| Musings About An Adventist Antichrist
Other than the alpha of deadly heresies, introduced into the church by Dr.
John Harvey Kellogg, are there any other clues that confirm our previous identification of
the end-time omega deception and the power that promulgates it? [1]
[2]
Yes. Let me present one that is probably least
familiar to Seventh-day Adventists.
The Spirit of Prophecy said this:
"We have no time to lose. Troublous times are
before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken
of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly
reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment
of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that
shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so
shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy
covenant. [Verses 31-36, quoted.]"
The very next line says, "Scenes similar to
those described in these words will take place." 13MR 394.
Lets examine the most familiar scenes with
this end-time theme in mind.
Well start by first reading the Biblical
text (Daniel 11:30-36). We will read these words from the NASB and interpret them as best
we can from similar prophetic scenes described elsewhere in the Spirit of Prophecy. That
is my hermeneutic.
Please pay careful attention right after the
phrase, "For ships of Kittim will come against him." Thats where the
parallel starts.
30"For ships of Kittim will come against him;
therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant
and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy
covenant.
31Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the
regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.
32By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant,
but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
33Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they
will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.
34Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in
hypocrisy.
35Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure
until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.
36Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every
god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the
indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done."
Please consider verse 31. It describes an attack
on the sanctuary. Its a two pronged attack. The interpretation is clear. A power
does away with the fundamental truths of the sanctuary and sets up, in its place, an idol
abomination. This is the central message of the omega prophecy. This is important. Please
note how perfectly the doing away with the fundamental truths of the sanctuary complements
and assists the setting up of the idol abomination. Consider the omega prophecies:
"There is in it [pantheism] the
beginning of theories which, carried to their logical conclusion, would destroy faith in
the sanctuary question and in the atonement." 2MR 243.
"These theories, followed to
their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They do away with the
necessity for the atonement and make man his own savior. These theories regarding God make
His word of no effect, and those who accept them are in great danger of being led finally
to look upon the whole Bible as a fiction." 8T 291.
We are to look for a power that removes
Christs substitutionary atonement, justification by faith, Christs High
Priestly intercession and gives us in its place, spiritualistic sophistries akin to
pantheism.
The full extent to which this prophecy will be
fulfilled is uncertain. The extent to which it has already happened is remarkable. See:
The Denial of Justice and The Man of Lawlessness
Part 1
The Denial of Justice and The Man of Lawlessness Part 2
The Denial of Justice and The Man of
Lawlessness Part 3
(Forthcoming)
Verses 32-35 sound very much like the shaking. The
order of events is correct. False theories are first introduced to the church and then
there is a straight testimony and then a time of trial. Those who remain faithful to the
end are purified.
There is to be a shaking among
Gods people; it will be the result of refusing the truth presented. 2SM 13.
The shaking begins with the introduction of false theories. TM 112.
"I asked the meaning of the
shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called
forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon
the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the
straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it,
and this is what will cause a shaking among Gods people.
"I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn
testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not
entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it
will obey it and be purified." EW 270.
Note verse 36. The NIV says, "The king will
do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say
unheard-of things against the God of gods."
This is parallel to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes
first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and
exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat
in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."
It is very evident that 2 Thessalonians 2 presents
the same theme we are covering in Daniel 11:30-36 so we will go there for some additional
but crucial insights.
Note that a great apostasy comes first.
" Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1). The time of
this apostasy is here." Letter 410, 1907.
"The Lord has
warned me that there will come a great apostasy. There will come a falling away in
spirituality. Many will turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and will accept
fables." 6MR 378.
"False theories
will be mingled with every phase of experience, and advocated with satanic earnestness in
order to captivate the mind of every soul who is not rooted and grounded in a full
knowledge of the sacred principles of the Word. In the very midst of us will arise false
teachers, giving heed to seducing spirits whose doctrines are of satanic origin. These
teachers will draw away disciples after themselves. Creeping in unawares, they will use
flattering words, and make skillful misrepresentations with seductive tact." KC 5.
"As has been
foretold in the Scriptures, there will be seducing spirits and doctrines of devils in the
midst of the church, and these evil influences will increase; but hold fast the beginning
of your confidence firm unto the end." PC 66.
" Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Before the last developments
of the work of apostasy there will be a confusion of faith. There will not be clear and
definite ideas concerning the mystery of God. One truth after another will be
corrupted." ST 05-28-94.
8"Then that lawless one
will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end
by the appearance of His coming;
9that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all
power and signs and false wonders,
10and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did
not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe
what is false,
12in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in
wickedness."
Please note verses 9 and 10. The Lawless One is
coming in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders
and with all the deception of wickedness.
Consider this parallel passage:
"What is soon coming upon us? Seducing
spirits are coming in. If God has ever spoken by me, you will before long hear of a
wonderful sciencea science of the devil. Its aim will be to make of no account God
and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Some will exalt this false science, and through them
Satan will seek to make void the law of God. Great miracles will be performed in the sight
of men in behalf of this wonderful science." Letter 48, 1907.
The reference to "a science of the
devil" indicates that EGW was speaking of the omega. Speaking of the pantheistic
theories of John Harvey Kellogg, the alpha, EGW said,
"When such men consent to eat of
the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, we are no longer to regard the
subject as a matter to be treated with the greatest delicacy. That those whom we thought
sound in the faith should have failed to discern the specious, deadly influence of this
science of evil, should alarm us as nothing else has alarmed us.
"It is something that can not be treated as a small matter that men who have had so
much light, and such clear evidence as to the genuineness of the truth we hold, should
become unsettled, and led to accept spiritualistic theories..." SpT-b No. 7, 36-37.
Note Daniel 11:32 in the NIV: "With flattery
he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God
will firmly resist him."
Given that 2 Thessalonians 2 seems to interpret
much of Daniel 11 for the end time, I suppose that were now talking about smooth
words and flattery in a great apocalyptic sense.
It wouldnt take smooth words for Adventists
to comfortably accept the removal of the doctrines of Christs substitutionary
atonement, justification by faith, Christs High Priestly intercession, and to
tolerate the advocacy of pantheism in the church.
Isnt this going on now? Theres nothing
unusual about that. But the Lawless One must be here because, as the Spirit testifies,
"the deluding influence" (2 Thess. 2:11) is being received.
"With flattery he will corrupt those who have
violated the covenant."
There is great charm in the teaching of a
prominent Adventist leader. I have a great doubt as to the source of his wisdom.
"He appeals to the reason by the presentation
of elevating themes; he delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes; and he enlists the
affections by his eloquent portrayals of love and charity. He excites the imagination to
lofty flights, leading men to take so great pride in their own wisdom that in their hearts
they despise the Eternal One." GC 554.
Is he the one or are we to look for another?
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