps by which Bible sanctification is to be attained:
“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. . . . If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
2 Peter 1:5-10.
Examples of Sanctification
Those who experience the sanctification of the Bible will manifest a spirit of humility. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty of holiness, and they see their own unworthiness in contrast with the purity and exalted perfection of the Infinite One.
The prophet Daniel was an example of true sanctification. His long life was filled up with noble service for his Master. He was a man “greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11) of Heaven. Yet instead of claiming to be pure and holy, this honored prophet identified himself with the really sinful of Israel as he pleaded before God in behalf of his people:
“We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness, but for Thy great mercies.” “We have sinned, we have done wickedly.”
He then declares:
“I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people.” And when at a later time the Son of God appeared, to give him instruction, Daniel says: “My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.”
Daniel 9:18, 15, 20; 10:8.
When Job heard the voice of the Lord out of the whirlwind, he exclaimed:
“I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:6.0
It was when Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord and heard the cherubim crying,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts,” that he cried out, “Woe is me! for I am undone.”
Isaiah 6:3, 5.
Paul, after he was caught up into the third heaven and heard things which it was not possible for a man to utter, speaks of himself as
“less than the least of all saints.”
2 Corinthians 12:2-4, margin; Ephesians 3:8.
It was the beloved John, who leaned on Jesus’ breast and beheld His glory, that
fell as one dead before the feet of the angel.
Revelation 1:17.
No Sanctification Without the Cross
There can be no self-exaltation, no boastful claim to freedom from sin, on the part of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s cross. They feel that it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the Son of God, and this thought will lead them to self-abasement. Those who live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of humanity and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen Saviour.
The Easy Religion
The sanctification now gaining prominence in the religious world carries with it a spirit of self-exaltation and a disregard for the law of God that mark it as foreign to the religion of the Bible. Its advocates teach that sanctification is an instantaneous work, by which, through faith alone, they attain to perfect holiness. “Only believe,” say they, “and the blessing is yours.” No further effort on the part of the receiver is supposed to be required. At the same time, they deny the authority of the law of God, urging that they are released from its obligation to keep the commandments. But is it possible for men to be holy, in accord with the will and character of God, without coming into harmony with the principles which are an expression of His nature and will, and which show what is well pleasing to Him?
The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no self-denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made the doctrine of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine; but what saith the word of God? Says the apostle James:
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man says he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? . . . Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? . . . Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
James 2:14-24.
The testimony of the word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine of faith without works. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions upon which mercy is to be granted, it is presumption; for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.
Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of God’s requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God.
“Sin is the transgression of the law.”
1 John 3:4
And “whosoever sinneth [transgresseth the law] hath not seen Him, neither known Him.”
1 John 3:6.
Though John in his epistles dwells so fully upon love, yet he does not hesitate to reveal the true character of that class who claim to be sanctified while living in transgression of the law of God.
“He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.”
1 John 2:4, 5.
Here is the test of every man’s profession. We cannot accord holiness to any man without bringing him to the measurement of God’s only standard of holiness in heaven and on earth. If men feel no weight of the moral law, if they belittle and make light of God’s precepts, if they break one of the least of these commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of Heaven, and we may know that their claims are without foundation.
Cannot Claim to be Without Sin
And the claim to be without sin is, in itself, evidence that he who makes this claim is far from holy. It is because he has no true conception of the infinite purity and holiness of God or of what they must become who shall be in harmony with His character; because he has no true conception of the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus, and the malignity and evil of sin, that man can regard himself as holy. The greater the distance between himself and Christ, and the more inadequate his conceptions of the divine character and requirements, the more righteous he appears in his own eyes.
*Great Controversy, p.469-473
In part 2, we will discuss how Bible sanctification as set forth in the Scriptures embraces the entire being—spirit, soul, and body.
Then I heard a holy one speaking;…“How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
In Daniel’s vision, he saw a vicious battle between a ram and a goat. The two animals are easily identified as the kingdoms of Media-Persia and Greece:
The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.
Daniel 8:20-21
So, there can be no doubt who these animals represent. History has proved the succession of these nations to be absolutely correct. The large horn of the kingdom of Greece is the first king who history has shown to be Alexander the Great.
As the prophecy predicted, Alexander’s great kingdom of Greece was divided into “four notable” generals: Ptolemy Lysimachus, Cassander, and Seleucus.
Then “from out of one of them came a little horn.” This little horn power represented pagan Rome, the next kingdom in the succession of conquering kingdoms. This power corresponded to the iron legs in the metal image of Daniel 2 and the “dreadful beast” of Daniel 7.
These prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, and 9 are clearly interpreted from God’s own word within each chapter and further confirmed by the historians looking back on that time period.
This little horn now becomes the center of attention of Daniel. He understood the rise and fall of the nations, but his main focus is on the little horn power and the destructive events at its hand.
The battles and events have been on a horizontal plane up to this point, but now it turns vertical and a spiritual war against the host of heaven.
And it grew up to the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host, and by him, the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered
Daniel 8: 10-12
This little horn power that “grew up” greatly concerned Daniel. At this point in his vision, Daniel heard a conversation between the two attending angels:
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
Daniel 8: 13-14
Even the attending angels wanted to know how long this little horn power would rule and wage its war against God’s people and even Jesus Himself (Prince of the host). The chapter ends leaving us in suspense because even though the question about “how long” has been answered as “two thousand three hundred days” we have no idea as to the starting point. Daniel is so troubled by this little horn power that he faints and becomes sick. This time period is the only part of this prophecy not interpreted….at least at this point.
And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days;afterward, I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
Chapter 8 ends with the words “no one understood it.” The ram, the goat, the horns were all explained and everyone understood this part, because the angel interpreted the beasts to represent coming kingdoms that would rise and fall. But the little horn and its time of rule remained mysterious.
Chapter 9 opens with Daniel studying another prophet-Jeremiah. We must remember that Daniel and the Jews were in captivity, but Daniel understood from the book of Jeremiah that their captivity would last 70 years and those 70 years were coming to a close:
“I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”
Daniel 9: 2
Starting in verse 3, Daniel begins to pray to God in a state of great humility and confession for himself and his people (Jews) who have sinned against God. Because of this, they did not enjoy the benefits, mercy, and protection God offers to those who keep His covenant and obey His commandments. They were in captivity!
Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,..”
Daniel 9: 3-4
(Note: God’s covenant can be either conditional or unconditional based on the context. In the previous passage, we see that those who love Him and keep His commandments are recipients of His covenant of mercy.)
“As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.
Daniel 9: 13
Such a great truth! When we separate ourselves from Him and fail to follow His will, disaster is sure to come. But, through connecting back with this merciful God through prayer and turning from “our iniquities” we can find the path of righteousness and protection for our souls!
As Daniel is praying, Gabriel appears. He was the angel who interpreted the dream in Chapter 8. This messenger of God has returned to continue the explanation of the part of the prophecy that concerned Daniel in Chapter 8.
Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
Daniel 9: 20-22
The context of the following time prophecy is with the 2,300 days until the sanctuary will be cleansed. (Daniel 8:14). Gabriel has come to help him understand the vision. What vision? It was the mysterious part of Chapter 8. All of it was explained except for the little horn that concerned Daniel and the time part of the vision i.e. 2,300 days. We know this to be true because this is what Gabriel explains.
(Note: In our previous study, we determined through comparing Bible passages about time prophecy that a day represents a year. (e.g Numbers 14:34, etc). So we are talking about 2,300 years.
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God’s Mercy – Daniel’s People Given Time
“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.”
Daniel 9: 24
Th Greek word chathak word is translated “determined” which means “cut-off” or “marked out” Out of the 2,300 years, 70 weeks are cut-off or marked out for Daniel’s people (Jews). Using the day-year principle of interpretation, The 70 weeks are 490 years (70 X 7). So out of the 2,300 years, 490 are given to the Jews to complete their purpose as God’s chosen people. Their purpose was to follow and believe God. To obey His laws within their heart rather than through legalism. Equally important was to bring in everlasting righteousness and end the vision and prophecy via anointing the Most Holy (Jesus)
But when was the time period to start? When did the 2,300 days begin as well as these 70 weeks (490 years)? The answer is found in the next verse:
“Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street[ shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.”
Daniel 9:29
Here is our starting point for the 2,300 days. A portion of this time period is allotted or “marked out” for Daniel’s people the Jewish nation.
The starting point is the “command to restore and build Jerusalem.” This was a command still future to Daniel, but we can easily find the time and date of this command from the Bible and history!
This command to restore and build Jerusalem can be found in Ezra Chapter 7 when Artaxerxes gave the commandment in 457 BC. (See the notes at the end)
The Arrival Time of Jesus the Messiah Predicted
Starting with this date, the prophecy is unlocked. From 457 BC until “Messiah the Prince” would be 69 weeks. There are 483 days in 69 weeks, but using the day/year principal, we discover that 483 years after 457 BC brings us to 27 AD. This was the date Jesus was baptized and began his ministry. The Messiah had arrived right on time! He was “anointed” by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[ saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3: 16-17
Jesus also announced at the beginning of His ministry this message:
“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1: 14, 15
The time of Daniel’s prophecy had been fulfilled. The Messiah the prince came right on schedule…483 years after the commandment to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”
This time prophecy is further confirmed by the words of Paul (A great student of God’s word):
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son
Galatians 4: 4
But the prophecy continues
Jesus Ministry Confirms the Covenant
Jesus’ direct ministry would cover the space of 3 1/2 years. That is half of 7 years or the midst of the week. in 31 AD Jesus died on a cruel cross for us and not for Himself, but Jesus’ indirect ministry would continue through His disciples for an additional 3 1/2 years.
And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself…
…Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
Daniel 9: 26
Jesus’ message was primarily to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” first and foremost. There are many parables and direct statements of Jesus. He was “confirming the covenant” as predicted in this Daniel 9 prophecy. Here is one example:
But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15: 24
To continue with the confirmation of the covenant God made with “Daniel’s people” (Israel) even after the “Messiah the Prince” had been “cut off,” Jesus gave specific instruction to His disciples before they “preached the gospel in all the world“
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel
Matthew 10: 5,6
They obeyed the resurrected and ascended Christ by doing this very thing for an additional 3 1/2 years to complete the prophecy to “confirm the covenant for one week” (7 years).
In 34 AD, Stephen was stoned marking the end of the 70 weeks (490 years) cut off from the 2,300 years before the sanctuary would be cleansed.
After that point, the gospel burden went to the Gentiles and those who accepted Christ as the Messiah became the new Israel. Listen to the words of Paul confirming this understanding of the mission of Christ and the fulfillment of the 70-week prophecy:
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:46
Paul would go on to describe the real nation of Israel and how it is identified:
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3: 29
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Romans 2:29
Let’s review the 70 weeks (490 years) through this simple chart:
Here are the important dates:
457 BC-The commandment by Artaxerxes (Ezra 7: 12-26) to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem
483 years later, “Messiah the Prince” appeared right on time. This was in 27 AD when Jesus was anointed and began his ministry primarily to the nation of Israel
In 31 AD, Jesus was crucified (3 1/2 years after his ministry to the house of Israel began)
34 AD marked the end of the 70 weeks (490 years) allotted to the nation of Israel to turn to their God. In this year, Stephen was stoned and the disciples began to be persecuted. Shortly after, Paul would begin his ministry to the Gentiles. He called himself a preacher to the Gentiles:
I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles
2 Timothy 1:11
70 weeks (490 years) of the 2300 days (years) are used in this section of the prophecy. 1810 years remains.
1810 years from 34 AD leads us to the year 1844. Daniel was told in the longest time prophecy that at the end of the 2300 days (years) the sanctuary would be “cleansed.” What doe this mean? We will let the bible interpreted itself in our next study, but here is a short introduction.
The sanctuary services were instituted by God Himself. The pattern was given to Moses. This design is a copy of the heavenly sanctuary. Some might think there is nothing applicable to the Christian since these services ended when Jesus was “cut off” and,
“(brought) an end to sacrifice and offering.
Daniel 9:27
But, as we shall understand next time, Paul dedicated a whole book to the study of the sanctuary and its comparison to the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary. It is the book of Hebrews. If the earthly sanctuary and its services are a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, then it must foreshadow the work of Jesus there in heaven. He has gone to “prepare a place for us.” Does this mean He is a carpenter and building mansions or is He a priest doing a service of preparation for His people?
The old sanctuary service of “cleansing” is a type of resolution and end of the sin issue. By studying closely the sanctuary services, we will see a picture of what God has planned for the return of Jesus and an end of sin which includes the conquering of the last enemy, death.
Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:5
And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:15
Until next time, may the Lord bless and keep you and your family.
Ezra has three decrees with different dates that could be used. Nehemiah has a date also. But the decision as to which one to use, you must keep in mind the key words of the prophecy: “the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”The four decrees are : The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4) The decree of Darius I (Ezra 6:1-12) The decree of Artaxerxes I (Longimanuus) (Ezra 7: 12-26) The decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2)
Let’s eliminate some of the dates based on the guiding verse of Daniel 9:25
Ezra 1-gave instruction only for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Said nothing about the whole city. We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 6-simply the endorsement by Darius of the decree of Cyrus. Only mentions the building of the “house of God.” We can eliminate this date.
Ezra 7 makes provision for complete restoration of the Jewish state, including the right to appoint magistrates and judges, hold trials, and pass and execute sentence upon violators of the own national laws. This is the date that fits the idea of “restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2-Wording has not been preserved but was simply a reinstatement of Artaxerxes original authorization to Ezra recorded in Ezra chapter 7.
Determination of the date of the decree: It was in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:7,8)
Biblical evidence for the 457 BC start date:
The dates for Artaxerxes reign are well documented in the ancient sources: Greek historians, Ptolemy’s Canon The Babylonian business tablets Elephantine papyri from Egypt From the above documents, we know that Xerxes was killed in late December of 465 B.C. and the reign of Artaxerxes began at the time.
Artaxerxes Reign
Fall to Fall
First year
464/463 B.C.
Second year
463/462 B.C.
Third year
462/461 B.C.
Fourth year
461/460 B.C.
Fifth year
460/459 B.C.
Sixth year
459/458 B.C.
Seventh year
458/457 B.C.
Therefore, the seventh year of Artaxerxes, according to Jewish reckoning, extended from the fall of 458 to the fall of 457 B. C.
One of the reasons I know the Bible is true and that its writers are honest. They do not try to sugarcoat the bad stuff. The writers could have skipped over the evil, terror, killings and replaced it with anything that would not hurt peoples’ feelings. We live in a world where the bad stuff is often kept secret or suppressed. Feelings are often more important than truth.
The mindset of those on our campuses is “We condemn freedom of speech that hurt other peoples’ feelings.” On the opposite end of thought on freedom of speech. Benjamin Franklin said, “Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.”
Being politically correct is no longer an option. It is a requirement in our society. But, in the Bible, God tells it like it is; it is not a politically correct book. Those who would quote the words, even in a caring loving manner, are considered hateful and maybe even a bigot. Many people don’t like what they hear from God’s word, but that does not change what is true.
The truth is not always found on the main highway but lies along the narrow path. It is not on the lips of the majority but in the hearts of a few who seek it with all their heart. Jesus told his disciples, they might not be ready to hear more of his words,
Daniel saw some things that disturbed him greatly and it caused him to be sick. I can identify with him. Truth is not always comfortable, but it will always bring peace that passes understanding. The truth will increase your faith and trust in the God who made you and all creation.
“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Daniel 7: 19 – 20
Daniel seems to be clear about the three beasts of this chapter and what they represented, because his only interest after his vision was to know about the 4th beast and particularly the strange looking little horn that came up out of the 4th beast.
Shouldn’t we want to know the truth about the fourth beast and the horn? Can we know the truth? Yes, we can! How do we know? Because the angel comes back and explains them to Daniel.
I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Daniel 7:16
While much of the vision is yet future for Daniel, we can see his future in the interpretation and it will help us understand the basis for interpreting our future!
This 4th beast was different from the others. What does that mean? First of all, this beast is so odd that Daniel could not find anything in nature such as the lion, the bear, and the leopard to represent its appearance nor its character.
If one thinks about it, Daniel could easily understand how the Lion with two wings and the Bear with three ribs could represent Babylon and the Medes/Persian empire because he lived during the fall and rise of Babylon. He also lived to see the Medes and Persians begin to become a world power. But Greece was yet to appear as was the 4th kingdom of Rome and the little horn power.
Fulfilled prophecy is more clearly understood as one looks back . Wouldn’t you agree? The fulfillment of prophecies past is the basis for the principles involved in interpreting those parts of the prophecy yet future. The fulfilled prophecies of Daniel were so accurate that many attempt to put Daniel’s vision at a later point so it becomes history rather than the divine hand of God moving among the powers of the earth. This is impossible when you consider the time span covered in the prophecy.
Through archaeological discoveries, historians catch up with the word of God and validate its accuracy. Truly, Daniel saw these visions of 4 great Monarchs before they happened. He was there personally at the rise and fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. But, he was not there for the other powers that were to arise nor the time of judgement and the 2nd coming of Christ as this vision depicts.
Daniel is careful to describe the times of his visions for those in the future who would doubt.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon
Daniel 7:1
This time in the 6th century BC was before the events yet to occur as described in the picture below.
The imagery of the ferocious 4th beast and the cunning and power of the little horn, made Daniel sick. I am sure if we were given a look into the future to see how it all ends, we would be troubled greatly too! This is what will happen to many who read Daniel and Revelation. The scripture unfolds the identity of the 4th beast and the little horn power. It also gives us a picture of heavenly things.
“This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Daniel 7:28
As we saw from the previous study, the fourth kingdom to appear on the world scene was the iron monarchy of Rome.
At this point, let’s see the comparison of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 regarding those powers during Daniel’s time and those yet future. (Daniel 8 will also add to this chart, but we will fill it in when we study that chapter next.)
Daniel 2 was a simple straight forward prophecy of 4 major kingdoms rising and falling. The prophecy was a time line that spoke to the diminishing value of the metals and therefore the value of its countries, particularly in a spiritual sense.. It is finally a mixture of strong and weak as demonstrated by the combining of iron and clay in the feet and 10 toes.
Daniel 7 repeats Daniel 2, but begins to layer in detail and some facts that are difficult to accept. Daniel 7 fills in some elements of time, but even more obvious is its attention to the power ruling just before God sets up His kingdom.
Daniel 7 does not stop at the 10 divisions (10 horns of the 4th beast), but goes further into Daniel’s future and we will see even more detail of the worlds future events when we compare it with Revelation!
New Detail of Daniel 7:
The new detail about the 4th power (legs of iron with 10 toes or the 4th beast with 10 horns ) is that three of the 10 divisions are uprooted by the little horn that speaks great things and persecutes others after it comes up among the 10 horns.
“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 man, and a mouth speaking great things”
Daniel 7:8
The interpretation of this is clear:
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Daniel 7:24
The horns represent ten kings that shall arise and the little horn is a different type of king that shall subdue three kings.
Since the symbols (metal and animals) are demonstrating a time line of succession, we have the basis to identify the king that arose during the 10 divisions of Rome.
There are some identifying marks in this chapter that helps us determine who was or is the little horn power.
1.) It will come up among the divided kingdom of Rome between the time of 350-500 A.D. (Verse 8)
2. It would be a little Kingdom. As noted by the little horn (Verse 8)
3 . It would have a man speak at the head of it. (Verse 8)
4. It would be “diverse” or different from the other 10 Kingdoms. [(Verse 24)
5. It would “pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)
6. It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25)
7. It would emerge from Pagan Rom (Verse 7, 8
8. It would wear out the Saints for “time, times, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)
9. It would “THINK” to change times and laws(Verse 25)
5. (Origin actions) It would “Pluck up” or “subdue” 3 of the 10 divisions. (Verse 8, 24)
The emperors of Western Europe were largely Catholic and supported the papacy in its growth and authority.
Three Arian kingdoms, however, did not support the papacy–the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths. So the Catholic emperors decided they must be subdued or destroyed.
Here is how Dr. Mervyn Maxwell, a theologian and historian, described the results in volume 1, page 129, of his book God Cares: “The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 493. And the Catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and significantly broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538.
Thus were Daniel’s three horns –the Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths–‘plucked up by the roots.’ ” It is not difficult to recognize that the papacy fits this point.
It is interesting that the Vatican, home of the pope, sits near what is called the 7 hills of Rome.
6. (In the place of God) It would speak great words against God. (Verse 25).
Just as the term anti-Christ does not mean against Christ, but rather in place of Christ, the phrase “speak great words against God is better translated “speak great words concerning God.. The Hebrew word for “against” (tsad) is only used 1 other time and it is in the previous chapter of Daniel!:
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning (or against) the kingdom;
Daniel 6:4
One of the names of the Pope is “Vicar of Christ.” The term “vicar” comes from the Latin word vicarius, which means “instead of.” Calling the pope the “Vicar of Christ” implies that he has the same power and authority that Christ had over the church
The Papacy claims to be the voice of God on earth. When the Pope makes a judgement on doctrine, his pronouncements are infallible:
“An infallible pronouncement—whether made by the pope alone or by an ecumenical council—usually is made only when some doctrine has been called into question. Most doctrines have never been doubted by the large majority of Catholics. “
From Catholic Answers website
“The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church; his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him.” Quoted in the New York CatechismThe Catholic book, “My Catholic Faith” which is based on the Baltimore Catechism, on page 251
Further evidence of Roman Catholicism replacing God and His word is in the tradition of seeking a priest to forgive sins. Only Jesus can forgive sins. He has attained that right through his sinless life, death, and resurrection. To think another man can forgive sins is operating “instead” of Christ and is blasphemous.
The Bible defines blasphemy as man claiming to forgive sins
When He saw their faith, He said to him,
“Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:21
The papacy has set up a non-biblical confessional for people to get there sins forgiven.
The Bible tells us we have direct access to Jesus:
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Jesus said, our confession for the forgiveness of sins is tied directly to God and not another
“If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
1 John 1:9.
The priest and the one confessing truly belief that sins are being forgiven through the priest:
“Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”
Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279.
And he also claims to be God………….
“We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”
Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), manuscript SC, Vol. 32, col. 761 (Latin).
“Thou art another God on earth.”
Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter “The Reunion of Christendom,” dated June 20, 1894, trans. in The Great Encyclical letters of Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903), p. 304.
“The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.”
Catholic National, July 1895.
Truly the little horn (the papacy) speaks great words “in place” of God himself.
7. (Roots in paganism & its practices) It would emerge from Pagan Rome (Verse, 8)
There is little doubt here, but to let Rome answer for themselves.
“The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised … The very capital of the old Roman Empire became the capital of the Christian empire. The office of Pontifex Maximus was continued in that of the pope.”
Alexander Clarence Flick, The Rise of the Medieval Church, pp. 148, 149.
“Whatever Roman elements the barbarians and Arians left … [came] under the protection of the Bishop of Rome, who was the chief person there after the emperor’s disappearance. The Roman Church in this way privily pushed itself into the place of the Roman World-Empire, of which it is the actual continuation.”
Adolf Harnack, What is Christianity? (New York: Putnam, second edition, revised, 1901), pp. 269, 270.
8. (Activity and time span) It would wear out the Saints for “times, time, and dividing a time” (Verse 25)
I am going to save this time prophecy until next time so I can spend more dedicated time on confirming its accuracy. We will see that the rule of the papacy started from 538 AD (the last opposing power against the papacy is conquered) and ended in 1798 (The pope is taken into captivity and dies). A period of 1, 260 years as predicted by God’s word. The Bible says after this time that the “wound would be healed” and this is the time we now live in. The time of the healed papacy that is daily ascending in power and recognition. The news and internet confirms this.
9. (Attempts to change God’s word) It would “THINK” to change times and laws (Verse 25)
The papacy has made several changes to the Holy Scripture, but most importantly to the eternal law contained in the ten commandments. More specifically, the 2nd commandment has been eliminated, the 4th commandment changed, and the 10th commandment divided into two commandments.
This is despite warnings from Jesus and many of the writers of the Bible. Here are just a couple of verses:
From Jesus (the law giver)
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 18-19
Even the smallest punctuation mark cannot be changed. Whoever teaches anything different is in danger. How can the Pope have authority to change anything regarding the eternal law of God?
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:12
The Roman Catholic church may “think” to change God’s law, but His law is still the same. It is still a sin to transgress even the smallest of its precepts.
To demonstrate this attempted change, I have listed the 10 commandments (in summary) as described in the Catechism. This is the official book of the Catholics to teach new converts:
I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Now, compare the 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it, you shall do no work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
A careful comparative review will show that the Roman Catholic church leaders eliminated the 2nd commandment completely and divided the last commandment into two. Why?
Part of the Roman Catholic worship is to pray to the”saints” and little figurines that represent them. While this may seem harmless, it is a direct breaking of the 2nd commandment as given directly to mankind through Moses. It is also against the spirit of worship of praying directly to the Father through the Holy Spirit. If the practice of praying to saints in front of their image is harmless, then let the Pope reinstate the 2nd commandment
They have also changed the 4th Commandment as proof of the church’s authority to do so:
If you were to convert to Catholicism, you would be taught the following….not from the Bible, but from the church’s commentary on the Bible:
In the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, we read: Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day. Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday…. Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday. Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday? A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her! —Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946), p. 50.
My Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ. The little horn power has done more than change a jot (a period) and a title (comma), which Jesus said was forbidden. It has taken a harsh chisel to the immutable law of God.
But, those who would go by God’s word alone (sola Scriptura) are clearly identified as those who oppose the work of the little horn and honor every word of God’s unchanging law. It is out of love for God and fellow man that they respect the word of God over any power who would speak great things “in place” of God:
And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:17
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12
The final conflict between the little horn (Papacy) and those who oppose its work, will be those who honor every word of God’s commandments
‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
It is a sad commentary that many protestant churches today wonder after and follow the little horn power by minimizing the law of God and looking for another power to be the little horn power. For a more complete study on God’s law, please go to the category “God’s Will For Us.”
In the next study, we will layer in more detail concerning the time prophecy found in Daniel 7 and then look at Daniel Chapter 8. We will then bring in the companion verses of Revelation. The key to unlocking the prophecies of Revelation are found in Daniel. As we will see, John saw many of the same things as Daniel.
