The Earth as a Worshiper of the Beast.
By W. Harris
“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Rev. 13:12. It is said by the opposers of the truth that the earth, having no will of its own, and being an inanimate object, having no volition outside of its natural laws, cannot be a worshiper; therefore the language must be figurative, and our literal interpretation thereof incorrect. If asked to explain it, their answer generally is, that the earth must mean the people. But it is evident that there is a plain distinction in the reading between the earth as a worshiper and them which dwell therein; that is, the people. To read it according to their interpretation, it would read as follows: And he causeth the people, and them—that is the people—which dwell therein; that is, the people that dwell within the people; he causeth the people that dwell within the people to worship the beast, &c. Of course such reading and reasoning are nonsensical. They then say that it is not to be understood. Now the Bible explains itself to a great extent, and we can easily prove that the earth is a Sabbath-keeper, or a Sabbath-breaker; and that it is made either a Sabbath-keeper or breaker, by the action, or labor, of those living upon it. By turning to Leviticus, chapter 25, and the last part of the second verse, we find the following language: “Then shall the land keep [margin, rest] a sabbath unto the Lord.” Verses 4 and 5 show how this was to be accomplished. “But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord; thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” Verse 5. “That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed; for it is a year of rest unto the land.” This language plainly shows that when the people ceased their labor, the land or the earth, enjoyed, or kept, a sabbath unto the Lord. So we can positively say that when the Sunday law is made, and the people obey it by resting on that day from their labor, the earth is thus made a Sunday-keeper, as much as they are, and consequently is caused to worship the beast. For if the land kept a sabbath unto the Lord in the days of the Israelites, by cessation of labor on their part, it is certain that it would just as readily keep or break the Sabbath now as then according as the people should labor or rest upon that day, virtually becoming a worshiper with the inhabitants. See also 2 Chron. 36:21, which bears testimony to the same point. We fail to see any better explanation of this earth worship than is given by those who are proclaiming the third angel’s message.