The Closing Messages of the Gospel

THE BEAST—CONTINUED.—We have found that the beast of Rev. 13:1-10, and the little horn of Dan. 7, refer to the same power. This is an important point in the examination of the third message. The apostle Paul also describes the same power as "that man of sin," and "the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2 Thess. 2:3, 4. Here are the characteristics of the same power. Now whatever is affirmed of Daniel's little horn, or Paul's man of sin, is a part of the description of the beast of Revelation. Taking these testimonies together will plainly show the work of the beast, and the meaning of the warning against his worship.

Let us note the specifications given in the description of this power, as found in Dan. 7:25, and see if they have been fulfilled by the papacy.

1. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Has the papacy fulfilled this?—has "he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name"? Have the popes assumed the names, the power, and the attributes of the Almighty? They have received such titles as "Holy Father," "His Holiness," "The Infallible One," "Lord of Lords," "A God on Earth," "Lord God the Pope," and "King of Kings." Cardinal Bellarmine, on the authority of the councils Book 2, chap. 17, says, "All the names which are given in the Scriptures to Christ, even these same names are given to the Pope." Is not this blaspheming the name of God?

Pope Gregory VII. writes, "The Roman Pontiff is by right universal. In him alone is the right of making laws. Let kings kiss the feet of the Pope. His name alone is to be heard in the churches; it is the only name in the world." Is not this claiming the right and power of God?

Pope Pius IX., about 1868 said, "I alone, despite my unworthiness, am the successor of the apostles, the vicar of Jesus Christ; I alone have the mission to guide and direct the bark of Peter. I am the way, the truth, and the life." And in 1870, the Roman bishops of the world were called together by him to formally decree and declare the infallibility of the pope! Is not this assuming the attributes of the Most High? These are "the great words which the horn spake"—the "great things and blasphemies" of the beast.

2. "And shall wear out the saints of the Most High." The millions of the martyrs put to death with the most exquisite and long-continued tortures, by this power, furnish the best commentary on the fulfillment of this specification. Has not the papal power done this?

3. "And shall think to change times and laws." The question arises, Whose times and laws? To change human laws would be no distinguishing trait of character. All governments do this. It is obvious that the times and laws of the Most High are meant. The whole work of this power is against God. His name is blasphemed, and his saints are worn out, and it is clear that it is his law that this wicked power thinks to change. It is an unchangeable law; but this power thinks to change it. He did speak great words against the Most High; he did wear out his saints; but he only thinks to change his times and laws. The Douay Bible says, "He shall think himself able" to do this.

With all denominations of Christians called evangelical, we hold that the moral law of God is briefly comprehended in the ten commandments. Has the papal authority thought to change this law? To think to change it implies an intention, or voluntary claim of ability to make the change. But in blending the second commandment with the first, making them but one, consequently changing the numbering of those that follow, and dividing the last to make out the number ten, papists do not claim that there is any change. They understand this to be the intention of the Almighty. But they do claim that the church has changed the Sabbath of that law into Sunday, and that without any Scriptural authority. And this is the only one of these laws which contains any time which might be changed to another.

To show what Romanists think about this change, I quote from their acknowledged authorities. The "Douay Catechism" says:—

"Question. How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?

"Answer. By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday; which Protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves, in keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.

"Q. How prove you that?

"A. Because by keeping Sunday strictly they acknowledge the church's power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin."

Here is a direct claim of the power or ability of the Roman church to make laws for men; and the proof of the claim is the "very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday." The following is from another Catholic work the "Doctrinal Catechism":—

"Q. Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?

"A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority."

Here is the claim of the very highest authority and power, namely, to set aside that which God has commanded, and to institute, and make a duty or a sin, that which God has not commanded nor prohibited. Has not the papal power thought to change the unchangeable law, of the Most High?

Who changed the moral law of God? The prophecy points the blasphemous persecutor of the saints, as thinking to do it. Jesus Christ assures us that it was not his purpose to change it so much as a jot or tittle. Matt. 5:17-19. But the authority or head of the Roman church says, I did it, because I have the power and right to do it. Here are three witnesses; and their testimonies agree perfectly as to the author of the change. Ought not their united testimonies to be regarded?

4. "And they shall be given into his hand for a time, and times, and the dividing of time." For this length of time the papacy was to rule, with power to persecute the saints. In Rev. 13 it is said of the beast that "power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." This is the same period. We have a clue to the reckoning of the time in Rev. 12:6, 14. Here we find that one time, two times, and a half a time are just 1260 days, or three years and a half of 360 days each. Forty-two months of thirty days each amount to the same number of days. But these days are symbolic, as commentators and Bible students agree, representing that number of years. When did this period begin and end? By the decree of Justinian in A. D. 533, constituting the bishop of Rome the supreme head of the universal church, which was carried into effect in 538, by the conquering of the Ostrogoths, the last of the three horns that were to be plucked up, the papacy was established in power. Beginning with A. D. 538, the 1260 years would end in 1798. Precisely at this point the pope was taken a prisoner of war by the French, his government declared abolished, and he carried a captive to France, where he died. Here the beast received a deadly wound; but it was afterward healed, according to prophecy. Thus exactly is the word of God's promise ful-filled.

The apostle represents the same wicked power as exalting himself above God. 2 Thess. 2:4. How could this be done? If he only claimed to make laws equally binding upon men as the law of God, he would only make himself equal with God. But when he claims to set aside a law of God, releasing men from their obligation to obey it, and to give in its stead a law of his own, claiming that all must obey it or sin, he does exalt himself above God. How else could it be done? It will be seen, by what has been quoted from the teachings of the so-called Catholic church, that they claim that the church has done this very thing.

Now the worship of the beast is yielding to his claim and keeping his law, rather than the law of God. Against doing this the third angel utters his warning. Those who are truly loyal to God heed the warning, and the result is, the people of God are distinguished from the rest of mankind as those that "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Verse 12.