THE PAPACY IN PROPHECY by Abdiel

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 31, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 42.

THE PAPACY IN PROPHECY

By Abdiel

THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL VII.

(Continued.) Specifications 11, 12.

LET me ask the reader to recall again the ten characteristic features of the "little horn," which we have already considered, and which have met plenary and unquestioned fulfilment in the Papacy.

It came up among ten horns. Verses 8, 20.
It was a little horn. Verse 8.
Yet, little tho it was, it grew till its "look was more stout than its fellows." Verses 8, 20.
Before the strength of this little horn three of the ten horns were plucked up. Verses 8, 20, 24.
This horn had eyes, not of the beast on which it grew, but the eyes of a man, indicating greater shrewdness and far-seeing wisdom. Verses 8, 20.
It had a "mouth speaking great things," "great words," "words against the Most High." Verses 8, 11, 25.
It was "diverse;" it differed in nature from all the other horns. Verse 24.
It "made war with the saints;" it "shall wear out the saints." Verses 21, 25.
It "shall think to change the times and the law;" according to Spurrell, "the appointed times and the law." Verse 25.
It should continue a definite period, "a time and times and half a time." Verse 25.

The Papacy arose among the ten divisions of western Rome. It was little at first. It grew to be more stout than its fellows. Before its progress three of the ten kingdoms were plucked up. The Papacy has been noted for its shrewdness, its diplomacy, its far-seeing policy. It has spoken great things, and great words against God. It differed from other powers in its religious nature and assumptions. It made war with the people of God. It has assumed to change the times and laws of God. It continued as "head over all the churches" and "corrector of heretics," for 1,260 years, from 538 to 1798. The following diagram sets forth the threefold phase in which apostasy has been manifest in the Christian era:

XI. Loss of Dominion.

It would lose its dominion gradually, by the consumption of it by other powers. In the words of the prophecy: "But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end." Verse 26.

The judgment here referred to is the great assize in heaven. The prophecy clearly indicates that its opening precedes the closing part of the "little horn's" career; that, in fact, the greatest words of assumption which the little horn power shall utter will be "at that time" when the "judgment was set, and the books were opened." Verses 9-11. The examination of cases in the courts of heaven precedes the passing of sentence and the execution of the sentence in either reward or punishment. In other words, the wicked dead are not raised and then judged; but in the courts of God it is beforehand determined who shall be "accounted worthy" to be raised to life. See Luke 20:35.

This judgment in God's plan began in 1844, as Dan. 8:13; Rev. 10:7, and 14:6, 7 clearly show. The long period of 2,300 days, or years, reached from B. C. 457 to 1844, when began the closing work of God in the sanctuary above, the proclamation of the judgment-hour message began in the earth, and the finishing of the mystery, as foretold in the prophets, occurred. (See "Christ Our Advocate," published at this office, explaining in detail Christ's closing work, and the 2,300 days.)

There are three different phases of Roman Catholicism, which we must not confound.

1. The church, existing more emphatically in her apostate condition since the days of Constantine, ecclesiastical in nature and work. In the Roman Catholic Church are many honest, sincere souls, trusting, fearing God, and walking in all the light they have. These will be saved by the truth they know and the faith they exercise despite the apostasy; and this ecclesiastical organization will continue till Christ comes.

2. The Papacy as a horn among the other horns, having dominion, territory, etc. This emphatically began in 755, under grant of Pepin of France to Pope Gregory III. Over the states of the church the Papacy ruled, with more or less strife, as was common among the other divisions of Rome. In the close of the eighteenth century, the Papacy was despoiled of some of her territory, but the Congress of Vienna restored the State of the Church to the Papacy, and they were held till after the setting of the judgment in 1844. But from 1848 to 1870 the various powers by degrees took away the papal dominion, till in 1870 the last blow was struck by Victor Emmanuel, and the end of its temporal dominion came. The "end" does not refer to the end of earthly history or the end of probation, but the end, or last part of the dominion.

3. The persecuting phase of the Papacy, its spiritual domination, over all the horns began in 538 and ended in 1798. A distinction between these three phases will help materially in the understanding of the prophecy.

XII. A Persecutor to the Last.

The prophecy declares: "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." Verse 21.

The judgment will be given to the saints when Christ comes the second time. 1 Cor. 4:5; 6:2. Not till then will the saints sit in judgment. When Christ comes, and not till then, will they receive the kingdom. Matt. 25:31, 34; 2 Tim. 4:1.

The Papacy will then be a persecutor when Christ comes. The prophet's vision overlooked the valley of comparative freedom from intolerance between 1798 and the present. He saw the time of the Dark Ages, and beyond, blending with it, a persecution or war against the saints which reached to the very end of human trial.

That specification is not fulfilled. The Papacy is not now a persecutor. It has no power to enforce decrees by civil law. Its authority to ordain its dogmas and decrees under civil penalties is not acknowledged by earthly powers, or, if acknowledged, not granted. Will it be acknowledged? So the prophecy declares, and there are many clear evidences to show the prospective fulfilment, and other prophecies which clearly declare it. It is good to know that the prophecy of Daniel 7 does not leave the people of God under the prevailing power of the persecutor. Beyond this the vision reaches, "And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Blessed, glorious reign.

In our next we will study Revelation 12, 13.