Holy Spirit - Comprehension

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.

United States in Prophecy Pt 1

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.

These verses bring to view the third great symbol in the line of prophecy we are examining, usually denominated the two-horned beast. We inquire for its application.

The dragon, pagan Rome, and the leopard beast, papal Rome, present before us great organizations standing as the representatives of two great systems of false religion.

Analogy would seem to require that the remaining symbol, the two-horned beast, have a similar application, and find its fulfilment in some nationality which is the representative of still another great system of religion. But the only remaining system which is exercising a controlling influence in the world to-day is Protestantism.

Abstractly considered, paganism embraces all heathen lands, containing more than half the population of the globe. Catholicism, which may perhaps be considered as embracing the religion of the Greek Church, so nearly identical with it, belongs to nations which compose a great portion of Christendom. Mohammedanism is an effete system, which has ceased to be any important factor in the world's progress. Moreover, it seems to have received enough prophetic attention in Daniel 11 and Revelation 9. But Protestantism is the religion of nations which constitute the vanguard of the world in liberty, enlightenment, progress, and power.

If, then, Protestantism is the religion to which we are to look, to what nationality, as the representative of that religion,

p 566 --

(picture omitted) 

p 567 -- does the prophecy have application? There are notable Protestant nations in Europe; but for reasons which will hereafter appear, the symbol cannot apply to any of these. A careful investigation has led to the conclusion that it does apply to Protestant America, or the government of the United States. We trust the reader will now feel impatient for some of the reasons for such an application, and will carefully consider the evidence by which it is supported.

    1.   Probabilities Considered. - Are there any reasons why we should expect that our own government would be mentioned in prophecy? On what conditions have other nations found a place in the prophetic record? -  First, if they have acted any prominent part in the world's history; and  secondly, and above all, if they have had jurisdiction over, or maintained any relations with, the people of God. In the records of the Bible and of secular history, we find data from which to deduce this rule respecting the prophetic mention of earthly governments; namely, whenever the relations of God's people to any nation are such that a true history of the former, which is the object of all revelation, could not be given without a notice of the latter, such nation is mentioned in prophecy.

And all these conditions are certainly fulfilled in our government.

No nation has ever attracted more attention, excited more profound wonder, or given promise of greater eminence or influence. And certainly here, if anywhere on the globe, are to be found a strong array of Christians, such as are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, whose history could not be written without mention of that government under which they live and enjoy their liberty.

And the conviction has fastened itself upon many minds that the hand of Providence has been conspicuously manifest in the rise and progress of this nation.

Governor Pownal, an English statesman, in 1780, while our Revolution was in progress, predicted that this country would become independent, and that a civilizing activity, beyond what Europe could ever know, would animate it; and that its commercial and naval power would be found in every

p 568 -- quarter of the globe. He then speaks of the probable establishment of this country as a free and sovereign power as -

"A revolution that has stronger marks of divine interposition superseding the ordinary course of human affairs, than any other event which this world has experienced."

De Tocqueville, a French writer, speaking of the separation of the United States from England, says: -

"It might seem their folly, but was really their fate; or rather, the providence of God, who has doubtless a work for them to do in which the massive materiality of the English character would have been too ponderous a dead-weight upon their progress."

Geo. Alfred Townsend, speaking of the misfortunes that have attended the other governments on this continent (New World and Old, p. 635), says: -

"The history of the United States was separated by a beneficent Providence far from the wild and cruel history of the rest of the continent."

Such considerations as these are calculated to arouse in every mind a strong expectation that this government will be found to have some part to act in the carrying out of God's providential purposes in this world, and that somewhere it will be spoken of in the prophetic word. 

*******

To be continued….

By the will of our God, through the mercy and grace of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior.

Amen.

History's Proof

Revelation 13-

p 558 - VERSE 1. 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.   2.    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.   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 worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?   5.    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.   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 unto 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 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.   9.  If any man have an ear, let him hear.   10.   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.

The sea is a symbol of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Rev. 17:15. A beast is the Bible symbol of an unrighteous nation, or power, representing sometimes the civil power alone, sometimes the ecclesiastical in connection with the civil. Whenever a beast is seen to come up out of the sea, it denotes that the power arises in a thickly populated territory; and if the winds are represented as blowing upon the sea, as in Dan. 7:2, 3, political commotion, civil strife, and revolution are indicated.

p 559 -- By the dragon of the previous chapter, and the beast first introduced in this, we have the Roman power as a whole brought to view in its two phases, pagan and papal; hence these two symbols have each the seven heads and ten horns. (See on chapter 17:10.)

The seven-headed and ten-horned beast, or, more briefly, the leopard beast, here introduced, symbolizes a power which exercises ecclesiastical as well as civil authority. This point is of sufficient importance to justify the introduction of a few of the conclusive arguments which go to prove it.

The line of prophecy in which this symbol occurs commences with chapter 12.

The symbols of earthly governments embraced in the prophecy are, the dragon of chapter 12, and the leopard beast and two-horned beast of chapter 13. The same line of prophecy evidently continues into chapter 14, closing with verse 5 of that chapter.

Commencing, therefore, with verse 1 of chapter 12, and ending with verse 5 of chapter 14, we have a line of prophecy distinct and complete in itself.

Each of the powers here introduced is represented as fiercely persecuting the church of God.

The scene opens with the church, under the symbol of a woman, anxiously longing for the promise to be fulfilled that the seed of the woman, the Lord of glory, should appear among men. The dragon stood before the woman for the purpose of devouring her child. His evil design is thwarted, and the child is caught up to God and his throne. A period follows in which the church suffers severe oppression from this dragon power.

And though in this part of the scene the prophet occasionally glances forward, once even down almost to the end, beckons all the enemies of the church were to be actuated by the spirit of the dragon, yet in verse 1 of chapter 13 we are carried back to the time when the leopard beast, the successor of the dragon, commences his career.

From this power, for the long period of 1260 years, the church suffers war and persecution.

Following this period of oppression, the church has another conflict, brief, but sharp and severe, with the two-horned beast. Then comes deliverance; and the prophecy closes with the

p 560 -- church brought safely through all her persecutions, and standing victorious with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Thank God for the sure promise of final victory!

The one character which ever appears the same in all these scenes, and whose history is the leading theme through all the prophecy, is the church of God.

The other characters are her persecutors, and are introduced simply because they are such. And here, as an introductory inquiry, we raise the question, Who or what is it that persecutes the true church? - It is a false or apostate church.

What is it that is ever warring against true religion? - It is a false and counterfeit religion.

Who ever heard of the civil power, merely, of any nation, persecuting the people of God?

Governments may war against other governments, to avenge some wrong, real or imaginary, or to acquire territory and extend their power, as nations have often warred against the Jews; but governments do not persecute (mark the word - do not persecute) people on account of their religion, unless under the control of some opposite and hostile system of religion.

But the powers introduced in this prophecy, - the dragon, the leopard beast, and the two-horned beast, - are all persecuting powers. They are actuated by rage and enmity against the people and church of God. And this fact is of itself sufficiently conclusive evidence that in each of these powers the ecclesiastical or religious element is the controlling power.

Take the dragon: what does it symbolize? - The Roman empire, is the undeniable answer.

But this is not enough. No one would be satisfied with this answer and no more. It must be more definite. We then add, The Roman empire in its pagan form, to which all must also agree.

But just as soon as we say pagan, we introduce a religious element; for paganism is one of the hugest systems of counterfeit religion that Satan ever devised.

The dragon, then, is so far an ecclesiastical power that the very characteristic by which it is distinguished is a false system of religion. And what made the dragon persecute the church of Christ? - It was because Christianity was prevailing against paganism, sweeping away its superstitions, overturning its idols, and dismantling its

p 561 -- temples.

The religious element of that power was touched, and persecution was the result.

We now come to the leopard beast of chapter 13. What does that symbolize? The answer still is, The Roman empire.

But the dragon symbolized the Roman empire, and why does not the same symbol represent it still? - Ah! there has been a change in the religious character of the empire; and this beast symbolizes Rome in its professedly Christian form.

And it is this change of religion, and this alone, which makes a change in the symbol necessary.

This beast differs from the dragon only in that he presents a different religious aspect. Hence it would be altogether wrong to affirm that it denotes simply the Roman civil power.

To this beast the dragon gives his seat, his power, and great authority. By what power was pagan Rome succeeded?

We all know that it was by papal Rome.

It matters not to our present purpose when or by what means this change was effected; the great fact is apparent, and is acknowledged by all, that the next great phase of the Roman empire after its pagan form was its papal.

It would not be correct, therefore, to say that pagan Rome gave its seat and power to a form of government merely civil, having no religious element whatever. No stretch of the imagination can conceive of such a transaction. But two phases of empire are here recognized; and in the prophecy, Rome is pagan until Rome is papal.

The statement that the dragon gave to the leopard beast his seat and power, is further evidence that the dragon of Rev. 12:3 is not a symbol of Satan personally; for Satan has not abdicated in favor of any other malevolent being; and he has not given up his seat to any earthly power.

But it may be said that it takes the leopard beast and two-horned beast together to constitute the papacy, and hence it is to these that the dragon gives his power, seat, and great authority.

But the prophecy does not say so. It is the leopard beast alone with which the dragon has to do. It is to that beast alone that he gives his power, seat, and great authority. It is that beast that has a head that is wounded to death, which is afterward healed; that beast that the whole

p 562 -- world wonders after; that beast that receives a mouth speaking blasphemies, and that wears out the saints for 1260 years; and all this before the succeeding power, the two-horned beast, comes upon the stage of action at all. The leopard beast alone, therefore, symbolizes the Roman empire in its papal form, the controlling influence being ecclesiastical.

To show this more fully, we have but to draw a parallel between the little horn of Dan. 7:8, 20, 24, 25, and this power. From this comparison it will appear that the little horn referred to and the leopard beast symbolize the same power; but the little horn is acknowledged on all hands to be a symbol of the papacy. There are six points of identity, as follows: - 

    1. The little horn was a blasphemous power. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Dan. 7:25. The leopard beast of Rev. 13:6 does the same. "He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God."

   2. The little horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Dan. 7:21. This beast also (Rev. 13:7) makes war with the saints, and overcomes them.

   3. The little horn had a month speaking great things. Dan. 7: 8, 20. And of this beast we read, Rev. 13:5: "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies."

   4. The little horn arose on the cessation of the pagan form of the Roman empire. The beast of Rev. 13:2 arises at the same time; for the dragon, pagan Rome, gives him his power, his seat, and great authority.

   5. Power was given to the little horn to continue for a time, times, and the dividing of time, or 1260 years. Dan. 7:25. To this beast also power was given for forty-two months, or 1260 years. Rev. 13:5. 

  6. At the end of that specified period, the dominion of the little horn was to be taken away. Dan. 7:26. At the end of the same period, the leopard beast was himself to be "led into captivity." Rev. 13:10. Both these specifications were fulfilled in the captivity and exile of the pope, and the temporary overthrow of the papacy by France in 1798.

p 563 -- Here are points that prove identity; for when we have in prophecy two symbols, as in this instance, representing powers that come upon the stage of action at the same time, occupy the same territory, maintain the same character, do the same work, exist the same length of time, and meet the same fate, those symbols represent the same identical power.

Now all the particulars above specified do apply alike to the little horn, and the leopard beast of chapter 13, showing that these two symbols represent the same power. It is admitted on all hands that the little horn represents the papacy; and he who claims that this leopard beast does not represent the same, must, to be consistent, show that at the same time that the papacy arose, there arose another great power exactly like it, occupying the same territory, bearing the same character, doing the same work, continuing the same length of time, and meeting the same fate, and yet a separate and distinct power; which would be as absurd as it would be impossible. 

The head that was wounded to death was the papal head. We are held to this conclusion by the very obvious principle that whatever is spoken in prophecy of the symbol of any government, applies to that government only while it is represented by that symbol.

Now Rome is represented by two symbols, the dragon and the leopard beast, because it has presented two phases, the pagan and the papal; and whatever is said of the dragon applies to Rome only in its pagan form, and whatever is said of the leopard beast applies to Rome only in its professedly Christian form.

But Rome was pagan in John's day, who lived under the sixth or imperial head. This shows us at once that six of the heads, including the imperial, belong to the dragon; and if it was any one of these heads which was wounded to death, then it was one of the heads of the dragon, or one of the forms of government that belonged to Rome in its pagan form, and not one of the heads of the beast; and John should have said, I saw one of the heads of the dragon wounded to death.

 But he says that it was one of the heads of the beast that was wounded to death. In other words, this wound fell upon some form of government that existed in the Roman empire after its change from paganism

p 564 -- to Christianity.

But after this change, there was but one head, and that was the papal. 1  

Thus it is placed beyond controversy that it was none other than the papal head that was wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. This wounding is the same as the going into captivity. Rev. 13:10. It was inflicted when the pope was taken prisoner by Berthier, the French general, and the papal government was for a time abolished, in 1798.

Stripped of his power, both civil and ecclesiastical, the captive pope, Pius Vl, died in exile at Valence in France, Aug. 29, 1799. But the deadly wound was healed when the papacy was re-established, though with a diminution of its former power, by the election of a new pope, March 14, 1800. (See Bower's History of the Popes, pp. 404-428; Croly on the Apocalypse, London edition, p. 251.)

This beast opens his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name. (See mention under Dan. 7:25 of the presumptuous titles assumed by the popes.)

He blasphemes the tabernacle in heaven by turning the attention of his subjects to his own throne and palace instead of to the tabernacle of God; by turning their attention away from the city of God, Jerusalem above, and pointing them to Rome as the eternal city; and he blasphemes them that dwell in heaven by assuming to exercise the power of forgiving sins, and so turning away the minds of men from the mediatorial work of Christ and his heavenly assistants in the sanctuary above.

By verse 10 we are again referred to the events of 1798, when that power that had for 1260 years led the saints of God into captivity, was led into captivity itself, as already noticed.

1--   The symbol as here presented has but seven heads, denoting seven forms of government, not contemporaneous but successive. Of course only one head is ruling at any one time; but all are placed alike upon the dragon and beast to identify both these symbols as denoting the Roman power. Six heads belonged to the dragon; that is, six forms of government were developed and passed away one after another,while the religion of Rome was pagan; and only one remained to be developed after the change to Christianity, and that was the papal; which as a spiritual power continues to the end (2 Thess. 2:8), and as a temporal power to the time when his dominion is taken away just before the end. Dan. 7:26.

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By the grace of God more tomorrow. May God bless us with understanding and the ability to keep what we read.

All in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, now and forever… amen.

Worker's of Iniquity - Violator's of God's Law

Revelation 12-

VERSE 13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-chiId.  14.   And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.  15.   And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood

p 553 -- after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.   16.    And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.   17.    And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

But little comment is necessary on the verses last introduced. Suffice it to say that here we are again carried back to the time when Satan became fully aware that he had utterly failed in all his attempts against the Lord of glory in his earthly mission; and seeing this, be turned with tenfold fury, as already noticed, upon the church which Christ had established. Then we have again brought to view the church going into that condition here denominated being "in the wilderness." This must denote a state of seclusion from the public gaze, and of concealment from her foes. That church which during all the dark ages trumpeted her lordly commands into the ears of listening Christendom, and flaunted her ostentatious banners before gaping crowds, was not the church of Christ; it was the body of the mystery of iniquity. The "mystery of godliness" was God manifested here as a man; the "mystery of iniquity" was a man pretending to be God. This was the great apostasy, the mongrel produced by the union of heathenism and Christianity. The true church was out of sight; in secret places they worshiped God; the caves and the hidden recesses of the valleys of the Piedmont may be taken as representative places, where the truth of the gospel was sacredly cherished from the rage of its foes. Here God watched over his church, and by his providence protected and nourished her. 

The eagles' wings given her appropriately signify the haste with which the true church was obliged to provide for her own safety when the man of sin was installed in power, together with the assistance God provided her to this end. The like figure is used to describe God's dealings with ancient Israel. By Moses he said to them: "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." Ex. 19:4.

p 554 --

(picture omitted)

p 555 -- The mention of the period during which the woman is nourished in the wilderness as "a time and times and half a time," the exact phraseology used in Dan. 7:25, furnishes a key for the explanation of the latter passage; for the very same period is called in verse 6 of Revelation 12, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." This shows that a "time" is one year, 360 days; two "times," two years, or 720 days; and "half a time," half a year, or 180 days, making in all 1260 days; and this being symbolic, signifies 1260 literal years.

The serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood to carry away the church. By its false doctrines the papacy had so corrupted all nations as to have control absolutely, for long centuries, of the civil power. Through it Satan could hurl a mighty flood of persecution against the church in every direction; and this he was not slow to do. (See reference to the terrible persecutions of the church in remarks on Dan. 7:25.) From fifty to one hundred million were carried away by the flood; but the church was not entirely swallowed up; the days were shortened for the elect's sake. Matt. 24:22.

"The earth helped the woman" by opening its mouth and swallowing up the flood. The reformation of the sixteenth century began its work. God raised up the noble Luther and his colaboraters to expose the true character of the papacy, and break the power with which superstition had enslaved the minds of the people. Luther nailed his theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg; and the pen with which he wrote them, according to the symbolic dream of the good elector Frederick of Saxony, did indeed span the continent, and shake the triple crown on the pope's head. Princes began to espouse the cause of the Reformers. It was the dawning of religious light and liberty, and God would not suffer the darkness to swallow up its radiance. Tetzel, the indulgence-peddler, swelled and bellowed with wrath, and Pope Leo roared with rage; but all in vain. The spell was broken. Men found that the bulls and anathemas of the pope fell harmless at their feet, just as soon as they dared exercise their God-given right to regulate their consciences by his word alone. Defenders of the true

p 556 --

(picture not included )

p 557 --  faith multiplied. And soon there was enough Protestant soil found in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, England, Norway and Sweden, to swallow up the flood of papal fury, and rob it of its power to harm the church. Thus the earth helped the woman, and has continued to help to the present day, as the spirit of the Reformation and religious liberty has been fostered by the leading nations of Christendom.

But the dragon is not yet through with his work. Verse 17 brings to view another and a final outburst of his wrath, this time against the last generation of Christians to live on the earth. We say the last generation; for the war of the dragon is directed against the remnant of the woman's seed; that is, the remnant of the seed, or individuals, that constitute the true church; and no generation but the last can truthfully be represented by the remnant.

If the view is correct that we have already reached the generation which is to witness the closing up of earthly scenes, this warfare against the truth cannot be far in the future.

This remnant is characterized by the keeping of the commandments of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. This points to a Sabbath reform to be accomplished in the last days; for on the Sabbath alone, as pertaining to the commandments, is there a difference of faith and practice among those who accept the Decalogue as the moral law. This is more particularly brought to view in the message of Rev. 14:9-12.

It may be proper to notice that according to the testimony of this chapter, three powers are made use of by the devil to carry out his work, and hence all are spoken of as the dragon, he being the inspiring agent in them all. These are,  (1)   pagan Rome;  (2)   papal Rome;  (3)   the two-horned beast, our own government under the control of apostate Protestantism, which is the chief agent, as will hereafter appear, in making war upon those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.

*******

The remnant.

17.    And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The commandments of who?

So many wish to believe God's moral law was made void by Christ. Time and time again I have to cry out, that's a lie!

Let's do a quick study on this--

Taken from - Bible Study Guide  by  William Grotheer

Lesson #6 -- THE TWO LAWS

p 25 -- Introduction -- Whenever the question of the Sabbath is studied, a question is raised concerning the Law of God. Certain texts are cited (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14-17) with the suggestion that the Law of God has been revoked, and is therefore no longer binding on Christians.

 This teaching is the result of failing to distinguish between several groups of laws that are set forth in the Bible.

We, in this study, will confine ourselves to two laws mentioned in the New Testament.

Romans 7:12 -- The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good.

Hebrews 7:14-18 The law of a carnal commandment ... weakness and unprofitableness thereof. Hebrews 10:1 The law having a shadow of good things to come ... can never with those sacrifices which they offered.

Note - By comparing these verses it is evident that ONE LAW cannot be holy AND carnal.

A holy law being good in itself would not be a shadow of "good things to come."

By illustration, one cannot have a fully ripe apple and a "green" apple all in one apple. It requires two. So also in the matter concerning the law. TWO LAWS are required to meet the description of these texts.

(Verses mentioned above)

Eph 2:15 - Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace

Col 2:14  - Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Col 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Col 2:16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Heb 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Section #2 --THE HOLY LAW

Romans 7:7, 12 -- I had not known sin, but by the, law, the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Wherefore the law is holy.

Note - The law that contains the commandment - "Thou shalt not covet" - is the Ten Commandment law. This law Paul declares to be holy.

Exodus 24:12; 31:18; 32:16 -- And the Lord said ... I will give thee ... a law, and commandments which I have written. And He gave to Moses ... two ... tables of stone, written with the finger of God. And the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

Exodus 25:16, 21 -- And thou shalt put into the ark, the testimony which I shall give thee ... in the ark thou shalt put the testimony.

Note - Twice repeated was the injunction to put the law in the ark, the most sacred object of the Hebrew sanctuary.

Of no other portion of the entire Bible, did God manifest such care for an accurate transmission, and preservation as the Ten Commandments.

He wrote them with His own finger upon stone, spoke them with His own lips from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1). and had it placed in the most holy object on earth, which in turn was housed in what was designated as "the most holy place, " the center of His earthly dwelling. (Exodus 25:8-9)

Exodus 20:1-17 -- The Ten Commandments

Note - This law forbids, idolatry, profanation, stealing, killing, lying, adultery, and covetousness. It requires respect of children for their parents, and sets for the seventh day of every week

p 26 -- as the "sabbath of the Lord thy God."

Section #3 -- THE CODE OF MOSES

Exodus 20:22 -- The Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say . . .

Exodus 24:3-4 -- And Moses wrote all the words.

Deuteronomy 31: 24-26 -- Moses commanded ... Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark ... for a witness.

Note - In the giving, writing, and disposition of this book of the law of Moses, the contrast is clear and distinct between it and the Ten Commandments. Let us note some of the regulations this lesser code contained.

Exodus 23:14, 17 -- Three times thou Shalt keep a feast unto Me in a year. Three times in a year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God. Leviticus 23:6, 14 (Observe the eating regulations connected with the time of the annual feasts.) Leviticus 23:24, 32 In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest ... in the ninth day of the month.

Note - The Mosaic code regulated aspects of worship involved in the special feast days, as to time, and what could and what could not be eaten at those times. Some of these appointed days were called sabbaths. These were, however, the Sabbaths of the people in contrast with the seventh day which was the Sabbath of the Lord. The summary of the contrast is given by Moses in Leviticus 23:37, 38. Note carefully the words - "These are the feasts of the Lord ... everything upon his day: BESIDE the Sabbaths of the Lord."

Section #4 -- THE CONTRAST

Nehemiah 9:12-14 -- Thou camest down ... upon Mt. Sinai ... and gavest them ... Thy holy Sabbath, AND commandest them laws, by the hand of Moses.

Note - Nehemiah in reporting this priestly chant classifies the sabbath of the Lord with the law given by God directly, and not with the code of Moses.

II Kings 21:8 -- All that I have commanded ... and all that my servant Moses commanded.

Deuteronomy 4:12-14 -- The Lord spake unto you, and He declared unto you ... ten commandments. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes ... that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

Note - The Mosaic code was a statute of limitations to be done only in the land of their possessions, while the Ten commandments as given by God were not limited to any locality, but were worldwide in application.

p 27 -- Summary - The laws and ordinances which Paul stated were nailed to the cross were the codes given to Israel to be done only in the land of Canaan. In Christ, the gospel message would go to all the world, and the center of worship would no longer be a tent or a temple built by men's hands, but the most holy place would be a man's heart surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. Note carefully Hebrews 10:16-17.

*******

We have to comprehend that the REMNANT of the woman's seed- the REMNANT of God's true church, God's true people, those who will be alive and sealed in Him when Jesus return's- WILL KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND…     yes, not only will they keep the commandments of God, they will also HAVE the testimony of JESUS. 

Go ahead and believe that the MORAL TEN COMMANDMENTS are on none effect, it's your right, but it's a lie.  I just read something recently about why the Sabbath commandment was done away with, why it was changed upon Christ's death and resurrection, that the Sabbath commandment was ONLY for the Israelites given to them on Mount Sinai.  That the Sabbath was NOT for Christ followers. That the apostles kept a NEW day, Sunday, a day they call the Lord's day as if all days weren't His.  Don't people realize that IF the Sabbath commandment was going to be CHANGED or abolished, that a HUGE deal would have been made over it?  Just as if the commandment to NOT commit adultery was going to be changed, or the commandment to NOT worship idols, or the commandment to NOT kill… etc.  These were GOD'S commandments, NOT MOSES' commandments, GOD'S!  If Jesus were going to do away with or change a commandment that GOD gave, wouldn't He have let us know in no uncertain terms?  He wouldn't have told people they were doing good by keeping a law He was going to do away with or change.  

Read the following- also from the Study Guide-

Section 4 -- THE LAWGIVER

Nehemiah 9:12-15 -- Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai.

Note - Who is this - "THOU"? Who is the One that led the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land? Who is the One who appeared to Moses in Mount Sinai? Again, we must use the Bible method of interpretation as outlined by the Holy Spirit - comparing one Scripture with another.

I Corinthians 10:1-4 -- That Rock was Christ.

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Note - It was Jesus Christ Himself, who amid the glory and flame of Sinai, proclaimed the Law of the Council of God - even the Ten Commandments. Thus Jesus is OUR Creator, Lawgiver, and Redeemer. In future lessons we shall note Him as our High Priest, and Coming King. The Bible from beginning to end is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the one and only true way to the Father.

Section #5 -- MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF CHRIST

Revelation 14:12 -- Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Note - We have heard the expression -"the communion of saints," or the fellowship of the household of God. Here in the book of Revelation we have revealed the characteristics of the saints who compose "the house of Christ" or His body. They keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It was Jesus who proclaimed the Law of the Council of God from Mount Sinai. It was Jesus who came and lived the life of God before men. He manifested a living faith, that though He had accepted the weaknesses and nature of fallen humanity, God was able to keep Him from falling. This same allegiance to God, and faith in Him will be manifest by His "saints" as they partake of the Bread of Heaven sent forth to feed the needs of mankind.

2 John 9 -- Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

John 10:16 -- Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

*******

Christ our Savior was there at with the children of Israel as they were led from Egypt to Mount Sinai!  THEY drank of that SPIRITUAL ROCK that FOLLOWED THEM- AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST!

So HOW can people divorce Christ from the very law given by Him! He was there! He was a part of it all! He agreed with it all!  Those MORAL laws are forever binding! Yet people want to pick apart just ONE of those laws!  They want to accept all the others as binding, but take that ONE and either disannul it or altar it to something different. They DARE to believe they can take ONE of the ten and do whatever pleases them. Why? I don't comprehend the logic behind it. I do comprehend Satan's aim it in all, but not those who truly desire to be Christ's.  The REMNANT WILL KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.  Why bother making such a declaration if there weren't a moral law to keep in its entirety?  It doesn't say the remnant will keep some of the commandments of God. It doesn't say the remnant will keep nine of the commandments of God. It doesn't say the remnant will keep the commandments of their own devising.  Is there ANY wonder at all that there will be SO few who are truly Christ's?  Is there ANY wonder that many will say they knew Christ and He in turn will tell them to get away from Him, that He doesn't know them and never knew them! Why wouldn't He know them?! Why?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

They are WORKING INIQUITY!  And what is iniquity?

Thayer Definition:

1) the condition of without law

1a) because ignorant of it

1b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

They work WITHOUT the LAW! They violate the LAW! What law? God's LAW!

They think they are doing wonderful things in Jesus' name!!! They believe they are Jesus'!  But they REFUSE THE LAW of GOD!  

How incredibly terrifying to know there are millions and millions who believe they are Jesus' but in their hearts they are deceived because they CHOOSE to believe not in God's law, but in man's laws, man's traditions!

LOVE LIVES IN THE LAW! GOD'S LOVE IS REVEALED IN THE MORAL LAW!

The remnant spoken of in this book of prophecy, this Revelation of Jesus Christ, will KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of GOD- all of them and they'll do it THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT, in the name of JESUS CHRIST their SAVIOR!

Please, Lord, we would be YOURS, known of YOU, not as violators of the law!

All in Your name!

Amen.