THE
TESTIMONY

Article from Special Issue Vol. 59, No. 706, October 1989

THE MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY

Page 384

APPENDIX 2

REASONS FOR ACCEPTING THE SEQUENCE OF APPENDIX 1

1. In Daniel 7 the fourth beast, with its little horn and its brazen claws “to stamp the residue”, is prominent when Christ returns as the Ancient of Days. From this we deduce (a) that the Roman Empire in some form is to re-emerge—East and West Europe must be joined together; (b) that the papal horn must be part of the system if it is to speak “great words” before the Ancient of Days (v. 11); (c) that the military strength—the brazen claws—belongs to the Eastern part of the Roman world, pointing to the dominance of Russia, moved into southeast Europe.

2. In Daniel 8 “the King” of verse 23 is readily deduced as being the Roman power, as it follows the Grecian Empire of verses 21,22. Subsequent verses make it clear that this same Roman power is there to the very end, since it “stands up” against the Prince of princes (v. 25), to be “broken without hand”—by Divine power. So, in some form, the old Roman power, which must include all Europe, is there when Christ returns.

3. This “king” of Daniel 8 also figures in Daniel 11:36-39. These verses cover the centuries when the Roman power dominated all Europe, and when it changed its pagan dress for a ‘Christian’ dress and honored a new “god” enthroned at Rome. Those who like to say that the time of the end (Dan. 11:40-44) has already been fulfilled by the Turk leave us with the unreasonable proposition that in Daniel's record of “what shall befall thy people in the latter days” (10:14,21) nothing is said about the final great conflict in Israel’s land, while a lesser happening at the hand of the Turk is given in greater detail.

4. The prophets of Israel made it clear that there would be a latter-day representative of Babylon who would oppress Israel, as in the days of the Chaldean Babylon (please read Isa. 14:1-14; Jer. 51:1-25). It is not surprising therefore that in the Apocalypse, when Christ returns, the great enemy is called Babylon THE GREAT. The Apocalyptic Babylon, centred on Europe, is a vast political system that has the spirit and character of the original Babylon. We must put together Isaiah 14, Jeremiah 51, Revelation 17,18 to obtain the full picture.

5. The period of peace in the land of Israel before the great invasion (Ezek. 38) is suitable for a time of instruction expressed in Malachi 4:4-6, when Israel is being taught to remember the law of Moses, with the statutes and judgements, and the hearts of the children are being turned back to the faith of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, “before the great and dreadful day of the Lord”. This will be the beginning of their being made “willing” (Ps. 110:3). Such preliminary instruction, followed by the fiery trial of the invasion of their land, will be a purifying process (Mal. 3:2,3; Zech. 13:8,9). Such a development is necessary for them to be in a position to say, when they see him again, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mt. 23:39).

Full details on these points can be found in Russia, the Vatican, and the Invasion of Israel, The Way to Jerusalem, and Babylon and Jerusalem, Graham Pearce.