What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this
DEN BAGUSE KRISLAM
of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The
application of the symbol admits of no question. 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. A prominent writer, describing the rise of
the United States, speaks of "the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy,"
and says, "Like a silent seed we grew into empire." [TOWNSEND, IN "THE NEW
WORLD COMPARED WITH THE OLD," P. 462.] A European journal in 1850 spoke of
the United States as a wonderful empire, which was "emerging," and "amid the
silence of the earth daily adding to its power and pride." [THE DUBLIN
NATION.] Edward Everett, in an oration on the Pilgrim founders of this
nation, said: "Did they look for a retired spot, inoffensive from its
obscurity, safe in its remoteness from the haunts of despots, where the
little church of Leyden might enjoy freedom of conscience? Behold the mighty
regions over which, in peaceful conquest, . . . they have borne the banners
of the cross."
"And he had two horns like a lamb." The lamb-like horns indicate youth,
innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United
States when presented to the prophet as "coming up" in 1798. The Christian
exiles who first fled to America, sought an asylum from royal oppression and
priestly intolerance, and they determined to establish a government upon the
broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. The Declaration of
Independence sets forth the great truth that "all men are created equal,"
and endowed with the inalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of
self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote
shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also
granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates
of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental
principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and
prosperity. The oppressed and down-trodden throughout Christendom have
turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have sought its shores,
and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations
of the earth.
But the beast with lamb-like horns "spake as a dragon. 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, .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."
[REV. 13:11-14.]
The lamb-like horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking
contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus
represented. The "speaking" of the nation is the action of its legislative
and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those
liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of
its policy. The prediction that it will speak "as a dragon," and exercise
"all the power of the first beast," plainly foretells a development of the
spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations
represented by the dragon and the leopard-like beast. And the statement that
the beast with two horns "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to
worship the first beast," indicates that the authority of this nation is to
be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to
the papacy.
Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this
government, to the genius of its free institutions, to the direct and solemn
avowals of the Declaration of Independence, and to the Constitution. The
founders of the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of
secular power on the part of the church, with its inevitable
result--intolerance and persecution. The Constitution provides that
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof," and that "no religious test shall
ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the
United States." Only in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the
nation's liberty, can any religious observance be enforced by civil
authority. But the inconsistency of such action is no greater than is
represented in the symbol. It is the beast with lamb-like horns--in
profession pure, gentle, and harmless-- that speaks as a dragon.
"Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image
to the beast." Here is clearly presented a form of government in which the
legislative power rests with the people; a most striking evidence that the
United States is the nation denoted in the prophecy.
But what is the "image to the beast"? and how is it to be formed? The
image is made by the two-horned beast, and is an image to the first beast.
It is also called an image of the beast. Then to learn what the image is
like, and how it is to be formed, we must study the characteristics of the
beast itself, --the papacy. When the early church became corrupted by
departing from the simplicity of the gospel, and accepting heathen rites and
customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the
consciences of the people she sought the support of the secular power. The
result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the State, and
employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of
"heresy." In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the
religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of
the State will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends.
{GC88 443.2}
Whenever the church has obtained secular power, she has employed it to
punish dissent from her doctrines. Protestant churches that have followed in
the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers, have manifested a
similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience. An example of this is
given in the long-continued persecution of dissenters by the Church of
England. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of
non-conformist ministers were forced to leave their churches, and many, both
of pastors and people, were subjected to fine, imprisonment, torture, and
martyrdom.
It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil
government, and this prepared the way for the development of the
papacy,--the beast. Said Paul, There shall
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"come a falling away, . . . and that man of sin be revealed." [2 THESS. 2:3]
So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast.
And the Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord there will exist a
state of religious declension similar to that in the first centuries. "In
the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." [2 TIM. 3:1-5] "Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." [1
TIM. 4:1.] Satan will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." And all that "received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved," will be left to accept "strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie." [2 THESS. 2:9-11.] When this
state of ungodliness shall be reached, the same results will follow as in
the first centuries.
The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by
many as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever
be made. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith,
a strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points
of doctrine. To secure such a union, the discussion of subjects upon which
all were not agreed--however important they might be from a Bible
standpoint--must necessarily be waived.
Charles Beecher, in a sermon in the year 1846, declared that the
ministry of "the evangelical Protestant denominations" is "not only formed
all the way up under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they
live, and move, and breathe in a state of things radically corrupt, and
appealing every hour to every baser element of their nature to hush up the
truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy. Was not this the way
things went with Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we
see just ahead?--Another general council! A world's convention! evangelical
alliance, and universal creed!" When this shall be gained, then, in the
effort to secure complete uniformity, it will be only a step to the resort
to force.
When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such
points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the State
to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant
America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction
of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.
The beast with two horns "causeth [commands] all, both small and great,
rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in
their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the
mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." [REV. 13:16, 17]
The third angel's warning is, "If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink
of the wine of the wrath of God." "The beast" mentioned in this message,
whose worship is enforced by the two-horned beast, is the first, or
leopard-like beast of Revelation 13,--the papacy. The "image to the beast"
represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when
the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the
enforcement of their dogmas. The "mark of the beast" still remains to be
defined.
After the warning against the worship of the beast and his image, the
prophecy declares, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus." Since those who keep God's commandments are thus placed in
contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his
mark, it follows that the keeping of God's law, on the one hand, and its
violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of
God and the worshipers of the beast.
The special characteristic of the beast, and therefore of his image, is
the breaking of God's commandments. Says Daniel, of the little horn, the
papacy, "He shall think to change the times and the law." [DAN. 7:25,
REVISED VERSION.] And Paul styled the same power the "man of sin," who was
to exalt himself above God. One prophecy is a complement of the other. Only
by changing God's law could the papacy exalt itself above God; whoever
should understandingly keep the law as thus changed would be giving supreme
honor to that power by which the change was made. Such an act of obedience
to papal laws would be a mark of allegiance to the pope in the place of God.
The papacy has attempted to change the law of God. The second
commandment, forbidding image worship, has been dropped from the law, and
the fourth commandment has been so changed as to authorize the observance of
the first instead of the seventh day as the Sabbath. But papists urge, as a
reason for omitting the second commandment, that it is unnecessary, being
included in the first, and that they are giving the law exactly as God
designed it to be understood. This cannot be the change foretold by the
prophet. An intentional, deliberate change is presented: "He shall think to
change the times and the law." The change in the fourth commandment exactly
fulfills the prophecy. For this the only authority claimed is that of the
church. Here the papal power openly sets itself above God.
While the worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their
regard for the fourth commandment,-- since this is the sign of his creative
power, and the witness to his claim upon man's reverence and homage,--the
worshipers of the beast will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down
the Creator's memorial, to exalt the institution
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of Rome. It was in behalf of the Sunday, that popery first asserted its
arrogant claims; [SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 9.] and its first resort to the power
of the State was to compel the observance of Sunday as "the Lord's day." But
the Bible points to the seventh day, and not to the first, as the Lord's
day. Said Christ, "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." The fourth
commandment declares, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord." And by
the prophet Isaiah the Lord designates it, "My holy day." [MARK 2:28; ISA.
58:13.]
The claim so often put forth, that Christ changed the Sabbath, is
disproved by his own words. In his sermon on the mount he said: "Think not
that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of
Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called
great in the kingdom of Heaven." [MATT. 5:17-19.]
It is a fact generally admitted by Protestants, that the Scriptures
give no authority for the change of the Sabbath. This is plainly stated in
publications issued by the American Tract Society and the American
Sunday-school Union. One of these works acknowledges "the complete silence
of the New Testament so far as any explicit command for the Sabbath [Sunday,
the first day of the week] or definite rules for its observance are
concerned."
Another says: "Up to the time of Christ's death, no change had been
made in the day;" and, "so far as the record shows, they [the apostles] did
not give any explicit command enjoining the abandonment of the seventh-day
Sabbath, and its observance on the first day of the week. Roman Catholics
acknowledge that the change of the Sabbath was made by their church, and
declare that Protestants, by observing the Sunday, are recognizing her
power. In the "Catholic Catechism of Christian Religion," in answer to a
question as to the day to be observed in obedience to the fourth
commandment, this statement is made: "During the old law, Saturday was the
day sanctified; but the church, instructed by Jesus Christ, and directed by
the Spirit of God, has substituted Sunday for Saturday; so now we sanctify
the first, not the seventh day. Sunday means, and now is, the day of the
Lord."
As the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, papist writers
cite, "the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants
allow of . . . because by keeping Sunday strictly they acknowledge the
church's power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin."
["ABRIDGMENT OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE."] What then is the change of the
Sabbath, but the sign or mark of the authority of the Romish Church--"the
mark of the beast"?
The Roman Church has not relinquished her claim to supremacy; and when
the world and the Protestant churches accept a sabbath of her creating,
while they reject the Bible Sabbath, they virtually admit this assumption.
They may claim the authority of tradition and of the Fathers for the change;
but in so doing they ignore the very principle which separates them from
Rome,--that "the Bible, and the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants."
The papist can see that they are deceiving themselves, willingly closing
their eyes to the facts in the case. As the movement for Sunday enforcement
gains favor, he rejoices, feeling assured that it will eventually bring the
whole Protestant world under the banner of Rome.
Romanists declare that "the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is
an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the
[Catholic] Church." ["PLAIN TALK ABOUT PROTESTANTISM," ] The enforcement of
Sunday-keeping on the part of Protestant churches is an enforcement of the
worship of the papacy--of the beast. Those who, understanding the claims of
the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true
Sabbath; are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is
commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular
power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the
enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement
of the worship of the beast and his image.
But Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that
in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath, and there are now true
Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who
honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God
accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before him. But when
Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be
enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever
shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher
authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is
paying homage to Rome, and to the power which enforces the institution
ordained by Rome. He is worshipping the beast and his image. As men then
reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of his
authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of
her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome--"the
mark of the beast." And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before
the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God
and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will
receive "the mark of the beast."
The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortal is contained in
the third angel's message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the
wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness
concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be
given to the world before the visitation of God's judgments, that all may
know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them.
Prophecy declares that the first angel would make his announcement to "every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." The warning of the third
angel, which forms a part of the same threefold message, is to be no less
widespread. It is represented in the prophecy as proclaimed with a loud
voice, by an angel flying in the midst of heaven; and it will command the
attention of the world.
In the issue of the contest, all Christendom will be divided into two
great classes,--those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.
Although church and State will unite their power to compel "all, both small
and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive "the mark of the
beast," [REV. 13:16.] yet the people of God will not receive it. The prophet
of Patmos beholds "them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over
his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the
sea of glass, having the harps of God," and singing the song of Moses and
the Lamb. [REV. 15: 2, 3.]