13:1-3 – “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. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 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.”

“The first two verses of this chapter direct our attention to the Dragon, which in the preceding chapter we found to symbolize the Roman Empire; the same which Daniel saw in vision, called the ‘fourth beast dreadful and terrible.’ (Dan. 7:7) This dragon passed its dominion over to a beast which arose out of the sea – a government which came up from among the irreligious masses; in other words, the Roman Empire passed under a new rulership – the Leopard Beast – whose mouth was lion-like, and his feet bear-like. This beast which came into possession of the Dragon’s seat and power, we understand to be Papacy: it corresponds to the ‘man child’ of the preceding chapter. It has certain qualities which resemble the first three beasts of Daniel 7, viz: the Lion, Bear and Leopard – described as representing Babylon, Persia and Greece. This new Beast, then, would combine certain leading characteristics of the preceding empires and unite them in the power of the last – the Roman.

“Babylon was celebrated for its splendor and its pride – the Lion, the king or ruler of all beasts – so Papacy had a mouth of this sort, i.e., it claimed to be the kingdom over all kingdoms by divine right – the Kingdom of God, which was to break in pieces and consume all others – a strong mouth.

“The bear’s feet suggest another of Papacy’s peculiarities as an empire – viz: persistency. Like the Bear Empire (Medo-Persia) which would besiege for years, and even turn a river aside from its channel to accomplish its ends; so Papacy moves cautiously and gets possession of kingdoms rather by strategy than by battle. This same quality is illustrated in the bear; it hugs its prey to death with its paws.

“The body of the Papal beast was like a Leopard. The Leopard was the third beast seen by Daniel – viz: Grecia. Greece was noted as the center of learning, piety and wisdom (Acts. 17:23); so Papacy’s chief claim, to be the ruler of all kingdoms, is based on the claim that it is the center of wisdom, learning and piety. Other peculiarities of the Leopard are its activity, vigilance and secretiveness; so with Papacy. Again, a Leopard is spotted irregularly, so too Papacy’s policy varies in various parts of the earth: in enlightened liberal countries it is liberal, in other places it varies in its rulings to suit the circumstances.

“This Leopard beast (Ecclesiastical Empire) is given the power, seat, and great authority of the (Dragon) Pagan Roman Empire, and for a time becomes the only representative of that dominion – the various horns (kingdoms) rendering allegiance and support to it.” (R318)

The Leopard Beast

“The beast of Rev. 16:13 is the same that is mentioned in Rev. 13:2, where it is described as resembling a leopard – spotted. Protestant interpreters of the Revelation agree that this symbol refers to the Papal system – not to the Pope, not to Catholic congregations, not to individual Catholics, but to the system as a whole, which has existed for centuries.

“In His word, God has been pleased to recognize the Papacy as a system, as a government.” (OV270)

The Leopard’s (Papacy’s) Spots

“Well do the Scriptures symbolically represent Papacy as a leopard beast (or mottled government – Rev. 13:2). In one place it is liberal, almost white in its professions or appearances; in another quarter, it is black, corrupt, degrading, brutal; and in still other places it has various neutral and tawny shades of correspondence to the natural depravity of the people it rules with its rod of eternal torment and its staff of purgatory.” (R2538:6)

The Reformation had dealt and inflicted a most serious wound, a deadly wound to the Papacy; yet, it didn’t take too long ere Satan had decoyed the Reformers also into similar bonds as he had Papacy; and the wound was healed.

“Reformation and cleansing for a time ceased, and, instead of progressing with the cleansing, the reformers gave attention to organizing themselves, and to revamping and repolishing many of the old papal dogmas, at first so loudly condemned. Thus did Satan decoy the reformers into the very ‘harlotry’ (union of church and state) which they had denounced in the Church of Rome. And thus the deadly wound which Papacy had received was for a time healed. (Rev. 13:3)” (C111)

Papacy’s Deadly Wound, and its Healing!

“The sword is the Word of God, and Papacy received such a wound during the Reformation. The preaching of the word of God by Luther, Zwingli and others, showing it to be the ‘mystery of iniquity’ ‘The Man of Sin,’ ‘The Antichrist,’ etc., took away much of its power, and almost took its life.” (R63:4)

“Papacy’s wound began to heal from the time the Reformation Church united to worldly empires, for how could the Reformers any longer use the Sword of the Spirit against Papacy as a church-state organization, when they themselves were the same?” (R64:1)

“… the wounding of the Papal head … by the sword… refers to the Reformation work, when Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, and others, by advocating the teachings of the Word of God, as opposed to the teachings of Papacy, showed that it was the system referred to in Revelation, and in Paul’s writings called the ‘Mystery of Iniquity’ – ‘Antichrist’ – ‘The Man of Sin.’ They struck so mightily at this Papal head, that the system had well nigh died: but as the cause of the Protestants became more popular, the sympathies of some in power came to be exercised on their behalf. Soon various small German kingdoms (princedoms) were found on the side of the Reformers, and lent their sanction to them rather than to Papacy. Soon Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and others, withdrew all allegiance to their former head and RULER – the Pope; and though not acknowledging Luther, Calvin, or others, as a new head or spiritual emperor, they supported the various Reformation churches with state funds and protection…

“The effect of this governmental favor upon the teachings of the reformers, can well be imagined. Once they had complained about empire and church being united in Papacy; had shown that the Virgin espoused to Christ awaiting His kingdom, was unfaithful to him (therefore termed a Harlot) when she united with, and leaned for support upon earthly powers. This part of their smiting with the ‘Sword of the Spirit,’ soon ceased, as they began to regard the favor and smile of earthly governments upon them- selves. They could not consistently condemn in Papacy, what they themselves had come to enjoy and crave. It was their desire (lust) for power, name, and influence, to do a great work, and have many children, that led these daughters of Rome to follow the example of their Mother – ‘Babylon the great, the mother of harlots.’ (Rev. 17:5)” (R319:5)

And all the world wondered!

13:4 – “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

“The people respected the Beast because of its peculiarities – leopard body and lion mouth – and they respected the civil power all the more, because it had so honored ecclesiastical authority. The various kingdoms (horns) soon learned that their hold of power over the people was strengthened, rather than weakened by allegiance to Papacy, for Papacy in turn recognized those despots as of divine appointment.” (R318:5)

“And they did homage to the Dragon (Paganism) because he gave the authority to the Beast. And they worshipped the Beast ‘Who is like to the beast?’ Thus we see that the people honored both the empire and the ecclesiastical or church power, finally concluding that the Beast (ecclesiastical power) was the stronger, and saying – ‘Who is able to make war (to contend) with the Beast?’” (R63:3)

13:5, 6 – “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”

The “forty and two months” (42 x 30 days = 1260 days) – the period during which the Leopard beast would be blaspheming our God, and exercising his great power, is the selfsame period as during which the “two witnesses” would be testifying in sackcloth (Rev. 11:3); and the true Church would be in the wilderness condition (Rev. 12:6), viz: from A.D. 539 to A.D. 1799.

“Antichrist’s great swelling words, or blasphemies, cover the whole period of his long career. The expression, ‘blasphemy,’ in our day, is usually given only a coarse meaning, as if related to the most vulgar forms of cursing and profanity only, but in its true significance the word ‘blasphemy’ is applicable to any indignity offered to God.…

“Papacy’s great swelling words and boastful claims have, one and all, been blasphemies.… God’s character, i.e., his ‘name,’ was blasphemed in the thousand monstrous edicts, bulls and decretals issued in his name, by the long line of those who claimed, as vicegerents, to represent his Son; and God’s tabernacle, the true Church, was blasphemed by the false system which claimed to take its place – which claimed that its faithful were the true and only tabernacle or Church of God.” (B305)

Papal Blasphemy!

“The pope is of such dignity and highness that he is not simply a man but, as it were, god, and the vicar (representative) of God.… Hence, the pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven, of earth and of hell. Nay, the pope’s excellence and power are not only about heavenly, terrestrial and infernal things, but he is also above angels, and is their superior; so that if it were possible that angels could err from the faith, or entertain sentiments contrary thereto, they could be judged and excommunicated by the pope.… He is of such great dignity and power that he occupies one and the same tribunal with Christ; so that whatsoever the pope does seems to proceed from the mouth of God.… The pope is, as it were, God on earth, the only prince of the faithful of Christ, the greatest king of all kings, possessing the plentitude of power; to whom the government of the earthly and heavenly kingdom is entrusted.… The pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, declare or interpret the divine law.… The pope can sometimes counteract the divine law by limiting, explaining, etc.” – From Ferraris’ Ecclesiastical Dictionary (Quoted from B310)

“Power was given unto him”

The following is an excerpt from The Revelation of Jesus Christ, by Streeter, Vol. 2, p. 81:

“The year following this, in 533, one of the most significant events in connection with the rise of the Papal Antichrist occurred. It was in this year that Justinian, the Eastern Roman emperor, issued a decree constituting the bishop of Rome the head of the Church on earth. Thus do we have the fulfillment of the expression, ‘and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.’ For some time previous to this there had been a rivalry – indeed, a dispute, between the bishop of Rome, and other ambitious, aspiring bishops of other cities, concerning which of them could, as they expressed it, rightly claim the honor of Apostolic succession, etc. This decree of Justinian settled the matter in favor of the bishop of Rome. The decree was not enforced, however, until the armies of Eastern Rome under Belisarius overthrew the Ostrogothic power, that under Theodoric ruled in Italy. This was in 538 or 539 A.D., and without doubt, marked the beginning of the period of the twelve hundred and sixty years, when the saints were delivered into Papacy’s hand. (Dan. 7:25) It was the beginning of the Papal Anti-christ; also the time when the ten kings began to give their power and strength unto the beast, as represented in its Papal head.”

13:7, 8 – “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. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

It may seem strange and contradictory that the saints represented by the “woman” who for her very protection fled to the “wilderness” – the place God had prepared for her, should at the same time be overcome by this Leopard beast, to whom was given the power over “all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

The secret place – the “wilderness” was not a place where the “woman” might not suffer for Jesus’ sake (2 Tim. 2:12); but a place where she would be nourished! (Rev. 12:14) Thus, was this period filled with much persecution, and the death of many, many Christian martyrs. The so-called Holy Inquisition, flourished during this period; which Inquisition was intended to search out the saints; to make war with them; and to overcome them. Therefore, many, because of fear “worshipped” (paid homage to) the beast; but their names are not such as appear in the Lamb’s book of life!

The Inquisition

“Under his commission from Pope Innocent, to punish with confiscation, banishment and death the heretics who would not receive his gospel, Dominic stimulated the civil magistracy and populace to massacre the heretical Waldenses; and he at one time committed one hundred and eighty Albigenses to the flames. It was for such faithfulness in the service of Antichrist that he was canonized a saint, and is today adored and prayed to by Roman Catholics.…

“It would be impossible briefly to convey any adequate conception of the horrors of the Inquisition, or of the dreadful fear which it inspired among the people. Those not loud in their praise of Anti-christ, or who ventured a criticism of his methods, were suspected of heresy; and such persons, with-

out warning or redress, were liable to imprisonment in a dungeon for an indefinite time until a convenient season for trial – both the accuser and the accusation often being unknown to them. The proceedings of these trials were conducted secretly, and tortures were often employed to extort confessions. The tortures inflicted were almost too appalling to be credited in this age and land of freedom, yet their reality is confirmed by evidence which even Catholic historians cannot deny; and their fruitless attempts to apologize for them only tend to substantiate the evidence. Instruments of torture, relics of the Inquisition, are still in existence which would render denial unavailing. The ‘Holy Office’ even employed physicians to watch the process of torture and stop it when death seemed likely to relieve the sufferer; and the victim was allowed partially to recover, that the torture might be applied a second or even a third time. These tortures were not always inflicted as punishments for the offence of heresy: they were in general for the purpose of compelling the accused to confess, retract or implicate others, as the case might be.” (B342)

13:9, 10 – “If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

“Only those whose ears have been circumcised – those who had come to a considerable knowledge of God’s Word and who had the hearing of faith – to respect him and his Word, despite the magnificence, success and power of error, would be able to receive the foregoing statements concerning those who were deceived by Papacy: that they were of those unwritten in the true church, of which that was the counterfeit.

“If any one is for captivity he goes away; if any one will kill with the sword with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patient endurance and the faith of the saints.”

“The Papal system was one of bondage. All who acknowledged its claims must of necessity render implicit obedience, as unto God; for it claimed to be the Kingdom of heaven; and its head, the Pope, to be God’s vicegerent; consequently those who were for or in favor of such a captivity of individual thought, and who acknowledged the right of that Papal system to limit and define the faith of all, by consenting, became captives.

“On the other hand, there were some who asserted that Papacy was a usurpation of the titles and power of the true head and ruler of the church, and claimed their right to the individual liberty wherewith Christ had made them free. Such used, the ‘sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God,’ in the defense of their liberty, and such were put to death by Papacy – it overcame the saints during its 1260 years of power. This was a severe test of true saintship – Would they go into captivity and join in the usurper’s ranks, or would they remain faithful to the true king and wait for the kingdom which he promised to establish? Those whose names were written in heaven, stuck to the sword and sealed their testimonies by death.” (R319:3)

The Deceptions of Papacy

“The deception of Papacy was so complete that the world was deceived and all the church, except the overcomers, whose names were ‘written in heaven’ were deceived in the same way, and hasted to unite themselves with, and to worship the BEAST, and have it enroll their names on its books. From this has sprung the delusion so common to all Protestants at this day – viz: that their names must be connected with some SUCH earthly church system, or they are not the Lord’s saints. But, the important item is, to have our names recorded in the Lamb’s book of life – His is the only record of any value.” (R319:2)

13:11 – “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 had ten horns, or powers which gave it their strength and protection, so this beast has ‘two horns’ which indicates that two powers or governments will support it.

“Again, notice that this beast ‘ascended (came gradually) out of the earth,’ while the first one came out of the Sea. Now, if our definitions of these symbols be correct – as the coming of Papacy from among the irreligious masses of the Roman empire, was shown by its coming out of the ‘sea,’ then the coming of this second beast out of the ‘earth’ should signify that it sprung up among a professedly religious people.” (R319:2)

“… there is but one church which this symbol fits perfectly, viz: the established ‘Church of England and Ireland.’ This system, like the Papal, was a blending of church and state – an ecclesiastical empire.

“Now let us see about the two horns: England, of course, was one of them … Ireland was the other. History says that in 1537 the Irish Parliament in Dublin ‘passed the act of supremacy, declaring Henry VIII, SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH, prohibiting intercourse with the court of Rome, and making it treason to refuse the oath of supremacy.’ Henry VIII, also took the title of ‘King of Ireland.’ Thus we see that the second horn came up within the brief space of five years after the first.

“From 1538 to 1871 – 333 years – the title of the church was ‘The Church of England and Ireland,’ thus recognizing both ‘horns.’

“On January 1, 1871 (by action of parliament and consent of the Queen, the head of the church) the Irish Church was disestablished, or that horn cast off. So, too, all of the horns which once supported Papacy have broken off from her; the difference being that in Papacy’s case the horns have turned against her, and in the case of the second BEAST it casts off the Irish horn of itself, believing it to be a weakness rather than a strength.… The ‘two horns like a lamb,’ would seem to indicate that this BEAST would be peaceably inclined – not inclined to be aggressive, but merely using the horns for defense.” (R320:6)

The Two Horns

“… it is one ecclesiastical system, and the two horns show that it is supported, and its authority recognized by two kingdoms.” (R320:1)

The Two-Horned Beast – its Eventual Loss

“… The fact that the ‘Two-Horned Beast’ was not mentioned at all in this final struggle (Rev. 19:19) we interpreted as signifying that that system (The State Church of England and Ireland) would pass out of existence as a ‘beast’ or church and state combination.

“The ecclesiastical power symbolized by the Two- Horned Beast, is rapidly dissolving. The church as a governmental establishment in Ireland, has already passed away, and the ablest statesmen of England concede that it is only a question of a very short time when it will be disestablished in England.

“… Thus we see the Two-Horned Beast as such dropping from view, and we can thus account for the fact that it has no part in the struggle at its close as shown in Rev. 19:19. A ‘beast’ is the symbol of a kingdom: hence the separating of the English Church from the government will neither destroy the beast nor church; but since Revelation is treating of ecclesiastical beasts, it drops from view when it ceases to be an ecclesiastical Government. In Rev. 19:19, 20, its government appears among the others – among the ‘kings of the earth,’ etc., and the English church is represented among the other Protestant systems in the ‘false prophet’!” (R834:4)

King of England – Head of the Church!

“It is carefully to be observed that this downfall of Papal authority in England was not productive of much benefit, either to the friends or to the cause of the Reformation. For the same monarch, who had so resolutely withdrawn himself from the dominion of Rome, yet superstitiously retained the greatest part of its errors along with its imperious and persecuting spirit. He still adhered to several of the most monstrous doctrines of popery, and frequently presented the terrors of death to those who differed from him in their religious sentiments.” (Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History)

“… the thought would seem to be because of Henry VIII’s assumption and usurpation of the same Divine power as Papacy, not only did the two-horned beast fail to enlighten mankind concerning the erroneous and indeed blasphemous claims and usurpations of Papacy, and its influence over the people, but rather it served to encourage, to establish these claims, because it became apparent that Papacy’s power and influence was so much greater and wider that it caused the great masses of men to hold to that one, which, because of its longevity, seemed to be the one of Divine origin.” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Streeter, Vol. 2, p. 114)

And “he spake as a dragon” – that is, like a dragon!

“Notice that it does not say the dragon, but a dragon. We understand this to mean simply that its utterances resembled those of a purely civil (dragon) power, and in its words there would be little, to denote that it is an ecclesiastical government.” (R320:6)

13:12 – “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.”

“… this shows that the second does not take the place of the first beast, but that they exist contemporaneously.” (R320:6)

By retaining many of the monstrous doctrines of Papacy, this second beast – the two-horned beast, was causing the first beast – Papacy, to be worshipped (or rather those doctrines for which the first stood).

“And by establishing a similar system, devoid of some of the grosser Papal errors, it attracted attention of all to those errors, as being the only possible fault of Papacy. And when some of those errors were shortly after discarded by Papacy, the inference was that both BEAST systems were right … but from God’s standpoint the systems are abominations, and wrong from the very center.

“The very basis of both systems is their claim to be the ‘Kingdom of God’ in reigning power. That idea once admitted justifies their persecution of individuals and nations, forcing them to submit and bow in obedience. Scripture accords those powers to the ‘kingdom of God’ – when ‘the kingdom is the Lord’s and he is the Governor among the nations; all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.’ (Psa. 22:27, 28) Unto him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. (Phil. 2:11) And if their claim be GOOD who can object to them for carrying out the scriptural statements?

“These Anti-Christs, to make their claims of kingdom power appear true, had simply to take another step in compelling obedience, backing up their right to do so, by the Scriptures just quoted. And not only was this great evil sanctioned, but their claim once admitted, that the kingdom was established and the reign in progress, those who admitted it were hindered from looking for the true HEAD of the church; to set up the true kingdom under the whole heavens, which SHALL break in pieces present imperfect governments – establish righteousness in the earth and cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess to the glory of God.” (R321:2)

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

“Remember that both beasts are now in ‘heaven,’ or in authority. The second beast displays its power over ‘the earth,’ or those who are under its authority by occasionally sending down fire (symbol of judgment and punishments) upon them – declaring certain judgments and punishments upon those who oppose it – heretics. Such fire was sent down upon the Dissenters – Baptists, Puritans and others.” (R64:4)

“This Government, like Papacy’s claimed heavenly power, and its denunciations were regarded as from heaven, judgments or fire being called down upon offenders.” (R321:2)

13:14 – “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.”

“We make a distinction between the earth and those who dwell on it. As the EARTH symbolizes those obedient to and supporting the BEAST, so, ‘those dwelling on the earth,’ we understand to mean independent Christians who do not support either of these systems.

“‘Saying … that they should make an IMAGE to the BEAST [Papacy] …’ She advised this by her example. From the year 1800 to 1846 was a time in which great numbers of new sects arose, whereas before that they were few and prominent. This gave rise to uneasiness among the various older denominations, who wondered whereunto this thing would lead. As the Bible came to be read more and more by the masses, occasional individuals would feel free to preach what they thought it taught, regardless of denominational creeds and the views of older sects. As a consequence Protestants were fast splitting up into fragments. They began to say, ‘By what means shall we check and stop this disposition to individual thought and opinion relative to the teachings of Scripture?’ They wanted to stop the very thing God desired, viz: that each individual should be free and independent of restraint, with his faith based, not on the views of others, not on the decisions of councils or presbyteries, nor in the decision of the Pope, nor in the things approved of the HEAD of the English Church, but in the WORD OF GOD.

“The question came – How can we restrain these preachers? This was a quandary to all except the Roman and Episcopal Churches, since these both claimed the ‘Apostolic Succession,’ and that this by ordination, conferred upon their ministers special power and authority to preach and to administer the ‘Sacraments’; hence that no others had a right to do so, but were clerical pretenders. Other denominations could not claim this continuation of apostolic power through their preachers, but simply set them apart by prayer, consequently those of one denomination could not object, that the preachers of other denominations as well as all laymen, were not as truly authorized of God to expound the Scriptures as their own clergy.

“But the example of the Church of England showed what a prestige she had by reason of the voice of authority with which she commanded a reverence for her clergy and her teachings. The teaching by example was not lost. The various denominations felt a necessity for some common STANDARD OF DOCTRINE which would be supported and upheld by all of them, and thus give prestige to their teachings, and bring the combined influence of all AGAINST ANY FURTHER ADVANCE IN KNOWLEDGE or the development of any different phase of TRUTH. Thus they would protect themselves by being able to say The combined opinion of all Protestants is against you; therefore you are HERETICS, and therefore we will shun you, and not call you brethren, but use all our influence against you.

“This was done by the formation in 1846, of the ‘Evangelical Alliance.’ It was stated to be one of the objects of the Alliance (and we believe the principle one) to ‘Promote between the different Evangelical denominations an effective cooperation in the efforts to REPEL COMMON ENEMIES and DANGERS.’

“It is far from my wish to say they purposely combined against the unfolding of truth, nor would I say this of Papists. But I do say, that by their action they were following Papacy’s tactics, and that in that Alliance they did make the – IMAGE OF THE BEAST.

“A prominent characteristic of the BEAST copied by the image is the honoring of the special class, the clergy, with special honors and titles. They are known as Reverends, Divines, etc., but Jesus THE son of God said: ‘Ye call me Lord and Master, and ye say well, for so I am.’ ‘Be not ye called Rabbi, neither be ye called Master, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.’ (Matt. 23:8) These titles are assumptions fashioned after those of Papacy.” (R321:3-6)

While the Evangelical Alliance was the first representation of the Image of the Beast – away back in 1846, its modern counterpart is the Protestant Federation of Churches. (Dvii)

The Image of the Beast

“The dragon, then, symbolizes the Roman power, represented by the civil power in the world. The beast is the Papal system of government. The third symbol, the false prophet, remains to be interpreted. This, we believe, is another name for the system, elsewhere called ‘the image of the beast.’ (Rev. 13:14) According to the Scriptures, this image is a very exact representation of the beast. The false prophet, or image of the beast, we understand to mean the Protestant Federation of Churches.” (OV271)

The Dragon, Image of Beast, etc.

“The Dragon, then, symbolizes the Roman power, represented by the civil power in the world. The Beast is the Papal system of government. The third symbol, the False Prophet, remains to be interpreted. This, we believe, is another name for the system elsewhere called ‘the Image of the Beast.’ (Rev. 13:14) According to the Scriptures, this Image is a very exact representation of the Beast. The False Prophet, or Image of the Beast, we understand to mean the Protestant Federation of Churches.

“In order to see why the Protestant Federation of Churches should be symbolized as the Image of the Beast and as the False Prophet, we must examine other symbolical Scriptures. In Rev. 17:5 our attention is called to a great ‘mystery.’ The word ‘harlot’ in Scriptural symbolism does not mean an immoral person. It refers to the Church, which was to be the Kingdom of God, but which lost her virginity and became united to an earthly husband, instead of her Heavenly husband. To what earthly husband did the Church unite? To the Roman Empire. In the minds of Luther and other reformers there was no doubt that there was a close union between the Church and the world. The Church for a time claimed to be waiting for Christ to set up His kingdom. Finally she said, ‘I will not wait until the Second Coming of Christ, I will unite with the Roman Empire.’

“All know the result. The Roman Catholic Church was exalted, and reigned as a queen for centuries. This union of Church and State is represented in a famous picture found in Italy. On a throne the Pope and the Emperor sit side by side. On one side are cardinals, bishops, the lower clergy and the laity, in order of rank. On the other side are generals, lieutenants, soldiers, etc., down to the common people. Thus the union of Church and State was recognized.” (Dvii)

The Evangelical Alliance – Protestantism (Image of the Beast)

“The question now arises, Why should the Scriptures picture Protestantism as an Image of the Beast? When and how did this come about? From the time of the Reformation, Protestants had been striving individually to get out of the darkness of the past and thus had formulated many creeds and had organized many denominations. But about the middle of the last century the leaders began to see that if every one continued to study the Bible individually, the time would come when each one would have an individual creed. To prevent what seemed to them a loss of power, they planned a union of Protestants in a system called the Evangelical Alliance.

“The Evangelical Alliance, an organization of the different Protestant denominations, was formed in 1846 for the very purpose of doing in their own way the same thing that Catholicism would do in its own way. Seeing the great power that Roman Catholics would exercise because of a united system, Protestants said, ‘We are divided. We have no power. We will organize.’ Then and there, according to the Scriptures, they made an Image of the Beast.” (Dviii)

“We have already pointed out that the ‘symbolical image of the beast’ began 1846. We are now anxiously looking for the vitalizing of that Image as foretold in Rev. 13:15. Our expectation is that this causing of the Image to have life, speech and power will have its fulfillment in some pact or union or agreement amongst so-called Protestant denominations, with a sympathetic alliance and cooperation with the Church of Rome. Our expectation is that the spark of life to the organic union begun in the Evangelical Alliance will come from the Episcopal Church, which claims divine authority through apostolic succession – a claim which other Protest- ant denominations would be glad to make. The Episcopal Church is quite ready to confer the spark of authority and vitality.” (R3390:1)

“… the Lord’s symbolic prophecy … tells us that in the close of this age the Image will receive life, vitality, energy, power. No longer will it stand as a mere Image. It will become as active as the Beast. Moreover, it will not be antagonistic to the Beast, but sympathetic, and cause that all shall either worship the Beast or the Image – all must be in harmony either with Catholicism, or with the Protestant system, of which the Evangelical Alliance was the primary organization or Image. The Protestant Church Federation will be the outcome as soon as it receives the vitalizing breath.…

“A few years ago the Episcopal Church took an important step toward vitalizing the Church Federation movement.… That important step was the recognition of the ministers of the denominations represented in the Evangelical Alliance …

“Perhaps this recognition of the Image is all the vitalization the Image needs, but we are inclined to expect more.” (R5349:3)

“In Rev. 16:13 we find mention of the False Prophet, another representation of the image – the vitalized product of the Evangelical Alliance, which has taken the form of Church Federation, and has today a great deal of vitality. Whether we can expect it to have more remains to be seen.” (Orig. Dx)

13:15 – “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.”

“The Bible says … that before the Image can do any particular harm, it must receive life from the two- horned Beast. (Rev. 13:15) This two-horned Beast with horns like a lamb, but a voice like a dragon, we believe represents the Church of England, which is not a party to the Evangelical Alliance. The Church of England makes the claim which the Church of Rome makes – that she is the true Church; that all others are wrong; that she has the original apostolic succession; and that no one is commissioned to preach unless he has had divine, apostolic hands laid upon him. This has been the contention of the Church of England for centuries, and constitutes the difference between that Church and all other Protestant denominations.

“… The denominations in the Alliance were united only in name, and hence have worked against each other. Denominations outside of the Alliance were declared to be unauthorized; and they, in turn challenged the Evangelical Churches to show where they got authority to preach. As a result, the Image had no power to act; it was trodden upon; and to get vitality – life – it would need apostolic succession; it must have something as a basis for operation.

“The Scriptures indicate that the Church of England will become intimate with the Evangelical Alliance and will give it apostolic authority to preach. Because of this union the Alliance will be able to say, ‘We have apostolic authority to preach. Let no one speak unless he has our sanction’.” (Dix)

“The worship and the killing are symbolic as well as the image and this signifies that all who will not bow to the decrees of the Evangelical Alliance shall be esteemed as heretics, shunned and cast out by all who are ORTHODOX (?) i.e., all who worship its decrees and agree to believe neither more nor less than is stated in its nine articles of creed. Now the various sects have a sort of backing in this organization, and each may act as the mouthpiece of the Image, in denouncing as heresy all matter not included in this general creed, and in cutting off or ecclesiastically beheading those who differ. (Rev. 20:4)” (R322:3)

A Word of Explanation!

In the original Volume 4 Foreword page x, we read:

“In Rev. 16:13 we find mention of the False Prophet, another representation of the image – the vitalized product of the Evangelical Alliance, which has taken the form of Church Federation, and has today a great deal of vitality. Whether we can expect it to have more remains to be seen.”

In R5349:3 we read:

“… the Lord’s symbolic prophecy tells us that in the close of this age the Image will receive life, vitality, energy, power. No longer will it stand as a mere image. It will become as active as the Beast. More- over, it will not be antagonistic to the Beast, but sympathetic, and cause that all shall either worship the Beast or the Image – all must be in harmony either with Catholicism, or with the Protestant system, of which the Evangelical Alliance was the primary organization or Image. The Protestant Church Federation will be the outcome as soon as it receives the vitalizing breath.

“… A few years ago the Episcopal Church took an important step toward vitalizing the Church Federation movement.… That important step was the recognition of the ministers of the denominations represented in the Evangelical Alliance.… Perhaps this recognition of the Image is all the vitalization the Image needs, but we are inclined to expect more.”

In the new Foreword of Volume 4, page iii, we read: “The Bible points out that about this time the Nominal Church systems of the world will rise to great prominence again in connection with the Civil powers. We can readily see the grounds for this. All the kingdoms, financially weakened, will realize the necessity for keeping a dominating grip upon the public and preventing anything akin to Socialism and Anarchy. They will naturally look to the great religious institutions called Churches to support them, to threaten the people with future torments, and in general to help keep the Ship of State from being overturned. The churches also will be ready and glad for such an opportunity. Already they are rolling together as a scroll – the one side Catholic, and the other, Protestant, opposed and yet connected – each side united and federated to the best of its ability.”

However, nothing is specifically mentioned about the Evangelical Alliance – the Protestant Federation, nor its vitalization.

In R5601:3 we read:

“When the earthquake, or revolution, so prominently mentioned in the Scriptures shall have come, that, no doubt will be the time when the kings and the captains of industry, of finance and of politics will in self-defense greatly exalt the power of religious leaders. Then we may expect that the Federation of Churches will exercise a power in the world such as has not been since the days of Papal supremacy. In the symbolic language of Revelation, that will be the time in which the ‘image of the beast’ will have life and work great wonders, threatening, commanding, in the name of heaven. (Rev. 13:11-18)”

Was Bro. Russell at the time of his death (10/31/16) still “waiting, as it were, to see”?

Power … to the Image of the Beast

“The Bible says … that before the image can do any particular harm it must receive life from the two-horned beast. (Rev. 13:15) This two-horned beast with horns like a lamb, but a voice like a dragon, we believe represents the Church of England, which is not a party of the Evangelical Alliance. The Church of England makes the claim which the Church of Rome makes – that she is the true Church; that all others are wrong; that she has the original apostolic succession; and that no one is commissioned to preach unless he has had divine, apostolic hands laid upon him. This has been the contention of the Church of England for centuries, and constitutes the difference between that Church and all other Protestant denominations.

“Although the Evangelical Alliance was organized in 1846, it has not been able to accomplish its purpose, because it did not know how to operate. The denominations in the Alliance were united only in name, and hence have worked against each other. Denominations outside of the Alliance were declared to be unauthorized; and they in turn, challenged the Evangelical Churches to show where they got authority to preach. As a result, the image had no power to act; it was trodden upon; and to get vitality– life – it would need apostolic succession; it must have something as a basis for operation.

“The Scriptures indicate that the Church of England will become intimate with the Evangelical Alliance, and will give apostolic authority to preach. Because of this union, the Alliance will be able to say, ‘We have apostolic authority to preach. Let no one speak unless he has our sanction.’ This action on their part is described in Rev. 13:17. None will be allowed to buy or sell spiritual things in the spiritual market unless he has either the mark of the beast or the mark of the image.” (OV272, 273)

Non-Worshippers of Beast to be Killed

“The image or likeness of this organization to the ‘Beast’ consists in its doctrines and its general policy. And although the likeness is not yet complete, the Revelator, in vs 15, indicates that the persecuting power will ere long complete this, and that the order will go forth practically that all who will not worship (reverence) either the Papal ‘Beast’ or the Protestant ‘Image’ shall be killed, although the killing is not necessarily to be understood as physical: it may be in some instances, though more probably it will be killing in a social sense – cutting off their influence, their name, etc., and allowing them no standing or liberty as Christians.” (R1409:4)

13:16, 17 – “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.”

“According to the old, but erroneous, thought handed down for centuries, the bishops of the church of England and of the church of Rome are ‘apostolic bishops,’ or successors to the apostles, according to the old theory of apostolic succession. According to that same theory, no one on earth has one particle of right to teach and to preach, except as those ‘apostolic bishops’ shall grant their permission by laying on their hands.

“According to this rule, then, Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and all such are preaching without authority. When they talk about ordination, they merely mean that each sect ordains its own ministers. The Alliance is attempting to get around this difficulty and to have the sects recognize each other’s ordination. The Federation is building upon this general recognition of orthodoxy, and is about, in some manner, to be given life, virility, power, dignity, by something which the church of England will do for them which will recognize their ordination as ministers.

“We may be sure that they will make the road to the preaching and teaching of the Gospel a very narrow one to all attempting to preach without their recognition and ordination. These will be trying times upon us and upon all who will refuse to worship the beast and his image, or to receive the mark of the beast upon the forehead or upon the hand. (Rev. 13:15-17)” (R5349:4)

The “mark” in the right hand, would seem to signify authority given to “work” in the Master’s vineyard; and in the forehead, would be indicative of the intellectual bias, given in favor of the recognized ecclesiastical powers that foster it!

“No man will be able to buy or sell (exchange) spiritual doctrines, when that power is at its zenith, except such as bear its stamp of approval or orthodox or evangelical ‘marks’.” (R1845:5)

The “name” and the “number” of the beast are revealed in the next verse:

13:18 – “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 and three score and six.”

There are three Latin words, “VICARIVS FILII DEI” meaning the “Vicar of the Son of God,” which appear on the Pope’s triple mitre, the numerical significance or equivalent of which words is, 666! Thus:

“There are three Latin words inscribed on the Pope’s crown Vicarivs Filii Dei, the Vicarious Son of God. This title attached to the Pope would seem to be an illegitimate one. He is not the vicarious Son of God; he is not the vicar of Christ; and therefore every intimation to the effect that he is the substitute or representative of Christ in reigning power would seem to be much of a blasphemy. Not that the Pope and the Catholics understand that they are blaspheming. I presume they feel fully confident that this is all very true of him, but to our understanding, it is untrue and he is in a false position – is really anti-Christ, or the counterfeit Christ, as the Bible would express the matter.” (Q37)

The Number 666

“The most plausible name we have ever seen suggested as containing the number of the beast, is the title which the pope applies to himself, and allows others to apply to him. That title is this: Vicarius Filii Dei, ‘Vicegerent of the Son of God.’ Taking the letters out of this title which the Latins used as numerals, and giving them their numerical value, we have just 666. Thus we have – V,5; I,1; C,100 (a and r not used as numerals; I,1; U (formerly the same as V),5; (s and f not used as numerals); I,1; L,50; I,1; I,1; D,500; (e not used as a numeral); I,1. Adding these numbers together, we have just 666.” (Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation – Uriah Smith, p. 580)