Reklamation Ministries
Seeing the Church and the World in Plain View
Furthermore, if this is not so, why so many symbols for the Papacy? We have the little horn of Daniel 7. We say that the Leopard-like Beast, the 666, the Woman of Revelation 17, the seven heads on which she sits, and the Scarlet-colored Beast are all symbols of Rome! Why? What about the rise and fall of Protestantism? What about the rise of Western culture? What about our present world? Why would God leave them out?
Still skeptical? Consider the following inspired references: "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 (Rev. 13:11-18.) His number is 666. . " 8.
"I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast [the two-horned] was made up; and that it was the beast [Leopard-like] that changed
the Sabbath, and the image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope's and not God's Sabbath. " 9 Brackets added.
The first statement was made by James White but in conjunction with Ellen White. The second is hers. Note that they do agree and make a very pungent point: That the number 666 is the power found in (verses 11 - 18), which is the Two-horned or or the United States—otherwise
States, not the Leopard-like!
Thus the "man" who stands at the head of the United States at the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy will bear the enigmatic number "666," not the Pope! Yes, the Bible does state that America will pay homage to the Leopard-like Beast, but, we have already seen that the Leopard-like Beast is not the Papacy alone, but in fact, represents the Western world model or system. Again, the Bible did not say that America will tell the world to worship the "head" but the "beast"-the system! The truth is that the Papacy will never again rule like she did in the Middle Ages. That's right! Never! Her time for dominance is over. Yes, she will be influential. Yes she will probably gloat over the homage paid her through a Sunday law; however, she will never again sit atop the world. But now, you're probably saying that old ideas die hard. Well, that may be through a Sunday law; however, she will never again sit atop the world. But now, you're probably saying that old ideas die hard.
Well, that may be true, but don't keep them alive.
"I saw that the two-horned beast," wrote Ellen White, "had a dragon's mouth, and that his power was in his head, and that the decree would go out of his mouth. Then I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. "I saw that as the mother has been declining in power the daughters had been growing and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother." 10
Obviously the Enemy wants us to focus in one direction while he attacks from another. While we trace the Papacy's every move, the real danger lurks behind us, waiting to snag our unwary souls into his honed claws.
"All who will not bow to the decree of the national councils," the servant of the Lord continued, "and obey the national laws to exalt the Sabbath instituted by the man of sin, to the disregard to God's holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of the Protestant world, the Image of the Beast." 11
The History of the Number
Now you're saying, fine, but why does