p. 117 | THE TWO HORNED BEAST by B. Clark

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Oct 18, 1853

THE TWO HORNED BEAST.

By B. Clark

"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." Rev. xiii, 11.

As there are no crowns on the head or horns of this beast like the heads and horns in other countries, it will be seen that the description answers to the government of the United States. This two-horned government, though lamb-like, can speak with as much authority as a Pagan or kingly government, with crowns upon its heads, or on its horns. "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast [Papal Rome] before him, and causeth the earth, and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound [given to Papacy by Buonaparte] was healed." Verse 12.

It is worthy of note here, that this two-horned beast requires only one kind of worship; and that is not self-worship; neither the worship of the true God; but only the worship of the first beast before this, namely, Papal Rome. And, first, "the earth" in the United States is by the Sunday laws of the several states, made to rest, not tilled or sown on what is called, Sunday, in obedience to the Sunday laws of the emperors and Popes of Rome. Thus the earth is made to worship the first beast. Second, "them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast."—Thus by the Sunday laws of the several States, the people are required to honor, respect and worship the emperors and Popes of Rome, in keeping their Sunday laws. This is a plain fact, and you cannot safely deny it! Jesus Christ is Lord of the seventh-day Sabbath, which he says was made for man. But these several beasts are lord of the First-day sabbath—even to the stopping of the people's mails. Some pretend to worship Christ by keeping this Roman sabbath, falsely supposing that he is pleased with such worship. But he says, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. xv, 9. For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold the tradition of men.

This two-horned beast would have power to do miracles, and deceive them that dwell on the earth, "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." Rev. xiii, 14.—That is, the people of this country who are continually saying, Let there be an image to the Roman beast. Let there be such a religious establishment in this country as there is in Rome, where the Pope and priests rule the consciences of men, and make all people bow down to their favorite creed. Say they, Let there be laws to compel men to keep Sunday. Let there be an image to the Roman beast. Let there be law religion in the United States. *

"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." Rev. xiii, 16. As the seventh-day Sabbath is a sign or mark of the true and living God, so the first-day Sabbath is a sign or mark of the beast, which Daniel the prophet said would think to change times and laws. Indeed it is the most distinguished and universal sign of Popery—the most prominent mark that can be seen. This mark is received in the forehead as the most prominent religious impression of the mind, that the first day of the week is the Sabbath instead of the seventh day, which God appointed. *

Therefore, hear! ye nations, and understand all ye people! Let the earth hear, and all that dwell upon it. "And the third angel followed them, saying, with a loud voice, if any man [whether Catholic, Protestant, or any other 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 for ever 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. xiv, 9-12. Not a part of the ten commandments of God, and a part of the commandments of men, but the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Here is the remnant which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. xii, 17. "Here are those that delight in the law of God after the inward man." Here are they that call the seventh-day Sabbath a delight—the holy of the Lord, honorable.—Here are they that would be cast out of what are called the nominal Churches for teaching the very words of the fourth commandment of God, namely, that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God!" Here may be seen, too, "the repairers of the breach," (in the law of God,) "the restorers of paths to dwell in." Isa. lviii, 12, 13.

Now the Creator of the heaven and the earth calls attention to his law. Once the earth did shake when he first called attention to it, "when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder." Ex. xix, 19. "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." Heb. xii, 26. Now his words are, "bind up the testimony, seal [or confirm] the law among my disciples."—"And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter. . . . To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them;" [Isa. viii, 19, 20;] when the living are seeking "to the dead" to find out matters and things. Why? Because "the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isa. xxiv, 5.

Therefore, dear reader, if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments. Matt. xix, 20. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14. Blessed are they that get the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. Rev. xv, 2. B. CLARK.

Alden, Erie Co., Oct., 1853.