The Closing Messages of the Gospel

THE IMAGE.—CONTINUED.—Our forefathers who forsook their native land for the wilds of America, did so to escape religious persecution and civil oppression. They wished to be free to worship God according to the dictates of his word and their own consciences. As it has been said, they desired to found a church without a pope, and a state without a king. Accordingly the foundation of our government was laid in human rights. The DECLARATION which severed the American colonies from the mother country began thus: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The national constitution, in harmony with the declaration, says that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to office or public trust under the United States;" and that "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This principle was expressed by Washington thus; "Every man who conducts himself as a good citizen, is accountable alone to God for his religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience."

These are the principles on which our government is founded, the sources of its power and prosperity—the Republican principle of equal civil rights in the government, and the Protestant principle of freedom in matters of religious faith and worship. And it was the intention to keep these two powers or horns separate from each other, as the only way to secure their inestimable privileges to all. Did men ever devise a government so free, so mild, so lamb-like, and so well calculated to secure to all their God-given rights?

But notwithstanding its lamb-like appearance and profession, it is to speak as a dragon. These principles of freedom will be violated, and the cruel persecuting spirit of the dragon will be developed. The speech of a beast in symbol represents the laws that are made by the government symbolized. Therefore laws will be enacted in contradiction of these principles of freedom. We believe that this refers chiefly to the future—that the mild appearance precedes the dragonic action; although the speech and spirit of the dragon has cropped out in times already past. We might speak of the whipping of Baptists, and the banishment and hanging of Quakers by law in the early history of our free government, and also of the horrid institution of slavery which so long existed, giving the lie to our profession of equal rights. Slavery is now supposed to be dead; but its spirit, in harmony with the Platonic view of departed spirits, still lives. It will yet be seen that the spirit of oppression and tyranny exists in our land.

5. The exercise of power. "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." This exercise of power, as we have intimated, is mainly to be expected in the future, when the dragon voice shall be heard. The first beast was a persecuting power; so will be the second. The expression, "before him," means in his presence or in his "sight," as in verse 14. This is proof that both beasts exist at the same time, after the healing of the deadly wound of the first. The first looks on while the second performs his miracles.

6. The wonders. "And he doeth great wonders." The United States is a wonderful nation from the first. The astonishing rapidity with which it has arisen, spreading from the thirteen original states on the border of the Atlantic entirely across the continent to the Pacific, its increase of population and wealth, and all that constitutes a great and powerful nation, is without a parallel in the history of the world. Its advancement also, in the arts and sciences, mechanical inventions and improvements, is truly wonderful, exciting the admiration of other nations. Here steam navigation originated, the first steamboat being set in motion on the Hudson river. Here a Franklin drew down the lightning from the heavens, and here a Morse taught it to speak and carry messages to distant parts in a moment of time; and by the persevering energy of a Field, another American, the Atlantic cable has resulted, which brings the old world and the new within speaking distance, which were formerly separated by a voyage of weeks and sometimes of months. The Lord asked Job, "Canst thou send the lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, here we are?" To this the patriarch could make no reply. But now the electric fluid is daily and hourly sent to say to distant friends, here we are. In the wonderful discoveries and inventions of this fertile age, this nation is not behind any other.

But the wonders of the text are doubtless chiefly of another class. They are wonders wrought to deceive. It is true, the wonders to which we have referred may tend to deceive, from the fact that they may cause men to believe that the world is in such a state of improvement as to forbid the thought that the end is near. It may encourage the idea that the world is just rising to manhood, and that the fabled golden age is at hand. But we look upon modern spiritualism as the chief agency by which the deceptive wonders of the last days will be wrought. Our Lord foretold that false prophets should arise and show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect. Mat. 24:24.

The rapid spread of spiritualism is wonderful in itself; and the wonders wrought are many. Many hold that it is all human trickery, and that it has all been exploded; but such are under a wonderful deception. It is true, spiritualism has had its imitations or counterfeits; and these may have been detected and exposed. But there are real wonders, the product of intelligent spirits. Of this the testimony is abundant. These have been increasing—advancing from rapping and table-tipping to writing, and from the invisible to the visible, and as some testify to the tangible. But the crowning wonder, as foretold in this prophecy, is that of bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men; a thing the false prophets of old could not do. The prophets of Baal called in vain for the fire from heaven; but it fell in answer to the prayer of Elijah. 1 Kings 18:19-38.

But though spiritualism may truly boast of wonders performed, its very foundation is a deception. Instead of its spirits being the spirits of the dead, "they are the spirits of devils working miracles." Rev. 16:14. They are the agencies by which the armies of the nations are to be gathered to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.

Though these deceptive wonders are universal in their spread, they belong especially to the power symbolized by the two-horned beast. Where did these wonders originate? In the United States. This confirms the view that it is the government in question.

7. The call for the image. "Saying to them that dwell upon the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." As we have said, this appeal is made to the people; hence it is only applicable where the people rule, as in the United States. An image of the papal beast is demanded. That beast was the Roman church clothed with power to enforce its decrees by the laws of the State; in other words it was church and State united. Clothe the religious bodies of the United States with civil power to enforce certain religious dogmas on which they may be agreed, and we shall have an image of the beast. This is not yet done, but the demand for it is being made. There is a great and growing association in our country which is virtually saying to the people that they ought to make an image to the beast. They advocate what they call a "religious amendment" of our national constitution. In their own language they ask for "such an amendment as will indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all Christian laws, institutions, and usages, in our government, on an undeniable legal basis, especially those which secure a proper oath, and which protect society against blasphemy, Sabbath-breaking, and polygamy."

Our Constitution, as it is, forbids enforcing any religious creed by law; but the amendment they call for would give power to enforce whatever may be considered Christian laws and usages. When such a change shall be made we shall have an image of the beast; and the persecution of dissenters will be the logical result. Will they succeed?

The prophecy proceeds: "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." Yes; the image will here be made; and all will be required to worship, that is, to obey, on pain of death. But here the history of the great controversy on earth closes with the deliverance of all the saints—"everyone that shall be found written in the book." Dan. 12:1. The word translated "cause" means no more than to decree and intend the death of God's people; for when it is said, he "causeth" all to receive the mark, it is evident that all who heed the third angel's message will not do it. Rev. 14:9.