THE OPEN LETTER TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE SDA CHURCH
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Vladimir Levi, I am a member of the 7th community of the Seventh Day Adventist
Church in Lugansk-city, Ukraine.
This open letter is my official request to the General Conference of the SDA Church.
1. WHAT THIS MESSAGE IS ABOUT.
The Adventist Church exists an explanation of the Midnight Cry (Matt.25:6) connected to an
non-traditional interpretation of 17-18th chapters of the book of Revelation. The suggested
interpretation differs from other similar ones and is free from the drawbacks that such
interpretations usually have. It has existed in the Church for almost three years. This
interpretation has been submitted to and studied by the official leaders of the church in
due course.
2. THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SUGGESTED PROPHECY INTERPRETATION AND ITS RELEVANCE TO US.
�While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry
made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him�.
Matthew 25:5-6.
After each definite stage of the Salvation Plan is over and before each next one begins,
there is a messenger who comes and tells God�s people to get ready.
For instance, before receiving the tables of the Covenant this message was declared by
Moses, �And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to
morrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third
day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai... And Moses
went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their
clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your
wives� (Exodus 19:10-11, 14-15).
Before God's people entered the Promised Land the same message had been proclaimed by
Joshua, �Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.� (Joshua
3:5).
Although Israelites knew that they had to be saint in the eyes of God, according to the
design of God the message still had to be preached. Before the beginning of Christ's
ministry the message was preached by John the Baptist. He would say, �Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand� (Matthew 3:2). Before Jesus left the Holy Place and entered
the Place Most Holy a similar message had been spread by Millerites. So, what about the time
when Christ is on the point of leaving the Place Most Holy and returning to take His people
home? It is but evident that the same message is vital to appear now.
So, what distinguishing features is this message expected to have?
Firstly, it must be a biblical message; secondly, it must be related to the message of the
third angel and/or to the message of Another Angel (Rev.18:1-5). I should mention that the
message in Rev.18:1-5 combined with the message of the third angel expresses the last
warning given to the people of the Earth, see �Great Controversy� for details (" After
these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the
earth was illumined with his glory. 2And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, �Fallen,
fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every
unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. �For all the nations have
drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have
committed {acts of} immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by
the wealth of her sensuality.� I heard another voice from heaven, saying, �Come out of her,
my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her
sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" ,
Rev..18:1-5).
Thirdly, the expected message isn't supposed to set the time of the Second Coming but it has
to distinctly forecast the beginning of definite preceding events we all are aware of. As
for the content of the message, it must correspond to the Midnight Cry in Matthew 25:6.
The parable about 10 virgins tells us of the following cry, " Behold, the Bridegroom is
coming, come out to meet Him! " And the virgins had to adjust their lamps.
The virgins know that the Bridegroom is coming; they come out to meet Him being aware of
what they need to have in order to be ready. The Midnight Cry doesn�t teach them how to
prepare for the meeting with the Bridegroom but announces the beginning of certain events
that they are already aware of so that the virgins could adjust their lamps now using the
oil prepared beforehand (i.e. using the results of the ground work that they have already
done, e.g. brushing up on memories of situations which God helped them in).
Sister White describes two ways of interpreting the biblical image of the Midnight Cry. In
her book " The Great Controversy" she interprets the Cry as W. Miller's preaching
while in the book " Christ�s Object Lessons" she connects this image to the events
prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ, i.e. the events which are to happen before
Christ leaves the Place Most Holy and comes back to the Earth.
And we do find a message in the Bible which bears the above mentioned features of the
Midnight Cry. It is not surprising that it includes Rev.18:1-5 and Rev. 17:1-11, the latter
representing the most relevant context of the message. The message of Rev.17:1-11 doesn�t
set the time of the Second Coming but it clearly states the necessity to prepare and is to
be applied today as it speaks about the present-day events and is related to the message of
Rev.18:1-5 (representing its biblical context). In fact, chapters 17 and 18 are parts of one
prophetic description. This description begins with Rev.17:1, where the topic of the whole
extract is stated, i.e. the topic of God judging the spiritual Babylon (literally "
enforcing His sentence") and ends with the last verses of chapter 18, which show the
annihilation of the spiritual Babylon illustrated by the image of a stone thrown into the
sea.
As all the messages in the Bible must be studied with the context taken into consideration,
the message of the last warning in Rev.18:1-5 neither can nor must be studied apart from its
direct biblical context, i.e. Rev.17. Some characteristic features of the Midnight Cry are
revealed in the 17th chapter.
I suggest a non-traditional way of interpreting Rev.17, which reveals the features of the
Midnight Cry mentioned above. This interpretation is about the message of Another Angel
(Rev.18:1-5). The main conclusions made on the basis of this prophecy are the following:
1) As Rev.17 and 18 are parts of one prophetic description devoted to one topic, the message
of the last warning in Rev.18:1-5 mustn�t be studied taken apart from the message of Rev.17;
and some features of the Midnight Cry (Matthew 25:6), which is caused by the preaching of
the last message, are revealed in the 17th chapter.
2) The preaching of the message of the last warning (Rev.18:1-5 ) to the people living on
the Earth must become much more active beginning with the reign of the Pope being the sixth
after the appearance of Vatican City in 1929 (this Pope is John Paul II, who died a few
years ago). We are responsible for preaching the message of Rev.18:1-5; this is the job
entrusted to us. In accordance with God�s will expressed in the prophecy we have to
thoroughly check if we do use all the opportunities given to us by God to take part in the
job and whether we are really pure in His eyes.
3) The end of the currently serving Pope�s term is connected to the beginning of
persecution. The wicked will be persecuting Christians who follow God�s commandments. This
doesn�t mean that the history of the Earth will immediately finish. We don�t know for sure
when exactly it�s going to be over. We even don�t know how fast the intensity of persecution
will grow. But if we don�t finish the job entrusted to us (Rev.18:1-5) by that time, we will
have to finish the job under the circumstances of persecution. That�s why we must try hard
to do as much of this job as we can do now, before the beginning of persecution.
This prophecy doesn't say exactly how long persecution is going to last, how fast its
intensity is going to grow and when Jesus is coming back.
In general this message is about what we should be ready for rather than about what exactly
will happen.
In fact, if Church is resistant to God and careless about doing His job, persecution may
develop slowly without getting spread immediately all over the world (this process may
actually last during the lives of several generations). For instance, at the time of E.
White�s life our institutions were visited by policemen who were ordered to arrest those
ignoring Sunday as a holy day, but that process didn't take off that time as Church didn't
fulfill its mission. According to the prophecy things may happen the same way today though
it doesn't correspond to God's will. Anyway, the prophecy is evident to relate certain state
decisions (e.g. those encouraging antagonism towards God's work and a negative attitude to
the people keeping God�s commandments) to the end of the term of the currently serving Pope
(i.e., Benedict XVI).
3. THE DECISIONS OF OFFICIAL CHURCH MEETINGS.
Our local church council (the 7th community, c. Lugansk, Ukraine) analyzed this
interpretation at the meeting which took place on 30, January 2007 (i.e., two and a half
years ago). It did not find any errors in this interpretation, which is why our local church
council requested the Council of our Conference (i.e., the East-Ukrainian one) to consider
this interpretation. After the Council of our Conference had considered the appeal of the
local church council, they advised me to contact the Institute of Missiology affiliated with
the Euro-Asian Division, SDA, in order to discuss the subject. Since then I have been
corresponding with Galina Stele, the director of the Missiology Institute, as far as this
interpretation is concerned.
4. THE PROBLEM WHICH AROSE.
Unfortunately, the director of the Missiology Institute, Galina Stele, did not consider my
case attentively. She tried to object to the facts I stated, but still:
1). Her objections showed that she hadn�t analyzed the explanations given by me attentively
enough.
2). When objecting, she provides explanations which are not based on the Bible but on
people's options instead.
3). The principle of collegiality is ignored when doctrinal questions are being answered.
I have asked church leaders many a time to have this case analyzed by a group of theologians
and ministers empowered to make decisions related to doctrinal questions, and to give me an
opportunity to take part in their meeting, too. It must be done this way, as according to
the principles of the Church of SDA one man doesn't have the right to make decisions related
to prophecy interpretation. In contrast, it must be done by an authorized group of
theologians and ministers. When this interpretation was considered at the official meetings
(e.g., those of the local church council and the Conference Council), these official
meetings did nit find errors in this interpretation.
5. MY REQUEST TO YOU.
I am not corresponding now with a group of theologians but the only person writing to me is
the director of the Institute of Missiology Galina Stele, and whose answers contradict the
principles of prophecy interpretation adopted by the Adventist church. THEREFORE I REQUEST
THE CHURCH LEADERSHIP TO ORGANIZE THE DISCUSSION OF THIS INTERPRETATION IN SUCH A WAY THAT
AN OFFICIAL GROUP OF THEOLOGICANS AND MINISTERS EMPOWERED TO MAKE DECISIONS RELATED TO
DOCTRINAL QUESTIONS CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. I ALSO REQUEST YOU TO INVITE ME TO TAKE PART
IN THIS MEETING, because I proposed a complete (edited) version of this interpretation and
can explain it better than other people could do. I am ready to come to the USA or elsewhere
at my own expense.
Many ordinary members of the Church are interested in this interpretation and agree with it.
That is why consider this interpretation must be analyzed in due course, i.e. at an official
authorized meeting.
As Rev.17 and Rev.18 are a solid prophetic description, the message of the last warning of
Rev.18:1-5 must not be interpreted out of the context of the message of chapter 17; and some
characteristic features of the midnight cry of Matt.25:6, which is related to the preaching
of the last message, are revealed in the very chapter (Rev.17). Consequently, it is
necessary to analyze and understand this prophecy.
I ASK ALL THE OTHER BROTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPHECY TO SUPPORT THIS APPEAL TO
THE CHURCH LEADERSHIP. The matter is, although we consider the Bible (but not people�s
opinions) to be the only foundation of our belief, we still should listen to the opinion of
the organized Church related to this doctrinal subject. Moreover, this opinion should
express the decision of the whole church (but not separate ministers), formed by God after a
meeting held in accordance with definite church rules.
6. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE SUGGESTED INTERPRETATION.
The interpretation under study has existed in the Adventists Church for many years, and
there is a strange attitude towards it. On the one hand, nobody can disprove this
interpretation (in any case, I have not heard any serious counterargument for many years),
but on the other hand, very few people agrees with it.
I am speaking about a research of Rev.17:9-14. The explanation given here is not a complete
version and can cause some questions. I'd be happy to answer them. My e-mail address is
vvvladimir(at)land.ru . My point of view is based on the traditional Revelation interpretation
principles adopted by the Adventist church.
Revelation 17 shows a woman sitting on a seven-headed �beast� and the judgment upon her.
Explaining the vision, the angel says to the prophet: �And here is the mind which hath
wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven
kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he
must continue a short space.� (Rev.17:9-10).
The clue to the symbol of these seven heads is given in three visions in chapters 12, 13,
and 17 of Revelation. In chapter 12 the beast (dragon) symbolizes the devil, who is trying
to destroy Jesus Christ at His birth using a Pagan Rome as his instrument of destruction. In
chapter 13 the seven-headed beast is papacy; in chapter 17 it is the papacy that will exist
in End Times. Thus, the context of Rev.12 does not allow us to interpret �Seven Heads� as
something that existed before a Pagan Rome, while chapters 13 and 17 relate them to the time
of papacy as is.
Researching the prophecies of Daniel, which also use such symbols as �heads� and �horns�, we
understand that neither of these symbols represents an empire that can have existed before
the �beast� that they belong to. Whatever regime might be represented by �heads� and �horns�
in this prophecy, it gains its power during or after the reign of the empire represented by
the �beast� they belong to, but never before its reign. For instance, Dan. 7: 6,7-8 and 8:
20,21-22. It means that �heads� and �horns� in Rev. 13 (and in Rev.17) cannot have existed
before the �beast�, i.e. papacy.
'And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the
woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not
yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. � (Rev.17:9-10).
Thus, mountains are not a symbol, but the meaning of a symbol. The verses state that the
woman (Catholic Church, or Papacy) sits on them. It is many centuries that Rome has been
known as a city built on seven hills or mountains (see also Rev. 17:18, which is Rome, and
Rev. 18). What we read next is � ... and there are seven kings�.
THE SYMBOL OF A HEAD HAS A DOUBLE MEANING: IT IS A SYMBOL OF THE PAPAL THRONE AND ALSO THAT
OF THE SEVEN KINGS.
In all other prophecies where the same symbol in the same vision represents two different
concepts these concepts are usually closely connected. Even though the dragon represents
satan in Rev.12:4, it also symbolizes a pagan Rome, which is a tool the devil used when
trying to annihilate Christ. As seven kings are connected with Rome in this context, they
represent the governors related to this place.
Besides, the term �head� is often used in the Bible figuratively as a symbol of a leader,
e.g. a spiritual one.
In addition, there is �the name of blasphemy� upon the beast�s heads (Rev.13) and upon the
beast as is (Rev.17). Similar to this, Catholics believe that all the names that refer to
Christ in the Holy Scripture, also refer to Popes. It is blasphemy, and this blasphemy is
not only verbal but it is contained in the name {of the Pope}.
All these determinant attributes given in the prophecy are evidently characteristic of
Popes, to be more exact, of papal rules.
We think that the purpose of the prophecy is to show the spiritual meaning of the history of
certain states and nations instead of certain mortal personalities, even if these
personalities are Popes. Therefore we believe that the heads of the beast must be related to
papal rules rather than to Popes as personalities. As for the sequence of these heads, it
must be connected to the sequence of the rules.
However, there were more than seven Popes.
THEN, WHO ARE THESE POPES AND WHY ARE THEY PLACED EMPHASIS ON? �And there are seven kings:
five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come (Rev. 17:10). It means that in
the vision the apostle saw the sixth Pope ruling. God wanted His people to recognize this
Pope at the time of his rule.
In the prophetical vision the present time should be understood in the context which it is
used in. It means that the present time isn�t related to the prophet's lifetime, but to the
future time he foresaw in that vision. In order to prove this statement, let us analyze
some examples. For instance, Jeremiah said about ancient Babylon: �Babylon is taken�
(Jer.50:2), �Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed� (Jer.51:8). These words were written
when the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, actually ruled the entire world. There are much
more similar examples.
HOW CAN WE KNOW WHO IS THE FIRST POPE THAT WE SHOULD START COUNTING WITH? Rev.13:3, in which
we can see another example of using the same symbol, says: �And I saw one of his heads as it
were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed�. The other heads were not wounded,
which means that they continued ruling after the wound had been healed.
According to the prophecy, only one of the �heads� will suffer from the consequences of the
wound and its healing, and the only Head of the Catholic Church that meets these
requirements is Pope Pius XI (who ruled from 1922 to 1939). This wound was healed in 1929.
(The others heads are not wounded because they rule after 1929. In chapter 17 all of these
heads are shown after the healing of the wound.)
LET'S ANALYZE THE WOUND HEALED IN DETAIL. Adventist teachings say that papacy was �wounded�
by the capture of the Pope in 1798 (which was the end of the 1260-year rule) and the loss of
freedom that followed. And in 1870 the army of king Victor Emmanuel II rammed a wall of the
city of Rome, the capital of the Papal state, and terminated its secular rule.
Consistent analysis of this subject shows that Papacy will be healed when it gets back the
position it had occupied before it was 'wounded' in 1798; or when the rights it received
when being established in 538 (i.e. in the beginning of the 1260-year period) are restored.
In other words, healing is equal to restoration. It will occur when Papacy is set free from
the states that are limiting its civil activity, and receives an opportunity to strengthen
its authority.
This prophecy was completely fulfilled by the fact that the Lateran Agreements and the
Concordat were signed in 1929. It was the time when the Vatican City State was formed and
Papacy received sovereignty that exceeded by far the sovereignty it had got in 538, and the
one it had lost in 1798. Historians recognize this, and we can see it today, too.
John Paul II, who has recently died, was the sixth 'head' of Papacy after the wound had been
healed. This Pope visited a lot more countries than all the other ones. At the time of his
rule he managed to become an outstanding person respected and honored all over the world.
The angel says about him that he 'is', which doesn�t only point at the present time of his
rule but also emphasizes his importance.
ACCORDING TO THE PROPHECY THE SIXTH POPE OUT OF THE SEVEN ONES STATED WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ONE POPE ONLY, WHO IS CURRENTLY RULING.
WHY ARE THESE SEVEN POPES SINGLED OUT IN THE PROPHECY OF CHAPTER 17? WHAT IS THEIR MEANING?
As can be seen from the Bible, this is the end of these seven heads� rule after which the
Holy Scripture starts telling us about the 'beast' that will come up out of the abyss and
get the whole world to take part in the battle against Christ represented of the saints.
'Those have one mind, and shall give their power and strength into the beast. Those shall
make war with the Lamb.' (Revelation 17:13,14). �War� is the battle of Armageddon, which is
written about in Revelation 16:12-16. Then, �the ten horns which thou sawest upon the
beast, those shall hate the whore (Roman-Catholic Church), and shall make her desolate and
naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire� (Rev.17:16). Does it mean that
spiritual Babylon will be destroyed right after these seven Popes?
Actually, this was our original opinion (by us I mean those who stick to this
interpretation). That's how we explained that:
An angel promised the prophet to show him the judgment (literally, verdict execution) of the
great whore; and showed him the woman on the beast. Still, we don't see God's judgments in
this picture; in contrast, however, we see the triumph of the great whore. How can it be
explained, and how is it connected to the theme of the vision (i.e. judgments)? It seemed
most reasonable to assume that the picture shows the position of the whore IN WHICH SHE WILL
ACTUALLY BE DESTROYED (sitting on the beast at the time of the seven Popes� rule). Next,
there is an explanation of the symbols (e.g. 10 horns) which participate in the events
related to the destruction of the whore; then, in chapter 18, the message of Another Angel
is declared (which seemed to be a parallel description); and finally the actual destruction
of Babylon follows. Since the whore is annihilated right when she is sitting on the 'beast'
at the time of the rule of the seven Popes that all come after the wound is healed, it means
that ONLY seven Popes can rule within the time period that starts with the wound healed and
ends with whore annihilated. Otherwise the 'beast' in chapter 17 (and consequently in
chapter 13) would have more or fewer than seven heads. But, as there are only seven
�heads�, there can be only seven Popes in the given period. That's how we originally
understood this.
In general, I do not object even today to such understanding as to one of the possible ways
of the development of events; however, I don�t think that all of the factors are considered
by this interpretation.
That is to say:
The vision described in chapter 17 doesn�t end with the annihilation of the whore while the
destruction of spiritual Babylon shown in a parallel description (Rev.18) as a millstone
thrown into the sea (Rev.18:21) isn�t related to the end of the seven heads� sequence. This
means that the EXISTENCE OF SPIRITUAL BABYLON MAY LAST EVEN AFTER THESE SEVEN POPES UNDER
STUDY.
There is no doubt that the vision of the seven-headed �beast� is connected to the
destruction of Babylon in Rev.18:21. God wants it to happen this way and make us focus on
it. Still, this vision can be interpreted in another way: the picture in Rev. 17 (the great
whore on the beast) shows the whore�s position at the time WHEN OPERATING FORCES ARE DEFINED
AND THE PROCESSES WHICH WILL ACTUALY LEAD TO HER DEATH ARE LAUNCHED, WITH THE WHORE STILL
ALIVE. The processes mentioned are first of all the message of Another Angel written in Rev.
18:1-5, as well as the appearance of the �beast� in Rev. 17:8.
Do you remember the prophecy given through E. White which says that the if we don�t proclaim
the message given in Rev.18:1-5 at the acceptable time, this work will have to be done at
the time of difficulties and prosecution? Here is the scriptural foundation of this
statement. The �beast�, being �the eighth and one of the seven�, crowns the sequence of the
seven more or less peaceful Popes;
so, if God�s work appears to be incomplete, it will have to be finished at the time of the
beast�s activity (remember Middle Ages? our activity will take place in similar conditions,
except for the fact that papacy will have more technologies and means to attempt at
conquering the children of God). By the way, the �beast� can appear at the time of this
Pope�s rule, since although this �beast� is the �eighth�, it is still �one of the seven.�
Otherwise, prosecutions will begin right after the currently ruling Pope. How long these
prosecutions will last and how many Popes will replace one another after that, we do not
know. But, in any case, the PEACEFUL RULE OF THE CURRENTLY RULING POPE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
PROSECUTIONS.
Dear friends, do you understand what all this means? The hour is already late, and 'plagues'
will be poured out upon our world soon. However, we won't be hurt if we completely entrust
our lives into the hands of Christ.
This message of God�s Mercy does not inform us of the day, the hour or the year of Christ's
coming; but it clearly proclaims that this time is approaching, that He is �at the doors�.
Knowing all this, are we going to brush aside Jesus further on? Are we going to waste the
few remaining years granted to us by God? Isn�t it better today to completely entrust our
lives into the hands of Christ and spend the remaining time serving Him and sharing His Word
with other people? Are you ready to give your heart fully to Christ right now? We cannot
waste a single moment. Please do it now, my friends.
Anyway, the main essence of this prophecy is not the message that the time is close but the
fact that the present time of this prophecy (Rev.17:10) (i.e. the time of the sixth Pope�s
rule), is related to the proclamation of Another Angel's message (Rev.18:1-5), which,
together with the third angel's message, (Rev.14:9-12) forms the last warning message to the
inhabitants of the Earth.
Hence, we can make the following conclusion: God�s will is that the message of Rev.18:1-5
should be proclaimed in an especially active way from the time of the sixth Pope's rule up
to the end of the time of grace, and we should check whether we have got fully involved into
this work, using all the opportunities given to us, or not. If not, we need to correct our
ways in the eyes of God, otherwise it'll be late. This conclusion is proved by the fact that
it is the time of the sixth Pope's rule when the adventists� message started to be
proclaimed in an especially active way: Gospel started to widely spread in post-soviet
republics and in the countries of Africa, China, etc. So, our lamps need to be trimmed, and
we should take part in this work, so that none of us is late.
Besides, as it has already been specified above, we must try to complete the last warning
message proclamation before the end of the seventh Pope's peaceful rule (or the more or less
peaceful initial stage of his rule), as the �beast� hasn't come yet. After that it will be
more difficult for us to complete this work.
In my opinion, this is the most reasonable interpretation of this prophecy: the message is
precise, and moreover, it is a warning one. However, this message does not lead to
agitation, overexcitement and fanaticism. We don't know when Christ will come. We do not
know when the �door� of probation will be shut. However, we know that the rule of the
current Pope, in spite of being rather a peaceful one, will be replaced by prosecutions; and
then we will regret the favorable opportunities to complete God�s work that we missed (while
we will have to work).
Please inform all our brothers and sisters you know about this prophecy.
I�m sure that brothers and sisters should know the prophecy of Revelation 17 (for their own
good) and the fact that this is indispensible scriptural context of the message entrusted to
us by God (i.e. Rev.18:1-5).
7. MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUGGESTED INTERPRETATION AND DECISIONS MADE AT CHURCH
MEETINGS.
Fore more detailed explanation of this prophecy please see the files which can be found on
http://www.levi-vladimir.narod.ru (in Russian).
8. WHAT DOES THE BEAST IN REV.17 SYMBOLIZE?
The interpretation of Revelation 17 under study is very often opposed by the articles of Mr.
Mueller, one of the leading theologians of the Church, who considers the beast of Rev.17 to
symbolize satan and doesn�t connect it to any of the concrete historical/political states
that have ever existed. It is important to mention the fact that Mr. Mueller doesn�t relate
the beast of Rev.17 to any (definite) state, whose time of existence and activity are
directly connected to the theme of the vision described in Rev. 17-18 (it is common
knowledge that this vision is about the annihilation of the �whore� of Babylon at the time
of the last seven plagues and the prior events leading to and directly connected with this
annihilation).
Mr. Mueller�s opinion is not an official church doctrine and is comparatively new.
Nevertheless, as this opinion is used by some of our pastors to justify false unscriptural
views on the meaning of the prophecy given in Rev.17, I have to highlight here some of the
drawbacks of Mr. Mueller�s interpretation.
So, let us try to interpret the meaning of the symbol of the beast, Rev.17, using the
distinct biblical rules of prophecy interpretation adopted by the Adventist Church.
1) The beast in symbolic biblical prophecies describing the activity of earthly
kingdoms and huge groups of people (as well as in visions like Dan.7, Dan.8, Rev.12, Rev.13,
etc.) ALWAYS symbolizes a DEFINITE state. So, it is always a state and always a definite
earthly state. Even in Rev.12, where the dragon, bearing the features of a similar beast,
symbolizes satan, it still also means a definite earthly state, which is a pagan Rome (see
�Great Controversy'). In Mr. Mueller�s opinion, the state symbolized by the beast may
include anything, so as a result the beast doesn't indicate any definite state.
2) The symbol of 7 heads and 10 horns always MEANS AN ANTICHRISTIAN ROMAN STATE.
3) The term during which this state is supposed to exist must last up to the end of the
history of the Earth (see Rev.17:1, which expresses the theme of the chapter). So, which
definite antichristian Roman state exists in the last period of the history of the Earth and
must be annihilated when eschatological events actually take place? I suppose any Adventist
is able to name this state: it is Vatican.
4) It should be explained why we believe that chapter 17, which is an eschatological
one, uses symbols related to our time and even to the Middle Ages, that is to say, to the
historical period. We think that verses Rev.17-18 serve the purpose of describing the
destruction of the spiritual Babylon at the time of the seven last plagues; these events are
related to the eschatological period. In order to make it possible to identify the whore and
the beast, this part of the chapter mentions many symbols connected to the activity of the
spiritual Babylon (to be more exact, papism) during the historical period. Thus, Ellen G.
White relates Rev.17:4-6 to the activity of papism in the Middle Ages. So, in the first part
of chapter 17 we can see a lot of symbols describing the events of the historical period,
and the appearance of the beast in verses 8 and 11 symbolizes transition to eschatological
events. The final part of chapter 17 contains symbols indicating political and spiritual
powers which are to come into action during the eschatological annihilation of the whore,
but are not going to do anything to her until that time. Next, Rev.18:1-5 shows the
preaching of the message which can be compared to a trigger which activates the mechanism
prepared beforehand in order to annihilate the whore (which was described earlier in chapter
17). All this fully corresponds to the conclusion we have already made that the symbol of
the beast in chapter 17 represents the political part of the spiritual Babylon, whose
foundation is Vatican. There is also another, religious constituent part of this symbol,
represented by the whore, whose foundation is the catholic religion, i.e. catholic religious
communities, churches, chapels, local communities, etc.). So, the application of the symbols
of the whore, beast and other symbols of chapter 17 to our epoch contradicts neither the
general meaning of chapter 17 nor the examples of interpretation contained in the books
written by Ellen G. White and related to the historical period.
Another mistake made by Mr. Mueller is the conclusion that as the beast of Rev.17 is similar
to the dragon of Rev.12, it also symbolizes satan, as well as the dragon does. In contrast,
however, the similarity of symbols doesn't mean their identity; and the similarity of
non-identical symbols speaks about the SIMILARITY of the phenomena represented by them but
not about their IDENTITY. I agree that the beast in Rev.17 is driven by the spirit of satan
and reflects his character, but it is impossible to identify it with satan, i.e. the dragon,
as these are DIFFERENT beasts and different symbols. Moreover, the dragon (satan) keeps
acting both before chapter 17 (Rev.12:9) and after it (Rev.20:2), while Rev.17 shows another
symbol.
One more drawback of Mr. Mueller�s interpretation is that he doesn�t pay enough attention to
the general theme of the vision (see Rev.17:1) as well as to the time that the events
described in it refer to. As it has already been stated, the theme of the vision in
Rev.17-18 is the annihilation of the �whore� of Babylon at the time of the last seven
plagues, prior to the second coming of Jesus, and the events taking place before this
�annihilation�. These events precede and lead to the destruction of Babylon. Obviously, the
beast in Rev.17 is a state taking an active part in the events connected to the theme of the
vision. This state exists at the time of these events. In contrast, Mr. Mueller�s
interpretation seems to be an attempt to relate the symbol of the beast in Rev.17 to the
activity of satan after the millennium; this, however, corresponds neither to the theme of
the vision in Rev.17-18, nor to the time of the events described in it.
For more detailed information on the topic please see www.levi-vladimir.narod.ru (in
Russian).
There are some other organizational questions related to E. Mueller�s interpretation.
The negative attitude that many pastors and administrators have towards the interpretation
suggested in this letter and the positive attitude of the same pastors towards the
unscriptural opinion of E. Mueller are very similar to the recession in the Church connected
to the unscriptural views of Dr. Kellogg. And although that deviation took place more that
100 years ago, we should remember what those events taught us at least because sister White
called those events the 'alpha' of the deviation, which was to be followed by �omega�.
This letter is not aimed at explaining if it is possible to relate the unscriptural opinion
of E. Muller to the completion of the prophecy about the �omega� deviation.
Still, so that we can understand the importance of those historical events to us, I will
outline some general features of the �alpha� deviation and the groundless usage of E.
Mueller's interpretation in the Church.
These features are as follows: 1) lack of biblical foundation (both in 'alpha� and Mueller�s
interpretation), 2) lack of accordance with the message given earlier (in Mueller's case,
this means ignoring the prophecy interpretation principles adopted by the Church); 3) next,
groundless and immediate spread of this opinion in the SDA church (without being included
into the number of doctrines); 4) substitution of distinct conclusions pointing at precise
spiritual, church and historical phenomena by vague ones; 5) less distinct understanding of
our duties at this time. One more important similarity is the attitude of the church
leadership to both errors. That time, 100 years ago, even the committee specially appointed
by the Church didn�t recognize the book of Kellogg as contradictory to Adventist doctrines.
And only the supreme organ, the General Conference, confuted the decision of the specially
appointed committee (which would have been impossible without God's interference). Just the
same way the unscriptural interpretation of E. Muller is being eagerly accepted and used by
�high-level� church committees and organizations now (e.g., by the Institute of Bibl�
Research affiliated with the SDA General Conference). That is why we must make the following
conclusions of the �alpha� deviation:
1) We must rely on the Bible instead of a person�s opinion, even if this person is a
high-level leader. Sister White explained it in detail when describing those events (see
�Selected Messages�, pp.193-200, or �Special testimonies, series B, number2�). The errors
made by E. Mueller analyzed here are too evident to ignore after studying this question
honestly, thoroughly, with prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit.
2) In the same testimonies, connected to the same events, sister White writes that God
forbids to avoid objecting to a church leader (when he is promoting some false and harmful
ideas) just because of the respect towards this leader.
3) Doctrinal questions must be handled by a competent group of representatives of our
local churches and conferences, elected and organized in such a way that their decisions
must reflect the opinion of the whole Church. In this case the probability of making an
error when taking a decision is minimal. And although such a group can�t be infallible, too,
it is still guided by God in a special way. This aspect also falls in accordance with the
message given by God via Ellen G. White. That's why I'm asking to organize the discussion of
the suggested interpretation as appropriate.
I would also be grateful if anyone who reads this letter before making any conclusions or
taking any actions related to the suggested interpretation first prayed for God's revelation
concerning the subject.
