THE TWO-HORNED BEAST

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1857

THE TWO-HORNED BEAST

ARGUMENT MISAPPREHENDED.

In the Bible Examiner of the 1st inst., we find some objections to the view we take of the Two-horned beast, by which it appears either that the argument has not been carefully studied, or that it is strangely misunderstood. It says:

"Some writers, for several years past, have attempted to show that the 'two-horned beast' of Rev. 13th is a symbol of the government of these United States. Much has been promulgated in defence of this position that seems plausible; but, is such a position tenable? We do not propose to follow the argument in all its aspects and positions, but simply to notice the subject briefly.

"First, it is maintained by those who advocate the theory under notice, that the seven last plagues of Rev. 16th are all yet in the future. This is essential to the argument, because the very first plague takes effect 'upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them that worshiped his image.' We take it, there is no ground for dispute that this is the 'two-horned beast' and 'the image' which it made. Now if one of the seven last plagues has been poured out prior to this time, the argument that the United States government is symbolized by the two-horned beast fails to the ground; for, that proves the seven last plagues are not all in the future, as they must be to make the argument available. But these same writers maintain that the Ottoman empire is symbolized by the great river Euphrates, Rev. 16th; and none of their number have said, 'The more one thinks upon this subject, (Rev. xvi, 12,) the more, it seems, must he become convinced that the drying up of the Euphrates is the consumption of the Ottoman empire.' If so, as it is manifest that empire is on the decline, and has been for a number of years past, is it not a self-evident fact that the sixth of the seven last plagues must have commenced to be poured out some years since? and, hence, that the first five had been previously poured out? If this be true, then the two-horned beast and its image are many years in the past—at least, from one to three centuries. Hence, that beast cannot be a symbol of the government of the United States."

We remember that in a certain place a prophet does not recommend the turning of things upside down; and we presume that the words apply to all time and to all circumstances. Our readers will perceive that in the above extract, our argument is handed to us bottom side up, a pyramid upon its apex. The conclusion is put for the premise, and the premise for the conclusion. It is true that we maintain that the seven last plagues of Rev. xvi are all yet in the future; but how have we arrived at this conclusion and what use do we make of it? One of the main considerations which has led us to adopt it, is that the very first plague takes effect upon those who receive the mark of the beast and worship his image. By many scriptures and chains of argument we are shown that 'the beast,' the Papacy, has performed its work, and instituted its mark; that the two-horned beast, entirely distinct from the beast, has arisen, and is almost fully developed, is performing in part, and preparing to accomplish, the wonders attributed to him; that he is also preparing to institute an image to the beast, the Papacy, and enforce its worship; and that the time for the warning against such worship has come, and the warning is being given. Hence the conclusion, that the plagues, the first of which falls upon that very class who reject this warning and perform this worship, are yet in the future. From other reasons entirely it is demonstrated that the power symbolized by the two-horned beast, has arisen and is doing its work; and this being once established, it follows as an inevitable conclusion that those plagues which are designed for those who submit to its unrighteous decrees in defiance of the requirements of Heaven, are yet before us. But do we use this as an argument that the time has come for the development of this beast? Not at all; for it would by no means follow from the simple fact that those plagues are future, that the present is the generation exposed to them, and to whom the warning of escape is applicable. But it being shown that the two-horned beast, which causes an image to be made, and enforces its worship, has its application in our own land and at the present time, the plagues attach themselves with fearful certainty to this generation, as the cup of wrath from which they shall surely drink.

As regards the idea that these judgments are in the past, in addition to the difficulty, not to say impossibility, of thus locating this beast and warning message, we know of nothing which can answer to their fulfillment.

As proof that five of the plagues are already past, and the sixth now being poured out, reference is made to the declining state of the Ottoman empire, the power upon which that plague is to be poured. But we cannot regard this as evidence that we have reached that period. In a recent article on this subject we showed that the introduction of this power in its symbolic form was no more an objection to the literality of the plagues, than the introduction of other powers in a similar manner. See verses 2, 9 of Rev. xvi. Neither can the fact that the empire of the Ottomans is now on the decline, be any more an objection to the application of the sixth plague in the future, than the fact that the spirits of devils are now abroad performing their wonders, which are said to go forth under that plague.

Again: We showed in the article alluded to, that the time for the commencement of the outpouring of these judgments was at the close of the ministration in the heavenly Sanctuary. Rev. xv, 8. And we have a clue to the time of their continuance in the fact that it synchronizes with the "day of vengeance," which is in the heart of Him who is mighty to save, when the year of his redeemed comes. Isa. lxiii, 5. This period is also in another place called a day: Rev. xviii, 8. "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine, &c." As it is impossible that famine should come in a literal day of twenty-four hours, the expression must be symbolic, denoting a year.

With this view of the continuance of the time of these plagues, (and we submit to the Bible student if it be not a just one) we see that they cannot be centuries in their accomplishment. As the spirits of devils are now preparing for the part they are then to act, so the Ottoman empire will be brought into that condition, and sustain that relation to the powers around it, that under the sixth plague, the waters thereof will be dried up—the work fully and completely accomplished; and by that drying up the way of the kings of the East will be prepared.

"We take it," says the Examiner, there "is no ground for dispute, that this is the 'two-horned beast,' and the 'image' which it made." Whoever would have us take such a position as this, will find that there is ground for dispute at once. The simple expression "the beast" never means the "two-horned beast," either in chap. xiii, or anywhere else in the Revelation, but refers invariably to the beast of chap. xiii, 1, which nearly all agree in applying to the Papacy. The "two-horned beast" is first introduced in Rev. xiii, by the expression "another beast," and is ever after in that chapter represented by the pronoun he; and it is not again referred to in that book under the term, beast. This distinction should never be lost sight of. "The beast" never means the beast with two horns like a lamb. This two-horned beast has no mark of its own, and receives no worship, only as it causes people to receive the mark of the first beast, and to worship that beast or the image which it makes to it. This distinction the Examiner appears to have overlooked entirely; and this has led it to the misapprehension we are now considering, and others to be noticed hereafter. It continues:

"Again, as it is not precluded by the writers of whom we speak, that this government has not attained the power to 'cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed,' or that it has yet made such a law, or proclamation, it follows, if the two-horned beast is the symbol of this government, the time of the Third Angel's Message, Rev. xiv, has not yet arrived; because that angel proclaims, 'If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand,' &c. This clearly shows that that beast and his image were in actual existence, and acting to put those men to death who would not obey the mandates, when the Third Angel begins his message; hence this government cannot be the two-horned beast; or else, the Third Angel's Message has not yet commenced."

This is one of the strongest objections to the view that the Third Angel's Message is now being given. It is perhaps most used by our opponents, and is, in the present case forcibly stated. Let us look at it. Because the image to the beast is not yet made, and the decree put forth to enforce its worship, therefore the time has not come for the warning of the Third Angel. This is the objection. But how far have matters progressed, and what events are fulfilled? 1st. The beast has arisen. 2d. He has exalted himself, and thought to change times and laws, and in so doing has given to the christian world an institution to which if men bow after learning the requirements of Jehovah, they worship the beast and receive his mark. 3d. The two-horned beast which is "another beast," and does wonders in the sight of the first beast, which is to make an image to this beast, and enforce its worship under penalty of death, has also arisen. He is in a state of fast perfecting development before us; and he is to the apprehension of every careful-

ly observant mind, preparing to accomplish speedily the work assigned him. In fact the forces of the enemy are all in motion and fast marshaling for the coming conflict. Shall God wait till they pitch battle before he begins to prepare his people? No! and in this response must every one join who has due regard to propriety in the fulfillment of prophecy. Let the warning go forth! Let men be apprised of the issue they are to meet! Let them decide understandingly whether they will bow to the authority of men, or to the authority of God; and then reap their reward according to their own decision! As well might the prophet Zechariah have held his peace, and not warned the Jews in captivity to flee from Babylon till Darius was demolishing its palaces, or the Christians not have been warned to flee from Jerusalem till the soldiers of Titus were pouring in through its battered gates, as that no warning should be given against the worship of the beast or his image, till its institutors were established in power, and the death penalty affixed to every violation. Verily it is time that the warning go forth, and that those who hear should heed it.

"Further. A portion of those who maintain this government is symbolized by this beast, tell us, that 'Sunday keeping' is the 'mark' of the two-horned beast; that is, it has substituted the first day of the week for the seventh, thereby 'changing the Lord's Sabbath for the Pope's Sunday.'"

This is one of those misapprehensions above referred to. Sunday keeping is not the mark of the two-horned beast. We see not how such an idea could be gathered from any of our writings, as a people, on this subject. The mark is the mark of the beast; and the beast is Papacy. The two-horned beast has no mark of its own.

"But again. The advocates of the view we are noticing, call Sunday 'the Pope's Sunday;' then if Sunday keeping is the mark of the beast, the Pope must be the two-horned beast, for the mark—whatever it is—is 'the mark of the beast,' it belongs to him, and is not something he has adopted for another. The image may be adopted, but the mark is that of the beast himself—of his own invention, and is due to him; so that if Sunday keeping is the mark, and the Pope is its inventor, it follows, invariably, that he is symbolized by the two-horned beast, and not the United States government."

Singular indeed is such an expression as this. Its main spring, as the reader will perceive lies in the mistake already noticed, of considering the mark, the mark of the two-horned beast, whereas it is the mark of "the beast," the Papacy, and is an institution yet to be enforced by the two-horned beast. The Examiner concludes as follows:

"While we do not affirm that Papacy, in any of its forms, is symbolized by the two-horned beast, we give it as an opinion that none of its phases seem most likely to be intended by that beast, and that it is many years in the past. In the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries by the edicts of Papacy it was death for any man to read the Scriptures in their own tongue. During that period, or near thereto, in our opinion, came up the two-horned beast, and acted out its prophetical character; and more than ten years since we became satisfied, that so far as certainty can be arrived at, Luther and his coadjutors fulfilled the prophetic work of the three angels, Rev. xiv; and whoever will read the history of those men, with an unbiased mind, it seems to us, cannot fail to see that this is the true view of the subject. Luther and those who labored with him employed almost the exact words of the prophecy in bringing out the Scriptures to the people, and in their denunciations of Papacy. Sure we are, that nothing has occurred in this century that can bear any comparison, as to a fulfillment, with the work of Luther and his coadjutors. And that work harmonizes not only with the prophecy under consideration, but it brings the seven last plagues in their proper place; six of which, to our mind, are clearly in the past."

"We might present other reasons for rejecting the theory that the United States government is symbolized by the two-horned beast; but we feel averse to protracting remarks on the subject, and do not see how any reflecting person can think to maintain such a position, which, to us, seems so clearly without foundation. If we are asked, what position in prophecy we think the United States has? we answer, that of a 'strong nation afar off' which the Lord will yet 'rebuke.' See Micah iv, 3. All the symbolized beasts, in our judgment, are located on the old Roman Territory, and can be found no where else."

We have not introduced this lengthy extract for any argument that it contains, but simply to call attention to a few facts which must be, and can easily be settled in regard to the two-horned beast. Facts are firm things. We love to find them in an argument; for we can walk right out upon them without fear of falling.

First, then, it is a fact that the two-horned beast is another and a distinct beast from the seven-headed and ten-horned beast first mentioned in Rev. xiii. It is distinctly called another beast, it rises from another locality, namely from the earth, whereas the first beast rose from the sea; and it does wonders before, that is in the sight of, in presence of, the first beast. Having once fixed this

fact firmly in mind, there is no danger of running into the fog by confounding it with the Papacy in any of the 'forms' or 'phases.'

Second, it is a fact, that the two-horned beast is not located upon the territory occupied by the Papal beast, or any of its horns; for it is, as we have seen, a distinct beast, and two distinct beasts cannot occupy the same territory at the same time. There is no danger of our running into the dark on this point.

Third, it is a fact, that the time of the rise of the two-horned beast, or when it is first introduced as coming up is definitely pointed out; namely when the first beast received a deadly wound, or was led into captivity, which was, as all history on the point will testify, on the 10th of February, 1798.

We care not here to mention more of the numerous and plain specifications which attach themselves to this subject. The three we have touched upon hold an important part in its investigation. We think they are clearly established and decisive. Perhaps these are included in the "much that is plausible," which the Examiner admits as urged in favor of this view. We had been glad if it had touched upon these, and many others that might be mentioned, and, if they are not tenable, show their fallacy. We are confident they will stand the test of the most rigid criticism; and we see not how any one in view of them can go back for the two-horned beast centuries before the time when John saw it coming up; or look for it in territory already occupied by another power, or mistake it for a beast which maintains a separate existence at the same time. There is no necessity, we hardly see how there is a possibility, of making so mistaken an application. Nor need we go back to the time of Luther and his coadjutors for the fulfillment of the angels' messages, and ignore the mighty move that has taken place on the Advent doctrine, not in this country only, nor in Europe only, but throughout the world, within the last twenty years. We apprehend that no age has sustained a greater burden of prophetic fulfillment than the present, and that no scenes have transpired in earth's drama, more important than those now transpiring around us. May we not shut our eyes to these, but view them in the light of prophecy and revelation, and prepare ourselves for the coming issue.