THE TWO HORNS by Uriah Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 18, 1862

THE TWO HORNS.

By Uriah Smith

IN Review number 8, volume xviii, July 23, 1861, will be found answers to some queries respecting the two horns of this government, proposed by sister N. G. Sanders, to which she makes the following reply:

BRO. SMITH : Pardon me for troubling you a little further. I wish to ask in what consisted the union or the division of the Medo-Persian empire. We read that the two horns are the two kings. I suppose they were not kings ruling successively. Dan. xi, 2, says there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia. The two horns which were the respective kings of Media and Persia, were on one beast ; both were civil rulers—kings. I saw the difficulty of which you speak, but considered Media and Persia a parallel case. It seems by your exposition that civil or ecclesiastical power may be a horn. If the little horn was called a horn

while yet unclothed with civil power, what was it when so clothed? The ecclesiastic power was alone a horn ; when civil power was added it was two powers—horns. Why was not the civil power called a horn, as in case of the two-horned beast, if Protestantism constitutes one horn, and civil power the other? When the church power in this nation unites with the civil power, will not the two horns be merged into one, as in the case of the little horn? You seem to think me in a hurry to adapt the nation to the prophecy ; but I ask, May we not determine from the prophecy what will be required to fulfill it? This is slightly abridged from a letter which I wrote on receiving your reply to my question in July last. I had laid it aside, not intending to send it ; but at the request of a sister I concluded to send it.

Yours, desiring the truth.

N. G. SANDERS.

Rush Lake, Wis., Feb., 1862.

ANSWER. The Medes and Persians were consolidated into one empire, and governed by one king ; hence they are represented by one beast. The two horns are explained to be the two elements or nationalities, Medes and Persians, of which that kingdom was composed. When the Persians under Cyrus, and the Medes under Darius, united to subjugate the Babylonian empire, Cyrus placed his uncle Darius on the throne, vesting in him the whole regal authority ; and from that time onward to the subversion of the empire, but one king ruled at the same time over the Medes and Persians. The division of the United States into a Northern and Southern Confederacy could not be a parallel case ; for here we should have, not union, but disunion ; not two nations consolidated into one, but one nation rent into two ; not all subject to one ruler, or to the same class of rulers, but governed by different rulers ; not acting together, but acting independently, and often with hostility. Consequently the difficulty that exists against the two horns of the two-horned beast representing two divisions of this government, it seems cannot be removed by reference to Media and Persia.

In regard to the little horn of Dan. vii, 8, which was called a horn while yet it was but an ecclesiastical power, it did not become two horns by being clothed with civil power ; for the two elements of civil and ecclesiastical authority were both vested in the same person. To be represented by two horns, it is necessary that these powers should be exercised distinct from, and independent of, each other. They were not so exercised by the little horn, but are so in this nation ; hence here they are properly represented by two horns.

In reply to the question, "When the church power in this nation, unites with the civil power, will not the two horns be merged into one," I answer that I do not expect that there will be in this country a union of Church and State, in the sense in which this expression is generally understood. By a union of Church and State, I understand a religion made national, and the civil power upholding and enforcing obedience to the ecclesiastical. But a national religion in this country is out of the question, on account of the many kinds and diversities that exist ; and all that, in the light of the prophecy, can here be looked for in this direction, as I view it, is the clothing of the ecclesiastical power with civil authority—giving the church power to enforce obedience to its own decrees. And in this we shall have the image to the beast, an exact resemblance to the little horn, which was the same essential thing—an ecclesiastical power clothed with civil authority. And when the different church establishments are thus endowed, the only question upon which they can act harmoniously as being the only one upon which they are generally agreed, is the question of Sunday-keeping.

The following general principle may aid us in arriving at correct conclusions respecting the two-horned beast : Whenever the horns of a beast denote divisions that are to take place in the nation which it symbolizes, or kingdoms to grow out of it, whatever acts are ascribed to such beast, are all to be accomplished before this division takes place. This principle is illustrated in the case of the leopard with four heads, Dan. vii, the same as the he-goat of chap. viii. All the acts said to have been done by this beast, were done before the notable horn was broken, and the empire divided.

We see the same principle carried out in the ten-horned beast of Dan. vii. The ten horns of that beast denoted the ten kingdoms that were to arise out of that empire ; but the treading down, devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping the residue with the feet of it, which is said to be the work of this beast, were all done before this division took place. After this division was accomplished, and the little horn came upon the stage of action, further acts are said to be done, not by the beast, but specifically by the little horn.

Apply this principle to the two-horned beast. There are at least nine specific acts to be done by this beast, according to the prophecy. And if the two horns denote divisions that are to arise out of this nation, all these acts must be accomplished before this division takes place. This must necessarily be so, or the subject is open to the utmost confusion. For if certain acts are said to be done by the beast, in its divided state, which division shall we understand it to perform them ? Which division will constitute the beast ? Which horn will perform the work ? Let it be noticed that no actions are attributed to these horns ; but when actions are performed by the divisions or kingdoms which are represented by horns, these actions are said to be done, not by the beast out of which these horns arose, but by the horns themselves. See Rev. xvii, 12-14, 16, 17.

Let us then inquire as to what period we have reached in the fulfilment of the prophecy of the two-horned beast, that we may determine whether the time has come for the division of this government, provided the two horns denote its division.

1. He speaks like a dragon. Fulfilled in a measure, but not fully. 2. He exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him. Not yet accomplished. 3. He causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast. Not yet accomplished. 4. He doeth great wonders. Partially fulfilled in the developments of steam power, electricity, and modern Spiritualism. 5. He maketh fire come down from heaven. Not yet accomplished. 6. He deceiveth them that dwell on the earth. Only partially fulfilled. 7. Saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast. Not yet accomplished. 8. And had power to give life to the image of the beast, &c. Not yet accomplished. 9. He causeth all, both small and great, &c., to receive a mark. Not yet accomplished.

We see therefore that, according to the principle above laid down, much is yet to be done before the division of this government can take place, even if such an event is in the order of the prophecy. But after all has been done that the beast is to perform in his undivided state, the next event in the series is the standing of the people of God upon mount Zion ; showing that the existence of this nation in a divided state is not contemplated in the prophecy. The very comparison of the horns to those of a lamb, would seem to show that they are designed to represent character, not political divisions.

In the light of the prophecy, then, I do not look for any division in this government. The leprosy of slavery has so far infected the mass of this nation that the present trouble will probably be temporarily hushed by some dishonorable and disgraceful compromise. And the union thus gained will undoubtedly continue till the opening of that time of dire confusion, in which all the constitutions of society will be broken up, the bonds of nations be severed, and the race perish in disorganization and ruin.

U. S.