Our Faith and Hope

SERMON FIVE. THE THIRD MESSAGE

TEXT. - And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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 forever 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. Revelation 14:9-12. OFAH 43.1

CHURCH history presents no testimony that this message has been heard in the past. And the fact that the first and second angels of this series apply to the present generation, most clearly establishes the point that the third message does not belong to the past. OFAH 43.2

It is proper that we should here notice three symbols employed in this message, namely, the beast, his image, and his mark, and call attention to other distinct points embraced by it. These are the patience of the saints, the commandments of God, the faith of Jesus, and the penalty threatened. OFAH 43.3

1. The beast. The familiar manner in which the beast, the image, and the mark are introduced in this message, shows that they are symbols which are elsewhere explained in the prophetic word; for when a symbol is first introduced into prophecy, specifications and particulars are given sufficient to lead to an understanding of it. We find no such particulars in this message respecting the symbols here introduced, and therefore look for them in other portions of the book of Revelation. OFAH 43.4

In chapter 13:1, and onward, we find a power introduced under the symbol and name of “a beast.” The time and manner of its rise are given, its characteristics are pointed out, its work is described, the time of its duration is stated, and the termination of its career is foretold. That this is the beast mentioned in the third message is certain; for it is the only symbol in the book of Revelation which bears the unqualified title of “the beast.” In chapter 12:11, another beast is introduced, but after being once named as another beast, it is ever after designated by the pronoun he. OFAH 44.1

We now inquire, What power is represented by the beast? To learn this, we go still farther back, to chapter 12, where we find a power symbolized by a great red dragon, which is the one next preceding the beast of chapter 13. The seven heads and ten horns upon both of these symbols show that they represent two phases of the same power. By universal consent of Protestant expositors, the great red dragon is considered a representative of Pagan Rome. The next phase presented by Rome after the Pagan form was the Papal. Rome Papal succeeded Rome Pagan. The dragon gave his seat, power, and great authority to the beast. Hence the beast can represent none other but Papal Rome. OFAH 44.2

2. The image. This is the image of the beast we have just been considering. An image is a representation, similitude, copy, or likeness, of any person or thing. As the beast is the Papal church, a church having civil power to carry out its decrees, and execute whatever penalty it might affix to the crime of heresy, an image of this beast must be an ecclesiastical organization, possessing the same essential features and established upon the same basis. Do we anywhere see any room for, or any indications of, a movement of this kind? The power that forms the image is the second beast of Revelation 13, called another beast having two horns like a lamb. Any inquiry respecting the image, properly calls for a previous examination of this two-horned beast symbol; but for this we have not space in the present work. A few propositions only can be here laid down; and perhaps this is all that is in the present case essential, as they will be found abundantly proved in other works. 1. The two-horned beast is a symbol of the United States of America. 2. Its two horns represent the two leading principles of this government, Republicanism and Protestantism. 3. It occupies the right territory to answer to the prophecy; for as it is another beast, it must be located outside of the territory occupied by the first beast and its ten horns. 4. It was seen coming up at the right time, the time when the first beast went into captivity, in 1798. This nation was then beginning to attract the notice of the world as a rapidly-developing and rising power. 5. It bears the right form of government, which, according to the prophecy, must be republican, not monarchical. 6. It is performing the work assigned it in the prophecy. In short, it most admirably fits every part of the prophetic description. OFAH 44.3

The formation of the image is yet future; and if we are right in the application of the two-horned beast, we are to look for it in our own country, and within a very short time. OFAH 45.1

And now we ask, Do we see any indications of a movement of this kind? We answer, Yes, as the following extract, out of many that might be given, will show. Let it be remembered that first it is “said” to them that dwell on the earth, the people of the nation, that they should make an image to the beast. The question must first be agitated, and the movement be recommended, before the public mind will be prepared for decisive action in the matter. OFAH 46.1

Charles Beecher, in his sermon at the dedication of the Second Presbyterian church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, February 22, 1846, said: OFAH 46.2

“Thus are the ministry of the evangelical Protestant denominations, not only formed, all the way up, under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they live, and move, and breathe, in a state of things radically corrupt, and appealing every hour to every baser element of their nature to hush up the truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy. Was not this the way things went with Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we see just ahead? Another General Council! A world’s convention! Evangelical alliance, and universal creed!” OFAH 46.3

3. The mark and worship of the beast. The two-horned beast causes men to worship the first beast and receive his mark. What is the mark of the beast? OFAH 46.4

The beast, as we have seen, is the Papacy. The two-horned beast which is to enforce the mark is our own government. What is the mark of the Papacy which this nation is to enforce? It must be something on which they occupy common ground, and in which both are equally interested. The mark of any power must be something to distinguish the adherents of that power. And that which distinguishes the adherents of any power must be some law, requirement, or institution of that power. The mark of the beast, then, must be some requirement of a religious nature which the Papacy has instituted, and to which it claims obedience from its followers, as a token of its right to legislate in religious matters. OFAH 46.5

Among the claims and institutions of the Roman Church we do find something of this kind. And it may surprise some Protestants to learn that it is the institution of Sunday in place of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Hear what that church claims on the subject of the change of the Sabbath: OFAH 47.1

“Q. How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? OFAH 47.2

“A. By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and, therefore, they fondly contradict themselves, by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.” - Abridgment of Christian Doctrine. OFAH 47.3

For proof that Sunday-keeping has no foundation in the Scriptures, but is an institution of the Papacy, as Romanists claim, see History of the Sabbath, and other works, published at the Review Office. OFAH 47.4

The third message warns against receiving the mark of the beast; hence those to whom the message is addressed, have not this mark in the sense of the message, at the time it is being proclaimed. But when the claims of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment shall be fully set before the people, those who then turn from it to accept the counterfeit Sabbath of the beast, will receive the mark of the beast. May God prepare the honest in heart to stand fast in the coming conflict. OFAH 47.5

4. The patience of the saints. The chronology of the third message is distinctly marked as being the period of “the patience of the saints,” which follows the proclamation of the two former messages. And this period of the saints’ patience is marked by a most important fact, namely, the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. OFAH 48.1

5. The commandments of God. The period of the saints’ patience is distinguished by the fact that they are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; hence the Sabbath reform just now. OFAH 48.2

6. The faith of Jesus. This term is used in distinction from the commandments of God. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God [the Father], and the faith of Jesus” [the Son]. This excludes alike the blind Jew, who makes his boast in the law and rejects Jesus, and also the Christian who professes faith in Christ while he breaks the commandments of God. OFAH 48.3

7. The penalty threatened. The fearful penalty connected with the warning of the third angel consists of the unmingled wrath of God in the seven last plagues, and torment with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. OFAH 48.4

Dear reader, may you seek the Lord while he may be found, and in him and in his truth find a shelter from the impending storm. OFAH 48.5

J. W.