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the power of the first beast before him； and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast； whose deadly wound was
healed； 。 。 。 saying to them that dwell on the earth； that they should make
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an image to the beast； which had the wound by a sword； and did live。〃
Revelation 13：11…14。
The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking
contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus
represented。 The 〃speaking〃 of the nation is the action of its legislative
and judicial authorities。 By such action it will give the lie to those
liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of
its policy。 The prediction that it will speak 〃as a dragon〃 and exercise
〃all the power of the first beast〃 plainly foretells a development of the
spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations
represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast。 And the statement that
the beast with two horns 〃causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to
worship the first beast〃 indicates that the authority of this nation is to
be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to
the papacy。
Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government；
to the genius of its free institutions； to the direct and solemn avowals of
the Declaration of Independence； and to the Constitution。 The founders of
the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on
the part of the church； with its inevitable result intolerance and
persecution。 The Constitution provides that 〃Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion； or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof；〃 and that 〃no religious test shall ever be required as a
qualification to any office of public trust under the United States。〃 Only
in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation's liberty； can any
religious observance be enforced by civil authority。 But the inconsistency
of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol。 It is the
beast with lamblike hornsin profession pure； gentle； and harmlessthat
speaks as a dragon。
〃Saying to them that dwell on the earth； that they should
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make an image to the beast。〃 Here is clearly presented a form of government
in which the legislative power rests with the people； a most striking
evidence that the United States is the nation denoted in the prophecy。
But what is the 〃image to the beast〃？ and how is it to be formed？ The image
is made by the two…horned beast； and is an image to the beast。 It is also
called an image of the beast。 Then to learn what the image is like and how
it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast
itselfthe papacy。
When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of
the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs； she lost the Spirit and
power of God； and in order to control the consciences of the people； she
sought the support of the secular power。 The result was the papacy； a church
that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own
ends； especially for the punishment of 〃heresy。〃 In order for the United
States to form an image of the beast； the religious power must so control
the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed
by the church to accomplish her own ends。
Whenever the church has obtained secular power； she has employed it to
punish dissent from her doctrines。 Protestant churches that have followed in
the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a
similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience。 An example of this is
given in the long…continued persecution of dissenters by the Church of
England。 During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries； thousands of
nonconformist ministers were forced to flee from their churches； and many；
both of pastors and people； were subjected to fine； imprisonment； torture；
and martyrdom。
It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil
government； and this prepared the way for the development of the papacythe
beast。 Said Paul： 〃There〃 shall 〃come a falling away； 。 。 。 and that man of
sin be
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revealed。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：3。 So apostasy in the church will prepare the
way for the image to the beast。
The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord there will exist a
state of religious declension similar to that in the first centuries。 〃In
the last days perilous times shall come。 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves； covetous； boasters； proud； blasphemers； disobedient to parents；
unthankful； unholy； without natural affection； trucebreakers； false
accusers； incontinent； fierce； despisers of those that are good； traitors；
heady； high…minded； lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God； having a
form of godliness； but denying the power thereof。〃 2 Timothy 3：1…5。 〃Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly； that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith； giving heed to seducing spirits； and doctrines of devils。〃 1
Timothy 4：1。 Satan will work 〃with all power and signs and lying wonders；
and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness。〃 And all that 〃received not
the love of the truth； that they might be saved；〃 will be left to accept
〃strong delusion； that they should believe a lie。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9…11。
When this state of ungodliness shall be reached； the same results will
follow as in the first centuries。
The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many
as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be
made。 But there has been for years； in churches of the Protestant faith； a
strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of
doctrine。 To secure such a union； the discussion of subjects upon which all
were not agreedhowever important they might be from a Bible
standpointmust necessarily be waived。
Charles Beecher； in a sermon in the year 1846； declared that the ministry of
〃the evangelical Protestant denominations〃 is 〃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
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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！〃Sermon on 〃The Bible a Sufficient Creed；〃
delivered at Fort Wayne； Indiana； Feb。 22；
1846。 When this shall be gained； then； in the effort to secure
complete uniformity； it will be only a step to the resort to force。
When the leading churches of the United States； uniting upon such points of
doctrine as are held by them in common； shall influence the state to enforce
their decrees and to sustain their institutions； then Protestant America
will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy； and the infliction of
civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result。
The beast with two horns 〃causeth ＇commands＇ all； both small and great； rich
and poor； free and bond； to receive a mark in their right hand； or in their
foreheads： 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。〃 Revelation 13：16； 17。 The
third angel's warning is： 〃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。〃 〃The beast〃 mentioned in this message； whose
worship is enforced by the two…horned beast； is the first； or leopardlike
beast of Revelation 13the papacy。 The 〃image to the beast〃 represents that
form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant
churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their
dogmas。 The 〃mark of the beast〃 still remains to be defined。
After the warning against the worship of the beast and his image the
prophecy declares： 〃Here are they that keep the commandments of God； and the
faith of Jesus。〃 Since those who keep God's commandments are thus placed in
contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his
mark； it follows that the keeping of God's law； on the
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one hand； and its violation； on the other； will make the distinction between
the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast。
The special characteristic of the beast； and therefore of his image； is the
breaking of God's commandments。 Says Daniel； of the little horn； the papacy：
〃He shall think to change times and the law。〃 Daniel 7：25； R。V。 And Paul
styled the same power the 〃man of sin；〃 who was to exalt himself above God。
One prophecy is a complement of the other。 Only by changing God's law could
the papacy exalt itself above God； whoever should understandingly keep the