Facts of Faith

The Image to the Beast

Early Efforts To Unite Church And State FAFA 302.1

IN HOLY Scripture Christ Jesus is repeatedly spoken of as the Lamb of God. Bible prophecy represents America by a similar symbol, which “had two horns like a lamb.” The word of God informs us, however, that this peace-loving power, despite its lamb-like principles, eventually would say “to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast [the Papacy], which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Revelation 13:14. The Papacy was formed by a union of church and state, which resulted in the persecution of dissenters. An “image,” or “likeness,” to the Papacy in America would be a union of church and state, or a cooperation between them, as in the days of papal Rome. And, seeing it is to be “an image to the beast,” it cannot be the beast itself, but must be an effort started among Protestants, who desire the aid of the state to enforce some of their dogmas. For nearly three quarters of a century Protestant churches and civic organizations have been at work to create just such a relation between church and state in the United States. FAFA 302.2

In 1863, representatives of eleven Protestant denominations convened at Xenia, Ohio, and organized a federation, with the avowed purpose of placing the name of God in the Federal Constitution. This National Reform Association declared in Article II of its constitution: FAFA 302.3

“The object of this Society shall be to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation’s allegiance to Jesus Christ and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion, and so indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.” — “American State Papers,” William A. Blakely, p. 343. Washington, D. C.: 1911. FAFA 302.4

Their official organ: The Christian Statesman, (1888) points out their reason for such an amendment to the Federal Constitution in the following words: FAFA 303.1

“We need it to correct our most unfortunate attitude under the First Amendment, which restrains Congress from prohibiting the free exercise of any false religion.” — “Facts for the Times,” p. 165. FAFA 303.2

That is, the First Amendment to the Federal Constitution, which safeguards religious liberty, must be made null and void by their proposed amendment, just as the eighteenth amendment was nullified by the twenty-first. FAFA 303.3

Rev. M. A. Gault, a district secretary of the organization, said: FAFA 303.4

“Our remedy for all these malefic influences is to have the government simply set up the moral law, and recognize God’s authority behind it, and lay its hand on any religion that does not conform to it.” — “The Christian Statesman,” Jan. 13, 1887; quoted in “Facts for the Times,” page 166. FAFA 303.5

Jonathan Edwards, another of their speakers, said: FAFA 303.6

“We want state and religion, and we are going to have it.... So far as the affairs of the state require religion, it shall be religion, the religion of Jesus Christ.... We use the word religion in its proper sense, as meaning a man’s personal relation of faith and obedience to God. Now we are warned that to engraft this doctrine upon the Constitution will be oppressive; that it will infringe the right of conscience; and we are told that there are atheists, deists, Jews, and Seventh Day Baptists who would suffer from it. These all are, for the occasion and so far as our amendment is concerned, one class.... What are the rights of the atheist? ... I would tolerate him as I would a conspirator.” — “Religious Liberty in America,” C. M. Snow, pp. 266, 267. FAFA 303.7

The Lord’s Day Alliance is another organization working for the same ends. In their “Lord’s Day Papers” (Milwaukee, Wis.), No. 117, p. 4, they say of those who do not sanction their propaganda for Sunday laws. “That anarchistic spirit that tramples on any law that one does not like needs to be completely crushed.” FAFA 303.8