No. 6. Special Features Applicable to the United States.
WHILE these messages are world-wide in their nature and design, it is evident from a careful study of them in connection with the prophecy of chapter 13 that this country occupies a conspicuous place, and performs an important though unenviable part, in the great closing conflict between true and false worship brought to view by them. The necessary limit of these articles forbids anything more than a very brief consideration of this interesting feature of the subject, yet something seems necessary. (For a fuller presentation, the reader is referred to works published by Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Pacific Press, Oakland, California,—"The Marvel of Nations," by Uriah Smith, and "The Two Republics," by A. T. Jones.)
The angel of chapter 10 while delivering his message stood with one foot upon the sea, and the other upon the earth. It has been suggested that this is expressive of the extent to which that proclamation was given, yet it is a fact that in this country the movement was more fully developed in all its features, attracting more attention, and awakening more general interest than in any other part of the world. It must be remembered in this connection that that proclamation was the introduction of the First Angel's Message, consequently that message began to be sounded forth to the world from this country. The same may be said of the second; while in the third are found expressions which, when understood, connect the responsibility of the conflict which it portrays and its consequences directly with the United States in a striking manner.
The worship of the image of the beast is mentioned in connection with beast worship, as equally hateful to God, and as bringing upon those who practice it the same punishment. The beast has already been defined to be the Papacy. The prominent evil characteristics of the beast being the assumption of authority in spiritual matters, above even that of God himself, and the demand that his authority shall be enforced through the civil law, the law of the State, an image to the beast, whose worship should be equally hateful to God, would of necessity possess the same characteristics. Reference has also been made to the statement in chapter 13 that a certain beast which succeeds the papal beast should make an image to him, exercise all his power, and cause the earth and them that dwell in it to worship him and his image. This is accomplished through "great wonders" which he had power to perform, and by which he deceives them that dwell upon the earth.
Beasts in prophetic language represent kingdoms or nations, as the lion, the bear, the leopard, and the "terrible" beast described by Daniel in chapter 7 are prophetic representations of the great universal kingdoms of Babylon, Media and Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Analogy requires that this second beast, described in Revelation 13, should represent some nation. The only question upon which there can reasonably be any difference of opinion is what nation is represented. Two important reasons for the prophetic mention of a nation are: First, its importance among the nations of the earth, and, secondly, its connection in any way with the people and work of God. Both of these are eminently valid in the case of the United States. Therefore we naturally expect that it is thus noticed somewhere in the prophetic word. Here we have a symbolic beast without a nation to which to apply it (as all other nations of prominence in the above particulars are covered by other symbols) unless it be the United States; and we have a nation, eminently conspicuous in the above particulars, without a symbol to fit it unless it be this one. Thus the statements in the prophecy, compared with historical facts, point clearly to the United States as the nation here represented.
The first beast was seen by John coming up out of the sea (verse 1), the same as were the four referred to above, by Daniel. In fact, it is evidently identical with the fourth beast of Daniel's prophecy (compare descriptions here and in Daniel 7) except that fuller details are given here. As Rome conquered the world so far as then known, and thus the territory and subjects of preceding kingdoms entered into it as components, so this beast is said to possess parts of those preceding it, as given by Daniel, showing a direct connection between this prophecy and that of Daniel 7: "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion." Rev. 13: 2. The term "sea" used symbolically, as in the present case, represents "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." See Rev. 17: 1, 15. Ordinarily new nations are brought forth from these "multitudes," "peoples," and "tongues" through war and strife, symbolized by "winds" blowing upon the sea (compare Jer. 25: 31-33 and Dan. 7: 2), causing the overthrow of some and the establishment of others upon their ruin. But in the case of this beast in the prophecy, and this nation in history, it is different. The prophecy says, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth," not from the "sea." Now if the "sea" represents "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," the "earth" should represent territory previously unoccupied by other nations, which is certainly true of the territory of this country previous to its becoming a nation.212The time also at which John sees this beast coming up is applicable to this nation, while it is not to any other of any particular note. He sees him coming up just as he sees the first beast, the Papacy, "go into captivity," as mentioned in the preceding verse. This can refer to nothing else than the taking away of the temporal power of the Papacy by the French in 1798, at which time the United States could truly be said to be "coming up." Another point of identification is this beast is said to have "two horns like a lamb." A horn is a symbol of that in which the power of the nation is vested or manifested. In a monarchy it may represent the king or emperor, but in a republic it must represent that which gives to it power to build up itself. It is in fact the symbol of whatever constitutes the nation's aggressive strength. It may be a principle. It is noticeable that the two horns upon this beast are spoken of as "horns like a lamb," expressive of innocence and mildness. They are without crowns, as those upon beasts representing kingdoms are said to have (see Rev. 13:1), suggestive of the fact that the government represented is not one ruled by a king or emperor. The two leading principles in this government upon which the government is based, and which have placed it above, in many respects, every other nation, making it the home of the wronged and oppressed of every land, are, as expressed by another: "First, that government is of the people; and, second, that government is of right entirely separate from religion." To these principles explicit expression is given in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States.
Evidence might be multiplied to show that the prophecy applies to this nation; but more seems unnecessary only as it is brought to view in a brief consideration of the work of this beast.
While he has "two horns like a lamb," expressive of Christlikeness in principle, as the lamb is a symbol of Christ, yet he is said to "speak as a dragon." The dragon in this prophecy primarily is a symbol of Satan (see chapter 12:9, 17). We have, then, the representation of a government professedly based upon pure, Christlike principles, but when raised to the position of great power (for "he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him"), speaking and acting in the spirit of Satan. This he does through the image which he causes to be made to the first beast. Now as the first beast was a persecuting power, punishing by torture and death those who would not conform to his requirements, so the living image of such a power will have the spirit to do the same.
More than forty years ago Seventh-day Adventists, basing their prediction upon this prophecy, published to the world that there would yet be seen in this country, in spite of the pure principles of civil rights and religious freedom vouchsafed in the Declaration and Constitution, a virtual union of Church and State, bringing with it religious persecution; and that it would come principally in the enforcement of the observance of the first day of the week, Sunday, as the Sabbath, which, as has been shown, when so enforced, would constitute the sign or mark of the beast.
At that time there was not the least indication of such a movement in the government, nor even in the religious denominations of the land. To-day we see not only the indications but the movement itself well advanced in all parts of the country. In fact, the spirit of persecution for conscience' sake is already manifesting itself, as witnessed by numerous arrests, convictions, and imprisonments in Arkansas, Tennessee, and other States, the decisions being sustained by the higher courts of this country; and for what?—Simply because men choose to quietly exercise the God-given and constitutional right of worshiping according to the dictates of their own consciences. And in what particular?—Why, they work six days, as God has commanded, and rest the seventh, as he has also commanded. (Read the commandment, Ex. 20:8-11.)
In the very face of these facts, proving as they do that the spirit of persecution is surely rising even in this land of professed liberty of conscience, there is at this time such a clamor for Sunday legislation as was never before known, as evidenced in the late agitation over and the securing of legislation closing the World's Fair on Sunday, and similar questions in various quarters. Let the reader mark it well, and take warning that religious legislation, as all history proves, means religious persecution.
"I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven." "And there followed another angel . . . And the third angel followed them" Rev. 14:6, 8, 9.
NOTES UPON THE ILLUSTRATION.
1. THE first message begins previous to 1844, announcing the hour of judgment, but continues to the coming of Christ, proclaiming the gospel and the worship of the true God (the commandments) as the basis of the following messages. 2. Simultaneously with the opening of the first message, and as a special feature of its introduction, it is joined by the message of the angel of chapter 10, which continues to 1844 and ceases. 3. Subsequent to 1844 the truths of the first message became more fully understood and preached, though generally rejected, and as a consequence it is joined by the second message, proclaiming the fall of Babylon, which also continues to the end. 4. Later the two are joined by the third, warning against the worship of "the beast" and his image and the reception of his mark, and also continues to the end. 5. Just before the end of gospel work the three are joined by the message of chapter 18, announcing the complete fall of Babylon, and calling upon God's people to come out of her because of her sins. This in effect produces a loud, earnest, and extended giving of all three messages combined, resulting in the lighting of the earth with all truth, and the development of a company keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and fully prepared to meet Christ when he appears in the clouds of heaven.
Associations of different names are rapidly forming and extending their work over the entire country, with the one object in view of securing legislation upon this question of Sunday observance which shall force the conscience and compel all to bow in homage to this one institution of Sunday, which is purely an institution of the Papacy and absolutely without scriptural authority. As an evidence of the present sentiment in favor of such a union of Church and State in this country, I quote a statement of the Rev. Charles Ferguson, of Syracuse, N. Y., before a ministers' meeting of that city, and reported in the Syracuse Evening News of June 13, 1892. Similar utterances might be quoted from others in high position, but this will suffice as a sample. He says:—
I believe in one organic church for the future, the great American Church, of which the president of the United States shall be the acknowledged head, which shall take hold of every phase of American life.
Thus this noble government, which has stood as a beacon light upon the shore to all the nations of the earth which make up the "great sea," which has led in the grand cause of equal rights and religious freedom, has, by permitting itself to legislate in the interests of the papal power, which "opposeth and exalteth itself above all that is called God," dimmed its light forever, corrupted its God-given power and influence over the nations of the earth, and, in continuing this course, will become the masterpiece of Satan's agencies for leading the world in a worship which will bring upon it the unmixed wrath of God,—temporal and eternal destruction.
Because of this understanding of the prophecy Seventh-day Adventists have for these many years been calling the attention of the people to the worship of the true God as expressed in the First Angel's Message, trying to arouse them to a sense of the moral and spiritual apostasy so prevalent in the religious world to-day, as indicated by the second, and warning against the observance of that which, when the issue is fully before the people, will constitute the worship of the beast and his image and the reception of his mark, as plainly brought to view by the third. And the indications now are that soon the angel of the eighteenth chapter will unite his voice and strength with the three in the more distinct and startling announcement of the second: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird," etc., when the earth will become lightened with his glory, and the voice from heaven will be heard saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." This separation will fully develop the company of whom it is said in verse 12 of chapter 14, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
When the conflict is over, there will be but two classes,—commandment keepers, worshipers of the true God, and beast worshipers, those who bow to the authority of the beast in the observance of the rival institution to the true Sabbath. It should be remembered that the mark of the beast may be received either in the forehead or in the hand, while the seal of God can only be received in the forehead. Conformity to the law of God, to be acceptable, must be from the heart, while even an outward conformity to that which is opposed to his law is fatal, especially in such a crisis as the one before us. Dear reader, in which company will you be found?
