Introduction

In Scripture beasts are used to represent nations or powers which are in opposition to God’s people. This chapter outlines two such powers. The first beast it identified in Rev. 13 (part 1) as the power that controlled the world during the darkest period of earth’s history, the time of papal supremacy known as the Dark Ages. It was a composite beast made up of the characteristics of the governments before it. As persecution came to an end in 1798, another beast appears on the scene that appears meek and gentle at first, but as it grows to universal sway, it becomes fierce and deceptive.

Revelation 13

Verse 11: 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.

As the first beast of this chapter was being led into captivity in 1798 (verse 10), John saw another beast, "coming up." "Coming" is an action word. The beast had not "already come" and was not "yet to come" but was actually in the process of "coming up."

John was seeing the birth of a nation. For this new nation to fulfill its prophetic role, it must become a power of universal sway. It must attract the attention of the world. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy, the United States of America. July 4, 1776 is the date of America’s birth and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1787 the Constitution was ratified and in 1791 the Bill of Rights was adopted. That’s why John saw this power "coming up" in 1798, as the first beast (papacy) was "going" down. Today, no other nation has the worldwide influence that America has.

Many students of Bible prophecy have recognized this power to be the United States of America. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church made these observations in 1754 regarding this beast with lamb-like horns. "He is not yet come, though he cannot be far off, for he is to appear at the end of the 42 months of the first beast." (1754) Notes on Revelation, John Wesley.

The beast with "two horns like a lamb" came "out of the earth." The beast powers of Daniel 7:3-7 and Rev. 13:1, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, and Papal Rome came from a stormy sea. In Bible prophecy a sea represents, "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" Rev 17:15. These powers arose amid many people, where nations already existed: a place where governments were overthrowing and being overthrown. They arose among the great struggling nations of Europe (Dan. 7:2,3). In contrast, this beast came "out of the earth," indicating that it would arise in a place not heavily populated. No civil government was overthrown for this nation to develop.

Note that Scripture doesn’t refer to this beast as "lamb- like," but rather says, "he had two horns like a lamb." He is a beast with "lamb-like horns." There is a subtle yet significant difference. The Lamb throughout Scripture is Jesus Christ. Surely, these lamb-like horns symbolize the two great Christian principles upon which the United States was founded, civil and religious freedom.

Two Christian Principles - Civil and Religious Freedom

The Constitution guarantees the rights of self-government to all, providing that those elected by popular vote rightly interpret and apply the laws. Religious and civil freedom has been granted to all through the two great fundamental principles of Republicanism and Protestantism. Because of the peaceful separation of church and state, the United States became the cradle of religious freedom and democracy. Built on this foundation, the United States has experienced unparalleled peace and prosperity.

Yet in the end" he spake as a dragon." The dragon, of course is Satan (Rev. 12:9). Satan has worked through all these previous world powers by combining civil and religious authority. When this takes place in America, the United States will speak as a dragon with complete reversal of the principles of religious freedom upon which it was founded.

Verse 12: 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.

What kind of power did the first beast exercise? Papal Rome ruled the world from AD 538 - 1798 and had complete control in civil and religious matters. It made laws and enforced religious dogmas. The papal beast was a union of church/state power with the church in control. When the United States assumes the same powers the first beast exercised, it will disregard the separation of church and state.

From its infancy, the United States has been a Protestant nation. When America "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast," it will be the religious side of America, the Protestants, who will be foremost in making laws to enforce religious dogmas built upon tradition rather than upon the Word of God. It will then lead the world to worship the first beast, "whose deadly wound was healed."

Verse 13: And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

Who is doing the great wonders? Who is making "fire come down?" Is it the first beast or the second beast? Follow the subject. It is the second beast, the beast with "two horns like a lamb". Protestants, who have cast aside the shield of truth, will be foremost in performing the great wonders. Tremendous miracles will take place for which the Holy Spirit is given credit.

Verse 14: 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.

Since the earliest of times fire has been a test of true or false worship:

• Scripture says, "the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering." Though not specifically stated here, it was heavenly fire that consumed Abel’s offering confirming acceptance by God as often occurred in later times (Gen. 4:4). (See also Lev. 9:24; Judges 6:21; 1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1.)
• At the time of Elijah distinction between true and false religion was demonstrated by fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:17-39).
• Among the calamities which Satan was allowed to bring upon Job was fire falling from the sky, which destroyed his sheep and shepherds. The eyewitness left alive reported that the fire was from God (Job 1:16). A careful study of this chapter shows that the fire was actually a display of satanic power as were the other calamities. It was of such a spectacular nature that the eyewitness was convinced it was from God. When this great display of power is again witnessed as proof of true religion, only careful students of the Bible will recognize its actual source.

The apostle Paul says, "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" 2 Thess. 2:9,10 NIV.

"For they are spirits of devils working miracles" Rev. 16:14.

The ability to call fire down from the sky is successful in deceiving most of the world into believing that the Holy Spirit is working through this great display of supernatural power, "in the sight of the beast."

Recently, an article appearing in a Chattannoga newspaper pictured a young woman practicing fast pitch softball, "under the watchful eye of the coach." Why the caption, under his watchful eye? He’s the coach, right? He wants to make sure she does it right. He wants to make sure she follows his instructions. When Protestant America calls down fire "in the sight of the beast," they will be doing it, "in the sight of the coach."

In telling the world "that they should make an image to the beast," Protestant America will exert influence of international proportion. Reflecting the actions of the first beast, the United States of America will take the lead in enacting religious laws. Seen as the only answer for the world’s ills, most will not resist giving up personal religious freedoms. Other sovereign nations will agree and follow suit culminating in a world confederation of civil and religious power. The Church of Rome was a union of church and state power. The second beast will operate in the same way. Protestant America will enforce religious dogmas, thereby, forming "an image to the beast."

The phrase "which had the wound by the sword, and did live" positively identifies the first beast (papacy) as the one to whom the image is made.

Verse 15: 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.

Stating that "he had power" establishes that only a world super power could bring about worldwide compliance. Who had the power? It was the church/state union of Protestant America, the beast with lamb-like horns. "That the image of the beast should both speak, and cause." Follow the subject matter. Who will "speak" and "cause?" The "image of the beast," right? How does a nation "speak" to the world? It speaks through its laws, through legislation. "That as many as would not worship the image of the beast," Whoa! It’s a matter of enforcing worship! Worship to whom? "The image of the beast" In order to understand what the image of the beast is and how it is formed, we must first understand that it is the characteristic of the papacy to have:

1. Religious observances enforced by secular laws.
1. The church controlling the power of the state.

On July 7, 1998, Pope John Paul II issued a special apostolic letter calling for worldwide acceptance of Sunday as the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day. In this letter he said, "Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy." Section 67, Dies Domini. "The celebration of the Christian Sunday remains, on the threshold of the Third Millennium, an indispensable element of our Christian identity." Section 30, Ibid. He also stated that in times past, "The church had to make explicit the duty to attend Sunday Mass: more often than not, this was done in the form of exhortation, but at times the church had to resort to specific canonical precepts…(as was at the Council of Eivira of 300, which speaks not of an obligation but of penalties after three absences)." Section 47, Ibid.

• "The first Sunday law in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, required church attendance, and prescribed the death penalty for the third offense." (See "American State Papers," edition 1911, page 33)
• "These Sunday laws are a survival of the complete union of church and state which existed at the founding of the colony." Boston Post, April 14, 1907.

It was the desire for religious freedom that inspired the Pilgrims to come to America. However, the freedom they wished for themselves, they were not willing to grant to others.

Roger Williams believed in the fundamental belief, "that every man should have liberty to worship God according to the light of his own conscience."(1) "He (Williams) declared that the civil authorities should not punish violations of the first four commandments."(2) Attendance at the services of the established church was required under penalty of fine or imprisonment. "Williams reprobated the law. ‘No one should be bound to worship or to maintain a worship, against his own consent.’ (3) He was forced to flee from Massachusetts Bay Colony, Oct. 1635, amid the cold and storms of winter because his political beliefs threatened the existence of the colony. His views were "revolutionary, as to be virtually unthinkable - the principle of absolute religious toleration."(4)

"Williams later established Rhode Island, where for the first time in the history of European civilization, church and state were separated." (5) This became the cornerstone of the American Republic. How thankful we are to the founders of America for their foresight to see the religious intolerance that results when church laws are enforced by civil authority. The separation of church and state has been the secret of America’s prosperity. It has truly been a country blessed by God." (1) Martyn, vol. 5 p. 354. (2) Ibid. Vol.19, pg. 328 (3) Bancroft, pt.1, chap. 15, par. 2 (4) American People’s Enc., 1969, vol.19, pg. 328 (5) Amer. People’s Enc. Vol. 18, pg. 392.

The principle object bringing Protestants and the Papacy together today is the common bond found in Sunday sacredness, a custom that originated with Rome. Should Protestant America, through her legislative halls, enforce Sunday observance, as did Rome in ages past, the "image to the beast" will be formed.

Many Christian leaders in America today honestly believe that a church/state union is the last hope in a plan to save a morally bankrupt society. They see religious legislation as the only way to bring the world back to God. All would agree that a revival is needed. While these men may possess the noblest intentions, they are blinded to the lessons of history and are unable to comprehend where this movement will lead.

"There is no such thing as separation of church and state in the constitution. It is a lie of the left and we aren’t going to take it anymore." Pat Robertson (Address in 1993 to the Center of Law and Justice)

"If Christians unite, we can do anything. We can pass any law or any amendment. And that’s exactly what we intend to do." Pastor Robert Grant, Director, Christian Voice.

Christian Leaders:

"Pat Robertson ran for the presidency of the United States in 1988. Ralph Reed took the names of his 50,000 supporters and every year from 1989 to 1995 that number doubled. In 1994, the Christian Coalition swept the Congress of the United States. In 1994, the Coalition had representatives in every voting precinct in the U. S. (For 150 years the Republican and Democratic parties have not been able to achieve this.) By 1996, the Coalition continued to grow in strength so that, numerically, should the representatives the Coalition helped to put in Congress unite with the Catholics who were in Congress, they had the numbers to pass any law they wanted to pass." (Taken from talk on the Christian Coalition by Jeff Pippenger)

"The mission of the Christian Coalition is simple, it is to mobilize Christians one precinct at a time, one community at a time, until once again, we are at the head and not the tail, and at the top and not the bottom of the political spectrum. The Christian Coalition will be the most powerful political force in America by the end of this decade. When we have enough votes to run this country, and when the people say, ‘we have had enough,’ we are going to take over." Pat Robertson, (Ibid.)

Ralph Reed (past director of the Coalition): "It’s like gorilla warfare. If you reveal your location, all it does is allow your opponent to improve his artillery bearings. It’s better to move quietly with stealth under cover of night. You’ve got two choices, you can wear cammies and shimmy along on your belly, or you can put on a red coat and stand up for everyone to see. It comes down to whether you want to be the British in the Revolutionary War, or the Viet Cong. History tells us which tactic was more effective." LA Times, March 22, 1992

The powerful church/state "image of the beast" will "speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Because God’s people refuse to "worship the image" it will eventually be said that they are worthy of death. Notice it says, "[should] be killed," (K.J.V.) it doesn’t say they [will] be killed. There have always been casualties in war, but there will be an event after which there will be no more, not even one.

A study of Daniel 12:1 shows that God’s people will be sheltered during the final "time of trouble such as never was." God’s people have always been persecuted by powers under Satan’s control. This will continue until all have made their decision to worship Christ or the beast. Compare Rev. 22:11. When each case has been decided and no further witness can be given, martyrdom would be pointless. At that time God’s people will be delivered. Compare Ps. 91. It will be said that God’s people "should" die (JKV), but they don’t die. Blessed thought!

Verse 16: 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:

All living at the time will face the test. Religious and non-religious, Christian and atheist - all will choose between true or false worship. A similar test was given on the Plain of Dura when the three Hebrews were commanded to accept the state religion and bow to the golden image (Dan. 3). Through the faithfulness of his children, God was glorified in all the earth. When the final test comes and another (symbolic) image is set up, God will be seeking faithful servants who will not bend the knee, even upon threat of death. God will work mightily in behalf of those who stand for the right.

Spurred on by civilization’s unsolvable ills and influenced by misguided religious leaders, all living will be obliged "to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." Those who don’t promote forced worship, but lack the moral courage to stand against it will receive the "mark" in the "right hand." It is not a visible mark, but rather a conscious decision on the part of those who receive it to comply with man’s laws in violation of God’s laws. Those who actively promote forced worship in opposition to God’s law will receive the "mark" in the "forehead." The forehead is recognized as the seat of intelligence in the human brain. The mark of distinction will become clear as the natural result of each decision made either for or against God. Note that the "seal of God" is placed only in the forehead (Rev. 7:3). God only accepts willing obedience and worship. Satan accepts worship any way he can achieve it, willing or otherwise.

Verse 17: 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.

As an incentive only those who side with the beast and receive his mark will be allowed to engage in business transactions of the day. This means economic boycott against all "save he that had the mark." The "name of the beast" or the "number of his name" warns against association with the "beast" or "his image" as its mark is inflicted. (Compare Rev. 14:9-11.) To receive the "mark" in any degree by support or submission is to forfeit eternal life.

• It is the beast with lamb-like horns, Protestant America, who deceives the world through miracles and leads the way in setting up an image to the first beast.

• The "mark" belongs to the first beast, Papal Rome, who has been promoted and exalted in the eyes of the world, by the second beast, the United States of America. The mark is something by which the beast is recognized.

For centuries Papal Rome has claimed as its mark of ecclesiastical authority its change in the day of worship from Saturday, the seventh day of the week to Sunday, the first day of the week. As proof of her power to do so, she notes that nearly the entire Christian world follows her in it.

• "Sunday is our mark of authority…The Church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." Catholic Record, Sept. 1, 1923.
• "The Bible says, remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. The Catholic Church says No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And, lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church." Father Enright, former president of Redemptorist College.

Evidently, the day of worship will be the issue and point of God’s law in controversy for the final conflict between truth and error. There is no doubt that obedience to God’s law will be at the heart of the final test (Rev. 12:12, 14, 17; Rev. 22:14).

MARK OF ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHOURITY - Sabbath to Sunday Change:

In the Catechism of the Council of Trent translated by John A. McHugh and Charles J Callan it is stated, "But the Church of God has thought it well to transfer the celebration and observance of the Sabbath to Sunday." Page 402.

"Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals or precepts?"

Answer: 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." -Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism, p. 174. New York, Edward Dunigan and Brothers, 1851.

Question: By whom was it (the Sabbath) changed?"

Answer: By the governors of the church, the apostles, who also kept it; for St. John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day (which was Sunday). Apoc. 1:10."

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, by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church."

Question: How prove you that?"

Answer: Because by keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the church’s power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin; and by not keeping the rest (of feasts) by her commanded, they again deny, in fact, the same power." - Rev. Henry Tuberville, D.D.R.C., An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine, p. 58. New York: Edward Duningan and Brothers, approved 1833.

A most striking identifying "mark" of the papacy is that it acknowledges having made a change in God’s holy ten-commandment law. The fourth commandment identifies God as the Lawgiver and Creator and establishes the seventh day as the great memorial of His creative power. He calls us, the objects of that creative power, to REMEMBER to keep the seventh day holy as a perpetual reminder that He is Creator God and we are His creation (Ex. 20:8-11).

Let’s review what we have learned:

• The final test of obedience for the world will be the law of God verses the laws of man.
• The seventh day Sabbath will come into sharp focus as God’s seal, or special sign of obedience. Laws designed to create a common bond among all religions worldwide will exalt the mark, "Sunday-sacredness".

Recent universal laws have been passed which provide for "economic boycott" of all that promote or allow "religious persecution." This may appear as the long awaited answer for world peace. However, those endeavoring to provide information outlining Satan’s deceptions may be seen as religious bigots, and eventually even as promoters of religious persecution.

As he "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast," all nations will follow the United States in trampling upon God’s law and exalting the Sunday Sabbath. All will worship the papal beast except those individuals whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 13:8). Christ says, "He that overcometh… I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" Rev. 3:5. The names of all who humbly strive to serve and obey Him will be retained in the "book of life", not in accordance to our work, but in accordance to His grace.

The most solemn warning in Scripture is given against receiving the mark of the beast: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name" Rev. 14:9-11.

Here is a sharp contrast between those who receive the mark of the beast and those who keep the commandments of God. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" Rev. 14:12. (Compare Rev. 12:17; Rev. 13:10, last part.)

Only when the issues are clearly drawn, and Sunday keeping is elevated BY LAW above the Bible Sabbath and becomes a test of obedience, will anyone receive the "mark" of the beast. God without doubt, accepts the conscientious observance of Sunday as the Sabbath on the part of those who suppose it to be the Sabbath. Only when light comes and is rejected is sin imputed. (John 9:41, John 15:22, Acts 17:30, James 4:17) No one living today has received the mark of the beast. (The motivation of this study is to help the reader to be better prepared for the final test soon to come.)

Verse 18: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three-score and six.

This verse refers to the first beast identified in verses 1-10. As a final point, the number 666 is applied to the beast as the number of a man. One of the titles applied to the pope of Rome is Vicarius Filii Dei, Latin for Vicar of the Son of God. Applying Roman numeric value to the letters we have:

V= 5             F= 0        D= 500

I= 1              I= 1            E= 0

C= 100         L= 50          I= 1

A= 0              I= 1

R= 0              I= 1

I= 1

U= 5

S= 0

________ _______   _______
112                  53            501

Summary

Soon those who have gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, will stand on the sea of glass in heaven singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. (Rev. 4:6; Rev. 15:2,3) Compare Ex. 15:1,2.

Short Cuts