Sabbath School Department.
By G. H. Bell
LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.
LESSON XXVIII.—RECAPITULATION.
- WHERE do we find astonishing revelations in regard to the history of the world?
- To whom was the first of these revelations made?
- To whom were the others given?
- What were represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?
- How were they symbolized?
- How was the kingdom of God represented?
- When was this kingdom to arise?
- How long was it to stand?
- How were the four great kingdoms represented in Daniel’s vision?
- Describe the fourth beast.
- What was denoted by the ten horns on the head of this beast?
- How were three of these horns plucked up?
- Describe this little horn.
- In the interpretation of the vision, what did the angel say that the power represented by this little horn should do?
- By what have all these predictions been fulfilled?
- What has the pope of Rome done?
- In Daniel’s second vision, what two systems of false religion are presented?
- What name is given to the first?
- What to the second?
- When it was asked how long these powers were to prevail against the saints and dishonor the worship of God, what answer was heard?
The book of Daniel contains astonishing revelations in regard to the history of the world, especial fullness being given to those parts that affect the interests of the people of God. The first of these revelations was given in a dream to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; the others were given in vision to the prophet Daniel. In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the four great universal kingdoms of the earth were represented by the parts of a great metallic image. A fifth universal kingdom, the kingdom of God, was represented by a stone that smote the image upon the feet and dashed it to pieces. This kingdom was not to arise till the fourth kingdom should be divided into ten kingdoms; and it was to stand forever. In Daniel’s first vision, the four great kingdoms were represented by four beasts, coming up from the sea. The fourth beast was dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly. It had ten horns, denoting the ten divisions of the Roman kingdom; and among them came up another, a little horn, that plucked up three of the ten. It had eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. In the interpretation of the vision, it was said that the power represented by this little horn should speak great words against the Most High, should wear out the saints of the Most High, and should think to change times and laws. All these predictions have been fulfilled by that false system of Christianity represented by the apostate church of Rome, and known as the Papacy. The pope of Rome has assumed blasphemous titles, has persecuted the people of God beyond a parallel, and has thought to change the fourth commandment of the Law of God. In Daniel’s second vision, the two great systems of false religion, Paganism and the Papacy, are presented, the first being called The Daily, and the second The Transgression of Desolation; and when it was asked how long these powers were to prevail against the saints, and dishonor the worship of God, the answer was: “Unto two thousand three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” G. H. BELL.