As we look into the identity and function of the king of the north, it would be good to think in terms of the overall context of this series of articles—the fall of the USA and Adventism.  In both cases, the lament of David at the death of Saul is appropriate, and expresses a grief and agony of mind inspired by the Holy Spirit:  “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! …For the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.” 2 Samuel 1:19-21

The United States of America and the Seventh Day Adventist church were raised up to accomplish a specific work; the one commencing its work in the civil realm at the time of the end in 1798, followed by the other in the spiritual realm in 1844.  These time periods have been established as the beginning of the dispensation of the gathering, and it was at this point in the plan of salvation that the world moved into the antitypical Day of Atonement.

In both cases they were raised up as Godly entities.  In other words, in each realm, the civil and religious, God set in place systems that operated according to His principles and methods.  These principles and methods were necessarily antagonistic to the system that had produced the scattering of God’s people in particular, and the world in general.  This system of Satan had been administered through the first and second great persecuting powers of Paganism and Papalism.

Papalism became the dominant persecutor, and as such, it sought for entire and absolute control over the human existence—physically, mentally, and spiritually.  It developed into a global system of unparalleled genius, demanding complete subservience, all the while based on the attributes of fallen human nature—the very thing it seeks to control.

It is against this massive system that the founding principles of the United States of America, and the Seventh Day Adventist church were directed.  When John saw the magnitude of this enormous system of deception and control, he ‘wondered with great admiration.’  Through this power especially, the genius and intellect of Satan himself is displayed.  It is why ‘all the world wondered after the beast,’ and ‘Who is like unto the beast?  “Who is able to make war with him?”  Luther termed it as entering into the ‘jaws of the behemoth.’ Rev. 17:6; 13:3-4; GC 153.1

Of all the nations and religions on earth, none have the ability to conduct a warfare of this nature and magnitude against the Papacy, but the USA and the Seventh Day Adventist church.  They stand alone as the respective kings in each realm.  These kings no longer operate in the south and north on a horizontal plain, but in the vertical.  The needle of this compass can be seen in Jacob’s ladder, and in the cross of Christ; both of which point heavenward to true north, with their bases resting on earth.  Christ Himself is this needle that connects heaven and earth.

“Christ died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the earth.” ST Feb.20, 1893.9

Two Successive Strikes

By now it has become clear that the Papacy operates in both the civil and religious realms, resulting from two distinct lines of fathers—pagan and spiritual.  The Pagan, in the context of the civil powers based on the system of monarchial law; and the religious, in the context of the moral powers based on a system of spiritual law, also in the form of a monarchy.

Working through this has allowed us to see that there were two distinct attacks against this power that were initiated at the time of the end, at two distinct prophetic lines in history: 1798 and 1844.  Upon further examination it has become clear that these two lines deal with two very specific things—the civil and the spiritual.

As we have seen, from 1798 forward, the USA pushes against this system of monarchy in the civil realm with its two horns of Republicanism and Protestantism.  Likewise, from 1844 forward, the SDA church was set in place to counter the ideologies of the Papacy in the spiritual realm, with its two leading principles of the Sabbath and the non-immortality of the soul.  The power of the Seventh-day Adventist church, like its civil counterpart, also resides in the hands of the people, allowing it to freely elect its leaders to administer the spiritual laws set in place by God.

It is important to understand that the infrastructure was not in place to deploy the king of the north, until the principles of Republicanism and Protestantism had been securely laid.  In other words, the king of the north—the Seventh-day Adventist church, could not do its work until the principles of the king of the south—the United States of America, had done their work.  It required two specific strikes to set in place the principles that would ultimately result in the destruction of the Papal system.  As long as the monarchial system was in place, the special truths given to Adventism could not go forward in freedom.  The USA provided a safe and sustainable base, in both realms, civil and spiritual, from which the SDA church could conduct its operations.

With these things in mind, we can begin to understand the nature of these attacks, and then the corresponding manner of the Papal response. 

The Attack by the King of the North

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

In the Bible, there are two types of whirlwinds; a literal weather-related force of nature, and a figurative, based on the literal, which is almost always used to describe an action and judgment of God.  These judgments and actions of God are directed toward either an apostate people, or against the wicked.  These come primarily from the south, with only one recorded instance other than that of Daniel 11:40, that a whirlwind comes from the north.

This king of the north also utilizes two primary forms of warfare.  Chariots and horsemen operate as a land-based system, and its ships operate as a sea-based system.  These have one thing in common, in that they are a delivery system used to transport soldiers and weapons of war.

This concept of a land and sea-based warfare can be linked directly to Revelation 10:2—“And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.”

“The mighty angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ.  Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left upon the dry land shows the part which He is acting in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan.  This position denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth.  The controversy had waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height.  Satan united with evil men, will deceive the whole world, and the churches who receive not the love of the truth.  But the mighty angel demands attention.  He cries with a loud voice.  He is to show the power and authority of His voice to those who have united with Satan to oppose the truth.” (MS 59-1900.21)

The Foundation of Revelation 10

Revelation 10 deals exclusively with the establishment of the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist church as the world-wide delivery system in the spiritual realm.

During the Millerite movement, the ‘little book open,’ represented the time prophecies of Daniel in particular, and also Revelation, that set in place the foundation of prophetic truth that Adventism was to stand upon.

This time period, 1837-44, marked the arrival of the first and second angels, preparatory to the arrival of the third angel, with its own special truths.  The time period of the first and second angels are the culmination of the seven thunders when they uttered their voices as fulfilled prophecies. (MS 59-1900.23)

The first and second angel’s messages provide the foundation for the giving of the third message.

Just as John the Baptist was the connecting link between the two dispensations of the old and new covenants—from the courtyard to the holy place; (DA 220.2) so, the Millerites were the connecting link between two distinct ministries of Christ—the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.  They were the connection between time-based prophecies and event-based prophecies.

This same line is seen in the prophecy of Daniel 11, in verse 40.  This is the precise line where prophecy moved from time to events.  This was the important point that U. Smith missed, and therefore concluded that France was the king of verse 36, which then paved the way for his resulting misinterpretation of the rest of the prophecy.

Just as John did not fully understand his role as a connecting link, neither did the Millerites fully understand their role in the same capacity.  Neither of them had the present truth of the next generation; they were only the connecting link.  The Millerites could not see beyond prophetic time.

The Message of Revelation 14

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers.  To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God.  They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages.  There is no other work of so great importance.  They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.” {9T 19.1}

Revelation 14 deals with the message that the Seventh-day Adventist church is to deliver.

To no other church on this planet has been given the truths of the Three Angels messages.

In these messages are contained the truths of the atonement, the Sabbath, the sanctuary, the non-immortality of the soul, the investigative judgment, the health message, the Spirit of Prophecy as manifested through the ministry of Ellen G. White, and the prophetic understanding of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.  They include confession and repentance; and removal from a false system of education and religion in any form.

These three messages are in fact the ‘everlasting gospel,’ and comprehend the entire plan of salvation.  They are the way, the truth, and the life.  They reprove of sin, instruct in righteousness, and prepare for judgment.  They purify, they make white, and they try.  They cause us to repent, to be converted, and to blot out our sins.  They are the way our sins are sent beforehand to judgment.  They bring us to the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments, for God shall bring every work into judgment.  See John 14:6; John 16:8; Acts 3:19; Eccl. 12:13-14

The purpose of the three angels’ messages is twofold: To expose the ‘mystery of iniquity,’ and to produce the ‘mystery of Godliness.’

The three angels’ messages are a direct shot at the Papal system.  In other words, the messages that the Seventh Day Adventist church have been especially entrusted with proclaiming, take direct aim against the system of the Papal power.  These messages do not publicly expose Islam, Atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc., but it is the Papal power in particular that is singled out.  Her daughters are included, only because they have become the very image of the mother.  To be clear, the other world religions are included in the second angel’s message, as all are called to come out of any false religious system.  But only the Papacy, with her daughters, are identified as the visible target of these three messages.

The final result of these messages will be seen in a people who truly fear God, and who give Him glory by fully reflecting His character.  Thus they are prepared for the judgment.  These messages in and of themselves will produce genuine righteousness by faith.  There is no other gospel.

These messages are how Christ ‘speaks from heaven.’ (Hebrews 12:25) First angel—‘Saying with a loud voice;’ second angel—‘Saying;’ and third angel—‘Saying with a loud voice,’ Revelation 14:7,8,9. These angels are representing as flying in the midst of heaven, and by them we receive the knowledge and spiritual experience all must have in order to receive the seal of God.

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator.  Their robes must be spotless; their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil.  While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.  This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14. {GC 425.1}

“When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing.  “Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” Malachi 3:4.  Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself will be a “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27.  Then she will look “forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” GC 425.2

“That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment, the message commands them to “fear God, and give glory to Him,” “and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”  The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the word: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” GC 435.2

“In Revelation 14, men are called upon to worship the Creator; and the prophecy brings to view a class that, as the result of the threefold message, are keeping the commandments of God.” GC 437.1

The opposite is also seen in the proclamation of these three messages, as shown in John 20:23—“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”  In other words, it was not in the power of the disciples to remit or retain anyone’s sins, but it is in the giving of the three angels’ messages—the everlasting gospel: if they are accepted, then that person will go on to have his or her sins pardoned and blotted out; but if these three messages are rejected, then their sins are retained against them in the books of heaven.  

That the three angel’s messages were in existence in the time of the disciples is clearly shown in EW 259-261—”Those who rejected the first message could not be benefitted by the second”—(Millerite time period) likewise, “those who rejected the testimony of John the Baptist could not be benefitted by the teachings of Christ:”  Simply put, John is giving the first angels message, and Christ Himself is giving the second.

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” Hebrews 10:9 

The sacrificial system, based on the old covenant, and administered from the earthly tabernacle and temple, was removed.  This system was a type of the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, but had become corrupted.

The new covenant is administered from the heavenly sanctuary, and because of the removal of the old system, including the earthly tabernacle and temple; the three angels’ messages then, from that point forward, become the only way into the heavenly sanctuary.  These messages always precede a movement of Christ in the sanctuary, as they are the only means available to prepare a people to move with Christ.  A simple way to understand the work and purpose of the sanctuary is: Sin goes in, and righteousness comes out.

The Significance of the Mark

It is significant to note that it is the Papal power above all other powers that is seeking complete control over the earth, and is the only power that is actually positioned to do so; resulting therefore in a head-to-head engagement with Christ Himself.  This is the power that Satan has personally invested with his power, seat, and great authority.  It is the head of this great system of evil, the pope, that is Satan’s vicegerent on the earth.

It is now the same in principle as when in Samson’s time; that the battle became a personal battle between God and Dagon—“The contest, instead of being between Samson and the Philistines, was now between Jehovah and Dagon, and thus the Lord was moved to assert His almighty power and His supreme authority.” (ST October 13, 1881.14)

It is the issue of the Sabbath especially that pre-empted the deployment of the king of the north against the Papal power, as this power dared to replace the Sabbath of the fourth commandment with the Sunday of its own devising.

“The Lord commands by the same prophet: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples.” Isaiah 8:16. The seal of God’s law is found in the fourth commandment.  This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others.  Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given.  When the Sabbath was changed by the papal power, the seal was taken from the law.” GC 452.1

The Sabbath and Sunday bring to view a much larger perspective of the war between good and evil.  The Sabbath and Sunday are a seal and a mark. In other words, the seal or mark, is given upon the completion of the course of study each individual has chosen—that is, graduation honors from the school of Christ, or from the school of Satan.  A system of true education versus a system of false education.  The one teaches righteousness by faith, the other righteousness by works.

The three angels comprise the school of Christ, and ‘show the way into the heavenly sanctuary,’ representing the experience each must have in order to be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and not be found wanting.  They are what cause us to fully reflect the character of Christ. EW 260.1; EW 256.2

“Unless we enter the sanctuary above, and unite with Christ in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we shall be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and shall be pronounced wanting.” MS 168,1890.20                                                                    

Satan has his sanctuary as well, identified as ‘the synagogue of Satan.’ (Rev. 3:9)  Just as Christ has His seven churches, so Satan has seven churches.  These are expressed as the seven heads and mountains of Revelation 17:9.  There is only one church left to fall in order to complete this number.  This will be fully set forth in the last article of this series.

It must always be remembered that the three great persecuting powers are the direct counterfeit to the Godhead itself, and to the three angels’ messages.  Satan is now coming to us as ‘an angel of light.’  Just as the three angels point the way into the heavenly sanctuary, so these three persecuting powers point the way into his synagogue, representing the experience that each will have in order to fully reflect his character.  It is Protestantism/Spiritualism especially—the counterfeit to the work of the Holy Spirit; that ‘lights’ the way.  Just as it was the midnight cry of 1844, set up behind the people of God to light the path to the inside of the holy city, so it is the rapping delusion of 1844, that was set up behind Satan’s people, that lights the path to the outside of the holy city.

Judgment Begins

“Through the Papacy he (Satan) has manifested his character, and brought out the principles of his government.  Of this power the apostle Paul says: “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work….” {ST May 28, 1894, par. 10}

It is important to note that Satan was given ample opportunity to set his governing principles in place during the time frame of the scattering.  Both the 1260-year time period of Paganism, and the 1260-year time period of Papalism allowed Satan to fully develop and demonstrate to the universe his system of governance.  During these time periods, Satan set in place his systems of civil and religious principles, and invested each with his own authority and power.

Just as the Sabbath is the sign of God’s authority, so Sunday is the mark of Satan’s authority.  Thus, by 1798 the ‘man of sin’ had been revealed.  Two opposite and distinct systems of governance, encompassing both the civil and spiritual realms, have been set in place; and each have their seal, and mark of authority, and allegiance.  Each power now enters its gathering phase—one class gathered under the banner of spiritualism, the other class gathered under the banner of the third angel.

The scattering of God’s people has been accomplished, the man of sin revealed, the thrones have been cast down, and the conditions of the gathering on both sides are set in place.  The judgment can now begin.

The Compass Position of the King of the North

“And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”  Revelation 12:16-17

These two texts are dealing with two specific things: The United States of America, and the Seventh-day Adventist church—the one dealing with the civil, the other dealing with the spiritual; the one that came up out of the earth, the other that came down from heaven.

There is no question that at the time of the end, two specific powers were raised up against the Papacy.  The Papal power had set in place a world-wide system of governance in the realms of human behavior and thought—the civil and moral—resulting in a direct engagement on both fronts by the principles of the United States of America, and the principles of the Seventh-day Adventist church.

But how does the United States of America and the Seventh-day Adventist church become the kings of the south and the north?  In other words, how do they relate to a compass position?  This is the key question.

To answer this question requires that we think outside of the boundaries of thought that confine us to geographical locations in the context of compass points.

The fact that they are each the king in their respective realms—the civil and spiritual, gives us a reference to work from. 

In other words, we should not assign a compass direction to either of these kings in an attempt to pin them to a specific geographical location.  Prior to these kings of verse 40, Israel had been the point of reference.  But now, at the time of the end, starting in 1798, there is absolutely no reference to these two kings of verse 40 relative to the physical location of Israel of old, or of spiritual Israel.

The entire context has moved from a scattering perspective to that of the gathering, from an Old World application, to a New World application.  Even though the literal nation of modern Israel is recognized by the world, it is not recognized by heaven.  In other words, by choosing Barabbas, Israel as a nation divorced herself from God—literally and spiritually; and in so doing, it can no longer act as a valid point of reference.

“The crucifixion of Christ was the last action that caused the nation’s downfall. “Last of all He sent unto them His Son, saying, They will reverence My Son.  But when the husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill Him, and let us seize on His inheritance.  And they caught Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard, and slew Him.” Matthew 21:37-39. MS65-1912.30

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?  They said, Barabbas.  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?  They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done?  But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matthew 27:20-25

The time frame given in the prophecy of the kings of the south and north in verse 40, at the time of the end in 1798, is far beyond the event of the complete destruction of Israel as a nation.  The removal of Israel as a nation occurs during the narrative of Pagan Rome in verses 14 through 30 of Daniel 11.  Verse 22 deals with the crucifixion of Christ, with its parallel texts found in Daniel 9:25-27, and Revelation 12:4, 10.  The main reference that this passage is dealing with Pagan Rome is found in verse 20, where it deals with the raiser of taxes—Caesar Agustus. (See also Luke 2:1/Acts 5:37.)  A strong case is made by U. Smith that verse 28 deals with the final overthrow of Jerusalem, and Israel as a nation.

The reckoning of north and south as relative to literal Israel is valid all the way into pagan Rome, until AD 70.  This is the defining line where Israel can no longer act as a point of reference in the context of the assignment of the kings of the south and north relative to a fixed geographic position on a compass meridian.

As to the reckoning of spiritual Israel as a point of reference to the south and north, it can also be shown that God did not have a denominated people from AD 34, all the way down to 1844, when God again entered into a covenant relation with a distinct people—the Seventh-day Adventist church.  Therefore, spiritual Israel, as the church which fled into the wilderness, also cannot provide a valid point of reference as to the spiritual identification of the south and north.  That the church became spiritual Israel after the cross is correct; just not as a denominated church until 1844, when God’s people then made a full separation from Babylon.  Israel as a reference point after their rejection by heaven, is now only a tool in the hands of Satan to misconstrue and misinterpret.

And that is the only purpose Israel can now serve—the purpose of Satan, as Israel chose Caesar for their king, and declared of Christ that His blood be upon them and upon their children. Satan has set the stage for a massive delusion concerning the end-time role of Israel.  This delusion can also apply with equal force to the interpretation of the prophecy of Daniel 11.  As we have repeatedly seen, it is essential to correctly determine whether something is of God or of Satan.  That Israel was a valid point of reference before AD 70, is of God; but to hold that Israel continues to be a point of reference after AD 70, is a delusion from Satan. 

Rather than looking to cardinal points for our answer, we should instead be looking to understand the characteristics of the kings of the south and north relative to their function as ideologies; the one as an ideology in the civil realm, the other as an ideology in the spiritual realm.

Each ideology will exhibit characteristics specific to their role of civil and spiritual, that can then be applied to the kings of the south and north of verse 40.  In other words, the two kings in question are now based on their function rather than their location.

The function of the United States of America is expressed in its role as a civil state, complete with its Constitution, Amendments, and By-laws.  As we have seen, the USA is the beast of Revelation 13:11 that comes up out of the earth.

The function of the Seventh-day Adventist church is expressed in its role as a spiritual entity, having the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy as its founding and guiding documents.  It has for its platform, the prophetic understanding given to it by its founding pioneers.  This power is seen in Revelation 10:1 as coming down from heaven.

If the civil realm can be tied to the south, and the spiritual realm to the north, we then have a perspective that makes sense.  We are going to examine this in much greater detail in the next couple of articles.

Conclusion

In these series of articles, we have seen the downward progression of Samson, and how Adventism has followed a parallel course.  But at the last, even in his blinded and wretched condition, Samson achieved a tremendous victory.

The Bible records in Judges 16:22 that ‘the hair of his head began to grow again, after he was shaven.’

Two of the doctrines held by the Seventh-day Adventist church especially strike against the Papal power.

“What is that wine? Her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the lie Satan first told to Eve in Eden—the natural immortality of the soul.  Many kindred errors she has spread far and wide, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Letter 1F-1890,15

“Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions.  While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome.” (GC 588.1)

The two great errors are represented by the two pillars of the Philistine temple in Samson’s time.  This temple was Dagon’s temple.  The two central pillars were the main support of the temple, and Samson knew that if they were removed, the entire structure would come down.

Remembering that Samson is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; a proper representation of Laodicean Adventism down at the end of time, helps us to put this into its correct perspective.

Notwithstanding the Laodicean condition of the Seventh-day Adventist church, there are two things it has done well all across the globe—The proclamation of the Sabbath, and that of the non-immortality of the soul.  In its blinded condition, it has ceased to give the prophetic trumpet a certain sound, but has not failed in proclaiming these two specific truths.

It was the lad who guided Samson’s hands specifically to the two supporting pillars of this pagan temple.  This lad was the only person in the entire crowd, who helped Samson in his blinded condition.  Upon his request, he placed Samson directly between these two supporting pillars, thereby identifying for him that which he could not see for himself.

Just as it took the lad to help Samson to find those two pillars, so it was the Spirit of Prophecy, given by Christ through Ellen White, that has provided special guidance to the SDA church.  This guidance has proven invaluable in many areas, one of which has led us into a comprehensive understanding of the issues and principles behind Sunday observance, and of the widely held belief in the natural immortality of the soul.

Samson knew that he would die with the Philistines as the result of his removal of the supportive pillars of the temple.  He also died blind.

The point to be made in this article is that there can be no doubt that the Seventh-day Adventist church was raised up as the king in the spiritual realm here on earth.  There is no other church system that can truly claim this title.  To no other church has been entrusted the accumulated light of the centuries, which has been expressed to us through the Scriptures, the Spirit of Prophecy, and by those who have gone before us.

It is this very thing that forms the point of rivalry from the Papal perspective.  The Papal power will tolerate no rival, and just as Samson perished with the Philistines, so Adventism will perish with Protestantism.  The act of healing the deadly wound of the Papacy by the Protestant enacted Sunday Law, will be the very thing which in turn inflicts a deadly wound to Adventism.  The fall of Adventism completes the spiritual fall of Protestantism.  The last of three official protesters of Rome in both the civil and religious realms will have been removed.  Three ideologies—three civil entities: Atheism/USSR, Protestantism/USA, Adventism/UN.  In each case, it is an unlawful union of church and state. (Atheism was the official doctrine of the USSR.)

I am still thinking all of this through, but it is very interesting to note the joining of hands between the Seventh-day Adventist church and the United Nations.  Just as Protestantism has linked herself to the civil power of the USA, so Adventism is linking herself to the civil power of the United Nations.  This is not an unfounded accusation, but simply an observation.  The United States will be responsible for bringing in the Sunday Law, with civil enforcement; and the United Nations will be responsible for making it universal, with its accompanying written death decree.  The SDA church is linking herself with the very entity that will enforce the Sunday Law on a global scale.  Just as the USA will soon be under the direct control of Apostate Protestantism/Spiritualism, so the UN will come under the direct control of the Papal power, and this is where Adventism will fulfill the role that is stated in SpM 1.5—“I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday.”

This is the larger point of this series of articles—to show that even though both the United States of America and the Seventh-day Adventist Church were raised up to serve a divine purpose; by their apostacy, they will fall as Samson and king Saul fell.  Saul received a deadly wound that he could not recover from, but “perished with the guilt of self-murder upon his soul.” (PP 682.1)

Next Up

In our next article, we are going to continue with the USA and SDA church as the kings of the south and north, looking to see how that works, in terms of compass points.

Ezekiel gives us the bearing for the king of the north.

Until then,

God bless.