THE great symbol books of the Bible are Daniel and the Revelation. In these prophecies nations and kingdoms are represented by wild beasts. In the application of these symbols to various Old-World powers, dynasties, and empires, there is general agreement among the commentators. It is a general principle that every great nation or empire which has had a molding influence upon the world, which has changed its trend or face, is regarded as of sufficient importance to be recognized of God in divine foretelling. So Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, Rome, Egypt, Tyre, the Mohammedan power, and other ancient and eastern nations of importance, find place in the prophetic word.
There is another symbol concerning which there has not been so general agreement as to what power it applies, and that is the two-horned beast of Rev. 13:11-17. In not a few instances this beast is said to designate some phase of the Roman power. But a little study, to which we invite our readers, will show not only that the symbol does not apply to the Roman power, but will also show the power to which it does apply. Both symbol and power are so clearly identified that there can be no question in the mind of the devout student of prophecy concerning the matter. Here is the prophecy:—
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."
"And he exerciteth 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. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live."
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:11-17.
1. As to the Time.—When the prophet beheld this beast coming up, the ten-horned or "first beast," or "the beast" symbolizing Rome, had just gone into captivity. This was in 1798. But one power or nation of any account was then lifting itself above the horizon, and that was the United States of America. Here symbol and power met.
2. As to Territory and Nature.—The "first beast" came up out of the great "sea" of national strife and commotion (Rev. 13:1; 157:1), but this beast came up "out of the earth." It came up in territory not occupied by organized government and world powers. More than that, it was to be of the earth. Imperial dynasties are well symbolized by metals, which can be hammered, melted, or welded into one, such as gold, silver, brass, and iron. Daniel 2. But republican forms of government are fittingly symbolized by the clay, which will not blend with the iron. It is of the earth. This specification is met in this great nation. It came up out of the earth, "Like a silent seed," says the historian, "we grew7into empire." It gathered the children of earth from other lands. Molding aspirations were for liberty for all, not for a crown. It was a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
3. As to Its Character.—It "had two horns like a lamb." A lamb is used as a symbol or type of Christ from Genesis to Revelation. A horn is a symbol of strength or power. "And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as tho it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth." Rev. 5:6, R.V. "Seven" indicates completion, fulness. Seven horns, used of character, would indicate fulness of perfection and strength. "Two horns like a lamb" would indicate that the beast of Rev. 13:11 had two characteristics that were peculiar to Christ and His religion,—characteristics peculiar to no other religion and to no other earthly power; for of no other power symbol is it said that it has horns like a lamb. Seven horns are essential in the Lamb of God. Two of these are foretold to be distinctive features in the government represented by this symbol.
Are these met in the United States of America? What are the distinctive features or characteristics of this government—those which distinguish it from all other governments of earth? They are two, namely, the Equality of Man and Liberty of Conscience.
The very foundation of this government was the Declaration of Independence, which declared:—
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The Constitution declares of the law-making power:—
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.—Amendment I.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."—Am. XIV, sec. 1.
Emphatically are assured, in these fundamental American documents or charters, the equality of man in regard to inherent rights, irrespective of race or color, and freedom of conscience, or the absolute non-interference with religion by civil law.
No other civil government of earth ever embraced within its scope these features. Class or caste has been recognized either in Church or in State or in both. Special favors have been granted the Church allied to the State. America granted liberty of soul and body, so far as a civil government could, to every person.
Are these principles Christian? Are they of Christ? Listen to Him and His apostles.
As Regards the Equality of Man.—“One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Matt. 23:6. “God that made the world . . . hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” Acts 17:24–26. To officers in the church: “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”1 Peter 5:3.
As Regards Liberty of Conscience.—This means the right to believe or not believe so far as human tribunals go. The soul is responsible alone to God. “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him NOT; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.” 2 Cor. 1:24. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Cor. 5:11. The reason: “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36. Therefore, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Cor. 10:4. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17.
The teachings of Christ in these two respects,—the equality of man, and the utter separation of Church and State, or the non-interference of the State in religious matters,—were embodied in America’s charters of existence as a nation. The nation had the “two horns like a lamb.” The historian Bancroft well said:—
The Constitution establishes nothing that interferes with equality and individuality. It knows nothing of differences by descent, or opinions, of favored classes, or legalized religion, or the political power of property. It leaves the individual alongside the individual. . . . Religion was become avowedly the attribute of man and not of a corporation. In the earliest states known to history, government and religion were one and indivisible. . . . No one thought of vindicating religion for the conscience of the individual till a Voice in Judea, breaking day for the greatest epoch in the life of humanity. . . . enjoined to render to Caesar only that which is Caesar’s. No sooner was this religion adopted by the chief of the Roman Empire, than it was shorn of its character of universality and enthralled by an unholy connection with the unholy State; and so it continued till the new nation, . . . when it came to establish a government for the United States, refused to treat faith as a matter to be regulated by a corporate body, or having a leadership in a monarch or State. Vindicating the right of individuality even in religion, and in religion above all, the new nation dared to set the example of accepting in its relations to God the principle first divinely ordained in Judea; but the American Constitution, in harmony with the people of the several States, withheld from the Federal Government the power to invade the home of reason, the citadel of conscience, the sanctuary of the soul; and not from indifference, but that the infinite Spirit of eternal truth might move in its freedom and purity and power.
With this perfect individuality extending to conscience, freedom should have belonged to labor. . . . In America freedom of labor was the moral principle of the majority of the people; was established, or moving toward immediate establishment, in a majority of the States; was by the old confederation, with the promptest and oft-repeated sanction of the new government, irrevocably ordained in all the territory for which the United States could at that time make the law. The federal convention could not at that time interfere with the slave laws of the separate States; but it was careful to impose no new incapacitation on free persons of color; it maintained them in all the rights of equal citizenship; it granted those rights to the emancipated slave; and it kept to itself the authority to abolish the slave trade instantly in any territory that might be annexed; in all other States and lands, at the earliest possible moment for which it had been able to obtain power.—George Bancroft’s History, Constitution, Book V, chapter 1.
Equality of man and religious liberty were features peculiar to the Christian religion of all religions, and peculiar to the great American republic of all governments.