ARE YOU GIVING THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE?
By L. A. S.
THE Third Angel's Message of Rev. 14: 9-12 is a warning to mankind against the worship of the “Beast” and his “Image,” and the reception of the “mark” of the “Beast.” It is impossible to give this message without telling what the “Beast” is, and what is the “Image” of the “Beast.” The “Beast” is the papacy. But what is the papacy? The Roman Catholic Church?—Certainly it is not the Roman Catholic Church alone, for that Church alone did not make the history of the papacy during the 1260 years of its domination in Europe. Nor could there be anywhere an image of a mere church. The Catholic Church itself is in this country, where the “Image” of the “Beast” is to be formed. But that Church is not a part of the Image. The essential feature of the papacy is in the Image; it must be there; yet the Catholic Church itself is not in the Image. The papacy—the “Beast” of the prophecy in question—is the union of the Roman Catholic Church with the State. How different the history of Europe would have been if that Church had never been united with the State! The “Image of the Beast” in this country must likewise be a union of Church and State, the Church in this case being not the Church of Rome, but the Protestant bodies which are dominant here. You cannot, therefore, tell people about the Beast and his Image without telling people about the union of Church and State, explaining its evils, and pointing to a present movement toward such a union in this country. You cannot give the Third Angel's Message without telling people about the Beast and his Image; and therefore, you cannot give the Third Angel's Message without telling the people about the union of Church and State. Are you doing this? Are you setting before the people the truth about the union of Church and State—explaining its subtle nature and antagonism to the gospel, and pointing to the fact that a movement to consummate such a union in this country has long been in progress, and is showing itself in every part of the land to-day? Do you know enough about this movement to be able to do this properly? Are you giving the Third Angel's Message? — Note these words: “The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy to-day. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation, and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people—the very present truth which they needed for this time. “Not all our ministers who are giving the Third Angel's Message really understand what constitutes that message. [Italics ours.] The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it, and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from the Third Angel's Message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time.”—“Testimony for the Church,” No. 33, pages 242, 243. Does this mean you? Have you been thinking you were giving the Third Angel's Message when in reality you do not “really understand what constitutes that message”? If you do not understand this, is it not high time you were finding out what this message really is? You are talking about advance moves in the work. But listen: “God meant that His people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy to-day.” “We are years behind.” And why are689we now so far behind?—Because “not all our ministers [and others] who are giving the Third Angel's Message really understand what constitutes that message.” You are looking for the outpouring of the latter rain. But “if our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God cannot pour upon them His Spirit.”—Id., page 242. Certainly God will not pour out His Spirit under the work of the Third Angel's Message while a great number of those who profess to be giving it have not really found out what the message is. Shall we not all arouse and find out what constitutes the Third Angel's Message, and then bestir ourselves to catch up with the work God would have us do, in the way that He would have us do it?