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

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Verse 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.” The two-horned beast is to cause all to receive “the mark of the beast.” We inquire, what is the mark of the beast? Many have been the speculations in regard to it. While one has supposed the mark of the beast to be an unscriptural connection of the church with government affairs, another has thought it to be sprinkling as baptism. The Revelator does not say a mark, but it is “the mark of the beast;” and he also defines it as “the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11. The beast assumes the title of God: “Most holy Lord God the Pope.” He claims to be at the head of the work of God on earth. He was to think to change times and laws. This he has already done. See the quotation of the commandments from the catechism. The mark of his name, we shall claim, is the mark of his name as a God, or as a reviser of the law of God. Before we can be prepared to state with definiteness, what this mark is, our attention shall be called to the law of God, to decide what the mark of his name is. This beast has assumed authority, and as a matter of course assumes a mark which designates him from the true Law-giver. The third angel (Rev.xiv) warns against the mark of the beast, and says, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God.” The class, who take heed to the call of that message are keeping the commandments of God. This is one of their striking peculiarities. From it we may infer that those who are giving heed to the decrees of the beast are not keeping them. The commandments of God are held out in opposition to the mark of the beast, and by them it can be detected. The ten commandments are the great constitution of Jehovah, and says the Apostle, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Peter 4:11. Oracles of God, ten commandments. Acts 7:38. TBUS 65.1

The law of an earthly monarch, to be of force, must bear the name of the monarch, his signature of royalty, and also the impress of his seal, which is the sign or mark of his name. If the emperor of Russia should at the present time write out commands for his subjects to follow, and sign his name Alexander, the people might be at a loss to know where the document came from; for there are Alexanders many. But he signs his name, Alexander Emperor of Russia. This shows at once the extent of his government: Russia; also his right to reign-Emperor. When the document is thus signed, and bears the impress of the seal of that monarch, it is valid. When the subjects behold it they at once take heed to it. Why, say they, we are in his realm, subject to his reign, he has power to make laws to govern us, we must take heed to his enactments. A law without a signature of royalty, and seal, is good for nothing. The true Law-giver is known by his title of royalty, and seal, which is the sign, or mark of his name. There is no danger, while his subjects retain the knowledge of his title and seal, of their being imposed upon. TBUS 66.1

The sanction of the Most High, must be something connected with his law, that discovers to us the extent of his dominion, and right to reign; which is a sign between him and his loyal subjects, that they may know his genuine laws, and be guarded against all imposition. That the living God has a seal, we learn from Isaiah 8:16; and we also learn by the same text, that that seal has been taken off. “Bind up the testimony seal the law among my disciples.” No necessity for such a proclamation, if the law seal had not been broken. Therefore in this time, when men are saying to us “Seek unto them that have familiar spirits,” we are to seal God’s law; restore to it his royal sanction which he attached to it when he gave it; which, like the seal of an earthly monarch, stamps his right to reign, and extent of dominion, as expressed in his royal title, as genuine, and shows to his subjects, that they are not imposed upon. TBUS 66.2

We wish to call attention to the law God, and if possible find his seal. We begin and read. The first three commandments are prohibitions, and in each of them the name “thy God” is mentioned; but the uniformed might say, “there are gods many and lords many.” We do not gain the desired information, from these three commandments. We pass on. We will skip the fourth commandment, as it is thought by some to be a Jewish institution, which has served its time out and ceased. The fifth commandment teaches the duty to parents, with a promise of long life in the land, to those who obey. The other five commandments are each prohibitions; but neither of them mention the name of God. We will now look at the fourth commandment, and see if we can get any light there. TBUS 67.1

“Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it.” Here we get, 1st. “The Lord.” 2nd. Signature of royalty; Creator of heaven and earth. 3rd. Right to reign and extent of dominion. As he is the creator of heaven and earth, and all that is therein, nothing can exist unless supplied from his bounty. Therefore as he is our creator and sustainer, he has a right to reign over all. Heaven and earth is the extent of his dominion. The seal or sign between him and his people, the Lord himself has declared is what this commandment enforces. TBUS 67.2

“Moreover, also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify them.” Ezekiel 20:12, 19, 20. “I am the Lord your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” See Exodus 31:13-18. TBUS 68.1

Sign and seal are synonymous terms. See Romans 4:11. Paul speaking of Abraham says, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.” The Sabbath is a sign between God and his people; hence it seals his law as genuine. As the seal of an earthly monarch is a sign between him and his subjects, so the Sabbath is a sign between the Lord and his subjects, that they may know him from all others. Take this fourth commandment from the ten, and the seal of the living God is gone, and the knowledge of their author is taken from us. Here is where Papacy has aimed a blow. The Pope has taken away the seal of the living God, and the ten commandments as taught by him do not contain it. Read the following portion of the fourth commandment as given by the Pope, and by him called the third commandment. From Doctor James Butlers catechism. TBUS 68.2

“Say the third commandment. Ans. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day.” TBUS 69.1

Here is all that the Pope gives of the Sabbath commandment. Where is that part of it that pointed out to us the true God, his right to reign, extent of dominion, etc? It is gone. Read again from the catechism and see what we have in place of the seal of the living God. TBUS 69.2

“What is commanded by the third commandment? TBUS 69.3

Ans. To spend the SUNDAY in prayer and other religious duties.” TBUS 69.4

In place of God’s seal or mark, we have Sunday attached to the law. It does not point out the living God; but claims to be instituted on the authority of the Papal church, and is claimed by that church to be their signature of royalty; in confirmation of which, read the following from the “abridgment of Christian Doctrine-p.58. TBUS 69.5

“Q. How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? TBUS 69.6

“A. By the very act of changing Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore fondly contradict themselves, by keeping Sunday so strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.” TBUS 69.7

The two-horned beast is to cause all “to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” We do not suppose that this is a mark, visible in the foreheads; but as we have already shown, it is Sunday. The forehead is the seat of the mind. There the decision is made by men whether they will keep this institution or not. This mark is also to be received in the right hand. The reception of the mark in the hand is probably some act accomplished with the hand by which (during the time of the war by the two-horned beast on commandment keepers) men become incorporated into the ranks of the beast worshipers. TBUS 70.1