2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
1.0 Introduction
The pioneer reformer of the “Great Advent Awakening,” William Miller interpreted the time prophecies of Dn. 8:14 and Dn. 12:11 by connecting the “daily” (or the continuance) of Daniel with the restrainer in Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians.(134) He identified the man of lawlessness as papal Rome, while the restraining power in the development of the papacy was interpreted as paganism. Through analogous reasoning Miller concluded that the “daily” also signified paganism which gave way to papal Rome. “The daily” was interpreted as the “daily abomination” or the first abomination and was represented as paganism in general, or Rome more specifically. The “abomination that makes desolate” was identified as papal Rome. Thus in Dn. 12:11 the Roman empire would be taken away and papal Rome would be set up.(135)
Historically, “the daily” has been identified interchangeably as paganism or pagan Rome. U. Smith identified “the daily” in Daniel 8:11 as pagan Rome,(136) but in Daniel 8:13 and 11:31 he identified “the daily” as paganism.(137) Similarly, William Miller linked “the daily” of Daniel 8:11 with “the restrainer” in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, identifying both as paganism which was interchangeable with pagan Rome.(138)
References:
134) “The Daily,” Midnight Cry, Vol. 5, No. 7, p. 52-53, Oct.5, 1843.
135) P. G. Damsteegt, Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, Berrien Springs: Andrews University Press, pp. 38-39, 1977.
136) Smith: D & R, pp. 159-161.
137) Ibid., pp. 165, 271.
138) Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Washington DC: Review & Herald, p. 367, 1976. See also P. G. Damsteegt, Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, Berrien Springs: Andrews University Press, p. 38, 1977.
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