p. 392 | Two Great Compromises by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 25, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 25.

Two Great Compromises.

By Editor

(Concluded.)

IN tracing down the prospects of a compromise in the United States, we noted what the prophecies demand in their fulfillment, and brought out specially the following points:—

1. Identified the two-horned beast of Rev. 13, as a symbol of the United States.

2. Pointed out a particular characteristic of this power, that it did great wonders to deceive, which meets its fulfillment in the wonders of Spiritualism, which arose in this country.

3. That these wonders were used to establish a system of false worship.

4. That under their influence the worship of "the first beast," the papacy, and the reception of "his mark," will be enforced.

5. That a strong effort is now being made in the United States to procure "a religious amendment of the Constitution," professedly to Christianize the nation, but really to unite "Church and State;" for this must be the result of the success of this movement.

6. Pointed out the fact that religious persecution is foretold as to come in the dominion of the two-horned beast, that is, in the United States.

7. Presented the warning message of "the third angel" of Rev. 14, based upon these facts, to show how God regards the movement now being made to "make an image to the beast," that is, to unite Church and State; for in this way only can an image be made to the beast.

8. We also showed that in the erection of the image to the beast, and enforcing his mark, the commandment of God will be opposed, and an opposition Sabbath to "the Sabbath of the Lord God" will be enforced, namely, the Sunday.

9. That Spiritualism is already presenting its claims—not only as a religion, but—as the only true religion in which the power of "the Christ spirit" is manifested; and that the religious element of the country is fast incorporating Spiritualism into its faith.

The "compromise" will be effected as troubles increase (and increase they will), by uniting Church and State, and accepting Spiritualism as the true religion of the period; and the present movement toward effecting a greater union of denominations is but an effort to further liberalize the churches, so that they may unitedly work to popularize the religious amendment movement, and prove their liberality by oppressing those who are so willful as to persist in keeping "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," especially the fourth commandment, the Sabbath of the Lord, which almost all classes, secular and religious, Protestant and Catholic, unite in opposing.

And now we have further shown that the very same elements are working in Europe, that are so conspicuously operating in the United States.

1. Spiritualism is working even with greater force and to greater acceptance in Europe than in America; yet it was introduced there by American mediums.

2. There is a constant and strong tendency toward "the worship of the beast" in the Protestant countries of Europe; this is shown by the formalism of the main body of religionists in Europe called Protestants, and more prominently by the increase of Ritualism in England.

3. There is a singular tendency in Europe to a more rigid observance of Sunday. We call it "singular," because it is strange that in any part of that country there should be an effort made to change the features of the "continental Sunday" to those of the "American Sunday." Our rigid Puritan Sunday-Sabbath is scarcely known in Europe outside of Scotland. But movements in favor of the observance of Sunday have been made in several nations on the continent. Thus the way is being prepared there for the enforcement of this institution of the papal power; this "chief festival of the church."

4. The fact is more apparent in Europe than in America that there is "a time of trouble" just before us. Nihilists, communists, dynamiters, anarchists of all shades, have honey-combed society throughout the world, but especially throughout Europe. "Associations" and "unions" stand ready to destroy both property and life, when the occasion is offered. The efforts to postpone the clash of arms, partially successful for a season, are not equal to the efforts to arm and to prepare for the struggle which all confess is inevitable. And the longer it is delayed, the better will they be prepared for it, the more destructive will be their implements of warfare, and the more fierce and terrible will be the conflict when it comes.

5. The probability is that when these troubles culminate there will be a strong reaction in favor of the pope, as the only ruler who could hold out a promise to reconcile or control the discordant elements. While the nations are all jealous of each other, the acknowledged spiritual supremacy of the pope would point to him as the one—the strong central power—who alone could restore peace and prosperity. No merely secular power could accomplish the purpose; could gain the respect of all nations and factions to the extent that he could whose followers—we may say, worshipers—are numerous everywhere. And no other religious power could possibly attempt to stand in the breach, for the only strong church powers, or State churches, are the Greek Church and the Church of England. But the Czar is the head of the Greek Church, and Russia and England are the most prominent among the belligerents. Therefore the pope is the only one to whom all eyes would instinctively turn in the hour of trouble and perplexity.

6. And this conclusion is more than probable, it is rendered certain, by the prophecy which says the kings of the earth will unite to give their power to the beast. Rev. 17. And this elevation of the beast to the control of secular matters is laid just before the entire overthrow and complete destruction of this great harlot power.

7. And this is further confirmed by Rev. 18, wherein is shown that this same antichristian power rejoices that the sorrow of her widowhood is past, and that she sits a queen, ruling with the combined power of the kings of the earth. And this rejoicing is immediately before she is cast down and utterly destroyed—burned with fire.

These results, so plainly standing before us in the prophecy, and so evidently in process of being fulfilled, can only be brought about by a compromise between powers and influences now in opposition to each other. And the results are the same on both continents. A more intimate union of Church and State is the ambition, the first and last desire, of Catholicism. The Romish Church at this time claims, as we have shown, that her rightful jurisdiction is paramount to that of kings and emperors; that she is unjustly divorced from the secular authority; and that the pope being the infallible vicegerent of Christ, and the head of the Catholic Church, proves that that is the only true church, other systems of worship having no right to exist, and will not be permitted to exist where she has power.

Notwithstanding this assumption of the papal church, there is a growing tendency among Protestants to acknowledge her claims and to give her honor. In Protestant America there is an almost universal concession that a closer union between Church and State is desirable; that our Government is lacking in one important particular, namely, that in its Constitution it does not recognize Christ as the ruler of the nation, and his laws as the rule of the nation's conduct, and thus place Christianity, or its laws and institutions, on a legal basis in the fundamental law of the land. And the main object of the effort which is now being made to accomplish this purpose is, as we can abundantly show, to enforce the Sunday as a "Christian Sabbath," though the majority of its friends acknowledge that there is no proof that it is a law of Christ, or that it is in truth a Christian Sabbath, or Bible institution. It can be abundantly and incontestably proved that it is an institution of that power which should "think to change times and laws;" which should "exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped."

The "present truth" for the world is the Third Angel's Message of Rev. 14:9-12. The warning against the worship of the beast is world-wide. There is no part of the civilized world where the influence of that power is not felt. And wherever there is any pretense to Christianity, there is felt its influence in a marked degree. It would indeed be singular were it not so, considering that the Papal Roman Church once bore sway, not only over the Roman Empire proper, but over the mightiest kings of the earth. By the subservience of kings to that church she moulded and fashioned the faith and practice of almost the entire world. Well might it be said, "Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" This applied to the days of its power, when the saints of the Most High were given into its hand. See Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:4.

That part of the message which refers to "the image" has its special application in the United States. But "the mark" is as extensive as the influence of the beast has ever been; for wherever Catholicism has had sway, she has left as a legacy the observance of "the venerable day of the sun," by her adopted from the worship of Apollo, the sun-god. By an examination of Rev. 13, it will be seen that the real object of making the image is to enforce the worship of the beast and the receiving of his mark. And thus in the fulfillment, for which men are now striving, the great object of the religious amendment of the Constitution of the United States is the enforcement of the papal Sunday under the plausible name of the "Christian Sabbath." So that in truth the great burden of the message is the warning against worshiping the beast and receiving his mark, which applies in Europe with full as much force as in America. The making of an image is more a local matter, and will be done because in the locality to which it applies it is the only means of securing the end desired, namely, enforcing the worship of the beast and the receiving of his mark. To elevate the pope in Europe is to strengthen the ties of Church and State, for the pope will accept no elevation at the expense of his secular authority. He will be "Sovereign Pontiff" or nothing.

But in the United States it is different; here there is no recognized union of Church and State, and without this neither the worship of the beast nor the receiving of his mark can be enforced. Our Constitution forbids a congressional law establishing religion, or restraining the free exercise thereof; and it forbids any religious test as a qualification for office. This the "Religious Amendment Party" calls an "infidel Constitution." And, in confirmation

of the view here given of the real object of that party, the Christian Statesman, the organ of that party, has already declared that if the amendment which they seek is secured, no one shall hold office in the United States who does not observe the Sunday! And it was openly demanded in their National Convention held in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1874, that Congress shall make laws respecting religion; this was declared as necessary as that Congress shall establish uniformity of weights and measures! Thus they put matters of conscience, of Christian religion, on a level with commercial transactions before the law.

He who knows how many two and two make, can be at no loss to tell the result of such laws as they demand. Somebody's religion will be stamped out, or that somebody will be condemned as "heretic" and a malefactor. They do it to Christianize the nation. And so was the other Inquisition established for the glory of God. But alas for the honor of God and the purity of his church when they whom he has commissioned as ambassadors usurp his authority and turn executioners.

These things are so evident that we can appeal to the world, as Paul did to his brethren: "For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge."

It is fitting that we close our remarks with the words of the message—the last message—which the Lord is giving to the world. See Rev. 14:9-14. When the message has been proclaimed, then the Son of man appears to reap the harvest of the earth. And because probation is soon to close, and the pleading of Jesus as a priest is soon to end, and the fearful judgments of God descend upon all the guilty, the terms of the message are the most terrible that the word of God contains, as follows:—

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:9-12.