IN the strongest and most emphatic language, the Bible forewarns the world of a "beast" power that shall develop near the close of time. This "beast" is frequently mentioned in the book of Revelation, and he is invariably associated with the great powers of the world. Says the revelator, "I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army." Rev. 19: 19.
It is easy to see that this beast represents a power separate and apart from the kings of the earth; and the next verse shows that this beast is a living, active power near the end of time, for we read: "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Rev. 19: 20.
The lake of fire burning with brimstone, as is well known to all Bible students, is that which is provided for the destruction of the wicked; and this lake is not in existence until after the Judgment day is past, and the time has come for the sentence of eternal death to be executed upon those who have refused the salvation that God has offered.
Hence, as this "beast" power goes alive into the lake of fire, clearly it represents an organization that will be actively operating upon the earth when the world comes to an end.
This "beast" represents a religious power; because the revelator says, in speaking of him in the thirteenth chapter of his prophecy: "And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13: 4, 8.
A Suspicious Movement
SINCE this beast power demands worship, it must symbolize a religious organization; and since it is associated with the kings of the earth, it must represent a church-and-state movement, wherein the church is supported by the earthly powers in enforcing her worship and carrying out her decrees.
Any worship, then, that would be enforced by the kings of the earth, should be regarded with the deepest suspicion; for that is the leading, specific characteristic of the beast power that attempts such havoc in the earth when the last generation of men is upon the stage of action.
Against this beast worship, God sounds forth a mighty warning, as expressed in the following language:
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 9-12.
A Plank in the Church Platform
MANY people may have questions as to the identity of the beast power against which this great warning is hurled. But we must observe, in the study of this warning, that one of the leading characteristics of those whom God develops to oppose it, is that they keep the commandments of God. Another leading characteristic is that they keep "the faith of Jesus." Then these people are not only Christians, but they are Christian commandment keepers. Everybody knows that one of the commandments of God pertains to the keeping of the Sabbath. And the Sabbath commandment, in language that is too plain to be mistaken, says that the seventh day is the Sabbath.
But the world as a whole, and the men in particular who stand at the head of the federating multitudes of the church, claim, without any authority whatever, that Sunday is the Sabbath. One of the planks that they put in the forefront of their plan of work is that we must have a universal Sunday law; and the peculiarly contradictory thing is that these men claim to be teaching God's word and standing for God, while they compel, through civil enactment, the observance of a day that is antagonistic to the day God has commanded. In other words, they set aside the commandment of Jehovah in favor of a precept of mere man.
Then is it any wonder that this warning message says those who follow in this last-day apostasy will meet with the "indignation" of God? Why should not God be "indignant" that men in His name would set aside one of His commandments, and place a human precept in its stead?
It is well for the men of this time to remember that the great religious despotism of the Dark Ages was prefaced by the Sunday law of Constantine; and strangely enough, the religious despotism that is coming now is carrying in the forefront the proposal to make a law that will compel every individual to keep Sunday.
The prophetic utterances quoted in these paragraphs are from the infallible word of Jehovah; and regardless of what men may say concerning them, it is well, in this time, for each individual to study carefully what they so definitely say.
AMERICAN MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION ON MEXICO Left to right: Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the interior; Dr. John R. Mott, of New York; Judge George Gray, of Wilmington, Delaware. By means of this Joint Commission, the American and the Mexican government hope to reach an amicable settlement of the differences growing out of the presence of American troops in Mexico and bandit raids along the border. Both nations are eager to proceed with the work at once. They will probably hold their conference at some summer resort on the Atlantic seaboard.
