Studies in the Gospel Message
By William W. Prescott
THE subject of the second lesson in this series, the one for Sabbath, April 12, is “The Question of Supremacy.” The interest of the universe centers upon the great controversy between Christ and Satan. This little world of ours, so small when compared with other worlds, is the battle field upon which is being carried forward the contest for the supremacy throughout the whole of God’s dominion. This is not a mere theory, a subject to be studied as a sort of intellectual gymnastics. It is the supreme question of the hour, and has a most practical bearing upon the present experience and future destiny of each one of us. Because the leaders in this controversy are themselves invisible for the present, revealing themselves through the human instrumentalities through which they work, therefore some are disposed to ignore altogether their existence and working, and to regard the march of events through the centuries as simply the result of mere human plan and effort. It is only in the light of the Scripture that we can see the foolishness of this interpretation of human experience, tear away the mask behind which Satan conducts his campaign, and understand the true meaning of the present situation in the world. He who casts away the word of God rejects the one divinely appointed means for exposing the deceptive working of Satan, and is left to be made the captive of Satan at his will. The twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth chapters of the book of Revelation present in symbolic teaching the final effort of Satan to take possession of this world-kingdom, and thus to prevent the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In this symbolic outline of his closing attempt to become the great world-ruler, “the great dragon . . . that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” first appears in his true character as the enemy of the “man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron,” and whom Satan is represented as being ready to devour as soon as he was born. This warfare is carried forward through the world-power symbolized by the “great red dragon.” The next development of the controversy shows that the dragon has given “his power, and his seat [throne], and great authority” to another world-power symbolized by the beast from the sea. When these two symbols are compared with each other, it will be seen that the second is but a variation of the first. The same seven heads and ten horns appear on both, the difference being that in the latter symbol the crowns have been transferred from the heads to the horns. It is evident that while the dragon, or Satan, did not hide his purpose to make war directly upon Christ and His work during the time of the first world-power mentioned in this prophecy, he does attempt to hide his purpose and work during the time of the second world-power, although the power and the throne and the authority of this world-power are really his. So close is the union between the two that when “they worshiped the beast,” “they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast.” Here the deceptive working of Satan is revealed. The beast from the sea is simply a variation of the “great red dragon,” and is just as really the tool of Satan in the controversy between himself and Christ for the supremacy. We next have the beast with two horns as the symbol of a world-power which occupies the third place in this series of world-powers through which “the great dragon . . . called the Devil and Satan,” is seeking to gain control of the world-kingdom, seeking to gain the supremacy over Christ, the rightful Prince. That this third world-power finally becomes simply a mask for “the great dragon” is shown by the fact that although it had some lamb-like features, yet “he spake as a dragon,” and becomes so closely identified with the beast from the sea, to whom the dragon gave “his power, and his seat, and great authority,” that “he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before [in the presence of] him.” This beast from the earth also “causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast [the beast from the sea].” But the worship of the first beast is simply the worship of the dragon, or Satan. Thus it is plain that it is the studied purpose of Satan, working through these world-powers, to seek the place of supremacy which belongs to God in Christ, and to direct toward himself the worship which belongs to “Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” At the very time when this crowning effort on the part of Satan is meeting with apparent success, there is to go forth to the world a message which will unmask Satan’s deceptive working, and show that the worship of “the beast [from the sea] and his image” is nothing else than devil-worship. The loud cry of this message will resound throughout the whole world, saying, “Behold your God,” behold your God manifested in the flesh in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, “that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh;” “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world;” “Behold, He cometh with clouds;” “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee;” “Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” This is the gospel of the kingdom which is to be preached in all the world for a witness, and the preaching of which will constitute the sign of the coming of the Lord and the end of the world. It teaches the supremacy of God as the true King, the Creator, as the One to be worshiped and served, in direct opposition to Satan’s demand for worship and service, and the gift of the Son of God in the flesh, that man might be restored to the high position of likeness to God and to the privilege of being servant to the King of the universe. O that our eyes may be opened to understand the true situation at the present time, and that our hearts may be filled with a holy zeal to sound forth this last message of warning and saving mercy, that the souls which are in darkness and bondage may be brought out into the marvelous light and liberty of the sons of God! Who is king in your heart? How are you settling this question of supremacy? Let the life of service for the Master testify that “the Lord reigneth.”
W. W. P.