The Two-Horned Beast of Rev. XIII, a Symbol of the United States

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST

Verse 11. “And he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake like a dragon.” The horns are not explained in connection with this beast, but with an understanding of what has before been said on the subject of horns, we may be prepared to understand what the two lamb-like horns represent. TBUS 26.2

From those texts where the symbol has been used and explained, we learn that the two horns of the ram, [Daniel 8,] denoted the kings of Media and Persia. The great horn between the eyes of the goat denoted the first king of Grecia. This being broken, and four standing up for it, represents the kingdom divided into Macedon, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt, as ruled over by four of Alexander’s generals. The ten horns of the fourth beast, [Daniel 7:23, 25,] denoted the ten kingdoms into which the Roman Empire was to be divided. The little horn which came up after them, denoted the Papal church, to which Justinian gave power over the fourth beast by his decree. A horn, then, we find symbolizes a ruler either civil or ecclesiastical. The little horn [church of Rome] is called definitely a horn, before the three are plucked up and dominion given to it over the fourth beast. TBUS 26.3

No power previous to the two-horned beast, has been in prophecy symbolized by lamb-like horns. We shall claim that they symbolize two things: TBUS 27.1

1st. The youthfulness of the power. TBUS 27.2

2nd. Its mild profession. TBUS 27.3

On the youthfulness of the power we here remark, it is clearly implied in the language of verse 11. Why choose a lamb as the symbol in this prophecy? The answer to my mind is obvious. The power to which it applied had existed but a short time when introduced in the prophecy. We find it introduced in 1798, 22 years after the first acts toward establishing the United States as an independent government. If the power referred to in this prophecy was any of the foreign nations of long duration, would not a full grown beast, be a more fit symbol to bring before the mind? When Pagan Rome was introduced in prophecy B. C. 31, it was over 700 years old, and was symbolized by a “beast dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly.” TBUS 27.4

On the second point above, we remark: These two horns like a lamb cannot represent a despotic or Papal government, but true to the character of the symbol, they must represent a mild or innocent appearing power. The lamb is the symbol of innocence. TBUS 27.5

We shall call the two horns, Protestant ecclesiastical power, and Republican civil power. Where is a government to be found more lamb-like in its appearance than this our own nation, with its Republican and Protestant rulers? TBUS 27.6

Probably some are ready to object to the application above made of one of the horns of this power to Protestants, and urge that a horn is the symbol of civil power. We have already shown that the Catholic church is called a horn before it received the civil power of Rome, therefore a horn is not always an emblem of civil power. Both beasts preceding the two-horned beast were connected with religious bodies, and persecuted those who refused to receive their tenets. The two-horned beast being another link in the same chain is a similar power. In the end it makes an image to the first beast. If it makes an image to the first beast, then in the commencement of its career that image does not exist. At that point church and state stand as two, therefore we see the propriety of two horns on the beast. TBUS 28.1

As an index to the mild profession of Republicans mark the language of the Declaration of Independence of these United States: TBUS 28.2

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” TBUS 28.3

Wherever appeared a government with a declaration so lamb-like? In a place where the people are pledged to carry out such a declaration, we should expect to find a God-like class, carrying out the principle of the Bible to which it is so nearly allied-“Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Here is a government placing men as persons on an equal footing, lamb-like in appearance, yea, Christ-like. Jesus is called “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. TBUS 28.4

We will look at the profession of the Protestants. They say, Amen, to the Declaration of the Republicans, and in addition to that they declare that freedom of conscience is for all, that the Bible is the only standard of faith for Protestants; believe whatever is found in the Bible. Against the profession of Protestants and Republicans we have nothing to offer; their profession is right. We might expect a millennium indeed, were their profession lived out. TBUS 29.1

But as John viewed this matter, the scene is sadly degenerate when the beast begins to act. Instead of carrying out his lamb-like profession, “he speaks as a dragon.” Yes, that very national executive body, who have before them this Declaration of Independence, and profess to be carrying out its principles, can pass laws by which 3,200,000 slaves can be held in bondage. The Declaration of Independence was professedly based on self-evident truths. [Truths that needed no reasoning to establish them.] But it is a self-evident truth now that a large number of our race are born into slavery. To produce a harmony between our laws and their professed basis, the Declaration of Independence should have a clause supplied, and should read, All men are created equal except 3,200,000. TBUS 29.2

As things exist in our Union at present, we can look upon the above as only a lamb-like profession, while the action, [voice, or laws of the government,] is dragon-like. It is commonly claimed that the Constitution professing to be based upon the Declaration, of Independence pledges that all men shall be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. TBUS 29.3

To show the import of the Constitution of the United States respecting religious matters, I wish to copy a few articles from the Constitution, also the opinion of George Washington as to the import of that instrument. TBUS 30.1