Bible Readings for the Home
Chapter 53
The Last Nation Noticed in Prophecy
What symbol is
introduced in Revelation 12:3?
"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his
heads." Revelation 12:3.
At what time in the
world's history did this symbol apply?
"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars." Revelation 12:1.
What did the dragon
design to do to the child about to be born to the church?
"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast
them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready
to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."
Revelation 12:4.
What became of the
child?
NOTE. - Christ the Lord is the only one to whom the prophecy can apply (Hebrews 12:2).
Who sought to slay
Christ as soon as He was born?
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."
Matthew 2:16.
What symbol was
next seen by the prophet?
"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." Revelation 13:1.
From what did this
government receive its seat and power?
"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." Revelation
13:2.
What was to happen
to this beast?
"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."
Revelation 13:3.
How was this
wounding to be brought about?
"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." Revelation 13:10.
Had the papacy led
others into captivity?
NOTE. - Many millions have been martyred by the Roman Church, because they dared to differ with her in religious opinions. See "Fox's Book of Martyrs;" "The Wars of the Huguenots;" "Buck's Theological Dictionary," art. Persecutions; histories of the Reformation, etc.
When
was the papal head wounded by being taken into captivity?
In 1798, the French army under Berthier then abolished the papacy in
Rome, proclaimed a republic there, and carried Pope Pius VI a captive from
place to place till he died at Valence, France, August 28,1799. See
reading "A Remarkable Symbol." page 29.
At that time what
additional symbol was seen by the prophet?
"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." Revelation 13:11.
Has the United
States "come up" sufficiently to warrant the application of the prophecy
to this country?
The "Centennial History of the United States" says: "The
extent of the conceded domain of the United States, in 1776, was not more
than half a million square miles. Now (1875) it is more than three
million, three hundred thousand square
miles. Its
population then was three million; in 1875-forty million. Today it is over
two hundred fifty million.
What do the "two
horns like a lamb" represent?
A horn represents a kingdom, or a component part of a kingdom, as in
Daniel 7:7,8,24,25. Lamb-like horns would indicate youthfulness,
innocence, and gentleness. The "two" horns may represent the two leading
principles of the government, civil and religious liberty.
Notwithstanding the
lamb-like pretensions of this power, what is it ultimately to do?
"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." Revelation 13:11.
What will he say?
"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." Revelation
13:14.
NOTE. - The
beast "which had the wound by a sword and did live," is the papacy. That
was a church clothed with the civil power. In other words, it enforced its
religious dogmas by the civil power, under pain of confiscation of goods,
imprisonment, and death.
When the image to
the beast has been formed in the United States, what will follow?
"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." Revelation
13:15.
How are the people
to be led to form the image to the beast?
"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." Revelation 13:14.
How much power will
be exercised in the matter?
"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." Revelation 13:12.
What will the
two-horned beast power try to enforce on the people?
"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." Revelation 13:16.
How far is this to
be carried?
"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." Revelation 13:17.
Previous
