Identity of the Earth Beast in Rev 13 - the USA

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 prophetic identity of the beast rising out of the earth in Revelation 13:11 is unequivocally the United States of America, based on a precise set of characteristics concerning its location, timing, appearance, and actions .

Here is a point-by-point summary of the descriptors in Revelation 13 that definitively identify the two-horned beast as the United States:

1. Manner and Location of Rise

The Earth Beast arose uniquely compared to the great persecuting powers that preceded it .

• Rising Out of the Earth: The prophecy states the beast came up "out of the earth" Revelation 13:11. This contrasts sharply with the previous powers (like the leopard-like beast, representing the Papacy) which rose out of the "sea" (representing "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" Revelation 17:15, signifying chaotic revolutions and strife Daniel 7:2FEE 164.3+2.

• Peaceful and Gradual Growth: Rising from the earth, like a plant growing quietly, signifies that this nation arose gradually and peacefully in a territory previously unoccupied, without having to overthrow existing governmentsFEE 164.3+4.

• Distinct Territory: Because this is "another beast" distinct from the Papal beast, its location must be outside the territory of the ten kingdoms of EuropeUSLP 35.2+2. This points unmistakably to the power growing up on the newly discovered continent of AmericaFEE 164.3.

2. Time of Appearance

The chronology of the prophetic sequence places the rise of this power precisely at the time the United States was establishing its presence .

• After the Deadly Wound: The beast was seen coming up at the time the first beast (the Papacy) went into captivity and received its deadly wound Revelation 13:3, 10. This historical event occurred in 1798ARSH November 15, 1853, page 149.13+3.

• Emerging in 1798: At this exact time—around 1798—the United States was beginning to draw the notice of the world as a rapidly developing and rising power, fitting the description of a power "coming up"FEE 164.3+3.

3. Appearance: Two Lamb-Like Horns

The physical features of the beast describe the foundational principles of the nation when it first appeared, indicating youth, innocence, and mildness Revelation 13:11.

• Lamb-Like Symbolism: The "horns like a lamb" indicate youth, innocence, and gentlenessGC88 441.1+1. The absence of crowns, unlike the first beast, suggests a government where power is vested in the people, not a monarchTMR 91.2+1.

• Republicanism and Protestantism: These two horns symbolize the nation's two great founding principles: Republicanism (civil liberty, founded on the idea that "all men are created equal") and Protestantism (religious liberty, granting the right of private judgment in matters of conscience)HF 273.1+7. These fundamental tenets are the secret of the nation's unparalleled power and prosperityGC88 441.1+1.

4. Actions: Speaking as a Dragon

Despite its mild appearance, the beast is prophesied to abandon its founding principles and resort to oppressive measures Revelation 13:11GC88 680.3.

• Repudiation of Principles: The prophecy shows that the lamb-like power is not in accordance with its eventual dragonic characterTMR 93.2. The nation will betray its true nature when it repudiates the principles of republicanism (self-government) and Protestantism (religious freedom)ARSH June 19, 1900, page 392.22+2.

• Dragonic Voice: To "speak as a dragon" signifies exercising the tyrannical power of the first persecuting power, betraying the Satanic influence concealed beneath the fair exteriorGC88 680.3+2.

5. Causing Worship of the First Beast

The Earth Beast is given the work of enforcing obedience to the Papal power after the latter begins to recover from its wound Revelation 13:12.

• Exercising Papal Power: The two-horned beast "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him" Revelation 13:12 meaning it will use power of the same tyrannical nature against the people of GodUSLP 90.1.

• Enforcing False Worship: It causes the inhabitants of the earth to "worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" Revelation 13:12THB 25.1+1. This is achieved through the enforcement of Sunday observance—the "false sabbath"—which will bring about a national apostasy from republican principles20MR 14.2+2.

6. Creating the Image and Enforcing the Mark

The prophetic climax involves the two-horned beast leading the people of the earth to create a counterfeit system of worship and law Revelation 13:14-17.

• Making the Image: The beast says that the inhabitants of the earth should "make an image to the beast" Revelation 13:14. Since the Papal beast was a church clothed with civil power, the image must be a Protestant ecclesiastical organization endowed with similar civil authority, a union of the Protestant churches and the republican governmentOFAH 44.3+3. The laws for this are made by the representatives of the people in the territory of this beast, marking the United States as the scene of actionAMS October 20, 1892, page 322.4+1.

• The Mark of the Beast: This power enforces the reception of the Mark of the Beast, which stands in direct opposition to the "commandments of God" Revelation 14:12TBUS 55.4+1. This Mark is Sunday observance, an institution of the Papal powerBDOC 61.24+1.

• Final Persecution: The beast enforces this worship by decreeing economic penalties ("no man might buy or sell" Revelation 13:17 and ultimately a death decree against those who refuse to worship the image, thereby becoming an accomplice with the Papacy and earning the title of the False Prophet Revelation 13:15+1KPC 42.2+2. Those who follow God are those who "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" Revelation 14:12. The Lord promises help and deliverance for those who trust Him Psalm 37:40.