America in Prophecy: The Two-Horned Beast of Revelation 13

Revelation 13

1 And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell on 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.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; 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.

15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.

The United States of America is the specific nation identified as the two-horned, lamb-like beast of Revelation 13:11+2. This identification is confirmed by its unique manner of rise, its geographical location, and the timing of its emergence on the world stageFEE 164.3+1.

The Manner of America's Rise

While the previous beasts in prophecy rose from the sea—symbolizing the strife of war among "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues"—the two-horned beast was seen coming up out of the earth Revelation 13:11+1. This signifies that the nation would arise in territory previously unoccupied, growing up gradually and peacefully like a plant rather than through the conquest of other empiresGC88 440.1+1. History records that no other nation perfectly fulfills this description except the United States, which emerged "amid the silence of the earth" on a newly-discovered continentFEE 164.3+2.

The Chronology of 1798

The timing of America's rise is a critical link in the prophetic chain. The first beast, symbolizing the papacy, was to continue for forty-two months (1,260 years) before being led into captivity, an event that occurred in 1798 when the papacy received its "deadly wound" Revelation 13:3-10ChSa 179.3+1. At that very point in history, the United States was rising into power, attracting the attention of the world as a new and independent republicGC88 440.1+1.

The Two Lamb-Like Horns

The two horns like a lamb represent the fundamental principles that have been the secret of America's power and prosperity: Republicanism and Protestantism14LtMs, Ms 51, 1899, par. 5+1.

• Republicanism: This civil power recognizes that all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessTMR 88.3+1.

• Protestantism: This religious principle upholds the right of private judgment and the total separation of church and stateGNT 168.1+1.

The Transition to the Dragon’s Voice

Despite its innocent appearance, the prophecy warns that this nation will eventually speak as a dragon Revelation 13:11. This "speaking" refers to the actions of its legislative and judicial authoritiesGC88 440.1. The transition occurs when the nation repudiates its liberal foundations to enforce religious observances, specifically Sunday as a spurious sabbath, through civil law7BC 984.8+2. By seeking the aid of civil government to enforce church dogmas, apostate Protestantism creates an image to the beast—a replica of the papal system of church-state union Revelation 13:14-15GC 443.4+1.

The Role of Spiritualism

The identity of the two-horned beast is further solidified by the rise of modern Spiritualism within its borders4SP 502.7+1. This miracle-working power, which had its origin in the United States in 1848, is the agency that will eventually deceive the world into honoring the beast and receiving its mark4SP 502.7+2. This deceptive influence will lead to a universal confederacy of evil forces against those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation 14:12LDE 136.4+1.