The Beasts of Revelation

Transcription

1 The Beasts of Revelation Book 12 DIG DEEPER We do not go deep enough in our search for truth. Every soul who believes present truth will be brought where he will be required to give a reason of the hope that is in him. The people of God will be called upon to stand before kings, princes, rulers, and the great men of the earth, and they must know what is truth. They must be converted men and women. God can teach you more in one moment by His Holy Spirit than you could learn from the great men of the earth. The universe is looking upon the controversy that is going on upon the earth. At an infinite cost, God has provided for every man an opportunity to know that which will make him wise unto salvation. How eagerly do angels look to see who will avail himself of this opportunity! When a message is presented to God's people, they should not rise up in opposition to it; they should go to the Bible, comparing it with the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true. God wants our minds to expand. He desires to put His grace upon us. We may have a feast of good things every day, for God can open the whole treasure of heaven to us.--review and Herald, February 18, Testimonies to Ministers p Our time is precious. We have but few, very few days of probation in which to make ready for the future, immortal life. We have no time to spend in haphazard movements. We should FEAR TO SKIM THE SURFACE OF THE WORD OF GOD. Testimonies, Vol. 6, p THE BEASTS OF REVELATION The perils of the LAST DAYS are upon us, and in our work we are to warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. IF OUR PEOPLE WERE HALF AWAKE, if they realized the NEARNESS of the events portrayed in the REVELATION, A REFORMATION WOULD BE WROUGHT IN OUR CHURCHES, and many more would believe the message. We have no time to loose; God calls upon us to watch for souls as they that must give an account. Advance NEW PRINCIPLES, and crowd in the CLEAR-CUT TRUTH. It will be like a sword cutting both ways...let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. Testimonies to Ministers p

2 The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, God declares, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. WHEN we as a people understand what this book means to us, THERE WILL BE SEEN AMONG US A GREAT REVIVAL. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it. Testimonies to Ministers p WHAT THEN IS OUR MOST URGENT NEED? A revival of true godliness among us is the GREATEST and MOST URGENT of all our needs. To seek this should be our FIRST WORK. 1 Selected Messages p are we waiting for some compelling power to come upon the church before we shall arouse? THAT TIME WILL NEVER COME. 1 Selected Messages p Christians should be preparing for what is SOON to break upon the world as an OVERWHELMING SURPRISE and this preparation they should make by DILIGENTLY STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD and striving to conform their lives to its precepts. Prophets and Kings p Only those who have been DILIGENT STUDENTS of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. Great Controversy p There are persons in the church who are not converted and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. WE MUST ENTER UPON THE WORK INDIVIDUALLY... We have far more to fear from WITHIN than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are FAR GREATER from the CHURCH ITSELF than from the world. 1 Selected Messages 122. The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place....one MEMBER working in right lines will lead other members to unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Testimonies, Vol. 8, p

3 These precious gems from the pen of inspiration give us the answer as to what we must do in order to obtain that long looked for REVIVAL AND REFORMATION that we so desperately need today. It is for this reason that we now present to you for your own personal study these precious gems that have long lain dormant and obscured from view. The jewels of truth lie scattered over the field of revelation; but they have been buried beneath human traditions, beneath the sayings and commandments of men, and the wisdom from heaven has been practically ignored; for Satan has succeeded in making the world believe that the words and achievements of men, are of great consequence...there are veins of truth yet to be discovered; but spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Fundamentals of Christian Education p The reason that many professed Christians do not have a clear, well-defined experience, is that they do not think it is their privilege to understand what God has spoken through His word. Fundamentals of Christian Education p Since Inspiration has told us that when we as a people understand what the book of Revelation means to us, that a great revival would take place, then to correctly understand the book of Revelation should be our primary concern at this time. As we commence our study let us keep these thoughts in mind: Do not read the Word in the light of former opinions; but, with a mind free from prejudice, search it carefully and prayerfully. If, as you read, conviction comes, and you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions. Make your opinions fit the Word. DO NOT ALLOW WHAT YOU HAVE BELIEVED OR PRACTICED IN THE PAST TO CONTROL YOUR UNDERSTANDING. Open the eyes of your mind to behold wondrous things out of the law. Find out what is written, and then plant your feet on the eternal Rock. Messages to Young People p There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. Counsels to Writers and Editors p

4 Let us continue our study now concerning the beasts of Daniel and Revelation. In our preceding booklet #11, Daniel presented to us four prophetic beasts symbolizing the passing political events and the consequent changing political status of the world from the time of ancient Babylon to the time of Christianized Rome. Daniel's fourth beast (the non-descript) does not tell of the fall of the Roman monarch or the papacy. It is silent concerning the reformation that came before or after Therefore, the lack of information by the symbols of this beast, must be found elsewhere in the prophetic Word of God, and since Daniel's series of beasts delineates but a part of the world's history, another series is necessary to complete it. The only other such series is found in the Revelation, the first symbol of which is the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the SEA, having SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS, and upon his horns TEN CROWNS, and upon his HEADS the name of BLASPHEMY. And the beast which I saw was like unto 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. 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. And they worshipped the DRAGON which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to CONTINUE FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. And he opened his mouth in BLASPHEMY against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon 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. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:

5 THE LEOPARD-LIKE BEAST A COMPOSITE BEAST The little horn in the second phase of Daniel's fourth beast shows a rise of brutal, tyrannical power, a power against the people of God. The symbolization of John's Leopard-like beast of chapter 13, which is the continuation of Daniel's fourth beast, tells what happened to that demon power. Daniel explains that his four beasts, which came up out of the sea (old country), symbolize four world empires, one following the other. And it has long been widely understood that they are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Note that John's Leopard-like beast has the head of a lion (first beast), the feet of a bear (second beast), the body of a leopard (third beast), and ten horns (fourth beast). Thus we see that the Leopard-like beast is a COMPOSITE BEAST of Daniel's four beasts, a DESCENDANT OF THEM. It must therefore represent the world after the fall of the first stage of the fourth empire, AFTER PAGAN ROME. See illustration on page 7. 5

6 THE SEA Note that this Leopard-like beast comes up out of the sea, (the old-country, Europe) the same locality as Daniel's four beasts. This Leopard-like beast then actually originated with the fall of Pagan Rome. In other words, there is an overlapping of the non-descript beast and the Leopard-like beast. THE FORTY TWO-MONTHS I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death....the FORTY AND TWO MONTHS ARE THE SAME AS THE TIME AND TIMES AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME, THREE YEARS AND A HALF, OR 1260 days, of Daniel 7--the time during which the Papal power was to oppress God's people. This period, as stated in preceding chapters, BEGAN WITH THE SUPREMACY OF THE PAPACY, A.D. 538, AND TERMINATED IN At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. Great Controversy p Therefore, the Leopard-like beast's forty and-two-month period, falls in the time of Papal Rome--the empire after Pagan Rome; whereas its wounded state (Rev.13:3), symbolizes her during the Protestant period. Moreover, the beast represents THREE PERIODS--(1) the period prior to its wounded state (Papal Rome); (2) the period during its wound; and (3) the period in which its wound is healed. THE HEALING OF THE WOUND It is generally accepted and understood among Seventh-day Adventist that the prophecy concerning the healing of the wound was fulfilled by the event which took place on the eleventh day of February 1929, when the Italian government granted civil power to the pope. 6

7 A COMPOSITE BEAST CROWNS AND HORNS The horns of the non-descript beast having no crowns, and the horns of the Leopard-like beast having crowns, point out that the latter symbolizes the world after the crownless horns (kings that were to arise--dan.7:24) of the former beast were crowned. Now, as we have seen, it is clear that Papal Rome, (the second phase of the non-descript beast) was a combined church and state power (a horn-head, having the eyes of a man, and a 7

8 mouth speaking great things --Dan.7:8), and that the Protestant Reformation caused the separation of the two. So while Papal Rome s rise and reign are prefigured by the nondescript beast s horn-head, her downfall is depicted by the Leopard-like beast's wounded common head--the horned part (the civil power) having been taken away. The church was stripped of the sovereign power with which the state had clothed her, with the result that the governments are now independent of the church, and the church is in subjection to the governments. Now, since the horns of John's beast symbolize the nations, and his wounded head symbolizes a religious organization divorced from a civil power, and since his seven heads are all alike, save for the wound on one of them, it becomes obvious that the HEADS, seven in number, portray RELIGIOUS BODIES, CHRISTENDOM IN ITS ENTIRETY. The horns, though, TEN in number, portray the CIVIL GOVERNMENTS in their entirety, the same as did the ten horns of the nondescript beast of Dan. 7, (see Dan.7:24). The UNIVERSAL SIGNIFICANCE of the number TEN is confirmed by the ten toes of the great image of Daniel 2, by the ten horns of the non-descript beast of Daniel 7, and the ten horns of the scarlet-colored beast of Rev. 17:3, 12. In all these as in all other instances, the number TEN is numerically symbolical of UNIVERSALITY. Both horns civil-powers) and heads (religious bodies), therefore represent the WORLD OF TODAY just as each of Daniel's four beasts respectively, represented the world in their day. The horns and heads all being on the beast at the same time, not coming up one after another, or in like manner falling off as the horns in Daniel chapters seven and eight, should forever convince every rational mind that the horns and heads symbolize civil and religious bodies, all existing at the same time, not one following the other. 8

9 BLASPHEMY OVER THE HEADS The blasphemy being over the SEVEN HEADS, not over the horns, denotes that the religious bodies portrayed therein do not worship God according to all Truth, that they are not wholly what they profess to be. Many have thought that the word BLASPHEMY is synonymous with the word BABYLON. The exact interpretation that inspiration places on the word BLASPHEMY is this, I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not. Rev. 2:9. Even Christ himself was falsely accused of blasphemy when Caiaphas the high priest asked Jesus the question: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou host said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes saying, He hath spoken BLASPHEMY; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his BLASPHEMY." Matt. 26: Thus we see that the correct interpretation of the word BLASPHEMY is to CLAIM TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE NOT. Since blasphemy is written over all seven heads (religious bodies), and since the number seven represents completeness or all, could it be possible that Seventh-day Adventists are included in these seven heads? Are we as a people guilty of BLASPHEMY? Does the church in her Laodicean condition claim to be something that she is not? Let us see what inspiration says concerning the seventh church, Laodicea: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Rev.3:17, 18. Here is represented a people who pride themselves in the possession of spiritual knowledge and advantages. But they have not responded to the unmerited blessings that God has bestowed upon them. They have been full of rebellion, ingratitude, and forgetfulness of God; 9

10 and still He has dealt with them as a loving, forgiving father deals with an ungrateful, wayward son. They have resisted His grace, abused His privileges, slighted His opportunities, and have been satisfied to sink down in contentment, in lamentable ingratitude, hollow formalism, and HYPOCRITICAL insincerity. With Pharisaic pride they have vaunted themselves till it has been said of them, Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. 1 Selected Messages p The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a STARTLING DENUNCIATION, and is APPLICABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD AT THE PRESENT TIME. What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct. Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 252, 253. For one to be in such a deplorable condition and at the same time to contend that he has need of nothing is indeed a blasphemy. PROTESTANTISM LOST HER PROTEST Moreover, since we admit that the Reformation inflicted the deadly blow and brought forth Protestantism, and since inspiration says the wound was healed, all these prove something which if we confess, may save our jeopardized lives, and make us as great as did the wholehearted confessions anciently make David great. What is it that we have to confess? Just this: If Protestantism wounded the beast by the Reformation, then the healing of the wound shows nothing less than that the Reformation has failed to keep the wound open, that the goal of the reformers has died, and despotism has been revived. Thus we must come to the conclusion that we as Seventh-day Adventists are also guilty of blasphemy and therefore are included in the - seven heads on the Leopard-like beast. However, we would like to make it clear at this point that Seventh-day Adventists are not included on 10

11 the seven heads of the scarlet-colored beast of Rev. 17, which is an image of the Leopard-like beast in its pre-wounded state (Papal period). The reason being that God s church is purified just before the scarlet-colored beast or Babylon the Great is made up. The Remnant church at that time will no longer be the church militant, but will be the church triumphant. (See Testimonies to Ministers pp. 45, 47) The heads (or churches) of the scarlet-colored beast represent the fallen denominational churches who will federate under Babylon the Great. Inspiration says concerning this: We are not to think that the chosen ones of God who are trying to walk in the light compose Babylon. The FALLEN DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES ARE BABYLON. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the NATURAL IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, THE ETERNAL TORMENT OF THE WICKED, THE DENIAL OF THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHIRST prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and ADVOCATING AND EXALTING THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK above God s holy and sanctified day. Testimonies to Ministers p

12 Most of us as Seventh-day Adventists are in agreement that Babylon the Great is not yet fully made up as Inspiration tells us: Not yet, however, can it be said that Babylon is fallen,...because she made ALL NATIONS drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. SHE HAS NOT YET MADE ALL NATIONS DO THIS...the work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination... Not until this condition shall be reached, and the UNION OF THE CHURCH WITH THE WORLD SHALL BE FULLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGHOUT CHRISTENDOM, will the fall of Babylon be complete. The change is a PROGRESSIVE ONE, and the perfect fulfillment of Revelation 14:8 is YET FUTURE." Great Controversy pp. 389,390. Now back to the Leopard-like beast. "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon 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." Rev. 13:7, 8. These verses point back to the time of the Leopard-like beast in his pre-wounded or Papal state, the time of the dark ages when the Papacy ruled and the Christians were martyred for their faith. Detail by detail, we are thus far enabled to see that the healing of the wound is indicative not only of our failing to carry the Protestant Reformation to completion, but also of the world's governments soon reverting to the rule of action before the wound was inflicted. This repetition of the past is to be brought about by THE TWO-HORN BEAST 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. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth 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. And he had power to give life unto 12

13 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. 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: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the NUMBER OF THE BEAST: for it is the NUMBER OF A MAN; and his number is SIX HUNDRED THREESCORE AND SIX. Rev. 13: THE EARTH AND THE SEA Unlike the Leopard-like beast, this two-horn beast comes from the earth. The sea and the earth obviously point to two different locations. We know that the beasts of Daniel 7, and the Leopard-like beast of Revelation 13, the beasts that arose from the SEA, all originated in the Old Country, the lands where humanity originated. See Great Controversy p The EARTH then points to a place away from the SEA and the opposite of what SEA stands for, a country made up of inhabitants who have emigrated from elsewhere. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Great Controversy p TWO HORNS The beast's two horns point out the fact that this beast does not represent the whole world as the other beasts that preceded it, but represents a LOCAL government that has two political ruling powers--democratic and Republican. 13

14 LAMB-LIKE The two horns having a lamb-like character give the appearance of innocence, harmlessness, and charitableness. See Great Controversy p What could be gentler than a lamb? The beast s speaking like a dragon nevertheless repudiates the lamb-like appearance of the horns. When this two-horn beast speaks as a dragon, he will use the same oppressive power as did the Leopard-like beast in his pre-wounded (or Papal state), when he persecuted the saints for forty-two months (see Rev. 13:12, 5-7). Notice in verse 12, the two-horn beast causes those that dwell on the EARTH, the same locality from whence he originated, to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed, (the Leopard-like beast in its pre-wounded state). This shows that this oppressive, persecuting power will first begin NATIONALLY (U.S.A.) then later will become INTERNATIONAL when he causeth all...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. Rev. 13:16. THE FALSE PROPHET And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And deceiveth 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." Rev. 13:13, 14. The beast spoken of here is the one with lamb-like horns. But someone else is introduced by the pronoun he, who had power to do miracles in the sight of the beast (the lamb-like beast). The following Scripture will make clear who it is that performs the miracles: And the BEAST was taken, and with him the FALSE PROPHET that wrought miracles before him, (before the two-horn beast) with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These BOTH were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Rev. 19:20. 14

15 Therefore, the MIRACLES are wrought by the FALSE PROPHET in the sight of the twohorned beast. This FALSE PROPHET is the one who shall precede the manifestation of Satan himself. Said the apostle, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14. THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET DETERMINED TO DECEIVE THE WORLD BY MIRACLES AND LAWS. REV. 13: As the doctrines held by the false prophet cannot be fully supported by the Scriptures, miracles are performed to secure the confidence of the people. As the great men and religious leaders declare to the public that the so-called true religion is the truth of Christ, and that the FALSE PROPHET is his servant, multitudes will fall into Satan's snare. His false prediction of the coming of the Lord, will be fulfilled by Satan himself as he appears as an angel of light. His dazzling brightness, and the false fulfillment of the prophet's prediction, in addition to the already overwhelming delusion, will ensnare a multitude greater than the first. While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Great Controversy p As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of 15

16 the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1: The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: Christ has come! Christ has come! The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. THIS IS THE STRONG, ALMOST OVERMASTERING DELUSION." Great Controversy p THE MARK OF THE BEAST 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: 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. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for IT IS THE NUMBER OF A MAN; and his number is SIX HUNDRED THREESCORE AND SIX. Rev. 13: The light we have received upon the third angel's message is the true light. THE MARK OF THE BEAST is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. NOT ALL IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER IS YET UNDERSTOOD, nor will it be understood UNTIL THE UNROLLING OF THE SCROLL; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 17. MARK OF THE BEAST NOT YET APPLIED Sunday keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol sabbath. The time will come when this day will be the test, but that time has not come yet. (MS 118, 1899). 7 Bible Commentary p. 977, E.G. White Comments. 16

17 To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas in direct opposition to the Word of God. 7 Bible Commentary p. 979, E.G White Comments. It is during this time (the time of the mark of the beast), that those other sheep which are not of this fold (great multitude, Rev. 7:9, John 10:16), will have to face the great test which will either give them the seal of God or the mark of the beast. Probation will have closed for the Seventh-day Adventist church wherein the 144,000 are sealed, but probation will still be open for those yet in Babylon. The Spirit of Prophecy in commenting on this says: But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. THEN THOUSANDS IN THE ELEVENTH HOUR will see and acknowledge the truth. 2 Selected Messages p. 16. The Lord has shown me clearly that the IMAGE OF THE BEAST will be formed BEFORE PROBATION CLOSES; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided. 2 Selected Messages p when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the LOUD CRY of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast. Evangelism pp. 234, 235. See also Great Controversy pp. 448, Thus we see that this two-horn beast will engineer a worldwide governmental set-up, re-enthroning the principles of the church-state rule of Ecclesiastical Rome. Being the restorer of these principles, he, along with the false prophet, will become the world's chief dictator, and shape not only the political and the religious policies of the governments, but also the world's commerce. He shall decree 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. Rev. 13:17. 17

18 This two-horn beast represents a MAN WHO STANDS AT THE HEAD OF A NATION, and whose influence goes far and wide among the kings of the earth. He is further identified by a number--the mystical number "six hundred threescore and six." Rev. 13:18. Inspiration puts the number on the TWO-HORN BEAST and there we must leave it. The idea that the papacy is called the beast is altogether wrong. The papacy is represented by symbols on two different beasts. First, on the non-descript of Daniel 7, by the little horn having eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things; second, on the Leopard-like of Revelation 13, by the head that was wounded to death. These beasts are universal, representing the entire world in their time, both civil and religious. Therefore, it could not be said of either beast, it is...a man. The papacy being only a part of both beasts (horn-head on one, and simply a wounded head on the other) cannot be called the beast. The two-horned beast is the only one representing a local religio-political government. Therefore of him alone it can be said, it is a man. Thus whosoever shall stand AT THE HEAD OF THAT PERSECUTING POWER as described in this chapter, and REPRESENTED BY THE BEAST, is the one who shall bear the mystical number 666. This last power that treads down the saints is brought to view in Rev. 13: His number is 666. A Word to the Little Flock p. 9. There is need of a much closer study of the Word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. WE MAY HAVE LESS TO SAY IN SOME LINES, IN REGARD TO THE ROMAN POWER AND THE PAPACY... Testimonies to Ministers p The Word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of the Sunday. Great Controversy p The Protestants of the United States will be FOREMOST in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. Great Controversy p Marvelous is her shrewdness and cunning is the ROMAN CHURCH. She can read what is to be. She bides her time, seeing that the Protestant churches are paying her homage in their 18

19 acceptance of the false sabbath and that they (the Protestants) are preparing to enforce it by the very means which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come to the help of PROTESTANTS in this work it is not difficult to conjecture. Great Controversy p THE WORLD OF TOMORROW Hand in hand with history, the more sure word of prophecy, having led us symbol by symbol down through the empires beginning with ancient Babylon, and down to the present state-ruled sectarian world, will certainly lead us through to the end of time. We are therefore confronted with the logical necessity of another beast-symbol, one predicting the religious political world of tomorrow. Without a symbolism to carry us beyond the world of today, the prophetic Word of God would be incomplete. So, for the sake of logic, continuity, and completeness, this succession of beast-symbolisms must include another beast, one which in particular is to unveil the WORLD OF TOMORROW. The only such symbol remaining is THE SCARLET COLORED BEAST of Revelation 17, driven by BABYLON THE GREAT. As time and space will not permit us to continue at this time, we urgently encourage you to read our booklet #13, entitled THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST. 19