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

HIS WORK

Verse 12. He says, “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.” The first beast had power to make war on the saints. See verse 7. “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” Such a work is pointed out yet to be fulfilled by the two-horned beast. See verse 15. “And cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” But we pass over this point for the present. It is more fully stated in verse 15, and we shall have occasion to notice it in order. TBUS 40.2

Says the objector, “It is said that ‘he exerciseth all the power of the first beast.’ It must be that this two-horned beast is some power that takes the reins of government of the first beast, and rules in his dominion.” I know not how any one can draw such a conclusion from the text. We reply to the objection as follows: TBUS 40.3

1. The first beast symbolizes a body of rulers; and when its dominion is taken away it ceases to be a ruling power, and only exists as ruled over by the conquering power. When a beast’s dominion is taken away, its life is prolonged. See Daniel 7:12. When Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain, and Darius the Median took the kingdom, the people of that vast realm were not slain, but passed under the rule of Media. Yet when this event concerning Babylon is spoken of, it is said Babylon is passed away. If the Papal beast had met the same fate, we should speak of it as passed away. When the civil power was taken away from the Pope, the event was called, “the deadly wound.” And if it was said, the two-horned beast ruled while the first beast was thus wounded, there might be some plausibility in the position taken; for there would be no guard to exclude the two-horned beast from the first beast’s territory. But we have already shown in the former part of this article, that the two-horned beast’s locality is definitely in America. If the two-horned beast did take the rule of the first beast, then the two powers would not bear the relative position to each other that the text represents. TBUS 40.4

2. By comparing the history of the two-horned beast with that of the false prophet, (which clearly represents the same power,) we see that the position of our opponents is groundless. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him.” Revelation 19:20. Read the connection. We see the two beasts exist at the time of Christ’s coming, as two distinct powers. TBUS 41.1

3. Revelation 13:12, declares that the two-horned beast causes men “to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.” Let this forever exclude the possibility of our opponents’ position being true. But we see a burden of the two-horned beast’s work is done after the healing of the Papacy. These powers then work together, and exist as distinct beasts until the judgment. TBUS 41.2

The expression, “before him,” by Whiting is rendered, “in his sight.” This gives a clear idea of the text. The Papal beast exists on the eastern continent; his seat is definitely at Rome; and while the two-horned beast is located in the west, and is performing his wonders, they of the eastern world behold, wondering. TBUS 42.1

Verses 13, 14. “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.” TBUS 42.2

Here are wonders which are not to be merely pretensions, but men are to behold them. Not like the boasts of Napoleon, telling the Mussulmen that he could command a fiery chariot to come down from heaven, and yet never did it. That we are living in an age of wonders is proverbial. None pretend to deny it. The labors which in ages past it would have required years to perform, are now accomplished in as many months. Who can enumerate the inventions, which the ever moving mind of man is bringing before the public. Machinery is now standing in operation, a hint of which fifty years since would have astonished the world. Fire, that purger of all elements, is brought to subserve the interests of man, to aid him in traversing the mighty deep, or bear him swiftly o’er the earth. TBUS 42.3

Who would have tolerated the idea sixty years since, of a passage from New York city to Rochester, in the space of twelve hours. Even when the idea was suggested of the construction of a canal from Albany to Buffalo, over which boats might pass at the rate of four or six miles per hour; said an aged veteran, “I want to live to see that, and then I am willing to die.” Little did he think it would be accomplished in his day. Again, when people talked about Rail Cars, going at the rate of thirty to fifty miles per hour. “Why!” said one, “you might as well be shot out of a gun at once. It will tear every thing to pieces.” One scientific man, when it was first announced to the world that rail cars were going to be propelled at such a rapid rate, came out with an argument to allay the excitement of the people, and show that such a thing was impossible. One of his strongest arguments was that “they could not get up and down the hills.” Others reasoned that the engine wheels would not roll on the track with a load behind it, etc., etc. TBUS 42.4

In our own day when the idea was advanced that a dispatch might be sent from New York to Washington in one minute, it was thought to be perfectly preposterous. I forbear noticing the remarks made in regard to it, as we are all familiar with them, it being in our own day. The greatest query, however, seemed to be in all minds, How can the letters get around the posts? TBUS 43.1

Here in our own country, upon the Hudson river, steam was first applied to the propelling of boats. Now we see steam-ships coursing their way to every part of the globe. Think of the ridicule made of Robert Fulton while constructing his first steamboat, and answer whether the people did not consider it a wonder (in 1807) as it moved out of the harbor without the aid of wind or tide. TBUS 43.2

As the result of these experiments in steam, we see it now applied to the propelling of cars. This was first done in England in the year 1829. We now see them moving travelers over the plain and through the vale to every part of the land. As predicted, [Nahum 2:3, 5,] “The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his (God’s) preparation, and the fir-trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, (a better comparison could not be brought of cars running at the rate of forty to fifty miles per hour than “they rage,”) they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways. (There are in the principal cities and villages where rail-roads pass, side tracks, or switches, upon which cars are placed for loading and unloading, and as they are backing and moving forward it occasions the jostling. These places are called broad ways.) They shall seem like torches. (Look at the cars, as they are coming towards you in the night with their glaring light in front of the engine, and answer me the question, Do they not seem like torches?) They shall run like the lightnings. (So near like the lightning do they run, that men have established what is termed the “lightning trains.”) He shall recount his worthies. (The conductor’s continual employment is, recounting passengers from station to station.) They (the passengers) shall stumble in their walk.” Try it, and see if you do not stumble as you attempt to walk through the cars while they are in rapid motion. TBUS 43.3

But, says one, you don’t think Nahum’s prophecy applies here? That was a description of the destruction of ancient Nineveh, for see, the heading of the chapter says so. Well, the heading of that chapter is not inspiration, but a man’s opinion. By reading the first chapter of Nahum we see the subject introduced is the coming of the Lord, the day of trouble, the cutting off of the wicked, and the time when (verse 9) affliction shall not come upon the saints again. How much preparation did it need for the Lord to destroy ancient Nineveh? TBUS 44.1

We understand that Nineveh is used in this connection to represent the people in the last days. Nineveh is positively said to be “waste” when this prophecy was made. Verse 10. The prophecy of its destruction made by Jonah was B. C. 862. “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” If the position taken by many is correct, that this prophecy was fulfilled in forty prophetic days (forty years) then Nineveh had been destroyed 109 years when Nahum prophesied B. C. 713. TBUS 45.1

We can also answer the question God asked Job. Chap 38:35. “Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?” Although Job could not answer it, the men of the present age are prepared to say, We can. They have brought “fire down from heaven.” By Benjamin Franklin’s experiments, it was found that lightning could be conveyed by the lightning-rod from heaven to the earth in the sight of men. His experiments gave a new impetus to the science of electricity: investigation has continued until we now hear the clicking of the telegraph. Said Dr. Beman of Troy, in a sermon recently, “If Franklin tamed the lightning Prof. Morse taught it the English language.” Again he said, “God asked Job, ‘Canst thou send lightnings?’ He had no answer. I can do it.” Yes, the traveler may start on his journey from Washington; when he arrives in Chicago, he can leave his communication in a telegraph office; the lightnings go to Washington, give the name of his friends, his locality and name, and, “Here I am.” TBUS 45.2

We have stated that the people had brought down the fires of heaven (lightning) to serve their interests. This truly is one of the astounding wonders of the age, but we do not look upon it as the full accomplishment of the text that they shall cause fire to come down, but we look for a more full accomplishment of this in the closing up of the deceptive wonders of the two-horned beast. TBUS 46.1

I might mention the wonders of Psychology, Biology, and Mesmerism in all its forms, which have attracted the gaze of astonished beholders. But these all bid fair to be eclipsed by the astounding wonders of Spirit Manifestations. Free converse is held with what purport to be the spirits of the departed. Were it not that God has made known to us his will, and marked out the condition of the dead in the Scripture, we should have no shield against their teachings; and there might well be a trembling for the fate of Christianity. For, that Spirit Manifestations are a reality, none, who have thoroughly investigated them, will pretend to deny. Says the Hon. J. W. Edmonds, Judge of the Supreme Court: “Whoever declares Spirit Manifestations to be a humbug, show that they know nothing about it. TBUS 46.2

In making the above admission that Spiritualism is a reality, we do not by any means admit the teaching of these spirits, or that they are from the source they pretend; but we are far from claiming as many do that these modern developments are nothing but human trickery. TBUS 46.3

We shall claim this spiritual working to be the work of the “spirits of devils,“ and for this position we shall assign a few reasons. TBUS 47.1

1. This work cannot be the work of the dead; for the Bible clearly teaches that they “know not anything.” Ecclesiastes 9:5. It cannot be claimed that this text simply applies to the body; for if thought and intelligence are only attributes of spirit (as the mind is commonly called) then the body never knew anything, and it would be folly to say it knows nothing after it is dead. If, as commonly claimed, the mind is known to exist by its properties, (thinking,) when those properties are no longer developed it no longer exists until revived again. But when man dies his thoughts perish. Psalm 146:2-4. See also Isaiah 38:18, 19; Psalm 115:17; 6:5; 1 Corinthians 15:18. These spirits represent that our friends are in a conscious state; therefore we claim that they are from a lying source, and from the father of lies. TBUS 47.2

2. These spirits deny the existence of a Devil, and thus pave the way to bring their awful deceptions before the people. They deny the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, and nearly every doctrine of divine revelation. They exalt the most vile characters to the highest heaven; which, all combined, marks their mission as not from any good source. TBUS 47.3

3. The Bible clearly teaches that in the last days the Devil will accomplish such a work as that now being developed through modern Spiritualism. See 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; Revelation 16:13-15; Isaiah 8:19, 22; 1 Timothy 4:1. TBUS 47.4

John declares concerning this two-horned beast, that he “deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which he had power to to do in the sight of the beast.” Then in this nation men are to be clothed with some power by which they can perform miracles, and thereby deceive men. Some have supposed that all miracles must come from God, and that no miracle could come from an evil source. This is a mistake; for Pharaoh’s magicians in the days of Moses wrought miracles; but when miracles were performed which they could not do, they acknowledged it as “the finger of God;” which virtually admitted, that theirs were from some other source. By these so-called Spirit Manifestations, miracles are being performed by which men are deceived. TBUS 47.5

The work of spirits above described commenced in this nation, and here it has spread as extensively as in any other nation on earth. Here is a wonder that is deceiving the people. TBUS 48.1

1. They are led to suppose they are conversing with their departed friends, when in fact they are the spirits of devils, which the Bible declares men in the present time shall give heed unto. 1 Timothy 4:1. TBUS 48.2

2. When Satan has them confirmed in the belief that they are conversing with their friends, he begins to put the Bible aside as no better than some story book, and tells his subjects that Spirit Manifestations are far superior. Thus the miracles are being performed, and men are being lulled to sleep with these awful delusions. These spirits now rap, write, play musical instruments, send communications from one circle to another by the spirits, heal the sick; and say they shall perform greater wonders. For a further exposition of Spiritualism see works published at the Review Office, Battle Creek, Mich. TBUS 48.3

The next point to which we will now call attention, is TBUS 49.1