p. 361 | DESIGNED TO OVERTHROW by Roswell F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 26, 1868

“DESIGNED TO OVERTHROW.”

By Roswell F. Cottrell

In advertising a pamphlet on prophecy, the writer says, “This work is designed to overthrow the foundation of the application of the prophecy of the two-horned beast of Rev. xiii, 11–18, to the United States.

Every writer has a design. Some have something to build up, others have no other object but to overthrow. The infidel writes to overthrow the Christian’s faith and hope, but he has nothing to build up to supply their place. It is his business to tear down, he has nothing to build up, nothing to give to supply the want of suffering humanity. If the believer in Divine Revelation is despoiled of his faith and hope, he wants something better to supply their place, something of real worth, to satisfy his craving after truth and right, and something of promise, equal, at least, to the hope which he surrenders. Nothing of this has the infidel to give. His “work is designed to overthrow,” and there is the end of it.

It is necessary, however, to labor to overthrow error, that we may build up the truth, and thus save souls from the pernicious effects of error by giving the true faith and a hope that will not prove fallacious. For example, the doctrine of the conversion of the world and a Spiritual reign of Christ on the earth in its present state, is a dangerous error, as it serves to close men’s eyes to the important and stirring truth that the end of all things is at hand. While there is impending danger, it lulls men to sleep in false security. It would be right to labor to overthrow this error, by giving men the truth that will, if heeded, save their souls.

Now, if the prophecy of the beast with two horns like a lamb, points out the perils of the true Christian in the United States, it is of real value to him to know it. It will save him from falling in the hour of fierce temptation. He will be prepared to see the force of the warning message, a most thrilling, important warning against the work of this second beast. This message (Rev. xiv, 9–12) is extremely important, and absolutely necessary now, if the work of the two-horned beast is about to be seen. But if this is all far in the past then the danger is over and we may rest secure. On the other hand, if the prophecy applies to our own time, to rest in a false security, believing that it relates to the far-distant past, will prove a fatal error, while the reality shall come upon the deluded soul like a thief, and take him suddenly as a snare.

But this doctrine, which is well calculated to put men on their guard, is what the writer in question designed to overthrow. Has he any thing better to present? No; it is a peace-and-safety cry that the prophecy has had its fulfillment in the past. If his view should prove untrue, if the danger from the work of this beast should have its fulfillment in our own times, and in our own country—it will prove that the labor of the writer was to destroy souls—to deceive and mislead them to their destruction.

But supposing our view that the danger is now imminent—that men are now to prepare themselves for the great trial of their faith—is incorrect; what harm will it do to be put on our guard? Nothing can put the Christian too much on his guard. It will not harm him to prepare for the worst. And should it finally appear that this danger is in the past, he will be no worse for preparing to meet it. But should he be disposed to sleep, looking for no trial or danger, he may awake to the truth when it is too late to escape.

We have no doubt that the writer in question “designed to overthrow,” but has nothing of real value to build up instead. R. F. COTTRELL.