Continued from previous post
Verse 34 and 35 “Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many (“Tares”, nominal Christians) shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.”
“The full period of the persecutor's (Papacy's) power, 1260 years, would not end until 1799 A.D.; but before its end God granted a little help through the Reformation movement, which, though at first it rather increased persecution, afterward gave some comfort and protection to those falling because of fidelity to God's Word.
The Reformation prevented the complete crushing out of the truth from the world. But, alas! With the little help came the "flatterers" again. As soon as persecution began to abate the adversary resorted to the same device, by which he had formerly succeeded in corrupting and degrading the church, to now overcome the reform movements. Kings and princes began to give honors and titles to Protestants and to unite with Protestantism; and this led to serious evil results and deflection from the covenant, as we read:
"But many shall cleave to them with flatteries; and some of them of understanding [leaders, reformers, teachers, who had been able to instruct many concerning Papacy's errors] shall fall; to try them [the faithful few] and to purge and to make them white."
Tracing the prophecy further, we find that as the previous verses pointedly describe the leading characters prominently connected with the transfer of dominion to Greece and then to Rome, and then craftily, gradually, stealthily to Papacy as a power which grew up out of civil Rome, so also when it comes to the very important point of noting where Papal dominion was broken, it is but reasonable to expect that Napoleon Bonaparte, the leading character associated with this change, should be marked out; and that, too, not by a description of his personal appearance, but by a description of his peculiar characteristics, just as Augustus and Tiberius Caesar were indicated. Such a description we do find; and Napoleon Bonaparte's career corresponds exactly with that description.
Verses 31-35 describe Papacy, its errors and abominations, and the Reformation and its "little help" yet partial failure through flatteries; and these verses bring us down to the "Time of the End," and show us that, notwithstanding the little help afforded, some would still fall by persecution until the Time of the End. And so it was: in all the countries subject to Papacy--Spain, France, etc.--persecution through the terrible Inquisition continued, until broken effectually by Napoleon.
Next follow the verses descriptive of Napoleon, the instrument employed by Providence to break Papacy's power and to begin her torture, which will end in utter destruction, to be accomplished later on; as it is written, "Whom the Lord shall destroy with the bright shining of his presence." 2 Thess 2:8 (C 38, 39)
We will take a look at these verses in our next post.
