A PREDICTION ABOUT THE UNITED STATES.
By T.
VERSES 11 to 18 of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation have long been regarded by many careful Bible students as a prophecy applying to the United States. A few of the reasons for this, briefly stated, are as follows: a. The first part of the chapter is clearly a prophecy of the Papacy—that apostate power which during the Dark Ages made “war with the saints,” and held the world for so long under the superstitious chains of priestcraft. b. This papal power, according to the prophecy, was to be “wounded to death,” but his “deadly wound was healed.” Rev. 13:3. c. Familiar to all is the history which shows that during the middle ages the Papacy held all the world “captive.” Kings and emperors did their obeisance to the pope, and his will was not only law, but a terror to all who in any way were made the object of papal attack. But says the prophet, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” Rev. 13:10. d. The “deadly wound” began to be inflicted on the Papacy through the great Reformation of the sixteenth century. This work continued until the French army in 1798 entered Rome and the pope was made a prisoner. Then was fulfilled the prophecy, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” How literal the fulfilment! That church power which had not held itself back from the use of the sword, was now being broken in turn by the sword. But the infliction was only temporary; for the Word says the “deadly wound was healed.” So papal persecuting power is again to be exercised as before.7 e. But when the prophet was viewing the papal power going “into captivity” in 1798, he also says, “I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth.” Rev. 13:11. Note that the statement is that he was “coming” up. He was in the very act of arising at that time (1798) when the Papacy was going into captivity. f. Beasts in these symbolic prophecies represent governments, and the United States in 1798 had but recently fought her revolutionary war, gained her independence, and established herself among the nations of the earth, so that she was then literally and actually “coming” up to her destined place of power and usefulness in the world. The foregoing statements are necessarily the very briefest, but it is hoped that enough is presented to assist the reader in seeing the clear line of evidence by which it may be known that these last verses of Revelation 13 apply to the United States. Note the distinctive characteristics of this symbol of the United States. The prophecy says “he had two horns like a lamb.” Rev. 13:11. The “lamb” is the symbol taken to represent the Saviour,—the kind, impartial, and sympathetic Redeemer. John said of Him, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. And again He is called “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13:8. And another text says, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Rev. 5:12. Thus texts may be multiplied showing that the gentle nature of the lamb is that which is chosen to symbolize Him who gave His life for the fallen and oppressed sinner. Now this United States power when the prophet sees it “coming” up has “two horns like a lamb.” Then this government, according to the prophecy, must have at least “two” leading characteristics that are lamb-like—that, in other words, are in perfect accord with the perfect Gospel of Christ. The papal power exercised force in religious matters. The heretic must be broken on the rack or in some way tortured till he should yield perfect homage to the church. The Papacy also stood for an aristocracy both in Church and State. The pope, the cardinals, the archbishops, the bishops, and also the common priests, were ecclesiastical lords, to whom all the rest of the people must bow in reverential esteem. And in order to hold this sentiment strong in the church it was necessary to stand for the “divine right” of kings, as well as to uphold a long train of dukes, barons, lords, etc., in the State. But all such distinctions, either in State or Church, are both human and artificial. “There is no respect of persons with God.” Rom. 2:11. Then why should such a thing exist among men? “One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Matt. 23:8. Then if all are brethren, where is the room for lords, nobles, cardinals, and all the list of “high dignitaries”? And how strikingly clear is the text in James, “If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:9. Then, too, freedom of choice is given to every man by his Creator. He says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. “Let him take . . . freely.” This is God’s plan. He does not compel any one to accept even so good a thing as His proffered salvation. Man can not be perfectly happy unless he is perfectly free. And most carefully does God guard this point of freedom. It is clearly seen in all His Word. Freedom and equality are two of the main corner-stones of Christianity. How striking, then, is the fact that when this country declared its independence it inscribed in the very forefront of that most glorious of all human documents the immortal words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” “Liberty” and “equality” were the watchwords of the new nation. And it was not liberty in civil matters only, but liberty in all things. The new nation, as she was “coming” up, boldly advanced to take the position that every man has the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. A most noble battle was fought and won on this ground. The superstitions, the priestcraft, and the religious bigotry and intolerance of the middle ages, strove hard to gain a foothold here. But Washington, and Madison, and Jefferson, and a host of other broad-minded and liberty-loving men, united to make on this continent “a state without a king and a church without a pope.” Their efforts were crowned with a glorious success, and in the foundations of the nation was laid that great corner-stone, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” The Old World had believed and taught for ages that the people could not be trusted to choose either their laws or their religion for themselves; kings and nobles and popes and bishops must make their civil statutes and also regulate their faith. But the new nation on a new continent takes its stand for freedom and liberty in everything. And in the face of all the unfavorable predictions this new nation has advanced to the place where she is second to none other in all the world. Neither the histories of the past nor the geographies of the present can reveal a nation that is her peer, and but very few can be claimed as her equals. In a little more than a century from her founding, her strength, her wealth, the freedom of her people, and everything else that goes to make up a nation, have become the marvel and admiration of the world. Now it has been under these principles of the Lamb that this government has attained so quickly unto such greatness. The Old World looked upon it as an experiment. But the principles of freedom that are the basis of Christianity are no experiment. And a government with such a foundation could have nothing short of success. But the same prophecy that tells of the “coming up” of this government with its “lamb-like” characteristics, says, “And he spake as a dragon.” Rev. 13:11. Then the prophecy that tells of these good features, with the same straightforward accuracy tells of the bad. “He spake as a dragon,” says the prophet. The “dragon” is the Bible symbol of Satan, and consequently of the oppression and intolerance that he has put into the hearts of men. (Read Revelation, chapter 12, upon this point.) Then this country is yet to become an oppressor, like other nations before it. It seems hard to believe it, and yet there is the prophecy concerning it. It therefore must be true. This oppression must come about by degrees. It will steal in almost imperceptibly. And even while men are lauding freedom they may be sowing the seeds of oppression, religious bigotry, and intolerance. Are there any indications that the “dragon” voice of oppression may soon be heard in this “land of the free and home of the brave”? This article is already long enough. We will have to answer this question next week. But in the meantime, when you are celebrating Independence day this year, carefully review the established principles of this great nation, and ask yourself if they are as well understood and as dear to the heart as they were a hundred years ago. T.