We return once again to a correspondence between two brethren truth seekers; they are addressed as Brothers A and B for convenience. (This is a good review of Chapter 13).

B. I am here again Brother A., anxious as ever to enjoy whatever light may be due the church; I know that you believe the word of God to be a lamp, whose oil is the spirit, which sheds its light upon the path of the just as fast as the light is due, in order that at each step we may not be in darkness.

Have you seen anything fresh or new lately?

A. God’s word is “new every morning and fresh every evening.” In this respect it differs from all other books and, undoubtedly it is a fountain of living waters (truths) from the fact that it contains special dispensational truths, (truths meant to be understood at specific times) as well as general truth (or basic truths meant to be understood by all who have ears to hear as soon as they are received). Thus, it is a great storehouse from which the Lord’s servants are to bring forth “things new and old,” that the household of faith may have “meat (understanding of specific scripture) in due season.”

I seem to see in a clearer light than ever before, the present condition of the nominal church and its future. We talked some of this subject at a previous interview, when we considered the subject – “Babylon is fallen.” The subject in general and the Bible teaching concerning it, seems daily to open up more clearly. I think too, that it is – the meat due here. Many saints in “Babylon” are ignorant of the fact, and therefore do not obey the call – “Come out from her my people, so that you may have no fellowship with her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.”

Would this subject be agreeable to you this evening?

B. It would, and profitable too, I hope. I was much interested in our last conversation on The Antichrist and its picture in Revelation Chapter 12.

A. Then we will consider the “Two horned beast” of the next chapter, Chapter 13 It seems to follow connectedly, our last topic.

B. Suppose you use the Emphatic Diaglott; it is so much clearer. Then I can have the advantage of both translations.

A. The first ten verses of this chapter describe the Papal – Roman dominion. It is the Leopard; its spots showing mixture, or church and empire It receives its power and etc., from the “Dragon” (Pagan Rome.) Let me here explain that in symbol, “Heavens,” signify the higher or ruling powers, “Earth,” represents the people obedient to those ruling powers. When the Dragon gave its place (its position of authority) to Papacy, it (Papacy) became “the heavens” and those who were obedient to it (the church) were “the earth.”

“The sea” represents the general masses of the world, without religious restraints.

The “Leopard” arose from the sea – from among the masses of the people – received its power and dominion etc. “And the whole earth wondered after the beast.” And they did homage to the Dragon (Paganism) because he gave the authority to the Beast. And they worshiped the Beast saying: 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. The “blasphemies and the great swelling words” of this power, we talked of at our last interview. It’s time for speaking is not limited; it still speaks, but not so it’s time for acting. It had “power to act forty and two months (1260 years).” This is the same period referred to in Chapter 12 as “twelve hundred and sixty days,” and three and a half times (3½ years) extending from A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798, when its “power to act” or put to death seems to have ceased.

THE TWO HORNED BEAST

Verse 11-12 “And I saw another wild beast, ascending from the earth.” If the previous beast was an ecclesiastical power, this beast called another would also be an ecclesiastical, or church power. As the first beast had ten horns, or powers, which gave to it their support, strength and protection, so this beast has “two horns.” The first beast received a deadly wound from the sword. (Verse 14.) 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, Zwingle and others, showing it to be the “mystery of iniquity,” “The man of Sin,” “The Antichrist,” and etc., took away much of its power and almost took its life.

B. I see then that the second beast with two horns, you regard as another ecclesiastical power arising since the reformation.

Can it be possible that it refers to or symbolizes Protestantism?

A. I think it does. As Papacy became a beast by the union of church and empire, so with Protestantism. It is not called a beast until it unites with the empires represented by the two horns – two powers, England and Germany. Notice that this beast does not come out of the Sea (the irreligious masses) but from the “Earth” (the people who had been obedient to Papacy). It has not the fierce, aggressive character of the “Leopard,” but “two horns LIKE a lamb.” It used its horns only as a means of defense and protection.

B. The next statement that it “spoke as a dragon” does not seem to fit Protestantism. It would seem to imply that the second beast taught the same things as the dragon, i.e. Paganism &c.

A. By no means, the two beasts are being contrasted. We have already been told what were the claims of the Leopard or Papal ecclesiasticism, how it spoke great swelling words and blasphemies, how it claimed the right to “rule all nations with a rod of iron” by virtue of its other claim that it was “The kingdom of God.” Protestantism, though it associated itself with earthly empires and became a beast itself made no such boast. It spoke no such swelling words and made no such pretentious claims. It does not speak as the dragon, as a dragon – Its claims are the same as any civil or dragon power.

B. O I see! I thought that its speaking as a dragon, would indicate that it was worse than Papacy but I see that it really marks it as being better and is the distinguishing feature between it and “The man of Sin.” It does seem that the Spirit clothed the matter in such symbols as would be difficult or impossible to understand until it should become meat due to the church.

A. Notice further that although the two-horned beast claimed less, its greater humility did not operate against it, for “All the authority of the first beast he executes in his presence.”

B. That is the Protestant Beast [the state churches of England and Germany.] was able to exert as much influence and power as Papacy could by its greater claims.

But what is meant by “in his presence?”

A. This is thrown in to show us that the rise of the second, did not destroy the first one. They continue to exist contemporaneously.

“And he makes The Earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast whose mortal wound was healed.” 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.

And not only did this cause them to cease to wound and injure Papacy, but when they justified their own church and empire organization and demanded for it the respect and reverence of the people, they virtually caused all, both papists and protestants to worship, respect and honor the Papal Church. To such an extent is this true, that to-day the Papal Church is recognized among Christians as one of the churches of Christ, instead of, in its true character as the “Antichrist,” that the Lord recognizes as “The Abomination of the Earth.” The utterance of early reformers against this church, if made to-day would be denounced by both Christians and the world.

Verse 13 “And he does great signs so that fire he makes to come down from heaven to the earth in the presence 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 and etc. Such fire was sent down upon the Dissenters – Baptists, Puritans and others.

We continue with our next post.