(Daniel 9:26; Revelation 12:15-16)
An angel told Daniel the end of it would be with a flood.1Dan 9:26
Revelation 12 brings us to the end of the Great Persecution, the “flood” that came out of the mouth of the dragon.2Rev 12:15 Now, we are in the year 313, in the beginning of the 4th century, when the saints enter Mystery Babylon.
John said the “Earth helped the woman.”3Rev 12:16 The Roman emperor urged the Christians to rebuild their churches and offer up prayers on behalf of the emperor, but the repentance of the emperor did not result in salvation.
In the last verse of Revelation 12, John said, “The Dragon went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.”4Rev 12:17 Satan used the red dragon, the power of Rome, to bring the saints completely under his power. This is what Daniel meant by “the end was with a flood.”
The saints were taken captive in Mystery Babylon, a state-controlled church that enforced all the deceptions of Satan using the military power of Rome and the power of the kings of Europe. It prevented the saints from rebuilding the temple of the Lord, just as the Israelites were unable to rebuild the Temple of God when they were in captivity in Babylon. Jesus said that they “will be led captive into all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”5Luk 21:24 By Jerusalem Jesus meant “New Jerusalem.”
The 4th century was significant for several events: the universal “Catholic” Church was established through the Nicene Creed; the Church stopped the practice of the washing of the feet after baptism; the bishop of Rome named Sunday “the Lord’s Day”; and most significantly, the Church prohibited rest on the Sabbath Day. Satan prevented the saints from keeping the commandments of God.
In 381, the Trinity doctrine was declared the official doctrine of the Church. Rome fell in the Gothic War of 376–382. The beast was wounded by the sword and lived as the power of the beast continued through the bishop of Rome.
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