Dividing the Gold

William Miller (1782-1849)

Rules of Interpretation

I. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. Proof; Matt.
5.18. [see also Rev. 22:18, 19. Matt. 4:4. Deut. 4:2. Prov. 30:5, 6. Rom. 15:4. I Cor. 10:11, 12].

II. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by a diligent application and study.
Proof; 2 Tim. 3:15-17. [see also Heb. 11:6. Jer. 29:10-14; 33:3. Isa. 55:6, 7].

III. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering.
Proof; Deut. 29:29. Matt. 10:26, 27. 1 Cor. 2:10. Phil. 3:15. Isa. 45:11. Matt. 21:22. John 14:13,
14; 15:7. James 1:5, 6. 1 John 5:13-15.

IV. To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together on the subject you wish to know;
then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form you theory without a
contradiction, you cannot be in error. Proof; Isa. 28:7-29; 35:8. Prov. 19:27. Luke 24:27, 44, 45.
Rom. 16:26. Jms. 5:19. 2 Pet. 1:19, 20. [see also John 7:16, 17].

V. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to
expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his
sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed or wisdom, is my rule,
and not the Bible. Proof; Ps. 19:7-11; 119:97-105. Mat. 23:8-10. 1 Cor. 2:12-16. Ezk. 34:18, 19.
Luke 11:52. Matt. 2:7, 8. [see also Jer. 17:5-7. I Jn. 4:1; Jn. 7:24. I Thess. 5:19-21; II Thess. 2:1-13.
Mt. 24:4,5, 23,24. Isa. 8:20].

VI. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables; and in this way the
same things are oftentimes revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different
figures and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one.
Proof; Ps. 89:19. Hos. 12:10. Hab. 2:2. Acts 2:17. 1 Cor. 10:6. Heb. 9:9, 24. Ps. 68:2. Matt. 13:13,
34. Gen. 41:1-32. Dan. 2, 7 and 8. Acts 10:9-16.

VII. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2 Cor. 12:1.

VIII. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy to represent
future things, times and events,– such as mountains, meaning governments, beasts, meaning
kingdoms. Waters, meaning people. Lamp, meaning Word of God. Day, meaning year. Dan.
2:35, 44; beasts, meaning kingdoms, Dan. 7:8, 17; waters, meaning people, Rev. 17:1, 15; day,
meaning year, etc., Ezk. 4:6. [see also Num. 14:34].

IX. Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same
way as figures, by the subject and Bible. Mark 4:13.

X. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative
sense to represent three different periods of time, namely, first, indefinite, Eccles. 7:14; second,
definite, a day for a year, Ezk. 4:6, and third a day for a thousand years, I Pet. 3:8.

The right construction will harmonize with the Bible, and make good sense; other
constructions will not.

XI. If a word makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of
nature, it is to be understood literally; if not, figuratively. Rev. 12:1, 2; 17:3-7.

XII. To learn the meaning of a figure, trace the word through your Bible, and when you find it
explained, substitute the explanation for the word used; and, if it makes good sense, you need
not look further; if not, look again.

XIII. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy; If you
find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you
may know that your history is the true event; but if one word lacks a fulfillment then you must
look for another event, or wait its future development; for God takes care that history and
prophecy shall agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed. Ps.
22:5. Isa. 45:17-19. I Pet. 2:6. Rev. 17:17. Acts 3:18.

2
XIV. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires
a sacrifice, and if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires,–
character, living, occupation, family, home, comfort, and worldly honors. If any of them should
hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever
believe so long as any of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. We must believe that God will
never forfeit His word; and we can have confidence that He who takes notice of the sparrow’s
fall, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of His own word, and throw a
barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in
His word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek.
[Heb.11:6. Rom.14:23. Jms.2:26. Jn.7:16,17. Mt.7:21].

Daniel 11: 1-3

Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and
the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up
all against the realm of Grecia.

3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his
will.

Daniel 11: 40-45

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north
shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many
ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these
shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious
things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

3
44 Buttidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth
with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45 And
he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy
mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Northern Israel had 19 kings Donald Trump 19th President of USA

Judah had 20 kings Ted Wilson 20th Conference President

When the third angel's message is preached as it should be, power attends its proclamation, and it becomes an
“When the third angel’s message is preached as it should be, power attends its proclamation
and it becomes an abiding influence. It must be attended with divine power, or it will
accomplish nothing. I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were
wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a
special application to this time, and, like the third angel's message, has been fulfilled and will
continue to be present truth till the close of time. In the parable, the ten virgins had lamps, but
only five of them had the saving oil with which to keep their lamps burning. This represents the
condition of the Church. The wise and the foolish have their Bibles, and are provided with all
the means of grace; but many do not appreciate the fact that they must have the heavenly
unction. They do not heed the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” RH
Aug 19, 1890, par 3.

“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation
[the United States] will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall
stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach
over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold
union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and
republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and
delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and
that the end is near” Testimonies for the Church 5:451.

4
Revelation 13:11-18

11 AndI beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb,
and he spake as a dragon.

12 And
he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and
them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men,

14 And
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had
power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should
make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 Andhe had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast
should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in
their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 Andthat no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or
the number of his name.

18 Here
is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the
number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 17:5-18

5 Andupon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF
HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs
of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7 And
the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the
woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

5
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go
into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in
the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is
not, and yet is.

9 And
here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the
woman sitteth.

10 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.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth
into perdition.

12 Andthe ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of
lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15 And
he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 And
the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall
make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17 ForGod hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the
beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the
earth.

6
1. BABYLON F

A
2. MEDO PERSIA

3. GREECE
L

4. PAGAN ROME E

5. PAPAL ROME N
6. UNITED STATES ONE IS

7. UNITED NATIONS NOT YET COME

8. PAPAL ROME IS OF THE SEVEN

7
Daniel 2:29-34

29 As
for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass
hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any
living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou
mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

31 Thou,O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was
excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

32 Thisimage's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs
of brass,

33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

34 Thousawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet
that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

Daniel 3:1-18

1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the
breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the
captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the
provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the
sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and
all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath set up:

6 Andwhoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.

8
7 Thereforeat that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell
down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship
the golden image:

11 Andwhoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.

12 Thereare certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then
Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I
have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we

are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 Ifit be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he
will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But
if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the
golden image which thou hast set up.

9
 1. RONALD REAGAN
1989 - TIME OF THE END
2. GEORGE BUSH SR.

YET
3. BILL CLINTON
1

4. GEORGE BUSH JR. 2 9/11 – PATRIOT ACT

5. BARACK OBAMA
3

6. DONALD TRUMP 4th

RAPHIA 7. JOE BIDEN COVID 19 MANDATE

PANIUM 8. DONALD TRUMP NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW

10
Revelation 11:7-8

7 Andwhen they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the
bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom
and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

N
ONE IS
NOT YET COME

IS OF THE SEVEN

Habakkuk 2:1-4

1
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say
unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

11
2 Andthe LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he
may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though
it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Said Christ, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me.” Again he said, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness.” The light of truth is going forth like a burning lamp, and those who love the light will
not walk in darkness. They will study the Scriptures, that they may know of a surety that they
are listening to the voice of the true Shepherd, and not that of a stranger. – {RH November 25,
1884 Par. 22}

Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures
upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the
Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent
and important rules for Bible study and interpretation: – {RH November 25, 1884 Par. 23}

Perfecting the Device of Satan—When the legislature frames laws which exalt the first day of
the week, and put it in the place of the seventh day, the device of Satan will be perfected (The
Review and Herald, April 15, 1890). – {7BC 976.6}

Daniel 3:1-18; see EGW comment on 1 John 2:18. History Will Be Repeated—History will be
repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day,
possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and
tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan’s plan
to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of
creation. – {7BC 976.7}

The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world. In a limited degree,
it has already gone forth. In several places the civil power is speaking with the voice of a
dragon, just as the heathen king spoke to the Hebrew captives. – {7BC 976.8}

Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the Word of God, refuse to worship
this false sabbath. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the
king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by
men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the
furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The papacy has exercised her power to
compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was

12
manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism (The Signs of the Times, May 6,
1897). – {7BC 976.9}

(Revelation 14:9-12.) Men in Authority to Hear—God is going to bring around a condition of

things where the good men and the men in authority will have an opportunity to know what is
truth indeed. And because a people will not bow the knee to the image, and receive the mark
of the beast in the hand or the forehead, but will stand to the truth because it is truth, there
will be oppression, and an attempt to compel the conscience; but those who have known the
truth will be afraid to yield to the powers of darkness. God has a people who will not receive
the mark of the beast in their right hand or in their forehead.... – {7BC 976.10}

Not a move has been made in exalting the idol sabbath, in bringing around Sunday observance
through legislation, but Satan has been behind it, and has been the chief worker; but the
conscience should not be compelled even for the observance of the genuine Sabbath, for God
will accept only willing service (The Review and Herald, April 15, 1890). – {7BC 977.1}

The Law of God Made Void—A time is coming when the law of God is, in a special sense, to be
made void in our land. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the
Sunday law, and thus God’s people be brought into great peril. When our nation, in its
legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious
privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those
who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made
void in our land; and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin (The Review and
Herald, December 18, 1888). – {7BC 977.2}

Contempt for the Great Lawgiver—The sins of the world will have reached unto heaven when
the law of God is made void; when the Sabbath of the Lord is trampled in the dust, and men are
compelled to accept in its stead an institution of the papacy through the strong hand of the law
of the land. In exalting an institution of man above the institution ordained of God, they show
contempt for the great Lawgiver, and refuse His sign or seal (The Review and Herald, November
5, 1889). – {7BC 977.3}

Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation,
that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it
contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for
truth a foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will
be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who
“hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” – {AA
584.2}

In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book
of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the
Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel

13
commanded, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the
end.” Daniel 12:4. – {AA 585.1}

It was Christ who bade the apostle record that which was to be opened before him. “What thou
seest, write in a book,” He commanded, “and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;
unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and
unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore.... Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right
hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:11, 18-20.
– {AA 585.

14
15