A Summary of Thoughts and Concerns regarding the Teaching of

Jeff Pippenger

I have only met Jeff one time in my life. I attended a symposium on

Daniel 11 at the Lifestyle Center of America. The meeting was sponsored by
several persons that favored Jeff’s teachings on Daniel 11, though persons
with varying views were invited to attend.
It is fair to the organizers to say that they never thought to invite me. But
how and by whom I was invited is beyond the scope of this short paper.
Before attending the seminar I was favorably inclined to believe what Jeff
had to share. I had heard, as far as I knew, only positive things about his
theology and his knowledge of prophecy.
And to his credit, I heard that he had avoided the pitfalls of “futurism”
that have ruined the usefulness of so many would-be prophetic expositors.
More than that, I heard (and am still impressed) that Jeff has a high-level
of respect for the Testimonies. And more than this, that he has made a
diligent study of the pioneers.
This is an important point. The average Adventist doesn’t realize the
difference in Biblical quality between the writings of the pioneers and
modern writings. The former are logical, Biblical, earnest, and to the point.
The latter deliver less of these qualities.
And so, again, Jeff has made a good study of the pioneers and on the
points on which they are well agreed with each other, he tends to agree with
them also.
Another positive point is that Jeff reminds Adventists of their duty and
need to know and teach their message. He reminds us of the coming Sunday
Law, the coming change in the USA, the coming Latter Rain and the final
“rise and fall” of the Papacy.
In terms of our belief about the end of time and about Daniel 11, we
share the following views:
The Man of Sin, the Leopard-like Beast, the Little Horn, etc., represent
the Papacy.
The 1260 days began in 538 and ended in 1798.
Clovis led pre-France into becoming the first Catholic nation in 508.
The France-led invasion of Italy brought an end to the Papal rule over
Rome in 1798.
France is represented by Egypt in Revelation 11.
Atheism, as nationally represented by communism, is the extension of
the principles of the French Revolution, and spiritually, of Egypt.
The Latter Rain will add power to the church and cause our message to
swell to the Loud Cry.
The tidings from the East and North in Daniel 11:44 are the Sealing
messages of the Sabbath and of the Fourth Angel.
Daniel 12:1 is the close of human probation.
 There are many other points that I could add to this list. The points well
established by the book Great Controversy are held in common by us, and
this means a lot of points.
If I ended here I guess this paper would amount to a recommendation of
Jeff’s lectures and of his printed materials. I wish I could stop here.

In the future we will be brought before tribunals. There we will be asked

to give reasons for our faith. If our reasons are sound, our enemies will be
vanquished by the power of the Word. The power of the Spirit will add
conviction to what we share.
This Spirit-powered conviction characterized the teaching of William
Miller. He held crowds spell-bound under the searching power, not of exciting
antics, but of calm reasoned explanation of the scripture. Authors wrote that
if you accepted his suppositions that his conclusions were inescapable.
This is how our writings on prophecy should be. Scripture should interpret
scripture. Clear passages should illumine obscure ones. This is how the
introduction to Jeff’s book advertises the rest of it, as a Bible study that lets
scripture interpret itself.

Discussing the weaknesses of Jeff’s book, “The Final Rise and Fall of the
King of the North”, carries certain risks. I think of three of these dangers:
First, argument is always risky. We are prone to be proud and biased. A
desire to “smite with the fist of wickedness” characterizes the devotional
persons of our church according to Isaiah 58. I, as a Christian, must be kind
and considerate in my presentations.
Second, Jeff has built his interpretations around a framework of truth. Any
discussion of the weaknesses of his reasons could be easily misunderstood
as an argument against the framework itself. If Jeff has given faulty reasons
for believing a true fact, an attack on the faulty reasons could appear as an
attack on the truths they were used to buttress.
Third, the power of the Ellen White statements that fill the book is strong.
Many persons could well be benefitted by those statements in a powerful
way. They could be awakened to a closer sense of their need to prepare for
Christ’s coming. To show the weaknesses of the book could be perceived by
them as an attack on the beauty of the spiritual revival they, as readers,
have experienced.

If the reader understands the nature of these dangers it will make my

work safer. When I point out logical fallacies (there are a few) and faulty
principles (there are a couple) and faulty parallels (there are many), the
reader can understand that I still believe in the soon coming National Sunday
Law. Any doubts regarding my own teaching may quickly be settled by
listening to my sermons at www.audioverse.org or reading my materials at
www.bibledoc.org.
 What follows immediately is a summary of concerns with the Jeff’s book
already mentioned. After the summary you will find a partial detailing of
issues related to the book and expanding on the summary.

Point One: How is history repeated?

That history is repeated, especially in our day, is absolutely established

by the prophets. But the nature and cause of that repetition needs to be
understood before that repetition is a helpful element in our interpretation of
prophecy.

The work of God in the earth presents, from age to age, a

striking similarity in every great reformation or religious movement.
The principles of God's dealing with men are ever the same. The
important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the
past, and the experience of the church in former ages has lessons of
great value for our own time. {GC 343.1}

History repeats because God, and even men and demons, operate on
basically the same principles from age to age.

God does not force evil men to repeat the history of their ancestors. In
fact, God warns them against doing so. He does, however, encourage faithful
persons to imitate the faithfulness of ancient worthies. In every age mercy
pleads with both camps until hope for the former is lost through the hardness
of their hearts.

Ps 78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and

rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and
whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Eze 20:17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying
them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. 18 But I
said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of
your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves
with their idols:
In every age there is given to men their day of light and
privilege, a probationary time in which they may become reconciled to
God. But there is a limit to this grace. Mercy may plead for years and
be slighted and rejected; but there comes a time when mercy makes
her last plea. The heart becomes so hardened that it ceases to respond
to the Spirit of God. Then the sweet, winning voice entreats the sinner
no longer, and reproofs and warnings cease. {DA 587.1}

The law of cause and effect doesn’t change. So the type of behavior
exhibited by Abel produced persecution by persons like Cain. Holy living by
Jesus led to his persecution. In fact, all that live godly in Christ Jesus will
suffer persecution. Revivals are collective growth in holy living. Therefore a
great revival will be followed by a serious persecution. Thus history repeats
itself.

The apostle Paul declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that
persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is
that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore
awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of
the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days
of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise
with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so
indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the
church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let
there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the
spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be
rekindled. {GC 48.3}

As an example of how history repeats we may consider the story of the

Exodus. When Moses’ followers rebelled against God, Moses was tested over
his love for them by an invitation to separate from their company. This
happened in Numbers 14. It happened twice again in Numbers 16. It
happened also in Numbers 20. God used the rebellion of the rebellious to
cultivate the faithful intercession of the faithful. And this happened
repeatedly on the way to Canaan, a trip representing our journey at the end
of the world.
The question is: Does history repeat in numerical patterns? Or does it
repeat rather as men of one age make choices similarly to men of another?
Should I expect that, in our day, there will be four such intercede-or-leave
tests, each with characteristics of the four in Israel’s history, and in the same
order? Should I expect 10 unfaithful men (against two faithful peers and two
faithful leaders) to spearhead the first rebellion (as Num 14); three unfaithful
men (two with families, one, like Korah, without his family) to spearhead the
second (as Num 16); the third to be the entire nation (as Num 16 also), and
the forth to irritate the faithful (as Moses struck the rock in Num 20)?
Or should I expect that in the end of time that there will be repeated tests
of men’s love for their brethren by calls to leave the denomination because
of its sins? In the same way, shouldn’t I expect that most rebels will take
their families with them, but that being a child of a rebel doesn’t doom a
man (as it didn’t doom Korah’s children)? And shouldn’t I expect that I am
under obligation to guard my spirit, even while interceding, so that I am not
irritated by the church’s unfaithfulness (as was Moses) and so, like him,
forfeit my chance at translation?
The latter paragraph, and not the former, is the proper way to view the
repetition of history. In the latter case we understand that God selected
snippets of history that would well represent the spiritual condition of our
age. That is how Paul used the Exodus stories in 1 Corinthians 10:

5 But with many of [the Israelites] God was not well pleased: for
they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 ¶ Now these things were
our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they
also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is
written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell
in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were
destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto
them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

But the other way of understanding historical patterns is one used by Jeff
regarding Daniel 11:30-36, regarding the timing of numerous events, and
regarding number-oriented patterns and parallels. He looks for numbers of
“enemies”, order of obstacles, and short patterns in history, and reads these
as prophecies, as principles of how the Great Controversy between Christ
and Satan works.
Yet this idea is flawed. The reason that there were three horns to pluck up
by the influence of the little horn was not that God was making it happen
that way to produce a prophetic pattern. The little horn uprooted the very
tribes it needed to, and unless a prophet says otherwise, that is all we should
assume.
In summary of this first concern, a misunderstanding of how history
repeats creates many false prophecies out of perceived patterns planned
neither by God nor orchestrated by Satan.

Point Two: How much should we trust an author?

Jeff repeatedly makes suggestions as to the meaning of passages of

scripture. He states his convictions as matters of fact. The Libyans and the
Ethiopians, he explains, represent the poor and the rich. He gives a little
evidence in the form of some anecdotal history. And then he expects his
readers to believe him.
This isn’t safe. Our pioneers adopted another course. They took the
various views, along with the scriptural evidence for each, and logically
eliminated all but the true view. You could read their writings starting with a
differing view and see, by the end, that you were wrong. You didn’t need to
trust the authors to follow their logic.
The method of suggesting a meaning works best for passages which
people know that they don’t understand. That is why I, like many, was
anxious to read the section on the Libyans and the Ethiopians. I had ideas
about their meaning, but had not been able to settle on any conclusion with
certainty. I thought Jeff might present compelling Biblical data that would
throw light on the subject.
And neither have I settled on a meaning for these two nations now.1

Point Three: What role does a Lexicon play in Biblical

interpretation?

Words change in meaning over time. “By and by” today means
“eventually.” In 1611 it meant “immediately.” And “let” today means “allow.”
But in 1611 it often meant “hinder.” In cases like these lexicons can be
helpful to persons unaware of the ancient meaning of a word.
But Lexicons are merely dictionaries. They describe part of the range of
meanings that a word may have.

1
It is not central to the purpose of this paper to explain what I found regarding these two
nations. Yet, as example of how Bible-study works, I will here share a few of my
observations:
1. In Jeremiah 46:1-11, the same nations in this verse, Egypt, Ethiopia, and
Libya, are confederate against Babylon. Though rooted in a historical event, the wording
sounds apocalyptic. There is the gathering of the nations to destroy a city but only to be
themselves destroyed in a sacrifice by God [given to the birds, etc.]
2. The words for Libya in Dan 11 and Jer 46 are different, the former meaning
“empty-hearted” and the latter meaning “afflicted.”
3. Phut, the father of the Libyans of Jer 46, was a son of Ham and a brother of
Canaan. Gen 10:6
4. In Eze 27-28 where Tyre represents the papacy, and the King of Tyre
represents the Devil, we find these two words for Libya used together, showing perhaps that
they are not precisely the same, but that they are similar in origin and location. They are
represented as composing, with “Persia” the army of Tyre. Eze 27:10.
5. In Eze 30:4-6 Egypt is prophesied to fall by the sword. There the nations that
are round her borders, those “confederate” with her, including both those of “Ethiopia” and
“Libyan” fall with her.
6. In Eze 38, in the representation of the battle of Armageddon under the figures
of Gog and Magog, we find again “Ethiopia” and “Libya” with “Persia”, as forming the
manpower of the army fighting against God’s city.
7. The bloody city Nineveh, when threatened by destruction, is warned by the
history of Ammon, the city of “No.” She is told that No had as defenders Egypt, Ethiopia, and
both of the groups, Phut and Lubim that are translated “Libya” elsewhere.
8. King Asa had victory with a small force against more then one million
soldieries of “Ethiopia” and Libya, (called “Lubim” in the passage). This great victory was to
teach him not to depend on the arm of men, a lesson he did not learn well. 2Chro 16.
9. Earlier than this, when Rehoboam was threatened by Egypt, Egypt was
buttressed with an innumerable company from Ethiopia and Libya. These were sent to
punish Jerusalem. But when Jerusalem humbled itself, God sent deliverance. 2Chro 12.
10. These are all the passages that refer to the Libyans by means of these two
words in scripture. In them we note several patterns: They (Libya and Ethiopia) are always
confederate with Egypt, both against Jerusalem and against Babylon or Tyre. They form the
shield-wielding soldiers and forces of Egypt. They are often connected to stories that
represent Armageddon. These seem to be the repeated, and hence, Biblical points.
 Let me demonstrate a faulty use of a lexicon by taking an actual
statement by Ellen White (in English) and using an English lexicon like a
foreign person unfamiliar with English might erroneously do when trying to
understand a translation of the passage into his own language.
Supposing that the translation was a good one, it would read something
like this, but in a foreign language:

My attention was then called to William Miller. He looked

perplexed and was bowed with anxiety and distress for his people. The
company who had been united and loving in 1844 were losing their
love, opposing one another, and falling into a cold, backslidden state. –
EW 257

Looking up key words in his English lexicon, our foreign speaking person
might find the following definitions for original English words:

Attention: n, attentiveness, as “attention to a teacher”; affection for

an ailing person; military: standing upright as a sign of respect;
Call: v., to beckon with a voice; to make a song, as a “bird call”; a
telephone communication or attempted communication;
Bow: v., to kneel, usually as a sign of respect; to bend at the waist,
as “the artist bowed to the clapping persons.”; to bend;
Company: n. Group; Companions, as “they make good company”;
an organized business;

So now our foreign student tries to understand the passage. He might

conclude that Ellen White heard a voice calling her to be kind to William
Miller who was having a rough day and was nervously kneeling, apparently
under pressure from his people. These companions had been united and
loving in 1844 but were losing their kindness [as is obvious earlier in the
passage when they lead William to “bow.”]

But we, as English speakers, wouldn’t conclude that. You see, we know
the language. It is easy for us, very easy, to know what “attention”, “call”,
“bowed”, and “company” mean in that Early Writings paragraph.

This is like the difference between Bible translators and us. They knew
the language. Many times it was very easy for them to know which definition
of a word (for many words have more than one) ought to be understood in a
passage. And we? We don’t. And we are likely to guess wrongly and to make
up fanciful interpretations if we do guess using a lexicon. 2

2
This has been done by persons of other faiths. I had an interesting
discussion regarding the Sabbath with two young men about a year ago.
They promised to get back to me on why they kept Sunday. The next week
they brought me a document. I can not quote it, but I can rewrite its main
 A safer way (than correcting a text via lexicon) to see if there are
alternate ways to read the Hebrew or Greek is to look at a variety of
translations based on the same Greek Text and to check the marginal
readings in the KJV. Looking to see how the word is used in other similar
contexts may also provide insights.
The translators of the KJV did a tolerably good job of giving literal
translations and alternate readings in the margin. And other translations
based on the same family of manuscripts as the KJV include the Rotherham,
Webster, Weymouth, Young’s Literal, and much of the NKJV.

There is another and graver mistake in using a lexicon that is often made,
and sometimes made by Jeff in this book. Men use the history of the
development of the word to help them understand its meaning in a passage.
Let me illustrate.

Joh 11:9 Jesus answered [611], Are there not twelve hours in the day
[2250]
? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth
the light of this world.

thesis:

In Matthew 28:1 we find the following words in the King James

Version of the Bible: “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn
toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary to see the sepulcher.”
What the average reader doesn’t know is that the word translated
“week” is the same word translated “Sabbath” earlier in the verse.
And also, that the word “day” is supplied. Read literally the passage
would be rendered “At the end of the [Jewish] Sabbath, as it began to
dawn toward the first [Christian] Sabbath, came Mary Magdalene…”
The reading shows that the resurrection Sunday was the “first” of the
new Sabbaths.

The problem with the above is that the word “first” is feminine and
Sabbath is neuter. That is why the word “day” is supplied, because it is a
feminine word. Greek readers knew that “first” couldn’t refer to Sabbath.
More than that, the word “week” (the word for Sabbath can be translated
either as Sabbath or week) is in the genitive, showing that it should be
translated “of the week/Sabbath.”
All first-grade Greek pupils knew that. When we say “It will come on the
sixteenth of the month” no one thinks we are saying “It will come on the
sixteenth month.” Everyone understands that the word “day” is intended to
be understood.
 The two words, Strongs numbers 611 and 2250, are two of the most
abundantly used words in the new testament (used 250 and 389 times
respectively, compared to an average occurrence of 5 uses per word.) It is
easy to look at the definitions and see that they mean “answer” and “day.”
And it is easy to look up other passages that use them and see that they are
translated that way all through the New Testament.
But if you look at the introduction of their definitions you will find that the
word “answer” is derived from two Greek words, “apo” and “krino.” These
words mean, “away from” and “judgment, or condemnation.” It seems that
at some time the word “apokrinomai” came from replying to an accusation.
Yet by the time of Jesus it was used simply to mean “answer.”
And in the passage quoted above the word “day” is haemera. This is
what my lexicon says about it:
from (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit, akin to the base of 1476)
meaning tame, i.e. gentle;

Now this is all very interesting. The word day was derived from a word
that meant “to sit” and that was related to a word meaning “tame” or
“gentle.” It implies the Greek word for “hour” (5610). One could get the idea
that “day” means “an hour for gentle meditation, or sitting.”
But this would be a faulty conclusion. The word just means “day.” Its
meaning developed and changed over time. By the time of Jesus it had lost
all meaningful connection with its historical sources. When prophets use
words, they use them as those around them currently understand them, not
in accordance with their ancient derivations.
One of my friends, reading the first draft of this document, was
concerned that I was pushing Biblical interpretation back into the dark ages
where only the learned could do it. But it is not so.
In fact, William Miller studied the Bible with a Cruden’s Concordance3 and
by making use of the marginal readings. This was sufficient. He was
dependant, you might say, on the scholars that translated the Bible into
English. We all are, of course, unless we make diligent study of the
languages ourselves. These great men translated the scripture into our
language to free us so that we could read and interpret the Bible without
depending on scholars.
The misuse of the Lexicon actually creates an unhealthy dependence on
men. When common men see that a lexicon has been referenced they often
suppose that the writer is more learned than they. They assume that what he
says about the Greek or Hebrew words is true since he quotes it from a
lexicon. And so they repose in the conclusions of his studies being neither
inclined nor able to follow him into the maze of a foreign language.

Point Four: Does repetition transform speculation into study?

3
Cruden’s is a fairly thorough concordance, but it contains no lexicon. It differs, in this way,
from Strong’s and Young’s.
 Jeff, after making a point about the interpretation of Daniel 11, often
refers back to that point again and again. This is a fine method of teaching. It
helps settle points in the mind.
But if the initial point was made with a deficient amount of evidence, or
with an improper use of parallels or of a lexicon, that fact may be readily
forgotten by the reader a few pages later.
This is particularly troublesome if the point made was speculative. By
“speculative” I mean that Jeff selected one of the ways that a passage or
word could be understood to the exclusion of others, but without evidence
that he had good reason to exclude the others.
The repetition gives the impression that there is a lot of material and
many ideas in the study even when there is little data and few evidences.
Instead of the pioneer method of evidence-evidence-evidence-evidence-
conclusion, Jeff sometimes uses a conclusion-evidence-conclusion-
conclusion-conclusion-conclusion pattern.

Point Five: Does plausibility mean dependability?

Let me illustrate this with an actual point from the book. The following is a
quotation from the section on the first 39 verses of Daniel 11:

After the delineation of the history of pagan Rome, verse 29 describes the closing
scenes of pagan Rome's authority. Here we see Constantine moving the capital away
from Rome at the "time appointed." In verse 30 we see his "indignation against the holy
covenant" as he introduces the first Sunday laws.

So here is the plausibility. Perhaps Constantine’s Sunday Law of 321 AD is

what is meant by “indignation against the holy covenant” in verse 30.
Perhaps it is so. And it fits well if you believe Daniel 11 to be about Sunday
Laws later on in the chapter.

But do plausibility and a nice fit in connection with end-time scenarios help
us know if this is the right interpretation of the prophecy? I say “no.” We
need to look at reasons, arguments, data, and to compare scripture with
scripture. Consider the following:

1. Constantine did not live at the time of the “closing scenes of

pagan Rome’s Authority.”
2. Constantine’s Sunday Law was pagan, not Christian, in nature
and wording
3. The first part of verse 30 speaks of the “ships” that both Jeff and
I understand to refer to the Vandals. They began their work against Rome
after being chased from their homeland by the Huns, and this was long after
the time of Constantine.
4. Time wise, this passage parallels the introduction of the little
horn in Daniel 7 where it seeks to “change times and laws.”
 5. Conclusion: It is the papacy that has indignation against the Holy
Covenant in verse 30.

Conclusion

These are my concerns with the book. It does have merits. It connects Rev
14:12 and 17:3. And it connects Dan 11:36 with 2The 2. It makes a good
point regarding Rev 13:2 and Rev 17. There are other valid observations.

But there is also too much creativity and speculation. Men are invited to
adopt interpretations without sound reasoning. And this habit of uncritical
thinking in the face of doctrinal teaching does not bode well for the time in
which we live.

If someone wants more specifics on my relation to Jeff’s teachings, my

comments on the following book are highlighted in blue so as to be easy to
find. (Items not in blue, below, are quoted from Jeff’s book.) Most of Jeff’s
book is not found below. But in the numerous places where portions (many
large) have been omitted, an ellipsis is inserted, usually after one of my
comments in blue.
---------

If the conclusions drawn from this study are accurate, they confirm that we presently
stand on the verge of a national Sunday law in the United States, and will soon be
involved in the greatest time of trouble which has ever been. This sobering thought is
very similar to the convictions held by the early Millerites,

[And, also, if the conclusion drawn from this study include a number of fallacies,
yet it is still true that we presently stand on the verge of a national Sunday Law in the
United States, etc.. It would be inaccurate to give the impression that someone
disagreeing with JP’s principles must surrender his belief in fundamental Adventism.] . . .

Daniel 11:30-36 identifies the rise of the Papacy at the beginning of the 1260 years. Sister
White, while describing the transition of pagan Rome into papal Rome, ties both Daniel 11:36
and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 together confirming that the subject of both is "the man of sin."

“This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the

development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself
above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power-a
monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his
will.” The Great Controversy, 50.

[Yes and No. Yes, the Man of Sin in Dan 11:36 is the same as that in 2Th 2:3-4. No, Ellen
White should not be quoted as saying it is so. The phrase “according to his will” is too generic
and may have been chosen for its usefulness and familiarity and not as a way of expounding on
Daniel 11:36. This is an important point that saves us from perplexity over a number of
prophecies that Ellen White uses a variety of ways.] 4. . .

The First Sunday Laws

After the delineation of the history of pagan Rome, verse 29 describes the closing scenes of
pagan Rome's authority. Here we see Constantine moving the capital away from Rome at the
"time appointed." In verse 30 we see his "indignation against the holy covenant" as he introduces
the first Sunday laws.

[But…isn’t verse 30 referring to Papal Rome? To the Vandals, mentioned earlier in this
study as the Ships of Chittim? How did we get back two centuries to Constantine? And can
Constantine’s pagan Sunday law be called “national apostasy” (see below)? Was it the law or the
persecution of God’s people as mentioned in Revelation 2 that led to God’s judgments? And
three paragraphs down, who is it in verse 30 that is grieved? Reader, JP can’t have it both ways.
Either verse 30 is about Justinian’s day, or about Constantine’s, or perhaps Constantine and then
Justinian. But here JP has it has Justinian and then Constantine’s Sunday Laws. Hmmm.] . . .

The transition from pagan to papal Rome identified in Daniel 11: 30-36 is also addressed in
Daniel 7, which teaches that three horns would be plucked up from the ten horns, in order for one
stout horn to fill their places. These three horns are the "ships of Chittim," of Daniel 11:30
which were coming against pagan Rome. As the three horns of Daniel 7 continue to grieve
Rome in her ability to control the world, we see a deliverer arise out of the other seven horns of
Daniel 7.

[Three horns are the “ships of Chittim”? Vandals used ships. Let us give JP this one. But the
“Goths” and Heruli?]

Up until this time, the seven nations of Europe were pagans, and had not been sympathetic
to Roman Catholicism, but prophecy states that arms shall stand on his part." In fulfillment of
this, Clovis, King of France, came to the military aid of the Papacy, and France became the first
Catholic nation. Clovis dedicated his sword and his throne to the Papacy in A.D. 508, and then
began the war against the three horns--the Goths, Vandals, and Heruli.

4
Daniel Fontenot challenged this point is a private email dated 9-8-2008. So here is some
data related to the point: “according to his will” is used in reference to God (Dan 4:35), twice
in reference to Alexander the Great (Dan 8:4; 11:3) and once in reference to the papcy (Dan
11:36). And this is just in the book of Daniel. When EGW uses a phrase from 2 Thes, she
uses quotation marks. But “according to his will” is not in quotation marks. In Ellen White’s
writings it is used in reference to “Satan” CG 93; CC 165; DD 38; GC 35;GC 595. And if you
will now reread the GC 50 statement you will see that “Satan” rather than “man of sin” is the
antecedent of “according to his will.” Though Satan works through the papacy to accomplish
his will, we would not want to confound Satan and the papacy. If our principle says “using
the phrase is interpretive” then we are stuck with a Jewish period on page 35 fulfilling Dan
11:31. When I write “generic” what I mean is that none of the words in the phrase are
specialized enough to keep the phrase from being used in many different situations and in
reference to many different entities. Generic phrases, for this reason, when not in quotes,
should not be assumed to be quotes. If we do assume the phrase is a quote, why do we
quote it from Daniel 11:31 and not from 11:3 or 8:4 or 4:35?
 Paganism Removed

When Clovis dedicated his crown to the Papacy, the pagan powers of Europe followed his
lead. The pagan forces of Europe which had formerly been resisting Catholicism joined with the
Roman church. The pagan aspect of these seven nations is symbolized in the word "daily" in
verse 31.

[It would be hard to say that these tribes were less Christian than Catholicism. They were
Arian Christians, converted to a type of Christianity in the 4th century by missionaries from the
eastern church where Constantine’s son, an Arian himself, encouraged the mission. But the
papacy did take away the dominion of the Roman nation and replace it with a Roman church-
nation, and that may well be what is symbolized by the term “taking away of the daily.”] . . .

The Walls and Modern Babylon

As we proceed to address Daniel 11:40-45, we will find that the first three verses in this
sequence identify three areas of conquest which are subdued as the king of the north takes
control of the world. These three areas are the former Soviet Union, the United States, and
finally the entire world. These three areas have symbolic walls associated with themselves,
which are removed as the Papacy rises to its final position as the head of the world.

[Think about this reader. JP has proven well that scenes in our day will be similar to those
existing in the middle age papal rule. On this we agree. But where is he going from there? He
notes that three directions of conquest and three doomed tribes were mentioned in the prophecies
of pagan and Papal Rome’s rise. And to get “three” out of his future list, he uses 1. USA 2. Soviet
Union 3. World. Is that three? Or two? Or 240? And just take a look at the text, Dan 11:40-45.
How many areas of conquest do you see? Is it plain and simple, as in Daniel 7 and 8, that there
are three?

What is happening here is that JP is misunderstanding the nature of repeating prophecy. He

is looking for numerical patterns where he ought to be looking for similar thoughts and feelings.
It would be as if someone had used the story of the Exodus to show that in the future we will
have one apostasy over jewelry, followed quickly by one over food and immorality. But what is
really being shown? That in our day we will face similar issues to those faced at that time,
jewelry, food, and morality. This issue will come up again.

The first symbolic wall was the former 'iron curtain,' represented by the literal Berlin Wall,
the destruction of which was a milestone in the rapid disintegration of the Soviet Empire.

Before the Papacy enters the United States through the passage of a national Sunday law, the
symbolic 'wall of separation of church and state' will have to be removed. It will be
accomplished by the politicians and justices of this land, as a result of the pressure brought upon
them by the Protestant and Catholic voters of this country. The pressure is already mounting and
can easily be verified through the testimony given within the secular presses. This second wall
of attack for the Papacy is already being threatened.
 The third wall which the Papacy will bring down in order to take control of the entire world
is the symbolic 'wall of national sovereignty.' The likely, structure which will be used to control
the world is the United Nations. Already within the laws which have been developed by the
United Nations, we find the legal principles designed to remove national sovereignty. This
organization has already written and passed laws which supersede the national laws of individual
countries. In fact, many of these countries-including the United States-have already signed these
agreements, Placing the laws of the individual nations in subjection to the laws of the world
government.

[OK, here are the “three” walls. One is a national border, an actual wall. One is a legal
principle. And one is so abstract as to be hard to explain – national self-control. This might be an
interesting device for helping someone to remember a story, but it is a stretch if used as a way of
explaining prophecy.

Let me explain again by a similar exposition (a fanciful and insincere one): There are three
hills that the papacy must climb on its way to international sovereignty. There is the hill of
atheistic unbelief in God’s existence. There is “Capitol Hill”, the legislature of the USA. And
there is the “uphill” battle of convincing all nations to bow.

Or here is another. There are three horns that must be plucked up for the papacy to be re-
established. One of these is the “civil liberty” horn of the lamb-like beast, the USA. Another is
the “religious liberty” horn of the same beast. The third is the horn, or trumpet, of the
Communist Revolution.

What am I saying? Prophetic interpretation is not like this when done well.] . . .

Pioneer Position

Two early pioneers give their view of this last power in Daniel 11:

Michael is to stand up at the time that the last power in [Daniel] chapter 11, comes to
his end, and none to help him. This power is the last that treads down the true church of
God: and as the true church is still trodden down, and cast out by all Christendom, it
follows that the last oppressive power has not "come to his end;" and Michael has not
stood up. This last power that treads down the saints is brought to view in
Revelation 13:11-18. His number is 666. James White, A Word to the Little Flock, 8-9.

Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the
people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down
to the close of this earth's history. The scenes connected with the working of the man
of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this earth's history. Selected Messages,
book 2, 102.

We are in error if we seek to interpret prophecy in a way which is inconsistent with correct
prophetic interpretations of the past. The last clear views of prophecy concern the Papacy; the
pioneers proclaimed the power "that comes to his end and none shall help him," as being the
Papacy. We are told that prophecy is a "figurative delineation of events" fulfilled by historical
events. Events in our recent history have fulfilled verse 40:

[Here JP is right and wrong. He is right that the king of the North is the Papacy. He is
wrong to prove it as he does. It is circular to say that the pioneers were right on those
points in which they were right. And the quote from 2SM says nothing about Daniel 11
directly. Anyone familiar with Haskell and the issue of the “Daily” will have read Ellen
White’s rebuke of him for using her indirect statements to settle issues that ought to be
settled by Bible Study. And more than this, A Word to the Little Flock was written prior
to the time when SDA’s understood “Revelation 13:11-18.” We wouldn’t want to say that
James was right when he pointed to the lamb-like beast as the papacy....]

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in
your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1: 1 9-2 1. . . .

The Ulai and the Hiddekel are two rivers with two different, though interrelated, messages,
but both messages come to a completion at the end of the world-just as both rivers flowed into
the same sea.

The twofold message of the visions of both rivers are Daniel's counterpart of the three
angels' messages of Revelation 14, for the three angels' messages also tell the story of the
everlasting gospel in connection with the final work of judgment going on in the heavenly
sanctuary above. They also identify the "man of sin" who will attempt to have the whole world
receive the mark of his authority.

In Revelation 15:2 John describes those who have entered into the experience symbolized by
the Ulai river as standing on "a sea of glass mingled with fire," for in the battle against the king
of the north, they "had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark,
and over the number of his name." The vision of the river Ulal prophetically ends at the sea of
glass.

In Revelation 19:20 John describes the end of the king of the north the Papacy-by stating:
"the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with
which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." The vision of the
river Hiddekel prophetically ends at the lake of fire.

[This last section is another example of fanciful connections. The visions at the rivers
were not the rivers. They were not even metaphorical rivers. No prophet made the rivers
into metaphors. The visions do not “end” in metaphorical lakes. What is JP doing? But if
he invents a metaphor, he is welcome to invent its meaning, and this he does. But do not
pretend it is prophetic interpretation.] . . .
 In Revelation 11:7 and also Revelation 17:8 we have a power that came out of a bottomless
pit, which symbolically means that it has no foundation in the Word of God. The French
revolution lacked the support of the Word of God, for it was founded and sustained upon
atheism. In Exodus 5:2, "Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let
Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."

[This is an interesting assertion regarding the word “bottomless pit.” Umm. Where did it
come from? What about “abussos” and the standard teaching regarding this phrase? Does
“abussos” mean “bottomless’? Or just desolate? Do JP’s readers follow him in this kind of
paragraph? The pioneers had a good deal to say about “abussos.”] . . .

Prophecy applied before the cross is understood in its local and literal setting; prophecy
applied after the cross is understood in its symbolic setting. For example, modern Israel is the
Seventh day Adventist Church, so too, modern Babylon is the Papacy.

[Who was modern Israel in AD 1825? Does the Laodicean message only describe
Adventism? This is an important question – whether SDA’s are the Levites or whether they are
the nation of Israel.] . . .

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the
company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they
saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust
on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were
made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made
desolate. Revelation 18:17-19.

Through economic pressure the king of the north sweeps away the king of the south. The
king of the south succumbs to a combination of economic and military power, the same two
characteristics that the Papacy and its image will use to force the world to receive the mark of the
beast. See Revelation 13:15-17.

[Ships are economic strength? But ships are Vandals 13 verses before this (and on the same
side of cross time-wise)? This looks to be stretching it, to say that because they are used by
merchants that they represent them. Is there any evidence more solid? And if “ships” are ships in
verse 30, is there any reason to assume that they are not literal here? Aren’t they literal in
Revelation 18 quoted above?]

In 1798 the king of the south, France, began an ongoing war against the king of the north,
Catholicism. Atheism continued to develop its ideology, and reached another stage of growth at
the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Communism continued the war against Catholicism,
attempting to bring the former empire of papal Rome into its grasp, but in time, Catholicism
mounted an overwhelming counterattack. The king of the north swept away the entire structure
of the king of the south, entering, into all the countries of the former Soviet Union.

[Umm, the Soviet Union crumbled. That is clear. This left a void that SDA’s took advantage
of. This is clear. But what religions have benefitted most or have taken over in place of
Communism? In Poland and Ukraine– it is Catholicism. But in most of the republics it is the
inveterate enemies of Catholicism – Orthodoxy and Islam.]

This overwhelming attack came with the military and economic aid of the United States.
This alliance repeats the history of Clovis, when "arms shall stand on his part." It points to
Revelation 13, teaching that soon the United States will speak as a dragon, and then force the
world to also form an image to the beast. Daniel 11:40 is the first historical manifestation of this
end-time unholy alliance. . . .

The rush to freedom in Eastern Europe is a sweet victory for John Paul II. Ibid.

The word rush is the verb used to describe the spread of this freedom. He shall overflow,
(rush), and pass through. The word pushed was chosen by this secular author to describe the
battle that Communism was waging against Catholicism. The king of the south pushed against
the king of the north.

[Wait, wait, JP. The word “rush” isn’t in Daniel 11. The word is “over-flow” and you picked
one translation out of about ten, one less common or justified than the words in the text. But
worse than this, you now quote an article about the rush of East-European nations and show it as
a fulfulment of a prophecy about a “rush” of the Catholic church to help them. Who was
prophesied to overflow?]

Of all the events that have shaken the Soviet bloc in 1989, none is more fraught with
history-or more implausible- than the polite encounter to take place this week in Vatican
City. There, in the spacious ceremonial library of the 16th century Apostolic Palace, the
czar of world atheism, Mikhail Gorbachev, will visit the Vicar of Christ, Pope John Paul
11

The moment will be electric, not only because John Paul helped inflame the fervor
for freedom in his Polish homeland that swept like brush fire across Eastern Europe.
Beyond that, the meeting of the two men symbolizes the end of the 20th century's most
dramatic spiritual war, a conflict in which the seemingly irresistible force of
Communism battered against the immovable object of Christianity. Time, December 4,
1989.

While Gorbachev's hands-off policy was the immediate cause of the chain reaction
of liberty that has swept through Eastern Europe in the past few months, John Paul
deserves much of the longer-range credit. Ibid.

The word is swept, and the definition for come against like a whirlwind is to sweep away.
The author views this event as putting an end to the twentieth century's most dramatic spiritual
war, without even knowing of the spiritual war between the king of the south and the king of the
north. This author also identifies Gorbachev as the czar of world atheism as opposed to being
identified as the czar of world Communism. Secular authors recognize Communism as atheism.
 [Though they are spelled similarly, there is quite a difference between “swept away”
and “swept through.” And more than that, it is “liberty” that “swept through” while it is
Catholicism that “swept away.” JP is weakening even his good conclusions with low-
quality data. This playing with words to make things fit also makes things unreliable.] . . .

The Man of Sin's Deadly Wound

Adding here a thought outside the scope of this particular study, Revelation says that the
Vatican received a deadly wound which would be healed. It received that wound when Napoleon
captured the pope in 1798, the time of the end. Is it an accident that the pope who is guiding the
efforts of the northern kingdom at the time when the southern kingdom is swept away, received a
physical deadly wound himself?

[Yes. To say anything else is speculative. And that is negative.]

It is of interest that it was this same king of the south, Communism, which allegedly
ordered the king of the north, the pope, to be killed. Also interesting is the fact that this
northern king is the first pope in history whose name adds up to the number 666. (See this
equation at the end of a visit to Italy, the first face-to-face encounter between leaders of this
chapter.):

[So the 666 pope has died. What do we make of that?] . . .

The "glorious land" is a land where God chose to allow the last message of mercy to develop
in its infancy in 1844, and finally to mature into the loud cry of Revelation 18.

The "glorious land" is not the "glorious holy mountain" of verse 45. A land and a mountain
are different. Just as ancient Israel was provided a land to prosper and to present the message to
the world, so modern Israel also has been provided an asylum to do the same work in a modern
setting.

[It is fair for JP to state that this is his position, that the glorious holy mountain is not a
prominent feature of the glorious land. But let him not prove that it is so by saying that it is.]

In verse 40 the word countries is in the original, and points to the different countries making
up the former U.S.S.R., but in verse 41 the word countries is supplied. So in view of this fact,
when the king of the north enters the United States through the passage of a national Sunday law,
many shall be overthrown, not many countries.

[Literally, the word is “many things.” Countries, or institutions, but not persons. I am
making an informed guess here regarding the gender of the word.]

Those overthrown are the ones who come into the clasp of the iron hand of Rome by
accepting the national Sunday law. Those who escape are those responding to the beginning of
the loud-cry message under the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which begins in earnest when the
national Sunday law is passed. I am not suggesting that the latter rain does not begin shortly
before the passage of the national Sunday law, but that it intensifies greatly at that time, as God's
people recognize the long-awaited fulfillment of the prophecies. Edom, Ammon, and Moab
symbolize those who begin to respond to this last message of mercy.

[You just have not given any evidence, JP, that this is truly what the verse means. You seem
to reason like this: “This is what happens, so this must be what it means.” And that, of course, is
not a sound principle of interpretation.] . . .

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these
shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

After sweeping through the domain of the king of the south, the king of the north now enters
his next geographical area. This time though, instead of gaining a complete domination, a group
is identified which escape from his hand. First, let us identify the glorious land.

[At this point neither the King of the South nor the King of the North is being interpreted as
a geographical area by JP. They are both, like Israel, being treated as spiritual bodies with the
characteristics of ancient Egypt, Babylon, Israel. But he says “next geographical area.”] . . .

America,. . . where the greatest light from Heaven has been shining upon the people,
can become the place of greatest peril and darkness because the people do not continue to
practice the truth and walk in the light. Selected Messages, book 3, 387.

The glorious or goodly land was Palestine for ancient Israel, and it is the United States for
modem Israel. The purpose of Palestine and the United States was the same for both ancient and
modern Israel. God has watched over His church and the land where He settled them that the
truth might be fully proclaimed to the world.

[The reader should understand the logic of this section. JP has well proven from Inspiration
that the USA is a favored nation prepared as an asylum for his people, as a place where the truth
could be developed and practiced.

But the fact that the interpretation of the goodly land being the USA is, for this reason,
plausible, is the largest “evidence” that has been given for this position. On the other hand, the
first correlation of Jeremiah 3 via Ellen White with the USA seems to be a good piece of
evidence.

Until you check into it. Go ahead, look up ST 6-12-1893. Read the article. See if you find
any allusion to Jeremiah 3. Then go further, note the interpretation of 2Th 2 in this EGW article.
Is Satan sitting in the temple of God today showing himself that he is God? And if “yes”, what is
that temple? Does this have an impact on how we understand Daniel 11:45?]

Hand Signs

Two characteristics prominent in the final movements of the king of the north are the
clasping of hands, and the marching, or steps, or treading. The walking or marching, and the
clasping of hands are spiritual terms employed by both Daniel and the Spirit of Prophecy which
add to the continuity of this prophecy:

[With Daniel it isn’t “clasping of hands.” It is “stretching out of hands,” apparently in

oppression and conquest, agreeable with the common metaphorical use (see Strongs) of the
word, “power.” But are readers expected to not notice this? And in Daniel 11, it is the papacy that
“stretches out” its hand, or power, “upon the countries.” But in the following statements, who is
stretching out a hand?]

When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday
law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery. Testimonies, vol. 5, 712.
How the Roman Church can clear herself from the charge of idolatry we cannot see. .
. . And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look upon with so much
favor, and which will eventually be united with Protestantism. This union will not,
however, be effected by a change in Catholicism; for Rome never changes. She claims
infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of liberal ideas on its part
will bring it where it can clasp the hand of Catholicism. Review and Herald, June 1,
1886.
The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands
across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp
hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this
country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. The
Great Controversy, 588. . . .
As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout
Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the
observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular
demand will make them objects of universal execration. Ibid., 615.

Prophetically, the focus is on all Christendom. The symbols associated with the prophetic
testimony of this time period of earth's history should be understood within the context of
Christendom. See Testimonies, vol. 9, 16. The main group of people to respond to the final
message of mercy comes from Christendom.

[Is JP saying something regarding missions? His last sentence is odd indeed, unlike the
interesting phrase “supposed to be heathen” quoted a page earlier. Of course it is obvious that
non-Christian nations will not be arguing about Sunday vs Sabbath, and that is the point of GC
615 above. But when miracles begin to happen on national scales, all the world will become
“Christian.” And that makes this point mute.] . . .

In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the
people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the
second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and
from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and
from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the
 nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of
Judah from the four corners of the earth.
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off.
Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon
the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together:
they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall
obey them.
And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his
mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven
streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant
of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he
came up out of the land of Egypt. Isaiah 11:10-16.

The Sabbath Banner

The previous passage teaches that the Lord is going to lift up an ensign, or banner for the
whole world to see. This banner is the Sabbath.

[Dear reader: Read the passage, the first verse, slowly. What is the ensign? And so it is that
Jesus said “And I, when I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”

Now it is true that the Sabbath is a special banner, in metaphor, in the end of time. Many
symbols are used in several ways like this in scripture. The lion, for example, represents
Babylon, Jesus, and the Devil. To say that because the Sabbath is a “banner” in the statements
below that it is the “ensign” in Isaiah 11, when the first verse says plainly that the “root of Jessi”
is the “ensign” is not wise.]

ensign-5251: from 5264; a flag; also a sail; by impl. a flagstaff; gen. a signal; fig. a token:
-banner, pole, sail, (en-)sign, standard. 5264: to gleam from afar, i.e. to be conspicuous as a
signal; to raise a beacon: lift up as an ensign, standard bearer. Strong's.

It is at this time that the true Sabbath must be brought before the people both by pen
and by voice. As the fourth commandment of the Decalogue and those who observe it
are ignored and despised, the faithful few know that it is the time not to hide their face
but to exalt the law of Jehovah by unfurling the banner on which is inscribed the
message of the third angel, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12. Evangelism, 281. . . .

When considering these three symbolic nations, the term, "the chief of the children," is
important. The word chief means "firstfruits," and is derived from the root word
meaning-"shaking."

[This is a shaky hermeneutic. I have written on this idea, the idea that etymology is helpful
in showing the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words. It just isn’t true. It [unconsciously?]
presupposes both verbal inspiration and a false sense of continuity in the meaning of words. See
the introduction.] . . .
 Three Enemies Symbolized

Let us consider some of the places in which Scripture portrays these three enemies.
References and definitions of names are taken from the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary,
1960 edition:

Nehemiah 2:19:
Sanballat the Horonite: the moon-god, sin has given life. A Moabite.
Tobiah the Ammonite: Yahweh is good.
Geshem the Arabian: bom in the rainy season. Descendant of
Ishmael. Arabians are a family of tribes, (plural).

Judges 6:3; 7:12:

Midian: strife. Descendant of Abraham from Keturah.
Amalek, Descendant of Esau.
The children of the east (plural). Associated with Balaam.

Daniel 11:41:
Edom: red. Descendant of Esau.
Moab: from father. Descendant of Lot.
Ammon: paternal uncle. Descendants of Lot (plural).

Isaiah 11:14:
Edom, Moab, children of Ammon (plural).

Numbers 22:4-5:
Moab, Midian, Balaam of Pethor which is in the land of the children
of his people (plural).

Revelation 16:12-13:
Dragon: Spiritualism.
Beast: Catholicism.
False prophet: Apostate Protestantism (multiple churches, plural).

John 19:19-20:
Hebrew: one on the other side, Abraham, Shem.
Greek: sons of the Iortians, Japheth (plural).
Latin: Roman: I have exalted, Babylon was founded by Nimrod, a descendant of Ham.
The Issue of the Law

The ancient enemies listed in Daniel 11:41 are a prophetic waymark identifying those who
are in resistance to God's, final-warning message, as well as identifying where those who
respond to the latter-rain message flee from. These enemies are mentioned in prophecies or
types whenever a prediction or illustration identifying the time period of the loud cry is being
presented. These scenarios consistently identify an issue concerning God's law which precedes
the latter-rain movement.
 [Let us pause here and divide what has been demonstrated from what had been suggested. It
has been demonstrated that Ammon, Moab, and Edom were all long-time enemies of Israel.
Granted. It has been demonstrated that Midian was also a long-time enemy, though the relevance
of this is not clear. It has been demonstrated that Jesus’ cross bore an inscription in the three
languages current in his day.

And it has been suggested that those three languages symbolize three enemies. It has been
suggested that Balaam be considered “plural” since he came from the his “people.” It has been
suggested that Ishmael be considered “plural” even in the history of Genesis, since it was a
nation of “tribes.” But it has been suggested that Edom be considered not-plural, even though
Edom was a group with “tribes” like “Amelek” mentioned.

These suggestions are unlike anything that you will find in the writing of the pioneers. They
border on religious fiction.

And it has been suggested that this is a theme in scripture: There are three enemies. But this
is far from demonstrated. Is it Judas, Pharisees, Sadducees? Or Pharisees, Sadducees and
scribes? Or Pharisees and Sadducees? Or Judas and the Religious Leaders? Or the Romans and
the Jews? Or Jesus’ family, his friends, and his enemies? Or Satan (Matthew 4, Luke 4), Judas
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), and Caiaphas? Is it Sodom and Gomorrah? Or Sodom, Gomorah,
and the “cities of the plain”? Or Sodom, Gommorah, Admah and Zeboiim? Or is it Sodom,
Gommorah, Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar? Or is it Lot’s wife, his older daughter, and his younger
daughter (illustrating spiritual adultery in the end-times)? Or is it Lot’s family, Lot’s City, and
Lot’s choices to live there?

What am I saying? That this business is far too creative to be called Biblical interpretation.]

Gideon had to tear down the altar of Baal. Before the rains came, Elijah had to demonstrate
God's power in contrast to that of Jezebel's gods. Before the Promised Land came Mount Sinai.
Before Pentecost came Gethsemane and the Cross. The prophecy of Isaiah, chapters 10 through
12, begins with the issue of an "unrighteous decree," and culminates in the latter rain.

The issue of the law precedes the latter rain, and confirms that the Sunday law in the
United States has already been passed if those symbolized by Moab, Ammon, and Edom are
escaping. Understanding what and who these three nations represent in the prophetic sequence,
identifies the glorious land of verse 41 as the United States, for the United States is where the
Sunday law issue begins.

[Reader, perhaps you should do a little study on the Latter Rain and whether we should be
expecting and praying for it to come now. But more than that, examine the reasoning of this
passage. It shows that often troubles come before blessings. This is true. (Is it also true that
troubles often come after blessings? Like Christ’s temptation after His baptism? His cross after
the Triumphant entry?

And then it does the most circular form of reasoning. In short: Since troubles come before
blessings, the Sunday-Law will come before the Latter Rain. Since Moab, Ammon, and Edom
are escaping, it shows that the Sunday-Law has already come. If we know who they are, it is
clear that the USA is the glorious land. Now check earlier in this document and see how we
know who they are.]

He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not
escape.

The symbolic characteristics of the king of the south are understood by identifying the
word south with Egypt, and then applying the atheistic, defiant attributes of Pharaoh, in order to
identify Communism. Still we must consider the word used, and the context of the passage:

Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying, humble life? Because professed Christians

are not dead to the world. It is easy living after we are dead. But many are longing for
the leeks and onions of Egypt. They have a disposition to act and dress as much like the
world as possible and yet go to heaven. Such climb up some other way. They do not
enter through the strait gate and narrow way. Testimonies, vol 1, 131 .

I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not
closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from
God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of
banishment or condemnation.... The church has turned back from following Christ her
Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt.... Have we not been seeking the
friendship and applause of the world rather than the presence of Christ and a deeper
knowledge of His will? Ibid., vol. 5, 217-218.

The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in
character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world
just before the final deliverance of God's people. The Great Controversy, 627-628.

Many are not growing strong, because they do not take God at His Word. They are
conforming to the world. Every day they pitch their tents nearer to Egypt, when they
should encamp a day's march nearer the heavenly Canaan. Signs of The Times, March 6,
1884.

The Lord God of Israel is to execute judgment upon the gods of this world, as upon
the gods of Egypt. Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 240.

Though close in identity, "south" and "Egypt" are still two different words. If Egypt
represented no other symbol or figure or type in the Scriptures then it would always follow that
Egypt represented the characteristics of a defiant Pharaoh. However, Egypt is more often used to
symbolize the world than it is used to symbolize atheism. The context of the passage under
consideration points out that the next step for the Papacy, after passage of the Sunday law in the
United States, is to move against the countries of the world. This is of course what Revelation
and the Spirit of Prophecy teach will happen. Egypt is not Communism; Egypt is the world:
 [JP has revealed his fundamental hermeneutic. From the Bible and the SOP he learns what
will happen. (10 points for this step.) Then he brings this knowledge to Daniel 11 and to other
Bible stories and searches for evidence to prove what he learned in step 1. (zero points for this
step.) Searching for “evidence”, even to prove a truth, tends to create false evidences. We do not
want false evidences to prove true points.

This principle of find-parallels-to-prove-truth makes challenging JP challenging. His

method, though imaginative and creative, can not be attacked without appearing to attack the
truth.

But it also makes his work dangerous. It teaches men to suspend their own judgment. It
produces a mass of weak matter instead of a core of strong matter – and this is calculated to
weaken the power of the truth, bringing to the structure wood, hay and stubble.

In the current passage, read verses 41-44. Does it read as if Egypt is the whole world? Or as
if it is part of the world? This common-sense approach, noting what the passage says, has worth.
And when JP emphasizes that Egypt is a “geographical location” and then proves that it
represents wordliness (for that is what it is in the Spirit of Prophecy quotes given), what is he
doing? Is the church back-sliding to a geographic location?]

How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut
down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also
upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:12-14.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with
him? Revelation 13:4.

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is
God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

Ever since his fall, Satan has been at work to establish himself as ruler of this earth.
Review and Herald, March 9, 1886.

[Did JP just show that the king of the North is trying to become the king of Egypt?
Who is King of Egypt before Egypt is taken?]

Sister White many times used the illustration of the joining of hands to symbolize agreement
with the Papacy. This verse says he will stretch out his hand to the world (Egypt). The world, of
course, has many countries, and they will all conform to Rome, for it states that the countries
will not escape.

The Second Escape

 The word escape in this passage has a little different meaning from the word escape in the
previous verse. The last verse spoke of slipping out of his hand to be saved, or preserved. In this
verse escape conveys the meaning of not finding any deliverance from the iron fist of Rome:

escape-6413: tem. of 6412; deliverance; concr. an escaped portion: -deliverance,

(that is) escape (-d), remnant. 6412: a refugee: -(that have) escape (-d, -th), fugitive.
Strong's.

Is this order of events consistent with Adventist understanding? Does the United States, the
glorious land, first submit to a Sunday law and then the world follows after? Yes:

[Note carefully this logic: “Does my conclusion about the meaning of this
word support standard Adventist understanding of the end?” The question
appeals to the plausibility of the interpretation as evidence of its accuracy. It
reminds me, in this respect, very much of the writings of other persons in the
past who, by a strong expression of confidence, somehow persuaded
listeners that they must have a good point.]. . .

We see upon this beast ten horns which signify pagan Rome, and we also see seven heads
with crowns signifying the seven kingdoms which brought about during the transition to papal
Rome by the removal of removing the three Arian horns in order to give place to the Papacy.

[This is an interesting, but not-so-standard interpretation of the seven heads. I would ask JP,
which of these seven heads receives a deadly wound? And why are there not eight heads? What
you say next is more standard, but do you intend to say that the seven heads have two very
different interpretations?] . . .

Revelation 13-The Healing of the Beast

The first beast of Revelation 13 is a description of a mortally wounded papal Rome. It

describes a transition which takes place as the next world power arrives on the scene of history,
and also the transition which takes place when the deadly wound is healed.

As John viewed the composite beast of Revelation 13, he saw within the five characteristics
of the beast, the progression of world kingdoms as set forth in the book of Daniel, in reverse, for
John was looking back into history.

[Woah, JP. This is the limit. You virtually say that when prophets write about past events
they do it in backwards chronological order. Then is Jesus translated before he is born, and born
before the church is expecting?

The problem here is that you are not starting with a prophetic statement about why the beast
is said to be leopard-like. It would be more sensible to say that it is most like Greece, and hence
that is mentioned first. Greek does tend to use word-order to indicate importance.] . . .
 When we began our study of Revelation 17 we prophetically located the prophet John in
history. We saw that he was taken to the close of the 1260 years of papal reign. This was
ascertained by the fact that when he was taken into the wilderness, the whore was already drunk.

At the close of this time period there were five kingdoms of Bible prophecy which had
fallen. The first empire was Babylon, the second Medo-Persia, the third Greece, the fourth pagan
Rome, and the fifth was papal Rome. Yet, was not papal Rome still a kingdom shortly before
1798?

Technically, yes. However, prophetically, Daniel had already set an example concerning
kingdoms which had almost left the scene of history. Daniel 8 begins with the description of
Medo-Persia, even though Babylon was still a Kingdom when Daniel received the vision.
Babylon was not listed in the vision of Daniel 8, for it had already reached the end of its
significance in prophecy. The same prophetic principle applies in Revelation 17:10. Papal Rome
still existed shortly before 1798, but it was at the end of its power.

[This is a fine suggestion of how to solve the difficulty of “five kings” being fallen during
the time that “John” was in the wilderness. But if we don’t assume that the blood of the million
martyrs under Innocent the III was insufficient to intoxicate the papacy, we don’t even get “near”
1798 before she is drunk.] . . .

First, the United States forms an image to the beast, then the entire world does so. The
world therefore must form and empower a world government which supersedes the
sovereignty of nations in order to fulfill the definition of the image of the beast. To compel
the consciences of people through civil government, you must by definition and logic have a
civil government.

[This logic is not sound. 230 nations compelling the conscience would fulfill the
specifications of the prophecy just fine.] . . .

[The “was and is not” of Rev 17:11 also gives you a hint at timing, that this is after 1798,
not before as indicated earlier. It is one thing to not mention Babylon in Daniel 8; but it is quite
another to say plainly that the beast “is not” in Rev 17.] . . .

The United States is the power which will force the whole world into making an image to
the beast, and thus into accepting the confederacy of the ten kings:

Eight people went into the ark, and were symbolically resurrected to a new earth. After six
thousand years of sin, the earth will have a thousand years of rest before it is resurrected anew
to begin the eighth millennium. Christ was resurrected the day after the Sabbath, which is the
eighth day, so to speak.

[JP sounds like Justin Martyr here. He had a lot to say about the “eighth day.” And… the
eight persons are resurrected? The eighth millennium? God arranged so that only eight people
would get on the ark? The first thousand years of the new earth represents the final phase of the
papacy? This whole “eight” thing seems just imaginary. Is it possible that the Bible records the
number of people in the ark so that we would know that “few”, that is “eight” persons were
saved from the flood? (See 1Pe 3:20.)] . . .

Eight Represents Resurrection

The mystery beast, which is the eighth head, is the Papacy. It is of the seven, for it was the
fifth. In contrast to the other six, it is identified as being dead. It is the head that is resurrected,
as symbolized by the number eight.

[This graph represents the number of times the KJV uses the numbers 1 thought 19. It shows
mathematically that, with the exceptions of 7 and 12, all numbers are used just as would be
expected in a book on any secular topic, a book where numbers represented no hidden messages.
The number ten is higher in use because of the useful habit of rounding. This tendency to round
also explains why “five” is slightly higher than the curve would predict. Which numbers show up
more than chance would predict? Just seven and twelve. Without a statement from a prophet
giving special significance to some other number we ought to resist our tendency to look for a
symbol in a number which can be understood literally. This was one of Miller’s rules of
interpretation – to read literally unless context demanded that an item be understood
figuratively.]

The Final Transition

Connected with the beasts of Rome, there is always a story of a transition which takes
place. The mystery beast and the whore describe of the healing of the deadly wound. It is a
description of the Papacy's return to her position as a religious-political kingdom. This transition
takes place when the powers which were lost in 1798 are resurrected:

As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist
among the Lord's instrumentalities. The world is filled with storm and war and variance.
 Yet under one head-the papal power-the people will unite to oppose God in the person
of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate. Testimonies, vol. 7, 182.

The Sequence of Events

The sequence of kingdoms, as set forth in the description of John in Revelation 17:10, is the
identical sequence of events which Daniel 11:40-45 identifies.

First, the enemy (atheism), which gave the deadly wound, would be overcome as the first
wall is removed.

Then the United States, the head which existed when John received the vision of Revelation
17, would form an image to the beast at the passage of a national Sunday law. Thus the king of
the north enters the glorious land, as the wall of separation between church and state is
removed.

Then the king of the north brings Egypt under his control. Egypt, symbolizing the world, is
represented by John as a world confederacy of ten kings, or the seventh head. Through pressure
from the United States, they form a confederacy, erect their own image of the beast, and remove
the wall of national sovereignty:

The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world,
to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle
against the government of Heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike
deceived. The Great Controversy, 624.

[Check out the chapter this quote is taken from. It is the Time of Trouble, after the close of
probation, the time arrived at in the first words of Daniel 12:1.] . . .

Rich and Poor

Ancient Egypt had two neighbors who had interesting histories. The Libyans, to the west of
Egypt, lived on the fringe of the desert, and throughout their history cast a longing eye toward
Egypt and the fertile Nile valley. They attempted to invade Egypt several times, but were
repulsed. Modem Egypt symbolizes the world, and Libya symbolizes what we call today the
Third World-the poor, downtrodden countries that long to move up to the standards of the
affluent Western World. But who was Ethiopia?

[So how has JP showed us the meaning of Libya? He has given us an unreferenced summary
of ancient history. Is his audience expected to just believe something like this? There are two
Hebrew words used for the Libyans, one often translated Put, and one often translated Lubim.
Stories exist of these groups from whom we could learn, Biblically, their characteristics as we
did from Egypt. These with the Ethiopians, below, are often confederate against God’s people in
scripture. But the idea of the wealth and poverty of these bodies is not a scriptural idea. Can we
say that it is reliable, or that we ought to use it interpretively? Does that still allow the Bible to
interpret itself?] . . . .
 Following is Eugene Prewitt’s commentary on just a few other materials of Jeff Pippenger
found online.

http://remnantprophecy.sdaglobal.org/Remnant-Prophecy/endtimeJP/end-time3.htm

In the material at the above URL JP seems to ignore EGW’s strong testimony regarding the
use to be made (or not made) of her EW statement on the daily. Haskell used the statement in the
same way as JP uses it here and was rebuked. How can JP ignore this?

I have words to speak to my brethren east and west, north and south. I request that
my writings shall not be used as the leading argument to settle questions over which there is
now so much controversy. I entreat of Elders H, I, J, and others of our leading brethren, that
they make no reference to my writings to sustain their views of "the daily." {1SM 164.1}
It has been presented to me that this is not a subject of vital importance. I am
instructed that our brethren are making a mistake in magnifying the importance of the
difference in the views that are held. I cannot consent that any of my writings shall be taken
as settling this matter. The true meaning of "the daily" is not to be made a test question.
{1SM 164.2}
I now ask that my ministering brethren shall not make use of my writings in their
arguments regarding this question ["the daily"]; for I have had no instruction on the point
under discussion, and I see no need for the controversy. Regarding this matter under present
conditions, silence is eloquence. {1SM 164.3}
The enemy of our work is pleased when a subject of minor importance can be used
to divert the minds of our brethren from the great questions that should be the burden of our
message. As this is not a test question, I entreat of my brethren that they shall not allow the
enemy to triumph by having it treated as such. {1SM 164.4}

http://temcat.com/prophetic-history/waymarksb.htm

I have people give me mild rebukes or strong rebukes that I spent too much time
looking at what’s going on in Catholicism or in Spiritualism or in the political world—God
would have us study these events and compare them with prophecy in order that we
would understand that we’re living in the last days. If you’re studying the events and
you’re comparing them with prophecies—you know you’re in the last days. You know
you’re here! It’s easy to present prophecy to God’s people today because if you got to
speak next Sabbath on prophecy to God’s people, all you have to do is go down and get
a weeks worth of papers before Sabbath and on the front page you’re going to have
information you can weave your presentation around because it’s being fulfilled every
day….

[“Meat in due season” is not found in the papers. But this paragraph gives an insight
to Jeff’s mode of thinking regarding prophetic interpretation. Compare to:

Flowery discourses will not be sufficient to feed the soul of the famishing child of
God. The following desire will give a voice to the longing of many a heart that is fed on
what are called "smart sermons." An intelligent man remarked, "O that my pastor would
give me something besides pretty flowers, and brilliant periods, and intellectual treats!
My soul is famishing for the Bread of Life. I long for something simple and nourishing
and scriptural." Daniel Webster gave utterance to these forcible words: "If clergymen in
our day would return to the simplicity of gospel truth, and preach more to individuals and
less to the crowd, there would not be so much complaint of the decline of true religion.
Many of the ministers of the present day take their text from St. Paul, and preach from
the newspapers. When they do so, I prefer to enjoy my own thoughts, rather than listen.
I want my pastor to come to me in the Spirit of the gospel, saying, `You are mortal. Your
probation is brief, your work must be done speedily. . . . You are hastening to the bar of
God. The Judge standeth before the door.'"--RH June 23, 1891. {PaM 188.1}]

When we are purified when every sin and stain is gone, God is going to bring the
Sunday Law test that will bring us into a position where we receive the Seal of God
corporately. All that have prepared for the Seal of God corporately will receive it; this will
be the group that then receives the Latter Rain without measure in order to proclaim the
Loud Cry message to those people that are in Babylon and the rest of the world.

[We need to understand the sealing message! For evidence, in the form of sincere Bible
study, on how men are sealed, email me. It isn’t done corporately.]

"I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the
refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors;
if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found
wanting. The refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have
prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely,
cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God." Counsels on Diet and Foods, 33….

We’re looking at the ‘waymarks’, historical events that are ahead of us; the Latter Rain,
the refreshing. Immediately at the Sunday Law, God’s church is purified, we receive the
Seal of God and the Latter Rain is poured out upon us. This empowers us to not only
stand through the time of trouble, but it empowers us to give the Loud Cry message.
The Loud Cry message and the Latter Rain can’t be separated from one another but
they are distinct waymarks; one is the message, one is the presence of the Holy Spirit
with power in our life, in our experience….

[Reader, Jesus is sitting currently as a “refiner and purifier of silver,” refining the sons
Levi. This is the time when the church is being purified. The shaking precedes, so a
significant extent, the persecution. It is the purity of the church that brings on the wrath
of Satan. It is the preaching of the Laodicean message that brings on the shaking.]

I’ve read an Adventist book before that says that Satan’s miracles take place after the
close of probation, which doesn’t make any kind of logical sense anyway—but in this
last quote she is very clear that Satan continues his wonders until the close of
probation. Prophetic fulfillment of his miraculous deceptions begin at the Sunday Law,
and increases and develops until the close of human probation. This is the time period
that unfolds at the Sunday law; this is a historical event—a waymark. This begins at the
Sunday Law….

[JP says that it “doesn’t make any king of logical sense anyway.” But just reading the
sixth plague in Revelation 16 will make it as clear as the day that Satan works many of
his most frightful miracles after probation closes for the purpose of driving God’s people
from their faithfulness, and for the purpose of gathering the lost to the battle of
Armageddon.]

Re 16:12-14 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the
east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of
the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth
of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which
go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty.