Two Great Compromises by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 18, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 24.

Two Great Compromises.

By Editor

IN order to appreciate the nature of the work of the enemy of righteousness in these last days, we must trace further the influences under which the last-day deceptions will be carried on.

In Matt. 24:24, in answering the question, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus said: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

In like manner, Paul, speaking of the same subject, the coming of Christ, says: "Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2 Thess 2:1-9.

Again in Rev. 13:11-14, the beast having two horns, does great miracles whereby he deceives them that dwell on the earth; miracles to deceive, or lying wonders. And that these are wrought just before the coming of Christ is shown in Rev. 14:9-14. The last angel's proclamation is based on the facts related in chapter 13:11-17, and located immediately before the coming of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth.

We are aware that the opinion generally given of 2 Thess. 2:9, differs from the view presented above. But we dissent from the general opinion for two reasons: (1) Another construction, namely, the one we give, is admissible; and (2) The one generally given is not at all in harmony with the sense of the context. Where two different constructions of the language are admissible, we insist that that one should be preferred which is in harmony with the evident meaning of the passage. The subject of chapter 1, and the first part of chapter 2, is that of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him." It certainly seems harsh and unnatural to refer "his coming" in verse 8, to the Saviour, and the same words at the beginning of verse 9, to the lawless one, thus: "Shall destroy with the brightness of his coming; whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power," etc. The construction that we give is also strictly in harmony with all the other texts on the same subject, making it a question of time, as the definition of the word admits. See also the next text examined.

Rev. 16 gives a descriptive account of "the seven last plagues," in which "is filled up the wrath of God." Chap. 15:1. Here the same order in time is observed. The prophet says: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth," etc. Here again the coming of the Lord is placed just after the spirits of devils work miracles to deceive the nations and gather them to the battle of the coming great day.

An important point is stated in this last text, Rev. 16. These wonders are wrought by the spirits of devils, by the power of Satan, though through the mediumship of false christs and false prophets, or "in them that perish." And, they are indorsed by the three controlling powers: the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These powers have all been located. The dragon is identified in Rev. 12 (already noticed) as pagan Rome. The beast was a persecuting power, wearing out the saints and blaspheming the name of God; and to the beast the dragon gave his power, secular power, and his seat, the city of Rome, and great authority. The dragon himself moved from Rome and made his seat at Constantinople. The false prophet is the miracle-working beast with two horns, described in Rev. 13. This refers to the United States, where the miracles of Spiritualism arose in these last days, and where an image will be made to the first beast, namely, a union of church and State. That this power or beast is the false prophet is proved by a comparison of Rev. 13 with chapter 19. This is the description in chapter 13: "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads;" etc.

Now with this compare Rev. 19:20: "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image." Here the identity is complete. The reference of the false prophet to Mahometanism, which has been made by some writers, is inadmissible, for Mahometanism never worked in concert with Catholicism, and never caused its people to worship the papal beast. But the United States, the only power which arose at the right time, outside of the dominion of the four beasts of Dan. 7 (compare Rev. 13:1, 2), the miracle or wonder-working power where Spiritualism took its rise, does and will to a greater extent cause them that dwell upon the earth to worship the first beast, in the observance of an institution of the beast which is opposed to one of the commandments of God, and is even now endeavoring to make an image to the beast in a union of church and State, this union being sought for the express purpose of enforcing that same institution of the papal beast.

These spirits of devils coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and the beast, and the false prophet, have the same object in view, namely, gathering the kings of the earth to the coming battle of Armageddon. This shows that the work of falsehood and deception is not confined to the United States, but that miracles, lying wonders, will be wrought throughout the world; that the same work which will be done in the United States will be done in the dominions of the dragon and the first beast. There will, of course, be this difference: in the United States the object will be accomplished by forming an image to the beast, and in this manner causing them that dwell on the earth to worship the beast and to receive his mark; while in the Old World there is no necessity for forming an image, as there they have the beast himself, and his worship and the receiving of his mark can be enforced directly.

In our exposition of the American compromise we gave evidence that it will be effected under the influence of Spiritualism—by the wonders wrought by false christs and false prophets; that this false doctrine, or doctrine of falsehood, will be accepted as the true religion,—the religion for the time and the occasion,—which only has power to rescue the nation from its trials and perplexities. And we now see that the work of deception in the Old World, indorsed by the dragon and the beast, is carried on by the selfsame influence. The work, its authors, its object, and its results, are identical wherever found.

At the present day Spiritualism is fully as popular in Europe as in America; perhaps more so. American mediums have been favorably received by the most learned, the most noble of the nations of Europe, and by rulers themselves. The coronation of the Czar, we are credibly informed, was conducted by direction of a medium. But we need not particularize; the fact we state is beyond dispute. It is to exert a controlling influence upon "the kings of earth and of the whole world." It will accommodate itself to any emergency to carry its points, for it is not scrupulous in regard to means.

Of the compromise in Europe, we say as we said of that in the United States: "It will not be without a struggle. Compromises are not made in times of quiet and peace. A compromise is the fruit of an emergency," and surely the times are ominous in Europe. The war cloud looms up dark and heavy. Who can foresee the consequences of a war between England and Russia? And if peace is insured for the present, it is but a respite. As a European statesman recently said: "It will come." The fate of Turkey will then come up for decision; and the Egyptian question is not yet settled. Nihilists, communists, anarchists, dynamiters hold riot and jubilee over the destruction of life and property which they are able to accomplish, and none are able to hinder. In all the world men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Luke 21:26. We shall have to defer our concluding remarks to another number.