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Matthew 25:6, “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
Revelation 3:3, “… if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch …”
This blog is maintained by “In Christ Alone” (aka “MidnightWatcher”)
The Messiah is coming soon, and it is our Heavenly Father’s desire to see all people everywhere come to Him, to know Him personally, to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
This blog examines current events from a Biblical perspective, from wars, rumours of wars and revolutions to famines, pestilences and earthquakes, with a heavy emphasis upon the final Beast empire described by the Prophet Daniel and John’s Revelation that now lurks amongst us: the Islamic Empire.
When God sent the Saviour to die for the sins of humanity – the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world – He died for all people past, present and future, and that includes Muslims. But the enemy has been hard at work doing all he can to confuse, confound and corrupt the Truth of God’s Word with all sorts of lies and deceptions, the largest of which today now ensnares and enslaves a fourth part of the earth by a political and religious ideology known as Islam. God loves the Muslim people, and as Christians we, too, must love them and shine the light of truth upon Islam’s kingdom of darkness to expose it for what it truly is, doing all that we can in these Last Days to bring as many as possible to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Soon, it will be too late:
Ephesians 5:11, “… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Luke 21:9-11, 16-19, 25-28, “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away … Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven … You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life … There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
This blog does not claim any rights to any of the material collected and published from other sources. It is all fully owned by those sources and the material in this site is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This blog simply quotes excerpts through fair usage, linking back to the original source, giving full credit to the authors of those sources. If any material that belongs to you should be changed or removed in any way please leave a note below and this will be taken care of as quickly as possible.
Where’s a good “one people of God” article/video? (i.e., youtube). You wrote some nice stuff about a year or two ago. Need it soon.
Well there may be something here you’ll find useful: http://abrahamsseed.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/old-testament-saints-members-of-the-church/
There was also a thread over on the Christian Doctrine Discussion forums where I wrote about saints in the Old Testament and whether or not they were “born again” by posing a question here and continued in the discussion here. Was this what you were looking for?
Those are good, but not specifically what I had in mind.
If one could diagram it, I was thinking more along the lines of intersecting circles–one circle is the Jews/OT, the second is the church. Outside both circles are the lost/those who don’t heed the call, and the intersection of the circles is “the remnant” or “the chosen” if you will. Seems there was a video I watched or long article I read about that, and it came thru you, if not written by you. Don’t remember that?
But the essence I’m after is the progressive dispensation idea of ‘God’s people’…
You might be thinking about Tim Warner’s explanation of Progressive Dispensationalism here. Was that it? While Warner includes national Israel when explaining the Church, I refer primarily to spiritual Israel in my explanation and its continuous nature throughout the ages.
Yes, I think the Tim Warner article was it, thanks.
You should turn that CDD post of yours into an article; I think that was the other one I was remembering. I have copied and pasted it into my “ICA” folder on my computer, because I recently lost all my browser links when my computer had to be restored from a virus. What a hassle.
I would like to hear about your involvement in your church and if it involves any of your end times beliefs; specifically, have you had any discussions with your pastor, taught a class, bible study, etc? That would be another interesting (to me) article.
Our church has been having a series on the Nicene Creed and a few weeks ago they covered “from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.” The CMA is strong on the physical return of Christ and is even pre-millennial (although the recent sermon didn’t state that), but the pastors made sure they didn’t come down dogmatically on pre/post trib, just made people aware that such beliefs exist. I think most Christians don’ think a lot about it, only that they’ll be “in heaven” when they die.
I like this discussion of Jew/Gentile/Remnant:
http://www.hebrew4christians.net/Articles/Israel/israel.html
Nice biblical blog. Please be invited to visit mine visual bible at winnileaks.wordpress.com. Greetings, Winfred from The Netherlands.
I added your RSS feed to my blog. http://danickelsaver.blogspot.com
What a great blog you have here, It appears that you started yours several months before mine and have been very successful in drawing readers in to see the news. I especially like your ‘A few simple questions for Muslim visitors’ section, well done.
I too watch, Christ told us the signs of his return. Heres my thoughts; sometime in the next few weeks a false flag operation will be run. This will end up causing the president to declare a state of emergency. Many believe that it might come in the form of an attack by Iran against the US fleet. This will cause the US to be occupied by Marshall law, as such the US will pull out of the Persian Gulf like a dog with it’s tail between it’s legs. This will give Iran the gumption to attack Isreal beginning the first war talked about in Revelations. It will be during this conflict the Russia will get dragged in as PEACEKEEPERS rather than combatents, this will happen as Russia has an extremely strong presence and is allied with Syria and others in the region. This conflict will destroy the mosque at Dome of the Rock. An Islamist is going to emerge, first as a national president, then as the Caliph of the revised Persian empire. I found this in reviewing the ten toes talked about in Daniel. Daniel is talking to the King and explaining the dream. The overall of the dream is who will conquer Babylon. When the geography os placed correctly both the Koran and the Bible prophecies run true. Each from a different side for the 12th IMAM who is the Savior of the Islamic worrld, is also the Anti-Christ of Revelation.
Glory be to God, the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus! I am happy to have have stumbled upon your blog MidnightWatcher (through The Blaze) and look forward to sifting through it! May our Lord continue to open the eyes of His people, AMEN.
Hello brother, long time no see. I was wondering if you could help me with the stats you posted once on CDD&D concerning violence in countries related to muslim population?
God bless
Hey, where is everybody at? I hope you guys have not been raptured, lol.
In Christ Alone, where are you brother?
God bless.
Hi Darrell, hope all is well. Sorry for the late reply — I don’t recall the stats you’re referring to specifically. I do remember posting stats detailing what the Christian percentage use to be a few decades ago and what it was now though. Here are a few on the state of Christianity in Muslim countries:
Disappearing Christians in the Middle East
The Christian Exodus from the Middle East
Christianity Faces a Middle Eastern Exodus
‘The Most Important International Story Not Being Told by the Mainstream Media’: Christian Persecution in the Middle East
Modern Day Exodus: the Palestinian Christians
Hello ICA, all is well, hope it is on your end as well. It was in the “Islam: more than meets the eye” thread on CDD&D. It showed that violence in countries was directly related to the muslim population. It is a shame that forum is gone as there were a number of resources there to draw on, your thread being one of them.
So tell me, brother, what do you think of the election result and in particular if you see the current administration’s policy as dangerous. Also, I would greatly like to know your thoughts concering events in Egypt as well as Israel at this time.
By the way, brother, if you are interested in running a section on my forum concerning Christian persecution and events in the Middle East I would still love to have you do so. I don’t know if you got my message on CDD&D or not, but the invitation is always open for you.
God bless.
Hi Darrell, yes the forum was a great place and it is unfortunate that it is gone. I’ve been trying to recall the post you’re referring to specifically in the “More Than Meets The Eye” thread, but I am unable to recall that particular post. If I so happen to remember what it was, I’ll let you know. Also, thanks for the invite to the forum. Maintaining a thread was quite a bit time consuming, but if any discussions on Islam and Christian persecution arise, please feel free to share a link to this blog or any of its posts, or even use any of the material in the articles section.
As for the election result, I see Obama’s policy as dangerous indeed. Although I do not like the policies of the man who won, I also understand that God’s will has been and will be done. Obama’s policies have encouraged, emboldened and empowered the rise of radical Islam, and God is using this for a purpose. This will ultimately prove to have been a part of God’s unfolding plan to bring about the final consummation and fulfilment of prophecy. Though I dislike the birth pains and all that they involve, what we will witness in the end will be the birth of a New Beginning. We will witness the Return of our King.
Will Obama’s Anti-Christ Goddess religion cause Israel’s extinction? http://www.nostradamus.org/f/index.php?topic=254.0
I am not use to study via internet. It is something as an Adventist missionary, I have typically done in a living room with Bibles opened, and prayer being made. After prayerful consideration I will try to articulate my problems with your proposed interpretation of Bible prophesy. I pray this is received with love, as it is being written with only a desire that God will lead us all into a full knowledge of the truth.
#1 My 1st issue would be the assumption that Israel (In the context of final events), is, or ever has been a reference to literal Israel (in the Middle East). According to the teachings of the New Testament, {Rom 2:28 & 29; Gal. 5:15 &16; Eph. 2:12-14} The “Israel of God” are,
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. KJV
The word Israel by Biblical definition means: to wrestle with God and be victorious! The Interlinear renders it this way…NT:2474 Israel (is-rah-ale’); of Hebrew origin [OT:3478]; Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively):
Many of the prophetic scriptures you have cited (Ezek. 38 &39 etc) have a historical context, and have in both cases been fulfilled in past conflicts. Psalms 83:4 is a perfect example, let’s look at it…
Ps 83:2-4 2 For, lo, thine enemies make (present tense) a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted (past tense) up the head. 3 They have taken (past tense) crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have (past tense) said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. KJV
This Psalm deals with an issue that was both past tense and ongoing in the historical context of the passage itself. If we are going to site scripture, it is extremely important that the passages be left in their proper historical & prophetic context.
Here is one of the most respected Christian commentaries (none Adventist) on another verse you cited by Islamic end timers.
Zep 2:4-7 The prophet here comes to foretel what share the neighbouring nations should have in the destruction made upon those parts of the world by Nebuchadnezzar and his victorious Chaldees, as others of the prophets did at that time.{from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible}
If a Bible prophesy has been fulfilled you have to allow the history to stand and be counted. There was not one of the early protestant reformer that interpreted end-time prophesy in the context of literal and geographical Israel being the epicentre of prophetic fulfilment. These ideal’s we’re brought in threw the Counter Reformation to take the attention away from the apostate Roman Church and the influence it had over the entire then known word.
2nd I would also have to take issue with your time lime in Daniel Chapters. Your interpretation places a gap of nearly 800 years between the fall of Greece and the birth of Islam. Do you honestly think that God would prophetically ignore the great Roam Empire, the very “Kingdom” that was responsible for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ? The longest lasting of all the Kingdoms, and most influential of any that came before it. You will need to do better than that brother…It also happens to be the immediate successor to the Greek empire who it “devoured and broke in pieces?” The sequence given in Daniel 2 & 7 is repeated in the book of Daniel 7 times looking forward from Daniel’s current positions in time and again multiple times in Revelation, first looking backwards, then forward in time. Clearly each of the “world dominating”, kingdom/ empires came in succession one after the other by military conquest, with the exception of the division of Rome, it was:
Dan 7:19 “diverse from all the others”.
The 4th beast in Daniel 7 has multiple characteristics that easily eliminate Islam as its correct interpretation. For example, in verse 17 it explains that the four beasts are four “Kings that shall rise up out of the earth”.
Never has Islam been a unified kingdom, they have at times been ruled by a Caliph or Sultanate, even then they we’re splintered. Or verse 23 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces….
so not only is this 4th beast a kingdom, it was foretold to devour “the whole earth”. This could not be a regional event, confined to the Middle East. The same is true in
Rev 13:7-9…
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Once again, not a regional event! And when has Islam ever made war with the Saint’s and overcome them. There have been many Muslim/Christian regional battles, but never was Islam victorious over the so-called Christian Roman Empire, or to take complete control over the ten divisions of that Empire. I would also be reluctant to characterize the Roman Church as Saint’s. As far as I am concerned that Church had long been apostate by the time Islam arrived on the scene. I would also point out that the Roman Papal Empire was the only empire to be divided into ten “kingdoms” by which 3 we’re up-rooted (the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths).
It was also the only Kingdom that ruled for exactly 1260 years {Dan. 7:25; Daniel 12:7; Rev.2:6; Rev. 12:14; Rev. 13:5}. And yes I do interpret a day in prophesy to equal a literal year (as have many great theologians for hundreds of years), based on…
Ezek 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. {This is prophetic instruction}
Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Therefore, regardless of how you want to do the math… 3 1/2 prophetic years is 1260 prophetic days or 1260 literal years. Likewise 42 prophetic months is also 1260 prophetic days, also 1260 literal years. The Roman Papal Monarchy ruled from 538 AD to 1798 AD when the French captured Rome, setting up a secular government in its place, and put the Pope in prison where he later died. Thus fulfilling the prophetic passage…
Rev 13:10
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity.
This also dealt a “deadly wound” (Rev. 13:3) to Papal world surprimacy. Don’t forget that this wound will be healed (same verse). Notice also that this beast opens it mouth in blasphemy against God (verse 6) How does the Bible define blasphemy?
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Matt 9:2-3 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
So according to the Bible, the act of blasphemy consists of claiming the right to forgive sins, and exalting a man to the position of God. Wonder which religious group could be guilty of that sin???
Pope Leo XIII “We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”
“The Pope has power to change times and abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ.” {Decreta lde Translat Espiscop. Cap.}
3rd point: In reference to Daniel 7:25, I will need you to point out what Law of God has Islam ever changed (or could change) that would cause the entire world to “wonder” after that beast? On the other hand, if you open your catholic catechism to the chapter entitled the Ten Commandments, then kindly open a Bible to Exodus 20, you will find a Law or two that have been changed. If you read further you will also discover why the Sabbath of the 4th commandment was set aside and reverence for the first day of the week established, a law that was latter enforced. Countless millions we’re killed during the Dark Ages for their devotion to the Bible, and their desire to keep all ten Commandment, especially the Sabbath. If you think the Pontiff in Rome has changed his position today, you are sadly mistaken.
What world leader has not bowed the knee to this man? What government is not currently being lead by a member of a Masonic order or some Catholic society? Look at the American government and try and count how many catholic’s currently set on the Senate, or The House of Representatives? How about at the Supreme Court, or even the lower courts? I have a close personal friend that is a “fellow” with the World Bank, guess how many of those people are Roman Catholic? For several years now the Roman Church has strove to encourage Sunday reform legislation, now the so-called “protestant” Christian Coalition is rallying behind the Pope in the same effort.
If you didn’t know it, it’s because you’re not paying attention, Adventist’s do… just Google Sunday Blue Law’s and see what you learn. I don’t read anywhere in scripture where Jesus ( a Sabbath keeper) ever forced anyone to practice His religion, and we don’t want the so-called Christian majority enforcing their customs on us minorities that reverence the 7th day Sabbath either. Christians are quick to support a cause if they agree with it, but slow to remember what it was like when religious liberty was taken away, and the state was calling the shots.
Islam, despite its being one of the fastest growing world religions, will never equal the size and strength of its Catholic rival (easily the largest religious group to date). Neither could I fathom that Islam could ever surpass the collective efforts of both Catholic, and so-called protestant Christendom in their race toward world domination.
Don’t even get me started on the allegiance American’s have with the Jewish state of Israel (made up mostly of The Messiah’s rejecters.) If you would study the 70 week prophesy of Daniel 9:24-27 carefully and prayerfully, I think you will discover that God’s blessing to that nation ended with their rejection of Him in 34 AD at the stoning of Stephen, after which the Gospel went to the Gentiles.
Furthermore, do you honestly think the U.N. will ever appoint a representative to Mecca? We have had a representative to the Vatican for many years, and certainly to “Orthodox Jewish” Israel…
Issue #4:
I will not argue that many Old Testament prophets foretold end-time events. Those prophesies can easily be pointed out, as they have not literally or historically happened yet! One such prophesy that I have discovered (among many like it) predicts a time when God’s Spirit will be poured out in Latter-Rain power to prepare His people for a great evangelistic demonstration of His Glory that will draw many heathen into a obedient life of righteousness. Notice what it has to say about those Ishmaelite Arabs…
Isa 60:1-7
60 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. KJV
In case you are unaware, the Bible records Nebaioth as the first born son/prince of Ishmael. Muhammad was a direct descendent of the Nabataean’s, or the first born son. Kedar was the second born. Midian, Ephah, and Sheba summarize much of the rest of the Muslim world. There is more Good News for the Muslims in Isa. 21 and several other chapters as well.
If the Spirit of your message truly comes from Jesus then you will see fruit on your tree… Lives will be changed, and people will give their life to Jesus as a result of your work. If no fruit develops; that tree is “good for nothing except to be cut down and thrown into the fire.” If you would like to understand Islam’s proper role (in my opinion) in Bible prophesy, prayerfully study the last three trumpets (or Woe’s) of Revelation chapters 9 & 10. I’m in good company, Martin Luther shared that prophetic view at a time when Islam was aiding in the survival of a Protestant Reformation that would have been destroyed by the Papal armies if not for the invasion of the Turks on its eastern borders of the empire.
I believe, and history bears record, that Islam was used by God as a destroyer and a plague on the apostate church. Both the scripture in the original languages, and the Protestant Reformation that reintroduced the scriptures to the world, were preserved by the Muslim’s invasions from the East. I believe that God has been in full control of world events every step of the way and even now has everything under His full control.
Last Point:
I have studied and interviewed with Muslim’s of almost ever extraction in the U.S. And have lived and worked among Muslim’s for 3 years, so this I can say with perfect confidence. Not one Muslim I have ever known believes he is praying to a moon god. No Muslim I have ever met believes the Jesus (Isa) of the Qur’an, or any of the Bible Patriarchs or Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an are different then the same people mentioned in our Bibles. I’m also positive that the thousands of Arabic speaking Christian’s that read their Arabic Bibles and pray to their Allah every day, do not feel they are praying to anyone except the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a matter o fact, the origins of the English word “God” come from a Nordic god of spring water, but when I pray to God in English, I think God is able to distinguish who I’m speaking to as well. Jesus spoke Aramaic, so he would have called God Alaha…almost looks and sounds like that Muslim God doesn’t it?
I agree totally that the world is to be warned of a great coming deception. And I will watch carefully as events unfold to see if your position begins to gain ground. I pray you will consider doing the same with the Adventist view. I believe your diligent study and devotion to understanding the truth will reap the desired reward if your heart is sincerely seeking the truth. The same can be said for me… if i am wrong regarding my current position, yet sincere in heart, God will lead me to greater light and the truth will be revealed to all who honestly & diligently search for it… that’s what Jesus has promised, and I believe Jesus! People may make some mistakes interpreting prophesy, but that plain counsel is impossible to deny. In closing I will remind you of this simply truth in regard to human relations…
1 Cor 13:1-10
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. NKJV
I have chosen to be all things to all men, even the Musilm, so I may win some. Muslim’s, like all other people of this world, do not care what you know until they know that you care. Giving people intellectual arguments on theology has never converted one heart. When Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus pointed out how this work was done in Peter’s mind…
Matt 16:17 Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
God is still the source of this great truth, and the human heart cannot fully understand or except Jesus unless the Father reveals it to your heart. Jesus must be demonstrated in the heart of the Christian if he has any hope of bringing the truth to the Muslim world. We must be willing to love our enemies, and lay down our live as Jesus did if this work is to be met with success. I pray that God will help us to be like Jesus. If this is not the right way, what is? Should we turn our guns toward the east and fire? Are we to kill our enemies, was that what Jesus instructed? What method did Jesus set forth as an example? We cannot change the heart of a Muslim with insult, and you certainly cannot love a Muslim via Facebook from hundreds of mile away.
I pray that your ministry will bare much fruit! I would be glad to hear the testimonies if and when it does. If it was to not bare real fruit, you must be willing to reconsider your approach. To be honest with yourself, and with God, If we can not subscribe to the way Jesus has ordained, our life work will be in vain. And nothing will change in the Muslim lands. Hatred breeds more hatred. The question falls you us, do we love our enemies enough to make sincere sacrifice for there salvation?
Hi Adventist, thank you for your comment. Many of your points are already addressed in the Theology and Eschatology articles I’ve written. I would recommend reading through all of the articles as well as the comments, and through the A Few Simple Questions For Muslim Visitors page. Feel free to raise any questions, comments or concerns in the comment section of the respective articles. God bless!
I have been visiting this site for about a year now, it is clear to see that God has blessed this ministry through this site. I am a berean by nature and I search the scriptures for myself, never taking anyone’s word but God’s and the Holy Spirit.
I did a bible study with the adventists last winter. It was very entertaining. I had a few problems with their beliefs that would keep me from studying further. Number 1 is that they believe that Michael is literally Jesus. Number 2. Adventists believe that when we get to heaven we will judge God and his judgements to see if they are just. And they justify this with the verse in Revelation chapter 16 “You are just in these judgements, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged;….. Number 3 Adventist believe that there is no Hell. They say Martin Luther say’s the same thing. But that is just not true.
I converted to Lutheran years ago, and have a collection of his teachings and sermons. The biggest contradiction of this is the letters Martin Luther wrote. When the pheasant uprising was taking place and they got out of control, Martin Luther wrote: “There are no demons left in Hell, as they have all gone to the pheasants.” They say all the mentions of Hell by Jesus and others are just allegory. They cite the scriptures that say your enemies will be as chaff or dust under your feet. They also say that instead of Hell you will just go to sleep and never wake up. In reality Jesus talked more about Hell than anything else.
They say the mark of the beast is sunday worship. All those who worship on sunday are taking the mark of the beast and will not enter Heaven. They say this to be true, because the Pope changed it to Sunday worship, and they do say that the Catholic church is the beast out of the earth. There is no timeline or other beast to them except this with the Roman Catholic church. I could say alot more but I won’t. They are very quick to call other’s beliefs cult-like, but ignore that their religion came from visions from Ellen White. Galatians 1:8 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”
Now I have adventist friends, and I made new ones over the months of Bible study. I love them. We parted with this; we told them that if there ever came a time when the false prophet would issue a decree for all saturday worship to end or be put to death or punished, that we would be at the beginning of the line saying take us first, we’re adventist. And asked that they do the same for us, if reversed. They are bringing many to Jesus, I just worry about some of the teachings after that. What worries me about the eschatology of Adventists is not that it will see them in hell, but that they will run to the beast or the false prophet, because they are awaiting a catholic false prophet and a roman beast. So being misinformed can be dangerous. I don’t wish to bash the Adventists nor do I wish to debate further, but their interpretations leave a lot to be desired. God Bless all and continuing to pray for knowledge, wisdom, and guidance for all.
The claim that the fourth beast in Daniel 7 is Islam is wrong. The first three beasts are correctly pointed out to appear just as they actually did appear chronologically. The next beast (or world empire) to appear after Greece was not a Islamic empire. It was the empire of Rome, that would last 1260 years (Prophetic Days) Daniel 7:25…the time, times and dividing of times. Also described in Rev. 13:5 (42 months). This prophetic time period could only describe Papal Rome. The only empire to ever rule for 1260 years…538AD-1798AD.
Hi Adventist, if you want to use 1260 days as years, then why not use 360-day prophetic years instead of solar years? 1260 prophetic years would be just under 1242 solar years. Moreover, the year “538 was not the beginning of a greater papal power. In fact it had much more power before 538 as the sole religion of the Roman Empire before the non-Catholic barbarian invasions began. After 538 non-Catholic invasions continued by the Lombards, Saracens, Normans and Muslims and Catholic territories would actually shrink in size for several centuries. Most of the barbarians were actually Arian Christians who denied the Trinity.
A. D. 538 neither provided the beginning point of papal persecution of the ‘saints’ nor did it mark the end of migrating Germanic tribes which prevented it from exercising its authority. The Lombards would prove much worse than the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths combined.
It would be almost 600 years before the papacy would continually persecute anybody other than fellow Roman Catholics who disagreed with the pope. For many centuries Catholic on Catholic violence which resulted in popes fleeing Rome and being murdered were the norm and not the exception.
Another major problem with the year 538 relates to the amount of horns and when major opposition to the papacy stopped. The Heruli (476-493), Vandals (455-537) and Ostrogoths (493-537) were only a small sample of the many Germanic, Norse, Slavic and Muslim tribes which invaded the papal lands and killed Catholics. There were also the Visigoths, Huns, Lombards, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Suevi, Alans, Danes, Normans, Bulgarians, Burgundians, Saracens and Ottoman Turks.
The Franks invaded Catholic Gaul in 406 and were not converted until 493. They deserve to be an SDA horn. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded Catholic England in 406 and destroyed most of Catholic Christianity there before it was re-established around 600. They deserve to be an SDA horn. In 410 Visigoths plundered Rome and severely damaged Catholic Christianity in Spain until they were converted many decades later. They deserve to be an SDA horn.
The SDA interpretation of the 1260 ‘year’ prophecy makes no mention of the hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics which were killed by these many ‘horns.’ After 538 the Muslims alone occupied pagan Roman and papal Roman lands in Spain, Carthage, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Greece and killed many thousands of followers of the papacy in those regions. It is absurd to teach that the year 538 ended the major opposition of the papacy’s opponents and begin its dominance over them.
The Eastern Emperor Justinian only began his re-conquest of Italy in 538. He did not complete the expulsion of the Ostrogoths until 552. Therefore the SDA date of 538 as the expulsion of the third little horn is also wrong.
Neither did the papacy suddenly gain strength in 538 to ‘make war with the saints and overcome’ for 1260 years! The papacy actually had far less authority under Justinian than it did before he arrived. Pope Vigilius (537-555), Pelagius (556-561) and John III (561-574) were total puppets of the autocrat Justinian.
As soon as Justinian died in 568 another Germanic tribe, the Lombards, invaded Italy, was never repulsed and eventually blended into the Italian people. However, before they became obedient Catholic Christians they ruled most of Italy until 777. During that time they besieged and plundered Rome in 579, 590, 604-606, 715, 733, 739-743, 751, 754-756 and 768-772. History does not agree at all that the papacy saw its last hindrance defeated in 538 or began its persecution in 538.” (Dr. Russell Earl Kelly, read more here).
As for the 4th Beast of Daniel, it absolutely cannot be Rome. It is impossible. Here’s a list of 10 reasons why the fourth empire is not Rome, which you can read here:
“1. John sees the last empire (the beast) as identified with the Greek (leopard), Persian (bear) and Babylonia (lion) empires in Revelation 13:2. However, he does not also see Rome as a fourth empire in his vision, even though the Roman Empire had already begun 158 years previous to John’s writing.
2. In Revelation 17:10, the the 6th king or kingdom that was still in existence at the time of John’s writing is obviously the Roman Empire (63 BC – 476 AD). However, he does not associate the 6th with the last terrifying empire in Daniel’s vision, but rather he associates it with the 7th kingdom.
3. In Revelation 17:11, the last kingdom is the 8th one. If this were the Roman Empire resurrected, then Rome would have had to be the 7th kingdom and not the 6th.
4. Daniel 2 is a revelation of what would later happen to Babylon. Maps of the Babylonian, Media-Persian and Greek Empires—like this on the right—show each succeeding empire includes the previous one, expanding further than the previous empire. However, Rome did not include all of the previous Greek Empire.
5. To break in pieces all four kingdoms at the same time in Daniel 2:34-35, they would have to overlap geographically. The Roman Empire does not fully overlap the previous empires. However, we see in the next map at the right that the Islamic Empire overlaps the previous empires.
6. In Daniel 7:7, “devour” means not only conquer militarily, but geographically, culturally, religiously and changing languages. (Islam, however, does all this.)
7. In Revelation 20:4, those who had not worshipped the beast or accepted the mark had been beheaded. Rome did not do this, but Islam beheads those who do not convert.
8. Daniel 2:41 says the last kingdom will be one that is divided. After Mohammed, his empire was divided into what is today Sunni and Shia. Even today, like in Iraq, we see much of the violence is between these two groups.
9. The Muslim Empire led by the Caliphate conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453 but, as the Turkish Ottoman Empire, it ended in 1924. If it revives, it could fulfill Revelation 13:3; 17:8, 11.
10. As the empires before it were bent on worldwide conquest, so is Islam and it is doing this on the largest scale ever. Also, see Revelation 6:2, where the first Seal of a horse and rider goes forth to conquer.
Rome did not fully conquer Greece
Rome left the borders ot the Greek Empire largely intact. The Greek language continued as the dominant language of the Roman Empire, and the Romans did not destroy the Greek gods. They even embraced them and gave them Latin names. We see that the Greek Hellenistic culture continued under the Roman Empire. Rome did not ‘crush’ Greece as depicted in Daniel’s vision of the fourth empire. The fourth empire of Daniel’s vision must be another empire besides Rome.”
Also see the video from Walid Shoebat below, starting at around the 19:00 minute mark:
I never went for the Catholic antichrist view, just didn’t see anything of substance to it. The SDA view seems so….SDA-centric. Too exclusivistic for me, too contrived. My imagination was captured by the Left Behind series I guess, with the secularist/atheist antichrist. But I couldn’t understand why a secular/atheist antichrist would want to make himself out to be God (and give up his secularist/atheism). I read many pre-tribulation rapture books..Walvoord especially. But, why would a European atheist hate Israel so much anyway? It just didn’t fit. This Islamic end times view fits like a glove though. Thanks ICA for your work, time, for answering my questions from time to time, for your posts that are continually eye-opening. GOD bless you!
Thanks MidnightWatcher for creating this blog! It’s such a powerful resource! Jesus is coming soon and we all need to be aware of the signs of the times for sure. Blessings~