The Signs of the Times, vol. 13

“The Time of the Working of Satan” The Signs of the Times 13, 44, pp. 696, 697.

WE have found by the prophecy of Daniel, and the exposition of Paul, that the “working of Satan,” of 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10, was to be developed after 1798, and before the Lord comes. In the thirteenth chapter of Revelation is given the prophecy of the rise of the power through which this working will be developed. The first part of Revelation 13 is a prophecy relating to the same events as those in Daniel 7, which are spoken of in connection with the little horn power; a brief parallel will show this. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.1

In Daniel 7:8 it is said of the little horn that he had “a mouth speaking great things;” Revelation 13:5 says of the beast, “There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things.” In Daniel 7:25 the little horn is said to “speak great words against the Most High;” in Revelation 13:6 the beast is said to open “his mouth in blasphemy against God.” In Daniel 7:21 the little horn is said to have made “war with the saints, and prevailed against them;” in Revelation 13:7 the beast is said to “make war with the saints and overcome them.” In Daniel 7:25 the little horn is said to continue “a time and times and the dividing of time”—1,260 years, in Revelation 13:5 the beast is said “to continue forty and two months”—1,260 years. In Daniel 7 the little horn is also shown to have succeeded Pagan Rome and the ten kingdoms. In Daniel 7:26 it is shown that after the little horn power had continued the allotted time, then his dominion was to be taken away; in Revelation 13:3, 10 it is shown that when the beast had continued the same allotted time, speaking the same words and doing the same work, he also was to meet with the same fate—he was to be led into captivity, and to be wounded to death, although the deadly wound should be healed. All this shows that Revelation 13:1-10 and Daniel 7:20-26 refer to the same identical power, and both alike bring us to 1798, when the Pope was led into captivity and died in captivity—when the Papacy received the dead wound. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.2

But the very next verse in Daniel 7—verse 27—introduces the coming of the Lord and the kingdom given to the saints, whereas in the parallel line of prophecy in Revelation 13 and 14, the coming of the Lord is not introduced until verse 14 of chapter 14. It is therefore certain that that portion of prophecy contained in Revelation 13:11-18 and 14:6-13 lies between 1798 and the coming of the Lord, and these passages may with perfect propriety be inserted and read between verses 26 and 27 of Daniel 7. Now as the events prophesied in these parts of Revelation 13 and 14 stand between 1798 and the coming of the Lord; and as Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 2, compared with Daniel 7, show that the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, is also manifested in the last part of this same period, it follows that the power through which the working of Satan will be developed, must arise in this period, and that these scriptures must contain the prophecy which relates to the rise and work of this power. And such, in fact, is the case. That it is so will be seen by merely reading the prophecy in the last part of Revelation 13. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.3

Immediately following the verse in which it is said of the Papacy, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity,” which was in 1798, the prophecy says: “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 [in his sight or presence], 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.” We have not the space to go into an analysis of this prophecy, nor to give an extended explanation of the symbols and sentences used; we can state the sum of it all in this single sentence: There is not a specification in this prophecy that is met in any nation except the United States; and there is not a specification in the prophecy that is not met to the full in the United States. And thus in Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 14, there is given a prophetic view of history, without a break, from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to the end of the world and the reign of Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. There is (1) the kingdom of Babylon (Daniel 7:4), which ended B.C. 538; (2) Medo-Persia (Daniel 7:5), which ended 331 B.C.; (3) Grecia (Daniel 7:6), which continued till 168 B.C.; (4) Rome and the ten kingdoms (Daniel 7:7) bring us to 538 A.D.; (5) the Papacy (Daniel 7:8, 20-26; Revelation 13:1-10), from 538 till 1798; and (6) the United States (Revelation 13:11-18; 14:9-14), ending with the coming of the Lord and the end of the world. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.4

These things being true, for they are true, it inevitably follows that the United States is the power through which is to be developed the working of Satan “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” This will be seen by reference to Revelation 13:13, 14, and connecting scriptures: “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.” Here it is said there will be miracles (signs, Revised Version) and wonders wrought with power; they will be wonders to deceive, and which will deceive; and that is precisely what Paul refers to by the phrase “power, and signs [miracles] and lying wonders.” And they are wrought by, and at the instigation of, Satan too, because he is the only one whose interest it is to deceive people. Satanic agency is the only one by which miracles to deceive can ever be wrought. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.5

More than this, we have the plain word of God that these miracles will be wrought by Satanic agency. Notice, they are wrought for the purpose of deceiving people into the worship of the beast and his image: “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.” And when Jesus comes it is said, “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.” Revelation 19:11, 20. Now the word says, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” Revelation 14:9, 10. The wine of the wrath of God is the seven last plagues, for says the prophet, “I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Revelation 15:1. The very first of these plagues falls upon “the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image” (Revelation 16:2); the others follow in quick succession, and when the sixth one is poured out, “Unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and our of the mouth of the false prophet [the image of the beast]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” And when the very next word is from Christ, “Behold, I come as a thief.” Revelation 16:13-15. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.6

If, therefore, this prophecy of the image of the beast and the rise of this miracle-working power, be applicable to the United States, as we have said, and if now is the time when a fulfillment of the prophecy should be expected, it is proper to inquire, Is there anything that has yet appeared in this country which would go to show a fulfillment of the prophecy? There is decidedly. Modern Spiritualism, with its signs and lying wonders, its spirits of devils working miracles, arose in the United States. Here it has developed what power it has, and from here is has spread to all the world. The prophecy is being fast fulfilled. SITI November 17, 1887, page 696.7

Further, the prophecy says that there should be made an image to the beast—an image of the Papacy. If, therefore, this prophecy be applicable to the United States, and if now is the time when it fulfillment should be looked for, it is proper also to ask, Is there anything that has appeared which would promise a fulfillment of the prophecy? Again the answer is, There is decidedly. That is the loud demand that is now being so persistently made for the constitutional establishment of a National religion, which will be in effect the union of Church and State in this Government. The essential characteristic of the beast—the Papacy—is the union of Church and State, the Church using the civil power for the enforcement of her dogmas. For this Government to be revamped upon that model, would be the making of an image to the beast. And at this moment there is not only such a demand being loudly and persistently made, but there is actual danger that the scheme will be soon accomplished. Those who are working for it say themselves that assured success will be theirs not later than 1896. And although Spiritualism is not, as yet, actively engaged in the work, it is through the success of that movement that Spiritualism and its working of Satan is to be developed to that extent that it will work “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” SITI November 17, 1887, page 697.1

Once more; if the agency has already arisen and spread abroad in the world by which Satan is to manifest his signs and lying wonders; and it the power—the image of the beast—is already being formed through which Satan’s power is to be manifested to the utmost degree in working “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” then too a proper question to ask would be, Is there at this time any particular manifestation of the truth of God, specially designed to expose and counteract this working of Satan and the iniquity of the fast-developing image of the Papacy? To this question also the answer must be decidedly, There is. This truth is embodied in the Third Angel’s Message, of Revelation 14. The special and direct purpose of this message is to protect men from the deception of Satan, and from the worship of the beast and his image. SITI November 17, 1887, page 697.2

The work of deception is to say to them that dwell upon the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the beast; and yet more, both to speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed; and to cause all to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead. But says the word of God by the Third Angel’s Message: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” SITI November 17, 1887, page 697.3

In that message is embodied the truth which will save all who receive the love of it. It will not only save them from the worship of the beast and his image, and from the power and deception of Satan, but it will save them with the everlasting salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes in the glory of the Father, and all the holy angels with him. It is for this that the truth of the message is to fit all who will receive the love of it, for the event which immediately follows the message is the coming of the Lord: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:9-16. And “the harvest is the end of the world.” Matthew 13:39. SITI November 17, 1887, page 697.4

Thus we find by every evidence of Scripture and of that that now is the time when the working of Satan “with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish,” is at the very doors. Next week we shall dwell upon the truth, the love of which alone will save men from the deceptions of the workings of Satan. SITI November 17, 1887, page 697.5

J.