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America in Prophecy by Ellen White [Original Edition]

America’s peculiar origins and hegemonic impact in world affairs stand undisputed. As a superpower birthed from Europe, her eminent history has been celebrated. Foretold since antiquity, a myriad of repressions, revolutions and reforms inspired the first band of pilgrims to settle on a new promised land of liberty. This book enables the reader to understand America’s unique destiny and commanding role while besieged by gross spiritual and political machinations. Clearly, this reading lifts the veil from past events molding America and presaging her cooperation to undermine the very values once cherished.

America’s peculiar origins and hegemonic impact in world affairs stand undisputed. As a superpower birthed from Europe, her eminent history has been celebrated. Foretold since antiquity, a myriad of repressions, revolutions and reforms inspired the first band of pilgrims to settle on a new promised land of liberty. This book enables the reader to understand America’s unique destiny and commanding role while besieged by gross spiritual and political machinations. Clearly, this reading lifts the veil from past events molding America and presaging her cooperation to undermine the very values once cherished.

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A correct <strong>in</strong>terpretation of the symbols employed is necessary<br />

to an understand<strong>in</strong>g of this message. What is represented <strong>by</strong><br />

the beast, the image, the mark?<br />

The l<strong>in</strong>e of prophecy <strong>in</strong> which these symbols are found,<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>s with Revelation 12, with the dragon that sought to destroy<br />

Christ at His birth. The dragon is said to be Satan (Revelation<br />

12:9); he it was that moved upon Herod to put the Saviour to<br />

death. But the chief agent of Satan <strong>in</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g war upon Christ<br />

<br />

was the Roman Empire, <strong>in</strong> which paganism was the prevail<strong>in</strong>g<br />

religion. Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it<br />

is, <strong>in</strong> a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome.<br />

<br />

“like unto a leopard,” to which the dragon gave “his power, and<br />

his seat, and great authority.” This symbol, as most Protestants<br />

have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the<br />

power and seat and authority once possessed <strong>by</strong> the ancient<br />

<br />

“There was given unto him a mouth speak<strong>in</strong>g great th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

and blasphemies. … And he opened his mouth <strong>in</strong> blasphemy<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and<br />

them that dwell <strong>in</strong> heaven. And it was given unto him to make<br />

war with the sa<strong>in</strong>ts, and to overcome them; and power was<br />

given him over all k<strong>in</strong>dreds, and tongues, and nations.” This<br />

prophecy, which is nearly identical with the description of the<br />

little horn of Daniel 7, unquestionably po<strong>in</strong>ts to the papacy.<br />

“Power was given unto him to cont<strong>in</strong>ue forty and two<br />

months.” And, says the prophet, “I saw one of his heads as<br />

it were wounded to death.” And aga<strong>in</strong>: “He that leadeth <strong>in</strong>to<br />

captivity shall go <strong>in</strong>to captivity; he that killeth with the sword<br />

must be killed with the sword.” The forty and two months<br />

are the same as the “time and times and the divid<strong>in</strong>g of time,”<br />

three years and a half, or 1260 days of Daniel 7,—the time<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g which the papal power was to oppress God’s people.<br />

This period, as stated <strong>in</strong> preced<strong>in</strong>g chapters, began with the<br />

establishment of the papacy, A.D. 538, and term<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> 1798.<br />

At that time, when the papacy was abolished and the pope<br />

made captive <strong>by</strong> the French army, the papal power received

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