Thursday: The Waiting Time
Read Daniel 12:5-13. How does the book conclude?
Interestingly, this final scene takes place at the “river”, or the Tigris, the place of Daniel’s last major vision (Dan. 10:4). However, the word used here is not the common Hebrew word for “river”, but the term ye’or, which usually designates “the Nile River”.
Image © Kevin Carden Goodsalt.com
This reminds us of the Exodus and shows that just as the Lord redeems Israel from Egypt, He will redeem His end-time people.
Three prophetic timetables are given. The first one — “a time, times, and half a time” (NKJV) — answers the question — “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” (Dan. 12:6, NKJV). The “wonders” refers to the things depicted in the vision of Daniel chapter 11, which are an elaboration of Daniel chapters 7 and 8. More specifically, this time period was mentioned in Daniel 7:25 and later in Revelation 11:3, Revelation 12:6, Daniel 12:14, and Revelation 13:5. It also corresponds to the 1,260 years of papal supremacy, which extended from A.D. 538 to 1798 B.C. And Daniel 11:32-35 refers to the same persecution without mentioning its duration.
The other two time periods, 1,290 and 1,335 days, answer a question — “what shall be the end of these things?”(NKJV) — posed by Daniel himself to the Man clothed in linen. And both begin with the removal of the “daily” and the setting up of the “abomination of desolation”. From the lesson on Daniel chapter 8, we learned that the “daily” refers to the continual intercession of Christ, which was replaced with a counterfeit worship system. Thus, this prophetic period should start in A.D. 508, when Clovis, king of the Francs, converted to the Catholic faith. This important event paved the way for the union between church and state, which held sway throughout the Middle Ages. Hence 1,290 days ended in 1798, when the pope was arrested under the authority of the French emperor Napoleon. And the 1,335 days, the last prophetic period mentioned in Daniel, ended in 1843. This was the time of the Millerite movement and renewed study of the biblical prophecies. It was a time of waiting and hope in the imminent coming of Jesus.
| All through Daniel we see two things: God’s people persecuted, and God’s people ultimately vindicated and saved. How can this reality help us seek to stay faithful, regardless of our immediate trials? |
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I started writing this summary history of the Papacy earlier in the quarter but events transpired that have ambushed my time so the effort is unfinished. My intention was to provide and overall summary of the period of papal domination to fill in some of the historical data. We sometimes blithely quote dates and situations because we have always used them without going back and checking the history for ourselves. So I submit this incomplete set of notes for your consideration. I am sorry that I have not had time to write about the decline of the papacy, but from my reading, it is complex with many strands to the story. If you don't read the whole comment, please read the last paragraph.
There is a tendency for us to think of the papal period as a unified power whose sole goal was to increase their power and persecute those who were the true worshipers of God. It is in fact much more complex than that. This is a summary so that hopefully when we say “Papacy” we have a fuller picture of what we really mean.
The key way-point that really marks the beginning of the Papacy as a political-religious power is the reign of Constantine. The Edict of Milan (313AD) agreed to treat Christians benevolently and Constantine presided over the Council of Nicaea (325AD). Between 324 and 330 Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium (modern day Istanbul). While the politization of Christianity had been going on for some time before this, it was during this time that the process was formalised. Interesting, it was during this period that large church buildings were first built. This was partly a wealth display to attract people but it also set the scene for addressing large groups thus ensuring “crowd responses”. He built the first St Peter’s Basilica on the current site in Rome. Constantine was essentially a pagan ruler and was only converted on his deathbed.
Between 493 and 1417 the papacy is divided into several periods – the Ostrogothic Papacy (493-537), the Byzantine Papacy (537-752), the Frankish influence (756-857), the Roman Family period (904-1048), Conflict between West and East (1048-1257), the wandering Pope period (1257-1309), the Avignon Papacy (1309-1377) and the Western Schism (1378-1417).
During this time complicity between the state and aristocratic families, and the catholic church organisation became the norm. There are several instances of simony where church offices were sold off to the highest bidder. There were also several periods where there were more than one pope, each one with their own militia and supporters. There was also conflict between the popes and the Holy Roman Empire.
A couple of incidents are worth mentioning. In 496, Clovis, King of the Franks became a Catholic and in doing so united the Frankish tribes together. This had a significant impact on the area now known as France and established the Merovingian dynasty that ruled France for some time and ultimately led to Charlemagne’s alliance with Rome in the 10th century.
The events leading up to the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches occurred between 1048-1257. Mutual denunciations and excommunications between the two sides of the church led ultimately to their separation around 1096.
This schism was followed by the crusades. These lasted for several centuries and were fought mainly against the Muslims. Catholics were encouraged to fight against the Muslims in an armed pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Participants were granted absolution. Later the crusades targeted the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and later still, North-eastern Europe. There was a shift from fighting Muslims to fighting heretic Christians.
In the 1300s the seat of the Pope was Avignon in France. Although the seat was moved back to Rome in 1378, there was considerable tension between the French and Italian Church Hierarchy. There was a period of about 40 years where there were often two popes and two curias both claiming to be the rightful leaders of the Church.
In the period that followed, the Roman Catholic church became increasingly involved in politics and in doing so used the military to expand their territory and enforce their religion.
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The really big sin of the papacy is that they moved from a religion of love to a religion of force. We often condemn the Papacy for their persecution of the true followers of God, but what the papacy did to their own people using force and coercion has misrepresented Christianity and tainted the brand to this day.
We must separate in our minds, the papacy from the Roman Catholic believers and demonstrate the love of Jesus to them, not by condemnation but by compassion. That requires the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
We are still in the waiting time, all Biblical prophecy has come to an end, except for Christ second coming, as depicted in 1Thessalonians 4: 16-17.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Several years ago my Bible worker friend, and Messianic Jewish missionary, after my expressed impatience for the return of Christ, told me, John don’t be selfish, the Lord has many many right here who have not even heard of Christ. Yes we should eagerly wait for our Lord and Saviour. Hebrews 9:28. Saints also have patience. Revelation 14:12.
A very good text to remember while waiting is.
ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
Isaiah 60:1 ampc
Holy Ghost guide you thoughts.
In the opening paragraph I am not so sure if I follow along with what is being said.
In Genesis 2:10-14 tells us about a river in Eden which went out and parted into four rivers. The 1st river Pison, 2nd river Gibson, 3rd river Hiddekel and the 4th river Euphrates. In the KJV Daniel 10:4 specifically mentioned Daniel was by the great river Hiddekel. But where was the River location? Where was the Nile River location? These are two different rivers we are looking at and talking about. The Bible says in Gen 2:14 the river Hiddekel goeth towards the east of Assyria. So we asked where was Assyria located, in # 1 or # 2.
1. Assyria, kingdom of northern Mesopotamia that became the centre of one of the great empires of the ancient Middle East. It was located in what is now northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey.
Unlike the River Nile.
2. The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in Burundi, south of the equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea.
We asked ourselves where was the Medes-Persian Kingdom located at the time of Daniel?
The Waiting Time.
My question is who was or is in the Waiting Time? Was it the people from Daniel to 1798, or is it the people beyond which counts us in?
Holy Spirit faithful guide, refresh your people mind with power from on high.
Daniel 10: 3-4. V3 It was said and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. V4 Daniel was told to seal the book and to wait for the time of the end.
The question is asked, what do we as Christians do while Christ waits on us to get ourselves prepared? Paul councils us in Ephesians 5:1-33 how to live in these last days. Ephesians 5:16 says to redeem the time because the days are evil. What does redeeming the time means? How can someone redeem the time?
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life. Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh. His character is to be ours. The Lord says of those who believe in Him, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). DA 311
The word redeem means to buy back. For ex the human race belongs to Christ but he lost us in the Garden of Eden when sin entered. He came and buy us back (redeemed) us at the cross. So what should we Christians be doing now?
In the reading from Bro Maurice he gave us a quick but timely outline of things that happened down the ages until 1379. As we study about the seven church in Revelation and parallel them with the reading what do we see?
Rev 3:15-22 The Laodicean Church. This message is for us. Because the time is short we have to be about our maser business. We have to take the council of Christ seriously. He told us what are our problems then he gives us the remedy because he loves us verse 19.
Now what is connecting the entire world? isn’t it the Corona virus? how should we be connecting and treating others since tomorrow is not promised for non of us. Here today gone tomorrow. Let us use the time to encourage our families, friends, enemies, passers by about the God of Love and his soon coming. Let us tell them about what he always says in his words. The message should be spreading like Autumn leaves.
In the original text from Daniel 8 referring to "The Daily" the text says nothing about a "Daily Sacrifice" it refers specifically to something "Perpetual" in nature and the sacrifice of Jesus was a "Once for all" event at Calvary and the animal ones came to a finality also. Therefore and going by the original text of "perpetuality" has to be referring to the Fourth Commandment Sabbath. The abomination that is set up is in reference to making Sunday keeping a law punishable and eventual death by a death decree if not kept.