Plain Truth magazine August 1965
This is Part Two, continued from Part One is available here: Part One: PCG’s Gerald Flurry and Radio COG’s Dr. Herman Hoeh disagree on Daniel 8 — Bible News Prophecy Radio
Notice that there is a “prince to come” from the people who destroy “the city” (probably Jerusalem; cf. Revelation 11:2) and that he will stop sacrifices and be related to an abomination that brings desolation. This leader will apparently change from a peaceful one to a militaristic one (cf. Isaiah 10:5–11).
There are several reasons for referring to a future top leader from a developing superpower rising in Europe. (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11). The Roman Empire, however, offers the most compelling reason to suspect that this leader will arise in Europe. Much of the current European Union (EU) covers areas once controlled by the old Roman Empire. The people of the Roman Empire fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 in the 1st century as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. And verse 27 refers to the “prince” coming from the people who had destroyed that city. Hence, this prophecy tells us that a leader will start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the great tribulation.
There is another reason to suspect that the area involves the territories of Europe. Millennia ago, Daniel wrote a prophecy that discussed a little horn that would mainly expand to the south and east:
8 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered (Daniel 8:9-12).
And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-–39)—and seems to be for our time. …
In the Book of Daniel, a leader called “the King of the North” is mentioned.
And the Bible seems to show similarities between him and the “prince to come.” (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Nazarene Books, 2009, pp. 80-82)
Here is something from my article on the King of the North:
Notice something from Daniel 8:
9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12)
So, something small will develop into an empire–this is a European empire. Consider that it is a ‘prince’ who takes away the daily sacrifices in Daniel 9:27, and that he is also called the King of the North (Daniel 11:40) who stops the sacrifices in Daniel 11:31.
As far as the sequence of Daniel 11 goes, notice that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote the following:
In Daniel 11:21, referring in original, typical fulfillment to Antiochus Epiphanes, there shall stand up a vile person…So once again before the second coming of Christ, a vile leader will stop the daily sacrifices being offered…This same prophecy spoken by Jesus is also reported by Luke…21:20-24 (Armstrong HW. Personal, Plain Truth magazine, June 1967).
Thus, Herbert W. Armstrong clearly taught that starting at least from verse 21, that Daniel 11 had a dual/future fulfillment. We are getting very close to the fulfillment of Daniel 11:21.
This same vile leader, who appears at the “appointed time” of “the end” is described without that title in Daniel 8:
19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be…23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. 26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” (Daniel 8:19,23-26)
This King is also the “Beast” that the ten kings give their power to in Revelation 17:12-13.
So while PCG teaches that Daniel 8 had to do with the apostasy that hit the old Worldwide Church of God (for more related to that see The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings), Dr. Hoeh and I both taught that Daniel 8 is an end time prophecy tying in with the final European King of the North.
While Satan did influence the leadership of the WCG after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, that was NOT the fulfillment of Daniel 8.
We are currently seeing a power starting to rise up in Europe that will fulfill those prophecies.
Of course, Satan still has a plan, and information related to it is in the article simply titled Satan’s Plan.
Related to Daniel 8, as well as the 6th and 7th chapters, the Continuing Church of God has the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:
1:15:19
Daniel 6-8: Four Beasts and the King of the North
This is the third part of a multi-sermon series intended to cover the Book of Daniel. This sermon covers each and every verse of the 6th, 7th, and 8th chapters of the Book of Daniel. In its introduction, Dr. Thiel dispels the views of anti-biblical scholars who claim that King Darius the Mede was a fictional “literary figure” that did not exist, by pointing to historical accounts that support the Book of Daniel on this point–he also suggests that evidence points to King Cyaxares II, son of Astyages, as being the one called Darius the Mede. The sermon covers chapter 6 where Daniel being tossed in the lion’s den for prayer, God stopping the mouth of lions, the destruction of the flatters who had Daniel tossed in, and Darius decreeing that Daniel’s God has an everlasting kingdom. In chapter 7, items including Daniel’s dream related to the “Great Sea” being a reference to the Mediterranean Sea, the identity of the four beasts he saw (lion-Babylon; bear-Medo-Persian; leopard-Greek; dreadful beast-Rome), the connection of the four beasts to the end time Beast of Revelation 13, the little horn representing the papacy in this chapter, the Ancient of Days, the persecutions of the Philadelphian and non-Philadephian Christians, changing times, and which faithful are to be protected were covered. In chapter 8, matters pertaining to Alexander the Great’s kingdom, the EEU & European Union, the little horn of this chapter that represents the King of the North, the 2300 evenings and mornings, why the Seventh-day Adventist sanctuary position is in error, and the cunning and deceit of the ‘King of the North,’ the ‘man of sin’ were discussed.
Here is a link to our sermon video: Daniel 6-8: Four Beasts and the King of the North.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
DANIEL This article contains commentary of the Book of Daniel. Here are links to related sermon videos: Daniel 1-3: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, Daniel 4-5: The Handwriting on the Wall, Daniel 6-8: Four Beasts and the King of the North, and Daniel 9: 70 Years & 70 Weeks Prophecies.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?; here is a link to a video in Spanish: ¿Quién es el ‘hombre de pecado’? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œf/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: ¿Deben los Diez Reyes gobernar sobre diez naciones? A related sermon in the English language is titled: Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful among all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here are links to two sermons Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? and The Continuing Church of God: Two Years of Proclamation. Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?
Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors? Most real Christians in the last days are Laodicean and hold to prophetic errors which, unless they repent, will prevent them from being protected from the coming Great Tribulation. Here is a link to a related video: 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors.
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