The Two-horned Beast

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 27, 1866

The Two-horned Beast.

A Review of H. E. Carver.

(Concluded.)

The views of S. D. Adventists relative to the two-horned beast are well understood by most of the readers of the Review. In reviewing the articles of H. E. C., therefore, our object has not been to present anew our own views of the subject, but simply to show the unsoundness of the positions taken by him in opposition thereto. Having gone through with his arguments, a glance at a few of the leading features of our own theory will conclude for the present our remarks on this subject.

In Review Vol. xix, No. 16, we had occasion to speak of the acts of the two-horned beast. We found that there were nine specific acts ascribed to him, only three of which were fulfilled, and they but partially. A writer on the same side of this question with H. E. C. takes this up, and represents that we have but nine specifications to show the application of the symbol of the two-horned beast to this government, and that none of them are fulfilled, and that we are to wait for the United States to make history, and develop a correspondence to the prophetic symbol. It is a consoling thought that everybody is not so blind as to confound specific acts to be done by a power, with the specifications which identify the power. There are in the prophecy of the two-horned beast many specifications which are fulfilled in these United States, some of which cannot be made to apply to any other government.

1. It is a separate and distinct power. This is too evident to call for proof. The two-horned beast acts in the sight of the first beast, and in reference to him; not in connection with him. This is perfectly answered in the United States.

2. Being a separate and distinct power, it must occupy different territory. Two governments cannot occupy the same territory at the same time. This is further proved by what the two-horned beast does. He causes the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast. Now the first beast, whatever power may be meant by it, is certainly competent to enforce its own worship in its own country and from its own subjects; and the fact, that the two-horned beast has to put forth his authority to cause those under his dominion to worship the first beast, is proof positive that it occupies territory and rules over a class of subjects over which the first beast has no jurisdiction. Then we must look for this power to some nation outside the territory occupied by the governments of Europe; for that territory is all taken up by the beast and the ten horns. This specification is admirably met in our own government, which has arisen outside the territory of the ten kingdoms, and in less than a hundred years, has sprung from a dependent colony to equal rank with the highest in the catalogue of nations.

3. The two-horned beast arises subsequently to the ten-horned beast; for that is called the first beast—first, because it had priority of existence. That beast we have proved to be the papacy. Now we ask, What power of any note has arisen outside of the ten kingdoms of Europe, since the establishment of the papacy, except our own government? None.

4. But the two-horned beast not only rises subsequently to the ten-horned beast, but a definite time is pointed out at which he begins to attract the attention of the world as a rising power; and this is when the first beast goes into captivity. Verse 10. At that time, says John (for there is no change in the scene), I beheld another beast “coming up.” The going into captivity of the first beast, verse 10, was, as we have shown, the temporary overthrow of the papacy by Bonaparte, in 1798, being the same as the wounding of one of the heads to death, mentioned in verse 3. And it is subsequent to the healing of that wounded head, that the two-horned beast causes his subjects to worship that beast; for he causes them to worship the beast “whose deadly wound was healed.” The work of the two-horned beast is thus brought down this side of the year 1798. And we here ask, What notable power was there on the face of the earth, “coming up,” and attracting the attention of the world, in the year 1798, except our own government? Not one. No power can be found in which these three last specifications find a fulfillment except these United States.

5. The manner of its rise. The two-horned beast comes up out of the earth, unlike most of the others, which are said to come up out of the sea. That is, it arose in a quiet, peaceful, manner, instead of through strife and commotion. This is true of our government, but not of any other to which we can look for a fulfillment of the two-horned beast prophecy.

6. Its character. It had two horns like a lamb. What was it that was like a lamb? Not the beast, but the horns. And why did not the prophecy say simply that he had two horns, and nothing further? Why two horns like a lamb? It can be for no other purpose than to represent the character of this power. And the fact that there are two of these horns, signifies that there are two leading characteristics belonging to the power in question, which are mild, harmless, and lamblike. And how admirably this is met in our own government. The leading principles of this government are Republicanism and Protestantism. What principles can be more mild and lamblike in appearance? And on these this government is founded; and these are the secret springs of its greatness and power. It was the object of those who first sought these shores, to found, as expressed by the Hon. J. A. Bingham, “a Church without a pope, and a State without a king;” a government where all men should be considered free and equal, and all have the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. And under the benign influence of one of these principles, the declaration of equality and liberty, the eyes of the world are turned to the open arms of this nation, and emigration flows from all lands to our thus far inviting and hospitable shores. And under the mild operation of the other, freedom of conscience for all, the gospel has been proclaimed and churches of Christ have multiplied. And right here, our opponents are very anxious to have us take the position that these churches are one of the horns. And not content to wait to see whether we will or not, they come out and represent with all the emphasis that can be put into type, that according to our view, the true church of Christ, for about 60 years, constituted one of the horns of this blasphemous dragon-like beast. This man of straw which they have so generously and disinterestedly manufactured for us, we decline admitting as a member of our household. Having got it upon their hands, they can dispose of it to their own liking.

7. Another point may not be overlooked. The two horns have no crowns upon them, which shows that the character of the government is not monarchical; and the language of verse 14 shows that it must be republican; for an appeal is made to the people in the enactment of its laws. It is some government in which the law-making power resides in the people. And we may look where we will, outside of these United States, and we find no power of sufficient importance to be noticed in prophecy, in which this specification is met.

Here are seven specifications, all perfectly fulfilled in this government, and six of them applicable to no other government in the wide world. Now, if our nation is not the one which is represented by that symbol, then the fulfillment of that part of the prophecy is not even commenced; and we have yet to wait, not merely for certain acts to be done on the part of this government, which it is able at any time to do, and which, according to our view of the prophecy, are the only things for which we have to wait; but we have to wait for the development and growth of the power itself, and then for the performance of its acts. And this, if the power should rise as rapidly as our own (Continued on page 206.)