This paper aims to offer a fresh perspective on the clay mentioned in Daniel 2. Rather than presenting authoritative conclusions, it serves as an invitation to explore Scripture independently, encouraging readers to seek wisdom directly from God, who is the ultimate source of understanding. While the insights of godly leaders are valuable and should inform our research, the goal here is to highlight the opportunities for deeper discovery that arise when we engage with the biblical text ourselves. By doing so, we can uncover the rich and boundless insights that Scripture has to offer.
This specific paper is a result of seeking to understand if there is a reason why the different types of the quality of the clay in Daniel 2 exists such as: potter’s clay, clay and miry clay. When reading Daniel 2 with a historicist framework it is common understanding that the prophecy is linear typically starting at the time of the prophet then successively describing the future events in a successive order.
Example: head of gold (Babylon), arms and chest of silver (Medo Persia), thighs of brass (Greece), legs of iron (Rome), feet of iron and clay (Papal Rome)
Typically, the major changes in the metal and the addition of clay are where the distinctive teachings of the prophecy focus. Consider the successive changes in the quality of the clay in Daniel 2 and examine the major shifts in Christianity after Rome legalized her.
Example: potter’s clay, clay, miry clay, clay, miry clay
Ellen G. White’s quote reflects her deep concerns about the intersection of religion and politics, particularly in the context of how it impacts religious freedom and the faithfulness of God’s people. Consider the following quote from Ellen G. White which is a key motivation for this study.
“Iron and Clay—Mingled Church Craft and State Craft”
“We have come to a time when God’s sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay… The mingling of church craft and state craft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God’s forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves.” –Ellen G. White, Manuscript 63, 1899, 12, 13. (Untitled Manuscript, April 22, 1899.)
In the biblical context, the metaphor of clay and the potter is used to illustrate the relationship between God and His people. Let’s explore how this imagery is used in the scriptures referenced and then consider its implications in the context of Daniel 2.
Biblical References:
Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
This verse underscores the idea that God is the creator and shaping force in the lives of His people
Jerimiah 18:4 “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
The metaphor of clay in Isaiah and Jeremiah highlights God’s active role in shaping and renewing His people. When comparing these references, it becomes evident that while God’s people are described as clay in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Since scripture and EG White appear to be in agreement we can inspect the clay in Daniel 2. The clay symbolizes the spiritual state of the church’s relation with Rome through the course of history.
STRONG AS IRON (without clay)
Battle of Carthage 146 BC
Dan 2:40 “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.“
Biblical prophecy from Daniel 2:40 describes a powerful empire as “strong as iron,” with historical events involving Carthage and Rome. Carthage, founded by Tyre around 850 BC, grew into a dominant empire in the Mediterranean. Its extensive control and rivalry with Rome lasted for four centuries. However, in 146 BC, Rome decisively defeated Carthage, leading to Rome’s rapid rise to universal dominance. This aligns with the Biblical prophecy’s depiction of a powerful kingdom that breaks and subdues others, symbolizing Rome’s strength and dominance.
From Tyre, about 850 b. c., there went forth a colony and founded Carthage on the extreme northern point of Africa, where they built up an empire that “extended from the Straits of Gibraltar to the altars of the Philæni, near the Great Syrtis, where she touched on the territory of Cyrene. She possessed as provinces Sardinia and the Balearic Islands, and Malta and a few settlements in Spain and Gaul.” She also held a part of Sicily. For four hundred years Carthage stood as the rival of the power of Rome, and when in 146 b. c. she was utterly destroyed, Rome speedily rose to universal dominion. Such was the course of Sidon the firstborn of Canaan. –The Peopling of the Earth, p. 282.1 (Alonzo Trevier Jones)
Judea gained favor with Rome after supporting General Pompey in the conquest of Jerusalem in 63 BC. In the same year, Julius Caesar was appointed Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman state, which enhanced his political power and religious authority as he demanded divine honors following his conquest of Gaul.
Pompey was later defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. After his defeat, Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was betrayed and assassinated. This marked a turning point in Roman politics, leading to the rise of Caesar and the transition from the Republic to the Empire.
In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was declared “dictator perpetuo” and promoted as a god-like figure. After his assassination on March 15, 44 BC, the Senate named him “Divus Julius,” initiating his worship and establishing the imperial cult in Rome, which influenced the deification of future emperors.
POTTERS’ CLAY
Edict of Milan 312 AD
Dan 2:41 “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron,”
Principles held by early Christians over two hundred years were instrumental in transforming Roman law and attitudes toward religious freedom. This change was not merely the result of imperial decree but was driven by the persistent and principled stance of the Christian community.
Emperor worship was a significant factor in the persecution of Christians in pagan Rome. This practice involved honoring the emperor as a divine figure, which was integral to Roman identity and unity. The Christians’ refusal to participate in these rituals was viewed as a direct challenge to the state and its authority, leading to accusations of political disloyalty. Their steadfastness in worshiping only God, rather than the emperor, intensified suspicion and hostility, contributing to their persecution during various periods in Roman history.
The first reference to the clay in the feet and toes of the statue in Daniel’s vision, described as part iron and part clay, symbolizes a mixture of church and state. This imagery highlights the early legal tolerance of Christianity emerging in Rome. Just as a potter uses the highest quality clay, the earliest legal recognition of Christianity by Rome can be seen as the purest moment of the clay clasping the iron grip of the Roman Empire.
“The principle that the Christians asserted was to render to Cesar that which is Cesar’s, and to deny the right of Cesar to demand anything that pertains to God. They gave their lives in support of that principle, against the law of the Roman empire, and against the very existence of the Roman empire. This principle was asserted and maintained until it forced the Roman empire, with all its power, to recognize the right of every man to have a particular god of his own, and to worship that god as he chose. The Roman empire did come in the days of Constantine and Licinius to that point. At the death of Galerius, it was decreed in the Roman law, by the emperors Constantine and Licinius in the Edict of Milan, that every man should be at liberty to have any god he pleased, and worship him as he pleased. But it was the Christian principle that forced the Roman empire to that point in the face of all its laws and institutions of ages.” –The National Sunday Law [RLL], p. 42.1 (Alonzo Trevier Jones)
The Kingdom Shall Be Divided
Council of Nicaea (a.k.a. Council of Nice) 325 AD
Dan 2:41 “. . .the kingdom shall be divided;. . .”
The early Christian church, initially characterized by strong and pure doctrines (the “high quality potter’s clay”), faced significant changes and controversies. These doctrinal disputes drew the attention of Emperor Constantine, leading to increasing control and influence over church matters. As a result, the church’s original teachings were compromised, and its doctrinal fidelity was constrained by political and ecclesiastical pressures.
In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea was convened by Emperor Constantine to address a major theological conflict within early Christianity. This dispute, centered on the nature of Christ, involved two main figures: Athanasius who believed (homoousios-of the same substance/essence with God the Father), and Arius, who believed (homoiousios-of a similar, but not identical, substance/essence with God the Father).
Alexandria, a hub of both Christian and Greek philosophical thought, played a crucial role in these debates. The integration of Greek philosophy with Christian theology led to new interpretations of biblical teachings, contributing to the controversy.
The Council ultimately affirmed Athanasius’s view in the Nicene Creed and declared Arius and his followers heretics. However, despite the council’s decisions, the implementation of the creed faced significant opposition and led to ongoing conflict and bloodshed as different factions vied for control over Christian doctrine.
The Council of Nicaea marked a critical moment in establishing Christian (Papal) orthodoxy, but also highlighted the difficulties of achieving religious unity amidst conflicting beliefs.
The Christian world was torn asunder by theological factions. Alexandria, the center of all philosophical study, was also the center of theological activity. Here is where the Greek influence was most forcibly felt. Athanasius, the leader of one faction, was archdeacon, and afterward bishop of Alexandria, and his opponent, Arius, was presbyter in the same city.
Paganism and Christianity met on the battlefield when Constantine contended for the throne of Rome; paganism and Christianity met in more deadly conflict in Alexandria, where Christian and pagan schools stood side by side. Here it was that such men as Origen and Clement, recognized Fathers of the church, adopted the philosophy of the Greeks, and applied to the study of the Bible the same methods which were common in the study of Homer and other Greek writers. Higher criticism had its birth in Alexandria. It was the result of a mingling of the truths taught by Christ and the false philosophy of the Greeks. It was an attempt to interpret divine writings by the human intellect, a revival of the philosophy of Plato. These teachers, by introducing Greek philosophy into the schools which were nominally Christian, opened the avenue for the theological controversies which shook the Roman world, and finally established the mystery of iniquity.
So from this false teaching of the Word in Alexandria came two leaders-Athanasius and Arius. Each had his following, and yet no man could clearly define the disputed point over which they wrangled. So great was the controversy that the Council of Nice was called to settle the dispute, and deliver to the church an orthodox creed. The emperor Constantine called the council, and was present in person. At this council the creed of Athanasius was recognized as orthodox, and Arius and his followers were pronounced heretics.
“But announcing a creed is one thing, and having it adopted is another. The orthodox creed was published to the world, and then began the fight. In this strife armies fought and much blood was shed.” –Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of Daniel the Prophet, p. 229.1 – 230.1
“Arianism was condemned as a result of the council of Nicea by Emperor Constantine.The conflict between Arianism and Nicene Christianity continued, impacting political and military dynamics. In 538 AD, the defeat of Arian powers (Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths) by Emperor Justinian’s forces allowed the papacy to consolidate its authority in Rome.
The Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths were of the Arian faith and opposed to the bishop of Rome. The decree could not go into effect until 538 a. d., when the last of the opposing powers was overthrown by the armies of Justinian.” –Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of the Seer of Patmos, p. 229.1
“By 538 the way was clear for the papacy to sit enthroned in Rome. The new capital established by Constantine left Rome that it might be occupied by the head of the church. The new religion-Christianity-we have seen mingled with paganism, which it crushed, and gave birth to the papacy. The new policy, a union of church and state, gave civil aid to that paganized Christianity called the papacy. The harvest of the seed sown in the days of Constantine was reaped in the reign of Justinian, whose military and civil power supported ‘the abomination that maketh desolate.’” –Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of Daniel the Prophet, p. 233.2
“Constantine and Justinian were the two men instrumental above all others in forming the papacy, and giving it civil power. The contest between Arianism and the orthodox Catholicism was the means of enthroning the papacy. A power soon to be recognized as the personification of all tyranny swayed the scepter of Rome, and the followers of the One who proclaimed a covenant of peace to Israel, would for the period of 1260 years struggle for existence. Every principle of truth was crushed, and with 538 was ushered in the Dark Ages.” –Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of Daniel the Prophet, p. 234.1
MIRY CLAY
Papacy 538 AD
Dan 2:41 “but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.“
The rise of the papacy was a process that merged Roman practices with Christian teachings. Over time, Roman religious practices blended with Orthodox Christianity, leading to significant doctrinal changes, such as the introduction of image veneration and alterations to the Ten Commandments, which diminished the original teachings of Christianity. The papacy established a hierarchical authority that imposed strict religious practices, contributing to widespread moral and spiritual darkness. Church tradition began to overshadow the teachings of Christ and the apostles as presented in Scripture. Historians record this period as one of corruption and control, with papal authority enforcing conformity through inquisition and suppressing true Christian faith with its traditions.
The papacy established a hierarchical structure with the Pope at its head, who was declared infallible by a general council. This shift in authority led to a diminished focus on Christ and an increased focus on the Pope, saints, and the virgin Mary.
The seat of the pagan Roman government was removed to Constantinople, thereby giving room for the papacy to be seated on the throne in the city on the Tiber. As territory and a capital were gained gradually, so the authority of the papacy was a gradual acquisition. Each of the four universal kingdoms had a distinct policy, which was followed throughout its existence. Likewise the papacy had its policy just as clearly defined. The working of this policy in its inception is best seen in Alexandria. It was there that the two streams, paganism and Christianity, mingled their waters. The papacy had birth on the banks of the Nile: Egypt was the mother who nursed it, and as it grew, it breathed in the miasma of its surroundings. First, Christians interpreted the Bible according to pagan thought, and paganism appearing to be vanquished, in reality became the conqueror.
Then the teachings of the Word were changed. In order to compromise with pagans, idol worship was introduced into the Christian church; the second commandment was dropped from the decalogue, and the tenth was divided to preserve the number. The fourth, the keystone to the law of God, a memorial of creation and redemption, was so altered as to exalt the enemy of God above God himself. Later, the whole Bible was discarded, and as that detector of sin was suppressed, vileness and iniquity became uncontrollable. This, however, was not the whole policy of the papacy, but only one of the stones in the foundation of the structure that was being reared.
The head of the church, who was likewise a civil ruler, was exalted more and more above his fellows, until a complete ecclesiastical hierarchy was formed. By decree of a general council the head of the church was declared infallible. But even before, this faith in the new church, and especially in the head of the church, took the place of faith in Christ. The Virgin Mary and saints became mediators for sinful man, and forgiveness was granted by the head of the church. Righteousness by works led to long pilgrimages, penance, and relic worship. Everlasting punishment was held as a threat above the heads of the common people. The darkness deepened. The inquisition was instituted to force men’s conscience. Kings upon their thrones were compelled to recognize the superior authority of the power of Rome, and failure to do so meant the removal of their crowns. Subjects were absolved from allegiance to their sovereigns, and so complete was the obedience of nations to Rome, that no man dared lift his hand in opposition.
“A darkness beyond comprehension settled over all the world. The light had been extinguished when God’s Word was banished. “The noontide of the papacy was the world’s moral midnight.”–Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of Daniel the Prophet, p. 235.2 – 237.1
It is also interesting that the spiritual condition described in the verse “iron mixed with miry clay” from Daniel 2:41 is reflected in their architecture. Here, rebar used in concrete construction symbolizes the iron, while miry clay represents the concrete itself. This combination illustrates the empire’s strong and enduring influence through its impressive architecture and infrastructure. Just as the Romans perfected architectural techniques that continue to impact much of the world today, using rebar and concrete, they also established an Empire that influences the union of church and state around the globe.
CLAY
Protestant Reformation 1377 AD
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Daniel 2:42, which describes a kingdom divided into parts of iron and clay, is a metaphor for the Reformation which started in the Papal Roman Empire. The Kingdom of the papacy was partly strong as some of her countries did not become Protestant. The clay is no longer miry as it now looks to the scripture for religious authority which made a significant shift towards religious and educational reform, driven by key figures who challenged the existing ecclesiastical authority and promoted the accessibility of the Bible.
John Wycliffe, known as the “Morning Star of the Reformation,” Wycliffe translated the Bible into English and criticized the papal system. In Bohemia, figures like Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague challenged papal doctrines, setting the stage for broader reform efforts. Martin Luther’s emphasis on salvation by faith and his coworker Philip Melanchthon both influenced widespread educational and religious reforms in Germany. The Reformation spread across Europe, diminishing the influence of Rome and laying the foundations for Protestantism in America, which was influenced by Puritans and others who embraced Reformation principles.
Wycliffe, called “the Morning Star of the Reformation,” in the fourteenth century, translated the Bible into English. He wrote tracts showing the fallacy of the papal system. He, in England, like Daniel of old, was in close touch with the king, and the light of the gospel was having its effect. To the ruler on the throne, and the students in the universities, Wycliffe gave the gospel. His followers, known as Lollards, were bitterly persecuted, but never wholly exterminated; and it is their descendants, who, as Puritans, brought Protestantism to America.
Hus and Jerome in Bohemia lifted their voices against papal dogmas, and later Luther, the German monk, proclaimed liberty of conscience and salvation alone by faith in Jesus Christ. He had found a copy of the Bible chained in a cell of one of the German monasteries, and the spark there kindled, lighted a fire which Rome was unable to extinguish.
The Word of God became the lesson book for the German nation. Luther was assisted in his work of reform by Melanchthon, the noted teacher in Wittenberg. Other schools were established throughout Germany; teachers were educated, and before the death of Luther, the German nation sat at the feet of Protestant teachers; so rapid was the work when the Word of God was opened to mankind. The Reformation marched on to victory. Rome retreated into narrower and still narrower bounds, not before the sword, but before the onward march of truth. Into every nation of Europe the light shone, and America was founded upon the principles which had their birth in Germany. –Stephen Nelson Haskell, The Story of Daniel the Prophet, p. 239.1 – 239.3
The Protestant Reformation sought to address and correct the corruption and abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. This movement was met with significant resistance, leading to the formation of the Jesuit Order by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. The Jesuits were established to counter the Reformation’s progress and reassert Catholic influence.
The Jesuits are known for their rigorous discipline, intellectual training, and strategic approach to defending and expanding the Catholic Church’s influence. Their methods included comprehensive education, missionary work, and involvement in politics and social issues to undermine Protestantism and reinforce papal authority.
In Revelation 3, the warning to the Church of Sardis to be vigilant and repent may resonate with the Reformation’s call for ongoing renewal and resistance against threats to its core principles. The Jesuit response illustrates the intensity of the opposition faced by the Reformation and the ongoing battle between church tradition and doctrinal purity based on scripture alone. In summary, the connection between the Sardis church’s condition and the Protestant Reformation could be seen in the context of spiritual complacency as they did not advance in Bible truth beyond what their founders taught. Sardis was encouraged to be watchful and strengthen the things which remain which is primarily their historicism understanding of prophecy which was taught by the Reformers and was quickly being replaced with Jesuit teachings of futurism and preterism.
Revelation 3:1-3: “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.“
Protestant Christians have been influenced by both the spirit of the Reformation and the spirit of the Counter-Reformation. They have received a heavenly message preserved in Scripture, which has the power to refine their character in preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Every person will respond to this message in a way that reveals their true character. Will they follow the Lord and ascend the rungs of Jacob’s ladder, or will they cling to the Jesuits’ cunningly devised fables, which have anchored hearts in sympathy with Rome?
“Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time, the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from every earthly tie and human interest, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.” –Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.), p. 234.2
MIRY CLAY
Protestantism Falls to the Counter Reformation 1844 AD
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another even as iron is not mixed with clay
The early years of the Protestant Reformation, described as “part of iron and part of clay,” demonstrated a hopeful trajectory away from the “miry” clay of the Dark Ages. In response, the Mother Church convened the Council of Trent to regain her lost children. Counter-Reformation doctrines were created, and after a few generations, they began to influence Protestant doctrine. The steady decline in the quality of faith within Protestant denominations eventually reached a critical point where only divine intervention could halt the downward trend and spark a revival. If these denominations fail to embrace heavenly guidance, they risk falling back into a state of spiritual confusion akin to “Babylon.” Without this divine light, there is a danger that they might turn to state politics (“miry” clay) for strength instead of relying on spiritual truths. Once they reject this divine illumination, they become unfit to carry the essential message of preparing people to meet Jesus at His return.
“In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,’ was given. The two classes represented by the wise and foolish virgins were then developed—one class who looked with joy to the Lord’s appearing, and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him; another class that, influenced by fear and acting from impulse, had been satisfied with a theory of the truth, but were destitute of the grace of God.” –Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.), p. 426.2
“The time when they expected their Saviour had passed, and Jesus had not come. As discouragement settled upon the waiting ones, the ministers and leading men whom I had before noticed, rejoiced, and all those who had rejected the light triumphed greatly, while Satan and his evil angels also exulted. Then I heard the voice of another angel saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen!'” –Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 241.1 – 241.2
The vision describes a time of testing and judgment in which true faith will be revealed and false belief systems will be judged. The call of “Babylon is fallen” signifies the duty of those who embrace divine truth to call their Christian brothers away from error and the false systems opposed to it.
This passage presents a prophetic vision related to the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. It references Daniel 2:43, symbolizing a time of conflict and fragmentation. The parable of the “wise and foolish virgins” from Matthew 25 illustrates two types of people: those who were ready when the bridegroom came and entered with Jesus into the marriage feast, and the careless virgins who arrived late, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” only to hear Jesus reply, “I know you not.”
GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM
Bridegroom Cometh 1844 AD
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:
The anticipated Second Coming of Christ did not occur as expected, leading to discouragement among the faithful and celebration among those opposed to the idea. Denominations that rejected the Millerites’ teachings chastised and excommunicated those who supported the Millerite doctrine, despite the scriptural evidence presented. The declaration “Babylon is fallen” symbolized the spiritual state of Protestant systems. Just as the Jews rejected the 490-year prophecy regarding the proclamation of their Messiah and high priest in the heavenly sanctuary, the Protestant churches rejected the 2300-year prophecy concerning Jesus as our high priest, who began His ministry in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.
See Hebrews 8:1-8; Revelation chapters 1-4; and Revelation 14:6-12.
“A light shone upon those desponding ones, and with ardent desires for His appearing, they again fixed their eyes upon Jesus. I saw a number of angels conversing with the one who had cried, ‘Babylon is fallen,’ and these united with him in the cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.’ The musical voices of these angels seemed to reach everywhere. An exceedingly bright and glorious light shone around those who had cherished the light which had been imparted to them. Their faces shone with excellent glory, and they united with the angels in the cry, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.’ As they harmoniously raised the cry among the different companies, those who rejected the light pushed them and with angry looks scorned and derided them. But angels of God wafted their wings over the persecuted ones, while Satan and his angels were seeking to press their darkness around them, to lead them to reject the light from heaven.” –Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 241.1 – 241.2
ONLY GOD’S KINGDOM REMAINS
Dan 2:44 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of the New Jerusalem, which descends from heaven, radiating divine glory and purity. It features a perfect cubic shape with walls adorned with precious stones and gates made of pearls. The city is made of pure gold and has no need for natural light, as God and the Lamb provide all illumination. There is no temple as the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. The city’s gates are always open, symbolizing eternal safety and accessibility to the Tree of Life. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter, reflecting the city’s purity and holiness.
“Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;” He will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2. Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords, for the redemption of His people, who are to “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,” at His table in His kingdom (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30), to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.” –Ellen G. White, Christ in His Sanctuary, p. 155.1
SUMMARY
The earlier E.G. White quote about ‘churchcraft and statecraft’ was not released during her lifetime, but the following quote was. A careful reading prompts one to ponder whether this paragraph was preserved for such a time as this.
“The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God’s forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves. It is time for the people of God, those who wear the sign of His kingdom, and whose authority is derived from ‘It is written,’ to work. The world is the field of our labor, and we are to strive to give the last message of mercy to the world. Our every action is being watched with jealous eyes. Be on guard as physicians. You can serve the Lord in your position by working with new methods and discarding drugs.” –Ellen G. White, Manuscript Release 15, p 39.2-3, April 22, 1899
God is calling His children to prepare for His kingdom. As the union of church and state increases, we can expect persecution to rise. Cling to God now; draw your thoughts to Jesus as your Savior and High Priest.
“The only safety for any of us is in clinging to Jesus and letting nothing separate the soul from the mighty Helper. –Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church 5:428, 429 (1885).
