The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

III. America Seen in Symbol of Revelation 13:12-18

There is little need of amplifying further the individual expositions of these pioneer Sabbatarian expositors. On the basic outline prophecies and their related time periods they were in substantial unity, as well as being in agreement with the cumulative exposition of the centuries. Andrews’ expositions, just noted, may therefore be regarded as typical and representative, because of his editorial connection with the Review and Herald. On one point, however, Andrews became the spokesman for an important further development in Adventist exposition—the already emerging view that the location of the two-horned beast of Revelation 13:11-18 is to be found in North America, with its Protestantism and republicanism represented by the two horns of this lamblike symbol. PFF4 1098.1

This concept, it should be noted, was the result of a long and gradual development. Reference has already been made to the expanding application in both Britain and America of some of the symbols of the Roman apostasy—not only “Babylon” but likewise the term “beast”—to include certain phases of Protestantism as well. ³ The early Sabbatarian Adventists were familiar, of course, with Miller’s and the rather common interpretation of this second beast as the papal Rome of the Old World. But they were probably more impressed with Litch’s later view that it was a non-Roman Catholic power coming into prominence after the wounding and revival of the first beast at the French Revolution, and therefore yet to be made manifest. ⁴ PFF4 1098.2

They were also probably familiar with some of the earlier American writers who saw in this two-horned beast a power representing a union of church and state, and involving Protestantism—even in this country. For example, there was eighteenth-century Baptist historian Isaac Backus’ “Protestant beast” allusion in 1788, primarily British but in part American. ⁵ Then, after the turn of the century, there was Judge John Bacon’s identification of it with the clergy who were sympathetic with the papal Beast, including some Protestants. ⁶ Next came Elias Smith’s definition of this power as the ecclesiastical government, not only of the pope, but of “all who enforce creeds by law,” which he applied to American established churches. ⁷ And mention must also be made of Samuel M. M’Corkle’s antisectarian application of this symbol of Protestantism, with the image as creeds, standards, disciplines, and the marks of sects and parties. ⁸ These, be it remembered, were pre- or non-Millerite. There were others, but these will suffice to illustrate the application of the second symbol to Protestantism. PFF4 1098.3

It might also be observed that there was no special interest or emphasis on this symbol among the Millerites. And among the Sabbatarian Adventists (in 1850) the earliest references to the two-horned symbol are not particularly clear. Hiram S. Case was evidently the first to identify it as Protestantism with its republican features. ⁹ George W. Holt also spoke of this beast as the “image,” assuming a lamblike character (Protestant and republican) and having the number 666. But he did not expressly identify it. ¹⁰ Hiram Edson called it “Protestant Rome,” with the two horns of civil and ecclesiastical power. ¹¹ H. S. Case identified this beast as “church and state” united—that is, “Protestant churches and Republicanism,” an image of the older papal church-state union. ¹² PFF4 1099.1

Then in 1851 Andrews wrote an article on Revelation 13 and 14 in which he discussed the subject more fully. Here is his presentation: PFF4 1099.2

1. BABYLON-BELIEVED TO BE APOSTATE CHURCHES

On the delicate matter of “Babylon,” Andrews wrote: PFF4 1100.1

“We regard Babylon as the professed church united with the kingdoms of the world. In other words, ‘Babylon is the apostate churches.’—We cannot restrict the term to the Papal church, for it evidently includes all those religious bodies which have become corrupt like the ‘mother of harlots.’” ¹³ PFF4 1100.2

2. TWO-HORNED BEAST Is WEST OF OLD WORLD

After stating that the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10 is papal Rome, Andrews says that the second beast (of verses 11-18) rises in a peaceful and lamblike manner from the earth, not from the sea of nations, like the first beast. And it must rise about the end of the 1260 years, and in new territory. The timing and the location were fundamental. PFF4 1100.3

“The seat of the Babylonian and Persian empires was in Asia. The seat of the Grecian and Roman empires was in Europe. The Roman empire, in its divided state as represented by the ten horns, occupies all the remaining territory west to the Atlantic ocean. Hence we still look westward [of the Old World] for the rise of the power described in this prophecy. PFF4 1100.4

“This power is evidently the last one with which the people of God are connected, for the message of the third angel which immediately precedes the view of Jesus on the white cloud, pertains almost entirely to the action of the two-horned beast.” ¹⁴ PFF4 1100.5

Further on he plainly identifies this mild and youthful power as America, with its two horns of civil and ecclesiastical power-republicanism and Protestantism, based on the lamblike principles of freedom and the Bible. Nevertheless, it is also the power that ultimately enforces the mark of the first or papal Beast. ¹⁵ PFF4 1100.6

3. THE IMAGE A UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE

An image to the first, or papal, Beast, says Andrews, would be some other than the Roman church, clothed with civil power and authority to persecute-a non-Catholic church-state combination, distinct from the papal Beast. ¹⁶ PFF4 1100.7

Andrews agrees with Bates on the imposition of the mark as an “institution of the Papacy enforced by Protestantism.” The number 666 he does not define, but mentions the possibility of its representing the large number of Protestant sects.” ¹⁷ Later he follows William Miller, Josiah Litch, and Apollos Hale on the view of the “two desolations,” “two opposing sanctuaries,” and “two hosts” of Daniel 8:9-13. ¹⁸ PFF4 1101.1