The prophet Daniel (7:7,8)
describes "a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible". This terrible beast
was a form of government composed of three elements or component parts,
namely, professional politicians, great financiers, and ecclesiastical
leaders. This Satanic organization became dreadful and terrible from the
time that these three forces were united. Of this unholy trinity, we see
the Papacy, the ecclesiastical element, in the saddle, riding and
directing everything. The date of its beginning was at the overthrow of
the Ostrogothic monarchy, which occurred in A.D. 539.
[397]The prophet Daniel was given a vision of the events following, yet
he did not understand them; and he says: "I looked, and, behold, there
stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the
other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man
clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall
it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen,
which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand
and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever
that it shall be for a time, times, and an half." (Daniel 12:5-7) In
Biblical symbology a time means a year of twelve months of thirty days
each, or 360 days. Each day is considered for a year, as the Prophet
says: "I have appointed thee each day for a year".
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