Satan's Warfare Against the Ten Commandments

In lesson 18 we learned that Jesus, as our "Great High Priest" is the "Living Way" that leads us to God (Hebrews 10:19-22). As the "one Mediator" between God and man (I Timothy 2:5), he atones, or makes us "at one" with God.

Through the "living ladder" between earth and Heaven (John 1:51), we can go to our Father. In place of priests, temples, altars, sacrifices and ceremonies, he substitutes himself as the only way to access God.

We can therefore expect that Satan's attitude towards Christ's heavenly ministry is one of ruthless opposition. With a settled determination to pervert and obscure this truth, he has conjured up a counterfeit system of worship, thus to render powerless for the mass of mankind the grace of Christ.

The most deceiving aspect of Satan's system is that it is not openly paraded as "Satan worship"; if it were, few would openly and willingly follow it. His counterfeit system claims to worship God himself, and be God's own church!

From the very beginning, at the gates of Eden, we see Abel and his brother Cain worshipping. We see two worshippers, two altars, two systems, BOTH claiming homage to God. One, however, obeys God's commands, follows his instruction. Cain, on the other hand, although claiming to worship God, has his own system—a man-made system.

God honoured only Abel's sacrifice, and rejected Cain's worship completely. In anger, Cain slew his brother, the true worshipper.

And so on throughout the ages. We see the greatest persecution from "good" people trying to make others "good"! Behold the dark ages, in which 50 million Christians were tortured and slain by other "Christians"! The "holy" crusades, the ongoing religious strife in Ireland, etc., etc.

And so on to the very end of time, when Satan will once again persecute God's people through a false "Christendom."

But long ago, God foresaw this Satanic opposition, and forewarned us against it.

Satan's counterfeit of the heavenly ministry of Christ is exposed in Daniel chapters 7 & 8. Let us study this solemn subject.

FOUR GREAT MONARCHIES

In lesson 1b, we studied Daniel chapter 2, where the history of 4 great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, followed by a ten-fold division, were prophesied.

In Daniel 7:1-8, 15-25, these same kingdoms are given a more detailed account. Let's read this passage, then compare it with chapter 2.

DANIEL 2		DANIEL 7
SYMBOL	MEANING	SYMBOL	MEANING
Head of gold (vv 37,38)	BABYLON	Lion (v 4)	BABYLON
Breast & arms of silver (v 39)	MEDO-PERSIA	Bear (v 5)	MEDO-PERSIA
Thighs of brass (v 39)	GREECE	Leopard (v 6)	GREECE
Legs of iron (v 40)	ROME	Fourth beast (vv 7,19,23)	ROME
Feet and toes (vv 41-43)	KINGDOMS OF WESTERN EUROPE	Ten horns (vv 7,8,20, 24)	KINGDOMS OF WESTERN EUROPE

Note especially the close correspondence between the description of the legs of iron (Daniel 2:40) and the fourth beast (Daniel 7:7,19,23). The language used in both cases is almost identical (e.g. "iron", "break in pieces and bruise", etc.). This comparison provides the most conclusive key to the identification of the fourth beast as Rome.

THE MYSTERIOUS "LITTLE HORN"

This (Daniel 7:8,20,25) was the detail that intrigued Daniel the most (verses 19,20), and is obviously the focal point of the whole chapter. Ten clear specifications are given, which enable us to identify this power with absolute certainty.

There is only one power in all history that has fulfilled these prophetic specifications to the letter; namely, the PAPACY. The details are so numerous and explicit that there is no possibility of mistake. With reliable histories of western Europe before us, let us now consider in detail how the rise, location, character and work of the Papacy fulfill these 10 specifications.

1. Out of what did the little horn arise?

Daniel 7:7,8

Note: The little horn rose out of the fourth beast—ROME.

The Papacy is essentially a Roman power. Its headquarters have always been in Rome. It inherited many of the qualities and material assets of temporal Rome, and bears the name Roman Catholic Church to this very day.

2. Where did the little horn arise?

Daniel 7:7,8

Note: We see the little horn arising "among the ten horns." The Papacy did grow up, like a new horn in the head of a bullock, in the midst of the barbarian kingdoms which partitioned the old Roman empire. It has been throughout its long history, a western European power.

The historian James Harvey Robinson declares: "Besides the Emperors at Constantinople, and the various German kings, there grew up in Europe a line of rulers far more powerful than any of these, namely, the Popes." (Mediaeval and Modern Times, p 40)

3. When was this power to rise to power?

Daniel 7:24

Note: This power arose"after" the ten horns. The most significant crisis in the collapse of the old Roman empire occurred in A.D. 476 when, after a series of humiliations by barbarian invaders, the Emperor Romulus Augustulus abdicated. The political supremacy of the Papacy, however, did not begin until sixty-two years later when, in A.D. 533, Justinian, Emperor of Eastern Rome, declared that the Bishop of Rome should be recognized as the "Head of all the Holy Churches." This decree was put into effect in A.D. 538. Thus the Papacy grew into full power after the barbarian kingdoms had divided Rome's territories.

4. Was the little horn the same as the other horns?

Daniel 7:24

Note: The little horn is specifically stated as "different" from the other horns. The Papacy was different from all preceding or contemporary kingdoms. They were normal political or secular powers, established usually by force of arms. The Papacy was an abnormal combination—nation of religion and politics. Its authority was based, not upon military conquest, but upon the claim to possess an express mandate from God. Its very essence was an alliance between church and state, with the church controlling the state. The Pope was the priest-king. It was supposedly a spiritual empire, or an "ecclesiastical empire", which means a religious or church empire—an Imperial church. This is something altogether unique in world history.

5. What distinguished the little horn from the others?

Daniel 7:20

Note: The fact that the little horn had a "look more stout than his fellows" is shown in that the Papacy did, indeed, become the mightiest power in mediaeval Europe. Note the words of the historian Robinson: "We must follow this most powerful and permanent of all the institutions of the later Roman empire into the middle ages. We must stop first to consider how the Western, or Latin, portion of Christendom, which gradually fell apart from the Eastern, or Greek region, came to form a separate institution under the Popes, the longest and mightiest line of rulers that the world has ever seen." (Mediaeval and Modern Times, pp 40,41)

6. What did the little horn do while it was rising?

Daniel 7:8,20,24

Note: How did the little horn uproot three kingdoms in its rise to power? From the time of Constantine (A.D. 306-337) to that of Justinian (A.D. 527-565), a long and violent struggle continued between the two largest factions of the church:

a) Those who supported the Bishop of Rome

against

b) Those who embraced the doctrines of Arius, a

heretical priest of Alexandria.

The Emperors of Eastern Rome, whose capital city was now in Constantinople, were foremost in championing the Catholic cause. The strife was often bitter and bloody. Most of the barbarian nations, to whom the Roman empire had now yielded, bowed to the authority of the Bishop of Rome. But the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths challenged his sovereignty. They were confirmed Arians. The first Arian "horn" was uprooted in A.D. 493 when Theodoric, leader of the Ostrogoths, crushed the power of the Heruli in Italy. A generation later, under the impact of Justinian's forces, fighting for the cause of the Roman pontiff, the last two barriers to Papal supremacy collapsed in this order:

The Vandals in A.D. 534.

The Ostrogoths in A.D. 538.

Henceforth the very names of these three kingdoms disappear from European history. They have no successors.

7. What kind of words does this power speak?

Daniel 7:25

Note: To such incredible lengths does the Papal church go as to declare a common man "another God on earth," with the power to forgive sins against God, and authority to "change even the precepts of Christ"!

It declares the Pope "Is not a mere man, but as it were God." He is crowned with a triple crown as "king of heaven..., earth and... the lower regions." He "is of so great authority that he can modify... even divine laws."—L. Ferraris, Prompta Biblioteca, vol. VI, pp. 26-29.

In these blasphemous claims, in declaring itself infallible and according a human with divine titles and honors, in teaching that the God of Heaven would torture for eternity the lost, the Roman institution has surely "spoken great words against the Most High."

8. What would this power do to God's people?

Daniel 7:25

Note: It is conservatively estimated that during the Middle Ages, 50,000,000 martyrs perished under the Papal sword. For centuries the soil of Europe was crimsoned with martyr blood. Great armies were raised and crusades were launched for the sole purpose of exterminating the so-called "heretics." The world still shudders at the memory of the "Inquisition," but how many remember that this inhuman tribunal was both the creation and tool of the Papal power?

9. To what extent would this power think itself capable?

Daniel 7:25

Note: The very institution that should have been foremost in championing the Divine law took a bold initiative in breaching God's protective wall. Finding the second commandment out of harmony with its use of images in worship, the Papal church attempted to eliminate this sacred precept, as can be discovered by reading almost any Catholic catechism today.

Then, in harmony with the pagan Roman religion which worshipped the sun, it commenced to slowly replace God's holy day with Sunday, the day of the sun, thus desecrating the fourth commandment. According to this prophecy, however, the little horn power was to "think to change times and laws." No one or nothing can change God's law.

10. How long would this power rule?

Daniel 7:25

Note: The Bishop of Rome was enthroned as the supreme spiritual Head of Christendom by the decree of Justinian in A.D. 538.

After centuries of struggle with the Arian heresy on the one hand, and with the rival Catholic bishops on the other, the Papacy at length found a powerful champion in Justinian, who ascended the throne of Constantinople as Emperor of Eastern Rome in A.D. 527. Eager to patronize the Roman Church as a steppingstone to the re-conquest of the Western Empire, Justinian waged unrelenting war against the Arian rulers, and legislated vigorously in favour of the Catholic party. In A.D. 533, Justinian proclaimed the Bishop of Rome as "Head of all the Holy Churches" and "the true and effective corrector of heretics", ruling also that the Archbishop of Constantinople should hold second place. This decree went into full effect in A.D. 538 when Belisarius, Justinian's general, gave the death- blow to the Ostrogoths, the last of the three great Arian powers. In the same year, Justinian published edicts compelling all non- Catholics to join the church in 90 days or leave the Empire, and confiscated all their goods.

The Bishop of Rome was dethroned, as a consequence of the French revolution, in A.D. 1798. In 1797, when Pope Pius VI became seriously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the event of his death, no successor should be elected to his office, and the Papal rule should cease. But the Pope recovered, and on the 10th of February, 1798, on pretense of an insult to the French ambassador in Italy, Berthier, general of the French revolutionary forces and Napoleon's famous Chief of Staff, entered Rome and took the Pope prisoner. The aged bishop was arrested on the night of February 20th, the twenty-eighth anniversary of his elevation to the Papal chair; the ring of authority was torn from his finger; his property was confiscated and sold; the Papal states were abolished and Rome was declared a republic. The Pope himself was carried off to France, where he died a captive, worn out with fatigue and sorrow, at Valence, on the 29th of August, 1799. For a long interval the Papal throne was vacant.

Up till the Revolution, France had been a leading supporter of the Papacy for many centuries, and was called "The eldest son of the Church." Consequently, this disaster brought to an end the age-long political supremacy of the bishop of Rome, a wound from which it has not yet fully recovered.

The supreme reign of the Roman Church lasted 1,260 years, just as given in the prophecy.

THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 8

In Daniel chapter 8 we once again read of a "little horn" attacking Christ's Heavenly ministry. While this power is not identified by name, the marks of identification are too numerous and explicit to permit any mistake.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 8

Bible Specifications	Meaning	Historical Fulfillment
"Waxed EXCEEDING GREAT" (v 9)	Greater than Medo- Persia or Greece	Rome in its dual form (pagan & Papal)
"Towards the south, east, and pleasant land" (Palestine) (v 9)	Arose and conquered FROM THE NORTH- WEST	Rome
"Of fierce countenance" (v 23)	Fierce, warlike aspect (compare Deut 28:50)	Rome
"Understanding dark sentences" (v 23)	Spoke a strange, new language (compare Deut. 28:48,49)	Rome
"He shall magnify himself in his heart" (v 25)	Proud, arrogant, domineering nature (compare Isa.14:12-14)	Rome
"He shall destroy the mighty and the holy people" (v 24)	Persecuted the true people of God	Rome
"He shall stand up against the Prince of princes" (vv 11,25)	Made Christ the special target of attack	Rome
"Cast down His (Christ's) truth and Sanctuary" (vv 11,12)	Opposed and perverted the vital truths associated with the Sanctuary	Rome
"By him the daily... was taken away" (v 11)	Took the scepter of power	Rome
"Practiced and prospered" till "the time of the end" (vv 12,17,19,24)	Continued until latter days. Longer than any other power in history	Rome

AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM

11. Who shall be the Victor in this war?

Daniel 7:26,27

Note: God mentions the final Judgment 3 times in Daniel 7 (verses 10,22,26), and His eternal Kingdom 4 times (verses 14,18,22,27). This is a divine guarantee that, while Satan's warfare against God has been long and determined, Christ shall be the final Victor!

CONCLUSION

"Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, 'Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me." Exodus 32:26

We cannot close a Bible lesson such as this without facing the personal challenge: "On which side do I stand in this great conflict between truth and error?"

Do you choose to say with Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."? Joshua 24:15

My response to Christ is:______________________________