The Two-Horned Beast and Its Image
(Continued from page 204.) nation has arisen, would consume, at least, a century. And more than this, if this nation is not the one meant by the two-horned beast, the prophecy has utterly failed; for 68 years have gone by since the time at which it should have been seen coming up; which was, as we have shown, the time when the first beast went into captivity in 1798. Let us notice, also, how the way is prepared and preparing, for the great act of the two-horned beast, which is the formation of an image to the first beast. Under the mild influence of one of the lamb-like horns, the Protestant principle that all have liberty to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, which the government has thus far guaranteed to all its subjects, churches have multiplied in the land. But these churches have rejected light and truth, and, as a body, have met with a moral fall. A catalogue of twenty immoral features, with no good ones, is the photograph which Paul gives in 2 Tim. iii, 1–5, of the popular church of the last days. But the people of God are yet mainly to be found in connection with these churches, and are yet to be called out. Rev. xviii, 4. And when the good have all left the nominal churches, and the saving influence of such is all withdrawn from their communion, then they will be ready for any desperate and oppressive movement that Satan can induce those to enter upon who are led captive by him at his will. Now out of this material, let an ecclesiastical organization be formed, and let the government grant it power (and it will not have it till the government does grant it) to enforce its dogmas under the pains and penalties of the civil law; and what do we have? An exact image to the first beast, a church clothed with power to enforce its doctrines upon dissenters with fire and sword. Here would be an organization, separate from the government, constituting no part of it, yet created by it, and forming a most perfect counterpart to the prophecy of the image of the beast. To be sure, this persecution built up for opinion’s sake is contrary to the principle now maintained by the government, as represented by one of the horns, that every man shall have liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience; but this answers well to the symbol; for the dragon voice is directly the opposite of lamb-like horns. That this persecuting power succeeds in its purpose of putting the saints to death, we have no proof. On the other hand, it plainly appears that it does not. Why, says one, does he not cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed? Yes, we reply, and so, likewise, he causes all to receive a mark. But do all actually receive it? Do the saints of God receive the mark of the beast? No, they get the victory over him; and Rev. xx, 4, plainly states that they do not receive the mark of the beast. Yet he causes all to receive the mark. Now if he can cause all to receive the mark, and yet all not actually receive it, in like manner he can cause that as many as will not receive it shall be killed, and yet they not actually be put to death. This is one of the instances so common in the Bible, where a verb of action is used to signify merely the will and endeavor to do the action in question. In this case, the word “cause” would signify merely to decree or enact. Of those who get the victory over the beast and his image, there are 144,000. Rev. xiv, 1. Just endeavor to harmonize this with the application which H. E. C. makes of the prophecy. During the long dark ages in which the Romish hierarchy bore rule, who were the victors over the beast? Who? Were they the martyrs? Certainly it could have been no others. But there were more than fifty millions of these, not simply one hundred and forty-four thousand as the prophecy says. And these victors are the last generation of the saints; for they are translated from among the living, “redeemed from among men.” This cannot be true of any martyr who has been crushed by the weight of papal oppression in ages past. The view here briefly outlined was once believed by H. E. C. What has led him to surrender it to a view so disjointed and unscriptural as the one we have been examining? He tells us that the main reason is that he sees no indications that this government is going to carry out the acts mentioned in the prophecy, and become a persecuting power. This is sadly similar to what a certain class say who inquire, “Where is the promise of his coming?” They see no indications of such an event. If they did, they would believe. The question here, is simply this: Will the last generation of saints suffer persecution? Will the world, sunk to an unparalleled degree of immorality and corruption, be so favorable to truth and goodness as to leave unmolested the saints of God? Does H. E. C. believe this? Then if persecution is coming, from whom is it coming? Why may it not be from an organization as well as from individuals? And are there not just as many indications that persecution will come in an organized systematic way, as that it will come at all? To say nothing of the two-horned beast question, the position of H. E. C. virtually is, My Lord delayeth his coming; for there are no indications of the persecution of the people of God which must first take place. What the people of God in the last days need is to know their position in prophecy; to read from the word the perils they are to meet, the powers of evil against which they are to contend, and the duties they are to perform. And there is no portion of the prophetic word which sets these things forth in a more direct and pointed manner than the prophecy of the two-horned beast. But this H. E. C. gives to past generations. The conflict, and the glorious reward to the overcomer, are given to others, and we are all left out. There is a close and immediate connection between the conflict with the two-horned beast, and the warning attending it, Rev. xiv, 9–12, and the coming of Christ. But according to H. E. C., the last generation of saints are passed right over, and no portion of the conflict, and no portion of the reward are allotted to them. Believe it not. These are prophecies that relate to us. They bring to view present dangers, and present duties. They concern us, and we do well to prepare for the issue. The spirits of devils are abroad upon their mission. The churches are fast filling up the deplorable moral outline given to them; and a conflict is evidently now between the powers of darkness and the people of God. Let us nerve up our hearts to meet it bravely, in view of the complete and eternal victory that lies beyond.