The Two-Horned Beast of Iowa.
By John H. Waggoner
I HAVE been much interested and pleased with the review of the Iowa position on the two-horned beast of Rev. xiii. I have, of course, been somewhat acquainted with the opinions of commentators on that chapter, formed before the rise of the Advent messages and the developments of the present generation. No one acquainted with the Advent cause can deny that much light has arisen on the fulfillment of prophecy since the commencement of the labors of William Miller; and the remarkable spread of Spiritualism, with its falsities and wonders has greatly aided in fixing the location of some most interesting portions of the book of Revelation. Opinions formed before the rise of this light on the fulfillment of prophecy and of these manifestations of modern Necromancy, could only be conjectural, while with these before us we may reduce our views to a certainty. It is worthy of continual note that the first and second messages of Rev. xiv, refer to no fact connected with the miracles of chap. xiii, but the third message is based upon these very facts; showing that whatever these miracles are or were, they have their rise after the two first messages, and during the third. But it is also a fact that the “fire of wrath” (!) came on the defenseless Christians mostly before it is claimed the two first messages were given; and after the Reformation fairly commenced, this singularly miraculous “fire of wrath” speedily abated. With our views of the two-horned beast, there is a remarkable harmony between all parts of the prophecy and its fulfillment, so far as it is fulfilled or being fulfilled. The Adventists professed to give the message of Rev. xiv, 6, 7; they claimed that scripture as the “leading advent proclamation,” and the “main branch of our [their] specific work.” After the passing of the time, on which this message was based, the second was given, and soon arose the miraculous wonders of Spiritualism to which the present message stands related. Without any thought of adding to the argument of the review, I refer to these facts as the ground of my surprise that any Advent believer should, at this day, re-vamp these old conjectures and pass them off for light on the prophecies! I greatly fear that prejudice has had more to do with the establishment of that theory in Iowa, than reason.