A World-Wide Religious Despotism Coming — Persecution to Be Revived
By Albert M. Dart
O VER and over again, the Bible points out the fact that the last days of this world's history will be days of peril. So strong an expression as this is used: "A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation." The Saviour, speaking of the last days, says that men's hearts will fail them "for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth."
This awful condition comes as the result of rejecting the word of God; because in the rejection of the Word, men are left in the hands of Satan, the destroyer.
The worst conditions known to history are those brought about by an attempt on the part of man to coerce his fellow man in matters religious. Of the Dark Ages, the Saviour says, "Except those days [of persecution] should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved." Matt. 24: 22. This is a strong statement, and shows the awful character of religious tyranny.
World-Wide Despotism Coming
THE Bible predicts a religious despotism in the last days, world-wide in its influence. Its attendant persecutions will not be lacking; and under these conditions, the inhabitants of the world will make their choice for or against Christ. The faithful in Christ, those accepted of Him and taken home with Him at His appearing, will have heralded the last warning message to the world in the face of this despotic, tyrannical condition, and tasted the persecutions that ever have attended and ever will attend that false system.
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown [see 1 Thess. 4: 16], and they shall come which were ready to perish [objects of persecution] in the land of Assyria [the oppressor, the persecutor], . . . and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem." Isa. 27: 13.
This despotic system that will work such havoc with the human race is brought to view in Revelation 13, and in other places in the same book.
In the thirteenth chapter, the prophet sees "a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Verse 1. That the beast represents a religious system is seen from the fact that "they worshiped the beast" (verse 4); and again in verse 8, "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." This last statement shows the beast to represent an apostate religious system, for the true people of God do not worship it.
Whenever the people of God apostatize from Him, they seek other power than that of God to carry forward His work. The civil power is used to enforce religious observances upon the people. Hence there is persecution. The beast system here considered does just that; for "it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Verse 7. It was world-wide, you see — a world-wide, despotic, religious system, with its ever present persecutions of those who are loyal to the principles of God's government.
A Lamb Changes to a Dragon
THIS system is further revealed in the appearance, before the prophetic eye of the persecuted seer of Patmos, of "another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Verse 11. "The dragon" is prominent in this system. He is the leader of it. The dragon represents Satan (Rev. 12: 9), and the agents he uses in carrying on his work of deception in the world. He gave to the first beast "his power, and his seat, and great authority." Rev. 13: 2.
The character of the two-horned beast changes from lamblike to satan-like; for he finally speaks as a dragon. "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." Verse 12. That was despotic power, persecuting power. Then the further unfolding of this despotic beast system under the symbol of the two-horned beast reveals the startling fact that the work of Satan is carried on under a lamblike garb — a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is no new thing, however, for it has ever been Satan's method of procedure; but we seem to forget this fact sometimes, and judge the value of a movement by its appearance rather than its merits.
A Twentieth Century Tyranny
BUT is this religious despotism, which is so clearly pointed out in this prophecy, a thing of the past, or will its tyrannical head be seen even in our twentieth century civilization and enlightenment? The answer is not difficult to find. The last generation is warned against this system. The wrath of God is to be poured out upon all connected with it. See Rev. 14: 9-12.
Christ comes in the midst of these scenes. "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man." Verse 14. And those whose names were found in the book of life were seen on the sea of glass, with harps in their hands, having gained the victory over Satan in his last-day, world-wide, despotic sway, in which he deceives the inhabitants of the world — every one whose name is not written in the book of life. See Rev. 15: 1-3.
A beast rising up out of the sea.
The pen refuses to depict the havoc wrought to the human family under this last-day tyranny. Do you want a part in bringing it about? The system pointed out in prophecy is one in which the civil power is used to enforce religious dogmas.
Drunken with Martyrs' Blood
THIS fact is further seen in Rev. 17: 3-5, where the apostate church is brought to view under the symbol of a woman seated upon a scarlet-colored beast. The woman is beautifully arrayed, and has a golden cup in her hand; but the cup is "full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication." Here is the despotism of which we write. The church is united to the state represented by the beast upon which the woman is seated, and which she directs. This is illicit relation — fornication; and the result of this union is seen in verse 6: "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus."
The use of political power to further religious ends is the sum of this system.
If we are using our energies to advance such a system, it matters not who we are or what our religious belief, we are helping to bring ruin to the human family; and I see no harp in our hands on the blissful sea of glass in the glad day when despotism and tyranny shall be broken by the wielding of the scepter that was not to depart from Judah till Shiloh come.
Future days are dark; but the rays of light from the prophetic page pierce the gloom, and the glory of Prince Immanuel lightens the path of the just, even to the heavenly portals, which will soon swing open for the redeemed host. Shall we enter?
