PROPHECY FULFILLING by Chas. P. Whitford

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 13.

PROPHECY FULFILLING.

By Chas. P. Whitford

THE special mission and work of Seventh-day Adventists is that of proclaiming the third angel’s message of Rev. 14:9–12. This message declares that “if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. . . . Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Bible expositors and commentators are agreed that the “beast” symbolizes the Papacy. Then it is the worship of the Papacy, his image and mark, against which the third angel utters so terrific a denunciation of wrath. Notice, it is the wine of God’s wrath, without any mixture of mercy. It must be some heaven-daring sin to thus incur the divine displeasure. There is not to be found elsewhere in all the Bible such a solemn warning. In all the history of the past, there has always been a mixture of mercy with every judgment inflicted by God. But not so here. What this heinous sin is, and how to bring ourselves into harmony with God’s will, that we may enjoy his favor, his blessing, and a refuge from the storm of his

wrath, and at the last a home in his kingdom, is a question of the greatest importance to every person at the present time. It is a fact that important questions, as well as important duties, are generally neglected. During the past year, progress in the work of bringing the Papacy to that place where all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, has been rapid, and in some instances almost surprising.

Turn to Rev. 14:9–12 and read the message. Notice, it warns against worshiping the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark. What is the image? An image is a likeness to that which existed before it. An image to the Papacy then will be a likeness or representation of the Papacy. The Papal Church was clothed with civil power. Will Protestantism ever be clothed with the civil power?—It will if there is to be an image to the Papacy. But does the Bible teach there will be such an image? It warns against worshiping the image, which is equivalent to saying that it will exist; for it is evident we could not render obedience to an unknown institution. But is there direct testimony that there will be an image? In Rev. 13:14 there is this expression, “Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.” This certainly indicates that such a thing will be discussed, at all events. It shows farther that it is in a country where the laws are made by the people. It is not a monarchy, where the king’s word is law. It must be in a free government.

In the eleventh verse the prophet beheld a “beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb.” This power came on the stage of action just as the papal beast went into captivity in 1798, as will be seen by the first ten verses of the chapter. No other power except the United States was at that time coming up. Hence, as to the time of its rise, it applies to our own country. The two lamb-like principles of our government are Republicanism and Protestantism; in other words, “A church without a pope, and a State without a king.” The two horns on this beast well represent the fundamental principles upon which our government was founded. For these and many other reasons we believe the two-horned beast of Rev. 13:11 symbolizes the United States of America. Then it is here, in free America, where a saying will go forth, Come, let us make an image to the beast.

And will they succeed? The fifteenth verse declares, “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.” Is not this testimony direct and positive that there will be made an image to the beast in this country? The Bible being the infallible Word of God, it must be so. Notice, the twelfth verse declares that this beast will exercise all the power of the beast which lived before it. It is the United States which succeeds the papal beast, therefore it is equivalent to saying that the United States will exercise all the power which characterized the papal beast. How much power did it possess? Let from fifty to one hundred million martyrs answer. What gave the Papacy such unlimited power? History records but one answer, namely, the church and her doctrines were defended by the civil power of the world. Relentless persecutions, and the destruction of more than fifty millions of God’s people, were the result. And will such bloody scenes be reenacted here in free America?—No, never.

The God of heaven mercifully sends out a warning message to the inhabitants of earth, saying, Do not worship the beast or his image; and then a refuge safe and sure is pointed out, namely, “Here are they which keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” And will such get the victory over the beast and his image? Verse 2 of chapter 15 declares that they will. Where will they stand?—“On the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

What becomes of those who worship the beast and his image, etc.?—“And there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.” Chapter 16:2. And is this all?—No, there follow six more plagues, this being the first. These plagues constitute “the wine of the wrath of God,” threatened by the third angel’s message. It is called in the Bible, “The seven last plagues.” These plagues are to be inflicted upon those who do not heed the warning voice of God, as heard in the third angel’s message. If the Seventh-day Adventists are proclaiming this message, should they not be commended in their work? Have they not truths for the people which if heeded will prove of inestimable value to them, in the time of trouble which is just before us? CHAS. P. WHITFORD.