The Signs of the Times, vol. 25

December 6, 1899

“The Harvest of Imperialism and Expansion” The Signs of the Times 25, 49, pp. 13-15.

By Alonzo T. Jones, author of “Two Republics,” Battle Creek, Mich

THAT history repeats itself is a truth so familiar as to have become a proverb. Upon this principle, history in its vital points and its great principles, is in itself prophecy. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.1

What, then, does history speak in prophecy of instruction or admonition to the United States on the subject of imperialism, that now, by the very force of events, is crowded upon the attention of the people of the United States and even of the world? Is there any likelihood that history might repeat itself on the subject of imperialism and its harvest? This thought is worthy of inquiry. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.2

The United States was founded, and has continued, a republic—the one great and exemplary republic of modern times. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.3

This republic has also stood before the world, and has been recognized by the world, as the lover, the conservator, and the champion, of the liberty of mankind. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.4

In ancient times there was a great and exemplary republic. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.5

That republic also stood before the world as the lover, the conservator, and the champion, of the liberty of mankind. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.6

In that ancient great republic the love of liberty was so great, national freedom was so prized, that she assumed it to be her prerogative to extend by her power the blessings of liberty to foreign peoples. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.7

In order to do this that ancient great republic sent over the seas her fleets and armies, sacrificed treasure and the lives of her citizens, fought battles, gained victories, and established peace, for other peoples might have the privilege of enjoying assured liberty in governments of their own, free from the oppression, or even the interference, of monarchies. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.8

That ancient great republic was the republic of Rome. And no one can deny that so far as we have here sketched, history has repeated itself in this modern great republic of the United States up to this very year 1899. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.9

That it may be plainly seen that this sketch of that ancient great republic has not been manufactured to fit the late order of things in this modern great republic, we shall here set down some of the particulars. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.10

A Bit of Ancient History That Is Altogether Modern.

Italy was the home soil, the proper territorial possession, of the Roman republic. Over the narrow Adriatic Sea lay the little States of Greece. These little States of Greece were very desirous of liberty, and, to gain it, had long struggled against the power of the neighboring monarchies. At the point of time when Rome championed their cause, 200 B.C., they were struggling almost hopelessly against the aggressions of Philip V., of Macedonia. After several times defeating Philip, the Roman commander, Titus Quintius Flamininus, concluded with him a peace, 196 B.C., in behalf of the Greek States, and at once publicly proclaimed the full liberty of the States of Greece. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.11

This part of the story we will let the ancient history itself tell; and here are the words:— SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.12

“It was now the time in which the Isthmian games were to be solemnized, and the expectation of what was there to be transacted had drawn thither an incredible multitude of people, and persons of the highest rank. The conditions of the treaty of peace, which were not yet entirely made public, formed the topic of all conversation, and various opinions were entertained concerning them; but very few could be persuaded that the Romans would evacuate all the cities they had taken. All Greece was in this uncertainty, when, the multitude being assembled in the stadium to see the games, a herald comes forward and publishes with a loud voice:— SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.13

“‘The senate and people of Rome and Titus Quintius the general, having overcome Philip and the Macedonians, set at liberty from all garrisons, and taxes, and imposts, the Corinthians, the Locrians, the Phocians, the Eubœans, the Phthiot Achæans, the Magnesians, the Thessalians, and the Perrhœbians, declare them free, and ordain that they shall be governed by their respective laws and usages.’ SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.14

“At these words, which many heard but imperfectly because of the noise that interrupted them, all the spectators were filled with excess of joy. They gazed upon and questioned one another with astonishment, and could not believe either their eyes or ears, so like a dream was what they then saw and heard. It was thought necessary for the herald to repeat the proclamation, which was now listened to with the most profound silence, so that not a single word of the decree was lost. And now, fully assured of their happiness, they abandoned themselves again to the highest transports of joy, and broke into such loud and repeated acclamations that the sea resounded with them at a great distance.... The games and sports were hurried over, without any attention being paid to them; for so great was the general joy upon this occasion, that it extinguished all other sentiments.... SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.15

“The remembrance of so delightful a day, and of the valuable blessings then bestowed, was continually renewed, and for a long time formed the only subject of conversation at all times and in all places. Every one cried in the highest transports of admiration, and a kind of enthusiasm, ‘that there was a people in the world who, at their own expense and the hazard of their lives, engaged in a war for the liberty of other nations; and that not for their neighbors or people situated on the same continent; but who crossed seas and sailed to distant climes to destroy and extirpate unjust power from the earth, and to establish universally law, equity, and justice. That by a single word, and the voice of a herald, liberty had been restored to all the cities of Greece and Asia. That a great soul only could have formed such a design; but that to execute it was the effect at once of the highest good fortune and the most consummate virtue.’ SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.16

‘They called to mind all the great battles which Greece had fought for the sake of liberty. ‘After sustaining so many wars,’ said they, ‘never was its valor crowned with so blessed a reward as when strangers came and took up arms in its defense. It was then that almost without shedding a drop of blood, or losing scarce one man, it acquired the greatest and noblest of all prizes for which mankind can content. Valor and prudence are rare at all times; but of all virtues, justice is most rare. Agesilaus, Lysander, Nicias, and Alcibiades had great abilities for carrying on war, and gaining battles both by sea and land; but then it was for themselves and their country, not for strangers and foreigners, they fought. That height of glory was reserved for the Romans.’”—Rollin’s Ancient History, book 19, chap. 1, sec. 3, paragraphs 44-53. Also Great Empires of Prophecy, pp. 226, 227. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.17

If ever there was conducted “a war for humanity,” surely that could be claimed as the one. And did not this history repeat itself only last year, when the people of this modern great republic of the United States entered upon “a war for humanity,” and, “at their own expense and the hazard of their lives, engaged in a war for the liberty of other nations; and that not for their neighbors or people situated on the same continent, but who crossed seas and sailed to distant climes to destroy and extirpate unjust power from the earth, and to establish universally law, equity, and justice”? Was not “that height of glory” in these modern times reserved for the Americans of this great republic of the United States? SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.18

There is one item, however, in which the history of that ancient republic has not been allowed to repeat itself, that is, in the setting at “liberty from all garrisons and taxes and imposts,” the people whose cause they had espoused and whose liberty they had gained, the declaring of them “free,” and the ordaining that they should be “governed by their respective laws and usages.” This has not yet been done by this modern great republic. It is true that at the beginning this modern great republic did declare that “the people of Cuba are and of right ought to be free and independent;” but since the victories there has been no such proclamation, declaration, or ordinance, establishing the freedom of these peoples, as was made by that ancient great republic in behalf of those peoples, at the Isthmian games in Greece. In this respect the formal example of that ancient great republic, holds decidedly the advantage over the course of this modern great republic. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.19

Yet of the ancient great republic we are obliged to use the expression, “the formal example;” because the procedure was indeed no more than a form. For when Rome had secured for those peoples the freedom which she bestowed, those peoples were never allowed to forget that Rome had bestowed it, that to Rome they owed it all, and that they were under unfailing obligation to Rome, not only as their liberator, but also us their guardian and preserver. Consequently, “under pretense of offering them their good offices, of entering into their interests, and of reconciling them, the Romans rendered themselves the sovereign a arbiters of those whom they had restored to liberty, and whom they now considered, in some measure, as their freedmen. They used to depute commissioners to them, to inquire into their complaints, to weight and examine the reasons on both sides, and to decide their quarrels; but when the articles were of such a nature that there was no possibility of reconciling them on the spot, they invited them to send their deputies to Rome. Afterward they used, with plenary authority, to summon those who refused to come to an agreement, oblige them to plead their cause before the Senate, and even to appear in person there. From arbiters and mediators, being become supreme judges, they soon assumed a magisterial tone, looked upon their decrees as irrevocable decisions, were greatly offended when the most implicit obedience was not paid to them, and gave the name of rebellion to a second resistance.”—Rollin’s Ancient History, book 19, chap. 1, sec. 7, “Reflections,” at end of chapter. Also, Great Empires of Prophecy, pp. 246, 247. And so far this history, point by point, and almost in the very letter, has repeated itself in the dealings of this modern great republic with the peoples whom in her “war for humanity,” she “freed” from the oppressions of monarchical Spain, as can be verified day by day from the columns of the administration journals, such as the New York Tribune, Chicago Times-Herald, New York Sun, etc., etc. So entirely is this so that, in order to justify her course, the Declaration of Independence is repudiated, and the Constitution of the United States is ignored or explained away. SITI December 6, 1899, page 13.20

What was the harvest from this same sowing by that ancient great republic? So far, the course of the modern great republic has been exactly that of the ancient great republic. So much of the history of the ancient great republic, therefore, has been prophetic of that of the modern great republic. But the history of the ancient great republic did not cease at that point. Did, then, the history of that great republic cease at that point to be prophetic, when the history itself did not cease at that point?—No; the history of that republic is prophetic all the way through. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.1

When the republic of Rome had by her power secured to foreign peoples freedom from other masters, she asserted over them her own mastery. And whereas formerly for these peoples there had been some hope of freedom because of the weakness of those kings who designed to rule over them, now that Rome had gained the position to claim and assert mastery over them, their prospect of liberty was rendered absolutely hopeless by reason of the strength of the new master. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.2

In this, open despotism was established and practised abroad by that ancient great republic. And this practise of despotism abroad soon reacted and brought about the practise of despotism at home. First, it was a despotism of the majority, next it was a despotism of a few, then a despotism of three—the first and second triumvirates—and at last a despotism of one—Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, etc., etc. And from a republic, a government of the people, and the exemplar of liberty, she was become a monarchy, a government of one, and the extreme of despotism. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.3

Nor did the history of the ancient great republic stop at that point. After reigning in the extreme of despotism for a season and a time, a union was formed between this monarchy—this apostate republic—and an apostate church. And the multiplied evils of increased despotism and of every other sort speedily brought irretrievable ruin of government and even of society itself, in the wave after wave of the mighty flood of barbarians which poured down from the North. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.4

Such was the course and such is the history of that ancient great republic from the point unto which that history is plainly prophetic of the course of this modern great republic. And, viewing conditions and procedure as they actually are to-day, what single indication is there that from this point to the full end, the history of the ancient great republic is anything else than prophetic of the course and destiny of the modern great republic? SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.5

Two Apostasies.

Who does not know of the powerful and universal efforts that for years have been made, and are constantly being made, in the United States, even by the professed Protestant denominations, to secure here a firm union of Church and State, to have the church power dominate the civil, and use it for her own ends? Who does not know of the dangerous progress that has been already made in this direction? Who does not know that all the branches of the national government—the legislative, the judicial, and the executive—have been officially committed to the union of religion and the State in this nation? At the great biennial assembly of the Epworth League, held at Indianapolis last July, representative and official speakers with evident satisfaction recognized that there is even now a union of Church and State in this nation. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.6

Now, for professed Protestants anywhere to favor a union of Church and State, or any recognition of religion by the State, is in itself a confession of apostasy. And for professed Protestants to do such a thing in the United States, where by every principle of its fundamental law the nation is pledged to the complete separation of religion, and particularly the Christian religion, and the State, is even double apostasy. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.7

And what of the republic itself? Is there not apostasy there also? Can the principles and the plain statements of the Declaration of Independence be repudiated and declared to be “falsehood palmed off by the devil upon a credulous world,” as was publicly done in an imperialistic mass-meeting in Chicago, May 7, 1899,—can this be done without apostasy? Can the fundamental principles and precepts of a nation be disregarded and even repudiated by that nation, and those who steadfastly maintain those principles be denounced as traitors, without there being an apostasy of that nation? How could complete national apostasy be more plainly shown than in a nation’s holding as traitors those who steadfastly maintain the fundamental principles of the nation? Yea, how could national apostasy be more plainly shown than in a nations’ taking such a course that those who maintain the fundamental principles of the nation must, in so doing, “antagonize the government” and incur the charge of treason? SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.8

Here, then, there is in this nation, as there was in the Roman nation, an apostasy in religion and church, and an apostasy from republicanism to imperialism in the State. And there is being steadily formed and fixed a union of these two apostasies, precisely as there was in the Roman nation. That union in the Roman nation made the Papacy; and this union in this American nation will make the image of the Papacy. And so history does repeat itself after every feature of that ancient great republic, and will so repeat itself unto the end. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.9

All this is told not only in the history, which is itself prophecy, but also in the prophecies of the direct Word of God. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.10

One of the symbols in the prophecies of the Bible that refers to the United States is that beast in Revelation 13:11-17, having “two horns like a lamb,” yet which speaks “as a dragon.” In spite of the lamblike representations, he requires of the people that they shall make “an image to the beast,”—“the first beast (Revelation 13),—and requires that all shall worship the beast and receive his mark, or else have all rights taken away, and at last even be killed. This itself betokens national apostasy. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.11

“The first beast” is the Papacy. The image to the beast is an image of the Papacy. The Papacy is the union of Church and State. The two horns like a lamb represent the two great characteristics of this nation,—Protestantism and republicanism—both of which are directly antagonistic to a union of Church and State. And for the union of Church and State to be made in this nation is just as incongruous with the fundamental principles of the nation, as the speaking as a dragon is incongruous with the characteristics of a lamb. Thus, the whole idea is suggestive of national apostasy from characteristic principles. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.12

The image of the beast is the image of the Papacy. The Papacy is the union of Church and State. And when, in the prophecy, the image of the beast is to be made, it is said “to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.” This shown that it is a government of the people, where the image is made. And it is said to them that they shall make a union of Church and State. This shows that this is all done in a place where at first there was no union of Church and State. In the United States, from its very formation, there was no union of Church and State; and this is not true of any other nation that was ever on the earth. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.13

These things show that the nation where these things are done is first a republic, and that this nation is the one where these things are at last done. But these things can not be done in a true republic. These things are positively antagonistic to the principles of a true republic. For these things to be done in a country professing to be a republic, there must be an apostasy from the principles of a true republic. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.14

Now that all this is the truth, and not speculation, is confirmed by the book of Daniel. In Daniel 7 there are four great beasts, which represent four great successive kingdoms, or powers, in the earth. The fourth one was “diverse from all kingdoms.” These four were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. And Rome was diverse from all kingdoms, in that it was a republic. It was while it was a republic that Rome “devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet.” And in Daniel 8:24, 25, of this same power, even while it was a republic, it is written that “his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power,” that “through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand,” and “by peace shall destroy many.” SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.15

Now a point particularly to be considered is that this history of the republic of Rome was sketched in the book of Daniel three hundred and forty years before it occurred; and then that sketch was closed up and sealed, not for three hundred and forty years, not till 198 B.C. and onward, BUT for twenty-four hundred years, till “the time of the end.” Daniel 8:17, 26. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.16

Why was that sketch of the Roman republic written and then closed up and sealed until a time two thousand years after that republic had failed as a republic, and had become imperial?—It was because at this time, “the time of the end,” there would be another republic that would go over the same course as did that republic,—would apostatise from republicanism into imperialism, and then would become the tool of an apostate church in a union in the very image of the Papacy, which was made by such a union with that apostate republic. And as that union hastened, and actually wrought, the ruin of that apostate republic, so will this union hasten and cause the ruin of this now so far apostate republic. And this sketch of the former great republic was written then, and closed up and sealed until now, so that they that be wise may understand what to do to escape the evil and the ruin that will come upon this latter great republic, and even now hastens,—a ruin that will come as surely as came the ruin of that former one. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.17

Accordingly, fifteen years ago, by the Spirit of prophecy it was written that this nation would yet “repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government,” and that this “national apostasy will be followed by national ruin.” SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.18

This national apostasy is proceeding daily before the eyes of all the people; and as national apostasy progresses, national ruin hastens. And with this national ruin comes complete and final ruin of all. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.19

It may be asked, Where can be found new peoples, whence can they come, to sweep away in ruin the modern great republic at its culmination in iniquity and oppression, according to the prophetic course of the ancient great republic? The answer is that they can not be found on the earth. But they are found, and they are appointed unto that very work. And here they are, also whence they come, and the work that is before them:— SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.20

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon Him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; and He shall rule them with a rod of iron; and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. 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. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:11-21. SITI December 6, 1899, page 782.21

This harvest of the last apostasy to Imperialism; and there can be no other. No other State now in the world, or that ever was in the world, was founded as was this modern great republic of the United States. This nation was founded upon self-evident truth and inalienable natural right; and its appeal in the beginning was solely to the principle and the Author of justice. One of the objects of the founding of the government is declared in the preamble to the fundamental law to be “to establish justice.” By this the influence which the example of the United States has exerted upon the nations has been a restraint for good; it has held the nations face to face with the divine principles of truth, of right, and of justice in governments. And when this restraint is not only taken away, but that which caused it is actually turned back into an open confirmation of the old course of force and conquest, regardless of right, liberty, or justice, the last state of those nations will be worse than the first. If it were so that the restraint were merely removed, the result could not but be bad; but when the restraint is not only removed, but is charged into an active confirmation of the opposite, oh, then, what but infinite evil can possibly be the result? And, in these times, when everything goes at the swiftest, it can, in the nature of things, be but a little while until the nations shall be completely engulfed in the floods of their own making, and these destructive floods not only let loose, but urged on and increased by this mighty example, set originally to infinitely better things, but now perverted to the evil course that has been the ruin of all former nations. SITI December 6, 1899, page 783.1

Everything in the tide of present-day affairs speaks with a loud voice that the end of all things is at hand, and that the day of the Lord is near. And so it is written: “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 14:14-16. SITI December 6, 1899, page 783.2

And “the harvest is the end of the world.” Matthew 13:39. And who is ready? Who is blowing the trumpet and sounding the alarm? Are you ready? “Get ready, get ready, get ready.” This is “present truth.” SITI December 6, 1899, page 783.3

ALONZO T. JONES.