The Role of Islam

Brother Jeff,

I was wondering how you see the Moslem world fit in Daniel and Revelation. Does China (i.e. atheistic communist) have any roll to play in the end time, other than we know that the whole world will follow the Papacy (final healing of the political wound)?

Thank you again for your ministry and may God continue to bless your work…

Response

We have travelled to Asia several times, but work with the Moslem people is a new prospect for us. The Moslem world is as the pioneers understood it, plus a bit more. The Molsems are identified under the fifth and sixth trumpets of Revelation 9. The pioneers understood the trumpets to represent judgments that were brought against Rome and the fifth and sixth were the judgments brought against papal Rome. The book of Revelation is placed in the context of the Sanctuary and it should be understood that the trumpet was one of the furnishings of the sanctuary.

A brief study of the trumpets in the sanctuary confirms that they were used in association with judgment, so the pioneers correctly applied the trumpets in terms of the sanctuary setting, but the trumpets were also used to illustrate deliverance. Part of the story of the Moslems in Revelation 9, that was largely or totally missed by the pioneers, was the truth that the Moslem world, while bringing judgment to papal Rome, was simultaneously providing an environment for the success of the Protestant Reformation. While bringing judgment, they were also providing deliverance for those who were opposing Catholicism within Europe. In this context we can see that the descendants of Ishmael, (the Moslem world) is today the catalyst for bringing together the one-world government of Bible prophecy in fulfillment of the prophecy of Ishmael’s descendants:

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. Genesis 16:11–12.

But at the same time the Moslem world is uniting the world in preparation for the Sunday law persecution, we should expect their influence to provide some type of environment, which opens the way for the furtherance of the later rain message, as it goes forth in a loud cry.

Concerning your question about China, I see it as fully impacted by the latter rain message, for the promise is that many shall come from the land of Sinnim, which was Isaiah’s way of saying China:

Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinnim. Isaiah 49:12.

But in terms of prophetic symbolism I believe China is outside the scope of prophetic identification. By that I mean that the end time scenario in Bible prophecy is developed from the ancient geographical area where the Old Testament is set. The local persons, places, geographies, histories, ect. that are recorded are pointing forward to the end of the world with an application of those local persons, places, ect. as having a worldwide application. The Lord chose a specific area to represent the entire world at the end of time. When using this principle at the end of the world Sister White identifies a specific geographical area to apply Bible prophecy. She calls this Christendom. She teaches that it is within Christendom where Bible prophecy will be acted out. This does not mean the entire world is not impacted by the gospel, it simply means that when seeking to align the symbols of end-time Bible Prophecy correctly, we should look for fulfillment within the geographical area known as Christendom. China is outside this area, as is India and the Far East, etc.. Primarily Christendom is Europe and the Americas.

“The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions… In the great conflict between faith and unbelief the whole Christian world will be involved. All Christendom will be divided into two great classes—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.

“As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration.

“As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government, and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places.” Last Day Events, 131.

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