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Chapter
53
The Last Nation
Noticed in Prophecy
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What symbol is introduced
in Rev. 12:3?
"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and, behold, a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads."
At what time in the
world's history did this symbol apply?
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve
stars." Rev. 12:1.
What did the dragon
design to do to the child about to be born to the church?
"And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered,
for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Rev. 12:4.
What became of the child?
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto
God, and to His throne." Rev. 12:5.
NOTE. - Christ the Lord is the only one to whom the
prophecy can apply (Heb. 12:2).
Who sought to slay Christ
as soon as He was born?
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."
Matt. 2:16.
What symbol was next seen
by the prophet?
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of
the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and
upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Rev. 13:1.
From what did this
government receive its seat and power?
"And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great
authority." Rev. 13:2.
NOTE.-It is an
undisputed point in history that, when Constantine removed the seat of his
empire from Rome to Constantinople, in 330 A.D., the city of Rome was given up
to the bishop of Rome, who, in 538, became the head of all the churches, and the
corrector of heretics, by the work of Justinian, the ruling emperor of the
Romans. Thus Rome became the seat of the papacy, and the authority of the pope
was derived from the decree of the dragon power. See "Croly on the
Apocalypse." pages 114-115.
What was to happen to
this beast?
"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly
wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Rev. 13:3.
How was this wounding to
be brought about?
"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that
killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." Rev. 13:10.
Had the papacy led others
into captivity?
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints
and to overcome them; and power was given him over all
kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Rev. 13:7.
NOTE. - Many millions have been martyred by the Roman
Church, because they dared to differ with her in religious opinions. See
"Fox's Book of Martyrs;" "The Wars of the Huguenots;"
"Buck's Theological Dictionary," art. Persecutions; histories of the
Reformation, etc.
When was
the papal head wounded by being taken into captivity?
In 1798, the French army under Berthier then abolished the papacy in Rome,
proclaimed a republic there, and carried Pope Pius VI a captive from place to
place till he died at Valence, France, August 28,1799. See reading "A
Remarkable Symbol." page 29.
At that time what
additional symbol was seen by the prophet?
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two
horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Rev. 13:11.
Has the United States
"come up" sufficiently to warrant the application of the prophecy to
this country?
The "Centennial History of the United States" says: "The
extent of the conceded domain of the United States, in 1776, was not more than
half a million square miles. Now (1875) it is more than three million, three
hundred thousand square miles.
Its population then was three million; in 1875-forty million. Today it is over
two hundred fifty million.
What do the "two
horns like a lamb" represent?
A horn represents a kingdom, or a component part of a kingdom, as in Dan.
7:7, 8, 24, 25. Lamb-like horns would indicate youthfulness, innocence, and
gentleness. The "two" horns may represent the two leading principles
of the government, civil and religious liberty.
Notwithstanding the
lamb-like pretensions of this power, what is it ultimately to do?
"And he spake as a dragon." Rev. 13:11.
What will he say?
"Saying unto them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an
image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Rev.
13:14.
NOTE. - The beast
"which had the wound by a sword and did live," is the papacy. That was
a church clothed with the civil power. In other words, it enforced its religious
dogmas by the civil power, under pain of confiscation of goods, imprisonment,
and death.
When the image to the
beast has been formed in the United States, what will follow?
"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that
the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not
worship the image of the beast should be killed." Rev. 13:15.
How are the people to be
led to form the image to the beast?
"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast." Rev.
13:14.
How much power will be
exercised in the matter?
"And he exerciseth all 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." Rev. 13:12.
NOTE. - The
"first beast before him" (the papal power) exercised the power of
putting to death all who differed with them in religious faith.
What will the two-horned
beast power try to enforce on the people?
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads."
Rev. 13:16.
How far is this to be
carried?
"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." Rev. 13:17.
NOTE. - That is, all
who do not receive the mark are to be denied the right of citizenship. For the
characteristics of the beast itself see the following chapter (54).
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