Footsteps of an Approaching God Part 2

In Part 1 of “Footsteps of an Approaching God” (Message 5), we examined the increasing atheistic attacks on our society as evidence of the soon coming of Jesus.  In this message we will look at how God predicted these attacks and what will be the final outcome of them.

EGW Letter 103, 1904 – The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. 

Daniel chapter 2 sets the framework of the rest of the Book of Daniel, and indeed, much of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”  It tells of four kingdoms followed by the second coming.  Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 9 follow the same pattern but provide additional, important details.  Daniel 11 recapitulates this pattern, although, in very coded language that is difficult for many to understand.  Thus, to understand Daniel 11, we must rely on the pattern to guide us. 

The part of Daniel 11 that EGW refers to as having “nearly reached its complete fulfillment” is contained in the last 6 verses, which are partially reproduced here: 

Daniel 11:40-45 – At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. … Yet he [KoN] shall come to his end, with none to help him. 

Like the rest of Daniel 11, these are difficult verses.  I won’t burden you now with an explanation of all six verses, but I will identify the two principal characters and explain the part of the passage that is important to my current message. 

King of the North:  In Daniel’s day, the King of the North was Babylon, the arch enemy of God’s people.  Daniel tells us that these verses apply to “the time of the end.”  There is no political Babylon today.  Therefore, we must look for a spiritual application rather than a literal one.  In the last days, we know well that the arch enemy is spiritual Babylon as described in Revelation.  Thus, the King of the North is the papal power. 

King of the South:  In Daniel’s day, the principal kingdom to the south was Egypt.  Whereas the King of the North today represents a counterfeit Christian religion, the King of the South today represents an atheistic religion.  It is not the literal Egypt of today.  The most direct identification of spiritual Egypt was atheistic France, when it went on a rampage celebrating atheism. (See Great Controversy, Chapter 15, “The Bible and the French Revolution.”)  In the more general sense, the King of the South is all forms of atheism:  Marxism, cultural Marxism, communism, humanism, transhumanism, spiritualism, radical feminism, militant homosexuality, the trans-sexual movement, etc. 

So, what does the King of the South do?  “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him.”  This happened at exactly the time of the end, in 1798.  Atheistic France took the Pope prisoner, inflicting the deadly wound predicted in Revelation 13:3.  The deadly wound is not yet healed.  We are still in a time of atheism attacking the Christian church.  Atheism makes no distinction between the counterfeit church or apostate Protestantism (between the sea beast and the land beast of Revelation 13) or even the true church.  So, all so-called Christian nations and what remains of their Christian heritage and values are still under attack.  In spiritual Message 5, I outlined the elements of that attack. 

The next thing to happen is “but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships.”  This is the healing of the deadly wound.  Now, does the papacy have political power and military might?  No, but the papacy has always utilized such military power of friendly nations to subjugate its enemies.  This rushing upon atheism is the combined effort of the sea beast (papacy) and land beast (USA under apostate Protestantism).  For this to happen there has to be a false revival that causes “the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3).  When we see a full backlash against atheism, led by Rome and apostate Protestantism, we know we are approaching the time when the deadly wound is fully healed.  But do not think that the spiritual King of the North and King of the South are enemies of each other.  Satan is behind both these powers and the intrigue and interplay between these powers is just setting up the world for what Satan hopes will be his grand finale. 

Conclusion:  So, what is the point of this discussion?  We are in the time of atheism wreaking havoc on Christian values, as outlined in the previous Message 5.  What we are seeing was known by God; He has told us about it.  He is still on His throne and has things well in hand.  Let these troubling times build your faith and your confidence that we are, indeed, at the end of the last days.  Be patient and full of faith because Daniel 11:45 tells us, “Yet he [King of the North] shall come to his end, with none to help him.”  God will be victorious.  Then we will see: 

Daniel 12:1 – At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. … your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 

I think I hear the footsteps of an approaching God.