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Chapter 7
The Second Beast of Revelation 13
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
(Revelation 13:11).
W e have yet to identify the second beast of
Revelation 13. This verse alone provides evidence of the identity of the
second beast. Beasts, as we have seen, represent nations and powers.
Thus the lion of Daniel 7 represented Babylon, the bear, Medo-Persia,
the leopard, Greece, and the nondescript beast, Rome. The ten-horned and
seven-headed beast of Revelation 13 represented the Papacy. Scripture,
itself, plainly states that the four beasts of Daniel 7 represent
kingdoms, as in a similar way today, a bear represents Russia, the eagle—United
States, the kangaroo—Australia, and the panda—China.
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth
kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and
shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in
pieces. (Daniel 7:23)
So we must search for another nation which emerged
about the time that the first beast received its deadly wound (1798) for
that is the time-frame of the prophecy of Revelation 13. Further, there
are two points of marked distinction between the two beasts of
Revelation. The first is that the papal beast arose "up out of the
sea" (Revelation 13:1). In contrast, the second beast arose
"up out of the earth." These contrasting origins are not
inconsequential. The second contrast is that the first beast was a
composite of ferocious animals — lion, bear, and leopard (Revelation
13:2). The second beast is initially represented as a gentle beast
bearing "two horns like a lamb" (Revelation 13:11).
With these two marked contrasts, united with the era
of its rise to power, the identity can be made. Firstly, what does sea
or waters represent in the prophecies of Revelation? The meaning of the
symbolism is explained in the book itself.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest,
where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and
tongues (Revelation 17:15).
Without question the Papacy arose upon a continent
which was well populated with multitudes. By contrast the second beast,
in arising from the earth, was to emerge in a continent sparsely
populated. Were any nations emerging in underpopulated continents around
1798? Yes, there were two. In 1776, a small nation of three million
people, largely confined to the east coast of a large continent, won its
independence from the United Kingdom. Of course that nation was the
United States. Twenty-two years later it was still in the preliminary
stages of forging its destiny. The other nation was Australia which
commenced as a convict settlement precisely a decade prior to the
inflicting of the "deadly wound." Both these nations arose in
sparsely populated continents. In 1798, Australia’s white population
was still counted in the thousands. When the white convicts and their
penal guards arrived ten years earlier, there was an estimate of 300,000
- 500,000 aboriginals thinly spread over the almost 3,000,000 square
miles (more than 7,000,000 square kilometers) of the continent.
However, the prophecy leaves us in no doubt as to
which of these two nations fitted the prophetic depiction. The Papacy
arose as a fierce power. Its brutal treatment of religious dissenters
and its pursuit of its political agenda leave no cause to deny the
representation as a ferocious beast. The United States arose in a gentle
atmosphere. The two horns of the lamb could aptly symbolize its
establishment of both religious and civil liberties.
No penal colony, like Australia, with its cruel
exactions upon prisoners, could possibly have been described in terms of
a lamb. It may not have had the ferocious history of the Papacy, but it
most certainly was no lamb either. But further, as we study the future
history of the second beast, it must be a nation possessing enormous
worldwide influence and power. Here the United States stands
unchallenged.
Let us examine the dire prophecies concerning this
second beast. It has already been seen that he was later to speak as a
dragon. The Bible explains who the dragon is.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old
serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him
(Revelation 12:9).
This is curious. The United States has been
recognized as a Christian nation, seeking to inculcate Christian values
into the society. But this prophecy is too plain to ignore. It will
alter this noble course and rather do a work contrary to God’s will.
We are told what that work will be.
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 (Revelation
13:12).
Here, once more, we notice that the issue at stake is
worship. With its worldwide influence, the United States will exert
similar coercive means used by the historic Papacy to enforce the agenda
of the Papacy. The Apostolic Letter of May 28, 1998, Ad Tuendum
Fidem, which introduces a number of new punitive canons should leave
no doubt that the Papacy has once more considered the need to punish
heretics. We must not lose sight of the fact that the penalties were
unspecified and the recipients of such penalties were equally undefined
("whoever" and "a person").
Clearly, remarkable miracles will be performed by the
second beast and these will be urged as evidence that the movement to
support the aims of the Papacy is God-ordained. We must never forget
that Satan is perfectly capable of performing certain miracles, as
occurred when Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire
come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 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; saying to 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 (Revelation 13:13,14).
The ability to call fire down from heaven will be
compelling evidence to many imperceptive Christians that the support of
the papal agenda is the work of God. The example of Elijah upon Mount
Carmel is bound to be recalled. In that case God manifestly prevented
Satan from counterfeiting the divine miracle. But, in a test of mankind’s
fidelity to Scripture as the only certain guide to truth, Satan will, in
the last days, counterfeit the working of God through Elijah on Mount
Carmel.
The popularity of the ecumenical movement in the
United States, as in other nations, is bound to serve as a spearhead for
the American simulation of papal methods, power, and aims as it develops
its "image to the beast." Every thinking individual knows full
well that one Christian sect alone will ultimately benefit from the
ecumenical thrust and that is the Roman Catholic Church. To this common
sense observation the Bible fully attests. So successful will this
movement be that all but a small, dedicated group of Christians will
unite in the single religion forged by the Papacy and enforced by
American might. After all, the proven most successful evangelistic
technique has been the enactment of severe penalties imposed upon
dissenters. It is amazing how many, devoid of genuine conviction, will
come to heel under such conditions.
Such laws will be legislated as we shall see. Both an
economic boycott and the death penalty will be imposed upon those who
refuse to accept the observance of the papal Sabbath.
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.
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:
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 13:15-17).
Many will refuse to accept the plain evidence of
Scripture, but as the days roll by they will see that God’s word will
not be mocked. It is certain and it will be fulfilled. Presently a great
wave of Sunday laws are being promoted around the world. On April 4,
1998 the city of Bendigo in Australia held a Sunday-law referendum
promoted by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Uniting
Church of Australia (a union of Methodists, Congregationalists, and a
segment of Presbyterians) (Melbourne Sunday Herald, Sunday, April
5, 1998). In the Netherlands in March 1998, the Netherlands Council of
Churches promoted a petition to the Government of the Netherlands,
pushing for the enactment of a single day of worship for all. On March
1, 1998 the Lincoln Sunday Journal Star reported the discussions
in the Nebraska State Senate on the subject of a Sunday rest day.
Incredibly, Pakistan, a nation of 120,000,000 citizens, 95 percent of
whom adhere to the Islamic faith, altered its rest day from Friday to
Sunday on April 1, 1997 (Deccan Herald, April 2, 1997). In 1998
Norway, with bipartisan political support, enacted a Sunday rest day.
Almost all of these moves have been supported on the
grounds that we need a social day — a day for the family, for
relaxation, for rest. But behind such admirable aims is a religious
agenda. Why is it necessary for any government to force a rest day,
selected by it, upon its citizens? Governments possess the prerogative
to recommend health measures to their citizens, but the principle of
civil liberty surely demands that the citizen has the right to accept or
reject the advice. As for selecting a specific day and enforcing it,
even if the majority of citizens acquiesce, this is a breach of both
civil and even more importantly, religious liberty. It should be
resisted by all clear-thinking citizens.
The campaign of the churches in Bendigo, Australia
was named "Save Our Sundays." The four major religious sects
which promoted this Sunday law referendum chose a particularly
inappropriate slogan. Every convicted Sunday-keeper is entitled to the
free exercise of his faith — that is true religious liberty. However,
in Bendigo there was no move to restrict Sunday-keeping. Ever since the
city was founded 150 years ago, convicted Sunday-keepers have been
afforded the right to worship in their churches on Sunday, to close
their businesses on Sunday, to refrain from shopping on Sunday, and to
educated their children on days other than Sunday. There was nothing
from which to save Sunday. The real aim of the campaign of this
ecumenical combination of Roman Catholics and Protestants was to impose
their convictions upon those who did not share with them these identical
convictions. It was a direct effort to withdraw religious liberty from
one section of the populace. Fortunately, when such matters were brought
to the attention of the city’s citizenry they rejected the proposal by
a 78 percent "No" vote. But Scripture indicates that it will
not always be so.
Fueling the Sunday-law movement are the apparitions
of Mary. In the United States a report of an apparition of Mary has
received widespread circulation. A video tape, entitled Prophecy and
the New Times*, documenting numerous appearances and what she said,
has found a ready reception in the United States. She has been quoted as
having warned of dire disasters coming upon the United States. She
assured Americans that she is desirous of pleading with our Heavenly
Father to stay these natural catastrophes. However there is an
impediment to the positive response to her plea. This impediment, she
asserts, is the failure to keep Sunday holy. She refers to four matters
which require rectification — shopping on Sundays, the playing of
competitive sports on Sundays, absence from Mass, and failure to attend
confession. When these breaches of Sunday sacredness are corrected, Mary
has assured Americans that our Heavenly Father is sure to hold back
these fearful disasters.
Christ has warned of fearful natural disasters at the
end of time. He told His disciples that famines, pestilences, and
earthquakes would occur (Matthew 24:7). Mary’s warning, therefore, is
certain to be fulfilled, and is presently in the process of being
fulfilled to a limited extent.
Mary "believers" are all too ready to
accept Mary’s warning as messages from God. In the minds of many, the
fact that Satan is capable of deception is rarely considered. Yet on
four occasions Jesus, in His discourse on last-day events, warned
against deceptions (Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 24). Indeed, the last of these
verses warns that the deceptions will be so great that they, if it were
possible, would deceive the very elect.
How may humans decide if an apparition is godly or a
satanic deception? The Bible provides one sure way.
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them
(Isaiah 8:20).
Thus the Bible is the only sure guide. So let us
judge these apparitions of Mary by this criterion.
Firstly, we know that Mary is dead, so let us review
the testimony of Scripture on this subject. The Bible refers to death as
a sleep, not as an alert condition.
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and
take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou
shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be (Job 7:21).
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up
the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the
flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till
the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of
their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou
wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest
appoint me a set time, and remember me! (Job 14:10-13).
These things said he: and after that he saith unto
them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out
of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do
well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had
spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly,
Lazarus is dead (John 11: 11-14).
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the
saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his
resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many
(Matthew 27: 52,53).
The Scriptures also declare that the dead know
nothing.
For the living know that they shall die: but the
dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the
memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and
their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for
ever in any thing that is done under the sun….Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device,
nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10).
His sons came to honour, and he knoweth it not; and
they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them (Job 14:21).
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in
the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Psalms 6:5).
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go
down into silence (Psalms 115:17).
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth;
in that very day his thoughts perish (Psalms 146:4).
The entire focus of Scripture is that the righteous
dead are raised to eternal life at the second coming of Christ.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians
15: 51,52)
But I would not have you ignorant my brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive
and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which
are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18).
Since Mary is dead she knows nothing and possesses no
thoughts. She is "asleep" in Jesus, awaiting His return and
the resurrection. Then the Mary of the apparitions is manifestly a
deception. No matter how sweet and loving she may appear, no matter how
elevated her speech, she is the result of spiritism. Satan is the master
impersonator. He impersonated Samuel when King Saul visited the witch of
Endor.
We further know that the counterfeit Mary of the
apparitions is not of God, for she advocates Sunday worship, the
external mark of the beast. The state of man in death is a crucial
matter, for we will surely be deceived by the devil if we do not accept
the plain Bible truth that we "sleep" in death until the
second coming of Christ.*
But those unacquainted with the Scriptural teaching
of man’s state in death will be subject to the subtle deceptions of
Satan and prone to accept Mary’s apparitions as genuine. Thus many
Protestants will be deceived. Of course, Satan has read Scripture, no
doubt many times. He is certainly acquainted with Christ’s prophecy
and uses it to his own advantage. Those who have not sought God’s
truth by personal Bible study will accept the natural catastrophes as
the events of which the counterfeit Mary spoke, rather than signs stated
to us by our Lord just prior to His crucifixion.
It is almost certain that, in desperation,
unconverted people will turn to God seeking His protection and praying
for Him to halt the catastrophes. Devoid of conversion, such folk are
bound to become frenzied in their despair. With no successful result
from their prayers they are almost certain to turn upon sabbathkeepers,
judging them to be the cause of God’s failure to remove the natural
disasters from their midst. The implementation of legislated penalties
for breach of Sunday observance would then achieve great support from
the majority. It is even possible that the counterfeit Mary will point
to sabbathkeepers as the cause of the continued catastrophes.
Many will point to the fact that all western nations,
the United States excepted, have discarded the death penalty and thus
the death decree of Revelation 13:15 cannot be universal. Such should
remember that those who outlawed the death penalty can equally reenact
it. Also, in some countries such as the United Kingdom, the death
penalty has not been revoked for treason. Thus when nations are facing
ruin as a result of natural disasters of major dimensions, it is
possible that legislators, convinced that sabbathkeepers are the cause
of their plight, will charge these faithful souls with treason.
The close association of the call to Mass with the
Pope’s call to Sunday observance causes us to ponder whether
participation in the blasphemous service of the Mass will be demanded.
This could well be. Many Protestants would freely concur with such a
command in a period of major peril, for their leaders in Lima, Peru, in
1977, at a World Council of Churches Conference entitled Baptism,
Eucharist, and Mission (BEM), agreed that all forms of communion were
equally acceptable.
Yet martyrs yielded their lives rather than
participate in what they regarded as the blasphemy of the Mass. Many
Protestants are unaware of the claims made by the Roman Catholic Church
in respect of the Mass. The Mass is indeed verification of the
characteristic of blasphemy cited in Daniel 7:8,25; 2 Thessalonians 2:4;
1 John 2:22; Revelation 13:1,5,6; and Revelation 17:5.
Two blasphemous claims stand out. The Papacy claims
that in the Mass, the priest becomes the creator of his Creator. Since
human beings cannot create life and Christ was never created, this is a
preposterous claim.
If the person of the Redeemer had not yet been in
the world, the priest by pronouncing the words of consecration would
produce this great person of a Man-God. ‘O wonderful dignity of the
priests,’ cries out Saint Augustine, ‘in their hands, as in the
womb of the Blessed Virgin, the son of God becomes incarnate.’ Hence
the priests are called the parents of Jesus Christ .... Thus the
priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his
Creator....’ ‘He that created me without me, is Himself created by
me’ (Alphonus de Liguori, Dignity and Duties of the Priest,
pp. 32,33, New York, Benziger Brothers, 1888).
Further still, the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is
equated to the Mass. This is blasphemy indeed!
The Eucharistic sacrifice is to be considered in so
far that in it Christ offers Himself, that is, He is not only the
sacrificial gift, but also the most eminent Sacrificer. In this
respect the sacrifice of the Mass is not inferior in value to that of
the cross: both are equally [infinite], equally beyond estimation and
equally valuable (Dr. Nicholas Gihr, The Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, English Edition, 1939, B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis and
London, p. 135 — this book received the Imprimatur of Archbishop
Gleeson of St. Louis).
True Protestants will never yield to participating in
such blasphemy. Rather would they be faithful unto death (Revelation
2:10). But as the Protestants of the United States and other nations
become more and more embroiled in the web of ecumenism, they are
positioning themselves to be deceived by the artifices of the first
beast of Revelation 13, and placing themselves in the role of the second
beast.
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