GLOBAL  IMPACT  STUDIES

If you find the truth, will you believe it?

If any man desires to do God's will, he will have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and on my own accord.  John 7:17 

The Deity

Introduction To The Deity

Arianism and Daniel 7:24

 

“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:  and another [horn] shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first [ten], and he shall subdue three kings” (Dan. 7:24).  Sometimes in reading the Holy Bible, we glance over those things which have great meaning expressed in just a few words.  Such is Daniel 7:24. 

This study will deal with the subduing of the “three kings” or horns and what that has to do with Arianism. Most are unfamiliar with the term Arianism which is an alternative view of the Deity from the traditional and more popular view known as the Trinity.  There are not two views presented in the Bible. There is only one Biblical view.

Daniel chapter seven contains a vision Daniel received showing the procession of kingdoms from his time to the time of the end.  Our purpose in this study is to delve into verse twenty-four and what it is saying to us in the days in which we are living.  We know from history that when the Roman Empire fell apart, ten nations divided up its territory. The ten nations which arose out of the Roman Empire were the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Suevi, Visigoths, Burgundians, Alamanni, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruli, and Vandals.

Daniel 7:24 is the explanation of what is described in Daniel 7:19-21.  “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other [horn] which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout [obstinate] than his fellows.  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them” (emphasis added). This “other [horn]” was identified as the papacy in my study of Daniel chapter seven. 

The “three kings” or “three horns” or “three kingdoms” the papacy subdued were identified as the Vandals, Heruli, and the Ostrogoths.  Quoting from Daniel and the Revelation written by Uriah Smith:  “The reason for their [the three horns] removal was their opposition to the teachings and claims of the papal hierarchy.”  Page 111 of the 1972 edition.

I tell you the edition date because, over the years, the original version of Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith has been edited, once in AD 1941 and again in AD 1944.  And what was it that was edited? “In the rise and development of Arianism early in the fourth century and the challenge it presented to papal supremacy, we find the causes leading to the plucking up of three of the kingdoms of Western Rome by the papal power.” Daniel and the Revelation p. 120

The content of what was edited out of the original version of Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith is contained in Appendix A, found at the end of this study.  History tells us very little of what those Arian views were except they believed there were only two in the Godhead (Deity) and Yahushua was created.  The Bible says He was “begotten,” which means Yahushua had a beginning and is not co-eternal with His Father. 

This is a very different belief than that held by Trinitarians.  This belief threatened the papacy’s very core doctrine upon which all their teachings are based.  Over the centuries, there have been many who have held to the Arian view rather than the Trinitarian view.  It matters not who has held to which view.  What does matter is one is Biblical, and one is not.

In this study, we are going to be examining the Scriptures to see if an Arian view or a Trinitarian view can be substantiated from the Bible and the Bible only.  Our only proofs will be from the Bible.  No man’s opinion will be quoted, but only the Bible will be referenced.  We want to know what the Bible teaches on this subject and not what any man or denomination teaches. 

Yahuwah Elohim is looking for those who will worship Him "in spirit and in truth."  “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeks such to worship Him” (John 4:23, emphasis added).

From this verse, we can see Yahushua says we are called to worship the Father.  Are we called to worship the Son or the Holy Spirit?  Again in Revelation 14:7, we are called to “Fear Elohim [The Supreme Being - there is only One Supreme Being], and give glory to Him [not Them]; for the hour of His [not Their] judgment is come:  and worship Him [not Them] that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”  Just Who made the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the fountains of waters will be brought out in this study.  See Ephesians 3:9. 

It is not only Elohim’s will that we be saved, but that we come to a correct knowledge of the truth.  “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the [correct] knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4, emphasis added).   "But we are bound to give thanks always to Elohim for you, brethren beloved of the Master, because Elohim hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13, emphasis added).

And only the Spirit of Elohim can guide us into all the truth.  “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:  for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak:   and He shall show you things to come” (John 16:13, emphasis added).  

The Holy Bible counsels us to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). 

“Study to show thyself approved unto Elohim, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).  There will be many who will one day be ashamed because they did not study for themselves as they are commanded to do in the Bible!

No matter what you are being shown by anyone, you need to examine it in the light of the Bible to make certain what is being presented is in harmony with the Bible.  We are not to study the Bible in order to sustain our preconceived opinions on any given subject but to learn what the Word of Elohim teaches on this matter or on any other subject.

Acts 17:11 tells us this: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (emphasis added).  This verse tells us two things.  First, how the Bereans received what was being presented - “with all readiness of mind.”  They weren’t suspicious of what Paul was presenting, but they gave him a fair hearing.  We are not to believe everything, no matter who is presenting a subject, until we have thoroughly studied the matter out for ourselves as the Bereans did. 

We are to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of Elohim:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  In order for those spirits to be tried, they must be given a fair examination. 

Just burying one’s head in the sand will not excuse anyone.  Most will not listen to anyone who may differ in belief from theirs.  The reason being they are insecure in what they believe and are fearful to listen to anyone other than those with whom they agree.  They have not studied for themselves in order to form their own opinions on what the Bible teaches on any given subject, but they have been taught what others believe and feel secure knowing there are others who believe like them.  We are told “the times of this ignorance Elohim winked at” (Acts 17:30), but when we remain willfully ignorant, does He wink at us any longer?  We are individually responsible for studying the Scriptures under the tutorship of Elohim’s Spirit.

And secondly, Paul was not offended that they would search the Scriptures to see “whether those things were so."  That is all I am asking of you is that you come with a prayerful, open heart (open mind) to see if the things which are presented here are in accordance with the Scriptures and then decide for yourself.  We will be looking at the Scriptures on various aspects of the Deity and from which we hope to draw our conclusions.  I want to reason with you "out of the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2).

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee” (Hos. 4:6, emphasis added). 

“Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me:  for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahuwah:  they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof” (Prov. 1:28-30, emphasis added).  It is not that Elohim has kept or hidden that knowledge from us.  He has told us to “seek” and promises us “and you shall find” (Matt. 7:7). 

When we do not seek for the truth and remain content (Laodicea’s problem – lukewarm – content) with what we know, we are rejecting what Elohim is attempting to show us, and as a result, we will be “rejected” as Hosea 4:6 tells us.  It is a fearful thing to turn our back on what Elohim is trying to show us, thus rejecting the light of truth to remain in darkness.  We are told the Devil “is deceiving the whole world,” and the only way to become undeceived is to have the truth.  It is the knowledge of the truth that sets us free from Satan’s deceptions.  “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).  And we will “know the truth” because we have been asking for and seeking it.  Truth advances and becomes clearer with time, and we must advance with it or be left in darkness.