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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY (PART 2)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY (PART 2)

THE ‘NEW ERA’ OF CHURCH-STATE HISTORY USHERED IN 538 A.D.

  1. The reign of [emperor] Justinian is more remarkable as a portion of the HISTORY OF MANKIND, than a chapter in the annals of the Roman Empire or the Greek nation. [Here’s why]: The changes of centuries pass in rapid succession before the eyes of ONE generation….With the conquest of Rome by Belisarius, the history of the ancient city [Rome] may be considered as terminating; and with the defense against Witigis (king of the Ostrogoths, their last of the three Arian ‘horns’) [A.D. 538], COMMENCES the history of MIDDLE AGES [more accurately, the Dark Ages].’ – ‘Grace under the Romans,’ George Finley, pp. 198, 240, Dent edition, revised by author, 1877.
  2. Even the Papacy itself changed [how?], so there was a NEW ORDER of popes after 538 A.D. History relates:

“Down through the centuries all popes are declared SAINTS in the martyrologies. Vigilius (537-555) is FIRST of a series of popes who NO longer bear this title [saint], which is henceforth SPARINGLY conferred. From this time on the popes, more and more enveloped in WORLDLY events, no longer belong SOLELY TO THE CHURCH, they are MEN OF THE STATE.’ – ‘Medieval Europe,’ Belmont and Monod (revised by John Burton Adams), p. 120. NY. H. Holt & Co. 1902.

“From the death of (Pope) Silverius the Roman Catholic writers date the episcopacy of [pope] Vigilius, reckons him therefore among the lawful popes.’ – ‘History of the Popes,’ Vol. II, p. 488, under the year ‘538.’ Dublin: 1751. ‘His [Silverius’] death happened on the 20th of June, 538.’- Ibid, p. 488. Dr. Philip Schaff says: ‘Vigilius, a pliant creature of Theodora, ascended the papal chair UNDER THE MILITARY PROTECTION of Belisarius.’ – ‘History of the Christian Church,’ Vol. iII, p. 327. NY: Scribner’s, 1893.

  1. Dr. Summerbell gives still another reason why we should date the beginning of the Papal supremacy from 538. He says: ‘Justinian….enriched himself with the PROPERTY of all ‘heretics’—-that is, non-Catholics, and gave all their churches to the Catholics: published edicts in 538 compelling all to join the Catholic Church in 90 days or leave the empire, and confiscated all their goods.’ – ‘History of the Christian Church,’ pp. 310,311. Cincinnati: 1873. The same is stated by Samuel Chandler in ‘History of Persecution,’ pp. 142, 143; and by Edward Gibbon. In ‘Decline and Fall,’ chap. 47, par. 24.

“Thus we see that Roman Catholicism was made the STATE RELIGION in 538, and all other religions were FORBIDDEN. What gave special significance to these edicts of Justinian was the fact that he had already in 533 [5 years before] declared the bishop of Rome to be the head of the universal [meaning of the word ‘catholic’], and has subjected all the priests even of the East, under the See of Rome. This fact he wrote to Pope John II in March 15, 533 in the following language: [pp. 11-13 of ‘The Civil Law of Justinian, translated by S. P. Scott, A.M., (in 17 volumes), Book 12.

“Both of these letters appear in the ‘Code of Jusfinianus,’ as well as the following law: ‘Concernjng the Precedence of Patriarchs: ‘Hence, in accordance with the provisions of those Councils, we order that the Most Holy Pope of Ancient Rome shall hold the first rank of all the Pontiffs, but the Most Blessed Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, shall occupy the second place after the Holy Apostolic See of Ancient Rome, which precedence over all sees.’ -Ibid, Vol. XVII, p. 125. (‘Constitutions of Justinian,’ Vol. XVIi, 9th Collection, Title 14, chap. 2.

“The recognition of the Roman See as the highest ecclesiastical authority (cf. Novellae, cxxxi) remained the cornerstone of Justinian’s policy in relation to the West.’ – New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, Vol. VI, art. ‘Justinian,’ p. 286.

“Thus we see that the way had been prepared in 533, in anticipation of the THREE FINAL ACTS which were to occur in 538, when the Arian powers were destroyed, Catholicism made the STATE RELIGION, and the Papacy placed under the protection of the STATE, which gave rise to the long struggle between church and state as to which would be SUPREME.” – ‘Facts of Faith,’ C. Edwardson, pp. 53, 54, 56, 57. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville 8, TN: 1943.

Possess the ‘faith of Jesus’ by practicing and declaring the “truth as it is in Jesus’ only. NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY

In prophetic time a DAY always stands for a YEAR of 360 days.
See Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 first.

“The little horn of Dan. 7: 8, 25 was to reign for ‘a time and times and the dividing of time.’ This same ‘time, and times, and half a time’ is also mentioned in Rev. 12:14, and in the sixth verse it said to be ‘a thousand three hundred and three score days.’ This prophetic period [of definite time] is therefore literally 1,260 literal years. We shall now show that these 1260 years began in 538 A.D. and invite the reader to notice the FOUR great changes that took place that year:

  1. We have already seen that the little horn symbolized the Papacy, and that the three Arian kingdoms, which stood in its way, were plucked up by the roots, and that the last of these received its deathblow in 538 A.D. through the efforts of Justinian, ‘the faithful son of the Church of Rome.

“History states that the work of Justin and Justinian in elevating the Papacy to power brought on a NEW ERA, introducing the Middle Ages:

“Accordingly, the RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL tendencies of the [Roman] Empire now took SO DIFFERENT a direction so as to positively constitute the dawn of a new era…..Thus at last Rome had TRIUMPHED, after fighting so long with unflinching vigor and WITHOUT yielding a single point.” – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ P. Villari, Vol. I, pp. 177, 178. (Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, p. 52. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville 8, TN: (revised) 1943.

More follows, God willing and guiding through His Spirit of prophecy, NMF.

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Devotionals

HOW THE HERULI ARIAN ‘HORN’ WAS ‘PLUCKED UP BY ITS ROOTS’ BY THE ‘LITTLE HORN’ OF DANIEL 7: 8.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HOW THE HERULI ARIAN ‘HORN’ WAS ‘PLUCKED UP BY ITS ROOTS’ BY THE ‘LITTLE HORN’ OF DANIEL 7: 8.

“Pope Silverius died on the 2nd of March, 483, whereupon Odovacar (Odoacer, king of the Heruli) made a false move…..It was very important for him to control the choice of a new Pontiff…..He desired a Pope well disposed to himself. When the preliminary assembly failed to agree in the choice of a candidate, the Pretorian Prefect, Cecina Basilius, suddenly intervened in Odovacar’s name, and declared that no election would be valid without the King’s voice…..After this the Assembly was summoned to sanction the decree and decide the election, which resulted in favor of Felix II  (483-492), the candidate recommended by Odovacar.” -The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, p. 148, (1902). “His interference in the Papal election has cast into the Roman Church the seed of a deep and threatening distrust towards him.” – Ibid, p. 147.

“Rome could never forgive such an affront, and through its faithful ALLY, the emperor, another Barbarian nation, the OSTROGOTHS, were called in to destroy the hated Heruli…..—

“Villari says that THEODORIC at the head of the Ostrogothic hordes entered Italy in the autumn of 488, backed by the authority of the emperor and the Roman Church. Because of the discord that had now broken out between Odovacar and the Pope had weakened the former and consequently made him less formidable, after 2 disastrous battles he retreated toward the city of Rome for safety from the Ostrogoths, but ‘the gates of Rome were shut in his face, and the inhabitants of Italy began to show him marked hostility…..The Roman Church had TAKEN ADVANTAGE of all these causes of discontent in order to EXCITE the populace against him; and before long it was openly said that the CLERGY had organized a general CONSPIRACY against him…..in the style of the Sicilian Vespers.”- The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, 2-vol. ed. of 1880. Vol. I, pp. 153-156.

“Villari continues: ‘On the 5th of March, 493, Theodoric entered Ravenna in triumph, all the CLERGY coming forth to meet him, chanting Psalms, with the ARCHBISHOP at the head of the procession.’ -The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, Vol. I, p. 158. TEN DAYS LATER ODOVACAR WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.

“Hodgkin points out that this coming of the archbishop to meet the Ostrogoths was STAGED so as to ‘impress vividly on the minds both of Italians and Ostrogoths that Theodoric came as the FRIEND of the Catholic Church.’- ‘Italy and Her Invaders.’ – Ibid, pp. 244, 255. Hodgkin further states that the Roman clergy were PRIVY to a terrible SECRET PLOT of murdering the the followers of Odovacar all over Italy.’ – Ibid, 225, 226.

“The Heruli disappeared from history. Thus the first of the three ‘horns’ of Daniel 7:8 was ‘plucked up by the roots,’ and history leaves no room for doubt but that the Papacy THROUGH its allies engineered this act because of its opposition to Arianism.” – Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 39, 40.  Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

OUTLINE: THE PROPHETIC SECTION OF DANIEL

November 10, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUTLINE: THE PROPHETIC SECTION OF DANIEL

II. Prophetic Section, chapters 7-11: 12:13.

A. Daniel’s second prophetic message, 7: 1-28. (Under A). 1. The four beasts and the ‘little horn,’ 7:1-8.  2. Judgment and eternal reign of the Son of man, 7:9-14.  3. Interpretation of the vision by and angel, 7:15-27.  4. Impression in Daniel, 7:28.

B. Daniel’s third prophetic message, ch. 8:1 to 9: 27. (Under B) 1. The ram, he-goat, and horns, 8:1-8.  2. The ‘little horn’ and its wickedness, 8:9-12.   3. The TIME prophecy concerning the CLEANSING of the Sanctuary, 8:13,14.   4. Gabriel interprets the FIRST portion of the vision, 8:15-26.  5. Daniel’s sickness as the RESULT of the vision, 8:27.  6. Daniel PRAYS for restoration and CONFESSES his people’s [the Jews in captivity], 9:1-19.  7. Gabriel interprets the REMAINING portion of the vision, 9:20-27.

C. Daniel’s   fourth prophetic message, ch. 10:1 to 12:13. (Under C)  1. Daniel’s fast, 10: 1-3.   2. The appearance of a ‘certain man’ and the effect on Daniel, 10:4-10.   3. The ‘certain man’s preliminary talk with Daniel, 10:11 to 11:1.   4. A vision concerning future HISTORICAL events, 11:2 to 12:3.   5. The duration of the “wonders;” personal promises to Daniel, 12:4-13.”

There are four parallel visions in Daniel, given in the following: ch.2; ch.7; chs. 8, 9; and chs. 10-12. Take note that each of the four parallel visions end in the Roman element. Repeat, the Roman element, pagan than papal!

May God give all wisdom, skill and understanding as He did with Daniel because Daniel “purposed in his heart” to do God’s will! Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

OUTLINE: HISTORICAL SECTION OF DANIEL

November, 9 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUTLINE: HISTORICAL SECTION OF DANIEL

To encourage and enable you to do your personal diligent study of the book of Daniel, in addition to our group effort, here under is the Historical Section outline. The Prophetic Section follows tomorrow.

Historical Section. 1:1 to 6:28.

A. The education of Daniel and his companions. 1:21. (Under A) 1. The first transportation of captives from Judah to Babylon,  1:1,2.  2. Daniel and his friends selected to be trained for royal service, 1:3-7.  3. Daniel procures permission to live according to his (God’s) law, 1:8-16. 4. Successful education and acceptance into the royal service, 1:17-21.

B. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image, 2:1-49. (Under B) 1. Nebuchadnezzar disturbed by a dream, 2:1-11.  3. Daniel receives knowledge and expresses gratitude, 2:17-23.  4. Daniel communicates the dream to the king, 2:24-35.  5. Daniel interprets the dream, 2:36-45.  6. NEBUCHADNEZZAR acknowledges God’s greatness,  2:46-49.

C. Deliverance of Daniel’s friends from the fiery furnace, 3:1-30. (Under C) 1. Nebuchadnezzar erects an IMAGE and demands its its worship, 3:1-7. [Note parallel antitype in Rev. 13]. 2. The three faithful Hebrews refuse to worship image, 3:8-18.  3. The deliverance from the furnace by divine intervention, 3:19-25.  4. Nebuchadnezzar’s confession and decree; the Hebrews promoted, 3:26-30.

D. Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, humiliation, and restoration, 4:1-37.  (Under D). 1. Nebuchadnezzar’s confession of God’s knowledge and power, 4:1-9.   2. Description of the dream, 4:10-18.  3. Daniel’s interpretation of the dream, 4:19-27.   4. Nebuchadnezzar’s fall and restoration, 4:28-36.  5. Nebuchadnezzar praises the God of heaven, 4:37.

E. BELSHAZZAR’S banquet and the loss of the monarchy, 5:1-31. (Under E). 1. Belshazzar’s desecration of the Temple vessels, 5:1-4.  2. The mysterious handwriting on the wall, 5:5-12.   3. Daniel’s interpretation, 5:13-28.   4. Daniel receives honor, Babylon FALLS, 5:39-31.

F. Daniel’s deliverance from the lions’ den, 6:1-28. (Under F). 1. Daniel’s elevation and the jealousy of his colleagues, 6:1-5.   2. Darius’ decree RESTRICTING prayers, 6:6-9.   3. Daniel’s transgression of the decree and his condemnation, 6:10-17.   4. Daniel’s deliverance and the punishment of the accusers, 6:18-24.   5. Public recognition of the greatness of Daniel’s God, 6:25-28.

Ask, seek, and knock for the Holy Spirit to guide, enlighten, teach, convince, convict and then bring all things you study into remembrance.  Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

THE FOUR PARALLEL VISIONS OF DANIEL AND WHAT EACH EMPHASIZES

November, 8 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE FOUR PARALLEL VISIONS OF DANIEL AND WHAT EACH EMPHASiZES

“The book of Daniel gives a demonstration of the principles according to which God’s WISDOM, POWER, and AUTHORITY operate through the HISTORY OF NATIONS for the eventual accomplishment of the divine purpose.

“God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill’ His ‘purpose’ (Ed 175). IT HAD ITS PERIOD OF TEST [as a nation/empire]; it failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another [Medo-Persia] (Ed 177). see on ch. 4:17).

All four visions of the book of Daniel are concerned with the struggle between the forces of good and evil [part of the great controversy between Christ and Satan] on this earth from the time of Daniel to the establishment of the eternal kingdom of Christ [the kingdom of glory]. Inasmuch as Satan uses the POWERS OF EARTH in his effort to thwart God’s plan and to destroy God’s people, these [4] visions introduce THOSE POWERS through which he [Satan] has been most active!

“The FIRST VISION  (ch. 2) deals primarily with POLITICAL changes. It’s primary objective was to reveal to Nebuchadnezzar his role as ruler of Babylon, ‘to make known to him ‘what should come to pass hereafter’ (v. 29).

“As if to supplement the first vision, the SECOND (ch. 7) emphasizes the EXPERIENCE of God’s people DURING the sovereignty of the powers mentioned in the FIRST VISION, and forecasts the ultimate victory of the [commandment-keeping] saints and God’s JUDGMENT upon their enemies (see vs. 14, 18, 26, 27).

“The THIRD VISION (chs. 8; 9), supplementing the second, emphasizes Satan’s ATTEMPTS to do away with the religion and people of Christ.[This is what we are facing very soon in the fulfillment of Revelation 13, starting in America!].

“The FOURTH VISION (chs. 10-12) SUMMARIZES the preceding visions and covers the ground with MORE DETAIL than any of the others. It AMPLIFIES the subject of the second vision and that of the third vision.

“The focus of the emphasis is on ‘what shall befall Thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is yet for many days’ (ch. 10:14), and the ‘time appointed was long’ (v.1). The narrative outline of history covered in ch. 11: 2-39 leads up to ‘the latter days’ (ch. 10:14) and the events of ‘the time of the end’ (ch. 11:40).” – Ibid, pp. 752, 753.

The “time of the end” here is not the end of time but the year 1798, the year in which the Dark Ages that started in 538 A.D., came to the end with the capture of Pope Pius Vi by Gen. Berthier, commander of Napoleon’s French Republican army. Pope Pius died in France the following year, “wounding as to death one of the heads of the beast.”’ See on Rev. 13. More tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

DANIEL, REVELATION, THE 2300-DAY PROPHECY, AND THE SANCTUARY

November, 6 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DANIEL, REVELATION, THE 2300-DAY PROPHECY, AND THE SANCTUARY

“The prophecies of Daniel are closely related to those of the book of Revelation. In large measure Revelation covers the same ground but gives particular emphasis to the role of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH as God’s chosen people.

“Thus details that may be obscure in the book of Daniel are often clarified by COMPARISON with the book of Revelation. That part of his ‘prophecy which related to the last days, DANIEL was hidden to ‘CLOSE UP AND SEAL ‘to the time of the end (GC 356), when, THROUGH A DILIGENT STUDY OF THE BOOK, ‘knowledge’ of its import would be ‘increased’ (ch. 12:4; AA 585). John was specifically instructed ‘to seal NOT the sayings of the prophecy’ of his book, ‘for the time is at hand’ (Rev. 22:10). Thus for a CLEARER interpretation of ANY portion of the book of Daniel that tend to be OBSCURE, we should search CAREFULLY [not carelessly or hurriedly] the book of Revelation for light to dispel the darkness.” – Ibid, p. 753.

“We should be earnest students of prophecy; we SHOULD NOT REST until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the SANCTUARY, which is brought out in the visions of DANIEL and JOHN (in Revelation). This subject [the sanctuary] sheds great light on our PRESENT POSITION AND WORK, and gives us UNMISTAKABLE proof that God has led in our PAST experience [of the early Advent movement, 1840-1844]. It explains our DISAPPOINTMENT in 1844, showing us that the sanctuary to be cleansed (Dan. 8:14] WAS NOT THE EARTH, as we had supposed, but that Christ entered into the most holy apartment of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, and is there performing the CLOSING WORK of His PRIESTLY OFFICE, in fulfillment of the words of the angel to the prophet Daniel.”- E.G. White, Maranatha, 247.

Our eyes “believe’  what our mind “sees.” Therefore “Let this mind be in you what was also in Christ Jesus.” Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

THE BOOK OF DANIEL REVEALS HOW GOD USES VARIOUS MEN TO FULFILL HIS WILL

November, 3 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE BOOK OF DANIEL REVEALS HOW GOD USES VARIOUS MEN TO FULFILL HIS WILL

“The first four chapters of Daniel narrate the MEANS by which God secures the allegiance of Nebuchadnezzar. [He never employs deception, compromise of principle, coercion, intimidation, craftiness, deception, confusion, or persecution].

“First of all, God needed a man who would be a FIT REPRESENTATIVE of the principles and policies of heaven at the court of Babylon, so He chose Daniel to be His personal AMBASSADOR to Nebuchadnezzar.

“The means God employed to bring Daniel, a captive, to the favorable attention of Nebuchadnezzar, and the means by which Nebuchadnezzar came to have confidence, first in Daniel and then in Daniel’s God, illustrate the MANNER in which God uses men TODAY to accomplish His will on earth.

“God could use Daniel BECAUSE Daniel was a man of PRINCIPLE, a man of STERLING character, a man whose chief business life was to live for God!

“Daniel ‘purposed in His heart’ (Dan. 1:8) to live in harmony with all the REVEALED will of God. First, God brought him ‘into favor and tender love’ with the officials of Babylon (v. 9). This prepared the way for the second step, the demonstration of the PHYSICAL superiority of Daniel and his companions (vs. 12-15). Then followed a demonstration of INTELLECTUAL superiority. ‘God gave them all knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom’ (v. 17), with the result that they were considered ‘ten times better’ than their closest competitors (v. 20).

“Thus in Personality, Physique, and Intellect Daniel proved to be markedly SUPERIOR to his fellow men, and thereby WON the confidence and respect of Nebuchadnezzar.”

For me, this is what the children’s song, “Dare to be a Daniel” really means—much more than “daring to pray” when it was outlawed or bravely, without murmur, doubt and complaint to be “thrown into the hungry lions’ den!”
(More follows tomorrow). God bless all, NMF