We are not alone in our world. What we see in the material world is not all there is. Two worlds co-exist. There is a veil that hides the spirit world from our eyes and this can be breached from time to time by those who live in the spirit world. Angels, hidden from our eyes fly back and forth from this world to God in heaven. They watch over everything that is happening on this earth and only intervene when God gives permission. However, we also know some angels do not have human interest at heart and it is these who manipulate the minds and actions of men and women who listen to them. It is these angels, with their leader, Satan, who have caused all the human woe and misery in this world since creation.
The Recent Past
When I was young, I remember our house never had locked doors during the daylight hours. Neighbours spoke to and helped each other. Nobody seemed to have more in material possessions than anyone else. It was a world where people shared with strangers. For the majority, it was a hand to mouth existence, but we never complained to not having enough in material goods. We were much happier then. Post war years were growth years for the country and with that came optimism for a better world. We weren’t privileged white people as today’s media would have everyone believe. We were poor in material wealth but happy spiritually, looking forward to birthdays and Christmases, where we would receive whatever presents our parents could afford. Whatever we got, we were thankful for the gifts that our parents provided through the hard work they did through each year.
In today’s world, material wealth has increased for the majority. There is enough extra cash in our pockets, which we can be spend in coffee bars and restaurants, or buy the latest mobile phones; computers or cars. We can fly to exotic places for holidays that in my younger day would have been impossible to visit.
Crime against neighbours was almost unheard of and if you heard of a murder in the UK, it was so infrequent, it was a great shock.
Wars and Rumours of Wars
Today despite our increase in wealth and material possessions, the world is not a happy place in which to live. Here in the UK, we may not have war in our country, but some here have experienced first-hand the ongoing destruction of their country. There are wars in the Ukraine, Sudan, and Ethiopia and now in Israel and the Gaza strip. Atrocities have again been carried out against innocent, men women and children because of the ongoing hatred between the Jews and the Arabs, a war that has been going on through the centuries.
A World in Chaos
We see the destruction of the family, which God instituted in the Garden of Eden. There is economic stress in nations and we have just been through a global pandemic – whether you believe it was created or real, it doesn’t matter, the effects on all of us have taken its toll. Floods, droughts and famines. Tsunamis, tornado’s, earthquakes, fires, political strife, riots, shootings, drugs, armed robberies, mass migration, suicides and more.
You will agree the world has changed since the end of WW2 and it isn’t getting any better. Everything seems to be spinning out of control? Satan and his angels appear to be controlling the worlds agenda.
We have to ask ourselves, is the devil in control of this world? And why is God allowing all this chaos?
Satan’s anger
After Jesus won the battle on the Cross of Calvary, which finally cast Satan out of God’s presence, Satan knew his motives and lies had been exposed to all of heaven, therefore his fury and bitterness increased against Christ. Having been dealt a mortal wound, he became increasingly bitter and determined to destroy everything that God had made, especially His greatest creation – humanity. The newly created earth and its inhabitants would now be his prime target.
Let’s look at Revelation 12:12, which describes Satan’s wrath after he was thrown out of heaven.
“Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and the sea! For the devil is come down to you having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time”
Although this verse appears to speak about Satan being cast out of heaven at earth’s creation, it is in fact referring to the casting out of God’s presence when Jesus died on the cross.
In John 12:31-33, Jesus, speaking just a few days before he is crucified said:
“Now is the judgment of the world: now will the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.”
This was a major battle between Christ and Satan and it was won by Jesus at the cross. Satan had usurped Christ’s place as rightful owner of this world but at the cross, Jesus, cast out Satan as the ruler of the world, so there was great rejoicing in heaven.
Why would that be?
Until the cross, there were many of the angels in heaven who had not joined in Lucifer’s rebellion. Some were still unsure as to whether his arguments about God rule were correct or not? There was still some doubt, but they did not join Satan’s side in the war when Christ cast him from heaven. Those angels became fully convinced Satan was lying when the saw their commander die a cruel death on a cross. So, there was great rejoicing when Satan’s true motives were seen. However, after this came a warning to the inhabitants of this earth. When a liar is exposed, it can cause intense anger and this is what happened to Satan. His hatred against God burned within him as he realised, he had been exposed, now he was aware his time as the ruler of this planet was short. He became like a wounded lion, going stealthily around the earth creating great wars and distress in many nations. Humans were made in God’s image so because he could not fight God directly, he would destroy those who reminded him of his creator.
Ellen G. White explains this in the Acts of the Apostles page 527.3
“Satan’s angels went forth like roaring lions seeking to destroy the followers of Jesus.”
Soon the four angels holding back the winds of strife will be let loose upon the earth. It is during this time that Satan will make one last concerted effort to regain world he has lost.
In her book ‘Education’ pages 179 & 180, Ellen White explains this for us:
“Angels are now restraining the winds of strife that they may not blow until the world until it has been warned of its coming doom, but a storm is gathering ready to burst upon the earth and when God shall bid his angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture”.
When Jesus was speaking to his disciples in Matthew 24:4-8, about being deceived by many who professed to be Christ, he told them there would be wars and rumours of wars to come and he referred to these as ‘the beginning of sorrows’. His words were true then and they are true today. There is much more sorrow to come. The world is in chaos because Satan knows he must increase his efforts if he is going to win back his lost territory. He has lost the battle, but still believes he can win the war.
Tyrants always think they can achieve victory through the repression of their subjects. Because their dictatorial actions have a rate of success, they press on with their goal to subjugate all those who oppose them. For a time, their evil succeeds and this gives them more confidence, so they make sure they kill all opponents. But evil is like rust, it eventually eats into its host and completely destroys it along with itself. History attests that all evil men are eventually destroyed by their own greed for power and control. They reap what they sow. It is therefore very important that everyone one of us learn the lessons of history. Nothing really changes in this world. What has happened in the past will happen again in the future, so by learning about the past, we can get a glimpse of what is coming in the future. God never changes and the devil continues to use the same methods and tactics that have worked for him in the past. Because we humans live and die, it is easy for Satan to use ‘trust and tried’ methods on the new born as they grow without knowing God, and so history inevitably repeats itself.
The Hegelian Dialectic Method
The Hegelian Dialectic method, is used to find unitary solutions to all of the problems of philosophy and has been used continually, to bring about solutions to created problems. So, when looking at events happening today, we can see the direction the rich and powerful are taking us as they create crisis after crisis, which causes dissention, to bring about a solution they already have. Without causing that crisis, they could not achieve their goal. Therefore, by studying history, we can know what is going to happen in prophecy.
King Solomon
The wise King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes verse 1 and verse 9:
“The thing that has been, it is that which will be; and that which is done is that which will be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
and in Chapter 3:15:
“What happens now; has happened in the past and what will happen in the future, has happened before”
Because God is in control of this world, he makes history repeat itself but we do not see what goes on behind the veil, we only see what happens with our own eyes. We see history on the horizontal plain and this is what is recorded by secular historians. They do not see shadow events being played out behind the veil! They can only describe discernible events that took place in our visible history. The war going on behind the veil between Christ and Satan, which we call vertical history, cannot be see and therefore secular historians cannot record it. However, God inspires those he chooses to write about events going on in the spirit world. Ellen G White has, through her inspired writings, opened our eyes to the real history being played out behind the veil. The apostle Paul also knew there were invisible stealth forces at work, which behind our physical world.
He said in Ephesians 6:12:
“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. (that is on the horizontal plane), But against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, (which is on the vertical plane), against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
History repeats itself
In her Manuscript 51, written in 1899, Ellen White used the same text to explain what occurred in the days of Esther.
“History repeats itself, the same masterful mind, (that is Satan), that plotted against the faithful in ages past is now at work to gain control of the fallen churches and through them will work to put to death all that will not worship the idol Sabbath. We have not a battle with mortals as it may appear (that is to our visible eyes), we war not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers and rulers of the dark world, wicked spirits in high places.
Conspiracies
We believe the word conspiracy is a new term today, however, conspiracies have been around from the beginning. Judas Iscariot was of two minds. He was one of the 12 who was close to Jesus. He held the money purse but was a thief, taking some for himself when he wanted to. He was there for the loaves and fishes. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. Whilst appearing to be a true follower of Jesus, he was plotting to betray him for money. We can read what happened at the last supper in John 13:27, which says:
“Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said tohim. “What you do now, do quicky”.
None of the disciples knew what Judas was going to do! They thought that Jesus was sending Judas to get more provisions for the feast or to take something to the poor. We can read this in verses 28 & 29 of John 13:
“Now no one knew at the table for what intent he spoke to Judas. Some of them thought because Judas had the money bag that Jesus had said to him, buy those things that we have need for the feast, or he should give something to the poor.”
Their eyes were closed to what was going on behind the veil. They did not see the invisible enemy orchestrating events in the spirit world.
In John 6:70-71 Jesus called Judas a devil. Jesus discerned the disciples thoughts and confusion but without revealing what was happening behind the veil, he said to them:
“Have I not chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was the one that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
We can see that Judas had already purposed in his mind to betray Jesus. In John 13:2, which was before the last supper we find these words in John 13:1&2:
“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved them unto the end, “And supper being ended, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.”
We see the Bible removes the veil. It shows us that visible history is being manipulated and played out from behind the veil.
Now the question we have is: “How is it possible to fight an invisible enemy?” Is it possible? The good news for us is that God through the Bible, removed the veil between horizontal and vertical history, the shadow and the substance. Although we cannot see behind the veil, we can be enlightened about what is going on in secret, through the reading and understanding of the Bible. After 1844, a young girl was given visions of behind the veil. Ellen G White wrote down and preached what she was shown by God. In her book the Great Controversy, she exposes Satan’s stealth tactics and objectives. Prior to the writing of this book Satan attempted to kill her because she was going to expose him to the world. When we look at our history it would seem that everything that has happened in the past, is due to mankind alone, however when we read the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy it reveals that God is the director of history.
The following is taken from Education page 173. Ellen White wrote these words:
“In the annuls of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires appear to depend on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems to a great degree to be determined by man’s power ambition or caprice, but in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside and we behold behind, above and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions the agencies of the all merciful one, silently, patiently, working out the councils of his own will.”
The Bible gives us an all-round view. It lets us see through, above and beyond the events that have occurred in our history. Ellen White’s reference to play and counter-play gives the idea that what is going on in history is a game. If we look at the game of chess, the movement of the pieces represents the movements in human history. In chess, there are two players, each on moving their pieces to counter-play the other and hopefully win the game by calling check-mate. However, in the fight between Christ and Satan, it is not a mere game but a real war between too opposing ideologies. But God has a greater advantage over Satan. He knows the end before the beginning, but Satan does not and therefore he has to second guess what God will do next and because if this, Satan makes mistakes.
God tells us in Isaiah 46:9-11, that He is the true God:
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My council shall stand; and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country: yes, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
It’s good to be reminded that God is in control because as we look upon the world today, we would think that God is missing from events and that the devil is controlling everything that happens.
King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat
A good example in the Bible where we see God in control of events is the story of the meeting between good king Jehoshaphat and Ahab in 2 Chronicles 18:18-22. Jehoshaphat went to meet Ahab in Samaria where they had a great feast. Ahab persuaded Jehoshaphat to go with him to Ramoth-Gilead to join him in a war against the Syrians. However, being a wise king, Jehoshaphat asked the king of Israel if he had any prophets of the Lord, so they might enquire of them whether it was God’s will or not for them to make war with the Syrian’s. When these were asked, they replied that Ahab and Jehoshaphat should go to war and God would make them victorious. However, King Jehoshaphat wasn’t convinced so he asked if there was one man by whom we may enquire of the Lord. Ahab said there was one that he hated and had put him in jail because every time he prophesied; he prophesied evil. Micaiah the son of Imla. True to Ahab’s word, Micaiah prophesied disaster if they went to war with the Syrian’s. Seeing the Lord on his throne, Micaiah saw God asking the angels: “Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?” But none of the angels wanted the job, except one who stood before the Lord. I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all Ahab’s prophets. And God permitted him. Consequently, despite the warnings of Micaiah, Ahab heeded the voices of his prophets and went into battle.
We can read in 2 Chronicles 18:33-34, that Ahab did not gain the victory his false prophets had predicted but instead he was killed in battle. It says:
“And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore, he said to his chariot men, turn around and take me out of the battle for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: however, the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening and around sunset, he died.”
To the casual observer, the death of Ahab was just a casualty of war, but according to Micaiah, Ahab’s death had already been determined in a heavenly council before he was killed.
God says I have put a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets. Was it God who lied? No, he only gave permission to one of his angels to be a lying spirit. Who was this spirit? Prior to Christ’s crucifixion, Satan was allowed to attend God’s meetings. The book of Job gives us an insight into this. God allowed the devil to control the minds of the false prophets. No other angel in heaven wanted to be a lying spirit to Ahab but Satan was willing.
So, we can see from this that the death of Ahab was determined in the council of God and we know this because we have the Bible, which reveals hidden history.
Esther
The book of Esther also illustrates the conspiracy behind history. In this book, there is no mention of God! This is probably the reason why it was one of the last books to be incorporated into the canon. Even though God’s name is never mentioned, we see an invisible force guiding Israel from destroying itself. It doesn’t even mention the devil but we see the play and counterplay of events, where two opposing powers, which are invisible to the human eye, are manipulating the events of shadow history.
Ellen White also removed the veil behind our history when she wrote the following in 5 Testimonies 415:
“Satan instigated the scheme to rid those of the earth of those with the knowledge of the true God but his plots were defeated by a counter power that reigns among the children of men.”
God knows the beginning from the end. He can see beforehand what is going to happen; therefore, when Satan puts a plan into action God knows the pla even before Satan thought about it. Thankfully God has given us the Spirit of Prophecy, through which we can see what goes on behind visible history. Ellen White’s book the Great Controversy takes us behind that veil and opens our eyes to what is happening behind the scenes of visible history.
We also see this in the book of Job, Chapters 1 & 2.
No one in vertical, which is visible history, knew what was going on in vertical, history, behind the veil. It wasn’t until the end of the story in Job, that it was revealed there was an invisible enemy that had caused all of Job’s problems. To visible history, it seemed that Job just had a lot of bad luck but the Bible removes the veil and shows us the battle that caused Job’s suffering was played out between Christ and Satan.
King Herod
Another example in the Bible which shows the real battle between Christ and Satan is in the book of Matthew, who wrote about the birth of Jesus. He told us that Herod took measures to kill him. The question we have to ask is why would Herod want to kill baby Jesus? His mindset was such that he believed the child would grow up to replace him on his earthly throne. He felt threatened but did he come to this conclusion himself, or was someone whispering in his ear?
In Matthew 2:16, it says:
“Then Herod when he saw that he had been deceived by the wise men, sent forth his soldiers and slew all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding areas from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined of the wise men.”
The story tells us where it occurred, in the vicinity of Bethlehem. It tells us when it occurred, during the reign of Herod. It tells us with whom it occurred, with a child and it tells us why it occurred, because Herod feared losing his throne. This part of the story could have been written by any secular historian. However, the Bible reveals who wanted Jesus dead.
Revelation 12: 4 gives us the answer:
….and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”
We must read the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy if we are going to know what goes on behind the veil in Satan’s realm. We can see that the devil whispered in Herod’s ear telling him this child would become a threat to his throne but in reality, the devil was saying Christ is a menace to his plans to be the king of heaven. The devil is working in horizontal history, with humans whom he can manipulate to move vertical history in the direction he wants the world to go.
Satan, whom the Bible calls ‘the dragon’, was working through the occupying forces – the Roman powers, who are also called ‘the dragon’ to destroy Christ. It was Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect who had the power to release Jesus but did not want to offend the Jewish leaders, he chose to wash his hands of the matter and passed the decision to those crying for the release of Barabbas, a notorious killer, and for Jesus to be crucified.
After Jesus died and returned to heaven, secular history tells us that the Roman Emperors brutally persecuted killed and imprisoned Christians. But we know from the Bible that it was the devil who was behind the persecution of the early church. One example from scripture is from the book of Revelation 2:8. It tells us that the church of Smyrna, which a time of persecution. Thousands of Christians were martyred or put in prison by the Roman powers, but the Bible gives us a clear picture of who is pulling the strings behind the veil.
The Church of Smyrna
In Revelation Chapter 2 and verse 10, Jesus is saying to the church of Smyrna:
“Do not fear those things which you are about to suffer, indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tried and have tribulation for 10 days: be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.”
Although it appears that the Roman powers were behind the persecution of Christians, it was the devil. Of course, he didn’t literally or physically do it himself. He influenced the Roman Emperors from behind the veil, to carry out his desire to destroy the followers of Christ.
If we go to the book the Great Controversy, Page 438 by Ellen White, she reveals the dragon primarily represents Satan but it also represents the Roman Emperors who were physically responsible for throwing Christians into prison.
She writes:
“The dragon is said to be Satan he it was that moved upon Herod to put the saviour to death but the chief agent of Satan in making war upon Christ and his people during the first centuries of the Christian era was the Roman Empire, in which paganism was the prevailing religion, thus while the dragon primarily represents Satan it is in a secondary sense a symbol of pagan Rome.”
The Roman Emperors where under the influence of Satan working behind the scenes of human history. Satan used pagan Rome to carry out his plans and after pagan Rome fell, he ensured that its throne and authority would be transferred to another power.
We can read this in Revelation 13:2-3:
“And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth that of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
This beast is the Papal system, which took on the mantel of pagan Rome. Its power was given to it by Satan, working from behind the veil. This beast persecutes the saints for 1260 years.
If we go to Daniel 7:21 & 25, we are told about a little horn that speaks blasphemies against God:
“I beheld, the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them. And he shall speak great words against the highest, and shall wear out the saints of the highest, and think to change times and laws: and shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time”
The Little Horn
The little horn in Daniel is the same beast mentioned in Revelation 13. It’s power and authority were transferred from pagan Rome and although professing to honour and worship Christ, it continued the same persecution of Christians as did pagan Rome. Satan continued to influence the thinking and actions of Papal Rome.
If we go back to Revelation 13, where it refers to the same powers mentioned in Daniel 7:21&25, but is called the beast. We read in verse 5 and then verse 7 – speaking about the beast:
“And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given to him to continue forty-two months.”
The 42 months is the same as time, times and the dividing of times spoken of in Daniel? So, notice, the same period for the beast persecuting the saints, is the same period as the little horn, which is what we find in verse 7 of Revelation 13:
“It was granted to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations.”
Up to now, we have seen that for 1260 years the little horn persecuted the saints of the most High. The beast, which has the same power, also persecuted the saints but when we go to Revelation 12, it says something different. Reading verse 13 first then verse 14.
“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”
So how long did this persecution go on. Verse 14
“And the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness where she is nourished for a time, times and a half time (which is the same period for the little horn), from the face of the serpent.” The serpent is Satan (the dragon) who is behind the persecution of the saints.
So, who is this woman and who is the child?
In prophecy, a woman is a church. At the end of the 1260 years of persecution, we know the little horn received a deadly wound, and the Bible tells us the wound would be healed. When this happened, the same dragon that persecuted the saints for a time, times and a half time, through the papacy, will vent his hatred against the remnant of the woman’s seed. So, what is the woman’s seed? It is the remnant of Jesus whom Satan wants to kill.
In Galatians 3:16, the apostle Paul tells us that promises were made to Abraham and his seed. Not seeds, which is many, but to his seed, which is Christ. So, Satan would vent his anger against the remnant of Jesus.
We can read in Revelation 12:17:
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Of course, Satan is not going to show himself to fight those who are the remnant of Jesus. He will still work by stealth in the background influencing those in positions of religious power. He will also work and is working through the second beast which came from the earth.
Revelation 13:11, describes this beast.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.” Revelation 13:11
Continuing to work behind the veil of human history, Satan will continue to persecute the seed of the woman using earthly powers to do his will. This second beast that came from the earth has been identified as the United States of America, which was formed peacefully in the new world and is described as a lamb like beast, but it will and has become the emissary of the dragon, (Satan), to please the first beast. Notice it will:
Speaking like a dragon.
When it joins itself to the first beast, (Papal Rome), the second beast, the United States of America, will speak like a dragon and we know what happened to the Christians in pagan Rome and what Papal Rome also did to Christians for 1260 years, who would not bow to its authority!
Makes and Image to the Beast
So, the lamb like beast must eventually speak like Papal Rome. It must do everything the first beast does. We are informed in Revelation 13, the Lamb like beast exercises all of the authority of the first beast by forcing everyone to worship the first beast. It does everything in front of the first beast. This means that it does everything on behalf of the first beast or it works for the first beast. Notice also that the second beast makes an image to the first beast to honour it force the mark of the beast upon its citizens. It seems the USA has been brought onto the scene of history to bring about the fulfilment of prophecy. Do you think God has something to do with this? Whilst it might appear the devil is moving history from behind the scenes, it is God who gave us the Bible prophecies and it is He who is moving our history to its final chapter. Satan may think world events are made by him but as I said earlier, God knows everything from beginning to end and all things being played out in history will be ended to God’s glory.
