A Plain Fact by Uriah Smith

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 10, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 15.

A Plain Fact.

By Uriah Smith

IN the midst of the agitation that is now being raised on the question of the two-horned beast, a person may save himself from perplexity and confusion by keeping in mind one plain proposition, which is beyond the reach of sophistry or the cavils of the objector. It is based on facts which all must admit, whatever may be their pre-conceived notions or cherished views.

First, the fourteenth chapter of Revelation, verses 6–14 inclusive, give us events to transpire in consecutive order.

Second, the third angel's message has reference to the work of the two-horned beast of chapter xiii, inasmuch as it warns the people of God against worshiping the image which the two-horned beast erects, and against receiving the mark which it enforces.

Third, the work of the third angel must precede that of the two-horned beast; for it is the order of the Lord's dealing with the world, that the warning should precede the danger. It would not be consistent for the warning to follow against a work which was in the past, and which there was no danger of doing at the time the warning was given. The warning must precede or be cotemporary with the danger. But,

Fourth, the third angel's message is the last warning message, the last work of mercy to be accomplished, before the coming of Christ. Therefore,

Fifth, the work of the two-horned beast, so far as it concerns the erection of the image and the enforcing of the mark, must take place in the little space between the close of this message and the second advent, or must be a work cotemporary with the close of the message. In either case, it must take place just before the coming of Christ. Any one can understand this.

Another consideration that goes to prove the same point is the fact that the two-horned beast is the same as the false prophet of chapter xix. It is some power, therefore, that is a living, active power to the end; for it is cast alive into the lake of fire at the coming of Christ. But the last act that can be found ascribed to this power under the symbol of the two-horned beast, is the formation of the image, and the enforcing of the mark, which must therefore be a work that takes place in close connection with the coming of Christ, or the prophecy passes over a great portion of the career of this power, and that which would naturally be the most important, namely, the close.

In the light of these facts, what becomes of all this prating about the two-horned beast and image being ages in the past? It is utterly groundless, unless the preaching of the Advent doctrine has also taken place ages in the past, and consequently proved a failure.

No, reader, do not be troubled with any theory that leads to such absurdities. Remember this plain fact: that the two-horned beast performs his work just before the coming of the Lord. To brave his power is the last conflict of the saints previous to their final deliverance. U. S.