Continued-
Revelation 13
p 565 -- VERSE 11
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. 12 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.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 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 the sword, and
did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto 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 causeth 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.
(Daniel and
Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897 - Excerpts)
2. The Chronology of
This Power. - At what period in this world's history is the rise of this
power placed in the prophecy?
On this point, the
foundation for the conclusions at which we must arrive is already laid in the
facts elicited in reference to the preceding or leopard beast. It was at the
time when this beast went into captivity, or was killed (politically) with the
sword (verse 10), or (which we suppose to be the same thing) had one of its
heads wounded to death (verse 3), that John saw the two-horned beast coming up.
If the leopard beast, as we have conclusively proved, signifies the papacy, and
the going into captivity met its fulfilment in the temporary overthrow of the
popedom by the French in 1798, then we have the time definitely specified when
we are to look for the rise of this power. The expression "coming up
" must signify that the power to which it applies was but
p 569 -- newly
organized, and was then just rising into prominence and influence. The power
represented by this symbol must, then, be some power which in 1798 stood in
this position before the world.
And in what
condition stood the United States of America at that time? Macmillan and Co.,
the London publishers, in announcing their Statesman's Year Book for 1867, make
an interesting statement of the changes that took place among the leading
nations of the world during the half century between the years 1817 and 1867.
They say: - "The half century has extinguished three
kingdoms, one grand duchy, eight duchies, four principalities, one electorate,
and four republics. Three new kingdoms have arisen, and one kingdom has been
transformed into an empire. There are now forty-one states in Europe against
fifty-nine which existed in 1817. Not less remarkable is the territorial
extension of the superior states of the world. Russia has annexed 567,364
square miles; the United States, 1,968,009; France, 4,620; Prussia, 29,781;
Sardinia, expanding into Italy, has increased by 83,041; the Indian empire has
been augmented by 431,616. The principal states that have lost territory are
Turkey, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands."
In their bearing
upon the prophecy before us, these statements are worthy of the particular
attention of the reader. During the half century named, twenty-one governments
disappeared altogether, and only three new ones arose. Five lost in territory
instead of gaining. Only five besides the United States added to their domain,
and the one which did the most in this direction, added only a little over half
a million of square miles; while the United States added nearly two million
square miles.
Thus the American
government added over fourteen hundred thousand square miles of territory
during the fifty years named, more than any other single nation, and over eight
hundred thousand more than were added, during that time, by all the other
nations of the earth put together. Can any one doubt what nation was
emphatically "coming up" during the period covered by these
statistics?
p 570 -- Certainly
it must be admitted that the United States is the only power that meets the
specifications of the prophecy on this point of chronology.
Mr. Wesley, in his
notes on Revelation 14, written in 1754, says of the two-horned beast: -
"He has not yet come, though he cannot be far off; for he is to
appear at the end of the forty-two months of the first beast."
3. Age
of This Power. - There is good evidence to show that the government
symbolized by the two-horned beast is introduced into prophecy in the early
part of its career; that it is, when first brought to view, a youthful power.
John's words are, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth,
and he had two horns like a lamb." Why does not John simply say, "He
had two horns"?
Why does he add
"like a lamb"? It must be for the purpose of denoting the character
of this beast, showing that it is not only of a very innocent and harmless
demeanor, ostensibly, but also that it is a very youthful power; for the horns
of a lamb are horns that have but just begun to grow.
Bear in mind that by
the preceding argument on chronology, our gaze is fixed to the year 1798; and
the power symbolized was then a youthful power, according to the present
argument. Question: What notable power was at that time
coming into prominence, but still in its youth? England was not, nor was
France, nor Russia, nor any European power. For a young and rising power at
that epoch, we are obliged to turn our eyes to the New World. But as soon as we
turn them to this continent, they rest inevitably upon this country as the
power in question. No other power this side of the ocean is entitled to any
mention in comparison with it.
4.
Location of the Two-horned Beast. - A single declaration of the
prophecy is sufficient to guide us to important and correct conclusions on this
point. John calls it "another beast." It is a symbol in addition to,
and different from, the papal beast which the prophet had just had under
consideration; that is, it symbolizes a power separate and distinct from that
which is denoted by the preceding beast. This
p 571 -- which John
calls "another beast" is certainly no part of the first beast; and
the power symbolized by it is likewise no part of that which is intended by
that beast. This is fatal to the claim of those, who, to avoid the application
of this symbol to our own government, say that it denotes some phase of the
papacy; for in that case it would be a part of the preceding, or leopard beast.
If this is
"another" beast, it must be found in some locality not covered by any
other symbols. Let us, then, take a brief survey of those symbols found in the
word of God, which represent earthly governments. These are found, chiefly, if
not entirely, in the books of Daniel and the Revelation. In Daniel 2, a symbol
is introduced in the form of a great image, consisting of four parts, - gold,
silver, brass, and iron,- which is finally dashed to atoms, and a great
mountain, taking its place, fills the whole earth. In Daniel 7 we find a lion,
a bear, a leopard, and a great and terrible nondescript beast, which, after
passing through a new and remarkable phase, goes into the lake of fire. In
Daniel 8, we have a ram, a he-goat, and a horn, little at first, but waxing
exceeding great. In Revelation 9, we have locusts like unto horses. In
Revelation 12, we have a great red dragon. In Revelation 13, we have a
blasphemous leopard beast, and a beast with two horns like a lamb. In
Revelation 17, we have a scarlet-colored beast, upon which a woman sits,
holding in her hand a golden cup full of filthiness and abomination.
What governments and
what powers are represented by all these? Do any of them symbolize the United
States? Some of them certainly represent earthly kingdoms, for so the
prophecies themselves expressly inform us; and in the application of nearly all
of them there is quite a uniform agreement among expositors. The four parts of
the great image of Daniel 2 represent four kingdoms, - Babylon, or Chaldea,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The lion of the seventh chapter also represents
Babylon; the bear, Medo-Persia; the leopard, Grecia; and the great and terrible
beast, Rome. The horn with human eyes and mouth, which appears in the second
phase of this beast, represents the papacy, and covers its history
p 572 -- down to the
time when it was temporarily overthrown by the French in 1798. In Daniel 8,
likewise, the ram represents Medo-Persia; the he-goat, Grecia; and the little
horn, Rome. All these have a very clear and definite application to the governments
named; none of them thus far can have any reference to the United States.
The symbols brought
to view in Revelation 9, all are agreed in applying to the Saracens and Turks.
The dragon of Revelation 12 is the acknowledged symbol of pagan Rome. The
leopard beast of chapter 13 can be shown to be identical with the eleventh horn
of the fourth beast of Daniel 7, and hence to symbolize the papacy. The scarlet
beast and the woman of Revelation 17 as evidently apply also to Rome under
pagan and papal rule, the symbols having especial reference to the distinction
between the civil power and the ecclesiastical, the one being represented by
the beast, the other by the woman seated thereon.
There is one symbol
left, and that is the two-horned beast of Revelation 13. On this there is more
difference of opinion; and before seeking for an application, let us look at
the ground covered by those already examined. Babylon and Medo-Persia covered all
the civilized portion of Asia. Greece covered Eastern Europe, including Russia.
Rome, with the ten kingdoms into which it was divided, as represented by the
ten toes of the image, the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel 7, the ten
horns of the dragon of Revelation 12, and the ten horns of the leopard beast of
Revelation 13, covered all Western Europe. (See Map of the Four Kingdoms,
facing page 81.) In other words, all the Eastern Hemisphere known to history
and civilization, is absorbed by the symbols already examined, respecting the
application of which there is scarcely any room for doubt.
But there is a
mighty nation in the Western Hemisphere, worthy, as we have seen, of being
mentioned in prophecy, which is not yet brought in; and there is one symbol
remaining, the application of which has not yet been made. All the symbols but
one are applied, and all the available portions of the Eastern Hemisphere are
covered by the applications. Of
p 573 -- all the
symbols mentioned, one alone, the two-horned beast of Revelation 13, is left;
and of all the countries of the earth respecting which any reason exists why
they should be mentioned in prophecy, one alone, the United States government,
remains. Do the two-horned beast and the United States belong together? If they
do, then all the symbols find an application, and all the ground is covered. If
they do not, it follows, first, that the United States is not represented in
prophecy; and secondly, that the symbol of the two-horned beast finds no
government to which it can apply. But the first of these suppositions is not
probable, and the second is not possible.
But one conclusion
can be drawn from these arguments, and that is that the two-horned beast must
be located in the Western Hemisphere, and that it symbolizes the United States.
Another
consideration pointing to the locality of this power is drawn from the fact
that John saw it arising from the earth. If the sea, from which the leopard
beast arose (Rev. 13:1), denotes peoples, nations, and, multitudes (Rev.
17:15), the earth would suggest, by contrast, a new and previously unoccupied
territory.
Being thus excluded
from eastern continents, and impressed with the idea of looking to territory
not previously known to civilization, we turn of necessity to the Western
Hemisphere.
5.
The Manner of Its Rise. -
The manner in which
the two-horned beast was seen coming up shows, equally with its location, age,
and chronology, that it is a symbol of the United States.
John says he saw the
beast coming up "out of the earth." And this expression must have
been designedly used to point out the contrast between the rise of this beast
and that of other national prophetic symbols.
The four beasts of
Daniel 7 and the leopard beast of Revelation 13 all arose out of the sea. New
nations generally arise by overflowing other nations, and taking their place.
But no other nation was overturned in order to make room for the United States,
and the struggle for its independence was already fifteen years in the past
when it came into the field of prophecy. The prophet saw only peace.
p 574 -- The word
which is used in verse 11 to describe the manner in which this beast comes up,
is very expressive. It is anabainon (anabainon), one of the prominent
definitions of which is, "To grow or spring up as a plant." And it is
a remarkable fact that this very figure has been chosen by political writers,
without any reference to the prophecy, as the one conveying the best idea of
the manner in which this government has arisen. Mr. G. A. Townsend, in his work
entitled The New World Compared with the Old, page 635, says: -
"In this web of
islands - the West Indies - began the life of both [North and South] Americas.
There Columbus saw land; there Spain began her baneful and brilliant Western
empire; thence Cortez departed for Mexico, De Soto for the Mississippi, Balboa
for the Pacific, and Pizarro for Peru. The history of the United States was
separated by a beneficent Providence far from this wild and cruel history of
the rest of the continent, and like a silent seed we grew into empire; while
empire itself, beginning in the South, was swept by so interminable a hurricane
that what of its history we can ascertain is read by the very lightening that
devastated it. The growth of English America may be likened to a series of
lyrics sung by separate singers, which, coalescing, at last make a vigorous
chorus, and this attracting many from afar, swells and is prolonged, until
presently it assumes the dignity and proportions of epic song."
A writer in the
Dublin Nation, about the year 1850, spoke of the United States as a wonderful
empire which was "emerging," and
"amid the silence of the earth daily adding to its power and
pride."
In Martyn's History
of the Great Reformation, Vol. IV, p. 238, is an extract from an oration
delivered by Edward Everett on the English exiles who founded this government,
in which he says: -
"Did they look
for a retired spot, inoffensive from its obscurity, safe in its remoteness from
the haunts of despots, where the little church of Leyden might enjoy freedom of
conscience? Behold the mighty regions over which, in peaceful
p 575 --
(picture omitted)
p 576 -- conquest -
victoria sine clade, - they have borne the banners of the cross."
Will the reader now
look at these expressions side by side, - "coming up out of the
earth," "emerging amid the silence of the earth,"
"like a silent seed we grew into empire," "mighty
regions" secured by "peaceful conquest."
The first is from
the prophet, stating what would be when the two-horned beast should arise; the
others are from political writers, telling what has been in the history of our
own government. Can any one fail to see that the last three are exactly synonymous
with the first, and that they record a complete accomplishment of the
prediction?
Another inquiry
naturally follows: Has the United States "come up" in a
manner to meet the specifications of the prophecy? Let us see.
A short time before
the great Reformation in the days of Martin Luther, not four hundred years ago,
this Western Hemisphere was discovered. The Reformation awoke the nations, that
were fast fettered in the galling bonds of superstition, to the fact that it is
the heaven-born right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of
his own conscience. But rulers are loth to lose their power, and religious
intolerance still oppressed the people . Under these circumstances, a body of
religious heroes at length determined to seek in the wilds of America that
measure of civil and religious freedom which they so much desired. In pursuance
of their noble purpose, one hundred of these voluntary exiles landed from the
Mayflower on the coast of New England, Dec. 22, 1620. "Here,"
says Martyn, "New England was born," and this was "its first
baby cry, - a prayer and a thanksgiving to the Lord."
Another permanent
English settlement was made at Jamestown, Va., in 1607. In process of time,
other settlements were made and colonies organized, which were all subject to
the English crown till the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
The population of
these colonies, according to the United States Magazine of August, 1855,
amounted in 1701 to 262,000; in 1749, to 1,046,000; in 1775, to 2,803,000. Then
p 577 -- commenced
the struggle of the American colonies for independence. In 1776, they declared
themselves a free and independent nation. In 1777, delegates from the thirteen
original States, - New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Georgia, - in Congress assembled, adopted Articles of
Confederation. In 1783, the war of the Revolution closed with a treaty of peace
with Great Britain, whereby the independence of the United States was
acknowledged, and territory ceded to the extent of 815,615 square miles. In
1787, the Constitution was framed, and ratified by the foregoing thirteen
States; and on the 1st of March, 1789, it went into effect. Then the American
ship of state was fairly launched, with less than one million square miles of
territory, and about three million souls. Thus are we brought to the year 1798,
when this government is introduced into prophecy. And now, passing over a
little more than a hundred years, to the commencement of the twentieth century,
the territory of the United States government has expanded to 3,678,392 square
miles, and its population has increased to over 93,000,000 people. Its growth
in all industrial pursuits, agricultural productions, cattle raising,
newspapers, schools, production of the precious metals, and wealth of all kinds
which pertain to a civilized people, has been equally remarkable, and furnishes
an ample basis for the application of the prophecy.
*******
Truth.
Prophecy unfolding.
I live in the United
States and so when I learned that the
United States was actually in Biblical prophecy I was completely shocked.
I didn't take
anyone's word for it, I had to study history, I had to study the Bible.
The facts spoke and
still speak for themselves.
Read the above
again, look up facts, look up history, pray for comprehension, for truth.
May God bless us as
we seek to understand.
All through the love
of His amazing, beloved, all loving, all merciful, Son- Jesus Christ our Lord,
our Savior!
Amen.
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