Dear Pastor Ron: Continuation on the Prophecies of Daniel 7. Pt. 5
In my last article we saw how the Roman Catholic Papacy did indeed speak great words against God as Daniel 7:25 predicted. This article will look at the next prophetic warning which the Little Horn, which is the Papacy, will perform against God. Daniel 7:25 goes on to say that the little horn will wear out, that is, kill, destroy, the saints of God. Did the little horn, the Roman Catholic church indeed destroy or kill God’s people?
Let’s look at history. First we will hear from the popes themselves. On Monday 13, March, 2000, pope John Paul II made ‘a sweeping apology for 2000 years of violence, persecution and blunders.’ He asked ‘forgiveness for sins committed against Jews, heretics, women, Gypsies and native peoples.’ On March 19, 2010, pope Benedict XVI wrote a letter to the Catholics of Ireland admitting the church’s role in the terrible injustices done to the people of Ireland; he stated that they must ‘acknowledge before the Lord and before others the serious sins committed against defenceless children.’
And in August 15, 2016, Vatican Correspondent, pope Francis issued multiple apologies and sought to back them up with actions. These apologies from the popes only confirm what Daniel says about the ‘little horn’s’ destruction of the saints of God. One author says that the account of the medieval persecution is a frightful one and there’s reluctance to dwell upon details. The popes used the inquisition, the persecutions of the Waldenses, the ravages of the Duke of Alva, the fires of Smithfield, the tortures at Goa, in their determination to destroy those that rejected her authority over the Bible.
In 1208 a crusade was proclaimed by Pope Innocent III against the Waldenses and Albigenses, in which a million men perished. From the beginning of the order of the Jesuits in the year 1540, to 1580, nine hundred thousand were destroyed. One hundred and fifty thousand perished by the Inquisition in thirty years.
In the Low Countries fifty thousand persons were hanged, beheaded, burned buried alive, for the crime of heresy, within the space of thirty-eight years from the edict of Charles V against the Protestants, to the peace of Chateau Cambreses in 1559. Eighteen thousand suffered by the hand of the executioner in the space of five years and a half during the administration of the Duke of Alva. And W. E. H. Lecky writes: “that the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a complete knowledge of history. The memorials, indeed, of many of her persecutions are now so scanty that it is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of victims…”
May God have mercy on us for our inhumanity towards our fellow man. Again I want to stress that this articles (all my articles, in fact) are not an attack on any person or institution or religion. I am only relating history, and not just secular history, but biblical history. History reveals so much about religious, secular and other sources that make history that we as humans can learn through history how not to commit the past mistakes, and how to promote the past successes.
Unfortunately, humans do not act alone; there is a supernatural power or being that is out to take us away from the good, safe, and moral ways of the Creator. In 1 Peter 5: 7, 8 we read: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” While God who made us is always watchful and careful over us, the enemy, satan, is seeking to destroy us.
God assure us, however, that with Him all things are possible. Here’s how Jesus puts it in Mark 10:27: “Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.” Yes, friends, with God we can face any danger and be bold. And bold and fearless we must be for the Bible again warns us of more persecution from all governments egged on by united religions as we near the end of earth’s history.
Here is what it says in Revelation 13:15, “And it was given… breath… to the image to the breast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” This soon to come. May His grace, kindness and care for you empower you. Have no fear.
My next article will deal with the little horn’s (the papacy’s) desire to change times and laws. May God bless you.
Pastor Ron Henderson is a retired Seventh-day Adventist pastor . Reach him at ron.hende@gmail.com with any comments or questions.