WHY WE OPPOSE THE MAKING OF THE IMAGE.
By William N. Glenn
A CORRESPONDENT writing from Alameda seems perplexed over the fact that Adventists oppose the enactment of a religious amendment to the Constitution. Admitting that such an amendment would be a union of Church and State, and that such a union would be the completion of the image to the beast brought to view in Rev. 13, he asks: “If you succeed in preventing it from becoming a part in our Constitution, how will the Scriptures be fulfilled?” Before directly answering the question, let us ask another by way of illustration. In 2 Tim. 3:13 is a prophecy that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Now shall we cease all gospel effort, all opposition to wickedness, lest these wicked men and seducers become converted and the Scripture be not fulfilled? or shall we continue to hold up the light of truth, that some may be saved from their deceptions? But in reply to the previous question, attention is called to the message of the “third angel,” beginning with the ninth verse of Rev. 14: “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.” We learn from Rev. 13:14 that those who make this image are deceived, and of course all who receive his mark, that is, worship it or yield to its demands, are also deceived. Then what is our duty toward persons whom we know are liable to be deceived? is it not to promptly warn them? Suppose the masses will not heed the warning, our duty to give it is none the less imperative. Some will give heed, and are doing so continually. The Angel of God has given the warning through revelation to the church; and what is the duty of the church? is it not to give the word of God to the world, that all who will receive it may escape the wrath to come upon the children of disobedience? Read that message over again; is there not a most fearful denunciation against those who fall into the terrible snare of doing homage to the beast or his image? Can any man with any measure of the Spirit of Jesus in him neglect to give a most earnest warning to his fellow-creatures who stand upon the brink of such a visitation of the wrath of God? Think of it again; yes, over and over again. He shall “drink of the wine of the wrath of God poured out without mixture.” Are your family, or your friends, or your neighbors in danger of being deceived by a movement to which is attached such dire consequences, and will you not warn them by exposing the real nature of the work? “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Who will withhold the warning voice that might pluck even one brand from such a burning? There is no fear that the Scripture will not be fulfilled. When every possible effort shall have been put forth, the masses will prefer to be deceived because the majority will be on that side. There will be some who will walk in the light; some who will flee from the wrath to come, when the iniquitous character of the work is brought before them; some in every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, who will resist the mark of the beast and the mark of his image; but the multitude will continue in the broad road of popularity. Surely it is a time to take advantage of every opportunity, that we “might by all means save some.” W. N. GLENN.