23 After the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
Satan wanted the early apostolic church to apostatize, because they would be “easy prey” for him. An apostate church looks better from the outside and is easier for him to work his evil.
24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
Satan deceived by his craftiness even those Christians which were well versed in their Bibles. This can be noticed by those Bible scholars who, despite their many hours in the Word, hold false ideologies.
25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
In this particular verse, the “king of the South” stands for paganism, which tried its hardest to decimate Christianity from the inside.
26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
The pagan teachings which fed the so-called “Christian church” would destroy it from the inside out. This is a war tactic known as divide and conquer, in which a force is disturbed by problems from the inside.
27 And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
The compromise between Christianity and Paganism gave birth to the “man of sin” noted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
The new mutation of Paganism, Roman Catholicism, now was going to profit from the fears and superstitions of its mostly uneducated followers. This was most grossly manifested in the sale of indulgences, documents which would “absolve” a person from a sin he had or even would commit in the future!
29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
This verse is referring to verse 25, in which paganism became the Papacy through the conversion of the Emperor Constantine; this would be the “former” spoken of in this verse. The “latter” describes where Paganism gets more solid in its ideologies with its own self.
30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
“Chittim” is another name for the island of Cyprus. However, in this verse, the main thrust is not the geographical location, but more meaning invaders of any type. “Him” is the Papacy, and the “ships of Chittim” are the people of God. God’s people rose up against error, the three parts of Babylon, and Spiritualism.
31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Arms stands for the power that the Papacy wielded. In A.D. 538, the Papacy set the an “idol Sabbath,” which is Sunday, the day of worship of the sun in the pagan world. This is the “abomination that maketh desolate.” It also made man an intercessor between other men and God. This takes away the need to come to Christ for forgiveness, you could just get it from a priest.
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
People that are well grounded in God’s word are used as instruments of the Lord to spread His truth in their own times. This really was noticeable in the Reformation period. John Wycliffe and Martin Luther were fine examples of this.
33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
These “understanders” were teachers of the truth in the Dark Ages. Many were martyred for their faith and their burning desire to share it with others. These people included the Waldenses.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
When people were martyred, the Lord often saw fit to give them the strength to go through it with strength. This explains why some people would go to be burned alive while singing with their last breath.
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
God has to allow evil to hold partial sway to show the world what Satan is really like. This also purifies us for the time of trouble, which we are on the threshold of.
36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
“Exalting himself ” and “doing according to his will” are all trademarks of the Papacy. This is the most powerful church in the world at present. The pope actually is perceived as God on Earth, and is worshipped as His representative. He is actually called “Lord God the Pope.” This will continue until the second Advent of Christ.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
The Papacy has, through time, continued to accuse Protestants of heresy, and in the Dark Ages, killed countless numbers. The “desire of women” refers to the rule of celibacy, which was a doctrine of the Catholicism. “Magnifying himself above God” is another trademark of the Papacy.
38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
Force is always the last resort, and some people are quicker to use it than others. In their distress, they persecuted those with the light.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
The “strange god” is the mystery of iniquity, which is a combo of Christianity and Paganism. The Papacy is continued to be described as a ruthless leader in this verse. They exacted heavy tribute and also absolute homage from other rulers.
40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
The time of the end is now. It began in 1798, when the Papacy received its deadly wound by the capture of the pope. In this time, spiritualism and paganism are pushing at Christianity in general. Some churches have actually combined the two! Rome then tried to conquer and unite all countries in one faith, their own. This describes when the “deadly wound was healed.”
41 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.
This is not the first reference to a glorious or pleasant land in this chapter. Verse 41 mentions it, and if you want to count the “glorious holy mountain” in verse 45. This land is Palestine, or Canaan. Those who live there, are the chosen people. However, since the Jews chose to reject Jesus, He has offered salvation to us through us being Spiritual Jews. The “glorious land” refers nowadays to the Christian church. Paganism has entered into the Christian church by way of the Papacy. The three sins of Babylon are manifested in this system. These are the spreading of false doctrines, being politically ivolved in worldly alliances, and extravagantly and overly living. Now, I don’t have a problem with having nice things if you work hard for them, but gold toilet paper. . .?
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
The Papacy lost most of the world to Protestantism or Islam, and now it will try to make the whole world agree with it ideologically.
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Rome has an immense amount of money in her control, and this is being used to the utmost. It is said that money can do anything, and while it can’t save you or buy happiness, if you have it in enough amounts, people jump at your bidding.
44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
The location of the Sanctuary is in the North, and its tidings (the Sabbath message and salvation by faith) worry the Vatican. The final warning is given in the messages of Revelation chapter 14 and chapter 18, verses 1-41. This causes the Papacy to persecute those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Rome has set up for herself a throne, which implies that she is being worshipped. It will have complete and unswayed worship when the U.S. enforces Sunday observance under Rome’s mandate.
J. Fink
I must say that, while I believe the Papacy is an evil system, I do not hat or even dislike those that are members of it. I even don’t hold anything against the Pope. He is just a tool in the hands of Satan to finish God’s plan for our world. I know some very sweet people that are Catholics. Some of them are more saved that most Protestants I know. So when I say strong things about the Papacy, it is about the system, it is not against the people at all.
I agree, Jon, with your p.s. You are right on with the concept. Your post, over all, is good.
By: Diane on October 20, 2008
at 6:45 pm