When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, "Time shall be no longer." (See Revelation 10:6.) The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days. {2SM 105.1}

There are those now living (EGW IS SPEAKING OF HER GENERATION OF THOSE STILL LIVING) who, in studying the prophecies of Daniel and John, received great light from God as they passed over the ground where special prophecies were in process of fulfillment in their order. They bore the message of time to the people. The truth shone out clearly as the sun at noonday. Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history. The scenes connected with the working of the man of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this earth's history. {SHE IDENTIFIES THE MAN OF SIN AS PAPAL]
The people now have a special message to give to the world, the third angel's message. Those who, in their experience, have passed over the ground, and acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, are not so liable to be led into false paths as are those who have not had an experimental knowledge of the people of God. . . . {2SM 102.1}
There have been one and another who in studying their Bibles thought they discovered great light, and new theories, but these have not been correct.
The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying the Scripture men arrive at wrong conclusions. We are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined, as we near the final struggle. We have a sleepless adversary, and he is constantly at work upon human minds that have not had a personal experience in the teachings of the people of God for the past fifty years. Some will take the truth applicable to their time, and place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories the faith of some is undermined. {2SM 102.2}
From the light that the Lord has been pleased to give me, you are in danger of doing the same work, presenting before others truths which have had their place and done their specific work for the time, in the history of the faith
103
of the people of God. You recognize these facts in Bible history as true, but apply them to the future. They have their force still in their proper place, in the chain of events that have made us as a people what we are today, and as such, they are to be presented to those who are in the darkness of error. The true workers of Jesus Christ are to cooperate with their brethren who have had an experience in the work from the very rise of the third angel's message. These followed on step by step, receiving light and truth as they advanced, bearing one test after another, lifting the cross that lay directly in their pathway, and pressing on to know the Lord, whose goings forth are prepared as the morning. You and other of our brethren must accept the truth as God has given it to His students of prophecy, as they have been led by genuine, living experience, advancing point by point, tested, proved, and tried, until the truth is to them a reality. From their voices and pens the truth in bright, warm rays has gone to all parts of the world, and that which was to them testing truth, as brought by the Lord's delegated messengers, is testing truth to all to whom this message is proclaimed. {2SM 102.3}

The burden of the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third angel's message. And those who are seeking to understand this message will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. The truths that have been unfolding in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today. Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. Many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous
104
errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, "Here is the truth," "I have the truth; follow me." But the warnings came, "Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran." (See Jeremiah 23:21.) {2SM 103.1}

The problem remains

Originally Posted By: Bible
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. Daniel 7:17


Originally Posted By: Dedication
Thus heaven explains that the 4 sea beasts in the vision ARE symbolic of four earthly kingdoms.

4 symbolic sea beasts = 4 actual earthly kingdoms.


Daniel saw sea-beasts--Heaven explains earth-beasts

Pius VI was the head that received the deadly wound. Thus the papal beast died while he ruled. The head that received the healing was also named Pius (Pius XI)

When the papal beast was first seen it was alive and then it died. But after 1929, the papal beast is alive. Thus the prophecy moved from the dead papacy to the living papacy.

Making the interpretations of symbols into new symbols is NOT exegesis, it is isigesis --

The interpretation is NOT new symbolism.
One can go on into infinity with confusion changing Biblical interpretations of symbols into new symbols.

That Daniel 7 is about "4 symbolic sea beasts = 4 actual earthly kingdoms" is absolutely correct:

1) Daniel 7 does NOT contradict Revelation 13
All the beasts are symbolic of actual kingdoms both in Daniel 7 and in Revelation 13. The application is positively consistent,.

One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America. Again and again the thought, almost the exact words, of the sacred writer have been unconsciously employed by the orator and the historian in describing the rise and growth of this nation. The beast was seen “coming up out of the earth;” and, according to the translators, the word here rendered “coming up” literally signifies to “grow or spring up as a plant.” And, as we have seen, the nation must arise in territory previously unoccupied.{GC88 441.1}

2) It consistently follows the pattern --
a beast = an actual nation or kingdom
both in Daniel 7 and in Revelation 13

The beasts that rose from the symbolic sea are four kingdoms that established their literal kingship on literal earth. Babylon, Media Persia, Grecia, Rome

Revelation 13's first symbolic beast is the continuation of those four symbolic sea beasts of Daniel 7, it is literal Rome and continues to the end as the Papal Rome, wounded for a spell, but healed.

Revelation 13's symbolic second beast rises from the symbolic earth, and establishes its literal kingship on the literal earth.

There is nothing mystical or unintelligible in any of this -- it's plain English for anyone that understands that symbols represent specific things that are literal.

The book of Daniel was unsealed in 1798- 1844 and opened the door to understanding the three angels' messages.

When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, "Time shall be no longer." (See Revelation 10:6.) The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days. {2SM 105.1}

There are those now living who, in studying the prophecies of Daniel and John, received great light from God as they passed over the ground where special prophecies were in process of fulfillment in their order. They bore the message of time to the people. The truth shone out clearly as the sun at noonday. Historical events, showing the direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history. The scenes connected with the working of the man of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this earth's history. {SHE IDENTIFIES THE MAN OF SIN AS PAPAL-AND THE IMAGE BEAST IS THE NATION THAT PUTS POWER INTO THE PAPAL DECREES] The people now have a special message to give to the world, the third angel's message. Those who, in their experience, have passed over the ground, and acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, are not so liable to be led into false paths as are those who have not had an experimental knowledge of the people of God. . . . {2SM 102.1}

At the time when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon's voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, is represented by a beast with lamblike horns. The beasts preceding it had risen from the sea; but this came up out of the earth, representing the peaceful rise of the nation which it symbolized--the United States. {ST, February 8, 1910 par. 5}

There have been one and another who in studying their Bibles thought they discovered great light, and new theories, but these have not been correct.
The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying the Scripture men arrive at wrong conclusions. We are engaged in a mighty conflict, and it will become more close and determined, as we near the final struggle. We have a sleepless adversary, and he is constantly at work upon human minds that have not had a personal experience in the teachings of the people of God for the past fifty years. Some will take the truth applicable to their time, and place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories the faith of some is undermined. {2SM 102.2}

From the light that the Lord has been pleased to give me, you are in danger of doing the same work, presenting before others truths which have had their place and done their specific work for the time, in the history of the faith of the people of God. You recognize these facts in Bible history as true, but apply them to the future. They have their force still in their proper place, in the chain of events that have made us as a people what we are today, and as such, they are to be presented to those who are in the darkness of error. The true workers of Jesus Christ are to cooperate with their brethren who have had an experience in the work from the very rise of the third angel's message. These followed on step by step, receiving light and truth as they advanced, bearing one test after another, lifting the cross that lay directly in their pathway, and pressing on to know the Lord, whose goings forth are prepared as the morning. You and other of our brethren must accept the truth as God has given it to His students of prophecy, as they have been led by genuine, living experience, advancing point by point, tested, proved, and tried, until the truth is to them a reality. From their voices and pens the truth in bright, warm rays has gone to all parts of the world, and that which was to them testing truth, as brought by the Lord's delegated messengers, is testing truth to all to whom this message is proclaimed. {2SM 102.3}

The time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand. We have no time to lose. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfilment. {RH, November 24, 1904 par. 8}

The word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as papists and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of the Sunday. [Revelation 13:11, 12...] {4SP 396.2}

Then will take place the final fulfillment of the Revelator's prophecy. [Revelation 13:4-18, quoted.] {19MR 282.1}

The thirteenth chapter of Revelation presents a power that is to be made prominent in these last days. Let all understand that it is Christ, the Captain of the Lord's host, who gave these visions to John. Christ came in person to the lonely isle of Patmos, and showed John the things that must be, [things] that were of the highest importance to His people. (Through the person of His highest angels. He had veiled His own glory.) This message is to come to God's people, straight, sharp, and clean from all mixture of human wisdom and tradition. {18MR 33.2}

The burden of the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third angel's message. And those who are seeking to understand this message will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. The truths that have been unfolding in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today. Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. Many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, "Here is the truth," "I have the truth; follow me." But the warnings came, "Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran." (See Jeremiah 23:21.) {2SM 103.1}

Accumulated light has shone upon God's people, but many have neglected to follow the light, and for this reason they are in a state of great spiritual weakness. It is not for lack of knowledge that God's people are now perishing. They will not be condemned because they do not know the way, the truth, and the life. The truth that has reached their understanding, the light which has shone on the soul, but which has been neglected or refused, will condemn them. Those who never had the light to reject, will not be in condemnation. What more could have been done for God's vineyard than has been done? Light, precious light, shines upon God's people; but it will not save them, unless they consent to be saved by it, fully live up to it, and transmit it to others in darkness.--Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 123.

From Heavens interpretation, the vision is about "4 kings."

Kings are rulers "He shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler" (1 Kings 1:35).

And the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 show us that President Obama will be the man to implement the Mark of the beast. He is the one that the third angel's message warns us about.

From Heavens interpretation, the vision is about "4 kings."

"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." (Daniel 7:17)

Kings are rulers "He shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler" (1 Kings 1:35).

Was Nebuchadnezzar a king and ruler?
Was he the only king and ruler of Babylon?

Da 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

Da 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Question for you: Why was there no mention of Babylon?

And the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 show us that President Obama will be the man to implement the Mark of the beast. He is the one that the third angel's message warns us about.

That's not true either.

I saw all that "would not receive the mark of the Beast, and of his Image, in their foreheads or in their hands," could not buy or sell. I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up; and that it was the beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope's, and not God's Sabbath. And all we were required to do, was to give up God's Sabbath, and keep the Pope's, and then we should have the mark of the Beast, and of his Image. {Broadside3, April 7, 1847 par. 5}

Dan 7 and Rev 13 does not show us that President Obama will be the man to implement the Mark of the beast. Don't use your books to interpret Heaven's interpretation.

We can conclude that the United states will implement the image to the beast, but not the mark. The mark already exists. And is of the 4th beast rising from the little horn of the 4th beast which rose from the sea in the vision.

The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamb-like horns shall cause “the earth and them which dwell therein” to worship the papacy—there symbolized by the beast “like unto a leopard.” The beast with two horns is also to say “to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;” and, furthermore, it is to command all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive “the mark of the beast.” [Revelation 13:11-16.] It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamb-like horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy. {GC88 578.3}

Because Babylon ended. Nebuchadnezzar was a king and ruler and "head". He wasn't the only king and ruler of Babylon, the head that ended.

This thread seems to have derailed into a discussion of the deadly wound rather than if probation has closed.

I think that in order to determine IF probation has closed it needs first to be established that it WILL close, an idea I have trouble finding support for in the Bible. It seems to be a uniquely Adventist idea, because when I did a Google search on it, the first three pages returned were ENTIRELY Adventist web sites. There were no pages sponsored by any other religious group, either for or against.

So, I am not convinced that it will close. Jesus said "I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20)